This episode features Michael Thompson, a well-known name in conservation agriculture. Michael is here to discuss his family farm’s journey to implementing conservation practices and the resources he used to make that transition possible, such as building strong peer relationships and finding trusted resources.

Hear Michael’s perspective on the importance of livestock in today’s farming landscape, as well as his experience improving soil compaction and organic matter.

Meet the Guest:

Michael Thompson is a farmer, rancher and 2025 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow. He grew up on his family’s farm in Kansas and enjoyed a career as a full-time teacher before returning to the farm. He’s passionate about preserving the health of his soil and sharing his lived experiences with other farmers on a similar conservation path.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and National Corn Growers Association.

On today’s episode, we have Hans Schmitz here to share his knowledge on the role cover crops play in farming systems affected by a common variable: the weather.

You’ll learn more about the role of cover crops in 4R management systems, nutrient stratification in no-till systems, and slug problems. Hans will also share some of the benefits his farmers have seen with cost-share programs.

Meet the Guest:

Hans Schmitz currently serves as both a technical advisor with Farmers for Soil Health and a technical assistance specialist with Indiana Ag Nutrient Alliance. His educational background is in agricultural meteorology, which focuses on the effects of weather events such as hail, straight winds and rain on soil health and yields. Hans utilizes this information to help Indiana farmers make agronomic decisions and develop management strategies for their operations.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, such as planting cover crops, to improve the environment and increase farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff, National Corn Growers Association and the Soil Health Institute.

The Soil Health Institute’s research and outreach empower farmers, advisors, conservation professionals, and scientists to advance the adoption of soil health systems that contribute economic and environmental benefits to agriculture and society. For free resources, advice, and tools tailored to your region, visit SoilHealthInstitute.org/resources/.

In this episode, we have Mark Eastham, sustainable products lead at leading grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize USA. Mark gives us a better understanding of the retailer's perspective on sustainability.

Learn why sustainable practices matter to retailers and how that impacts your operation, as well as what these retailer-supplier partnerships mean for the future of agriculture.

Editor’s Note: At the time of recording, the pilot referenced at around the 22-minute mark was with Kellanova. Since then, Kellanova has been acquired by Mars Snacking.

Meet the Guest:

Mark Eastham is sustainable products lead at Ahold Delhaize USA, bringing 10 years of experience in the sustainability space. In this role, he develops and leads strategies to address both the challenges and opportunities related to Ahold Delhaize USA’s sustainable product portfolio. He collaborates closely with business partners and suppliers to implement these strategies and related policies. Over the years, he has seen growing consumer demand for sustainable products and uses fact-based insights to help Ahold Delhaize USA meet that demand effectively.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and National Corn Growers Association.