Soil health, regenerative practices,  emerging technology, grower insights, and research — The AgEmerge Podcast.

Join our host, Monte Bottens and producer Kim Sheese, as they engage with guests from diverse agriculture interests to discuss experiences, practices and scalable applications for any operation.

Tune in to new episodes every other Tuesday to regenerate your ideas, soil, crops, livestock and livelihood.

Emily Usher-DeaKyne is a natural resource social scientist at Purdue University working as the Project Manager for the Diverse Corn Belt project. The initiative started in 2021, led by Purdue University, to diversify Midwestern agriculture beyond corn and soybeans in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. Her work explores systems like extended rotations, agroforestry, and livestock integration, involving over 30 partners in research, economics, and stakeholder engagement. The project aims to overcome barriers like markets and policy, enhance resilience, and promote sustainability through on-farm studies, education, and outreach. Emily is originally from the Midwest, she has always valued the economic, environmental, and social opportunities the natural environment provides. Understanding the balance between components drives her research interests in diverse agricultural systems, public policy development, and community engagement. She has B.S. in Plant Biology from Ohio University and a M.S. Natural Resources from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, grilling, and traveling. Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to kim@asn.farm we’d love to hear from you.

Two soil science powerhouses from Kansas State University: Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi and Dr. Charles Rice explore a fundamental but often overlooked question—are all soil nutrients the same? *** Show notes and Links *** Subscribe to AgEmerge here: https://www.youtube.com/c/AgSolutionsNetwork Watch another great researcher, Adam Dougherty here: https://youtu.be/sPO9wRM8E_8 Ag Solutions Network Socials: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/agemergepodcast https://www.facebook.com/ASN.farm https://www.linkedin.com/company/agsolutionsnetwork https://twitter.com/POWER2GRO https://www.instagram.com/agsolutionsnetwork/ Ag Solutions Network website: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/ *** *** Not all nutrients are created equal. The source matters. The form matters. And the way nutrients interact with soil minerals, microbes, and organic matter? It’s a whole other level of complexity. We also talk about carbon—how it moves, how it’s stored, and how it could be the key to building resilient soils that thrive for generations. Visit their work here: Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/research/faculty-labs/soil-environment-chem/ Dr. Charles Rice: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/rice-charles/ This episode is packed with groundbreaking insights for scientists and farmers. Click below to watch or listen and as always, let us know if you have any questions or guest ideas by emailing kim@asn.farm. *** More About AgEmerge Podcast 157 Guests*** Ganga Hettiarachchi was born and raised in a suburb of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Although not from a farm, she chose to study agriculture instead of any pure science field when she entered the university. She selected soil chemistry as her area of emphasis while getting her B.S. degree at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, then went on to get her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in soil chemistry at Kansas State University. After working in research positions at the US Environmental Protection Agency (USA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)/the University of Adelaide in Australia and a faculty position at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, she joined the Agronomy faculty at Kansas State University in 2008. She is currently a Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and teaches soil chemistry and environmental quality courses. Her research program is focused on soil biogeochemistry with particular focus on 1) bioavailability of potentially toxic elements, their uptake by crops, and potential availability to humans, and 2) fate, transformation, and sequestration of nutrients, including carbon in soils. She is a fellow of both the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy. She was named the 2021 recipient of the Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award by SSSA, which recognizes soil scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of soil chemistry and mineralogy. *** Charles (Chuck) Rice is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Vanier University Professorship at Kansas State University. He is a Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Agronomy. He earned his degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Kentucky. Dr. Rice teaches courses and conducts research on soil carbon and nitrogen, soil health, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts on agricultural and grassland ecosystems. His research includes work in several countries, especially Brazil. He has advised over 50 graduate students and 18 post-doctorates and has over 250 publications. Dr. Rice has also served in numerous capacities with professional societies including President of the Soil Science Society of America in 2011. Internationally, he served on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to author a report on Climate Change in 2007 and 2014 and was among scientists recognized when that work won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2017, he received the “International” awards from the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy and was named the Hugh Hammond Bennett Awardee from the Soil and Water Conservation Society which recognizes exceptional service and national and international accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and natural resources. In 2020, Dr. Rice was recognized as Educator of the Year by the Mid America CropLife Association and received the honorary title of “National Associate” of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Rice chaired the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine from 2016-2022. In 2022, Dr. Rice received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Agronomy.

Dig into the business side of ag with stories, strategies, and insights that help your farm or ranch thrive from guest, Dallas Mount. *** Show notes and Links *** Subscribe to AgEmerge here: https://www.youtube.com/c/AgSolutionsNetwork Watch Dale Strickler further explain pasture management here: https://youtu.be/jYHW9zLd0ow Learn about genetics and ecological improvements through the research of Dr. Jason Rowntree here: https://youtu.be/9oGUlNRsXr8 Ag Solutions Network Socials: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/agemergepodcast https://www.facebook.com/ASN.farm https://www.linkedin.com/company/agsolutionsnetwork https://twitter.com/POWER2GRO https://www.instagram.com/agsolutionsnetwork/ Ag Solutions Network website: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/ Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to kim@asn.farm we’d love to hear from you. ************************ Dallas is the Owner of Ranch Management Consultants (RMC), home of the Ranching for Profit School and the Executive Link program. Dallas has led RMC since 2019 and worked with thousands of ranchers across North America, Australia and the UK to position their business for economic profit and ecologic health. The Ranching for Profit School is a program that’s been helping farmers and ranchers for over 40 years turn passion into profit. From breaking down outdated management practices to unlocking strategies that actually work, Dallas shares game-changing advice for successfully running their operation. After working with University of Wyoming Extension for 18 years, Dallas started teaching the Ranching For Profit School in 2012 and quickly established himself as an elite instructor. Dallas and his wife Dixie, have two adult children and own and manage a grazing operation near Wheatland, WY. RMC is focused on creating profitable businesses, with healthy land and happy families.

These bright, articulate, experienced Bergshneider brothers are critical thinkers, who are exploring how they can be an asset to agriculture. Growing up on their family farm, Luke and Thad have grown crops, livestock, and a passion for the future of farming. *** Show notes and Links *** Subscribe to AgEmerge here: https://www.youtube.com/c/AgSolutionsNetwork Who else is pushing the envelope in farming? Watch Andrew Carroll here: https://youtu.be/srUyIm3_E70 Ag Solutions Network Socials: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/agemergepodcast https://www.facebook.com/ASN.farm https://www.linkedin.com/company/agsolutionsnetwork https://twitter.com/POWER2GRO https://www.instagram.com/agsolutionsnetwork/ Ag Solutions Network website: https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/ Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to kim@asn.farm we’d love to hear from you. ************************ Luke and Thad Bergschneider are from Central Illinois where Luke is a University of Illinois Soil Scientist and Researcher and Thad is the current National FFA President. The future of agriculture is in good hands! Luke, a crop scientist and researcher at the University of Illinois, is dedicated to studying soil health, water quality, and nutrient cycles—bridging the gap between science and real-world farming. Meanwhile, Thad has taken a bold step into national leadership, serving as the National FFA President, advocating for agricultural education and inspiring the next generation of changemakers. From hands-on experience in the field to cutting-edge research and nationwide advocacy, these brothers are shaping the future of agriculture in their own unique ways. Luke and Thad Bergschneider, two of seven siblings, grew up immersed in agriculture on their family farm in Central Illinois. There they gained firsthand experience raising corn, soybeans, and cattle, along with forays into pigs, turkeys, and sheep. After high school Luke studied agronomy at Western Illinois University and then attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a MS in Crop Sciences. He now works with the UIUC Soils Lab supporting multiple on-farm research projects studying water quality and nutrient cycles while continuing to contribute part-time to the family farm. Thad, after joining Luke at UIUC for a semester, is now taking a gap year to serve as the National FFA President. In this role, he is dedicating his time to advocating for agriculture, promoting agricultural education, and supporting the next generation of leaders who will change the world.