Wild rice isn’t just uniquely delicious: it’s highly nutritious and takes a lot of careful work to grow.

Learn the ins and outs of breeding and cultivating wild rice in Minnesota from Jennifer Kimball, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota.

Tune in to explore:

• Environmentally responsible practices in wild rice breeding and cultivation
• The purpose and importance of “seed shattering”
• How long people have been breeding wild rice compared to other grain crops like wheat and corn
• Wild rice planting to harvesting - how long does it take?

Press play to hear the full conversation and learn more about Kimball’s work at Jennifer A Kimball | Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics (umn.edu).

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

If you had the opportunity to innovate your farm, would you take it? The challenges that come with 21st-century agriculture are very unique, and inventive minds like Jonathan Dysinger are committed to innovating this process for both small and large farmers alike…

Jonathan is the Owner and CEO of Farmers Friend, a company that develops tools and supplies to make small farms more efficient and profitable. With years of experience in the industry, he is intent on changing the world through regenerative agriculture. How? By equipping, educating, and inspiring fellow growers…

Click play now to uncover:

• The importance of being agriculturally creative.
• The benefits of working with high tunnel gardening structures.
• The biggest problems that farmers can face.
• Tips for getting your own garden going.

You can learn more about Jonathan and his work with Farmers Friend by visiting www.farmersfriend.com!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Where you live affects the quality of your food and water. A big reason for this has to do with watershed hydrology – the way water moves across agricultural landscapes.

Matthew Helmers’ work revolves around this topic, and he shares his knowledge today.

Tune in to explore:

• What tile drainage is, and how it improves crop health and production
• Why slowing water movement across the land is critical for crops and can decrease pollution in streams and rivers
• Drainage water recycling – how it works, where it should be used, and the significant benefits
• Sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus – why too much in runoff water is a bad thing and how to lower the levels

Helmers is the Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Learn more about his work at Iowa Nutrient Research Center (iastate.edu) and visit Iowa Learning Farms for weekly webinars and info by more experts.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q