Reversing Soil Degradation with Dwayne Beck

11/03/20 • 75 min

Dr. Dwayne Beck is well known for being one of the pioneers of no-till agriculture in central South Dakota and across the High Plains. For more than three decades, Dr. Beck has been creating comprehensive systems for both irrigated and dryland crop production throughout the region, educating growers on the power of crop rotation, diversity, and other regenerative practices. He currently serves as the Research Manager at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, a non-profit made up of farmers committed to sustainable land practices.

On today’s episode, John and Dwayne discuss:

Dwayne’s background and his earlier work assisting local growers with their irrigation systems
The continuing decline of the Ogallala Aquifer and how water infiltration can be improved by implementing no-till agricultural practices.
Addressing the often-overlooked aspects of irrigation, such as percolation and water delivery, and how it affects soil health.
Dwayne’s observations on lake bottom soils, the power of macropores, and the prevalence of summer fallowing in the High Plains.
Utilizing de-percolation strategies to maintain proper nutrient levels in your soil.
Using competition, sanitation, and rotation to control weeds, diseases and insects.
Dwayne’s historical research on nutrient cycling and fertilizer placement.
Dwayne offers up a broader historical perspective on how agriculture, human nature, and mother nature work together.
A discussion on why moving to no-till options for all crops including potatoes, carrots and sugar beets are engineering and genetics problems.
The shared vision, but much different methods, between regenerative agriculture vs. organic agriculture.

On today’s episode, John and Dwayne discuss:

Dwayne’s background and his earlier work assisting local growers with their irrigation systems
The continuing decline of the Ogallala Aquifer and how water infiltration can be improved by implementing no-till agricultural practices.
Addressing the often-overlooked aspects of irrigation, such as percolation and water delivery, and how it affects soil health.
Dwayne’s observations on lake bottom soils, the power of macropores, and the prevalence of summer fallowing in the High Plains.
Utilizing de-percolation strategies to maintain proper nutrient levels in your soil.
Using competition, sanitation, and rotation to control weeds, diseases and insects.
Dwayne’s historical research on nutrient cycling and fertilizer placement.
Dwayne offers up a broader historical perspective on how agriculture, human nature, and mother nature work together.
A discussion on why moving to no-till options for all crops including potatoes, carrots and sugar beets are engineering and genetics problems.
The shared vision, but much different methods, between regenerative agriculture vs. organic agriculture.

Previous Episode

Updating Soil Analysis to Consider Microbial Influence with Rick Haney

Rick Haney is a renowned researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the creator of the Haney Soil Analysis, an innovative extraction procedure to assess overall soil health and plant mineral availability. Today, John sits down with Rick to hear his story and discuss a future of agriculture centered around agronomic realities and biological processes.

Throughout the episode, John and Rick cover a wide array of topics:

The journey Rick took to discover an improved system for analyzing soil health, eventually leading to the development of his namesake soil assay.
How Rick’s work and an emphasis on data can help growers save an average of $20 per acre in nitrogen applications.
Over-fertilization and what soil respiration says about the fertility of a field.
Rick’s battle with calibrations and the industry’s collective leaps in agronomic understanding since the 60’s.
The work of Dr. Richard Mulvaney, namely the Illinois Soil Test, and how it compares to Haney’s soil nitrogen report.
The shortcomings of mainstream agronomic research and the power of “listening to nature.”
The importance of using water and biological activity as the gauge of soil mineral release rather than acids and extractants to judge soil mineral content.
Why many growers are routinely able to reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus inputs.
The importance of looking at real yields rather than soil test data as the sign of a well-functioning fertility program.
The power of embracing new developments in ag research and the future of in-field sensors.

Next Episode

Taking Charge Of Your Farm’s Future With Jay Hill

Jay Hill is a conventional farmer and agricultural visionary from the American Southwest. Jay is a new breed of American farmer, focused on reinvigorating the industry through a new perspective on what is possible for large-scale growers. Through his social media presence and weekly podcast, Jay is calling on farmers across the globe to abandon their old ways of operating and take back the role of “business owner” from outdated intermediaries.

Throughout their conversation, John and Jay discuss:

How Jay’s growing operation has evolved over the years to be less resource exhaustive.
Why farmers need to position themselves as both marketers and business owners
Jay’s transition from “Price Taker” to “Price Maker,” and how partnerships in processing give growers more control over their operation.
The public perception of American farmers and what needs to be done change the narrative.
Strategies to incentivize growing a more nutritious and agronomically beneficial product, and the role of the federal government in this process.