Engineering Your Farm
Episodes
30 episodes
Tires and Technology: Talking about Soil Compaction Management
Tony Mensing and Kapil Arora break down the science behind soil compaction, explaining how equipment adjustments and technology can help manage compaction. They discuss the physical process of soil compaction and its impacts for ag crop p...
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Explained
In this episode, Tony Mensing sits down with Dr. Matt Helmers to explore the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS)—an initiative launched in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by 45%. D...
Swine Barn Winter Readiness
Tony Mensing and Brett Ramirez discuss the importance of preparing swine barns for winter. Key steps include ensuring equipment functionality, particularly fans and heaters, and maintaining a tight barn to prevent air leaks. Regular maint...
Challenges During Soybean Harvest
Fall harvest is here and in this episode we discuss adjusting combine settings, measuring field and harvest losses, and ensuring the safe operation of equipment. Publications mentioned in the podcast are
Biochar: A Multipurpose Tool for Improving Agricultural Sustainability
What is biochar and how can we use it to improve the sustainability of animal agriculture? In this episode we sit down with Carly Graves, a graduate research assistant in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering North Carolina ...
Managing Aeration With the Grain Aeration & Storage App
Variable weather conditions can make managing grain aeration challenging, but a tool for fine tuning aeration is now at your fingertips with the Grain Aeration & Storage App. Join us as we chat with Dr. Dirk Maier, professor in the Departme...
Digging Into the Underground World of Soil Health
Soil health - what is it? How do you know if you have it? How do you improve it? Join us as we chat with Dr. Anna Cates, State Soil Health Specialist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Min...
Revolutionary Robotics - Making No-Till Farming Without Chemicals a Reality
Can we really farm without using tillage or chemicals to control weeds? Listen in as we chat with Clint Brauer, 3rd generation farmer and CEO of GreenField Incorporated, a company on a mission to eliminate the need for chemicals in no-...
From Black to Green: Turning Engine Exhaust Into Productive Crops with the Bio-Agtive Emissions Technology System
Gary Lewis invented the Bio-Agtive Emissions Technology System to turn a problem into an opportunity: how to capture nitrogen from engine exhaust and use it to grow crops. In this wide-ranging conversation we dive into the details of how this t...
On-Farm Production of Green Anhydrous Ammonia
Producing your own anhydrous ammonia on the farm with renewable energy might seem like a pipe dream but it's about to become a reality. Fuel Positive is a Canadian company that is rolling out a containerized system that uses air, water, a...
Improving Water Quality With the Weedoo Aquatic Weed Harvester
In the episode we venture into the wet world of water quality and aquatic invasive plant removal with Tara Lordi, owner and COO of Weedoo Greenboat Inc. Tara discusses challenges to water quality due to pesticide applications and nutrient runof...
Keeping Livestock Cool and Comfortable During the Dog Days of Summer
In this episode we chat with Nancy Vander Byl, North American Territory Manager for Core Cool Systems, about how to keep livestock cool and comfortable by managing airflow and humidity in barns. We discuss the importance of airspeed, evaporativ...
Seed Conditioning: The Science Behind High Quality Seed
Seed conditioning encompasses a critical and underappreciated set of processes and technologies to ensure that we have viable high-quality seed to plant. In this episode, we sit down with Alan Gaul, a Seed Conditioning Specialist with the...
Planter Setup and Maintenance for Optimal Performance
Listen in as we discuss important planter maintenance items, planter setup in the field, how to assess your planter performance, and the pros and cons of high-speed planters. Our guest is Ryan Bergman, a technical project specialist in th...
Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck With Spring Manure Applications
In this episode we discuss spring manure application strategies, yield implications, and adjustments for dry weather and high fertilizer prices to help you maximize the value of spring applied manure. Our guests are Dr. Dan Andersen, associate ...
Managing In-Season Nitrogen and Cover Crop Applications Autonomously With the Rowbot
Properly managing in-season nitrogen and cover crop applications can be both challenging and profitable. In this episode we sit down with Kent Cavender-Bares, co-founder and CEO of Rowbot Systems, to discuss their autonomous Rowbot technology f...
Directed Energy: A New Strategy for Weed Control
Listen in as we sit down with Jon Jackson, President and founder of Global Neighbor, a company that is pursuing a new weed control strategy called Directed Energy Floral Control. We discuss how directed energy technology works and how it could ...
Getting More Conservation on the Ground With Conservation Agronomists
Join us as we dive into the exciting new field of conservation agronomy. In this episode we have a wide-ranging conversation with Ruth McCabe, conservation agronomist with Heartland Cooperative, and Zach Timm, conservation agronomist with Dubuq...
Maximizing the Value of Fall Manure and Nitrogen Applications
In this episode, guests Kristina TeBockhorst, field agricultural engineer, and Joel DeJong, field crops specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, join Brian Dougherty to discuss optimal timing for fall manure and commercial ...
The Hands Free Farm Project and the Future of Autonomous Agriculture
Join us for a discussion with Jonathan Gill about the Hands Free Hectare and Hands Free Farm projects, which achieved a world first by farming a hectare of land (now 35 hectares) entirely autonomously. Jonathan is a robotics engineer with a res...
Preventing and Addressing Soil Compaction
In this episode we sit down with Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Regional Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension, to discuss how to prevent and address soil compaction issues. Topics include the effects of tillage, the role of ...
Bringing Diversity Back to the Farm With the Stock Cropper
In this episode Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agricultural Engineer Brian Dougherty sits down with Zack Smith, co-inventor of the Stock Cropper, to discuss his vision for diversifying farms by incorporating livestock into r...
A Watershed Approach to Water Quality and Flood Mitigation Efforts in Iowa
Listen in as host Brian Dougherty sits down with Dr. Larry Weber from the University of Iowa, John Rathbun, watershed coordinator in Clear Creek Watershed, and Jamie Benning from Iowa State University, to discuss the Iowa Watershed Approach pro...
Drones in Agriculture: What's All the Buzz About?
Ever wondered how a drone can help you better manage your farm? Check out the latest 'buzz' about drones as Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field ag engineer Brian Dougherty chats with Ryan Gibbs, owner of Gibbsfield Ag LLC, about ...
New Approaches for Manure Management
Listen in as Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agricultural Engineer Brian Dougherty sits down with Dr. Melissa Wilson, assistant professor and Extension specialist in manure management and water quality at the University of Mi...