The Soil Network
🎙️ Welcome to the Soil Network Podcast!
🌾 About Us:
The Soil Network Podcast (formerly Combines & Coffee) is where farmers, agronomists, and soil enthusiasts come together to share real-world stories, practical advice, and lessons learned from the field. Hosted by the Ontario Soil Network (OSN), we explore how different farming systems—organic, conventional, no-till, and more—can coexist and thrive through shared knowledge and community support.
🤝 Our Mission:
We’re here to build stronger farms by fostering farmer-to-farmer learning, sparking innovation, and strengthening community ties. Through open conversations, we connect farmers with peers, experts, and fresh ideas to create resilient farms and healthier soils for the next generation.
🚜 What You’ll Find Here:
- Field-Tested Insights: Learn what’s working on farms across Ontario and beyond.
- Innovative Farming Practices: From cover crops to regenerative methods, discover techniques that can transform your farm.
- Farmer Stories: Be inspired by the real experiences of farmers committed to continuous improvement.
🌱 Let’s Grow Together:
Join us for candid, honest, and practical conversations about what it takes to farm better—one field at a time.
👉 Explore More: linktr.ee/ontariosoilnetwork
Episodes
13 episodes
No-Till on Heavy Ground: What Actually Works at Hunco Farms | Crop Chats
No-Till on Heavy Ground: What Actually Works at Hunco Farms | Crop ChatsIn this episode of Crop Chats, we head to Hunco Farms in Ontario to break down what it really takes to succeed with no-till planting on heavy, sometimes poorly d...
Generations of No-Till on the Bay | Crop Chats (Part 1)
What happens when you mix three generations of farmers, waterfront clay soils, a serious focus on soil health, and a no-nonsense approach to no-till? You get the Kaiser family farm.In this first half of our two-part deep dive, we sit dow...
Farming the Slopes: How the Honey Family Makes No-Till Work in Norham | Crop Chats
In this episode of Winning with No-Till, we visit Bill and Wes Honey on their multi-generational farm in Norham, Ontario. Nestled in the rolling hills near Warkworth, their operation tackles the challenges of steep slopes, irregular fi...
Scaling No-Till Without More Equipment: Mark Burnham on Soil, Slopes & Sustainability | Crop Chats
What does it really take to scale a no-till system without piling on equipment costs? In this episode of Crop Chats, we’re in Cobourg, Ontario with seventh-generation farmer Mark Burnham of Burnham Farms. Mark shares how his farm trans...
30 Years of No-Till on Heavy Clay with Nick Stokman | Crop Chats
In this episode of Crop Chats, we visit Nick Stokman’s farm near Strathroy, Ontario, where he’s been fine-tuning his no-till system on heavy clay soils for over 30 years. With a practical mindset and deep curiosity, Nick shares lessons l...
Making No-Till Work with Livestock & Manure: Swain Beef’s Honest Approach | Crop Chats
In this Crop Chats episode, Ian McDonald (Crop Innovation Specialist, OMAFRA) visits Swain Beef near Blackstock, Ontario, for a candid conversation with Scott Swain about making no-till systems work on a mixed farm with l...
Hunco’s No-Till Setup: Real Talk on Planters, Upgrades & Strategy | Crop Chats
Join host Ian McDonald, Crop Innovation Specialist with OMAFRA, as he kicks off the Crop Chats: Seeding Equipment Series by visiting Hunco Farms in Ontario. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin, Jason, and Phil to talk through their...
The Soil Network: Episode 6 - Different Farms, Common Ground: Learning Through Farming in Brant County
In this episode of the Soil Network Podcast (formerly Combines & Coffee), host Ian Virtue visits Brant County, Ontario, to chat with local farmers who work similar land, but manage it in very different ways. From organic a...
The Soil Network: Episode 5 - Shawn Catherwood, Dr. Joel Gruver, and Brandon Schlautman
Episode 5: Bridging Innovation and Sustainability in Agriculture with Shawn Catherwood, Dr. Joel Gruver, and Brandon SchlautmanJoin us for an engaging episode of the Soil Network podcast, recorded live from the Innovative Farmers ...
The Soil Network: Episode 4 - Jeff Cook, Murray McLaughlin, and Guillaume Tant
Join us for an insightful episode of the Soil Network podcast, recorded live from the Innovative Farm Association of Ontario 2024 conference in Kitchener, Ontario. Host Ian Virtue sits down with three distinguished guests: Jeff Cook, a cash cro...
The Soil Network: Episode 3 - Chuck Baresich, Xavier HĂ©bert-Couturier, and Dr. Lori Phillips
Innovations in Agricultural Technology and MicrobiologyIn this enlightening episode of The Soil Network, we delve into the transformative world of agricultural technology and microbial ecology with three trailblazers...
The Soil Network: Episode 2 - Alex Barrie, Larry Dyck, Bill Tenhove
In this episode of "The Soil Network," Ian Virtue pulls up a chair with a trio of folks who are as deep into the soil and gears of farming as you can get. First up, we've got Alex Barrie, a fella who's part soil management guru with the Ministr...
The Soil Network Episode 1 - Mark Richards
Join us in this enlightening episode of 'The Soil Network' as we ride along with Mark Richards, a visionary in the world of sustainable farming, in the scenic fields of Dresden, Ontario. In today's conversation, Mark shares his ins...
