Sustaining The Herd
Sustaining the Herd is a resource for all things related to sustainability in animal agriculture. We hope to deliver value to listeners by interviewing industry leaders as well as producers involved in sustainability projects. Every two weeks, we'll give a practical perspective on new technologies as well as new rules and regulations affecting the adoption of sustainability-related technologies such as anaerobic digestion and the production of renewable energy.
Episodes
51 episodes
Renewable Natural Gas Markets with S&P Global Energy
You've likely heard of the S&P 500 index. Well, this episode may not be about that, but it comes close! Andrew and Brock are joined by Lassana Fisiru of S&P Global Energy, where Lassana is a Senior Pricing Specialist covering renewable ...
Designing Low-Stress Cattle Handling Facilities for Safety and Efficiency
Cattle handling is more than chutes and alleys - it's all about moving cattle safely and efficiently. Join Andrew and Brock for Sustaining The Herd's 50th birthday as they sit down with their colleague Jake Mayer, a Professional Engineer at Set...
Anaerobic Digestion: Considerations for Developing Successful Projects
Begin with the end in mind...especially when it comes to anaerobic digestion projects. Join Andrew and Brock in the studio as they take a deep dive on considerations for the development of anaerobic digestion projects. These projects are comple...
Unlocking Sustainability Revenue with Landoption: Finding Value for Producers and Landowners
Andrew and Brock sit down with Eric Dinger of Landoption to dig into how every piece of land can be leveraged to produce revenue while monetizing sustainability efforts. Eric and his team have built a platform trusted advisors can use to help p...
Anaerobic Digester and Grain Bin Cleanouts the Safe and Smart Way Jared Burma of Bristola and Burma Ag
Agriculture has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the world’s most hazardous occupations. Confined spaces like anaerobic digester tanks are particularly dangerous. Our guest Jared Burma is doing his part to make cleaning c...
Working With Producers, For Producers: Nebraska On-Farm Research Network
What do you get when you pair scientific research with real-world farmer know-how? You get the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network! Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down with Adam Leise, who serves as Director of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Ne...
Considerations for Evaluating Agricultural Technologies, Products, and Innovations
How much does it cost? What does it do? Will I be satisfied with this investment decision? You might find yourself asking questions like these when evaluating a new technology, product, or innovation to potentially adopt on your farm. Join Andr...
Dairy Management with Dr. Gordie Jones
Crepuscular: appearing or active in twilight. How can dairy producers benefit by understanding the crepuscular behavior of cows? Ask Dr. Gordie Jones. From veterinarian in private practice to dairy farmer to acclaimed internat...
Roller Compacted Concrete in Beef Cattle Feedlots
Season 3 is just getting started, and we're already on a roll...roller compacted concrete, that is! Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down with a guest who's back by popular demand (and because he has a lot of great knowledge to share). Zach Se...
Sustaining The Herd: Season 2 Year in Review
Episode 42 looks back at Season 2 of Sustaining The Herd. Join Andrew and Brock as they give an episode-by-episode recap of the season's highlights. Want to learn more about an episode or new to Sustaining the Herd? Jump to the episodes that in...
Manure as a Resource—a Change of Perspectives
Manure is a resource. It is also potentially a pollutant and certainly not a “waste”. Brock and Andrew visit with Dr. Amy Schmidt (a.k.a. The Manure Lady), Professor of Animal Manure Management in the Department of Biological Systems Engineerin...
Dairy Manure Management: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
How has manure management evolved over the years? Sit down with Andrew and Brock to answer this question and many more as they're joined by Mark Stoermann of Newtrient to discuss all things related to dairy manure management and anaerobic diges...
Innovations in Animal Agriculture—Past to Present, Accomplishments, and Opportunities
Livestock production doesn't look the same as it did 75 years ago - why might that be? Innovation! Join Andrew and Brock as they take a glance back at the past, assess the present, and look ahead to the future of animal agriculture and agricult...
Cattle Feeding Update: Data, Developments, and Daring to Look Ahead
What does data tell us about the sustainability of cattle feeding today? If you'd like to know, this episode is for you! Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down in the studio with Dr. Jessica Sperber, Assistant Professor of Animal Science and Fe...
Rounding Up The Herd
Andrew and Brock have been busy working on sustainability related projects for clients and need some time to round up The Herd before coming back with another full episode. Tune in today to hear about what Andrew and Brock have been up to and l...
Part 2: Nutrient Management Opportunities and Solutions for Feedlot Anaerobic Digestion Projects
In Episode 35 we talked a lot about challenges associated with digestate nutrient management for feedlot anaerobic digestion projects—that is, the consistency (solids content) and composition (N, P, and K) of what comes out is a lot different t...
Nutrient Management - The Achilles Heel of Feedlot Anaerobic Digestion Projects
Picture this...feedlot manure has been collected from roller compacted concrete pens, fed into an anaerobic digester, and made a lot of renewable natural gas...so now what? There's digestate to handle! And make no mistake - handling liquid dige...
How Consumer Tastes are Driving Pesticide Usage, GMOs, and the Future of U.S. Fruit Production
What is pomology...or a pomologist? Join us for yet another "first" on Sustaining The Herd to find out. Andrew and Brock sit down in the studio with Win Cowgill, Professor Emeritus from Rutgers University, to discuss the science of growing frui...
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture with Dan Kurdys
Most people have heard of artificial intelligence, but does anyone really know how it will impact the future? Join Brock...yes, you read that right...as he hosts solo for the first time without Andrew. Brock sits down in-person with Dan Kurdys ...
Agricultural Security is National Security: How the FBI Protects the Ag Industry From Threats
This episode may not contain top secret information, but it comes close. Join Andrew and Brock as they sit down to interrogate...we mean interview...the FBI! Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge from the FBI Omaha Field Office, joins The Herd ...
Preparing Ag Professionals of the Future
Who will be working in and leading the agriculture industry several decades from now? How will those individuals prepare to take that charge? Andrew and Brock share perspectives on what it means to prepare the ag professionals of the future. Th...
Verifying Sustainability with Doug Stanton
Interested in knowing if the food you eat is sustainably produced and how sustainable production is verified? Are you a food producer looking to verify your production practices in order to access new markets and increase profitability? A...
Settling the Debate on Settleables: What’s Filling My Digester?
An anaerobic digester project developer’s worst nightmare—tanks filled with sand. But is it only sand that settles in digesters? Sand bedding on dairies is an easy target when it comes to digester tanks filled with sand, but there a...
Self Driving Feed Trucks and Precision Cattle Feeding with Jacob Hansen of ALA Engineering
You may have heard of a robotaxi... but have you heard of a robo feed truck--a self-driving feed truck? In this episode of Sustaining the Herd, Andrew and Brock sit down with Jacob Hansen of ALA Engineering. In the words of Jacob, he feeds catt...
LIVE From Biogas Americas in Denver, Colorado
In Episode 27, Andrew Wedel and Brock Vetick record LIVE from the Biogas Americas Conference in Denver, Colorado. They dive into the latest trends shaping the biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, offering insights from the heart of ...
