Under The Covers
Under the Covers is a farmer-led agriculture podcast hosted by Bill Frederick and James Holz, Iowa farmers and founders of Iowa Cover Crop.
Each episode is recorded during a game of cribbage. When the game ends, the episode ends.
We’re working Midwest farmers who built an independent seed business rooted in practical farming and sustainable agriculture. The unfiltered conversations we’ve had for years, in the seed shed, at the farm gate, and over a few pond beers, are now on the record.
This show is about modern agriculture, the real decisions, tradeoffs, and debates shaping farming today.
We talk about:
Midwest farming and row crop agriculture
Regenerative agriculture and soil health
Cover crops
Water quality and land stewardship
Small grains, forages, alfalfa, turf, and native seeding
Cattle, grazing systems, and pasture management
Farm profitability and business strategy
Rural economics and agricultural policy
Some episodes are light.
Some will tackle harder issues.
All of them are grounded in the reality of actual working Iowa farms.
We don’t script it.
We won’t always agree.
We sort it out as we go.
It’s honest farm talk, all our cards on the table.
Follow us on social media @iowacovercrop
Under The Covers
All Things Oats
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Bill and James talk about oat season for 2026. Oats don’t always get much attention in Iowa agriculture, but they’ve earned a spot in our system.
In this episode, Bill and James break down what it actually takes to grow oats. From planning and planting to figuring out where they fit in the rotation, this is a real-world look at what’s working, what’s not, and why oats might be worth a second look.
If you’ve been thinking about small grains, this is a good place to start.
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Find us on social media in between episodes on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercrop
Instagram: @iowacovercrop
X: @iacovercrop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercrop
Learn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com