Decode 6

Not all crops are harvested equal. Nutrient cycling—the transfer of nutrients from the atmosphere, additives, or the soil into plants and back again—has a profound impact on the final product: the crops at harvest. What can farmers do to grow the most nutrient-dense crops possible?

In this episode, agricultural data expert Ben Craker shares invaluable insights on the importance of efficient farm data management, offering practical strategies to optimize agricultural operations and enhance overall farm success.

We’ve talked a lot about big changes that will impact the dairy industry in the next few years. This episode, we dig into small changes you can make now that will impact your dairy’s sustainability.

Anaerobic digesters can turn organic waste into natural gas and nutrient-rich digestate. But how do they work? And when can a digester installation pay for itself on a dairy farm?

Feed additives like 3-NOP can cut enteric methane emissions from cattle by as much as 30%. How do feed additives work? And what costs and opportunities do they provide for farmers?

Cow burps are a big source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Listen in as Dr. Sara Place talks through what enteric methane is, how it forms, and what we can do to reduce it in livestock operations.

U.S. dairies are the source of about 2% of our overall greenhouse gas emissions. Where do these gases come from, and what can we do to reduce them? Dr. Frank Mitloehner of UC Davis is our expert with the answers.

Virtual fence creates invisible movable barriers to manage cattle grazing. Anna Shadbolt, a research associate, and Andy Lawrence, a fourth generation farmer, talk us through the ups and downs of using virtual fence with Andy’s herd of cattle in Colorado.

Soil water potential is a measurement that can help farmers decide when, and how much to irrigate, based on their soil-specific conditions and how much water will actually make it to the crop. Listen in as Leo Rivera, research scientist and Director of Outreach at METER Group, tells us how measuring soil water potential could help improve farm water use efficiency.

Listen in as Alex Taylor, Core Contributor at KlimaDAO and Strategic Advisor for Carbonmark, talks us through the possibilities opened wide by using a public, open, immutable digital ledger for solving the transparency problem facing carbon markets. Visit Decode6.org to learn more.

Nearly 30% of the entire land cover of the United States is rangeland. Finding ways to improve carbon sequestration in rangeland soils can boost soil health, improve farmer profits, and make great use of potential untapped carbon sinks. Listen in as Dr. Megan Nasto walks us through it all. Visit decode6.org for more information about carbon and ecosystem services.

In agriculture, resilience is all about giving plants and the soil their best chance at maintaining yields--or recovering--in the face of more and more unpredictable growing conditions. Listen in as Dianna Bagnall talks us through the relationship between soil health and resilient cropping systems.

Bryan Van Stippen, program director for the National Indian Carbon Coalition, describes how NICC works with indigenous communities in North America to develop carbon sequestration projects, protect tribal natural resources, and generate revenue for land acquisition and community development.

There are three pillars of agriculture: Soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil biology. Meri Mullins will walk us through how measuring soil biology can help you troubleshoot when soil chemistry and soil physics alone aren’t cutting it, giving you better returns on your on-farm investments.

Crop residue is no waste--when left on a field, it’s a great way to boost soil microbial activity and provide nutrients for the next crop.  Listen in as Dr. Jeanette Norton, a soil microbiologist at Utah State University, explains the benefits of leaving crop residue on the soil, the role of microbes in the soil food web, and the benefits of different residue types for supplying nutrients.

It’s tough to get conservation ideas from concept to on-the-ground implementation. Listen as John Swanson talks through how you, too, can ”hit the easy button” on conservation practice implementation.

Precision nutrient management is all about ”spoon-feeding” your crops the right nutrients at the right time, improving efficiency and improving your on-farm return on investment.

Soil supports plant growth, regulates chemical processes, controls and filters water--soil and water interact all the time. So how does soil health impact water quality? Dr. Ron Turco is here with the answers.

Nutrients are essential for us to grow food, feed, fuel, and fiber. But what happens when there’s too much of a good thing? Expert guest Dr. Helen Jarvie is here with the answers.

Back in 2007, Alberta (one of Canada’s 13 provinces) instituted legislation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from large emitters. Part of that legislation included an option to buy carbon credits.  So what can we learn from Alberta’s carbon market? Listen as Sarah Sellars gives us the rundown.

Over 90% of farmers are aware of carbon markets, but only 3% are participating, according to a 2022 report from Trust in Food. So what are the barriers keeping farmers out of carbon markets? Lee Briese, a crop consultant and CCA in central North Dakota, is here with the answers.

When we talk about carbon markets, ”additionality” is one of those terms that’s tough to avoid. But what is additionality? And what does it mean when it comes to agricultural carbon? Join us as Scott Gerlt, chief economist at the American Soybean Association, serves up the answers.

Decarbonization is the push to hit "net zero" or "carbon neutral." It's all about reducing or eliminating carbon emissions from manufacturing and energy production. But what does it have to do with agriculture? Join us as Jim Jordahl, a project analyst at Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute, walks us through the demand for decarbonization and agriculture's prime position as one part of the solution. Curious about carbon and ecosystem service markets and want to learn more?  Check out Decode 6. We're your source of unbiased, scientific, accessible information about carbon and ecosystem services.

Say you’re ready to commit to a carbon program--but you’re not sure about the contract. Here are four questions to ask before signing a carbon contract, with guest Chad Hart.

Voluntary carbon programs are cropping up around the U.S. Chad Hart talks us through the three questions you should ask yourself before even looking at joining a carbon program.

New technologies could be the next big step in helping agricultural and environmental service markets gain ground. Listen as Nate Salpeter talks us through exciting new innovations like biochar, plant sensors, and trading platforms.

If you care about something, you measure it. But it’s one thing to take soil samples in a single field--how do you measure soil health at scale? Dr. Cristine Morgan, Chief Scientific Officer at the Soil Health Institute, is here with the answers.

Carbon markets rely on accurate measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of soil carbon to issue carbon credits. Dr. Jerry Hatfield talks through the challenges facing MRV and what those challenges mean for markets.

Agricultural soils hold great potential for sequestering carbon and improving soil health in the process. But how do you measure soil carbon? Dr. Jason Ackerson, a Research Soil Scientist at the Soil Health Institute, is here with the answers.

Sinking carbon into agricultural soil is a powerful tool in our toolbox to decrease atmospheric carbon. But how do you get carbon into the soil? Dr. Jerry Hatfield is our expert with the answers, breaking down how plants can help boost soil carbon, and what we can do to keep carbon in the soil once it’s there.

This week Chris Boomsma, the Director of Science & Strategy for Decode 6, sat down to tell us: What is Decode 6?