4 The Soil: A Conversation

Soil. What is it, really? It’s more than the dirt under our feet and the ground we stand on. Soil is living and life-giving. Listen in as we unlock the mysteries of soil by speaking with people at the forefront of the soil health movement. “4 The Soil: A Conversation” is part of the 4 The Soil Awareness Campaign led by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The campaign’s purpose is to raise awareness of soil as a critical agricultural and natural resource for social, economic, and environmental health. The podcast is a collaboration of Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, On The Farm Radio, USDA-NRCS, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition with specific funding from the Agua Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Virginia Tech’s Department of Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education’s Community Viability grant program. Hear and learn from farmers, agricultural professionals, conservation leaders, master gardeners, and many more on how and why to be 4 The Soil.

4 The Soil: A Conversation is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts 4 The Soil: A Conversation, a education show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #17

  S6 - E17: Strip Till Farming and Adding Market Value with P.J. Haynie III of Haynie Family Foods, Pt. I

  Aug 18, 202619 minS6

  How do row-crop farmers in the Northern Neck of Virginia practice soil and water conservation and add market value to their farming operations? Philip "P.J." Haynie III of Haynie Family Foods and Haynie Farms, LLC. spoke with Jeff, Mary, and Eric on his way back from the Arkansas Delta about his family's conservation and market expansion measures. P.J. is a fifth generation row-crop farmer who farms in four counties in Virginia and four counties in Arkansas. The Haynies grow winter wheat, barley, and canola as part of their corn and soybean rotation in Virginia. Strip-till and banding fertilizer in the root zone are common soil health and precision agriculture techniques for corn and soybean growers to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied and limit the chance of soil and nutrient runoff. In 2024, P.J. and his family established Haynie Family Foods to focus on adding market value by bringing high-quality, sustainabily grow grain products directly to consumers. His family's Arkansas Delta-grown offerings include long-grain white rice, medium-grain white rice, long-grain brown rice, medium-grain brown rice, and aromatic rice. In addition to studying and graduating with a degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech , P.J. was an active member and leader in the university's chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) . P.J. currently serves as a director on the National Black Growers Council 's board. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center , a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

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  Episode #16

  S6 - E16: Building Community and Landscape Resiliency with Justin Proctor of Smithsonian's Virginia Working Landscapes, Part II

  Aug 4, 202619 minS6

  Would you like to be part of a community that protects grassland bird species and builds landscape resiliency? Justin Proctor, coordinator of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative of the Smithsonian Institute's Virginia Working Landscapes ' program, shares how they are building a community and are able to offer incentive payments to farmers and landowners willing to adopt bird-friendly management practices that better accommodate birds' nesting seasons and habits. Two bird-friendly practices that Justin highlights out of ten best management practices include adjusting the cutting height when harvesting hay and delay cutting until after July 1. Additionally, Justin emphasizes how important building community is around shared values (e.g., clean air, water quality, soil health, farmland protection, etc.) and getting out to meet your neighbor. If this episode, Jeff lays out a specific land ownership and management scenario for Justin and asks how he would work with the landowner to address resource concerns, management objectives, common interests, and discuss incentives for management of grassland birds. Walking the farmland with the owner is one of the initial steps but Justin also recommends reading their booklet Meet Your Virginia Grassland Birds , which is available in English and Spanish. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center , a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

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  Episode #15

  S6 - E15: Grassland Birds and Forages with Justin Proctor of the Smithsonian's Virginia Working Landscapes

  Jul 21, 202620 minS6

  Do you love to watch birds? Are you occasionally surprised on a morning walk by the flutter and fury of birds emerging from a nearby tree or grassland? Justin Proctor, coordinator of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative of the Smithsonian Institute's Virginia Working Landscapes ' program, shares his insights, expertise, and passion for his work with Jeff, Mary, and Eric. Justin also emphasized that more than 60 bird species depend on Virginia grassland for their habitat and survival. Virginia is unique as a migratory fly zone where many migrating birds will briefly stop in fields to rest and refuel before continuing a northward migration in the spring and southward migration in the fall. Therefore, knowing nesting times, habitat protection strategies, and migration patterns are critical to help these species to flourish. If this episode encouraged you to enhance the habitat for grassland birds on your farmland, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative has plenty of practical factsheets, educational workshops, incentive programs, and partners to assist you. For those interested in hosting a conservation-minded speed-dating workshop, please refer to this event planning guide and checklist . Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center , a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

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  Episode #14

  S6 - E14: Keeping Soil Active with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland

  Jul 7, 202618 minS6

  What do healthy soils and healthy people have in common? According to Dr. Ray Weil, they both thrive when they're kept active. And just like staying active begins with a purpose, every successful cover crop system starts with a goal. Jeff, Mary, and Eric continue their conversation with Dr. Weil of the University of Maryland, exploring how your objectives—from reducing erosion and improving water infiltration to building soil health and increasing resilience—should guide every cover crop decision. Along the way, Dr. Weil explains how living roots keep soils active, feeding the biology belowground, and strengthening the system over time. Whether you're new to cover crops or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers practical insights grounded in decades of research and real-world experience. If this episode got you thinking more deeply about cover crop systems, the University of Maryland’s Cover Crop Innovation Center is a great next stop—dig into how researchers are keeping living roots in the ground year-round and rewriting what “resting soil” really means. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center , a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

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  Episode #13

  S6 - E13: A Life Rooted in Soil Health with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland

  Jun 23, 202622 minS6

  In this special National Soil Health Day episode, Jeff, Mary, and Eric talk with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland. An internationally recognized soil scientist, Dr. Weil shares how a desire to make a difference in the world led him from an interest in medicine to a lifelong career in soil science. The conversation explores his early experiences managing an organic farm, decades of work pioneering cover crop research, and his belief that plants are among the most powerful tools for improving soil health. From living roots and plant diversity to soil biology and resilient farming systems, Dr. Weil highlights how working with nature and using plants to feed and protect the soil can benefit both the soil and the people who depend on it. In celebration of National Soil Health Day, keep the learning going by reading and watching! Dive into The Nature and Properties of Soils , co-authored by Dr. Ray Weil, and then head to YouTube to watch In the Soil Pit #1 with Professor Ray Weil: Soil Horizons . Whether you're new to soil science or a longtime enthusiast, these resources bring the world beneath our feet to life! Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, or how you can celebrate National Soil Health Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, call or visit a USDA Service Center , a V irginia Soil and Water Conservation District office , or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

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