About this episode
Joe Ailts is an agronomist and regenerative farmer in northwest Wisconsin with a deep passion for soil health and plant physiology. On his three-acre home farm, he grows competitive giant pumpkins, sweet corn, and market pumpkins using a regenerative approach that includes cover cropping with rye and Sudan grass. His experience in competitive pumpkin growing has fueled his interest in soil biology, leading him to experiment with mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and nutrient-dense crop production. Through his agronomy company, Ailts Agronomy, Joe works with row crop farmers to integrate soil health practices into their operations. He focuses on bridging the gap between regenerative and conventional farming, helping farmers implement biological inputs to enhance mycorrhizal colonization and crop performance. His research-backed approach has shown promising results, including significant yield responses in both corn following horseradish and in early-planted soybeans. In this episode, John and Joe discuss: How Joe's research with BioCoat Gold has demonstrated a five-bushel average per acre yield increase in corn The surprising ability of mycorrhizal fungi to colonize fungicide-treated seeds The benefits of using a rye cover crop system for weed control and moisture retention A 17-bushel yield increase in corn following horseradish The advantages of early-planted soybeans in northern climates The role of Sudan grass in crop rotations Additional Resources To learn more about Joe and Ailts Agronomy, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/joe.ailts.96 About John Kempf John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it. Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition – a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology. Support For This Show & Helping You Grow Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture. AEA works directly with growers to apply its un
