4 The Soil: A Conversation

S6 - E10: Cover Crops, Wind Erosion, and Snirt with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. II

Soil loss and erosion can occur by rainfall or wind. Kim Melton, the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission, emphasizes that soil loss by wind erosion is farmers' and soil conservationists' number one resource concern because crop fields are so flat throughout the region. The movement of soil off cropland and the landscape by wind or rain means critical nutrients and soil organic matter are also being lost. Building up, maintaining, and keeping soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil through cover crops and crop rotations is particularly important for preventing erosion and retaining moisture. One percent of SOM equates to about an additional 14 days of moisture for crops. Farmers want soil to be a sponge. Similarly, farmers keep the soil covered and armored to prevent "snirt" (that is, snow plus dirt) from sullying road banks and rural views during the winter months.  To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/ [https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/]. For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership [https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership]  If you are interested in working trees and incorporating agroforestry on your farm, please visit the U.S. Forest Services' s National Agroforestry Center for free publications and factsheets at https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.php [https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.php] Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2Fpodcast%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExN0UzV2FlRkVRZ0lidDJqWHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4FURADPk2mPUZpfKNsCG_4_dko8uN_qYS1JoRDONgWLfxGIYyKVgb4U5acBQ_aem__iUuCrZAux40MNJXuNOy3Q&h=AT5m4lNRIY-TQeQvv-0hTerN103e5z78xf4OKICQA-RpNCE49jQQ5gstZdfhlxg2h-aSDx2d1Ml0vlvh_R3ePVIgvdj2Ohhc-VFKVVsfNOu7BzKBGLFWMqUzqAVg1fznAzzEfRs3JLrOeA&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT5GqbuARg5qjJXLEPn9fVg4E0qnWPy5G5D8Z0D39-0iIPwfoqwtp3K1cpJKwfcdHP6kfYMO_J11KOAxuH7WOa9FzIN11wxs4vpaMMvohWwxoCBENPTBJAJM9vR_MK3_hIsaqFo5mgeJ4wlwUD2YsrxF2P_I-yNanAMqCny6cucszZr_SFh_QbIo48bitOdOuZKoKRekChe-Ekq73gnCMKBm] 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 [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2309/4_the_Soil_WPA-Inspired_Poster_-_Keep_the_Soil_Covered.html] posters or a set [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2314/4_the_Soil_Poster_Set.html] of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ [https://4-the-soil.printify.me/] If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center [https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app], a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds] office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension [https://ext.vt.edu/] 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 [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebendfel%40vt.edu%7Cad5cf5af231b4eec750608dde71303e4%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C638920791063683073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T7uE%2FEzUV%2FKokfB%2FKIrpWeq7ts%2FmFZSwHGupQ7sHe6Q%3D&reserved=0]. 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.

S6 - E9: Moving Agriculture Forward with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. I

Keeping soil on the land is a sound way to grow and move agriculture forward. Kim Melton is the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission. Kim coordinates soil health education and outreach across three states, one province, and two countries in the Red River Valley. Kim shares with Mary, Eric, and Jeff how soil health goes beyond just sustaining agriculture to include understanding the marriages of different perspectives among farmers, scientists, and others who can impact agriculture in a positive way.  To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/ [https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/]. For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership [https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership]  Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2Fpodcast%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExN0UzV2FlRkVRZ0lidDJqWHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4FURADPk2mPUZpfKNsCG_4_dko8uN_qYS1JoRDONgWLfxGIYyKVgb4U5acBQ_aem__iUuCrZAux40MNJXuNOy3Q&h=AT5m4lNRIY-TQeQvv-0hTerN103e5z78xf4OKICQA-RpNCE49jQQ5gstZdfhlxg2h-aSDx2d1Ml0vlvh_R3ePVIgvdj2Ohhc-VFKVVsfNOu7BzKBGLFWMqUzqAVg1fznAzzEfRs3JLrOeA&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT5GqbuARg5qjJXLEPn9fVg4E0qnWPy5G5D8Z0D39-0iIPwfoqwtp3K1cpJKwfcdHP6kfYMO_J11KOAxuH7WOa9FzIN11wxs4vpaMMvohWwxoCBENPTBJAJM9vR_MK3_hIsaqFo5mgeJ4wlwUD2YsrxF2P_I-yNanAMqCny6cucszZr_SFh_QbIo48bitOdOuZKoKRekChe-Ekq73gnCMKBm] 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 [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2309/4_the_Soil_WPA-Inspired_Poster_-_Keep_the_Soil_Covered.html] posters or a set [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2314/4_the_Soil_Poster_Set.html] of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ [https://4-the-soil.printify.me/] If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center [https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app], a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds] office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension [https://ext.vt.edu/] 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 [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebendfel%40vt.edu%7Cad5cf5af231b4eec750608dde71303e4%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C638920791063683073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T7uE%2FEzUV%2FKokfB%2FKIrpWeq7ts%2FmFZSwHGupQ7sHe6Q%3D&reserved=0]. 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.

S6 - E8: Healthier Communities, Stronger Economies, and Hippos with Jeff, Mary, and Eric

Soil health is a foundation for healthier communities, stronger economies, and more resilient landscapes. And yes, hippos can be major pests. During this episode of 4 The Soil: A Conversation, Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt share who and what is for(4) the soil.  Celebrating Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, is a great way to build on that foundation.  Tune in, subscribe, and like anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2Fpodcast%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExN0UzV2FlRkVRZ0lidDJqWHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4FURADPk2mPUZpfKNsCG_4_dko8uN_qYS1JoRDONgWLfxGIYyKVgb4U5acBQ_aem__iUuCrZAux40MNJXuNOy3Q&h=AT5m4lNRIY-TQeQvv-0hTerN103e5z78xf4OKICQA-RpNCE49jQQ5gstZdfhlxg2h-aSDx2d1Ml0vlvh_R3ePVIgvdj2Ohhc-VFKVVsfNOu7BzKBGLFWMqUzqAVg1fznAzzEfRs3JLrOeA&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT5GqbuARg5qjJXLEPn9fVg4E0qnWPy5G5D8Z0D39-0iIPwfoqwtp3K1cpJKwfcdHP6kfYMO_J11KOAxuH7WOa9FzIN11wxs4vpaMMvohWwxoCBENPTBJAJM9vR_MK3_hIsaqFo5mgeJ4wlwUD2YsrxF2P_I-yNanAMqCny6cucszZr_SFh_QbIo48bitOdOuZKoKRekChe-Ekq73gnCMKBm] As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning and to follow the four core soil health 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. You're invited to join an online presentation and conversation with previous podcast guest Bob Jones Jr., co-owner and chief executive officer of The Chef’s Garden in Huron, Ohio! "The Chef’s Garden: The Flavor of Health and Resilience" Monday, April 20, 2026 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (EST) Online via Zoom REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/VAF2T-ChefsGarden-register [https://tinyurl.com/VAF2T-ChefsGarden-register?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExN0UzV2FlRkVRZ0lidDJqWHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Mb8Obykv-Hc3jTNHJbzCxJynCbQj5zN7wiIwpCJy6t9y5gFL_tHWIeezBYQ_aem_xurE-mVyxG9pqMIApE_LUQ]   To enjoy recent 4 The Soil blog posts and additional upcoming educational webinars and field days, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/blog [https://www.4thesoil.org/blog] and https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/ [https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/]. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational conservation activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center [https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app], a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds] office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension [https://ext.vt.edu/] 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 [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebendfel%40vt.edu%7Cad5cf5af231b4eec750608dde71303e4%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C638920791063683073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T7uE%2FEzUV%2FKokfB%2FKIrpWeq7ts%2FmFZSwHGupQ7sHe6Q%3D&reserved=0]. 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.

S6 - E7: Vegetable Farming as a Food and Health Business with Bob Jones, Jr., of The Chef's Garden, Part II

Vegetable farming is a food and health business that requires dogged persistence, curiosity, and a no-quit attitude. Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden [https://chefs-garden.com/our-story/]in Huron, Ohio, who has been growing vegetables for over 40 years.  Bob and The Chef's Garden team collaborate with culinary professionals, physicians, and oncologists to test the taste, flavor, aesthetics, nutrient density, and food as the foundation of health. More than 700 chefs tour the farm and exchange ideas in The Chef's Garden's Culinary Vegetable Institute [https://chefs-garden.com/about-the-institute/]. Additionally, they worked with Regenified to certify their farm as regenerative for the practices that nourish healthy soils, water, plants, people, and communities. 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 and allies; avoid leaving soil naked). 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- (Gentle, take it easy). 3) Maximize living roots -- (Keep roots growing) 4) Energize with diversity -- (Thrive with diversity of plants, rotations, and livestock).  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 [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2309/4_the_Soil_WPA-Inspired_Poster_-_Keep_the_Soil_Covered.html] posters or a set [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2314/4_the_Soil_Poster_Set.html] of five posters. If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center [https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app], a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds] office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension [https://ext.vt.edu/] 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 [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebendfel%40vt.edu%7Cad5cf5af231b4eec750608dde71303e4%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C638920791063683073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T7uE%2FEzUV%2FKokfB%2FKIrpWeq7ts%2FmFZSwHGupQ7sHe6Q%3D&reserved=0]. 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.

S6 - E6: Love What You Do: Vegetable Farming with Bob Jones, Jr. of The Chef's Garden, Part I

Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden [https://chefs-garden.com/our-story/]in Huron, Ohio. Bob co-owns the vegetable farm and business with his brother Lee. Bob and his brother love producing and selling flavorful, healthy, nutritious vegetables, microgreens, and edible flowers.  Bob shares the history of The Chef's Garden with Mary, Jeff, and Eric, including a review of Economics 101 from the 1980s when interest rates peaked at 24%, and the farm went from 1,200 to six acres.  Bob and the Chef's Garden team work closely with their customers, culinary professionals, physicians, and oncologists on taste, flavor, aesthetics, nutrient density, and food as the foundation of health. As a certified regenerative farming operation, their vision is to cultivate and nourish healthy soils, healthy plants, healthy people, healthy communities, and ultimately a healthy planet. 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 and allies; avoid leaving soil naked). 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- (Gentle, take it easy). 3) Maximize living roots -- (Keep roots growing) 4) Energize with diversity -- (Thrive with diversity of plants, rotations, and livestock).  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 [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2309/4_the_Soil_WPA-Inspired_Poster_-_Keep_the_Soil_Covered.html] posters or a set [https://www.postersforthepeople.com/store/p2314/4_the_Soil_Poster_Set.html] of five posters. If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center [https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app], a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/swcds] office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension [https://ext.vt.edu/] 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 [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F4thesoil.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebendfel%40vt.edu%7Cad5cf5af231b4eec750608dde71303e4%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C638920791063683073%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T7uE%2FEzUV%2FKokfB%2FKIrpWeq7ts%2FmFZSwHGupQ7sHe6Q%3D&reserved=0]. 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.