The Whole Farm Podcast

A Pesticide Scientist Approaches Research on Regenerative Citrus Farming with Herb Young

In this episode of the Whole Farm Podcast brought to you by CHONEX, host Michael Piscotta sits down with regenerative citrus grower Herb Young for a deep, practical conversation on soil biology, organic citrus production, microbial inoculants, cover crops, and nutrient density. Herb shares his unique journey from a 38-year career in the pesticide industry to becoming a certified organic and certified regenerative citrus grower in South Georgia. What began as an economic experiment in organic citrus turned into a full transformation in how Herb views farming, soil life, plant health, and food quality. Throughout the episode, Herb walks through real-world observations and research from his own grove, including replicated trials comparing conventional, organic, and regenerative systems. He discusses soil DNA testing, Haney soil health testing, microbial respiration, cover crop diversity, mycorrhizal fungi, freeze resilience, foliar nutrition, and the surprising nutrient-density differences he found in his regeneratively grown fruit. Herb’s story is a powerful example of what happens when a grower combines curiosity, research discipline, biological thinking, and real-world measurement. His work in regenerative citrus shows that soil health is not just a philosophy. It can be observed, tested, compared, and connected to tree resilience, fruit quality, and long-term farm performance. To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.

Fighting Farm Pests By Improving Plant Sap with Dr. Dykstra

In this episode of The Whole Farm Podcast, presented by CHONEX, we welcome back Dr. Tom Dykstra for Part 2 of our conversation on plant health, Brix, and insect resistance. In this episode, Dr. Dykstra walks through his leaf Brix insect chart and explains how different Brix levels relate to plant health, insect feeding behavior, disease pressure, and crop resilience.  Dr. Dykstra explains why he focuses on leaf Brix rather than fruit, stem, or root Brix when evaluating plant health. He breaks down what different Brix ranges can indicate, from plants that may require “force feeding,” to plants beginning to develop stronger secondary metabolites, to healthier plants that are better able to resist insects and disease. He also discusses how different insect groups—aphids, sucking insects, chewing insects, and grasshoppers—tend to correspond with different plant health levels.  The conversation then turns practical, with a focus on how farmers can use this information in the field. Dr. Dykstra emphasizes the importance of sugar, carbon, and micronutrients in supporting microbial activity, improving plant function, and increasing Brix levels. He explains why sugar applications are often the first step when dealing with very low-Brix plants, and why micronutrient availability can become a limiting factor in photosynthesis and plant performance.  We also discuss how Brix testing can fit alongside traditional scouting practices. Dr. Dykstra shares that farmers may see measurable plant response within 24 to 72 hours after applying the right nutrition, and that Brix can help show whether a treatment is moving the plant in the right direction. The episode explores how this approach compares to conventional insecticide responses, especially when growers are trying to stop insect feeding before crop damage worsens.  Later in the episode, Dr. Dykstra connects Brix and soil health to drought resilience, explaining how carbon, sugar, organic matter, and microbial activity all influence water retention in the rhizosphere. He also shares his perspective on nitrogen management, including why excess salt-based nitrogen applications may lower Brix and how free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria can support crops when soil biology is functioning well.  This episode is a practical follow-up for growers, agronomists, and soil health professionals who want to better understand how plant health measurements can inform pest management, nutrient decisions, and whole-farm resilience. In This Episode *  Why Dr. Dykstra focuses on leaf Brix as a plant health measurement  *  What different Brix ranges can tell farmers about plant stress and resilience  *  How insect feeding groups relate to plant Brix levels  *  Why sugar and carbon are central to soil biology and plant health  *  The role of micronutrients in photosynthesis and Brix response  *  How quickly farmers may see a response after nutritional applications  *  Why Brix testing can complement traditional insect scouting  *  How soil carbon and microbial activity support drought resilience  *  Dr. Dykstra’s perspective on nitrogen, salt-based fertilizers, and plant health  *  Why “you can’t change what you don’t measure” applies to both soil and plants  To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.

Understanding Brix, Plant Health & Insect Behavior with Dr. Tom Dykstra

In this episode of the Whole Farm Podcast, Michael Pisciotta and Les Riley from CHONEX sit down with Dr. Tom Dykstra to explore the connection between plant health, Brix levels, and insect behavior. Dr. Dykstra breaks down what Brix really measures and challenges the common belief that insects avoid high-sugar plants. Instead, he explains how pests are drawn to unhealthy crops with incomplete proteins, and how Brix can serve as a simple, real-time indicator of plant health in the field. This conversation reframes insects as indicator species and shifts the focus from spraying pests to improving plant physiology. Key topics: - What Brix actually measures - Why insects target unhealthy plants - The truth behind the “12 Brix rule” - Using Brix as a field-ready diagnostic tool Tools Mentioned: Refractometer (Brix meter) - Affordable models: ~$20–$50 - Digital models: $100–$300+ Coming Next Part 2 of this conversation will focus on practical, in-field strategies growers can use to improve plant health, increase Brix levels, and reduce pest pressure naturally. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss this conversation! See More of Dr. Dykstra's Research and Talks at: https://dykstralabs.com/video-presentations/ Learn more about CHONEX at: chonex.ag To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.

Vineyard Soil Health & Microbial Biology: Improving Vine Resilience with Misha Vandal

What if the biggest lever for healthier vines, better fruit quality, and more resilient vineyards is belowground? In this episode, microbiologist and Napa Valley vineyard consultant Misha Vandal shares results from multi-site vineyard trials focused on soil health, vineyard management, and rebuilding microbial communities. We dig into how shifting the soil microbiome can support nutrient cycling, reduce fungal disease pressure, and even improve yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN)—a key quality metric for winemaking. Misha also explains why compost teas can work but often don’t scale, and what makes a broad microbial community approach more consistent than single-strain inoculants. If you manage wine grapes and are navigating heat stress, drought, grapevine red blotch, trunk diseases, or soil carbon decline, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why vineyard soil biology is becoming central to modern viticulture * How soil microbial imbalance can contribute to vine stress and decline * Key grower challenges: heat, drought, water stress, viral disease, and trunk diseases * Trial results showing increases in beneficial microbes (including Pseudomonas and Bacillus) * How one site moved from 0 YAN to 80 mg/L YAN after treatments * Compost tea: why it’s valuable—and why it’s hard to scale across large acreage * Practical tips for pairing microbial applications with biochar, soy hydrolysate, minerals, and low-dose sugars About Our Guest: Misha Vandal Misha Vandal is a microbiologist and independent crop consultant based in Napa Valley. With a background in microbial ecology and soil biology, he specializes in integrating regenerative agriculture practices into vineyard nutrient management systems. Listen Now If you’re navigating vine decline, nutrient inefficiency, or soil degradation in your vineyard, this episode offers practical, research-backed insight into how rebuilding soil microbial communities can support stronger vines and better wine. To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.

Soil Health in Action: The Science of Microbial Functional Groups with Lynn Rogers

What does real soil health look like under the microscope — and how can farmers use biology to improve nutrient efficiency, crop yields, and resilience? In this episode of The Whole Farm Podcast by CHONEX, we feature a deep dive into soil health with Lynn Rogers, CEO & President of Microbial Matrix Systems Inc. With more than 23 years of experience working alongside farmers and biological manufacturers, Lynn breaks down the science behind soil microbiology in a practical, field-ready way for farmers and agronomists. You’ll learn how specific microbial functional groups influence nutrient cycling, fertilizer use efficiency, soil structure, and plant performance — and why timing, activation, and formulation matter in production agriculture. Whether you grow corn, soybeans, cotton, specialty crops, or perennials, this episode provides practical insights into improving soil health while protecting yield potential. In This Episode, We Cover: The 7 Key Microbial Functional Groups That Drive Soil Health * Endospore-forming bacteria (Bacillus, Paenibacillus) and soil structure improvement * Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the nitrogen cycle * Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and nutrient availability across soil pH ranges * Pseudomonads and plant growth hormones (IAA) * Cellulose degraders and soil organic matter * Chitin-utilizing bacteria and disease suppression * Heterotrophic bacteria and nutrient cycling Nitrogen Efficiency & Fertilizer Timing * How microbes help synchronize nitrogen release with crop demand * Understanding nitrification, ammonification, and nutrient “banking” * Addressing common myths about nitrogen-fixing microbes Soil Structure, Salinity & Drought Stress * Exopolysaccharide production and soil aggregation * Improving water infiltration and root penetration * Mitigating salt stress and compaction challenges Functional Group Assessment & Direct Microscopy * Measuring microbial activity in soil * Evaluating biological products for performance * Why microbial biomass matters for long-term soil health Plant–Microbe Communication & Quorum Sensing * How microbes and plants communicate * Induced systemic resistance (ISR) * Microbial signaling in disease suppression and nutrient uptake Full yield potential is established at planting, and it diminishes throughout the season due to stress, nutrient loss, compaction, pathogens, and environmental conditions. Biologicals and bio-stimulants, when properly formulated and timed, can help preserve yield potential by: * Enhancing fertilizer use efficiency * Unlocking tied-up nutrients * Supporting root development * Improving soil structure * Building long-term soil health resilience This episode bridges soil microbiology and practical agronomy, helping you understand how soil health translates into performance in the field. Episode Presented By: Lynn Rogers CEO & President, Microbial Matrix Systems Inc. Listen now to learn how functional soil biology can strengthen your nutrient management program and improve whole-farm soil health. To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag. If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.