Join us for a Profitable and Resilient Farms workshop, Brookings SD July 8th and 9th understandingag.com/upcoming…

"If you cut back on fertilizer, you'll mine your soil." Fair concern. Wrong mine. understandingag.com/are-you-…

This is what well aggregated clay soil can look like. Zero tillage, living roots, diverse rotations, integration of ruminants with rotational grazing. The Devil is in the Detail. March 14, 2026 the last day of winter here in my corner of 🇨🇦

Cover crops aren’t just a soil practice—they’re a systems strategy: more living roots, flexibility, and a real option to pivot when feed prices spike or grain prices drop. Make them pay double dividends with grazing: understandingag.com/making-c… @UnderstandingAg

When we think of a generational farm we often think of multiple generations from the same family working the land over the course of centuries. Brian Dougherty and Sara Faivre are seeking to start a generational farm that is generational in it's founding.

Check out the @AcresUSA Eco Ag Conference in Madison, WI. I'll be discussing Building Profit and Resilience With a Systems Approach to Biological Farming. Looking forward to representing @UnderstandingAg and joining a great lineup of speakers. conference.acresusa.com/regi…

Just Get pH Right? Does getting soil pH “right” lead to more nutrient availability? Yes, but also no. Life in the soil is not one dimensional. When considering pH, we should also be considering Eh (soil redox potential). There are management decisions that can influence both pH and Eh, and these two metrics should be thought of together. Redox Potential (Reduction and Oxidation) Reduction= gain of electrons (H ) Oxidation= loss of electrons or gain of Oxygen To make it easier to understand, I think about a plant oxidizing the atmosphere (adding oxygen) and the roots reducing (adding H ) to the soil. Reference the Pourbaix diagram I’ve attached to see how pH and Eh relate. There are more of these charts you can find to see where different nutrients may become available to the crop. You can find this by looking for Olivier Husson’s work. It makes sense why pH is considered and Eh is not. pH can actually be measured on a soil test. But even pH is not static even though we treat it like it is. Either way, there are management choices that will impact both. Here are some examples of an overly oxidized, reduced, and a more balanced system. Overly Oxidized: -frequent tillage -dry soil conditions, low residue cover -low OM/low WEOC -nitrate based fertility -low biological activity All results in high Eh and slightly alkaline conditions plus nutrient tie-ups Overly Reduced: -heavy clay w/ poor drainage -high OM and/ or manure inputs -compacted, anaerobic subsoil -waterlogged for extended periods of time All results in low Eh and more acidic conditions plus anaerobic microbial activity. Blueish gray looking soil that might smell rotten. A more balanced system: -living roots as much as possible -minimal tillage -mixed nitrogen sources -good biological activity -ground cover -aggregated soil All results in moderate Eh and slightly acidic to neutral pH. Leads to nutrient cycling and resilience.

There's still time to apply for Nuffield USA 2026 agricultural scholarships. Travel the world and connect with an amazing network while studying a topic of your choice Learn more and apply here:nuffieldusa.com/scholarships

Been looking at the @AHDB_BeefLamb data on beef cow profitability The data is a little out of date now… But here’s a few takeaways…

Honored to be on the @AcresUSA podcast to discuss revitalizing farms #regenerativeagriculture facebook.com/share/p/1CeSKsi…

There's still time to register for the September 23rd workshop in Charles City IA where we will explore a different way to farm that builds profit and resilience while improving your land for the next generation. RSVP here: understandingag.regfox.com/u…

Join Understanding Ag Consultant Brian Dougherty in Charles City, IA, on September 23 for a hands-on workshop exploring soil regeneration, nutrient management, and profitable crop-livestock integration. understandingag.regfox.com/u…

Check out this @UnderstandingAg workshop focused on dealing with the root causes of ecological dysfunction and financial stress on farms. Great opportunity to network and see positive change in action @joiafoodfarm RSVP here: understandingag.regfox.com/u…

Hot, humid, and thriving: Keys to cattle comfort in summer When the summer sun blazes, are your cattle thriving or just surviving? In this timely blog, UA's Allen Williams, Ph.D. shares practical, proven strategies to help your herd beat the heat. understandingag.com/keys-to-…

On this edition of the Strip-Till Farmer #podcast, brought to you by Environmental Tillage Systems (@SoilWarrior), Understanding Ag consultant Brian Dougherty gets to the root of compaction. ow.ly/5qay50WvgjO

Big News from Understanding Ag! We’ve officially launched UA-UK, our new, UK-registered subsidiary of Understanding Ag, LLC—bringing regenerative agriculture expertise to farms across the United Kingdom and Europe! Read more. morningagclips.com/understan…

Which field received the biggest benefit of the 3" rain? Water infiltration is key for water being available during the hot, dry months. 1" of rain = 27,000 gallons of water. Almost 1gal per #corn plant! Also, compaction slows infiltration waaaay down. ⁦@UMNExt⁩ @soilhealth

Enjoyed discussing how agriculture can be a solution to water quality problems rather than a cause on the Working Cows podcast. youtu.be/tfsRX1erLgA?si=rGhA…