{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Digging In with UFA","title":"Digging In with UFA - The Ground Truth - Soil Health in Agriculture","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2389,"description":"Soil means everything. Without healthy soil, you have no crop and without a crop you have no product. Though we understand the importance of crop yield and agricultural output, are we paying enough attention to the soil? As larger format operations boom alongside local family farms, we want to dig in and see just what can be done about giving back to the land. What is the importance of a cover crop and why is it useful to farmers during on and off season? What is the importance of SAP testing, used to measure the nutrient density and health of plant tissue? How does the presence of Actinomycetes infer a fertile soil? In this episode, we’re digging deep to get to the root of Soil Health in Agriculture.\nMeet Our Guests\nTannis Axten, Co-Owner of Axten Family Farms\nAxten Family Farms was the first Canadian farm to earn Regenified certification. Tannis and her family have transformed their operation through low disturbance farming, intercropping, cover crops, pollinator habitat and livestock integration. Their commitment to rebuilding soil health has led to dramatic improvements in soil structure, aggregation, infiltration and biological life—including earthworm populations and living roots year-round. Beyond agronomy, the Axtens have also built a food-grade seed cleaning plant, flour mill and packaging line to add value to their grains. Tannis is known for her curiosity, honesty about the ups and downs of regenerative farming and her relentless drive to “give back to the soil” every season.\nBlain Hjertaas, Rancher and Holistic Management Educator  \nAfter spending his first 25 years farming the conventional “high-tech” way, Blain transitioned to a grass-based, Holistic Management system that emphasizes adaptive multi-paddock grazing, plant diversity, and rebuilding soil function. Today, he supports producers across the prairies by measuring soil carbon and water holding improvements on working farms and by coaching families through practical, profitability focused...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ODB7TmynpgaU_E05SvgHgF0K2fA_m55zUjey1VqRfbY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jYjFm/MzU4ZWM5NDg4NTAz/MDJjMGMyNTBmYjUx/MmJlNS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}