Tim and Tyler Nuss started “The Modern Acre” podcast in 2018 to learn more about agriculture and connect with the family farm — and as a way to “talk to smart folks that probably otherwise wouldn’t take our call,” says Tim. Six years and more than 300 episodes later, “The Modern Acre” is thriving. Through interviews with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, conventional farmers, and innovators in ag technology, Tim and Tyler explore all things relevant to running an agricultural business. Episodes feature topics as diverse as emerging market trends; sustainability solutions such as carbon sequestration and carbon markets; and the latest in ag tech (think laser weeders, AI-based crop modelers, and on-farm robots to address widespread labor shortages). New episodes drop every Tuesday, and listeners can opt to join The Modern Acre Co-op, a members-only community offering exclusive content such as custom episodes, monthly “lunch-and-learn” calls with industry insiders, and more. Those interested can sign up for a subscription, starting from $6.99 per month, on THEMODERNACRE.COM . Here are a handful of episodes to get started, including some of Tim’s top picks.
Listen to these episodes for an introduction and overview on the principles and background of regenerative farming:
EPISODE 146 INVESTING IN AND OPERATING REGENERATIVE COMPANIES, WITH LEW MOORMAN, CO-FOUNDER OF SOILWORKS NATURAL CAPITAL EPISODE 149 BRINGING CONTEXT TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE WITH GABE BROWN EPISODE 164 FUNDING REGENERATIVE AG TRANSITIONS WITH DAN MILLER, FOUNDER AND CEO OF STEWARD EPISODE 183 UNDERSTANDING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE WITH JOHN KEMPF
Listen to Tim’s picks:
EPISODE 280 THE STORY OF MAUI NUI VENISON — WILD, STRESS-FREE MEAT WITH FOUNDER AND CEO JAKE MUISE Tim’s take: “We’ve covered all things food and ag, and this deep-dive into a business that’s not really traditional farming or agronomy, but rather features a unique business model, is really interesting.” EPISODE 348 THE NOT-SO-SECRET CORRUPTION OF AMERICA’S FOOD SYSTEM WITH AUSTIN FRERICK, AUTHOR OF “BARONS: MONEY, POWER, AND THE CORRUPTION OF AMERICA’S FOOD INDUSTRY” Tim’s take: “This conversation had me, as a producer, feeling like I was playing a rigged game, and as a consumer feeling like we’re getting screwed on the other side of the equation. I was left thinking, ‘What do I do with this information?’” EPISODE 351 DAVID FRIEDBERG ON JOINING OHALO GENETICS AS CEO, GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGY, AND AG TECH TRENDS Tim’s take: “An interesting guest who’s done a lot in his career. This episode discusses some of the big challenges in ag tech and a conversation with someone who has succeeded where a lot of companies have failed.”
Regenerative farming “is still pretty nascent with respect to vegetables,” Tim tells The Rooted Journal on a tour of the farm. “We just wanted to find better ways to farm, and hopefully get a head start,” he adds, in showing “that this is a viable route, so other farmers could try to move in this direction.”
Ultimately, the Nuss family brings a desire to see the land thrive for generations to come, not just as growers but also, notably, as consumers. The next generation in the family is coming up: Both Tim and Tyler have young daughters, with Tim expecting his second in the fall. They want, at heart, what’s best for the land but also what’s best for their young families. Looking out at the riparian habitat he helped restore, Tim says he and his family “think it’s important to adopt” regenerative practices, even if there may not be a clear return on investment to all of them. The focus is instead on improving soil health in the long-term, and attracting wildlife to the farm, he adds. “By figuring out what works here, and what will give us a better result, and by being mindful about what we’re putting back into the soil, we’re moving in the right direction,” he says. “It’s what we want to do as a farm, and the message we want to send.”
Other episodes worth a listen:
EPISODE 200 OUR DAD (!!!) ON NUSS FARMS, CALIFORNIA AG, AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE This episode, featuring Tim and Tyler in conversation with their father Dave Nuss, provides a great overview of the history of Nuss Farms and its transition to a regenerative model. EPISODE 353 THE CASE FOR ORGANIC WITH KELLY DAMEWOOD, CEO OF CCOF Tim and Tyler tackle the hot-button issue of organic farming and organic certification with the CEO of California Certified Organic Farmers, one of the first organic certification agencies.
Visit NUSSFARMS.COM to learn more.
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FAMILY VALUES
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