The Acres U.S.A. Podcast

In this episode of The Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with David Knaus, founder and president of Apical Crop Science, to explore the world of leaf sap analysis, plant nutrition, and nutrient density.
David explains how leaf sap testing differs from traditional tissue testing and how analyzing both new and old leaves can reveal nutrient imbalances, antagonisms and excesses that may otherwise go unnoticed. The conversation dives into how targeted nutrition can reduce unnecessary inputs, improve crop resilience, and even help growers transition away from pesticides and conventional fertility programs.
They also explore some of the lesser-understood relationships in plant nutrition, including aluminum, silicon, carbon, calcium and sodium, and how these interactions can influence plant health and susceptibility to insects and disease.
The conversation also looks toward the future of agriculture, including Apical's nutrient density testing, secondary metabolites, biofortification, artificial intelligence and the potential for growers to market crops based on their nutritional characteristics.
David will also be speaking at the 51st Annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show, December 1–4, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:
Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/
American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/
Important Links from Today’s Episode:
Members site: https://members.acresusa.com
Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Tickets: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Exhibitor Information: https://conference.eco-ag.com/booth-selection-page-page
Apical Crop Science Website: https://apical-ag-home.com/
David’s Webinar with Acres U.S.A.: https://youtu.be/mMHgzYzOAXk?si=1TepwuSDraVSo5dh

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with David Stelzer, founder of Azure Standard, to hear the story behind one of the country’s largest organic food distribution networks.
David shares how his family’s journey into organic agriculture began in the 1960s after a dramatic change in diet helped restore his health—and how discovering what was being put on conventional seed pushed his father to leave chemical farming behind.
He takes us through the early days of Azure Standard, from delivering grain and flour in an old pickup truck to creating the company’s first catalog and developing the drop-point model that now serves communities across all 50 states. David also discusses the challenges of building a food distribution system outside the traditional supply chain and the unexpected role Y2K played in Azure’s growth.
The conversation dives into the biggest challenges facing organic and regenerative agriculture today, including the lack of domestic production, limited mid-sized processing infrastructure, and the need for private investment in regional food systems.
David will be speaking at Eco-Ag 2026 in Iowa City, December 1–4, focusing on how farmers can connect with consumers and build economically viable markets.
Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:
Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/
American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/
Important Links from Today’s Episode:
Members site: https://members.acresusa.com
Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Tickets: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Exhibitor Information: https://conference.eco-ag.com/booth-selection-page-page
Azure Standard Website: https://www.azurestandard.com/
Pre-Order ‘Seeds of Hope’ (David’s Book): https://www.seedsofhopebook.com/

In memory of Wendell Berry, Acres U.S.A. is opening our archives to share this special recording from the 2007 Acres U.S.A. conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Rather than deliver a traditional speech, Berry chose to read The Requirement, a story about friendship, loss, obligation and what he called “our indispensable principle of neighborhood.”
Following the reading, Berry takes questions from the Acres U.S.A. audience in a wide-ranging conversation about farming, land ownership, community, marriage, raising children, local food systems and the future of agriculture.
Nearly two decades later, much of the conversation feels remarkably current. Berry discusses the difficulty young farmers face because of rising land prices, the importance of adapting agriculture to the land rather than forcing the land to adapt to us, and why real change often comes from ordinary people doing the necessary work on their own farms and in their own communities.
Toward the end of the evening, Berry reflects on how much the alternative agriculture movement had grown since The Unsettling of America was published in 1977. What had once felt like a very small group had grown into a movement being carried forward by farmers and communities across the country.
His closing words seem especially appropriate today:
“Gratitude is the appropriate project for a man of my age.”
We are grateful for Wendell Berry's life, his work, his friendship with Acres U.S.A., and the ideas he leaves behind.
This special episode is presented in memory of Wendell Berry.
Recorded: 2007
Location: Acres U.S.A. Conference, Louisville, Kentucky
Featuring: Wendell Berry
Presented by: Acres U.S.A.
Read Acres U.S.A.'s interview with Wendell Berry: https://members.acresusa.com/remembering-wendell-berry/

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with Keith Berns of Green Cover Seed to explore the powerful resources farmers already have available to them—and how regenerative management can turn those resources into real economic value.
Keith shares the story behind Green Cover Seed and the experiments that convinced him of the power of diverse cover crop mixes. From capturing more sunlight and cycling nitrogen to improving soil structure, infiltration, mineral availability, and biological activity, Keith explains his concept of the “Farmer’s Free Lunch”—seven resources that are freely available but only become valuable when farmers manage their systems to capture and utilize them.
The conversation dives deep into the relationship between cover crops, livestock, soil biology, carbon, and nitrogen, including how farmers without cattle can still benefit from grazing partnerships and how virtual fencing technology could make integrating livestock onto crop ground more practical. Keith also discusses Green Cover’s own return to cattle, their plans for establishing perennial pasture, and strategies for extending the grazing season.
The episode wraps up with practical cover crop recommendations for late summer and fall planting, along with a look ahead to Keith’s upcoming presentation at Eco-Ag 2026 in Iowa City. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about reducing dependence on purchased inputs, rebuilding soil, and learning to work with the resources already present on the farm.
Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:
Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/
American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/
Important Links from Today’s Episode:
Members site: https://members.acresusa.com
Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Tickets: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Exhibitor Information: https://conference.eco-ag.com/booth-selection-page-page
Green Cover Website: https://greencover.com/

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with longtime organic and biodynamic farmer Jeff Poppen to get practical about how he has built a resilient vegetable-growing system over decades.
Jeff shares how healthy soil structure, generous applications of compost, cover crops, mineral management, careful crop rotation, and well-timed tillage allow him to conserve moisture and grow vegetables without irrigation. He explains his “dust mulch” approach to reducing evaporation, why he believes farmers should let microbes do as much of the tillage as possible, and the mistakes he made along the way—including over-tilling and failing to properly manage soil fertility.
The conversation also explores Jeff’s philosophy of farming without plastic, from using old-fashioned cold frames instead of hoop houses to relying on seasonal production and helping customers preserve large quantities of food. He walks through a four-year vegetable rotation and explains why patience, observation, and building soil before planting can ultimately make farming easier and more productive.
A practical conversation packed with decades of hard-earned lessons on soil, water conservation, crop rotation, livestock integration, and farming in harmony with the land.
Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:
Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/
American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/
Important Links from Today’s Episode:
Members site: https://members.acresusa.com
Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Tickets: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/
Eco-Ag 2026 Exhibitor Information: https://conference.eco-ag.com/booth-selection-page-page
Jeff’s Books: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/search?q=jeff+poppen
Jeff’s Website: https://barefootfarmer.com/