AgEmerge Podcast 183 with James Hepp

Rockwell City native James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. So how did he get to be farming thousands of acres and a Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner? About Our Guest: James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. Hepp attended Northwest Missouri State University, where he earned a degree in agricultural business and started his career as a crop insurance adjuster after graduation. In 2019, the opportunity to work with a high school friend’s father, who was nearing retirement, led to a crop-share arrangement and opened the door for Hepp to farm full time. At the same time, Hepp started up his own crop insurance agency. Hepp now manages about 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and small grains as a first-generation farmer. Hepp also runs an ag retail business selling lots of regenerative products he uses on his acres. With support from his landlord, Hepp incorporates a wide range of conservation and soil-health building practices on his acres, including cover crops, buffer strips, no-till, strip-till, split-applied nitrogen, variable rate seeding, and much more. Hepp is passionate about showing others how to implement conservation practices that protect soil and water quality through field days held annually on his farm. He is also involved in the local fire department and is a past president of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau. In 2024, James earned the Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Environmental Leadership Award. Navigating Farm Transitions, Conservation, and Innovation with James Hepp In this episode, James Hepp shares his inspiring journey from a non-traditional farming background to becoming a full-time, innovative no-till farmer. He discusses transitioning practices, cover crops, soil health, and water quality—offering practical advice for farmers looking to adapt and improve sustainably. Timestamps 00:29 - Introduction to James Hepp's farming story and background 05:44 - Growth of farm acreage and shift to no-till and regenerative practices 06:35 - Balancing family life and farming full-time with young children 07:05 - Diversification: cover crops, regenerative products, and livestock 08:14 - The challenge of farm succession and transition for older farmers 11:55 - Foundations of risk management: having legal agreements in writing 12:24 - Financial and land management strategies with landowners 13:07 - The benefits of innovative lease agreements and crop share options 16:22 - The mindset of free-thinking farmers and stepping outside of traditional practices 17:25 - Risk mitigation: equipment setup, safety, and exit strategies 22:31 - The advantages of simulated rent and crop sharing models 30:02 - Fertilizer timing, fertilizer reduction, and nutrient placement strategies 34:15 - Cover crop choices: triticale, rye, camelina, and their benefits 36:11 - The economics of strip tillage and equipment investment 38:48 - Practical tips for planting soybeans no-till in different row widths 43:18 - Managing cover crop seeding with drone technology and timing considerations 44:36 - Growing seed oats and low-input, high-return cover crops 54:20 - Water quality challenges, policy, and personal responsibility in Iowa 55:48 - The need for a systems approach, collaboration, and conservation policies 65:21 - Final thoughts: encouragement for farmers to innovate and lead Resources & Links Rockwell City, Iowa (local context) Des Moines Water Works Soil health research by Richard Mulvaney Crop insurance programs Cover crop seed providers No-till conference insights Crop and soil testing services Regenerative ag products: Spray Tech Iowa Farm Bureau Roots Program Water quality policy initiatives in Iowa Connect with James Hepp LinkedIn Twitter Rockwell City farm website