PODCAST · science
The Prairie Farm Podcast
by Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher
All things conservation, prairie, gardening, hunting, and farming.From the fore-most voices of conservation and prairie to your casual backyard garden lovers, we’ve picked some of the most interesting brains around. Don’t miss it.
Episodes
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Ep. 401 (Coffee Time) What Happened to All The Different Tractor Companies??
Harvest has the Hoksey crew running on fumes and fighting old combines, so naturally we’re talking tractors. Nicolas, Kent, and Judd dig into how John Deere, Case IH, Allis-Chalmers, Oliver, and Ford got where they are, why farmers stay loyal to one color, and what right to repair means today....
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Ep. 400 Iowa's New Trail Camera Rule, Cross Bows, Drones, CWD, and Is Iowa REALLY The Trophy Buck State?
Iowa DNR state deer biologist Jace Elliott sits down with Nicolas and Kent to talk about the new trail camera ban on public land, drones for deer recovery, nonresident tags, crossbows, and chronic wasting disease, including surprising new data on genetic resistance that has even the experts...
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Ep. 399 (Coffee Time) Harvest Week is Stressful! And Noise Pollution for People and Animals
Harvest is here and the crew is running on fumes. Nicolas, Kent, Riley, and Judd talk through a stacked week of native seed harvest, then dig into the science of sound: how traffic noise steals sleep and health, and why birdsong, running water, and prairie soundscapes actually lower your stress....
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Ep. 398 Hunting Trail Cameras, The Upcoming CRP Cliff, and Why Land Prices Are Stagnant
Realtor and CRP planter Steve Hansen joins Nicolas and Kent to test a new Friday format: a rolodex of topics. They cover Iowa's public land trail camera ban, drones in hunting, the 2016 pollinator CRP boom, 44% of Iowa CRP expiring in 2027, farmland values, and whether elk could return....
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Ep. 397 (Coffee Time) Should Cover Crops Be Subsidized? A Review of the National Cover Crop Survey
Coffee Time Wednesday with Kent and Riley. We dig into the National Cover Crop Survey: who's planting covers, what it costs, why so many farmers quit after one year, and whether Iowa can pay its way to cleaner water. Plus a combine door that tried to end harvest. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all…
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Ep. 396 How We Run Our Prairie Farm and What It Takes To Start One
Kent Boucher turns the mic on Nicolas Lirio for a look back at Hoksey Native Seeds' first year after Carroll. They cover an auction gone sideways, a lost recording, stubborn spiderwort, and big wins like Judd and backyard prairies, plus native pasture, faith, and why the Prairie Farm Forum…
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Ep. 395 (Coffee Time) Do Prairie Fires Keep Flies and Ticks Away And Wendell Berry Tribute
Fire may be the cheapest pest control tool on the prairie. Nicolas, Kent, and Riley break down research showing burned pastures cut horn flies on cattle by 41% and slash tick counts. Then they honor conservation legend Wendell Berry and ask what it takes to keep young people on the land....
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Ep. 394 How Big Meat Packer and Giant Grocery Stores Are Ruining Agriculture
Barons author Austin Frerick joins Nicolas and Kent to unpack why American butter turned white, how JBS and Cargill captured the food system, what a chicken contract actually costs the farmer who signs it, and how ethanol quietly erased the pastures Iowa used to graze. Plus Costco, Sysco, and...
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Ep. 393 (Coffee Time) TRIVIA!! How much have you learned the past 100 episodes??
Riley takes the host chair for a Prairie Farm Podcast trivia showdown. Nicolas and Kent face 20 questions pulled from past guest episodes, covering prairie food plants, planting dates, grazing, Iowa water quality, and the Black Hawk War. Can you beat Nicolas and Kent's score?…
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Ep. 392 What This Weather Scientist's Studies Tell us of The Midwest's Climate Future
Iowa State agronomy professor Dr. Brian Hornbuckle joins Nicolas and Kent to talk weather, water, and the Iowa landscape. We get into corn sweat, why rain is coming in bigger chunks, how trading prairie for row crops changed our summers, and a NASA satellite that might spot thirsty plants early....
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Ep. 391 (Coffee Time) Which Prairie Species Are Invasive to The Rest of The World
Nicolas and Riley dig into milkweed banned in the EU, broomsedge, ragweed's 7.4 billion euro allergy bill, and the 2016 Palmer amaranth scare. Plus bare soil temperatures, cooler trout streams below prairie, and a mix built to bust clay. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard...
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Ep. 390 What Pesticide Companies Are Doing In Washington to Make Billions
Sarah Starman of Friends of the Earth joins Nicolas and Kent to break down pesticide tort immunity: who is lobbying for it, how the EPA got captured, and why only 1.4% of likely-carcinogen pesticides carry a cancer warning. Then forever chemicals, sewage sludge, and one condemned Michigan farm....
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Ep. 389 (Coffee Time) Should We Use Farmland for Solar and Who Wins... A Bison or Bull?
Nicolas is back from three weeks off, and the crew digs into solar on farmland: how many acres each Midwest state would need, whether panels wreck the soil, and the hard question nobody asks. What grows under them? Plus a wild bison versus fighting bull story you have to hear.…
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Ep. 388 The Status of Farming According to Bankers and Where is Agriculture Headed
Join Nicolas and Kent as they sit down with Robert Poppe, Vice President of Marion County Bank. Robert unpacks the realities of ag lending, the true cost of farm consolidation, and how debt can either cripple or propel an operation. It's a candid look at the finances behind the farm....
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Ep. 387 (Coffee Time) Bringing Back Grazing, but Importing Beef and The Iowa State Fair By The Numbers with Aaron Van Wyk
Another NicoLESS coffee time and we are talking bovines and the state fair with our friend and fellow farmer Aaron Van Wyk. Hoksey Native Seeds McKay Insurance
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Ep. 386 How Jon Judson Created Some of The Best Reconstructed Prairies in The Midwest
Join Nicolas and Kent as they visit Diversity Farms owner Jon Judson, a veteran Iowa prairie reconstructionist. From local seed genetics and tough site preparation to interseeding, prescribed fire, weed management, and grazing, Jon shares practical guidance for building diverse native prairie...
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Ep. 385 (Coffee Time) Mad Max on Cars, Conservation and Farming
We are joined by the talented Alex Hoksbergen this week for Coffee Time Wednesday. Enjoy! Hoksey Native Seeds Iowa Cover Crop
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Ep. 384 Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Sand
Iowa auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand joins the Prairie Farm Podcast to talk clean water, cancer, and conservation. He lays out a plan for the biggest prairie pothole and wetland restoration Iowa has ever seen, defends public land and hunting heritage, and makes the case for working...
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Ep. 383 (Coffee Time) Is Ethanol ACTUALLY a Quality Energy Investment? And a Farm Bill Update
Coffee Time Wednesday is back. Nicolas, Kent, and Riley debate which famous conservationist they'd most want as a friend, why the Farm Bill stalled over SNAP, and whether ethanol actually pays off. Along the way: a post-ethanol Iowa, corn versus solar, and what makes a prairie look truly healthy....
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Ep. 382 Secretary of Ag Candidate Chris Jones
Retired water scientist Chris Jones (author of The Swine Republic and now Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture) joins Kent and Nicolas to talk nitrate, tile, and crop dusting. His pitch for Iowa transition a million corn acres to pasture, oats, prairie, and pollinator habitat…
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Ep. 381 (Coffee Time) Why Are Wildfires Breaking Out Across The Whole World?? (And we’re hiring)
Coffee Time Wednesday takes on the world on fire in August 2026, from Oregon's largest wildfire ever to France's biggest evacuations since World War Two. Kent, Nick, and Riley dig into fire suppression, invasive fuel loads, lost grazers, and why some landscapes are becoming unlivable. Also......
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Ep. 380 Gubernatorial Candidate Zach Lahn
Join us as we welcome Zach Lahn back to the Prairie Farm Podcast. We dive into Iowa's rich history, the urgent need to address water quality and cancer rates, and practical incentives for regenerative agriculture. Zach shares his vision for keeping young Iowans home and revitalizing our public...
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Ep. 379 (Coffee Shop) Cyclospora Lettuce and the Ins and Outs of Crop Insurance
Join Nicolas, Riley, and special guest Nick Moats as they dive into the realities of farm insurance, food supply chains, and the value of sitting still in a deer stand. Plus, the guys discuss late-summer prairie blooms and announce an extremely limited release of hand-harvested wild strawberry...
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Ep. 378 Why Emulating the Bison is the Secret to Profitable Farming w/ Peter Byck
Peter Byck, director of Carbon Nation and Rooted So Deep, joins The Prairie Farm Podcast to discuss the massive benefits of AMP grazing. We explore how regenerative practices build soil health, boost farm profitability, bring back wildlife, and why huge corporations are funding independent…
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Ep. 377 (Coffee Time) The Canadian Fires and the Depletion of the Colorado River
Join Nicolas, Kent, and guest Aaron Van Wyk for Coffee Time Wednesday as they dive into the environmental impact of massive wildfires and the looming Colorado River drought. They explore the delicate balance between human infrastructure and nature’s limits, questioning how society adapts to…
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Ep. 376 Why The Midwest Uses Way Less Cover Crop Than The Rest of The World
Join Nicolas and Riley as they sit down with Ruth McCabe, Conservation Manager at Heartland Cooperative. They dive into the realities of agricultural conservation, why certain practices work in other countries but struggle in Iowa, the balance of economics and environment, and why there’s no…
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Ep. 375 (Coffee Time) Are Pesticides Killing Our Oaks and Why Native Plants Are "In Fashion"
Join Nicolas, Kent, and Riley on this Coffee Time Wednesday as they discuss the hidden impact of agricultural chemical drift on native oaks. The guys also explore the massive surge in native plant popularity and why people are choosing prairies over lawns. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your…
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Ep. 374 How Rural Hospitals Affect Rural America and What Will The Big Beautiful Bill Do To Them
Kevin Kincaid, CEO of Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, joins Nicolas and Kent. Kevin shares about his time serving on a nuclear submarine during the Cold War and dives deep into the complexities of rural healthcare, hospital funding, and the future of medicine in America. hokseynativeseeds.com…
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Ep. 373 (Coffee Time) Where Are Your Invasive Weeds ACTUALLY From
Join the Prairie Farm Podcast crew on a road trip as we dive into the origins and natural predators of invasive prairie weeds. Smooth Brome, Sericea Lespedeza, Canada Thistle, Queen Anne’s Lace, and Wild Parsnip, and discover what keeps these prolific plants at bay in their native ranges....
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Ep. 372 The Pros and Cons of Grazing Cattle, Bison, Sheep, and Goats on Prairie
Join Nicolas and Kent as they sit down with Elizabeth and Loren Steele from Hamilton Native Outpost. They discuss the incredible nutritional benefits of prairie-raised beef, managing native grazing systems, and why diverse plant communities build healthier livestock and landscapes....
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Ep. 371 (Coffee Time) Good News for CRP in the Farm Bill and What Littering Costs Rural America
Join Nicolas, Kent, and Riley for this week's Coffee Time as they dive into the latest Farm Bill updates, extending CRP through 2031, and exciting new cost-share opportunities for prairie burning and grazing. Plus, the guys discuss America’s billion-dollar littering problem and what it costs the...
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(Bonus Episode) Advocacy Fatigue, Roadless Rule, and Mining Permits w/Travis Hall
Join Kent and Nicolas as they welcome Travis Hall, Associate Editor of Field & Stream, to discuss public land advocacy, the roadless rule, and why protecting our wild spaces requires active participation from hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all…
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Ep. 370 How State Legislation Determines the Quality of the Deer Herd w/Skip Sligh
Skip Sligh returns to The Prairie Farm Podcast to discuss the harsh realities of modern land stewardship. From the challenge of hunting mature whitetails to combating the rise in rural poaching and managing vulnerable acreage, Skip offers an honest, grounded look at what it takes to protect…
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Ep. 369 (Coffee Time) Will the Fed's Plan for Immigrant Labor Save Dairy Farms..?
Join Nicolas and Kent for another Coffee Time Wednesday! This week, they share their harrowing adventures with old farm equipment, the realities of harvesting native seeds, and dive into a deep discussion on the changing economics of dairy farming and agricultural labor. Grab your coffee and tune...
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Ep. 368 This man likely knows more about Iowa water quality than anyone
Join us as Dr. Larry Weber from the University of Iowa discusses the critical intersection of water quality and public health. We explore off-grid living, the importance of native prairie in conservation, and the growing nitrate crisis in Iowa’s waterways. Discover how informed communities can...
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Ep. 367 (Coffee Time) We Answer Your 16 Most Frequently Asked Prairie Questions Part 2
We answer the following prairie questions in the second half of our FAQ miniseries. 8. What is the best way to broadcast both large and small seeds evenly? 9. What is the role of prescribed burning in long-term prairie maintenance? 10. Will the native plants spread and fill in over time? 11. What...
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Ep. 366 Are Pasture-Raised Pig Farms Viable?
Matt Hatala of Prairie Rose Farms shares his unlikely path from adoption and military service to raising pasture pork in Iowa. He discusses regenerative hog production, farm marketing, local food systems, water quality, animal welfare, and why rebuilding agriculture requires courage…
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Ep. 365 (Coffee Time) Does the Midwest ACTUALLY “Feed the world”?
In this Coffee Time episode, Nicolas, Kent, and Riley debate whether the Midwest really feeds the world, dig into commodity calories, exports, food security, environmental tradeoffs, and what prairie, local food, grazing, and conservation minded choices might mean for Iowa’s future. Hoksey Native...
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Ep. 364 The Details of Our Fight for Public Lands w/Hal Herring
Hal Herring joins The Prairie Farm Podcast to unpack American Prairie, grazing permits, public lands, ranching culture, and the hard history behind conservation in the West. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP, backyard prairie, Hunting Habitat, native grazing mixes, and more!)...
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Ep. 363 (Coffee Time) We Answer Your 16 Most Frequently Asked Prairie Questions Part 1
In part 1 of our FAQ mini series, we answer the following questions. 1. How long does it take for a prairie planting to become established? 2. How do I prepare the site for planting? 3. Is tilling or breaking up the soil recommended before planting? 4. When is the best time of year to sow native...
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Ep. 362 Inside Iowa’s Biggest Prairie Restoration and The Bison That Graze It
Andrew Di Alessandro of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins the Prairie Farm Podcast to discuss Neil Smith Refuge, prairie restoration, prescribed fire, bison and elk grazing, private lands conservation, funding challenges, and how landowners can connect money, recreation and legacy to...
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Ep. 361 (Coffee Time) How Tree Nut Farms Affect The Ecosystem and The Economy
On this Coffee Time episode, Nicolas and Kent crack into the global nut industry (forgive the pun), from California almonds and pistachios to pecans, cashews, and peanuts. They talk water use, pollination, pricing, supply chains, and why legumes might matter more in native prairie establishment...
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Listen to the Land: Conversations about Conservation w/Doug Duren Ep. 3
Another of Doug Duren's quarterly episodes where we have a wide ranging conversation on turkey habitat, savanna restoration, Aldo Leopold, chainsaw stories, and native landscapes. The crew digs into why habitat is the answer, why native plants matter, and how restoring prairie brings back birds,...
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Ep. 360 The Man Who ACTUALLY Does The Physical Work to Fix Water Quality With Prairie
Senior Environmental Scientist for EOR Kevin Griggs joins us to talk reed canary grass, wetland restoration, Iowa water quality, tile drainage, data centers, and the hard truth behind conservation work. His conservation conversation is practical, honest, and hopeful. hokseynativeseeds.com (for…
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Ep. 359 (Coffee Time) How E15, Trump in China, Straight of Hormuz, and El Niño Affect Commodity Prices
This week on Coffee Time Wednesday, we dig into everything shaking up commodity markets heading into summer. It's complicated with a lot of nuance, so grab your coffee cup, and let's jump in! hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP, backyard prairie, and hunting habitat mixes)…
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Ep. 358 How A Writer And Comedian From the Midwest Became The World’s First Celebrity
Mark Schneider, development and marketing manager of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, joins the Prairie Farm Podcast to talk about the real Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) and how he became the "world's first celebrity". hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native…
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Ep. 357 (Coffee Time) Legalized Hunting on National Parks and Grazing Leases on BLM Ground
We dig into two big conservation stories... the Trump administration's memo opening select national park lands and wildlife refuges to hunting, and the BLM's decision to revoke American Prairie Reserve's bison grazing leases. We weigh both sides honestly and talk about what it means for the long...
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Ep. 356 What Great Habitat Looks Like and Why Hunters Are America’s Conservationists w/Travis Frank
Travis Frank, host of The Flush TV show and podcast, joins Kent, and Nicolas in Minnesota for a wide-ranging conversation on upland bird hunting and habitat. From Iowa pheasants and Kansas quail restoration to hunting dogs and conservation philosophy, this one covers a lot of ground worth…
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Ep. 355 (Coffee Time) Does “No Mow May” ACTUALLY Help The Bees??
Nicolas, Kent, and Riley break in the new studio with a conversation about society's spring lawn routine. They dig into No Mow May, what actually started it, what a 2023 peer review found, and which common lawn weeds genuinely help native bees. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your backyard…
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Ep. 354 The Man Who Manages the Most Diverse Prairie We’ve Ever Seen
Keith Horn stopped for coffee and a donut on his way mushroom hunting. A real estate sign a block away changed the course of his life. The 50 acres he bought in 2001 turned out to be the most diverse prairie we have ever seen, hosting 665 native species across five prairie types. Hoksey Native...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
All things conservation, prairie, gardening, hunting, and farming.From the fore-most voices of conservation and prairie to your casual backyard garden lovers, we’ve picked some of the most interesting brains around. Don’t miss it.
HOSTED BY
Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Prairie Farm Podcast have?
The Prairie Farm Podcast currently has 409 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Prairie Farm Podcast about?
All things conservation, prairie, gardening, hunting, and farming.From the fore-most voices of conservation and prairie to your casual backyard garden lovers, we’ve picked some of the most interesting brains around. Don’t miss it.
How often does The Prairie Farm Podcast release new episodes?
The Prairie Farm Podcast publishes regularly with 409 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Prairie Farm Podcast?
You can listen to The Prairie Farm Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Prairie Farm Podcast?
The Prairie Farm Podcast is created and hosted by Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher.
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