In this episode of “The Grow Down on Soil Health,” we have Bill Leigh with us to discuss not only how cover crops, soil health and conservation practices are changing the future of farming and driving opportunities with ethanol and low-carbon markets, but also why these practices matter to farmers on the ground.

Hear Bill share how farming is not a hobby; it is a living, so farmers have to make a profit out of it. Learn about how cover crops can help farmers with weed control and good soil health indicators, like earthworms. Farmers don’t often have an “aha” moment because they can’t afford to take the risk in the first place, which is why Farmers for Soil Health provides local support for trying something new.

Meet the Guest:

Bill Leigh currently serves as a board member of the National Corn Growers Association and has been a leading advocate for conservation and soil health practices, namely cover crops. He is a sixth-generation farmer on his family’s 150-year-old farm.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we are joined by Courtney Yuskis to explore how new technology and farming practices are shaping farmer profitability and adoption decisions. Courtney breaks down why there’s no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to conservation, especially when weighing the cost of adoption versus return on investment.

Hear Courtney share how technology and innovative platforms are helping farmers make more informed decisions about when and how to adopt practices like cover crops. She also explains how programs such as Farmers for Soil Health, with its direct-to-farmer payments and emerging sustainability marketplace, can make a real difference in bridging the gap between practice and profit.

Meet the Guest:

Courtney Yuskis is the Agriculture Commercial Leader for Sustainability at DTN and is based on her family farm in Illinois. With a background that spans a BS in Business Administration, service with the Peace Corps, work with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Samoan Ministry of Agriculture, Courtney brings both global experience and local understanding to her role.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.

In this episode of The Grow Down on Soil Health, we sit down with Jack Cornell, Director of Supply Chain Resilience at the United Soybean Board (USB), to explore how farmer stewardship and sustainable supply chains are at the heart of Farmers for Soil Health. Jack shares how his personal journey, from Ohio to Hawaii and back, shaped his passion for conservation, and even how his tradition of “Hawaiian Shirt Fridays” reflects a bigger story about connection, community, and stewardship.

Jack and host Ben West, Executive Director of Farmers for Soil Health, dive into what sets the program apart from other initiatives, how it directly supports farmers across regions, and the resources available to help producers adopt or expand practices like cover crops.

Meet the Guest:

Jack Cornell is the Director of Supply Chain Resilience at the United Soybean Board, where he leads projects and partnerships that connect farmers with sustainability opportunities while ensuring profitability remains front and center. With a career path that blends agriculture, conservation, and collaboration, Jack has dedicated his work to building programs that empower farmers and strengthen supply chains for the future.

Farmers for Soil Health is a program created by farmers for farmers. It is committed to enhancing soil health practices, like planting cover crops, to improve the environment and farmers' profitability. Check out FarmersforSoilHealth.com for more information.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association.