Building a Regenerative Poultry System That Works Ep. 121

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor Henry sits down with Catherine Austin Fitts, former Assistant Secretary of Housing and Wall Street investment banker, for a thought-provoking conversation about financial freedom, food independence, and the future of American agriculture. Catherine shares her perspective on the growing influence of corporations and government in agriculture, the importance of protecting independent farmers, and why rebuilding local food systems is essential to strengthening rural communities. The discussion explores how farmers and consumers can work together to finance farmland, develop local processing infrastructure, and create profitable agricultural businesses without relying on traditional financial institutions or government programs. They also dive into the challenges of rising land prices, agricultural data collection, emerging technologies, and the role of private investment in helping the next generation of farmers succeed. Looking ahead to the 2026 Eco-Ag Conference, Catherine discusses her plans to move beyond conversation and explore real-world investment opportunities that could help farmers gain greater independence. 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 Solari website: https://solari.com/

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with fourth-generation cattleman Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of American agriculture and where regenerative farming fits into the future. Will shares his perspective on the cattle market, rising land values, outside investment in farmland, and the growing challenge of making farming financially accessible to the next generation. He also discusses why he believes regenerative management can provide an economic advantage by reducing dependence on volatile outside inputs while keeping more money circulating in rural communities. The conversation dives into White Oak Pastures’ approach to grazing, labor, direct marketing, land management and diversification, as well as Will’s experiences working with policymakers and the federal government on regenerative agriculture. Will also offers advice for conventional farmers looking to make the transition, including creative opportunities to enter regenerative agriculture without having to completely overhaul an existing operation. 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 White Oak Pastures Website: https://whiteoakpastures.com/

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor Henry sits down with Neal Kinsey, author of Hands-On Agronomy and one of the most respected voices in soil fertility and the Albrecht approach to soil management. Neal shares the story of how he became a student of Dr. William Albrecht and how Albrecht’s approach to soil testing and nutrient balance shaped his career. They discuss why pH alone can provide an incomplete picture of soil fertility, how calcium, magnesium, potassium and other nutrients interact, and why farmers should focus on measuring what their soils actually need rather than simply following standard fertilizer programs. Neal also explains how farmers can prioritize fertility investments within an existing fertilizer budget, avoid slowly mining nutrients from their soils, and use soil testing to identify where inputs will have the greatest return. He shares decades of real-world examples, including dramatic improvements in crop yields and cases where farmers were able to reduce fertilizer expenses while maintaining or improving production. Neal will also be returning to the 2026 Eco-Ag Conference in Iowa City for a full-day workshop on soil fertility and the Albrecht approach. As Neal puts it: “You can't manage what you can't measure.” 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 Hands on Agronomy: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/hands-on-agronomy Kinsey Ag Website: https://kinseyag.com/

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with Brian Dougherty of Understanding Ag to discuss energy constraints, rising input costs, farm economics, and building more resilient agricultural systems. Brian shares his experience developing a startup direct-to-consumer farm in Wisconsin while transitioning former cropland toward diverse forages, perennial systems, and livestock integration. The conversation then expands into the growing dependence of modern agriculture on fossil fuels and what rising fuel and fertilizer costs could mean for farmers. Taylor and Brian discuss practical strategies for reducing input dependence, including improving nitrogen-use efficiency, reducing tillage, utilizing cover crops, integrating livestock, and conducting on-farm trials to better understand what soils can produce. They also explore global supply chains, local food systems, and why farmers should begin “stress testing” their operations for potential increases in fuel and fertilizer prices. Brian also previews his upcoming sessions at the 2026 Eco-Ag Conference in Iowa City, where he will dive deeper into cover crops, agronomy, soil health, livestock integration, and strategies for building more economically and energetically resilient farms. 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 Understanding Ag Website: https://understandingag.com/ Brian’s Course: https://understandingag.acresusa.com/soiltesting

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor Henry sits down with Dr. Richard Olree, a chiropractic physician, longtime student of minerals and genetics, and author of Minerals for the Genetic Code. Dr. Olree shares the remarkable story of how a chance encounter with Gerald Fry led him into the Acres U.S.A. community and ultimately shaped decades of his work. The conversation explores the connection between soil mineralization, livestock nutrition and human health, including the importance of minerals such as selenium, iodine, boron and magnesium. Dr. Olree discusses his work with hair tissue mineral analysis, what he looks for when evaluating mineral levels and heavy metals, and why he believes farmers should think beyond simply producing food to consider the mineral density and nutritional quality of what they grow. Taylor and Dr. Olree also dive into his research and perspectives on COVID-19, genetics, selenium, the microbiome, environmental contaminants, and the relationship between mineral balance and human health. They discuss his work with dairy cattle, sea kelp and iodine, as well as how the principles of soil mineralization can be applied to the human body. Dr. Olree will be returning to the Acres U.S.A. Eco-Ag Conference this year for a full-day workshop and general session, where he will expand on his approach to connecting soil health, mineral nutrition and human health. 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 Dr. Olree’s Website: https://hillmanhealthfood.com/ Minerals for the Genetic Code: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/minerals-for-the-genetic-code