The Prairie Farm Podcast

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher

All things conservation, prairie, gardening, permaculture, hunting, and agriculture. ”Conservation happens one mind at a time.”

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 1 hr 22 min
Ep. 378 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 schools. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) iowacovercrop.com (for all your cover crop mixes, waterway mixes, forage mixes, small grains, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your financial planning and insurance needs)
Wednesday · 1 hr
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 seeds. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) iowacovercrop.com (for all your cover crop mixes, waterway mixes, forage mixes, small grains, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your financial planning and insurance needs)
July 24 · 1 hr 10 min
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 science to secure resilient food supply chains. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your financial planning and insurance needs) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and dog hunting supplies)
July 22 · 46 min
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 extreme environmental challenges. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) iowacovercrop.com (for all your cover crop mixes, waterway mixes, forage mixes, small grains, and more)
July 17 · 1 hr 33 min
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 single scapegoat for water quality. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) iowacovercrop.com (for all your cover crop mixes, waterway mixes, forage mixes, small grains, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your financial planning and insurance needs)
July 15 · 43 min
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 native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and dog hunting supplies)
July 10 · 1 hr 45 min
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 (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) IowaCoverCrop.com (for all your cover crop mixes, small grain mixes, and more)
July 8 · 29 min
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. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, backyard prairie, hunting mixes, CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your financial planning and insurance needs) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and dog hunting supplies)
July 3 · 1 hr 38 min
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. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP mixes, native pasture mixes, native seed, backyard prairie, and more) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and all your bird dog supplies)
July 1 · 53 min
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 USA. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, CRP mixes, hunting habitat mixes, pollinator mixes, native pasture mixes and more) IowaCoverCrop.com (for all your cover crop, water mixes, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your insurance and financial planning needs)
June 30 · 1 hr 23 min
(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 your native seed, CRP mixes, backyard prairie, pollinator mixes, and hunting habitat)
June 26 · 2 hr 2 min
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 Iowa’s native habitats. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, CRP, hunting habitat, pollinator mixes, and more) McKayInsAgency.com (for all your insurance and financial planning needs) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and bird dog supplies)
June 24 · 51 min
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 in! hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed, CRP, hunting habitat, backyard prairie, and more) IowaCoverCrop.com (for all your cover crop, forage mixes, waterway mixes, and more)
June 19 · 2 hr 13 min
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 protect our shared water resources. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your native seed needs including CRP, native pasture, backyard prairie, pollinator mixes, and more) Iowa Cover Crop (for all your cover crop mixes, water way mixes, small grains, and more) McKay Insurance (for all your insurance and financial planning needs)
June 17 · 1 hr 11 min
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 do I do about reed’s canary grass? 12. What do I do about Canada Thistle? 13. What do I do about brushy encroachment? 14. What do I do about Brome in my prairie? 15. What do I do about Big Bluestem that is taking over? 16. Can I interseed flowers back into my prairie? hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP, Backyard Prairie, Warm Season Pasture Mixes, Hunting Habitat, Buffer Strips, and more!) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting gear, and your bird dog's gear)
June 12 · 1 hr 19 min
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, transparency, and healthier relationships with land, community, and risk. hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP, Pasture Mixes, Habitat Mixes, Native Seed, and more) Iowa Cover Crop (for all your cover crop mixes, forage mixes, small grain mixes)
June 10 · 49 min
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 Seeds (for all your native seed needs: CRP, backyard pollinator, habitat, native pasture, and more) MckayInsAgency.com (for all your insurance and financial planning needs) BirdHuntingSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and bird dog supplies)
June 5 · 1 hr 59 min
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!) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supplies and bird dog supplies)
June 3 · 1 hr 1 min
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 prairie seeds? 5. How do I handle maintenance (mowing) in the first year? 6. How high should I mow in the first two years, and when should I stop? 7. Should I water or fertilize my newly planted prairie? hokseynativeseeds.com (for all your CRP, backyard prairie, native wildflowers and grasses, hunting habitat, and more) Iowa Cover Crop (for all your cover crop, waterway mixes, small grains, and more) McKay Insurance (for all your insurance and financial planning needs)
May 29 · 1 hr 6 min
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 meaningful habitat work across Iowa and Illinois. Hoksey Native Seeds (for all your CRP, Backyard Prairie, Native Pasture, Hunting Mixes, and more) McKay Insurance (for all your insurance and financial planning needs) BirdHunterSupply.com (for all your bird hunting supply needs, and all your bird dog supply needs)