AgEmerge Podcast 184 with Dr. Michael McNeill | The Soggy Sauerkraut Saga
Dr. Michael McNeill explains the journey of glyphosate through the farm system: how it lingers in manure from treated feed, carries over to contaminate even organic fields, and boosts pathogenic fungi and other disease pressures that hit yields hard.
He shares research revealing glyphosate's antibiotic-like effects on soil microbes—shifting the microbial balance, weakening natural disease suppression, and making plants more vulnerable to outbreaks that cost farmers in inputs and lost production.
The saga's twist? Sauerkraut juice. Learn the science behind raw sauerkraut juice rapidly breaking down glyphosate residues in soil and feed crops. If you're ready to rethink weed management and invest in farming biologically, click to watch or listen.
Read the journal article here: https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/hortsci/59/11/article-p1618.xml
Timestamps:
0:01:19 - Dr. McNeill's background and family farm history
0:02:28 - Understanding quantitative genetics
0:03:15 - Epigenetics and environmental influence
0:05:24 - Soybean variety selection and adaptation
0:10:30 - The soggy sauerkraut story and glyphosate
0:12:35 - Glyphosate in the food chain via turkey manure
0:16:55 - Reactivation of glyphosate in phosphorus-rich environments
0:19:45 - Lactobacillus plantarum's role in breaking down glyphosate
0:25:42 - Benefits of sauerkraut juice on crops
0:32:35 - Using sauerkraut juice in composting
0:35:43 - Mycotoxins in food and health impacts
0:39:47 - Lactobacillus in dairy production
0:41:33 - Balancing soil to reduce pesticide use
0:54:09 - Future farming systems and soil health
About Dr. Michael McNeill:
Over the past four decades, Dr. McNeill's focus as an agronomist has been in teaching the agricultural community an understanding of soil and plant nutrition, emphasizing its’ importance for animal and human health. His emphasis has been placed on developing farming systems that promote soil and plant health, as well as, conducting on farm research to develop efficient bio-remediation of soil and water contaminated with farm chemicals and fertilizer nutrients. Also, a major focus of his has been to teach farmers methods to evaluate soil health by measuring soil microbial life, water infiltration rates, soil density, soil compaction, soil fertility levels and how to develop corrective measures if problems are discovered.
Positions, Scientific Appointments
1983 – Present President of Ag Advisory, Ltd. (an agricultural consulting company)
1971 – 1983 Research Scientist and Manager of a regional corn breeding station located in Algona,
Iowa.
1969 – 1971 U.S. Army research pathologist, study of soybean and corn disease epiphytology.
1964 – 1969 Iowa State University, research associate.
Contributions to Science: Published papers in the following:
Crop Science, Horticulture Science, Egyptian Journal of Genetics, Plant Disease Reporter, Journal of
Genetics, Journal of Economic Entomology, Agronomy Journal, Iowa State University Extension
Service Bulletins
Popular Press articles: Farm Journal, Successful Farming, Farm Industry News, Iowa Farmer Today, Soybean Digest, Furrow
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Hosted by Monte Bottens
Produced by Ag Solutions Network & Power2Gro
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Click to watch or listen and as always, let us know if you have any questions or guest ideas by emailing contactus@agsolutionsnetwork.com.
