First Gen Farmer Talks Transitions, Conservation & Innovation | AgEmerge Podcast 183 with James Hepp
Rockwell City native James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. So how did he get to be farming thousands of acres and a Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner?
About Our Guest:
James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. Hepp attended Northwest Missouri State University, where he earned a degree in agricultural business and started his career as a crop insurance adjuster after graduation.
In 2019, the opportunity to work with a high school friend’s father, who was nearing retirement, led to a crop-share arrangement and opened the door for Hepp to farm full time. At the same time, Hepp started up his own crop insurance agency. Hepp now manages about 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and small grains as a first-generation farmer. Hepp also runs an ag retail business selling lots of regenerative products he uses on his acres. With support from his landlord, Hepp incorporates a wide range of conservation and soil-health building practices on his acres, including cover crops, buffer strips, no-till, strip-till, split-applied nitrogen, variable rate seeding, and much more.
Hepp is passionate about showing others how to implement conservation practices that protect soil and water quality through field days held annually on his farm. He is also involved in the local fire department and is a past president of the Calhoun County Farm Bureau. In 2024, James earned the Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Environmental Leadership Award.
Navigating Farm Transitions, Conservation, and Innovation with James Hepp
In this episode, James Hepp shares his inspiring journey from a non-traditional farming background to becoming a full-time, innovative no-till farmer. He discusses transitioning practices, cover crops, soil health, and water quality—offering practical advice for farmers looking to adapt and improve sustainably.
Timestamps
00:29 - Introduction to James Hepp's farming story and background
05:44 - Growth of farm acreage and shift to no-till and regenerative practices
06:35 - Balancing family life and farming full-time with young children
07:05 - Diversification: cover crops, regenerative products, and livestock
08:14 - The challenge of farm succession and transition for older farmers
11:00 - The importance of trust and doing the right thing in farming relationships
11:55 - Foundations of risk management: having legal agreements in writing
12:24 - Financial and land management strategies with landowners
13:07 - The benefits of innovative lease agreements and crop share options
16:22 - The mindset of free-thinking farmers and stepping outside of traditional practices
17:25 - Risk mitigation: equipment setup, safety, and exit strategies
19:49 - Building equity in land, equipment, and assets
22:31 - The advantages of simulated rent and crop sharing models
26:37 - Building soil health with cover crops and nutrient management
30:02 - Fertilizer timing, fertilizer reduction, and nutrient placement strategies
34:15 - Cover crop choices: triticale, rye, camelina, and their benefits
36:11 - The economics of strip tillage and equipment investment
38:48 - Practical tips for planting soybeans no-till in different row widths
43:18 - Managing cover crop seeding with drone technology and timing considerations
44:36 - Growing seed oats and low-input, high-return cover crops
54:20 - Water quality challenges, policy, and personal responsibility in Iowa
55:48 - The need for a systems approach, collaboration, and conservation policies
