S6 - E12: From Biosolids to Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapea...

Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal returns to talk with Jeff, Mary, and Eric about emerging issues that affect regional agriculture and the Bay ecosystem. Laura's scientific research and writing includes increased concern about biosolid applications to agricultural fields and possible contamination with "forever chemicals"; how artificial intelligence can increase nitrogen use efficiency; and how other technologies can detect what nutrients are being contributed by cover crop mixtures to ensuing crop rotations.  If you are interested in Lauren's recent articles about biosolids, artificial intelligence, and conservation easements, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Journal website at https://www.bayjournal.com/ Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcast (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3...) As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles:  1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and 4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single (https://www.postersforthepeople.com/s...) posters or a set (https://www.postersforthepeople.com/s...) of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/ If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, or how you can celebrate National Soil Health Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, call or visit a USDA Service Center (https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/loca...) , a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and...) office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension (https://ext.vt.edu/) office.   4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest. To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.ou...) . Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.