118. Emily Newman on Soil Health and Transitioning to Organic

Are you having trouble getting a grasp on the delicate science of soil health?  If so, you’re certainly not alone and we’ve got your back! Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast we’re joined by Emily Newman, Organic Soil Consultant at Rodale Institute. Emily helps farmers navigate organic compliance as they transition to certified organic. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management, focusing in Soil Science, from Pennsylvania State University and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. in Food and Agribusiness from Delaware Valley University. She is IOIA trained, a Certified Crop Advisor, and serves as a board member for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). If you’re considering transitioning your farm to certified organic, or just want to learn more about healthy soil, you’re in the right place!   You’ll hear: What got Emily into farming 1:21  What a normal day looks like as an organic soil consultant 2:51 What Emily has found to benefit soil pH levels 6:38 How farms should go about soil sampling and testing 11:20 The steps involved with transitioning to organic 15:34 What farmers typically do during the wait period for transitioning to organic 26:18 Emily’s favorite transition strategy 40:25 Where you can find out more about Emily and Rodale Institute 43:12   About the Guest: Emily joined the Rodale Institute consulting team in January 2020 and helps farmers navigate organic compliance as they transition to certified organic. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management, focusing in Soil Science, from Pennsylvania State University and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. in Food and Agribusiness from Delaware Valley University. Prior to joining the team at Rodale Institute, she worked in regulatory compliance of organics for a certification agency and a materials review organization. She is IOIA trained, a Certified Crop Advisor and serves as a board member for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).   Resources: Website - https://rodaleinstitute.org/consulting/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rodaleinstitute/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rodaleinstitute/