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In this Ask Me Anything session, John Kempf answers a wide range of grower-submitted questions covering real-world challenges in regenerative agriculture. From managing complex crop rotations and high-nitrate irrigation water to fine-tuning nutrition for pest and disease resistance, John shares insights rooted in AEA’s agronomic philosophy. He also discusses how to balance mineral nutrition with biological inoculants to optimize plant health and achieve consistent yield responses across various cropping systems. Topics discussed: John explains how BioCoat Gold maintains effectiveness for nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization even in the presence of liquid nitrogen fertilizers. Seed Flare is used as a trace mineral treatment that is absorbed into the seed to compensate for poor nutrition from the parent generation. Applying PhotoMag during the silking period can achieve perfect control of corn earworm by facilitating complete protein synthesis. A foliar application of Rejuvenate can effectively deter Colorado potato beetles by introducing a high carbohydrate load that shifts the plant’s internal amino acid profile. Pinion offers a powerful redox buffering capacity that can change the microbial terrain of a tree’s exterior to help manage diseases such as peach leaf curl. MacroPak and MicroPak are formulated to provide essential nutrition to crops in a way that supports rather than suppresses sensitive biological communities. Santerra is highlighted as a specialized microbial inoculant designed for the bioremediation of a broad range of pesticide residues in the soil. For fields facing Fusarium pressure, using a chelated manganese is critical because the plant’s ability to seal off infections is completely manganese dependent. Using forage analysis as a baseline while recognizing that they have substantial limitations compared to real-time sap testing. Potato production can build soil biology rather than deplete it if growers focus on increasing photosynthesis and root exudates through better mineral management. Irrigation water containing 35 ppm nitrate can be treated as free fertilizer if it is balanced with magnesium, sulfur, molybdenum, and boron to convert nitrates into proteins. Managing the nutritional balance between reproductive nutrients like phosphorus and vegetative nutrients like calcium can effectively prevent premature bolting in leafy greens. Achieving resistance to Japanese beetles in crops like blueberries often requires maintaining high internal levels of boron and calcium. Laboratory data and DNA sequencing confirm that microbial inoculants can successfully and substantially change the composition of the soil microbiome.
