Fill Your Plate Now Podcast
From Desert Soil to Full Plates: 4th-Generation Farmer on Working the Land that Feeds Us, Episode 82
On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, farm girl Julie Murphree and Nutrition Ninja Tammy Baker sit down with Cassy England, fourth-generation Arizona farmer in Pinal and Pima Counties. Cassy shares her family’s story that began in 1932, how she returned to the land after college, and what it takes to manage roughly 6,500 acres of cotton, alfalfa, wheat, barley, corn, and oats in the desert. Listeners will hear how careful crop rotation keeps soil healthy, how precision irrigation stretch every acre-foot of water, and why alfalfa grown on Arizona farms becomes nutritious feed for dairy and beef cattle. She talks about the reality of family-run “commercial” operations, the people who make the farm work, new technology and NRCS programs that boost efficiency, water challenges in Pinal County, and her work on the USDA board and as President of the Arizona Cotton Growers. Tune in for a real look at how local family farms connect the field to your plate—sustainable practices, desert innovation, and the next generation of growers keeping Arizona food and fiber moving. Every bite closer to the farm gate. Listen on your favorite podcast platform. Supported by Arizona Farm Bureau and Arizona Milk Producers.
Hog Barn to Harvest: Farmer on Pork’s Value, Manure Nutrients, and Closing the Farm Loop, Episode 81
Idaho farmer and former National Pork Producers Council president Dave Roper joins Fill Your Plate Now from his multi-generational family…
Picky Eaters and Kids’ Nutrition: What Actually Works, Episode 80
Join Colleen Sloan, a pediatric Physician Associate and Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of experience, as she delves into…
Dairy Nutrition for Growth and Development, Episode 79
In today’s conversation, we’ll explore the role of dairy throughout the lifecycle—from infancy and childhood to adulthood and healthy aging.…
Uncorking Arizona’s $23 Billion Restaurant Boom: Legacy, Local Flavor & What’s Next, Episode 78
On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we sit down with Steve Chucri, President and CEO of the Arizona…
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company and how they Embrace Agriculture, Episode 77
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company has become a leader in craft beer by proving that great beer starts with great local…
Growing Home: Arizona – How 3 Families Humanize the Desert’s Water Crisis, Episode 76
Water is the lifeblood of the desert—but conversations about Arizona’s most precious resource are often buried in statistics, policy debates,…
Modernizing Dams, Reservoirs & Delivery Systems for Family Farms & The Food System, Episode 75
In this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we welcome back Sam Barncastle of the Family Farm Alliance to dive…
From Classroom to Cotton Fields: Multi-Generational Farming & Connecting with Consumers , Episode 74
Join us on Fill Your Plate Now as we sit down with Nancy Caywood, a third-generation farmer at Caywood Farms…
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