Drop-Tine Podcast -The official deer management, food plot & habitat podcast · Jason R. Snavely

Cover Crop & No-till Innovator: Steve Groff

January 31, 2023·1 hr 29 min·5 clips

Steve Groff declares that better soil leads to better food and healthier deer—and people.

This episode of the Drop-Tine Podcast features host Jason Snavely interviewing Steve Groff, a Pennsylvania farmer and cover crop pioneer from Cedar Meadow Farm. Jason Snavely is a certified wildlife biologist and founder of a wildlife consulting and seed company, while Steve Groff is recognized as a no-till and cover crop innovator with decades of experience. The conversation centers on the principles of regenerative agriculture, soil health, and nutrient density as they apply to wildlife food plots and farming. Steve Groff emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific context of one's land and the necessity of a long-term commitment to learning and observation. He explains that regenerative practices focus on rebuilding soil biology and microbial life to enhance plant nutrition, rather than relying on chemical inputs. A key topic is the comparison between conventional, organic, and regenerative agricultural systems. Groff describes organic certification as a process-based set of rules, while regenerative agriculture is presented as a broader philosophy aimed at restoring soil ecosystem function. The discussion references other influential figures in the soil health movement, including Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta, and Rick Haney. Steve Groff shares insights from his global travels, noting that successful principles are universal but their application must be tailored to local conditions. He challenges the idea that success in food plotting or farming can be bought, stressing instead the need for patience and biological understanding. The host, Jason Snavely, recounts a personal experiment where soil from an undisturbed woodlot outperformed soil from a conventionally farmed field in growing plants. Groff details his current research into nutrient density, seeking to move beyond average benchmarks to understand optimal mineral levels in food. He argues that modern food has seen a demonstrable decrease in nutrient levels over the past century. The solution proposed is fostering soil microbes through practices like no-till and diverse cover crops, which in turn make minerals available to plants. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal anecdotes with practical advice from two practitioners deeply invested in land stewardship. The style is passionate and advocacy-oriented, promoting a paradigm shift towards biological farming. This episode would deeply appeal to hunters, food plotters, and farmers interested in soil health, cover crops, and a regenerative approach to land management. Listeners seeking quick, prescriptive formulas or those solely focused on conventional, input-heavy agriculture might find the content less aligned with their interests.

As heard by us

A website-launch episode that folds a new wildlife seed blend into a practical discussion of soil biology.

The episode opens with a new website launch and then turns to Ancient Grains for Wildlife, a spring-planted blend built from ancient heirloom and heritage grains for wildlife food plots.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want a practical pitch on food plots, soil biology, and a new spring-planted wildlife seed blend.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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