Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast (Tad Hussey)

This week’s podcast will be a bit different than my usual topics. As many of you know, there’s more to cultivation than just what happens in our gardens. Whether we like it or not, taxes and proper accounting are crucial to keeping your business afloat. I sat down with two CPAs, Betsy Morem and Mark Waller who have founded an accounting firm specializing in working with folks in the cannabis industry. We talk about some of the things to look out for and pitfalls to avoid so you can focus on cultivation.

My guest this week is Dr. Nicole Gauthier. She is a Professor and Extension specialist at the University of Kentucky.  Her program focuses on disease management of specialty crops, including hemp.  In her Extension role, she develops educational and outreach programs to help growers manage disease through identification, understanding of pathosystems, and integration of management strategies. Her research program focuses on a range of hemp diseases, including Fusarium head blight.  Dr. Gauthier earned her BS in Horticulture Science and her PhD in Plant Pathology from Louisiana State University.  She joined the UK College of Agriculture in 2011 and began working with industrial hemp in 2014. There will be a link on the podcast page to access her resources and research. Now on to the show!

In this episode, I review some of the available research on mycorrhizal fungi and how it applies to cannabis and other edible crops. I also talk about how to determine what products are worth using in your garden, how best to apply mycorrhizal fungi, and what its role is in heavy metal uptake. 

Our guest today is Jeff Lowenfels. I wanted to get Jeff, our very first podcast guest and old friend, back on the show. Jeff is the author of the popular Teaming series, Teaming with Microbes, Teaming with Nutrients, Teaming with Fungi, and now his new book “Teaming with Bacteria," which he joins us today to discuss. He also has a book called DIY Autoflowering Cannabis which we discussed in an earlier interview. In this episode, we discuss the importance of bacteria in relation to plant growth and the rhizophagy cycle.

Jeff is an extremely respected and popular national garden writer. He is the former president of the Garden Writers of America,

Jeff has been a good friend now for over a decade and is a wonderful advocate for organic gardening, compost teas, and the microbes in our soil. Thanks for coming on the show Jeff!

https://www.jefflowenfels.com/books-by-jeff-lownfels/

https://www.amazon.com/DIY-Autoflowering-Cannabis-Easy-Homegrown/dp/0865719160

My guest this week is Eleanor Kuntz. Eleanor is a trained herbalist and geneticist bridging the gap between traditional herbalism and modern science. She is the CEO and co-founder of LeafWorks Inc., botanical verification company using genetics to improve medicinal quality, sustainability, and transparency in the supply chain. She is also co-founder of Canndor, the People’s Herbarium, the first herbarium committed to documenting and preserving cannabis cultivars and varietals along with the collective knowledge gained through community engagement. This is her second time on the show and if you are interested in learning more about herbariums, we talk more extensively about it in the other podcast.

In honor of this podcast release, we will be offering 10% off on the Leaf Works gender ID kits through the KIS Organics Website for a limited time. We talk about the benefits of these kits and how it works in the podcast along with many other topics around cannabis genetics. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-80-exploring-the-genetic-diversity-of-cannabis-with-dr-eleanor-kuntz

My guest this week is Ryan Lee. Ryan is an educator, breeder, and researcher specializing in the chemical and genetic diversity of the cannabis species. Ryan comes from a background in neuroscience focusing on the endocannabinoid system, but later focusing on plant breeding technologies and the study of the molecular aspects of the cannabis genome and how we can use science to shape and improve the plant. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Steven Arthurs. Steven graduated from the Imperial College London with a Masters of Science in Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management. He also received a Diploma in Applied Entomology and went to get a PhD in Insect Pathology. He did his Post Doctoral work at Texas A and M researched biological pest control for thrips on ornamental plants and investigated insect/virus interactions while conducting greenhouse trials to evaluate new insecticides. From there he worked as a research entomologist with the USDA for 5 years before becoming an Assistant Professor in Entomology at the University of Florida. He is currently a research associate with Texas A & M University and also a Technical Sales Specialist with Biobee USA, a leading provider of biologically based integrated pest management. Biobee is the world’s leading producer of persimilis, the most effective natural predator of spider mites. 

I’m very excited to announce that in conjunction with this podcast release, KIS Organics has partnered with BioBee to offer their wide array of beneficial insects through our website and will be shipping direct from insectary so as to ensure optimal viability of insects upon arrival.

In today’s podcast we discuss the many pests we see in cannabis and what some good management options are utilizing beneficial predatory insects. Now on to the show!

Victoria has a lifelong interest in studying the interactions between microbes and their surrounding environment. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Michigan before moving to Dartmouth College to further her studies with postdoctoral research. As Chief Science Officer of Imio, Victoria has led the development and production of multiple microbial products that replace harmful chemicals and enable healthier, more productive cultivation of plants. 

Charles started Imio to dedicate his career to helping people, plants and our planet. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he began his career at Morgan Stanley where he focused on the technology sector. He moved on from finance to join a NYC based software startup where he gained valuable insight into scaling companies and teams. As CEO of Imio, Charles manages Business Development and Operations, as the company works to unlock plant productivity and restore our planet through the power of nature.  

Now on to the show!

Suzanne Wainwright-Evans is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture.  She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapers. Learn about biosecurity, biocontrols, and much much more. We discuss fungus gnats, root aphids, broad mites and the dreaded hemp russet mite in this week's podcast. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-15

In this episode, we talk to Jeff Lowenfels about the Soil Food Web, mycorrhizal fungi, no-till, and how plants uptake nutrients.

Jeff is the co-author of Teaming with Microbes The Organic Gardeners Guide to the Soil Food Web published by Timber Press in August 2006 to great acclaim and revised in 2011; it is touted as the most important gardening book published in the past twenty five years and won the prestigious garden Writers of America Gold Award for gardening books. It’s been translated into Korean, French and soon Slovenian. Jeff is also the author of Teaming with Nutrients, the Organic Gardeners Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition published by Timber Press in May 2013, and the shorthand title is How Plants Eat and What To Feed Them. It is sure to make you appreciate the beauty of how plants operate as well as make you a better gardener and steward of the earth. 

His latest book Teaming with Fungi was just released at the end of 2016 and is all about mycorrhizal fungus. Jeff is an extremely respected and popular national garden writer; he is the former president of the garden Writers of America, was made at G.W.A fellow in 1999 and inducted into the G.W.A Hall of Fame, the highest honor a garden writer can achieve in 2005. Most important, Jeff is the founder of a now national program that started this Plant a Row for Beans the soup kitchen getting an Anchorage and is now Plant a Row for the Hungry; the program is active in forty eight states and result in over a million pounds of produce being donated to feed the hungry every year. Jeff has been a good friend now for over a decade and is a wonderful advocate for organic gardening compost tea and the microbes in our soil.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-2

Today we're honored to be interviewing Steve Solomon all the way from Tasmania. Steve is the author of numerous books, most notably Gardening West of the Cascades and The Intelligent Gardener. Steve shares much of his life history with us and explains why he believes nutrient density is so important in our gardens and food production.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/6-cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast

This is the first part of my interview with Nelson Lindsley of Poetry of Plants. Nelson has been cultivating cannabis for over a decade and working in the industry for over two decades. Over the last three years he has consulted on cultivation sites in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Pennsylvania and California. Currently, he is building a research and development facility for the design of cultivar specific study and working with several of the leading LED horticultural lighting companies on implementing technology in controlled environments before the products come to market.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-9 

Part 2 of my interview with Shango Los. For anyone growing cannabis as a business or working in the cannabis industry, you know that having a great product or growing top shelf cannabis is only half the story. The other half is shaping your message in a way to effectively reach your audience.

Shango Los is founder of Shaping Fire and host of the Shaping Fire podcast. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I highly recommend it. His YouTube channel features exclusive cannabis how-to videos and expert interviews.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-39

In honor of our 50th episode, I wanted to get Jeff, our very first podcast guest and old friend, back on the show. Jeff is the author of the popular Teaming series, Teaming with Microbes, Teaming with Nutrients, and Teaming with Fungi.

We talk about a variety of topics, including his new book that's coming out in December.

My guest this week is David Montgomery. David studied geology at Stanford University before earning his Ph.D. in geomorphology at UC Berkeley. He teaches at the University of Washington where he studies the evolution of topography and how geological processes shape landscapes and influence ecological systems. He loved maps as a kid and now writes about the relationship of people to their environment and other things that interest him. In 2008 he was named a MacArthur Fellow. He lives with his wife Anne in Seattle, Washington.

He’s written multiple books but the ones most interesting to gardeners are Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, The Hidden Half of Nature, and Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soils Back to Life.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-25

Our guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture.  She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, landscapers and interiorscape companies.  She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business for over 21 years.

Our guest this week is Jeremy Plumb. Jeremy was the Director of Production Science at Pruf Cultivar, one of the most technologically advanced cannabis cultivation facilities in North America. At Pruf, Jeremy combined decades of cannabis horticulture experience with cutting-edge technology to deliver previously unattainable consistency in both product quality and consumer effect.

Prior to his leadership at Pruf, Jeremy was a co-founder of Farma, recently acclaimed by Rolling Stone as one of Oregon’s top dispensaries. Jeremy has served as a cannabis consultant to Israel medical cannabis researchers and as a cannabis policy advisor for US members of Congress. He also serves on the OLCC’s rule-making advisory committee. In 2015, Jeremy co-founded Cultivation Classic, Oregon’s leading craft cannabis competition. He lives in Portland, OR, with his border collie Lucy and when he can, finds few greater joys than sailing on the mighty Columbia river. Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-94

My guest this week needs very little introduction. If you’ve ever studied lighting you’ve probably read some of his research. Bruce Bugbee is a professor at Utah State University and President of Apogee Instruments.  He is internationally known for his work with NASA to design food production systems for people living on Mars and has been a frequent speaker at conferences on indoor food production on Earth.  In 2011 he received the Governors Medal for Science from Utah Governor Gary Herbert. He has recorded several videos on photobiological principles; search for “bugbee agriculture”. Perhaps his pinnacle achievement is summarizing everything he knows in a TED talk entitled, “Turning Water into Food.”

Link to podcast page

My guest this week is Reggie Gaudino. Reggie is the chief science officer for Steep Hill Labs. Dr. Gaudino oversees all scientific research and development for Steep Hill and is the driving force for Steep Hill's genetic research program. Dr. Gaudino directed a team of researchers which led to the development of GenKit™, the first cannabis DNA-based sex test. The research from Dr. Gaudino has been peer-reviewed and published, leading to important new discoveries in the cannabis industry.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-46

My guest this week is Dr Daniela Vergara. She is an evolutionary biologist, data analyst, educator, scientific writer, and public speaker. In addition to her multiple publications, she founded and directs a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation (AGF; AgriculturalGenomics.org). AGF aims to make hemp and cannabinoid science available to a broad public. Dr. Vergara recently joined the Harvest New York Extension Team from Cornell University as an ‘Emerging Crop Specialist’ to help hemp farmers with their crop. Dr. Vergara’s scientific publications include the comparison of the cannabinoids by the federally produced Cannabis to that produced by the private market. These results were featured in news platforms such as The Atlantic, Science, and FiveThirtyEight. Recently, she published a comparison between the genome of these federally produced varieties to the genome of the varieties found in the private markets.

Some of her other scientific publications are a compilation of the existing genomic tools available for Cannabis research that was featured in Science, and the maternally inherited genomes (chloroplast and mitochondria). Vergara has authored these publications along with collaborators from the private sector in the Cannabis industry as well as academics from several institutions worldwide. Through AGF, Vergara educates the public about science, data analysis, statistics, evolutionary biology, and genomics.

Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-102-cannabis-genetics-and-terpene-expression-with-dr-daniela-vergara

This is the 2nd part of a 3 part interview series with Clackamas Coot. We talk more about neem, his personal IPM strategies, worm bins, peat moss vs coco coir, how to evaluate potting soils, and much more!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-7

I sit down on the other side of the microphone this week with John Z and cover a wide variety of listener questions ranging from soil microbes to compost teas to re-amending living soils and much more.

Ladybugs are amazing insects and wonderful aphid predators. However, there are a ton of reasons why you should never buy them and why they shouldn't even be legal to sell. 

I was fortunate to get an expert who has been studying ladybugs and their ecology for decades.

Dr. J.P. Michaud is an insect ecologist specializing in biological control and other aspects of crop protection entomology.  He has a background in evolutionary ecology and many of his research endeavors are guided by the implications of evolutionary theory.  His interests include cultural and conservation approaches to biological control of aphids in field crops, ecology of the Coccinellidae, and the interface between host plant resistance and biological control. Dr. Michaud completed his B.Sc. at McGill University and his masters and Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University.  After seven years at the University of Florida studying biological control of disease vectors in citrus, he moved to Kansas State University where he has been developing integrated management strategies for pests of field crops and approaches to conserving their natural enemies since 2003.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-62

There's a lot more to running a Cannabis company than just growing the plants. Gold Leaf gardens is based in Washington State and known for their top shelf flower, extracts and Leira Cannagars. They grow their products "with Aloha" and I sit down with the owner Nate Gibbs to talk about everything from their views on organics to branding and marketing to stay competitive in today's ever changing market.

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already. Her website is bugladyconsulting.com where you can find links to other webinars, podcasts and information as well as how to contact her for direct consulting. Now on to the show!

Virginia Emery is founder and CEO of Beta Hatch, a pioneering insect farming company that is industrializing insects for agriculture. Beta Hatch is fueled by a passion to see insects reach their true potential in our food systems. The company has grown to be internationally recognized for its scientific approach to scaling insect production and operates North America’s largest mealworm farm for animal feed production in Washington. Virginia is the country’s most innovative insect entrepreneur, recently recognized as a Visionary Grist 50 Fixer. Virginia has a PhD in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley, has been awarded over 20 grants and honors, and has published on subjects ranging from chemical communication to genetics to insect behavior. Her life’s mission is to breed a bug that tastes like bacon.

My podcast this week is with Justin Magill. Justin is an owner and head grower for Legit Farms, a legal cannabis company in the recreational market here in Washington State. I wanted to do this podcast because Justin has been growing in Living Soils longer than anyone else I know and he was instrumental in helping me in testing out various ideas around soil mixes, soil testing, and re-amending in beds.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-52

What does the 2018 Farm Bill mean for Hemp Cultivation?

Michael Bowman is Founding Chair of the National Hemp Association. He is also the author of Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill. He’s known in some circles as “Mr Hemp” for his activism and has been instrumental in shaping the State of Colorado’s hemp policy as Chair of Colorado’s New Energy Future and served as Co-Chair of Governor-elect Bill Ritter’s Energy Transition Team.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-45

Learn the pros and cons of soil testing as well as how to understand and interpret the results.

Our guest this week is Kris Borgman. Kris earned a Bachelors of Science in Crop and Soil Science from Washington State University and has 19 years’ experience in agronomy, field management, sustainable programs surrounding agricultural, turf and natural environments. He is the currently the President of Agronomy for UNIBEST International who are the makers of the Soil Savvy Test Kits. The Ion Exchange technology in these kits has been utilized by large agribusiness companies like Wilbur Ellis, McGregor, Crop Production Services, Simplot, and more. Kris also manages a large family drylands and irrigated wheat farming operation in Eastern Washington.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-17

Kelly came to B.I. in 2016 after a 17-year career in greenhouse ornamental and landscape pest management with a strong focus on biological controls and soft chemistry. Since joining the team in Redding, he’s worked in a wide variety of ornamental, food and hemp/cannabis crops developing bio control programs for a myriad of crop pests. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/copy-of-cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-63

My guest this week is Michael Alden. Michael is the Research Director at Stairway Holding, Inc. and explores methods to improve  efficiency and productivity in cannabis cultivation. He spent the past 5 years as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Jim Faust studying the flowering physiology of poinsettias (M.S.) and cannabis (PhD) at Clemson University. Now on to the show!

Our guest this week is Dr. Jim Barrett. Jim has a bachelor of science from Auburn University in Agricultural Sciences, a Masters of Science from Auburn University with an emphasis on Physiology of Vegetable Crops, and a pHd from Michigan State University with an emphasis on physiology of horticulture crops. He was a professor at the University of Florida from 1978-2016 with a focus on crop production in controlled environments. A major component of his work was evaluating Plant Growth Hormones, also knowns as PGRs and developing new application strategies for greenhouse crops. After retiring from the University, he went on to run Barrett Horticultural Consulting for 4 years with a focus on crop production and facility planning for Florida medical cannabis producers.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-79-understanding-plant-growth-hormones-with-dr-jim-barrett

My guest this week is Bryant Mason with Soil Doctor Consulting. Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 4 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. You can also find him on instagram @soil_doctor

My guest this week is Matthew DeBacco. Matthew received his Bachelors degree in Pathology with a secondary degree in horticulture, then going on to receive a master’s degree in agronomy 2011 and a masters in education in 2014, both from the university of Connecticut. Then in 2020 he received his PhD from Ashford University. Matthew started the first cannabis course at a public university at the University of Connecticut. I first found out about Matthew from his research on powdery mildew with cucurbits using raw milk, as it was circulating around the giant pumpkin community. Matthew also enjoys growing giant pumpkins and has held the state record twice with the largest weighing 1,885.5 lbs. In this episode we talk about the similarities between the giant pumpkin community and the cannabis community and how we might be able to utilize some of the advancements across the cultivation of these very different plants. Now on to the show!

In this episode, I give you some background into my history as well as an overview of the cultivation techniques we will cover in future podcasts. Also listed is some of the upcoming interviews and topics. This is a good foundation for better understanding the podcast series.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-1

Dr. Nadia Sabeh is the President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., an agricultural and mechanical engineering firm that specializes in the design of HVAC systems for indoor plant environments. Dr. Sabeh has her PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. For over 20 years, she has dedicated her education and career to helping farmers control their environments, allowing them to grow crops indoors, in greenhouses and in facilities that would otherwise be impossible or impractical to do so. 

Nadia has a free VPD app for both iPhone and Android as well as an amazing podcast called "The Doctor is in" that's available on all streaming platforms. https://www.doctorgreenhouse.com/podcast/tag/podcast

Deron is a horticultural scientist and the Director of Plant Science at Flowr in Kelowna, BC. He was the first person in North America to earn a PhD with research focused on cannabis production. Dr. Caplan has written and published several  peer-reviewed articles on cannabis production, focusing on irrigation, growing media, fertilization, and propagation. He has testified on cannabis production before the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and has provided expert commentary on cannabis for a variety of media outlets, including CBC, Nature, and Rolling Stone Magazine.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-57

Let's talk biochar. What is biochar and what makes it special? Is all biochar the same? How do we evaluate it? Can I just use charcoal? Learn the answers to these questions and more from Renel Anderson, founder of Black Owl Biochar, one of the leading biochar companies in the nation.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-14

My guest this week is Dr. Anna Paltseva.

As an international urban soil scientist and assistant professor, Dr. Anna Paltseva's mission is to educate communities about the critical importance of soil health in growing nutritious food, supporting healthy ecosystems, and helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gases.

Her expertise is in helping people identify and remedy soil contamination in urban gardens. She has a passion to help others to understand the impact of heavy metals on the health of soils and the best ways to improve soil quality.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-89-understanding-heavy-metals-in-soils-with-dr-anna-paltseva

Chris Trump explains Natural Farming, KNF and the philosophy behind the these methods for growing plants using locally sourced microbes and inputs. He is a Master Natural Farmer certified by Master Cho of Korea. He has also studied microbiological analysis under Dr. Elaine Ingham.

His family’s farm is currently the largest natural farm in America growing over 800 acres of Macadamia Nuts. They have returned sick trees to vital health completely eliminating 3 fungal diseases that academics said was impossible.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-32

For anyone growing cannabis as a business or working in the cannabis industry, you know that having a great product or growing top shelf cannabis is only half the story. The other half is shaping your message in a way to effectively reach your audience. 

Shango Los is founder of Shaping Fire and host of the Shaping Fire podcast. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I highly recommend it. His YouTube channel features exclusive cannabis how-to videos and expert interviews.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/copy-of-cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-38

My guest this week is Lee Briese with Centrol Consulting.

Lee is an independent crop consultant from central North Dakota. He provides agronomic advice that helps farmers build customized systems to grow and manage crops profitably. He specializes in helping farmers adopt practices to protect and improve their soil and local environment including reduced till, notill, cover crops, crop rotation and increased plant and economic diversity.

You can find them online at CentrolTV.com. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-87-details-matter-an-ag-consultants-perspective-with-lee-briese

This was a fun podcast for me because I think there's a lot of misinformation around this topic and it was great to hear from an expert! Sphagnum Peat Moss is the gold standard for the horticulture industry. In N. America we use the majority of our peat for growing plants. Are there better options? What's the current research tell us about the sustainability of peat moss? In this episode we talk about why peat moss is such a popular choice for media as well as the pros and cons of the current substrates on the market. 

What's the difference between fish emulsion and fish hydrolysate? Are these products sustainably made? Where are the fish coming from? We tackle these questions and more in this week's episode with Casey Schoenberger, the Director of Sales for Dramm Corporation's Fertilizer and Farm Segments.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-28

Suzanne Wainwright-Evans is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management. Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.

She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, landscapers, and interiorscape companies.

Additionally, Suzanne is frequently published in trade magazines, teaches workshops and lectures professionally to industry groups. Her lectures use her extensive library of insect photos and macro insect movies. She has spoken at the Smithsonian Institute as well as appeared on Growing a Greener World on PBS. She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business for 16 years. Suzanne lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, 1 dog, and 8 cats in a log home built in the 1820s.

Visit Suzanne's website

My guest this week is Dr. Michael Brownbridge. Michael is a Biological Program Manager with BioWorks. In this role he provides technical support for the company's catalog of disease-management products, and their utilization in integrated plant health programs. Prior to joining BioWorks in 2019, he was fortunate enough to have travelled the world plying his craft, with research and outreach positions in Israel, Kenya, the US, New Zealand, and Canada, putting new biological control tools and knowledge into the hands of growers. Now on to the show!

Ben's book, The Lean Farm, has changed the way we run our farm. Any farmers or growers that rely on cultivation for their income need to read this book. Ben shares some insight into how we can improve the efficiency of our farming, reduce expenses, and remove waste. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-20

Jeremy has been in and around the cannabis industry and really made his mark in helping identify and catalogue chemotypic expression of cannabis related to genetics and environmental factors (photobiology, nutrient uptake, etc...). This is the first part of the conversation where he explains more about himself and his findings. The second part will be a Q & A session with questions from listeners and myself. 

My guest this week is Christine DeJesus. Christine operates at the intersection of regenerative organic agriculture and social justice. For five years she’s been perfecting a highly efficient organic cultivation model while managing operations for Galenas Cannabis in Akron, Ohio. Prior she worked in food justice, ran a farm for Great Lakes Brewing Company, functioned as campaign coordinator for Marijuana Policy Project, and co-founded the Midwest CannaWomen. She was featured in the documentary “Polycultures: Food Where We Live,” with Michael Pollan, and at the “My Global Kitchen” exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Christine is a creative writer, a columnist for Cannabis Business Times magazine, and holds degrees from both Kent State and the University of Pittsburgh. In her current role, she focuses on keeping plants, processes, and people healthy and productive while delivering top-tier quality cannabis flower to Ohio consumers. Christine also works with home-growers to bring commercial-level success to their backyard gardens.

Understanding how these soil tests are performed and what numbers you should be using is really important. Some numbers on these tests don't work for potting soils. Agronomist and Author Bill McKibben takes us through the Logan Labs tests and shares what you need to know when using a soil test with potting soils. SPOILER: It's not the same as agricultural soils and not all the numbers are accurate!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-61

This episode is a bit different than my other episodes. With the upcoming Biocontrols Conference in Portland, Oregon next week, I wanted to interview a couple speakers and key attendees prior to the show. 

I caught up with Suzanne Wainwright Evans, to talk a bit about the cannabis aphid. I also interviewed John Sanderson who is a professor of entomology at Cornell University with over 30 years of experience in pest management experience on greenhouse crops. Ronald Valentin, the director of technical business for Bioworks, and Justin Magill, head grower at Legit Farm North.

Watering and irrigation is one of the least appreciated aspects of gardening that has such an incredible impact on the health and growth of your plants. Damian Koch works for the North American distributor of Blumats and helps growers in designing custom systems for their garden. This is our follow up podcast on Blumats where we tackle setup, and frequently asked questions.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-23

Jeremy Plumb is the Director of Production Science at Pruf Cultivar, one of the most technologically advanced cannabis cultivation facilities in North America. At Pruf, Jeremy combines decades of cannabis horticulture experience with cutting-edge technology to deliver previously unattainable consistency in both product quality and consumer effect.

In this episode, he answers some of my questions along with questions from podcast listeners. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-41

My guest this week is Dr. Monique McHenry. Dr. McHenry is a botanist with a background in plant diversity and evolution. She is the director of the University of Vermont Cannabis Science and Medicine and Plant Biology Certificate programs, director of the Medical Cannabis Center for Research and Education, and co-director of the cannabis pharmacology course at the University of Vermont Medical School. She is also Co-Founder of the CASE Institute, a plant-based pharmaceutical research enterprise. Dr. McHenry completed her Bachelors and Master’s of Science at the University of Colorado and her Ph.D. at the University of Vermont. Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-101-plant-stress-and-cannabinoid-relationships-with-dr-monique-mchenry

Certifications within the Cannabis industry are a lot more complicated than one would think at first glance. Andrew Black is the Certified Kind Founder and Director. Andrew spent the past 11 years working for Oregon Tilth, one of the nation’s most trusted organic certification agencies. Andrew has worn many hats in organic certification, including Farm Program Manager, Inspector, Final Reviewer, Latin American Specialist, and Certification Officer. Andrew has inspected hundreds of farms and food processing facilities in the United States and Latin America and has made certification decisions for hundreds more. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-56

Our guest today is Tim Wilson of Microbe Organics. Some listeners may know him better as MicrobeMan from his helpful posts on many internet forums; Tim is a long time friend and colleague who has taught me much of what I know regarding microscopy and evaluating compost teas. 

I consider Tim to be one of the foremost experts and researchers on aerated compost teas and microbial amendments in North America; Tim also founded www.logicalgardener.org, a free forum for gardeners that has a wealth of information. I am honored today to have him on the show! 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-5

My guest this week is Steve Cantwell. Steve is a former mixed martial artist and entrepreneur known for his time in the UFC and his involvement with Green Life Productions.

Steve Cantwell was born in Long Beach, CA. He began training in martial arts at a young age and developed a passion for combat sports. In 2005, Cantwell made his professional MMA debut and quickly gained attention for his aggressive fighting style and well-rounded skills. He amassed an impressive record in regional promotions, which led to his signing with the UFC in 2008.

In recent years, Cantwell has focused on his entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly in the cannabis industry. He founded Green Life Productions (GLP) in 2014, a prominent Las Vegas-based cannabis cultivation company. GLP is known for its organic and sustainable approach to cannabis cultivation, producing high-quality cannabis.

Cantwell's involvement with GLP has allowed him to combine his passion for entrepreneurship with his interest in health and wellness. His contributions to the company reflect his ongoing dedication to promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the cannabis industry. Now on to the show!

Learn the key terms to understand and compare lighting technologies as well as the history of lighting as it relates to plants from Travis Williams and Travis Higginbotham with Fluence Bioengineering. We also discuss the future of lighting and how it relates to the horticulture industry. I found this podcast to be really helpful in evaluating different lights and how lighting spectrum and intensity can effect plant growth, disease resistance, and much more.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-27

This is my follow up interview with Dr. Reggie Gaudino. Reggie is the chief science officer for Steep Hill Labs. Dr. Gaudino oversees all scientific research and development for Steep Hill and is the driving force for Steep Hill's genetic research program. Dr. Gaudino directed a team of researchers which led to the development of GenKit™, the first cannabis DNA-based sex test. The research from Dr. Gaudino has been peer-reviewed and published, leading to important new discoveries in the cannabis industry.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-47

Cari Peters Raymond is Vice President at her family’s company, JR Peters Inc. She is proud to be the 3rd generation of Peters at the company, following both her Father and Grandfather, who introduced the original Peters fertilizers over 72 years ago. At J.R. Peters, Cari is the formulator of all products developed by JR Peters. She heads a hard-working team (the Jack’s Blue Crew) to bring new fertilizer formulas that provide solutions to growers’ nutritional issues. She also manages the J.R. Peters Laboratory & provides tech support – as in, real solutions to growers using the lab or Jack’s products. She has development many formulas that are all connected by the common goal to use nutrients efficiently according to a crop and stage specific nutrient target approach. Cari’s vision for Jack’s fertilizers include constantly looking for ways to help growers feed their plants more efficiently by using the most innovative nutrient sources.
Growing Up Blue: Cari is a Terp & a Blue Hen -- She received her Ph.D. in Plant Sciences (2004), M.S in Agronomy (2000) from the Univ. of Maryland and her B.S. in Biology from the Univ. of Delaware (1997).

My guest this week is Bryant Mason of Soil Doctor Consulting. Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last three years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping.

Link to podcast page

Born and raised in Israel, Prof. Kapulnik received his doctorate in Soil Microbiology from the Hebrew University and as a Fulbright Fellow, completed his post-doctoral work at the University of California, Davis (1984-1986). He worked for more than 25 years as a Professor of Plant physiology and biotechnology at the Volcani Center, Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. His early work focused on the study of Plant-microorganism interactions, mainly in plant’s roots, and their impact on crop productivity. Later, he concentrated on identification and utilization of natural products produced by numerous plants species and their health benefit to human. Prof. Kapulnik holds 14 patents, trained more than 65 graduate and post-graduate students in his lab and has published more than 170 articles in his field in international scientific journals and edited 3 books.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-77-mycorrhizal-fungi-and-the-rhizosphere-with-prof-yoram-kapulnik

Our guest this week is Jim Eagan. Jim has been working for Plant Revolution Inc. for more than a decade. Having been the first company to bring mycorrhizal inoculants to commercial applications, he and the company have been spreading the good news of the benefits of healthy soil to gardeners, landscapers, and farmers all over the world. His degree in environmental studies, his work in the permaculture community, and his experience running a small farm form a background that has given him a deep understanding of the importance of soil organisms for plant and ecosystem health. He continues to learn and explore the fascinating worlds of food production, native ecosystems, and sustainability.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-37

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge.

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already. This podcast though is a 2 part series where we discuss some of the latest research in cannabis and hemp from a recent invite only conference she attended. One of the biggest topics being viruses in cannabis.

Now on to the show!

That was Suzanne Wainwright Evans and you are listening to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast. If you like the podcast, please leave us a rating and review, and give us a follow on instagram. And don’t forget at KIS Organics we have a wide arrange of products we offer on our website ranging from soils, amendments, beneficial insects, sticky cards, soil test analysis and consulting. I also recently added a Patreon for folks interested in supporting the podcast directly. Lastly, you can also sign up for our newsletter on our website homepage to stay up to date on the latest research and information. Thanks for listening!

This week’s podcast is with David Bronner, CEO aka Cosmic Engagement Officer for Dr. Bronners, the top selling brand of natural soaps in North America. Not only do they make the best soap, but they’ve dedicated themselves to advocacy around our food supply, regenerative organic agriculture, animal welfare, fair labor practices, and responsible integration of cannabis and psychedelic medicine into American and global culture. In my opinion, this is one of the best examples of how a company can operate ethically and sustainably in today’s society and it was an honor to spend this time with David. I could spend the entire podcast just talking of all the amazing thing Dr. Bronner’s has done for the community and it’s employees, but the main purpose was to discuss their partnership on the Sun and Earth Certification for cannabis and the non-profit David has helped in establishing called Brother David’s.  

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-55

In this podcast, I interview Dr. Ben Higgins, Chief Research Scientist at Goldleaf Gardens. 

We discuss how to interpret research, create useful data in your facility, and a new white paper on pots vs living soil beds. We also touch on some preliminary results on trials relating toBlumats, Mammoth P, and BIOS lighting.

Ben and I were also proud to announce a new consulting group called Kaizen Consulting that is comprised of myself, Ben, Nate Gibbs (owner of Goldleaf Gardens), Allison Justice of Outco, and Chris Jagger of Blue Fox Ag. All of these folks have been on my podcast so you can hear more about them on there. If you are interested in consulting please go to www.growwithkaizen.com. Thanks for listening!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-51

My guest this week is Dr. Jack Munz. Jack obtained a Bachelor of Science in Botany from Colorado State University while working as a lab assistant facilitating the development of genetic  markers for invasive species. Jack then earned a Master of Science from Illinois State University where  he worked towards increasing vegetable oils in temperate grasses like corn for biodiesel production using targeted gene expression. He also has a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of British  Columbia during which he worked to unravel the genetic regulation of nitrogen starvation responses in  plants with next-gen sequencing technologies. Jack is now applying his experience in plant molecular  genetics to diagnose viruses in cannabis with 3 Rivers Biotech based out of Vancouver, Canada. 3 Rivers  Biotech also has a lab in Ferndale, Washington, and a future lab in California later this year. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/news/episode-85-viruses-in-cannabis-and-hemp-with-dr-jack-munz

My guest this week is Dr. Kevin Mehr. Dr. Mehr has spent the last five years driving the development of large-scale micropropagation programs for cannabis in North America. Kevin received his Ph.D. in Genome Science and Technology from the University of British Columbia and translates this experience with genetics and plant science to every facet of operations and product innovation.

Controlled Environment Agriculture is such a technical field that it can be confusing and a bit daunting for growers. I also think it's importance gets overlooked many times when discussing variables relating to plant growth and plant health. I'm honored to have Dr. Nadia Sabeh on to help explain some of the key principles to consider when growing indoors or greenhouse environments.

Dr. Nadia Sabeh (A.K.A. “Dr. Greenhouse”) is President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., an agricultural and mechanical engineering firm that specializes in the design of HVAC systems for indoor plant environments. Dr. Sabeh has her PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. For over 20 years, she has dedicated her education and career to helping farmers control their environments, allowing them to grow crops indoors, in greenhouses and in facilities that would otherwise be impossible or impractical to do so. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-49

There's been little to no research on what nutrient disorders look like when analyzing leaf tissue on cannabis. Paul Cockson shares his recently published paper on the subject from North Carolina State University.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-59

My guests this week are two awesome cannabis researchers, Paul Cockson and Patrick Veazie. Paul has been on the podcast before on episode 59 talking about his paper on cannabis deficiencies. Be sure to check out that episode if you haven’t already and also this is a good one to go to the podcast page at kisorganics.com, just click on the learn tab then podcast. I will have links to all the papers so you can follow along as well as a link to their new website that shares all their research in one central location, it’s a great resource.

Paul has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2018, and in plant science research since 2016. He has a background in horticulture, agroecology, and floriculture from his time at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD at the University of Kentucky working with industrial hemp. Paul's primary research focuses on rhizosphere management and brings strengths in plant mineral fertility, plant hormones and growth regulators, substrate research, general diagnostics, and greenhouse and growth chamber expertise. In addition to a strong greenhouse background, Paul is also literate in field level agronomic processes. Paul's passion is for mentorship and sharing the research process with undergraduate students. When not doing research, Paul and his dog (Groot) can be found hiking in local, state, and national parks.

Patrick Veazie has been working in the hemp world as a researcher since 2019, and as a plant science researcher since 2018. He has a background in horticulture and floriculture from his time as an undergraduate researcher at NC State. Currently, he is pursuing his M.S. at North Carolina State and is focusing on greenhouse substrates for Cannabis and other floriculture crops. Patrick's primary research focuses on plant mineral fertility, substrate research, and general diagnostics.

Was super excited to talk to them about some of their latest published research on cannabis and hemp. Now on to the show!

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge.

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already. This podcast though is a 2 part series where we discuss some of the latest research in cannabis and hemp from a recent invite only conference she attended. One of the biggest topics being viruses in cannabis.

Now on to the show!

That was Suzanne Wainwright Evans and you are listening to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast. If you like the podcast, please leave us a rating and review, and give us a follow on instagram. And don’t forget at KIS Organics we have a wide arrange of products we offer on our website ranging from soils, amendments, beneficial insects, sticky cards, soil test analysis and consulting. I also recently added a Patreon for folks interested in supporting the podcast directly. Lastly, you can also sign up for our newsletter on our website homepage to stay up to date on the latest research and information. Thanks for listening!

My guest this week is Brandon Hudson. Brandon is a second generation cannabis cultivator with over 35 years of direct experience with this amazing plant. Building on fundamentals learned as a child Brandon has applied a controlled approach to cannabis cultivation starting his first plants his freshman year of college in 1986. He currently works for KIS Organics providing growers with everything from customer support to assistance with nutrients and soil tests. A well rounded and passionate organic grower, Brandon's real passion is in soil chemistry. Most recently, Brandon was the Director of Cultivation and one of four founding members of a minority-owned hemp flower farm in South Carolina.  He provided SOPs and oversight for all aspects of cultivation from propagation to harvest and cure, including daily operation of a large nursery facility. In this role Brandon also performed several federally funded hemp trials for HBCUs as well as research projects for nutrient producers. He is a proud dad and husband who spends his free time outdoors with his veggie gardens and chickens.

This week’s show is a bit different, as we get a lot of the same questions at KIS Organics and thought it would be fun to do a show covering a lot of the most common ones. Now on to the show!

Eleanor Kuntz, PhD, is a trained herbalist and geneticist bridging the gap between traditional herbalism and modern science. She is a co-founder at Canndor, the People’s Herbarium, the first herbarium committed to documenting and preserving cannabis cultivars and varietals along with the collective knowledge gained through community engagement. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-44

This episode is a bit different.  I didn't know what to do for our 100th episode and my friend Suzanne, who you all know as the Bug Lady, convinced me to let her flip the tables and interview me to share a bit more about myself, how this podcast came to be, and some of what I've learned from the many amazing guest I've had the privilege of interviewing over the past 4 years.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-100-origins-podcast-suzanne-wainwright-evans-interviews-tad-hussey

My guest this week is Dr. Adel Zarei. Dr. Zarei earned his Ph.D. degree from Leiden University in the Netherlands, specializing in molecular mechanisms governing defense and secondary metabolism in plants. Dr. Zarei spent a decade as a Research Associate at the University of Guelph, where his research focused on stress physiology in plants. His primary passion lies in the study of plant secondary metabolites, many of which possess pharmaceutical significance. In 2017, Adel transitioned to the Cannabis industry, serving as a Scientific Advisor and Cannabis Micropropagation Expert. He played a pivotal role in designing and establishing multiple Cannabis Micropropagation labs for Cannabis Production License Holders. His groundbreaking work in this field garnered multiple Government grants and led to the development of commercial-scale cannabis micropropagation techniques. The results of this research were published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant and Plants”. Throughout his scientific career, Adel has authored more than twenty-two peer-reviewed articles covering topics such as plant stress physiology, secondary metabolites, and plant pathology.

Dr. Zarei is an integral member of the PharmaCrop team, serving as the Chief Operating Officer at PharmaCrop Pty. Ltd. in Queensland, Australia. In this role, he oversees operations that encompass every stage of the process, from seed cultivation to the final production of medical-grade cannabis products. Dr. Zarei has successfully transferred his extensive knowledge and experience in the cultivation and processing of medical cannabis into Australia burgeoning industry. Now on to the show!

Have you ever wondered what's the best way to prune and train your plants? And what's really going on in the curing process with cannabis? These questions get address with some actual science in my latest podcast with Dr. Allison Justice of Outco and SC Labs.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-43

Dr. Chris Hayes began his journey into biologicals while working on his PhD; then continued in the field as a scientist at Cornell University/NYSAES in Geneva, NY.  At Cornell, he worked on the strains of Trichoderma, T22 & G41, which would ultimately become the active ingredients in RootShield Plus.  He left Cornell approximately 25 years ago to help start BioWorks.  For the past quarter-century, he has worked in various areas within BioWorks with the ultimate goal of helping those interested in using biologicals to understand the do’s and don’ts to maximize the effectiveness of biologicals in programs to prevent plant sickness and loss. 

https://www.bioworksinc.com/about-us/

Check out additional info from Chris:

Click here for Trichoderma-based products around the world, Dr. Woo 2014

Click here for Trichoderma Species Paper

Click here for Myths and Dogmas of Biocontrol

You know, we talk a lot about soil testing on this podcast and how important it is. Well I wanted to get someone on the show to have a discussion about how to understand and evaluate these soil tests because getting a soil test is one thing, but understanding how to use that information can be something else entirely. 

Our guest this week is Aaron Crozier. Aaron is a soil and plant health consultant, You can check him out on Instagram as @Growru.  Aaron is passionate about using soil and sap testing to improve the quality of the soil and plants. Aaron teaches growers how to re-mineralize there soil and then work on increasing plant health.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-35

Our guest this week is Tom Miles.

Tom is the president of T.R. Miles, Technical Consultants, Portland, Oregon, a biomass energy consulting firm, which designs, develops, installs, and commissions systems for processing wood, agricultural, and urban residues. Innovative biomass systems include pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion, sizing, drying, densification, handling, modification of boilers and gasifiers to improve efficiency and emissions, and systems to recycle nutrients. He has developed heat and power systems in developing countries. His knowledge of ash transformations in biomass led to recycling nutrients using pyrolysis of residues to biochar which can improve soil health and sequester carbon. He has sponsored and hosted online discussions of biomass energy and biochar since 1994. He is past chairman of the International Biochar Initiative and Executive Director of the US Biochar Initiative. Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-78-benefits-and-uses-for-biochar-with-tom-miles

Samuel Hoefler is a 10-year cannabis industry professional and current Head Grower of Prūf Cultivar. Sam is finishing an agronomy at Oregon State University and focuses primarily on nutrient management, irrigation techniques, and cannabis crop production. Sam has created a novel cultivation model at Prūf Cultivar while building one of the most advanced and informative data sets on cannabis nutrient values to date. Sam’s long term goals include establishing optimal nutrient ranges for cannabis, creating an open platform for industry professionals to share knowledge, and to continue pursuing a lifelong passion for researching cannabis cultivation.

George has degrees in Horticulture from the University of Georgia and the University of Florida. He is the GGSPro Technical Services Manager with Griffin Greenhouse Supplies. GGSPro assists ornamental, edible, and hemp/cannabis growers across the country with their cultivation issues ranging from sanitation, IPM, fertility, lighting, and water quality. GGSPro fields over 17,000 grower related calls and emails annually. This amount of valuable interaction helps Griffin collaborate with chemical vendors, academic researchers, and plant producers to implement change within the green industry. 

Determining if LEDs are Right For You and Your Grow

Part 1: what is an LED?

Part 2: can LEDs provide the correct light that plants need?

Part 3: what are some useful calculations?

Rebecca Knight Ph.D., Sr. Application Engineer, BIOS Lighting

Rebecca is an engineer and R&D scientist with experience in a broad range of fields: science, engineering, marketing, and business development. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Texas, a M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue, and Chemical Engineering and Japanese undergraduate degrees.  She is passionate about vertical farming, horticultural LEDs, plant secondary metabolic pathway gene expression, and sustainable food production.  As the Sr. Application Engineer she works closely with the sales team using her photobiology research background, and love of analytics, to provide integration and cultivation expertise.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-48

In this episode I interview Dr. Ben Higgins and he shares the results of the research he did at Gold Leaf Gardens that helped increase yields dramatically. We also discuss the importance of good research and development and how it can be used to make data-driven decisions.

My guest this week is Cassandra Maffey and she shares her experience with creating and utilizing Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs in your garden. Cassandra is a legacy cannabis cultivator who specializes in commercial scale, organic living soil cultivation. She honed her cultivation skills in the early 2000’s in Northern California’s Emerald Triangle, then relocated to Colorado to co-found one of Boulder’s first licensed dispensaries in 2009. Since then, she has helped clients across the country establish successful commercial scale living soil cannabis cultivation facilities, working with Medical, Recreational, and Celebrity brands. Cassandra’s passion for sustainability and quality has won numerous cannabis cups and accolades for her teams, and Cassandra was named one of the top 50 women in cannabis by High Times Magazine in 2019. Cassandra was kind enough to share a sample SOP as an example on our podcast page. Now on to the show!

My guest this week is Dr. Jack Munz. Dr. Munz has a decade’s worth of experience in the field of plant molecular genetics working on complex gene regulation and nutrient metabolism projects. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Botany from Colorado State University while working as a lab assistant facilitating the development of genetic markers for invasive species. Jack then earned a Master of Science from Illinois State University where he worked towards increasing vegetable oils in temperate grasses like corn for biodiesel production using targeted gene expression. He then earned his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of British Columbia during which he worked to unravel the genetic regulation of nitrogen starvation responses in plants with next-gen sequencing technologies. Dr. Munz is a lead scientist at Genie Labs and head of pathogen testing Research & Development. Now on to the show!

Has cannabis cultivation evolved to where cannabis-marketed bottled nutrient companies are becoming outdated? Hear my conversation with Nelson Lindsley of Poetry of Plants on the subject. 

Also an exciting new collaboration and podcast announcement!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-34

Irrigation is one of the most underrated aspects of cultivation and understanding water quality, dissolved oxygen, and best practices will make a HUGE difference in plant health. My guest this week is Les Evans from Dramm, to answer all my questions about water. Les has a degree in Biological Engineering, with a concentration in Water/Soil & Environmental Engineering from NC State University, and 29 years of industry experience helping growers, of all types of crops, with their environmental and water quality challenges. Les’ day-to-day involves supporting the Dramm sales team and their customers with water treatment designs that maximize investment while minimizing environmental impact. When he's not at his desk, he can be found planting perennials with his family, or running the NC Mountains-to-Sea trail system a stone's throw from his home in Raleigh.

Microbial-based products are becoming more and more popular in agriculture and horticulture. In today's podcast, Sarah Pellkofer helps explains some of the benefits of using specific microbes in your garden as well as looking at some recent studies on how microbes can impact plant growth and pest resistance. Sarah has her PhD in Plant Science and Policy at the University of Zurich, studying plant-soil interactions and publishing her work on Soil Biodiversity and the Stability of Ecosystem Functioning.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-36

Kelly Vance came to Beneficial Insectary in 2016 after a 17-year career in greenhouse ornamental and landscape pest management with a strong focus on biological controls and soft chemistry. Since joining the team in Redding, he’s worked in a wide variety of ornamental, food and hemp/cannabis crops developing bio control programs for a myriad of crop pests. 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-63

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already.

The giant pumpkin community has a lot in common with cannabis growers. Both are pushing the envelope to maximize plant health and yield. Hear from one of the best about how he grows some of the largest plants in the world every year! 

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-31

My guest this week is Rufus Akinrinlola. He is a Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant in the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He works in the research programs of UT Specialty Crops and Field Crop Pathology, focusing on Sustainable Disease and Integrated Pest Management Systems, where he’s co-mentored by Drs. Heather Kelly and Zachariah Hansen. Rufus has an MS degree in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a BS degree in Microbiology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria. His areas of interest include management of field and specialty crops with emphasis on the improved adoption of integrated pest management and natural products in crop protection. Rufus was recently (2021) awarded a Developing Emerging Agricultural Leader and Talent grant (DELTA Award) by Corteva Agriscience in recognizing his potentials as an emerging crop protection future leader. Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-90

Our guest this week is not only an awesome grower and passionate gardener, but also a good friend. Jaya Palmer is a biological horticulture consultant. His mission is to excite and inspire people to utilize cannabis as a fulcrum to raise consciousness. Jaya brings us some exciting and practical tips for setting up your grow room as well as an introduction to using predatory mites and beneficial bugs.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-12

My guest this week is Rob Knechtel, founder of Black Swallow Living Soils. Although Rob’s life long interest in growing cannabis began in the late 60’s, he has spent the past 45 years in a completely unrelated industry designing, installing and marketing fireplaces. When the Canadian government announced approximately 5 years ago that they would be legalizing cannabis production, Rob, his wife Lou and son Nathan decided to start up Black Swallow Living Soil. 

Nathan runs the day to day operations with his team, and Rob along with his wife continue to concentrate on further building the Black Swallow brand. After meeting on a visit to the Gold Leaf Gardens a few years ago, Rob and Nathan began to work on a couple projects with KIS Organics, and now blend the KIS Mix based off of my formulation. In a relatively short time, Black Swallow Living Soil has gained significant recognition as a respected supplier of organic soil amendments and growing supplies in Canada, which they ship coast to coast. In this podcast we discuss exactly what goes into formulating a soil mix as well as some of the challenges we see on daily basis in this industry.

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/podcast/episode-75-formulating-soils-and-new-products-with-rob-knechtel-of-black-swallow-living-soils

Dr. Tassa Saldi is an accomplished molecular biologist with more than 25 years of research experience in RNA biology, infectious disease, and molecular pathogen detection. Dr. Saldi graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Molecular Biology. She completed her graduate and postdoctoral studies at the University of Colorado, where she studied RNA structure, small RNAs and RNA processing. She was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the American Cancer Society and was one of eighteen doctoral fellows nationwide invited to present her research at the Aspen Cancer Conference.  Dr. Saldi has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals. As the Chief Science Officer and co-founder of TUMI Genomics, Dr. Saldi continues to use her expertise to provide the cannabis industry with reliable, accurate diagnostic tools and pathogen mitigation guidance. 

My guest this week is Dr. Cari Peters. She is the vice president at JR Peters and the formulator of all products and development of new fertilizer formulas that provide crop-specific solutions to growers nutritional issues. She has too many honors and accolades to list here, but I will put them up on the podcast page. Cari has a PhD in Plant Sciences  and a Masters of Science in Agronomy from the University of Maryland as well as a Bachelors of Science in Biology. She’s the 3rd generation of Peters in the family business which was founded over 72 years ago. Now on to the show!

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/news/episode-74-targeted-nutrition-using-chemical-nutrients-in-cannabis-with-dr-cari-peters

My guest this week is Dr. Jordan Zager. Jordan is an expert in natural product biosynthesis and chemical analysis of cannabis resin compounds. Dr. Zager earned his PhD from Washington State University, where his research set the stage for studying the regulatory events governing gene expression in cannabis and their effect on the biosynthesis of trichome-bound cannabinoids and terpenoids. Early in his career, Jordan set his sights on aggressively applying modern scientific methods to the medicinal and recreational cannabis industry and to bring cultivators the tools to become exceptional. Dr. Zager is now the CEO and co-founder of Dewey Scientific in Pullman, Washington. Now on to the show!

Entomologist Suzanne Wainwright Evans comes back on the podcast to talk about what she's seen over the past year consulting on cannabis farms, including advice on scouting, sticky cards, and much more!

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-33

In this episode, we interview Dr. Robert Faust, President of Bioag where we talk about humates, humic and fulvic acid, and much more. Dr. Faust is a leading expert in agroecology providing integrated services throughout the world including the United States, Egypt, Belize, Jamaica and Mexico to assist in reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides using new biotechnology and foliar fertilizers to increase crop yields and create sustainable systems.

https://www.kisorganics.com/pages/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast-episode-11