Tillery welcomes Texas A&M AgriLife’s Katie Lewis (soil scientist) and Todd Bauman for a wide-ranging, practical look at West Texas agriculture in 2025. After a season of timely rains and minimal hail that buoyed research plots and grower morale, they confront the tough flip side: depressed commodity prices across cotton, corn, sorghum, and beans. Katie traces her path from South Texas farming roots to 11 years of High Plains research on optimizing systems—cover crops, reduced/no-till, crop rotations, and fertility beyond just nitrogen (notably persistent potassium issues in cotton). The trio spotlights long-term trials at the Dawson County farm, cross-university collaborations, and pest/disease work (including nematodes). They unpack why diversification is hard here—specialized cotton infrastructure, water limits, and economics—while noting cotton’s drought tolerance and the rising interest in animal integration/grazed forages as a risk-management tool. Soil biology takes center stage: carbon’s functional benefits, microbe-driven nutrient cycling, and field work with biologicals like free-living N fixers and MyLand’s on-farm algae systems. Throughout, they stress that “regenerative” isn’t a one-size recipe; success is site-specific, farm-level, and must pencil out. The episode closes with a call for life-size, long-horizon trials replicated across soil types—and closer grower–consumer relationships over checkbox certifications.

Tillery welcomes Texas A&M AgriLife’s Katie Lewis (soil scientist) and Todd Bauman for a wide-ranging, practical look at West Texas agriculture in 2025. After a season of timely rains and minimal hail that buoyed research plots and grower morale, they confront the tough flip side: depressed commodity prices across cotton, corn, sorghum, and beans. Katie traces her path from South Texas farming roots to 11 years of High Plains research on optimizing systems—cover crops, reduced/no-till, crop rotations, and fertility beyond just nitrogen (notably persistent potassium issues in cotton). The trio spotlights long-term trials at the Dawson County farm, cross-university collaborations, and pest/disease work (including nematodes). They unpack why diversification is hard here—specialized cotton infrastructure, water limits, and economics—while noting cotton’s drought tolerance and the rising interest in animal integration/grazed forages as a risk-management tool. Soil biology takes center stage: carbon’s functional benefits, microbe-driven nutrient cycling, and field work with biologicals like free-living N fixers and MyLand’s on-farm algae systems. Throughout, they stress that “regenerative” isn’t a one-size recipe; success is site-specific, farm-level, and must pencil out. The episode closes with a call for life-size, long-horizon trials replicated across soil types—and closer grower–consumer relationships over checkbox certifications.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons Sims sits down with crop insurance expert and lifelong cotton industry advocate Delinda Hicklin to unpack one of agriculture’s most misunderstood topics — crop insurance. Together, they explore how the program evolved from the 1980s farm crisis into today’s vital safety net for U.S. farmers, protecting not just individual livelihoods but the nation’s food and fiber security.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Navy veteran Billy Knox and barbecue pitmaster Ian Timmons to share the story behind Beefy, a Lubbock-based startup transforming brisket into an innovative, healthy snack. Born out of Ian’s legacy at Tom & Bingo’s Barbecue and fueled by Billy’s logistical expertise, Beefy is creating high-protein, preservative-free meat chips that are winning fans for their unique texture and flavor—crispy like a chip, buttery like bacon.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Canadian rancher and conservation leader Brian Gilvesey about the ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) program, a farmer-driven initiative that pays landowners for producing ecosystem services like clean water, biodiversity, soil health, and carbon storage.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with Billy Tiller, a fifth-generation cotton farmer, entrepreneur, and data solutions innovator from West Texas. Billy shares his journey from farming and ag banking to launching technology ventures focused on ag data cooperatives and water management solutions. He explains how his work in Nebraska’s Twin Platte Natural Resource District helped pioneer a large-scale project using electric smart meters to track irrigation more accurately and encourage conservation—an approach now viewed as a model across the state.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims welcomes Tony Vorster and Nick Young, researchers at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Lab, to explore how NASA’s remote sensing technology can directly support farmers and ranchers. With years of experience in applied research and the NASA Develop Program, Tony and Nick explain remote sensing in everyday terms—how satellites measure landscapes, track vegetation, and provide insights on soil moisture, biomass, flood risks, and long-term land changes.

 In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with agricultural law expert Jim Bradbury to unpack the complexities of conservation easements—what they are, how they work, and why they’re gaining popularity across Texas. Together, they explore how easements provide landowners with tools to preserve property for future generations, manage estate planning, and protect against fragmentation, all while maintaining agricultural productivity.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims speaks with Joe Martinez, founder of a nonprofit dedicated to helping U.S. farms legally recruit agricultural workers through the H-2A, H-2B, and TN visa programs. With decades of agricultural labor challenges as the backdrop, Joe explains how his organization connects farmers with trained, reliable laborers from Mexico, Guatemala, and beyond—offering not just workers, but long-term relationships that support both farm productivity and community development.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims talks with Dr. John Beusterien, professor at Texas Tech and founder of the Lubbock Waters project. With a background in literature and history, John shares how his curiosity about the land, culture, and ecology of West Texas led him to water—our most vital and fragile resource.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmins Sims sits down with Leah Doozy from Compliance Services International (CSI) to dive into the world of pesticide regulation and its complex relationship with environmental and agricultural practices. Leah shares her extensive background in agricultural economics and conservation, shedding light on the intricate process of getting pesticides approved by the EPA, the importance of labels in regulating chemical use, and the growing concern for endangered species. The conversation highlights the balance between using chemicals for agricultural efficiency and the potential environmental impacts, such as pesticide resistance and soil health. Leah also discusses the evolving nature of regulation, from EPA's early struggles with endangered species protection to their current strategies for mitigating the risks posed by pesticides. This episode offers a unique perspective on the intersection of science, policy, and agriculture, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of how decisions made in the regulatory space affect the environment, farmers, and consumers.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims sits down with agricultural legend Jane Dever to explore her remarkable journey from a small West Texas cotton farm to leading agricultural research in South Carolina. Jane shares her family’s deep immigrant roots, the legacy of her grandfather’s 160-acre farm, and the powerful story of how her parents opened their home to foster and refugee children. She reflects on decades in the cotton industry—from improving West Texas fiber quality through public breeding programs to working with FiberMax and championing underserved growers.

In this thought-provoking episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims welcomes hydrologist and University of Texas researcher Dr. Bridget Scanlon, whose global perspective and deep technical insight offer a compelling look at water’s future in West Texas and beyond. Originally from southwest Ireland and now based in Austin, Dr. Scanlon shares her journey from farming roots to cutting-edge research in groundwater recharge, produced water reuse, and climate-smart resource management.

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery welcomes Dr. Todd Baughman, the new director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center in Lubbock, Texas. They explore Todd’s agricultural background, the mission and evolution of land grant universities, and the vital role of research, teaching, and extension in supporting rural communities. The conversation highlights the breadth of ongoing research at the Lubbock center—including cotton, peanuts, corn breeding, and remote sensing with NASA—as well as cutting-edge projects like using produced water from oil drilling for irrigation.

In this heartfelt episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmons-Sims visits with multi-generational farmers and ranchers Pug, Cade, and Lane Lyons in Brownfield, Texas, to discuss land stewardship, legacy, and the realities of rural life. With candor and care, the Lyons family shares their experiences navigating decades of change in West Texas agriculture—from soil health to succession planning.