Ready to hit the fields? This episode of Between the Rows is all about that high-stakes first pass and the unpredictable Michigan spring.

The frost is lifting, the equipment is hummin’, and Ashleigh and Amanda are back to talk about the most critical time of year: The Planting Pass. From the back of a seed tender in the Upper Peninsula to the active discing fields of West Michigan, the girls check in from the thick of pre-season prep.

They dive deep into the "non-negotiables" of planting—discussing why technologies like down force and variable rate seeding are game-changers for uniform emergence and harvest consistency. But it wouldn’t be farming without a few curveballs; the duo discusses navigating record-breaking rainfall, the "Billy Eilish" method of documenting farm history, and an unexpected cameo from Ashleigh’s dad that nearly stole the show.

Whether you're making the call on early-season soybeans or just trying to keep the rye cover crop from taking over, grab your coffee (or Diet Coke) and join us between the rows.

• Ashleigh's Road Trip: Delivering seed and fuel tenders across the Upper Peninsula to get growers ready for the ground to break.
• Amanda’s Home Front: The discs are running, lime is being spread, and the team is putting in 11-hour shop days to get the planters communicating.

• Non-Negotiables: Why Down Force and Variable Rate Seeding are essential for achieving that "one-day emergence" window.
• Uniformity is King: How consistent emergence in the spring leads to easier drying and better yields at harvest.
• Tech Talk: A look back at precision planting kits and how equipment upgrades have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Rain, Rain, Go Away: Analyzing the Davis weather station data—some areas have seen over 7 inches of rain, moving the conversation from "pre-season" to managing wet fields.
• Soybean Strategy: Is April too early for beans in Central Michigan? The girls discuss the "10-year pattern" vs. recent early planting trends.
• The Wheat Worry: Potential nitrogen leaching concerns following the heavy spring deluges.

• New Beginnings: Celebrating Ashleigh’s parents finally moving into their new home.
• Documenting the Farm: The importance of recording "Farmer Stories." Amanda and Ashleigh discuss using video to preserve the legacy of grandparents.
• Dad’s Cameo: A hilarious mid-episode interruption involving a loader tractor and a "scraped approach" by Ashleigh's father.

Connect with us! Have a farmer story we should feature? Want to tell us your planting non-negotiables? Reach out to us on social media—we’re experts at "volun-telling" people to come on the show!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introduction In this episode, hosts Ashley and Amanda welcome Rachel Hyde. Rachel shares her unique journey from working in corporate agriculture to balancing multiple roles as a business owner, mother, and active participant on her family’s corn and soybean farm.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Transition Home: Rachel discusses the difficult decision to leave her full-time role at Beck’s Hybrids to focus on her family and growing businesses. She shares insights into the challenges of traveling for work with a young child and the importance of finding a sustainable work-life balance.
• Entrepreneurial Ventures:
• 2nd Shift Garage Doors: Rachel and her husband Michael’s journey into starting a garage door business, born from working "the second shift" in the evenings and weekends.
• Connection Consulting: Rachel’s marketing consultancy, which focuses on providing tailored, affordable marketing strategies for small-to-mid-sized businesses that might otherwise rely on generic AI solutions.
• Life on the Family Farm: Rachel talks about her experience growing up in a traditional ag environment, the importance of her father’s belief in giving her and her brother equal opportunities on the farm, and her current seasonal role assisting with everything from bookkeeping to field work.
• Community and Advocacy: As the Public Relations Coordinator for the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Rachel emphasizes the need for young farmers to stay involved in advocacy and connect with their local communities.
• Organization and Support: A look into how Rachel manages her busy schedule, the importance of a strong support system (her "tribe"), and tips for stay-at-home parents who are also running businesses.

Rapid Fire Round:

• Favorite Piece of Equipment to Drive: The planter.
• Planting or Harvest Season: Harvest.
• Favorite Caffeine Drink: Marshmallow Coke with grenadine (or coffee for the flavor, though caffeine doesn't affect her much).

Where to Find Rachel Hyde:

• Facebook: Rachel Hyde
• Business Pages: 2nd Shift Garage Doors, Connection Consulting, and Flanders A-Maizing Grain

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Amanda and Ashleigh pull back the curtain on the "slow" season in Michigan, which is anything but quiet. They dive into the realities of navigating record-breaking rainfall, the steep learning curve of grain marketing, and the vital importance of professional development through programs like Farm Bureau’s ProFILE. From venting to a trusted circle of female friends to finding a sense of belonging in local youth ministries, this conversation explores how staying connected keeps the farm—and the farmer—running.

• Muddy Fields & Spring Break: Amanda and Ashleigh recap a week of heavy Michigan rain and the challenge of keeping kids entertained during a soggy spring break.
• The Educational Circuit: A look at winter meeting season, featuring takeaways on fertility from Jason Roth and the value of Beck’s PFR meetings.
• Market Outlooks & Political Climates: The girls discuss the "big unknown" of the current agricultural economy, biofuel shifts, and the struggle to master grain marketing "for dummies."
• The Ag Salesman as Therapist: Ashleigh reflects on the emotional side of seed sales—being a "punching bag" for frustrated farmers and learning not to take market stress personally.
• Finding Your People: The importance of "glass ball" vs. "rubber ball" priorities and how Farm Bureau’s ProFILE program creates lifelong statewide connections.
• Community Beyond the Farm: Ashleigh shares her passion for working with Central Michigan Youth for Christ and how serving others provides a necessary perspective shift.
• Successional Planning & Future Goals: A teaser for a deep dive into the emotional and legal complexities of passing on the family legacy.

"Busy people get more done... but you have to know which 'glass balls' you can't afford to drop." — Amanda

"In ag sales, you're the therapist, the punching bag, and the best friend. You never know which one you're walking into." — Ashleigh

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.