Ep 233 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into the unexpected world of agricultural byproducts, whiskey waste, and the surprising ways innovation is reshaping how we think about feeding cattle and sustainability.
First up: Pulp-fed beef is going viral. Texas rancher Nate from Pontius Ranches shared test results showing his cattle fed upcycled citrus pulp have 6x more vitamin B, 2x more vitamin E, and even traceable vitamin C. Then, Jack Daniels is ending its cow feeder program that served 100+ local livestock operations, redirecting spent grains to an anaerobic digester instead — and the Moore County farming community is feeling the impact. Finally, tractor prodigy Justyn Jackson teams up with an NFL quarterback to fuel farmers and advocate for agriculture on a national stage.
Plus: Point Reyes ranchers update and a deep dive into dates (the fruit, not the romantic kind).
BUT WAIT — there's more!
Stick around for discussions on nutrient testing, the economics of feeding byproducts, and why quality matters more than the grass vs. grain debate.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Pulp-fed beef with 6x more vitamins and why upcycling matters
🪩 Jack Daniels ends its cow feeder program — and the farmers are not happy
🪩 Justyn Jackson and an NFL quarterback team up for agriculture
🪩 Point Reyes ranchers update
🪩 The truth about dates (and why they're not cookies)
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:34 Discovery 1: Pulp-Fed Beef Has 6X More Vitamins
03:59 Cows as the Ultimate Upcyclers: Why Feeding Byproducts is Nothing New
06:50 The Quality Conversation: Why Grass Fed vs. Grain Fed is Misleading Science
10:49 The Price Debate: iPhone vs. Food Costs & Defending Farmers' Prices
15:21 Sponsor Break: Sunrise Flour Mill
16:17 Discovery 2: Jack Daniels Ends Cow Feeder Program: The Whiskey Beef Controversy
18:06 Carbon Credits vs. Circular Ag: Why Digesters are Replacing $8/Day Cow Feed
24:44 Discovery 3: NFL Quarterback & Tractor Prodigy Team Up (Jackson Lux & Brock Purdy)
27:44 The John Deere Goldmine: Uplifting Youth in Ag & Brock Purdy's Burnt Eyebrow
32:22 Sponsor Break: Our Farms (Direct-to-Consumer)
33:29 Disco Debrief: Point Reyes Scandal Update: The $10M Nature Conservancy Land Grab
37:50 The NDA Controversy & What Happens to the Grazing Land Now
40:15 Dates are Hand-Pollinated: Why Bees Do Less Than 1% of the Work
44:02 The Viral Date Recipes (Snickers & Cookie Lies) and Labor-Intensive Farming
46:09 Discover on the Road Confession: Oyster Diving is Next! (New Episodes Tease)
50:02 Wrap-up and Final Thoughts
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by @NatalieKovarik — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and @TaraVanderDussen — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
• Website: https://discoverag.com/
• Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast
🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS
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