Building Balanced Root Beds for Smarter Water & Farm Efficiency
This podcast is for commodity growers, dairymen, and ag professionals who want to stay ahead in modern farming. Each episode explores technologies & practices shaping the future of agriculture—from subsurface drip irrigation (SDI & SDI-E) & manure management to soil & sap testing, water-use efficiency, &crop health. Hear directly from farmers & experts who are conserving water, recycling nutrients, & making root beds more productive. If you care about farming smarter, this is the groundwork you’ll want to build on hosted by: Kurt!
Episode 6: How AI Turns Conflicting Irrigation Data Into One Clear Decision (feat. Travis Rokey)
Your moisture probe says one thing. Your satellite imagery says another. Your rain gauge says something else entirely. If you've ever had to reconcile three disagreeing data sources before deciding whether to irrigate, this episode is for you. Kurt sits down with Travis Rokey to talk about AI irrigation tools for farmers — specifically how NutraDrip built a system that pulls together moisture probe data, thermal satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and controller settings into a single daily text message.
They dig into why moisture probe vs satellite imagery irrigation decisions have always felt disconnected, why thermal imagery for crop water stress catches problems earlier than a standard NDVI image, and how irrigation scheduling for corn and soybeans has historically been an afterthought for tools built for California specialty crops.
Travis also lays out where automated irrigation controller technology is headed — including the real possibility of your probes and data turning your system on and off for you.
They close with how growers can get connected to NutraDrip Irrigation Insights, what hardware it plugs into today (GroGuru, Sentek/IrriMax Live, Rain5 Watermark, IrriWatch, Netafim GroSphere, Galileo/GSI), and why the whole thing is free.
Listen in, and reach out to your NutraDrip rep to get set up.
12 Jun 2026
Episode 5: How to Move Water Up Through Soil for Better Germination (feat. Nathan Hrnicek & Travis Rokey)
Can you germinate a crop with subsurface drip irrigation during a drought? In this episode of Groundwork with NutraDrip, host Kurt Grimm sits down with NutraDrip agronomy experts Travis Rokey and Nathan Hrnicek to break down how water actually moves through different soil types — and how growers can use that knowledge to plant into moisture even in D3-D4 drought conditions.
Topics covered:
Why soil texture (sand, silt, clay) determines infiltration rate and capillary action
How pulse irrigation (4 hours on, 4 hours off) saves water while improving germination
Reading soil moisture probes to find your "sweet spot" before saturation and leaching
Real grower results from Central and Western Nebraska this spring
Using satellite thermal imagery and evapotranspiration data to schedule irrigation
Why "muddy" isn't the goal — understanding damp vs. saturated soil
NutraDrip's daily text alert tool for simplified irrigation decision-making
Whether you're managing subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for the first time or fine-tuning your water scheduling, this episode delivers practical, field-tested strategies for maximizing water use efficiency, soil moisture management, and crop performance.
Learn more about NutraDrip's subsurface drip irrigation, fertigation, and agronomy services at nutradrip.com.
5 May 2026
Episode 4: Manure- From Liability to Asset
In the dairy world, manure is often viewed as a mounting liability—a logistical headache fueled by tightening phosphorus regulations and rising application costs. But what if the nutrients leaving your barn were actually your most valuable cash flow generator?
In this episode, Kurt Grimm of NutraDrip breaks down the shifting landscape of manure management. Following his recent insights in Progressive Dairy, Kurt explores how advanced separation technology is allowing producers to strip out phosphorus, reuse cleaner flush water for sand-bedded dairies, and even create manure-based fertilizers clean enough to run through a standard planter.
Key topics discussed in this episode:
The Phosphorus Problem: How regulations (especially East of the Mississippi) are forcing farmers to buy synthetic nitrogen while their own manure sits under-utilized.
Micro-Filtration (25 Micron): A deep dive into the technology that removes insoluble phosphorus and creates a "500-mesh" liquid suitable for irrigation and precision application.
Lagoon Synergies: How proper separation eliminates the need for agitation, prevents crusting, and increases storage capacity.
Economics of Covered Lagoons: When it makes financial sense to cover a lagoon to avoid hauling rainwater.
Turning Waste into Wealth: Strategies for building partnerships with neighboring grain farmers and exploring the organic fertilizer market.
Whether you're dealing with sand-wear on your pumps or looking for a faster ROI on your manure handling equipment, this episode provides a systematic approach to reclaiming the value of your farm's biology.
Learn more about NutraDrip’s SDI and manure separation solutions at NutraDrip.com .
Efficiency in the field is dictated by the synergy between your equipment and your agronomic plan. In this episode of GroundWork, Nathan Hrnicek, Director of Sales at NutraDrip, joins the conversation to analyze the specific strategies required to optimize Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) and fertigation systems for maximum nutrient ROI.
We move past the basics to discuss how precision application changes the way you approach soil health, plant uptake, and water management. If you are looking to refine your nutrient delivery and system performance for the 2026 season, this technical breakdown from our sales and agronomy leadership is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
Bridging the Gap: How agronomy drives irrigation timing and volume.
Fertigation Precision: Nathan Hrnicek discusses best practices for delivering nutrients directly to the root zone.
System Management: Maintaining infrastructure while pushing for higher yields.
Data-Driven Decisions: Transitioning from "standard" applications to site-specific fertigation.
Connect with our team to discuss your operation: https://nutradrip.com/contact-us/ (https://nutradrip.com/contact-us/)
7 Apr 2026
Episode 2: How Netafim Invented Drip Irrigation-The Future of SDI & Precision Irrigation (feat. Jason Scheibel & Davey Rock)
In this episode of Groundwork, we sit down with Jason Scheibel and Davey Rock from Netafim to discuss the past, present, and future of drip irrigation and precision agriculture—and how NutriDrip partners as a trusted Netafim distributor.
Discover how Netafim pioneered drip irrigation in Israel and how their technology helps growers increase yields, conserve water, and farm more sustainably. We also break down what sets Netafim apart, from advanced irrigation systems to expert support alongside partners like NutriDrip.
If you're interested in irrigation systems, water conservation, sustainable farming, or ag technology, this episode delivers practical insight for modern growers.
11 Feb 2026
Episode 1: How NutraDrip Got Started (feat. Ted Grimm)
In our first episode, host Kurt Grimm, CEO of NutraDrip, shares the story behind the company — where it started, why it exists, and how a family farming background shaped its approach to water, agronomy, and long-term farm solutions.
Joined by his brother and business partner Ted Grimm, the conversation covers early greenhouse and landscaping days, the 2012 drought that changed everything, and the lessons that led to subsurface drip irrigation, manure separation, and a data-driven approach to nutrient management.
This episode lays the groundwork for what this podcast is all about: helping growers manage water and nutrients more effectively for long-term success.
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