Biomentum, Soil Biology and Farm Profitability: Howard Vlieger With Regenerative Results
Hi, y’all! Johanna here from the TX Soil Sisters.
(The podcast media player is below w/ links to things we talk about. Or listen here.) This podcast conversation was recorded at the Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference on August 3, 2026.
Can improving soil biology reduce synthetic inputs while maintaining yields—and improve farm profitability at the same time?
In this episode of Soil Sisters, we sit down with Howard Vlieger at the Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference to explore what happens when farmers work with biology instead of relying solely on conventional inputs. Howard is a regenerative farmer, researcher, and crop and livestock nutrition adviser who identifies as a student of the soil.
TX Soil Sisters with Howard in Lockhart, TX.
Howard Vlieger is a regenerative farmer, researcher, and crop and livestock nutrition adviser who identifies as a student of the soil. Howard has dedicated decades of his life to research and experimentation on the effects of GMO crops and glyphosate on livestock and ecosystem health. He and his family steward Vlieger Family Farm near Maurice, IA. They raise and sell natural meat (beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs and milk). Howard is also instrumental in educating lawmakers and the agricultural community on soil health and gut health through his efforts with scientists and doctors such as Dr. Michelle Perro, Dr. Don Huber, Dr. John Fagan, and has worked with RFK, Jr. and the MAHA movement. Howard is so serious about clean food that he travels with a mini fridge in his truck stocked with protein from his farm and snacks he trusts… and shares with the Soil Sisters.
Howard shares field experiences with Biomentum, a biological product he is helping expand with longtime mentor, Verlyn Sneller. Howard recounts results ranging from reduced nitrogen use in corn to managing rootworm without insecticide by rebuilding soil biology.
Beyond row crops, Howard discusses early observations from vineyards, pasture and cattle nutrition, manure and lagoon management, septic, lake, and pond applications, odor and fly reduction, and efforts to address glyphosate residues.
We explore water infiltration and flooding, why soil testing matters, and how tools such as the Haney Test and soil genomics can help farmers develop practical management plans based on their specific fields. Listen to the full discussion to hear Howard's examples, application strategies, and approach to connecting soil health with practical farm economics.
There’s so much great insight in this podcast for both conventional and regenerative practitioners.
Happy farming and healthy living, y’all.
Jo (and Crystal) ❤️
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Time Stamps & Links
00:00 Welcome to SFFFS Conference
00:17 Meet Howard Vlieger
01:35 The Biomentum Origin Story
04:41 Iowa Policy Momentum
07:53 Cut Inputs, Keep Yield
09:52 Field Success Stories
12:35 Vineyard Trial Results
14:22 From Soil Health to Gut Health
18:10 Manure, Septic & Water Applications
25:38 Flooding & Infiltration Math
28:50 Lawn Care & Soil Lessons
30:55 Biomentum Application Plan
38:06 Seed Treatment: How-To
40:05 In-Furrow Biology Application Options
41:40 Seed Treatment Trials
42:27 Cover Crop Reality Check
45:06 Soil Testing & Genomics: Creating a Plan
49:01 Building a Soil Health Recipe
54:08 Scaling Biomentum Validation
59:22 What Carbon Really Means
01:02:26 ROI & Input Savings
01:05:39 Hogs & Show Wrap