CLEAR Conversations

This week on CLEAR Conversation with Tracy Sellers: Reducing methane emissions from livestock will likely require more than a single intervention. Feed additives, manure management, vaccines, improved measurement and other strategies all have a role to play. But genetics offers something that many other approaches do not: the potential for methane reductions to accumulate over generations. That was the message from Emily Melchior, manager of Global Outcomes Research at Zoetis, during the 2026 State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture at UC Davis. Melchior, who specializes in ruminant microbiology, nutrition and vaccination strategies in cattle production systems, participated in a panel focused on the development and adoption of low-methane genetics. She said genetic selection should be viewed as one tool among many available to producers — one that can potentially provide lasting benefits while maintaining the traits that make an animal productive and profitable. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

This week on CLEAR Conversations with Tracy Sellers, Morgan Wonderly, agricultural education starts with getting students out of the classroom and into the barn. As a full-time lecturer at Cal Poly, Wonderly teaches swine production and livestock evaluation and helps manage the university’s swine unit. The farrow-to-finish operation has about 80 sows, giving students an opportunity to participate in nearly every step of the farm-to-fork process. That hands-on experience is especially important because today’s agriculture students come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some grew up on farms or showing livestock. Others arrive from cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco and have never seen a pig in person. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

For more than three decades, Lisa Nash Holmes has been a familiar face in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science. She has worked with animals, managed teaching facilities, supported faculty and students, supervised advising staff and helped generations of students gain the hands-on experience that can turn a classroom lesson into a career. Now, Holmes is getting a little time in the spotlight herself. Holmes will be honored with the game ball during UC Davis’ annual Salute to Ag Game, recognizing her decades of service to agriculture, UC Davis and the students she has helped along the way. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

How do we tell the story of modern agriculture in a way that connects with consumers while staying true to the people who produce our food? In this episode of CLEAR Conversations, host Tracy Sellers sits down with Jennifer Shike, Editor and Brand Leader for Farm Journal's PORK, to discuss the evolving role of agricultural journalism, the challenges of communicating science, and why authentic storytelling matters more than ever. From emerging sustainability initiatives and animal welfare to producer innovation and public perception, Jennifer shares her perspective on covering one of agriculture's most dynamic industries and the importance of building trust between farmers and the public. Whether you're a producer, researcher, student, or simply interested in where your food comes from, this conversation offers valuable insight into the stories shaping the future of animal agriculture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

For decades, Alison Van Eenennaam has been at the forefront of some of the biggest advances—and biggest debates—in animal agriculture. As a professor in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science and a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Animal Genomics and Biotechnology her career has spanned the rise of genomics, genetic selection and genome editing, helping producers understand emerging technologies while serving as one of agriculture's most recognizable voices in science communication. Now, as she prepares for retirement from UC Davis, Van Eenennaam joined the CLEAR Conversations podcast to reflect on a career shaped by resilience and an unwavering commitment to helping people understand the science behind food. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

California’s iconic rangelands support cattle, wildlife, open space, and rural communities, while covering millions of acres across the state. But according to Michael Delbar, CEO of the California Rangeland Trust (CRT), those landscapes—and the families who steward them—face increasing pressure from development, rising costs, and public misunderstanding about agriculture. In a recent episode of CLEAR Conversations with Tracy Sellers, Delbar discussed the work of the California Rangeland Trust and why protecting working ranches is about far more than preserving scenery. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

In this episode of CLEAR Conversations, researcher, professor and director of the World Food Center, Ermias Kebreab discussed his research on methane reduction strategies in livestock production—work that has helped position UC Davis as a global leader in agricultural sustainability research. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

At the UC Davis CLEAR Center, understanding animals goes beyond observing behavior—it’s about uncovering how animals think and interact with the world around them. In this episode of CLEAR Conversations, host Tracy Sellers sat down with Kristina Horback to explore the growing field of animal cognition and what it means for animal welfare, livestock management, and the future of sustainable agriculture.

On this episode of the CLEAR Conversations podcast, host Tracy Sellers visits the swine facility at University of California, Davis to speak with swine manager Shelby Sopocy about how her work helps educate students, supports research and also helps to bridge the gap between agriculture and the general public. The UC Davis swine facility is a farrow-to-finish operation, meaning pigs are born, raised, and finished all in one location. According to Sopocy, that makes the facility a unique hands-on learning environment for students studying animal science, veterinary medicine, and agriculture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-conversations/id1844923534 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EsxxMUuHGRysasRq5k1bS iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/299490214 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/94808eee-a498-49ec-a3da-9bae97d0250d

It’s a somewhat surprising confession from someone who delivered a standout presentation to a packed room on leadership and communication at the NCBA’s annual event, CattleCon. But as a first-generation rancher, Johnston’s path into ranching has never really followed a predictable script. She didn’t grow up in agriculture. She didn’t show cattle. She didn’t even know what FFA was. She actually grew up in a Denver suburb—closer to Starbucks than stockyards. And now she splits her time between large-scale ranch production and consulting on communication and strategy within the industry. Her story begins, improbably enough, with an environmental studies degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.