The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Cost of production set a record in 2023 as the most expensive crops ever planted. How things turned out for the P&L statement depended on weather, yield, and how well operators navigated the commodity markets. Prices for land, labor, fuel, machinery, and crop inputs aren't subsiding, nor is the interest rate for borrowed money. All this points to a challenging farm business environment for 2024. Put simply: Crop insurance and adherence to business will matter more in '24. Chris Barron with Ag View Solutions discusses farm finances with Damian. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Canada is the world's number one exporter of oats — a commodity enjoying an upswing in demand thanks to snack bars and oat milk. Did you know almost every bushel of oats goes straight to human consumption? With horse racing's decline in popularity, human oat consumption is the key to future growth. John Bergen and Riley Anderson, Manitoba farmers, join Damian to discuss oat production, exports, agronomics, and the business of oats. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Calvin Koeller's Illinois farm operation is about to lose a couple miles worth of farm land to an electrical grid expansion. This new electric line project was defeated a few years ago but, with support from the Inflation Reduction Act — and some Illinois politics — the Grainbelt Express Electric project is back on track. As currently designed, it's going to cause significant disruption for farmers like the Koellers. Calvin is joined by fellow Illinois farmer John Carroll to discuss infrastructure, eminent domain, and green policy winners and losers in and out of Agriculture. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Currently, pork profitability (or lack thereof) has certain observers comparing the industry to the late '90s when pork was in turmoil. It was that era, in fact, that set the stage for today's (mostly) vertically integrated hog production model using contact grower farmers. Adam Krause, a contract grower, joins Glenn Muller, Executive Director of South Dakota Pork Producers Council in an extensive conversation with Damian about all things pork. The topics: Exports, flavorless pigs, grandma's cooking, African Swine Fever, manure's value, contractual production critics, Proposition 12, Mexican growth, and pig rectums. Tune in!! Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

If you're in business, at some level, you're in sales. So, how exactly would you rate your sales game? Do you ask the right questions? Is your product knowledge keeping up? Do you understand the needs and problems of the customers you seek to serve? St. John ("Sinjin") Craner, a sales and marketing trainer specializing in Agriculture explains how selling has evolved and why the methods of yesterday won't work in today's Ag. Find St. John Craner at www.ruralsalessuccess.com Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

The Mississippi River is low and that's causing shipping problems for Agriculture. Mark Milam with Independent Commodity Intelligence Services joins Damian to discuss issues of transportation, supply, and distribution of fertilizer for crop year 2024. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Beef-on-Dairy is a trend bridging the gap between beef and dairy industries. Dairy cows are being bred with beef bulls to create calves specifically for the beef trade. This practice is disrupting the marketplace. The podcast explores the challenges faced by dairy farmers, the significance of yield in the beef industry, and the fusion of data from the dairy industry to enhance accuracy in beef production. It also touches on smart ear tags for cattle, Australian beers, and soil health analytics.

As it turns out, we've not always been good to our soil. Fortunately we're starting to better understand the living organism beneath our feet. However, we're still mistreating this valuable asset that's selling for $15,000 to $20,000 per acre in some areas. David Kleinschmidt of Progressive Agronomy and Illinois farmer Mike Imhoff discuss cover cropping, soil biology, advanced soil testing, and programs to help reverse sins against your soil.

Using a $40 million federal grant paid over five years via USDA's climate initiative, DeLong company created the "Grown Climate Smart" program. A 38 branch Ag retailer and grain elevator, DeLong has roughly 250,000 customer acres enrolled in the program that incentivizes wind breaks, cover cropping, tillage reduction, and nutrient management. Now the question is: Will consumers or downstream Ag customers pay a premium or be able to justify a premium associated with "climate smart" designation? DeLong's Dylan Vaca and Wisconsin farmer Randy Hughes join Damian Mason to discuss the challenge of fetching a premium for environmentally conscious commodities. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Farmland prices have been on fire the last couple years. But are those prices peaking? Beyond the huge sale numbers seen on social media, Ag property has been selling well but…there are signs of a cooling off. What can we expect moving forward? Will the institutional investors remain in Ag land? And what are the drivers of farm ground pricing and sales? Howard Halderman of Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management joins Damian in a webinar format. We thought it was so insightful and timely, we're bringing it to you as a Business of Agriculture podcast. Enjoy!