The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Drone technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Will we see a future where unmanned aerial vehicles replace the traditional crop duster? Likely not for a number of practical reasons as well as the technology advancements being made in manned agricultural aviation. A more likely scenario is where drones compliment airplanes (as well as terrestrial application units) for greater precision, reduced product application, and improved production. In this forward looking episode Damian sits down with Bill Reynolds of Leading Edge Aerial Technology, Andrew Moore with National Ag Aviation Association, and Mike Dipaola CCO of Taranis. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

"Our industry is going to require 60,000 4-year college graduates and we're around 38,000 students graduating from the Ag curriculum currently." So says Dr. Tom Paulson, department head at Morningside U's Applied Agricultural and Food Studies. Dr. Paulson is joined by Tom Moss and Liz Zoebel, two of 75 students studying Agriculture at the Sioux City, Iowa college. They discuss what they're learning, what they're not learning, where we can help them develop professionally, and much more. Tune in to this spotlight on tomorrow's Ag leaders. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Have you noticed steaks and chicken breasts are considerably larger than they were just a couple decades ago? Switching to pork, have you noticed your chops are less flavorful (maybe that explains the popularity of bacon)? Todd Thurman and Nevil Speer join Damian to discuss the meat production model and how we've gotten to a place of less flavor and huge carcasses. Can we reverse this trend by focusing on consumer preferences or will Agriculture continue to focus on production rather than consumers? Profit margins of tomorrow depend on our response to consumer signals. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Every five years congress hashes out, argues about, and then releases a new and revised Farm Bill. At least that is what's supposed to happen, although it may not happen for the 2023 version. Paul Neiffer, the Farm CPA, joins Damian to explain the current Farm Bill, predict what's in the new version, and discuss proposed changes. The new Farm Bill's spending is set to grow by 60% -- much of it for nutrition programs — but where else will this money end up? Listen and find out! Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Fact: There will be fewer American farmers ten years from now than there are today. In no way is this meant to be fatalistic or negative, it's just reality. "Peak farm" occurred in 1935 with 6.8 million farming operations in the U.S. The number has been declining ever since to two million farming operations today. Of those two million operations, about 175,000 do almost all the heavy lifting of food production and farm the vast majority of acres. That number is expected to drop as farm consolidation continues. Facing this reality, what strategies should be employed to succeed if your customers are farmers and each year there will be fewer of them? Joel Farley and Eric Lohse of Midwest Ag Advisors discuss their business and what they're doing to expand in the face of Ag consolidation.

When you think of buying a piece of farm ground, you probably think of the very real possibility that the soil is depleted. But what if it's got more than enough fertility and what if you can actually use that banked fertility to lower your taxes? Turns out, per IRS Section 180, you can depreciate excess fertility on newly acquired farm land (purchased, not rented). Alec Bean with Agricultural Soil Management explains this crinkle in the tax code that might make your next farm land purchase a bit better for your tax plan. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Much of American Agriculture is predicted to have a prosperous 2023. But there are concerns. Commodity prices are high but so are inputs. Exports set a record last year but geopolitical strife is simmering on the verge of boiling over. What's the future hold for Ag? Arlan Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist with StoneX Financial and a self-proclaimed "glass half-full" guy discusses farm economics, trade, domestic consumption, burning through over-production, and why the USDA is wrong about China among other things.

The Amazon effect is coming to Agriculture. In fact, it's already here. If you need something on your farm, chances are you can order it up on your smart phone and have it by the end of the week. Even chemicals, seed, and fertilizer. But will Ag retail go away? Not likely, given the proximity, relationship, and handling capacity. Lance Ramthun, founder of Farmerce, discusses his company's incarnation, growth curve, and value proposition. This is a fun and moving discussion about the future of Ag input allocation! Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

All indications are, money is going to be blowing into Agriculture from a myriad of sources over the next year, largely in the form of environmentalism. Is this trend for real? Will the funds come from a new Farm Bill? Are corporate players truly investing in Ag or just covering their tales in the new era of ESG — Environmental, Social, and Governance movements? John Duff of Sero Ag Strategies provides his take on the matter. While carbon sequestration programs are still evolving, nitrogen reduction programs, carbon intensity scores, and even water reduction and quality initiatives are in the offing. While some in Ag look at this new environmentalism with skepticism, there appears to be money behind the movement. Agriculture is a business, which means this revenue stream should be on everyone's radar. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag, AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com, and Truterra truterraag.com

If you've worked in the Business of Agriculture for one year or the past 50 years, all you've known is increased globalization of our industry. That's changing and the pace of change will likely accelerate during the next decade. Todd Thurman, co-host of The Business of Ag Success Group discusses the rise of globalization as we examine American Ag exports past, present, and future and what tomorrow's global markets might look like. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag, AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com, and Truterra truterraag.com