The Business of Agriculture Podcast

The global population is getting older and fertility rates have been plummeting. Unless you follow my commentary, this is probably news to you. Most everyone in Ag is still operating under the misguided assumption that population growth is boundless. It's not. As fertility rates drop like a rock, the population gets older. Fast. Here in the U.S. for instance, our median age has aged by more than a decade in the last 50 years. An aging population means big changes for our industry. From the product mix we produce (old people don't drink milk), to the quantities we put on the plate (old people eat less), to questions of labor availability (working age population is at record high), there are huge challenges associated with an aging population. Todd Thurman joins me to discuss how Ag must admit and address this reality. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag and AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com

Ken Wall left his post as an attorney and moved his two sons back to the Ontario specialty crop farm he was raised on in the 1990s. Since then he's expanded the enterprise, gotten in the seed business, built a food processing facility, and created a niche manufacturing company. He explains the business of asparagus and describes his diversified Agriculture business. Did you know Germans eat about 3 times as much asparagus as North Americans do? That, along with outlook for the future of horticulture, a peek at labor's impact on Ag, and more in this awesome episode of The Business of Agriculture podcast! Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag and AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com

There's an industry within the world's most important industry that most folks probably don't think a lot about but it's huge and it's growing: The fats and oils side of Ag. Vegetable oil demand is growing, not just because of human consumption but also as a fuel source with renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel demand on the up tick. Then there is the animal fat by-product and its myriad uses. All this and more is explained and discussed with Chris Peterson of HeroBX as Damian prepares for his presentation at the American Fats and Oils Association. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag and AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com

You've likely heard the horror stories about unhealthy Agricultural family business succession. Dysfunctional relationships, favoritism, squandered wealth, sibling rivalry — Elaine Froese, the Farm Family Coach, has seen it all. The sad part: it's all preventable. Elaine joins me to discuss strategies to successful business succession. She shares valuable information and tips on how to run a family operation like the business it is. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag

While most farm operators quest for more acres, the real drive should be for more profitable acres. Which means, less productive acres in some cases would be better off going un-farmed. That's the concept of precision conservation as promoted by Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. Jacob Taylor a specialist with the wildlife organization joins Tennessee Farmer Jeremy Fowler to explain how they enroll less productive farm land into conservation programs enhancing wildlife and landowner profit. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag and AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com

Sorghum, Grain Sorghum, Milo…whatever you call it, it's a crop that's likely to expand in acres over the next decade. The reason: water. Specifically, water restrictions — either by regulatory forces or adequate availability — will increase the economic justification for drought tolerant crops like sorghum. John Duff, one of the world's foremost experts on sorghum discusses the crop, the marketplace, and the future of the world's fifth most important grain crop. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag and AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com

The Trudeau administration recently announced its intention to bring (potentially stifling) environmental regulations to Canada's Ag sector. So far, the rules are just proposals and are still ambiguous and evolving. The Netherlands kicked off what is fast becoming a green agenda in Ag that could leave the farm sector economically wounded or even force Dutch farmers to liquidate. Is this degree of green crusade coming to North America via Canada? Manitoban farmer Riley Anderson joins me to discuss the potential outcomes, negatives, and even a possible positive for farmers. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag

A new white paper produced by a team of members of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers outlines 13 trends impacting the future of production Agriculture. In this two-part episode I am joined by an AEM panel to dig into the trends and provide outlook on the rapid changes coming to Ag over the next decade. Who will own the farm land? What will you do to protect your increasing dependence on technology from cyber attack? Will water use become limited? Does technology and climate cause a different crop rotation? Those and other questions about the future of rural America's most vital business are in these two episodes! Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag

A new white paper produced by a team of members of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers outlines 13 trends impacting the future of production Agriculture. In this two-part episode I am joined by an AEM panel to dig into the trends and provide outlook on the rapid changes coming to Ag over the next decade. Who will own the farm land? What will you do to protect your increasing dependence on technology from cyber attack? Will water use become limited? Does technology and climate cause a different crop rotation? Those and other questions about the future of rural America's most vital business are in these two episodes! Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag

During the Summer of 2022, Dutch farmers began protesting extreme environmental legislation poised to force liquidation of livestock and shut down farms. The purpose of Holland's legislation is allegedly for the good of the environment, but upon further analysis, the laws will simply offshore and worsen environmental damage. Todd Thurman joins me to discuss how rapidly advancing "green" legislation is reducing food output, harming the poor, and disproportionately targeting Agriculture. Sponsored by Pattern Ag pattern.ag