The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Joe Harris is the CEO and President of Southwest Meat Association. His membership is mostly in Texas but spans a total of 34 states. He joins me to discuss industry trends and challenges facing the animal protein business. His role is sometimes political so we discuss the real need for an immigrant worker plan (you'll be intrigued by his example of the billboard outside a member's meat packing plant) and the Meatless Monday policy in New York City. Joe also delves into the story of food safety and why he objects to plant -based protein being able to call itself "burger." Sit down and listen to this episode with a steak — just when we thought we were done, Mr. Harris brought up a few more topics!

Over the years I've spoken to a lot of Agricultural audiences in the Canadian province of Alberta. For this episode I thought it would be fun to bring in a past client to explain farming, food, and Ag in central Alberta. Steve Cowan and I discuss the history of canola, the changing dynamic of prairie crop production, how trade disputes between China and the U.S. ultimately impact Canada, and dozens of other things you may or may not have known about Alberta's role in the Business of Agriculture.

Agriculture is a consumer business that's impacted by consumer trends. (By the way, so are ALL businesses!) Jim Dudlicek, Editorial Director for Progressive Grocer joins me to talk about food trends. What changes are going on in food and beverage consumption? We discuss the continual decline of sweetened beverages — although not if they're sweetened with cane sugar — that's a growth category now. Jim tells us about other hot new beverage entrants — everything from "Smoo-bucha" to vinegar based drinks (yuck!). Then we talk meat trends. What drives people to eat plant based protein? Some of Jim's findings will surprise you. Turns out, vegans aren't who's buying Beyond burgers!

David Hasenauer is the founder of Greenpoint Research, a Florida based hemp company. This young Ag entrepreneur is looking to do some big things with an old crop. He explains the history of hemp, why it went away for several decades, and why it has such potential now. If you've been hearing about the potential of hemp and wondering how the business works, you've got to listen to this episode. I see more acres of hemp in U.S. fields soon — remember, we didn't grow soybeans en masse until the 1950s!

Troy Bockelmann is an analyst with CattleFax. He joins me to discuss beef, of course, along with a whole bunch of other stuff. We talk consumption numbers and trends in beef, pork and poultry, and what a cattle cycle is. Did you know 40% of beef produced goes to burger? Or that pork consumption faces resistance when we get over 52 pounds per person? What's the marketing angle for beef, and will it go away due to plant based meat, or will it expand with grass fed offerings? You'll like this discussion!

Whether you're a Farmer, Agribusiness person, or an Ag Banker, this episode is for you! John Blanchfield is a former Ag lender who then worked with the American Bankers Association Ag division. He now runs Agricultural Banking Advisory Services. He joins me to discuss: why 2019 will shape up better financially than we feared, and how we can all thrive (or at least survive) financially. John provides insights on how to see your Ag lender from their perspective. He then tells us what lenders see when they look at us and our Ag operations. John give us simple actions to take to always be a creditworthy loan recipient, and he shares mistakes we all commonly make and how to avoid them. Too many of my Ag friends avoid talking about money. Don't be one of those people! Listen to this for straight talk about improving your banking relationship.

Friend of show and chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, John Newton joins me to break down this week's USDA crop report. The immediate result of the report: markets tanked on better production forecasts than the trade anticipated. But are the numbers for real? Mr. Newton and I think not — at least not for the anticipated yields of corn and soybeans. We discuss the report and what it means for the Business of Agriculture.

We've heard a LOT about crop insurance this year — especially in the Midwest and Plains states. But do you truly understand crop insurance and how it works? For an explanation I brought on Ruth, Ashley and Liz from the Auburn Agency of Auburn, Nebraska. These ladies have seen (and helped mitigate) the devastation of flooding and relentless precipitation first hand. In this episode we discuss the crucial role Crop Insurance has, why the federal government is involved with it, and how it works. *** This is an excellent episode to share with your non-Ag friends who've asked about the role of crop insurance in the Business of Agriculture.

We in the Business of Agriculture are amazing at producing grain. But the world of food — especially in developed countries like ours — continues to demand better or more specialized crops. Grain with more or less of a certain characteristic is desired by certain end users in the supply chain. That's where Farm Strategy comes in. Chad Sager with Farm Strategy joins me to discuss the unique needs of some millers and processors and how he helps them locate the right supply. Farm Strategy helps farmers and even seed companies find a market for their specialized crop. In a few years Chad sees growth outside of wheat (their current focus) into a myriad of things. I'll let him tell you about it.

Ed Ebert is the Senior Director of Grain Production and Utilization with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance. He joins me to explain how the corn and soybean check off program works and what the organizations do to promote our crops. We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing corn and soybean farmers and the industry in general. Ed tells us why seven dollar corn was bad for American farmers and why the trade dispute with China created new relationships for the U.S. We cover lots of topics you'll enjoy — biofuels, plant-based meat, corn and soy based plastic packaging, and the threat posed by countries like Brazil and Ukraine.