The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Montie Soules, CEO of the American Shorthorn Association, has been a cattle guy his entire career. Although, he was raised on a Michigan turkey farm, he's all about the beef. Montie joins me to discuss the history of beef, genetics, cattle breeds, why breeds won't matter as much in a decade, what the beef industry does right (and wrong!), and where the industry is headed. Be sure to stay tuned til the end for a valuable lesson for everyone in the biz of Ag about increasing profits through promotion.

Tim Hammerich is a friend of the show who joined me way back in Episode 8. He returns to discuss career opportunities, career mistakes, and the reality of Ag mergers and consolidations as it relates to employees. Hint: where one door closes, another often opens! Turns out there are plenty of openings for people who know the industry of Food and Ag - especially if they're willing to adapt and MOVE. That's right, the Ag economy isn't presenting a challenge for employers seeking talent, it's candidates unwillingness to move that's causing problems. Listen and you'll learn how to be the prospect employers want. Hint number 2: when you say "I'll go wherever God takes me," that can't be limited to Oklahoma!

The Business of Agriculture is capital intensive, cyclical, seasonal, and generally reliant on outside cash for expansion. For decades we've relied on Ag lenders to finance our industry, but is that all changing? Austin Maness, Chief Operating Officer of Harvest Returns is my guest. His company connects Ag entities in need of capital with outside investors seeking diversification. Agriculture has always had outside money (think of farm land owned by heirs who've never seen it!) but this is different. Through the concept of crowd funding, Harvest Returns brings outside capital to Ag for as little as a $5,000 initial investment. Stay tuned to the end for our discussion on Qualified Opportunity Zone legislation — a potential boom for rural economic development.

Last week I delivered a session to a packed room of Ag women in Nebraska. The subject: How to better speak and communicate about the Business of Agriculture. It was so well received I wanted to share some of the program with you. Why do you need to be an effective communicator? Because we in Ag are completely outnumbered and much of what we do is misunderstood. Because everyone of us is a spokesperson for our company, our farms, and our industry. Because more than ever Ag's consumers want to hear the story of their food. Let's help ourselves and our industry by effectively telling a story that resonates with our customers while positively portraying the Business of Agriculture.

California voters passed Proposition 12, requiring all eggs sold or grown in California to be from cage free hens by 2022. The law also dictates space requirements for veal and pork grown or sold in California. Humane Society of the United States was the major pusher of this legislation. Interestingly, HSUS's cohort and occasional rival in animal rights wackiness — PETA— disapproves of the measure, stating it doesn't go far enough! In this episode I tell you what this legislation means for the business of agriculture ("cage free" is the way of the future). Why we must stop using price as our argument against regulation (consumers don't care). And how Ag can fight better and take a lesson from Boy Scouts of America (there's no appeasing whackos, so stop trying!).

Darren Padget is an Oregon farmer, a friend, and the secretary / treasurer of U.S. Wheat Associates. He's also an Oregon Wheat commissioner. We sat down to discuss wheat production, his operation, and the world of wheat. Who's eating wheat? Is the gluten-free craze impacting business? What's the difference between hard red and soft white wheat? And, most importantly, does sending a 6 foot 10 inch wheat farmer to Asia increase trade or scare the customer? You'll learn a few things and you'll enjoy the discussion, recorded in Moro, OR.

Casey Seymour from the Moving Iron podcast is my guest. The Nebraska equipment guy gives his take on the Ag economy and Ag issues through the eyes of a machinery salesperson. We discuss: what's moving, what's not, and why, and the dollars and cents of machinery purchases. We talk about the global marketplace, selling farm implements in Ukraine, and the future of the Business of Agriculture. Stay tuned 'til the end to hear Mr. Seymour disagree with me on my prediction of two years ago about the likely proliferation of autonomous tractors.

Too many Ag people do the hard work of running their Ag enterprise and accumulating assets, then avoid the easy work of estate planning. We often hear the horror stories in the industry of family Agribusinesses gone awry. Much of this can be alleviated through proactive legal consultation. My guest is Dan Gordon of Gordon and Associates - a law firm specializing in Agricultural estate planning. Dan provides guidance you're likely looking for on how to keep the farm, preserve relationships, and run your business while taking care of the generation in front of you. Most of us are guilty of putting off necessary legal preparations. Dan will tell you all the reasons not to. You can trust him. I do. He's my estate attorney!

Delaney Howell from Ag News Daily joins me to discuss a myriad of issues and news items in the world of Agriculture. Among them: Trump's visit to Iowa to announce higher blend rates of E-15 — good for political posturing, not necessarily gonna move the corn market. African swine fever's impact on soybeans (hint, dead pigs don't eat soybeans). The reality of USDA's pledge to agriculture. The silliness of Non - GMO vodka. And closing thoughts anyone in Ag can use. Join the talk and join the fun.

My guest is Alan Bishop, a rural Wisconsin kid who, after graduating from the Ag school at the University of Wisconsin, ended up in Fresno. His job: To sell this new miracle chemical called Roundup. Alan and I met following my presentation to the Western Plant Health Association in Monterey, CA. We discuss the craziness of environmental compliance in California and repercussions for all of Ag after the recent $289M Roundup verdict. Alan teaches us about cotton, specialty crops, the uniqueness of western Agriculture, and then we contemplate a future without glyphosate.