The Business of Agriculture Podcast

The last twenty years have been very good ones — financially speaking — for American Agriculture. The last three years 2021, '22, and '23 are the highest farm income years ever in both nominal and inflation adjusted, real dollars. Now, in 2024, we face a revenue downturn. While commodity prices are OK, input prices remain elevated. This scenario is setting up a financial breakeven for producers. What does this mean for all of us and what can crafty operators do to remain financially viable? John Maman with Nutrien Financial, and Nutrien Chief Economist Jason Newton share data along with financial recommendations in this episode of The Business of Agriculture. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

In production Agriculture we tend to over manage for some pathogens — corn root worm for instance — while under managing for others such as Fusarium. Mike Tweedy with PatternAg cites his company's recent finding in a certain geography where Fusarium — a disease for which we generally under manage — caused an average of 30 lost bushels. As commodity prices squeeze farm profit margins, managing against disease loss is critical. What if you can do so proactively? Mike and Damian discuss predictive agronomics, bio-fertility, nutrient uptake, and the ineffectiveness of most crop scouting (hint: It's more an autopsy than a doctor visit!). The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Guest Max Bremer, Business Transaction Attorney, discusses the investment climate in agriculture, including money flow into Ag, pace of mergers and acquisitions, and legislation's role in consolidation. Topics include trends in agribusiness transactions, understanding market dynamics, investments and legislation in agriculture, legal aspects of ag investment, navigating business sales, and investment trends like cage-free eggs.

Most people don't hold investment money in the Ag commodity space. That may be changing as investing in things like corn is made easier via ETFs — exchange traded funds. Jake Hanley with Teucrium explains the oftentimes complex commodities trading industry and how his company is simplifying — or as Damian Mason says "democratizing" — commodity investing. Whether you're looking to diversify into alternative investments or not, you should listen to this information-packed episode of The Business of Agriculture. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Fruits and vegetables have been bred over the past half century for the primary objective of transportability and shelf life. The tradeoff: taste and nutrient density. As marketplaces mature and consumers are afforded increasing food options in the produce section, might a play toward taste, nutrition, and reduced food waste be a winner? Nathan Pumplin, CEO of Norfolk Healthy Produce thinks so. He explains his company's proprietary purple tomato (you read that right, it's purple!) and its myriad benefits — reduced food waste, novelty appeal, flavor, and above all, nutrient density. Another fun discussion with Damian Mason about food, production, and the business side of Agriculture. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Most of the fertilizer applied to fields, doesn't actually get absorbed by the plant. That's an economic as well as environmental liability for Agriculture. Technological advances in adjuvants, fertilizer amendments and biologicals aim to change farming. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason, Clark Bell, CEO of NanoYield talks to Damian Mason about technology that maximizes efficacy of products we already use in Ag — fertilizer and herbicide — while allowing a reduction in applied rates. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Frank Tiegs started farming in the Columbia basin region of Washington in 1975. Then he bought an apple packing facility. From there, the operation has expanded mightily to involve 140,000 acres of farming and 15 food processing facilities. Upon Frank's recent passing, his son Keith re-joined the business as president. In this episode of the Business of Agriculture Podcast, Keith talks to Damian Mason about the potato biz, specialty crop production, food processing, the business side of Oregon Potato Company, and all that goes into managing the operation. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Indiana appears poised to become the twenty-fifth state to restrict — or outright ban — ownership of Agricultural real estate by foreign entities. Many people — from both within and outside of Ag — have been calling for such legislation. Currenly, twenty four states have similar laws on the books. Generally, the legislation is directed at entities from "adversarial" nations such as China. Why did it take this long for the alarm to sound? Why has our federal government not addressed this national security concern? In this episode of The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason, Indiana farmer and state representative Kendell Culp joins Damian Mason to discuss the details of legislation he introduced to the state house. If you're concerned about American sovereignty as the pace of foreign infiltration quickens, listen to this. The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

A full three quarters of farmworkers in the U.S. are migrants and many are here illegally. Add in food service, meat processing, and the ancillary industries that feed the food business and you're talking about a LOT of foreign-born workers who work to put food on America's table. Is the migrant crisis we're witnessing on our nation's southern border a crisis for Ag? Or is it a net benefit? The upside to having several million people walking into our country: Possible new pool of workers (unless they're economically un-incentivized!), new customers, and possible economic contributors (in the longer term). The downside: Criminality and a drain on resources. American Agriculture has — for a very long time — imported foreign-born workers to harvest the produce, milk the cows, and cut the meat. Is it what's happening now different? More importantly, is the current situation a crisis or a benefit for Ag? Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

In the last episode Todd Thurman joined Damian to cover a topic most in Agriculture have never considered: Are we permanently over supplied with Agricultural commodities? Pointing out the reasons demand won't outpace - or even keep up with - our productive capacity, Thurman and Mason painted a picture of long term surpluses that keep prices below break even. In this episode Todd and Damian ask "what if we're wrong and we're not Agriculturally oversupplied?" The pair look at 8 factors that might decrease global Ag production or increase demand. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com