The Business of Agriculture Podcast

We in Agriculture love production! For example, we're producing about 50% more corn, soy, and pork than we did just a quarter century ago here in the U.S. The playbook for decades has been: find more global markets to peddle our commodities so we can keep doing what we like doing, which is producing stuff. Here's the problem — and the commodity price outlook is reflecting this — we have too much supply and demand is decelerating. Todd Thurman joins me to discuss some unpleasant realities: Population growth won't support more Ag production. Nor will increased globalization or advancing economies. Quite simply, global food production is way over-supplied and likely will be for a long time. And if we reduce food waste from the current 35% rate, it adds even more to our supply. What does the future of an oversupplied Ag system built on a "feed the world" mentality look like? Potentially "un-pretty" economic outcomes could be around the corner. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

It's setting up to be a challenging year for farm economics. Add to that: it's an election year, Washington DC is as dysfunctional as ever, and we still don't have a Farm Bill — which was supposed to have been passed last year. What's the outlook financially for farms. What about trade policy? Does renewable energy investment favor Ag? Will the U.S. government be ladling out cash to farmers by end of year? Those questions and more are addressed as Damian brings back a friend of the show, Jim Wiesemeyer, Policy Analyst for Pro Farmer and Farm Journal. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Nationally, between 30 and 40% of farmland is rented to an operator from a land owner. But how are rental rates for this hugely valuable asset class determined? Are the rental rates fair? What causes variability in values? Howard Halderman of Halderman Real Estate and Farm Management explains the math and methodology of farm cash rents. The structure, the contractual arrangements, the management, and most importantly the truth about farm cash rents….it's all in this episode! Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Kyle Beaver is a self-admitted Jack-of-all-Trades who, at age 25, turned a Google search into a mushroom business. Six years later he's refining Ten Mile Mushrooms and launched a subsidiary. The business still grows some fungus for consumption but has morphed into a supplier of ready-to-fruit substrate. That means, they sell the stuff that makes mushrooms grow to fungus farmers and hobbyists. Kyle explains the company's evolution and discusses the growth category of mushrooms. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Agricultural trade events can be a lot of fun, but are they always valuable? And who are they valuable to? Brandon Wipf, South Dakota farmer and co-chair of Commodity Classic 2024, joins Damian Mason and XtremeAg's Kelly Garrett to talk trade events. How do these two business-minded farmers get value from trade events? How can you maximize your ROI from trade events as an attendee or exhibitor? Kelly and Brandon join Ag trade show veteran, Damian Mason, for a frank discussion about traits of a successful trade event. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Blake Matthews returned to the Idaho family farming operation twenty years ago. Upon his return, he began experimenting with a new array of products and practices, including bio-nutrients. First, he used bio-nutrients to help his sugar beets bounce back after applying glyphosate. He moved on to potatoes where he has eliminated fungicide and insecticide applications entirely through the use of a biological cocktail. Blake and Darin Moon of Redox Bio-Nutrients discuss plant stress, soil, and future cropping methods that involve a lot less harsh chemistry. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

22 years ago, immediately after graduating from college AND getting married, John Carroll and his new bride flew to Brazil to start farming. John's family, with a farming operation in west central Illinois, had just purchased farm land in a newly developed Ag area of Brazil. Today John and his family are living back in Illinois but he manages the Brazil operation semi-remotely, spending about two and a half months of his year in South America. John talks to Damian about farming in two hemispheres. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Exploring the role of middlemen in agriculture, importance of adding value, challenges of determining consumer perceived value, possibility of subplanting middlemen through direct-to-consumer channels, challenges faced by farmers in agricultural retail, impact of technology on travel agencies and potential for technology-enabled cooperatives in agriculture.

Ag commodity marketing is too complex, largely misunderstood, and the industry is full of products and services you probably don't even need to profitably market your grain. That truth bomb — along with many more — is courtesy of Joe Vaclavik of Standard Grain. Mr. Vaclavik, a former grain trader turned commodity marketing commentator, says there are only three things a farmer needs to be profitable. Conversely, there are nine things almost no farmer EVER needs to use, including options trading, long range weather prognosticators, and exotic grain marketing contracts. Joe keeps it simple. And blunt. If you're thin-skinned, don't tune into this episode. For the rest of you in Ag, enjoy! Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Interest rates appear to be stabilizing, wage and food inflation are still worsening, and predictions for America's Ag sector are a bit dour for 2024. What's going on at the macro-economic level and what does it mean for Agriculture? Compeer's Chief Risk Officer, Bill Moore, joins Damian to discuss inflation, land values, debt, the American consumer, savings accounts, interest rate pressure, price increases, and what impact all these things will have on Agriculture in the year ahead. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com