Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

This week, Nicole interviews Maricopa County Farm Bureau government relations intern Gabriel Flores on Arizona Agriculture Connection. Gabe is an ASU sophomore double majoring in sustainability and business management, shares his ranch upbringing in Queen Creek and how he found the internship through a friend.

He discusses career interests in sustainable energy (SRP/APS), consulting to reduce carbon footprints, and ASU research on sustainable food systems involving mushrooms. Gabriel says the internship taught him agricultural policy challenges in Arizona and the West, improved his ability to turn complex bills into digestible blog content, and emphasized the importance of meaningful networking and relationship-building. Highlights include board meetings, the Farm City Breakfast (notably in Buckeye), and attending a Young Farmers and Ranchers convention in Portland to learn from farmers nationwide. Nicole announces upcoming summer agriculture communications internship applications at maricopacountyfb.org.

The update covers Arizona legislative activity as major committee work concludes and the focus shifts to floor action, while budget negotiations await resolution of Propositions 1, 2, and 3 funding totaling about $300 million in a tight fiscal year; adjournment is estimated for late April, with budget work possibly extending into June. Key bills discussed include SB 1519 on off-highway vehicle weight increases, HB 2787 on federal nullification of the Mexican gray wolf, HB 2975 suspending use of solar scores in State Land Department decisions, HB 2117 redirecting Environmental Special Plate Fund fees to the State Natural Resource Conservation Board, and SB 1336 continuing the State Land Department.

Federal news includes USDA’s plan to reorganize the U.S. Forest Service by moving headquarters to Salt Lake City and placing an Arizona state office in Phoenix, and BLM’s new tool listing vacant grazing allotments. The script also promotes Maricopa County Fair Week and a youth agriculture communications contest event.

Learn more at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

Nicole, host of Arizona Agriculture Connection, gives many thanks to attendees, sponsors, members, speakers, and elected officials for a successful Farm City Breakfast celebrating National Ag Week and National Ag Day. She notes a stakeholder meeting with the Maricopa County Flood Control Division and requests input on concerns to inform the department’s 2026 management plan and priorities. The next event is an April 14, 5:00 PM hybrid fraud prevention seminar with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, with details on maricopacountyfb.org.

The legislative session has slowed after committee deadlines, and the update highlights progress on several agriculture-related bills, including continuation of the State Lands Department, irrigation and groundwater credits, salt cedar mitigation funding, continuation of the Arizona Beef Council, ADOT posting requirements on Salt River horse herd management, and funding for UA Cooperative Extension. Applications are open for agriculture literacy grants and scholarships with deadlines this month.

Learn more at maricopacountyfb.org.

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole reunites with Eric Wilke of Arizona Grain for a markets-focused update. Wilke shares his background in commodity markets and explains Arizona Grain’s diversified roles in inputs, marketing (including durum wheat), animal feed, consumer bird seed, and locally bred crop genetics. He discusses how the “one big beautiful bill” strengthened agricultural safety nets by updating reference prices, improving crop insurance value and premium support, and raising loan rates to help farmers manage risk and time marketing decisions amid rising bankruptcies, arguing this supports domestic food security. The conversation previews priorities in the pending farm bill—credit access, conservation, research, rural development, specialty crop support, and a controversial interstate commerce provision—while noting SNAP is about 75% of the bill. Wilke also reviews disruptive tariff volatility, higher input costs reaching farmers, Middle East conflict impacts through energy and fertilizer markets, USMCA renewal optimism, and expectations for near-term volatility, weather risks, and potential biofuels policy announcements.

Today on Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole recaps a busy March for Arizona Farm Bureau, highlighting key events like the record-breaking Strikeout Hunger food drive at Surprise Stadium, Pi Day outreach at the capitol by the Women’s Leadership Committee, an agribusiness roundtable hosted by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, and Ag Fest with legislators.

It also invites listeners to the Maricopa County Farm Bureau Farm City Breakfast happening March 23 in Mesa, March 24 in Buckeye, and March 25 in Phoenix, with RSVP details at maricopacountyfb.org/events.

On the legislative side, it covers progress on several bills, including HB 2150 and SB 1336 (State Land Department continuation), SB 1677 (salt cedar mitigation funding), and HB 4115 (paid circulator requirements). Additional updates include committee movement on groundwater studies, livestock compensation funding, and support for delisting the Mexican gray wolf.

At the federal level, it highlights key farm bill amendments related to energy programs, crop insurance, conservation efforts, dairy eligibility, beginning farmer support, and water policy.

Learn more and RSVP for events at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

In this Arizona Agriculture Connection Careers in Ag episode, Nicole interviews Ben Saylor, an Arizona-born dairy nutritionist, about his path from city upbringing with horses and rodeo/4-H/FFA involvement to a PhD and consulting career. Saylor explains how an animal feeding/nutritional biochemistry class shifted his goal from veterinary school to dairy nutrition, leading to a bachelor’s at the University of Arizona and a master’s at Kansas State through mentorship connections, plus internships that helped him enter the industry. He describes dairy nutrition as optimizing cow health and performance, noting dairy cows’ complex, changing nutrient demands and that large Arizona dairies may feed 10–12 rations daily. He outlines day-to-day work (farm visits, sampling, records review, research, and economics projects), discusses market forces like feed and milk prices, and emphasizes networking skills such as conferences, follow-ups, and contacting hiring managers.

1. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
2. 00:33 Ben’s Ag Roots
3. 01:33 From Vet Dreams to Nutrition
4. 04:01 Grad School and PhD Path
5. 05:12 What a Dairy Nutritionist Does
6. 07:27 Beef vs Dairy Nutrition Demands
7. 09:33 How Many Rations on a Dairy
8. 10:43 Working With Feed Teams
9. 12:12 Choosing Programs and Advisors
10. 13:46 Mentors and Kansas State
11. 15:18 Internships Into the Industry
12. 17:54 Networking and Organizations
13. 20:12 Networking That Lasts
14. 22:03 Ask Questions Stay Humble
15. 22:40 Conference Contacts Strategy
16. 25:13 YFNR Convention Connections
17. 27:13 Scary Skills That Transfer
18. 29:38 Dairy Size And Trust
19. 30:43 Consulting With Purpose
20. 31:36 Day In Nutritionist Life
21. 34:18 Markets Tariffs And Margins
22. 36:54 Breaking In Without Background
23. 38:03 Final Wrap And Farewell

The episode recaps a major Arizona legislative week after Crossover Week, noting a March 27 deadline for bills and ongoing talks on conforming to federal tax changes, including a proposed $1.1 billion over three years for full conformity in tax year 2025 and expectations the session may extend into June. It highlights agriculture-related bills: SB 1761 funding for University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and experiment stations; HB 2104 and HB 2105 on limits to reclassification and inspection notice/reporting for agricultural property; HB 2762 on labeling cultivated-cell food products; HB 2827 extending groundwater withdrawal fee authority in the Pinal AMA through 2030; and SB 1559 and SB 1176 on rural groundwater work groups and aquifer replenishment storage permits.

Federal updates include USDA’s “one farmer, one file” digital record initiative, $263 million in purchases of staples, and a House Ag Committee markup of the 2026 farm bill. The script also promotes Maricopa County Farm Bureau events in March, including Strike Out Hunger, Pie at the Capitol, Agribusiness Roundtable, Ag Fest, and Farm City Breakfasts.

Learn more and RSVP at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/.

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole interviews Brinton Colburn, agriculture industry specialist at Foothills Bank, about his path into ag lending and how agricultural finance works in Arizona. Raised in Gilbert, Colburn began at Wells Fargo while attending ASU’s Morrison School of Agribusiness, completed its commercial credit program during the 2009 downturn, and moved into ag lending as an analyst in Mesa, where he learned the complexity of underwriting farms and ranches. After 15 years, he joined Foothills Bank (Glacier Bank) to help revitalize its ag program, drawn to its large ag portfolio and credit approach that accounts for commodity and weather risk. The conversation highlights the relationship-based nature of ag lending, how Arizona agriculture differs from Midwest models, and how federal programs like FSA can affect lending.

Colburn explains that ag lenders interpret financials to tell an operation’s story, and that ag borrowing mirrors commercial lending but often lacks polished reporting. He advises aspiring lenders to start at a bank, pursue credit analyst roles, seek ag-focused institutions, and gain out-of-state experience before returning to Arizona—noting the state has few ag lenders.

He adds that while advanced math isn’t essential, understanding financial statements is, and emphasizes budgeting on core production rather than uncertain “icing on the cake” revenue.

Watch the full video on our YouTube Channel ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@MaricopaCountyFB

Welcome to another edition of Ag Report, by Arizona Agriculture Connection.

This week, this episode recaps key federal and Arizona ag updates.

At the federal level, the House introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a five-year farm bill extending major programs through 2031; it now moves to the full House. USDA’s January report shows cattle numbers still declining, with Arizona cattle on feed at 90% of last year and national inventories at a 75-year low, though the drop is slowing. USDA also opened a sterile fly facility in Texas to prevent New World screwworm from reaching the U.S.

In Arizona, lawmakers advanced multiple ag-related bills, including measures on camping near water sources, the Mexican wolf program, ESA reforms, continuation of the State Land Department, higher weight limits for some off-highway vehicles, and renewal of the Arizona Beef Council. The Arizona Department of Agriculture is accepting Specialty Crop Block Grant applications through March 6. The next episode will spotlight careers in agricultural lending.

This episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection features a detailed discussion with Harold Payne, East Side Director and board member, about his extensive background in agriculture. Harold shares his early life on a family farm, his educational journey, and various roles in the agriculture industry. The conversation delves into his work with the Fort McWell Indian reservation, where he managed a large-scale farm and navigated market challenges and shifts. They explore the intricacies of growing crops like pecans, citrus, and alfalfa, dealing with labor issues, and the impact of fluctuating market demands and input costs on the farming industry. Harold also underscores the importance of efficient water management and the pressing water crisis in Arizona. The episode highlights the critical role of organizations like the Farm Bureau in supporting farmers, fostering community, and advocating for the agriculture sector.

Make sure to catch BONUS behind the scenes footage on our YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@MaricopaCountyFB

1. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction
2. 00:24 Harold Payne's Background in Agriculture
3. 01:41 Career Journey and Achievements
4. 02:57 Managing the Fort McDowell Farm
5. 03:56 Challenges and Market Dynamics
6. 05:38 Crop Management and Local Sales
7. 09:48 Impact of Tariffs and Market Shifts
8. 14:01 Future Prospects and Farm Bureau Benefits
9. 16:34 Connecting with Farmers: The Importance of Community
10. 17:09 Challenges for the Next Generation of Farmers
11. 17:58 The Decline of Family Farming
12. 19:06 The Essential Role of Agriculture
13. 21:00 Economic Pressures on Farmers
14. 24:32 Labor and Wage Issues in Farming
15. 29:21 Water Management in Agriculture
16. 34:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts