Around the Fencepost

Casey returns to the podcast to share about the 26 season and how the new black Betty unit performed.

Rhett Fruitman, Co-Founder and CEO of Inherited Property Match, joins Jacob on Around the Fencepost to discuss preparing for a property inheritance, navigating probate, and deciding whether to keep or sell inherited real estate.

For families inheriting a farm, the first question is understanding exactly what they inherited. Is it land, an operating business, equipment, or a combination of assets? That distinction shapes the decisions that follow, especially when siblings have different financial needs or ideas about the property’s future.

Troy breaks down his approach towards learning and implementing regenerative agriculture with an eye on always improving. Join UT extension at Troys farm in Dickson TN on Sept 28th 2026 for the whole enchilada but enjoy this for a preview

Matt Duboise talks Around the Fencepost about backyard birds, building a business from scratch, crisis management and building Presidential coops.

The conversation covers the role of Redmond Salt in soil health, the impact of soil health on plant quality, and the relationship between mineral levels and livestock behavior. It also emphasizes the importance of salt as a carrier for minerals and its impact on livestock consumption. The conversation covers the importance of balance in soil and cattle health, emphasizing the 'Moron Effect' and the significance of mineral and nutritional balance. It delves into the impact of forage and nutrition testing, the transition to natural farming, and the use of garlic salt for fly control. The discussion also highlights the relationship between balanced pastures and cattle health, addressing the challenges in agriculture and the significance of cover crops.

Takeaways

• Soil health is crucial for plant and animal health
• The quality of the plant is important for the health of the livestock Balance over maximum
• Understanding soil and cattle balance

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Redmond Salt and Soil Health
• 03:08 The Role of Redmond Salt in Soil Health
• 06:00 Understanding Soil Health and Plant Quality
• 09:01 Impact of Redmond Salt on Soil and Plant Quality
• 18:09 Mineral Levels and Livestock Behavior
• 20:57 The Importance of Salt as a Carrier for Minerals
• 26:40 The Moron Effect
• 27:42 Mineral Balance and Soil Testing
• 28:33 Forage Testing and Nutritional Balance
• 30:34 Nutritional College and Lick Tubs
• 31:04 Importance of Nutrition Tests
• 33:05 Natural Approach to Cattle Health
• 33:31 Challenges in Agriculture
• 33:51 Impact of Cover Crops
• 35:05 Transition to Natural Farming
• 39:14 Garlic Salt for Fly Control
• 43:40 Balanced Pastures and Cattle Health

Another program? how? why? and does it affect me?

Ernest Weaver, the Southwest Territory Manager for Byron Seeds, shares his journey from dairy farming to becoming an integral part of Byron's growth. He discusses the vital role he played in the company's development and the focus on forage, grasses, and summer annuals. Ernest's commitment to superior feed and digestibility is evident throughout the conversation. The conversation covers topics related to farming, dealer networks, forage management, and the impact of government involvement in agriculture. It also delves into the significance of regenerative agriculture and the role of different players in the industry. The conversation covers a range of topics related to summer and winter annuals, government subsidies, forage improvement, and fall planting. The speakers discuss the impact of subsidies on farming, the effectiveness of forage improvement programs, and the challenges and benefits of stockpiling summer annuals for grazing. They also touch on the importance of soil management, fertility, and moisture for successful fall planting.

Takeaways

• Forage Focus
• Commitment to Superior Feed Dealer networks are farmer-based and farmer-focused, providing valuable support and knowledge to farmers.
• Improving forage programs can lead to significant improvements in farm profitability and livestock health. Government subsidies impact farming practices
• Forage improvement programs can be effective without subsidies
• Stockpiling summer annuals for grazing requires careful management
• Fertility and moisture are critical for successful fall planting

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Byron Seeds
• 12:27 Selecting Alfalfa and Summer Annuals
• 18:48 Dealer Networks and Farmer Support
• 36:13 Government Involvement in Agriculture
• 54:36 Importance of Soil Management and Fertility for Fall Planting

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The conversation delves into the world of farm finances, exploring the role of Farm Credit in supporting agricultural operations. Ty Smithson shares his passion for agricultural finance and the importance of understanding producers' operations. The discussion also covers the initial understanding and assessment process, preparing for farm financing, and common mistakes made by beginning farmers. The conversation covers key themes such as succession planning, record keeping, financial management, risk management, and bankability. It emphasizes the importance of involving the next generation, detailed financials for credit decisions, and leveraging technology for efficiency. The discussion also highlights the significance of collaboration and openness to feedback in building a successful agricultural operation.

Takeaways

• Understanding the role of Farm Credit in supporting agricultural operations
• The importance of preparing for farm financing and avoiding common mistakes made by beginning farmers Succession planning is crucial for the future of agricultural operations
• Detailed financials and openness to feedback are essential for credit decisions and financial preparedness

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Farm Finances
• 05:04 Diversity of Agricultural Operations
• 20:01 Preparing for Farm Financing
• 30:09 Succession Planning in Agriculture
• 43:28 Risk Management and Team Building
• 53:07 Bankability and Financial Preparedness

Ben Masemore shares his journey from growing up on a dairy farm to transitioning to carpentry and housing crisis, and eventually returning to the family farm. He discusses his experience with no-till farming, soil management, and the importance of conservation in agriculture. The conversation covers the impact of cover crops on soil health, the growth and expansion of Noble, and the art and science of breeding cows. The conversation delves into the impact of genomics and AI on agriculture, the value of good cows in dairy farming, the influence of big money in the show world, and the future of dairy farming and agriculture. It also highlights the importance of educating the public about dairy farming and the continuous learning and pursuit of improvement in the industry.

Takeaways

• Transitioning between different industries can provide valuable insights and skills for farming.
• No-till farming and cover crops play a crucial role in soil management and conservation in agriculture. Cover crops contribute to soil health
• Noble's growth and expansion
• Breeding cows is a combination of art and science The impact of genomics and AI on agriculture
• The importance of educating the public about dairy farming

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 08:07 Transition to Carpentry and Housing Crisis
• 19:04 Transition to No-Till Farming and Soil Management
• 26:09 Experience with No-Till Farming and Cover Crops
• 33:19 The Impact of Cover Crops on Soil Health
• 52:18 Breeding Cows: Art and Science
• 01:08:19 The Reward of Weaving Through Challenges
• 01:13:40 The Impact of Genomics on Jersey Breed
• 01:20:30 The Influence of Big Money in the Show World
• 01:26:37 The Importance of Educating the Public About Dairy Farming
• 01:36:38 The Care and Pampering of Dairy Cows
• 01:42:08 Continuous Learning and Pursuit of Improvement