Compeer's AgEdge

Compeer Director of Dairy Lori Fetzer hosts Corey Geiger, Lead Dairy Economist at CoBank and 2026 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year, and Megan Roberts, Ag Economist at Compeer Financial, for a forward-looking conversation on what progressive dairy operations should be focused on over the next six to 18 months. Corey examines why protein has overtaken butterfat in milk check value, why beef-on-dairy revenue has become a major driver of farm profitability, and what the tightest heifer supply in years means for herd management and expansion planning. Megan breaks down the current interest rate environment and flags the upcoming USMCA review as an underappreciated risk to dairy export markets. The conversation also covers capital deployment strategy, aligning milk production with processor needs, and the role of technology and genomics in building long-term competitiveness.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Perry Aasness, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, examine the June agricultural policy landscape as the Farm Bill moves to the Senate with a narrow legislative window before August recess. Perry breaks down the Senate's path forward on the Farm Bill and year-round E-15, the competing priorities crowding the congressional calendar, and where USMCA trade review consultations stand with America's top two ag export markets. Megan covers a newly signed executive order reducing agricultural equipment tariffs, the latest specialty crop assistance funding, and why the May WASDE's surprising new crop soybean projection and persistent inflation make a June Fed rate cut unlikely.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts is joined by Thad Schunkwiler, Associate Professor at Minnesota State University Mankato, licensed behavioral health provider, and founder of the Center for Rural Behavioral Health, along with Paul Kohls, Chief Administrative and Mission Officer at Compeer Financial, to examine mental health challenges facing agricultural communities during Mental Health Awareness Month. Thad explores the unique mental health stressors in agriculture, including economic pressures, generational identity, isolation, and limited access to behavioral healthcare in rural areas. The conversation covers warning signs to watch for, practical ways to support struggling individuals through human connection, and how to have direct compassionate conversations about suicide risk. Thad and Paul discuss agricultural mental health resources and Compeer's Rural Vitality Initiative supporting essential services in rural communities.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts is joined by Jeff Kazin and Mike Rohlfsen, co-owners of Agris Academy and veteran grain traders with nearly 50 collective years at Cargill, along with Compeer Financial Officer Mark Cook to examine risk management strategies during one of farming's most operationally intense periods. Jeff and Mike walk through five foundational best practices that bring commercial trading discipline to farm marketing: understanding hyper-efficient futures markets and why producers should function as risk managers rather than speculators, knowing your position with specific yield projections instead of conservative estimates, separating futures and basis decisions to speak the language of merchandisers, calculating the true cost of carry including interest, shrink, opportunity cost, and psychological stress, and reading market structure to understand whether carry or inverse markets justify holding grain. The conversation covers why effective marketing plans begin at harvest rather than planting, how spring volatility creates opportunities for new crop pricing, and the merchandising principle of "stacking dimes"—making dozens of small improvements that add meaningful cents per bushel over time.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs cover a landmark week in agricultural policy as the House passes Farm Bill 2.0 with bipartisan support — the furthest the bill has advanced since 2018. Ben breaks down what's in the bill, why E-15 was separated into its own upcoming vote, and what to expect as the legislation heads to the Senate. Megan recaps the Fed's decision to hold rates steady at Chair Powell's final FOMC meeting and looks ahead to the May WASDE and the China Trade Summit's implications for soybean markets.

Compeer loan officers Jessica Held and Jessica Horsley walk through the construction loan process from pre-approval to move-in day. They explain how construction loans differ from standard mortgages, the advantages of Compeer's one-time close construction-to-permanent program, and what borrowers need to know about eligibility, selecting a builder, and managing draws throughout the build. The episode also covers Compeer's unique flexibility for agricultural properties and non-traditional home types, and highlights member benefits like the patronage program and rate conversion option.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs examine an eventful week in agricultural policy as planting season approaches. Ben provides updates on Farm Bill progress in both the House and Senate, explains the newly announced E-15 summer waiver and the momentum building toward permanent year-round legislation, and discusses how ongoing Congressional priorities may affect the ag policy timeline. Megan analyzes the latest renewable fuel volume obligations, quarterly grain stocks data showing year-over-year increases in both corn and soybeans, and the prospective plantings report revealing producer intentions for corn and soybean acres.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts opens with a macroeconomic and crop market update, including the Federal Reserve's latest rate decision and current WASDE projections heading into planting season. She's joined by Jeff Kazin and Mike Rohlfsen, veteran grain traders with decades of experience at Cargill who now educate and consult with farmers across the U.S. and Canada. Together, they walk through five best practices for approaching grain marketing as a disciplined risk strategy rather than a reaction to price. The conversation covers how to think and function like a grain merchant—understanding futures efficiency, separating basis decisions, knowing your position, calculating carrying costs, and reading market structure to inform when to move grain.

Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts, Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs, and Cole Patrick from Crop Insurance break down a volatile week in ag policy and economics as planting season approaches. The team covers how geopolitical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is rippling into fertilizer input costs, the latest Farm Bill 2.0 progress out of the House, tariff developments following a key Supreme Court ruling, and what surging crop insurance adoption signals about producer risk management heading into the growing season. The episode also touches on the Federal Reserve's outlook and a reminder about Bridge Assistance Program applications.

Compeer's Director of Insurance Strategies, Cole Patrick, and Brandon Pezanoski, State Insurance Product Officer with Compeer, examine the 2026 crop insurance landscape as producers approach sales closing. Cole opens with agricultural outlook projections, explains the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, and breaks down how the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers significant premium savings across all coverage levels.

Brandon reveals why premium costs for comparable coverage are down substantially from last year, with ECO and SCO endorsements now carrying dramatically increased premium support. Learn how producers can stack base coverage with SCO and ECO to approach breakeven costs, why ECO participation is projected to surge nationally, and how the elimination of the ARC-SCO conflict now allows producers to take both programs simultaneously. The episode emphasizes that while the cost of growing crops isn't declining, the cost of protecting those crops is now the lowest it's been in years.