Aaron Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer of New Leaf Symbiotics, discussed the company's 13-year history and its focus on developing microbial solutions for agriculture. New Leaf's primary product, a probiotic for plants called PPFM, helps plants withstand stressors and improve health. https://newleafsym.com.

Andrew Pritchard, a senior atmospheric scientist at Nutrien, discusses his role in analyzing weather impacts on crops, providing weather safety training, and supporting farmers and crop consultants. He produces weather videos and email reports, tailored to different levels within the company, and frequently interacts with divisions in Nebraska, Iowa, and the Dakotas. Pritchard highlights the early, cold, and snowy start to the winter in the Corn Belt, emphasizing the need for winter weather safety measures, including cold stress prevention, safe travel, and carbon monoxide awareness. He advises avoiding unnecessary travel during peak winter storms to prevent accidents and hypothermia.

Rural Minds, a four-year-old nonprofit that focuses on mental health equity for the 46 million people in rural America. The organization addresses the disproportionate mental health resources available in urban and suburban areas compared to rural areas. Recent challenges include potential tariff reductions affecting agricultural commodities, the impact of COVID-19 on rural communities, and the loss of 115,000 farm workers in the last four months. Rural Minds has launched a youth-focused program in New York and Pennsylvania, highlighting a 74% higher suicide rate among rural youth compared to urban counterparts. The organization emphasizes community partnerships, peer-to-peer support, and resources like the 988 crisis line to address these issues.

Interview with incoming board President, Jessica Brophy. 

Nathan Troudt from Trout Meats discussed the official opening of his USDA-inspected processing facility located eight miles north of Otis, Colorado. The facility handles pork, beef, lamb, and goats, with pork typically processed on Fridays. Troudt highlighted the extensive paperwork and meetings required for USDA inspection. He noted a strong local and regional customer base, with a preference for paper-wrapped meat due to nostalgia and long-term freezer storage. 

Tristan Cravens, a senior computer science student at Illinois State University and IT innovation intern at GrowMark, discussed his participation in the Gateway to Agriculture Careers Program. The program, which aims to integrate agriculture into the digital age, sent six students to a three-day conference in Clearwater Beach. Cravens highlighted the importance of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, citing a keynote speaker who discussed using AI to predict white mold in soybeans. He also mentioned networking with companies like Land O'Lakes and Drain Farm in North Dakota. The conference emphasized the need for trust and effective communication in implementing new technologies in agriculture.

Learn more about the Colorado Young Farmer and Rancher program, which is for individuals aged 18-35 interested in agriculture. The Colorado Farm Bureau aims to develop future leaders in agriculture through initiatives like the Discussion Meet competition, which helps participants hone public speaking and collaboration skills. The upcoming leadership conference on February 6-7 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, will feature hands-on learning sessions and keynote speakers Cassidy Johnson and Aaron Alejandro. Registration opens early December and closes mid-January, with early bird discounts available.

Keaton Dugan, a senior manager at Pinion Global,  emphasized the importance of long-term tax planning for farmers, advising them to consider future needs and not just minimize taxes annually. Dugan highlighted key strategies such as deferred grain contracts, crop insurance deferrals, and bonus depreciation. He also stressed the importance of accurate record-keeping, timely communication with CPAs, and understanding the impact of pre-paid expenses and capitalized assets on tax planning.

Brian Knifong, Nutrien Ag Solutions Head of Marketing for North America. He emphasized the importance of soil sampling post-harvest to inform crop planning for 2026. 

He also stressed the value of biologicals and bio-stimulants in enhancing fertilizer efficiency. Brian concluded by encouraging farmers to control controllables and leverage digital tools like the Nutrient Hub for better decision-making.

KSIR's Lorrie Boyer talks with Travis Grant, Executive Director of the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA). Grant discussed the controversial impact of former President Trump’s beef pricing policies, emphasizing CLA's support for free trade and rigorous import standards to protect U.S. beef quality. He highlighted the ineffectiveness of mandatory country-of-origin labeling and noted the industry's focus on maintaining consumer trust and affordable meat options. Additionally, Grant touched upon the complexities of rebuilding herd populations, the importance of efficient farming innovations, and upcoming legislative priorities, including safety training and educational events planned for