Farm4Profit Podcast

Von Ketelsen

• Carroll, IA 
• What are they up to today?
• Career: Carroll Broadcasting
• “Vittles on the Go with Von” - delivering food to farmers
• Advocate for FFA - interview several current FFA students
• Attended ISU for Journalism, Mass Communications, and Speech Communications
• Emcee for People’s Company 12th Annual Land Investment Expo in 2019
• Likes to repost quotes and saying on his Facebook and LinkedIn
• Solo singer/acoustic guitarist 
• Will play at stores/restaurants/nursing homes
• Grew up performing with his dads band
• His brother died of leukemia at the age of 18 when Von was 6 months old (how many siblings)
• 2006: raise interest in building a Hope Lodge in Iowa City
• 2007: presented the American Cancer Society’s “Sword of Hope” Award
• He did a solo bike excursion in honor of his mom who was diagnosed (later passed away) with terminal cancer
• Quad Cities → Washington D.C.
• rode a rugged steel-framed bike pulling a cargo trailer containing his sleeping bag, tent and guitar
• Presented the Honorary Iowa FFA Degree at the 2021 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference
• Was in 4H but the school he attended did not have FFA at the time 
• Past Jobs

Year

Job

Company

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Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

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Phone

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Come and see us!

https://techhublive.com/

Episode Title: Enhancing Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

• Nicholas and Kent

Long-term Profitability and Soil Health 

• Importance of soil health for long-term profitability
• Investment strategies for soil care
• Examples of successful soil management practices

Tiling Fields 

• Benefits and challenges of tiling fields
• Impact on drainage and crop yields
• Cost considerations and long-term returns

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

• Explanation of CRP
• Benefits of enrolling land in CRP
• Personal experiences and insights from the guest on CRP

Raising Prairie and Wildflowers 

• Financial benefits of raising prairie and wildflowers
• Ecological advantages
• Steps to start and maintain prairie/wildflower areas

Conservation Payments and Financial Incentives 

• Discussion on equal payments for conservation efforts and traditional crops
• Economic benefits of clean air and water initiatives
• How to make conservation financially appealing to farmers

Niche Agricultural Markets 

• Identifying and accessing niche markets
• Success stories of niche agricultural products
• Marketing strategies for niche products

Buying Land for CRP 

• Advantages of purchasing land and enrolling it in CRP immediately
• Financial implications and long-term benefits
• Case studies or examples from the guest

Sharing the Land 

• Importance and benefits of land sharing
• Strategies for successful land sharing agreements
• Guest's experiences and recommendations

Conclusion ----- Thank the guest and listeners

• Stan Nelson
• Iowa Corn Promotion Board President
• Southeast Iowa Native - Farming for 42 years in Des Moines County
• Raises corn, soybeans for seed and hay
• Works on the farm with daughter Valerie, her husband Jared, daughter Emily, & husband Caleb
• Organization Involvements
• National Corn Growers Association and U.S. Grains Council Action Teams
• Iowa Soybean Association
• Director of District 9 for 5 years
• Iowa Cattlemen's Association
• Iowa Farm Bureau
• School Board member at the Danville Community School District for 9 years
• Graduated from ISU in 1980 with bachelors in farm operations
• Stu Swanson
• Iowa Corn Growers Association First Vice President
• Serves on the animal agriculture & environment committee
• Raises corn, soybeans, and customer feeding wean to finish hogs 
• Leadership:
• North Central Coop Board of Directors
• County FSA Committee
• Wright County Fair Swine Committee
• Iowa Soybean Association
• Iowa Pork Producers Association
• After college
• Worked at Iowa Pork Producers Association - director of producer education
• Awards:
• Iowa Pork Producers Association as Master Pork Producer in 2017
• Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers Good Farm Neighbor Award in 2019
• IDALS Iowa  Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2020
• Passionate about accelerating water quality efforts in Iowa
• Recently traveled to Washington D.C. for leadership training and visit with elected officials
• Craig Floss
• Iowa Corn CEO
• CEO since 1997
• At Iowa corn talk a lot about legacy with farmers
• Recently awarded the ISU Knoll Corporation Foundation Award
• History of ICGA
• Founded in 1967 by Walter Goeppinger of Boone, IA
• Voice of Iowa corn farmers
• 12-member board - peer-elected farmers and 2 industry liaisons
• U.S. Grain Council
• 27 years of service
• Background
• Corn, soybean, and livestock farmer
• Assisted with a feeder pig operation as a teenager   
• Attended ISU
• Then worked in Chicago for Spraying Systems Co. 
• Responsible for all sales outside of the U.S.
•  

HISTORY OF IOWA CORN & THE SPEEDWAY (WHY NASCAR)

25,000+ seats sold out for the race and 1000 farmers and their families present to watch their product in action on the fastest short-track in the nation surrounded by corn fields.

A large, national audience excited about the power and performance of ethanol with 4.1 million unique viewers.

Driving online traffic and increasing brand exposure with 7.6 million digital page views.

If you divide Iowa’s 2023 corn crop by the race’s 350 laps, each time around the track would equate to 7 million bushels. Corn is a major economic engine for the state.   

What makes farmers or farming so great? – Summary Show

Pure Enjoyment:

12/21/23 – Thur – F4F – E251 (E344) “Just a Jackson Thing” plus cousins Brad and Becca (Jackson)

            Watching tractors rolling in the field with smoke, filling up with seeds all the way through corn and bean harvest. 

            Blowing smoke, gettin’ er done.  Let ’er eat!

11/16/23 – Thur – F4F – E246 (E334) One Legged Mommy – Josie Wendel

Love of the game!  It doesn’t matter to a farmer if they’re winning or losing in a year, they’ll go right back out to plant again next spring. It’s in their blood…the Love of the ‘farming’ game!

How do you think we can draw upon the enjoyment we all have in farming to entice or educate those that are outside of agriculture?

Top Tier People:

11/23/23 – Thur – F4F – E247 (E336) John Kowalshuk, Alberta, Canada

            It’s the people.  There are so many awesome people to talk with and learn from.  I’m proud to be a farmer.

            We are quality people.

9/28/23 – Thur – F4F – E240 (E320)  Tim Marks -Tractor Time with Tim – Super charged compact tractors FPS23

            The quality of the people in the ag industry is incredible.

What is it that makes the people of agriculture such stand up people?  Where did this originate?

Quality of Life – Pride in Life Style:

10/23/23 – Mon – F4P – E149 (E327) Digital Agriculture: Sowing the Seeds of Online Income – FPS23

Natalie – It’s the lifestyle it provides.  Farming/ranching is so integrated into our lifestyle.  The pros outweigh the cons, for sure.  The best people are in the farming industry.

9/21/23 – Thur – F4F – E240 (E318) The Modern Day Farm Chick – Annaliese Wegner FPS23

It’s the Lifestyle.  It’s more than just a job.  I get to work with family, be outside and have the kids grow up on the farm.

Does this type of lifestyle make it better than other types?  What are the benefits of the lifestyle? Detriments?

Connection to Family:

10/12/23 – Thur – F4F – E241 (E324) Tony Reed & Nick McCormick – Illinois icons

            Tony – It’s one big family.  You can relate in so many areas/topics.  It’s easy to talk to each other.

10/9/23 – Mon – F4P – E147 (E323) Zach Johnson, Millennial Farmer FPS23 Reflection/summary show

What do you enjoy most about farming or working with farmers?I love raising my kids on the farm.It’s the most rewarding of anything I do.  Having them watch the cycle of life through crops and livestock and working hard.

Do you think the connection to family is still as strong today as it was a generation or two ago?

Always driving forward:

9/11/23  – Mon – F4P – E143 (E315) Thinking ahead: The Key to Farm Success – Sukup, 3rd generation Emily Schmitt FPS23

They are natural innovators and problem solvers.  Farmers are the epitome of an innovator.  They figure out how to make things work.  When you meet them and get to know them, you have a natural common bond in farming.  It’s easy to get to know them.

11/2/23 – Thur – F4F – E244 (E330) Deeply Rooted in Technology - Brandon Hunnicutt Husker Harvest Days 

They have the same goals in mind, but everyone does it differently.  You can see they do something differently.  But different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.  Learn from it.  There is always something to learn.

Is it innovation by necessity or innovation by nature?  Can or does this show up in other types of professions?

Summary/Challenge

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

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• Where are they from, what do they farm, how did they get into farming
• How’s the family - do they farm with family?
• East Central, NE
• 6th generation farmers with wife Amy
• What are they up to today?
• What they see that excites them?
• What do they want to make sure they see before they leave 
• Electric weed zapper
• Purchased in 2019
• PTO driven generator
• Uses 12,000 volts 
• Cyclone Farms
• Amy’s family operation - they took over in 2012
• Advocate for organic farming
• 80% organic in 2019
• Talked with Secretary of Ag and Governor about helping farmers choosing to go organic
• Working to “professionalize the industry”
• White & yellow Corn, soybeans, hard red wheat, field peas for food grade organic market
• Sunflowers
• Tested canola and other crops
• End users in USA and abroad
• Projects
• North America:
• Worked in many Midwest states
• Developing and managing 10,000 acre farming operation in FL
• International:
• Worked on 4 different continents 
• Ranging from 1,000-100,000 acre farms
• Worked with over 23 different crops applying to Albrecht/Kinsey principles
• Improve soil health → quality crops w/ high production 
• Soil Health
• Utilize a Veris Electro-Conductivity Mapping Machine 
• Boa Safra 

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

Connect with us on Facebook

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How do “Large Scale” Solar and Wind projects get started?

1. What defines a utility-scale renewable energy project and how it works (quick definition of wind/solar projects and how they work)

2. What it’s like for a farmer to lease land to a renewable energy project (speaking with developers, signing a lease, etc)

3. How renewable energy projects can (and should) coexist with agriculture: (i.e. how wind turbines take very little space from farming land so farmers can continue to work the land. Not the same for solar projects, but farmers can grow crops next to solar sites, herd sheep within solar sites, and how the land will be fertile for agriculture once the solar site is decommissioned).

4. Pros and cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project

✅Pros of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

• Steady Income Stream (how much on average can a farmer earn from leasing land to a renewable energy project?)
• Minimal Impact on Land (especially wind)
• Local Economic Benefits (local tax revenue that can go to schools, infrastructure, emergency services, etc)
• Energy Security and Grid Resilience (enhancing national energy security)
• Contribution to Renewable Energy (reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase energy independence)
• Save American family farms (additional income has been a lifesaver and helped keep family farms from being sold to developers and maintain that agricultural profile of a county)

❎Cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

• Long-term Commitment (leases typically lasting 20 to 30 years)
• Land Use Restrictions (specifically for solar farms, usable farmland is often taken out of production)
• Need to provide access to company staff ( i.e. tech to service the turbines or panels)
• Potential Environmental Impact (how the installation and decommissioning processes can have environmental impacts)
• Sale of leased land can be complicated (if the land is already generating revenue from the lease then selling is easier. The lease can be transferred as long as it is covered in the lease agreement. Consult a lawyer for that)

5. How generating solar/wind energy is a form of harvesting in itself

6. Things to consider if you’re a farmer considering leasing land to a renewable energy project.

• Discuss potential impacts during construction
• Decommissioning process and responsibilities at the end of 20-30 years (so people remember grandpa/ grandma fondly :)
• Supporting  your local community with many benefits that pay for essential public services for your county

7. Opportunity to answer commonly asked questions/misconceptions of renewable energy projects: 

• Whether renewable energy projects affect property value
• Whether solar panels render land infertile
• Whether wind turbines are loud (in general wind turbines generate about 30- 45 decibels at 300 ft while the limit is 55 decibel. With proper setback in places where wind turbines are built, people are more likely to hear traffic from a distant highway than the turbine itself)
• Do wind turbines kill birds? (yes about 300K in the US but that is nothing compared to cats, buildings, pesticides, and cars that kill millions of birds per year)
• Whether renewable energy projects are funded by taxpayer money or by private investments (private investments. In fact a lot of fossil fuel companies are now making investments in renewable energy because the margins are better than generating power from gas or coal. Additionally like most energy projects clean energy companies make annual payment to the county tax revenues and support  community benefits)
• Whether wind and solar energy are more expensive than coal or gas (see Lazard’s levelized cost of energy 2023 report)
• Supposedly 7-10% of the electricity generated is lost so where does that go?  Ground water? Livestock, family?

8. Advice to farm landowners considering leasing land to a solar or wind project.

*It goes without saying but it’s important for landowners considering leasing land to a clean energy project to consult with relevant legal and financial experts for their unique situation before finalizing any agreements. There are resources like the Center for Rural Opportunity and Power (CROP) that provide good, unbiased information on how to get access to these resources as a landowner. CROP’s mission is to educate audiences about the benefits of energy independence.You can visit their website cropamerica.com or drop them an email [email protected] for more info.

@juleswisner  Instagram 950    TikTok 5.2k   

• Where are they from, what do they farm, how did they get into farming
• How’s the family - do they farm with family?
• 1st Gen Iowa
• Moved to the midwest from New York State 
• What are they up to today?
• What they see that excites them?
• What do they want to make sure they see before they leave 
• Career
• Connection with Ag
• Grew up with livestock
• Bachelor's degree in Ag Business
• Dairy calf manager
• Raised her own stock
• Fun Facts
• 2 dogs that she posted a lot about
• Faith is important to her
• Packers fan 
• Busch Light drinker
• Getting into western ag fashion industry 
• How has social media changed her life?
• Why do it?
• How would she start it over differently?
• Which is their favorite platform?
• How are you getting your message across through social media?
• If you were an animal, what do you think you would be?
• If you could make anything bigger on your body what would it be?

What has been the best thing you have ever eaten and where did you get it?

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

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Andrew Kabes, the Chief Operating Officer (pronounced Kubbish like "Rubbish") of Lighthouse Commodities. With a rich background in the commercial grain industry, Andrew takes us through the recent USDA quarterly acreage and stocks report.

Background and Context

1. Can you explain the significance of the USDA acreage and quarterly stocks report for the commodity markets?
2. How do these reports typically impact market prices and trading strategies?
3. What historical trends have you observed in the first USDA acreage and stocks report after planting, and how have they influenced market behavior?

Current Market Conditions

1. What were the market expectations before USDA report?
2. How are current planting and growing conditions shaping up for key crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat?

Analysis

1. What were some key take aways from this report?

Strategic Insights

1. What strategies should farmers, traders, and investors have considered ahead of the report release?
2. How can participants now move forward with these results from the report?

Broader Implications

1. What else do we need to be thinking about right now?
2. Remind our listeners why it is important to have a marketing plan….

Summary

Challenge

What is the best thing you have eaten and where did you get it?!

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

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Sponsored by Iowa Corn Growers

Funded by Estes Performance Concaves 

Richard Childress       

• Grew up in Winston-Salem, NC
• Married to his wife for over 50 years
• 3 great-grandchildren 
• Who or what is Growth Energy
• Richard Childress Racing
• Former race car driver in NASCAR
• Childhood
• As a child spent time at Bowman Gray Stadium - city’s local short track
• Sold peanuts and popcorn to help support his family
• First race car - an old 1947 Plymouth - $20
• 1969: first time competing in NASCAR - placed 23rd 
• For awhile he was a one-man team: driver, mechanic, chief engine builder, etc
• Had to find other jobs to fund racing 
• 1980’s: grown RCR to full-time and part-time employees
• Other who raced the No. 3 car
• Ricky Rudd
• Dale Earnhardt - help them become a dominant team in 80’s/90’s
• Mike Skinner - drove Chevrolet Silverado in Truck Series
• 1998: Earnhardt won their first Daytona 500
• 2007: Kevin Harvick won the No. 29 car in Daytona 500
• 2018: Austin Dillon won the 60th running of the Daytona 500
• First team owner to win championships in all three NASCAR’s top touring series
• 2017: inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Family
• Grandsons, Austin and Ty Dillion race under RCR in early 2000s
• Now:
• Over 300 team members
• Multiple teams in the Cup and Xfinity Series
• Over 200 NASCAR victories
• 3 Daytona 500 wins
• And a lot more wins listed on the RCR racing page 
• Away from the track
• Loves wine, the outdoors and investing in America’s youth
• 2004: opened a vineyard in the Yadkin Valley AVA near Lexington, NC
• Activist for the conservation of natural resources
• He can be found hunting at home in Montana or fishing at his Hampton Estates in Lexington, NC
• 2008: his wife (Judy) and him founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma (CIPT)
• Mission to help discover and share the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries to children

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

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Visit www.farm4profit.com for more information on Boa Safra Ag

Wheat tip sponsored by www.estesperformanceconcaves.com

• Who is Boa Safra?
• History, Mission, Vision
• Started in 2019, in 40+ states, generated over $500 million deductions for clients
• Help maximize farm tax deductions for recently acquired farmland 
• Uses the tax credit program for nutrients in the soil to get money back 
• owner-operators, brokers, banks & mortgage lenders, land investors, CPA firms
• The Process:
• Sampling and mapping soils
• Establishing nutrient values
• Generating comprehensive report
• Elaborate on the process by which taxpayers can allocate part of the purchase price of farmland to excess fertilizer or nutrients, as explain in the IRS section 180 report
• What potential risks or challenges should taxpayers be aware of when considering the utilization of IRS section 180 deductions for recovering the value of residual fertilizer?
• Could this go away?
• How does Boa Safra assist owner-operators in quantifying the volume and value of legacy nutrients in their soils for the purpose of capturing federal tax deductions?
• How long after a farm purchase can you do it?
• How does Boa Safra adapt its services to meet the unique needs and preferences of different client types?
• Explain the process the determines valuations for residual fertility loads
• Are there specific requirements or regulations that clients need to be aware of in order to claim the pre-existing soil fertility load deduction for agricultural production?
• The process:
• What specific nutrients are tested for during the soil analysis process? 
• How do you ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data?
• Are there additional support service offered by Boa Safra?
• Tax filing process?
• Does it matter if its owned in a trust or LLC or partnership or individual?
• What did we miss?

• Summary and Challenge

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

Connect with us on Facebook

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