From copper wire and irrigation pumps to fencing and remote electrical systems, thieves are targeting farms more aggressively than ever — driven by rising metal prices and the reality that rural law enforcement is stretched thin.

We dig into:

Why agricultural crime is surging across the U.S.

What thieves are stealing most — and why farms are uniquely vulnerable

The true cost of theft beyond scrap value (downtime, crop loss, repairs, and missed irrigation)

Why traditional tools like trail cameras and motion lights often fail in remote areas

How new technology is shifting security from reactive to proactive

Bobby also shares how real-time theft detection systems like COP-R-LOCK can pinpoint theft instantly, trigger on-site alarms, and provide alerts fast enough to actually stop criminals before the damage is done.

With repair costs ranging from $20,000 to $90,000, this conversation is about more than stolen copper — it’s about protecting your farm’s productivity, infrastructure, and long-term resilience.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Email address: [email protected]

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In this episode of Farm4Profit, we sit down with Lance Weaver, a Texas native, former ag banker, and now business coach with Legacy Farmer, to talk about what really happens behind the scenes in agricultural lending — and what farmers need to understand to protect their operations.

After earning degrees in Ag Business and Ag Economics and spending over a decade in ag finance, Lance reached a breaking point. Despite good intentions, he realized the system wasn’t built to serve farmers the way they thought it was.

We dig into:

The moment Lance said, “I can’t do this anymore as a banker”

Why loan officers don’t always have your back in loan committee meetings

Red flags in both farm financials and bank relationships

Why balance sheets, cash flow, and production knowledge must align

The danger of confusing bank renewals with actual profitability

How farmers can start thinking — and operating — like CEOs of multimillion-dollar businesses

What Legacy Farmer does differently to help producers build clarity, structure, and long-term resilience

This episode challenges farmers to take ownership of their numbers, their leadership role, and their future — because the bank will always protect its own interests, but your farm needs someone protecting yours.

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Nels farms corn and soybeans in Iowa, including seed beans for major companies, while running a diverse lineup of equipment and managing challenges like field fires, weather swings, and land access as a next-generation farmer. He shares what it was like returning to the family operation, starting on his own acres, and building a farm business one decision at a time.

We also dive into:

Why he started sharing farm life on social media in 2019

How simple things like rain gauge updates connect farmers and non-farmers alike

What it’s like raising kids who actively help on the farm

Lessons learned from Iowa Corn’s I-LEAD program and international trade missions

Why community involvement — fire department, PTO, Lions Club — still matters in rural America

The reality of farming through tough seasons, including multiple field fires in one year

This conversation is a reminder that farming isn’t just about acres and yields — it’s about people, perspective, and showing the real side of agriculture.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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In this What’s Working in Ag segment, we highlight a growing trend we’re seeing across agriculture heading into 2026: farmers investing in skills instead of opinions.

Agris Academy is hosting a 2026 Winter Workshop on Merchandising and Futures Risk Management on February 19th in Baltic, South Dakota, with both in-person and online options available. What makes this workshop stand out is what it doesn’t promise.

This session focuses on:

Teaching real merchandising skills farmers can use immediately

Sharing practical “tricks of the trade” from professional risk managers

Helping producers build repeatable systems, not one-off trades

Creating skills that become a permanent asset to a farm or business

What it won’t do:

Predict market direction

Push trading strategies

React to daily headlines

In a year where volatility, tight margins, and uncertainty continue to dominate agriculture, farmers are realizing that better decisions come from better understanding — not better guesses.

This short segment explains why educational workshops like this are gaining momentum, why farmers are choosing to attend in person, and how developing merchandising discipline can change how farms manage risk long-term.

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In this episode of Farm4Profit, we’re joined by Ken Ripley, AVP of Regional Sales for FMH’s Northwest region and a farmer himself in southern Minnesota. Ken brings decades of experience from both John Deere and crop insurance, helping producers understand how to build smarter protection strategies.

We break down:

The current financial environment farmers are facing

How crop insurance, FSA programs, and disaster relief work together

What’s changed under the new USDA and RMA leadership

Key updates to ARC/PLC, base acres, reference prices, and SCO flexibility

New and expanded area coverage options like ECO, SCO, and MCO

Enhancements to the Beginning Farmer/Rancher program

Disaster programs like SDRP Phase 2 and the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program

Why precision data is becoming critical for reporting, claims, and audits

Ken also shares practical advice for navigating these decisions without getting overwhelmed — including why working closely with a trusted crop insurance agent can help producers avoid missed opportunities.

With so many changes heading into 2026, this episode helps farmers step back, understand the big picture, and make intentional decisions that protect profitability.

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This episode is a little different—and that’s exactly why you’ll want to listen.

Sammy Smith is a Johnston, Iowa native who grew up racing on small tracks across the state before becoming one of the youngest drivers to win at NASCAR’s national level. Today, at just 21 years old, he’s competed across the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Truck Series, racing for some of the sport’s most respected teams.

In this conversation, we dig into:

Growing up just miles from the Farm4Profit studio and racing across Iowa

How his dad and Iowa racing connections launched his motorsports career

Winning races before he was old enough to legally drive

The discipline required to balance school, training, and full-time racing

Handling pressure, failure, and expectations at a young age

Lessons racing teaches that apply directly to farming and business

Endurance, mindset, and why he ran a marathon in 2025

Giving back through scholarships and community involvement

What’s next in his racing career

While Sammy’s world looks different than farming, the themes are the same: discipline, consistency, risk management, preparation, and performance under pressure. This episode bridges agriculture and motorsports through mindset—and shows why success at the highest levels always comes back to fundamentals.

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Titan Immel doesn’t follow the traditional ag retail playbook—and that’s exactly why his businesses are growing.

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of AgHub Midwest and Ten Percent Ag to unpack how a 17-year-old seed dealer turned into a diversified ag entrepreneur serving tens of thousands of acres across the Midwest.

We dig into:

How Titan started selling seed while still in high school

Why he stepped away from farming to build an ag services business

The independent retailer model behind AgHub Midwest

How variable-rate prescriptions and precision tech drive value for farmers

Selling farm chemicals shipped direct to the farm at just 10% over cost

Scaling aerial application with helicopters and spray drones

The hiring challenges in rural ag—and why character matters more than resumes

Using consultants to break growth plateaus and plan for 2.5x expansion

Building multiple businesses simultaneously without losing focus

This episode is a real-world look at modern ag entrepreneurship, where technology, logistics, people, and margins all have to work together. Whether you’re a farmer, ag retailer, or someone thinking about starting something of your own, Titan’s story offers a blueprint for doing ag business differently—and sustainably.

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Grant and Spencer Hilbert didn’t grow up farming—but today they’re running a first-generation operation, raising crops, adding beef cattle, and building one of the most transparent ag creator platforms online.

In this episode, we sit down with the brothers behind Hilbert Farms, The Squad, and the American Farming game to talk about:

How YouTube income helped fund their first farmland purchase

What it’s like starting a farm without generational land or equipment

Why they’re open about profits, failures, and financial realities

How content creation, gaming, and real farming now overlap

Launching beef production and partnering with Farmer Grade

Building community through Discord and digital platforms

And the idea behind forming a creator “dream team” to bring farmers early access to product reveals—before Commodity Classic

This conversation isn’t just about social media or gaming. It’s about where agriculture is headed, how younger farmers and creators are influencing the industry, and how early access and transparency can bring real value back to producers.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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This What’s Working in Ag segment is brought to you by www.ambrook.com , we bring back Hannah Mann, CPA and ag-focused accountant, to answer the follow-up questions farmers had after our recent tax planning episode.

This short, to-the-point conversation focuses on what’s actually working right now for producers who want better control of their numbers heading into 2026.

Hannah shares:

Why most farms struggle with knowing true profitability—even when yields look good

The difference between reactive bookkeeping and proactive financial planning

Why January is the best time to reset farm records (not December)

How forward-looking cash flow projections help with banker conversations and credit renewals

Why tracking inventory, enterprises, and allocations matters more than ever

How the best operators use simple systems to buy back time and peace of mind

Why clean, real-time numbers create better decisions when margins are tight

This episode isn’t about accounting theory or tax jargon. It’s about giving farmers clarity, confidence, and a system that helps them make better decisions—before it’s too late.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

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Call/Text: 515.207.9640

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Seed costs remain one of the largest line items on a farm’s balance sheet—but what if there was another way to think about genetics, pricing, and value?

In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we sit down with Nate Belcher, a crop consultant, regenerative ag specialist, and longtime advocate for alternative ag business models. Nate shares his perspective on off-patent corn genetics, non-GMO seed options, and why more farmers are questioning the traditional seed system.

We discuss:

Nate’s background as a crop consultant and regenerative ag specialist

Why off-patent genetics are gaining traction with cost-conscious farmers

How non-GMO corn fits into modern cropping systems

The economics behind seed pricing once royalties and licensing fees are removed

Why many smaller seed companies are moving toward proven, off-patent traits

Advantages for farmers: lower costs, reduced financial risk, faster access to genetics

Trade-offs farmers should understand, including fewer trials and older genetics

How direct-to-farm distribution works without dealers or regional reps

Whether this model represents a niche option—or a broader shift in the seed industry

This conversation isn’t about selling seed—it’s about understanding the economics, the risks, and the opportunities farmers face as the seed industry continues to evolve.

https://hybrid85.com/about-us

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