Farm4Profit Podcast

Maya's U.S. story began when co-owner Justin Bruch discovered the corn head while farming in Ukraine and brought one back to Iowa. Rick Nelson eventually tried the head on his own family farm, became impressed with its construction and harvesting performance, and bought into the business around 2014. More than a decade later, Rick says the basic row-unit design has remained largely unchanged because the fundamentals were already right. 

One of the biggest differences is the longer row unit. Maya can run the head flatter—around a 15- to 17-degree angle—and use longer snapping rolls operating around 500–550 RPM. Rick explains that the larger working area allows the plant to be pulled through the deck plates more slowly, which can reduce butt shelling compared with a shorter row unit that has to operate faster. Maya also manufactures most of its gearboxes and row-unit components in-house, which Rick credits for the head's durability and quality control. 

Maintenance is another major selling point. Maya calls it an “annual maintenance head.” Beyond routine attention to components such as the combine drive-shaft U-joints and folding hinge points, Rick says a properly serviced head can generally run through the season without daily row-unit greasing. Its chopping option is designed for lower maintenance as well, with angled chopping action intended to reduce horsepower requirements while distributing residue evenly across the field. 

Corey also shares his experience harvesting completely flattened corn after the 2020 Iowa derecho. Instead of installing a traditional corn reel, Maya's down-corn units replace selected snouts with units containing an additional gathering chain that runs up the center of the snoot. Farmers can install them only on the rows necessary, retain the ability to fold the head, and remove or resell the units afterward. Rick emphasizes that Maya isn't simply a down-corn head—the system is an added layer of “cheap insurance” when wind, disease, or other conditions put a standing crop on the ground. 

Ultimately, Rick encourages farmers to evaluate total cost of ownership, not just purchase price. Maya offers a three-year unlimited-acre warranty, and Rick says he knows of multiple 16-row heads with more than 30,000 acres that have yet to replace a gearbox, row unit, or knife roller. His explanation of the philosophy behind the head is straightforward: it's built without planned obsolescence—“built how it used to be” and how he believes equipment should be built.

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FBN Finance was built around the idea that agricultural borrowers should have more of the transparency and convenience consumers have when shopping for financing. Dan explains that FBN combines a digital application process and visible pricing with agricultural credit professionals who understand the complexities of farm operations. That becomes increasingly important as farmers navigate higher borrowing costs and become more cautious about how much debt their operations can sustainably support. 

For farmers with a farmland loan approaching a rate reset or balloon, Dan's advice starts before shopping for another lender: read the documents you already signed. Understand when the rate resets, whether there's a cap, what rate it would reset to today, and whether you can move between variable- and fixed-rate products. Starting early gives borrowers more time to compare alternatives and avoid getting trapped by deadlines, fees, or unfavorable terms. 

The conversation also explores buying farmland in today's environment. Strategic parcels may only become available once in a generation, but higher rates make cash flow and leverage increasingly important. Farmers hoping to purchase their first or next farm can improve their readiness by maintaining an updated balance sheet, filing tax returns promptly, checking their credit, knowing all of their assets and debts, and developing realistic projections based on today's commodity prices—not optimistic assumptions. FBN also offers prequalification options so a borrower can be positioned to move quickly when the right property becomes available. 

For operations already feeling financial pressure, the discussion gets more difficult but practical: evaluate whether every piece of equipment is necessary, understand profitability on owned and rented acres, examine grain-marketing opportunities, and prioritize the most expensive debt. Dan's recurring message is that time creates options. Whether you're refinancing, trying to buy the neighboring farm, or attempting to right-size an over-leveraged operation, addressing the situation early generally gives you more choices than waiting until a payment or maturity date forces the decision.

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Dan takes the guys inside his Northeast Iowa dairy, where his family milks nearly 200 Holsteins with three Lely A5 robots, an automated Lely Vector feeding system, and a Lely Calm calf feeder. Dan explains why automation isn't simply about replacing labor—it's about efficiency, lifestyle and allowing a relatively small dairy to produce millions of pounds of milk with very few employees. His philosophy is simple: technology won't turn a bad manager into a good one, but it can help turn a good manager into a great one. 

They also discuss dairy genetics, beef-on-dairy calves, profitability and Dan's approach to agricultural advocacy. With an audience that extends well beyond agriculture, Dan believes farmers shouldn't be afraid of difficult conversations. His approach is “brutally honest transparency”—showing consumers what actually happens on a farm rather than assuming they can't handle uncomfortable truths about food production. 

Then Dan shares the story that changed his family. While spot planting a wet field, Dan unknowingly pulled forward while his father was in front of the planter. When Dan looked in the mirror, he saw his dad on the ground and heard him barely say, “I got run over. Call 911.” What followed included an ambulance ride, Life Flight, emergency surgery, two weeks in the ICU and a long rehabilitation from devastating injuries. Dan shares the guilt, fear and “what ifs” surrounding the accident, while reminding farmers how quickly familiarity and routine around equipment can become dangerous. 

Out of an experience that nearly ended in tragedy came an unexpected gift: Dan says his relationship with his dad is now the best it has ever been. His takeaway is one that extends far beyond farm safety—don't wait for something terrible to happen to say the things that matter.

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Farm margins are tight, but there are still programs designed to help producers invest in energy efficiency and infrastructure. Bethany from GDS Associates says EQIP continues to fund projects, while REAP had been paused as changes were made under the new administration. At the time of the interview, GDS said they were hearing REAP was expected to reopen in the fall.

One of the biggest takeaways is understanding the difference between the programs—and not starting too soon. With EQIP, Bethany advises producers not to change anything until they've received approval. REAP can offer more flexibility once a complete application is officially in the system. EQIP generally works from a defined list of eligible energy improvements, while REAP can accommodate a broader range of projects and technologies.

Those projects can include everything from high-efficiency grain dryers and replacing PTO augers with electric grain legs to dump pits, dairy robots, manure systems, poultry barn improvements, solar, wind, digesters, and geothermal. GDS stresses that not every technology makes financial sense on every farm, so the first step should be evaluating the economics rather than chasing a grant simply because money may be available.

GDS also provides energy audits, feasibility work, and grant writing. Before a farmer spends the money to pursue an application, the team can use USDA's scoring process to estimate how competitive the project may be. In several states, GDS says it even has funding available to provide some of these services at no cost. The goal is simple: determine whether the project makes financial sense, identify available assistance, and help farmers keep more money in their operation.

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Why can mental health be so difficult to talk about in agriculture? Sam and Easton explore the unique pressures farmers carry—from finances and isolation to the responsibility of keeping land and a family legacy alive. Rather than blaming farmers for being unwilling to talk, they challenge agriculture to create better opportunities for conversations to happen naturally and earlier.

Sam shares the story behind Perfect Sundays, a six-episode fictional drama created after farmers repeatedly encouraged him to address farmer suicide following the success of his film Silo. The series follows a dairy family rebuilding after losing its patriarch to suicide and a mother's attempt to create a value-added ice cream business. By using entertainment and authentic farm storytelling, Sam hopes viewers see themselves in the characters and begin conversations that may otherwise be difficult to have. 

Easton introduces Project Farm Dog, a nonprofit shaped in part by his family's experience losing his father after a long battle with alcoholism. Farm Dog isn't intended to replace crisis resources such as 988. Its focus is prevention: reducing stigma, connecting farmers with professionals who understand agriculture, and funding care so cost and insurance don't become additional barriers. Its “trusted ear” concept comes from the relationship many farmers have with their farm dog—a place where even the toughest farmer may let their guard down. 

The message is ultimately about acting before the difficult season arrives. Just as farmers prepare equipment, marketing plans and labor before harvest, Easton argues that health, wellness and relationships should be part of that same checklist. Building resilience, checking on a neighbor, saying a problem out loud, and knowing where to turn for help can all make a difference. Farmer mental health isn't one person's responsibility—it will take farmers, families, agribusinesses and communities working together to make asking for help a normal part of agriculture.

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Tom Brown didn't grow up farming. After studying anthropology and horticulture at Kansas State, he spent roughly 15 years living and working in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he gained experience in agribusiness development, seed production, horticulture, and helping farmers improve their operations. When he eventually returned to the United States, the desire to build a farm of his own was still there.

Instead of starting with what he wanted to grow, Tom started by asking potential customers what they wanted to buy. The answer was fresh, pick-your-own peaches. He intentionally searched within a 30-minute drive of Wichita and purchased 80 acres in 2010 for $225,000.00. Today, Meadowlark includes roughly 18 acres of peaches, 17–18 acres of apples, two acres of strawberries, two acres of pumpkins, and a hard cider business. 

Tom explains how agritourism changes the way a farmer thinks about everything from orchard layout and parking to crop selection and customer experience. Feedback from families helped drive Meadowlark's expansion into apples, while fallen fruit that could have become waste created an additional opportunity through hard cider. The result is a business built around multiple revenue streams rather than production alone. 

The conversation also gets into the numbers. Tom uses Ambrook to help track the finances of a complicated operation with multiple enterprises and direct costs. As the orchard approaches its physical production limits, he sees future growth coming primarily from cider sales and on-farm experiences, which he believes could significantly increase gross revenue over the next five years. His biggest lesson applies well beyond specialty crops: farming changes slowly, mistakes are expensive, and “every lesson takes a year.”

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https://agxplore.com/assessment/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_branding_search&utm_content=us_branding_search&utm_creative=&utm_term=nitrogen%20fertilizer%E2%80%A8&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19647814938&gbraid=0AAAAABcjE32bUOUfaJpssNXD_ZsSRg9jE

Potassium is a macronutrient crops need throughout the growing season, but simply having adequate soil levels doesn't guarantee the plant can access it. The AgXplore team explains that roots only explore a portion of the soil profile and potassium movement is heavily tied to water—creating a challenge during dry late-season conditions when crop demand can still be significant.

Dr. John and Ben discuss potassium acetate as a highly plant-available form and explain potassium's role in photosynthesis, stalk quality, standability, and the opening and closing of stomata. That stomatal function becomes especially important under heat and moisture stress because it affects transpiration and the plant's ability to continue moving water and nutrients.

The conversation then turns to timing. AgXplore's Nutri-K provides potassium acetate, while KSB combines potassium, sulfur, boron, and biostimulants. The team says late-season applications have produced positive results across several crops and geographies. In one replicated Wisconsin trial discussed in the episode, potassium treatments improved yield by roughly 5–10 bushels, with the guests citing a minimum ROI around 6-to-1 in that trial. They also found that stacking an earlier application with a later application performed better than a single application.

The bigger takeaway isn't simply to apply more potassium. It's about understanding the crop's demand curve and supplying “the right groceries at the right time.” Soil fertility still provides the foundation, but strategically timed nutrition may help keep the crop functioning and finishing stronger when environmental conditions make soil uptake more difficult.

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Does tillage make money? The answer isn't simply yes or no. The KUHN team explains why the industry is moving away from “recreational tillage” toward more calculated, specialized passes designed to solve specific problems. From managing heavy residue and correcting compaction to creating a seedbed, the goal is to understand what the field needs and then determine whether the fuel, labor, equipment, and time required can generate a return.

The conversation also challenges the idea that broadcast fertilizer is simply “slinging it.” Garrick explains how modern precision spreaders control drop points, spread patterns, application rates, section control, and border spreading. KUHN's EMC system measures torque on the spinner discs every second and can respond to changing material flow, clogs, and over- or under-application to maintain the target rate. 

Then the guys get into strip-till and KUHN's new 24-row 1210 Gladiator XL. Beyond reducing passes, strip-till can combine targeted tillage with concentrated fertilizer placement in the root zone. KUHN discusses trials where an 8- to 10-bushel yield gain across enough acres could potentially create a roughly two-year equipment payback, while more efficient nutrient placement may offer opportunities to rethink fertilizer rates. 

Ultimately, this episode isn't about convincing every farmer to till—or not to till. It's about knowing why you're making the pass. Soil type, compaction, residue, fertility, pH, equipment, labor, timeliness, and management style all matter. The right system is the one that solves a problem on your farm and can justify its cost.

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Andrea Fleming and Regan Bieber return to Farm4Fun to share how their lives and operations have changed since their previous appearances. Regan talks about stepping back into her South Dakota family farm during the COVID era while continuing to grow The Cactus Brand, which she started in high school. Andrea shares how a plan to become a veterinarian ultimately brought her back to the Minnesota family farm, where she now combines cattle, crops, content creation, personal training, public speaking, agritourism, and a few fainting goats. 

The conversation gets deeper as they discuss the growing disconnect between farmers and consumers. Andrea explains why she decided to publicly stand up for feedlots and modern livestock production rather than letting outdated images define agriculture. Both women believe farmers need to keep showing up, have conversations, and show people what agriculture actually looks like instead of simply throwing facts at them.

They also talk about being women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, encouraging daughters to get involved on the farm, and giving young people the opportunity to prove what they're capable of. Andrea shares the personal story behind her message that changing plans doesn't make you a failure, while Regan explains why farming, fashion, business, and creativity don't have to fit into separate lanes. It's a fun conversation about building a life in agriculture without feeling like there's only one way to do it.

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In this What’s Working in Ag segment, Tanner gets an up-close look at Brandt’s 16125 HP Swingaway Auger. With bins continuing to get taller and wider, Brandt says demand is growing for equipment capable of keeping up. The 16125 can move up to 23,000 bushels per hour, with Brandt recommending roughly a 300-horsepower tractor for the job.

Chance explains the engineering behind Brandt’s HP—or High Performance—design, including an oversized 17-inch intake section and hopper designed to keep the main auger full and increase capacity. The Easy Swing System also allows operators to hydraulically position the heavy swing hopper from either side and control it through truck remotes or Brandt’s LeadHand App on a smartphone. 

The result is serious grain-moving capacity—roughly enough to unload a 1,000-bushel truck about every five minutes. Brandt also offers 10- and 13-inch auger options, while the 16-inch model adds an A-frame undercarriage, extendable axles, heavy lift cylinders, and adjustable cables for stability when reaching larger bins.

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