Farm4Profit Podcast

Dr. Eric Scherder of Corteva Agriscience returns to Farm4Profit to look back at the 2026 growing season and help farmers start building their 2027 agronomy plan. The conversation begins with cover crops and why simply getting seed on the ground isn't enough. From erosion and nitrate management to weed suppression and soil health, Eric explains why farmers need to know their objective, establish a good stand, and have a termination strategy before spring arrives.

The discussion moves into weed management and the importance of starting clean, using multiple modes of action, and layering residuals—especially in early-planted soybeans. Eric challenges farmers to think beyond a one-size-fits-all herbicide program and use the entire agronomic toolbox, including cover crops, no-till, row spacing, crop rotation, residual herbicides, and emerging technologies like See & Spray. 

With nitrogen representing one of the largest crop investments, the guys also discuss fall versus spring application, nitrogen loss, and why stabilization matters beyond the fall application window. Eric explains the science behind N-Serve and Instinct Next Gen, why keeping nitrogen in the ammonium form can help protect it from loss, and how farmers can match nitrogen practices to the logistics and realities of their individual operations. 

Ultimately, the message is simple: don't treat every field the same. Use what you learned in 2026, test new ideas where they make sense, work with trusted local advisors, and build a 2027 plan around the specific challenges and opportunities on your farm.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Calli Williams, the Millennial Rancher, joins Farm4Fun to share the story behind TW Angus and what it takes to build a first-generation cattle operation in South Dakota. Calli grew up around cattle, 4-H, and FFA, while her husband Tate grew up without a livestock background and got his start by taking out a loan to buy a couple of heifers. 

Calli explains how TW Angus balances an annual online bull sale with a growing direct-to-consumer beef business. After deciding in 2020 to stop selling calves through the sale barn, they began finishing cattle themselves and eventually expanded from freezer beef into individual retail cuts, local markets, restaurants, and now beef sticks. 

The conversation also gets much more personal as Calli recounts Tate's frightening 2023 baler accident, eight surgeries in ten weeks, and the long recovery that followed. It's a powerful reminder about fatigue, farm safety, and the consequences that can come from trying to squeeze in one more job at the end of a long day. 

Calli also shares how becoming one of ten members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Trailblazer Program opened doors for media training, a CNN appearance, and even a trip to the White House. Through social media and agricultural advocacy, she's using those opportunities not only to tell agriculture's story, but to build recognition and opportunity for TW Angus and the next generation.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Schreiner of Quick Organics returns with some major updates, including collaboration with USDA around the Common Organic System Plan and new tools designed to simplify one of the biggest headaches in organic farming: recordkeeping. Quick Organics now combines its Organic System Plan tools with an activity tracker and digital filing cabinet, allowing producers to document field activities, seed labels, cultivation dates, and certification records from their phones. 

But this conversation isn't about convincing every farmer to go organic. It's about helping the "organic curious" understand whether it could make financial sense for a portion of their operation. Greg tackles concerns about yield loss and explains why he believes 180–200+ bushel organic corn combined with organic premiums can create compelling gross revenue potential.

They also break down the equipment needed to make the transition, including tine weeders, rotary hoes, cultivators, manure sources, and GPS technology. Greg estimates a producer could potentially assemble the additional equipment needed for under $75,000 and explains why starting with 80 or 160 acres may make more sense than transitioning an entire farm at once.

Finally, Greg explains the three-year organic transition window, why timing the transition matters, and how producers may be able to position their third crop for organic pricing when the process is planned correctly. With conventional margins under pressure, this episode explores whether adding organic production could become another tool for diversifying revenue and improving the farm's overall bottom line.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How does an agricultural idea go from someone's garage or university lab to something farmers actually want to use? AgLaunch's Margaret Oldham and North Central Iowa farmer Mark take Farm4Profit behind the scenes of a startup accelerator built around putting farmers directly into the innovation process.

Through AgLaunch Farmers LLC and its partnership with AgVentures Alliance, farmers help select startups, conduct real-world trials, provide feedback, and determine whether a product actually delivers value. Instead of simply receiving a free product for their time and acres, participating farmers can earn equity tied to the startups they're helping develop.

The group discusses why farmer involvement is so valuable, what causes startups to fail, bootstrapping versus venture capital, and a newly licensed $50 million Farmers Innovation Fund designed to help support agricultural startups while keeping farmers and rural America at the center of the mission.

Mark also shares real examples from his own farm, including Grain Weevil and Spornado, and how emerging technology can address everything from grain-bin safety to earlier detection of crop diseases. Ultimately, the episode asks an important question: if farmers provide the land, equipment, time, data, and knowledge that help make new technology successful, shouldn't they have some skin in the game too?

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does Amazon Web Services (one of the worlds largest companies) have to do with agriculture? A lot more than most farmers probably realize. Dr. Karen Hildebrand joins Farm4Profit at Tech Hub LIVE to explain how AWS supports agricultural technology companies around the world and why she believes successful innovation has to start by working backward from the problems farmers actually need solved.

Karen brings a unique perspective as both a technologist and a fourth-generation Manitoba farmer. The conversation explores the explosion of AI tools, how farmers can avoid technology overload, and why there probably isn't a single AI "golden nugget" that's suddenly going to make a farm profitable. Instead, Karen encourages farmers to use technology to eliminate the parts of the job they hate while protecting the relationships and experiences they value most. 

The crew also tackles data, trust, connectivity, ag startups, data centers, and what AI could mean for the next generation. Karen explains why trust may be more valuable than data itself, why farmers should give technology companies honest feedback, and why AI could represent a technological shift as significant as the transition from horses to automobiles.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Carbon credits. Regenerative agriculture. CI scores. 45Z.

If you've been hearing these terms but still aren't sure what they actually mean for your farm, this episode is for you.

Tanner, Corey, and Dave sit down with Kelly Garrett of XtremeAg and Mike Busing of Windy Ridge Ag to unpack one of the most talked-about opportunities facing corn growers today: 45Z.

The conversation begins by looking back at the rise and fall of carbon markets. Mike shares his experience helping build one of the country's largest carbon programs through Regenerative Roots, while Kelly explains why the lack of standardized rules ultimately slowed the market's momentum. Together, they discuss why voluntary carbon programs struggled, how international demand still exists, and what lessons were learned from the "Wild West" days of carbon credits.

From there, the discussion shifts to 45Z—a federal clean fuel production tax credit that could fundamentally change how ethanol plants value grain. Kelly and Mike explain how carbon intensity (CI) scores work, why low-CI corn could become increasingly valuable, and how competition between ethanol plants may create new revenue opportunities for farmers. They also discuss why the Treasury Department's final guidance is so critical and how regional differences could determine who benefits the most.

The group also explores larger questions surrounding government incentives, environmental policy, and whether 45Z is simply another subsidy or a meaningful shift toward rewarding more efficient farming practices. Along the way, they debate whether the current program represents a "carrot" that encourages voluntary change—or whether future regulations could eventually become the "stick" if agriculture doesn't continue improving on its own.

Whether you're skeptical, optimistic, or simply trying to understand what everyone is talking about, this episode delivers one of the most practical conversations we've had on the future of carbon markets and the role 45Z could play in improving farm profitability.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kyle Kirchhoff joins Farm4Profit for a conversation about manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and an often-overlooked piece of grain management: grain quality. Kyle shares how growing up on a Southwest Iowa farm, studying welding and metallurgy, and starting a small repair business eventually led to KWF and the acquisition of the Magik Grain Cleaners product line. 

The discussion digs into how removing fines, cracked kernels, weed seeds, dirt, and other foreign material can improve airflow and grain storage while potentially reducing discounts at delivery. Kyle explains how the gravity-fed cleaners work without an external power source, where they can fit into a farm's grain-handling system, and why different crops and specialty markets require different screen configurations.

The guys also tackle the question every farmer wants answered: Does grain cleaning actually pay? Kyle shares examples ranging from avoiding dockage and rejected specialty grain to a North Dakota customer who said the savings from one bin could have paid for his cleaner. They also explore portable cleaning systems, potential drying and airflow efficiencies, cleaning versus scalping, and whether cleaner grain could become another tool for protecting the value of every bushel farmers produce.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Farm4Profit heads to Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol with Craig Floss, CEO of Iowa Corn, and Eric Petersen, President of Iowa Speedway, to talk NASCAR, ethanol, corn demand, and what’s ahead for racing in Iowa.

The conversation dives into why Iowa Corn continues to invest in NASCAR as a way to promote ethanol beyond the farm audience. NASCAR has raced on E15 since 2011, providing a high-performance example of ethanol in action while helping Iowa Corn reach consumers and build demand for one of Iowa farmers’ biggest products.

Craig shares the bigger picture for ethanol, including growing exports to countries around the world, opportunities in Southeast Asia, and the continued push for greater access to E15 and eventually higher ethanol blends. The group also discusses Iowa Corn’s work around high-ethanol farm equipment and why creating additional ethanol demand could have a meaningful impact on corn markets and farm profitability.

Eric gives listeners a look behind the scenes at Iowa Speedway, including three consecutive NASCAR sellouts, plans for a complete track repave, and the exciting news that NASCAR will return to Iowa over Independence Day weekend in 2027. He explains what goes into rebuilding a racing surface and the massive amount of work required to turn a facility with only nine full-time employees into a major NASCAR venue.

From international ethanol markets to 700-horsepower race cars, this episode shows how Iowa Corn is using motorsports to connect farmers with consumers, demonstrate ethanol performance, and ultimately create more demand for corn. As Craig puts it, no matter which driver takes the checkered flag, ethanol and Iowa corn farmers win every race.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But how many actually know what those kernels are worth?

In this episode of What's Working in Ag, Shianne from BranValt explains how the SmartPan harvest loss system helps farmers move beyond visual estimates and accurately measure the grain leaving the back of the combine.

The discussion covers how the magnetic SmartPan captures real-time grain samples, how the accompanying app converts those samples into bushels, percentages, and dollars, and why calibrating your combine's loss sensors is critical for making informed adjustments during harvest.

Using real-world examples, the Farm4Profit crew walks through soybean and corn scenarios showing how relatively small harvest losses can quickly become thousands of dollars across an operation. The conversation also explores balancing grain quality with harvest speed, automation, and why "you can't manage what you don't measure."

Topics include:

If you're looking for one of the fastest ways to improve profitability without buying another acre, this episode demonstrates why measuring harvest loss should be part of every harvest routine.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most farmers spend countless hours trying to grow another five bushels per acre.

Mike Rolfsen and Jeff Kazin believe there may be an even bigger opportunity waiting after harvest.

The Agris Academy co-founders return to Farm4Profit to explain why merchandising—not market prediction—is where many producers leave money on the table. Drawing on decades of experience trading commodities and managing physical grain businesses at Cargill, they explain how successful grain companies approach risk, logistics, negotiations, and marketing far differently than most farms.

One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is that grain marketing isn't about predicting prices—it's about managing risk.

Mike and Jeff explain why commercial grain companies hedge rather than speculate, and why farmers should think more like professional risk managers than market forecasters. Instead of trying to outguess the futures market, producers should focus on the controllable parts of merchandising that consistently add value year after year.

The discussion also explores what life inside one of the world's largest grain companies actually looks like. While many people imagine traders constantly buying and selling futures contracts, Mike and Jeff explain that most of their time was spent optimizing logistics, transportation, physical grain movement, basis opportunities, and operational details that collectively create significant value.

They then introduce Agris Academy, the education platform they founded to teach farmers the merchandising skills they believe are missing from traditional agricultural education. Unlike brokerage firms or advisory services, Agris Academy focuses entirely on helping producers understand grain marketing mechanics, negotiation strategies, basis, carry, storage economics, and risk management principles that can be applied to any farming operation.

Throughout the episode they discuss:

One of the biggest takeaways is their concept of creating a "knowledge asset."

While farms continually invest in land, machinery, and buildings, Mike and Jeff argue that merchandising education creates an asset that can benefit multiple generations. Once the skills are learned, they become part of the operation's long-term competitive advantage and can be passed down just like any physical asset.

The conversation also dives into one of agriculture's biggest capital decisions: grain storage.

Mike and Jeff explain why the economics of permanent grain bins have changed dramatically, why many large farms are now using grain bags as flexible storage, and how understanding carry, basis, and storage costs often matters more than simply adding more bins. They also discuss treating on-farm storage like a commercial elevator instead of simply holding grain until later in the year.

Another important topic is cost of production.

While understanding production costs remains critical for managing the farm business, Mike and Jeff explain why the futures market doesn't care what any individual producer's breakeven happens to be. Instead, successful marketers focus on managing risk, understanding merchandising opportunities, and maximizing basis and carry opportunities available in their local markets.

The episode also covers:

To wrap things up, Mike and Jeff share several entertaining stories from their international trading careers—including stolen vegetable oil, disappearing sugar shipments, homemade liquor in Eastern Europe, and why, after working around the globe, they still believe the United States remains one of the best places in the world to farm.

If you've ever wondered how professional grain merchandisers think—or how to make more money without growing more bushels—this episode delivers practical insights you can begin applying immediately.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

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]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.