Farm4Profit Podcast

In this episode of Farm4Profit, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig returns to the studio for a conversation that covers nearly every major issue impacting producers today.

Mike begins by sharing how he balances his role as Secretary of Agriculture with remaining involved in his family’s fourth-generation northwest Iowa farm. He discusses growing up around corn, soybeans, and hogs, how the family operation has evolved, and why having one foot in production agriculture continues to shape the way he approaches his job.

The conversation quickly turns to one of agriculture’s biggest uncontrollable variables: weather. Iowa farmers have dealt with derechos, excessive rainfall, flooding, drought, and increasingly severe weather events. Mike explains why risk management, infrastructure, crop resilience, and better monitoring tools are becoming even more important as producers try to manage events they simply cannot control.

The crew also talks openly about the mental and financial pressure farmers are feeling. Tight margins, extreme weather, policy uncertainty, and growing public criticism of agriculture are all piling up at the same time. Mike says he has noticed increasing frustration among producers who feel they are being blamed for problems while already operating under significant financial stress.

Water quality becomes a major part of the discussion. Mike breaks down Iowa’s nutrient reduction efforts, progress on phosphorus, ongoing nitrate challenges, and the state’s new “Farm to Faucet” approach. That effort includes increased nitrate treatment capacity, expanded water monitoring, conservation funding, cover crop incentives, streamside buffers, and more than $50 million targeted toward conservation practices in the Greater Des Moines Watershed over the next 12 years.

The group also tackles one of Iowa’s most controversial conversations: whether agriculture is being unfairly blamed for cancer rates in the state. Mike stresses that the issue is complex and should be driven by research rather than politics. He points to known risk factors including radon, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and sun exposure while also supporting continued research into environmental and genetic factors.

From there, the episode moves into biofuels and new revenue opportunities. Mike discusses Iowa’s growing use of E15, the economic benefits ethanol provides consumers, the potential of 45Z, and why future clean-fuel programs could create additional revenue streams for farmers if measurement and reporting requirements can be made practical.

One of the biggest opportunities Mike sees for Iowa is cattle.

With the U.S. cow herd at historically low levels, Mike believes Iowa has room to grow beef production—especially by identifying row crop acres that are underperforming because of slope, erosion, wetness, or poor soil productivity and converting those acres into pasture or forage. He explains how the state’s cattle and conservation programs are already helping connect landowners with livestock producers while supporting fencing, water access, pasture establishment, and even virtual fencing.

That conversation naturally leads into the next generation of agriculture. Mike and the Farm4Profit crew discuss how livestock can create a realistic entry point for young producers who may have labor and ambition but lack capital. They explore ideas around financing, conservation incentives, access to land, custom farming, direct-to-consumer agriculture, specialty crops, and off-farm income as ways to create more opportunities for young people to build a future in agriculture.

Mike also shares his view that profitability has to remain at the center of every agricultural conversation. Conservation, technology, diversification, and policy only work if the farm itself can remain financially viable. He discusses input costs, market development, trade, Farm Bill uncertainty, E15, and the many pieces that have to come together for producers to succeed.

The episode also looks ahead to Iowa’s changing political landscape, Mike’s 2026 reelection campaign, the role of the Secretary of Agriculture, animal disease preparedness, food safety, pesticide regulation, and why Iowa agriculture remains one of the state’s greatest economic strengths.

The conversation ends with a question Farm4Profit hears everywhere: How does a young person get into farming?

Mike’s answer is simple—there is no golden ticket. But there are more paths than ever. Livestock, direct-to-consumer sales, custom application, drones, seed sales, specialty crops, custom farming, and other farm-adjacent businesses can all provide a foothold. His message: farming has never been easy to enter, but agriculture should work to make sure it doesn’t become unnecessarily harder.

This episode is a wide-ranging look at where Iowa agriculture stands today—and what farmers, policymakers, and rural communities need to think about next.

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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.

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Gunther Kreps and Dr. John Murphy teach with Walmart parking lots, old pickup trucks, M&M's, jawbreakers, extending radio antennas, Legos, and ibuprofen.

In this entertaining What's Working in Ag episode, the AgXplore team shares some of their favorite analogies that have helped thousands of growers better understand soil fertility, nutrient availability, plant physiology, and crop nutrition.

Instead of memorizing technical terms, listeners will finally understand:

The conversation also explores why storytelling is one of the most effective teaching tools in agriculture and how simplifying complex science leads to better agronomic decisions on the farm.

Whether you're new to crop nutrition or have been farming for decades, this episode will leave you looking at your soil tests—and your crop—completely differently.

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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

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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.

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For over 125 years, Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC) has helped connect rural Iowa—first with telephones, then cable television, cellular service, broadband internet, and now preparing for what may become agriculture's next major infrastructure investment: AI computing.

In this episode, Kevin shares how a small rural telephone company evolved into a modern broadband provider and why Iowa's independent telecommunications companies have been uniquely positioned to bring fiber internet to rural communities long before much of the country caught up. He explains how fiber optic networks work, why broadband is becoming just as essential as electricity, and why nearly every modern technology—from cellular service to Starlink—ultimately depends on fiber somewhere along the journey.

The conversation then turns toward one of the fastest-growing topics in technology: artificial intelligence. Kevin explains why AI is creating unprecedented demand for computing power, what massive data centers mean for energy and infrastructure, and why he believes the future isn't giant facilities consuming thousands of acres—but rather distributed micro data centers that could fit on a single lot while serving customers around the world.

The hosts also tackle concerns many farmers have about large data centers, including land use, energy consumption, and local economic impact. Kevin discusses how smaller AI computing facilities could create new opportunities without removing productive farmland while giving farmers more control over their own data. The discussion explores whether producers could someday "farm data" just like they market grain—owning, storing, and deciding when and how to monetize one of their operation's fastest-growing assets.

Along the way, you'll also hear:

If you've ever wondered how technology is reshaping agriculture—or where rural America fits into the AI revolution—this episode offers a fascinating look at what's coming next.

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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

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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.

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In this episode, Tanner and Dave sit down with Stacy Anthony, CEO and co-founder of Ag Revolution, to discuss how his company is reshaping equipment sales and service across the Midwest. After spending 27 years with John Deere rebuilding dealerships and later creating one of the nation's largest agricultural equipment export businesses, Stacy set out to build something entirely different.

He shares the story behind launching Ag Revolution, why the company invested in a fleet of more than 60 mobile service trucks instead of additional brick-and-mortar dealerships, and how servicing equipment directly on the farm is helping producers reduce downtime and keep operations moving.

The conversation also dives into the evolution of Fendt and Massey Ferguson, what separates premium equipment from dependable value-focused machinery, how dealership culture impacts customer experience, and why building long-term relationships—not just selling equipment—has been the foundation of Ag Revolution's rapid growth.

Along the way, Stacy reflects on his career traveling to 27 countries exporting farm equipment, receiving recognition at the White House, and the leadership lessons he learned from working with farmers around the world.

Whether you're evaluating your next machinery purchase, interested in dealership trends, or simply enjoy hearing stories from leaders who are challenging the status quo, this episode offers a fascinating look at where agricultural equipment is headed.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

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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

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Farm4Profit sat down with Carl, one of Performance Livestock Analytics' earliest customers, to hear how the platform has evolved from a simple recordkeeping tool into a critical management system for his custom feeding business.

Carl explains how switching from paper records eliminated hours of office work, improved billing accuracy, simplified relief feeding, and gave nutritionists, veterinarians, and cattle owners real-time access to important production data.

The conversation also explores how digital records improve decision-making, why accurate data builds stronger customer relationships, and how emerging AI tools could shape the future of feedlot management.

Topics include:

If you're looking to improve efficiency, reduce paperwork, and make more informed decisions in your cattle operation, Carl's firsthand experience demonstrates how technology can become one of the most valuable tools on the farm.

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

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Today's farms rely on technology more than ever.

From grain dryers and irrigation pivots to livestock systems, security cameras, accounting software, and smartphones, nearly every part of a modern farming operation is connected.

That also makes agriculture one of the fastest-growing targets for cybercriminals.

Chris from Tech Support Farm returns to Farm4Profit to discuss how farms can better protect themselves from ransomware, phishing scams, compromised credit cards, malware, and attacks on connected equipment.

The conversation covers real-world examples—including Tanner's own experience with fraudulent credit card charges—and explains how remote monitoring, endpoint detection, password management, secure business email, mobile device management, and network monitoring work together to reduce risk.

The episode also explores:

Whether you operate a family farm or a multi-location business, this episode offers practical advice that could save your operation from significant financial loss and downtime.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

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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

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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.

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Every season farmers face the same expensive questions:

At Tech Hub LIVE, Farm4Profit sits down with Kristine White, CEO of Spornado, and Jackson Stansell, CEO of Sentinel Ag, to explore two innovative technologies designed to answer those questions with data.

Kristine explains how Spornado captures airborne fungal spores before disease symptoms ever appear, allowing growers to make preventative fungicide decisions weeks earlier than traditional scouting. The conversation also dives into fungicide resistance testing, predictive disease modeling, and the future of automated disease alerts.

Jackson discusses Sentinel Ag's satellite-powered nitrogen management platform, which combines imagery, weather, soil characteristics, and proprietary calibration plots to help growers determine where—and whether—additional nitrogen is actually needed. The discussion expands into water management, nutrient efficiency, manure applications, and how AI could reshape agronomic decision-making.

The conversation also explores:

If your goal is making smarter decisions before writing another input check, this episode is packed with ideas worth considering.

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

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Email address: [email protected]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

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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.

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Nematodes may be hidden underground, but they can have a major impact on the long-term productivity of orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops.

In this What's Working in Ag segment, Daniel Abruzzini of Corteva joins Farm4Profit to discuss Salibro, an innovative nematicide that's changing how growers manage root-knot, lesion, and ring nematodes in perennial cropping systems.

Unlike traditional fumigation practices performed before planting, Salibro offers growers the flexibility to make in-season chemigation applications through existing irrigation systems, helping protect valuable orchards throughout their productive lifespan.

Daniel also shares insights into California specialty crop production, including almonds, walnuts, grapes, citrus, leafy vegetables, brassicas, tomatoes, and more, while explaining why healthy root systems are critical for maximizing production over decades.

Topics include:

Whether you farm orchards, vineyards, specialty crops, or simply want to learn about emerging crop protection technologies, this episode offers a practical look at one of agriculture's newest tools for underground pest management.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

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

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Email address: [email protected]

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

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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.

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Dr. John Murphy, Director of Agronomy at AgXplore, joins the Farm4Profit crew to cut through the confusion and explain the science behind one of agriculture's fastest-growing product categories.

From seaweed extracts and amino acids to nutrient efficiency and stress reduction, Dr. Murphy explains how biostimulants influence plant biology, why they're different from biologicals and fertilizers, and how new research is changing the industry's understanding of crop performance.

The discussion also covers pending government definitions, future regulation, the latest university research, and practical recommendations for farmers considering their first biostimulant application.

Topics include:

Whether you're skeptical of biostimulants or already experimenting with them, this episode provides one of the clearest explanations available from a scientist who studies them every day.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

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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

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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.

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Alex Fulton joins Farm4Profit to share his journey from horse racing and landscaping to building a thriving first-generation livestock farm in Maryland.

Today, Alex raises registered Berkshire hogs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and laying hens while selling premium meat directly to consumers through multiple weekly farmers markets. Along the way, he explains how direct marketing, quality genetics, customer education, and diversification have allowed his family to create a profitable business in one of the country's most competitive regions.

The conversation also dives into Berkshire genetics, premium pork production, direct-to-consumer marketing, grinding your own feed, Maryland Pork Producers, excavation, social media opportunities, and even Alex's background as a steeplechase jockey.

Topics include:

Whether you're dreaming of starting your own farm, expanding into direct marketing, or simply love hearing unique agricultural stories, Alex proves there are still many paths into agriculture for people willing to build something from the ground up.

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

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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.