American farmers have a rich tradition of passing along their operation to the next generation when it's time to step away. However, not everyone is prepared for that moment. We chat about this topic and what retirement planning all entails with Russ Tweiten, VP succession & retirement planning at AgCountry.

Sunflowers are an iconic crop. These big, yellow plants are popular among gardens, but they're also grown commercially for a host of products. Kevin Capistran, board member of the National Sunflower Association, chats with us about the sunflower industry.

Biofuels contribute significantly to the state and farm economies of the upper Midwest. Tim Rudnicki, the executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, sits down with us to chat about the industry, it's impact both economically and environmentally, and what the process of refining biomass into fuels all entails.

Finding a niche market within agriculture can be both challenging and rewarding. We speak with Craig Dischinger, owner of the Hot Disch Farm, about what life is like running one of the few yak operations in the upper Midwest.

On this episode of the Rural Perspectives Podcast, we chat with Alise Sjostrom, cheesemaker at the Redhead Creamery in central Minnesota, about the growing movement of value-added farm operations within agriculture.

June is celebrated as Dairy Month within the U.S. Kim and Ken Heiman of Nasonville Dairy, located near Marshfield, Wisconsin, chat with us about the cheesemaking process while also discussing the pride that dairy farmers take in their work.

Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota's 7th District stopped by to talk about the political happenings in Washington, D.C. that are impacting agriculture and rural communities. He also addresses his legacy, bipartisan approach and the work he still wants to finish.

May is National Beef Month. Ashley Kohls, the executive director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association, chats with us about the beef industry and the issues that are affecting it.

As younger generations take over the farm, they're met with many challenges. One such challenge is connecting consumers long removed from the farm to those that grow & raise the food that we eat. Zach Johnson, better known as the Minnesota Millennial Farmer, shares his take on life as a young farmer & how to best connect with consumers in an interactive way.

Crop insurance has become a focal point of the Farm Bill. Keith Wilson, VP Insurance with AgCountry, talks about how the program works and why it's so important to farmers, especially in a time of challenging markets.