Elyssa McFarland is following the path many have taken. She grew up on the farm, went to college and then returned to the land. The path wasn't the most direct, but the land itself is where her adventure varies. Elyssa works with the land and more specifically, the soil. Her job takes her around the country talking to others about the dirt and how different it can be on the same field from one end to the other.

The Missouri River made headlines for most of 2019 from a Bomb Cyclone to prolonged flooding along the river wiping out entire crop years for farmers and many to come. Producer John Torpy is preparing for an extended look at the rebuilding efforts under the immediate needs side and a long-term effort to rebuild or move on. Click here as John describes the current story and longer version he's embarking on for Market to Market.

Grant Kimberley is the Iowa Soybean Association's Market Development Director and the Executive Director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. Both hats have to be worn on trips around the world telling the story of soybeans. As Kimberly describes much of what he does is about building relationships and telling the story of his industry. If you've heard this name before, just search Xi Jing Ping and Kimberley Farms to see how the two paths have intersected.

The thought of eating a cricket may make you cringe, but the business of bugs is working for Shelby Smith. We talk with the former basketball player turned finance worker now entrepreneur. She's back on the family farm, but it looks and sounds different plus it takes up less space. This is another of our discussions complete with video. Click here for the audio as Paul Yeager tries one of the protein snacks.

 

Full Transcript:

We're campaigning for your support of the MtoM podcast, the program and all our offerings. This week, Executive Producer David Miller talks about plans for the new year and story areas we'll be focusing on in 2020. This also includes a new option to consume our work. Click here to listen to David and Paul Yeager talk about the plan for the program and a diversion into a history lesson about the program.

Decadel Oscillation is a meteorological term based on El Nino weather-patterns and their variability. Elwynn Taylor spent the better part of six decades tracking climate at Iowa State University. He also explained weather happenings and trends to audiences in person and on-air. Click here as Paul Yeager asks Elwynn about his work and how a Utah kid wanted to work in the Midwest.

Finding enough drivers to hop behind the wheel of a semi-truck is becoming an issues for several sized companies. Colleen Bradford Krantz talks about the work she's done on this upcoming story for Market to Market. She tells Paul Yeager in this discussion how organizations are headed to great lengths to find drivers for short and long-haul trips. Click here to listen or watch this conversation in a special video edition of the MtoM podcast.

A mysterious line of corn perfectly nestled into a pair of Minnesota railroad tracks garnered interest on the internet. Adam Belz of the Minneapolis Star Tribune went to the scene to see what happened. We talk about this discovery and other agricultural issues facing Minnesota producers. This includes ethanol, dairy and generational legacy. Click here as Paul Yeager and Adam Belz have their discussion for this week's MtoM podcast.

Joe Murphy is new in his role of executive director of the Iowa Business Council. But he's no stranger to Iowa and how the rural and urban businesses need each other to survive and thrive. This is our second Joe Murphy to appear on the MtoM podcast, hence the title of the episode. Click here as Paul Yeager and Joe Murphy discuss one of the biggest challenges facing the Midwest and the needs for trade agreements.

2019 was a year where trade dominated much of the headlines, but it wasn't the only story impacting those in rural America. A bomb cyclone left behind a wake of destruction not only for clean up in 2019, but will again, leave a mark in 2020.