America’s health challenges are increasingly linked to diet, nutrition, and widespread confusion about what truly constitutes healthy food. As consumers face a constant barrage of conflicting information about their groceries, the roles of food producers, processors, and the broader agricultural industry have never been more important. In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with Natalie Kovarik and Tara Vanderdussen of Discover Ag to discuss how the Business of Agriculture can support healthier lifestyles through responsible food production and clear consumer education. Explore the challenges and opportunities facing the food industry as it works to meet evolving health expectations, dispel nutrition myths, and provide solutions that benefit both consumers and the agricultural economy.

Key Topics Covered:

• The connection between food production and national health trends
• Addressing consumer confusion about nutrition and grocery choices
• How agribusiness leaders can support healthier food systems
• The evolving role of agriculture in meeting health-conscious consumer demands

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

What happens when tech billionaires attempt to disrupt agriculture without understanding its fundamentals? In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by agtech experts Rhishi Pethe and Walt Duflock to analyze high-profile failures in agricultural innovation—highlighting ventures like Larry Ellison’s experimental farm in Hawaii and the struggles of Beyond Meat. Together, they explore the risks of "billion-arrogance"—where immense wealth and success in unrelated industries lead to misguided investments in farming and food systems. The discussion emphasizes the importance of aligning innovation with real agricultural challenges, economic sustainability, and the needs of producers and consumers alike. Essential listening for agribusiness professionals, ag investors, and anyone involved in food system innovation, this episode underscores the need for practical, problem-solving approaches to agtech development.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

The good news: Private equity investors are interested in investing in the Business of Agriculture. The bad news: The money is not flowing into fake meat or controlled environment Ag businesses. What is hot? Premium dairy, pet food, and anything fermented. Why? Because those categories offer private equity investors what they want — higher margins, growth, pricing power, differentiation, and added value. Dan Zelazik with Ascendant Partners, a boutique investment bank specializing in food and Agriculture explains how and what capital markets are investing in Ag.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

“The next day after a lightning storm, it’s always greener. That term is called green lightning and that’s what we set out to do.” So says Travis Potter, founder of Green Lightning, a company with a product allowing farmers to make their own nitrogen at a much -reduced price than retail. The other benefits: elimination of synthetic nitrogen, no salt, and no yield penalty. Damian Mason asks the hard questions with the company founder who is joined by Michigan farmer Matt Vanderhyde who’s using this technology.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

What if free trade isn't really free? Tariffs are a distortion to free market economics. The only problem: We don’t have a free market economy as countries prop up and protect their native industries with restrictive rules on — or even entirely against — imports. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason digs into the numbers (our trade deficit is equal to Holland’s entire economy), the impact on consumer purchases (it might be overstated), and why manufacturing (much like Agriculture) matters for national security. Damian delivers pointed perspective on the trade turmoil and closes by asking American Agriculture, “When will you finally learn your lesson about China?”

🎯 Key Topics:

• Trade protectionism vs. free market economics
• U.S. trade deficit and global competitiveness
• Tariffs, consumer impact, and market dynamics
• Agriculture and manufacturing as national security pillars
• Strategic risks of over-reliance on China

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

Agricultural equipment is among the largest capital investments on American farms—yet much of it sits idle for most of the year. With rising interest rates and pressure on farm income, optimizing machinery utilization is more important than ever. In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by Martyn Gross, founder of AgShared (https://agshared.com), to discuss a new digital platform designed to improve farm profitability through peer-to-peer equipment rentals. AgShared enables farmers and ag dealers to generate income from underused machinery, while providing cost-effective rental options to other producers. Explore how this "Airbnb model" for ag equipment is driving efficiency, increasing cash flow, and offering practical solutions for modern farm management.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

Global trade is undergoing a fundamental transformation. After decades of increasing globalization, countries are pivoting toward protectionist policies to safeguard domestic industries. In this episode, international agribusiness consultant Todd Thurman joins Damian Mason to explore the resurgence of tariffs and trade restrictions—and what this shift means for the future of global commerce. Topics include the demographic and economic forces driving deglobalization, historical context behind tariff use, and the implications for U.S. agriculture and international trade. Learn why trade wars may no longer be temporary disruptions, but instead a long-term feature of global economic policy.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

• NewFields Ag | https://newfieldsag.com
• Redox Bio-Nutrients | https://www.redoxgrows.com
• Harvest Returns | https://www.harvestreturns.com

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

In today’s low-margin farming environment, efficiency is everything. From maximizing nutrient availability to reducing inputs while increasing yields, growers are under pressure to do more with less. That’s where startups like NewFields Ag come in. This innovative company is tackling the challenge right from the planter box, using biological solutions derived from agricultural byproducts. In this episode, CEO and founder Brian Tulley joins Damian Mason to discuss his journey from big Ag to launching a startup, the role of biologicals in modern farming, and the evolving future of Ag retail. Is Ag retail on the brink of transformation—or survival? Tune in for an insightful conversation on the future of production agriculture!

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

NewFields Ag  https://newfieldsag.com/

Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com

Gripp Gripp.ag

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

Is farmland the ultimate investment? In this insightful episode, Damian sits down with Robert Andjelic, Canada’s largest private farmland owner, to explore the future of agricultural real estate. Despite having no farming background, Robert now owns 250,000 acres of prime Canadian farmland—mostly in Saskatchewan, with holdings in Manitoba and Alberta. After leaving the commercial real estate sector in 2007, Robert turned to farmland, citing water security, climate change, and the decline of arable land worldwide as key factors driving his investment. In this conversation, he shares his perspective on the economics of farmland, global instability, and the shifting agricultural landscape. Tune in to discover why farmland is becoming a sought-after asset and what the future holds for Canadian agriculture. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the world’s most essential and evolving industries!

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

NewFields Ag  https://newfieldsag.com/

Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com

Gripp Gripp.ag

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. 

The agriculture industry is at a turning point, with nearly two-thirds of U.S. farmers over 55 and many surpassing 65. As farming faces massive capital demands and generational shifts, what does the future hold? Adam Lasch, a self-made, first-generation Wisconsin farmer, joins Damian to explore the financial hurdles, demographic changes, and innovations shaping modern farming. Discover how the next generation of farmers can navigate rising costs, land ownership challenges, and evolving technology in this insightful conversation on the future of agriculture.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:

NewFields Ag  https://newfieldsag.com/

Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com

Gripp Gripp.ag

Also, make sure to check out DamianMason.com, XtremeAg's The Cutting The Curve Podcast and The Granary. 

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved.