The Business of Agriculture Podcast

The subject of solar development on farm ground generates a lot of impassioned opinions. But do you know the all the facts? Listen to Damian's discussion with Illinois farmer John Carroll, who has eight on-farm solar developments powering livestock and farm facilities. He is also exploring community solar projects, where a municipality leases farm land for solar power development. John explains the three types of solar — on-farm, community, and commercial — as well as the business side of solar from a farm and landowner perspective.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. Not available for AI.

Imagine a future with more environmental regulation, a fusion of regenerative and conventional farming practices, tastier food that's still affordable, fewer farmland acres — especially of corn and soy — with more acres of oddball crops like sorghum. These are just a few of Damian Mason's BIG thoughts on the future of farming, food prices, and what'll be growing on America's farms.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. Not available for AI.

41.9% of Americans are obese. Most of these people are not on obesity drugs. Yet. But that day is coming according to Damian Mason, and when it does Agriculture is going to — for the first time ever — face a marketplace of declining per-person caloric consumption. Todd Thurman joins Damian in this forward - looking discussion. What will the impact of obesity drugs, big Pharma, insurance companies, and possibly even government be on Agriculture? Listen to this!

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. Not available for AI.

The United States' Agricultural projected 2024 trade imbalance isn't due to a lack of sales. In fact, American Ag is on track to sell more corn, soy, pork, and other farm products than ever before. The imbalance — meaning we're buying more dollars worth of Agricultural goods than we're selling — is due to deglobalizaion, a strong dollar, and consumers' appetite for pricey imported food items. Roland Fumasi with Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness joins Damian for numbers and perspective on trade as it affects American farming, and our marketplace.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. Not available for AI.

Bee populations are declining, as you've likely heard. Is the decline a problem for Agriculture? Yes, says Itai Kanot, co-founder of BeeHero. With 75% of food crops requiring pollination, humanity needs bees. We need both wild honeybees — and perhaps more importantly — the kind kept by professional beekeepers. Professional beekeepers are hired by farmers to pollinate specialty crops. Bee keepers are struggling with Bee Colony Collapse, which is not an actual disease, but a phenomenon due to humans, monoculture, insecticide usage, and global movement of products harmful to bees. Mr. Kanot believes technology, along with addressing those four issues, can address Agriculture's bee problem.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

This content is protected. ©Damian Mason, all rights reserved. Not available for AI.

The global Agriculture drone market is predicted to grow by 31.5% annually over the next four years. That's good for Ag innovation but bad for American national security. Why? Because the dominant global manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) for Agriculture, is directly linked to the Chinese Communist Party. That company — DJI — currently controls about 3/4 of the Ag drone market, including here in North America. Besides spraying product on our fields, there is compelling evidence the company is gathering data and providing it to the Chinese government. Arthur Erickson, CEO of Texas-based Ag drone maker Hylio, joins Damian for this important discussion.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Historically, investment in Africa has been extractive, as in, spend money to build mines or infrastructure to extract resources from the continent. Jeff Bordes with Acres Club says his company is changing that by deploying capital investment into Africa to build farms to nourish the local population. Developing farms in other countries is nothing new (see Brazil for example), but why Africa and why the nation of Zambia in particular? Damian asks all those questions and more with the guys from Acres Club.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

Recycled freight containers turned into backyard hydroponic farms for suburbanites? Space farming to combat the perils of Earth-bound climate crisis? These are just two of the multitude of Agriculture-themed business ventures being pitched by their founders, investors and public relations consultants. The problem with these ventures: They seek to solve a problem that isn't really a problem, while the real problems Agriculture faces are left unaddressed. Damian Mason shares his thoughts on what Agricultural problems investment and innovation should tackle versus the ideas we should lose.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

The U.S. is staring down its largest Agricultural trade deficit in history. One factor in that is the amount of off-shore produce and specialty crop imports from nations with significantly lower labor costs. Jamie Clover Adams, Executive Director of Michigan Asparagus joins Damian Mason to explain why American farmers are losing out to other countries. The benefit of low prices is good for the consumer. The downside: potential loss of an industry and loss of food security.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com

The demographics are actually quite staggering — we are getting old, fast. Which means our customer's dietary choices and demands are changing. Is Agriculture changing with its customers? What about the food inflation situation, with grocery prices up 25% since 2020? Todd Thurman, of Swine Insights International joins Damian to discuss economics, demographics, and opportunities shaping up amid an older customer base facing persistent food inflation.

The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com Truterra truterraag.com