The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Silage — in case you're unfamiliar— is high moisture forage chopped and stored for cattle feed, principally dairy animals. It derives its name from the fact we used to blow this forage into silos. That's not done much anymore for reasons of safety, practicality, and scale. The most common method of ensiling and storing cow feed involves piling it on concrete, packing it with a large tractor, then covering with plastic. For reasons of economics and environment — which aren't always opposing forces — the stack and pack silage practice may be changing. Large silage bags such as the 14 x 500 footers used by Iowa dairyman Anthony Nunes reduce feed waste, improve feed quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Nunes joins nutritionist Marc Etchebarne and environmental consultant Jake Schmitz to discuss the future of feed storage. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Regenerative practices have become a new area of focus in production Agriculture. But what about our grazing lands — are we managing those lands for healthier soil, a healthier environment AND a healthier bottom line? Hugh Aljoe and Jim Johnson with Noble Research Institute, an Oklahoma-based ranch and research entity operating on 14,000 acres, join Damian. They discuss the important role grazing land plays in American Ag and methods by which to improve soil, environment, and our balance sheet. With almost double the number of acres in grass and rangeland as there are in crops, proper management can boost beef production while more than offsetting the greenhouse gases released by all of production Agriculture. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

A few years ago there was a great deal of hype surrounding Controlled Environment Ag (indoor farming). Money was pouring into the space from outside investors. Along with the money came the media coverage, which brought more money and more hype. According to some, we were just a short time away from never eating vegetables grown conventionally in fields again. Yet, here we are in 2023 still eating lettuce from Yuma and produce trucked in from California. What happened to the indoor Ag revolution? Walt Duflock with Western Growers discusses the realities of produce farming, while Adam Bergman, Global Head of Ag Tech with Citi discusses the money and business side of controlled environment agriculture.

My farmer friends at XtremeAg say, "The limiting yield factor isn't the seed, it's probably us." Well, that's not necessarily the case — another huge limiting yield factor is loss due to pathogens. With so many nasty diseases out there, our problem has often been misdiagnosis or a failure to treat our crops before the damage is done. Fortunately, new technology has emerged to detect pathogens before they present themselves. Thus allowing preemptive treatment or, in the absence of pathogens, no treatment which is a win for the environment AND your wallet. Mike Tweedy with PatternAg joins Damian to discuss new innovations in autumn pathogen detection which allows for seed selection and treatment plans months before any problem arises. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

We're several years into various programs looking to sign up acres for such things as carbon sequestration, nitrogen reduction, cover crops, and other regenerative practices. Yet, there are still not very many acres signed up. Why is that and what will it take to get more acres involved with ecosystem marketing? In this episode Damian asks the questions you've asked him. Why are companies paying farmers to plant cover crops? How much are they paying? Will consumers support these costs in an era of food inflation? Will these programs go away? Tim Meinhold and Laura Kowalski with Primient — a corn processing company — join the discussion with Truterra's Gregg Allard. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

If you're in modern day production Agriculture, you are in business. Probably to the tune of millions of dollars of allocated capital. Yet, many farmers don't flex their money mindset or think like entrepreneurs. This could make for real on-farm struggles moving into an era of high interest rates, consolidation, and demographic changes on North American farms. Evan Shout, CFO of Saskatchewan's HGV (Farms) and founder of FarmerCoach joins Damian to discuss improving one's entrepreneurial quotient, the business side of farming, and how to remedy business mindset shortcomings. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

Every Summer we begin to analyze crop reports, look at the markets and ask the question, "Will Ag make money this year? And if so, which sectors?" Jarod Creed of JC Marketing & Ag Financial Services joins Damian to discuss farm income, recent ag economic history, political winds shaping or shifting Ag, and other forces impacting farm revenue. The good news: 2023 looks profitable for many. The bad news: We work in a business with plenty of ups and downs…as you'll enjoy hearing Jarod and Damian discuss. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

We produce a LOT of agricultural output here in the United States and the trend line for increased productivity isn't letting up. So what happens when we run out of places to sell our output or creative ways to burn through our crops as we've done with ethanol or renewable diesel? Will we see calls for controlling the supply through a quota system on production? Damian Mason predicts (with 58% accuracy!) that supply management is in America's future. The reasons why: higher margins, more predictable economics, environmentalist push for reduced food waste, and a call for bigger returns on capital among larger scale operators. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

As you've likely heard me say, we in Agriculture suffer from commodity mindset. When we think of growing margins, we think of reducing costs, getting bigger, and making more with less. But what happens when there's almost no efficiencies to be gained, or worse yet when we make so much stuff that even through efficiencies the margins are paltry due to an oversupply of food? Well, what if I told you that day is fast approaching? Friend of show, Todd Thurman joins me to discuss the future of Agriculture and the inherent need to not just add efficiencies but to also grow revenue and profit margin. Branded products, source verification, niche markets, and environmental impact quotients are just a few of the margin boosters coming soon to an Agriculture near you! Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com

The proliferation of biological crop inputs over the last several years has been almost overwhelming. I personally believe soil biology — understanding it and working with the soil versus against it — is the next frontier for production Agriculture. That said, the world of biological soil and crop enhancements is crowded while still a bit murky. What exactly is in those jugs of biologicals, what do they do, how do farmers benefit from them, and will we use more biologicals and less chemistry on farms of tomorrow? Answers to those questions and so many more are in this discussion with Illinois farmer Greg McClure and BWFusion agronomist Sean Nettleton. Sponsored by: Pattern Ag pattern.ag AGvisorPRO getagvisorpro.com Truterra truterraag.com