The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Agriculture is increasingly impacted by regulation from the local, state, and federal level. But it appears to be getting worse. Activists and conflict groups used to lobby and protest against our industry. Now they hold positions of power. Eric Bream, a California citrus producer and politically active Agriculturalist joins me to discuss the methods of activism, dealing with regulations, and what he sees in the future. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

About 900 million acres are devoted to Agriculture in the United States. In addition to those acres are wooded property and other non-farmed land owned by American farm owners. Nic DeCastro saw those acres and — as an outdoorsman — saw an opportunity to help landowners profit by allowing short term usage for hunting and fishing. His company, LandTrust, does just that. As landowners, we must always look for opportunities to earn revenue off our holding while protecting it for the next generation. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

We talk a lot about Ag's need to educate the consumer. There are, however, multiple problems with effectively doing this. First off, the consumer is far removed from the farm. Secondly, the consumer might bristle at being told they need educated. And lastly, the consumer may not even really care — they're eating pretty well without being educated so what's the downside? Farmer and friend of show, Andy Ambriole joins me to discuss the rights and wrongs of consumer outreach. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Following up on the previous episode with Iowa farmer, Kelly Garrett, where we discussed carbon farming, I sit down with Rob West of Thunder Said Energy. He's an energy consultant turned carbon expert, and he believes Agriculture is the answer to carbon sequestration both from an economic and practicality standpoint. This is a hot topic that is in its early stages. Agriculture will be increasingly affected and possibly rewarded — listen closely! Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Most farmers are from a farm, not Cason Anderson. Sure, his parents had a few cows on an acreage but they weren't really farmers. Cason is. He got into pecan farming by purchasing used harvesting machinery when he was 18 and picking up some small, un-maintained pecan orchards. Nine years later he and his crew of three farm 840 acres of pecans. He explains pecan production's ups and downs and talks about starting out as a young person in the Business of Agriculture. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

We're doing a lot of things in Ag that are still "on the way" to the non-Ag sector. Driverless cars are a concept but self-driving tractors have been in America's fields for over a decade, for instance. But take drones. While we're allegedly on the cusp of drone deliveries to our homes, we've been using drone technology in Ag for several years. And their use is growing. Michael Ott and Emily Carlson of Rantizo — an Iowa based drone technology, Ag input company join me to discuss the future. It may already be here! Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

If you haven't noticed, there is a tremendous amount of buzz going around about environment, climate change, and carbon. For years, those who oppose modern Agriculture have latched onto environmental issues as an argument against our industry. But what if Agriculture is the solution — or at least part of the solution — to all that ails the environment? And what if improving the environment also improved our farms and earned us a bonus check? Iowa farmer and carbon seller, Kelly Garrett of Garrett Land & Cattle Company joins me to discuss the carbon trade and how he's making money to sequester carbon while improving his acres. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

They say there are only four people who understand milk pricing and three of them are dead. Lucky for us, John Newton, Chief Economist of the American Farm Bureau Federation is the one who's alive. He joins me for an informative discussion on milk pricing. Milk pricing — not necessarily what the consumer pays at Kroger, but the pricing for producers — is set through a complex formula originally created by an act of government in 1933. You'll find this educational and slightly entertaining. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Rob Saik joins me to give highlights from his address to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, where he stood up for a vilified modern agriculture. We discuss the hypocrisy of anti-agriculture movements, global reality, COVID's lessons for Ag, technology shortening time and distance for food production, and the future. Pull up a chair for never-dull discussion. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Without hops, there is no beer. That's reason enough for you to listen to this podcast because this episode explains the hop industry from farm to frosty glass. Ann George, executive director of Hop Growers of America and Michelle Gooding of Gooding Farms - an Idaho hop producer, explain the production and business side of this vital ingredient. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com