The Business of Agriculture Podcast

OK, he's not really "my" dairy farmer. He's "a" dairy farmer who rents my farm land. This being dairy month, I thought it'd be a good time for you to hear from him. Johan DeGroot joins me to discuss all things dairy from a 30 year old farmer's perspective. What's the dairy industry doing right? What's different than a decade ago? Where will the dairy spat between Canada and the U.S. end up? And where would an overstretched young operator spend an additional 4 hours each week? It's a good discussion and chance to meet Johan - a newly sworn in U.S citizen!

Ours is a unique industry with many factors that are unfamiliar to most people or businesses. Zoning, livestock operation disputes, estate planning headaches, employment legalities, environmental regulation, are just a few of the issues in Ag. My guest is Amy Cornell, president of Agribusiness Council of Indiana. She's also an attorney specializing in Agriculture, a lobbyist, and farm girl. While there's an attorney on every corner, there's actually a shortage of attorneys with Agricultural expertise. We in the Business of Agriculture, must protect our interests. Who needs an AG Lawyer? Turns out we all do!

The day I recorded this podcast, celebrity chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain completed suicide. According to the Centers For Disease Control, suicides in the United States are up 30%. For the Business of Agriculture, the numbers are even worse. 85 farmers per 100,000 kill themselves annually. Suicide rates for farmers are 6.3 times the national average. This is a mental health crisis. It's also tragically sad. The good news, if there is any, suicide is preventable. My guest is Alicia Cowdrey, M.D. who specializes in psychiatry. We talk about the importance of mental health and what you can do to maintain yours while working in the Business of Agriculture.

At this moment there is plenty of bluster over global trade. Even Canada and the USA - two counties touting the longest uncontested border on Earth - are on the verge of spatting. I talk to Real Ag Radio host, Shaun Haney for a Canadian perspective. We talk trade imbalances (they're not always bad), why Canada and the USA's spat has nothing to do with Agriculture, and why Canadians always bring up the war of 1812.

We hear the word "natural" a lot as it pertains to food and agriculture. But what does it even mean? Like the word "sustainable," ask 100 different people and you'll receive 100 different definitions of "natural." In fact, "natural" is thrown about so commonly these days, the Food and Drug Administration was petitioned to define the word. Until recently, I deemed "natural" to be little more than a marketing phrase. Then, an Ag detractor scolded me for "unnatural" food production methods. The problem with that statement: all food production methods are unnatural. Humans are hunter gatherers by nature. We invented agriculture! Along with lots of other cool stuff that enhance human existence. Join me for the conversation. It's natural!

This week the house voted down the first draft of Farm Bill 2018. What does this mean for people involved in Ag? Why should taxpayers care about the Farm Bill? (hint, because it effects a LOT of non farm stuff!). And what should Ag expect moving forward? My guest is my brother, Eric Mason — 32 year veteran of the Farm Service Agency. We discuss USDA issues, the pending Farm Bill, and it's impact on the business of Agriculture. Please share this episode with your non -Ag friends. It's a great discussion with Farm Bill facts, insights, and a few opinions. And you get to hear from one of my siblings!

April 26, 2018 a federal jury in North Carolina awarded nearly $51 million to 10 plaintiffs in a "Swine Nuisance" verdict. The award was reduced two weeks later by a federal judge to $3.25 million. Either way, meat production may have just gotten a lot more expensive — there are 25 more cases filed just in North Carolina! What does this mean for the future of meat production and what does it mean for consumers? More importantly, what really went on trial? Was it odor and noise, as the case contends? Or is farming and "Big Ag" under assault by cause groups using the courts to achieve their agenda? And lets not forget the financial angle…. are your neighbors going to use the North Carolina precedent to take money from you?

April 22nd, 2018 marks the 48th installment of Earth Day. In this episode I give you some background on Earth Day. Did you know it was a social movement attempting to capitalize on the anti- Viet Nam war fervor? Earth Day is also credited for creating the EPA - now an $8 billion, 15,000 employee federal juggernaut — oftentimes at odds with Agriculture. (WOTUS anyone?) The business of agriculture has many environmental accomplishments our detractors never mention. But I do! Share this episode with your non Ag friends. We're talking Earth and Agriculture. Earth is our livelihood and our biggest asset. Happy Earth Day!

Join the conversation with fellow Ag speaker and funny man, Mark Mayfield. Usually we cover issues impacting the industry of food and farming but this episode is a bit lighter. Mark and I discuss comedy, why comedian and farmer are job descriptions that get disrespect, humorous material that only works for Ag audiences, the perils of the job as a traveling talker, and more.

Last week was a volatile week in the grain trade but what does all this mean? Matt Bennett of Bennett Consulting joins me to discuss the basics of commodity markets, terminology of the trade, and his thoughts on the global grain business. We discuss how you can profit - or at least limit your risk - as a grain buyer or seller. We close with Matt's advice for limiting emotional mistakes and why he's bullish on the Business of Agriculture.