You see insects and say, “Let’s go bomb ‘em,” right?  Well, maybe.  Everyone’s favorite guest, Glenn Longabaugh, joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Glenn is the Agronomist for Premier Companies, and he’s here to talk about all things involving pest management.

You’ll learn about why the presence of certain insects means you should hold off on treatment and why the threshold for integrated pest management has changed since the 1980s.  Are you wondering what makes the many varieties of aphids so difficult to manage?  Glenn’s got the scoop.  He’ll also share why hoverflies are actually beneficial and why the correct timeline on the integrated pest management program is not only beneficial to the wallet but beneficial to the environment as well.  Ryan, Glenn, and Sal also dig into what we should be doing with our late season soybeans to enhance or protect yield.  Buckle up for another information-packed episode of The High Ground!

What does the Indiana State Board of Animal Health do?  Bret D. Marsh, D.V.M. joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast studio for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Dr. Bret, a 30-year Indiana State Veterinarian, is a Boone County native who received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University.

You’ll hear about his background on the ranch, education at Purdue University, and what it’s like to practice veterinary medicine at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  He’ll share how the Indiana State Board of Animal Health interacts with other state and federal government agencies including the DNR, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and even the Department of Homeland Security.  What happens when unusual mortality is seen on farm animals and gets reported to the state?  What is Prop 12, and why is that the boogeyman for ag?  You’ll learn all that and more on today’s episode!

What’s the difference between sustainability and conservation?  Special guests Sydney Calhoun and Evan Eggersman join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Sydney is the Trax Conservation Agronomy Lead, and Evan is the Trax Ag Technology and Sustainability Lead for Premier Companies.

In addition to learning about the basics of sustainability, you’ll learn how participating in the Trax program can increase the effectiveness of the conservation efforts of the grower.  Evan will explain a bit about the nitrogen management and carbon sequestration programs and how farmers can be rewarded for their participation.  They’ll also share about an exciting partnership between Truterra and the USDA that’s resulted in a program that can pay a grower to participate in the cover crop and no-till conservation efforts for the first time.  If that's not enough, they’ll also touch on the reasons farmers have a love/hate relationship with cover-crops and the way technology can help a farmer collect the data to meet the program requirements.  “We haven’t really had… somebody that can connect some of the government resources and Premier Ag together, and that’s what this whole grant has been about."

“It’s about these big flat fields, and big skies, and that’s truly where the passion is, and I may not get to do that a lot, but I get to work for the guys who do.” Chris Weldon joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Chris is the Market Development Project Manager for the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council.  

In addition to telling some wild plumbing and closet stories, Chris will share the story of his career path and what brought him to his current role. You’ll learn about how the Indiana Soybean Alliance is working with national partners to create demand for Indiana products on a global scale. You’ll learn about the Soybean Oil Masters Program which is designed to provide education to international stakeholders about U.S.-grown soybeans and the advantages of importing the product and how the checkoff program works on behalf of the farmer. “Every single farmer in our state, in some way, is somebody that I’m working for.”

Why is the beef market so exceptional right now? Returning guest, Ryan Batt, joins Andy Pinnick and hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies to dig into that question! As you may remember, Ryan is the Facility Manager, and Andy is the Senior Director of Livestock Marketing for United Producers Inc.

Ryan will share where the markets currently stand along with the perfect storm that has created it.  You’ll learn about what happens when the cattle are loaded up to go to market, how the cattle are bid upon, and what happens in the vaccination programs along the way. You’ll learn more about livestock risk protection in addition to care tips through the summer.  Have you considered getting into the beef on dairy bandwagon? Andy will share his thoughts on what the future could bring in the beef market and why the beef on dairy trend looks like it will continue.  “This beef on dairy, it is the hottest thing going as far as production and getting people involved in it right now.”

Tell us why the market continues to do what it does!  Aaron Bledsoe is back in the podcast room with your hosts, Ryan Priest and Sal Sama, for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Aaron is no stranger to the podcast and is quite the fan favorite!  An aspiring gator hunter and well-known Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, he’s here to share his thoughts on all things connected to the most recent USDA report. 

Aaron will share how the weather in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana could disrupt the market especially in light of all of the bushels still on the farm.  You’ll learn about the complications that exist because of the existing on-farm storage and potential for exports.  Aaron also sheds light into how the record flooding in Brazil may impact the overall supply.  Will we hit the 181 bushels per acre yield that’s being predicted?  “Now is the time for discipline…  Get back to basics and just come up with a solid plan and work from there.”  

What’s all this hype around renewable diesel?  To help us dig into this topic, Matt Makinson comes back to join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Matt is the Vice President of Supply and Marketing for CountryMark, and he’s got a lot to share regarding what’s happened in the two years since he joined us last!

You’ll hear about the latest CountryMark news and their renewable diesel co-processing project which involves expanding the capacity in the refinery and adding the capability to process soybean oil.  In addition to sustainability, you’ll learn about the other benefits of renewable diesel, what goes into creating the product, and how it’s different from biodiesel.  In addition to learning about how this project will help increase the overall output, you’ll learn how this project will help hedge against RFS compliance costs if RIN prices go up.  If you’re wondering what the Renewable Identification Number system is all about and how it impacts growers in the first place, you’ll learn about that and more!

Why is Premier spending the money on another plant?  David Brim and Scott Sharp, both returning guests, join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for today’s episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Scott is the Vice President of Crop Nutrients and Operations for Premier, and David also works for Premier as the Manager of the Mitchell facility.  

You’ll hear about the new facility that’s being built in Washington County, Indiana and why they’re moving two older plants together.  They’ll share insight into the increase in efficiency and speed that will be afforded and how that will allow them to service their customers even better.  Have you heard rumors that they’re putting in fuel pumps and restaurants?  They’ll address those rumors and share how they determine which brands they buy.  “Premier is really investing in the community, and it shows the commitment…the company has to our local farmers and our customers.”

We’ve got vines already starting to grow and ragweed up to the interns’ armpits! How much money are we supposed to spend on this? Special guest Glenn Longabaugh is in the house today!  He joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama back in the podcast room for today’s episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  You don’t have to be around the podcast too long to know that Glenn is the Agronomist for Premier Companies, and he’s here to share why it’s time for growers to start to transition from the mindset where everything revolves around planting to actual maintenance of the crop.

It’s no secret that planting has been delayed and weed growth is accelerated. Many are feeling that there’s much that’s due simultaneously including weeds that are getting away from us, side-dressing, burndown, nutritionals, and more!  In light of that, Glenn will share his thoughts around fungicide application, timing, and how that will help position us for a strong season in the long run.  All growers are asking how we can make “the mostest from the leastest,” and Glenn’s got some tips to help you get the biggest bang for your buck, both economically and for the environment.   This is another episode you’re not going to want to miss!

If you’ve ever wondered how Mario Andretti is connected to soybeans or where the money that gets sent to the checkoff programs goes, this is the episode for you!  Special guest and “accidental aggie,” Courtney Kingery joins hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Courtney is the CEO of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.

In addition to hearing about how she ended up in agriculture instead of law school, you’ll learn about how the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, and the Indiana Corn Growers Association are related and work together.  You’ll hear about the education, program, and research portions of the checkoff funds and how that ultimately helps growers improve sustainability, yield, producer engagement, and value creation.  This episode features a couple of success stories including how high oleic initiative has led to a return of 100 million dollars worth of premiums to the growers in Indiana for the cost of a candybar per acre.