The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 138 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a mid-summer market analysis by Karl Setzer of Mid-Co Commodities and a crop conditions update from Bayer Crop Science agronomist Andrew Penney.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• July WASDE and quarterly stocks webinar recording
• Reasons to visit Iowa Farm Bureau at the Iowa State Fair
• Register for upcoming Renew Rural Iowa Journey to Your Vision seminars in Waverly, West Des Moines and Storm Lake
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's online Take Root farm succession workshops
• Register for an upcoming webinar on navigating changing conditions in agriculture

Welcome to Episode 137 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we recap the key takeaways from Iowa Farm Bureau's recent Market Study Tour of England and Scotland, and we discuss the possible implications for farmers here in Iowa.

Welcome to Episode 136 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode will prepare farmers for discussions they'll be having with landlords in the coming weeks and months. Former ISU and current Cornell University economics professor Dr. Wendong Zhang shares the latest information on who owns Iowa's farmland, and attorney Erin Herbold-Swalwell shares her expert advice on developing effective farmland lease agreements and landlord/tenant relationships.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Read more about Iowa State University's 2022 Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey, here and here.
• Visit Iowa State University's Ag Decision Maker website.

Welcome to Episode 135 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features three guests. First, we introduce you to Dr. Christopher Pudenz, Iowa Farm Bureau's new economics and research manager, who shares some fascinating insights into topics like California's Prop 12 implementation, African Swine Fever and a market study tour of England and Scotland. Next, we bring on two central Iowa farmers and conservation/soil health experts (Jeremy Gustafson and Doug Adams) to share their tips for farmers.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• FAQ on pork sales in wake of 2023 Prop 12 Supreme Court decision - from California Department of Food and Agriculture
• A monthly barometer of livestock profitability from Iowa State University
• ConservationCountsIowa.com
• Iowa Farm Bureau's Facebook and Instagram pages

Welcome to Episode 134 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features an in-depth conversation with Roxi Beck of the Center for Food Integrity (CFI), on research-based ways for farmers to build trust with consumers, especially young Gen Z consumers. CFI conducts extensive consumer research and brings together a wide variety of food and farming stakeholders, ranging from Iowa Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau to Costco, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, and Kroger.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Read CFI's Gen Z trust research
• Learn more about CFI and its extensive consumer trust research

Welcome to Episode 133 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode will introduce you to the brand new Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Dr. Jason Henderson. The episode also includes a reminder of some cost-saving benefits that Iowa Farm Bureau members can tap into during the summer months.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Check out Iowa Farm Bureau's member benefits.
• Join Iowa Farm Bureau today.

Welcome to Episode 132 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a 2023 growing season weather forecast from the director of USDA's Midwest Climate Hub, Dr. Dennis Todey. It also introduces Iowa Farm Bureau's new farmer education program manager, Zach Brummer, and covers some upcoming learning opportunities for farmers, like Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour in July.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Learn more and register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.
• Learn about other future Iowa Farm Bureau events and webinars.
• Contact Iowa Farm Bureau's new farmer education program manager, Zach Brummer: [email protected].

Welcome to Episode 131 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, John Sorensen (President and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association) discusses the stability of Iowa's banking system, in the aftermath of Silicon Valley Bank's well-publicized collapse. And Iowa Farm Bureau National Policy Advisor Daniel Heady updates listeners on the development of the 2023 Farm Bill.

Welcome to episode 130 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a conversation with Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, following his recent visit to Vietnam and the Philippines, as part of an Iowa trade delegation. It also features Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers Executive Director Brian Waddingham, who shares an update on a troubling livestock vandalism case up in northeast Iowa, what the Coalition is doing to help law enforcement in the area, and tips for other livestock farmers to protect themselves from vandalism.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Visit the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers website or call their toll-free number: 800-932-2436.
• Learn more about the livestock vandalism case in northeast Iowa, how the Coalition is helping law enforcement in that area, and tips for avoiding vandalism on your farm.

Welcome to episode 129 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode will be especially useful to beginning farmers and farmers who are looking to diversify their operations with niche crops or livestock. It features a conversation with the head of FSA farm loans in Iowa (Brian Gossling) and an Iowa farmer (Ashley Wenke) who has experience growing a bit of everything, including produce, eggs, chicken, honey, beef and pork.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Contact your local county Farm Bureau
• Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Program
• Contact your local Iowa FSA office
• Learn about Pleasant Grove Homestead