The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 118 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses the Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grant Program, a program for farmers and other Iowans who are investing in creative ways to expand the use and consumption of Iowa ag products. Later in the episode, Iowa State University Extension tax expert Charles Brown shares some of the most important considerations for farmers as they're filing their 2022 farm income taxes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grant Program
• Iowa Farm Bureau's 2022 Farm Income Tax Webinar (Recording)
• Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation

Welcome to Episode 117 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa State University ag economics professor Dr. Alejandro Plastina shares where things stand with carbon credit markets and what farmers need to know. And Floyd County farmer Laura Cunningham shares the grassroots, years-long effort that led to a new ag education and FFA program in northern Iowa's Central Spring School District.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about carbon credit programs on ISU's Ag Decision Maker website.
• Learn how you can help the Central Springs AgEd Boosters.

Welcome to Episode 116 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we introduce you to Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Advisory Committee Chair Megan Hansen (who farms in western Iowa), and we talk with Dr. Robert Brown of Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute about a unique initiative to produce renewable energy, fertilizer and more from corn stover, while sequestering carbon.

Welcome to Episode 115 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we take you inside the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), with CALS Student Council President Lydia Johnson, Director of CALS Career Services Mike Gaul, and CALS senior/Iowa Farm Bureau intern Jenna Smith. We also introduce you to Active&Fit Direct, Iowa Farm Bureau's new member benefit, which allows Farm Bureau members to save money on their local gym memberships and other fitness resources.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau's new Active&Fit Direct member benefit
• Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau's 2023-24 Digital Marketing Internship
• Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau's 2023-24 Young Farmer & Leadership Internship

Welcome to Episode 114 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we visit the farm of Iowa's 2022 Conservation Farmer of the Year (Dave Lubben of Jones County) to discuss conservation with Dave and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Then we talk with Iowa State University professor Dr. Daniel Andersen (who goes by @DrManure on Twitter) about how farmers can use cover crops and manure successfully in the same fields.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Iowa Manure Management Action Group
• Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide, 3rd Edition

Welcome to Episode 113 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan gives us his forecast for harvest and beyond. And Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson discusses key outcomes from Iowa Farm Bureau's annual policy conference.

Resource mentioned in this episode

• Join us for America Needs Farmers (ANF) Game Day at Kinnick Stadium

Welcome to Episode 112 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we bring you a conversation on national agriculture priorities with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, who was in Des Moines for Iowa Farm Bureau's Presidents Conference last month. Then we'll bring on Mike Steenhoek (who's the Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition) to talk about railroad reliability concerns and other transportation topics as we approach harvest.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• American Farm Bureau (FB.org)
• American Farm Bureau Market Intel
• SoyTransportation.org

Welcome to Episode 111 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, you'll learn ways to effectively boost ag literacy in your own local school district, from Kelly Foss (the new Executive Director of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation). You'll also hear the results of a new poll about food and farming (conducted by The Harris Poll) that will help you understand what's motivating Iowa grocery shoppers and who they trust.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Read the results of the Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index ®, conducted by The Harris Poll.
• Learn more about the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.

Welcome to Episode 110 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, you'll meet Dr. Jason Ross – the new chair of Iowa State University's Department of Animal Science (part of ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences). You'll also hear about the games and prizes that await you at Farm Bureau Park during this year's Iowa State Fair.

Resource mentioned in this episode:

• Fairgoer attractions at Farm Bureau Park, during the 2022 Iowa State Fair

Welcome to Episode 109 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, American Farm Bureau economist Shelby Myers analyzes the overall farm economy, and Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson talks about what's being done to address the astonishing increase in fertilizer prices.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Farm Bureau members can save on travel (with prices guaranteed to beat public booking sites like Expedia and Priceline) using Travel Sherlock.