The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 68 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, renowned ag economist Dr. Jayson Lusk provides new insights into opportunities to market real meat as a sustainable product and examines the perceptions around plant-based imitation meat. And Mike Telford (executive director of the Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition) discusses a productive way for Iowa consumers to share their questions and concerns about farm animal care.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Nominate a worthy neighbor for Iowa's 2021 Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.
• Register for a free 2021 growing season forecast webinar with USDA Midwest Climate Hub Director Dennis Todey.

Welcome to Episode 67 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, Emily Skor (CEO of Growth Energy) shares why ethanol's benefits are even better than we previously thought (following a new study by researchers at Harvard and other universities). And Kasey Engel (a regional crop consultant for Farm Bureau Financial Services) provides crop farmers with useful insights to consider as they make their spring 2021 crop insurance decisions. (Western Agriculture Insurance Company is an equal opportunity provider.)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• New study showing that ethanol is even better at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than previously reported
• Iowa Farm Bureau's 2021 crop insurance and pre-harvest marketing webinar (on March 3)
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit Webinar Series
• Free, one-on-one, ongoing counseling through Personal Assistance Services: 1-833-999-3276

Welcome to Episode 66 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

This episode features consumer trends and trust research insights from a renowned researcher who advises major food and farming brands like Costco, Chick-fil-a, Corteva and Farm Bureau: Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity.

It also features a conversation with Iowa Farm Bureau Conservation and Natural Resources Policy Advisor Rick Robinson, about an under-the-radar federal proposal that could have cut some farmers' access to conservation cost share funding and even crop insurance, if Farm Bureau hadn't stepped in to challenge it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit Webinar Series

Welcome to Episode 65 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Zach Johnson (the Minnesota farmer who's known to his 700,000-plus YouTube subscribers as the "Millennial Farmer").

The episode also includes discussions about Iowa's impact on national public policy (with Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill) and a new program to assist livestock farmers who were impacted by last year's derecho (with Brian Waddingham of the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers).

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn about the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers Derecho Windbreak Grant program and other assistance available through the Coalition.
• Join the "Millennial Farmer" at Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Conference (January 29 - 30)
• Check out the "Millennial Farmer" YouTube channel.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit Webinar Series.

Welcome to Episode 64 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a preview of Iowa Farm Bureau's 2021 state legislative priorities (with State Policy Advisor Matt Steinfeldt) and a preview of Iowa Farm Bureau's upcoming Economic Summit Webinar Series (with Senior Economist Dr. Sam Funk).

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Read Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill's column on Farm Bureau's roadmap for 2021.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit Webinar Series.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Conference.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Livestock Risk Protection webinar.

Mary Ebert farms in Guthrie County with her husband, Adam, and serves as the chair of Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Advisory Committee (the committee that plans Iowa Farm Bureau's popular Young Farmer Conference).

As we turn the page to 2021, Mary shares the challenges and opportunities she sees for Iowa's young farmers, as well as some advice she'd offer her peers.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's online Young Farmer Conference
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit Webinar Series

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Japan Hog Lift, an act of Iowa kindness that has created a lasting relationship between Iowa and Japan (and one that has played a meaningful role in the United States' strong trade relationship with Japan).

In this episode, we talk with Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill about Iowa's unique, ongoing relationship Japan, and we talk with U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom about the current demand for U.S. meat in Japan and in other parts of the world.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Iowa Farm Bureau's Annual Meeting webinar series
• Vote in Iowa Farm Bureau's Grow Your Future Award competition

Welcome to Episode 61 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we speak with three Iowa ag entrepreneurs who offer unique technology solutions for farmers.

BJ Brugman of Distynct shares how his company helps livestock farmers manage their facilities remotely.

Bill Brown of Insulights introduces us to a solution for checking your electric fence from a distance.

And Michael Koenig of ScoutPro (an advanced scouting app used to identify weed and pest challenges in fields) talks about how his company has evolved over the past decade.

Resources referred to in this episode:

• Renew Rural Iowa is Iowa Farm Bureau's program to assist rural entrepreneurs.
• Vote for your favorite finalist in Iowa Farm Bureau's Grow Your Future Award competition (for young Iowa entrepreneurs with innovative ag businesses) December 8 - 17.

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 3 of our special 3-part podcast series with three Midwest ag economists: Iowa Farm Bureau senior economist Dr. Sam Funk, Nebraska Farm Bureau senior economist Jay Rempe, and Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist Mike Doherty.

Part 1 (released November 9) covers farm income and credit conditions, government assistance, international trade, and more.

Part 2 (released November 12) covers the changing nature of farm production, ownership, and management – as well as the impact of COVID-19.

Part 3 (released November 16) covers changing farm demographics, the impact of consumer and farmland owner preferences on farming practices, how the next generation of farmers is changing things up, and more.

Welcome to Episode 59 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 2 of our special 3-part podcast series with three Midwest ag economists: Iowa Farm Bureau senior economist Dr. Sam Funk, Nebraska Farm Bureau senior economist Jay Rempe, and Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist Mike Doherty.

Part 1 (released November 9) covers farm income and credit conditions, government assistance, international trade, and more.

Part 2 (released November 12) covers the changing nature of farm production, ownership, and management – as well as the impact of COVID-19.

Part 3 (to be released November 16) will cover changing farm demographics, the impact of consumer and farmland owner preferences on farming practices, how the next generation of farmers is changing things up, and more.