The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is part 2 of a two-part series on water quality and conservation. See Episode 47 for part 1 of the series.

In this episode, we discuss how Iowa's conservation efforts pay dividends, for water quality protection and soil health and by cutting costs and creating potential revenue opportunities.

Iowa Farm Bureau's Conservation and Natural Resources Advisor (Rick Robinson) discusses a new report that illustrates Iowa's most recent water quality protection progress. And Mitchell Hora (an up-and-coming young Iowa farmer and ag entrepreneur) discusses conservation efforts that benefit soil health and water quality, while cutting costs and creating potential revenue opportunities.

Below are some of the resources referred to in this episode:

• Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy progress report
• Continuum Ag (Mitchell Hora's soil health consulting company)
• Field Work podcast

Welcome to Episode 47 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This is part one of a two-part series on water quality and conservation.

In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig quantifies the growing number of practices Iowa's farmers are using to protect soil and water quality.

And Mark Jackson (a Mahaska County Farm Bureau member who was recently named Iowa's 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year) shares his advice for farmers who are looking to scale up their conservation efforts.

Below are some of the resources referred to in this episode:

• New water quality progress report from Iowa State, Iowa DNR, and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
• Listing of upcoming conservation field days in Iowa
• Information about a new manual with consensus recommendations (from ISU, USDA and other leading scientists and technical specialists) on managing your conservation practices
• Upcoming educational webinars for farmers

Welcome to Episode 46 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

This episode is all about protecting your livestock farm, featuring expert advice from Indiana ag attorney Brianna Schroeder and Brian Waddingham (Executive Director of The Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers).

Unfortunately, we're all familiar with stories about livestock farms that have been targeted by people and groups with bad intentions. Learn how to reduce your farm's risk of being targeted.

To follow Brianna on social media or ask her a follow-up question, visit aglaw.us/brianna-schroeder

To contact the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers, call 800-932-2436 or visit SupportFarmers.com.

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau's senior economist (Dr. Sam Funk) walks through the COVID-19 assistance that's currently available to farmers and Iowa Farm Bureau's national policy advisor (Daniel Heady) discusses additional federal relief that could be available to farmers in the weeks to come.

Below are some of the resources referred to in this episode:

• Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), through USDA: Farmers.gov/CFAP
• U.S. Small Business Administration: SBA.gov
• Iowa Resource Coordination Center: IowaFarmerHelp.com, (515)725-1005
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: IowaAgriculture.gov

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig talks about state COVID-19 relief resources and Chris Norton (a former Luther College football player who experienced a paralyzing injury on the field and beat the odds to walk again) shares inspiration that we could all use right now.

Below are some of the resources referred to in this episode:

• Iowa Resource Coordination Center: IowaFarmerHelp.com, (515) 725-1005
• USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP): Farmers.gov/CFAP
• ChrisNorton.org
• Free and confidential stress resources for farm families: IowaFarmBureau.com/FarmStress

Welcome to Episode 43 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Polking (Bureau Chief for Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau) and Terry Kerns (co-owner of eastern Iowa's popular Edgewood Locker) help farmers navigate their best options for marketing and processing livestock during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below are some of the resources referred to in this episode:

• Iowa Resource Coordination Center: (515)725-1005, IowaFarmerHelp.com
• IDALS Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau: (515)281-3338
• Basic flowchart on direct marketing rules for livestock
• USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP): Farmers.gov/CFAP

Welcome to Episode 42 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 3 of Iowa Farm Bureau's 3-part podcast series on managing farm stress in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, featuring Dr. Larry Tranel (a pastoral psychologist who has spent more than 30 years working with farm families).

Part 1 (released May 8) covers how to identify unhealthy stress and how to manage it.

Part 2 (released May 13) covers how to make effective business decisions and communicate, despite stress.

Part 3 (released May 18) covers how to manage stress as a family.

For more free and confidential resources, including the Iowa Concern Hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/FarmStress.

Welcome to Episode 41 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 2 of Iowa Farm Bureau's 3-part podcast series on managing farm stress in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, featuring Dr. Larry Tranel (a pastoral psychologist who has spent more than 30 years working with farm families).

Part 1 (released May 8) covers how to identify unhealthy stress and how to manage it.

Part 2 (released May 13) covers how to make effective business decisions and communicate, despite stress.

Part 3 (to be released May 18) will cover how to manage stress as a family.

For more free and confidential resources, including the Iowa Concern Hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/FarmStress.

Welcome to Episode 40 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 1 of Iowa Farm Bureau's 3-part podcast series on managing farm stress in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, featuring Dr. Larry Tranel (a pastoral psychologist who has spent more than 30 years working with farm families).

Part 1 (released May 8) covers how to identify unhealthy stress and how to manage it.

Part 2 (to be released May 13) will cover how to make effective business decisions and communicate, despite stress.

Part 3 (to be released May 18) will cover how to manage stress as a family.

For more free and confidential resources, including the Iowa Concern Hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/FarmStress.

Welcome to Episode 39 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, we interview Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill and the new Chair of Iowa State's Department of Animal Science (and the host of RFD-TV's "Doc Talk" show), Dr. Dan Thomson.

President Hill discusses updates to the COVID-19 assistance for Iowa farmers and what he's hearing as he conducts listening sessions with farmers in every region of the state.

Dr. Thomson shares the vision and unique perspective he brings to ISU's Department of Animal Science; what his department and others are doing to help livestock farmers through the COVID-19 crisis; insights into food supply chain disruptions; and an approach to working with food retailers on issues like animal care and sustainability.