The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 8 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, you'll hear U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo share his thoughts on how America's farm belt is growing security and prosperity. Secretary Pompeo addressed a group of Farm Bureau members and agribusiness professionals at the World Food Prize building in Des Moines on March 4, 2019. Iowa Farm Bureau hosted the event.

Welcome to Episode 7 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we learn about a series of meetings Iowa farmers can attend to learn about their best risk management options through the new Farm Bill. You can learn more about those Farm Bill meetings here. This episode also includes the Chair of Iowa State University's Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Dr. Ruth MacDonald, talking about imitation meat and milk and the CEO of MillerCoors talking about his company's response to Bud Light's Super Bowl ad attacking corn syrup.

Welcome to Episode 6 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we hear a grain market forecast from Iowa State University economist Dr. Chad Hart and discuss the consequences of GMO misconceptions with University of California, Davis researcher Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam.

Welcome to Episode 5 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we recap Iowa's achievements at the 100th American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in New Orleans. We also sit down with Nestle's VP of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing to talk about the ways that farmers and food companies can work together on sustainability, and we speak with the North American Meat Institute's VP of Public Affairs about "fake meat."

Welcome to Episode 4 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Spokesman editor Dirck Steimel sits down with Iowa Farm Bureau's Director of Government Relations to hear about Farm Bureau's priority issues for the 2019 Iowa legislative session. Also, podcast host Laurie Johns interviews the CEOs of Fareway and the Iowa Restaurant Association about the trends they're seeing in Iowa consumers' meat purchasing and consumption habits.

Welcome to episode 3 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

Depression, anxiety, suicide - these are tough topics, but it's important that we talk about them, especially as farmers face the pressures of a downturned agricultural economy. In this episode, podcast host Laurie Johns sits down with Iowa farmer and psychologist Dr. Mike Rosmann to talk about ways farmers and their loved ones can recognize and respond to signs of stress in themselves and others.

For more information on this topic, or to ask your own questions directly to Dr. Rosmann, be sure to tune into our free webinar with Dr. Rosmann on January 7, 2019.

Welcome to episode 2 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, we hear about China, Japan, Europe and other trade markets from the Trump administration's Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator, Ambassador Gregg Doud, and Paul Clayton of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Also, podcast host Laurie Johns sits down with former NASA astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson to talk about Whitson's inspiring journey from a small family farm in Ringgold County, Iowa to NASA and outer space - where she still holds multiple records, including most total days in space by an American.

Welcome to episode 1 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

In this episode, Spokesman editor Dirck Steimel speaks with Iowa Farm Bureau's chief economist (and Lucas County farmer) Dave Miller about cash flow opportunities for Iowa's farmers to pursue in this tough farm economy, and podcast host Laurie Johns talks with Farm Bureau field service manager (and resident Iowa Farm Bureau historian) Tim Niess about the moments and mentality that have shaped Iowa Farm Bureau over the past 100 years.

Welcome to our special, sneak peek edition of The Spokesman Speaks podcast.

Since 1934, The Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman has been Iowa's leading agriculture news source, and today it is the largest circulation ag newspaper in Iowa. While the newspaper is available exclusively to Iowa Farm Bureau members, the new Spokesman Speaks podcast is available publicly, reaching farmers on-the-go with stories that matter to them.

Starting December 3, 2018, we will release a new episode every other Monday. We hope that you'll subscribe for the podcast and tune in as we release new episodes!