The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 168 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we discuss highlights from the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index ®, a survey of Iowa grocery shoppers (by the Harris Poll) about factors influencing their grocery purchases, their feelings about real meat and dairy, and who they trust for information about the nutrition and safety of their food. We also sit down with Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johson to discuss the state of the farm economy and the urgent need to pass a new Farm Bill.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• See more highlights from the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®.

Welcome to Episode 167 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we talk with the co-founder and CEO of Distynct, an ag tech company that's turning traditional livestock alarms into smart alarms. Then we visit with Marshall County farmer and Cloverleaf Animal Welfare Systems COO Jamee Eggers about how Iowa hog farmers can comply with the requirements of California's Proposition 12, in order to sell pork in that state.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Learn more about Distynct smart alarms for livestock facilities.
• Learn more about Cloverleaf Animal Welfare Systems (a company that offers Prop 12 compliance certification).
• See what Iowa Farm Bureau is offering Iowa State Fair visitors.

Welcome to Episode 166 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we discuss new research on the evolution of Iowa farms and agriculture's contribution to Iowa's jobs and the overall economy, with Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz and Brian Waddingham of the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• 2024 Iowa Agriculture Economic Contribution Study
• RSVP for the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers 20th anniversary reception at the Iowa State Fair
• Iowa Farm Bureau's Top 10 Farm and Ag Facts
• Recordings from Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Economic Summit
• Iowa Farm Bureau's Cash Bid Search Tool
• The Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman
• Subscribe for email news updates from Iowa Farm Bureau
• Visit Iowa Farm Bureau at the 2024 Iowa State Fair

Welcome to Episode 165 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we share state and federal assistance available to Iowans impacted by recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, with a guest from the FEMA disaster response team that covers Iowa (John Mills) and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• DisasterRecovery.Iowa.gov
• Iowa's new Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program (DRFIP)
• Two-sheet background document on Iowa's Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program (DRFIP)
• Iowa Disaster Agriculture Resource Guide
• FEMA's national website (DisasterAssistance.gov) and hotline: 1-800-621-3362
• Preparing for natural disasters (Ready.gov)
• Disaster resources through Iowa State University Extension

Welcome to Episode 164 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Washington D.C. insider Frank Kelly shares geopolitical factors farmers should consider as they eye agriculture's future. And Ed Usset, a grain marketing economist from the University of Minnesota, offers his strategic grain marketing recommendations for farmers.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• See slides from Frank Kelly's presentation at Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit.
• Learn more from Ed Usset and the University of Minnesota's Center for Farm Financial Management. You can purchase Ed's book, "Grain Marketing is Simple (It's just not easy)" here.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's economic outlook webinar.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's "Take Root" farm succession seminar, July 25 in Johnston.

Welcome to Episode 163 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dr. Jason Henderson analyzes Iowa's current ag economy and explores keys he sees for future economic success. And young Iowa farmer Hans Riensche shares what he hopes to learn about transitioning farms to future generations sustainably, through an international study program.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about the Nuffield Scholar program and Hans Riensche.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's "Take Root" farm succession seminar, July 25 in Johnston.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.

Welcome to Episode 162 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Madelynn Wuestenberg, an Iowa native and recent master's graduate in Agricultural Meteorology from Iowa State University, speaks with us about her new role as the Agricultural Climatology Specialist for ISU Extension. Then Iowa Farm Bureau's Farmer Education Program Manager offers a sneak peek of our upcoming Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour, which will include stops at unique ag sites across western Iowa & Nebraska. If you're a young Iowa farmer, ages 21-40, register by June 30 to secure your spot.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.

Welcome to Episode 161 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. By now, we're all pretty familiar with the inaccurate greenhouse gas (GHG) accusations against agriculture. In this episode, American Farm Bureau economist Danny Munch shares the other (less publicized) side of the story, using recently released GHG data from EPA. Also in this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau national policy advisor Daniel Heady updates us on negotiations for a new Farm Bill.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Read economist Danny Munch's analysis of agriculture's GHG emissions.
• Top 10 Iowa farm facts , including environmental progress
• Register now for Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.

Welcome to Episode 160 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we hear from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Beth Romer about Choose Iowa, a program through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship that provides value-added grants to farmers and markets Iowa-grown products to consumers. We also visit with Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz about Farm Bureau's upcoming Economic Summit.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• ChooseIowa.com
• Register now for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit

Welcome to Episode 159 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan offers his forecast for the 2024 growing season. And Brian Waddingham shares how the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers has been helping farm families raise livestock responsibly and successfully for the past 20 years.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Climatology Bureau
• Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers website
• Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Economic Summit