This week on Unscripted, hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths sit down for one of the most raw and revealing conversations yet—an unfiltered look at the financial storm sweeping across America's farms. Arkansas farmer Adam Chappell shares a powerful firsthand account of how soaring input costs, plummeting crop prices, and corporate consolidation are pushing family farms like his toward the brink of bankruptcy. His warning is urgent and deeply personal: “We’re running out of time.” From the silent epidemic of farmer suicides to public misconceptions about ag wealth, this episode exposes the emotional and economic toll facing multigenerational farming families. It’s not just about crops—it’s about livelihoods, legacy, and the fight to stay rooted in the land.

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In this week’s episode of Unscripted, hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths dive deep into the mounting challenges facing U.S. soybean farmers. Joined by Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, they discuss the heavy impact of trade tensions with China, rising fertilizer costs, and stagnant crop prices that have farmers questioning the future of their livelihoods. Steve shares candid insights on how retaliatory tariffs and political tensions with China—the largest market for U.S. soybeans—have stalled exports and tightened margins. The conversation explores possible policy solutions, including biofuel incentives and conservation programs, aimed at boosting domestic demand and reducing reliance on foreign markets.

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In this episode of Unscripted, Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths sit down with Chip Flory for a deep dive into the Crop Tour process. Flory explains how yield estimates for corn and soybeans are calculated, refined, and kept independent from USDA data, stressing the value of year-over-year comparisons for tracking trends. The conversation explores the impact of Southern Rust in Iowa, regional yield variability, and broader market challenges—from commodity pricing to farmer frustrations with USDA projections.

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This week on Unscripted, Ken Ferry, affectionately nicknamed the “Corn Whisperer,” joins Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths to shed light on crop conditions, particularly pollination issues. Poor pollination is a concern: “This is all filled with pollen... But this pollen that's been in here has been trapped,” Ken explains, referring to challenges caused by silk emergence timing and environmental stress.

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In this week’s episode of Unscripted, Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths are joined by Farm Journal’s master storyteller, Chris Bennett, and constitutional attorney Josh Windham for a powerful conversation on the growing tensions between property rights and government authority. At the center: the Open Fields doctrine—a nearly century-old legal loophole that allows warrantless searches on private land across 1.2 billion acres in the U.S. From hidden trail cameras to drone surveillance, they unpack how modern technology is colliding with outdated legal precedent.

Windham, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, explains how he’s using state constitutions to challenge these intrusions—arguing that it’s time to overturn the 1924 Hester decision and restore true Fourth Amendment protections.

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In this episode of Unscripted, hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths are joined by Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, for a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities in the cattle industry. They cover everything from surging beef demand and the carnivore diet trend to cattle prices and the Maha Movement’s influence. The conversation also explores the looming threat of the New World Screwworm fly, the hurdles in controlling its spread, and Secretary Rollins’ controversial decision to close the border. They discuss the risks of misinformation in the market and the debate over 24/7 agricultural futures trading—highlighting its potential impact on volatility and costs for farmers and ranchers.

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In this episode of Unscripted, hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths welcome Callie Eideberg from The Vogel Group for a candid, behind-the-scenes breakdown of the most pressing issues in agriculture policy today. From the high-stakes reconciliation bill to looming cuts that could reshape the Farm Bill as we know it, this conversation covers the intersection of politics, policy, and rural livelihoods.

We unpack the ripple effects of slashing $230 billion from House Ag’s jurisdiction, the future of the SNAP program, and the delicate balancing act between commodity support and nutrition funding. With trade uncertainty rising—especially with China and the UK—Callie and the team dig into the vital role advocacy plays in keeping American ag strong on the global stage.

As journalists and television hosts, scripts are a lifeline. Hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths are now throwing out the script all together and going “Unscripted”. Each week, we’re joined by fellow Farm Journal hosts and editors to peel back the layers on stories we’ve shared throughout the week for your chance to meet the personalities behind the personalities.

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Hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths welcome veteran Iowa farmer Ben Riensche, one of five farmers invited to the White House to advocate for the continued use of glyphosate. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, Riensche shares deep insights into the agricultural industry's evolving challenges, needs, and innovations.

In this episode, Riensche weighs in on a proposed alternative to federal crop insurance—an innovative model resembling Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Under this concept, farmers could set aside funds during profitable years to buffer against future losses, reducing reliance on traditional crop insurance programs. This approach aims to empower farmers with greater financial autonomy while potentially curbing fraud and improving resilience in the face of volatile weather and markets.

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In this episode of Unscripted, hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths are joined by ag journalist Chris Bennett for a compelling conversation that blends headline-making fraud, rich agricultural history, and personal storytelling. We dive into a bizarre farm fraud case involving four sisters, unpack the challenges of prosecuting agricultural crime, and explore how such scandals can distort public perception of the industry. Plus, Chris Bennett shares a hilarious run-in with airport security you won’t want to miss.

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Following up on “Liberation Day,” hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths sit down with Jacob Shapiro, Director of Research at the Bespoke Group, for a deep dive into the global economics shaping agriculture. This episode of Unscripted unpacks the real-world impacts of tariffs—especially how they’re shifting U.S. export dynamics. With countries like China turning to lower-cost producers like Brazil, American farmers are feeling the pressure of rising production costs and shifting trade alliances. It's a candid conversation about the future of global ag trade and what it means for U.S. producers.

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