The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 70 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Shawn Richmond of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC) reports the latest data on Iowa farmers’ efforts to conserve soil and protect water quality. And American Farm Bureau economists Dr. John Newton and Shelby Myers share how farmers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions (as well as the potential economic incentives). Resources mentioned in this episode: latest report on agriculture’s water...

Welcome to Episode 69 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Dr. Dennis Todey (the director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub) offers his forecast for the 2021 growing season. And Mike Steenhoek (executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition) shares some innovative solutions that could save your county hundreds of thousands of dollars on rural bridge repairs and replacements. Resources mentioned in this episode: 2021 growing season forecast webinar with Dr. Dennis Todey...

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...

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...

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'...

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...

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 columnIowa Farm Bureau’s Economic Summit Webinar Series Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Conference Iowa Farm...

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 ConferenceRegister for Iowa Farm...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Welcome to Episode 58 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is Part 1 of our special 3-part series with three Midwest Farm Bureau 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 (to be released November 12) will cover the changing nature of...

Welcome to Episode 57 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Farm Bureau Heath Plan Vice President Steve Kammeyer shares the unique benefits of the Farm Bureau Health Plan (which is designed for Iowans who don’t qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act) and why the plan is offering subscribers a base rate reduction in 2021. Resources referred to in this episode: Check out the Farm Bureau Health PlanVoting resources from Iowa Farm Bureau ANF Homegate Giveaway

Welcome to Episode 56 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Kristine Tidgren (Director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University) helps farmers make the most informed choices when filing their 2020 income taxes. From COVID-19 relief payments and programs to crop insurance claims resulting from the derecho, farmers have experienced a wide range of unusual things that they'll need to account for when filing their taxes in 2020. Also, Terry...

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we discuss CFAP 2 (the second round of coronavirus relief now available to farmers through USDA) with American Farm Bureau Chief Economist Dr. John Newton. We also meet the new head of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa (incoming State Conservationist Jon Hubbert) to discuss his new role, his perspective on conservation in Iowa, some relief that’s available to farmers hit by this summer’s derecho, and...

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. Harvest is a particularly stressful time that can produce more safety risks, and no one understands that better, both personally and professionally, than Emily Krekelberg (a farm safety and health expert for the University of Minnesota). This special episode features a conversation with Emily about staying safe and managing stress during the harvest season. Below are resources referred to in this...

Welcome to Episode 53 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This special episode features a one-on-one conversation with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (on September 23, 2020) regarding derecho and COVID-19 relief, the RFS and other important national ag issues.

Welcome to Episode 52 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa State University grain quality expert Dr. Charles Hurburgh shares his advice for farmers who will be handling crops damaged by Iowa’s derecho storm and drought. And Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill shares the highlights from Iowa Farm Bureau’s recent Summer Policy Conference. Below are resources referred to in this episode: Dr. Mark Licht (a cropping systems specialist for ISU Extension) offers farmers...

Welcome to Episode 51 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa DOT officer Sergeant Kevin Killpack talks about DOT’s rules and exceptions for farmers during the 2020 harvest. And Iowa farm celebrity Michelle Miller (known to her social media followers as “The Farm Babe”) shares how she welcomed Burger King executives to learn the truth about the sustainability of agriculture (after Burger King ran an ad mischaracterizing the environmental impact of cattle). Below are...