The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 191 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we share a new study on the factors influencing Iowa grocery shoppers' purchasing decisions, who those shoppers trust for information about food and farming, and more. We also hear what 25 Iowa Farm Bureau members learned while recently touring Belgium and the Netherlands to explore European agriculture and learn about European Union (EU) climate regulations. Resource Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more about Iowa grocery shoppers' beliefs and behaviors, through the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Food & Farm Index®. Visit Iowa Farm Bureau’s social media accounts to see photos and videos from the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Market Study Tour: Facebook, Instagram, X Read more about the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Market Study Tour in the Spokesman. Contact Stacy Stevens to express your interest in an upcoming Iowa Farm Bureau Market Study Tour: sstevens@ifbf.org

Welcome to Episode 190 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we chat with Iowa State University’s resident expert on farmland values, economist Dr. Rabail Chandio. We also explore new research on Americans’ meat purchasing habits, with Rick Stein, who’s the Vice President of Fresh Foods for The Food Industry Association. Resource Mentioned in this Episode: Review Iowa State University’s annual Farmland Value Survey. Learn how farmers provide nutritious meat while caring for their animals and the environment at RealFarmersRealFoodRealMeat.com. Learn more about the 2025 “Power of Meat” report.

Welcome to Episode 189 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we discuss learning opportunities, promotion, and funding available to Iowa farmers who grow specialty crops and livestock, through Choose Iowa and Iowa Farm Bureau programs. We also talk with Adam Ledvina, a young Tama County Farm Bureau member who raises Kiko goats for weed and brush management and meat, exemplifying the diverse, nontraditional opportunities in agriculture. Resource Mentioned in this Episode: Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Future Award.Learn more about Choose Iowa.Visit the Iowa Kiko Goats Facebook page.

Welcome to Episode 188 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we talk with Farm Rescue about services they offer farm families facing crises, including illness, injury, and natural disasters. And Ben Covington, the chief test engineer for Iowa State University’s Digital Ag Innovation Lab, shares what he’s seeing as he tests the latest precision herbicide application technology. Resource Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more about Farm Rescue.

Welcome to Episode 187 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa State University Extension weed specialist Dr. Wesley Everman helps farmers navigate changing herbicide requirements, and economist Dr. John Newton offers his thoughts on the current farm economy. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Contact ISU Extension weed specialist Wesley Everman.See more economic analysis from Terrain.Register for one of Iowa Farm Bureau’s upcoming Take Root farm succession workshops.Sign up for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.

Welcome to Episode 186 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson shares recent policy conversations he has had with new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and national lawmakers. And Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses Iowa’s conservation and water quality progress ahead of Earth Day. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Learn about USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP).Visit ConservationCountsIowa.com to learn about Iowa’s conservation and water quality progress.Try the new N-Fact calculator to help you determine your best nitrogen fertilizer application rates.2025 Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour.

Welcome to Episode 185 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa’s State Climatologist, Dr. Justin Glisan, reveals his weather outlook for spring planting and beyond. Later, Amanda Van Steenwyk (who leads Iowa Farm Bureau’s farm succession planning program, Take Root) and farm succession planning attorney Erin Herbold-Swalwell share their tips for successfully transitioning the family farm from one generation to the next. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Register for Dr. Justin Glisan’s free “growing season weather outlook” webinar on April 10.Learn more about the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Climatology Bureau and contact State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan directly.Learn more about Iowa Farm Bureau’s Take Root farm succession program and watch for new workshops this summer.

Welcome to Episode 184 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Dr. Christopher Pudenz and Zach Brummer share their outlook for crop and livestock markets, and Todd Thurman (an ag futurist and swine consultant with 25 years of international agriculture experience) predicts the future of the global ag economy. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s April 1 “Livestock Risk Protection” webinar.Watch Todd Thurman’s webinar predicting the future of the global ag economy.Use these farm facts and conservation infographics/videos/stats to help celebrate Ag Week in Iowa.

Welcome to Episode 183 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Farm Bureau Financial Services regional crop consultant Angie Horn walks farmers through their crop insurance options, and Melissa Miller of the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative shares a new online tool to help farmers calculate their optimum nitrogen application rates. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Watch our recorded webinar with Farm Bureau Financial Services to learn more about your crop insurance options.Learn more about the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative and N-FACT in our recent Spokesman article. Use the new N-FACT calculator to help you determine your optimum nitrogen application rates.

Welcome to Episode 182 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we speak with three Iowa farmers who are carving unique paths in agriculture: Meredith Nunnikhoven, who runs a farm and floristry business in Mahaska County, called Barnswallow Flowers. Lillie Beringer-Crock, who sells her family’s beef and a variety of other locally-produced goods online and in-person, through her business, Beringer Family Farms in Jones County. And Dan Venteicher, an eastern Iowa farmer who’s better known by his roughly 2.5 million followers across TikTok, Facebook and Instagram as the “Iowa Dairy Farmer.”

Welcome to Episode 181 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, futurist Jack Uldrich and Iowa State University ag innovation professor Matt Darr share their thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI), technology and the future of farming. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more about the Digital Ag Innovation Lab at Iowa State University.Learn about ISU Extension’s new digital agriculture specialist, Doug Houser. Contact information for Doug HouserSee ISU’s Planter University locations in early February.Learn more about upcoming Iowa Farm Bureau events and webinars.

Welcome to Episode 180 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we share Iowa Farm Bureau’s priorities for the 2025 state legislative session, a new program that helps aspiring and beginning farmers get started with livestock, and a new program to help address the critical shortage of veterinarians in rural Iowa. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Contact your county Farm Bureau.Read more about Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 state legislative priorities.Learn more about the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers’ new Building Your Livestock Legacy Program.Learn more about Iowa Farm Bureau’s new Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Incentive Program.Learn about more scholarships and grants through Iowa Farm Bureau.

Welcome to Episode 179 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson discusses agriculture’s challenges and opportunities in 2025, and motivational speaker John O’Leary shares the inspiring story of how he overcame seemingly impossible odds (surviving burns on 100% of his body, when doctors gave him a 1% chance of living). No matter what obstacles you’re facing in 2025, John O’Leary has helpful advice for you. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Ag Market Outlook Meeting Series in February.Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Acres of Opportunity Conference, February 15 in Cedar Falls.Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s “How to Write a Pre-Harvest Marketing Plan” webinar, January 16.See other upcoming Iowa Farm Bureau events and webinars.Learn more from motivational speaker John O’Leary at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Welcome to Episode 178 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, economist and Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dr. Jason Henderson analyzes the current macro economy and offers farmers insights for 2025. Later in the episode, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall shares agriculture’s national policy priorities for 2025 and explains why farmers can advocate for themselves more effectively through Farm Bureau. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Contact your local county Farm Bureau.

Welcome to Episode 177 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 3 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County. Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann. Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter. Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp. Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 176 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 2 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County. Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann. Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter. Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp. Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 175 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 1 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County. Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann. Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter. Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp. Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 174 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, the director of Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation offers farmers tips for strategically managing their income taxes and reminds farmers of a new federal law with costly consequences. Later in the episode, Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz discusses the impacts of European climate regulations and offers Iowa farmers a chance to study those impacts firsthand, as participants in a 2025 Market Study Tour of Brussels and the Netherlands. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2024 Iowa Farm Income Tax Webinar (Nov. 18) or view the recording. Avoid steep fines and other penalties by filing your farm’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) with the U.S. Treasury Department by Jan. 1, 2025. To learn more about this requirement, visit calt.iastate.edu or fincen.gov. Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Market Study Tour of Brussels and the Netherlands.Iowa Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting and County Leadership Conference.

Welcome to Episode 173 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we cover the wide range of programs and services Iowa Farm Bureau offers farmers and rural entrepreneurs who want to diversify their businesses or take them to the next level. We also share some helpful tips farms and small ag businesses can use to create their own standout brands and marketing strategies, from an award-winning marketing agency. Finally, we discuss the Farm Bureau Health Plan, a great choice for Iowans who need an affordable alternative to costly individual health coverage. Resources Mentioned in this Episode Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s four-day Marketing + Branding Workshop Series, Nov. 13 – 14 and Dec. 4 – 5 in West Des Moines. Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Future Award. Learn about the most recent (March 2024) Acres of Opportunity Conference – an agenda for next year’s conference will be available in early 2025. Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Program and the Young Farmer Conference. Learn about Renew Rural Iowa, including free, half-day sessions for rural entrepreneurs in Manchester (Nov. 19) and Montrose (Dec. 13). Learn more about the Farm Bureau Health Plan.

Welcome to Episode 172 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Brian Waddingham of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers shares timely reminders for livestock farmers who may face DNR or EPA inspections. Later in the episode, we chat with Zac Preston, a young farmer from Warren County who’s helping create opportunities for his peers across the state, as chair of Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Advisory Committee. Resources mentioned in this episode: • Contact the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers by calling 800-932-2436 or visiting SupportFarmers.com. • Save the date for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Young Farmer Conference: January 17 – 18, 2025. Registration will open in early December. You can follow updates from the Young Farmer Program via their webpage (IowaFarmBureau.com/YoungFarmers), their Facebook page, and their Instagram page.