The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Aquabounty is a company that came on my radar a couple years ago when they purchased and redeveloped an indoor fish farm in Indiana. The company produces genetically engineered salmon — the first animal protein to be GMO (which, as you can imagine, invites a lot of scrutiny). Sylvia Wulf, Aquabounty's CEO joins me to explain aquaculture, discuss salmon consumption and production, and talk about everything seafood. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com and LandTrust landtrust.com

Bill and Melinda Gates own almost 250,000 acres of productive farm land, and it's my hunch that it's not simply because he loves the smell of dirt. Bill, along with a cooperative media, bills himself a philanthropist. But the world's 4th wealthiest man occasionally passes off as altruism what is in reality control. Two months ago he stated wealthy nations such as the U.S. should switch to a 100% synthetic meat diet. He then stated that to accomplish this "might require regulations." Now you understand some of my concern. When a guy who wants to control America's dinner plate controls vast amounts of farmland and possesses the financial resources to dictate legislative outcomes, I see red flags. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Farmland is an asset that appears to be garnering more attention, even from the non-farming world. But what's an aspiring farm ground investor to do if he or she can't muster the huge price of entry for a tract of land? Enter AcreTrader, the company designed to bring together capital and farmers who need farm land to rent. Carter Malloy joins me to discuss his vision, the farm land marketplace, and what the future might look like for farm property ownership. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Brice and Blaine Hitzfield are two of the seven sons who make up Seven Sons Farms — a pasture-based operation in growth mode. The family operation produces beef, pork, and eggs, and has grown into a processor and direct marketer of their products. The brothers also operate Graze Cart — an online platform for direct-to-consumer sales, and Hen Gear — a manufacturer of chicken coops and nesting boxes for pasture poultry operations. The Hitzfield brothers join me to share business lessons and share entrepreneurial outlook for niche Agriculture. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Two main arguments used against animal Agriculture are environmental issues and animal care. We've faced increased regulations on both and endure lawsuits on the environmental front — particularly as related to nuisance lawsuits over odor. Facing a future of greater scrutiny on odor and antibiotics, Ag needs to look ahead. Mike Rincker and TJ Gaydos with DPI Global join me to discuss the reality and the future of livestock production as it pertains to these two topics. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Agriculture is increasingly impacted by regulation from the local, state, and federal level. But it appears to be getting worse. Activists and conflict groups used to lobby and protest against our industry. Now they hold positions of power. Eric Bream, a California citrus producer and politically active Agriculturalist joins me to discuss the methods of activism, dealing with regulations, and what he sees in the future. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

About 900 million acres are devoted to Agriculture in the United States. In addition to those acres are wooded property and other non-farmed land owned by American farm owners. Nic DeCastro saw those acres and — as an outdoorsman — saw an opportunity to help landowners profit by allowing short term usage for hunting and fishing. His company, LandTrust, does just that. As landowners, we must always look for opportunities to earn revenue off our holding while protecting it for the next generation. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

We talk a lot about Ag's need to educate the consumer. There are, however, multiple problems with effectively doing this. First off, the consumer is far removed from the farm. Secondly, the consumer might bristle at being told they need educated. And lastly, the consumer may not even really care — they're eating pretty well without being educated so what's the downside? Farmer and friend of show, Andy Ambriole joins me to discuss the rights and wrongs of consumer outreach. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Following up on the previous episode with Iowa farmer, Kelly Garrett, where we discussed carbon farming, I sit down with Rob West of Thunder Said Energy. He's an energy consultant turned carbon expert, and he believes Agriculture is the answer to carbon sequestration both from an economic and practicality standpoint. This is a hot topic that is in its early stages. Agriculture will be increasingly affected and possibly rewarded — listen closely! Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Most farmers are from a farm, not Cason Anderson. Sure, his parents had a few cows on an acreage but they weren't really farmers. Cason is. He got into pecan farming by purchasing used harvesting machinery when he was 18 and picking up some small, un-maintained pecan orchards. Nine years later he and his crew of three farm 840 acres of pecans. He explains pecan production's ups and downs and talks about starting out as a young person in the Business of Agriculture. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com