The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Jason Mauck came back to the farm ten years ago from his role a landscape owner. Being a small business owner taught him the value of having many customers. He also learned the importance of maximizing revenue from each customer. He now brings that approach to Agriculture. Jason and I discuss his latest ventures — Munsee Meats, pasture pork, and an Automated Farmers Market. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Production Agriculture, at the commodity level, favors the low cost producer. So where can costs be shaved? Mitch Eviston asked that very question. His answer: through reducing redundancies in the channel — from manufacturer to distribution to retail to, eventually the farm. Call it the Amazon effect of Ag inputs — Mitch and his company, Meristem, believe it is imminent. Beyond the cost savings, a goal for the company is to increase customer convenience. We discuss this and where we might see more channel-free marketing in Ag. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

At the time this episode was recorded, we hadn't officially declared Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election. Assuming he is, here are thoughts considerations, and some outlook on what Ag can expect under a Biden administration. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

This spring, large meat processing facilities closed as workers tested positive for coronavirus. The shutdowns resulted in meat shortages and retailer-enforced rationing which left many questioning our meat supply chain. Are we too dependent on the four big meat processors? Is there room (and profit) for a proliferation of tier 2, medium or specialty meat processors? Oklahoma rancher and CPA, Gary Dennis, joins me to discuss beef and the business viability of going small in meat processing. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

Tight margins and environmental pressure make it important to get the most out of every acre of farm land. Precision Ag helps us do that. But what's on the horizon for applied technology in farming and what exactly is data analysis and why do we need it? Dan Frieberg of Premier Crop Services joins me to discuss how livestock producers and dairy farmers are ahead of crop producers — they've been managing productivity by individual cow and sow for decades. Is it time to cull your poor acres individually? Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

40% of farm land is expected to change hands in the next decade. Consolidation of farming operations - at the commodity level - is going to continue, which means bigger acres in the operation. These trends are real and they are coming at a time of great technological change to how we live and work. Enter CashRent.com, the online method of leasing farm land for both landowner and farmer. It was founded after one of the company's principles discovered a lack of clarity on what his farm investment was worth. The new enterprise is an online information and auction site for Agricultural leases. Is this the future of renting farm land? Co-founder Noah Berkson joins me to discuss. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

The state just north of my home state has an interesting array of Agricultural production. From cherries to wine grapes to hops and hemp, Michigan's micro climates make for some interesting Agriculture. Christie Apple - known online to her fans and followers as Crop Scout Christie - consults for producers of 18 different Ag commodities. And, even more interesting, she advises more than 30 hemp producers. Tune in for an interesting and informative episode…you're going to like my friend Christie.

Expanding on episode 157's subject of commodity promotion, this episode asks the question: Can promotion keep up with production? As farmers continue to produce greater quantity of everything from shrimp to soybeans, can marketing effort keep selling the excess quantity? There are three paths to marketplace profitability in commodity production. The options are: supply management, being the lowest cost producer, or effective promotion. We examine all this and look at the future too. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com

I've never actually seen the movie, Field of Dreams but I know this: We in Ag are amazing at food production, but we often think by "building it" (producing commodities), the consumer will come. Yet, for many commodities that's not been the case. Realizing this, we created the Agricultural Marketing Service and the checkoff program overseen by USDA. In this episode, I explain 5 flaws of promotion and outline better tactics for promoting our bounty. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com New To-dos

Bruce Vincent is the owner of Vincent Logging, a Montana timber company. He's also a timber and environmental community activist. He was forced into his second role when environmentalists put his company out of business and destroyed his timber -reliant town. Bruce joins me to discuss the reality of this "unprecedented" fire season (it's not, and in fact we've only burned about one third of the acres we burned a century ago). We talk about timber as an Ag product, management of resources, and the conflict industry's impact on the Business of Agriculture. Sponsored by Harvest Profit harvestprofit.com