Episodes
Reading the feed…
Reading the feed…
The National FFA Organization's Chapter Connect program connects diverse FFA chapters across the U.S. to foster authentic relationships and learning. The program, which includes financial assistance for national convention attendance, involves 32 chapters, 30 of which are new. Participants, like Jordan FFA from North Carolina and Westwood FFA from Arizona, engage in virtual and in-person activities to discuss commonalities and challenges, such as recruitment and retention. The program has evolved to include project components and service learning to sustain connections beyond the convention. A
Mark Twenhafel, owner of Midwest Ag Risk Kontrol, discussed his company's fire control product, Firebull. His farm, established in 1910, inspired him to seek a better fire extinguisher after experiencing ineffective traditional methods. He discovered Firebull, which attacks fire by cooling it, creating a protective coating, and preventing burnback. Firebull mixes with water to create foam, magnifying its effectiveness. A 3% mix handles most farm fires, while a 6% mix tackles magnesium and metals. The Air Three system, which produces 60 gallons of foam from 3 gallons of liquid, enhances reach a
John Rich, Special Envoy for American Agriculture, discussed his new role, which he took on after successfully opposing a $2 billion TVA project threatening farmland in Tennessee. Rich highlighted ongoing efforts in seven states, including a case in Illinois and a significant issue in New York over redefined prime farmland. He emphasized the importance of landowners reporting issues via usda.gov/lawfair and advised against signing NDAs. Rich also addressed the impact of federal regulations on farmers and the need for balanced data center development. Balancing his music career with this role,
Tom Wojno, COO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), discussed the robust growth and optimism in the dairy industry. He highlighted a $13 billion investment, making dairy the largest retail category with $80 billion in sales and nearly $10 billion in annual exports. He noted the impact of GLP-1s, with 9-13% of consumers currently using them, and the potential for oral GLP-1s to increase this to 30%. Wojno emphasized the importance of flexibility, sustainability, and efficiency in dairy production. He also mentioned IDFA's new state government affairs team and Project Diversify,
Kim Rounds, Talent Acquisition Manager at Five Rivers Cattle Feed Yard, discusses strategies for entering the agriculture industry. She emphasizes the importance of showcasing all relevant experiences, even if they seem unrelated to agriculture. Most jobs at Five Rivers are feedlot roles, with a smaller percentage in office positions. Rounds advises applicants to use online platforms strategically and to persistently follow up. She notes a significant increase in female applicants and the need for companies to support work-life balance. Rounds also highlights the importance of soft skills and
The Ag Queen podcast discusses sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Tom Michaels of United Airlines and Allison Graab from the Sustainable Aviation Coalition. SAF is made from renewable products like corn, soybeans, and sorghum. The U.S. is a leader in SAF technology, with production rising 157% to 240 million gallons in 2025. Despite this, jet fuel use in 2025 was over 26 billion gallons, projected to reach 31 billion by 2045. SAF doesn't require new infrastructure and can help airlines mitigate fuel price volatility, making it a strategic investment for long-term resilience.
Lorrie Boyer interviews Michael Hinton, CEO of TalkingTractors.com and founder of Antique Tractor Preservation Day, who recently attended a White House event. Hinton shares his passion for promoting agriculture and heritage tractors, including his induction into the National Agriculture Hall of Fame. Gary West, a country music singer and race car driver, discusses his background, including his transition from playing drums to singing and his recent racing experiences. Both Hinton and West express their mutual support and future plans to collaborate on promoting agriculture and heritage through
In March, the Morril fire ravaged over 6,000 acres of Nebraska Sandhills, including the Circle L Ranch owned by Naomi Loomis and her family. Loomis recounted the day's events, detailing how her husband and sons fought the fire while she and their children helped neighbors and tried to save their own property. Despite the chaos, their faith and community support were crucial. The fire destroyed trees, corrals, and hay, but spared their house and barns. She emphasized the resilience of their family and the community's role in the aftermath, which will be further discussed in part two of the inte
Elena Myhre, Director of Marketing and Communications for the International Poultry Welfare Alliance and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, discussed the organizations' efforts in sustainability and welfare. The US Roundtable, founded in 2019, has released two sustainability reports, covering 101 voluntary metrics under three pillars: people, planet, and poultry.
Angela Ganter, a barrel racer from Abilene, Texas, shared her inspiring story of overcoming stage four breast cancer diagnosed in 2010. Despite undergoing nine surgeries and seven years of chemotherapy, she returned to barrel racing, winning six pro rodeos and making the Canadian finals with her daughter Jackie. Ganter's documentary, "Outriding the Devil," premiered in Las Vegas and highlights her resilience and the support of her family and community. The film is set to appear in film festivals, with a Lifetime Channel movie also in the works. Ganter emphasized the healing power of horses and
Keaton Dugan, senior manager at Pinion Global, shared insights into his leadership role in managing commodity crop services, which encompass tax audits, land advisory, and risk management. He underscored the critical value of long-term tax planning for farmers, urging them to prioritize future financial goals rather than focusing solely on annual tax minimization. Dugan outlined several strategic approaches, including deferred grain contracts, crop insurance deferrals, and bonus depreciation. He also emphasized the necessity of maintaining precise records, engaging in timely communication with
David Grindle, President and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, discussed the organization's role in supporting fairs since 1884. He highlighted the economic impact of fairs, noting that the average U.S. fair runs for 6.6 days, generating $30 billion annually, and fairgrounds contribute $52 billion and 343,000 jobs. Grindle emphasized the importance of volunteer efforts, with 101 fairs in Illinois alone generating significant local economic benefits. He also mentioned unique cultural events at fairs, such as Wife Carrying races in Scotland and Australia.
Duane Stateler, National Pork Producers Council president and a fifth-generation farmer in Northwest Ohio, talks about the propects of getting a new farm bill this year, the challenges posed by Proposition 12, which mandates specific animal housing standards, causing disruptions in the supply chain and increasing costs. Stateler emphasized the need for a unified standard to avoid a patchwork of regulations.He also addressed workforce issues, noting the reliance on undocumented workers and the lack of a clear path for their return. Finally, he expressed concerns about the "Make America Healthy
Michael Hinton, founder of the Antique Tractor Preservation Day, discussed the recent proclamation by the Kansas Governor, making August 22 an annual observance. The event will be held in Hutchison, Kansas, featuring a pictorial postmark available nationally and internationally. Hinton highlighted the involvement of local sponsors, the Hutchison Fire Department, and the Great Plains Antique Tractor Club. He also mentioned the Rose Bowl Parade's interest in his initiative and his plans to expand the event nationally. Hinton emphasized the importance of preserving agricultural heritage and engag
David Katz, founder of Zyr Vodka, discussed his 25-year journey in the vodka industry, starting in Russia and transitioning to the U.S. He highlighted the unique aspects of Zyr Vodka, made from organic winter wheat and rye, and distilled in Peoria, Illinois. The brand was significantly impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to a shift in production to the U.S. Zyr Vodka is distributed in about 30 states, with plans to expand. The brand emphasizes transparency, using no additives, and is certified organic and gluten-free.
In today's show, we visit with Christopher Burnett, who is recently retired from the Marine Corps. His goal is to start a nonprofit indoor commercial vertical farm to train military veterans and their families on the latest tools, techniques, and technology driving the CEA/vertical farm market. He has a proposal with the GW Bush Presidential Center Stand To Veteran Leadership Program to open a nonprofit commercial farm in Hagerstown, MD to expose folks to hydro, aero, and aquaponic systems. Tune into the podcast to learn more.
Mark Arnusch from Arnusch Farms in Keensburg, Colorado, discussed a new research collaboration with New Belgium Brewing, Montana State University, and Proximity Malts to test drought-tolerant barley varieties. The project aims to develop barley suitable for Northern Colorado's climate, focusing on resilience to water scarcity and heat. Arnusch Farms is testing three varieties on nine acres, with planting starting when soil temperatures reach 38 degrees and harvesting around mid-July. The project also includes observations from Montana State University and New Belgium Brewery In addition, Arnus
Natural elements in the air that used to provide sulfur to crops have changed with cleaner air initiatives. That means a lack of sulfur in the soil. Now, farmers are having to add it, and Josh Johnson, AgriGold Agronomist (based in Kentucky), talks about all things sulfer on today's show.
In today’s episode, I host an AgTrax Technology Panel. We discuss the integration of Ag Trax ERP with strategic partners like Stone X Financial Inc., FCM Division, and Easy Automation. Gayle Lewis, President of Ag Trax, explained the evolution of their Enterprise Resource Planned (ERP) system, emphasizing its strength in commodity accounting. Don Konz from Stone X highlighted the benefits of their hedge management platform, Stone Hedge, which integrates with AgTrax to streamline grain purchasing and hedging processes. Brady Gaalswyk from Easy Automation, Inc. detailed their software's role in
The International Fresh Produce Association is rallying behind the Food as Medicine movement. Learn what Food and Medicine is in today's show with my guest, Mollie Van Lieu, Vice President of Nutrition and Health at the IFPA.
On today's show, Rabobank's, Dr. David Magana talks with Lorrie about a recent report on one of the most popular snacks in the US- pistachos.
Today's show focuses on Sober Cowboy, a non-profit organization created to provide community support to those in agriculture who are dealing with addictions.
The Public Lands Council says that a family is South Dakota is being grossly mistreated by being indicted by the US Forest Service over federal grazing permits and a fencing structure. In this show, learn about the background of this situation why it goes against the premise of working with federal agencies to manage land in partnership, and how it sets a bad precedent of how issues are handled between the Forest Service and permittees.
Learn how BioLumic is using ultraviolet light signal technology to trigger biological responses in seeds that have proven to improve plant growth and yields.
On this edition of the Ag Queen Podcast, Protect The Harvest Executive Director, Mike Siemens joins Lorrie to talk about how the organization was started and what they do to protect the production of animal agriculture against animal rights activist groups. They are a national organization working on several current industry issues. Tune into the show to learn more.
