Farm Broadcaster, Lorrie Boyer

Brody Jones, the new Colorado State FFA president, shares his journey and goals. Brody, a four-year member and chapter president, aims to continue the success of the Colorado FFA and build connections with over 10,000 members. He will serve at the CSU Spur campus in Denver, along with nine other state officers. Brody plans to attend the Summit Conference in DC and various county fairs. He will pur...

Dr. Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, dean of the Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences , and Dr. Chris Gomans, professor in the CSU Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics,  discussed the economic impacts of drought in Colorado. Dr. Gomans highlighted the importance of water sources like snowpack and precipitation and how droughts affect crop yields and economic activity. He n...

Dustin Schmer, a technical agronomist for DeKalb, covers Northeast Colorado, parts of Nebraska, and Southeast Wyoming. He gives a mid-season growing update. 

Andy Maul, a technical agronomist for Bayer , discussed his extensive territory in Illinois, covering from Decatur to Quincy. He highlighted the dual challenges of dry and wet conditions during planting, leading to delayed planting and replanting in some areas. Maul noted increased disease pressure, including gray leaf spot, physoderma, and tar spot, and the early emergence of aphids. He emphasize...

Jamie Loecker, an agronomy service manager at Syngenta, discussed the emergence of tar spot in the Midwest, particularly in Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and possibly Illinois. Tar spot appears as black flecks on corn leaves and can be mistaken for insect feces. Early detection is crucial for managing 2026 corn disease risk, with fungicide applications recommended at the V14 stage or...

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 incre...

Jim Krause, owner of Marketing Beef, teaches new and inexperienced farmers how to market their beef effectively. He emphasizes the importance of quality in every aspect of the operation, from pasture management to customer engagement. Jim prefers local marketing over internet sales, believing in long-term, sustainable relationships rather than price-based transactions.

ACME Ag Consulting is a six-person network of independent agricultural consultants based in St. Louis. The group, with diverse backgrounds in farming, government, and major agribusinesses, offers a collaborative approach to ag consulting, combining their specializations in government relations, trade policy, product launches, and communication strategies. They emphasize their ability to provide qu...

Nick Colglazier, Executive Director of the Colorado Corn Promotion Council , discussed the impact of high fertilizer costs on farmers, noting a 100% increase since 2020. He highlighted an FTC investigation into fertilizer price manipulation, emphasizing the lack of competition due to consolidation in the U.S. market. Glaser also mentioned efforts to promote E15 fuel, 

Patrick Sanders, Director of Agronomy Enablement at Nutrien , discusses the importance of tissue sampling for in-season nutrition decisions. He explains that soil tests indicate total nutrients available, while tissue samples show actual plant uptake, crucial for optimizing fertilizer applications. Sanders highlights the use of AI and digital tools to enhance agronomic logic and decision-making. H...

UnCommon Farms, led by Matt Ronken, provides business advisory services to farms across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on strategic planning, succession planning, leadership development, and risk management. The company, headquartered near St. Louis, serves clients from Washington to Florida and into Canada. UnCommon Energy, led by Jack Scatizzi, focuses on helping farmers manage energy usage and u...

Jake Erker, a farmer from the Keensburg/Roggen, Colorado area, shared how the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP) has strengthened his leadership skills and broadened his understanding of agriculture across the state. He highlighted the program’s value in improving public speaking, networking, and relationship‑building — skills he says are essential for modern producers. Jake emphasize...

Cindy Hofmeister, a semi-retired teacher and Executive Director of Colorado Ag in the Classroom, discusses her participation in the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP). She highlights the program's professional development opportunities, networking benefits, and the value of meeting producers and learning about diverse agricultural practices. Hofmeister emphasizes the importance of hosting...

Troy Schneider, a board member of the National Corn Growers Association, discussed the recent progress on E15 year-round sales legislation. After multiple trips to Washington, D.C., and bipartisan efforts, the House passed a standalone bill decoupled from the farm bill, achieving a 218-vote majority. Schneider highlighted the importance of this legislation, which would modify the Clean Air Act to...

Nutrien Senior Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard discussed the current and future weather patterns affecting the Corn Belt. He noted a transition to a pattern similar to last winter, with cooler air from Canada and showers from the Great Lakes. Dry conditions persist in the Central Plains, while central Illinois has experienced standing water after a drought. Pritchard highlighted the impact of El Ni...

Alicia Marrs, Associate Vice President of Western Water at the National Wildlife Federation, discussed the organization's efforts to conserve water resources, particularly in the context of low snowpack in Colorado. She emphasized the importance of nature-based solutions like low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) to mimic natural water processes and improve ecosystem health. Marrs highli...

Elena Chavez, Southern Colorado territory manager for Halter , discussed their virtual fencing technology. Halter, based in Colorado, uses direct-to-satellite technology to manage large, mountainous ranges. The collars, designed for cattle, use auditory and electric cues for containment, and vibrations for positive reinforcement. The collars, made of durable Gorilla Glass, are intended for lifelon...

The Colorado Farmable Program , funded by a 2501 grant held by Goodwill of Colorado, assists underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers in Colorado with agricultural business planning. The "From Field to Funded" course, lasting 8-10 weeks, provides no-cost business planning education, helping participants create lender-ready business plans. The program, which includes one-on-one techni...

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 using online platforms to apply, but also sugge...

Tim Sickman, a Nutrien T echnical Agronomist with over 40 years of experience, discussed current field conditions in Illinois and Kentucky, noting ideal planting conditions despite some dryness. He highlighted the importance of sulfur in soil fertility, emphasizing its role in chlorophyll production, amino acid development, and nitrogen use efficiency. Sickman explained that the Clean Air Act has...

The Ag Queen podcast discusses sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Tom Michels 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, project...

Katie Strand, a fourth-generation farmer and soil conservationist in Washington County, Colorado, discussed her challenges in farming, including high input costs, drought, and succession planning with her brother. She highlighted the importance of the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP) in enhancing her leadership skills, networking, and understanding various aspects of agriculture, such as bank...

Alex Miller, a cow-calf producer from Brighton, Colorado, shared his journey of overcoming a 2014 car accident that led to the amputation of both his legs. Initially hesitant about the Colorado AgrAbility program, he was encouraged by his caseworker, Candy, to participate. AgrAbility provided him with assistive technology, including a portable cattle handling system and an all-terrain track chair,...

Shay Foulk, lead consultant at Ag View Solutions , discusses his role in helping farm operations with succession planning, cost of production, and business growth. He uses the Farm Profit Manager tool to optimize cost of production and offer an annual executive business conference and peer group sessions. Faulk emphasizes the importance of clear communication, family and business governance, and a...

Ethan AX, a senior manager of training and development at GrowMark, discussed his background in agriculture and leadership development. He talked about how his background led to his involvement in the Illinois Ag Leadership Program , which includes diverse participants and provides broad perspectives on agriculture. Ethan shared insights from recent program activities, such as visits to Southern I...