Farming the Countryside with Andrew McCrea

It’s been 45 years since the events in a small town that precipitated the New York Time’s bestseller, “In Broad Daylight.” This week I interview the author of that book, a man who continues to travel to the town of Skidmore, Missouri to visit with friends about an event that still intrigues the nation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence we take a look at a couple of interviews that share some of the often overlooked stories of the birth of the nation. These are stories you may have never heard, yet ones important to the freedom we have today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Depending on where you live, the best price you may have been able to get to forward contract this year’s corn crop for harvest delivery is about $4. Is that as good as it will get? Is it a similar story for soybeans? Cattle have been profitable, but is it a trend that lasts through 2026 and beyond?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New World Screwworm has now entered the United States. So what is this worm and what can it do to a cattle herd. We discuss the impacts, plus I have a special interview about a project from a century ago that greatly impacted some of the most isolated parts of farm country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tight crop margins have many of us searching for the best ways to pencil a profit. This week we take a look at three areas producers can better manage to maximize profits. Learn to use improved marketing, crop insurance strategies and farm programs to help your operation stay in the black.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent court rulings will have an impact on who farmers can hire and what wages they will earn. We visit with Ray Starling for an update on this ruling as well as other legal updates of interest in the ag industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was a very profitable year for many cattle producers. Will that trend continue this year? We take a look at the domestic and international trends that are shaping the market and what that means for ranchers this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us live and work in and around small towns. We may have concerns about the long term viability of the businesses, schools and homes in those rural communities. How could you invest in those towns, make a positive impact and turn a profit for you and others? Here’s an example. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Much of this year’s corn crop is planted and has emerged. What can we do now to get the most out of this year’s harvest? What are the key items we should be evaluating to make sound agronomic decisions this growing season? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sales of new machinery have slowed but parts of the machinery market remain strong as farmers invest their dollars in good, used equipment. What parts of the market are the strongest and what are the best buying and selling strategies for 2026? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many crop farmers have endured at least a couple of years now of tight crop margins that may make it difficult to service operating lines of credit. How are interest payments, carryover loans and negative balance sheets impacting lenders? We talk with a community ag bank about how to handle difficult discussions to keep moving in a positive direction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

I’ll take you to a farm that constantly looks at the diversity of crops and markets to find the best combination to develop and maintain strong revenue streams. It’s a method of farming that led this farmer to be named the Top Producer Woman in Agriculture Award Winer.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The land market remains strong in most areas with record sales continuing to be reported in some areas of the country. Are higher interest rates likely to have an impact on this trend? How are land rental rates being impacted by tight crop margins? We take a look at the market from a buyers and sellers perspective.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s difficult to pencil a profit on some crop acres this year, but there are profitable margins to be had.  Meet a farmer who shares his tips on keeping things in the black even in lean times to help generate consistent positive returns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Clay always brings a valuable insight to our conversation with his midwestern farm roots and his global perspective on how agriculture and food. This time he talks about the long term impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and some of the changes he sees for the crops we raise and who buys them.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman is still very involved in the agriculture industry, working with individuals, businesses and nations around the world. We got his thoughts on the proposed Farm Bill, Food Pyramids and much more that will impact the profitability and future of farming.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farming has its risks and some of those risks are unavoidable. How do you decide what level of risk is acceptable in order to make a living and create the best possible future? We visit with a first-generation farmer who is weighing the choices his farm has to support a future generation without risking too much in the present.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prospects for profits on this year’s crop could be a challenge. However, Kelly Garrett sees opportunities. Kelly is always looking at the best ways to efficiently produce more bushels and best market was he grows. We take a look at some of the key items he will be implementing this year.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This family farm has a four month waiting list for its beef. Plus, they have other local producers that have joined their effort to supply their on-farm store that has become quite popular. These Ohio corn and soybean farmers share their personal story that helped make them one of the 2026 Top Producer of the Year finalists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we meet a farmer using a combination of crop techniques to promote better soil health, reduce costs and improve margins. Some of the ideas are time proven methods such as cover crops, but the way this operation seeds those covers and integrates them with livestock provide opportunities to thrive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we visit with a farmer who is the recently retired secretary of agriculture for his thoughts on key trends impacting the ag industry. What are the important market moving factors that will impact farmers of all types? What are the opportunities to change our operations to increase profits and build a sustainable, multigenerational operation? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Tim Nuss is this year’s Top Producer Next Gen Award Winner. He shares his story of coming back into a family operation and finding ways to take advantage of profit centers by identifying new and changing markets that his farm can help supply. He shares some of his top tips that have worked for his operation and lessons we apply in our own business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Machinery Pete has been logging machinery sale data for over three decades so it’s hard to surprise him with anything that happens in the industry. However, he recently reported a trend that he’s not seen in his lifetime. We discuss how tight crop margins are impacting the new and used machinery market and what to keep in mind when making a trade.  See omnystudio.com/listener for...

It may be tempting to try to improve crop margins by cutting your soil fertility program. However, some cost saving measures may wind up hurting ROI in the end. What are the most important decisions to make and how do you allocate your dollars in the best way possible? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wireless fencing is technology being adopted by some farmers and it could make rotational grazing an option for more people since it lowers the amount labor needed to move electric fences. This week I visit with a farmer who is not only rotationally grazing his cows and calves, but he’s also using it as an opportunity to better utilize crop residue and use some unique intercropping systems i...