Farming the Countryside with Andrew McCrea

The timing and speed that we put crops in the ground has changed over the years. How is this impacting weed and pest control and what changes should we consider? Jeff Moon gives us an overview of what he see in farm feilds and strategies to consider to get the most for our money when it comes to crop protection.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard much about the big bill signed on July 4th and its impact on a number of areas of our lives. What will be the outcome for farming and the ag industry. Paul Neiffer talks with us about the favorable and unfavorable aspects of the legislation and any tips on adjusting how we operate our businesses in order to best take advantage of the new law. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Make a list of progressive farming practices and there will be plenty of people that will tell you why it won’t work where they live. In some cases, they may be correct, but Tom Cotter’s farm proves many of those notions wrong. He grows multiple crops using several different farming methods, becoming a place that many come to learn how they can accomplish the same thing where they farm...

With tight crop margins and machinery manufacturers scaling back production does that mean farmers have leverage when trading or purchasing tractors, combines and machinery? Greg Peterson says the current farm equipment economy is much different that the previous downturn about a decade ago. What does that mean for buying and selling equipment now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

John Seabrook has quite a story to share. His story just happens to be his family’s story and what a tale it is. His grandfather was called the Henry Ford of Agriculture. His father rubbed shoulders with the Hollywood elite and their family made an impact in the industry of agriculture and beyond. Here’s the story of the building and downfall of one of the largest farms in the U.S. See...

U.S. and Canadian farmers share many similarities, however agricultural trade may seem to pit the two against one another right now. Our guest is Shaun Haney and he provides a Canadian view of trade talks and agricultural priorities for his home country. What do U.S. farmers need to better understand about their neighbors to the north and vice versa? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Exports are a very important part of U.S. agriculture. This nation has done a good job of growing exports over the past few decades, but are today’s buyers the buyers of the future? How are populations changing and what does that mean for U.S. farmers and the mix of crops that are grown? We have an interesting look at how the world is changing, perhaps a lot quicker than most thought it woul...

Farming is often a capital-intensive venture. Tanner Sherman is a first-generation farmer on land where his input costs may be $35,000 per acre. So how do you get started AND make a living? I’ll take you to central California where managing 125 acres is a high intensity job that can create enough cash flow for one family.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many farmers have been offered contracts to devote some of their acres to solar, wind and other energy developments over the past few years. Are those projects on the decline with a new administration or are they stronger than ever? We take a look at the current market place and potential opportunities and dangers for those considering selling or leasing land for these projects.  See omnystud...

Chugwater, Wyoming is a town of under 200 residents in the southeastern part of the Cowboy state. I recent had a chance to meet their mayor, a relatively young newcomer from Pennsylvania. What he’s learned and what he’s shared with the community holds lessons for all of us on building better farms, ranches, small towns and communities that thrive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

David Hula consistently raises some of the highest corn yields in the nation. His farm near Chesapeake Bay has challenges many other farmers don’t face, yet those extra hurdles have helped him learn better ways to increase bushels and profits and make him a source of advice to many other row crop farmers. We visit with him about some key areas we should evaluate to increase our chances of su...

Kim Ratcliff had some roots in ranch life, but she was working in New York City. When life events changed, she found herself helping to manage the family ranch and building a direct-to-consumer model that has been very successful. Her work offers insights into ways many of us can add value to the crops we grow and the livestock we raise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of row crop farms have negative balance sheets for this year. How are lenders reacting to farm numbers that are often in the red? What are top farms doing that we can all learn from to stay well in the black? What is the route to profitability in challenging times? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy Pfaltzgraff and Emily Kamala farm in northeastern Colorado. Their goal is to be “market makers” by growing crops for a premium that have specific end-users in mind. It’s a route that has its challenges and opportunities but a path that has them talking with many other farmers about how they can capture extra profit by doing some of the same types of things.  See omnystud...

Dalton Dilldine was recognized as Top Producer’s Next Generation award winner. His farm in the Delta region of northeast Arkansas provides opportunities to grow several crops. We discussed how he stepped into a leadership role right out of high school and how he balanced education, farming and a progressive mindset to grow his operation into the award-winning business it is today.  See...

The impact of tariffs provides uncertainty, but are the fundamentals in the cattle markets still stacked up to keep the market moving in an upward direction? Will supplies remain low and demand steady for beef? We discuss where we stand and the drivers for were we’ll go in the cattle markets and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re all looking for ways to cut costs, boost yields and earn more per acre. One young farmer in Iowa is using a combination of conservation practices, cattle and hogs to cut his input costs and raise yields. We talk about the changes he’s made and the results he sees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crop margins for most operators are tighter than past years.  Is this the time to make a machinery sale or trade?  What equipment sectors are strong or weak?  What is the outlook for new equipment both now and in the future.  And, what are some overlooked opportunities we should explore?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regulations that impact the way we farm can be a concern for many. However, this farmer has been living with increased regulations for many years, and he shares what he's learned and how it’s impacted the way he farms. His experiences have him giving his thoughts with many farm groups and we visit with him on this edition of our show.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

If you are involved in farming, there’s a good chance your family owns some land. That land may have a lot of value and passing it from one generation to the next, whether that is inside or outside the family, can have a lot of consequences attached to it. It can be difficult to maintain family harmony and the sellers often want to have a plan in place to not see taxes eat up all the profit....

Commodity Classic always brings together farmers from all parts of the country to discuss the challenges and opportunities for grain producers. What are some of the hot topics and possible solutions to hurdles ahead? We visit with two farmers who share their insights on what is ahead for U.S. agriculture See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear plenty of talk about trade and tariffs, but what will the impact be on farmers and the ag industry? We visit with a former member of the office of the US trade representative who served under several presidents. He shares what has and hasn’t changed and what we can expect for agricultural trade in the coming months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can often learn a lot from listening to how other farmers go through their decision-making process. We visit with Michigan farmer Ryan Zelinko to see how he is managing tillage, fertilizer and more as he works to get the best ROI on every acre. He shares some of his thoughts on managing tighter margins and his focus on quality versus quantity.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Most of us are looking for ways to increase income and decrease costs. However, some of our cost cutting measures can wind up hurting us far more than if we had spent the money. Where is the place to save and not save money on this year’s crop? Ken Ferrie is my guest and he shares insights from his hundreds of interactions with farmers and what works, and doesn’t work, to accomplish ou...

Crop margins are tight, but corn and bean prices have moved slightly higher since last fall. Should you be selling your grain or storing it? The cattle market continues to roar higher. How far can it go or are we do for a correction? Chip Flory provides his analysis of the markets and national and global trends that may impact the road ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.