Growing Farms Podcast

There's a 70-day window to turn a national labeling initiative into real marketing momentum for your farm, and most farmers don't know it exists. The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) has filed petitions with USDA and FDA to establish consistent "pasture raised" standards for egg labeling. That's newsworthy, and local news organizations are actively looking for exactly this k...

Facebook is one of the most talked-about marketing tools in the farming community. But when does it actually make sense to use it? In this episode, I sit down with Jeff from Regenerative Success to talk through: The difference between organic posting and paid Facebook campaigns Whether you need a strong social presence before running ads Why relying entirely on Facebook can be risky How subscripti...

Before you worry about websites, social media, or sales funnels, you need to answer one basic question: do you actually know your numbers? In this episode, I break down why understanding your costs, margins, and unit economics is the foundation of effective farm marketing. If you don't know what it costs you to produce food, every marketing decision that follows is a guess. This episode is part of...

If you're starting a livestock operation, your fencing system can make or break your farm. In this episode, I sit down with Matt Cadman of  Shady Grove Ranch —an experienced farmer and engineer—to talk through the essentials of livestock fence systems for beginning farmers. We cover: How to choose the right fence for your animals Pros and cons of electric fencing, woven wire, and temporary setups...

In this reflective solo episode, I take a walk through the spring woods with my dog, Zip, and share thoughts on content creation, social media algorithms, and connecting with a small but meaningful audience. It's an unfiltered moment to talk about farming, marketing, and why I create videos with specific people—like farmer Sydney—in mind. Whether you're a livestock farmer, a fellow content creator...

In this practical episode, I share a game-changing approach to farm marketing that follows the natural rhythm of your operation. Learn how to use your grazing chart as more than just a livestock management tool—transform it into your marketing roadmap. I'll walk you through identifying key production moments throughout your season and creating targeted content to maximize sales when products are a...

You have the power to attract your ideal farm customers - isn't that liberating?  When you consistently create content around your farm, you're building more than awareness - you're crafting a recognizable personality. If you regularly share your passion for raising chickens, you'll naturally become known as the chicken expert in your community. The key is showing up consistently. Success starts w...

Mental health is one of those tricky subjects to talk about because it is so different for everyone. After spending over 15 years working in agriculture, I have found that as much or more than any group, farmers should be doing more to address their mental health. Because I find mental health topics so tricky to talk about in any one piece of content, I have made it my life's work to do what I can...

From backyard chickens to profitable pastured poultry: Join us as Joe shares his journey scaling a thriving broiler chicken operation. Discover the financial realities of farming at scale, innovative wholesale strategies, and how his Michigan farm evolved from just 3 chicks to a multi-state pastured poultry enterprise generating sustainable income while maintaining regenerative practices. https://...

Are you a small farm making $100k to $1M in gross annual revenue? How are you reaching your customers? What are you business goals? Customer retention? New customer acquisition? Increasing average order value? Selling a specialty product? Marketing is about knowing your numbers, having goals, and running tests to meet those goals while reducing risk. It's the scientific method but with fun videos...

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we are going to discuss the state of Email in 2025. To answer a question from my friend Sidney, we're going to discuss why email is still relevant, what types of customers you are targeting, and what are some tactics for sending email marketing. We cover a lot of ground in this episode. If you have questions find this video on YouTube and leave them in...

We kick this season of podcasts off with a discussion about context and demographics and their role in farm business and marketing.

I share my thoughts on creating farm marketing content in 2025. It is easier than ever to start, and the good news is that you don't have to worry about going viral. This audio is from a video I shot for YouTube. The crunching noise is me walking my dog through the woods.

In this Episode of the Growing Farms Podcast I bring in a couple of my friends from around the country to give their perspective on what life is like on their farms in the first quarter of the year.  We all manage mixed livestock farms, with a diversity of sales avenues for our products. Personally I gain a lot from having these types of conversations with my friends and peers, and I hope you do t...

It's the year 2050. My grown daughter looks me in the eye and asks what I did to help make the world a better place. What do I tell her? Belief:  What do you believe in? When you woke up this morning, you got up with at least one core belief - something in your mind that defines how you see the world. Such core beliefs are unshakable, unmovable, and dictate what actions you take on a day-to-day ba...

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we will discuss all of the decision-making that goes into raising pigs in 2022. There are a lot of things to think about, and a lot of variables outside of your control. where are you going to process? what breed should you raise? how do you manage them? are they profitable for your farm business? We are joined by Grazing Specialist and all-around nice...

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we discuss: why email is still foundational to your marketing how to get your first 100 subscribers what to write in your emails how to grow your list over time Whether you are just starting a farm or you are looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with simple actionable advice to help you along your journey.

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast I give you some perspective on what my farm brewery business looks and functions like. We are all on different paths, and I share these monthly updates to give more depth behind the farming and business advice that I share on other episodes.  

Many of us know how to use Instagram, but do we know why we use it? What are you accomplishing, and is it worth your time? In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast, host John Suscovich discusses Instagram best practices, his strategy on Instagram, and he shares several accounts worth following if you're in the pastured poultry space.

Today on the podcast I am joined by my friend Dave Shields of Pastured Life Farm in North Central Florida. Dave and his wife Ginger have been raising animals on pasture and direct marketing them to customers for years. It just so happens the farming and sales model they set up is perfectly suited to serving their community in a time of need.  On today's farm podcast Dave shares how they got starte...

John: Hey there friends and fellow farmers. Welcome to another episode of The Growing Farms podcast. I am your host, John Suscovich, and today's episode is going to be an "Ask APPPA" show, the American Pasture and Poultry Producers Association.   At one of the annual APPPA conferences I brought my camera, I brought my microphone, I brought my friend Mike, and we recorded interviews with about two...

It can feel like the to do list gets longer before it gets shorter, that at times the world is out to get you, or things aren't going your way. It is ok to want to quit, but what defines us as people is how we react to being in these situations. Work toward a better life, hang in there, and tomorrow will be brighter.

Think of the reason you do what you do. Whether you are farming or thinking about starting a farm, why are you doing this? The key to keeping a business going, and creating a lasting lifestyle is to find what drives you, and let it keep driving you forward. I would love to publish the podcast episode or YouTube video where I have the magic bullet to making farms financially viable and "successful"...

Who are "they" exactly? They told us it can't be done. They told us you cannot make money farming. They told us you can't raise sheep without a heavy parasite load. They said you can't have 0% mortality in the brooder. They said that you have to farm this way or that. I'm not saying that educated people are nonsense. That would be a gross misinterpretation of my point. What I am saying, is that th...

There is a lot to farming that will keep you awake at night. Is the brooder closed, are all the birds in, are the predators out, is the greenhouse warm enough, did you remember to check this or that? Then there's all the life stuff that keeps you up at night. On today's episode of the Growing Farms Podcast Troy and I cover three areas of concern that are universal to most people.