Straight Talk with NDFB

In episode six of Straight Talk with NDFB, we interview North Dakota’s own Dr. Gerald Stokka, Livestock Stewardship Director at NDSU. Dr. Stokka shares his wealth of knowledge as a researcher, teacher, and small-town veterinarian.  In this episode we talk about: A “systems” approach to raising cattle Optimizing profitability How to stop ranching in crisis mode Dr. Jerry Stokka works one-on-one wit...

In episode 5, Emmery and Ezra visit with Tom Dosdall, licensed StoneX broker with decades of experience in ag commodity trading. We chat about: What futures and options are Why the Chicago Board of Trade was started How to manage inputs and break evens Four principles for trading success Check out special StoneX discounts for NDFB members here . Know-Risk™ Crop Marketing-Market Intelligence Access...

In this episode, we visit with Nick Horob, creator of Harvest Profit, a software tool focused on making it easier for farmers to track farm costs, profit, grain marketing positions and inventory.  Founded by Nick in 2015, Harvest Profit was recently acquired by John Deere. Nick is a North Dakota farm kid who left to pursue business in Minneapolis. After the crop price boom in 2012, Nick came home...

Are you stuck working "in" your farm and not "on" it? Is your ranch serving you or are you serving your ranch? For the last 40 years, EMyth has been helping business owners transform their businesses to avoid burnout or failure. You don't want to miss this special episode with Tricia Huebner, VP and Head of Coaching at EMyth. Tricia shares her entrepreneurial insights from...

Emmery and Ezra interview Dallas Mount, owner of Ranch Management Consultants, the company behind Ranching for Profit seminars. You'll learn why profit is more important than productivity as Mount shares three strategies that farmers and ranchers need to consider to be successful.

In this first episode of season 3 of Straight Talk, Emmery and her new cohost, brother Ezra Grotberg, talk about working with family and some of the potential pitfalls family relationships can fall into and strategies for success. They share how family can be your farm’s greatest asset. 

In the final episode of Season 2 of Straight Talk, your host Emmery Mehlhoff interviews NDFB Public Policy Director Pete Hanebutt about ag policy, the opportunities for diversification, and how to tell your story to policy leaders. It's easier than you think!

When it comes to farming and ranching success, opportunities are everywhere if you are willing to look and not be afraid to pivot when needed, according to personal coach, leadership development expert and rancher Calli Thorne.

The Topp farm has diversified and gained a competitive edge by never settling for the status quo. Learn more as Seth interviews Jason Topp about how they have sustained and grown their farm for four generations.

The link between Nodak Insurance Company and NDFB is often misunderstood, but it was actually a group of farmers who decided to start the successful insurance company. An interview with Nodak agent Kyle Gagner.

If you've been thinking about tapping into the organic production market, Larry Luick, long-time organic farmer, has some tips, thoughts and more on how to be as successful as possible.

The Hefty philosophy is simple but effective: Help farmers make the best decisions for their particular farm or ranch by providing as much knowledge as possible. Your host, Seth Estenson talks with Darren Hefty of Hefty Seed Company as they delve into how knowledge can help farmers succeed.

What does it take to start your own farm-based meat business and what hoops do you have to jump through? Emmery visits with a young woman who did just that and a member of the health department on the regulations involved.

 Whatever stage in life you are at, whatever business you are in, there are lessons to be learned. Eric Aasmundstad shares his journey and the knowledge he has gained as a farmer, former president of NDFB, chairman of Nodak Insurance Company and owner of a successful metal art business, LoneTree Designs. 

Emmery and her guest, NDFB Public Policy Director Pete Hanebutt, share NDFB wins in the 2021 Legislative Assembly, and Seth provides some exciting news about the new direction Straight Talk will be taking.

Every 10 years, legislative representation across the state gets an overhaul based on where people live. Rep. Bill Devlin shares his concerns about the process and what will happen to  rural representation.

As the 2021 North Dakota Legislative Assembly wound down, your host visited with two veteran legislators on how the session went, how the Legislature has changed through the years and what it will look like in the future.

North Dakota is one of the few states that requires landowners to post their land. But a new electronic posting option promises to make that process much easier. Your hosts talk with the architect and implementer of the state's first-of-its-kind electronic posting system.

From a seized payloader to North Dakota's poor national rating in civil asset forfeiture laws, your Straight Talk hosts Emmery Mehlhoff and Seth Estenson take up the issues surrounding civil asset forfeiture in our state and Rep. Rick Becker's idea of a three-pronged approach to reforming civil asset forfeiture in North Dakota. 

Tiling farm land isn't widely used in North Dakota, but more farmers are realizing the benefits and the North Dakota Legislature has also recognized the benefits. Your hosts talk with a young farmer who has embraced tiling and Sen. Terry Wanzek, a long-time tiling advocate.

International trade is important for North Dakota farmers. From building personal trade relationships, and how the state can assist you to how Trump’s trade policy impacted North Dakota farmers, your hosts Seth and Emmery take you on a deep dive into the world of trade, featuring Rep. Paul Thomas and Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring.

How reliable is our electrical grid? How do politics, the weather and mandates impact the grid's ability to keep your lights on? And what are we doing in North Dakota to assure reliable power? Learn more as your hosts, Seth Estenson and Emmery Mehlhoff interview North American Coal's David Straley and N.D. Senator Jessica Bell.

What is reclamation? Who is responsible for it? What can be done if your land was not reclaimed as promised? Get straight talk from an NDSU expert and a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact a North Dakota business and what is the legislature doing to address the separation of powers in government during a crisis? 

Your host, Seth Estenson, takes you on a lively discussion with NDFB lobbyists Pete Hanebutt and Emmery Mehlhoff as they talk about some of the issues that will be of importance to farmers and ranchers in the 2021 Legislative Assembly.