The Business of Agriculture Podcast

Could a new federal tax incentive reshape investment in rural America? Most agricultural producers, landowners, and agribusiness professionals have never heard of Rural Opportunity Zones, yet this new federal program could unlock billions of dollars in private investment for agriculture and rural communities. In this episode, Damian Mason sits down with Chris Rawley, CEO of Harvest Returns, to exp...

The U.S. butchers 600,000 head of cattle, 2.5 million hogs, and 185 million broilers every single week. Where all that product goes — and what it means for prices and profitability — is more complicated than most people realize. Michael DiSabato, animal protein analyst and founder of Highline Consulting Group, breaks down the economics, the numbers, and the outlook for beef, pork, and chicken in o...

A map went viral on X showing Iowa — one of America's most productive agricultural states — imports 90% of its food. Cue the outrage. Cue the gubernatorial candidates. Cue the narrative that our food system must be broken. But is it? Damian Mason brings back specialty crop grower Steve Strasheim to work through the real reasons big ag states don't feed themselves. Climate. Infrastructure. Economic...

Paul Ehrlich Is Dead. But the "Feed the World" Panic He Unleashed In 1968 Is Still Costing Agriculture. Stanford professor of biology Paul Ehrlich predicted mass starvation, water and food rationing in America and the disappearance of England as a country. His apocalyptic forecast for an overpopulated, food insecure world were laid out in his 1968 book "Population Bomb," then reiterated over 1,000...

Agriculture prides itself on resilience, innovation, and hard work. But is the industry as willing to accept feedback as it is to overcome adversity? In this episode of the Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason is joined by Zach Johnson, better known as the Millennial Farmer, for a candid discussion about feedback, accountability, and the blind spots that can limit both individual farms and the br...

Autonomous tractors and robotic farm machinery were supposed to transform American agriculture. So why has adoption been so slow? In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason speaks with Chad Fiechter, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, about the economic realities slowing the rollout of autonomous farm equipment. Chad explains findings from his rec...

Is American Agriculture too dependent on corn and soybean production? Probably. But what is the reasonable alternative? Business of Agriculture host Damian Mason asks Illinois farmer / businessman Marc Severson and StoneX's Ryan Moe: Is meaningful US crop diversification actually feasible? The conversation digs into the real-world economics, government policy, and market forces that keep American...

Crop input costs are reaching record levels in 2026, putting added pressure on farm profitability and financial viability. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason is joined by Brian Adams of Life Scientific to discuss how producers can evaluate seed, fungicides, crop protection products, and off-patent alternatives to reduce spending without compromising agronomic performance....

U.S. meat consumption is at a record high despite rising grocery prices, especially for beef. Meanwhile, plant-based meat alternatives continue losing consumer interest and market share. Why are consumers still choosing real meat? Is the demand driven by protein preferences, nutrition trends, the MAHA movement, or changing perceptions about processed foods? In this episode of The Business of Agric...

Bayer and Corteva control a major share of the seed industry, but independent seed companies still have opportunities to compete and win. Damian Mason talks with Bob Miller, founder of Miller Hybrids in Kalona, Iowa, about how small seed companies can succeed through strong genetics, farmer-focused service, competitive pricing, and a clear focus on return on investment. Bob, a PhD plant breeder an...

American agriculture is changing—quietly in some ways, dramatically in others. The question is not whether the industry will look different in ten years, but who will still be standing when it does. In this episode, Damian Mason sits down with Scott Sartor of Croptell to unpack the real forces shaping the future of farming in the United States. From generational land transitions and shifting acrea...

Is agriculture facing a cyclical downturn, or are we witnessing a structural realignment of the global ag economy? In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason speaks with Illinois farmer and business advisor Mark Severson to examine the forces reshaping U.S. agriculture. Key topics include global competition from Brazil, evolving demand from China, margin compression, rising input...

Can the United States re-shore fresh produce production to improve food security, public health, and supply chain resilience? In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with Zeb Portanova, CEO of Agricultural Scientific , about America's growing agricultural trade deficit, the risks of foreign produce dependence, and why domestic tomato production matters for national security. With more than $300 milli...

American agriculture is facing a fertilizer supply crisis — and the disruption may arrive sooner than most producers expect. Nations with adversarial relationships toward the United States control critical production capacity and transportation infrastructure for synthetic fertilizer, and the fossil fuel dependence embedded in conventional manufacturing only compounds the vulnerability. Yet within...

Fertilizer supply remains one of the most urgent issues facing American agriculture. From trade disruptions and Covid-era shutdowns to geopolitical conflict and reliance on imports from hostile regions, farmers are once again confronting uncertainty around fertilizer availability, pricing, and production. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason speaks with Josh Linville, Vice...

Water scarcity is becoming one of the biggest strategic threats facing American agriculture. In this episode, Damian Mason examines aquifer depletion, irrigation pressure, water regulation, and the long-term outlook for productive farm acres across the United States. Joined by Preston Marthey of PumpTrakr and Kansas farmer Brant Peterson, this conversation explores how agriculture can reduce water...

A massive transition is underway in agriculture. Over the next 25 years, more than $1.5 trillion in farm assets will change hands as aging farmers retire and fewer heirs return to the farm. Despite the scale of this shift, 77% of farming operations still lack a will or estate plan. In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with Shay Foulk and Chris Barron of Ag View Solutions about farm succession plan...

U.S. agriculture is in its third year of economic pressure, yet farmland values remain resilient. Why have farm real estate prices not declined alongside commodity margins? In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with Howard Halderman of Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management about the forces shaping agricultural land values today. While development pressure, renewable energy projects, and data cent...

Is nutrient regulation poised to fundamentally change American agriculture? Rising nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water are intensifying scrutiny of farming practices across the United States, particularly in major crop-producing states such as Iowa. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from row crop agriculture are increasingly linked to water quality degradation, prompting legislative momen...

Agricultural production continues to reach record levels, yet serious threats to food security remain. In this episode, Damian Mason challenges the dominant narrative that climate change is the primary risk to global food production. Instead, he examines structural and policy-driven risks that could truly reduce agricultural output. From regulatory overreach and political confrontation to the weap...

Low commodity prices continue to pressure farm profitability and reshape the structure of modern agriculture. As consolidation accelerates across the industry, a critical question emerges: are large consolidated farms part of the solution? In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by Illinois farmer, business owner, and consultant Marc Severson to examine whether large-scale farming operations creat...

In this essential episode, Damian Mason speaks with Shelby Bass and Curt Covington of AgAmerica to analyze the 2026 Agricultural Economy Outlook. Although U.S. net farm income rose $40 billion in 2025, only 52% of farms were profitable—and nearly a quarter of farm income came from government payments. Looking ahead to 2026, rising input costs, elevated interest rates, and policy uncertainty will c...

A generational collapse in Agriculture is no longer hypothetical—it is a growing reality. With land values surging, profit margins tightening, and federal policy favoring legacy operations, new and aspiring farmers face enormous barriers to entry. In this hard-hitting episode, Damian Mason is joined by Iowa farmer Elliott Henderson and Minnesota farmer Lance Petersen to discuss the policy shifts n...

Government policy significantly impacts U.S. Agriculture—especially the ever-evolving Farm Bill. In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with Jarod Creed of JC Ag Financial and Elite Ag Insurance to break down how the delayed Farm Bill, and President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," are reshaping funding, risk management, and policy priorities for farmers and agribusiness professionals. Discover wha...

GLP-1 weight loss medications are transforming American diets—and agriculture must adapt. Damian Mason and ag consultant Todd Thurman explore how widespread adoption of these appetite-suppressing drugs, soon to be more accessible as pills, could reduce national calorie consumption by up to 25%. The shift away from sugar and alcohol, paired with new federal dietary guidelines favoring whole foods a...