The Iowa Ag Podcast

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, to talk about the economic and policy pressures facing corn farmers today. From ethanol policy and year-round E15 access to international trade opportunities, Mueller explains how expanding markets for corn could help support farm profitability during a period of t...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Cody Messer during National FFA Week to talk about the realities facing farmers today and how policy, markets, and communication shape the future of agriculture. Cody shares insight from his own operation and involvement in farm advocacy, highlighting the importance of staying engaged beyond the fence row.   💡 Find this show...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Meaghan Anderson, agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, to discuss what farmers should be thinking about as the 2026 planting season approaches. From the lessons of last year's Southern Rust outbreak to hybrid selection and disease management planning, the conversation explores how growers can prepare...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, to discuss Iowa's role as the leading biodiesel producer in the nation and the policy landscape shaping the industry. The conversation covers the fundamentals of biodiesel, how it fits alongside ethanol in the fuel market, and why it plays a critical role in agr...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger steps behind the microphone to reflect on one of the most ambitious and formative projects of his farm reporting career, his documentary, Journey of a Bean. The episode looks back on how a simple question about agriculture turned into a multi-year, self-funded storytelling effort that followed soybeans from the Midwest to South Korea. 💡 Fi...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Renato Firmento, finance and operations manager with Spraytec, about why Iowa plays a key role as a hub for international agriculture and agribusiness. Renato shares his perspective as someone who grew up in Brazil, entered agriculture without a traditional farm background, and built a career in Iowa's agriculture community.   💡...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Dr. Justin Glisan, Iowa's state climatologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, about how weather and climate data inform decision-making across agriculture, government, and everyday life. Justin explains the role of the state climatologist as Iowa's weather historian, responsible for maintaining more than 150 years of cli...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Brandon Meiners of Midwestern BioAg to talk about soil health, sustainability, and the next generation of seed treatment technology. Brandon explains how Midwestern BioAg's 40-plus-year history is rooted in improving soil biology and structure, with a focus on long-term farm profitability rather than short-term fixes. 💡 Find...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Alyssa Yoder-McClary of Canaan Farms about how value-added agriculture works. From careful planning to navigating the limits of small business, Alyssa explains why grit, flexibility, and embracing "happy accidents" are essential to building a specialty farm business. Alyssa was in town for the Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Con...

How do small farms compete with the big conglomerates? Ask Tucker Maxwell, owner of Maxwell Custom Beef. He describes how he created a a custom beef business in the heart of downtown Des Moines using a clever tech-forward approach. A farm kid by background, Maxwell shares how this venture became a way to stay connected to agriculture while working alongside his dad and carving out a place in a rap...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Cody Williams, a farmer member at the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. Cody shares what it means to volunteer and work with the Iowa Farm Bureau. They also discuss the broader mission of Farm Bureau and how the organization works to support farmers through advocacy, communication, and local engagement. From community-buildin...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Blake Willadsen of DMARC about the reality of hunger in Iowa and how food pantries are helping families. Blake shares how DMARC sees increased demand inside local pantries and explains how recent SNAP and government shutdown disruptions have made things even harder for vulnerable households. They also discuss how food pantries fi...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Gretta Irwin and Sheila Larson of the Iowa Turkey Federation about the reality of Iowa's turkey industry during Thanksgiving. While most of the state's nearly 12 million turkeys end up as deli or processed meat rather than whole birds, it's a great time to highlight the industry's role in the state economy. David, Gretta, and She...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Mitchell Hora, CEO of Continuum Ag and a seventh-generation Iowa farmer, about how conservation practices are rapidly expanding across the state and how that might continue to grow. Mitchell shares how data and carbon footprint measurements are giving farmers new ways to understand their soil, carbon intensity score, and their lo...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Julie Kenney, CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, about how agribusiness and the farm economy are intertwined. They discuss the challenges community-based companies face in rural America, and how global markets and federal policies influence operations at every level. Julie also shares how better communication can help b...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with April Hemmes, a central Iowa farmer, about what went on during this year's growing season. With no recent government crop reports to lean on, April shares what she's hearing from the countryside about yields and harvest results, along with how those insights shape planning for the next season. They also discuss how global markets...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, about how renewable fuels connect city life with farm life. They explore how biofuel production supports both rural economies and urban consumers. The discussion also dives into the diversification of farm production, from the opportunities it creates to the...

On this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, we explore why diversification could be important to the future of American agriculture. Dr. Stephanie Mercier, senior policy adviser of the Farm Journal Foundation and author of the article "Why Diversified Farming Could Be the Future for U.S. Agriculture" explains ways to rethink agriculture by adding new crops, integrating livestock, and embracing conserv...

 Welcome to the Iowa Ag Podcast, where we talk about the nuanced topics of agriculture and try to bridge the urban rural divide. I'm your host, David Geiger, here at the Jethro's Barbecue Studio. Happy to be here to start up a conversation about important issues on and off the farm. This is the Iowa Ag Podcast.