The MyAgLife Podcast

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Dusty Ference, executive director of the Kings County Farm Bureau, to discuss their ongoing lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board. The legal challenge aims to prevent the Tulare Lake Subbasin from being placed on probation, a move that has already helped block costly state intervention a...

Jason Scott sits down with Jared Plumlee, CEO of Capstone Ag Management, to discuss his journey from a family farming background to building his own ag management company. He also discusses his commitment to water strategy, personalized client service and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Sarah Light, UCCE agronomy advisor, to discuss findings from a two-year study on using almond shell mulch in established alfalfa fields and how the practice can improve soil health, increase water infiltration and recycle orchard byproducts without sacrificing yield.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Matt Plitt, president and CEO of Valent U.S.A., to discuss a forward-thinking approach to agribusiness, blending innovation, sustainability and community engagement. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and transparency in leadership, anticipating industry trends and aligning profitability with sustainable practices.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, to discuss a recent Cal Poly study they commissioned to examine the true cost of regulatory compliance for California growers. Groot breaks down key findings from the report, putting real numbers behind the growing burden of compliance in...

Jason Scott sits down with Nathan Rosenburg, CEO of Farmblox, to discuss helping growers automate farm tasks and reduce labor through customizable, modular technology. Rosenburg also goes into the future of ag tech, advice for startups and the importance of younger generations in shaping ag's evolution.

Jacquelyn Fernandes, territory manager at Nutrien Financial, discusses tips for grape growers to ensure their vineyards are positioned to withstand an economic downturn. 

Jason Scott sits down with Rob Clayton, senior vice president of retail North America at Nutrien Ag Solutions, to discuss the company's role in grower profitability and sustainability, the impact of soil science, automation and AI, and the importance of adaptability in business growth. Clayton also emphasizes coaching, communication and continuous learning as keys to success. 

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing's Kristin Platts sit down with Central Region FFA officers Gabrielle Furtado and Gianna Genasci to discuss how FFA has shaped their leadership, skills and future goals. Tune in for a conversation about the impact of agricultural education and the opportunities FFA provides.

Jason Scott sits down with Tom Gauthier, CEO of AgTechLogic, to discuss how precision spraying and data-driven solutions are transforming agriculture, the power of 'prescriptive' agriculture, building a strong ag tech team and why growers should embrace emerging technologies.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Cam Camfield, founder and CEO of Stratovation Group, to discuss new critical specialty crop grower insights for the future of biological products, including innovation and adoption.

Jason Scott sits down with BeeHero CEO Omer Davidi to discuss his transition from cybersecurity to agriculture and how BeeHero is optimizing pollination with technology. He shares lessons from past ventures, insights on ag-tech innovation and the challenges of rising costs and labor shortages. Davidi highlights the role of IoT in farm management, the need for sustainability incentives and strategi...

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci sits down with Bryan Little from Farm Employers Labor Service to break down new and updated labor regulations impacting agriculture in 2025, how ag employers are navigating already enacted rules and what’s ahead for the industry.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Brittney Goodrich, previously with UC Davis and now with the dept. of agricultural and consumer economics at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, to discuss the economic outlook and other considerations for the 2025 almond pollination season.

Jason Scott sits down with Huma CEO Lyndon Smith in this new CEO-to-CEO podcast series to discuss his incredible journey from growing up in the company to leading it through bankruptcy and into global success. Lyndon shares insights into Huma’s growth strategy, including major acquisitions, international expansion and its role in regenerative agriculture. He explains the biostimulant movement, the...

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Western Plant Health Association President Renee Pinel to discuss DPR's current stance on 1,3-Dichloropropene and what could happen if growers are further restricted from this control option.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Foresight Agronomics' Dr. Layne Harris to discuss demystifying biologicals, the importance of mode of action and observing crop responses to ensure effective product selection and utilization.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Jaclyn Bennett, general manager of Parabug, at the 2024 California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey to discuss how the company's innovative drone-based technology is transforming pest management by efficiently delivering beneficial insects to crops. Farm Bureau Annual Meeting highlights are also dis...

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Srinivasa Rao Peddinti, postdoctoral researcher with the Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis, to discuss the role of precision agriculture in optimizing orchard water management in California. Check out Srinivasa's article in the January/February 2025 issue of Progressive Crop Consultant magazine for more on this topic.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Ali Hill, ag economist and assistant professor at UC Berkeley, to discuss implications of changing U.S. and Mexican farmworker demographics on U.S. crop production. 

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Robert Verloop, executive director at the California Walnut Board and Commission, to discuss the return of the upcoming California Walnut Conference in January and a couple walnut industry updates. 

Kristin Platts and Stanislaus County Farm Bureau's Anna Genasci sit down with Sean Runyon, agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measures for the Merced County Dept. of Agriculture, to discuss pesticides, the statewide notification system, California's Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap and more.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Stecyn Maldanado, Seeds for Bees manager with Project  Apis  m., to discuss cover crop benefits to soil health and key interactions with soil microbes.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Luke Milliron, UCCE farm advisor in Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, to discuss the 2025 North Valley Nut Conference in January and its shift toward a business-focused curriculum for growers.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Franz Niederholzer, UCCE farm advisor in Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties, to discuss almond management considerations for the 2024-25 winter, including irrigation, pollination and more.