The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family

Welcome to Episode 120 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 2 of our special 3-part podcast series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2022 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Tanner Brass of Franklin County, Melissa Moretz of Worth County, and Clark Dolch of Adair County.   Part 1 (released December 5) features Tanner Brass. Part 2 (released December 6) features Meli...

Welcome to Episode 119 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 1 of our special 3-part podcast series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2022 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Tanner Brass of Franklin County, Melissa Moretz of Worth County, and Clark Dolch of Adair County.   Part 1 (released December 5) features Tanner Brass. Part 2 (to be released December 6) feature...

Welcome to Episode 118 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses the Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grant Program , a program for farmers and other Iowans who are investing in creative ways to expand the use and consumption of Iowa ag products. Later in the episode, Iowa State University Extension tax expert Charles Brown shares some o...

Welcome to Episode 117 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa State University ag economics professor Dr. Alejandro Plastina shares where things stand with carbon credit markets and what farmers need to know. And Floyd County farmer Laura Cunningham shares the grassroots, years-long effort that led to a new ag education and FFA program in northern Iowa's Central Spring School Distr...

Welcome to Episode 116 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we introduce you to Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Advisory Committee Chair Megan Hansen (who farms in western Iowa), and we talk with Dr. Robert Brown of Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute about a unique initiative to produce renewable energy, fertilizer and more from corn stover, while sequestering carbon. 

Welcome to Episode 115 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we take you inside the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), with CALS Student Council President Lydia Johnson, Director of CALS Career Services Mike Gaul, and CALS senior/Iowa Farm Bureau intern Jenna Smith. We also introduce you to Active&Fit Direct, Iowa Farm Bureau's new member benefit, which allows...

Welcome to Episode 114 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we visit the farm of Iowa's 2022 Conservation Farmer of the Year (Dave Lubben of Jones County) to discuss conservation with Dave and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Then we talk with Iowa State University professor Dr. Daniel Andersen (who goes by @DrManure on Twitter) about how farmers can use cover crops and manure...

Welcome to Episode 113 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan gives us his forecast for harvest and beyond. And Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson discusses key outcomes from Iowa Farm Bureau's annual policy conference. Resource mentioned in this episode Join us for America Needs Farmers (ANF) Game Day at Kinnick Stadium

Welcome to Episode 112 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we bring you a conversation on national agriculture priorities with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, who was in Des Moines for Iowa Farm Bureau's Presidents Conference last month. Then we'll bring on Mike Steenhoek (who's the Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition) to talk about railroad reliabilit...

Welcome to Episode 111 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, you'll learn ways to effectively boost ag literacy in your own local school district, from Kelly Foss (the new Executive Director of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation). You'll also hear the results of a new poll about food and farming (conducted by The Harris Poll) that will help you understand what's motivating Iowa g...

Welcome to Episode 110 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, you'll meet Dr. Jason Ross – the new chair of Iowa State University's Department of Animal Science (part of ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences). You'll also hear about the games and prizes that await you at Farm Bureau Park during this year's Iowa State Fair. Resource mentioned in this episode: Fairgoer attraction...

Welcome to Episode 109 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, American Farm Bureau economist Shelby Myers analyzes the overall farm economy, and Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson talks about what's being done to address the astonishing increase in fertilizer prices. Resources mentioned in this episode Farm Bureau members can save on travel (with prices guaranteed to beat public b...

Welcome to Episode 108 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we speak with Mike Telford, Executive Director of the Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition (IFAC). IFAC is a first-of-its-kind network of professionals, veterinarians, animal behavior scientists, and farmers committed to answering Iowans' farm animal care questions and providing livestock farmers with the assistance they need.  Re...

Welcome to Episode 107 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa State University soil science expert Dr. Michael Castellano shares details about an effort to optimize and localize Iowa's fertilizer application recommendations. And environmental scientist Shawn Richmond discusses how optimal fertilizer applications complement farmers' other efforts to grow the crops we need while prot...

Welcome to Episode 106 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig talks about the benefits of Iowa's new biofuels standard, which Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed into law. Later in the episode, Ben Gleason (the new executive director of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council) talks about efforts to quantify Iowa's conservation progress...

Welcome to Episode 105 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we'll introduce you to some unique opportunities to connect with your farm and agribusiness peers, via tours and other hands-on learning events offered by Farm Bureau.  This episode also includes an interview with Special Agent Justin King (Drug Enforcement Administration) about a dangerous trend that's sweeping through Midwe...

It's no big deal. I don't have time. Someone else needs help more than me. Are you creating excuses to not seek out mental health or wellness services? The Farm Family Wellness Alliance offers farm families free and confidential mental health and wellness services, from skilled professionals who understand the unique challenges of farm life. In Episode 104 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, we talk...

Welcome to Episode 103 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which features three guests. Central Iowa farm couple Eric and Deb Finch explain how they got into the meat goat business (almost by accident) nearly 20 years ago, and they share their advice for other farmers who are exploring that niche market. And Adam Koppes of Iowa Farm Bureau's Renew Rural Iowa program shares the unique services that Fa...

Welcome to Episode 102 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, longtime water quality expert Shawn Richmond (who has 25 years of experience across academia, government, and the private sector) shares the results of Iowa farmers' conservation efforts (past and present). And motivational speaker Matt Booth shares his advice for effective goal setting. 

Welcome to Episode 101 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. Spring is a time for new farm projects and taking stock of things. The Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers helps livestock farmers enhance neighbor relations, site new livestock facilities, implement best management practices (like planting trees and windbreaks), and interpret more than 250 pages of rules and regulations. In this episode, Bri...

Welcome to Episode 100 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Dr. Dennis Todey (Director of the USDA's Midwest Climate Hub) provides a planting/growing season forecast. And Brent Johnson joins us to discuss his first four months as Iowa Farm Bureau president, along with a couple of topics that he knows well: precision agriculture technology and conservation.

Welcome to Episode 99 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Janis Hochstetler (a food safety and labeling coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau) shares the first steps livestock farmers should take if they're interested in marketing directly to consumers. Then you'll hear from two young ag entrepreneurs who launched...

Welcome to Episode 98 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Cedar County row-crop farmer Noah Coppess shares his tips for building strong relationships with landowners. And Brian Waddingham (Executive Director of the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers) shares some tangible reasons for livestock farmers to plant trees, along with trends he's seeing in Iowa's livestock industry. Resourc...

Welcome to Episode 97 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses new partnerships that are helping accelerate Iowa's water quality progress. And award-winning speaker, author and farmer Jolene Brown shares her advice for managing the family dynamics in your farm business.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's...

Welcome to Episode 96 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we speak with two entrepreneurs who are "making waves" in Iowa's emerging aquaculture industry. Joe Sweeney is the CEO of Eagle's Catch, which raises tilapia in Ellsworth, Iowa. Glenn Ford is the CEO of InCity Farms, which is bringing aquaponics to large and small cities around the country, including Clarion, Iowa. Resource me...