Where Landowners Get Their News

John Roach, a seasoned commodity broker and founder of Roach Ag, LTD, reflects on the importance of perspective in both farming and financial markets. Despite living far from his Iowa roots, Roach emphasizes that historical context is crucial in understanding market fluctuations. Following a recent drop in the Dow and S&P 500, he advises against overreacting to daily financial news, drawing on...

Dr. Craig Lemoine, Director of the Financial Planning Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is a passionate advocate for incorporating American farmland into financial planning strategies. Whether addressing local students, newcomers to the region, or international learners, he emphasizes the potential of farmland investments. Serving as an Associate Clinical Professor, Lemoine...

Dave Brown, president of IPE 1031, a firm specializing in 1031 exchanges, foresees potential changes to this foundational tax provision depending on political shifts in Washington, D.C. Alongside his wife and vice president, Katie Brown, whom he met at Drake University Law School, Dave highlights the importance of 1031 exchanges for farmland owners and investors, allowing tax deferral on gains fro...

Farmland values have largely remained stable, despite external pressures affecting "cushion" and "emotion," according to Farmers National Company's latest report. Regional differences are evident, with varying trends in states like Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, and Iowa. Buyers have become more selective, impacting lower quality land values, while higher quality land remains...

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a 1984 ruling could significantly impact property and environmental rights by altering how laws are interpreted and enforced. Previously, courts deferred to federal agencies on ambiguous laws, but now they must directly interpret statutes. Jeff McCoy of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses how this change will restrict government overreach, affe...

Matt Brown, who, despite not growing up on a farm, has dedicated his career to helping farmers maximize their harvest potential. In this week’s interview, Matt discusses his role at Landis Cooperative, the importance of their new fertilizer facility, and the impact of technological advancements on sustainable farming practices. In addition, Matt and Dave cover:   + Rising fertilizer prices due to...

Jess and Marcus Gray of LAMBscaping believe small and mid-sized farmers should have reliable yearly incomes, not just rely on land value. Inspired by a conversation during the COVID-19 pandemic about seeing solar panels and thinking their sheep could graze there, they transformed their farm. By integrating solar grazing, where sheep graze under solar panels, they provide sustainable weed control a...

In this week's interview, Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), discusses the challenges farmers face when transitioning to organic. He acknowledges that neither producers nor consumers may prioritize being 100% organic and recognizes that an overnight shift is unrealistic, especially with recent inflation pressures. Dillon advocates for a gradual approach, encouraging...

Greg Tyler, President and CEO of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), has faced significant challenges since taking over two years ago, particularly with the devastation caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, which has led to the culling of nearly 90 million birds. Despite the virus now affecting dairy herds across the U.S., Tyler remains hopeful. He discus...

Daniel Zinnel, CEO of Proteus, Inc., leverages his personal experience as both a farm owner and worker to help agricultural workers and farmers succeed. Leading the nonprofit across Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana, Zinnel focuses on meeting the needs of farm families and workers, many of whom are migrants facing language barriers and lacking essential support systems. Guided by values of humility and...

Despite financial constraints and inflation, most Americans continue to eat meat. Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Agricultural Economics Professor, Kansas State University, believes that increasing domestic meat consumption is unlikely and sees the greatest potential for American producers in expanding exports. He emphasizes that boosting global demand is crucial for profitability with the USDA projecting a dec...

Paul Yeager, host and producer of "Market to Market" on Public Television, bridges rural and urban viewers with insights from agricultural and investment leaders. Growing up on a farm in northeast Iowa and studying journalism, Yeager combines his experiences to share stories of the agricultural industry. His show addresses significant changes in farming, such as farmland as a valuable as...

Whether he's floating on it or finding new revenue streams for landowners, Clay Landry is always thinking about water. 'It's my profession, vocation, and avocation,' he told American Farmland Owner. From his Boise office, Landry, CEO of WestWater Research, sees both challenges and opportunities in the nation's water availability. For him, downtime means fishing and floating on...

Leading Harvest, under the leadership of CEO Kenny Fahey, prioritizes the term "sustainability" to unite stakeholders in their mission. They focus on creating a standard for sustainability throughout the agricultural supply chain, emphasizing principles such as soil health, water resource protection, and community well-being. While initially focusing on the United States, Australia, and...

Grant Hilbert, a young entrepreneur from Ankeny, Iowa, realized his childhood dream of becoming a farmer through an unconventional route: gaming on YouTube. Starting at the age of 15, Hilbert and a friend began uploading gaming videos, with farming games unexpectedly becoming their most popular content. Leveraging the success of his YouTube channel, which amassed over 1.3 million followers by his...

The Great Recession served as a pivotal moment for the perception of farmland as an attractive asset class. While previous decades, such as the 1970s and 1980s, held significance, it was the financial crisis of the late 2000s that sparked investor interest in agricultural land. Steve Bruere, president of Peoples Company, highlights how the turmoil in various markets during the recession prompted i...

In the face of past outbreaks like African Swine Flu and Foot and Mouth Disease, Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, warns that the recent evolution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) poses a severe threat. With Iowa's significant role in egg, turkey, and cattle production, Naig emphasizes the urgency of the situation. The 2015 avian flu crisis prompted a reevaluation of b...

Dr. Scott Brown, an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, discusses the nuances of agriculture, likening various sectors to a balloon with a slow leak. Raised on a farm himself, he understands the industry's complexities firsthand, driven by a lifelong passion for farming. As he prepares for retirement, Brown's dedication to informing policymakers and aiding...

George Baird, originally anticipated a life raising his children on the Mississippi cotton farm of his upbringing, found his plans altered by the Farm Crisis of the 1980s. Now, three decades later, Baird dedicates his efforts to assisting individuals, including farmers and investors, in managing farms akin to his father's. As the proprietor of Landmark Ag Capital in Memphis, Tennessee, his pri...

Paul Pittman, founder and executive chairman of Farmland Partners, oversees a $1.5 billion American farmland portfolio from Denver, Colorado. Despite his global banking career, Pittman maintains strong ties to his Midwestern roots and emphasizes the enduring family-centric nature of farming. He anticipates changes in farmer behavior due to projected income declines but predicts minimal impact on h...

In this interview, Dr. Lee Schulz discusses the meat industry's challenges, particularly focusing on consumer demand amid economic shifts. He highlights stressors like inflation and pandemic-related stimulus effects, explaining their impact on consumer affordability and producer pressure. Schulz also delves into tough decisions such as plant closures and workforce reductions. Dr. Lee Schulz is...

Joe Maxwell, former state legislator and lieutenant governor of Missouri, has transitioned into a leading advocate for agricultural policy reform. As Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Farm Action and President of the Farm Action Fund, Joe Maxwell sheds light on the challenges posed by multinational corporations dominating the beef and pork industry, often at the expense of American farmers...

Robert Carman, Farm Credit Services of America Retail Commercial Lender-Swine, reflects on the challenges hog farmers faced in 2023 and shares a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2024. He discusses rising costs, declining demand, and historic losses, drawing comparisons to 1998. Carman highlights potential relief with projected decreases in corn and soybean prices, navigates the uncertainties of i...

Monte Shaw's agricultural journey reflects the tumultuous history of American farming, particularly during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s. Growing up on a southwest Iowa farm, Shaw witnessed the hardships faced by many farmers, including his own family's struggle to survive. The biofuels boom in the early 2000s marked a turning point, providing economic opportunities for rural communities an...

John Heneghan, President of Last Leaf Ventures, LLC, draws on the influence of his family's accounting background and the lessons learned from billionaire real estate investor Sam Zell. Through the Promised Land Opportunity Zone Fund, Heneghan aims to address the economic challenges faced by rural America, particularly in farmland ownership. The Opportunity Zones, created by the 2017 Tax Cuts...