Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, host Nicole Clements interviews Chad Smith, the Director of Government Relations for Arizona Farm Bureau. Chad shares his unique journey from hotel management to agriculture advocacy. The discussion covers the Farm Bill's structure, its importance to various sectors, including nutrition and rural economies, and the critical need for a new, moderni...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole interviews James O'Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs for the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC). They discuss the critical role of the immigration workforce in agriculture, the challenges posed by high regulatory demands, and the high percentage of undocumented labor in the sector. James offers insight into ABIC's mission t...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, host Nicole Clements shares a conversation with Krysta Paffrath, a Young Farmer and Rancher Member from Maricopa County, about their experience at the American Farm Bureau Fusion Conference in Denver, Colorado. The Fusion Conference combines the efforts of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, Women's Leadership Committee, and Promotion and En...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Katie Aikins, Director of Education for Arizona Farm Bureau, discusses the complexities and history of food labeling. Katie shares her agricultural background and emphasizes the importance of accurate food labeling while acknowledging common misconceptions. The conversation highlights different types of labels like organic, grass-fed, gluten-free,...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole discusses the recent efforts of stakeholder groups to support legislative bills in Maricopa County concerning water and OHV regulation. Key bills include House Bill 2572 and Senate Bill 1520 and 1517. The episode also highlights community activities by the Maricopa County Farm Bureau, including a Women's Leadership Committee meeting, a succ...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole Clements interviews Michelle Miller aka the Farm Babe, who shares her unique journey from working in the fashion industry to becoming a prominent advocate for agriculture. Michelle discusses her efforts in debunking agricultural myths, the importance of transparency and storytelling in farming, and strategies for effectively engaging consum...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, host Nicole Clements interviews Eric Wilkey, President of Arizona Grain, about the impact of tariffs and exports on agriculture and consumers. Eric details his background in commodity markets and the challenges he faced in farming. He explains the critical importance of export markets in absorbing supply, price discovery, and maintaining stable ag...

In this week's Maricopa County Farm Bureau Ag Report, several key events and updates were highlighted. January was a busy month with Ag Fest, the American Farm Bureau Convention, and the Arizona FFA Foundation's Blue and Gold Gala, which raised $513,949 to support FFA students and programs. The upcoming legislative session will see significant efforts on rural water policy with new bills introduce...

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, host Nicole Clements interviews Dr. Michelle Schack, also known as Dairy Doc online, to discuss her journey to becoming a large animal dairy vet in Arizona, her work with dairy farms, and the detailed care and management practices that ensure the well-being of dairy cows. The conversation also addresses common consumer concerns about dairy product...

In this week's episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, host Nicole Clements covers significant topics and events relevant to agriculture in Maricopa County. Key highlights include the conclusion of AgFest, the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention, and upcoming events such as the Women Leadership Committee's PEEL meetup and the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee's Strikeout Hung...

Maricopa County Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture in a community that thrives on the dichotomy of urban and rural agriculture operations. This podcast is a home for farmers, ranchers, food lovers, prospective agriculturalists, and those who are interested in where their food comes from! Learn more and become a member at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/