AEI.ag Presents

Latest Episodes:

S3|Ep1 Forever in Your (Farm) Debt Oct 12, 2022

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Conditions in the farm economy have changed rapidly since season one of the AEI.ag Presents podcast explored the 1980s farm crisis, and in sometimes contradictory ways.

You may have heard that there is way less leverage and debt today than there was back then. Yet, farming has also gotten more capital intensive. Interest rates and inflation are also adding to growing uncertainty in 2022. So how much debt is there, really, in today’s agriculture economy? And what might be in store for the farm sector as the U.S. economy barrels toward an uncertain future?

Featured guest: Mike Boehlje (Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics).

S3|Trailer: Nothing Borrowed, Nothing Gained Sep 14, 2022

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Season 3 of AEI.eg Presents: Nothing Borrowed, Nothing Gained

BONUS: Ag Interrupted Jul 22, 2022

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AEI.ag Presents will return this fall for season 3! While you are waiting on that, check out our newest podcast, Ag Interrupted, where we’ll take a deep look into agricultural trends that matter to learn more about the often unexpected ways that the agricultural industry, agricultural markets, and agricultural businesses get shaped by the history we’re not paying attention to. Listen to & follow Ag Interrupted wherever you listen to podcasts.

S2|Ep10 Corn Always Wins Jan 13, 2022

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For the tenth and final episode, Sarah, Brent, and David reflect on the season and key lessons. From biases to mental models, it’s important to consider how our own thought processes can impact our conclusions about ethanol and shape our expectations about carbon.
Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

S2|Ep9 Does Ethanol Have a Future? Dec 27, 2021

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From policy to electric vehicles, the future of ethanol is arguable as uncertain as it has ever been. Have the seeds for ethanol’s demise already been sown, or is the outlook less dire than it initially seems?

In this episode, you’ll join Ag Economic Insights David Widmar and Brent Gloy, as well as economists, historians, policy advisors, and entrepreneurs as they share their perspectives on the birth of two environmental ag policies.

Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

S2|Ep8 Shift Happens Dec 20, 2021

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What happens when a demand shift pushes commodity prices and farm incomes higher? To answer this, we have to consider the short-run and long-run implications. Just as the challenges that ethanol faced evolved and shifted, so will the future of carbon and carbon markets.

This episode, you’ll join Ag Economic Insights David Widmar and Brent Gloy, as well as economists, historians, policy advisors, and entrepreneurs as they share their perspective on the birth of two environmental ag policies.

Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

S2|Ep7 Over Promised, Under Delivered Dec 13, 2021

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Just as corn-based ethanol production was surging to fulfill the mandates of the 2007 RFS, enthusiasm began shifting to the new kid on the block: cellulosic ethanol. With the help of the government - including mandated usage- the even better renewable fuel made from switchgrass, corn stover, or other biomass feedstocks was just around the corner, or so we thought. This raises important questions for carbon markets, what happens if the technologies needed, despite the enthusiasm and investments, don’t materialize?

S2|Ep6 Hitting the Wall Dec 06, 2021

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The goals of every policy are eventually tested in the real world. For ethanol, the challenges came in the form of the “blend wall,” which effectively capped the growth of this formerly booming sector. Even the best-designed policies will struggle to navigate conditions that were uncertain or difficult to predict when legislation was passed. For carbon, detecting those potential limits on future growth are critical, and making sure our eyes are open to the possible pitfalls in terms of policy and market growth that might be on the horizon.

Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

S2|Ep5 If You Build It, They Will Come Nov 29, 2021

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The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) bolstered the market for corn-based ethanol, but also fueled a frenzy to build ethanol plants. Proposed plants got larger, building costs jumped higher, and a surge of potential projects created a regulatory and construction logjam. But just as fast as the mania turned red hot, the prospects of an even better technology and the ripples of the Great Recession shuttered projects that were years into planning.

Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

S2|Ep4 Chosen Too Nov 22, 2021

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Though the amount of enthusiasm and excitement around voluntary ag carbon markets might make you believe that we’ve already determined that it’ll be the best way to involve agriculture in climate action, it’s definitely not the only, and likely not the best solution out there. In fact, there are several ways policymakers could create or motivate change, with various carrots and sticks, in the way that agriculture operates. Adding to the complication, even within a general policy solution - such as carbon markets - there are many details and nuances about how the program works.

Learn more about becoming and AEI Premium subscriber at AEI.ag/premium.

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