Farm Food Facts

The Impact of WIC on Farmers Mar 01, 2022

USDA Deputy Undersecretary Stacy Dean and several members of Congress provided updates on emerging and pressing food/nutrition and WIC policy issues at the National WIC Association’s National Policy Conference. A number of these issues affect grocers and others in the retail food industry, including a tripling of funds for vegetables and fruits for low-income families through WIC, a once-in-a-decade update to the WIC food packages expected in early 2022, child nutrition reauthorization getting underway in the House of Representatives, proposed regulations for online shopping expected in April 2022 and more. With more on the effect for farmers and ranchers, our guest is Brian Dittmeier, Esq., the Senior Director of Public Policy at the National WIC Association. Brian advocates for key WIC priorities, including efforts to secure WIC funding, expand access to nutritious foods, and address maternal health disparities. Brian manages NWA’s relationship with Congress and the Administration, leads targeted grassroots advocacy efforts, and coordinates policy partnerships with child nutrition stakeholders and industry.

Farmers and Billionaires: The WFP Chief’s Plan for Solving World Hunger Dec 02, 2021

Join USFRA and Phil Lempert as we sit down with the UN World Food Programme Chief who blames a hunger crisis on a “toxic cocktail” of conflict, climate change, disasters, poverty and inequality. 45 million people in 43 countries around the world stand at the frontlines of hunger. WFP Executive Director David Beasley says farmers can help lift millions out of poverty and make agriculture environmentally sustainable. And he says billionaires have a duty to act.

Behind The Scenes At COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference Nov 16, 2021

Today’s episode is a very special one. Anne Meis, chair of USFRA and Erin Fitzgerald our CEO just returned from the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland where for the first time the farmers voice was heard and farmers now have a seat at the table.

The Carbon Neutral Pig Oct 07, 2021

Today we go behind the scenes and talk with Marlowe Vaughn and USFRA Board Chair Anne Meis. Marlowe Vaughan is the star of the USFRA produced short film, The Carbon Neutral Pig. She is also a North Carolina pig farmer and is the Executive Director of the Feed the Dialogue NC with a true passion for educating consumers about agriculture and where their food comes from. Her enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the pork industry earned her the Emerging Leader Award, previously known as the Pork All-American, an award also earned by her father, Bob Ivey in 1982. As well as earning her the starring role in USFRA’s latest docudrama
Anne Meis is a farmer and Nebraska Soybean member in Elgin, Nebraska. Anne, along with her husband Jim, run a family operation raising corn, soybeans, and alfalfa and cattle. Over the past 32 years, they have had a continued focus on increasing soil health, conserving water, being good stewards of the land, and practicing quality animal care.

The Shift In Food And Ag Labor Resources Sep 29, 2021

Our guest today is David Turner, President of Kincannon and Reed. He has been serving clients across the globe for Kincannon & Reed for nine years before being named President in 2019. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, David holds a BS from Arizona State University, an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and an Advanced Certificate in Executive Search and Leadership Consulting from Cornell University.

Prior to joining Kincannon & Reed, David led PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Canadian agribusiness practice and served in international positions across Cargill’s animal nutrition, grain milling, and meat processing businesses. David is actively involved in the search profession and leads Kincannon & Reed with a vision and understanding that the leadership placed will impact the food and agriculture industries.

Trends in Climate Smart Crop Protection and Technologies Aug 25, 2021

Susanne Wasson is the President of the Crop Protection Business Platform for Corteva Agriscience. Previously, she was the Vice President of Commercial Effectiveness. Prior to being named VP, Susanne was the U.S. Commercial Leader of the Crop Protection Business of Dow AgroSciences. She was previously a Global Business Leader for the Range & Pasture and Industrial Vegetation Management herbicide business and a Global Business Leader for the Seeds and Traits business focused on licensing of Dow AgroSciences’ Bt library, and M&A activities for seeds in Asia. She has held several other roles in marketing, sales and finance in her 30-year career.

Susanne is a member and past chapter president of P.E.O. (philanthropic education organization for women), and a member of the Delta Delta Delta Foundation Crescent Fund committee. She is currently on the Board of Directors of United Way of Central Indiana, Agrinovus Indiana, National FFA Organization, and the American Chemistry Council. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Crop Life America and was the 2018 chairman of the FFA Foundation Sponsors Board. She was awarded an Honorary American FFA Degree and was a 2016 recipient of the Indianapolis Business Journal Women of Influence award, received the 2019 Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence and was a 2019 Distinguished Alumni of College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources of Oklahoma State University.

Susanne earned degrees in Agricultural Economics and Accounting from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.

Empowering the Producer Through Big Data Aug 17, 2021

Jim O'Brien, Agrograph CEO/Co-Founder. He has held leadership positions at four startups, two of which he co-founded. His experiences have taken him around the globe from wine grapes in Europe, to potatoes in the UK to weather forecasting in Southeast Asia. James was on faculty at The Ohio State University in agricultural extension along with founding his own consulting company Ten 10 Solutions LLC. He has lead product innovation teams at several multinational corporations ranging from The Weather Channel to American Family Insurance, along with financial services and healthcare. James holds an MBA from Edgewood College, a Master of Science (Soil Science) from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor’s degree (Agronomy) from Iowa State University.

The Common Connections Project: Collaboration Between Pork, Corn and Soy Jul 13, 2021

If there's one thing that we've learned over the past 15 months is we all have to work together. And that's why together today, we're going to talk about the common connections project. With us today is Danielle Solis, Communication Specialist at the Maschhoffs, Rochelle Krusemark USB Director and Meal Target Area Coordinator and Randy Spronk, a grain farmer.

The Transition to a Net Zero Economy with Biofuel, POET Jul 12, 2021

Jeff Broin is the Founder and CEO of POET, the world's largest producer of biofuels and bioproducts. He is a recognized innovator, entrepreneur, agriculturalist, philanthropist, and advocate for the biofuels industry.

POET currently operates 33 bioprocessing plants with a combined annual production capacity of 3 billion gallons of bioethanol, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality nationwide. In addition, POET produces a growing number of sustainable bioproducts that are marketed worldwide, many of which displace harmful, petroleum-based products. For these continued advancements in biotechnology, POET was named to FORTUNE's 2019 'Change the World' list and recognized as one of Fast Company's 'Most Innovative Companies of 2019.'

Aquaculture as a Climate Solution Jun 29, 2021

Donna Lanzetta is an attorney and entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable seafood production. Motivated by a concern for our world’s growing population, our declining wild fish stocks, and the urgent need to feed our growing numbers, Manna Fish Farms (Manna) is currently awaiting permits to operate a sustainable and transparent fish farm, and to research Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) off the Eastern Coast of The United States.

Feeding the Future to 2030 and Beyond, with Nutrien May 18, 2021

Candace Laing is VP Sustainability & Stakeholder Relations at Nutrien where she is involved in strategic initiatives for the company who is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs, services and solutions that span corporate affairs, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Her career has spanned both private and public-sector organizations and she has served as an instructor at the University of Saskatchewan in the Edwards School of Business and a board member of US Farmers and Ranchers in Action.

California Department of Ag Signs the Decade of Ag (Part 2) Apr 20, 2021

We continue our important discussion on the universal support of agriculture. Today's episode focuses on the Herculean efforts of two States, Maryland, and California, and the farmers who make those States great through the USFRA's Decade of Ag effort, Earth Day, and the public private partnerships, which we are all focused on the future of sustainable agriculture. In the previous episode, we heard about what's happening in Maryland, where the number one industry is actually farming. Now we travel across the country to California to continue the discussion with California's Secretary of Ag, Karen Ross and Don Cameron, President of the California State Board of Food and Ag.

Maryland Department of Ag Signs the Decade of Ag (Part 1) Apr 20, 2021

With Secretary of Agriculture Joseph Bartenfelder and Chip Bowling
This is a very important time for our food supply. No one, from farmers and ranchers to supermarket leaders to the consumer can dispute how important agriculture and the universal support of agriculture is. Right now today's episode focuses on the Herculean efforts of two States, Maryland, and California, and the farmers who make those States great through the USFRA's Decade of Ag effort through Earth Day and the public private partnerships, which are all focused on the future of sustainable agriculture.

Introducing a Decade of Ag Mar 23, 2021

National Ag Day is a day that recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by American agriculture. With us today to introduce the Decade of Ag are three of our vitally important leaders, as well as current and past USFRA board chairs Anne Meis, Chip Bowling and Brad Greenway.

Connecting Rural Communities to Broadband/5G Mar 03, 2021

One of the biggest problems that many farmers and ranchers have doesn't have anything to do with soil or climate or water. Yes, these are all issues that we must solve, but the one problem that is much easier and quicker to solve has to do with technology specifically connecting rural communities to broadband 5g.
Today I'm joined by Marci Green. She and her husband Lonnie are the sixth generation on her family's farm in Southeast Spokane County. There are two sons have now joined the farming operation. They raise wheat bluegrass seed, barley, dry peas, lentils and garbanzo beans.
Our next guest is Sam Kieffer. He serves as the American farm Bureau Federation, vice president of public affairs, where he leads the AFBF public policy advocacy and economic teams in advocating for farmers and ranchers with Congress and the administration. Sam's roots are on his family's grain and beef farm in Pennsylvania.

Janie Hipp of NAAF Discusses Transformative Investment in Agriculture Feb 24, 2021

The Native American Agriculture Fund provides grants to eligible organizations for business assistance, agriculture education, technical support, and advocacy services to support native farmers and ranchers. Janie Hipp is the president and CEO, and she joins us today. Janie oversees the work of the fund of philanthropic organization, responsible for distributing the remaining funds created by the settlement of the landmark Keepseagle versus Villsack class action lawsuit. Hipp also founded the indigenous food and agriculture initiative at the university of Arkansas school of law. The nation's first law school based initiative, focusing on tribal governance, strategic technical policy assistance, and native youth and professional education that supports native food systems, tribes, tribal enterprises and native entrepreneurs are optimally positioned to move beyond growing crops and raising livestock into the business of putting food in stores and on tables. The Native American agriculture fund proposes the development of 10 regional food hubs in Indian country to provide processing and distribution infrastructure for food grown and raised by tribal farmers and ranchers. With over 59 million acres of native operated farms across the United States, tribal nations and tribal producers will play a critical role in addressing climate change.

Looking Ahead to the Future of Dairy: Collaboration & Innovation Feb 01, 2021

Today, it's all about dairy and with us today is Marilyn Hershey, a dairy farmer who operates a 600 cow dairy farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, Duane. She serves as the chair at Dairy Management, Inc. And is also a published author. She's the secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association Speaker's Bureau and serves on the national dairy promotion and research board among other various community organization . Marilyn recently joined the USFRA board of directors in 2020.

Importance of Agriculture Research Funding Dec 09, 2020

Today – we talk about the importance of agriculture research funding. Our guest today is one of the most insightful people I know, Dr. Sally Rockey, the inaugural Executive Director of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR). Prior to this role, Sally was a leader in federal research, overseeing the operations of the extramural research programs in both agriculture and biomedicine. She spent almost twenty years with the US Department of Agriculture, where she held several positions within the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service including head of Competitive Research Grants and Chief Information Officer. From there, she spent eleven years with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As the NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, she led the operations of the world’s largest extramural research program. Returning to her roots in agriculture, she has seen FFAR through its startup phase and witnessed it grow into a significant force in the agriculture research community through the development of innovative private-public research partnerships. Rockey received her doctorate degree in entomology from the Ohio State University and did postgraduate work at University of Wisconsin. She has devoted her career to improving people’s lives through research and continues this mission today.

The Importance of Collaboration During COVD-19 with United Soybean Board Dec 01, 2020

Today we're going to have a very serious, frank and enlightened discussion on the importance of collaboration during the pandemic, COVID-19. My guests are Polly Ruhland, CEO of the United Soybean Board and Lynn Rohrscheib. Who's one of the busiest farmers that I know and a true leader during the COVID 19 pandemic. Polly is focused on the future working to identify areas of economic growth for nearly every aspect of the soybean industry, whether it's soy, that's used for animal feed protein, for human use or multitude of industrials and using bio-diesel asphalt, motor oil and even shoes. The Soy Checkoff works on behalf of us soybean farmers to advance agriculture sustainability through research education and promotion programs. Polly in concert with USB's 70 farmer/directors developed programs and partnerships that drive soybean innovation beyond the bushel and increase the preference for US Soy.
Lynn assists in the day-to-day operations on the farm handling a wide variety of tasks from crop in the input decisions, keeping the books, handling insurance, employee health insurance, taking seed or chemicals to the field, working ground or chopping stocks and everything else that needs to be done. And that's just on the farm. She's also director and part owner of CNR ag supply and serves on the board of USB. She always knew her calling evident from her early days, pulling her red radio flyer wagon around her family's farm and farm supply business, delivering bags of seed or jugs of chemicals. She has the ninth generation to farm her family's farm in Fairmount, Illinois.

How U.S. Nature4Climate Is Encouraging Collaboration With The Farming Community Nov 18, 2020

Today – its all about natural climate solutions and how they pay off. And to introduce you to a new entity that launched earlier this year that is leading the charge.
U.S. Nature4Climate is a coalition of 10 conservation, sustainability, and business organizations, including US Farmers and Ranchers in Action that are dedicated to ensuring our forests, farms, ranches, grasslands and wetlands are an important part of the overall strategy to combat climate change.
Their goal is to create a collaborative platform where conservation organizations, the farm and forestry sectors, and corporations can work together to help ensure that Natural Climate Solutions are fully integrated into broader climate action strategies.
As the U.S. works to address climate change, U.S. Nature4Climate will elevate these nature-based solutions as an integral part of any comprehensive climate action plan.
Natural Climate Solutions improve the health of our natural and working lands, strengthen connections between people and nature, and enhance the well-being of the plants, animals and people they support.
We have a full house today and you won’t want to miss this episode. Our guides will explain just how important and impactful this effort is, with us are:
Nathan Henry, Project Manager, USN4C
Cathy Macdonald, Steering Committee Chair, USN4C
Kris Johnson, Deputy Director, The Nature Conservancy
Rebecca Tuuk, Forest landowner
Chip Bowling, USFRA Chairman

What's on the Mind of Agriculture's Future Leaders Nov 09, 2020

Today it’s all about our future – our future leaders that is. With us is Alwin Hopf who is working on his masters and PhD in Agriculture and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida and Alice Mei-Wong Dien a masters student at the university of California at Davis and was our YAS 2021 Ag-vocacy winner from the 2019 Honor the Harvest Forum.

Why Marketing Agriculture Is So important Nov 05, 2020

There is so much to celebrate with all of the new partnerships, confrontational collaboration (thanks to Polly Ruhland at USB for that term) and focus on the next 30 harvests to create climate-smart, prosperous agriculture in the US.

As marketers deeply invested in food and agriculture, we believe there is even more energy and opportunity to be gained by leveraging the untapped power of consumer engagement on these initiatives. There are large, eager customer and consumer audiences ready to recognize these efforts and celebrate the brands that invest in sustainable supply chain innovations in support of farmers and ranchers … and the larger environment.

Bader Rutter is one of USFRA’s important partners to achieve these goals and help continue to spread the work from Honor the Harvest.

Bader Rutter is the country’s largest agricultural marketing agency. And through nearly 50 years of steady growth, they’ve dreamed big, planned meticulously, and fiercely championed their clients’ success.

Joining us today on Farm Food Facts is JoDee George and Dennis Ryan who lead the Bader Rutter food and beverage practice which is focused on creating consumer and customer brand value from supply chain sustainability investments.

JoDee has worked for 20 years worked across food and agriculture marketing and strategy for America’s largest food and agriculture companies. She brings this diverse knowledge and passion to creating a sustainable, innovative path for food and agriculture producers, brands and consumers.

Dennis has spent the better part of his extensive career telling stories for food and beverage brands from every major company in the space. After building an enviable TV-centric CPG advertising career in Chicago, he moved to Minneapolis to learn digital, social, and one-to-one marketing.

Soil is Sexy: The Power of Soil Sequestration with 2020 World Food Prize Winner Dr. Rattan Lal Oct 14, 2020

Today is all about soil management and with us to to dig into the subject is Dr. Rattan Lal, Ph.D. Dr. Lal is a Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at The Ohio State University, as well as IICA’s Chair in Soil Science and Goodwill Ambassador. He was President of the Soil Science Society of America (2006-2008) and the International Union of Soil Sciences (2017-2018). He researches soil carbon sequestration for food and climate security, conservation agriculture, and soil health. With an h-index of 157 and about 112,000 citations, Dr. Lal has authored almost 1,000 journal articles and mentored 360 researchers. He is laureate of the 2018 GCHERA World Agriculture Prize, 2018 Glinka World Soil Prize, 2019 Japan Prize, 2019 U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award, the 2020 World Food Prize, and the 2020 Arrell Food Prize.

USFRA CEO Erin Fitzgerald on How U.S. Agriculture is Creating a Movement, Not a Moment Oct 05, 2020

Today we talk with US Farmers and Ranchers in action CEO, Erin Fitzgerald, about the Honor The Harvest event and the values that will shape Agriculture for the next 10 years.

How Western Dairies Are Incorporating New Technology Into Sustainability Efforts Sep 30, 2020

Today's guest is Rick Naerebout, the Chief Executive Officer for the Idaho Dairymen's Association. Rick grew up on his family's dairy farm in McBain, Michigan, where he learned the value of hard work, integrity, and an appreciation for agriculture that can only be learned on the farm. Rick has been with the Idaho Dairymen's Association for over 15 years, assisting with the associations, environmental legal, economic, legislative, and stewardship efforts. The IDA is a progressive association that represents all of Idaho's, nearly 500 dairy farms recently named the CEO of the association. He manages the day to day operations of the group, which includes Ida consulting services, a new division within Ida that provides on-farm services through its highly skilled staff ranging from nutrient management planning to dairy worker training and safety programs

Advances In Fertilizers And The Role In Precision Agriculture Sep 25, 2020

Today, we're going to talk about fertilizer and the role, the important role that it plays in agriculture. Our guest is Mike Frank, Executive Vice President of Nutrien and CEO of Nutrien ag solutions. Mike is a global ag leader with more than 30 years of working extensively with farmers and other ag professionals around the world. And most important, Mike grew up on a farm in Canada and a passionate agriculture advocate. Mike is focused on the issues of global food security and driving environmental and economic sustainability for farmers and the ag industry. He serves on the board of the U S farmers and ranchers in action.

Dairy Farmers of America Work With Vanguard Renewables to Feed Food Insecure Families Sep 15, 2020

Today it's all about farmers feeding families.
Joining us today are John Hanselman, Chairman and CEO of Vanguard renewables, the largest recycler of food waste in the Northeast who's passionate about recycling organic once considered waste into renewable energy and low carbon fertilizer for food manufacturers, corporations, and food retailers and enhancing regenerative agriculture practices alongside Vanguard farm partners.
Joining John is David Darr, senior vice president, chief strategy and sustainability officer of Dairy Farmers of America. David leads, cooperative efforts on sustainability, including environmental footprinting animal care and corporate social responsibility working together. They created the farmers feeding families program, donating milk to families in need since the pandemic started DFA and Vanguard.

The Collaboration Between Food and Fuel Sep 08, 2020

My guests today are Nathaniel Doddridge, Greg Anderson and Floyd Vergara.
Greg Anderson has been farming near Newman Grove, Nebraska since 1977. His form includes land that his great, great, great grandfather homesteaded in 1873. His operation consists of continuous soybeans, alfalfa grass hay, and an Angus cow calf herd is formed no till for 25 years along with being a director on the Nebraska soybean board, Greg currently serves as a governing board member on the national biodiesel board. He's a past chairman of the United soybean board having been appointed by three different us secretaries of agriculture to USB.
Floyd Vergara serves as the director of state regulatory affairs for the national biodiesel board in this capacity. He manages the West coast office in Sacramento, California, and is responsible for state regulatory affairs. Focusing on programs in the Western States with over three decades of experience at California air resources board, his expertise includes the low carbon fuel standard climate change and air quality programs, renewable and conventional foods, environmental justice, and other environmental issues.
Nathaniel Doddridge has been with Casey's general stores, a chain of more than 2000 convenience stores since August, 2017. He's the vice president of fuels, where he leads the strategy and execution for all facets of fuel prior to Casey's. He held several leadership positions across fuel and operations at Murphy USA.

How the Transformative Investment Project Can Impact the Future of Food and Agriculture Sep 02, 2020

Today is all about the future of food and agriculture.
Our guests are Ramsay Huntley, and Andy Fabin.
Ramsay Huntley is the sustainable finance strategist for Wells Fargo, a member of the sustainability and corporate responsibility leadership team. He oversees the development and execution of Wells Fargo sustainable finance strategy. He works with business partners across the bank to develop new opportunities that support Wells Fargo is $200 billion sustainable finance commitment and position the bank to lead the transition to a low carbon economy. He also has the responsibility for the bank's clean tech philanthropy programs, including the award winning Wells Fargo innovation incubator in conjunction with the national renewable energy laboratory.
Andy Fabin is part of the multigenerational family owned and operated Fabin brothers farms in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Fabin brothers farms specializes in soybean processing, crop production, cow calf operations, as well as commodity buying and marketing. He's a member of the Bedford farm Bureau club's board of directors, the Pennsylvania soybean board, the Pennsylvania Cattleman's association, the beef quality assurance, Pennsylvania beef council, Indiana County farm Bureau and Pennsylvania farm Bureau is young farmer and rancher committee

The Importance of Collaboration During Covid-19 with the National Pork Board Aug 18, 2020

This week we interviewed two members for the National Prok Board, CEO Bill Even and Brad Greenway, the2016 Pig Farmer of the Year. Listen as they discuss the importance of collaboration during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rob Dongoski of Ernst & Young talks Covid-19 and the Future of Farming Aug 12, 2020

As a Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, Rob Dongoski has over 20 years of experience serving clients in the food and agribusiness sectors. He works with a number of Fortune 500, Global 1000 and private companies in advisory and transaction capacities.
He has helped clients develop growth strategies, complete buy-side and sell-side transactions, designed digital strategies and lead significant enterprise transformations. His experience provides clients and colleagues with a unique perspective on their business, innovation and growth issues.
As the founder of the EY Global Agribusiness Center, Rob leads EY professionals in all regions of the world to serve agribusiness clients.

A Conversation with Townsend Bailey from McDonald's Aug 04, 2020

Townsend Bailey leads sustainability strategy for McDonald’s North American markets. In this role, he supports McDonald’s US and Canadian businesses as they leverage the size and scale of their supply chains and 15,000+ restaurants to positively impact issues important for people, animals and the planet. He plays a critical role driving the sustainability strategy and integration into these markets’ supply chains and operations from farm to restaurant through cross-functional collaboration with product leads, communicators, suppliers, industry, and NGOs.

A Conversation with Former Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack Jul 21, 2020

Each week we explore the issues and trends that agriculture faces through frank and honest conversations with thought leaders across our nation.

And who better to discuss this than the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in President Barack Obama’s administration from 2009 to 2017, Tom Vilsack - along with the CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, Erin Fitzgerald.

Secretary Vilsack is no stranger to serving our country. He began his political career as mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, then on to the state Senate and then as Governor of Iowa for two terms.

As leader of USDA Vilsack worked to strengthen the American agriculture economy and create new markets for America’s farmers, ranchers and growers, provided food assistance to millions of Americans, carried out unprecedented conservation efforts, made record investments in our rural communites and led the efforts to provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply.

Sec. Vilsack now serves as the CEO of the US Dairy Export Council the non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders.

Bayer Youth Ag Summit Jul 14, 2020

Today we talk with two members of the Bayer Youth Ag Summit.
•Matt Foley, Program Director at Invest Nebraska, joins us to speak about the Youth Ag Summit. The summit gathers diverse agriculture leaders and youth interested in the industry to discuss the future of agriculture and how the next generation can inspire change.
•Davyn Surdidjo launched a startup in 2017 called Etani Agro Nusantara. Etani utilizes technology to liberate farmers in his home country of Indonesia from the grasps of middle markets which are far less regulated than those in the United States.

The Resilient and Dynamic Farmer: Insights from Dan Glickman Jul 08, 2020

Former Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, chats with us about the future of the food and agriculture industry. New opportunities for farmers continuously emerge as consumers change how they think about their food.

Is There An Urban/Rural Divide Around The Environment? Jun 23, 2020

Robert Bonnie from Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions joins us today on Farm. Food. Facts. He discusses his research which answers the question: is an urban/rural divide around the environment, and if so, what is it?

Feeding America Tackles Hunger During The COVID-19 Pandemic Jun 16, 2020

Anne Swanson, VP of Feeding America, and Carrie Calvert, Managing Director and Government Relations of Feeding America, join us today on Farm. Food. Facts. They describe how foodbanks are working closely with farmers to secure food to those in need during these drastic and unprecedented times.

Dairy West Provides a Helping Hand Through Curds & Kindness Jun 09, 2020

Karianne Fallow, CEO of Dairy West, discusses their innovative Curds & Kindness program that directs surplus dairy products to those in need throughout Utah and Idaho.

Public Trust Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Jun 02, 2020

Matt Coldagelli, Senior Vice-President at Edelman, discusses their Trust Barometer study that measures how trustworthy the public feels towards government, NGOs, business and media. The Spring 2020 update shows that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, government trust surged 11 points to an all-time high of 65 percent, while, even with a four-point increase, there is marked disappointment in how the private sector has performed during the crisis.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Affecting the Biofuels Market May 26, 2020

Doug Berven, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs at POET, the world’s largest producer of biofuels, discusses the importance of biofuels to sustainable agriculture and how this pandemic has created great disruption to the industry.

Grocery Chain Publix Discusses Leading the Way in Supporting Farmers and Feeding America During the Pandemic May 18, 2020

Curt Epperson, Business Development Director: Produce and Floral for Publix, and Thomas Torbert, Senior Sales Associate at Five Brothers Produce, discuss the impact of Publix’s program to purchase surplus produce and dairy direct from Florida farmers and donate it to Feeding America food banks during this pandemic.

Dr. Robb Fraley on Biotechnology and Coronaviruses May 12, 2020

Dr. Robb Fraley, former Chief Technology Officer at Monsanto, discusses the role biotechnology is playing in learning about the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, and how it can aid in developing treatments and a vaccine.

Checking In on the Livestock Industry with Pilaroc Farms May 05, 2020

Jennie Schutte and Walt Patrick, owners of Pilaroc Farms, discuss the changes they’re seeing in the livestock industry, due to COVID-19, and what can be done in the future to keep the food supply flowing.

The Next Generation’s Attitudes Towards Food and Farming Apr 28, 2020

This week, Tim Glenn, Chief Commercial Officer at Corteva Agriscience, joins us to talk about the recent results of their study on the attitudes of Gen Z/Millennials on the future of food and farming as well as how the agriculture industry and Corteva are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heifer USA Discusses Their Response to the Pandemic and Their Regenerative Ag Practices Apr 20, 2020

On this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we talk with Donna Kilpatrick, from Heifer USA, about their ability to adapt in this time of change and how they continue to value the land through their regenerative agricultural practices.

Insights on the Pork and Ag Industry During These Challenging Times from the 2019 Pig Farmer of the Year Apr 13, 2020

Chris Hoffman, 2019 America’s Pig Farmer of the Year, talks about our strong food supply and the changes he’s seen in the pork and agriculture industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coming Together Around the Table in a Time of Uncertainty Apr 07, 2020

Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, talks to Phil Lempert about how coming together around the table in times of crisis reminds us that our food supply is strong because of all the individuals and companies that are getting food on the table from farm to fork. Also, there are things we can do now to keep food flowing to those less fortunate.

Talking with Dr. Mark Jackwood, Molecular Virologist, about Coronavirus in Poultry Mar 31, 2020

Our guest this week is Dr. Mark Jackwood, Molecular Virologist and Professor at the University of Georgia. His primary area of research is the study of coronaviruses in poultry. Today, he is sharing with us what his thirty plus years of research has uncovered with how this virus works, why it isn’t transmitted from domestic animals to humans and what the future holds with possible treatments.

It's National Ag Day! Mar 23, 2020

Today is National AG Day and in celebration we have with us Greg Horstmeier, the current Chair of AG Council of America and its editor in chief of the digital content newsroom for DTN Progressive Farmer. He grew up on a general crop and livestock farm in central Missouri following high school. Earned a degree in agriculture journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia, with emphasis in agriculture, economics and photo journalism. He's covered agriculture stories in every U. S. State except Alaska and has traveled and written about agriculture and farming in Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and Africa, and is here to tell us about the changes for this year's National Agriculture Day.

Changing the Farmer Mindset for A New Supply Chain Model Mar 17, 2020

Today we’re focusing on the farmer mindset and the new supply chain model. And on that topic, we are going to hear from the company Danone, who is working to develop and promote regenerative models of agriculture that protects soil, empower farmers and promote animal welfare. The company says that agriculture is at the heart of what they do. They’re proud to maintain close relationships with over 140,000 farmers worldwide. Back in March 2018, Danone announced its intention to sharpen its focus on regenerative agriculture, protecting soil, empowering a new generation of farmers and promoting animal welfare. With us today to talk about these initiatives is Tina Owens, Senior Director of Food and Agriculture Impact of Danone, North America.

Trends in Consumer Nutrition with Kara Behlke Mar 10, 2020

It's March and that means it's National Nutrition Month. So we're going to talk about trends in consumer nutrition with a real expert, Kara Behlke RD, who's the director of health and wellness strategy at Schnucks markets. She started with Schnucks in 2012 and created an in-store nutrition program in just one store as a test, partnering with stores and buyers to source healthier products. She also started a celiac support group, to engage customers in new ways through in-store nutrition events and worked on company-wide nutrition marketing programs.

Renewable Fuels with Jeff Broin from POET Mar 03, 2020

Jeff Broin, the founder and CEO of POET, the world's largest producer of biofuels, is here to talk to us today about the role that agriculture plays in renewable fuels. Jeff was presented with the American Biofuel Visual Award by Growth Energy. This award recognized him for a lifetime of dedication to advancing the biofuels industry. His work in the industry has brought environmental benefits and economic opportunities to individuals and communities across the globe. As CEO of POET, Jeff built the company from a small 1 million gallon per year facility back in 1987 to now the world's largest biofuel producer with 1.8 billion gallons of annual fuel production and 10 billion pounds of high protein animal field, among other products.

FFA and the Next Generation of Farmers Feb 26, 2020

Over the past week, more than 700,000 FFA members across the country have shared the story of agriculture as part of national FFA week. We celebrate the future farmers of America week for good reason. As the top school-based youth leadership development organization in the nation, FFA continues to help young people meet the new agriculture challenges by helping members develop their unique talents and explore their interest in a broad range of career pathways.
On today's episode is FFA President Kolesen McCoy, FFA Secretary Kourtney Lehman and Eastern Region Vice President Tess Seibel.

Erin Fitzgerald & Sally Rockey Highlight Foster Our Future interviews PART 2 Feb 25, 2020

Today is part two of our interview with Sally Rockey, Executive Director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. We’re going to hear their insights while we listen back to three interviews from the "Foster Our Future” event in Washington DC earlier this month. Meredith Ellis of G Bar C Ranch, Isaya Kisekka of the University of CA-Davis and Dr. Gene Lester, National Program Director USDA-ARS.

Erin Fitzgerald & Sally Rockey Highlight Foster Our Future interviews PART 1 Feb 18, 2020

Today’s edition is a very special one that you do not want to miss – and we urge your colleagues and friends to listen to as well.

On February 5th the second “Foster Our Future” event was held in Washington DC; so we packed up our gear and headed to the Ronald Reagan Building to interview seven of the leaders of US Agriculture and have them share with us what is on their minds and look into their crystal ball and tell us what they see for the future.

I’m joined by Sally Rockey, Executive Director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, who created and hosted “Foster our Future” and our own Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance – both here to discuss the insights that our Agriculture leaders shared.

We'll also discuss the other big new from “Foster Our Future”, a new Ag-climate partnership was announced between the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, the World Farmers Organization and USFRA.

Diversity in Agriculture with Dr. Quentin Tyler Feb 11, 2020

Today I’m joined by Dr. Quentin Tyler the Chair of MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences). He’s also the Associate Dean for diversity, equity and inclusion in the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. As a member of the CANR leadership team, he spearheads efforts to assist with the management of resources for faculty and staff professional development; provide guidance and vision for recruiting and retaining diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students; and identify and respond to areas in need of multicultural engagement.

John Boyd Jr., National Black Farmers Association President Feb 05, 2020

Black history month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U S history. We're going to share a past conversation I had with one of our nation's most prolific black farmers, John Boyd Jr. who is the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association.

Protein First: Keenan McRoberts from United Soybean Board Jan 27, 2020

Today, we're talking with Keenan McRoberts from the United Soybean Board who's here to discuss the focus on their Protein First initiative.

Dan Esty, A Better Planet author and Yale Professor Jan 22, 2020

Dan Esty is Hillhouse professor of environmental law and policy as a professor at Yale since 1994 he holds faculty appointments in both Yale's environmental and law schools. With a secondary appointment at the Yale school of management. He also directs the Yale center for environmental law and policy. Dan is the author or editor of 12 books including the prize winning book, Green to Gold. How smart companies use environmental strategy to innovate, create value, and build competitive advantage. His latest work, A Better Planet ,was published last fall. The concept of A Better Planet is to bring together the insights of 40 of the biggest and best ideas in sustainability and the environment that are grounded in sound science.

Carbon Sequestration with Ed Smith from Indigo Jan 14, 2020

Today's Thought leader is Ed Smith, Vice President & Head of Indigo Carbon's carbon initiative which is focused on creating a thriving, voluntary market for carbon credits and other environmental service products.
Indigo's market aims to improve grower profitability by compensating them for sequestering large amounts of carbon in their soil, while simultaneously allowing consumers and businesses to offset their carbon footprint through the purchase of high quality, rigorously verified carbon credits.

Sustainability in Wearables, Avi Garbow, Jeremy Brown Jan 08, 2020

Today's thought leader is Avi Garbow, Environmental Advocate for Patagonia.
The Stories You Need to Know:
• Farms have the ability to Harvest Energy along with Food
• College campus Farm lets Students engage with the Food they Eat
•Scientists strive to help Produce Industry combat Foodborne Pathogens
This week's Farmer is Jeremy Brown, Texas Cotton farmer.

Highlights from 2019 Dec 30, 2019

Phil Lempert is one on one with USFRA CEO Erin Fitzgerald, where they discuss some of the most memorable moments for 2019's Farm Food Facts.
Highlights:
• Nancy Kavazanjian - Our Soil Our Strength
• Mickey Rubin from the Egg Nutrition Board
• John Newton from the American Farm Bureau
• Jenna Madsen from Sunderland Farms
• Ben Feldman, Executive Director at Farmers Market Coalition
• Jill Wheeler, Head of Sustainable Productivity for Syngenta in North America
• Joe Koss, Culver's CEO
• Rob Trice, Founder of The Mixing Bowl
• Marilyn Hershey, Dairy Management Inc. chair

Neal Carter, Seed Choices, Produce Category Spike Dec 17, 2019

Today we talk with Neal Carter, President and founder of Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) and creator of the nonbrowning Arctic® Apple.
The stories you need to know:
• 2019’s Field Days are reflective of the Difficult Growing Season
• Farmers consider their Seed Choices after a Tough Growing Season
• Retailers expect certain Produce categories to spike in January

Fred Yoder, Addy Battel, Small Farm Drones Dec 11, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Fred Yoder, Co-Chair for Solutions from the Land (SFL).
The Stories you NEED to know:
• Lessons learned from Leafy Greens
• Making Drones Work for Small Farmers
• Data Standardization is critical for driving efficiency into Food Supply Chains.
Our Farmer is Addy Battel, Data Standardization is critical for driving efficiency into Food Supply Chains.

Jason Clay, Weed Control, Livestock-Monitoring Technology Dec 03, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Jason Clay, Senior Vice President for Markets and Food at World WildLife Fund.
The Stories You NEED to Know:
• Researchers develop Livestock-Monitoring Technology.
• Here comes high-tech, mechanical Weed Control.
• Grocers need better E-commerce Platforms.

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Marilyn Hershey, Feeding America Nov 26, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Feeding America's CEO.
The Stories you NEED to know:
• Paris is opening the world’s Largest urban Rooftop Farm
• Recent Study cites the Pork Industry’s strides in Sustainability
• Agronomist advises producers: Don’t neglect pasture needs during harvest
Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and chair of Dairy Management inc.

Ellie Moss, Galen Lee, Sequenced Avocado Genome Nov 19, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Ellie Moss, Lead for the new USFRA report, Navigating the Food Metrics Maze.
•Productivity of Farms in the Heartland has Increased over time—except for the smallest Farms.
• Scientists have now Sequenced the Avocado Genome...so what is the benefit?
• An innovative Retailer has Quadrupled their Online Farmer Engagement.
Today's farmer is Galen Lee, former USFRA Board member and farmer.

Diana Campos Jimenez, Al Renner, Syncing Ag Data Nov 12, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Diana Campos Jimenez, Program Manager at the Los Angeles Community Garden Council.
The Stories You Need to Know:
• What we can expect from a “Food Safety Modernization Act” Inspection.
• Syncing Ag Data is a growing Challenge for Industry
• Digital agriculture: the Future is Now

Our farmer is Al Renner, Outreach Director for Los Angeles Community Garden Council.

Rob Trice, The Mixing Bowl, Climate Change and Agriculture Nov 06, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Rob Trice, the Founder of The Mixing Bowl.
The stories you NEED to know:
• How the spring season’s Wet Weather and flooding Continues to Impact Agriculture.
• No industry will be impacted by climate change as much as Agriculture.
• Farmers try to decipher what trends shown in the latest Census of Agriculture mean as they plan their Future.

Carmela Cugini, Daniel Malechuk, Vertical Farming Oct 29, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Carmela Cugini, EVP, Sales at Bowery, a modern farming company that uses technology to grow produce.
The Stories You NEED to know:
• More Family Farm households are relying on Various sources of Income.
• Plastic is under the microscope—what does that mean for Produce?
• Can Food Forests Fight Hunger?
Today's farmer is Daniel Malechuk, CEO of Kalera, a vertical hydroponic farm.

Chad Hart, AG Kawamura, Supply Chain Changes Oct 22, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Chad Hart, Associate Professor of Economics for Iowa State University.
Stories you Need to Know:
•Affluent Shoppers are shaping the future of Grocery Retail
•How much more are Shoppers willing to pay for Organic Produce?
•There are 5 big Supply Chain Changes that Growers should be Ready For
Our Farmer this week is AG Kawamura a third generation fruit and vegetable grower and shipper from Orange County, CA who's here to discuss community gardens.

Marianne Smith Edge, Zack Andrade, 2019 Crop Yields Oct 15, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Marianne Smith Edge, MS, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND, Founder and Principal, The AgriNutrition Edge, a consultancy committed to assisting food, health and agriculture organizations better understand and navigate the changing food and consumer environment.
The Stories you NEED to Know:
•A pleasant surprise: Wheat growers are generally pleased with 2019 Crop.
•Agronomists are saying 2019 shouldn’t impact 2020 decisions.
•In the future, data will drive more decisions than desire.
Our Farmer is Zack Andrade from Spinaca Farms

Joe Koss UPDATE, Bo Stone, Cover Crop Benefits Oct 08, 2019

Our thought leader is Joe Koss, CEO of Culver’s
Food News of the Week:
•Cover crops could help protect our Food from the climate’s Severe Weather
•Tough planting season offers lessons for the future
•New grain could be a step forward for eco-friendly Agriculture
Farmer of The Week: Bo Stone, a North Carolina farmer from P&S Farms

Dr. James Wetzel, Jeff Howell, Aquaculture Oct 01, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Dr. Jim Wetzel, an aquaculture researcher / instructor for Lincoln University as well as a member of the research technical committee for the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center.
The news YOU need to know:
• Researchers study Super-Repellent surfaces for Safer Fruits & Vegetables.
• California’s Central Valley is helping shape the future of American Agriculture.
• 1 in 4 consumers discuss responsible food sourcing online.
Our farmer is Jeff Howell, who together with his family, started Triple J Farms, which raises shrimp in an indoor controlled environment in the Midwest.

Dr. John Newton, Megan Dwyer, Climate Week Sep 24, 2019

Our Thought Leader for today is Dr. John Newton, Chief Economist from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
News You Need To Know
• For Climate-Smart Farmers, Carbon Solution is in the Soil.
• Reducing Farm Emissions may plant the seed for a Cooler Planet.
• Is it possible to raise a carbon-neutral cow?

Today's farmer is Megan Dwyer, a 4th generation farmer from Illinois who is a Certified Crop Adviser and Precision Agronomist by trade.

Jill Wheeler, Pat Duncanson, Feed the World Sep 06, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Jill Wheeler, Head of Sustainable Productivity for Syngenta in North America, where she oversees U.S. and Canadian implementation of the company’s Good Growth Plan – a series of six measurable, global commitments designed to improve food security, rural prosperity and environmental sustainability by 2020.
The stories YOU NEED to know:
1. Recent USDA Report sees dire Climate-change Impact on U.S. Crops.
2. How to Feed the World and Preserve the Environment.
Today's farmer is Pat Duncanson is owner of Duncanson Growers and Highland Family Farms, a diversified farming operation in southern Minnesota.

John Piotti, Kaleb J Hill, Farmers and Youtube Sep 03, 2019

The thought leader for today is John Piotti, CEO at American Farmland Trust

The stories you need to know:
• Are young farmers the new starving artists?
• Farmers are Earning revenue from YouTube.
Our farmer interview is with Kaleb J. Hill, Owner & Farmer at Oakvue Farms

Michele Payn, Jocelyn Schlichting Hicks, New Organic Research Aug 27, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Michele Payn, author of Food Bullying: How to avoid buying BS.

The stories you need to know:
• There’s a New Produce Warehouse in Los Angeles that aims to Prevent millions of pounds of Food Waste.
• Rodale Institute Launches New Organic Research & Training Center in Georgia.
Our farmer is Jocelyn Schlichting Hicks, the 2019 Good Steward Recognition Award from the National Corn Growers Association

Erin Fitzgerald, Jasper Claus, "30 Harvests" Aug 20, 2019

Today's thought leader is Erin Fitzgerald, USFRA CEO who discusses the new short film, 30 Harvests.
The stories you need to know:
• University Scientists call for unconventional Collaboration in Agriculture.
• The Meat Industry is working Together on Sustainability.
Jasper Claus from 1Camera, the filmmaker responsible for the short film 30 Harvests.

Julie Shapiro, Ben King, Agriculture Outlook Aug 13, 2019

This week's thought leader is Julie Shapiro, Facilitator for Honey Bee Health Coalition.
The stories you need to know:
• U.S. Vertical Farms are rising and Producing More
• The Agricultural Outlook for the Coming Decade
Today's Farmer is Ben King Owner of Pacific Gold Agriculture

Ben Feldman, Jodi Gauker, Farmers Market Week Aug 07, 2019

This week's thought leader is Ben Feldman, Executive Director at Farmers Market Coalition
The stories you need to know:
• Organics are still showing a surging Demand.
• What can be done to utilize “Ugly Produce” and minimize Food Waste?
This weeks farmer is Jodi Gauker, Executive Director at Lundale Farm Inc. and Local Food advocate.

Alison Edwards, Dominic Biggi, Scott Seus Jul 30, 2019

Today's thought leader is Alison Edwards, Director at Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (SISC).

The stories you need to know:
• “Three Sisters Community Farm” grows Environmentally Sustainable Food.
• There is a Big Market for Small Fruit in Retail.
Today's farmers are Domonic Biggi, CEO at Beaverton Foods; and Scott Seus, Horseradish Farmer at Seus Family Farms.

Dr. Parameswaran, Meagan Kaiser, Cover Crop Benefits Jul 23, 2019

Today's Thought Leader is Dr. Poornima Parameswaran, President and Co-owner of Trace Genomics

The Stories YOU need to know:

How we can Suppress Pathogens on Farms, Naturally.
USDA takes stock of Cover Crop Benefits.

Our farmer is Meagan Kaiser, Soil Scientist at Perry Agricultural Laboratory

Joe Kelpinski, Scott Lonier, Delicious Foods Jul 15, 2019

This weeks Thought Leader is Joe Kelpinski, Program Manager at Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)

The stories you need to know
1. The most Delicious Foods will Fall Victim to Climate Change.
2. Conservationists advise us to Make Small Shifts over Time.

Our farmer interview is with Scott Lonier, MAEAP verified farmer in the Farmstead and Cropping Systems.

Dr. Robyn Metcalfe, Trey Braswell, App Harvest Jul 09, 2019

Today's thought leader is: Dr. Robyn Metcalfe, Director at Food+City and author of Food Routes: Growing Bananas in Iceland and Other Tales from the Logistics of Eating

The stories you need to know:

• AppHarvest makes an impact on the Produce Supply Chain for U.S. Grocers.
• Social Media is Fueling a Market for Novelty Eggs.
Our farmer is: Trey Braswell, President of Braswell Family Farms

Erin Fitzgerald, Chip Bowling, Honor The Harvest Jul 02, 2019

Our thought leader for this week's "Farm, Food, Facts" podcast is Erin Fitzgerald, USFRA CEO, who discusses the Honor The Harvest event

The stories you need to know:
• More Latinx Farmers own their Land—and they could help make the Food System more Sustainable.
• A Climate-friendly Vegetable to consider.
This week's farmer is Chip Bowling, USFRA Chairman and Maryland crop farmer.

Katy Franklin, April Clayton, Avocado Science Jun 25, 2019

Our thought leader for this week's "Farm, Food, Facts" podcast is Katy Franklin, Research Manager at ReFED: Rethink Food Waste

The stories you need to know:
• With Apeel Sciences, could Avocados Last Longer?
• Many Retailers tend to struggle with Inventory Forecasting.
This week's farmer is April Clayton, Farmer Ambassador representing American Farm Bureau Federation

Franklin Holley, Wayne Fredericks, Monarch Butterflies Jun 18, 2019

Our thought leader for this week's "Farm, Food, Facts" podcast is Franklin Holley, Senior Policy Director at Keystone https://farmersformonarchs.org

The stories you need to know:
• Many foods will disappear if Honey Bees go extinct—here’s an unsettling glimpse at a future without avocados or coffee.
• Food Companies turn to Regenerative Agriculture to meet Sustainability Goals.
• Trash or Treasure? Upcycled Food Waste is worth $46.7 Billion.
This week's farmer is Wayne Fredericks, Pollinator Habitat Champion

Enid Partika, Will Tanaka, Jeremy Brown Jun 12, 2019

Our thought leaders for this week's "Farm, Food, Facts" podcast are Enid Partika and Will Tanaka, UCSD students & inventors of "The BioEnergy Project".
The stories you need to know:
• Survey says the phrase “Buy Local” is unclear for Shoppers.
• How Sustainability is Changing Grocery Stores.
• A Significant Increase in Cotton Plantings is Projected.
This week's farmer is Jeremy Brown, Texas Cotton Farmer

Geoff Ruth, John Seabrook, Disaster Resilient Farming Jun 04, 2019

Our Thought Leader for today is John Seabrook, Journalist for the New Yorker.
The Stories You Need to Know:
•New UN Agriculture Agency Report says “Disaster Resilient” Farming can Reduce agriculture Risks and yield Economic Gain
•Atlanta creates the first “Food Forest” in Georgia
•Humans in my Food Supply Chain?
Today's Farmer is Geoff Ruth, a Nebraska Farmer who uses drones to monitor yield and productivity

Greg Gershuny, Jamie Robertson, Silvopasture May 28, 2019

Our Thought Leader for today is Greg Gershuny, Interim Director of the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program.
The Stories You Need to Know:
• Silvopasture: bringing Benefits for both the Herd and the Soil.
• The Beef Industry debuts Sustainability Framework.
• Opportunity for Timely corn Planting depends on the Soil.
• Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy are collaborating on Nature Innovation.
Today's Farmer is Jamie Robertson, dairy farmer featured on "American Farms" Reality TV show.

Julie Murphree, Michael O'Gorman, Matt Niswander May 21, 2019

Our two thought leaders for this Special Edition of the Farm, Food, Facts podcast are Julie Murphree, Outreach Director at Arizona Farm Bureau, and Michael O'Gorman, Executive Director at Farmer Veteran Coalition.
The Stories You Need To Know:
• The S.A.V.E. Farm Program is giving Veterans a path after their Service.
• The average Age of hired Farm Laborers is Rising.

Today's farmer is Matt Niswander, Tennessee Farmer, Nurse Practitioner, and Agriculture Advocate

Carolyn O'Donnell, John Boyd, Get Snacking Challenge May 14, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Carolyn O’Donnell, spokesperson for the California Strawberry Commission.
The Stories You Need To Know:
• California Strawberry Commission announces “Get Snacking Challenge” Campaign
• Florida Farm builds Accessible Strawberry-Picking System
• Millennials have Specific Requirements when it Comes to Food
• Using the Right Vendors can Reduce Food Safety Risks
Today's Farmer is John W. Boyd Jr., farmer & founder of the National Black Farmers Association, featured on "American Farms" Reality TV show

Polly Ruhland, Kelly Griggs, New Water Rules May 07, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Polly Ruhland, CEO of United Soybean Board, who joins us to discuss soybean innovation, the latest research findings and what’s next for soybean farmers.
The Stories You Need to Know:
•California Growers implement New Water Rules to ensure Romaine is Safe for Consumption.
• Agriculture in Alaska is Booming!
• Data Shows Fundamental Shifts occurring in American Farming.
•Expanding Blockchain-based Grocery Store Network can help improve Food Safety.
Today's Farmer is Kelly Griggs, row crop farmer - one of the farmers on American Farm on History who has one of the most challenging personal issues being a wheat farmer.

Christine Daugherty, Jenna Madsen, Generational Farm Transition Apr 30, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Christine Daugherty, Vice President of Global Sustainable Agriculture and Responsible Sourcing at PepsiCo.

The Stories You Need To Know:

Managing Soil (and soil fertility) after Flooding
The Hollowing Out of Mid-Sized U.S. Farms
Transitioning a Farm from one Generation to the Next is now Trickier than Ever
A Smartphone App that allows Farmers to Control where their Cows Graze

Today’s farmer comes from one of the farm families featured on The American Farm on History. Jenna Madsen, of Sunderland Farms is the daughter of patriarch Scott Sunderland – her husband Brett and their 4 kids are struggling with drought conditions and a downturn in turkey consumption.

Thom Beers, American Farm, Adapting Agriculture Apr 23, 2019

Our thought Leader is Thom Beers, one of the co-founders of Bobcat, which produces The American Farm, now airing on History.
Food News of the Week:
•Fixing Food Systems is Imperative for meeting Sustainable Development Goals
•An Urgent Call for Adapting Agriculture and Food Systems
•High-Pressure Processing can help keep Foods Fresh, Healthy, and Safe
•The USDA, EPA, and FDA have released an inter-agency Plan to Combat Food Waste; finally

Alesha Black, AG Kawamura, Sustainability Goals Apr 10, 2019

This Week's Thought Leader: Alesha Black, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Managing Director the Global Food and Agriculture Program
The Stories YOU need to know:
• Dairy group wants the FDA to get more strict about Terms used for Non-Milk Products.
• Grocers can capture Consumers with Fresh-Cut Fruit.
• How “Digital Twins” could allow Retailers give more to Food Banks.
• Tyson Foods and Cloud-Based Tech—could this be the next Frontier for reaching Sustainability Goals?
Farmer of The Week: AG Kawamura, Third generation fruit and vegetable grower and shipper from Orange County, CA, Former Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Dr. John Newton, Anne Meis, Farmbelt Floods Mar 29, 2019

This week's Thought Leader: With the devistation occuring on our farms and ranches in the midwest, we have invited Dr. John Newton of the American Farm Bureau Federation to give us the most up to date report on exactly what is going on.
Stories you need to know:
•Farmers are Experiencing incredibly Hard Times from Mother Nature
•The Ag Industry is Seeking USDA oversight of genetically engineered Animals
•Drones could help Reduce the use of Antibiotics in Livestock.
•Is Hydroponics the Future of Farming?
•Farmers Markets are Struggling because the Market is Saturated
Farmer of the Week: Anne Meis, who, along with her husband Jim, brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Pam Meis, and parents, Jim and Shirley Meis, own and operate a corn, soybean, alfalfa and feeder cattle operation southeast of Elgin, Neb.

Monica Amburn, Carla Wardin, Food Tech Innovations Mar 20, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Monica Amburn, a registered dietitian/nutritionist with a passion for creative wellness education and communications.
Food News Of The Week:
•Pepsi Empowers Female Farmers with CARE Partnership
•It’s not the Farmers who are “tossing” perfectly good Produce
•New USDA Beef “Lifecycle Assessment” discovers Environmental Impacts are Lower than previously Perceived
•It has been a critical year for CRISPR—but the technology’s Success Depends on Consumers
•How decision-makers in Food Companies prioritize Food Tech Innovations
Farmer of the Week: Carla Wardin, Dairy Farmer

Mickey Rubin, Jim Adams, Protein Trend for Consumers Mar 12, 2019

Today, our thought leader is Dr. Mickey Rubin the Executive Director of the Egg Nutrition Board, and one of the nation’s leaders on sports nutrition and the dietary effects of what we eat on cardiometabolic health outcomes.
Food News of the Week:
•Want to learn the “Life Story” of a Chicken in your Supermarket? Well, now you can.
•High-fat Diets cause Food Prices to balloon—challenging Farmers to Keep Up.
•What Food Companies should learn from Smithfield Foods, who has exceeded its Grain Sustainability Goal
•Remember those ugly smoke stacks? Turns out there’s a reclaimed smoke-stack Mineral that could help Grow Crops.
•It’s all about the retail experience to compete with online shopping
Farmer of the Week: Jim is a former chairman of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and serves as a board member of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance.

Dr. Nick Goeser, Nancy Kavazanjian, Tinder for Cattle Feb 26, 2019

Our Thought Leader is Dr. Nick Goeser, Vice President, Sustainability Sciences and Strategy, USFRA.
Food News of the Week:
• Spinach may hold the Solution to the devastating Disease that’s harming Citrus Trees.
• How (and where) will Farmers Grow our Food in the Future?
• Urban Agriculture can Improve Food Security.
• Next Trend: Probiotics for Plants
• A Tinder-inspired app is helping Farmers match up potential Partners for their Cattle!
Farmer of the Week: Nancy Kavazanjian, Soybean Farmer

Cattle Ranches and Supermarkets Feb 20, 2019

Our thought leader is Bridget Wasser, Executive Director, Meat Science & Supply Chain Outreach at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Food News of the Week:
•Polar Vortex Slammed mid-western Dairy Farmers and Beef Cattle Ranchers
•Oregon Rancher is Building Soil Health—as well as a Robust Regional Food System
•Has this Company Invented a Weed that could Save Farming (and the Environment)?
•Producers design Angus herd Genetics for Better Beef.
•A Major Beer offers a #ToastToFarmers as a way to Thank Crop Growers!
Farmer of the Week: Kelsey Pope, Colorado cattle rancher & blogger.

Love for Farmers, Joe Koss, Bo Stone Feb 12, 2019

Our thought leader is Joe Koss, CEO of Culver’s
Food News of the Week:
•This might be the Answer to Herbicide-Resistant “Superweeds.”
•New Research offers Strategies for Sustainable, Profitable Livestock Farming.
•This is How “Influencers” will Highlight Produce in 2019.
•The Warm Colors of Yellow and Orange will prevail in 2019.
Farmer of The Week: Bo Stone, a North Carolina farmer from P&S Farms

Future of Farming, National Croissant Day Jan 29, 2019

This week on Farm-Food-Facts we will discuss why game-changing research, technology and innovation is critical to the future of farming and the food world – and how you can be a part of it. Our thought leader is Dr. Sally Rockey the Executive Director of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research or FFAR. A discussion with Brett Kaysen, Ph.D., who leads the sustainability practice at the National Pork Board and is a pig farmer.

EAT-Lancet Report, Erin Fitzgerald, Cassidy Johnston Jan 21, 2019

Today, our thought leader is US Farmers & Rancers Alliance Erin Fitzgerald putting perspective and an intelligent way to think about the EAT-Lancet report issued last week on the implications for feeding a growing global population – and will share the number one flaw in the process of the commission.
Food News of the Week:
1. We know that Crops can be bred to Resist Disease—but is it possible to breed Crops Resilient to Rising Temperatures?
2. Female Ranchers are on the Rise!
3. Recruiting Ants to Fight Weeds on the Farm
4. These are 5 Ways Grocers can Sell More in 2019
Farmer of the Week: Cassidy Johnston, who along with her husband and sons, work a cattle ranch in southeastern New Mexico.

Expected Food Trends, Katie Brown, Brody Stapel Jan 15, 2019

Today, our thought leader is Katie Brown, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Nutrition at Dairy Management Inc. DMI who manages the National Dairy Council the Innovation for US Dairy and the US Dairy Export Council.
Food News of the Week:
•Solutions that could help Feed 10 Billion People without depleting the Planet
•Fixing a Flaw in Photosynthesis could Tremendously increase the amount of Food we Produce
•“Smart Agriculture” could be the Solution to Water Scarcity
•Beef sees Rise in Demand for “High End” Cuts
•Six Trends expected to Impact the Food Industry in 2019
Farmer of the Week: Brody Stapel of Double Dutch Dairy

Meal Kit Mania, Zippy Duvall, Chip Bowling Jan 07, 2019

Our Thought leader is is Zippy Duvall, the President of the American Farm Bureau Federation and member of the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.
Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert’s news roundup of the week’s top stories in food/agriculture include:
•Here is What Retailers and Restaurants can Learn from Farmers
•The Salvation Army is starting to Sell Groceries •Meal Kit Mania: Consumers Love this modern Innovative Offering
•Amazon commits approximately $22 billion in future Food Purchases as it proliferates Whole Foods.
•Consumers are a bit Happier with Supermarkets recently
Farmer of the week: Charles “Chip” Bowling, Jr. USFRA Chairman.

Highlights from 2018 Jan 01, 2019

In a special podcast today we revisit three highlights since we launched Farm-Food-Facts – our CEO Erin Fitzgerald will kick off today’s podcast, followed by Walter Robb, the former Co-CEO of Whole Foods and one of the most insightful people in the food world and Jimmy Webb, a past recipient of Georgia’s Farmer of the Year Award who farms corn, cotton and peanuts.

Ag-Tech Startups, John Newton, Hilary Maricle Dec 19, 2018

Our thought leader is John Newton, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist.
Food News of the Week:
• This Is How Food Can Have The Power To Transform A Person
• A Fresh Solution For Tackling Food Waste In The Supply Chain
• Forty Acres Of American Farmland Is Lost Every Hour Due To Development
• A New Wave of Ag-Tech Startups: Uber CEO and Alphabet Invest in Urban Farming
Farmer of The Week: Hilary Maricle, Farmer, Ag Educator

"New American Farmer, Kim Kirchherr, Jay Hill Dec 12, 2018

Our thought leader is Kim Kirchherr, an award-winning registered dietitian and a certified personal trainer.
Food News of the Week:
•Could this App be the Key to Saving Crops from Pests and Pathogens?
•We’re Facing a “Storm of Innovation”—is your Supply Chain Prepared?
•Meet the “New American Farmer.”
•Leading Scientists call for 8-Step Action to Increase Global Soil Carbon
Farmer of The Week: Jay Hill from Hill Farms & Wholesome Farms

More Food Less Pollution, Mary Shelman, Steve Meier Dec 04, 2018

Our thought leader guest is Mary Shelman, Former Director of Harvard Business School's Agribusiness Program.
Food News of the Week:
•What the latest Climate Report means for Agriculture.
•This is how Dairy Farmers can Lead the way in Environmental Stewardship.
•Ways to Grow More Food with Less Pollution.
•Two Companies are Joining forces to Capture Methane from Hog Manure Lagoons!
Farmer of the Week: Steve Meier, his wife Teresa, and their family, have been providing greater Jackson, Missouri area with a unique Christmas experience; offering customers a "choose and harvest" or pre-cut trees.

Erin Fitzgerald, Don Cameron, Facial Recognition Nov 28, 2018

Our thought leader guest will be Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of USFRA, who will share insights from the Sustainable Agriculture Summit and Panel Discussion.
Food News of the Week:
•New Holiday Survey Results: "State of Grocery Retail" Report.
•KFC & Baidu join forces regarding Facial Recognition.
•Young Farmers and Cashing in on Hemp!
•"California Wine" Grape Growers must deal with Damage from Catastrophic Wildfires.
Farmer of the Week: Don Cameron, of Terranova Ranch in Helm California, will discuss sustainability of the farm, and the California weather events and challenges he deals with including drought, forest fires, and climate change.

Walter Robb, Darrell Glaser, Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Nov 21, 2018

Our thought leader guest will be Walter Robb, former Co-CEO of Whole Foods who now is investing in food and agriculture start ups and will share his insights on both organic and conventional agriculture – how we need both to work together, the importance of retailers working with farmers, how food and agriculture is moving sustainability forward through technology and continuous improvement.
Food News:
•Turkey is still #1, but some folks are starting to also serve a new main protein Thanksgiving Dish!
•Shoppers are becoming more Comfortable Buying Fresh Produce Online, according to Survey Results.
•This is why Farmers Need to Encourage Cranberry Consumption this Thanksgiving
•The Clever Tech Keeping America's (Many) Disabled Farmers on the Job
•Farm Bureau Survey: Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Down for 3rd Straight Year
Darrell Glaser is a farmer and owner of Bar G and Reveille Turkey Farms in Rogers, Texas, where he raises turkeys and cattle. Darrell is a former Face of Farming and Ranching for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

Erin Fitzgerald, Emily Buck, Zia Daniell Wigder Nov 13, 2018

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance CEO Erin Fitzgerald discusses how today's farmers "Honor the Harvest" and how food retailers can support the initiative in store and in their promotions.
Food News of the week:
•Rotterdam's Merwehaven harbor is home to the world's first floating dairy farm
•Transparency comes to Thanksgiving as brands offer traceable turkey programs via blockchain to consumers
•Post Hurricane Update: Farmers feeling the pain as rising costs and lower prices put further pressure on operations
•Robots as "cattle drivers" improve animal welfare and employee safety
Farmer of the week: Emily Buck, Ph.D., Ohio Crop and Sheep Farmer and Professor at Ohio State University joins us to discuss soil erosion, pesticide runoff, the Conservation Reserve Program and her recent discussions with retailers at Groceryshop.
Special guest: Zia Daniell Wigder, co-founder and Chief Global Content Officer at Groceryshop joins us now to share why it is important for farmers and ranchers to be included in the discussions with grocery and e-commerce retailers.

Jimmy Webb, Hurricane Michael Oct 25, 2018

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance CEO Erin Fitzgerald discusses responsible investment and marketing across the food value chain through new innovations backed by science and shared outcomes.
Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert’s news roundup of the week’s top stories in food/agriculture include: New Source of Protein, Healthy Living Campaign and “Winning on Reducing Food Waste” Initiative.
Georgia corn, cotton and peanut farmer Jimmy Webb engages with Phil for a Q&A about Hurricane Michael and its impact on farmers, the farm economy and our food and fiber supply this harvest.

Brad & Peggy Greenway, Internet of Cows Oct 18, 2018

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance CEO Erin Fitzgerald discusses the recent UN Global Warming report and farmers’ role in carbon sequestration and utilizing biomass for energy.
Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert’s news roundup of the week’s top stories in food/agriculture include: Impact of Hurricane Michael, “Internet of Cows” and IBM Food Trust Network.
Pig Farmer of the Year Brad Greenway and his wife Peggy engage with Phil for a Q&A about technology and innovation, continuous improvement in animal care and today’s family farm.

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