Farm4Profit Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Real ROI of Renewable Energy and Agriculture Coexistence Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

How do “Large Scale” Solar and Wind projects get started?

1. What defines a utility-scale renewable energy project and how it works (quick definition of wind/solar projects and how they work)

2. What it’s like for a farmer to lease land to a renewable energy project (speaking with developers, signing a lease, etc)

3. How renewable energy projects can (and should) coexist with agriculture: (i.e. how wind turbines take very little space from farming land so farmers can continue to work the land. Not the same for solar projects, but farmers can grow crops next to solar sites, herd sheep within solar sites, and how the land will be fertile for agriculture once the solar site is decommissioned).

4. Pros and cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project

✅Pros of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

Steady Income Stream (how much on average can a farmer earn from leasing land to a renewable energy project?)
Minimal Impact on Land (especially wind)
Local Economic Benefits (local tax revenue that can go to schools, infrastructure, emergency services, etc)
Energy Security and Grid Resilience (enhancing national energy security)
Contribution to Renewable Energy (reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase energy independence)
Save American family farms (additional income has been a lifesaver and helped keep family farms from being sold to developers and maintain that agricultural profile of a county)

❎Cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

Long-term Commitment (leases typically lasting 20 to 30 years)
Land Use Restrictions (specifically for solar farms, usable farmland is often taken out of production)
Need to provide access to company staff ( i.e. tech to service the turbines or panels)
Potential Environmental Impact (how the installation and decommissioning processes can have environmental impacts)
Sale of leased land can be complicated (if the land is already generating revenue from the lease then selling is easier. The lease can be transferred as long as it is covered in the lease agreement. Consult a lawyer for that)

5. How generating solar/wind energy is a form of harvesting in itself

6. Things to consider if you’re a farmer considering leasing land to a renewable energy project.

Discuss potential impacts during construction
Decommissioning process and responsibilities at the end of 20-30 years (so people remember grandpa/ grandma fondly :)
Supporting your local community with many benefits that pay for essential public services for your county

7. Opportunity to answer commonly asked questions/misconceptions of renewable energy projects:

Whether renewable energy projects affect property value
Whether solar panels render land infertile
Whether wind turbines are loud (in general wind turbines generate about 30- 45 decibels at 300 ft while the limit is 55 decibel. With proper setback in places where wind turbines are built, people are more likely to hear traffic from a distant highway than the turbine itself)
Do wind turbines kill birds? (yes about 300K in the US but that is nothing compared to cats, buildings, pesticides, and cars that kill millions of birds per year)
Whether renewable energy projects are funded by taxpayer money or by private investments (private investments. In fact a lot of fossil fuel companies are now making investments in renewable energy because the margins are better than generating power from gas or coal. Additionally like most energy projects clean energy companies make annual payment to the county tax revenues and support community benefits)
Whether wind and solar energy are more expensive than coal or gas (see Lazard’s levelized cost of energy 2023 report)
Supposedly 7-10% of the electricity generated is lost so where does that go? Ground water? Livestock, family?

8. Advice to farm landowners considering leasing land to a solar or wind project.

*It goes without saying but it’s important for landowners considering leasing land to a clean energy project to consult with relevant legal and financial experts for their unique situation before finalizing any agreements. There are resources like the Center for Rural Opportunity and Power (CROP) that provide good, unbiased information on how to get access to these resources as a landowner. CROP’s mission is to educate audiences about the benefits of energy independence.You can visit their website cropamerica.com or drop them an email contact@cropamerica.com for more info.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

F4F - Jules Wisner - NY to IA Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

@juleswisner Instagram 950 TikTok 5.2k

Where are they from, what do they farm, how did they get into farming
How’s the family - do they farm with family?
1st Gen Iowa
Moved to the midwest from New York State
What are they up to today?
What they see that excites them?
What do they want to make sure they see before they leave
Career
Connection with Ag
Grew up with livestock
Bachelor's degree in Ag Business
Dairy calf manager
Raised her own stock
Fun Facts
2 dogs that she posted a lot about
Faith is important to her
Packers fan
Busch Light drinker
Getting into western ag fashion industry
How has social media changed her life?
Why do it?
How would she start it over differently?
Which is their favorite platform?
How are you getting your message across through social media?
If you were an animal, what do you think you would be?
If you could make anything bigger on your body what would it be?

What has been the best thing you have ever eaten and where did you get it?

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

Connect with us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!

https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

Call/Text: 515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc

Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Strategic Market Moves Post-USDA Report Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

Andrew Kabes, the Chief Operating Officer (pronounced Kubbish like "Rubbish") of Lighthouse Commodities. With a rich background in the commercial grain industry, Andrew takes us through the recent USDA quarterly acreage and stocks report.

Background and Context

Can you explain the significance of the USDA acreage and quarterly stocks report for the commodity markets?
How do these reports typically impact market prices and trading strategies?
What historical trends have you observed in the first USDA acreage and stocks report after planting, and how have they influenced market behavior?

Current Market Conditions

What were the market expectations before USDA report?
How are current planting and growing conditions shaping up for key crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat?

Analysis

What were some key take aways from this report?

Strategic Insights

What strategies should farmers, traders, and investors have considered ahead of the report release?
How can participants now move forward with these results from the report?

Broader Implications