0:50 Why Canadian sugar beets are processed in the US
3:10 Phil explains why Ontario farmers grow better corn than most US states including Illinois
9:00 Consumers really just want cheap food
13:50 Food is not like Uber
18:50 And....... Trump
24:50 Phil tells us his cat story
27:30 Some countries actually have food safety issues without making stuff up

Most of you will remember today’s guest, Damian Mason, from Episode 04 of the Future of Agriculture Podcast. His charm, humor, and intellect makes him a truly unforgettable person. He is a well-known keynote speaker, coach, and consultant in the agriculture industry.

Damian has been in the agriculture industry for over 23 years. In today’s episode, I took the opportunity to get his views about agriculture as a business. We talk about a variety of topics from consumer perception, baby animals, and he even shares his tips to develop comedic delivery to improve your speaking skills.

 “We, in the agriculture industry, need to portray a degree of professionalism and modernism in the things that we do.”

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Damian discusses the consumer’s outdated mindset and perception towards the agriculture industry.
• We talk about the importance of treating agriculture as a business.
• Damian emphasizes how and why the members of the agriculture industry need to be more professional and modern towards how they do business.
• He explains why he thinks that people in the agriculture industry should stop referring to animals as “babies” and call them as they are.
• We talk about agricultural entrepreneurship and the challenges that agriculture professionals face.
• Damian talks about his perception of the Millennial generation who are in the agriculture industry.
• He shares the importance of focusing on entrepreneurialism and un-commoditizing our products.
• Damian discusses comedic delivery and how to effectively deliver humor to your work, shows, and events.

Resources Mentioned

• Reinvent with Intent Video Series by Damian Mason

Reach out with Damian Mason:

• com
• Damian Mason on Twitter
• Damian Mason on Facebook
• Damian Mason on LinkedIn
• Damian Mason on Instagram
• Damian Mason on YouTube

Get First Access to the Farm & Rural Ag Network!

If you enjoyed this show, then you will surely love the Farm & Rural Ag Network! It is an exclusive community led by the founders of the fastest growing agriculture podcasts: the Shark Farmer Podcast, the Ontario Agcast, and yours truly – the Future of Agriculture Podcast.

Subscribe now to join the community and gain access to our robust content library and grow your network by connecting to other industry players.

Share the Ag-Love!

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

AgGrad Website 

AgGrad on Twitter 

AgGrad on Facebook 

AgGrad on LinkedIn 

AgGrad on Instagram 

Chasing the yields in Indiana, aiming for the magic 100 bushel/acre mark. Listen in as a grower in Indiana discusses how he took on the challenge with help from BASF.

"The Farmer & The City Girl Podcast Episode 006 - Cover Crops"

In this episode Carrie wants to know what cover crops are, what their actual purpose is and why they help regular harvested crops. Rob tries to keep it non-political, but eventually they discuss the pro vs anti cover crop guys.

Then they discuss the Milwaukee Crypto Outbreak and why Milwaukeeans would be happy if farmers got a stipend to plant cover crops to keep pollutants out of the water. And how the consumer would even make the correlation between cover crops that were involved and the food they purchase.

FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Do you plant cover crops? If so what kind and what state are you from?

Leave at comment at: http://thefarmerandthecitygirl.com/ep006

Read more at http://farmercitygirl.libsyn.com/#p8u3rCQJyCH02JGK.99

Meg Brown pretty well blew me away with her honesty. Listen as she talks about mental health in agriculture.

Timestamps:

6:38       Two headed cows

12:57     Showing consumers the truth

23:29     SM success without booty shorts

30:18     California tribes

40:29     Mental health in agriculture

Read more at http://sharkfarmer.libsyn.com/#hvcqcmq0aLBwa2l8.99

Food waste is a major issue in the United States, as well as the world. Research shows that about 97% of food wasted in the United States ends up in landfills and the less than 3% of waste that doesn’t see a landfill is being utilized in other commodities such as compost, black soldier fly larvae, and other methods. That means that approximately 30-40% of the calories available to the human population finds their way into the landfill.

Although the global economy and environment are slowly becoming more aware of the massive issue regarding food waste, it’s still one of the biggest issues plaguing, not only the agriculture industry, but also the global economic, ethical, and environment. Public speaker and author of the book, America’s Waste Land, and founder of Wasted Food joins me today to shed some light on this significant issue, share his thoughts on what the ag industry – as well as consumers in general – can do to increase awareness and make a difference in the world by finding different ways to reduce the amount of food wasted throughout the country.

“Food waste is simply a poor use of resources. To me, it’s being a poor steward of the Earth.” – Johnathan Bloom

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Why consumers should care about food waste and its impact on the global economics, ethics, and environmental factors.
• About $200-Billion dollars are squandered nationally by wasted food. That’s about $2,000 per family in food not eaten.
• The food waste data does not show the amount of ag-level waste because we don’t have a good enough handle on the amount of food being wasted at the farm level.
• On an international scale, the amount of food wasted amounts to about $2.6-Trillion.
• Depending on the price of harvest, farmers might not be able to justify the expenditure of time and labor to harvest certain crops such as sweet potatoes.
• The misconception of “sell by” and expiration dates on food.
• Where food goes when you put it in the garbage disposal.
• How several European countries are making progress in reducing food waste.
• How the ag-community can inspire consumers to utilize food in the best ways possible.
• The positive changes Johnathan has seen since he began his food waste project.

Practical Things Consumers Can Do to Reduce Food Waste:

• Become a smarter shopper. Plan what food you will need before going shopping.
• Think more about portion sizes.
• Use your freezer as a resource.
• Stop treating “sell by” and expiration dates as the be all, end all. Instead, use them as a guide, trust your instincts and senses.

Connect with Johnathan Bloom:

• Wasted Food
• Wasted Food on Twitter
• Wasted Food on Instagram
• America’s Wasteland book
• Just Eat It documentary

Share the Ag-Love!  

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!  

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:  

AgGrad Website  

AgGrad on Twitter  

AgGrad on Facebook  

AgGrad on LinkedIn  

AgGrad on Instagram  

Donnarie Hales from the Grow Smart Podcast from BASF speaks with other podcast host Rob Sharkey of the Shark Farmer Podcast and the Farmer & The City Girl Podcast, Tim Hammerich of the Future of Agriculture Podcast, and Wendell Schumm of Ontario AgCast.