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Farm & Rural Ag Network

The best agricultural podcast content around the internet. Hear from farmer, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and titans of agribusiness about the issues facing modern agriculture.
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Now displaying: September, 2018
Sep 27, 2018

Making that white, liquid gold in the Pacific Northwest, Dwayne is a firm believer in free-market capitalism. We prove that it's possible to disagree with your neighbours and still be friends. Supply management, fair trade practices and the global dairy market.

Sep 27, 2018

Tony Chen is the Co-Founder of Manolin Inc., a new startup in the aquaculture space. Manolin is a software company that aims to accelerate resource sharing between salmon farms as well as prevent and manage sea lice outbreaks through digital health management. Before co-founding Manolin, Tony was developing software for the U.S. government and was only interested in aquaculture as a hobby. His fascination grew to new heights when he discovered how oyster farming works and the plight of its farmers.

 

Tony joins me today to share his thoughts on aquaculture and why he thinks it’s going to radically change the way we look at agriculture in the near future. He explains what aquaculture is all about, how he believes it can contribute to solving the world food production crisis, and how their company aims to help ocean farmers. He discusses some of the issues of aquaculture and how they tie with the ocean’s current problems. He also describes why they worked with HATCH among other startup accelerators in the industry.

 

“Aquaculture is another industrial revolution and the world is starting to recognize that.” - Tony Chen

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • What is Aquaculture and how can it impact the future of agriculture?
  • Why he focused on Aquaculture despite having a degree in Computer Science from MIT.
  • What is Manolin and what do they aim to do?
  • Their clients and what their operation might look like.
  • Why they pursued a partnership with the startup accelerator HATCH.
  • The challenges and benefits of being a U.S. company operating in a foreign country.
  • His advice to startups planning to work with accelerators.
  • Why people need to pay more attention to aquaculture.
  • How their app works and what it can provide to its users.

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

  • We're at a stage where there is an opportunity for regeneration in the ocean.
  • Knowing what's happening at a nearby farm is just as important as what's happening at your specific farm.
  • The lack of aquaculture is one of the larger problems when you think about food production globally.

 

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

 

 

Connect with Tony Chen:

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

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: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram 

Sep 26, 2018

Tonight I'm thrilled to be heading up to beautiful Northumberland to talk to Farmer and writer, Sally Urwin @PintSizedFarmer

We start off by talking about the book she's written about her farming life (due out in April!), how it all came about, and the whole writing process, before moving on to chat about her early life growing up in North Tyneside by the sea. 

We hear about the 'immensely boring office job' she did after University, and how eventually, in the early days of internet dating & after searching for a 'man under 5'8' who lived in the countryside', she met her future husband, Steve. 

We talk about her early days on the farm, and how much she had to learn, before we discuss their diversification into a brewery and wedding venue, and some of the difficulties it caused them.

We talk about 2018, and what a difficult year it's been for them, which led, with Steve having lost his part time job in January, and financial pressure building, to them contacting the charity RABI, and receiving financial help.

We also hear about her Generalised Anxiety Disorder, what it is, and how she copes with it, partly with the help of some awesome drugs!

All this, and much, much more. 

Sally's one of my favourite people to follow on social media, not only because she's incredibly funny, but because she's so honest about her farming life, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to her tonight. 

Check it out folks.. 

 

 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 25, 2018

Kim LeQuire is a farmer from North Carolina. Listen as she talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

Please visit our sponsor:

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Sep 20, 2018

Manitoulin Island is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. It also boasts the largest island in a freshwater lake that’s on an island in a freshwater lake anywhere in the world…. John McNaughton has to deal with rocks, trees, surprising predators and parts runs that involve a 45 minute ferry ride, but this BMO Farm Family of the Year recipient wouldn’t trade it for all the land in Perth County.

Sep 20, 2018

Jim Loar is CEO and President of Cool Planet, an innovations company that seeks to improve upon the current agricultural technologies we have today to facilitate increased profits and crop production at a low cost in a sustainable manner. Jim has over 30 years of experience in the industry and worked with big corporations like Wilbur-Ellis Company and Griffin LLC. He has a Bachelor of Nautical Science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and obtained his Master's degree in Business administration from Ohio University.

 

Jim joins me today to discuss his ideas around soil health and why he says it’s the future of agricultural innovations. He explains what soil health is and what exactly makes soil healthy. He introduces a new project called Stories From The Soil and describes its purpose and what he wants it to achieve. Jim also discusses how improving soil health benefits not only the environment but also the economy around the agricultural industry.

 

 

“Soil health really is the next evolution of agriculture.” - Jim Loar

 

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • Why is soil health so important in agriculture?
  • Why he began focusing on innovating soil for agricultural purposes.
  • The properties of healthy soil and what makes soil not healthy.
  • The tools available to the farmer to help make the soil healthy.
  • How Cool Planet plans to initiate the innovations of soil health.
  • The goal of launching "Stories From The Soil" and what you can expect from it.

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

  • Farmers have always been focused on health and it's a priority that's passed to the next generation.
  • Improving soil health positively affects soil biology which translates to better crops and bigger profits.

 

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

 

 

Connect with Jim Loar:

 

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

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: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram

 

Sep 19, 2018

Tonight for this very special Rock & Roll Farming, I'm absolutely delighted to be heading up to Scotland to talk to farmer Doug Avery @DougAvery12 of Marlborough, New Zealand, where he's currently on a speaking tour. 

I'm not even going to write much here, except to say that Doug is one of the most inspirational men I've ever had the pleasure to talk to, and the work he's doing to help other people get through difficult times, after hitting rock bottom himself in 1998, is extraordinary. 

His book, The Resilient Farmer, is widely available online.

Don't miss this one folks.. 

 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 18, 2018

Andrew Klein is an entrepreneur, a family man, and a champion for children with Down syndrome. However, one of his unknown accomplishments is overcoming PTSD from active combat. Listen to this very honest account about returning from war.

Please visit our sponsor:

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Sep 13, 2018

Sometimes to be successful you have to have a little luck. Niche markets, why Canada is an export powerhouse and what me and Stewart really think of Americans when no one is listening.

Sep 12, 2018

Zack James is the Founder of Rabbit Tractors, a team that designs and builds swarm-enabled, compact, and autonomous farm equipment. His company’s aim is to help farmers save time and money while increasing productivity. He has a degree in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and attended University of Michigan Law School with a focus on corporate governance and securities.

 

Zack joins me today to share his company’s ideas and solutions when it comes to increasing farm efficiency. He introduces the concept of Rabbit Tractors, describes how they developed the idea and explains how it can improve farm productivity. He also describes how they incorporated autonomy in their technology and how farmers can simply run their machines with smartphones.

 

“What autonomy will do is let us break the paradox of one farmer driving one tractor at a time.” - Zack James

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • What is Rabbit Tractors?
  • How Zack got the inspiration to start the company.
  • His unconventional background prior to starting his company.
  • How having smaller farm equipment can help farmers with their work.
  • How Rabbit Tractors products can help farmers save time and increase productivity
  • To what point is their technology autonomous?
  • Can Rabbit Tractors replace 100% of what farmers use?
  • The current status of Rabbit Tractors.
  • The qualities that made the company attractive to accelerators
  • Their current business focus and their plans for the future.

Key Takeaways:

  • Most ag tech companies have a great technology component but don't have a good delivery method for it.

 

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Zack James:

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

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: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram 

Sep 12, 2018

Tonight I'm delighted to be heading up to Sunny Ayrshire in Scotland to talk to dairy farmer Robert Drummond @robwdrummond

We talk about his early life in Lanarkshire, after his Parents moved over from County down in Northern Ireland when he was a few months old, and how they built up the family business over the years.

We discuss the challenges they faced with some short term land leases, and the difficult time when his Father died of cancer at just 57.

We go into the years spent working back in Northern Ireland on his Uncle's farm, with the lovely @S_JDrummond now on the scene, and how a change in situation led them looking for their own farm.

We talk about their decision to go into organic conversion on the farm, and what that entails, with their milk now being sold through a coop, to a local producer retailer.

Robert then talks at length about the extremely difficult times he and Sarah Jane have gone through, with seven miscarriages, and how they've coped with it, and are involved with raising awareness and helping others in similar situations through #SayTheirName. We then hear about their decision to adopt, and how three beautiful little girls recently arrived at their new home with them.

All this and much, much more.

Robert and Sarah Jane are two of my favourite people to follow on social media, and have become good friends. I couldn't be happier for them that they've finally got the family they've always wanted, and it was a genuine pleasure to talk to Rob tonight.

Check it out folks.. 

 

 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 11, 2018

Jake Franklin is a 3rd generation electrician that has a passion for the outdoors. Listen as he talks about his podcast and getting others involved in foraging.

Sep 10, 2018

Lesley and I talk to Mike and Gail who were tinder before tinder was cool

Sep 7, 2018

Unity is strength - It is time for agriculture to collaborate

Sep 6, 2018

Find out who John Greig thinks are the biggest hacks in Ag Media today. Also - how click bait has hurt the credibility of journalists.... As the Editor of the new Farmtario publication, John is utilizing on-line and traditional print media in a whole new way.

 

www.farmtario.com

Sep 5, 2018

Tonight I'm going all European and heading over to Brussels to talk to Director of Public Affairs at the European Crop Protection Association, Graeme Taylor @leekandpotato 

We talk about his early life growing up in Fife in Scotland, and how most of his strongest childhood memories come from food and cooking family meals together.

We hear about his decision to study politics at university, and his first job working at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and how that led to becoming more involved in EU issues and attending meetings in Brussels. 

We discuss his then role of as agriculture attache for the UK in Brussels, and some of the difficult issues he worked on, and we also go into some of the reasons the EU may be misunderstood in the UK.

We then talk in depth about his current role at the European Crop Protection Association, what the organisation is, and what they do for farmers in the EU. We go into some of the things he's been involved in there, including the hugely polarised current debate around glyphosate, and also what it's like to represent the pesticide industry in general, and how people react to that - including death threats sometimes!

We also go into the current campaign #WithOrWithout and how they're trying to get a sensible conversation going around crop protection products, and their role in providing a safe and affordable food supply for EU consumers, as well as going into the #LetsCook initiative that I was recently involved in with Graeme - check that out here https://youtu.be/52ELenMW2iA 

I also couldn't not ask about him being a Masterchef quarter finalist!

All this and much, much more.

Graeme's a lovely guy, and hugely passionate about food production and the people involved, and it was a pleasure to talk to him again tonight.

Check it out folks.. 

 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 4, 2018

Almond grower Christine Gemperle and Leigh Ann Harrison of BASF come out of their shells and talk about the 2.27 billion lb. almond crop in California.

Sep 4, 2018

Matt Kellogg farms around the suburbs of Chicago. Listen as he talks about fighting traffic and hugging Oprah

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