FOCUS on Agriculture Preston & Jason

Have you ever wondered why some strawberries from the grocery store or farmer’s market taste wonderful while others are relatively flavorless? Do you struggle to produce strawberries in your home garden? We learn about these topics and much more in our latest episode.

Dr. Marvin Pritts is a professor and the director of undergraduate studies, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section at Cornell. Dr. Pritts has spent four decades studying berry crops, with a recent focus on strawberry production practices and their effects on yield and flavor. Listen to learn about his research as well as his thoughts on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list which annually ranks strawberries as being high risk for pesticide residue.

Ambassador Kip Tom served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 2019-2020. As a seventh generation farmer, Kip has worked tirelessly as a voice for farmers in the U.S. and around the globe and is a strong advocate for technological advances in agriculture.



In this episode we discuss Kip’s journey from farm boy to becoming an active influencer of ag policy in the U.S. and abroad. Listen in to hear his take on the threats facing agriculture and the need for his fellow farmers to make their voices heard by policymakers. Despite challenges facing farmers, Kip’s optimism about the future of ag shines brightly through.

Congressman Brad Finstad was elected to Congress in a special election on August 9, 2022, and was sworn in three days later with his family by his side as he took the Oath of Office to proudly represent Minnesota’s First District.

Brad is a fourth-generation farmer and resident of the New Ulm area. He and his wife, Jackie, met on the school bus in second grade and they are now the proud parents of seven children. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agriculture Education and an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development, Brad and Jackie now operate an agriculture business in New Ulm while working alongside extended family to run their generational family farm.

Brad is proud to have served as State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota where he worked to support infrastructure improvements, business development, homeownership, community services such as schools, public safety, health care, and high-speed internet access in rural areas. He previously served three terms in the Minnesota Legislature. In 2017, he was appointed Minnesota’s State Director of USDA Rural Development and held executive positions with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

In this episode we discuss the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, EPA’s Waters of the US rule, and the impact that farmers can have on governmental policy. You can learn more about Congressman Finstad at his official website: https://finstad.house.gov/ or on social media including Twitter: @RepFinstad.

Dr. Donald Ort is is the Robert Emerson Professor in Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois and Deputy Director of the RIPE (Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency) project.  His research seeks to understand and improve plant growth and photosynthetic performance in changing environmental conditions, such as increasing CO2 temperature and drought.  Don earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and his doctorate in plant biochemistry from Michigan State University. He has served as the president of the American Society of Plant Biologists, the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, and the International Association of Plant Physiology. He also served as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology and is an associate editor of Annual Review of Plant Biology. Don has received numerous awards and recognitions, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and being named one of Thomson Reuters’ Most Influential Scientific Minds. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers in journals that include Science.

In this episode we discuss Dr. Ort's research and how it impacts crop production.  You can learn more about RIPE at https://ripe.illinois.edu/.  Dr. Ort is also involved with the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI): https://cabbi.bio/ and Renewable Oil Generated with Ultra-productive Energycane (ROGUE): https://rogue.illinois.edu/.

Stu Ellis has been a well-known agricultural communicator in Illinois for 50 years.  He began as the farm broadcaster at WSOY in Decatur and expanded his service to corn belt farmers through radio, television, newspapers, newsletters, and the Internet.  Listen to hear Stu's story - from growing up on the farm, attending college, and through a long, distinguished, and impactful career "helping farmers make money and stay out of jail."

Although he has reached the point in his career at which many people would consider retirement, Stu is busier than ever.  He generates ag related content for the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers, and other organizations and also hosts a daily farm report on WITY radio.  You can read his weekly column in the Decatur Herald and Review.  For the last 20 years, he has published the Cornbelt Update weekly newsletter which is available through a variety of sources.  Follow Stu on Twitter: @farmgatemedia and subscribe to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@user-gq2ql5im8o/videos.

Joni Stepanov's long career in agriculture has culminated in her current role as horticulture consultant at AmplifiedAg.  In this position, she conducts research to determine how to best manage crops in a completely controlled environment.  Listen in to learn about her research.  For a visualization of the concepts discussed in this podcast, check out the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAhefhLAolQ.  To learn more about this topic, listen to our previous episode with Don Taylor, CEO of AmplifiedAg.

To learn more about AmplifiedAg, visit their website: https://amplifiedaginc.com/.  You can follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter: @AmplifiedAgInc.  Find Vertical Roots products in select grocery stores and follow them on Twitter: @VerticalRoots. You can also interact with Joni on LinkedIn.