Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

Maricopa County Farm Bureau
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Maricopa County Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture in a community that thrives on the dichotomy of urban and rural agriculture operations. This podcast is a home for farmers, ranchers, food lovers, prospective agriculturalists, and those who are interested in where their food comes from! Learn more at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

  1. 4d ago

    Support Your Neighbor: September is Suicide Awareness Month

    This episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection focuses on Suicide Awareness Month and why suicide prevention matters in agriculture, citing 2024 U.S. figures of 48,824 deaths by suicide and millions more who considered, planned, or attempted. The host explains that farmers and agricultural workers are about twice as likely to die by suicide, describing unique stressors such as lack of control over prices, weather, and legislative pressures, generational and societal expectations, and financial crises, while noting a family loss in the mid-1980s and ongoing concerns in 2026. The episode highlights stigma around therapy in rural communities, limited access to mental healthcare, and the benefits of telehealth. It encourages checking in with neighbors and friends and shares the free, confidential AgriStress hotline (call/text 833-897-2474), available 24/7 in multiple states, including Arizona. Learn more and get resources at https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/. 00:00 Why This Matters 00:14 Suicide Facts And Risk 01:02 Unique Farm Stressors 02:05 Personal And Generational Impact 02:45 Rural Culture And Stigma 03:50 Access Gaps And Telehealth 05:13 Check In On Neighbors 06:53 AgriStress Hotline Resource 08:14 Community Support And Closing

  2. Sep 23

    September Ag Report: A Consensus for Arizona Water, Farm Bill & Election Updates

    The episode recaps September agriculture news, highlighting the Bureau of Reclamation’s finalized 10-year Colorado River plan featuring smaller, shared lower-basin cuts totaling 1.25 million acre-feet, with Arizona taking the largest share: a 760,000 acre-feet cut through 2028 plus 300,000 acre-feet in voluntary savings. It notes Lake Powell release adjustments could occur if elevations drop below 3,500 feet to protect Lake Mead, and discusses rising hydropower costs prompting Arizona utilities and irrigation/electrical districts to reduce reliance on hydropower through solar, storage, and gas plants. Politically, it previews Arizona races and Farm Bureau AgPAC endorsements for Andy Biggs and Sine Kerr for governor/lieutenant governor and Warren Petersen for attorney general, with voter registration due Oct. 5 and the general election Nov. 3. Nationally, diesel averages $6.28/gal and the Senate Ag Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line vote, with a mental health episode teased next week. Learn more and get tapped in at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 September Ag News Rundown 00:13 Colorado River Cuts Ahead 00:54 Hydropower and Utility Shifts 01:21 Water Politics and Elections 01:44 AgPAC Endorsements Spotlight 03:06 Voting Deadlines Reminder 03:13 Diesel Prices Squeeze Farms 03:40 Farm Bill Moves Forward

  3. Sep 17

    Four Generations of Arizona Dairy with Clint Gladden

    In this farm edition of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Clint Gladden of Gladden Farms and Saddle Mountain Dairy shares the history and structure of his fourth-generation family operation in Buckeye/Palo Verde, where they milk about 4,000 cows and farm 3,000 acres growing alfalfa, corn, sorghum, triticale, and wheat for silage. Clint manages the farm side while his older brother Josh manages the dairy, and he discusses the challenges of working with family and the importance of detailed crop tracking and organization for nutrition and field decisions. He describes impacts from rapid urbanization, traffic, obstacles for equipment, trash in fields, and uncertainty around leased land and future development. Clint explains why he engages with Farm Bureau: to ensure producers tell their story, inform policy decisions, and address issues like high diesel costs, Colorado River water, air quality, and development, while staying focused on long-term sustainability for future generations. Learn more and get involved with Maricopa County Farm Bureau at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:10 Meet Clint Gladden 01:07 Brothers Split Roles 01:59 Family Business Dynamics 03:48 Vertical Integration Story 06:04 Crops Grown for Feed 07:19 Tracking and Organization 10:27 Land Ownership and Leasing 10:46 Urbanization Pressures 16:11 Advocacy and Farm Bureau 22:04 Big Issues Facing Arizona 22:51 Hope for Next Generation 25:46 Why Farming Matters

  4. Aug 26

    End of August Ag Report: First Feeder Cattle in Over a Year Moved From Mexico, Arizona Water Updates and More!

    This week’s Arizona Agriculture Connection reports that wheat futures falling after Russian media said Russia is taking steps to protect grain vessels amid the war with Ukraine; Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter with USDA estimating 46 million metric tons expected to ship. President Trump announced an executive order allowing 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports under lowered tariffs for 90 days, drawing pushback as U.S. beef herds are at a 50-year low and imports are already at record levels, potentially rising nearly 60% over the period; Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall warned of long-term impacts. Mexican feeder cattle crossed into the U.S. for the first time in over a year via Douglas, Arizona, as New World screw worm cases remain mostly inactive and Mexico increases sterile fly releases. The Bureau of Reclamation finalized Colorado River plans requiring a 1.25 million acre-feet cut shared by AZ, CA, and NV, with Arizona taking 760,000 plus at least 300,000 voluntary savings, implying a 14% municipal pool shortage for CAP. For more news and local happening on Arizona Agriculture, check out https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

  5. Aug 19

    Fan Favorite Rerun: What is an Irrigation District and Why Does it Matter? With Noel Carter and Stan Barnes

    In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole Clements talks with Noel Carter, General Manager of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage Districts, and Stan Barnes, President of Copper State Consulting Group, about water management challenges and developments in Arizona. The conversation delves into the complexities of water policy, including different types of water sources, historical water rights, and the impact of ongoing droughts. They discuss recent legislative efforts to manage urbanization and agricultural water needs, specifically focusing on the Ag to Urban transition and its implications for future growth. They also touch upon the transfer of water to Queen Creek, the intricacies of water law, and the importance of collective efforts and historical foresight in sustaining Arizona's water supply amid rapid urban development.

  6. Aug 12

    August Ag Report: Sine Kerr on Lieutenant Governor Nomination, Local Arizona News and Farm Bill Updates

    This episode congratulates Sine Kerr on her nomination to Biggs’ ticket for Arizona’s inaugural lieutenant governor position, noting her long-time support of agriculture, current role as director of the Arizona Farm Service Agency, and Farm Bureau leadership training that helped her move from the dairy farm to the Arizona Senate. Federally, the farm bill stalled in the Senate Ag Committee on a 10–11 vote. The bill will be up for continued discussion and a possible revote in September, with major disagreement over timing for state SNAP cost-share responsibility (Republicans favor one year, Democrats two) and Senator Mitch McConnell absent, leaving an 11–11 split. If advanced, the Senate bill must be reconciled with the House bill, and the current extension expires September 30. Locally, primary elections set the November 3 ballot; voter registration deadline is October 5. As always get the latest updates on news and events at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

  7. Jul 29

    Joanna Allhands on Journalism, Water, and Agriculture

    The episode features Joanna Allhands, a former Arizona Republic opinion writer and new Arizona Farm Bureau team member, discussing her journalism path from Indiana to Arizona via the Pulliam Fellowship and a 21-year career at the Republic. She describes the difficulty of leaving a “calling job,” the rapid shift in news consumption toward fractured, social-media-driven echo chambers after 2016, and concerns about people logging off news entirely. Joanna and Nicole explore how agriculture can break out of insular storytelling by seeking shared values, engaging across differences, and uniting on priorities. Allhands explains her accidental entry into Arizona water reporting during the 2017 drought contingency plan disputes, why water policy is nuanced and essential to living in Arizona, how to communicate complex water issues clearly, and why demonization and court fights threaten Colorado River solutions. They also discuss rising water rates, misconceptions about waste, and how non-producers can contribute to agriculture through storytelling and emerging tech-driven careers. Learn more and see about upcoming events at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:23 Joanna Journalism Origins 01:40 Finding Arizona Republic 03:45 Leaving After 21 Years 05:54 News Goes Digital 08:09 Social Media Fallout 11:26 Ag Story Beyond Echoes 14:47 Accidental Water Beat 18:58 Making Water Understandable 19:53 Explain Water Simply 20:58 Beyond Water Blame 22:40 Compromise Or Court 24:00 Why Water Costs Rise 25:44 Arizona Vs Midwest 28:27 Water And Living Costs 29:23 From Water To Ag 30:43 Regulations And Ranching 33:42 Telling Farmers Stories

  8. Jul 22

    An Inside Look at Ag Communications with Intern Holly Anderson

    In a remote recording of Arizona Agriculture Connection live from Flagstaff’s Little America Hotel during the Arizona Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Summer Agricultural Conference, Nicole introduces agriculture communications intern Holly Anderson and discusses her first three weeks in the internship. Holly describes discovering agriculture through high school FFA, competing in public speaking, employment skills, and agriscience, and showing sheep before switching to small stock to focus on CDEs. She says the internship’s value is building industry connections, learning Arizona agriculture sectors, and creating blog posts using census data, including pride in Maricopa County’s diverse urban and rural agriculture. The conversation highlights using digital media and virtual policy meetings to make agriculture more accessible, addressing urbanization impacts like Queen Creek, and emphasizing that people without farm backgrounds can find many careers in agriculture, including communications. Learn more at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/. 00:00 Welcome From Flagstaff 00:23 Meet Intern Holly 01:19 Internship Goals Networking 02:20 Blogging Arizona Agriculture 03:16 Maricopa County Ag Story 05:00 Digital Media Access 06:04 FFA Livestock Roots 07:36 Urbanization And Advocacy 09:20 Careers Beyond The Farm 10:40 Thanks And Sign Off

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Maricopa County Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture in a community that thrives on the dichotomy of urban and rural agriculture operations. This podcast is a home for farmers, ranchers, food lovers, prospective agriculturalists, and those who are interested in where their food comes from! Learn more at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

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