Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

Maricopa County Farm Bureau

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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. Jul 15

    Listener Favorite Re-Run with Sine Kerr PLUS Last Chance to Register for Women's Leadership Conference

    Today, Nicole previews the upcoming Summer Agricultural Conference, noting half a day Thursday and a full day Friday, with keynote speaker Sierra Anthony of Butcher Solutions, a cutting demonstration, and a chance to win meat, and encourages registration at azfb.org/events. The episode revisits a live conference conversation with former state senator and current Arizona Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director Sine Kerr, who shares how she entered agriculture after moving to Buckeye, married into a dairy family, and began advocacy through Farm Bureau and producer groups to influence policy affecting farm viability. Kerr discusses building confidence in public speaking, encouraging producers to share their stories, and describes FSA’s role in providing disaster and market assistance and loans through local county offices. She highlights the Livestock Forage Program’s broad use, emphasizes grassroots feedback to USDA leadership, and answers audience questions about rewarding policy work and improving efficiency and customer service. Register for the conference here: https://www.azfb.org/Article/2026-Summer-Agricultural-Conference

  4. Jul 8

    Mid July Ag Report: H2A Reform Proposal and USMCA Annual Review

    This week, Nicole highlights federal agriculture updates while the state legislature is on break. The Great American State Fair runs through July 10 on the National Mall, with the Arizona Department of Agriculture showcasing Arizona agriculture. In Congress, House Ag Committee Chair Rep. G.T. Thompson has proposed the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, noting immigration reform has not occurred since 1986 and that H-2A use has increased 17% in 2026. The proposal focuses on controlling costs, improving access, and modernizing and streamlining H-2A, addressing inefficiencies from Department of Labor, Homeland Security, and state involvement that cause paperwork delays and lost farm time. It would designate H-2A workers as essential, allow interview waivers for vetted returning workers, and remove the seasonal requirement by setting a temporary designation just under one year to serve year-round needs like dairies and horticulture. On trade, USMCA renewal was not reached by July 1, triggering an annual review process for the next ten years as the U.S. and Mexico negotiate bilaterally and Canada remains engaged. 00:00 Welcome and DC Agenda00:12 State Fair Spotlight00:30 Workforce Act Overview00:58 H-2A Reform Details01:49 Trade and USMCA Update02:16 Wrap Up and Next Week

  5. Jul 1

    July Ag Report: Fourth of July Food Statistics, Final Legislative Updates and More!

    The episode recaps Arizona’s 57th Legislature ending sine die on June 13 at 4:45 AM, noting Arizona Farm Bureau tracked over 200 bills. Laws signed include SB 1198 (Arizona Beef Council and Veterinary Medical Examining Board), SB 1335 (Groundwater Savings Credits), SB 1336 (State Land Department continuation and oversight), HB 2104 (Agricultural Property Classification and Inspection), and HB 2105 (Notice of Agricultural Property Inspections), with input from Maricopa County members. Governor Hobbs vetoed several measures, including bills on assured water supply, groundwater programs, water districts, agricultural real property, and Mexican gray wolf federal nullification. Lawmakers passed a balanced $18.3B budget, up 3.1% ($540M), emphasizing tax relief aligned with the “One Big Beautiful Bill” for $1.4B in relief and a three-year moratorium on new data center sales tax exemptions. Agriculture-related cuts included eliminating funding for the University of Arizona’s Natural Resource Users Law and Policy Center, while avian influenza funds may now address New World screw worm response. The American Farm Bureau Market Basket survey estimates a July 4 cookout at $7.38 per person nationally (up 4% or $2.90), about $8 in western states, slightly down from last year. To see upcoming events and to get involved visit: https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 July Ag Report Kickoff00:09 Legislature Wrap Up00:37 Bills Signed Into Law01:19 Vetoes And Water Bills01:49 Budget And Tax Relief02:27 Ag Budget Impacts02:51 Fourth Of July Market Update

  6. Jun 24

    International Year of the Woman Farmer with Brittany Quigg: Queen Creek Poultry Producer

    In this Arizona Agriculture Connection episode, Nicole is on site as she interviews Queen Creek poultry producer Brittany Quigg, highlighting women in agriculture. Quigg is an Arizona native and longtime Queen Creek resident, describes starting in 4H, teaching herself poultry processing after raising a turkey for the state fair, and forming Moonlight Rose Farms in 2019 to sell eggs at farmers markets. She expanded into meat chickens, paused in 2024, then recommitted in May 2025, began pre-selling Thanksgiving turkeys, scaled production, and quit her corporate job in December to farm full-time. She discusses challenges including reinvestment costs, heat limitations, solo time management, and streamlining humane processing under Arizona’s under-20,000-bird exemption. Brittany explains turkey and chicken timelines, consumer misconceptions, urban growth pressures in Queen Creek, and where to buy her products online and at regional markets. Learn more at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/. 00:51 Brittany’s 4H Roots 01:45 Starting Moonlight Rose Farms 02:44 Going Full Time in Poultry 05:16 Challenges Scaling Up 06:53 Processing and Legal Exemptions 08:09 Solo Work and Time Management 08:55 Thanksgiving Turkey Timeline 10:45 Turkey Parts Year Round 11:49 Chicken Processing Timeline 12:16 Best Selling Cuts 12:34 Farming Amid Urban Growth 14:26 Poultry Misconceptions 16:04 From Hatchery to Market 16:54 Wearing Every Hat 17:50 No Days Off Reality 18:57 Where to Buy and Follow

  7. Jun 17

    Celebrating June Dairy Month with Dr. Michelle Schack, the Dairy Doc

    In this Dairy Month episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole welcomes back Dr. Michelle Schack (“the Dairy Doc”), the show’s first-ever guest, to discuss her new children’s book, Dairy Doc’s Discovery Goggles: Milk from Cow to Carton. Schack, a dairy cow veterinarian and mom, wrote the book after frequent questions and misinformation about milk on farms and social media; she also interviewed 100 children ages 4–8 and found that while 88% knew milk comes from cows, none could explain how it reaches stores. The book introduces pasteurization, homogenization, bulk tanks, and the team effort behind milk delivery, with an emphasis on accurate depictions of Arizona dairies. Schack shares outreach motivations, highlights Arizona Ag in the Classroom (booked starting July 13 at azfbaitc.org), and notes her book will be used in 2027 K–2 classrooms; it’s available on Amazon and via bulk orders through michelleschack.com. And of course, learn more and find your place in agriculture at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/.

  8. Jun 10

    June Ag Report: New World Screw Worm in Confirmed in Texas, Legislative Updates and More!

    This week, we are back from a DC trip with federal, state, and Farm Bureau updates. The USDA confirmed the first US detection of New World screwworm in nearly 60 years in South Texas on June 3, 2026, with additional cases in Zavala, La Salle, and Gillespie Counties, Texas, and Lee County, New Mexico; there are currently zero cases in Arizona. Containment depends on rapid producer detection and reporting, daily animal inspection, weekly-checked fly traps, and certificates of veterinary inspection for out-of-state livestock entering Arizona. The Arizona Department of Agriculture has run response simulations and advocated for long-term federal assets including a sterile fly facility in Douglas, while an amendment by Rep. Gosar to H.R. 8646 would add inspection resources at ports of entry. The legislature returned June 1, budget bills were introduced June 9, and Farm Bureau announced policy development meetings June 15, 18, and 19. Learn more and get involved at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

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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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