Forged in the Field

Scott Niemela
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

There are two kinds of people: the smart ones who figure it out early, and the stubborn ones too dumb to quit. Both end up in the same place. I’m proudly in the second group.

  1. 2d ago

    Manure 101: Turn Waste into Wealth

    In this solo “Forged in the Field” episode, the host describes a shift in agriculture toward valuing manure, contrasting it with supplement-style NPK fertility sold through co-ops and noting conflicts of interest in sales-driven recommendations. He explains manure’s heavy state and federal regulation, required documentation and testing, and the logistics and costs of hauling and applying a high-volume product in short spring/fall windows. Drawing on Crop Fertility Services’ experience since 2012, he discusses educating conventional farmers to use lower, variable-rate manure applications for yield bumps while gaining organic matter, carbon, micronutrients, and soil biology. He compares nutrient availability across manure types (chicken, turkey litter, cattle), barn systems, and pelletizing, and describes observed outcomes like longer-lasting green corn, heavier test weight, improved drought resistance, and long-term field effects. He argues for closing the crop-livestock loop, measuring ROI with soil samples and yield records, and using data to navigate weather variability.00:00 Manure Mindset Shift02:03 Regulations and Paperwork04:55 Logistics and Application Costs06:52 From Full Rate to Variable Rate08:39 Chicken Manure Lessons10:09 Barn Types and Nutrient Value12:28 Nitrogen Release and Bedding15:49 Different Manures and Soil Biology18:45 Proving Products and Snake Oil22:40 Field Results and Nutrient Density28:48 Why Manure Makes Sense30:41 Fertilizer History and Broken Loop35:44 Closing the Circle with Data

  2. Aug 11

    Inspiration & Ag Financial Mistakes

    The conversation explores how Dude Perfect-inspired playfulness motivates the speaker to start an entertainment media company built around curiosity, laughter, and creating ridiculous, low-stakes fun, contrasting it with long-term, purpose-driven work. They discuss journaling with the Day One app and thinking out loud as a way to “bookmark” daily memories, then shift to coaching insights about focusing on what you want (not just what you don’t), and the guilt of wanting more while staying grateful, including faith-based reflections on abundance and gratitude. The episode then turns to farm finances: farmers must know costs upfront, avoid chasing yield without ROI, and recognize the profit “bell curve” of inputs vs. returns. The speaker shares how chicken manure won over his conventional-farming grandpa through strong yields, improved soil structure and pH, and slower-release nitrogen that keeps fields greener later in the season.

  3. Aug 4

    CFS Origin Story

    From Organic Manure Hustle to Scaling Chaos: Building a Business with EOSAn organic farmer describes how a roundtable with local egg producers led him to start a manure-handling business in 2012 after farmers were buying expensive manure pellets from Michigan and the poultry farm demanded a single MPCA-certified operator to haul manure. What began as a $3/ton management-fee logistics service quickly grew from a 5,000-ton commitment to moving 12,000 tons, adding spreading equipment, trucking, and later bird hauling as barns expanded and new manure types required better handling. Growth brought debt-funded equipment purchases and complex scheduling across weather and soil conditions, while short nutrient windows made customer service critical. By 2021–22, leadership gaps and micromanagement drove chaos and toxic culture, prompting a return to EOS with an implementer, clearer roles (visionary/integrator), and accountability. The narrator reflects on performance-driven leadership flaws, personal hardships, and mindset shifts sparked by “The EOS Life” and Strategic Coach.00:00 Manure Business Spark02:46 Scaling Up Fast03:05 Better Spreading Gear03:57 Pellets And Manure Science06:11 Logistics And Customer Service07:32 2012 Launch And Early Bottlenecks10:42 First Loans And Big Equipment12:58 Bird Flu Expansion14:02 Leadership Breakdown17:33 EOS Collapse And Wake Up Call19:00 Hiring An EOS Implementer22:51 EOS Roles And Visionary Shift25:25 Turbulence And Strategic Coach

  4. Jul 21

    Ron Fleming, Sales Manager - CFS

    00:00 Know Customer Pain00:36 From Grocery to Sales02:32 Learning Leadership Fast05:58 Jumping Into Agriculture07:48 Crash Course in Agronomy11:23 First Farm Season Reality16:29 Inside Farmer Culture18:14 Pellet Cycles and Shortages21:27 Forecasting and Accountability24:08 Fertility Basics and Manure Types28:15 Field Day Origins30:17 Growing FIE Through Year Five37:07 Weed Control Crisis38:20 Cultivators Versus Sprayers39:55 High-Tech Weed Solutions41:58 Organic Innovation Boom45:18 Manure Deep Dive47:04 Applying Manure Right50:13 Pellets Success Stories53:11 Microbiology And Humility58:11 Building A Team01:01:54 Scaling Systems And Tech01:06:24 New Products And Liquids01:10:51 Partnership And Pricing01:13:36 Closing Thoughts

  5. Jun 16

    Dave Loegering, Director of Sales & Marketing - Crop Fertility Services

    00:00 CFS Marketing Shift01:06 Filtering Bad Leads01:57 Bulk Only Ad Strategy04:57 Google vs Social Ads06:29 AI and SEO Reality09:06 Website Cleanup Mobile UX12:12 Marketing Team Roles13:00 Reporting and Tracking15:57 Sales Process Buildout16:30 Quote Form Data Capture20:35 Pipelines and Follow Up27:32 Relationship Over Transaction33:07 Soil Testing Education35:10 Marketing Funnel Trust38:43 Attention and Targeting42:42 New Products Teaser44:39 Expanding Into New Areas46:32 B2C to B2B Shift47:49 Winning Farmer Trust49:22 Credibility Proof Points50:17 Why Longevity Matters56:20 Growth Brings Attention57:37 Culture and Team Fun01:02:22 Vivid Vision Planning01:06:37 AI and Staying Relevant01:20:02 Support Costs and Boundaries01:24:19 Next Gen Farmers01:27:51 Closing Thoughts

  6. Jun 9

    Inside the Lobby An Agricultural Lobbyist's Life

    00:00 Lobbying Basics Explained01:30 Why Lobbyists Matter03:22 Grassroots Advocacy Work07:23 From Farm to DC10:12 Internships Shaping Career14:54 Starting a Lobbying Firm17:03 Types of Lobbying Styles19:23 Trust and Credibility24:02 Staffer Life and One Pagers35:43 Finding Champions in Congress37:18 Building USDA Programs39:38 Manure Benchmarking Idea47:08 Cover Crops and Incentives49:48 Manure Stigma and Reality51:33 Dairy Manure Limits52:57 Manure vs Synthetic Nitrogen53:58 Local Nutrient Recycling55:42 Regulation and Branding57:10 Lobbying as Education01:00:24 Food Health Politics01:03:25 Glyphosate Farm Bill Fight01:04:19 Inside Lobbying Reality01:09:08 Policy Wins Non GMO Label01:13:16 How Farm Bills Get Written01:19:20 Building a New Industry01:22:33 Nutrient Density Markets01:29:41 Organic Farming Volatility01:32:54 Parting Thoughts on Lobbying01:35:52 Wrap Up and Thanks

  7. Jun 2

    Jeremy Hafemann, Head of Operations

    From Truck Driver to Head of OpsScott interviews Jeremy, CFS’s head of operations, about his rapid growth from truck driver to leading a growing ops team. Jeremy shares his trucking background, goal of visiting all 48 mainland states, and the challenge of giving up “his” truck to move into office leadership. He explains how CFS’s ops culture shifted from saying “no” to a “yes” mindset, improving vendor relationships by using trusted partners and stronger planning. They discuss building morale and pride through well-kept equipment, creating adaptable teams, and training new drivers with patience and people skills. Jeremy describes the stress and learning curve of managing spreading seasons, pivoting with weather, and implementing rigorous avian-influenza biosecurity measures, including improved tire-spraying systems. He credits mentorship from Al, extreme ownership principles, and developing leaders, and defines success as leading leaders while maintaining family and health.00:00 Meet Jeremy at CFS00:45 Life in Trucking04:31 Trailers and Endorsements06:36 From Driver to Ops11:46 Training New Drivers15:13 Culture and Adaptability17:47 Ops Role Evolves23:19 Why Jeremy Joined CFS29:39 Leadership Lessons from Al38:16 Always Say Yes44:42 Stress and Prioritize48:32 Sales vs Ops Timelines48:56 500 Tons Manure Deal51:13 Mustache Banter Break52:51 Extreme Ownership Lessons55:48 Building Leaders on Crew59:29 Dedicated Trucks Divisions01:03:51 Millionth Ton Milestone01:05:46 Mentors and Big Vision01:08:34 From Driver to Manager01:10:53 Biosecurity Systems Upgrade01:16:31 Stress and First Spread Season01:27:24 Company Culture and Leadership01:33:53 Defining Success Ahead01:35:48 Closing Thanks and Wrap

  8. May 19

    Dusty Clevenger, Partner - Ascendant Partners

    Stewardship, Mentorship, and Faith-Driven Investment Banking with Dusty ClevengerThe episode features Scott interviewing Dusty Clevenger of Ascendant Partners, contrasting ownership vs stewardship and a “reservoir vs river” approach to money and blessings. Dusty shares his journey from a multi-generational Nebraska farm family to Kansas City after living in seven states, studying at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with Air Force support, trading commodities and doing business development at ADM, traveling globally, and ultimately becoming a partner at the boutique ag and renewable-energy investment bank Ascendant. He describes integrating faith into business through Christ’s lordship, learned via solo 24-hour retreats (Bible, journal, prayer) and mentors, including lessons on fruitfulness vs productivity, harmony vs balance, and stewardship. He discusses mentorship as “Paul/Timothy/Barnabas,” stewardship-oriented giving, firm services (selling companies, raising capital, M&A, consulting), AI’s role in efficiency, and urges agribusinesses to adapt to market shifts like traceability, identity preservation, and carbon.00:00 Owner or Steward00:53 Dusty’s Nebraska Roots04:03 Career Plinko Journey06:58 Faith at Work12:41 Solo Retreat Practice17:43 Retreat Lessons Reset22:22 Mentors and Integrity25:34 Retreat Mentor Story26:02 Paul Timothy Barnabas Model28:45 Money Heart Stewardship31:34 River Versus Reservoir Giving34:49 Capital Raising Scenarios38:01 Boutique Bank Deal Sizes41:39 AI Tools And Bedside Manner45:54 Adapt Or Get Distressed49:09 Final Thanks And Wrap

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About

There are two kinds of people: the smart ones who figure it out early, and the stubborn ones too dumb to quit. Both end up in the same place. I’m proudly in the second group.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Niemela
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Scott Niemela
  • Show Website
    Forged in the Field