The Business of Agriculture Podcast Damian Mason

The U.S. is staring down its largest Agricultural trade deficit in history. One factor in that is the amount of off-shore produce and specialty crop imports from nations with significantly lower labor costs. Jamie Clover Adams, Executive Director of Michigan Asparagus joins Damian Mason to explain why American farmers are losing out to other countries. The benefit of low prices is good for the consumer. The downside: potential loss of an industry and loss of food security.
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com
 

The demographics are actually quite staggering — we are getting old, fast. Which means our customer’s dietary choices and demands are changing. Is Agriculture changing with its customers? What about the food inflation situation, with grocery prices up 25% since 2020? Todd Thurman, of Swine Insights International joins Damian to discuss economics, demographics, and opportunities shaping up amid an older customer base facing persistent food inflation.
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com
 

For six decades, American Agriculture ran a trade surplus — meaning, we sold more dollars worth of Ag products to other countries than we bought. That’s changed. American Ag has run a trade deficit (bought more than we sold) four of the last six years. A record trade imbalance of $32 Billion is projected for 2024. Why is American Agriculture at a trade imbalance? Hint: Low corn and soybean prices combined with Americans' love of coffee, sugar, tequila, and avocados is part of the problem. John Newton, Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry talks trade with Damian Mason!
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com
 

Farming is a business. Complete with a lot of moving parts, huge capital investment, and low margins. Adding in the trend toward farm consolidation, those larger farms that remain are left feeling a bit isolated. What’s a forward-looking farmer to do? Join a professional peer group where you get business advice, information, and feedback from other farming operations similar to yours. Chris Barron with Ag View Solutions explains how his Ag peer groups function to benefit farmers. Chris is joined by farmer, ag business owner, and peer group member Brad Downing.
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com
 

Agriculture has been consolidating for almost a century. There were 6.8 million American farms in 1935, today, less than 2 million. About 160,000 of those two million American farms do the bulk of the heavy lifting, production wise, with more than 90% of farm revenue. Consolidation has been the norm in not only production Agriculture but also on the business side. From farm machinery, to genetics, chemistry, and retail, there are fewer players today than in past decades. As we head into a declining Ag income cycle, consolidations will increase, based on historical precedent. But what are the limitations of consolidation? Landus CEO Matt Carstens joins Damian Mason for a lively Business of Agriculture episode!
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com
 

Big companies have gotten bigger in Agriculture, generally by acquiring, or merging with, other companies. Consolidation in the Business of Agriculture has been going on for decades and it’s likely to continue. The question is: Who benefits from consolidation in the Agriculture industry? Damian Mason asks Corteva’s Jim Davis that question, amid many other frank inquiries in this very interesting discussion. This is the first release in a two part series digging into consolidation in Agriculture.
The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason is Sponsored by:
Pattern Ag pattern.ag
Redox Bio-Nutrients redoxgrows.com
Truterra truterraag.com