FARMCON Conversations

Kevin Van Trump
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Our annual FARMCON conference has connected our family with some of the real movers and shakers in agriculture. Now, through this new podcast, we’re bringing those conversations directly to you. If you’re looking to separate yourself from the crowd and hear about cutting-edge ag-technology, market insights, and hard-earned lessons you won’t find anywhere else, this podcast is for you. What makes it special is the willingness of guests to openly share not only their successes, but also their failures, ideas, and keys to growth.

  1. 5d ago

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE with Special Guest KEN PACKARD of StoneX

    “It’s not bringing in the new ideas that’s so hard. It’s getting rid of the old ones.” —John Maynard Keynes Today on FARMCON Conversations, we’re joined by longtime friend and FARMCON partner Ken Packard of StoneX.Ken has spent more than 30 years in commodity futures and agricultural risk management, and our conversation quickly moved to how producers manage the entire business — revenue, inputs, interest rates, information, decision-making and the risks they may not even realize they’re carrying. 45:00 — Ken Packard joins FARMCON Conversations Kevin and Ken go back nearly 30 years to their early days in the commodity business. Ken now serves as Regional Director of Commodity Futures Client Management at StoneX. 47:00 — StoneX is much more than grain hedging Ken explains how StoneX has evolved into a global financial-services company connecting clients to commodity and financial markets, execution, clearing, technology, research and physical trading. 49:30 — What are producers asking about right now? Prices have improved, but Ken says the real question isn’t simply whether to sell corn or beans. It’s understanding the entire hand of cards an operation is holding — old crop, new crop, storage, breakevens, sales and input exposure — before making the next decision. 52:30 — Producers can now hedge fertilizer The CME recently introduced a smaller 10-ton urea futures contract, creating a tool scaled more appropriately for individual producers rather than large retailers. 58:00 — The generational change happening on farms Ken is seeing fathers increasingly encourage the next generation to develop marketing and risk-management skills they themselves may not have had time to build. His point isn’t that the old generation did it wrong. It’s that the markets are changing — and the next generation needs a larger toolbox. 1:01:00 — “I’m too busy” may be one of the biggest business risks One of the strongest parts of our conversation. Ken says some of the most successful operators deliberately make time to get their heads out of the daily grind, have conversations, test ideas and make decisions. Being busy running the farm can easily prevent you from actually building the business. 1:04:00 — Kevin: There are really only two ways to grow Either reinvest the cash your business generates back into your own business, or take that capital and invest it into someone else’s business that can compound it better. That’s the growth mindset Kevin believes separates operators who simply stay busy from those who deliberately build wealth. KEVIN & TODD — COMMODITIES, DIESEL & CAPITAL6:00 — Corn may need demand to do the heavy lifting Kevin believes the production story is becoming increasingly known.The question now is whether demand — particularly exports — can become strong enough to attract the next round of buyers necessary to push corn materially higher. 9:30 — Why bullish headlines aren’t always enough At $5.50 corn, a new speculative buyer needs to believe the upside materially outweighs the downside. Kevin explains why commodity markets can sometimes receive bullish news and still fail to rally: the market simply doesn’t attract enough new money. 11:00 — Commodities and stocks don’t trade the same way A useful market lesson from Kevin: Stocks can continually attract investors who accumulate and hold. In commodities, every buyer still needs a seller. As prices rise, increasingly powerful reasons are required to attract the next buyer. 17:00 — Soybeans still have a demand story China continues buying U.S. soybeans, although much of the purchasing is still coming through state entities rather than commercial crushers. Kevin believes beans remain fundamentally different from wheat because soybeans still have a longer-term demand story underneath them. 21:00 — Wheat has bullish headlines. What it doesn’t yet have is demand confirmation. Black Sea infrastructure disruptions continue creating risk, but U.S. export demand hasn’t responded strongly enough.Kevin’s distinction is important: Right now wheat is a dislocation story — not yet a demand story. 26:00 — Could diesel create unexpected basis opportunities? If trucks become more expensive to operate — or simply stop running — grain may not move as easily from the farm to the end user. Kevin and I discuss why producers should pay especially close attention to local basis, because transportation disruptions could create very different opportunities from one region to another. 30:00 — Why freight inflation hits agriculture differently It’s easy to spread another $1,000 of freight across a truckload of expensive electronics. It’s much harder to spread it across lettuce, watermelon, grain or other relatively low-value bulk commodities. That distinction matters throughout the agricultural supply chain. 35:00 — The Fed and the 10-speed bicycle Kevin compares the Fed to someone controlling the gears on a bicycle. Make it too difficult for the consumer to keep pedaling and eventually they hit the brakes. And when the consumer goes over the handlebars, that’s when much larger economic problems begin. 36:00 — AI spending may be much harder to slow than policymakers think Higher rates may pressure normal businesses and consumers. But Kevin doesn’t believe a quarter-point — or even substantially more — necessarily stops the largest technology companies from continuing the AI infrastructure race. There is too much capital and too much strategic importance already committed. 38:00 — Why Kevin is carrying more cash With global rates rising, energy expensive and the Fed tightening, Kevin says he’s becoming increasingly cautious. He’s reduced exposure and is holding roughly 40% cash, while concentrating remaining investments in businesses he’d be comfortable owning through a difficult market environment.

  2. Sep 15

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    NEW FARMCON PODCAST – Today we’re joined by Walter Cronin, co-founder and president of White River Nutrition, for a deep dive into what may be one of the more important structural shifts developing across the soybean complex. Walter was bullish the last time we had him on — and despite the move we’ve already seen in beans and soybean oil, he believes we may still be in the early innings. WALTER CRONIN — SOYBEANS, CRUSH, DIESEL & GLOBAL PROTEIN45:00 — Walter Cronin joins the conversation46:00 — Are we finally seeing the soybean market Walter expected?Walter explains why the move we’ve seen may be only the beginning — and how U.S. biofuel policy, soybean oil and changing global conditions are reshaping the demand side of the balance sheet. 49:20 — Did the latest WASDE change anything?Why Walter believes USDA is still behind the curve on soybean meal demand and why European feed-grain losses could become more important later in the marketing year. 51:30 — China is buying soybeans — but who is actually doing the buying?Walter discusses the importance of China’s state-controlled purchases versus commercial crush demand — and why that distinction matters. 52:40 — The U.S. crush buildout isn’t finishedMore soybean processing capacity is still coming. Walter explains why he believes both biofuel demand and global protein consumption can support additional crush. 54:00 — The protein demand story most people aren’t watchingRising incomes have historically driven protein consumption across emerging markets. Now Walter sees another source of demand developing in wealthier economies: GLP-1 drugs and the push toward higher-protein diets. 57:00 — Why diesel may now matter more than crude oilDamage to global refining capacity, shrinking diesel availability and geopolitical disruption are making diesel a critical signal for soybean oil and biofuel economics. 1:00:00 — Is the old “food vs. fuel” argument dying?Walter and Kevin discuss why Brazil’s enormous production capacity — combined with the fuel-security argument for biofuels — has fundamentally changed the debate. 1:05:00 — What could finally destroy crush demand?Walter walks through the signals he is watching in diesel inventories, refining capacity and global energy markets. 1:08:00 — The Brazil risk that could change everythingBrazil is expected to produce another massive soybean crop — but it imports roughly 80% of its fertilizer. Walter explains why fertilizer availability and distribution could become one of the most important variables to watch. 1:11:00 — What happens to all the soybean meal?Roughly 80% of a processed soybean becomes feed products. Walter explains why the feared “mountain of meal” hasn’t materialized — and where all that additional protein is going. 1:17:00 — Meal vs. oil: the economics of the new crush marketHistorically, soybean meal generated most of the crush margin. Walter says soybean oil is now punching far above its weight — fundamentally changing the economics of processing soybeans. KEVIN & TODD — MARKETS, CAPITAL & BUSINESSBefore Walter joins us, Kevin and I cover several major issues producers and investors should be thinking about: 4:20 — Corn’s next move may be about demand, not yieldKevin believes much of the production story is becoming known. The bigger question now is whether exports can carry the load — particularly if corn pushes north of $5. 9:00 — The risk of giving the corn rally backMiddle East peace, lower crude oil or weaker geopolitical risk premiums could quickly remove speculative support. Kevin explains why producers should consider taking some risk off the table after the rally we’ve already had. 13:30 — Why 2027 and 2028 grain prices deserve attention nowForward corn and wheat values are offering producers opportunities to start establishing profitable floors well before those crops are planted. 17:00 — Diesel: lock it in or stay hand-to-mouth?Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, Kevin explains why he remains firmly in the hand-to-mouth camp on fuel. 22:30 — Why Kevin wouldn’t raise interest rates hereHigher inflation driven by geopolitical energy disruptions isn’t easily solved with a quarter-point rate hike — but tightening too aggressively could create much larger economic problems. 26:00 — AI, economic growth and America’s $40 trillion debt problemWhy Kevin believes the United States ultimately has to grow its way out of the debt problem — and why AI, manufacturing and productivity will be central to that effort. 34:30 — The Chobani lesson: stop asking what the investment does to youA new billion-dollar processing facility doesn’t just create demand for milk. It creates demand for trucking, labor, feed, equipment, infrastructure and services. The better question for producers and business owners: How can I create value for the capital moving into my region? 38:00 — Why investing is more craft than formulaYou can’t learn to swim by reading a book — and Kevin argues you can’t become a great trader that way either. Markets require repetitions, experience and real capital at risk. 41:30 — The Craftsman vs. Passion MindsetSocial media trains us to chase constant dopamine hits. Farming, building businesses and mastering difficult skills force us into delayed gratification — and Kevin believes that may give rural kids an increasingly valuable advantage.

  3. Sep 8

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    NEW FARMCON PODCAST – This week Kevin and I cover a lot of ground, starting with why the rise of AI may actually make the human edge more valuable, not less. Kevin explains why street smarts, intuition, experience, hospitality, and the ability to “see around corners” could become increasingly important as everyone gains access to the same intelligence tools. We also dig into what Kevin is watching ahead of Friday’s USDA report, why corn and soybeans may now need proof rather than rumors to keep moving higher, how crop insurance could influence land values and producer behavior, what higher rates and diesel prices mean for agriculture, and why Kevin believes business ownership and real-world responsibility remain some of the best teachers for the next generation. 00:01:00 — Why AI May Make the Human Edge More ValuableKevin explains why intelligence itself is becoming commoditized and why street smarts, judgment, intuition, relationships, and real-world experience could become the differentiators. 00:20:30 — Why FARMCON Looks Outside Agriculture for IdeasFrom Formula 1 pit crews improving hospital emergency rooms to Liquid Death turning water into a billion-dollar brand, Kevin explains why some of the best ideas for agriculture may come from completely different industries. 00:33:30 — What Corn Needs From Friday’s USDA ReportKevin lays out the yield range he believes the market can tolerate, why demand remains surprisingly strong above $5 corn, and the bullish cards that are currently supporting prices. 00:43:30 — What the Cash Market Is Really Telling UsKevin explains why he will be watching basis and the December-March spread just as closely as futures after the USDA report. A futures rally without stronger cash signals could be more headline-driven than a sign of true physical scarcity. 00:48:00 — Soybeans: Bullish, But Now the Market Needs ProofKevin discusses his recent soybean positioning, continued Chinese buying, and why heavily bullish markets become vulnerable when traders need hard confirmation to justify the next leg higher. 00:56:00 — Beans, Wheat and the Acreage ResponseKevin talks through the soybean yield number that could keep the rally alive, the strong domestic crush story, South America’s likely acreage response to 14 beans, and why stronger wheat insurance guarantees could pull more acres into production. 01:01:30 — Is Crop Insurance Changing the Price of Farming?Kevin and I discuss whether stronger government-backed downside protection eventually gets capitalized into higher rents and land values, and the broader debate over government involvement in production agriculture. 01:11:00 — Rates, Diesel and the Agricultural EconomyKevin explains why he still leans toward lower rates over time, why he worries about the Fed being late as AI pressures employment, and why producers who did not lock in fuel earlier may now need to operate more hand-to-mouth. KEVIN’S QUOTES“I think the street-smart people are gonna have a huge edge moving forward.” “How are we gonna beat AI? We’re gonna lean into the human side a lot more.” “The math and science side will take you so far and add your mechanics, but that art side is what takes people from good to great.” “At this price and this elevation, you need proof now.” “You don’t wanna get greedy in this environment. I think you gotta price them.” “Get out and help people. Try to help people.” “There’s only one way out of this debt debacle, and it’s to grow our way out of it.”

  4. Sep 1

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    NEW FARMCON PODCAST – Kevin and Todd cover a lot of ground this week—from why Kevin is getting more aggressive pricing corn and wheat, to what could push soybeans toward $14, why higher wheat insurance guarantees could change 2027 planting decisions, and where dangerous “air pockets” could develop if bullish fund money starts heading for the exits. They also dig into AI, nuclear power, weather modification, the growing gambling economy, why Kevin refuses to waste energy complaining about rules he can’t control, and why the next 6–12 months could present an unusually attractive window for some farm and agribusiness owners thinking about selling. 04:00 — Why Kevin Is Selling Into the Rally – Kevin explains why he’s pricing more 2026 and 2027 corn and moving further out on wheat sales, including his first 2028 wheat sales. The key distinction: being bullish on a market does not mean a producer should leave all of the risk on the table. 07:00 — The Wheat Insurance Wild Card – Higher wheat prices could translate into substantially stronger crop-insurance guarantees for next year. Kevin explains why that could pull more acres into wheat and potentially change the economics of planting and double-cropping in 2027. 12:00 — What Could Take Corn to $6? – Kevin believes the market may currently be trading something close to a 177–178 bushel national yield. He walks through why a confirmed yield around 175 or lower, combined with continued geopolitical problems, could give bulls another significant leg higher. 22:00 — What Could Send Soybeans Toward $14? – Kevin thinks the soybean yield is moving lower and says a national yield below roughly 51.5 bushels could dramatically tighten the outlook. China continuing to buy, stronger crush demand, EPA clarification on bean oil, and deteriorating crop conditions are keeping the bull story alive. 27:00 — Where the Grain “Air Pockets” Come From – A lot of speculative money is already positioned bullish. Kevin explains how markets can suddenly drop 40, 50 or 60 cents when bullish headlines disappear and everyone who is already long starts trying to exit at the same time. 31:00 — Players Play. Officials Officiate – Kevin explains one of the philosophies that has guided him in sports, markets and business: stop wasting time complaining about the rules and adjust your game. He believes people who avoid getting distracted by things they can’t control gain a significant competitive advantage. 38:00 — Would Kevin Invest in Weather Modification? – Rainmaker recently reported successful drone-based cloud seeding in Alaska. Kevin respects the technology and the people behind it but explains why manipulating weather crosses a personal line for him as an investor — even though he believes the technology is going to continue advancing. 59:00 — Why Being Willing to Look Stupid Matters – Kevin discusses social media, external validation, entrepreneurship and why individual sports, trading and business ownership can be so valuable. His argument: real-world accountability has a way of quickly testing theories that sound great from the sidelines. 1:12:00 — Could This Be a Great Time to Sell? – With stronger commodity prices, elevated farmland values, a strong stock market and more liquidity returning to agriculture, Kevin believes the next 6–12 months could offer an attractive exit window for some owners who already expect to sell farmland or an ag business within the next several years. KEVIN’S QUOTES “Your job as a producer is to take risk off the table.” “I think it’s only a matter of time until somebody somewhere figures out a way to get some of this Black Sea grain out.” “Most of the bulls are already in. It’s going to take a continuation of these headlines to keep that market moving higher.” “Players play, coaches coach, officials officiate.” “You can’t get rabbit ears.” “You’ve got to be willing to look stupid, and you’ve got to be willing to be wrong.” “You don’t want to be trying to sell when there are more sellers than buyers.”

  5. Aug 25

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    NEW FARMCON PODCAST >> Kevin and Todd cover grain markets, China risk, the weaker-dollar trade, AI and data centers, farm leverage, and why producers still have to remain the CEO of their own business—even when surrounded by experts. THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION08:00 — Why Kevin Sold More CornKevin explains why his resting orders were triggered around $5.20, why he rewarded the rally, and what the corn market still needs if bulls are going to attract another wave of money. 23:00 — The Hardest Part of Marketing Is Still ExecutionPrice targets have a funny way of moving higher as the market rallies. Kevin talks about pulling the trigger, knowing your own operation, and why producers give away an edge when they blindly follow someone else’s program. 27:00 — You Are the CEO of Your Business and Your LifeLawyers, accountants, doctors, agronomists and market advisers can provide valuable opinions, but Kevin argues they belong in your “boardroom”—they shouldn’t be making the final decision for you. 32:00 — Soybeans: China Is the Risk Kevin Is WatchingKevin banks his remaining bullish soybean profits and buys puts. His concern isn’t necessarily the U.S. crop—it’s what could happen to soybean demand if geopolitical tensions spill into U.S.-China trade. 40:00 — Wheat: The Grain Isn’t Gone, It’s TrappedBlack Sea disruptions are keeping wheat supported, but Kevin warns that much of the rally is built on dislocation and war premium. Any credible path to moving that grain could change the market quickly. 44:00 — Why Kevin Thinks America Has to Win the AI RaceA discussion about the weaker dollar turns into a much bigger conversation about manufacturing, data centers, national competitiveness and why Kevin has dramatically changed his thinking on the infrastructure needed to support AI. 1:03:00 — The Debasement Trade: Where Kevin Is Putting MoneyIf Washington wants a weaker dollar and inflation stays elevated, Kevin doesn’t want too much capital losing purchasing power in cash. He explains why he continues adding exposure to gold, silver, metals and Bitcoin. 1:04:00 — Would You Let AI Trade Your Money?Kevin sees tremendous value in AI, but he’s wary of becoming dependent on it for investment decisions. His concern is what happens when AI creates financial products and strategies humans can no longer fully understand when something goes wrong. 1:09:00 — Bigger Isn’t Always Better on the FarmDeere’s diversified businesses lead to a discussion about farm growth, debt and alternative return streams. Kevin explains why adding acres can make sense for the right operator—but getting bigger simply to get bigger can become dangerous when leverage is involved. KEVIN’S QUOTES“Bulls have to eat more regularly than bears.” “I think you’re a fool to follow anybody blindly. Anybody.” “You are the CEO of your business and your life.” “Your edge lies within that art on your farm, your individual farm.” “We have to win the AI race.” “You don’t want to be the cat without the chair, all levered up.” “It ain’t a matter of if you’re going to get knocked down in life. You’re going to get knocked down all the time. It’s who gets up the fastest that wins.”

  6. Aug 18

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    NEW FARMCON PODCAST Kevin and Todd cover everything from corn, soybeans and cattle to government policy, investing, selling the family farm, hiring great people, and why some of the biggest lessons in business come down to knowing when to change direction. THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION 03:00 — What Liquid Death Can Teach AgricultureKevin explains why FARMCON intentionally brings in successful people from outside agriculture—and how producers can borrow ideas from great brands and businesses in completely different industries. 06:00 — Corn: Where Does the Next Move Come From?Kevin breaks down crop variability, exports, yield risk and why the September USDA report could become an important inflection point for corn prices. 14:00 — Soybeans: Is the Bullish Demand Story Already Priced In?China is buying and domestic crush remains strong, but Kevin believes the bigger market surprise may now have to come from the supply side and a smaller U.S. yield. 23:00 — Wheat Still Needs a Demand StoryBlack Sea disruptions continue to provide support, but Kevin explains why plentiful global supplies leave wheat with a very different setup than corn and soybeans. 28:00 — Tyson, Cattle & Knowing When to Change CourseTyson’s recent moves lead to a bigger conversation about capital allocation, taking losses and why strong businesses have to be willing to admit when something isn’t working. 32:00 — Don’t Bet Against the GovernmentKevin explains why one of his core investing rules is to understand where government policy and capital are flowing—and avoid putting yourself directly on the other side. 54:00 — Would You Sell the Family Farm for 20X?If somebody offered $100,000 an acre for ground worth $5,000, would sentiment win—or business? Kevin explains why he believes an extraordinary offer can create an even bigger opportunity for the next generation. 58:00 — The “All-In” Test for Investing & HiringKevin shares the filter he now uses on investment opportunities, why he increasingly bets on people rather than products, and what he looks for when evaluating the people leading a business. KEVIN’S QUOTES “If he can take standard water and create a brand around it and build it into the empire he’s built it into, you could take number two yellow corn.” “I’ve watched more friends go broke in businesses… just because they couldn’t take a loss.” “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” “I don’t wanna take positions or stances that really work against what the government’s trying to do.” “I’m in the business to be in business.” “Good people can take an okay or even a bad idea and make it a great business. Bad people can take a great idea and turn it into a piece of crap.” “Hire great people that tell you what to do. If you’re hiring people that you have to tell what to do, those aren’t great people.”

  7. Aug 11

    FARMCON CONVERSATIONS — NEW EPISODE

    WASDE Wild Cards, Trading Volatility & Why Good Producers Still Struggle This week Kevin and Todd dig into today’s WASDE report, where Kevin sees the biggest potential surprises, and why he believes the market may be sitting in a spot where one USDA number could trigger a much larger technical move. Kevin also explains why he is trading smaller as volatility increases, why he would rather react to a market mistake than try to predict the USDA, why some very good producers still struggle financially, and why the business side of agriculture is becoming an even bigger separator. A few highlights from this week’s conversation: 00:40 — What should the most important room in agriculture be talking about?AI, robotics, government policy, new investment ideas, and one overriding question: How do we use all of these new tools to improve ROI? 02:15 — Kevin’s biggest WASDE wild cardKevin says acreage may be the number that creates the surprise. He also discusses yield, feed and residual demand, exports, and why adjustments to last year’s crop could still matter. 08:30 — Stop putting too much weight on weekly crop ratingsKevin pushes back hard on using USDA Good-to-Excellent ratings as a precise yield predictor and says he puts more weight on private tours, producer intelligence, and actual boots-on-the-ground observations. 19:25 — Don’t predict the report. Wait for the market to make a mistake.Kevin compares trading around USDA reports to wrestling: stay balanced, let the opponent overextend, and then take advantage. 29:15 — Why Kevin is trading smaller than he used toMore speculative money, larger price swings, and greater volatility mean the consequences of being over-leveraged are dramatically higher. 37:40 — Are struggling producers simply bad operators?Kevin’s distinction is important: most producers he knows are very good at producing a crop. The bigger separator is business — marketing, equipment decisions, insurance, inputs, technology, taxes, capital allocation, and ROI. 43:20 — Put a great businessperson against a great producer. Who wins?Kevin’s answer is immediate: the businessperson. They may need time to learn production — or hire somebody who already knows it — but strong business judgment eventually becomes the advantage. 49:25 — The AI conversation comes down to one word: EXECUTEHaving data isn’t enough. Having AI isn’t enough. Having advisors isn’t enough. The advantage comes from actually implementing what improves the business. 59:15 — Why Kevin is still holding substantial cash even as Wall Street gets more bullishKevin explains the difference between being bearish and maintaining dry powder. His long-term investing accounts remain bullish — he simply wants enough cash available to capitalize when markets hit one of the “trap doors” he believes are inevitable. KEVIN QUOTES “I’m not trying to predict or forecast what the USDA is gonna do… I’m trying to play if the market overreacts one way or the other.” “The whole key is to be able to stay with a move and not get shook out.” “The differentiator is on the business side.” “A great person can take a really s****y or bad idea and make it good. A bad person can take a really great business and make it really bad.” The bigger theme running through this episode is simple: Volatility creates opportunity — but only if you have the discipline, liquidity, and business structure to survive long enough to take advantage of it. Listen to the full episode of FARMCON Conversations. FARMCON — The Most Important Room in Agriculture

  8. Aug 4

    FARMCON Conversations 08-05-2026: Special Guest, Dan Maycock, co-founder of Dataplai

    This week’s FarmCon Conversations starts with what makes FarmCon different from a normal ag event: it is not built around vacation travel, generic networking, or people telling producers how to farm. Kevin explains why FarmCon is positioned as a room for serious producers, operators, ranchers, ag businesses, and decision-makers who are trying to make better business, market, and capital-allocation decisions. From there, Kevin and Todd move through corn, soybeans, wheat, macro markets, interest rates, investing, prediction markets, and the danger of falling in love with a good story before the numbers support it. The second half of the episode features Dan Maycock, co-founder and CTO of Dataplai, for a practical conversation about AI in agriculture — what it actually is, where it can help producers, where the hype is dangerous, and why farmers need to learn how to use the tool without letting it make decisions for them. In this episode: 0:00 Why FarmCon is not designed like a normal ag conference, and why Kevin believes it should be a room where serious operators come to make better business and market decisions. 5:00 Corn, the August WASDE setup, declining crop ratings, and why Kevin is not aggressively bullish even though he thinks USDA’s 183 yield may be high. 14:00 Kevin’s current soybean view, including why he still likes the longer-term demand story but wants to buy bigger breaks rather than chase strength. 17:00 The wheat discussion: Black Sea logistics, exportable supply, and why Kevin sees wheat as more of a war-and-weather story than a clean demand story. 23:00 Macro markets, labor data, inflation, crude oil, and why Kevin does not currently believe the Fed needs to be aggressively hawkish. 31:00 Kevin’s investing posture: why he remains conservative, overweight cash, and more interested in buying bigger breaks than chasing stocks at current valuations. 39:00 Prediction markets, Kalshi, Polymarket, and why Kevin thinks these markets are here to stay and could become increasingly relevant in agriculture. 49:00 Dan Maycock joins the conversation for a practical discussion on AI in agriculture — what it is, where it can help producers, where the hype is dangerous, and why farmers need “flight school” before relying too heavily on the tool.

See All (66)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Our annual FARMCON conference has connected our family with some of the real movers and shakers in agriculture. Now, through this new podcast, we’re bringing those conversations directly to you. If you’re looking to separate yourself from the crowd and hear about cutting-edge ag-technology, market insights, and hard-earned lessons you won’t find anywhere else, this podcast is for you. What makes it special is the willingness of guests to openly share not only their successes, but also their failures, ideas, and keys to growth.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Van Trump
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Farm Direction
  • Show Website
    FARMCON Conversations

You Might Also Like