AgCast by Purdue Commercial Agriculture

Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Management
  • Updated Monthly

AgCast brings you conversations about the business of agriculture — from the farmers making decisions every day to the leaders shaping the industry. Hosted by Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe from Purdue University, each episode explores the challenges, opportunities, and strategies impacting the ag economy and the business of farming.

  1. 5d ago

    Phosphate, Supply Chains & the 2027 Fertilizer Shock

    AgCast is back — with new vigor but the same goal: bringing farmers and agricultural leaders together for conversations about the ideas, businesses, and decisions shaping the future of agriculture. In the first episode of the new season of AgCast, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe sit down with Hunter Swisher, CEO and founder of Phospholutions, to explore one of the most important — and least understood — challenges facing modern agriculture: phosphate fertilizer. Phosphorus is essential for crop production, but it’s also a finite resource controlled by a handful of countries around the world. As fertilizer prices remain a major concern for farmers, this conversation breaks down what’s happening behind the scenes — from phosphate mining and global shipping routes to fertilizer production, supply chain disruptions, and what it could mean for farmers heading into future growing seasons. Hunter explains how Phospholutions is working to improve phosphate fertilizer efficiency, why traditional MAP and DAP fertilizers lose much of their value after application, and how new technology could help farmers produce more with fewer inputs. Chad and Todd also discuss: • Why fertilizer supply chains are more complicated than most farmers realize • How global events can impact input availability and prices on the farm • Why fertilizer innovation has been slower than other areas of agriculture • What farmers should understand about phosphate availability heading into 2027 • The future of ag technology, startups, and solving problems across the food system AgCast brings farmers and agricultural leaders together for conversations about the ideas, businesses, and decisions shaping the future of agriculture. Topics: fertilizer prices, phosphate fertilizer, MAP fertilizer, DAP fertilizer, farm inputs, agriculture supply chains, crop production, ag technology, farm profitability

    49 min

  2. May 20

    Why Profitable Farms Still Run Out of Cash

    Margins are tighter. Interest costs are higher. And many farms are discovering that profitability and cash flow are not the same thing. In this episode of the Commercial AgCast, Chad Fiechter and Josh Strine sit down with John Maman of Nutrien Financial to talk about how strong operations manage cash flow, financing, operating lines, and input decisions in today’s farm economy. This conversation goes beyond interest rates and loans. It focuses on the real financial decisions affecting: operating flexibility growth opportunities input purchases working capital profitability under pressure You’ll learn: Why some profitable farms still struggle with cash How large operations think differently about financing When financing creates flexibility — and when it doesn’t The relationship between agronomy and profitability Why trusted advisors matter more during tight margins How farmers can reduce financial pressure without sacrificing productivity John also shares insights from his background in agronomy, ag retail, and agricultural finance — along with practical ways growers can think more strategically about cash management during difficult cycles. If you’re making crop input decisions, managing operating debt, or preparing for tighter margins ahead, this episode will help you think differently about the business side of farming.

    39 min

  3. May 6

    Farmer Sentiment Is Falling Amid Higher Input Costs

    Farmer sentiment declined in April—the pressure on the farm economy is intensifying. In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down the April 2026 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Rising input costs, increasing concern about fertilizer availability, and global uncertainty tied to geopolitical conflict all contributed to a drop in sentiment. Tighter margins, rising break-even costs, and weaker financial expectations are beginning to influence how farmers approach investment, growth, and risk management heading into 2026. More importantly, these signals highlight how producers are shifting from cautious optimism to a more defensive posture. In this episode, we discuss: What’s driving the recent decline in farmer sentiment How fertilizer prices and input availability are impacting decisions Why 2/3 of farmers expect lower income in 2026 What rising break-even prices mean for crop profitability Why farmers are pulling back on machinery and capital investments The widening gap between crop and livestock outlooks How tight margins are influencing cash flow and strategy What’s shaping farmland value expectations Why confidence in the broader U.S. economy is slipping 📊 Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report: https://purdue.ag/barometer127   — For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    15 min
  4. Lessons From the Delta, Part 8: Why Ducks Are More Valuable Than Crops in the Delta

    Apr 22

    Lessons From the Delta, Part 8: Why Ducks Are More Valuable Than Crops in the Delta

    Lessons From the Delta continues — and this time, the conversation turns to an unexpected connection between rice farming, water management, and wildlife. In the 8th and final episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe travel to eastern Arkansas to explore how rice production systems intersect with conservation—and why organizations like Ducks Unlimited are working directly with farmers. What starts as a discussion about rice fields quickly expands into a deeper look at water use, groundwater depletion, and how wildlife habitat can create additional economic value on farmland. The conversation explores: Why rice fields function as surrogate wetlands for waterfowl How duck hunting and recreation influence land values in the Delta The scale of water use in rice production—and why it matters How farmers are adapting to groundwater decline with new practices The tradeoffs between yield, water efficiency, and management complexity Why agriculture in the Delta requires a fundamentally different system approach With water becoming an increasingly binding constraint, this episode highlights how farmers are balancing productivity, conservation, and long-term sustainability—and what that means for the future of agriculture. We’ll continue sharing video clips and behind-the-scenes footage from the Arkansas trip on our YouTube channel throughout the series. Subscribe to the Purdue Commercial AgCast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in the Lessons From the Delta series. Learn more about Ducks Unlimited: https://www.ducks.org/ For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    30 min
  5. Lessons From the Delta, Part 7: How Rice Farmers Cut $31/Acre Water Costs

    Apr 15

    Lessons From the Delta, Part 7: How Rice Farmers Cut $31/Acre Water Costs

    Lessons From the Delta continues — this time from the edge of a 120-acre on-farm reservoir. In Part 7 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe visit a rice farm in Arkansas to understand how farmers are managing water, labor, and costs in ways that look very different from the Midwest. What starts as a farm tour turns into a practical discussion about irrigation strategy, groundwater replacement, and the economics behind building large on-farm reservoirs. The conversation also covers: How farmers can save up to $31 per acre by pumping surface water instead of groundwater Why reservoirs reduce energy costs and improve water temperature for crop performance Capturing and recycling nutrients through tailwater recovery systems The tradeoff between taking land out of production and lowering long-term costs How pump automation reduces labor needs and improves quality of life Why water management is becoming a central constraint in modern farming systems This episode builds on earlier conversations in the Delta series and brings the focus directly to how farmers are making real-world management decisions under different constraints. We’ll continue sharing video clips and behind-the-scenes footage from the Arkansas trip on our YouTube channel throughout the series. Subscribe to the Purdue Commercial AgCast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in the Lessons From the Delta series. For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    12 min

  6. Apr 8

    Farm Sentiment Is Up… So Why Are Farmers Still Worried?

    Farmer sentiment improved in March—but the underlying pressures in the farm economy haven’t gone away. In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down the March 2026 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Despite rising input costs and global uncertainty tied to geopolitical conflict, farmer sentiment moved higher—driven in part by stronger crop prices and government payments. But the improvement comes with important caveats. Tight margins, rising breakeven costs, and shifting risk priorities are shaping how farmers approach investment, production, and long-term strategy. More importantly, these signals highlight how producers are balancing short-term optimism with longer-term uncertainty. In this episode, we discuss: • What’s driving the recent increase in farmer sentiment • How $35/acre payments and higher corn prices are influencing outlook • Why only 4% of farmers plan to increase machinery purchases • How rising input costs are impacting breakeven prices and profitability • Why financial risk has overtaken marketing risk for many farms • What farmers expect for inflation and interest rates in the year ahead • How solar leasing is evolving across regions and land markets • What’s driving farmland value expectations in 2026 📊 Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report: https://purdue.ag/barometer126 — For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    19 min
  7. Lessons From the Delta, Part 6: Farming with No Margin for Error

    Apr 1

    Lessons From the Delta, Part 6: Farming with No Margin for Error

    Lessons From the Delta continues — this time from the perspective of farmers managing one of the most intensive production systems in U.S. agriculture. In Episode 6 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe visit with Terry and Trent Dabs of LTD Farms near Stuttgart, Arkansas, to discuss what it takes to operate a rice-based farming system in the Mississippi Delta. What emerges is a detailed look at a production environment shaped by water management, labor demands, and capital intensity—where daily decisions around irrigation, equipment, and timing carry significant economic consequences. The conversation also discusses: • Why rice production requires constant water management and monitoring • How labor constraints shape daily operations and long-term strategy • The impact of intensive field conditions on machinery and capital decisions • How rice is marketed and how payment differs from corn and soybeans • The role of global markets in determining profitability As Delta farmers navigate a system defined by irrigation dependence and production intensity, the discussion raises important questions: What does it take to manage risk in a high-cost production system? How do labor and water constraints shape farm structure? And what lessons apply beyond the Delta? This episode builds on earlier conversations about production systems and farmland economics, and brings the focus directly to the farm level. We’ll also continue sharing video clips and behind-the-scenes footage from the Arkansas trip on our YouTube channel throughout the series. Subscribe to the Purdue Commercial AgCast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in the Lessons From the Delta series. For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    26 min
  8. Lessons From the Delta, Part 5: Farm Robotics, Labor, and the Future of Field Work

    Mar 25

    Lessons From the Delta, Part 5: Farm Robotics, Labor, and the Future of Field Work

    Lessons From the Delta continues — this time with an unexpected conversation about farm robotics. In Episode 5 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe meet Sarah Hinkley, CEO and co-founder of Barn Owl Precision Ag, during a chance stop at a farm in Arkansas. What begins as a serendipitous encounter turns into a discussion about labor shortages, farm profitability, and how automation is being applied in real-world field conditions. The conversation also discusses: • The economic pressure driving labor-saving technologies • How autonomous “nano tractors” are designed for precision tasks • The shift from large equipment to networks of smaller machines • Challenges in scaling robotics across different environments • Opportunities to reduce chemical inputs through precision weeding As labor constraints and cost pressures continue to shape farm decisions, technologies like this raise important questions: What does practical automation look like on the farm? How quickly can these tools scale? And where do they fit in existing production systems? This episode builds on earlier discussions of production systems and research infrastructure, and sets up a return to the farm level in the next episode. We’ll also continue sharing video clips and behind-the-scenes footage from the Arkansas trip on our YouTube channel throughout the series. Subscribe to the Purdue Commercial AgCast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in the Lessons From the Delta series. For more farm management resources, visit: 👉 https://purdue.ag/commercialag Subscribe to the podcast: 👉 https://purdue.ag/agcast Follow us: X: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-commercial-agriculture

    11 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

AgCast brings you conversations about the business of agriculture — from the farmers making decisions every day to the leaders shaping the industry. Hosted by Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe from Purdue University, each episode explores the challenges, opportunities, and strategies impacting the ag economy and the business of farming.

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