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. 4d ago

    Voices of Arizona Agriculture: Our Why

    In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, recorded at the Summer Agricultural Conference in Flagstaff, Nicole explores why people choose to work in agriculture despite its challenges, sharing her own story of a multigenerational farm background, being steered away from farming, and finding purpose in telling agriculture’s story and supporting rural communities for future generations. Attendees then share their “why,” including Lauren (an RDN with Dairy Council of Arizona) who educates health professionals about dairy and supports food banks, Carley who values dairy community and industry marketing, Linda who ranches cattle on irrigated pasture and values family life and ag camaraderie, Shakuntala (UA Cooperative Extension entomologist) who helps growers manage pests safely, and John Boelts, a Yuma vegetable farmer and Arizona Farm Bureau president, who emphasizes agriculture’s daily necessity and responsibility to provide food. Get connected and find your place in agriculture at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 Why Agriculture Matters 00:45 My Family Farming Roots 01:44 Sharing Agriculture Stories 03:03 Rural Communities Future 05:05 Conference Attendee Whys 05:14 Lauren: Dairy Nutrition 07:10 Carley: Dairy Community 07:59 Linda: Ranch Life 09:48 Shakuntala: Extension Entomology 12:47 John Boelts Farm Bureau

  2. Oct 14

    Farm to Table Local Flavors at The Heritage with Chef Kevin Barko

    In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole is on site as she visits Chef Kevin Barko of The Heritage on Main Street in Old Town Buckeye to discuss his restaurant’s focus on local flair and ingredients and to demonstrate how easy and economical fresh pasta is to make with simple equipment and basic ingredients like flour and eggs. Chef Barko describes dishes served at the restaurant, including chicken Alfredo with wide noodles and marinara with short ribs, featuring local tomatoes from farmers' markets and flour from Hayden Flour Mill, and suggests simple sauce variations such as adding lemon to Alfredo or spices to marinara. He outlines The Heritage’s small-group cooking classes (knife skills, Ireland cuisine, Italian/fresh pasta, desserts, and a simple Thanksgiving dinner emphasizing mise en place), explains local sourcing challenges and the need to seek products out, and shares his career path from Michigan to starting a catering/meal prep business during COVID before opening in Buckeye. Make sure to snag Chef Barko's Pasta Recipe on our blog: https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 Welcome To The Heritage 01:03 Why Fresh Pasta 02:32 Two Pasta Dishes 04:35 Easy Sauce Ideas 05:25 Cooking Class Series 06:58 Thanksgiving Prep Tips 08:38 Seasonal Menu Sourcing 10:12 Local Ingredients Challenge 12:00 Buckeye Community Growth 13:38 Pasta Recipe Breakdown 14:07 Chef Barco Backstory 16:43 From Catering To Buckeye

  3. Oct 7

    October Ag Report: Voting Reminder & Event Updates from Maricopa County Farm Bureau

    With less than a month until the general election and early voting starting tomorrow, Farm Bureau has gathered candidate survey responses that agriculture members will receive by email and mail to inform their voting decisions. The episode also highlights upcoming events: the Women’s Leadership Committee’s annual Ag Social on Thursday, October 15 in Buckeye at Sweet Flower Home (free with RSVP via maricopacountyfb.org/events); Copper Country Music Fest October 13–15 featuring Randy Rogers Band, Nolan Hoffman, Crews Brothers, and more, with Maricopa County Farm Bureau members receiving 20% off tickets using code MCFB at coppercountrymusicfest.com; and the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension’s Soil to Table Summit on November 16–17 covering water resources, farm-to-table initiatives, soil health, and agribusiness (registration via maricopacountyfb.org). The next episode will feature recipes with local ingredients with Chef Kevin Barko. 00:10 Election Updates 00:31 Ag Social Invite 01:02 Music Fest Discount 01:24 Soil to Table Summit 01:45 Join us Next Week with Chef Kevin Barco

  4. Sep 30

    Support Your Neighbor: September is Suicide Awareness Month

    This episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection focuses on Suicide Awareness Month and why suicide prevention matters in agriculture, citing 2024 U.S. figures of 48,824 deaths by suicide and millions more who considered, planned, or attempted. The host explains that farmers and agricultural workers are about twice as likely to die by suicide, describing unique stressors such as lack of control over prices, weather, and legislative pressures, generational and societal expectations, and financial crises, while noting a family loss in the mid-1980s and ongoing concerns in 2026. The episode highlights stigma around therapy in rural communities, limited access to mental healthcare, and the benefits of telehealth. It encourages checking in with neighbors and friends and shares the free, confidential AgriStress hotline (call/text 833-897-2474), available 24/7 in multiple states, including Arizona. Learn more and get resources at https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/. 00:00 Why This Matters 00:14 Suicide Facts And Risk 01:02 Unique Farm Stressors 02:05 Personal And Generational Impact 02:45 Rural Culture And Stigma 03:50 Access Gaps And Telehealth 05:13 Check In On Neighbors 06:53 AgriStress Hotline Resource 08:14 Community Support And Closing

  5. Sep 23

    September Ag Report: A Consensus for Arizona Water, Farm Bill & Election Updates

    The episode recaps September agriculture news, highlighting the Bureau of Reclamation’s finalized 10-year Colorado River plan featuring smaller, shared lower-basin cuts totaling 1.25 million acre-feet, with Arizona taking the largest share: a 760,000 acre-feet cut through 2028 plus 300,000 acre-feet in voluntary savings. It notes Lake Powell release adjustments could occur if elevations drop below 3,500 feet to protect Lake Mead, and discusses rising hydropower costs prompting Arizona utilities and irrigation/electrical districts to reduce reliance on hydropower through solar, storage, and gas plants. Politically, it previews Arizona races and Farm Bureau AgPAC endorsements for Andy Biggs and Sine Kerr for governor/lieutenant governor and Warren Petersen for attorney general, with voter registration due Oct. 5 and the general election Nov. 3. Nationally, diesel averages $6.28/gal and the Senate Ag Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line vote, with a mental health episode teased next week. Learn more and get tapped in at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 September Ag News Rundown 00:13 Colorado River Cuts Ahead 00:54 Hydropower and Utility Shifts 01:21 Water Politics and Elections 01:44 AgPAC Endorsements Spotlight 03:06 Voting Deadlines Reminder 03:13 Diesel Prices Squeeze Farms 03:40 Farm Bill Moves Forward

  6. Sep 17

    Four Generations of Arizona Dairy with Clint Gladden

    In this farm edition of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Clint Gladden of Gladden Farms and Saddle Mountain Dairy shares the history and structure of his fourth-generation family operation in Buckeye/Palo Verde, where they milk about 4,000 cows and farm 3,000 acres growing alfalfa, corn, sorghum, triticale, and wheat for silage. Clint manages the farm side while his older brother Josh manages the dairy, and he discusses the challenges of working with family and the importance of detailed crop tracking and organization for nutrition and field decisions. He describes impacts from rapid urbanization, traffic, obstacles for equipment, trash in fields, and uncertainty around leased land and future development. Clint explains why he engages with Farm Bureau: to ensure producers tell their story, inform policy decisions, and address issues like high diesel costs, Colorado River water, air quality, and development, while staying focused on long-term sustainability for future generations. Learn more and get involved with Maricopa County Farm Bureau at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:10 Meet Clint Gladden 01:07 Brothers Split Roles 01:59 Family Business Dynamics 03:48 Vertical Integration Story 06:04 Crops Grown for Feed 07:19 Tracking and Organization 10:27 Land Ownership and Leasing 10:46 Urbanization Pressures 16:11 Advocacy and Farm Bureau 22:04 Big Issues Facing Arizona 22:51 Hope for Next Generation 25:46 Why Farming Matters

  7. Aug 26

    End of August Ag Report: First Feeder Cattle in Over a Year Moved From Mexico, Arizona Water Updates and More!

    This week’s Arizona Agriculture Connection reports that wheat futures falling after Russian media said Russia is taking steps to protect grain vessels amid the war with Ukraine; Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter with USDA estimating 46 million metric tons expected to ship. President Trump announced an executive order allowing 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports under lowered tariffs for 90 days, drawing pushback as U.S. beef herds are at a 50-year low and imports are already at record levels, potentially rising nearly 60% over the period; Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall warned of long-term impacts. Mexican feeder cattle crossed into the U.S. for the first time in over a year via Douglas, Arizona, as New World screw worm cases remain mostly inactive and Mexico increases sterile fly releases. The Bureau of Reclamation finalized Colorado River plans requiring a 1.25 million acre-feet cut shared by AZ, CA, and NV, with Arizona taking 760,000 plus at least 300,000 voluntary savings, implying a 14% municipal pool shortage for CAP. For more news and local happening on Arizona Agriculture, check out https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/

  8. Aug 19

    Fan Favorite Rerun: What is an Irrigation District and Why Does it Matter? With Noel Carter and Stan Barnes

    In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole Clements talks with Noel Carter, General Manager of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage Districts, and Stan Barnes, President of Copper State Consulting Group, about water management challenges and developments in Arizona. The conversation delves into the complexities of water policy, including different types of water sources, historical water rights, and the impact of ongoing droughts. They discuss recent legislative efforts to manage urbanization and agricultural water needs, specifically focusing on the Ag to Urban transition and its implications for future growth. They also touch upon the transfer of water to Queen Creek, the intricacies of water law, and the importance of collective efforts and historical foresight in sustaining Arizona's water supply amid rapid urban development.

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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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