The Spokesman Speaks: Ag Insights for Your Farm and Family Iowa Farm Bureau

Welcome to Episode 133 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode will introduce you to the brand new Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Dr. Jason Henderson. The episode also includes a reminder of some cost-saving benefits that Iowa Farm Bureau members can tap into during the summer months.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Check out Iowa Farm Bureau’s member benefits. Join Iowa Farm Bureau today.

Welcome to Episode 132 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a 2023 growing season weather forecast from the director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub, Dr. Dennis Todey. It also introduces Iowa Farm Bureau’s new farmer education program manager, Zach Brummer, and covers some upcoming learning opportunities for farmers, like Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour in July.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Learn more and register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Ag Insights Tour. Learn about other future Iowa Farm Bureau events and webinars. Contact Iowa Farm Bureau's new farmer education program manager, Zach Brummer: zbrummer@ifbf.org. 

Welcome to Episode 131 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, John Sorensen (President and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association) discusses the stability of Iowa’s banking system, in the aftermath of Silicon Valley Bank’s well-publicized collapse. And Iowa Farm Bureau National Policy Advisor Daniel Heady updates listeners on the development of the 2023 Farm Bill.

Welcome to episode 130 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode features a conversation with Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, following his recent visit to Vietnam and the Philippines, as part of an Iowa trade delegation. It also features Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers Executive Director Brian Waddingham, who shares an update on a troubling livestock vandalism case up in northeast Iowa, what the Coalition is doing to help law enforcement in the area, and tips for other livestock farmers to protect themselves from vandalism. 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Visit the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers website or call their toll-free number: 800-932-2436. Learn more about the livestock vandalism case in northeast Iowa, how the Coalition is helping law enforcement in that area, and tips for avoiding vandalism on your farm.

Welcome to episode 129 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode will be especially useful to beginning farmers and farmers who are looking to diversify their operations with niche crops or livestock. It features a conversation with the head of FSA farm loans in Iowa (Brian Gossling) and an Iowa farmer (Ashley Wenke) who has experience growing a bit of everything, including produce, eggs, chicken, honey, beef and pork.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Contact your local county Farm Bureau Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Program Contact your local Iowa FSA office Learn about Pleasant Grove Homestead

Consumers crave the goods grown here in Iowa. "Choose Iowa" facilitates more opportunities to buy those products, further strengthening Iowa ag's reputation and brand. Learn about the program from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in this episode (128) of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. This episode also includes a discussion with environmental scientist Shawn Richmond about Iowa's impressive conservation and water quality progress.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Learn about the Choose Iowa program and take the survey to share your input. Learn about the 2023 Choose Iowa grant recipients. Visit ConservationCountsIowa.com to learn about Iowa's conservation and water quality progress.