Best Damian Mason Podcasts (2024)

1
Legacy Unearthed: Insights from Agriculture's Next Generation 53:51

3h ago53:51

53:51

Join host Damian as he dives into the profound question of agriculture's future through the eyes of its heirs in this compelling episode of Cutting The Curve. In an insightful roundtable discussion with Danielle Matthews, Vern Garrett, Jackson Henderson, Layne Miles, and Alexander Evans, and Caleb Coots from Teva Corporation's third generation, we …

1
You Have a Phosphorous Availability Problem - Here is What To Do About it 41:54

8h ago41:54

41:54

Temple Rhodes isn’t afraid to tell you what your soil tests likely aren’t: That you have a phosphorous problem. Specifically, you have a problem getting your “P” untied and then up-taken by your crops. Tommy Roach with Nachurs and James Paterson with AgroTech USA join Temple to explain how you can maximize your phosphorous. Just because you’re spen…

1
342 - Money, Mergers & Cage Free Eggs — The Investment Climate in Ag 41:23

7h ago41:23

41:23

Money was pouring into Agricultural startups a few years ago. What’s the investment climate look like now? Damian Mason is joined by Business Transaction Attorney Max Bremer on this episode of The Business of Agriculture. They discuss money flow into Ag, the pace of mergers and acquisitions, and how legislation is pushing some consolidation. The Bu…

1
Used Farm Machinery Buying Guide: Will Prices Come Down? 38:37

6h ago38:37

38:37

The supply chain disruptions you heard so much about from 2020 through 2022 unsettled the machinery market. Now in 2024, the farm equipment marketplace is still adjusting. Inventory of used machines has been climbing rapidly over the last year. This run up in supply should equate to lower sale prices…but it’s not. Casey Seymour of Moving Iron LLC a…

1
Time To Build an Ark? Decisions After a Half-Foot of Rain 33:49

3d ago33:49

33:49

Matt Miles pace of planting was looking good. 100% of his corn and rice is not only in the ground, but emerged. As was 45% of his soybean acreage. Then the rains came. A half foot of rain and it’s still not finished. As you might imagine, he’s got crops under water. Matt talks to Damian about wet conditions, past experience, adjustments he’s making…

1
341 - Exchange Traded Funds for Agricultural Commodities 42:41

8d ago42:41

42:41

Most people don’t hold investment money in the Ag commodity space. That may be changing as investing in things like corn is made easier via ETFs — exchange traded funds. Jake Hanley with Teucrium explains the oftentimes complex commodities trading industry and how his company is simplifying — or as Damian Mason says “democratizing” — commodity inve…

1
To Expand or Not: Grain Storage Decisions in Tough Times 21:32

12d ago21:32

21:32

Is a downturn market the right time to expand grain storage facility? In this episode of Xtreme Ag's Cutting the Curve from Commodity Classic 2024, host Damian Mason is joined by Johnny Verell from Tennessee, Chad Henderson from Alabama, Kelly Garrett from Iowa, and grain industry professional Rodie Jelleberg from Superior Grain. Together, they del…

1
Soil Health, Carbon Intensity Scores and the Bottom Line For Your Farm 43:57

10d ago43:57

43:57

Suddenly, we’re hearing a lot about Carbon Intensity Scores in Agriculture. What is a CI score, why does it matter, and how can you use it (eventually) to improve your financials? Those questions and more are addressed by Temple Rhodes who is joined by Holganix's Barrett Ersek and David Stark. If you’d like to improve your soil AND financial health…

1
340 - Purple Tomatoes, Taste, Waste, Nutritive Value & Much More 53:23

10d ago53:23

53:23

Fruits and vegetables have been bred over the past half century for the primary objective of transportability and shelf life. The tradeoff: taste and nutrient density. As marketplaces mature and consumers are afforded increasing food options in the produce section, might a play toward taste, nutrition, and reduced food waste be a winner? Nathan Pum…

1
Tested Mettle: How Nelson Rentz has Harvested Success in the Oklahoma Panhandle 22:22

22d ago22:22

22:22

In the unforgiving landscape of Guymon, Oklahoma, where the earth tests the mettle of those who farm it, Nelson Rentz stands as a testament to resilience and innovation. Garnering a third place state finish in the 2023 NCGA contest for his impressive strip-till, irrigated corn yield of 292 bushels per acre, Nelson talks to Cutting The Curve host, D…

1
339 - Technology to Maximize (Rather than Waste) Your Crop Input Investment 49:49

20d ago49:49

49:49

Most of the fertilizer applied to fields, doesn’t actually get absorbed by the plant. That’s an economic as well as environmental liability for Agriculture. Technological advances in adjuvants, fertilizer amendments and biologicals aim to change farming. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture Podcast with Damian Mason, Clark Bell, CEO of Na…

1
Early Season Prevention of Corn Nematodes & Crown Rot 39:04

21d ago39:04

39:04

Do you know whether your fields have a corn nematode problem? Have you experienced crown rot? Chances are, if you have had these two yield robbers on your farm, you didn’t know about it until you made a pass with the combine. Preventing this two problems involved detection and / or selecting the right mode of protection. Historically protection has…

1
Beating the Frost: Expert Tips for Early Season Planting Success 43:24

24d ago43:24

43:24

When it comes to deciding when it’s time to plant, Lee Lubbers says, “We don’t look at a calendar, we look at conditions.” With a mild winter and early spring, 2024 looks like a year where many farmers will be rolling out the planter earlier than usual. But what if you get a late spring killing frost? Will you be forced to re-plant, or simply suffe…

1
338 - Talking Taters (and Much More!) with Oregon Potato Company 50:59

26d ago50:59

50:59

Frank Tiegs started farming in the Columbia basin region of Washington in 1975. Then he bought an apple packing facility. From there, the operation has expanded mightily to involve 140,000 acres of farming and 15 food processing facilities. Upon Frank’s recent passing, his son Keith re-joined the business as president. In this episode of the Busine…

1
Bridging The Gap In Sustainable Agriculture: Unlocking Additional Revenue Opportunities 28:00

28d ago28:00

28:00

Farmers are at the forefront of a revolution, adopting practices that not only benefit the earth but also open up new avenues for income through carbon credit programs. Kelly Garrett, a seasoned farmer and carbon program pioneer, shares his firsthand experience transitioning to no-till farming and cover cropping and debunking the myth that sustaina…

1
Grain Safe: Avoiding Pitfalls & Adopting Best Practices for Grain Storage 44:32

1M ago44:32

44:32

If you have grain stored in on-farm bins, there’s a good chance you’re losing money to grain quality loss. There’s also an elevated safety risk — when / if your grain goes out of condition and you’re forced to enter the bin, there’s a high likelihood of an accident. (According to recently released data from Purdue University, grain entrapments in g…

1
337 - Is It Time for Legislation Restricting Foreign Ownership of American Farm Land? 25 States Think So! 50:47

1M ago50:47

50:47

Indiana appears poised to become the twenty-fifth state to restrict — or outright ban — ownership of Agricultural real estate by foreign entities. Many people — from both within and outside of Ag — have been calling for such legislation. Currenly, twenty four states have similar laws on the books. Generally, the legislation is directed at entities …

1
Resilience in the Rain: Big Lessons That Sam 'of the North' Coutu learned in 2023 22:57

1M ago22:57

22:57

After a challenging 2023 growing season marked by excessive moisture that put his crops to the test, Quebec farmer, Sam Coutu, sits down with host Damian Mason to share the valuable lessons he's learned. From discovering the financial wisdom behind a 36,000 corn seeding rate to recognizing the pitfalls of over-applying nitrogen and the importance o…

1
Making Sustainability Pay Off On Your Farm 19:26

1M ago19:26

19:26

For years, Johnny Verell's farming operation in western Tennessee has epitomized sustainability. Since making the switch to no-till farming in 1991, the Verells have implemented a range of eco-friendly practices, including variable-rate fertility applications, split nitrogen application, crop rotation, and water conservation—essentially embodying t…

1
336 - Is The Migrant Crisis a Crisis for Agriculture or a Net Benefit? 35:04

1M ago35:04

35:04

A full three quarters of farmworkers in the U.S. are migrants and many are here illegally. Add in food service, meat processing, and the ancillary industries that feed the food business and you’re talking about a LOT of foreign-born workers who work to put food on America’s table. Is the migrant crisis we’re witnessing on our nation’s southern bord…

1
Maximizing Farm Yields: Essential Strategies to Boost Crop Yields and Overcome Plateaus 49:07

1M ago49:07

49:07

Even the most proactive and ambitious farmers can find themselves at a standstill, with crop yields that are commendable and often surpass local averages, yet they aspire for greater harvests. In this episode, Matt Miles and Kelly Garrett talk to Damian Mason about the challenges of breaking through yield barriers. They delve into the importance of…

1
When it is Time for Tillage? A Deep Dive into Farming Tillage Strategies and Cover Crops with Temple Rhodes 38:25

2M ago38:25

38:25

Typically a reduced tillage kind of guy, Temple pulled out the disc-ripper on one of his fields this fall. Why? To fix a compaction problem years in the making, worsened by excessive moisture. Temple and Damian talk tillage, radishes, stover degradation, compaction, organic matter, and how to change up fall tillage by following it with a two-specie…

1
335 - Are We Wrong About Oversupply? 1:09:35

2M ago1:09:35

1:09:35

In the last episode Todd Thurman joined Damian to cover a topic most in Agriculture have never considered: Are we permanently over supplied with Agricultural commodities? Pointing out the reasons demand won’t outpace - or even keep up with - our productive capacity, Thurman and Mason painted a picture of long term surpluses that keep prices below b…

1
334 - Oversupplied: What Happens When Ag Keeps Increasing Production While Demand Slides? 1:11:42

2M ago1:11:42

1:11:42

We in Agriculture love production! For example, we’re producing about 50% more corn, soy, and pork than we did just a quarter century ago here in the U.S. The playbook for decades has been: find more global markets to peddle our commodities so we can keep doing what we like doing, which is producing stuff. Here’s the problem — and the commodity pri…

1
Refurbishing a “New” 20-Year-Old Planter with Sam of the North 20:54

2M ago20:54

20:54

Sam Coutu is updating his bean planting unit for 2024. He bought a bigger — and soon to be better — planter for cheap. Now, he’s mapping out the upgrades he’ll be doing and parts he’s installing on the unit. Sam explains the economics, efficiencies, and objectives behind his planter decision. When it’s all said and done, he’ll be in his refurbished…

1
3 Ways To Improve Your Starter Fertilizer Program 22:13

2M ago22:13

22:13

Getting your crops off to a healthy start is critically important to your yield come harvest time. Do you put down fertility at time of planting? If so, are you and your crops getting the maximum bang for your buck? Damian Mason talks to Kelly Garrett and AgroLiquid’s Aaron Stahl about three considerations for a more effective starter fertilizer pr…

1
Corn, Cattle & Cover Crops — An Evolution in Soil Health 39:44

2M ago39:44

39:44

Temple Rhodes and his daughter took a field trip to visit Kelly Garrett's Iowa farm this winter. What they saw inspired Temple to up his soil health practices. Temple and Kelly talk with Damian about their agronomic evolution. Temple has been using cover crops for thirty years but this year he’s diversifying the species he plants. He’s also going t…

1
Grain Gains: Navigating Expansion and Efficiency in On-Farm Storage 43:16

2M ago43:16

43:16

On-farm grain storage today resembles what would have been a good-sized country elevator just a few years ago. The bins are bigger, the driers are faster, and the costs are much higher. Before spending money improving your grain infrastructure, listen to tips from a grain set-up expert and two guys who made several mistakes in constructing their gr…

1
333 - Farm Policy, Farm Income and Farm Bill With Jim Wiesemeyer 54:13

2M ago54:13

54:13

It’s setting up to be a challenging year for farm economics. Add to that: it’s an election year, Washington DC is as dysfunctional as ever, and we still don’t have a Farm Bill — which was supposed to have been passed last year. What’s the outlook financially for farms. What about trade policy? Does renewable energy investment favor Ag? Will the U.S…

1
Is Tile Drainage A Fit For Your Farm? 44:45

2M ago44:45

44:45

To tile, or not to tile, that is the question many farmers have. If you’re on the fence about drainage tile, a full— blown tile advocate, or in the camp of farmers convinced tile won’t work on your acres, listen to this! Damian Mason assembles a panel of all stars to talk tile. From the hills of western Iowa, to hard red soils of north Alabama, to …

1
Changing the Crop Rotation — From Corn to Soybeans, to Corn to Cows! 27:20

2M ago27:20

27:20

Kelly Garrett and his oldest son, Connor “Vern” Garrett, met with their farm’s financial and grain marketing advisor to strategize on their 2024 cropping mix. Upon putting pen to paper, soybean production looked like a loser. This, following losses of $300 per soybean acre in 2023, spurred some creative cropping ideas. Among them: They’re cutting w…

1
332 - Cash Rent: Are You Paying Too Much? Charging Too Little? 53:22

2M ago53:22

53:22

Nationally, between 30 and 40% of farmland is rented to an operator from a land owner. But how are rental rates for this hugely valuable asset class determined? Are the rental rates fair? What causes variability in values? Howard Halderman of Halderman Real Estate and Farm Management explains the math and methodology of farm cash rents. The structu…

1
Maximizing Agricultural Profits in Tough Times: Lee Lubbers' Expert Strategies for 2024 30:55

2M ago30:55

30:55

Lee Lubbers and his sibling Terry have navigated through numerous challenges at their agricultural enterprise in Gregory, South Dakota. These challenges include not only literal weather disturbances but also financial tumults. Facing a less than optimistic forecast for commodity prices in 2024, Lee offers advice on generating profit during tough ec…

1
331 - From $300 and A Google Search to a Mushroom Entrepreneur 48:45

3M ago48:45

48:45

Kyle Beaver is a self-admitted Jack-of-all-Trades who, at age 25, turned a Google search into a mushroom business. Six years later he’s refining Ten Mile Mushrooms and launched a subsidiary. The business still grows some fungus for consumption but has morphed into a supplier of ready-to-fruit substrate. That means, they sell the stuff that makes mu…

1
Do You Know Your Soil’s Moisture Level? 32:53

3M ago32:53

32:53

In today's advanced agricultural landscape, accurately measuring soil moisture levels remains a challenge. The signs are clear when your soil is oversaturated, such as when you find yourself sinking into the field during the early spring. Similarly, the peak of summer in August unmistakably signals that your soils are in desperate need of hydration…

1
Getting Your Sprayer Ready For Spring with Proper Winterization 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

Lee Lubbers, a meticulous advocate for sprayer maintenance, ensures his two units undergo rigorous rinsing and blowing with every product change. Additionally, he conducts extensive cleaning and winterizes the sprayers before seasonal storage. Highlighting more than just preventive care, Lee underscores the risks of damaged crops and weed problems …

1
Maximizing Your Fertility Investment in a Sub - $5 Corn Environment 22:42

3M ago22:42

22:42

In the challenging agricultural landscape of 2024, where every dollar counts, it's crucial for farmers to rethink their fertilizer application strategies. AgroLiquid's expert, Galynn Beer, warns that adhering to standard fertilizer application recommendations could potentially lead to a loss of $100 per acre given the average yield. This insight co…

1
330 - Traits of a Successful Farm Trade Show 40:27

3M ago40:27

40:27

Agricultural trade events can be a lot of fun, but are they always valuable? And who are they valuable to? Brandon Wipf, South Dakota farmer and co-chair of Commodity Classic 2024, joins Damian Mason and XtremeAg’s Kelly Garrett to talk trade events. How do these two business-minded farmers get value from trade events? How can you maximize your ROI…

1
Why You Should Reduce Phosphorous Application Rates & How To Do It Without Sacrificing Yield 28:46

3M ago28:46

28:46

Johnny Verell performed a phosphorous application reduction trial on corn. He re-apportioned part of the money he saved into an application of Source from SoundAg. The results: less phosphorous applied, money saved even after using Source, and increased yields. The trial was overseen by Brewer Blessit of Blythe Bayou Research and Consulting. Brewer…

1
329 - Bio-nutrients To Reduce Fungicide, Insecticide & Synthetic Fertilizer 44:50

3M ago44:50

44:50

Blake Matthews returned to the Idaho family farming operation twenty years ago. Upon his return, he began experimenting with a new array of products and practices, including bio-nutrients. First, he used bio-nutrients to help his sugar beets bounce back after applying glyphosate. He moved on to potatoes where he has eliminated fungicide and insecti…

1
Fixing Poor Ground: Transforming Marginal Farm Land into Profitable Acreage. 36:33

3M ago36:33

36:33

In this informative podcast episode, Damian Mason talks to Concept AgriTek Agronomist Bert Riggan and XtremeAg’s Kelly Garrett about methods to enhance underperforming farm land. Uncover practical tips and strategies for increasing ROI on your least productive farm acres. Learn how to change your approach and farming practices to turn 'poor' ground…

1
Is your Grain Bin Facility Making You Money? 33:13

3M ago33:13

33:13

The grain storage facilities on today's modern farms are larger than the local elevator of just a few decades ago. With size and scale comes a huge deployment of capital (and planning!). Johnny Verell sits down with Damian to explain how he went from essentially no on-farm grain storage in 2006 (they grew mostly cotton) to having a huge, modern gra…

1
328 - Farming In 2 Hemispheres 48:11

3M ago48:11

48:11

22 years ago, immediately after graduating from college AND getting married, John Carroll and his new bride flew to Brazil to start farming. John’s family, with a farming operation in west central Illinois, had just purchased farm land in a newly developed Ag area of Brazil. Today John and his family are living back in Illinois but he manages the B…

1
Farm, Family, Business and a Lasting Legacy 41:32

4M ago41:32

41:32

Unfortunately, many farm families end up with fractured relationships at the time of transition. This can all be prevented according to Farm Family Coach, Elaine Froese. Do you have a transition plan in place for your farm? Is the next generation involved in your farming operation, and if so, are they equity holders in the farm? What about the non-…

1
327 - "Middle Man" vs. Value-Added 59:19

4M ago59:19

59:19

In Agriculture we generally have the perception that farmers as price takers are being short-changed as “middle men” make all the margin. While it’s popular to talk about “cutting out the middle man,” how realistic is it to actually happen? Ryan Moe and Todd Thurman join Damian to discuss who these middle operators are, what they do, and whether or…

1
How Autonomous Machinery Will Change Your Farm 37:47

4M ago37:47

37:47

Intelligent labor — as Matt Miles calls it — is always a challenge to find, hire, and keep employed. With equipment costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, you can’t just turn anyone loose in your fields. Labor is one compelling case for autonomous machinery but issues of economics, timeliness, and environment are other reasons autonomy will chan…

1
326 - It’s Time To Simplify Your Grain Marketing 46:25

4M ago46:25

46:25

Ag commodity marketing is too complex, largely misunderstood, and the industry is full of products and services you probably don’t even need to profitably market your grain. That truth bomb — along with many more — is courtesy of Joe Vaclavik of Standard Grain. Mr. Vaclavik, a former grain trader turned commodity marketing commentator, says there a…

1
Maximizing Crop Health in 2024: Achieving Plant Balance and Sustainable Farming 17:06

4M ago17:06

17:06

Kelly Garrett set out to make stress reduction for his crops an overriding theme for 2022. Damian Mason sits down with Kelly who explains what a balanced plant is and why he’s focusing on this subject. Maximization of inputs, yield bump, disease pressure reduction, and issues of sustainability are four benefits Kelly plans on attaining from his new…

1
Machinery Decisions That Make Money 24:17

4M ago24:17

24:17

Modern farms have huge dollars tied up in equipment, but does that equipment provide an ROI? Johnny Verell joins Steve Simon of Simon Innovations and host Damian Mason to discuss machinery decisions and equipment upgrades. Are you upgrading equipment just to keep up with the neighbors? Does that shiny machine you saw at the farm show really need to…

1
Changing Equipment for Better Farming Results 18:07

4M ago18:07

18:07

Does your machinery match the methods for how you can best run your farm? Johnny Verell is making several changes on his Tennessee farm to increase efficiencies while producing better crops. He’s changing out his 20-inch planters for 30-inch units, which means he’s also changing out his corn heads and adjusting his sprayer routine. Mr. Verell expla…

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