Ag Talk is a new podcast dedicated to taking a deeper look into Utah agriculture and food production. Our goal is to help give our listeners a better understanding of how their food is grown, introduce them to those who work in the industry every day, and help explore difficult topics such as agriculture water use. We also aim to help Utah's farmers and ranchers have a better understanding of the programs available to them.
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Finding the right grant for your farm or food business can be tricky and it can be hard to know where to look. This is why the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has added the Grants Specialist position. Learn more about how the UDAF grants specialist, Allison Ross, can help you in your grant finding journey as well as learn about some of the …
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Did you know agriculture also includes fish farming? The UDAF Aquaculture program oversees certain fish farms and hatcheries used for fishing purposes. Join us on this episode to learn more about the purpose of the Aquaculture program with program manager, Xavier Matheson. Contact Xavier Matheson at xmatheson@utah.gov Learn more about the Aquacultu…
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What's the Deal with Weights and Measures?
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Did you know that Utah's department of agriculture and food is the home to the Weights and Measures program? In this episode, we are learning all about weights and measures, what is has to do with agriculture, and how it serves the people of Utah. Tune in to learn more about this interesting program from program manager, Miland Kofford, and state m…
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Ensuring food safety in Utah is one of main roles for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). On today's episode, we get to meet with members of our regulatory team whos jobs are to oversee food safety programs and inspections throughout the state. Tune in to learn more about how these teams work to ensure the food you are buying is saf…
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Planning for disaster is important for all, even the animals who will also be affected by those disasters. This is why Dr. Amanda Price and others at the Utah Department of Agriculture to help develop animal disaster plans. Having a plan in place and being prepared can help save the lives of animals and help first responders better respond to disas…
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The 2024 Utah Legislative Session has officially come to an end with lots of wins for Utah agriulture! Join the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food legislative team to get a review of the 2024 legislative session and to talk about new law changes coming and the wins that came from this year's session. Joining us on this episode is Commissioner …
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Exploring the Agriculture Voluntary Incentive Program
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The Agriculture Voluntary Incentive Program, or commonly referred to as the Ag VIP program, is an important program that helps farmers and ranchers create nutrient management plans to help them better utilize these nutrients, while also protecting the safety of our natural resources, such as water sources. Join Conservation Division Director, Jim B…
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Pollinators play a vital role in our environment and agriculture production, which is why it is important to protect them. In this Bonus episode, learn more about the pollinator program and how it helps create habitats for these important insects throughout the state of Utah from UDAF conservation director, Jim Bowcutt and Mindy Wheeler with USU, w…
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What are Hemp Cannabinoid products and how do they differ from Medical Cannabis products? Join us on this episode of Ag Talk as we discuss hemp cannabinoid products, what they are, how they are regulated, and what products are available for use in Utah. Returning guests on this episode are Dr. Brandon Forsyth, Director of Medical Cannabis and Hemp,…
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BONUS EPISODE: The Soil Health In the West Conference
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The 2nd Biannual Soil Health in the West Conference will be held February 6-8, 2024 in St. George Utah. Tune into this bonus episode to learn more about this conference and the important information farmers and ranchers can learn from soil health experts. Episode guests: Tony Richards, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Soil Health Program Man…
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The Utah Legislative session is here! As one of the busiest times of the year for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food starts, this legislative preview episode gives listeners an inside look of the department's role during the legislative session, what bills the department is watching, and how the legislative process works. Guests on this ep…
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Preserving Agriculture Land: The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund
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For years, Utah's prime agricultural lands have been disapearing. This is detramental not only to our local food security and agricultural industry, but also disheartening to those who have farmed and cared for those lands for many generations. The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund was created to help preserve agriculture land in Utah by…
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The predator control program at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food works to prevent livestock depredation by providing mitigation and population control of Utah's predators. In this episode, hear from UDAF's Animal Industry Director, Leann Hunting, and the Predator Control program manager, Cole Selman, on how they help Utah's agriculture c…
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Understanding Utah's Medical Cannabis Program
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What do you know about Utah's Medical Cannabis program? Being one of Utah's newer programs, there is a lot that my be unknown. On this episode, we will be joined by UDAF's director of medical cannabis, Dr. Brandon Forsyth and the medical cannabis program manager, Cody James to help us better understand the purpose of the program and the role that t…
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Importation of Christmas Trees and Firewood
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With the holiday season quickly approaching, it is important for Utah's citizens to understand the regulations around Christmas Tree and firewood importation. In the short and sweet episode, we will learn from UDAF Plant Industry Division Director, Rob Hougaard and State Entomologist, Kris Watson to discuss why there are regulation on the importati…
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The Agriculture Stress Assistance Program
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Nation-wide, farmers and ranchers are two times more likely to die by suicide than other demographic. This can be brought on by day to day stresses of farming and ranching, dealing with an unpridictable mother nature, crop or animal loss, strenuous work schedules, financial stresses, and the preasure of keeping multi-generational farms in operation…
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As a wrap up to our discussions about agriculture water use, Utah Commissioner of Agriculture, Craig Buttars, joins us on the show to provide us with his insights and information about agriculture water use. Commissioner Buttars has many years of experience in both agricutulre as well as public policy and share the knowlege he has with us.…
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When it comes to the discussion about water conservation, much of the focus and often blame has been placed on one crop; alfalfa. Jokingly referred to as the A word, alfalfa is one of most commonly grown crops in the state of Utah and one of the most missunderstood. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matt Yost, Associate Department Head and Prof…
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Agriculture Water and Its Affects on Soil Health and the Environment
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Soil health is a key component to protecting our enviroment and food supply. Agriculture water use and farming play a key role in protecting Utah's soils. Joining us on this episode is UDAF Soil Health Program Manager, Tony Richards, to help explain the importance of agriculture water use and what Utah's farmers and ranchers are doing to improve th…
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Understanding Utah's water rights system and laws is imperative to understanding the larger water conversation. State Water Engineer, Teresa Wilhelmsen, joins us on this episode to help educate us on water law and water rights and how that affects water distribution in Utah.By Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
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Utah's farmers and ranchers are working hard to be part of the solution to save and protect Utah's water. Learn more about the Agricultural Water Optimization program provided by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) and how Utah's farmers and ranchers are saving water. Joining us on this episode is UDAF Conservation Division Director,…
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Agriculture water use has been a highly debated topic in Utah as well as other Western states that have been struggling with drought over the last several years. In this episode, we will take a deep dive into this topic to better understand how agriculture water use works, what the issues are surrounding the topic, and what agriculture can do to he…
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The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is excited to bring you a new podcast, AgTalk! Do you know where your food comes from or where it’s grown? Do we understand what our fellow Utahns who work in agriculture deal with on a daily basis? Agriculture is often talked about in the media and by government officials and state leaders, but do we tru…
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