The Iowa Ag Podcast

In the high-stakes world of modern agriculture, farmers face a relentless barrage of risks, from volatile markets and unpredictable weather to the ever-increasing costs of equipment and insurance. How can family farms, often operating on razor-thin margins, protect themselves against these uncertainties? This week, we dive deep into a powerful, yet often overlooked, tool that could improve how farmers manage risk and b...

Managing farmland has never been more complex—or more data-driven. In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, Peter Jaques sits down with Ron Dunker of Oaken.ag to discuss how technology is revolutionizing farm management. With a background in business development and a passion for connecting with people, Ron explains how Oaken.ag is helping farmers track leases, streamline operations, and improve efficiency through an in...

“Hey Hun, I’m going to run down to the local seafood market and get some fresh shrimp.” That isn’t a common saying in Iowa of all places… I mean you can get fresh shrimp in Iowa, but at what cost? Quality? Freshness? Can you really farm shrimp in Iowa? Jackson Kimley, founder and CEO of Midland Co, says yes—and he’s proving it with a revolutionary approach that’s shaking up the seafood industry. In this episode, we div...

How do venture capitalists decide which startups to fund? What does it take to build a $30 million investment fund from scratch? And why is Iowa a hotbed for agricultural innovation? In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, I sit down with Kaylee Williams, Investment Director of InnoVenture Iowa, to explore these questions and more. Kaylee shares her unconventional journey into venture capital, the lessons she’s learned...

Imagine stepping into one of the largest agricultural expos in the country, surrounded by cutting-edge innovation, seasoned industry leaders, and the next generation of ag pioneers. Now, picture the person leading this charge—someone who, just a few years ago, had never climbed into a combine. That’s Mark Hennessey, CEO of the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). In this episode, Mark shares his remarka...

On this episode of The Iowa Ag Podcast, I sit down with Yale Zhang, a serial entrepreneur whose journey took a surprising turn from human healthcare tech to revolutionizing livestock management. Initially developing sensors to monitor seniors in assisted living, Zhang's company, Seismi, struggled to gain traction—until an unexpected opportunity in animal health changed everything. Now, he's tackling one of the beef ind...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, Peter Jaques sits down with Mason Mead, a fifth-generation agriculturalist and Iowa State junior, to explore the dynamic shift happening in modern farming. Mason shares his journey from growing up in a family rooted in ag traditions to diving deep into cutting-edge technology like precision drone applications and autonomous tractors. Their conversation touches on how young profes...

Join Peter and Luke in Part II as they continue the discussion about John Deere. Last week was a history lesson on how we get to a point that the FTC "needs" to file a suit against the Big Green company John Deere & Co. Is it really needed? Was it political? The answer is a yes it seems from the general public. So now what? Listen in as we talk about the result to the big iron markets, how companies will control their ...

The FTC’s lawsuit against John Deere is shaking up the ag industry, challenging restrictions on repair tools and software. In this episode, intellectual property attorney Luke Mohrhauser joins host Peter Jaques to break down the legal battle, its impact on farmers, intellectual property rights, and what it means for software-controlled industries.

From the Gutenberg press to the DMCA, we trace the history ...

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast with Ryan Hoover, broker-owner of Weichert, Realtors - The 515 Agency in Ankeny and a third-generation farmer in Northwest Iowa. Ryan shares his journey from growing up on a family farm to managing 2,000 acres alongside his father and brother while building a thriving real estate business. He delves into the challenges of modern farming, from balancing family life to navigating ke...

In the latest episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host Peter Jaques sits down with Brian Anderson, an ag market specialist with Agri Finance Advisors in West Des Moines. Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for agriculture to the table, sharing insights on everything from crop insurance to cutting-edge tools like AgWizard, which helps farmers with break-even analysis and financial planning. As the agricultural ...

Labels such as "organic" and "sustainable," are confusing for consumers, can technology boost trust in purchases? Sarah Martello believes so. She's the co-founder of Transparency Wise, an innovative company dedicated to enhancing traceability within agricultural supply chai...

In an enlightening discussion with Bill, the CEO of Bion, the focus was drawn towards the innovative strides the company is making in the beef industry. With a career spanning over three decades in the meat sector, Bill's journey from pioneering case-ready meat at Fairbank Farms to leading Bion marks a significant shift towards sustainable beef production. Bion aims to revolutionize cattle feeding operations by address...

Hello everyone, I'm Peter Jaques, host of the podcast dedicated to agriculture, a field I've grown deeply passionate about. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Hoiberg, VP of R&D and Technical Sales at Calcium Products, thanks to Jordan's initiative. Our chat delved into the crucial yet often overlooked realm of soil pH management, unveiling Calcium Products' pioneering pelletization of limestone and g...

In a comprehensive real estate discussion today, my colleague Cody and I dissected the implications of the National Association of Realtors settlement on the industry and land values. Contrary to alarmist reports, we expect neither a sharp decrease in land values nor significant job losses for real estate professionals following the settlement. Emphasizing the need for greater transparency, especially regarding buyer's...

In this recent episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, I had the chance to connect with Paul Stevenson from Nationwide and Dan Neenan from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), thanks to a network that spans the agriculture industry. Our discussions illuminated the critical issue of grain bin safety and the importance of proper rescue protocols. 

Through Nationwide's Grain Bin Safety Week and NECAS's expert trainin...

Peter Jaques brings you the latest in market trends with a focus on agricultural developments. Last week, the grain markets saw mixed movements; corn prices dipped slightly while soybeans gained. In the livestock sector, there was a uniform rise in market prices. A significant update comes from Chevron's decision to shut down some biodiesel plants in Iowa and Wisconsin, attributing challenging marketing conditions to policies from ...

There has been a memorial fund in memory of Bill Northey. Please follow the link to contribute. The fund will be used to support scholarship(s) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at ISU to help continue Bill’s legacy in Iowa Ag – thanks for your willingness to help get the word out and possibly support as the fund gets closer to the level needed to start offering the scholarship.

Additionally, There are a few dates to ...

In today's episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, guest host Andy Peterson delves into significant agricultural developments within Iowa, spotlighting a pivotal decision by the EPA to authorize year-round sales of E15, a fuel blend with higher ethanol content derived from corn. This announcement has been met with mixed reactions from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, which praises the decision but voices frustration over its postponed en...