People In The Know

Orion Samuelson is known by more farmers and city dwellers than any farm broadcaster in the last one hundred years of radio and television.  He is doing well and passes this milestone with dignity and grace.  

I do not talk directly to him but a few excerpts of his voice are heard.  I mainly focus on what he has meant to the people of Chicago and all farmers and ranchers in the United States.

A few twists and turns in his career sh...

Rich Balvanz and I started our farm broadcasting careers within two months of each other, back in 1974.  He spent most of his broadcasting career at WMT Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.   

He left broadcasting and founded a Farm Commodities Company as the new century began and later became an Ordained Lutheran Minister.  He just retired from that vocation.

We talk about the ups and downs in agriculture, our good and challenging experie...

Iowa is a very productive state.  It ranks second to California in total gross sales of agricultural products.  I spoke with Greg Thiessen, USDA State Statistician for Iowa.  We examine the number of farms, farmers, expansion of broadband, increase in use of cover crops, technology and other measures.

They all reveal that farming is big business in Iowa but conducted mostly by family units who attempt to keep the farm in the family...

Gene is "Mr Spreadsheet" when he looks at his farming operation.  He recites real numbers from their farm for 2023 and some averages from 2010 to this year.  

He also loves the land and greatly appreciates people who farm it.

We talk winter, livestock, 2023 corn and soybean crops, grain marketing, grain prices along with crop rent and wind towers.

Not bad for 27 minutes.

Thanks for listening       let me know what you think    kenr...

Once again, I am honored to offer this interview with Ambassador Kenneth Quinn.  He moves that past history of agricultural science to the future as he describes his work in Vietnam in the 1960's and praises Dr. Norman Bourlaug's work through his long life.  

Not political, not even philosophical, this discussion takes the lessons of the past and offers them as solutions to problems of the present and challenges of the future.

Road...

Cuba has been a pariah in the world of nations since the Cuban missile crisis of the early 1960's.  There are many reasons why Cuba has not been released from trade sanctions but none of them seem to be worth the anger from the Ex Patriot Cuban Community in the United States or special interests who lobby Congress.

Chuck Offenberger has a long history as a journalist and as a traveler.  He visited the island nation a few years ago ...

The "Cow that stole Christmas" is well remembered by my guests.  Ms. Harrison was Communications Director for US Ag Secretary, Ann Veneman.  Peter Shinn was the News Manager for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

We talk through the events that calmed down the public and informed livestock producers of the threat of BSE in their food and economic damage to the marketplace.  Alisa cites the personal emotions of the ranch...

Jim Ross was a farm news broadcaster when I first met him in the 1970's.  He was on KMA Radio in Southwest Iowa.

Jim was given up for adoption as an infant.  He was adopted by the Lightfoot family and given his new name:  Jim Ross Lightfoot. 

He became a U.S. Congressman from Iowa in 1984 and served a full decade in the House of Representatives.

We talk of his life experiences.  Jim tells some amazing true stories.  Enjoy.

His Book...

Captain Dustin Smith knows sharks.  He, and his customers, fish in the surf off the east coast of Florida.  Day or night, the expeditions into the Atlantic Ocean, take place on shore.  The sharks are tagged and released.  Captain Dustin is concerned about the welfare of sharks and people.  He also dispels some myths about these scary sea creatures.  I was brave enough to ask him questions.  

A remarkable man and wife team who are r...

A dynamic Kansas Woman has been leading the effort to normalize Hemp as a crop that farmers may grow as an alternative to wheat and other traditional plantings.  Melissa Nelson-Baldwin is a Human Dynamo on a mission.  She farms with her husband and brother in law.  Together, they are this year's Kansas Farm Bureau, Farm Family of the Year.  (that is not an easy title to win)

An update on growing and processing hemp.  It's potential...

The National Weather Service is viewed with great respect by the public and meteorologists in general.  However, the NWS has failed to forecast recent tornadoes and even snow storms.  What's wrong!

Mike Smith is a highly experienced meteorologist who has written a book that chronicled the work of the service.  He is now questioning the actions of the agency and proposes forming a National (Natural) Disaster Review Board, to investi...

Russ Green spent his first career in leadership of farm machinery companies: CNH, AGCO, CLAAS.  Now he is devoting himself to preparing young people to lead.  

Russ through MACKAYBEN has developed a network of “the next generation of ag leaders;” a program directed at maximizing the leadership potential of the next generation millennials who have accepted management roles in their existing businesses. Green emphasized that “Experie...