Ambassador Kip Tom served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 2019-2020. As a seventh generation farmer, Kip has worked tirelessly as a voice for farmers in the U.S. and around the globe and is a strong advocate for technological advances in agriculture. In this episode we discuss Kip’s journey from farm boy to becoming an active influencer of ag policy in the U.S. and abroad. Listen in to hear his take on the threats facing agriculture and the need for his fellow farmers to make their voices heard by policymakers. Despite challenges facing farmers, Kip’s optimism about the future of ag shines brightly through.

Congressman Brad Finstad was elected to Congress in a special election on August 9, 2022, and was sworn in three days later with his family by his side as he took the Oath of Office to proudly represent Minnesota’s First District. Brad is a fourth-generation farmer and resident of the New Ulm area. He and his wife, Jackie, met on the school bus in second grade and they are now the proud parents of seven children. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agriculture Education and an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development, Brad and Jackie now operate an agriculture business in New Ulm while working alongside extended family to run their generational family farm. Brad is proud to have served as State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota where he worked to support infrastructure improvements, business development, homeownership, community services such as schools, public safety, health care, and high-speed internet access in rural areas. He previously served three terms in the Minnesota Legislature. In 2017, he was appointed Minnesota’s State Director of USDA Rural Development and held executive positions with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and the Center for Rural Policy and Development. In this episode we discuss the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, EPA’s Waters of the US rule, and the impact that farmers can have on governmental policy. You can learn more about Congressman Finstad at his official website: https://finstad.house.gov/ or on social media including Twitter: @RepFinstad.

Dr. Donald Ort is is the Robert Emerson Professor in Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois and Deputy Director of the RIPE (Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency) project.  His research seeks to understand and improve plant growth and photosynthetic performance in changing environmental conditions, such as increasing CO2 temperature and drought.  Don earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and his doctorate in plant biochemistry from Michigan State University. He has served as the president of the American Society of Plant Biologists, the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, and the International Association of Plant Physiology. He also served as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology and is an associate editor of Annual Review of Plant Biology. Don has received numerous awards and recognitions, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and being named one of Thomson Reuters’ Most Influential Scientific Minds. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers in journals that include Science. In this episode we discuss Dr. Ort's research and how it impacts crop production.  You can learn more about RIPE at https://ripe.illinois.edu/.  Dr. Ort is also involved with the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI): https://cabbi.bio/ and Renewable Oil Generated with Ultra-productive Energycane (ROGUE): https://rogue.illinois.edu/.

Stu Ellis has been a well-known agricultural communicator in Illinois for 50 years.  He began as the farm broadcaster at WSOY in Decatur and expanded his service to corn belt farmers through radio, television, newspapers, newsletters, and the Internet.  Listen to hear Stu's story - from growing up on the farm, attending college, and through a long, distinguished, and impactful career "helping farmers make money and stay out of jail." Although he has reached the point in his career at which many people would consider retirement, Stu is busier than ever.  He generates ag related content for the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers, and other organizations and also hosts a daily farm report on WITY radio.  You can read his weekly column in the Decatur Herald and Review.  For the last 20 years, he has published the Cornbelt Update weekly newsletter which is available through a variety of sources.  Follow Stu on Twitter: @farmgatemedia and subscribe to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@user-gq2ql5im8o/videos.

Joni Stepanov's long career in agriculture has culminated in her current role as horticulture consultant at AmplifiedAg.  In this position, she conducts research to determine how to best manage crops in a completely controlled environment.  Listen in to learn about her research.  For a visualization of the concepts discussed in this podcast, check out the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAhefhLAolQ.  To learn more about this topic, listen to our previous episode with Don Taylor, CEO of AmplifiedAg. To learn more about AmplifiedAg, visit their website: https://amplifiedaginc.com/.  You can follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter: @AmplifiedAgInc.  Find Vertical Roots products in select grocery stores and follow them on Twitter: @VerticalRoots. You can also interact with Joni on LinkedIn.

The mission of AmplifiedAg is to provide global access to safe food, by growing the indoor agriculture category through innovation, experience, and partnership.  In this episode, we speak with CEO Don Taylor about how the company is achieving this mission.  Listen to learn how a unit of land can produce over 100X the amount of food compared to traditional outdoor methods by taking advantage of a controlled environment.  Don explains how this approach can partner with and complement traditional growing methods. To learn more about AmplifiedAg, visit their website: https://amplifiedaginc.com/.  You can follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter: @AmplifiedAgInc.  Find Vertical Roots products in select grocery stores and follow them on Twitter: @VerticalRoots. You can also interact with Don on LinkedIn.

Each year farmers are faced with a unique set of challenges, and 2022 was no exception.  In this episode, Preston and Jason recap the 2022 growing season and discuss the future of farming.  For added context to the discussion, check out the following episodes: Episode 42: Julie Borlaug - Dr. Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution Episode 56: Matt Helm - New Tools in the Battle Against Tar Spot of Corn Episode 64: Megan Dwyer - Managing Fertilizer Costs with Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategies Episode 66: The Latest Tool in the Battle Against Corn Rootworm - SmartStax Pro® Episode 68: Paul Mitchell - The Economics of Farming in a Volatile Market Environment Preston and Jason appreciate feedback from and enjoy interacting with their audience.  Follow the Focus on Agriculture Podcast on Twitter: @Focus_on_Ag.

Dr. Jayson Lusk is an ag economist at Purdue University, where he is a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.  Dr. Lusk studies what we eat and why we eat it.  He is the author of several books, including his latest, Unnaturally Delicious: How Science and Technology are Serving up Super Foods to Save the World.  In this episode, we discuss his book, which discusses the role of innovation in modern food production in the context of history. You can learn more about Dr. Lusk's work at: www.jaysonlusk.com.  Monthly survey results about consumer attitudes toward food and agricultural issues can be found at the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS): https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/data-resources/consumer-food-insights/.  You can also follow Dr. Lusk on Twitter: @jaysonlusk.  Pick up your copy on Amazon or wherever you get your books.

Duane Simpson is Vice President, Head of North America Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science.  He leads the company's Policy & Advocacy and Industry Affairs teams to bring farmer and value chain perspective to agricultural policy making in North America and around the globe.  Duane is passionate about helping farmers and agribusinesses share their voices in the current political landscape. In this episode, we discuss the role of lobbyists in the public policy development process, the inner workings of agencies like EPA and USDA, and the impacts of current policy such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.  Listen in for advice from Duane on how farmers can advocate for positive ag policy.  Duane can be reached through email at duane.simpson@bayer.com.

Bringing a new pesticide to market involves years of research and huge capital investments.  As environmental toxicologists with Bayer Crop Science, Dr. Tim Fredricks and Dr. Dan Schmehl study the effects of these products on the environment to ensure that adverse effects are minimized.  In this episode we discuss the process of evaluating new crop protection products with greater specificity to control target pests while minimizing harm to other organisms. You can learn more about Bayer for Biodiversity, an initiative to help farmers and others preserve biodiversity at the following website: http://go.bayer.com/biodiversity.

Tara Bohnert is a business development manager with Nedap Livestock Management, a Netherlands-based company that provides monitoring equipment for pigs and dairy cattle.  In this episode we learn about the data that is collected and how it is used to improve farmer profitability as well as animal welfare.  We also discuss the evolution of the dairy industry over the past century and what the future holds. To learn more about this topic, you can visit Nedap's website: https://www.nedap-livestockmanagement.com/ or follow them on Twitter: @NedapLivestock and facebook: @NedapDairyFarming.

Sri Lanka has been in the news recently due to an economic crisis leading to political instability.  One of the factors behind the civil unrest is spiking food prices caused in part by governmental policy eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and crop protection products.  In this episode, we once again chat with Dr. Stuart Smith, professor in ag and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan about the situation in Sri Lanka and other topics related to modern agriculture. As an economist, Dr. Smith researches the socioeconomic impacts of innovation in agriculture.  You can learn more about his research through his blog, SAIFood (Sustainable Agricultural Innovations and Food) at saifood.ca or contact him directly though email: stuart.smyth@usask.ca.  Dr. Smyth also advocates for modern ag on Twitter (@stuartsmyth66).  For more from Dr. Smyth, check out our January 2020 conversation: Episode 15: Stuart Smyth - Benefits of GMO Technology to Farmers and Consumers.

Diseases attacking agricultural crops cause millions of bushels of yield loss for farmers across the United States each year.  Farmers battle these diseases in several ways including the use of resistant varieties and hybrids, crop rotation, and fungicides.  To complicate things, new diseases arise from time to time.  One example is Tar Spot, which has become a major yield robber in Midwestern corn fields over the past several years.  In this episode, Dr. Randy Myers from Bayer Crop Science explains how companies develop new tools that farmers can use to protect their crops. To learn more about fungicides available to growers of various crops, please visit: http://www.cropscience.bayer.us/products/fungicides.

Dr. Jayson Lusk is an ag economist at Purdue University, where he is a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.  Dr. Lusk studies what we eat and why we eat it.  He is the author of several books, including his latest, Unnaturally Delicious: How Science and Technology are Serving up Super Foods to Save the World.  In this episode, we discuss the results of consumer surveys about food, and how farmers can positively impact consumer perceptions. You can learn more about Dr. Lusk's work at: www.jaysonlusk.com.  Monthly survey results about consumer attitudes toward food and agricultural issues can be found at the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS): https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/data-resources/consumer-food-insights/.  You can also follow Dr. Lusk on Twitter: @jaysonlusk.

Today we wrap up our series on ag tech with a conversation with Dr. German Bollero.  Dr. Bollero is currently Interim Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, & Environmental Sciences and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Illinois.  In this discussion, he describes exciting new opportunities for students to combine their passions for computer science and agriculture. Learn more about the University of Illinois College of ACES at aces.illinois.edu or on Twitter @ACESIllinois.  More information about the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering can be found at abe.illinois.edu or on Twitter @IllinoisABE.  To learn more about research into developing tools that can communicate with plants, please visit: https://www.igb.illinois.edu/taxonomy/term/1718.

Our Podcast series on the Past, Present, and Future of Ag Tech continues with returning guest Jack Marck, who is managing director of the Illinois Agtech Accelerator.  Located at the University of Illinois Research Park, this program provides mentoring, funding, and office space for Agtech startups.  In today's conversation, we discuss the opportunities for new technologies to improve farmers' operations and strengthen the food supply chain.  You can contact Jack through email at jack@gener8tor.com. To learn more about the Illinois Agtech Accelerator program, please visit www.gener8tor.com/investment-accelerators/illinois-agtech

Scott Spal is a scientist with The Climate Corporation.  In his current role, he investigates how enhancements to Climate FieldView can improve farmer profitability, as well as transparency and sustainability in agriculture.  Listen to this episode to learn how farmers benefit from the massive amounts of data that they collect in their fields. To learn more about The Climate Corporation, please visit www.climate.com.

Happy 3rd anniversary to the Focus on Agriculture Podcast.  In this brief update, we discuss the 5 most downloaded episodes from the past year.  Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Dr. Mike Canady is a scientist with a background in plant breeding who is currently director of agronomy for specialty crops at Verdesian Life Sciences.  In this conversation, we learn about how farmers can help plants use nutrients more efficiently.  We also discuss the use of biostimulants to enhance plant production. To learn more about these types of products, you can visit the Verdesian Life Sciences website at http://vlsci.com/ or contact Mike directly: utcanady@gmail.com.

Dr. Sarah Klopatek is a sustainability and cattle systems scientist at UC Davis.  As a scientist, she explains why it is often difficult to reduce complex questions to a simple answer, leading to her statement, "myopia is the death of sustainability."  Her most recent publication explores the differences in nutritional profiles in beef from cattle raised in a variety of grain- and grass-fed systems.  In our fascinating conversation she explains these differences, as well as the environmental impact of the production systems. To learn more about Dr. K's work, you can follow her on Twitter @DrBeefBabe or connect on LinkedIn.