Kernza: Pros and Cons

New research: A deep dive into Iowa's ag economy

Welcome to Episode 221 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz breaks down a new, 107-page report on Iowa's agricultural economy, including analysis of crops, livestock, trade, ag lending and more. The study – titled "2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising" – was published jointly by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University, the Iowa Bankers Association, and Iowa Farm Bureau. It was first released at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2026 Economic Summit, July 17 in Ankeny. Resources mentioned in this episode * Read the full report, 2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/New-joint-study-from-Iowa-Farm-Bureau-Iowa-State-University-Iowa-Bankers-Association-shows-pressure-increasing-across-ag-economy-concerns-on-impacts-beyond-farm-gate]. * Report authors: Miguel Carriquiry — Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Rabail Chandio — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; John M. Crespi — Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), and Professor of Economics, Iowa State University (co-editor); Jerome Dumortier — Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis; Amani Elobeid — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; Joohun Han — Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Chad Hart — Department of Economics and Extension, Iowa State University; Sunghun Lim — Department of Economics, Iowa State University; Alejandro Plastina — Director, Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Christopher C. Pudenz — Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (co-editor)

Why young Iowans are 'beefing up' with animal-based proteins

Welcome to Episode 220 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we explore why young Iowa adults are increasing their consumption of animal-based proteins and other findings from the 2026 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index ® – an annual survey of Iowa grocery shoppers conducted by The Harris Poll. We also share new data from EPA and Iowa State University demonstrating the progress Iowa's farmers are making in protecting water quality here in Iowa and down in the Gulf of America. Resources mentioned in this episode * Read more highlights from the 2026 Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Index®. [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/New-Iowa-Farm-Bureau-Food-Farm-Index-shows-Iowa-shoppers-are-seeking-local-directfromfarmer-animal-proteins] * Read EPA's report on the reduction of nitrogen flowing into the Gulf of America [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/Midwest-states-surpass-interim-nitrogen-reduction-target-for-Gulf-hypoxia]. * Learn more about the Iowa Department of Agriculture's new cover crop program [https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/greater-dsm-watershed-program] for counties north of Des Moines. * Check out the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance Conservation Compass [https://www.iaagwater.org/conservation-compass/] tool. * Learn more about Iowa's conservation progress at ConservationCountsIowa.com [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/conservation-counts].

Meet the Farm Bureau member turning food waste, manure and other organic matter into fertilizer for farmers

Welcome to Episode 219 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we discuss the farm economy with Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz and meet a Harrison County farmer and Farm Bureau member who's turning food waste, yard waste, manure and other organic matter into natural fertilizer for farmers. Resources mentioned in this episode * Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's 2026 Economic Summit [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Economic-Summit], July 17 in Ankeny. * Learn more about Farm Bureau member Abe Sandquist [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/Rebuilding-the-nutrient-cycle] and his company, Natural Fertilizer Services [https://naturalfertilizerservices.com/]. * Join us in celebrating America's 250th birthday and the roots of our freedom [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWOtsZkkkof/]!

Why Iowa's swans are thriving and how DNR monitors our water

Welcome to Episode 218 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we dip into water quality with two DNR experts. Water quality resource coordinator Adam Schnieders discusses Iowa DNR's extensive – and growing – water quality monitoring capabilities. And avian ecologist Anna Buckardt Thomas shares how Iowa's trumpeter swans are making a remarkable comeback. Resources mentioned in this episode * DNR water quality monitoring sites: AQuIA public information portal [https://programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia/], BioNet database [https://programs.iowadnr.gov/bionet/], ADBNet [https://programs.iowadnr.gov/adbnet/] * Learn more about Iowa's conservation progress on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy [https://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/] site and at ConservationCountsIowa.com [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/conservation-counts].

Kernza: Pros and Cons

Welcome to Episode 217 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we talk with a central Iowa corn and soybean farmer who's experimenting with a unique perennial grain: Kernza. Later in the episode, Mykayla Hagaman of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium explains how Iowa has grown its monarch habitat by more than 10x in just 5 years, while sharing tips for farmers to successfully add pollinator habitat to their fields. Resources mentioned in this episode * Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's Economic Summit [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Economic-Summit]. * Learn more about Kernza [https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/kernza/]. * Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau's Grow Your Future Award. [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Farmer-Resources/Farm-Bureau-Leaders/Grow-Your-Future-Award] * Learn more about establishing monarch habitat through the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. [https://monarch.ent.iastate.edu/] * Learn about funding opportunities for monarch habitat: ISU Natural Resources Stewardship [https://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/natural-resources-stewardship], FSA CRP [https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/conservation/conservation-reserve-program], NRCS EQIP [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/environmental-quality-incentives-program], NRCS Ag Conservation Easement Program [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/agricultural-conservation-easement-program/iowa/agricultural-conservation], NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/conservation-stewardship-program/iowa/conservation-stewardship-program-iowa], IDALS cost share [https://costshare.iowaagriculture.gov/], DNR REAP [https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/resource-enhancement-protection-reap] * Register for Iowa Farm Bureau's immersive, two-day farm succession planning workshop [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Take-Root/Real-Talk-to-Real-Timelines-A-Take-Root-Immersive-Farm-Succession-Workshop]. * Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau's Market Study Tour of India [https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Market-Study-Tour].