Farm Economy Pressures Mount as Corn Growers Look to Ethanol and Diversification

Farm Economy Pressures Mount as Corn Growers Look to Ethanol and Diversification

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, to talk about the economic and policy pressures facing corn farmers today. From ethanol policy and year-round E15 access to international trade opportunities, Mueller explains how expanding markets for corn could help support farm profitability during a period of tight margins. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/farm-economy-pressures-mount [https://iowapodcast.com/farm-economy-pressures-mount] 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ [https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/] 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq [https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq] The conversation also explores a topic Mueller believes is just as important as policy: communication. Farmers today wear many hats, from agronomists and mechanics to ambassadors for agriculture. Mueller shares why it's increasingly important for farmers to engage with consumers, lawmakers, and their communities to explain how modern agriculture works and why trust between farmers and the public matters more than ever. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome and Introductions 00:23 - Mark Mueller Background 01:19 - Diversifying with Dairy 02:30 - E15 Status and Stakes 05:47 - Consumer Choice and Myths 08:18 - Beyond Ethanol Demand 10:04 - Advocacy from Iowa to DC 14:18 - Exports and Global Markets 15:31 - India Opportunity and DDGs 17:37 - Trade Deals and USMCA 19:33 - Mexico GMO Corn Tensions 20:42 - GMO Safety Record 21:18 - Europe Trade Narratives 23:00 - Misinformation and Fear 24:32 - Explaining Modern Farming 26:09 - Trust and Farmer Outreach 28:04 - Global Standards and Premiums 30:18 - Farming Hats and Reality 32:11 - Engaging Politics and Policy 34:01 - Planting Season Stress 36:51 - Closing and Wrap Up

Is the Urban-Rural Divide Closing? FFA and Farmers Are Leading the Way

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Cody Messer during National FFA Week to talk about the realities facing farmers today and how policy, markets, and communication shape the future of agriculture. Cody shares insight from his own operation and involvement in farm advocacy, highlighting the importance of staying engaged beyond the fence row. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/future-farmers-of-america/ [https://iowapodcast.com/future-farmers-of-america/] 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ [https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/] 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq [https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq] The conversation explores how farmers navigate economic pressures, input costs, and regulatory conversations while also working to tell agriculture's story more effectively. Cody explains why relationships with consumers, lawmakers, and fellow producers are essential to keeping agriculture strong and why participation in industry organizations continues to matter. Chapters: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM] - Welcome and Introduction 00:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=35s] - State Officer Road Trip 02:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=166s] - Why FFA Week Matters 04:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=297s] - Youth as Ag Ambassadors 07:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=426s] - Bridging Urban and Rural 10:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=657s] - Cody Messer Origin Story 15:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=943s] - Sharing Your Ag Story 18:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=1106s] - What Excites Him Most 19:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJDHfhijCM&t=1193s] - Wrap Up and Conclusion

Diving into the Weeds (Literally!) in Farm Science and Communication

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Meaghan Anderson, agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, to discuss what farmers should be thinking about as the 2026 planting season approaches. From the lessons of last year's Southern Rust outbreak to hybrid selection and disease management planning, the conversation explores how growers can prepare for the unexpected. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/into-the-weeds 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq But the discussion goes beyond agronomic strategy. Meaghan shares what it's like to serve as a trusted advisor to farmers, balancing research-based recommendations with the realities of uncertain weather, volatile markets, and high-stakes decisions. The episode also touches on invasive species concerns, including Palmer Amaranth and Japanese knotweed (spoiler: it IS a weed), and the importance of communication between farmers and consumers in an increasingly complex agricultural landscape. Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome + Meet Extension Agronomist Megan Anderson 00:55 - Planting Season Mindset for 2026 02:07 - Southern Rust in 2025: Why It Hit Iowa and What to Watch Next 03:47 - Hybrid Resistance & Fungicide Strategy 05:13 - Decision Paralysis in Agronomy: How Extension Helps Farmers Choose with Confidence 08:30 - "60% Agronomist, 40% Therapist": Being a Trusted Advisor on Call 10:59 - Why Megan Chose Agronomy: Family Roots, Bob Hartzler, and the Battle Against Weeds 12:54 - Explaining Complex Ag Topics Simply: What Extension Communication Really Means 13:59 - Talking 'Weeds' in Plain Language 14:34 - Winter Meeting Season: ICM, Crop Advantage, and Planner U 16:50 - Pesticide Training & the Invasive Species Conference Circuit 17:59 - Invasive Spotlight: Japanese Knotweed vs. Teasel (and the 'Worst Weed' Bracket) 18:42 - New Threat on the Radar 19:40 - Palmer Amaranth Returns 22:55 - Heading Into Planting: Sharing Spring Guidance, Residue Hopes, and Field Prep 25:16 - Big-Picture Agronomy: Bridging Farmers, Consumers, and Tough Conversations 27:06 - Wrap-Up

Iowa Biofuels and the Fight for Market Certainty

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, to discuss Iowa's role as the leading biodiesel producer in the nation and the policy landscape shaping the industry. The conversation covers the fundamentals of biodiesel, how it fits alongside ethanol in the fuel market, and why it plays a critical role in agriculture, national security, and rural economic development. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/fundamentals-... [https://iowapodcast.com/fundamentals-of-biodiesel/] 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ [https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/] 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq [https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq] Grant helps break down the much-anticipated 45Z tax credit guidance, explaining how carbon intensity scoring, conservation practices, and production credits could impact farmers and biofuel producers. With uncertainty still surrounding USDA guidance and Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, the episode explores what farmers should be watching for and why biodiesel demand matters in a challenging farm economy. Chapters: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds] - Welcome and Introduction 00:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=54s] - Iowa's Biodiesel Industry: History, Growth & Feedstocks 02:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=127s] - Where Biodiesel Gets Used: Trucks, Rail, Ag, Construction & Marine 03:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=184s] - 45Z Tax Credit Explained 04:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=299s] - Farmer vs Producer Benefits 07:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=464s] - RINs, RFS & the Bigger Energy Policy Picture (National Security + Diversification) 2:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=727s] - Why 45Z Was Needed: Fixing Policy & Indirect Land-Use Penalties 13:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=789s] - Farm Economy Reality Check 14:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=842s] - What Farmers Should Do Now 15:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=912s] - Record keeping Tips: Document Practices Now to Avoid Future Headaches 16:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=972s] - Why Biodiesel Matters in Iowa 18:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=1091s] - What's Next for Biofuels 20:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=1229s] - Iowa Biodiesel Board's Message 21:47 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vza2MxTW8ds&t=1307s] - Wrap-Up: Guest Thanks and Podcast Sign-Off

Following a Soybean Around the World and What It Taught Me

In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger steps behind the microphone to reflect on one of the most ambitious and formative projects of his farm reporting career, his documentary, Journey of a Bean. The episode looks back on how a simple question about agriculture turned into a multi-year, self-funded storytelling effort that followed soybeans from the Midwest to South Korea. 💡 Find this show on your favorite player: https://iowapodcast.com/following-a-soybean [https://iowapodcast.com/following-a-soybean] 🗞️ Be first to get new interviews: https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/ [https://iowapodcast.com/subscribe/] 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq [https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq] David revisits the lessons learned along the way, from navigating logistics, travel, and production challenges to discovering how deeply agriculture is woven into everyday life. The episode highlights why curiosity, communication, and asking fundamental questions remain essential to telling agriculture's story and why Journey of a Bean still shapes how David approaches farm communication today. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:15 Reflecting on a Decade-Old Ambitious Project 0 1:18 The Genesis of 'Journey of a Bean' 03:22 Challenges and Triumphs in Documentary Filmmaking 08:03 The South Korea Experience 09:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections 12:37 Closing Remarks and Documentary Preview