What determines the nutrient value of meat? Dr. Stephan Van Vliet of Utah State University joins Damian Mason and Iowa farmer Kelly Garrett to explore how soil health, animal diet, and agricultural practices influence the nutritional profile of beef. Discover why not all steaks are created equal,...

What does the next generation of agricultural professionals need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving industry? In this milestone 400th episode of The Business of Agriculture Podcast, Damian Mason is joined by Tanner Winterhof and Corey Hillebo from Farm4Profit to share critical insights for yo...

With U.S. corn production projected to hit record highs in 2025, demand questions loom. NCGA CEO Neil Caskey joins Damian Mason to explore the outlook for corn exports, ethanol markets, and the push for sustainable aviation fuel. With domestic livestock numbers down, will global trade and green e...

America’s health challenges are increasingly linked to diet, nutrition, and widespread confusion about what truly constitutes healthy food. As consumers face a constant barrage of conflicting information about their groceries, the roles of food producers, processors, and the broader agricultural ...

What happens when tech billionaires attempt to disrupt agriculture without understanding its fundamentals? In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by agtech experts Rhishi Pethe and Walt Duflock to analyze high-profile failures in agricultural innovation—highlighting ventures like Larry Ellison’s...

The good news: Private equity investors are interested in investing in the Business of Agriculture. The bad news: The money is not flowing into fake meat or controlled environment Ag businesses. What is hot? Premium dairy, pet food, and anything fermented. Why? Because those categories offer priv...

“The next day after a lightning storm, it’s always greener. That term is called green lightning and that’s what we set out to do.” So says Travis Potter, founder of Green Lightning, a company with a product allowing farmers to make their own nitrogen at a much -reduced price than retail. The oth...

Agricultural equipment is among the largest capital investments on American farms—yet much of it sits idle for most of the year. With rising interest rates and pressure on farm income, optimizing machinery utilization is more important than ever.

In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by Martyn...

What if free trade isn't really free? Tariffs are a distortion to free market economics. The only problem: We don’t have a free market economy as countries prop up and protect their native industries with restrictive rules on — or even entirely against — imports. In this episode of The Business...

Global trade is undergoing a fundamental transformation. After decades of increasing globalization, countries are pivoting toward protectionist policies to safeguard domestic industries. In this episode, international agribusiness consultant Todd Thurman joins Damian Mason to explore the resurgen...

Is farmland the ultimate investment? In this insightful episode, Damian sits down with Robert Andjelic, Canada’s largest private farmland owner, to explore the future of agricultural real estate. Despite having no farming background, Robert now owns 250,000 acres of prime Canadian farmland—mostly...

The agriculture industry is at a turning point, with nearly two-thirds of U.S. farmers over 55 and many surpassing 65. As farming faces massive capital demands and generational shifts, what does the future hold? Adam Lasch, a self-made, first-generation Wisconsin farmer, joins Damian to explore t...

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, his longstanding commitment to organic food is taking center stage. A vocal advocate for transforming the American food system, RFK Jr. believes organic agriculture could be the key to solving major health issues—...

In today’s low-margin farming environment, efficiency is everything. From maximizing nutrient availability to reducing inputs while increasing yields, growers are under pressure to do more with less. That’s where startups like NewFields Ag come in. This innovative company is tackling the challeng...

Fermented foods are trending, and sauerkraut is having a moment! In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, host Damian Mason dives deep into the world of fermentation with Jorge Azevedo, CEO of Fermented Food Holdings. They discuss why ultra-processed foods are falling out of favor, the gro...

For years, money flowed into Ag tech—until the tap ran dry. But there’s one area still attracting outside investment: farmland. Ben Gordon and Brian Grundtner from Fractal join Damian to discuss the evolving landscape of capital in agriculture. Their company is pioneering a model where investor f...

From FarmCon 2025, Damian Mason sits down with three experts to tackle the biggest issues in American agriculture: trade, tariffs, biofuel, markets, Ag Tech, and the Farm Bill.

Kevin Van Trump of the Van Trump Report dives into global agriculture markets and the key drivers of change. Roland Fum...

How do farmers feel when misinformation about agriculture takes center stage? Dennis Bulani knows firsthand.

After a conference speaker delivered a factually flawed tirade against modern farming, Dennis was inspired to write What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food.

In this episode, Dennis ...

Is agriculture ready to pivot from maximizing yields to prioritizing nutrient-rich, health-focused food production? Join Damian in a thought-provoking discussion with Iowa farmer and Ag entrepreneur Kelly Garrett and Ag venture capitalist Carter Williams. Explore the future of farming as surpluse...

Protein is the hottest buzzword in food and diet trends—but will it stay that way?

Damian Mason and RaboResearch’s Nicholas Fereday explore the booming demand for dietary protein and its impact on agriculture, from animal-based production to plant-based alternatives.

Learn how "protein-enhanc...

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could become a game-changer for production agriculture, driving a surge in demand for corn and soybeans—two crops currently facing significant oversupply challenges. But will SAF truly take off? What policies, regulations, and incentives are necessary to make this ...

Just before Christmas 2024, the federal government unveiled a $31 billion aid package for American farmers—$10 billion in direct payments and $21 billion in disaster relief for the past two years. But here’s the twist: even more funding might be on the horizon. In this episode, Damian Mason is jo...

Chris Barron has weathered several Ag downturns as an Iowa farmer. He’s also helped hundreds of farming operations succeed despite farm economy downturns as an Ag consultant with his company, Ag View Solutions. Chris joins Damian Mason to discuss the Business of Agriculture at the farm level, lay...

American consumption of beef — contrary to predictions otherwise — has held up amazingly well, despite beef prices outpacing the rate of general food inflation. 85% of that beef is processed by the “Big 4” packers. Looking ahead, what changes are coming for beef? Will smaller meat processors, bac...