Episodes

  • Farm Bill 2.0 Outlook: Congressional Timeline, WASDE Updates, and Tariff Authority

    Farm Bill 2.0 Outlook: Congressional Timeline, WASDE Updates, and Tariff Authority
    Jan 23 2026
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Vice President of Legislative Affairs Perry Aasness examine the congressional agriculture agenda as lawmakers navigate competing priorities in a midterm election year. Perry explains why Farm Bill 2.0 remains on hold while Congress works to pass final appropriations by the January 30th deadline, and why House Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson appears ready to introduce farm bill text within weeks rather than months. Learn why the narrow election year window means comprehensive farm legislation must advance in the first half of 2026 before campaign season intensifies, how the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program provides some relief but leaves gaps for specialty crop growers, and why bipartisan recognition of challenging agricultural economics is driving discussions of additional ad hoc assistance packages from both Senate and House leadership. Megan breaks down the January WASDE report's surprising market impact as record corn production caught traders off guard while soybean export estimates continue declining. Perry analyzes the Supreme Court case on presidential tariff authority that could reshape U.S. trade policy with a decision expected within weeks, and the 2026 USMCA review process where agriculture stakeholders are urging preservation of the trade framework with America's top export markets.
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    28 mins
  • Understanding Carbon Markets: Soil and Forestry Carbon Programs for Agricultural Landowners

    Understanding Carbon Markets: Soil and Forestry Carbon Programs for Agricultural Landowners
    Jan 8 2026
    Compeer Managing Director of New Markets Bryan Stanek and VP of Sustainability and Carbon Markets Dr. Anil Koirala break down the complex landscape of agricultural and forestry carbon markets to help landowners evaluate enrollment opportunities. Bryan introduces Compeer's educational focus on carbon marketplace development, while Anil explains the fundamental difference between compliance markets and voluntary carbon markets. Anil reveals why integrity challenges have created skepticism around carbon credits, examining high-profile cases of over-crediting and greenwashing that made both buyers and landowners cautious. Learn how groups like the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market and the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative are establishing core carbon principles to ensure credits represent real, additional, and verifiable improvements. The episode covers soil carbon sequestration eligibility based on cropping systems, soil types, practice history, and land control, why switching from full tillage to no-till may offer carbon credit upside while existing conservation practices limit new gains, and how forestry carbon programs differ across afforestation, avoided conversion, and improved forest management project types. Anil explains why most US forestry programs focus on improved forest management through extended harvest rotations and reduced thinning frequency, the critical questions landowners should ask developers about contract transferability and fixed versus variable carbon payments, and why Compeer launched its Carbon Access Program.
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    35 mins
  • Building an Agricultural Employer Brand: Retention Strategies from Recruiting to Exit Interviews

    Building an Agricultural Employer Brand: Retention Strategies from Recruiting to Exit Interviews
    Dec 19 2025
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Amanda Mosteller, Director of Talent Development at MRA, examine strategic workforce planning for agricultural operations through the lens of employer branding and employee experience. Megan opens with December macroeconomic updates including the Federal Reserve's third consecutive rate cut, the end of quantitative tightening on December 1st, and the December WASDE release. Amanda reveals why employees leave organizations, and it's not primarily about pay nine times out of ten. Learn how the average employee tenure has dropped to five years and why turnover is most common in the first year if recruiting and onboarding experiences are poor. The episode covers creating effective pre-boarding communication to engage candidates before day one, why orientation is just an event while onboarding is a 30-60-90 day process of building belonging, how pulse surveys and engagement conversations identify retention risks before employees resign, and why recognition and growth opportunities keep workers invested regardless of compensation. Amanda explains the critical difference between career ladder growth and skill development opportunities, why employees need at least one workplace friend to stay engaged, and how exit interviews from departing workers provide actionable insights to strengthen your employer brand. The discussion emphasizes that people leave leaders not logos, and how family-run agricultural operations should apply the same best practices to family and non-family employees alike to build consistency in their employer reputation.
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    55 mins
  • December DC Update: WASDE Release, Bridge Assistance Package, and Federal Reserve Rate Decisions

    December DC Update: WASDE Release, Bridge Assistance Package, and Federal Reserve Rate Decisions
    Dec 4 2025
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Vice President of Legislative Affairs Perry Aasness examine the agricultural policy landscape as Congress heads toward year-end recess. Megan breaks down the November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) release, and Perry explains the November 24th launch of Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Stage 2 signup for specialty crops, shallow losses, and quality losses from 2023-2024 disasters. SDRP is part of the $30 billion in ad hoc funding from last year’s American Relief Act. Learn why Secretary of Agriculture Rollins is likely expected to announce a new $10-15 billion bridge assistance package as soon as the following week to help producers navigate current margin pressures and tariff impacts. The episode covers why the U.S. Department of Agriculture minibus appropriation protects farm programs through September 2026 despite the January 30th continuing resolution deadline, how missing government data from the 43-day shutdown complicates the Federal Reserve's December 9-10 meeting on potential rate cuts, and why 2026 election year dynamics may accelerate legislative action in early months before midterm campaigns intensify.
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    19 mins
  • Consumer Trends Reshape Agriculture: Protein Demand and Gen Z Spending

    Consumer Trends Reshape Agriculture: Protein Demand and Gen Z Spending
    Nov 24 2025
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Anna Meyer, Senior Analyst with Directions Group, unpack the dramatic shifts in consumer behavior reshaping agricultural markets. Megan opens with the November WASDE release following the government shutdown, plus analysis of the Fed's second consecutive rate cut despite inflation remaining above the 2% target. Anna reveals why consumers feel financially stressed despite positive GDP growth. Learn how the protein craze has reached fever pitch with 71% of consumers actively trying to increase protein intake, fueled by social media influencers like Andrew Huberman and Peter Attia recommending triple the FDA's daily protein guidelines. The episode covers cottage cheese's unprecedented comeback as manufacturers struggle to meet demand, how Gen Z prioritizes discretionary spending over groceries through "affordable affluence," why food away from home now captures 58.9% of total food spending, and how the Make America Healthy Again movement is driving demand for whole milk and regenerative agricultural practices for personal health reasons rather than environmental sustainability. Anna explains why dairy has emerged as the big winner from protein trends, what the trade-down hierarchy means for livestock producers, and why marketplace demands for soil health and nutrient certification will continue regardless of federal regulatory rollbacks.
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    46 mins
  • Beyond Estate Plans: Building Family Harmony Through Succession Communication

    Beyond Estate Plans: Building Family Harmony Through Succession Communication
    Nov 20 2025
    Lisa Quist from Nationwide's Land As Your Legacy program explains the critical difference between estate planning and transition planning for agricultural operations, emphasizing that family harmony depends on communication rather than documentation alone. Through her personal experience transitioning into a seventh-generation family farm and the challenges that led to their 2012 auction, Lisa reveals why an estimated 70% of US farmland will change hands over the next 20 years and why only about 10% of farms have complete transition plans despite common assumptions. The episode covers implementing structured family meetings as the most transformative tool for succession success, creating family mission statements to guide difficult decisions, avoiding family gossip through transparent communication, and understanding why Generation One struggles to relinquish control after decades of sacrifice. Lisa provides specific strategies for making family meetings effective safe spaces, balancing the needs of on-farm and off-farm children, and treating agricultural operations like the multimillion-dollar corporations they are.
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    35 mins
  • DC Reopens: Farm Bill Extension, China Soybean Agreement, and Fed Rate Cuts

    DC Reopens: Farm Bill Extension, China Soybean Agreement, and Fed Rate Cuts
    Nov 13 2025
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs navigate the resolution of the 43-day government shutdown as the House votes to reopen federal operations on November 12th. Ben explains the Senate-negotiated deal that extends government funding through a continuing resolution until January 30th, 2026, and includes a critical mini-bus appropriating USDA and FDA through September 2026. Learn why a full-year Farm Bill extension was unexpectedly included in the package, pushing comprehensive Farm Bill 2.0 provisions into next year while extending the 2018 Farm Bill framework once again. Megan breaks down the landmark China trade agreement committing to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans before year-end and 25 million metric tons annually for three years starting in 2026. The episode covers what to expect from the delayed November WASDE report releasing November 14th, historical context on soybean acreage expansion since the 1930s compared to corn, and ongoing discussions about ad hoc assistance payments to bridge farmers through the margin squeeze until new Farm Bill provisions take effect. Ben and Megan also analyze the Federal Reserve's second consecutive rate cut of 25 basis points in October and the 60-40 split among experts on whether another cut will come at the December meeting despite persistent inflation above the 2% target.
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    34 mins
  • October Policy Update: Government Shutdown and Trade Tensions

    October Policy Update: Government Shutdown and Trade Tensions
    Oct 17 2025
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts and Vice President of Legislative Affairs Perry Aasness navigate the uncertainty facing agriculture as the federal government enters its third week of shutdown in mid-October. Megan opens with macroeconomic updates on another potential Fed rate cut and delayed USDA reports including the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, while Perry explains the standoff between House Republicans seeking a clean continuing resolution and Senate Democrats leveraging their position for concessions on healthcare and Medicaid funding. Learn which USDA services remain operational during the shutdown, including crop insurance and border inspections, versus what's closed, including Farm Service Agency offices unable to process farm program payments, new farm loans or CCC loans. The discussion covers why a comprehensive Farm Bill 2.0 remains stalled despite bipartisan committee support, and Compeer's priority of expanding rural community facility financing authority. Perry analyzes escalating China trade tensions following new tariff announcements and explains emerging details about potential agricultural assistance packages. The episode addresses narrow congressional majorities complicating negotiations, the Supreme Court hearing on presidential tariff authority, and what producers should watch as Congress attempts to navigate shutdown resolution, budget agreements, and farm policy modernization before the 2026 midterm election season begins.
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    47 mins