Episodes

  • Reframing Grain Marketing From Price Reaction to Risk Strategy

    Reframing Grain Marketing From Price Reaction to Risk Strategy
    Mar 20 2026
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts opens with a macroeconomic and crop market update, including the Federal Reserve's latest rate decision and current WASDE projections heading into planting season. She's joined by Jeff Kazin and Mike Rohlfsen, veteran grain traders with decades of experience at Cargill who now educate and consult with farmers across the U.S. and Canada. Together, they walk through five best practices for approaching grain marketing as a disciplined risk strategy rather than a reaction to price. The conversation covers how to think and function like a grain merchant—understanding futures efficiency, separating basis decisions, knowing your position, calculating carrying costs, and reading market structure to inform when to move grain.
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    42 mins
  • March DC Update: Strait of Hormuz Impacts, Farm Bill 2.0 Advances, and Record Crop Insurance Adoption

    March DC Update: Strait of Hormuz Impacts, Farm Bill 2.0 Advances, and Record Crop Insurance Adoption
    Mar 12 2026
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts, Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs, and Cole Patrick from Crop Insurance break down a volatile week in ag policy and economics as planting season approaches. The team covers how geopolitical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is rippling into fertilizer input costs, the latest Farm Bill 2.0 progress out of the House, tariff developments following a key Supreme Court ruling, and what surging crop insurance adoption signals about producer risk management heading into the growing season. The episode also touches on the Federal Reserve's outlook and a reminder about Bridge Assistance Program applications.
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    42 mins
  • Building Better Coverage for 2026: How Premium Subsidies Are Reshaping Crop Insurance Decisions

    Building Better Coverage for 2026: How Premium Subsidies Are Reshaping Crop Insurance Decisions
    Mar 5 2026
    Compeer's Director of Insurance Strategies, Cole Patrick, and Brandon Pezanoski, State Insurance Product Officer with Compeer, examine the 2026 crop insurance landscape as producers approach sales closing. Cole opens with agricultural outlook projections, explains the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, and breaks down how the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers significant premium savings across all coverage levels. Brandon reveals why premium costs for comparable coverage are down substantially from last year, with ECO and SCO endorsements now carrying dramatically increased premium support. Learn how producers can stack base coverage with SCO and ECO to approach breakeven costs, why ECO participation is projected to surge nationally, and how the elimination of the ARC-SCO conflict now allows producers to take both programs simultaneously. The episode emphasizes that while the cost of growing crops isn't declining, the cost of protecting those crops is now the lowest it's been in years.
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    32 mins
  • Building Farm Access for the Next Generation: Creative Transfer Strategies

    Building Farm Access for the Next Generation: Creative Transfer Strategies
    Feb 19 2026
    Compeer's VP of New Markets Paul Dietmann examines creative strategies for transferring farm assets to the next generation as land values become increasingly disconnected from agricultural production value. Learn how retiring farmers are structuring lease-to-own arrangements, converting equipment into depreciable rental facilities, and using self-directed IRAs for farmland investment. Paul highlights innovative public land programs and explains why understanding the difference between profitability and cashflow is essential for successful farm transfers.
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    42 mins
  • February DC Update: Farm Bill Markup, Appropriations Package, and Federal Reserve Chair Nomination

    February DC Update: Farm Bill Markup, Appropriations Package, and Federal Reserve Chair Nomination
    Feb 6 2026
    Compeer Ag Economist Megan Roberts joins Ben Duncanson from Legislative Affairs and Cole Patrick, Director of Insurance Product Support, to examine the accelerating agricultural policy landscape as Congress advances multiple priorities. Ben explains why President Trump's signing of the appropriations package keeps most government operations funded through September, why E15 year-round sales remain under consideration despite being excluded from the final package, and how updated EPA and Treasury guidance on the 45Z tax credit benefits domestically produced feedstocks. Cole breaks down the dramatic crop insurance premium savings from the One Big Beautiful Bill, with significantly increased subsidies for SCO and ECO making area-based coverage more affordable, why ARC and PLC signup has been delayed while FSA administers multiple assistance programs, and how producers can now take both ARC and SCO payments simultaneously before the March 15th deadline. Megan analyzes the soybean market's sharp surge following speculation about expanded China purchase commitments, why strong corn exports contrast with challenging soybean export dynamics, how E15 approval could increase domestic corn consumption, and President Trump's nomination of Kevin Walsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair.
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    24 mins
  • 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