RFK Jr. as head of Health and Human Services will oversee the Food and Drug Administration and will have a role in setting food policy in the United States. Will RFK “Un-Fauci” our food system? And what exactly is meant by “Fauci’d,” you ask? When a bureaucrat uses fraudulent science to achieve p...

The age-old debate: is a potato a vegetable? Short answer: yes. But if you ask the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, maybe not. Plus we shipped our stocker cattle off the ranch so that requires gathering, sorting and the ever-dreaded (by me) counting.

Beginning in the 1960s, Americans were told of the evils of saturated fat. From the 1970s through the ’90s, “low fat” was a can’t miss marketing slogan. Abstaining from meat, eggs, butter, and milk would keep us thin and stave off heart attacks, we were told. Grains and fiber were the answer for ...

A new survey from Purdue highlights the awareness and value of regenerative ag with grocery shoppers - let's talk about it. Plus we are officially in the best season of the year on the ranch - calving season!

Are livestock producers unfairly targeted by climate activists for their environmental impact? Do consumers face unjust guilt trips over their meat, milk, and egg choices? In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, we dive into the debate surrounding livestock and greenhouse gas emissions.

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In this episode, we dive into the world of pulses—edible seeds from the legume family, including lentils, dry beans, and chickpeas (also known as Garbanzo beans). Discover why pulses are becoming a crucial part of the food industry, driven by rising consumer demand for plant-based protein, increa...

Imagine a future with more environmental regulation, a fusion of regenerative and conventional farming practices, tastier food that’s still affordable, fewer farmland acres — especially of corn and soy — with more acres of oddball crops like sorghum. These are just a few of Damian Mason’s BIG tho...

41.9% of Americans are obese. Most of these people are not on obesity drugs. Yet. But that day is coming according to Damian Mason, and when it does Agriculture is going to — for the first time ever — face a marketplace of declining per-person caloric consumption. Todd Thurman joins Damian in thi...

The Smedbergs, nestled in Beecher, IL, cultivate a vibrant tapestry of organic produce, fragrant blooms, and livestock on their farm. Rooted deeply in their community, they champion a philosophy centered around empowering individuals to make mindful choices for their well-being through nourishing...

We finally took the stockers to grass in late spring and turned them out on acres and acres of green grass - I implored them to "make good choices" as well. But more importantly, Jeff Bezos is wasting his money again and I'm just tired of the "magical cure-all" mindset around faux meat. Tune in f...

The demographics are actually quite staggering — we are getting old, fast. Which means our customer’s dietary choices and demands are changing. Is Agriculture changing with its customers? What about the food inflation situation, with grocery prices up 25% since 2020? Todd Thurman, of Swine Insigh...

For years Agriculture has prioritized production, transport-ability, appearance, and efficiency in the food we make. But what about nutrients? Did nutrient content of food get relegated to the back seat? Somewhat, and that’s changing, as consumers demand tastier, more nutritious food. University ...

Fruits and vegetables have been bred over the past half century for the primary objective of transportability and shelf life. The tradeoff: taste and nutrient density. As marketplaces mature and consumers are afforded increasing food options in the produce section, might a play toward taste, nutr...

Are you a fan of transparency? You'll love this episode. Are you an advocate for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling? You might like this episode, but I'm not sure. Guess you'll just have to watch to find out where you stand!

A full three quarters of farmworkers in the U.S. are migrants and many are here illegally. Add in food service, meat processing, and the ancillary industries that feed the food business and you’re talking about a LOT of foreign-born workers who work to put food on America’s table. Is the migrant ...

As a fall calving herd, we AI breed our cows and place embryos in late November. See a snippet of this process and also learn more about what shoppers consider "important" when it comes to purchasing beef.

Bake the perfect frosted sugar cookies for Santa this holiday season! Whip up a batch of these soft and buttery cookies, and let the little ones unleash their creativity as they decorate with colorful sprinkles, icing, holiday cheer, and, of course, eyeballs! Simple, sweet, and full of fun, these...

Currently, pork profitability (or lack thereof) has certain observers comparing the industry to the late ’90’s when pork was in turmoil. It was that era, in fact, that set the stage for today’s (mostly) vertically integrated hog production model using contact grower farmers. Adam Krause, a contra...

After several months, the stockers are leaving our ranch! Watch as we gather and sort them for the last time and we load them out for their new homes. I also reflect on the U.S. food supply and why we should be grateful for our choices.

The chasm between beef and dairy is being bridged as the two industries fuse in a trend that could be good for beef, dairy, consumers, the marketplace, and maybe the environment. The advent of sex-specific semen made a whole lot of dairy cow uteruses available. Meanwhile the beef industry needed ...

What would a day on the ranch be without something breaking down or causing a headache? And what would plant-based food companies be without a little bit of drama?! Find out the latest squall between faux meat production, labeling regulations and consumers in this week's commentary.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who makes the wickedest cocktails of them all? Grab your brooms and gather your coven, because tonight, our cauldron is bubbling with my Wicked Apple Martini! With just a few ingredients, it's as easy to make as it is delightful to sip, making it the perfect potion for...

Summertime is prime time for flies so we are fly tagging our yearlings and talking about the shameful problem of food waste in the United States.

Let’s get fancy. Having your girlfriends over for lunch? Impress the heck out of them with this show stopper of a meal. Light and airy, yet rich and complex this souffle most certainly delivers the wow factor.

Let’s make souffle. Wait! Where are you going?! Souffles sound pretentious and incred...