Iowa Ag Podcast
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Farm Economy Pressures Mount as Corn Growers Look to Ethanol and Diversification
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger speaks with Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, about the challenges and opportunities shaping the corn industry in Iowa. Mueller begins by sharing his farming background in northeast Iowa, where he raises corn and soybeans, mentioning a close relationship he has…
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Future Farmers of America Realize Farming Today Extends Far Beyond the Field
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger speaks with Cody Messer during National FFA Week about the intersection of farming, policy, and advocacy. Drawing from his experience as a producer and industry leader, Cody explains how modern farmers must balance production decisions with economic realities and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.…
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Diving into the Weeds With Meaghan Anderson in Farm Science and Communication
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger speaks with Meaghan Anderson, agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, about preparing for the 2026 growing season and the broader challenges facing and science of crop production in Iowa. As winter meetings wrap up and planting approaches, Meaghan reflects on lessons from…
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Iowa Biofuels and the Fight for Market Certainty
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger speaks with Grant Kimberley, Executive Director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, about the current state of Iowa’s biodiesel industry and the evolving federal policies that influence it. Grant outlines Iowa’s leadership in biodiesel production, noting the state’s strong soybean processing capacity and its history…
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Following a Soybean Around the World and What It Taught Me
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger takes listeners through a personal reflection on the creation of his documentary Journey of a Bean, marking nearly a decade since the project began. David recounts starting the documentary in 2016, early in his broadcast career and still new to agriculture, driven by a…
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How Connecting Farmers Across Borders Helps Move the Ag Industry Forward.
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger is joined by Renato Firmento, finance and operations manager with Spraytec, to discuss Iowa’s role in global agriculture and how international experience can strengthen farming in the Midwest. Renato shares his path from growing up in Brazil, to building a career in Iowa’s agricultural…
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Weather, farming, & science. Talking with, not at, people
Dr. Justin Glisan, Iowa’s state climatologist, discusses how weather and climate data shape agriculture, infrastructure, and public safety across the state with David Geiger. Glisan describes the role of the state climatologist as the custodian of Iowa’s 153-year climate record, providing historical context and scientific analysis to help Iowans understand both past and future weather…
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“Tricking” Seeds Into Perfect Emergence With Bio Gel
How do you “trick” seeds into perfect emergence? Brandon Meiners of Midwestern BioAg knows a thing or two about it. He discusses soil health, regenerative agriculture, and next-generation seed treatment technology that uses “bio gel?” Meiners explains that Midwestern BioAg has spent more than four decades focused on fertilizer innovation and building healthier soils by…
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First-generation Farming Takes Grit, Flexibility, and “Happy Accidents.”
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger talks with Alyssa Yoder-McClary of Canaan Farms about how value-added agriculture works. Alyssa shares how building a specialty farm business requires grit, open-mindedness, and sometimes a few happy accidents along the way. From careful budgeting to understanding the limitations of local markets, she explains…
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Custom Cuts and Cutting Edge Tech in Beef Production
How do small farms compete with the big conglomerates? Ask Tucker Maxwell, owner of Maxwell Custom Beef. He describes how he created a custom beef business in the heart of downtown Des Moines using a clever tech-forward approach. A farm kid by background, Maxwell shares how this venture became a way to stay connected to…