The Patio Pondering Podcast
Bringing clarity to complex agriculture, through conversations with the people living it every day.
I ask the questions many others don't.
My goal is to get past the polished press release so we can learn what is really happening in agriculture.
Real conversations with farmers, scientists, leaders, and the occasional contrarian who tells you what they actually think.
New episodes drop every Tuesday morning. Listen here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.
New Here?
Patio Pondering is a long-form podcast built for thoughtful listening. I skip the warm-up and get straight to what matters: Hard questions, real perspectives, and the issues producers with money on the line actually care about. You can start with the most recent episode or explore past conversations. Each one stands on its own.
Scroll Down to review the library of podcast episodes
Clear thinking for complex agriculture. I’ll send a note when it’s worth sharing.
Building More Than a Business | Brian Sieker
Most agricultural businesses begin with a business plan.
New Ag Supply began with a farmer trying to solve a problem.
In this episode, I sit down with Kansas farmer and New Ag Supply founder Brian Sieker to talk about the entrepreneurial mindset that has quietly shaped agriculture for generations. What starts as a conversation about planter parts quickly becomes a discussion about trust, relationships, purpose, and why the best businesses are built by helping other people succeed.
Along the way we explore:
Why entrepreneurs are often driven by problems, not profits
Building a business while returning to the family farm
Trust versus technology in modern agriculture
Helping other agricultural entrepreneurs succeed
Why relationships still matter in an increasingly digital world
The future of entrepreneurship in agriculture
Whether you farm, own a business, or simply enjoy conversations about leadership and innovation, Brian offers thoughtful insights into what it means to build something that lasts.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
When Somebody Ought to Be You
We've all said it.
Somebody ought to do something.
Somebody ought to volunteer. Somebody ought to run. Somebody ought to help.
It's an easy sentence to say because "somebody" doesn't have a face.
But every once in a while, life asks a harder question:
What happens when somebody has a name...and that name is yours?
In this solo episode, Jim explores the other side of leadership. The previous episode focused on knowing when to step back and let others lead. This conversation asks when experience becomes responsibility and when it's time for us to step forward.
Whether you're thinking about your community, your family, your church, your business, or your own life, this episode is an invitation to ask one simple question:
Where are you uniquely qualified to serve?
Because leadership isn't always about taking charge.
Sometimes it's about recognizing that the person you've been waiting for is already looking back at you in the mirror.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Who Needs to Be Doing This?
We all say we want young people to become leaders.
But are we willing to let them lead?
In this solo episode, I use what I call the 0.6x lens to look at three seemingly unrelated experiences: livestock showing, an Eagle Scout project, and preparing a crew for Philmont Scout Ranch.
The more I stepped back, the more I realized they were all asking the same question:
Who needs to be doing this?
Along the way, I share stories from agriculture, Scouting, and my own leadership experiences—including a few moments when I had to admit I didn't always get it right.
Whether you're a parent, mentor, teacher, employer, coach, or volunteer, I hope this conversation challenges you to think differently about what it really means to help someone grow.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
From the Spreadsheet to the Slats | Dr. Hyatt Frobose
Swine nutrition has become increasingly precise. We have better models, better ingredient analytics, better data, and more technology than ever before.
But pigs still have to get fed.
Dr. Hyatt Frobose has spent the last eleven years working in the space between what nutritionists can design on a spreadsheet and what actually happens inside a barn. In this conversation, Hyatt and I talk about why he chose an unconventional career path after earning his Ph.D. at Kansas State University, what he has learned about translating science into practical application, and why sometimes there is elegance in simplicity.
Our discussion moves well beyond feeding equipment. We talk about leadership and developing people, learning from lost sales, breaking down silos between nutrition, production, facilities, and engineering, the opportunities and limitations of precision feeding, and why the swine industry should be uncomfortable with current levels of mortality.
We also discuss animal welfare, the importance of maintaining a strong connection between research and the realities of commercial production, and the challenge of turning nuanced science into information people can actually use.
This is a conversation about technology, but more importantly, it is about implementation. Because the best science in the world only creates value when we can make it work on the farm.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Can the Next Generation Still Farm? | Seth Ariens
What does the next generation of agriculture really want?
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, I sit down with Purdue student, sheep producer, dairy cattle judge, and former Indiana FFA State Officer Seth Ariens for an honest conversation about where agriculture is headed and what it will take to keep young people engaged.
Seth shares why he believes production agriculture still offers tremendous opportunities, why the barriers to entry may not be as high as many people think, and how technology, leadership, and relationships are shaping the future of farming. Along the way, we discuss Purdue's role in preparing students for careers in agriculture, the value of leadership experiences through FFA and FarmHouse Fraternity, and why authentic conversations matter more than scripted answers.
Whether you're a farmer, student, educator, or simply care about the future of rural America, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives on leadership, opportunity, and finding your place in agriculture.
In this episode we discuss:
• Why young people still want careers in production agriculture
• Breaking down the barriers to entering farming
• Purdue, leadership, and preparing the next generation
• The future of livestock, technology, and family farms
• Lessons from FFA, FarmHouse, and the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA)
• Why relationships remain agriculture's greatest asset
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
What We're Still Getting Wrong in Swine Production | Dr. Bob Thaler
What challenges will define the future of the pork industry? In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim Smith welcomes Dr. Bob Thaler of South Dakota State University for a thoughtful conversation about swine nutrition, sow mortality, pig survivability, and the future of animal agriculture.
Drawing on decades of experience in research, Extension, consulting, and commercial pork production, Dr. Thaler shares his perspective on improving sow productivity, reducing mortality, developing the next generation of animal scientists, and why Land-Grant universities remain critical to the future of agriculture. The discussion also explores workforce challenges, livestock economics, technology, and the practical realities of modern pork production.
Whether you're a swine producer, nutritionist, veterinarian, animal science student, or agribusiness professional, this episode offers practical insights into some of the biggest questions facing today's pork industry.
Topics include:
• Swine nutrition and sow productivity
• Sow mortality and pig survivability
• Land-Grant universities and Extension
• Graduate education and workforce development
• Technology, automation, and the future of pork production
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Bonus Episode: Three Ag Market Veterans Compare 2026 to the 1980s Farm Crisis
In this special bonus episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, recorded live during Ag Day at the Allen County Fair, Jim Smith sits down with three respected voices in agricultural markets and communications: Rob Winters, Jon Cavanaugh, and David Kohli.
Collectively, these three gentlemen bring well over 150 years of experience serving agriculture. From broadcasting and market reporting to grain merchandising, commodity brokerage, and risk management, they have helped generations of farmers navigate changing markets and economic conditions.
Their conversation explores today's agricultural economy, compares current conditions to the challenges of the 1980s farm crisis, and discusses what producers should be watching in the months ahead. Drawing on decades of experience, they share candid perspectives on farm profitability, grain markets, interest rates, and the resilience of American agriculture.
Whether you remember listening to farm radio on the tractor or are simply interested in where agriculture may be headed next, this discussion offers valuable insights from three men who have spent their careers helping farmers make sense of uncertainty.
Guests:
• Rob Winters – Agricultural Broadcaster
• Jon Cavanaugh – Grain Merchandiser and Marketing Advisor
• David Kohli – Commodity Broker, Marketing Advisor, and Risk Management Consultant
Recorded live at the Allen County Fair.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
What Farming Really Costs with Mike Burkhart
What does farming really cost?
For Mike Burkhart, the answer goes far beyond machinery, land, and interest rates.
In this conversation, Mike reflects on beginning his farming career in the 1970s, surviving the 1980s Farm Crisis, the growing dependence on off-farm income, and the financial pressures that continue to reshape American agriculture. Along the way, we explore family succession, the realities of cash rent, why "it's just business" isn't always enough, and how one family's tragedy changed the course of their lives forever.
Today, Mike spends much of his time educating consumers through social media and serving others through the Travis Burkhart Foundation, proving that purpose doesn't end when a farming career does.
This is a conversation about resilience, stewardship, and discovering that some of life's greatest harvests happen long after the last crop is planted.
A few things we discuss:
Growing up and farming through the 1970s and 1980s
The Farm Crisis and its lasting lessons
Why off-farm income shouldn't carry a stigma
Cash rent, consolidation, and the changing structure of agriculture
The impact of Travis Burkhart's accident on the family and farm
Retirement, purpose, and serving others through the Travis Burkhart Foundation
Lessons every generation of farmers can learn
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Why Farming Needs More Strategy and Less Guesswork | Dr. Michael Langemeier
Agriculture today faces many of the same pressures it did during the 1980s farm crisis—but the solutions may look very different.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, I sit down with Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Michael Langemeier to discuss how modern farm businesses can navigate low margins, rising costs, global competition, and generational transition.
Our conversation explores the difference between strong balance sheets and healthy cash flow, why working capital matters more than ever, and how strategic planning is becoming just as important as production efficiency. We also discuss the growing influence of Brazil in global agriculture, the challenges of succession planning, and why many farms need to think more like businesses without losing what makes family agriculture unique.
We finish with a fascinating discussion on artificial intelligence, lifelong learning, and how new technologies may help producers make better decisions in an increasingly complex industry.
Topics include:
• Comparing today's farm economy to the 1980s farm crisis
• Cash flow, debt, and working capital management
• Strategic risk versus production risk
• Value-added agriculture and competitive advantage
• Accrual accounting and financial decision-making
• Family business transitions and succession planning
• AI, decision support, and the future of farm management
• Why lifelong learning remains agriculture's greatest advantage
Dr. Michael Langemeier is a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University and a leader within the Center for Commercial Agriculture. His work focuses on farm management, financial performance, strategic planning, and producer decision-making.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
What Has the Modern Swine Industry Gained… and What Has It Quietly Lost? | Dr. Doug Newcom
What Has the Modern Swine Industry Gained… and What Has It Quietly Lost? | Dr. Doug Newcom
The modern swine industry has never been more productive. Weaning rates are higher, pigs grow faster, feed efficiency continues to improve, and genetic tools are more powerful than ever.
But progress comes with tradeoffs.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim Smith sits down with Dr. Doug Newcom, Vice President of Genetics and Technology at the National Swine Registry, to explore how the pork industry has evolved over the past four decades—and what may have been left behind along the way.
The conversation moves from genetic selection and reproductive efficiency to pork quality, resilience, stockmanship, youth development, and the future of the industry. Doug shares perspectives from a career that spans seedstock production, genetic evaluation, international swine genetics, and leadership within the National Swine Registry.
Topics include:
• How the industry increased pigs born alive from 10 to 14–16 pigs per litter
• Why pork quality and eating experience still matter
• What great breeders recognized before the data proved it
• Efficiency versus resilience in modern production systems
• The decline of independent seedstock producers and the impact of industry consolidation
• Why youth livestock programs remain critical to agriculture's future
• Lessons from promoting U.S. swine genetics around the world, including China, Vietnam, South Africa, and beyond
• What gives Doug optimism about the future of the pork industry
If you've ever wondered whether agriculture can become more efficient without losing the qualities that made it successful in the first place, this conversation is worth your time.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Lori Stevermer: Why Agriculture Works Best When Choice, Trade, and Trust Work Together
What happens when a hog farmer, feed industry veteran, and former National Pork Producers Council president looks across the entire pork supply chain?
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, I sit down with Lori Stevermer to explore the connections between production, nutrition, policy, trade, and consumer confidence.
Drawing from decades in the feed industry with Wayne Feeds, Hubbard Feeds, and Alltech, along with her leadership at NPPC, Lori shares a perspective that spans from the slat level to Washington, D.C.
We discuss:
• Why consumers need confidence in the food system
• The growing role of choice in pork production and marketing
• What COVID revealed about our food supply chain
• Why trade matters far beyond pork chops and bacon
• The importance of Canada, Mexico, and international markets to U.S. pork producers
• Labor challenges facing agriculture over the next decade
• How ASF, global disease pressure, and biosecurity shape industry decisions
• Why agriculture sometimes struggles to slow down and think
Along the way, Lori reflects on leadership, running, balancing industry service with farm life, and the importance of meeting consumers where they are.
Whether you're involved in pork production, agriculture policy, animal nutrition, or simply interested in how complex systems actually work, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the people and decisions behind modern agriculture.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
The Lost Kids in the Middle - A Conversation with Dr. Tom Kingery
Tom Kingery grew up in agriculture, judged livestock at Purdue University, taught middle and high school ag education for 15 years, and now helps prepare the next generation of agriculture teachers at Western Kentucky University.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim and Tom reconnect decades after traveling together on Purdue’s 1992 livestock judging team to discuss how agricultural education has changed — and what today’s students still need from teachers, parents, and the industry itself.
The conversation explores:
Why many students today lack the confidence and hands-on experiences previous generations developed naturally
The growing disconnect between “college-for-all” messaging and the reality of skilled trades demand
Why agriculture programs risk overlooking the “lost middle” students who are neither struggling nor standout academic stars
The value of FFA, livestock judging, shop classes, and career-focused education
Why skilled trades like welding, HVAC, electrical work, and equipment technology may offer stronger opportunities than many traditional four-year degrees
The challenge of balancing STEM-focused education with practical career preparation
How social media and technology are reshaping communication, learning, and student engagement
Why relationships, relevance, and rigor still matter in the classroom
Tom also shares how Western Kentucky University emphasizes hands-on agricultural experiences — from cutting hay and fixing fence to developing real-world teaching labs — to prepare students for careers in agriculture education, animal science, agronomy, and beyond.
This episode is not just about education. It is a broader conversation about workforce development, agriculture’s future, rural culture, and what happens when society loses respect for skilled labor and practical knowledge.
If you care about agriculture, education, workforce development, FFA, skilled trades, or the future of rural America, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper about how we prepare the next generation.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
The Hard Part Isn’t the Cooking - Lee Stanish
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim sits down with fellow Purdue FarmHouse brother Lee Stanish — proprietor and pitmaster of Eddie Joe’s Icehouse near Lafayette, Indiana — for a conversation about leadership, responsibility, and the changing realities of managing people.
Lee shares perspectives shaped by agriculture, Purdue, FarmHouse leadership, and nearly a decade of restaurant ownership. The discussion explores employee expectations, resiliency, staffing challenges, personality differences, leadership without authority, and what it was like helping lead the effort to tear down and rebuild the Purdue FarmHouse chapter house.
This is not a conversation about barbecue recipes or résumé highlights. It is a thoughtful discussion about people — how they work, what motivates them, and how leadership changes when the outcome ultimately rests on your shoulders.
Topics include:
Managing employees in today’s labor environment
Leadership lessons from FarmHouse and the Purdue chapter house project
Building teams in restaurants and volunteer organizations
Resiliency, work ethic, and changing expectations
Personality testing and understanding team dynamics
The difference between operating a business and owning one
If you enjoy conversations about leadership, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and human nature, this episode will make you think.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Dr. Trey Kellner on Swine Nutrition, Pork Industry Challenges, and Leadership
What does the future of the U.S. pork industry really look like?
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, swine nutritionists Jim Smith and Dr. Trey Kellner from AMVC discuss the biggest challenges facing modern pork production—and surprisingly, very little of the conversation centers on actual pig diets.
Instead, this conversation explores the larger forces shaping the future of the swine industry, including:
Swine nutrition and feed strategy
Pork industry labor shortages
Capital requirements for modern sow farms and finishing barns
Agricultural leadership development
Training the next generation of swine nutritionists
Communication inside pork production systems
Feed mill operations and execution
Graduate education and soft skills in agriculture
Mental health and pressure in agriculture
The future of pork production in the United States
Dr. Kellner shares insight from working across multiple pork production systems, feed mills, ingredient programs, and business units while balancing formulation strategy, manufacturing logistics, labor challenges, economics, and team leadership.
Jim and Trey also discuss:
Why capital access may become one of the defining issues in pork production
How labor shortages are reshaping swine operations
Why execution matters more than perfect feed formulations
The growing importance of leadership and communication skills for animal science graduates
How modern swine nutritionists must balance economics, logistics, people management, and production realities—not just amino acid levels
The conversation also takes a deeper turn into mentorship, pressure, work-life balance, and the emotional weight often carried by leaders in agriculture.
Whether you work in swine nutrition, pork production, feed manufacturing, animal agriculture, agribusiness, or agricultural leadership, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where the pork industry may be headed over the next 10 to 30 years.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Are We in a Farm Crisis Or Seeing the Gap Between Good and Struggling Operations? — Shay Foulk
There’s a lot of noise in agriculture right now.
From ag media to Washington, depending on who you listen to, we’re either heading into a financial crisis… or standing on the edge of a golden age.
But what if the real story isn’t either of those?
In this episode, I sit down with Shay Foulk of Ag View Solutions — a farmer and consultant who works directly inside the numbers of real farm operations through Profit Manager and peer groups.
He’s not reacting to headlines. He’s seeing what’s actually happening.
We start with a simple but uncomfortable question:
Are we in a true crisis… or are we seeing a growing gap between strong operators and those that are struggling?
From there, the conversation moves into the places most farms don’t openly talk about:
Why some operations are pulling ahead while others are falling behind
The reality of cost of production — and how many actually know it
The disconnect between tax accounting and real decision-making
How household spending quietly shapes farm profitability
Why “people would rather be happy than informed” when it comes to their numbers
The role of peer groups, accountability, and getting off the “island”
We also get into the harder conversations around transition planning, family dynamics, and what happens when farms operate as families first and businesses second.
Shay brings a perspective shaped by farming, consulting, and military experience — blending discipline, preparation, and decision-making into how he approaches both business and life.
And by the end, we land somewhere different than where we started.
Maybe the golden age of agriculture isn’t something happening out there…
Maybe it’s something that gets built — or missed — on your own farm.
🔗 Connect with Shay Foulk & Ag View Solutions
Ag View Solutions:
https://www.agviewsolutions.com/
Farm Profit Manager:
https://farmprofitmanager.app/
Ag View Pitch Podcast:
https://www.agviewsolutions.com/podcasts
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Shaping the Story of Agriculture — A Conversation with Shaun Haney
When I started the Patio Pondering Podcast, there were a handful of conversations I hoped I might get to have someday. This is one of them.
In this episode, I sit down with Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture, to talk about something a little different than production, nutrition, or markets.
We talk about how agriculture thinks about itself.
Shaun has spent the last 15+ years building RealAgriculture into one of the most recognized voices in ag media—starting with a camcorder and an instinct that the industry was ready for something different.
Our conversation covers:
What questions agriculture should be asking—but isn’t
How RealAgriculture grew in what many saw as a “mature” media space
The role of timing, technology, and simply getting started
Why velocity and consistency matter more than perfection
The challenge of balancing attention, depth, and relevance in today’s media environment
How audience behavior—not intention—drives what gets covered
We also spend time on Shaun’s role in the Friday Roundtable on AgriTalk AM with Chip Flory, and how his Canadian perspective shapes the way he interprets U.S. agriculture.
That leads into a broader discussion on:
The changing role of media in agriculture
Why perspective matters as much as information
The importance of hearing multiple viewpoints—even the ones we disagree with
And where agriculture may be headed in the next 10 years
Shaun also shares his personal journey—from production agriculture to media—and what it took to leave the farm and build something entirely different.
We wrap up with the Five Signature Questions, covering everything from Henry Wallace’s legacy to why agriculture may be one of the most capital-intensive, misunderstood industries in the world.
Closing Thought
This is not a conversation about how to farm better.
It’s a conversation about how we understand agriculture—and how that understanding shapes the decisions being made across the industry every day.
If you’re interested in how the story of agriculture gets told—and why that matters—this is one you’ll want to listen to.
If you’d rather not chase these conversations on social media, I’ll send them your way.
Seeing Risk from All Sides of the Desk - Anya Pinkerton
Agriculture runs on risk.
Weather. Markets. Policy. Input costs. And increasingly — the mental weight of managing all of it.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim sits down with Anya Pinkerton — a Purdue Animal Sciences graduate whose career has taken her through the USDA Farm Service Agency, agricultural lending, and now into leading a growing crop insurance business.
That perspective matters.
Because Anya has seen agriculture from multiple sides of the desk — and understands that risk isn’t just something you manage on paper… it’s something you carry.
This conversation explores:
How crop insurance has evolved from simple hail coverage to complex, revenue-based protection
Why today’s farmers are using insurance as a strategic tool — not just catastrophic backup
The growing importance of trust between farmers and their advisors
How communication — not just data — determines whether risk is understood or ignored
The mental and emotional weight of farming in an era of bigger numbers and tighter margins
Why no two farms should approach risk the same way
Along the way, Jim and Anya touch on leadership, mentorship, Purdue basketball, and the reality that sometimes the most important conversations in agriculture aren’t about production — they’re about perspective.
At its core, this episode is about one simple idea:
Risk doesn’t disappear. It gets shared, structured, and understood — or it gets ignored.
Five Signature Questions Included
As always, the episode closes with the Patio Pondering Five — covering lessons from agriculture, underappreciated truths, and small changes that could shape the future of the industry.
Stay Positive and Look Forward — Lessons from the Farm with Terry Sible
Terry Sible grew up on a farm outside Churubusco, Indiana, learning the same lessons many farm kids do: responsibility, patience, and the value of community.
At eighteen, Terry’s life took an unexpected turn. Just five years earlier he had lost his father in a farm accident in the same barn where Terry kept his 4-H livestock. But instead of letting those moments define him, he built a life centered on helping others.
Today Terry works with schools and families helping children with disabilities find success in the classroom. Terry may get around in a wheelchair, but it has never defined who he is. Instead, the patience, resilience, and sense of community he learned growing up on a farm in northwest Allen County continue to shape how he approaches life and the people he works with.
In this conversation we talk about growing up in 4-H and FFA, the farm community that rallied around him after his accident, raising kids, and the role patience and positivity still play in his life today.
Terry also answers the Patio Pondering Five Questions, sharing what agriculture taught him about resilience, community, and why farmers are always trying to do the right thing.
Leadership, Service, and the Power of a Pause — with Jill Zimmerman
Leadership in agriculture is often talked about as if it simply appears — the loudest voice in the room or the person willing to take charge.
But real leadership is something different. It can be cultivated, sharpened, and intentionally developed.
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, I sit down with Jill Zimmerman, President of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Program, to talk about how leadership actually develops in agriculture and rural communities.
Jill shares how programs like KARL help cultivate leaders across agriculture, rural communities, healthcare, education, and policy — and why leadership today requires collaboration, service, and a willingness to step forward.
Along the way we explore:
• How leadership in agriculture is evolving
• Why raising your hand still matters in rural communities
• The power of networks and relationships in agriculture
• The importance of allowing “a pause in the noise” to sharpen our thinking
• How mentorship and encouragement shape future leaders
Plus Jill answers the Patio Pondering Five Questions, sharing lessons about passion for agriculture, leadership development, and the future of agricultural innovation.
Beef, Raw Milk, Rifles, and RFK Jr. — A Conversation with Brian McFarlane
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim sits down with Brian McFarland, a longtime leader in the beef packing industry and a cattle producer with experience across multiple parts of the beef supply chain.
Jim and Brian first met years ago in graduate school at Kansas State, but their conversation quickly moves beyond old memories into the realities facing the beef industry today.
They discuss the shrinking U.S. cow herd, rising beef demand, and the economic challenges of rebuilding cattle numbers. Brian shares insights from his years inside packing plants at companies like Tyson, IBP, and JBS, explaining the major advances in food safety that have occurred over the past three decades.
Along the way the conversation wanders—as good agricultural conversations often do—into topics like cooking meat correctly, the rise of meat thermometers, raw milk debates, veterinary shortages, and even long-range rifles and bow hunting.
It’s a wide-ranging discussion that highlights how complex modern agriculture really is—and how much work happens behind the scenes to safely put food on the plate.
Topics include:
• Why the U.S. cow herd may take years to rebuild
• The economics of cattle vs. crop farming
• Beef-on-dairy genetics and how it changed the industry
• The hidden food-safety systems inside modern packing plants
• Why cooking meat properly matters more than people think
• Challenges facing veterinary medicine in agriculture
• Technology shaping agriculture’s future
Plus Brian answers the Patio Pondering Five Questions, sharing lessons about work ethic, innovation, and the future of agriculture.
Brian can be found on LinkedIn at:
linkedin.com/in/thebrianmcfarlane
His cold weather gear company can be found at:
https://shivershield.com/