Episode 286: Boots on the Ground in Brazil

We’ve been keeping up with weather and crop conditions in Latin America from afar this winter, but any farmer will tell you that the national data doesn’t tell you as much as seeing a crop with your own eyes. That’s one of the key reasons that DTN Progressive Farmer Editor in Chief Greg Horstmeier journeyed down to Brazil earlier this month, eager to put boots on the ground and bring us the latest updates on the Brazilian crop as it’s being harvested. Today, we’ll hear about Greg’s trip down South, including what he saw of a large soybean crop and an equally promising corn harvest. He’ll offer insight on the infrastructure situation as the crop goes from field to bin to port, and give us an update on what he heard from farmers there as far as critical issues they’re facing, both this year and into the future. On his way back home, Greg also stopped in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 2026 National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 24th. He’ll tell us about the announcements he heard from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and about the bigger conversations happening around the event about livestock, food, and the challenging state of affairs in the ag economy.Finally, we’ll hear what Greg is working on next, flag stories he thinks are currently flying under the radar, and pay tribute to the ag communications great Orion Samuelson.