Land, Debt, and Decline

Jacob sits down with agricultural economist Dr. David Kohl to unpack what a brutal downturn in farm profitability reveals about globalization, capital concentration, labor shortages, and long-term economic resilience. The two touch on tariffs, debt, and the limits of export-led growth, and then the conversation widens to examine how technology, demographics, and financial fragility are reshaping both rural America and the national economy. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (00:56) - Discussion on US Ag Economy (02:17) - Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture (07:09) - Land Values and Institutional Investments (12:24) - Generational Transition in Farming (18:02) - Export Markets vs. Domestic Focus (23:03) - Future Trends and Strategic Insights (25:55) - Venture Capital in Agriculture (28:09) - Economic Outlook for 2026 (29:21) - The K-Shaped Economy Explained (31:39) - Impact of AI and Job Cuts (34:55) - Global Economic Concerns (41:05) - Technological Advancements in Farming (49:39) - Financial Literacy and Life Skills (51:32) - Closing Remarks and Future Outlook -- Referenced in the Show: Dave Kohl: https://www.farmprogress.com/author/david-kohl -- Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. --