Land Ledger Podcast

What role does storytelling play in the future of agriculture? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney welcomes Jeff Caldwell, Vice President of Strategy and Content at Stratovation Group, for a conversation about the art and science of ag marketing. From his roots on a Kansas family farm to a career in journalism and ag tech, Jeff shares how storytelling, research, and branding can help farmers stay competitive, connect with landowners, and shape the future of the industry.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4ayasrsf 

What if the biggest challenge in farm marketing isn’t predicting prices, but cutting through the noise? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney sits down with Cy Monley, co-founder of Quantum Hedging, to talk about his journey from Chicago’s trading pits to building a company that uses AI and machine learning to help farmers make smarter marketing decisions. Cy shares how their Managed Bushels Program aligns incentives with farmer success and provides a transparent, data-driven alternative to traditional broker models.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3kfzzbm2

In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney speaks with Cheryl Mitchell, founder of Farm Legacy Now, about the importance of legacy planning for farm families. Cheryl shares her personal background growing up on a dairy farm, her career path, and how her own family’s experiences with land transfer inspired her to create farm legacy panel discussions that bring together farmers, attorneys, bankers, insurance agents, and accountants to foster open conversations. She also explains the critical difference between succession planning and legacy planning, and highlights the emotional and relational challenges farm families face.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/7asvddwt

What does it take to keep a family farm alive for the next generation? In this episode of The Land Ledger, sixth-generation farmer turned finance professional Landon Larkin joins Brian Kearney and Marc Hartness for a conversation about the future of family farms. From beginning as an engineering student to becoming a Farmland Stock Exchange team member, Landon’s journey sheds light on the capital challenges young farmers face today and what it takes to keep farmland in family hands.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/y8es6btz

How do you honor a farming legacy while embracing the future? In this episode of The Land Ledger, fifth-generation farmer Quentin 'Q' Connealy shares how he's blending tradition with innovation. From wrapping combines in American flag decals to implementing cover crops after a historic flood, Q illustrates how thoughtful innovation can strengthen both farm resilience and family life.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/bdzycxub

What does it take to turn a nickel and a truck into a food empire? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney breaks down the rise of Tyson Foods and how John and Don Tyson leveraged vertical integration, value-added products, and long-term thinking to dominate the poultry industry. With lessons for both farmers and investors, he dives into the power of smart acquisitions, people-focused leadership, and owning your value chain.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6du323

What if the key to farm profitability isn’t higher yields, but healthier soil? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney sits down with regenerative agriculture leader Gabe Brown to explore how farmers can increase profitability and improve soil health without synthetic inputs or chasing high yields. Gabe shares practical insights from his own farm and clients, covering no-till transitions, crop diversity, livestock integration, and how soil health principles can be applied at any scale.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/yc2s4xyt

How can biological nitrogen reshape the future of farming? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney and Landon Larkin sit down with Allen Parrish of Pivot Bio to explore the growing role of biological nitrogen in modern agriculture. Allen shares how Pivot Bio’s technology is helping growers optimize nitrogen management—not just to boost yields, but to improve ROI, field efficiency, and long-term sustainability.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/55k6tfu7

What can the century-old tractor wars teach today’s AgTech founders about innovation, strategy—and knowing when to let go of the past? In this solo episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney explores the early battle for tractor dominance through insights from Tractor Wars by Neil Dahlstrom. He unpacks how Ford, John Deere, and International Harvester each took different paths in shaping ag innovation. From Henry Ford’s missteps to John Deere’s patient, long-game strategy, Brian connects these historic lessons to today’s AgTech entrepreneurs and investors.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4tmbv428

What happens when real estate expertise meets a mission to transform farmland ownership for the better? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney is joined by Amanda Zakharov, Director of Investment at Dirt Capital Partners, a fund focused on regenerative and organic farmland investing. Amanda shares her unique journey from commercial real estate into the world of agricultural finance, blending real estate expertise with a deep commitment to ecological stewardship and farmer equity. Listen in as they explore Dirt Capital’s innovative approach to farmland ownership and access, offering 100% financing with long-term leases and fixed-price purchase options to help farmers build equity. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3mffv597

What can the rise of steam-powered tractors teach us about today’s tech booms? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney sits down with Neil Dahlstrom, historian and author of Tractor Wars, for a deep dive into the early evolution of farm technology and the major players that shaped it. Neil shares insights from his extensive archival research, shedding light on the surprising boom of steam engine tractors and their use in large-scale farming operations, as well as the roles of major companies like John Deere, International Harvester, and Ford Motor Company in shaping the competitive landscape of the tractor market.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/yrywrfhf

What if your soil could pay you back? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney talks with Stephen Lamb and Tony Feitz of Andes Ag about how the Andes carbon program is allowing farmers to earn $10/acre without changing the way they farm. Listen in to learn who’s eligible for the Andes Carbon Program, how to get started, and why even skeptical farmers should take a second look. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/2masd6bp

What does it take to transform farmland ownership for the future? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney sits down with Will Harris, a fourth-generation farmer and owner of White Oak Pastures, to dive into the challenges and opportunities of regenerative agriculture. They explore its scalability, applicability, and how it compares to industrial farming. Listen in to learn about the economic viability of regenerative farming, the impact of industrial agriculture on natural resources, and why Will believes the current farming system is unsustainable in the long run.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/5atxxemw

What does it take to transform farmland ownership for the future? In this episode of The Land Ledger, guest host Justin McMenamy sits down with Brian Kearney and Marc Hartness, co-founders of Farmland Stock Exchange, to explore the evolving landscape of farmland investing. From navigating emotional bonds with land to grappling with the debate between conventional and organic farming, Brian and Marc share how they’re tackling these challenges, offering an innovative approach to farmland ownership that balances financial returns with sustainable practices. With farmland ownership poised to shift dramatically over the next decade, they discuss their vision for the future: empowering farmers to secure the land they work and ensuring it doesn’t fall into the hands of the highest bidder.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4v98ardv

Can farmers escape the financial traps of traditional agriculture while restoring their land? In today’s episode, Brian Kearney talks with Rodger Savory, a leading expert in holistic and regenerative agriculture, about transforming barren land into thriving ecosystems. Rodger shares how biodiversity and holistic grazing can restore soil health, boost productivity, and break the cycle of unsustainable farming. With real-world examples, he challenges conventional wisdom, proving that struggling farmers don’t have to wait for a crisis to embrace change. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4kr2u3cd 

What’s driving the future of ranching? In this episode, host Brian Kearney and guest, Rich Bradbury explore the evolving landscape of ranching, from shifting cattle markets to land access challenges. Sharing insights from his experience managing large-scale grazing operations, Rich sheds light on the biggest opportunities and obstacles facing today’s ranchers, including sustainability, global demand, and the financial realities of the beef industry. Listen in to learn how young ranchers are navigating barriers to land ownership, why regenerative practices are gaining traction, and what the future holds for beef production in a rapidly changing world. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/mr2haafk

How can regenerative agriculture transform both the environment and farmland investments? In this episode of The Land Ledger, we’re joined by Wayne Ebersole to explore the powerful intersection of sustainable farming and smart investing. Sharing his insights from years as a consultant helping farmers transition to more sustainable practices, Wayne highlights the biggest obstacles farmers face—and how these challenges inspired him to launch an investment fund designed to purchase farmland from retiring farmers, implement regenerative practices, and ultimately sell the improved land at a premium.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3j5jukkn

What if you could boost your farm’s revenue and improve soil health—without taking on excessive financial risk? In today’s episode, we sit down with seasoned farmer Paul Butler to explore innovative strategies for increasing farm profitability while prioritizing sustainability. Paul shares his insights on conservation programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), as well as the economic benefits of no-till farming and cover cropping. He also reveals how maintaining strong relationships with landlords has allowed him to implement sustainable practices that would otherwise be financially challenging.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/yc5bmdy9

How is farmland ownership evolving in today’s market, and what role do investors play in that transformation? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney sits down with Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company, to explore the dynamic shifts happening in farmland investing. Steve shares his insights on how institutional capital is reshaping farmland ownership and the innovative approaches his company is taking to support both farmers and investors. From the growing demand for farmland as a stable asset class to the creative structures that make ownership more accessible, this conversation sheds light on the forces driving today’s farmland market. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/ytwpf7py

How can regenerative agriculture reshape farming profitability while addressing sustainability? In this episode, we dive into the financial side of the regenerative movement with Mitchell Hora, CEO and Founder of Continuum Ag. Mitchell shares the journey of building Continuum Ag, now a leading soil health data intelligence company. Discover how no-till farming, cover crops, and regenerative practices can enhance soil health and reduce carbon intensity (CI) scores, creating profitable opportunities for farmers while benefiting the environment.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/mr42swav

What does it take to lead through change and drive growth in a challenging industry? Justin McMenamy, host of the Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL podcast and product-launch expert at Precision Agriculture, joins the show to answer that question and share key lessons he has learned throughout his career.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/26u4vrzp

Ready to tackle the wild world of agriculture markets? It’s time for Markets 101. Mike Rohlfsen of Agris Academy joins the show today to share how farmers and ag businesses can minimize risks and boost success. A multifaceted lifer in agriculture, Mike pulls from his experience trading in the east U.S. corn market to offer valuable insights for navigating the markets and minimizing the challenges that can make or break a farm.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/345sdh93

What happens when a 5th-generation farmer becomes an expert in agricultural banking? You get Bruce Eberle, the CFO of Boa Safra Ag, who’s helping farmers tackle the financial challenges that come with working in agriculture. In this episode, Bruce offers key insights from his experience in helping farmers unlock new opportunities, reduce risk, and boost cash flow. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4fz2338n

Farming and tech might not seem like an obvious match, but Craig Rupp saw an opportunity to bridge the gap. With an electrical engineering degree, he's now a farmer and the founder of Sabanto and 640 Labs. In this episode, Craig shares how he’s revolutionizing farming and agriculture, as well as the many opportunities he sees in the industry. Tune in to hear why he left the tech world to dive back into farming—and how he’s now connecting the two. Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3bsuzpmk

What does it take to build a large-scale farming operation in today’s world of constant challenges and shifting policies? Bruce Rastetter, farmer and founder of Summit Agricultural Group and Summit Carbon Solutions, joins us today to talk about his hands-on experience in this area and more. From his farming ventures and the policy battles he’s tackling to safety issues and pipelines, you’ll get powerful insight into improving agriculture in the U.S.Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/j34bham9

Meet your host, Brian Kearney, as he introduces The Land Ledger.