The Ag Queen Podcast

The Ag Queen podcast discusses sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Tom Michaels of United Airlines and Allison Graab from the Sustainable Aviation Coalition. SAF is made from renewable products like corn, soybeans, and sorghum. The U.S. is a leader in SAF technology, with production rising 157% to 240 million gallons in 2025. Despite this, jet fuel use in 2025 was over 26 billion gallons, projected to reach 31 billion by 2045. SAF doesn't require new infrastructure and can help airlines mitigate fuel price volatility, making it a strategic investment for long-term resilience.

Lorrie Boyer interviews Michael Hinton, CEO of TalkingTractors.com and founder of Antique Tractor Preservation Day, who recently attended a White House event. Hinton shares his passion for promoting agriculture and heritage tractors, including his induction into the National Agriculture Hall of Fame. Gary West, a country music singer and race car driver, discusses his background, including his transition from playing drums to singing and his recent racing experiences. Both Hinton and West express their mutual support and future plans to collaborate on promoting agriculture and heritage through music and racing events.

In March, the Morril fire ravaged over 6,000 acres of Nebraska Sandhills, including the Circle L Ranch owned by Naomi Loomis and her family. Loomis recounted the day's events, detailing how her husband and sons fought the fire while she and their children helped neighbors and tried to save their own property. Despite the chaos, their faith and community support were crucial. The fire destroyed trees, corrals, and hay, but spared their house and barns. She emphasized the resilience of their family and the community's role in the aftermath, which will be further discussed in part two of the interview.

Elena Myhre, Director of Marketing and Communications for the International Poultry Welfare Alliance and the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, discussed the organizations' efforts in sustainability and welfare. The US Roundtable, founded in 2019, has released two sustainability reports, covering 101 voluntary metrics under three pillars: people, planet, and poultry.

Angela Ganter, a barrel racer from Abilene, Texas, shared her inspiring story of overcoming stage four breast cancer diagnosed in 2010. Despite undergoing nine surgeries and seven years of chemotherapy, she returned to barrel racing, winning six pro rodeos and making the Canadian finals with her daughter Jackie. Ganter's documentary, "Outriding the Devil," premiered in Las Vegas and highlights her resilience and the support of her family and community. The film is set to appear in film festivals, with a Lifetime Channel movie also in the works. Ganter emphasized the healing power of horses and the importance of perseverance.

Keaton Dugan, senior manager at Pinion Global, shared insights into his leadership role in managing commodity crop services, which encompass tax audits, land advisory, and risk management. He underscored the critical value of long-term tax planning for farmers, urging them to prioritize future financial goals rather than focusing solely on annual tax minimization. Dugan outlined several strategic approaches, including deferred grain contracts, crop insurance deferrals, and bonus depreciation. He also emphasized the necessity of maintaining precise records, engaging in timely communication with CPAs, and understanding how pre-paid expenses and capitalized assets influence overall tax strategy.

David Grindle, President and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, discussed the organization's role in supporting fairs since 1884. He highlighted the economic impact of fairs, noting that the average U.S. fair runs for 6.6 days, generating $30 billion annually, and fairgrounds contribute $52 billion and 343,000 jobs. Grindle emphasized the importance of volunteer efforts, with 101 fairs in Illinois alone generating significant local economic benefits. He also mentioned unique cultural events at fairs, such as Wife Carrying races in Scotland and Australia.

Duane Stateler, National Pork Producers Council president and a fifth-generation farmer in Northwest Ohio, talks about the propects of getting a new farm bill this year, the challenges posed by Proposition 12, which mandates specific animal housing standards, causing disruptions in the supply chain and increasing costs. Stateler emphasized the need for a unified standard to avoid a patchwork of regulations.He also addressed workforce issues, noting the reliance on undocumented workers and the lack of a clear path for their return. Finally, he expressed concerns about the "Make America Healthy Again" report, particularly its lack of definition and potential impact on the ag industry.

Michael Hinton, founder of the Antique Tractor Preservation Day, discussed the recent proclamation by the Kansas Governor, making August 22 an annual observance. The event will be held in Hutchison, Kansas, featuring a pictorial postmark available nationally and internationally. Hinton highlighted the involvement of local sponsors, the Hutchison Fire Department, and the Great Plains Antique Tractor Club. He also mentioned the Rose Bowl Parade's interest in his initiative and his plans to expand the event nationally. Hinton emphasized the importance of preserving agricultural heritage and engaging future generations.In addition, he is the founder of the Talking Tractors website.

David Katz, founder of Zyr Vodka, discussed his 25-year journey in the vodka industry, starting in Russia and transitioning to the U.S. He highlighted the unique aspects of Zyr Vodka, made from organic winter wheat and rye, and distilled in Peoria, Illinois. The brand was significantly impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to a shift in production to the U.S. Zyr Vodka is distributed in about 30 states, with plans to expand. The brand emphasizes transparency, using no additives, and is certified organic and gluten-free.

In today's show, we visit with Christopher Burnett, who is recently retired from the Marine Corps. His goal is to start a nonprofit indoor commercial vertical farm to train military veterans and their families on the latest tools, techniques, and technology driving the CEA/vertical farm market. He has a proposal with the GW Bush Presidential Center Stand To Veteran Leadership Program to open a nonprofit commercial farm in Hagerstown, MD to expose folks to hydro, aero, and aquaponic systems. Tune into the podcast to learn more.

Mark Arnusch from Arnusch Farms in Keensburg, Colorado, discussed a new research collaboration with New Belgium Brewing, Montana State University, and Proximity Malts to test drought-tolerant barley varieties. The project aims to develop barley suitable for Northern Colorado's climate, focusing on resilience to water scarcity and heat. Arnusch Farms is testing three varieties on nine acres, with planting starting when soil temperatures reach 38 degrees and harvesting around mid-July. The project also includes observations from Montana State University and New Belgium Brewery In addition, Arnusch Farms was named Top Producer of the Year by Farm Journal for his innovative farming practices and community contributions.

Natural elements in the air that used to provide sulfur to crops have changed with cleaner air initiatives. That means a lack of sulfur in the soil. Now, farmers are having to add it, and Josh Johnson, AgriGold Agronomist (based in Kentucky), talks about all things sulfer on today's show.

In today’s episode, I host an AgTrax Technology Panel. We discuss the integration of Ag Trax ERP with strategic partners like Stone X Financial Inc., FCM Division, and Easy Automation. Gayle Lewis, President of Ag Trax, explained the evolution of their Enterprise Resource Planned (ERP) system, emphasizing its strength in commodity accounting. Don Konz from Stone X highlighted the benefits of their hedge management platform, Stone Hedge, which integrates with AgTrax to streamline grain purchasing and hedging processes. Brady Gaalswyk from Easy Automation, Inc. detailed their software's role in optimizing feed manufacturing. Michael Hinton, Director of Sales and Marketing at AgTrax, underscored the importance of collaboration among partners to enhance customer efficiency and satisfaction.

The International Fresh Produce Association is rallying behind the Food as Medicine movement. Learn what Food and Medicine is in today's show with my guest, Mollie Van Lieu, Vice President of Nutrition and Health at the IFPA.

On today's show, Rabobank's, Dr. David Magana talks with Lorrie about a recent report on one of the most popular snacks in the US- pistachos.

Today's show focuses on Sober Cowboy, a non-profit organization created to provide community support to those in agriculture who are dealing with addictions.

The Public Lands Council says that a family is South Dakota is being grossly mistreated by being indicted by the US Forest Service over federal grazing permits and a fencing structure. In this show, learn about the background of this situation why it goes against the premise of working with federal agencies to manage land in partnership, and how it sets a bad precedent of how issues are handled between the Forest Service and permittees.

Learn how BioLumic is using ultraviolet light signal technology to trigger biological responses in seeds that have proven to improve plant growth and yields.

On this edition of the Ag Queen Podcast, Protect The Harvest Executive Director, Mike Siemens joins Lorrie to talk about how the organization was started and what they do to protect the production of animal agriculture against animal rights activist groups. They are a national organization working on several current industry issues. Tune into the show to learn more.

An update on the US sugar industry, including trends and supply and demand

On today's Show, National Sorghum Producers, Executive Director, Greg Ruehle talks about the farm bill versions that are currently on the table, the ag appropriations bill, and sustainable aviation fuel credits.Give it a listen!

Did you know that Clydesdale horses are in danger of becoming extinct? Learn how the Livestock Conservancy is working to preserve livestock that are becoming extinct due to changes in use and how we operate in the ag industry.

New CropLife America CEO, Alex Dunn talks with Lorrie about her background, why she chose to come to CropLife America, what they do as an organization, issues that they are working on, and her goals for the organization. Tune in to learn more about why CropLife America is an important part of the US ag industry.

In this episode, Lorrie visits with the founder of Wahoo Distillery in Wahoo, Nebraska, about how they are using a USDA-Grown Smart Climate Grant to ensure that they are doing their part in reducing greenhouse gas. Still, in the beginning stages, this distillery is working with area producers to get them to grow climate-smart distilling grains, which he will purchase to make his whiskey.

Western Colorado potato producer, Bob Mattive is the new President of the National Potato Council. In today's show, he talks about producing potatoes, markets, exports, and a new industry report released from Michigan State University highlighting how important the potato industry is in the U.S.

John Deere Manager of Production System Marketing for the US and Canada, Emily Priebe joins me on the show to talk about what it took to prepare their booth for Commodity Classic and the features at the booth including new launches and releases, including the new 9RX Tractor!

Eastern Colorado will soon be home to the Josh Lyons Legacy Equestrian Academy. The academy offers trade school and training programs, including certifications. Find out why they chose to expand and what all they do in today's show.

American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director, Peter Orwick on their recent annual convention and issues that sheep and wool growers are working on.

Greg Rhuele is the new Executive Director of National Sorghum Producers (Team Sorghum). The role is also a new role to NSP. In this interview he talks about his goals regarding important issues to sorghum producers including ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel. It's a great interview. Give it a listen!

When it comes to renewable energy and agricultural land usage, the term is "agrivoltaics." On today's Show, Angela Burke, Director of Operations and Maintenance with Pivot Energy educates us on what is going on in this field and how it is working. She gives specifics on how energy is generated and where it goes, along with who is involved and where. Give it a listen!

This episode features Dylan Vaca, brand and marketing manager at the Delong Company, and Pat McQuillan, co-founder and president of the Central Standard Craft Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We talk about how this distillery procures sustainably grains and why it is an important part of what they do.

Ali Cox is an agriculture and food ingredient marketing visionary and founder ofNoble West, an award-winning marketing consultancy that specializes in the entire agriculturalecosystem. From fresh produce and nuts to dairy and agTech, Noble West works in all aspectsof agriculture.

On today's show, John Wacoda, Nature Conservancy, New Mexico Indigenous Partnership Program Director discusses a unique project exploring virtual fencing.

Learn more about the first-ever autonomous feed robot for pastureland cattle in today's interview with Smooth Ag.

Today's show features information on the US Cotton Protocol- what it is and new developments.According to trustuscotton.org, The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s vision is to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to improve our environmental footprint is the central goal.Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is built on a foundation of robust data capture, aggregation, and reporting that drives continuous improvement across six key sustainability metrics – water use, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, soil conservation, soil carbon, and land use – and is the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency.

The Red Power Roundup 2023 recently took place in Grand Island, NE, and drew a large crowd from all over the United States as well as some international visitors.Today's show is a celebration of one family's passion for Farmall tractors and their family history of collecting tractors. It is a special story of tractor enthusiast Michael Hinton and his Father- in -Law, Lawerence Jury. We are also joined by Donelle Egger Moormeier, Co-Chairperson of the event.Sit back and enjoy this fun conversation on how tractor enthusiasts got started and how tractors helped to shape their lives and interests

Get a sugarbeet growing conditions report in today's interview with the President of the Colorado Sugarbeet Growers Association, Jack Breidenbach. So far so good for area growers.

It's a good year for sunflower growers. Learn more about the economics, exports, and what growers are looking for in the 2023 Farm Bill in today's show with Executive Director, John Sandbakken of the National Sunflower Association.

In today's show, I am joined by Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of the Colorado State University Ag Next Program. Among the research that is part of this program is finding ways to produce climate-smart cattle in an effort to lower emissions while benefitting the ecosystem. Learn more in today's show.

Marc Arnusch is a third-generation farmer and is the owner of Marc Arnusch Farms; a diversified row crop and agri-business operation, located in Prospect Valley, CO. He is using a brand new Artificial Intelligence technology that is benefiting his operation and could be an important tool in aggregating precision ag data in an easy to use format for decision making. Learn how he is using it on this episode of the Ag Queen Podcast.

Hayes Goosey Assistant Professor and Extension Forage Specialist at Montana State University-Bozeman Livingston, Montana talks about forage and range management for cattle.

Today we learn more about venture capital in the ag space specific to companies that are addressing the challenges facing global food systems. Fulcrum Global Capital, LLC Managing Partner and CEO, Duane Cantrell brings a wealth of knowledge to the business and to today's show.

On today's show, learn more about how a company called, Acceligen developed gene-edited pigs. In this case, they are edited to resist Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome. Find out how this technology evolved, how it works and what it means for the pork industry.

An update from Chris Galen with the National Milk Producers Federation on the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada dairy tariff dispute, the naming of dairy products, and dairy economics.

The Women Managing the Farm Conference is just days away, February 15-17 in Manhattan, Kansas. Learn more about this conference in today's show with Vice President of Communications at Kansas Wheat and Past-Chair for WMF Marsha Boswell.

Today's show covers an important topic for the agriculture industry; mental health. Tune in and hear what Rural Minds is doing to connect people to resources in their community. CEO, Chuck Strand joins me for today's conversation.

Learn more about GEAPS and the work they do in providing scholarships; and AGTRAX Advanced Software Solutions for Agribusiness in today's show.

Today's podcast interview is with Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Kansas State University, Dr. Sarah Lancaster. She talks about post-harvest weed mitigation. Tune in for research findings and fact-based information on weed control.

Today, meet Kacy Lynn Atkison. She is a cattle industry advocate, speaker and travel addict. In today's show we get to know her more and her background along with talking about her ranch and how she and her father are working the operation together. In addition, she is a public speaker and also is part of the inaugural National Cattlemen's Beef Association class of Trail Blazers.