Farm Food Facts

Supporting the people who serve their communities and the students who will carry agriculture forward is a smart investment in rural America’s future. On this episode of Farm+Food+Facts, host Joanna Guza talks with Marti Skold-Jordan, interim Foundation Executive Director for Tractor Supply Company, about the company’s Hometown Heroes program and why it backs agriculture education. Skold-Jordan explains how that support strengthens agriculture and helps build tomorrow’s farmers, ranchers, and Tractor Supply customers. Resources: Hometown Heroes program Tractor Supply supporting ag education Grants for Growing Overview of community programs To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Biofuels aren't just powering vehicles — they could reshape agriculture's role on the world stage. On this episode of Farm+Food+Facts, host Joanna Guza talks with POET's Doug Berven, a USFRA board member, to unpack why biofuels are so important to U.S. agriculture. Listen now. Resources: S&P Global Energy Report Commissioned by USFRA: Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst fuelingagriculture.com To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and get involved here .

In this bonus episode of Farm+Food+Facts, Juan Sacoto and Emerson Wohlenberg of S&P Global Energy discuss what's shaping agriculture's road ahead. They dig into the state of biofuel markets, trends in fertilizer and the broader economic pressures facing the industry today. Listen now. Learn more at fuelingagriculture.com . To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

In this bonus episode of Farm+Food+Facts, Veronica Nigh, Chief Economist at The Fertilizer Institute, shares what she's watching closely when it comes to the long-term outlook for U.S. agricultural exports. Nigh discusses how the U.S. stacks up against global competitors and what it will take to keep American agriculture strong on the world stage.

Farm+Food+Facts guests Serena Schaffner, Chief Marketing Officer at the American Pecan Council and the American Pecan Promotion Board, and Larry Don Womack, farmer and owner of Womack Nursery Company, a pecan grower in Texas and USFRA Board Member, discuss pressing issues impacting pecan growers. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

In this bonus episode of Farm+Food+Facts, Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director of Renewable Fuels Nebraska, explains why she's keeping a close eye on the cattle industry — and it comes down to one key byproduct: distillers grains. Caldwell breaks down the strong, symbiotic partnership between ethanol production and cattle feeding, and what shifts in the cattle industry could mean for ethanol's future. Listen now. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Nick Peterson, a farmer from central Minnesota, and Luke Haggerty, research & district field manager for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, briefly discuss key issues they are monitoring, including nutrient management and water quality. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Agriculture is at a critical turning point — and a major new study says biofuels could be the key to unlocking its future. On this episode of Farm+Food+Facts, host Joanna Guza talks with Juan Sacoto and Emerson Wohlenberg of S&P Global Energy about a landmark study, Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst . Commissioned by USFRA, the research offers a detailed, evidence-based look at how biofuels can strengthen farmer incomes, stabilize rural economies, and reshape agriculture's path forward. Listen now. Learn more at fuelingagriculture.com . To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

On this episode of Farm+Food+Facts, Alice McKinnon and Veronica Nigh of The Fertilizer Institute join host Joanna Guza to dig into what's really driving fertilizer prices — and what could shift them next. They discuss market intelligence, farm profitability, and the single economic force that could reshape the industry. Listen now. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts guest, Jeff Sandborn, a fourth-generation farmer in Michigan, shares how he is learning to use artificial intelligence in his operation. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

What's next for ethanol? On this episode of Farm+Food+Facts, Dawn Caldwell of Renewable Fuels Nebraska joins host Joanna Guza to break down the wins behind E15 and the 45Z tax credit — and the challenges still facing the industry. Plus: where every part of a bushel of corn actually goes. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Greg Goodwin, Director of Precision Conservation Management for Illinois Corn, shares how he’s keeping an eye on artificial intelligence and how it will help farmers make data-driven decisions. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Serena Schaffner, Chief Marketing Officer at the American Pecan Council and the American Pecan Promotion Board, and Larry Don Womack, farmer and owner of Womack Nursery Company a pecan grower in Texas and USFRA Board Member. They discuss the current pecan growing season, industry challenges and consumer trends. Learn more about pecans here . To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts host Joanna Guza talks with Nick Peterson, a farmer from central Minnesota, and Luke Haggerty, research & district field manager for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. They discussed key findings from the new Minnesota Corn Growers 2025 Sustainability report, including the importance of people, the planet and profit. Resources: 2025 Sustainability Report USFRA report: Fueling agriculture: biofuels as the catalyst Farm America University of MN research: New study helps farmers more accurately determine crop nitrogen needs Updated corn nitrogen rates : What are we currently seeing for N fertilizer requirements in Minnesota? Nitrogen Smart To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts guests Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division, and Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist at CoBank and an advisor to the US Farmers and Ranchers in Action board of directors, shares insights on trade with our neighbors in North America, and the impacts of GLP1's on consumer eating and buying habits. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts host Joanna Guza talks with Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division, and Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist at CoBank and an advisor to the US Farmers and Ranchers in Action board of directors. They discuss highlights from CoBank’s most recent report, The Quarterly . To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Dave Mensink, pig farmer and owner of Mensink Farms in Minnesota shares how he’s keeping an eye on potential on-pack labels that provide consumer education about how animal products were raised and produced. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts guests, Chip Bowling, third generation grain farmer from Maryland and Vice Chair of US Farmer and Ranchers in Action, and Jennifer Gannon, director of programs and public relations at Maryland Grain Producers, discuss the Make America Healthy Again movement and its impact on agriculture. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts host Joanna Guza talks with Dr. Bruno Basso, professor of earth and environmental sciences, at Michigan State University, and Jeff Sandborn, a fourth-generation farmer in Michigan. They discuss yield stability analysis and how Jeff uses the data to inform his nutrient management decisions, lower his costs and increase profits. USFRA’s study with Dr. Bruno Basso and Dr. Jerry Hatfield: Enhancing farm profitability through nitrogen efficiency and yield stability To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .

Farm+Food+Facts guest Adam Shrif, Vice-President of Supply Chain at Culver’s, shares how they are closely monitoring cattle herd size to ensure a consistent supply of fresh, never frozen butter burgers. To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here .