The Fenceline

Recent episodes

1. Episode 7, Season 1 The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jul 25, 20261 hr 3 min

   Join us this week for a food safety discussion and insights to how food is tracked and monitored. The history of HAACP, food traceability and the current hot potato, or should we say hot lettuce topic of the week.

2. Episode 6, The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jul 10, 20261 hr 1 min

   Do you notice when it doesn’t rain?Sure, you notice when it does, and you might even check the radar and hope it holds off a little longer. But have you ever considered the life-and-death consequences that a couple of inches of rain (or lack thereof) can have on the farmers and ranchers who put the food on your plate?This week on The Fenceline, Matt Hamilton and Dr. Dusty Abney talk through the most important natural factor in agriculture: drought. It’s a topic at the front of every producer’s mind, and the one they have the least control over. That lack of control takes a serious toll on producers’ mental health, and helps explain the high rate of suicide among America’s farmers and ranchers– a difficult, but indispensable, topic of discussion.Matt and Dusty will teach you how to interpret the University of Nebraska’s Drought Monitor, explain how certain weather patterns affect producers’ yields and mental health, and recommend a book that will stay with you long after you slide it back on the shelf.So, why should you smile the next time you see storm clouds piling up? Find out on episode 6 of The Fenceline.

3. Episode 5, The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jul 7, 202658 min

   Beef, Pork, Chicken, How long and what does it take to produce each. This week Dr. Dusty and Matt breakdown the details of how long it takes to produce a steer vs pigs and chicken. Also how much grain it takes to produce each and how cattle are the only protein that are not 100% grain dependent.

4. Episode 4, Season 1 The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jun 19, 20261 hr 10 min

   The Screw Worm is back! In this episode Dr. Dusty and Matt give you the history of the Screw Worm and how we beat it in the 50's, how it came back, and how we are going to beat it again. Also, your beef supply is safe!

5. Episode 3, Season 1 The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jun 12, 20261 hr 2 min

   In this episode of the Fenceline Dusty and Matt discuss the differences between a dairy cow and a beef cow, scale and size of beef operations vs row crop operations and how family farms are using incorporation to hold on to the family farm.

6. Episode 2, Season 1 The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   Jun 3, 20261 hr 3 min

   In episode 2 Matt and Dusty discuss what is and is not in a hot dog, no lips in here! What is in ground beef and how it is made. Explain the different kind of trim used to make ground beef. Dive into the food safety aspects of ground beef vs steaks. Give you behind the sciences info about how the ground beef game is changing at the retail stores you shop at.

7. Episode 1, Season 1 The Fenceline from The Fenceline

   May 26, 20261 hr 2 min

   Most Americans have no idea how complicated, fragile, and important the food system really is and that’s exactly why The Fence Line Podcast exists. In Episode 1, Matt Hamilton & Dr. Dusty Abney pull back the curtain on the American beef industry and break down the full journey from pasture to plate. From cow-calf operations and stocker programs to feed yards, processors, trucking, grocery stores, and restaurants, this episode explains what really happens before a steak ever hits your plate. But this conversation goes way beyond beef. Matt and Dusty dive into: - Why American farmers and ranchers matter more than ever - The truth about modern agriculture and food production - Misconceptions consumers have about beef and livestock - How cattle are actually raised, fed, transported, and harvested - Why the American food system is both incredibly efficient and dangerously fragile - The growing disconnect between consumers and agriculture - Why supporting American agriculture is a national security issue - What “farm to table” really means - How misinformation has shaped public perception of farming and ranching This isn’t corporate talking points or internet outrage farming. It’s a real conversation from people who’ve spent their lives in agriculture and want consumers to better understand the people, processes, and sacrifices behind the food they eat every single day. Whether you’re a rancher, consumer, hunter, foodie, or someone who’s simply curious about where your food comes from, this episode is packed with insight, humor, hard truths, and real-world perspective. Welcome to The Fenceline Podcast. Subscribe and share with someone who cares about food, farming, ranching, and the future of American agriculture. #TheFenceLine #FarmToTable #AmericanAgriculture