Farm4Profit Podcast

In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we sit down with Joe Kerns, a 30-year industry veteran and Iowa State University graduate who has worked across procurement, risk management, nutrition, hedging, livestock marketing, and operational benchmarking. Joe doesn’t sugarcoat the situation—and his perspective raises uncomfortable but necessary questions about the future of U.S. agriculture, especially pork production.Joe explains why he believes the pork industry is on the brink of becoming “a serf to the packer,” tracing the roots back to the 1998 hog price collapse and the financial community’s push for mandatory packer contracts. The result? The negotiated cash market has collapsed from roughly 17% in 2002 to around 1% today, leaving producers without meaningful price discovery and shifting risk almost entirely onto the farm.We also tackle the growing loss of faith in USDA reporting, including:Corn yield overestimations that led to bad marketing decisionsThe September 2024 hog supply miss that sent futures $20/head higherDeclining participation in USDA reports and what that means for accuracyHow flawed data distorts markets, hedging decisions, and producer confidenceBut this episode isn’t just about problems—it’s about opportunity.Joe outlines how producer-driven, anonymous data aggregation could flip the power dynamic back toward farmers. With enough participation, predictive analytics could unlock insights across genetics, nutrition, management, equipment, and animal health—turning farm data into a monetized advantage instead of a liability.We also explore:Why pork producers may actually be agriculture’s quiet sustainability success storyHow efficiency gains from genetics and feed conversion are reshaping protein productionWhy beef prices are likely to remain elevated—and why politics are missing the pointThe hard reality behind renewable diesel, SAF, and global energy policyWhat happens to independent producers if nothing changesThis is a candid, data-driven conversation about power, control, and survival in modern agriculture—and why the next decade may determine whether independence remains viable at all. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The hosts go mic-only to say thank you to the people who make this show possible: you.As we wrap up 2025, we take a moment to reflect on what this community has become. The Farm4Profit audience reached:200,000+ unique listeners1,200,000+ total downloads660,000+ Spotify streams10.4 million+ YouTube views in the last year2.18 million+ long-form episode listens43.4 million impressions and 1.3 million engagements across social mediaBut the numbers only tell part of the story.In this episode, we talk about:Our favorite podcast moments from 2025Unexpected wins and personal highlights outside the showReal struggles we faced this year—and what they taught usWhat we’re most excited about heading into 2026New ideas, experiments, and fun challenges we want to bring to the Farm4Profit communityWe also share listener demographics that show exactly who makes up this audience:55% farmers and farmhands28% ag business professionals11% ag enthusiasts2% influencers4% other supportersWhether you listen from the tractor cab, the shop, the pickup, or the kitchen table—this episode is for you. Thank you for trusting us with your time, your stories, and your support. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Diesel technology has come a long way — but with tighter emissions systems, DPFs, EGRs, and high-pressure injectors, today’s engines are also more vulnerable than most operators realize.In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we’re joined by Garth Redifer, Vice President of Sales at Power Service, a third-generation, veteran-owned diesel additive manufacturer based in Weatherford, Texas. With 17 years of hands-on diesel technology experience, Garth has worked directly on innovations like diesel injector cleaning and DPF flush solutions — and has seen firsthand where engines fail and why.We dig into:Why modern diesel engines are more prone to injector deposits, regen issues, and power lossWhat’s really happening inside your fuel system, turbo, EGR, and DPFWhy excessive DPF regens cost you fuel, time, and engine lifeHow a one-tank diesel treatment can clean the entire fuel system — not just injectorsWhat REGENEXTEND™ technology does and how it can cut regen frequency by up to 50%The difference between “band-aid” fuel additives and science-backed solutionsWhy preventive maintenance is cheaper than waiting for warning lights and downtimeGarth also shares insights from working with truckers, farmers, logging crews, and fleets across North America — and explains why diesel fuel quality and maintenance matter more now than ever.Whether you’re running a pickup, tractor, combine, semi, or full fleet, this episode will help you understand how to protect performance, extend engine life, and keep more money in your pocket. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In an ag world driven by automation, efficiency metrics, and shiny new equipment, this farmer is unapologetically doing things differently — and calling it Doing It Wrong Dairy.Tristan is a sixth-generation dairy producer in Wisconsin who believes real farming doesn’t need filters, polish, or permission. Farming on his own for more than a decade, Tristan relies heavily on 30+ year-old equipment, practices old-school animal care, and openly questions whether “modern” always means “better.”In this episode, Tristan shares:Growing up in a multi-species livestock operation and starting farm work at age fourWhy his family exited the dairy industry in the 1990s — and why he came backLeaving home at 17 to work on a custom wheat harvest crew and becoming a crew leader at 18His return to Wisconsin and building a farm on his own termsWhy he leaves calves with their mothers and how it impacts herd health and behaviorMilking alternative breeds like Gyr cows and experimenting outside the mainstreamMaintaining a “retirement pasture” for cows he refuses to sell simply because production dropsWhy authenticity — not perfection — is what connects people to agricultureWe also dig into the explosive growth of Doing It Wrong Dairy on social media, where Tristan’s honest, sometimes controversial content has resonated with hundreds of thousands of viewers who want to see the real side of farming — not a highlight reel. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Farms today run more digital systems than ever before — GPS-guided equipment, grain accounting software, cloud-connected records, automated livestock and irrigation controls, and online financial tools. And that shift has put agriculture squarely into the Top 10 most-targeted industries for cyberattacks.In this episode, we sit down with Chris Sherman, founder of TechSupport.Farm, who specializes in helping farmers and ag businesses protect their operations from online threats. Chris breaks down why farms are becoming major hacker targets, the attacks he sees most often, and the simple ways producers can safeguard their data, their money, and their equipment.We explore real farm-level risks such as:Phishing emails disguised as invoices, USDA notices, or dealer updatesRansomware that locks up grain software, field maps, GPS data, or entire farm serversExtortion scams demanding bitcoinAttempts to infiltrate connected systems like grain dryers, feed mills, and irrigation controlsChris explains where farm data actually lives — on equipment, in cloud systems, or in software platforms — and what farmers need to understand about data ownership, platform security, and privacy.Then we move into practical, easy-to-apply cybersecurity steps every farm can start today:Creating strong password policies (12+ characters)Using password managersTurning on two-factor authenticationUpgrading email security with spam and phishing filtersSeparating home WiFi from business and equipment WiFiTracking who has login accessKeeping offline backups of critical filesTraining your family and employees to spot digital red flagsChris also shares real-world stories from farms he’s helped — the scams that worked, the ones that were caught in time, and the mistakes he sees repeated across operations of all sizes.Whether you run a large operation or a small family farm, cybersecurity is now part of running the business. This episode will help you protect what you’ve built, stay ahead of threats, and keep hackers out of your data, your money, and your equipment. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.