The Grower & The Economist

Michelle Klieger and Dr. Peter Konjoian interview Eileen Mullet, a recent graduate from University of Wisconsin River Falls, on her research involving soils and her time working in a greenhouse. We learn how her experience in a university greenhouse was similar and different to a production operation. This researcher is able to apply her classroom knowledge to her real life experience that is invaluable to our small growers, who listen to this podcast.

Animal integration is especially fun when we are talking about goats! Learn how John Bennett of Goats of Dover went from a marketing background to goatscaping in this week’s episode. We discuss goat diet preferences, predator and pesticide concerns, timing of a job and life expectancy. There is a lot to understand about the changing environment from poison ivy to deerworm. John hits home by embedding an integrated approach to eradicating invasive species into his business model. Enjoy!

Decades ago, cabbage demand was off the charts and Dr. Konjoian listened to his father not to grow cabbage the following season. Dive into the technical terms and more examples of leading indicators in the agriculture business. We have talked about fuel prices and labor, but how can farmers adapt to local consumer behaviors and national fashion trends? Qualitative observations as well as the absence of indicators as we saw in the unprecedented pandemic are key in the gamble of agriculture.

Nathan Fouriner of Home Harvest Central Massachusetts is this episode's guest expert.  With his engineering background and his love of systems, he has built a business that gives homeowners beautiful and functional outdoor space. This includes everything from raised beds, to fruiting trees, to underground water reservoirs. The passion and excitement that he brings to edible landscaping will make listeners, homeowners, and clients feel like kids touring Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. 

This week’s guest expert is Dr. Christopher Currey, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. Dr. Currey’s desire to get his hands dirty and see the results of his work took him out of the lab and into the field. His non-traditional jobs bring a unique perspective to the horticulture industry, to his students, and to our listeners. From choosing quality over quantity at a botanical conservancy, to growing tropical orchids in the harsh Minnesota winters, to finally specializing in commercial herb production, his findings and lessons apply to traditional and specialty producers alike. As Dr. Konjoian likes to say, a plant is a plant is a plant. Sometimes we need a different angle to understand the hard lessons and Dr. Currey provides it. 

This week, Johann Buck is the Director of Technical Services & Innovation at BioAg joins The Grower and The Economist as our guest expert. BioAg offers biologicals that include soil amendments, biostimulants, and biologicals. Dr. Buck explains that we've gained a lot of knowledge about what soil is and how it is important to for the plants. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can be soilless, and these operations tend to focus on the sterile parts of the operations like the lights. However, he is bringing biostimulants to CEA and has found that many of the growers he works with are eager to try new things when they understand the research and development trials. Trials help farmers test new things and find combinations that reduce inputs and/or improve the plants nutrient efficiency. Early in this conversation, it is clear that it is the first of many that the three of us will have. 

This week guest expert Dr. Bridget Behe joins The Grower and The Economist. Dr. Behe is a horticultural market researcher, a speaker, and the host of Podcast Marketing Munchies. She shares her research on why consumers buy horticultural products and why demand increased during the pandemic. Dr. Behe also shares valuable insights on how garden centers can market high and low price items, the benefits of social media, and why our industry is so special. But most importantly, she reminds us that plants provide emotional, health, and environmental benefits and the industry does not tell consumers about these benefits nearly enough! 

Farm and agricultural business constantly struggle to find unskilled labor. That's why over 250,000 visas are issued annually for farm work. While unskilled labor is a commonly discussed challenge within agriculture there might be a bigger issue that is not being discussed - the lack of skilled labor. This week, Peter and Michelle examine where skilled labor is needed on a farm, why it's hard to find, and where some solutions might come from. This episode is the result of conversations we've had with guest experts including: Bartlett Instruments, Dosatron International, Steward Investments, the Boulder County Farmers' Market, and Purdue University. 

This week's guest expert is Dan Miller, founder of Steward a is a private lending partner, financing the growth of regenerative farms and sustainable producers through simple, flexible business loans. Dan walks us through his connection to farming, how Steward works, and some recent success the company has experience. These loans help regenerative and sustainable producers unlock new potential and scale their businesses. 

Guest expert Ariana Torres, Assistant Professor in the Departments Horticulture & Landscape Architecture and Agricultural Economics from Purdue University joins us to discuss diversification, marketplaces changes she's seen during COVID and non-traditional markets that producers can sell into. Ariana's expertise draws on her experience working on her family's farm, an internship in entomology, a master's project in lighting and her current research as an agricultural economist. This week we talk about everything from market segmentation to community resilience to the future of farming.

This episode of features guest expert Professor Alicia L. Rihn of the University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture and her research into what consumers want and what they are willing to pay for. Consumer demographics as well as regional influences impact what consumers are looking for from producers and what they will pay for it. Alicia's background in horticulture as well as business has helped her discover insight into the complex equation that leads to producer profitably. We discuss her research into adaptability and how small growers are able to adapt quickly, in part because they are better able to communicate these features and changes to their customers. And how these growers evolved during the pandemic to take advantage of shifting conditions and consumer preferences. 

Peter and Michelle check back in with Brian Coppom,  Executive Director of the Boulder County Farmers' Market. Nearly a year ago, the pandemic forced the market to reinvent itself. Farmers' markets are often a social outing where friends and families hangout outside, eat, and purchase local offerings. With COVID restrictions in place, Brian and his term transformed parts of the market into a distribution center and later a food hub. While sharing the market's journey, Brian also shares a lot of insight on consumer education and how food hubs can help small and medium-sized producers expand their offering and be profitable.  It's a long episode, but a good one!  

Growing and selling crops is a complex equation. Horticulture and business must combine to make a profitable business. Crop marketing means different things to different people, but in the industry all the terms are often combined. Michelle breaks down the different meanings of crop marketing and then dives into how growers can drive success by applying the principle of cost-business analysis everyday. 

In the last episode, Peter talks about the importance of having a greenhouse to add some control and predictability to your operation. The level of control that controlled environment agriculture may not be fully recognized by most people. With more than a foot of snow outside, Peter is growing cocoa trees in his Massachusetts greenhouse.  This is incredible. Chocolate, bananas, and coffee don't grow in the United States. They are the crops people point to when promoting international trade, yet with the right technology and understanding of plant physiology Peter is trying to change that.

Michael Cardenas and Jason Green from Heilux, Creators of LumaFilm® and GrowFilm® Brands of Products are this week's guest experts on The GATE. They share how a jewelry story light found it's way into agriculture and is now used by greenhouses, vertical farms, and even by home growers. It's used by growers of food and cannabis alike, because according to Peter, "a plant, is a plant, is a plant".   The lighting industry continues to evolve and grow. In this discussion we cover many of the different factors influencing the industry, from new government regulations requiring all horticulture be lit with LEDs to new technology raising questions about adjustable spectrum vs full spectrum lights. If you are new to lighting (like Michelle) or friends with all the lighting professors (like Peter) you will gain a better understanding of lighting and how it can impact your farm, greenhouse, or business. 

In this episode, Jazmin Albarran, executive director of Seed Your Future, discusses her unique background in mental health and youth development, and how it informs her work in horticulture. The conversation explores the importance of engaging the next generation in horticulture careers, changing perceptions about the industry, and the resources available for students and educators. Jasmine emphasizes the need for collaboration between education and industry, the role of technology in horticulture, and the global reach of Seed Your Future's initiatives.

In this episode, Dr. Peter Konjoian and Michelle engage with Rahul Ram, a high school freshman passionate about hydroponics. They explore his journey into hydroponics, the importance of sustainability, local food production, and the future of agriculture. The conversation delves into the role of robotics and AI in farming, the economic aspects of hydroponics, and the potential for growing food in space. Rahul's insights reflect the innovative spirit of his generation and the importance of education in shaping future agricultural practices.

This week, we are joined by Andrew Ogden. Andrew discusses his path after completing his PhD and finding a role within Plant Breeding at the University of Georgia. He is currently located at the Griffin Campus within the University of Georgia. In this episode, he discusses the different projects he is working on in the plant breeding space with different colleagues.You can find Andrew at:Email: aogden@uga.edu

This week we are joined by Cayla Holleman of OnPoint Corp. She provides insight into the diverse world of finance that is available to producers. We talk about everything from capital stacks to feasibility studies to government grant programs. Cayla shares a wealth of knowledge on the different places that producers can find funding to support their businesses.You can find Cayla at:Email: Cayla@onptcorp.comPhone: 605-670-9859LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cayla-holleman

Kirsten Simmons, a farm and the co-founder of Good Agriculture talks to us about farming and building a product that supports small farmers. Small farmers are expected to do everything, some Kirsten learned from her experience as a farmer. She's trying to help them focus on what they want to do and what they are good at. Hopefully, along the way, Good Agriculture can help them be more competitive and more successful.