Farm4Profit Podcast

Could organic production be the next opportunity to improve your farm's profitability? Greg Schreiner, co-founder of Quick Organics, returns to Farm4Profit to explain why more conventional farmers should at least consider the economics of organic production. Drawing on 12 years of personal organic farming experience, Greg describes how frustrating and time-consuming USDA organic certification paperwork can be. Quick Organics was created to simplify that process through digital recordkeeping, streamlined organic system plans, and easier documentation of planting, tillage, cultivation, inputs, and harvest activities. Greg also shares a major company milestone: helping develop a Common Organic System Plan, which he says received USDA approval in May after approximately five years of work.
Rather than suggesting that every farmer immediately convert an entire operation, Greg recommends starting with a manageable number of acres, whether that's 80, 160, or 240. He believes organic production could help conventional farmers diversify their income and capitalize on changing consumer preferences. Greg points to the growing purchasing influence of Generation Z and its interest in organic products as a reason to pay attention to future demand. He also emphasizes that organic opportunities extend well beyond fruits and vegetables. Farmers can explore organic corn, white corn, blue corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, and specialty beans. In particular, Greg sees organic alfalfa as an attractive transition crop because of its potential fit within existing agricultural infrastructure and markets.
The conversation explores one of the biggest barriers to organic production: the transition period. Greg explains that Quick Organics helps farmers develop a timeline that could allow a crop harvested in 2029 to qualify for organic pricing if prohibited inputs were discontinued at the appropriate point in 2026. That means farmers may face roughly two crop years receiving conventional prices while following organic production requirements. He also addresses the practical challenges of sourcing manure, finding appropriate equipment, locating buyers, and maintaining separation between conventional and organic grain. Quick Organics is developing a supplier and market network to help farmers navigate these challenges, while Greg notes that cleaning equipment, maintaining records, and documenting transportation are important parts of protecting organic integrity. Actual eligibility depends on certification requirements and the documented timing of prohibited substance applications.
One of the most interesting developments is Quick Organics' new online profitability calculator, designed to help farmers compare conventional and organic production scenarios. Greg uses the example of a 1,500-acre farm that converts 500 acres to organic while maintaining 1,000 conventional acres. He cites illustrative organic prices of approximately $14 per bushel for corn, $24 for soybeans, and $16 for wheat, demonstrating how premium markets could change an operation's gross revenue potential. The calculator allows farmers to explore different acreage allocations and crop prices. However, the hosts and Greg acknowledge that the decision requires more than looking at higher selling prices; producers also need to evaluate transition costs, yields, labor, equipment, certification, and access to reliable markets.
The episode wraps up with a discussion about government programs and financial assistance available to organic and transitioning farmers. Greg highlights organic certification cost-share opportunities and discusses conservation programs through USDA NRCS, including EQIP and emerging regenerative agriculture initiatives. Quick Organics is working to incorporate information about funding opportunities and applications directly into its platform, potentially reducing the administrative burden on producers. Greg believes many farmers are overlooking programs that could help offset the cost of changing practices, although actual assistance varies by program, location, eligibility, and available funding.
The takeaway: Organic farming doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing decision. For conventional farmers willing to investigate new markets, experiment with a portion of their acres, and carefully evaluate the economics, organic production may offer another path toward long-term profitability.
Explore the transition tools and profitability calculator at QuickOrganics.com

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.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is your grain marketing strategy helping your farm make money, or are you leaving valuable opportunities on the table? Recorded during a lightning delay at the Farm Progress Show, the Farm4Profit crew welcomes Ed Usset, grain marketing economist with the University of Minnesota's Center for Farm Financial Management, for a conversation about improving grain marketing decisions. Ed brings decades of experience to the discussion, including 12–13 years as a wheat buyer and pit trader at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange for Pillsbury. Since joining the University of Minnesota in 1996, he has dedicated much of his career to helping farmers understand commodity markets, futures, options, and the importance of having a consistent marketing strategy.
Ed is also the author of Grain Marketing Is Simple (It's Just Not Easy), now in its third edition, with nearly 17,000 copies sold across its editions. One of his most memorable teaching methods involves fictional farmers representing different grain marketing strategies. Barney Binless sells at harvest, Terry Timer prices grain before harvest, Peter Paperfarmer uses options, Hank Holder keeps grain in the bin too long, and Sally Sell-the-Carry takes advantage of opportunities in futures market spreads. Ed uses decades of actual historical grain price data to compare these approaches, helping farmers understand which strategies have performed consistently rather than judging success by a single year's results.
The conversation begins exploring five common grain marketing mistakes, starting with farmers' reluctance to price grain before harvest. Ed explains that some of the best marketing opportunities historically occur during April, May, and June, when weather uncertainty and growing-season concerns can create price rallies. He argues that crop insurance can give producers additional confidence to make pre-harvest sales, particularly when prices are at or above their cost of production. However, he emphasizes that no strategy wins every year. David shares his own experience making early grain sales near $5 corn, only to watch markets rally later. The discussion reinforces an important lesson: a profitable sale doesn't become a bad decision simply because prices eventually move higher.
Ed's second major concern is farmers failing to understand and track their local basis. He explains why knowing the relationship between local cash grain prices and futures prices is essential, especially when nearby ethanol plants, soybean processors, and competing grain buyers influence local demand. Ed also introduces listeners to FINBIN, the University of Minnesota's publicly accessible farm financial database, which contains real production, expense, and profitability information from participating farms across multiple states. He points to historical Minnesota farm data suggesting average corn profitability of approximately 10–20 cents per bushel over a ten-year period, including government payments. Against margins that narrow, improving grain marketing performance by even 20 cents per bushel could make a substantial difference.
Between discussions of market carry, grain storage, the value of historical data, and the psychology of selling grain, Ed makes a strong case for approaching marketing with a written plan rather than relying on emotion or attempting to predict the market's highest price. And, in classic Farm4Profit fashion, the conversation includes plenty of humor about lightning strikes, hazard pay, Ed's honorary doctor title, and whether his fictional grain marketers might someday become AI assistants.
The takeaway: Successful grain marketing isn't about perfectly predicting the market. It's about understanding your costs, knowing your basis, recognizing profitable opportunities, and following a disciplined strategy over time.

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.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Farm4Fun crew welcomes back Chuck Weldon of Gallatin, Missouri, for a long-overdue reunion at Husker Harvest Days. Chuck farms corn and soybeans, raises contract hogs, works in country radio under the on-air name Chuck Wagon, and remains a part owner of Whitetail Fix Hunting TV. Naturally, the episode gets off to a hilarious start when David admits the crew recorded nearly ten minutes of conversation without actually hitting the record button. With beers already open, the guys start over and quickly dive into Chuck's busy life, his passion for CrossFit, and his early progress through the 2026 harvest.
The conversation explores the realities of running a diversified farming operation when nearly every expense seems to be increasing. Chuck explains why he continues using PTO-driven GT batch grain dryers, despite their limited capacity, to get a head start on corn harvest. He estimates his drying costs at roughly 15 cents per bushel for diesel and propane and says the ability to begin harvesting earlier can make a significant difference when trying to finish before deer season. The guys also get into the economics of contract pork production, including rising building insurance, equipment replacement costs, deteriorating concrete slats, and the difficulty of making a new hog confinement barn cash flow. Chuck shares stories about animal health challenges, moving large hogs, and the everyday hazards that come with working inside a finishing barn.
Midway through the episode, the conversation takes a meaningful turn as Chuck opens up about his divorce and the mental health struggles that followed. He candidly describes experiencing severe depression and suicidal thoughts during one of the most difficult periods of his life. Rather than keeping that experience private, Chuck decided to share his story on social media and discovered that many other people, particularly men, were dealing with similar challenges. He explains how messages from strangers and fellow agricultural creators helped him realize the importance of speaking openly. One particularly powerful story involves fellow creator Mike Burkhart, who drove several hours simply to check on Chuck during a difficult time. Chuck credits his faith, family, and friendships with helping him move forward and says being able to support others through similar experiences has become one of the most rewarding parts of sharing his life online.
The crew also discusses Chuck's continued relationship with Maya Corn Heads. After previously demonstrating a 12-row head and operating an eight-row chopping head, Chuck is running an eight-row non-chopping Maya head for the current season. He explains why he continues paying to use the equipment, how it performs in challenging crop conditions, and why he believes the company's corn heads offer advantages when harvesting down corn. The conversation moves into residue management, tillage decisions, and the financial pressure created by expensive diesel fuel. Chuck shares that a recent 2,000-gallon fuel purchase cost him more than 4,000 gallons had the previous year. That leads to a broader discussion about fuel markets, agricultural policy, political division, and the importance of finding practical solutions that support farmers regardless of party affiliation.
Between stories about CrossFit-related emergency room visits, hog manure lagoons, deer hunting, radio fame, and social media friendships, the episode delivers exactly what Farm4Fun is known for: plenty of laughs, honest conversations, and an occasional unexpected life lesson.
The biggest takeaway: Farming is difficult enough when everything is going right. When personal struggles enter the picture, having people who genuinely care, being willing to ask for help, and knowing you're not alone can make all the difference.

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.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Farmers, there's potentially good news if you thought you'd missed your opportunity to claim research and development (R&D) tax credits. Tim Taschner and Corey Stanley from Onshore return to the Farm4Profit studio for an important What's Working in Ag update. After an earlier conversation emphasized the July 4 deadline, the Onshore team explains that newly issued IRS procedural guidance has clarified how producers can amend prior-year tax returns to claim credits. While filing before July 4 offered certain advantages, Tim says the new guidance makes pursuing eligible credits after that date more practical than initially expected. Farmers may still be able to look back at prior tax years, although applicable filing deadlines and individual tax circumstances remain important.
One of the biggest developments is a February 2026 tax court decision involving George's of Missouri, a major poultry producer. Tim and Corey spent nearly a decade working on the case and explain why they believe the ruling has significant implications beyond the poultry industry. The case involved evaluating commercially available poultry genetics and animal health products in a real-world production environment. According to the Onshore team, the court recognized that certain experimentation with products developed by other companies can qualify as research activity when the applicable requirements are met. They compare this to row-crop farmers evaluating different seed hybrids, testing new fertility products, or changing production practices to improve performance. The key distinction is that a farmer doesn't necessarily have to invent a product to conduct qualifying research; how the product is evaluated, the purpose of the activity, and the supporting documentation all matter.
The discussion also tackles how much money could potentially be available to qualifying farms. Tim uses the example of a 2,000-acre producer who could potentially generate $60,000 to $120,000 in tax savings, depending on eligible activities, expenses, and the farm's tax situation. Unlike a deduction, which reduces taxable income, a tax credit can directly reduce tax liability. The Onshore team explains how existing farm records—including planting maps, hybrid information, fertilizer applications, harvest data, and agronomic evaluations—can help document qualifying activities. They also discuss why farmers should explore available tax credits before automatically purchasing additional equipment or using Section 179 depreciation solely to reduce their tax bills. However, they emphasize that credits don't necessarily produce an immediate refund, especially when a farmer has little or no current tax liability.
Finally, Tim and Corey address common misconceptions surrounding agricultural R&D tax credits. They explain why a farm doesn't need a large employee base to potentially qualify, why purchasing a piece of farm equipment is different from conducting qualifying research with that equipment, and how certain labor expenses associated with new production practices may be eligible even when the equipment purchase itself is not. They also respond to concerns about insufficient IRS guidance, documentation requirements, skeptical tax professionals, and audit risk. Onshore says it works directly with farmers' CPAs to evaluate eligibility and support claims. The team encourages producers to review their situations before approaching tax filing deadlines, particularly because older tax years can eventually become unavailable for amended claims.

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.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Recorded at the Maya Corn Heads booth during Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska, Tanner, Corey, and David welcome Caleb Wilson and Lucas Connery from Till Insurance for a timely conversation about protecting farm profitability heading into the 2027 growing season. Caleb, originally from Seneca, Kansas, leads innovation initiatives at Till after working with Farmers Business Network and Farm Credit. Lucas, based near Madison, Wisconsin, brings approximately 14 years of crop insurance experience. Together, they explain Till's approach to supporting independent agents by reducing administrative work, improving access to information, and allowing agents to spend more time serving farmers. Since federally regulated crop insurance rates are standardized, they argue that the real difference often comes down to the quality of the agent, the advice provided, and the tools available.
The conversation tackles some of agriculture's most confusing insurance acronyms, including Revenue Protection (RP), Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO). Caleb explains how SCO and ECO provide additional county-based coverage above a farmer's underlying policy and why those products aren't necessarily the right investment in every county. He introduces Till's ECO Optimizer, a tool that evaluates historical county performance, insurance triggers, and expected value using USDA Risk Management Agency data. The goal is to help agents and farmers understand whether a policy makes financial sense rather than purchasing coverage simply because it's available. The group also discusses the importance of understanding Actual Production History (APH), comparing coverage levels, and evaluating how closely an individual farm's yields track county averages.
Livestock producers get plenty of attention as the discussion shifts to Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). Lucas and Caleb explain how PRF uses rainfall measurements to provide protection for grazing and forage operations, while LRP can help cattle producers establish a price floor against declining livestock markets. They also discuss livestock insurance for hogs, dairy revenue protection, and why cattle producers have historically participated in insurance programs at much lower rates than row-crop farmers. Caleb previews a livestock risk management platform Till is developing to track cattle inventories, break-even prices, market movements, and potential insurance opportunities. The conversation emphasizes that LRP protects against market price changes, not livestock death, and that knowing your true production costs is essential before deciding which risks to protect.
The crew also explores the growing market for private crop insurance products, including wind, hail, supplemental revenue, and individual yield protection. Unlike federally subsidized policies, these private products can carry different rules, costs, and coverage limitations depending on the insurance provider. Lucas explains why farmers should carefully compare options rather than assuming every additional policy provides the same protection. The group debates whether self-insuring makes sense, using an example of a farmer holding $200,000 in reserve compared with purchasing approximately $5,000 in annual coverage. They also discuss the role of crop insurance subsidies in maintaining a stable agricultural economy and why insurance decisions should reflect each farm's financial position, debt obligations, production history, and tolerance for risk.
With deadlines approaching, the guests remind listeners that crop insurance planning should be a year-round conversation, not a last-minute meeting before sales close. They identify December 1 as an important PRF deadline and March 15 as the major spring sales closing date for corn and soybeans in much of the country, while noting that deadlines vary by crop and location. Their biggest recommendation for 2027 is simple: ask your agent to explain why your current coverage still makes sense, how your operation compares with county performance, and whether new private products or coverage combinations could better protect your cost of production. The episode wraps up with plenty of Farm4Profit humor, including interruptions from the windy farm show, a crop insurance drinking game, and the ongoing debate about whether farmers should pay their insurance premiums earlier in the season.
Learn more about Till Insurance at tillinsurance.com.

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.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.