Damian Mason$2.6 billion. That's what U.S. cotton growers stand to lose this year according to USDA, the fifth straight year of red ink for the industry. The Great American Cotton Plan, announced in May 2026, aims to change the economics of American cotton. In short, we’ve lost acres, we’ve lost infrastructure, and the producers have lost money. Plains Cotton Growers CEO, Kody Bessent joins cotton farmers Todd Kimbrell and Matt Miles. Along with Damian, they discuss: cotton’s current financial condition, how they see the new initiative impacting farmers, consumer apparel issues, and the promise of renewed cotton demand’s effect on rural communities. A major component of the new cotton promotion ties to the fiber’s natural-ness. American consumers discard more than 70 pounds of apparel each year, nearly three fourths of which is made from petroleum based material. Will all this bode as a positive for one of America's original cash crops?
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Will the Great American Cotton Plan Save U.S. Cotton? | Damian Mason PodcastDamian Mason2026-08-03 | $2.6 billion. That's what U.S. cotton growers stand to lose this year according to USDA, the fifth straight year of red ink for the industry. The Great American Cotton Plan, announced in May 2026, aims to change the economics of American cotton. In short, we’ve lost acres, we’ve lost infrastructure, and the producers have lost money. Plains Cotton Growers CEO, Kody Bessent joins cotton farmers Todd Kimbrell and Matt Miles. Along with Damian, they discuss: cotton’s current financial condition, how they see the new initiative impacting farmers, consumer apparel issues, and the promise of renewed cotton demand’s effect on rural communities. A major component of the new cotton promotion ties to the fiber’s natural-ness. American consumers discard more than 70 pounds of apparel each year, nearly three fourths of which is made from petroleum based material. Will all this bode as a positive for one of America's original cash crops?
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonWhat does American agriculture look like when the old playbook no longer works?Damian Mason2026-08-28 | What if American agriculture isn’t facing another cycle—but the beginning of a fundamentally different era? Changing geopolitics, China’s approach to food security, artificial intelligence, energy and even global population decline could reshape American agriculture in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
Our next episode asks a big question: What does American agriculture look like when the old playbook no longer works? Full episode drops Monday, August 31.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
In this Ag Commentary, I put the risk in perspective. Yes, food-borne illness is real, and outbreaks should be taken seriously. But America still enjoys an incredibly safe, abundant food supply—and a scary headline doesn’t necessarily mean your dinner is dangerous.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Kansas State University agricultural economist Dr. Brian Briggeman joins Damian Mason to explain why he believes the familiar K-shaped economy may have evolved into something closer to an “E-shaped economy,” with three distinct tiers of consumer spending. With the top 10 percent of U.S. households accounting for roughly half of consumer expenditures, the growing separation between high-income consumers and everyone else has important implications for agriculture, food businesses, rural America, and the broader U.S. economy.
Briggeman explains why interest rates are a greater economic concern than the shape used to describe consumer behavior. He and Damian examine agricultural real estate, farm income pressures, federal debt, government support payments, and the financial resilience of farmland during previous economic downturns.
They also address a question increasingly important across agriculture: Could current economic conditions push rural America toward another farm financial crisis resembling the 1980s, or are today’s circumstances fundamentally different?
For agribusiness leaders, farmers, lenders, and anyone tracking the U.S. agricultural economy, this discussion provides perspective on consumer spending, interest rates, farmland values, farm finances, and the economic forces shaping agriculture.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
We’ve built generations of farm identity around hard work. But farming has changed, and many commercially viable operations also hold substantial wealth in land, machinery, and other assets.
So what happens when a public increasingly removed from agriculture starts asking why taxpayers should support subsidies and protections for comparatively wealthy farm households?
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Commercial beekeeper and American Beekeeping Federation Vice President Richard Coy joins Damian Mason to examine the economics behind the U.S. honey industry. They discuss declining domestic honey production, rising production costs, imported honey, honey adulteration, colony losses, pollination economics, and the policy changes many producers believe are needed to strengthen American beekeeping.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
I'm not arguing that farm subsidies are good or bad. I'm asking a bigger economic question: Who receives the greatest benefit, and is the current system politically and economically sustainable?
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonCalifornia Almonds: An American Agriculture Survivor Story? | Damian Mason PodcastDamian Mason2026-08-10 | California produces approximately 80 percent of the world's almonds, making it the global leader in almond production. The industry supports more than 110,000 jobs and contributes roughly $6 billion in annual exports, but profitability has become increasingly difficult.
Oversupply, weak prices, international trade disputes, rising production expenses, water concerns, and California's regulatory environment have created significant challenges for almond growers. Yet moving production elsewhere is far from simple because almonds require a rare Mediterranean climate that exists in only a few regions worldwide.
Damian Mason sits down with Clarice Turner, President and CEO of the Almond Board of California, Alexi Rodriguez, CEO of the Almond Alliance, and Matt Woolf, specialty crop analyst with Terrain, to discuss what is happening in the almond business today and where the industry is headed.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Whether we're talking about student loan forgiveness or farm programs, people respond to the incentives they're given. Agriculture is no different. We say we want stronger commodity prices, but we continue to reward production—even when the world is already swimming in grain, milk, and other commodities.
That's not because farmers are doing anything wrong. Quite the opposite. They're responding rationally to the system that's been built.
So here's the uncomfortable question: If subsidies and safety-net programs encourage continued production, do we really have the stomach to remove those incentives and accept the short-term pain that would follow? Bankruptcies, farm exits, and idled acres would be real consequences—but so might a healthier supply-and-demand balance.
This isn't an argument against farmers. It's a discussion about economics, incentives, and whether we can expect different outcomes while rewarding the same behavior.
I'd like to hear your thoughts. Can agriculture ever escape this cycle, or are farm subsidies now too politically and economically entrenched to change?
Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy straightforward conversations about the business of agriculture.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
USDA projects U.S. cotton growers could lose $2.6 billion this year, marking the fifth consecutive year of financial losses for the industry. Can the Great American Cotton Plan reverse the trend? Check out the latest episode of The Business of Agriculture 👉 youtu.be/v-3lNckSTtU
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
I also ask a tougher question: Is it really a farmer's job to educate the public? And perhaps the biggest question of all: Does the average consumer even care as much about how food is produced as we think they should?
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Aidan Connolly joins me to talk A.I. coming to Ag. How it's changing us, who benefits, who gets left behind, and the very real fact that this technology is moving so much faster than past Ag transformations, it's difficult to even compare it to say trains, tractors, genetics, or even drones.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonIm speaking at the NY Corn & Soybean Growers Association Summer Crop Summit August 12. C U There!Damian Mason2026-07-22 | I'll be keynoting the NYCSGA summer crop summit on August 12, 2026. Come join me to hear my outlook and observations on American Agriculture - covering he good, the bad and the future. It's insights with information, a lot of truth, along with a dose of laughter.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Consumers increasingly want to know where their food comes from, how it's produced, and what impact farming has on the environment. Add in traceability, social media, government oversight, and taxpayer support for agriculture, and it's clear that farmers will face more consumer influence than ever before.
Some in agriculture won't like that reality. I believe fighting it is the wrong approach.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonDamian Mason: An Insightful and Entertaining Ag Speaker But Dont Take Our Word For it!Damian Mason2026-07-20 | Damian’s presentation is a forward-looking outlook about issues in the marketplace that will be impacting the business of Agriculture. It is fast-paced, humor-infused Ag commentary where he connects the dots from consumer issues to regulation to political movements to societal changes and current events and what it means for our industry. Also, he puts in a bit of feel-good facts about the industry. And, he provides business reality and opportunity coverage, always bringing the issues back to the crowd and making it about them. Beginning in 2023 Damian titled the program The “Ations” of Agriculture — addressing the words ending in “ation” that impact our industry: Immigration, population, regulation, confrontation, inflation, threats from other nations.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
A new study commissioned by the National Corn Growers Association finds that U.S. farmers face substantially higher crop input prices, with some products costing nearly twice as much as comparable inputs in Brazil.
In this episode, Damian Mason speaks with NCGA Chief Economist Krista Swanson about the economic, regulatory, and market forces behind the price gap. They examine regulatory compliance costs, patent protections that can delay generic competition, market concentration among seed and crop protection companies, and the potential influence of U.S. farm payment programs on input pricing.
Krista also explains what NCGA means when it calls for greater transparency from agricultural input suppliers and why pricing visibility matters for farmers, agribusiness professionals, and policymakers.
This conversation provides a detailed look at crop input costs, agricultural competition, seed pricing, crop protection markets, and the economic pressures affecting the competitiveness of American agriculture.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonWhat Is Nanotechnology? The Tiny Science That Could Change Farming | Uprooted Episode 1Damian Mason2026-07-16 | What is nanotechnology, and how could it change the future of agriculture? In the premiere episode of Uprooted, host Damian Mason explores the science of nanotechnology and discovers how nanoparticles are being used to improve fertilizer efficiency, crop nutrition, and modern farming. If you've ever wondered, "What are nanoparticles?" or "How does nanotechnology work in agriculture?" this episode breaks it down in a practical, easy-to-understand way.
Traveling to Utah, Damian visits Nano-Yield for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how agricultural nanoparticles are developed, tested, and manufactured. From the research lab to greenhouse trials and full-scale production, he follows the journey from scientific breakthrough to real-world farming applications, uncovering how tiny particles could have a massive impact on modern agriculture.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
If you're in agriculture, this matters. As farming becomes more consumer-facing through traceability, branding, and food marketing, understanding actual buying behavior is far more valuable than chasing opinions expressed in surveys or on social media.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonHow Brazil Beat Us in Timber Production #agribusiness #farming #agricultureDamian Mason2026-07-14 | Pulpwood prices down 46% from their peak. Ten major mills closed in three years. Sawmills running below capacity. Brazil growing a merchantable timber tree in half the time we can. The next generation of loggers opting out of the business. Yet timberland values are up nearly 50% since 2018. The parallels to Midwest row crop agriculture are impossible to ignore. Check out the latest episode of The Business of Agriculture 👉 youtu.be/TALWJcFCZrQ?si=fvc_ETeKm1LzdZvZ
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmason200 Million Acres of Southern Timberland: Why Land Outvalues Trees | Damian Mason PodcastDamian Mason2026-07-13 | More than 200 million acres of the American South are covered in timber. The South produces one-third of America’s lumber, with paper and cardboard as an important by-product. Bobby Dobson, timber investor and land broker, and Spencer Smith of Saunders Real Estate join Damian Mason to break down an industry that looks remarkably familiar to anyone who follows corn and soybean economics. Pulpwood prices down 46% from their peak. Ten major mills closed in three years. Sawmills running below capacity. Brazil growing a merchantable timber tree in half the time we can. The next generation of loggers opting out of the business. Yet timberland values are up nearly 50% since 2018. Outside investors are pouring in. Recreational buyers are paying premium prices to hunt whitetail or just own their piece of the country. Sound familiar? The commodity is struggling. The land underneath keeps going up. The parallels to Midwest row crop agriculture are impossible to ignore.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonYou Are NOT Your Customer — The Biggest Marketing Mistake in Agriculture | Ag CommentaryDamian Mason2026-07-08 | Too often, farmers and agribusiness professionals judge consumer decisions through their own lens. But the people buying our products don't live our lives, work our jobs, or make purchasing decisions the same way we do. That's not a flaw—it's reality.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Most agricultural producers, landowners, and agribusiness professionals have never heard of Rural Opportunity Zones, yet this new federal program could unlock billions of dollars in private investment for agriculture and rural communities.
In this episode, Damian Mason sits down with Chris Rawley, CEO of Harvest Returns, to explain how Rural Opportunity Zones work and why they may become one of the most significant agricultural investment opportunities in years.
Whether you are an investor with capital gains from farmland, a business sale, stocks, or other appreciated assets, or an agricultural entrepreneur seeking funding for expansion, this episode explains how the program is designed to connect investment capital with rural development projects.
Topics include:
How Rural Opportunity Zones differ from Opportunity Zones Capital gains tax deferral and potential tax reduction benefits Eliminating capital gains tax on future appreciation after a qualifying 10-year investment Funding opportunities for grain handling, cold storage, food processing, agricultural manufacturing, livestock facilities, and rural infrastructure Why traditional agricultural financing often cannot provide this type of equity capital How farmers, ranchers, landowners, and agribusiness operators can determine whether their projects qualify The boundaries for these new Rural Opportunity Zones are being established now, making this an important time to understand how the legislation could affect both investors and agricultural businesses.
If you are interested in agricultural investing, rural economic development, farmland, tax strategies, agribusiness financing, or expanding your operation, this conversation provides an early look at a program that could significantly influence rural America for years to come.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Yes, data centers need land, electricity, and water. But the idea that they're going to pave over America's farmland and leave us without food simply doesn't hold up. We have far bigger issues to worry about.
The real concern is what happens if government begins using the excuse of "national security" or "economic necessity" to expand eminent domain and make it easier for private interests to acquire land.
At the same time, I'm not pessimistic. America's greatest strength has always been innovation. The demand created by AI and data centers could accelerate breakthroughs in power generation, cooling technology, and infrastructure that benefit everyone—not just Big Tech.
What do you think? Are data centers being overhyped as a threat, or are we overlooking the real policy issues? Share your thoughts in the comments, and if you enjoy straightforward commentary on the business of agriculture, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this video.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonThe Industry Got Gen Z Wrong (And the Numbers Prove It) #agriculture #farming #trendsDamian Mason2026-06-30 | In this episode, Michael DiSabato helps explain why the meat business keeps outperforming expectations and why some of the biggest predictions about alternative proteins never materialized. Turns out the American appetite is tougher to disrupt than many analysts thought. Give it a listen. New episode now playing.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonAmericans are eating more meat despite alternatives & higher prices — Will it continue?Damian Mason2026-06-29 | Americans consume enormous amounts of animal protein every week, but the forces driving demand, pricing, and profitability are often misunderstood. In this episode of The Business of Agriculture, Damian Mason sits down with animal protein analyst Michael DiSabato, founder of Highline Consulting Group, to examine the economic realities shaping the U.S. beef, pork, and poultry industries.
Despite record-high beef prices, consumers have not significantly traded down. Plant-based meat alternatives failed to capture the market share many expected, while protein-focused snacks such as jerky, bars, and shakes continue creating new consumption opportunities. Michael explains why beef demand remains strong, what the K-shaped economy means for premium meat consumption, and why cattle prices may remain elevated for years.
The conversation also explores surprising developments in poultry markets, including the growing value of chicken thigh meat, challenges facing the pork industry, evolving consumer preferences, and the demographic trend that could become the biggest long-term threat to protein demand.
If you want to understand the future of meat consumption, livestock markets, animal agriculture profitability, beef prices, pork demand, poultry economics, and protein consumption trends, this data-driven discussion delivers valuable insights for agribusiness professionals, producers, investors, and anyone involved in the food supply chain.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonDamian Mason to Deliver Keynote at U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council, July 9th!Damian Mason2026-06-24 | Damian’s presentation is a forward-looking outlook about issues in the marketplace that will be impacting the business of Agriculture. It is fast-paced, humor-infused Ag commentary where he connects the dots from consumer issues to regulation to political movements to societal changes and current events and what it means for our industry. Also, he puts in a bit of feel-good facts about the industry. And, he provides business reality and opportunity coverage, always bringing the issues back to the crowd and making it about them. Beginning in 2023 Damian titled the program The “Ations” of Agriculture — addressing the words ending in “ation” that impact our industry: Immigration, population, regulation, confrontation, inflation, threats from other nations.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
I explain why agricultural states like Iowa can produce millions of acres of crops yet still import most of the food consumed within their borders. The answer isn't government policy, corporate conspiracy, or farmer stubbornness. It's consumer choice, competition, convenience, and marketplace realities.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonWhy Iowa Cant Feed Itself | Damian Mason PodcastDamian Mason2026-06-22 | A map went viral on X showing Iowa — one of America's most productive agricultural states — imports 90% of its food. Cue the outrage. Cue the gubernatorial candidates. Cue the narrative that our food system must be broken. But is it? Damian Mason brings back specialty crop grower Steve Strasheim to work through the real reasons big ag states don't feed themselves. Climate. Infrastructure. Economics. Distribution. Processing. Consumer behavior. The answers are less inflammatory than the Twitter thread that started this conversation — and a lot more interesting. Steve grows 45 different vegetable crops on five acres in rural Iowa, runs an on-farm retail store, and has watched the direct-to-consumer market change dramatically since COVID. He knows firsthand what it takes to actually move from bulk commodity production to crops that directly feed consumers. Will a 65-year-old corn and soybean farmer climb out of their air-conditioned, self-driving tractor to grow and sell lettuce to the general public? Not likely, and that’s just one of the problems with the "Ag states should feed themselves” argument. Can Iowa feed itself? Probably not entirely. Should it? That's a better question.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Keep up with me on social media! damianmason.com facebook.com/DamianPMason instagram.com/DamianPMason twitter.com/DamianPMason linkedin.com/in/damianmasonWhen Half of Americans Are On GLP-1 Drugs, What Will That Do To Agriculture?Damian Mason2026-06-18 | GLP-1 Drugs are evolving from needle injections to pills. They're also getting cheaper. And backed by government and insurance. Which means 42% of the the public that is obese and a significant share of the overweight but not obese populace will be eligible for a cheap and easy pill to curtail their appetite. What happens when caloric demand drops by 10 or 20% nationwide?
Damian Mason speaks about issues impacting the Business of Agriculture.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary
The bigger issue is what happens when water becomes scarce and farmers find themselves competing with Big Tech. If it comes down to irrigation versus data storage, agriculture may discover that consumers aren't on our side. After all, Americans spend hours every day on their screens, and all that digital activity depends on data centers.
Check out my work with XtremeAg: - Cutting The Curve Podcast | https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts - The Granary | https://www.xtremeag.farm/the-granary