Podcast
Farm4Profit Podcast
Hosted by David Whitaker, Corey Hillebo, Tanner Winterhof · EN
Our mission is to provide farms and operators an independent and unbiased outlet for information related to increasing the profitability of their farming operation. We will be providing farms and operators of all sizes and experience levels access to the latest trends, projections, and the tools necessary to increase farming profitability. We will take each episode to deliver latest news, what's working for active farms, and a topic of focus each episode. Remember, if you aren't farming for profit you won't be farming for long.
75episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Strong on Paper, Tight on Cash : Here’s What Lenders Are Watching
Mar 200:48:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Daniel Taylor, National Sales Manager at AgriFinancial (AgFi), and Ethan Turley, Underwriter, to talk about agriculture through the eyes of credit underwriters. Margins are tight. Interest rates are elevated. Commodity prices have softened. Input costs remain stubbornly high. So what are lenders actually seeing? We break down: 📉 The 2026 Farm Economy • Are we in a “pause and survive” cycle — or a full reset? • How higher interest rates have reshaped farm finance • Liquidity tightening despite strong equity positions • Commodity softness vs. sticky cost structures • Borrower uncertainty and delayed decision-making 📊 What Underwriters Are Watching Closely • Working capital burn rate • Carryover operating debt • Term debt stacking • Equipment values softening • Land values stabilizing — and adjusting in some regions • Inventory positioning shifts • Early warning signs of liquidity stress We also ask the big question: Are farms still strong on paper — but tight on cash? 🏦 Smart Restructuring vs. Desperation AgFi shares insight into a 3–5 year interest-only loan product designed to help producers shore up working capital without panicking. • Who is the ideal fit? • What problem does it actually solve? • When does restructure make sense — and when is it too late? • What separates proactive operators from reactive ones? This conversation is real. It’s candid. And it’s exactly what producers need to hear in a margin-compression cycle. Because in times like this, clarity beats comfort. Learn More: https://cgb-agfi.com/farm4profit/ 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: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/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.
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From PTO Grinder Mixer to Beat Harvesting : 70 Years of Art's Way
Feb 2601:02:22Tap to summarizeIn 1956, Iowa farmer and inventor Arthur Luscombe built a rugged PTO-powered grinder mixer on his farm. That simple idea would become the foundation of Art’s Way Manufacturing — a company that has weathered decades of ag cycles, market volatility, and industry consolidation. Today, Art’s Way employs approximately 120–150 people across facilities in Armstrong and Monona, Iowa, producing specialized agricultural equipment designed to fill niche operational needs. In this anniversary episode, we explore: 🏗 Company History & Evolution • How Art’s Way grew from a farm-built grinder mixer into a publicly traded manufacturer • Why niche markets became their strategic advantage • How independent dealer networks have remained central to their model • What it takes to survive nearly 70 years in agriculture 🚜 Product Lines & Innovation • Grinder mixers and feed processing equipment • Bale processors and hay tools (Miller Pro & Badger acquisitions) • Sugar beet harvesters and defoliators • Manure spreaders, land graders, land planes • Portable grain augers • Combine and swather reels (Universal Harvester integration) • Modular buildings division — a key stabilizer during ag downturns • Tools and scientific divisions We also talk about: • How demand softness and inventory challenges have impacted equipment manufacturers • Why modular building growth has helped balance agricultural equipment fluctuations • The role of dealer strategy and committed niche-focused partners Joining the conversation is Jim Cronk, Inside Sales Representative at Art’s Way. Jim and his wife Shelby continue to farm a row crop and cow-calf operation while he works full-time in ag equipment sales — giving him firsthand insight into what today’s producers actually need. This episode isn’t just about celebrating an anniversary. It’s about resilience. It’s about specialization over scale. And it’s about what it takes to manufacture ag equipment in a world of consolidation, volatility, and rapid change. Because sometimes the companies that last the longest are the ones that stay closest to the farmer. 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: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/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.
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R&D Tax Credits for Farmers and Ranchers
Feb 2401:14:28Tap to summarizeMost farmers think tax credits are for tech companies and laboratories. They’re wrong. The Research & Development tax credit has been around since 1981 — originally built to encourage innovation. Over the decades, it has become more taxpayer-friendly and more accessible… but still incredibly underutilized in agriculture. In this episode, we talk with Onshore, a tax technology company founded in 2020. Joining us: • Tim Taschner – Midwest native who grew up around ADM, now leading agricultural R&D tax credit case studies • Dominic Vitucci – CEO with a background in accounting and computer science, blending tax expertise with automation We break down: • What the R&D tax credit actually is • The history behind it and how it evolved • What qualifies in agriculture (farming, livestock, food processing) • Why testing new hybrids, chemistries, feed strategies, or processes may qualify • How AI now automates roughly 80% of the documentation process • What “audit-ready documentation” actually means • The difference between deductions and credits • What happens if you haven’t paid taxes yet • How credits can carry back or forward • Why cost segregation and 179D deductions also matter Onshore’s mission is simple: Turn tax incentives from a confusing compliance burden into a strategic advantage. Instead of spending weeks building documentation manually, their software integrates with enterprise systems, processes data quickly, and delivers clean, audit-ready support — including free audit defense. In today’s tight-margin environment, producers and agribusinesses can’t afford to overlook legitimate credits. If you operate: • 800+ acres • Livestock operations • Food processing • Agribusiness support companies • Or any operation testing improvements This conversation could directly impact your bottom line. Because the smartest operators don’t just grow crops. 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/ 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: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/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.
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Big Tax Move Most Farmers & Ranchers Ignore: R & D Tax Credits
Feb 2401:14:28Tap to summarizeMost farmers think tax credits are for tech companies and laboratories. They’re wrong. The Research & Development tax credit has been around since 1981 — originally built to encourage innovation. Over the decades, it has become more taxpayer-friendly and more accessible… but still incredibly underutilized in agriculture. In this episode, we talk with Onshore, a tax technology company founded in 2020. Joining us: • Tim Taschner – Midwest native who grew up around ADM, now leading agricultural R&D tax credit case studies • Dominic Vitucci – CEO with a background in accounting and computer science, blending tax expertise with automation We break down: • What the R&D tax credit actually is • The history behind it and how it evolved • What qualifies in agriculture (farming, livestock, food processing) • Why testing new hybrids, chemistries, feed strategies, or processes may qualify • How AI now automates roughly 80% of the documentation process • What “audit-ready documentation” actually means • The difference between deductions and credits • What happens if you haven’t paid taxes yet • How credits can carry back or forward • Why cost segregation and 179D deductions also matter Onshore’s mission is simple: Turn tax incentives from a confusing compliance burden into a strategic advantage. Instead of spending weeks building documentation manually, their software integrates with enterprise systems, processes data quickly, and delivers clean, audit-ready support — including free audit defense. In today’s tight-margin environment, producers and agribusinesses can’t afford to overlook legitimate credits. If you operate: • 800+ acres • Livestock operations • Food processing • Agribusiness support companies • Or any operation testing improvements This conversation could directly impact your bottom line. Because the smartest operators don’t just grow crops. 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: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/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.
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Early Lessons to Learn for Success W/ Vance Crowe
Jul 4, 2022Tap to summarize3 Year Anniversary Episode!!!Pre-Roll Commercial – Geringhoff – head of the class no matter the cropWelcome to a Farm4Profit episode Share their ideas at farm4profitllc@gmail.comThe listener review today is brought to you by AG LEADER Cab to cab. Season to season. There’s only one way to do it all on your farm: Ag Leader it. Ag Leader offers the complete package of year-round precision farming tools to help you steer it, plant it, apply it, harvest it, and manage it more efficiently and profitably. (Add LIB)Randy Hammersmith Voicemail YOU can now text or leave us a voicemail – 515.207.9640 What do you know now that you wished you would have known when you were younger or just sooner in general? Guest Vance CroweVance Crowe is a communications consultant that has worked for corporations and international organizations around the world. He has spoken before more than 150,000 people, answering questions about some of the most sophisticated and controversial technologies in the modern age. munications that remain hidden to most people.Vance holds a degree in communications from Marquette University and a master’s degree in cross-cultural negotiations from the Seton Hall Vance is the former Director of Millennial Engagement for Monsanto. 5/16/22 – F4P – E181 – Farm4Fun with Zoe Kent It will all work out in the end. Trust in yourself to continue the path and when you look back on it you’ll think it all worked out. 5/16/22 – F4P – E76 – No Two Springs Alike with Bodie Kitchel, BW Fusion (Agronomy update)Never stop where you’re at today. Keep your pursuit to always keep learning. You would probably say “Everything!” If you really knew all you know now – then – would you be complacent, lazy, and lose your drive? Always be excited to keep learning. 5/9/22 – F4F - E169– Ryan Roossinck - Beer Money Pulling Team and TractorZoomI wish I had known it was ok to fail. I wasted so much of my life and my opportunities, because I was striving for the perfect, instead of the good. Life ain’t perfect and neither are you! So stop wasting time trying to be perfect while opportunities pass you by. 4/25/22 – F4F – F168 – New York Farm Girls! Evelyn (22), Claudia (19), JoJo (16)Evelyn – I wish I knew about this podcast. I have a 30 minute commute to work every day, and this is going to be my new thing.Claudia – When you think of other people’s perception of you, and if you’re concerned what other people are thinking about you, you’re never going to truly live your best life. Have confidence in yourself, and it will take you to big places! Just trust to be yourself!4/11/22 – F4F – E167 – Mike Schulte of the Pork TornadoesRegarding jobs, careers, passions that aren’t traditional – whatever your passionate or care about, make it successful. Be passionate because that means something.Put everything you can into it and figure it out. 3/28/22 – F4F – E166 – National Farm Machinery Show, Louisville, KY – Andy Paztor, a/k/a Andy Clean (no question) Quint – Still the more I learn, the less I know. 3/21/22 – F4P - E72 – Steve Sukup, President and CEO, Sukup Manufacturing, Sheffield, IA – Leadership and Innovation In business – should have stepped back sooner to get a better perspective. 3/14/22 – F4F – E165 – The Latina Farmer – Katherine Marcano-Bell I should have listened to my mother-in-law. Don’t be so eager to help out on the farm or please yourhusband. You’ll have to drive something or help out more on the farm. Momma Wanna (Dominican Republic drink ) A favorite food – MoFongo 3/7/22 – F4P –E71 – Commodity Turmoil – Todd Hultman of DTN – On location - National Farm Machinery Show, Louisville, KY WWIA – Bill Dickhut from Geringhoff I learned to lower the weight of the fundamental assessments you hear from USDA or anyone else. The Market is the best indicator for trends and volatility. The Market tells you. 2/28/22 – F4F – E164- On location – The National Farm Machinery Show, Louisville, KY Kyle Zarate – Keep your circle small. I would have ‘cherry-picked’ people better… I wish I had the knowledge I have now when I was younger, but honestly,I don’t think I would have change a lot.Loren – I would have had more kids! When they were little, we thought how much work they were and what apain in the butt. But after they got older, I wish I had 10! (Tractor – Deere Commander)Dalie – (being only 17 years old) Don’t be afraid to ask for help. (Tractor – Sibling Rivalry) 2/21/22 – F4P – E70 – Avoiding a Repeat of the 80’s – David Widmar We need a framework for dealing with uncertainty.We live in a world full of uncertainty.No one teaches us how to quantify, navigate, or communicate through it. We need to update our thinking. Use a decision tool to network and be more disciplined through uncertainties. It’s not the decisions you make in the bad years that cause trouble, it’s the one’s you make in the good years. 2/14/22 – F4F – E163 – Valentine’s Day Power Couple – Steven & Melissa Pierce Steven – I wish I knew things could be done differently than the way dad or gpa did them. Just because it’salways been done this way, doesn’t make it the best way. Think outside the box and try different ways to do things.Melissa – I wish the things that you stressed out about when you were younger, I shouldn’t have worried aboutthem so much.Just do your best, and don’t stress. 2/7/22 – F4P – E69 – Dr. Richard Smith – Where is the Inflation Taking Us? I wish I had realized how valuable our local lives are. 1/31/22 – F4F – E162 –Randy Nessman – Master PipeLayer and Zach Johnson – Millennial Farmer Jim McArthur/Randy Hammersmith (twin brother) guest zoom appearance-Zack Attack songRandy Nessman – Pipe is Life! (Dave interprets that as ‘don’t wait to make good decisions.’) HOSTS – Tanner – I wish I would have trusted myself in certain instances sooner than I did. When you thinksomething’s a good idea, just do it! (other guys feedback -But that probably has equal amount of times whenyou wish you hadn’t) Corey – I was gonna say something about women, but…. Instead, I wish I had bought bit coin at $100.00. Dave – I wish I wouldn’t have said something. I should have bit my lip and bided my time! Apologize more. 1/17/2022 - F4F - E161 - J Lazy S Angus Ranch, Idaho - Chyenne Smith I wish I had started sooner (in ranching). We were worried about the financial burden. Start small, and take a chance. Don't be afraid to try. If you know it's what you want to do, just do it. The finances will work if you have passion. Be passionate, try, and don't give up! 1/3/2022 - F4F - E160 - Tony Feed and friends - invited back 3 of the top 10 guests - Tony Reed, Huey B Cool, and Justin Danger Nunley Tony – The older I get, the smarter my dad was.I wouldn’t do that…and he was right.Listen to your dad. Justin – Don’t worry so much about what other people think. I wish I wouldn’t have worried as long as I didabout other people.Be unapologetically yourself!Huey – Things take time, but you have time! Do more things in your life; you can always change courses. 12/27/21 - F4P - E66 - Most Common Traits of Successful Farmers - Robert & Emily Sharkey 2021 question - Emily - be the dumbest person in the room; surround yourself with people who inspire you and push you to be better; no time for nay sayers or negativity; don't let people bring you down. 2022 question-Rob - Don't criticize yourself so much; focus on what you do well; be more confident; 12/20/21 - F4F - E159 - Bushels & Barrels - Ryan Peter Never be afraid to fail. Don't plan to fail, but "expect" to in some degree. When you start a business, be ready to fail in some way; don't be afraid to try something new on a small scale, and be ready to take the idea even bigger. 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: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc </...
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