The High Ground - powered by Premier Companies

What are the market sentiments toward the reports coming out at the end of the month? On today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett are joined by Aaron Bledsoe who is no stranger to the podcast! As you may remember, Aaron is the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and he'll be giving us the rundown on the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report!You'll hear why Aaron thinks this update was just “ho-hum” and why he's got his eyes on the acreage and quarterly stocks report instead.  You'll hear why many individuals are bullish on old crop corn and what will help out the new crop position.  On the flip side, you'll hear why feed usage may throw a wrench in the entire thing!  It's not all doom and gloom; tune in to hear the update on soy biomass diesel and trends to keep on your radar.  “There's just a lot going on, and literally, with a couple decisions, the marketplace could be turned on its head…”

How do you put common sense back into Washington, D.C.?  From Washington, D.C., returning and very special guest, Erin Houchin, joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett.  Congresswoman Erin Houchin is the U.S. representative for Indiana's 9th congressional district and is the second highest ranking female in Congress!Congresswoman Houchin serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Budget Committee and the Rules Committee, and because of that, she's on the trifecta of committees for budget reconciliation and will provide a glimpse into how the government is working to find savings while still protecting the individuals who need assistance.  She'll also give an update on the Farm Bill and the upcoming large issues she'll be working to address.  “What I try to do in my approach is to get as much information as I can to make the best decision that I can to help the most people that I can…”

How can 4-H prepare students for life after school?  Returning guest Heather VonDielingen is in the podcast room with Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Her responsibilities have changed a bit since she last met with us, and Heather is now working as the Juntos 4-H Lead for the Indiana State 4-H Office.Heather will share with us about the Juntos program which exists to help students gain the skills and resources to help them graduate high school and open up a new realm of career and academic opportunities upon graduation.  You'll also learn about the programs that exist for the families of students in the Juntos program and the Next Chapter, a program through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, that exists to increase the employability skills and readiness for the workforce or additional studies.  “We're really trying to give those kids practical skills that they'll use…  We're really preparing these kids for life and work.”

Are you considering getting into agriculture but not sure you want to take all the risk?  You're going to want to tune into this episode!  After a six-month hiatus, returning guest, Dan Vague, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Dan is the Vice President of Swine Production at SwineLink, a division of Premier Companies that handles the management for family-owned pork facilities.You'll learn the ins and outs of SwineLink, a wean-to-finish program, and how it's designed to get the younger generation back on the farm with more income streams.  Dan, Jeff, and Sal will explain how the sow share system works to allow the production of pigs that will be brought in and finished out as part of SwineLink.  You'll learn how the pigs are raised and the automated systems that are installed in the barns and the processes involved to keep the pigs healthy and the facilities free from contamination.  Dan will also share what happens before the next group of pigs arrives to keep the barns clean and make sure the pigs will have a safe environment.  Curious about what's happening in the swine market?  They'll tackle that topic as well!  “The biggest thing for us, from a profitability standpoint, is to keep the pigs healthy…”

Sal's favorite agronomist is back!  Glenn Longabaugh is in the podcast room with Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  You know and love Glenn as Premier's Technical Agronomist, and he's handing his agronomy secrets out, but you won't be learning any of his tricks for bowhunting turkeys.In addition to his hunting adventures, you'll learn about ideal planting windows and why you should plant according to the weather and not according to the calendar. Considering skipping the phosphate this year?  Glenn will also share why you should rethink that and consider sticking to your original application plans to be able to raise a large crop. “It's not a good time to build…  I think it's a good time to… have that relationship with your account manager, and let's look at crop removal and what your maintenance levels are…  Let's weather this storm.”

We're not sure if he's famous or infamous, but we're glad he's here even though he's bringing a lot of bad news.  Josh Linville returns to join hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Though you may remember him as Jeff's most famous friend, Josh is also the Vice President of Fertilizer at StoneX.Josh, Jeff, and Sal dig into what has caused the fertilizer market to struggle so much this year.  You'll hear about how low inventories, import and export issues, and spring production issues have combined to cause the perfect storm within the industry.  They'll talk specifically about the high Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) prices and why they think there's no reason to anticipate correction before summer.  They'll also discuss the countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers and why there's reason to believe this won't stay tough forever.  Until that time, like Josh says, “This will be probably the biggest standoff we have ever seen between buyers and sellers…”

Why is the timing of a fungicide application so important?  Dr. Megan Taylor is in the podcast room with our hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Dr. Taylor is the Technical Agronomist at Bayer, and as a fun fact, she is a former colleague of Sal's!Dr. Taylor will share about her educational background and what eventually led to her working for Bayer.  You'll learn about the changes that have occurred in the world of fungicides over the last decade including emerging diseases and how planting practices have changed application needs.  You'll learn about best application practices for growers who need to cover a lot of acres and what will give you the biggest bang for your buck to protect your yield potential.  Struggling with stink bugs not just in your field but in your home as well?  Dr. Taylor will share her thoughts on those as well, and if you are looking for fungicide data, head on over to the wealth of knowledge at https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/.

What's going on in the ag department of Indiana?  Don Lamb joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Don is the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and is a second-generation farmer who has produced popcorn, corn, soybeans and seed wheat.Don describes some of the chaos happening in the ag department and the unknowns associated with the budget cuts and the challenges that have occurred as a result of that.  You'll learn more about how the Department of Agriculture works with some of Indiana's regulatory agencies and how tariffs are impacting the agriculture industry.  Sal, Jeff, and Don will tackle tough topics like the urban sprawl, increased wages for H-2A workers, and what's happening with the idea to create a water pipeline to move water to Boone County, Indiana.  “We're in a very, very interesting time, and I think the people that would say, ‘Here's where we're going' don't really know.  We're all a little bit riding the waves right now…”

Today's guest is quite literally outstanding in his field!  Fan favorite, Glenn Longabaugh, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  As the Technical Agronomist for Premier Companies, Glenn is no stranger to the podcast (or to turkeys), and he's full of tips for getting this crop year off to a good start. Today, you'll learn about the technology and regulations changes that have changed the application of herbicides and suggestions for growers as they think through that process coming off of the windiest April on record.  Glenn will share how drift reduction technology has helped keep the peace between neighbors and how understanding Pulse Width Modulation (PMW) can help growers make sure their fields are getting the appropriate amount of herbicide.  “21st century technology is doing some wonderful things to make growers' lives easier and really do a better job of getting herbicides where they're supposed to be, and that's in the fields and not on the neighbor.”

This is the most expensive podcast we've done!  We've got some long-time listeners turned first-time podcasters as Brianna J. Schroeder and Todd J. Janzen join hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Todd is the President and Founder, and Brianna is the Law Partner at Jenzen Schroeder Ag Law LLC.Brianna and Todd will tell us how they got their start in ag law and how their background enables them to better serve those who work in agriculture.  Since they're based in Indianapolis, you may be surprised to hear they serve the entire state and serve farmers, agribusinesses, and ag technology including startups.  You'll also hear about some of the victories they've won in court and how and why it may be worth it for individuals to challenge the final decisions made by state and federal agencies and how Jenzen Schroeder can help.

What's going on in the grain markets?  The old favorite, the standby, the grain expert is back!  Aaron Bledsoe returns to join hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  You know him and love him as the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and today, you'll get to hear about his buffalo meals and Ron Burgundy couch.Together, Jeff, Sal, and Aaron tackle what's going on in the USDA's 2025 Prospective Plantings and quarterly grain reports.  Aaron will share his thoughts regarding the number of corn or bean acres that will be planted, and what the quarterly stocks might tell us about where we are and where we might be in the future.  You'll hear about the impact the tariffs have had on the markets, what's happened with the stocks-to-use ratio, and what the basis could look like through the summer.  Are you wondering what you should do regarding the direct payment program for the 2024 crop?  Aaron will cover that and more on today's episode!

When should growers terminate cover crops?  Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Glenn is the ultra-famous Technical Agronomist for Premier Companies, and he's here to share his tips for growers planning their year in light of this wild weather we've experienced in the midwest.Glenn will share his tips for knowing when to terminate cover crops including cereal rye and annual ryegrass and the impact sunlight has on herbicides including why it's important to apply herbicides at the appropriate time of day.  Glenn will dive deeper into adjustments that should be made in application due to wind and when he does donuts in the field.  Jeff and Glenn will tackle some of the changes they're seeing in problems from field to field and potential causes.  Glenn is spitting a lot of wisdom today, so you're going to want to be like Sal and take notes!  “Every time we get less prescriptive and more operational, there's more opportunities for mess ups.”

What is going on with California and their move to all electric vehicles? To discuss this topic and many others, special and returning guest Matt Smorch joins hosts Jeff Jarett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Matt is the President and CEO of CountryMark Cooperative, one of the largest private Indiana companies by revenue.Jeff, Sal, and Matt discuss some of the changes the new administration has brought about and the impacts those changes have had on the energy industry including the new EPA tailpipe standards.  Matt will discuss the yo-yo effect the market has had with changing leadership and how CountryMark manages to stay stable in the midst of it.  You'll learn how having their own pipeline and refineries has helped CountryMark meet demand needs and benefit their consumers.  If you're wondering what's going on with California's desired gas car ban and how you can help individuals retain their ability to choose their own vehicles, you'll want to make sure you tune into today's episode, and get involved by visiting https://empower.afpm.org/actions/stop-californias-gas-car-ban-take-action-now-cm-emp. 

What should high schoolers who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine be doing to prepare for higher education?  Returning and special guest Bret Marsh, DVM, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for today's episode of The High Ground Powered by Premier Companies.  Bret serves as the Dean of Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, and a lot has changed since he joined us last time!  Bret will share about his educational and career journeys and how he's ended up back at Purdue University.  In addition to speaking about his single biggest surprise as he's come back to Purdue, he'll share about the competitive process, and the challenges that exist for rural and large animal vets.  You'll also learn Dr. Marsh's recommendations for high school students who may be interested in pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine and how you can stay up-to-date with the most recent news from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

How do you keep cattle comfortable and their water unfrozen during a harsh winter?  Returning guest Ryan Batt joins Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, and he's no stranger to the podcast!  If you've been a listener for a while, you already know Ryan is the Facility Manager at United Producers, Inc.Ryan will share how the cold winter impacted the cattle farmers and calving operations in southern Indiana.  Sal, Jeff, and Ryan will dig into how genetics and a little TLC play into the grower's return on investment.  You'll also learn about some summer projects you can take up to protect the cattle in the future including continuous fence panels that can be used as windblocks.  Ryan will dig into how the cold winter has impacted the cattle market and what a marketing plan should look like for a farmer this year in light of rising costs of caring for cattle. If you've got cattle and struggled this winter or you're trying to figure out how to weather the changes in the cattle industry, you're going to want to tune in to this episode!

He's our only podcast guest who has his own groupies!  For this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, returning guest Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room.  Glenn, a master storyteller, is also the Agronomist for Premier Ag, and he's taking a few moments out of a very busy schedule to sit down with us.Glenn will share about his Premier Companies Grower Meetings that have been centered around Surviving or Thriving in ‘25 and changing the focus from volatile markets to ways to be successful.  The topics of his talks include seed choice and position, weed control, soil fertility, planting excellence, and in-season management of nutrition and fungicides.  Since we're a month away from planting season, Glenn will talk us through some of the preparations that should be made in light of the tough year we're still crawling out of.  “It's about accelerating the genetic gain.  It seems counterintuitive to spend that kind of money on seed, and yet, there's probably no other single input that's put more bushels towards our bottom line than what has seed…”

Why are eggs so expensive?  Special guest Tony Wesner joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Tony, a native of Jackson County, is the CEO of Rose Acre Farms which, like Premier Companies, is headquartered in Seymour, Indiana, and they've had a front row seat to the damage that bird flu can cause.You'll hear about Tony's background in agriculture and his 43+ year adventure with Rose Acre Farm which is a third generation, family-owned egg farm.  Tony will share about how the avian flu has impacted their operation and how they are navigating losing six million birds in the first couple of months of 2025.  He'll talk about the ripple effects that growers will feel because of the losses and his testimony in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee.  Can you trust the eggs that you're purchasing off the shelves?  Tony will share why you can trust those eggs, and if you're wondering what you can do, in Tony's words, “Tell your politicians and your lawmakers, help the egg industry, help the turkey people, help the dairy people come up with vaccination programs… so that we can have affordable food, we can have safe food, and we can not have to destroy animals that are here working to feed all of us.”

What are chemical prices going to do?  We've got a new guest joining hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Kyle Schonert is the Field Marketing Director for the Eastern Corn Belt for Winfield United, and he's brought his lucky 8 ball with him today.Kyle shares how he ended up in the agriculture industry and how he ended up employed by Winfield United.  You'll learn about his day-to-day, supply chain shortages, and the challenges that exist to ensure customers will have the products available that they need.  In addition to giving us the freight rate outlook, Kyle will give us an idea of potential tariff impacts and share about some of the 2,4-D issues that exist that have caused shortages.  Are you wondering what new products are coming out that have Kyle excited?  You'll hear about Altipro fungicide and more!  If you're a grower who is wondering what you should do in light of the record low chemical prices to plan for the upcoming growing season, you're going to want to tune in to this episode!

“We are a minority, but we feed the majority.”  Special guest, Randy Mette, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Randy is the Seed Product Manager for Winfield United, and he's got a wealth of knowledge to share with us today about the seed selection, evaluation, and forecasting processes.On today's episode, Randy will share about his background, career path, and time travel preferences.  You'll hear how he started looking for a career in anything but agriculture and what drew him back to the industry.  You'll also learn about CROPLAN Seed, how their product is backed by over 25 years of testing and data, and how the Seed Product Managers are able to work with the retailers to make sure the appropriate offerings are available to the growers in their area.  “At the end of the day, if we can't help [the customer] solve problems, what are we even doing?” 

Groupies rejoice!  Glenn Longabaugh returns to the podcast room with hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Glenn is the resident agronomist at Premier Companies, and he's a fan favorite.You'll hear about Glenn's new series, Thriving or Surviving, and how it ties into what growers should be focusing on to be more successful.  He'll dive into the tension between reducing the cost of inputs and the value of increasing overall yields along with evaluating how fertility, fungicides, and fertilizers play into the overall equation.  Sal will also share his thoughts on how  a grower can evaluate the have-to-haves in light of the want-to-haves.  If you've been considering upgrading your farming equipment, Glenn will share why the used equipment market may be in your favor right now.  If you've been wondering how you can take a good crop year and make it a great crop year, you're going to want to check out Glenn's lectures!

The rallies continue, but will they hold?  Special returning guest, Aaron Bledsoe, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Aaron's been on the podcast many times, so if you've been around for a while, you already know he's the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, but did you also know he wants to shoot a swan?Aaron shares his predictions for markets in February and the psychological barriers that exist with $5 corn.  He'll share what has happened in the stock-to-use rates and how the lack of tariffs have impacted current markets. In addition to speculating about on-farm storage, Sal, Jeff, and Aaron share their thoughts about how the weather in Brazil may impact our markets and what the acreage shifts could look like.  Are you curious about how Grain Merchandisers help growers set their targets?  He'll walk us through the thought process today!

We're about to get schooled!  Special guests Keith Nance and Dennis Tankersley join hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Keith is the Superintendent of the West Washington School District, and Dennis is the construction teacher at West Washington High School.You may be wondering why educators are on an agriculture podcast.  The answer is easy!  The high school is where our future employees are jump-starting their careers!  You'll learn about CTE (Career Technical Education) programming and how that can create the most fruitful opportunities for students and employers to keep the best and brightest in the local area.  Keith will share about the manufacturing, CDL-A, health, and technical opportunities that exist, and of course, you'll hear about the agriculture programs that exist in the local area.  Dennis will share about his career path and the opportunities that exist in the construction realm.  If you're a business owner or manager and wondering what it looks like to partner with a local high school, you're not going to want to miss this episode!

Why would a grower consider adding alfalfa as a rotation crop?  We are joined by two special guests, Glenda Gehl and Emily Meccage, for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Both Glenda and Emily are joining us from FGI, Forage Genetics International, which is a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes and has been an industry leader within the forage industry for over 30 years.  Glenda serves as the President of FGI and leads the R&D efforts for the crop inputs business, and Emily is the Director of R&D and Innovation.Both Glenda and Emily will share about their career paths and how they ended up working for FGI.  You'll learn more about FGI and how they work to bring the best technology and genetics to the market and the improvements that have been seen specifically in alfalfa over the last few decades. You'll learn about the benefits of having alfalfa added as a rotational crop and how it can benefit the health of your soil and even decrease certain pests.  “We make sure that when we're releasing a variety, it's the best of the best and it's gonna perform the way we say it will.”

Would you believe Bill's dream job is “selling propane and propane accessories?”  Returning Sales Professional and special guest, Bill Houze, joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Bill handles propane sales and joins us representing Premier Energy.In addition to all the laughs you'd expect when Bill is a guest, you'll learn a bit about the portion of Premier Companies known as Premier Energy and their propane division.  Bill will share about the “keep full” and Gold Cap program which protects consumers from fuel price spikes and makes sure customers don't run out of propane.  He'll also share about the budget plans that exist that give a monthly bill for budgeting purposes.  Did you know Premier Energy has an app called Premier Connect that allows you to order fuel for your tank, communicate with the team, and view your usage history over time?  Buckle up for lots of learning and laughs on this episode of The High Ground! 

Ryan may be starting his career as an author penning “A Day in the Life at the Stockyard” after this episode!  Returning guest, Ryan Batt, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  If you've been around the podcast, you already know Ryan is the Facility Manager at United Producers in Little York, Indiana and among other things, spends his time chasing cattle.Ryan, Jeff, and Sal will discuss the current state of the cattle market, challenges to overcome for those looking to get into cattle, and why the market has stayed so strong.  Get ready for story time with Ryan telling about a buyer who wanted to put a calf in the van or a woman who put pigs in her fancy car!  In addition to story time, you'll learn about some of the interesting animals Ryan has seen come through the yard.  “It's just exciting because you never know what you're gonna get in there!”

What's the most traded nitrogen product that's out there?  Returning guest, Josh Linville, joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  As you may remember, Josh is the Vice President of Fertilizer at StoneX and has over 20 years of experience in the fertilizer industry.Josh will give us a glimpse into what's happening in the global urea market and how that sets the tone for the anhydrous market.  You'll learn how navigating transportation through war zones has impacted costs and why we're dependent upon imports to meet our fertilizer demand. Josh will also discuss the UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate) market and why it's much smaller than the urea market. Josh, Sal, and Jeff will take a look at the reasons behind import duties and Josh will share his advice as you head into 2025.  “Look for your opportunities…  Do not let the emotion of where it looks as we go into 2025 run your decision-making process.”  

Jeff's asking the good questions today, like, “What's the strangest species you've created feed for?”  Special guests, Kristy and Alan Lowe, join hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Kristy and Alan are co-owners of Lowe's Pellets and Grain which has offered premium feeds for livestock for over 60 years.In addition to learning about Kristy and Alan's career paths, you'll learn about the family business that was started by Alan's grandparents and the business that exists today.  You'll also learn about the interesting animals that have been fed specialty feed from Lowe's Pellets and Grain and the way pellets are created.  You'll also learn how the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has impacted food and pellet mills and get a glimpse into what it means that Lowe's Pellets and Grain is Safe Feed/Safe Food (SF/SF) certified.  “Today I think we're selling our feed in 18 states.  It's been cool to see the growth, but you talk about a learning curve!”    

“The farmer is struggling because they're really dying the death of a thousand apps.”  On this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, Tracey Wiedmeyer joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room!  He grew up on a farm, and now Tracey is the co-founder and CEO of Gripp Ag, a company that creates mobile software to help growers scale their agriculture operations because of their operational data tracking.Tracey will share about his career path and how he ended up connecting with Purdue University and DIAL Ventures.  You'll learn what the acronym stands for and how a traditional venture fund differs from a venture studio and what their relationship is to venture fellows.  He'll share how Gripp offers the ability to track operations, how growers are able to create training videos for their farming operation, and how the app has even been used to track diseases on apple trees.  

We think all our guests are special, but this one is extra special!  Harold Cooper rejoins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  You may already know Harold is the CEO of Premier Companies, but did you know he used to aspire to run for governor?  Buckle up as Harold shares the story of how cooperatives were formed in Indiana, some of his leadership philosophies, and how being a student of military history has formed those philosophies.  You'll learn about how Harold views the cooperative system and what it means that Premier is farmer-owned and farmer-controlled.  You'll hear about the challenges of dealing with rapid changes and how, through the use of partnerships with groups like DIAL Ventures, Premier works to find new ways to make improvements for all stakeholders.  “When I think about what happens here and how do you guide and lead Premier, I first look back.  What was the character and the makeup of those that formed us?  …That should be enduring in my mind.”

Should biological biostimulants be used to replace mineral nutrition and pesticides?  Premier's Prince of Corn, Glenn Longabaugh, is back!  Glenn joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies and is a fan favorite as the Agronomist at Premier Companies.On today's episode, we'll dive into current events in agronomy including changes that may occur in agriculture due to the presidential change and why Glenn sees some parallels to what was experienced in the past.  Glenn will share his thoughts regarding what inputs you should prioritize first and what is most important to do to the crop to increase the yield and make a grower a better steward of the environment and crop.  We'll learn more about what biological biostimulants are, what they do, and why they have become the wild west of agriculture.  “I can't think of anything that is harder on the environment, really, than organic farming.”

What might the administration changes in the new year do for the grain industry?  To provide his insight, Aaron Bledsoe joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for another episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Aaron is the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and though he says he doesn't have groupies, he's certainly no stranger to the podcast!Aaron will share the updates from the November WASDE report including yield, demand, and the stocks-to-use ratio.  You'll take a look at what's happened in the past and how our corn is used domestically and globally and the types of events that could impact overall demand.  In addition to discussing the overall outlook for the grain industry in light of the presidential election, he'll also show why it's important to keep an eye on the oil prices and the correlation to corn usage.  “The market is an emotionless animal.  It doesn't care how you feel…  We get caught up in projecting our own emotions, our own thoughts, onto a free market that only cares about the numbers or geopolitical headline news.” 

What is artificial intelligence, and how can it benefit growers?  To answer this question, brand new guest Taylor Wetli joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Taylor is the US Commercial and Business Development Manager for Solinftec, a company that specializes in AI and SaaS (software as a service) for agribusiness.  In addition to sharing about growing up on a farm and how he ended up in ag technology, Taylor will share a bit about Solinftec and what it's like to work for a cutting-edge company that's working closely with growers and ag retailers.  You'll learn how the robot can not just help make applications in the field, but how it can also help understand issues that exist in the field and make informed decisions regarding how to move forward.  You'll learn how the technology has evolved over the last couple of years and what possibilities may exist in the future.  “This is leading edge technology, and we want to be part of it for our customers.”

We've got a dignitary visiting us!  That might be a bit of a stretch, but not by much!  Special guest, Bruce Kettler, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama on this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Bruce is the CEO and President of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.In addition to learning about his background in agronomy and agriculture, you'll hear how he ended up in the Department of Agriculture and ultimately the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.  Bruce will explain how the ag retail industry has the same concerns as the growers, what's been done in 2024, and what's top of mind for the Agribusiness Council as we head into 2025.  You'll learn how the council has worked in education around pesticides and how they've weighed in on the legislature in Indiana.  From the opportunity to learn about the Emerging Professionals Leadership Program and land usage with the LEAP District to how the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) can assess the trade offs for moving farm land to solar farms or warehouses, this episode packs a punch.  “A farm is a business…  That farmland is not just waiting to be developed!”

What is the TRAX program, and how can that help growers?  Your hosts, Jeff and Sal, are joined in the podcast room by Joe Zimmerman and Glenn Longabaugh for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Joe is the TRAX Agronomy Lead, and Glenn is a frequent guest and the Agronomist for Premier Companies.On today's episode, you'll learn more about Glenn and Joe's background, education, and career history.  You'll learn about the soil sampling process, the nutrients that are tested, and how the results are analyzed.  They'll also share how the system knows where each sample came from, how that informs the nutrient applications, and how the CropLink platform can provide data from current and previous years to help growers maximize their yield.  When it comes to utilizing TRAX and Croplink to make sure growers are planting and fertilizing in the appropriate amounts and locations, perhaps Glenn says it best.  “If Joe had more hair, they'd call him Goldilocks.  They don't put on too much, they don't put on too little, it's just right.”    

Knock, knock.  Who's there?  Caroline and Emily!  Hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett are joined by special guests Caroline Meer and Emily Welch for today's episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Emily and Caroline are both agronomy account managers for Premier Companies, and they're here to share about the internship opportunities that exist within the company!In addition to some stellar knock knock jokes, you'll learn about the account manager role at Premier including the products and services they sell.  Emily will also share about the variety of internships that exist with Premier including agronomy, operations, and agronomy sales.  As a former intern, Caroline shares insight into her experience and how it impacted her educational and professional journey.  You'll hear about the training interns receive during their time at Premier, and you'll also learn about Purdue University's Job Fairs and how the recruiting process works. From the knock knock jokes to the weigh wagon woes, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

A kernel is a kernel is a kernel…  right?  Returning but still special guest Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Glenn is the Agronomist for Premier Companies, and in addition to being a wealth of knowledge and large words, he's a fan favorite!Glenn will share some of the surprises growers in the Midwest saw with the late-planted corn and how kernel depth and weight have been impacted by the growing conditions.  He'll also share his thoughts on whether growers should plant soybeans before or after corn and what that will mean for overall management.  Sal, Jeff, and Glenn will talk through some of the reasons why there has been such a dramatic variability in yield across the area and the damage charcoal rot can do to a soybean field.  “If you have fields that are disappointing and all you hear from the neighbors is, ‘Oh, this is the best crop I ever had,' trust me, it is not just you!”  

“Without our customers, we don't have jobs!”  Special guest, Ben Schutte, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this employee spotlight on The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Ben is the Agronomy Accounts Manager, and he's here to share with us about his career path at Premier.Ben will share about life growing up on a dairy farm and how that helped shape his work ethic even today.  From working on family farms to working as an account manager, you'll hear how Ben has solved problems and built relationships in every role he's had.  He'll also share about the most rewarding parts of his role and share about some of his greatest successes.  “Outside of their immediate family, you have as much stake in their farm and their success as anyone else.”

What is Swinelink and how does it help a new grower obtain a steady income?  Hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett are joined by special guest Dan Vague in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  As the VP of Swine Production for Premier Companies, Dan has had a front row seat to the ups and downs of the swine market over the last year and knows exactly how Premier runs their swine program.Dan, Jeff, and Sal will share some insight into the feed efficiency and barn management practices in addition to the changes Premier has seen in the number of hogs in their program.  You'll also hear how Swinelink works and how growers can benefit from their participation in that program to have steady income without the risk of hog ownership.  Dan will also recap Premier's care philosophy and how they ensure their livestock are being cared for properly including the steps taken to minimize the spread of disease.  “A healthy happy pig is gonna perform the best, and we're gonna make the most money off of that…  So that's our goal, is to keep them as comfortable and happy as possible.” 

What will the yields look like with the dry summer heat?  On this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama are joined by returning guest and fan favorite, Aaron Bledsoe.  If you've been around The High Ground very long, you already know Aaron is the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and he's the best person around to answer that question.Aaron, Sal, and Jeff tackle a variety of topics including the recent WASDE (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates) Report and current grain markets including recent construction projects and the struggle some of the midwest has with soybean yields.  The Bledsoe dictionary also makes an appearance to help us understand what the “basis” is and why it can be positive or negative.  Aaron will also explain the variety of tools available to help the grower work through their options if they have a yield that exceeds their on-farm storage including locking in a basis and DP (delayed pricing).  “I'd rather be proactive right now than kicking that can down the road.”

Have you ever heard a podcast recorded from a combine?  Today you will!  Returning and special guest Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama from the field.  Glenn is a fan favorite and the Agronomist for Premier Companies. In addition to discussing highly important topics like their favorite ice cream, Glenn, Sal, and Jeff will dive into a variety of topics associated with the harvest season.  Glenn will share how he handled drainage issues on a field he farms but doesn't own and the end results of the adjustments he made.  You'll also learn about Glenn's thoughts regarding preparing a field with cover crops and various ways to improve your land.  “To me, it's all about making the best acres better.”

“Worst start to a podcast ever!”  Hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama are joined by returning guest Brian Scheid for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Jeff and Sal better watch what they say, because Brian is the Director of HR, and Environmental Health and Safety. On today's episode, you'll learn a lot about the Human Resources side of Premier Companies.  With around 550 people in a company, there's a lot to juggle, from recruiting and onboarding to payroll and benefits. Brian and his team have a lot on their plate!  Brian, Jeff, and Sal will share about the turnover they've seen across departments and the generational makeup of their staff and the safety component of Brian's role, including wild safety stories!  We'll leave it up to you as to whether or not it's actually the worst start to a podcast episode.

Welcome to Geek Week! For this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama are joined by James Driscoll and Matt Persinger in the podcast room.  James is the Chief Technology Officer, and Matt is the IT Project Manager, both of Premier Companies.You'll learn about Premier's IT department and the variety of adventures that come at them on a daily basis.  From last-minute trips due to router failures to everyone's favorite question, “Is it plugged in?” you never know what you'll get in Premier's IT department. You'll learn more about why Premier takes cyber security seriously and the types of tests they give their internal employees to make sure they're not just clicking on any old link.  From learning about the team's protection against hackers and ransomware to protection against credential harvesting, you'll learn about the steps Premier Ag takes to keep their information and their customer information safe.

How should you time your nutritional and fungicide applications?  To shed insight on that topic on this episode of the High Ground powered by Premier Companies, Glenn Longabaugh joins Sal Sama, VP of Agronomy Sales and Marketing and Jeff Jarrett, VP of New Business Ventures and Fertilizer for Premier Ag.  Unless you're brand new to the podcast, you already know and love Glenn, who is the Agronomist for Premier Companies.  Glenn will share his thoughts about the current state of our crops and why certain soilborne pathogens including brown stem rot and red crown rot can't be influenced much by fungicides and how they can cause significant yield loss.  You'll also hear about the ideal application and timing of fungicides and nutritionals on soybeans and how Premier account reps can help growers figure out the correct timing for their fields.  “If we can do what's best for the crop, it'll almost always make the grower more money.”

What does it mean when we say we're in a “carry market”?  Returning guest, Aaron Bledsoe, joins hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  As the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, Aaron has a front row seat to the changing markets and is here to provide some insight for what that could mean for growers in the Midwest.  Aaron will share his thoughts on the impact of on-farm storage on overall grain movement, and how another high yield harvest could impact the overall market.  You'll also hear about how Premier Companies is growing to accommodate higher yields and what the need for exports may look like in the coming years in light of our increased use of used cooking oil for biodiesel products.  Aaron will share his advice for the new crop and proactive measures that can be taken between now and harvest.  “It's gonna do you no good to look at the past on this one!”

Grain prices stink.  So why shouldn't we talk about fertilizer, too?  On this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, our favorite fertilizer guy, Josh Linville, is joining hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama fresh from the Southwestern Fertilizer Conference.  Josh is the Vice President of Fertilizer at StoneX, and with over 20 years of experience in fertilizer, he's got a plethora of topics to cover today.Are you curious about the fertilizer tariffs and how those are impacting the fertilizer market and how flows happen?  Have you wondered how the war in Ukraine has impacted exports from Russia?  In addition to discussing fertilizer application, supply, and timing, you'll hear how an election year complicates things even further.  Josh will explain why he thinks urea prices will get worse and why we're still trying to get our stores filled up from the last couple of years.  “Don't let the markets lull you to sleep.  Keep an eye on it!  …Now's the time we actually gotta start putting pen to the paper.”

You see insects and say, “Let's go bomb ‘em,” right?  Well, maybe.  Everyone's favorite guest, Glenn Longabaugh, joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Glenn is the Agronomist for Premier Companies, and he's here to talk about all things involving pest management.You'll learn about why the presence of certain insects means you should hold off on treatment and why the threshold for integrated pest management has changed since the 1980s.  Are you wondering what makes the many varieties of aphids so difficult to manage?  Glenn's got the scoop.  He'll also share why hoverflies are actually beneficial and why the correct timeline on the integrated pest management program is not only beneficial to the wallet but beneficial to the environment as well.  Ryan, Glenn, and Sal also dig into what we should be doing with our late season soybeans to enhance or protect yield.  Buckle up for another information-packed episode of The High Ground!

What does the Indiana State Board of Animal Health do?  Bret D. Marsh, D.V.M. joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast studio for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Dr. Bret, a 30-year Indiana State Veterinarian, is a Boone County native who received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University.You'll hear about his background on the ranch, education at Purdue University, and what it's like to practice veterinary medicine at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  He'll share how the Indiana State Board of Animal Health interacts with other state and federal government agencies including the DNR, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and even the Department of Homeland Security.  What happens when unusual mortality is seen on farm animals and gets reported to the state?  What is Prop 12, and why is that the boogeyman for ag?  You'll learn all that and more on today's episode!

What's the difference between sustainability and conservation?  Special guests Sydney Calhoun and Evan Eggersman join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Sydney is the Trax Conservation Agronomy Lead, and Evan is the Trax Ag Technology and Sustainability Lead for Premier Companies.In addition to learning about the basics of sustainability, you'll learn how participating in the Trax program can increase the effectiveness of the conservation efforts of the grower.  Evan will explain a bit about the nitrogen management and carbon sequestration programs and how farmers can be rewarded for their participation.  They'll also share about an exciting partnership between Truterra and the USDA that's resulted in a program that can pay a grower to participate in the cover crop and no-till conservation efforts for the first time.  If that's not enough, they'll also touch on the reasons farmers have a love/hate relationship with cover-crops and the way technology can help a farmer collect the data to meet the program requirements.  “We haven't really had… somebody that can connect some of the government resources and Premier Ag together, and that's what this whole grant has been about."

“It's about these big flat fields, and big skies, and that's truly where the passion is, and I may not get to do that a lot, but I get to work for the guys who do.” Chris Weldon joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Chris is the Market Development Project Manager for the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council.  In addition to telling some wild plumbing and closet stories, Chris will share the story of his career path and what brought him to his current role. You'll learn about how the Indiana Soybean Alliance is working with national partners to create demand for Indiana products on a global scale. You'll learn about the Soybean Oil Masters Program which is designed to provide education to international stakeholders about U.S.-grown soybeans and the advantages of importing the product and how the checkoff program works on behalf of the farmer. “Every single farmer in our state, in some way, is somebody that I'm working for.”

Why is the beef market so exceptional right now? Returning guest, Ryan Batt, joins Andy Pinnick and hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies to dig into that question! As you may remember, Ryan is the Facility Manager, and Andy is the Senior Director of Livestock Marketing for United Producers Inc.Ryan will share where the markets currently stand along with the perfect storm that has created it.  You'll learn about what happens when the cattle are loaded up to go to market, how the cattle are bid upon, and what happens in the vaccination programs along the way. You'll learn more about livestock risk protection in addition to care tips through the summer.  Have you considered getting into the beef on dairy bandwagon? Andy will share his thoughts on what the future could bring in the beef market and why the beef on dairy trend looks like it will continue.  “This beef on dairy, it is the hottest thing going as far as production and getting people involved in it right now.”

Tell us why the market continues to do what it does!  Aaron Bledsoe is back in the podcast room with your hosts, Ryan Priest and Sal Sama, for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies.  Aaron is no stranger to the podcast and is quite the fan favorite!  An aspiring gator hunter and well-known Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, he's here to share his thoughts on all things connected to the most recent USDA report. Aaron will share how the weather in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana could disrupt the market especially in light of all of the bushels still on the farm.  You'll learn about the complications that exist because of the existing on-farm storage and potential for exports.  Aaron also sheds light into how the record flooding in Brazil may impact the overall supply.  Will we hit the 181 bushels per acre yield that's being predicted?  “Now is the time for discipline…  Get back to basics and just come up with a solid plan and work from there.”