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Two farming couples have made the move to turn a forestry block back into a working farm. Sam and Gemma Hain and Matt and Kate Long have just taken ownership of a 400ha property covered in pines, and they're hoping to utilise the land for sheep and beef farming. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Originally aired as one of our most popular conversations, we're bringing this episode back for a replay.Farmland has become one of the world's most sought-after investment assets—but what actually drives land values, and where is agricultural real estate headed next?In this episode, Paul sits down with Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company, to discuss the forces reshaping agricultural land ownership, capital markets, and investment. Steve shares his perspective on how institutional investors view farmland, why technology is changing the economics of agriculture, and how farmers can think strategically about one of their most valuable assets.Whether you're actively buying land, planning for the next generation, or simply interested in where agricultural investment is heading, this conversation remains just as relevant today as when it first aired.MEET THE GUESTSteve BruereSteve Bruere is one of agriculture's leading authorities on farmland real estate and serves as President of Peoples Company. With a background in real estate finance from the University of Northern Iowa, Steve has helped grow Peoples Company into a nationally recognized firm specializing in farmland brokerage, management, investment, and appraisal services.He is also the founder of the Land Investment Expo, one of the premier educational events focused on agricultural land ownership, investment, and management, bringing together producers, investors, economists, and industry leaders from across North America.ABOUT THE PODCASTDiscover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast". This podcast will be a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels, and encounters with important figures around the world.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.
In this episode, we listen to an emphatic refusal, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 296, penned by Madurai Peralavayaar. The verse is situated amidst the gushing rivers of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and narrates scenes of celebration in the domain of a famous Pandya king. கோதை இணர குறுங் கால் காஞ்சிப்போது அவிழ் நறுந் தாது அணிந்த கூந்தல்,அரி மதர் மழைக் கண் மாஅயோளொடுநெருநையும் கமழ் பொழில் துஞ்சி, இன்றும்பெரு நீர் வையை அவளொடு ஆடி,புலரா மார்பினை வந்து நின்று, எம்வயின்கரத்தல் கூடுமோ மற்றே? பரப்பில்பல் மீன் கொள்பவர் முகந்த இப்பிநார் அரி நறவின் மகிழ் நொடைக் கூட்டும்பேர் இசைக் கொற்கைப் பொருநன், வென் வேல்கடும் பகட்டு யானை நெடுந் தேர் செழியன்,மலை புரை நெடு நகர்க் கூடல் நீடியமலிதரு கம்பலை போல,அலர் ஆகின்று, அது பலர் வாய்ப் பட்டே. In this crisp trip to the farmlands, we get to witness familiar scenes of romping about, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when he had returned after leaving the lady to go court a courtesan: “With that dark-skinned maiden, having tresses, adorned with the fragrant pollen from clusters of blooming flowers, akin to flowering garlands, on the short-legged Portia tree, and radiant, red-streaked, rain-like eyes, you had rested in the fragrant orchards yesterday. Today too, after playing with her in the gushing waters of the Vaigai river, you come here, and stand with your chest, still moist. Did you think it was possible for you to hide all this from us? Those men, who gather heaps of fish in the seas, bring along shells in their catch and sell it in exchange for that delightful, well-filtered toddy in the city of ‘Koodal', ruled by the King of Korkai, one of immense fame, one who wields arrogant, strong elephants, tall chariots and victorious spears, having the name of ‘Chezhiyan'. Akin to the uproar that brims over in the streets of ‘Koodal' with mansions, soaring akin to peaks, spreads slander in our town, from the mouths of many, many.” Time to stroll these lands of plenty and learn more! The confidante starts by describing the courtesan as a maiden who has dark skin, whose tresses waft with the scent of Portia tree flowers and whose eyes are rain-like. So much praise for an adversary! Returning, next she tells the man that he had spent his time with the said courtesan, resting together in the orchards and then today, he had taken to playing with the courtesan in the new floods of the Vaigai river. After all this, he has the gall to come and act as if nothing has happened, standing so audaciously, with a moist chest that too, the confidante adds. She asks him whether he thought he could hide his antics from the lady and herself. Then she switches tracks and goes on to describe the valour of King Chezhiyan, the conqueror of many battlefields and his capital of ‘Koodal’, referring to the contemporary city of ‘Madurai’, and how people from the shores would arrive to the streets of this world-famous city, to barter their shells for its delicious toddy. The confidante concludes by asking the man to reflect on the kind of buzz that would rise from the streets of Koodal and connects by saying that’s how loud the gossip about the man’s meanderings were, in their town! In essence, it’s a strict ‘No’ to the man for his request to enter the lady’s home. Yet again, it’s a depiction of the state of wandering and quarrelling, in the land of riches. Within these pages, however, we get to travel in time and glimpse the buzzing streets of Koodal, and witness scenes involving trade and toddy, the seemingly age-old preoccupations of humans everywhere!
"I didn't get to Dad's until 12:30am Friday. I'll never forget coming over the hill I've been coming over my whole life to home and seeing the area glowing. The whole horizon wasred. It was like an apocalypse."VicNoTill board member Callum Lawson and his partner, large-animal veterinarian Lyndall Barwick, were on the frontline of the Longwood bushfire in Victoria that started on January 7, 2026. This fire burnt over 140,000 hectares. Callum manages ‘Allanvale' at Avenel and his family farm is at Highlands, about 45 minutes southeast. Callum and Lyndall did everything they could to create firebreaks and protect livestock at ‘Allanvale' in catastrophic conditions before making an emergency dash to Highlands to help save the family farm. Seven months on, Michael Gooden catches up with Callum about the steps he's taken to restore and repair burnt soils, and rebuild his regenerative grazing system using tools such as natural sequence farming, virtual fencing, applying foliars, stimulating his underground biology and just sitting back patiently letting his landscape rest and recover as his soils rebuild themselves. A huge thank you to Callum for his generosity in sharing his story and for the time he's put into sharing his knowledge and experience to help others. Farmers helping farmers is what it's all about.
Two months on from its launch at Fieldays, we look at the uptake of Farmlands’ new Ignite mental health platform and who is using it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Mike Bartolo is a third-generation farmer from Pueblo County, Colorado, and a retired research scientist and vegetable crops specialist at Colorado State University. Mike's grandparents immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s to work in the mines around Pueblo, and after years of backbreaking labor, they saved enough to buy a small farm on the St. Charles Mesa—the beginning of a family legacy on the land that continues to this day. Mike went on to spend more than three decades at CSU serving the farmers of the Arkansas Valley, and while he'd never claim the title himself, many consider him the developer of the legendary Pueblo Chile. I first met Mike back in 2018 through our mutual work with Palmer Land Conservancy, and ever since, I've seen him as a mentor when it comes to matters of water, farmland conservation, long-term thinking, and kindness. His combination of scientific expertise, tireless work ethic, deep humility, and fierce devotion to his family and community is something I've rarely encountered. Mike is also one of the main characters profiled in the poignant and powerful Ben Knight documentary MIRASOL: Looking at the Sun, which chronicles Pueblo County's farming community and its fight to protect its land and water—so it was an honor to finally sit down with him for this long-overdue conversation. We started with the remarkable story of his grandparents—including his grandfather Rocco, who survived being a prisoner of war in World War I before returning to Colorado to break rocks for the steel industry—and how that generation's sacrifice continues to guide Mike today. We talked about his childhood on the family farm, where he and his five siblings turned every chore into an Olympic competition, and his path to becoming a plant scientist at CSU. We discussed what makes Pueblo County's farmland world-class, the cautionary tale of Crowley County's devastating water sales, and why Mike believes educating and mobilizing the public is the key to protecting the Arkansas Valley's water. We also dug into the history of the Pueblo Chile, as well as the making of "MIRASOL," his approach to passionate-but-respectful advocacy, the spiritual connection he feels to the soil, his advice for the next generation of farmers, and much more. This was such a meaningful conversation for me, and I know you'll enjoy getting to know Mike as much as I have. Enjoy! --- Dr. Michael Bartolo MIRASOL: Looking at the Sun Palmer Land Conservancy Mike's Innovation in Conservation Award film Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-bartolo --- THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mountain & Prairie is listener supported via Patreon, and brought to you with support from the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust, MIRASOL: Looking at the Sun, Patagonia Books, the Rye Resurgence Project for their generous sponsorship. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 0:00 - Introducing Mike Bartolo and highlighting MIRASOL 7:03 - Reconnecting with Mike 8:16 - Mike's grandparents 12:14 - A particular kind of work ethic 17:28 - Growing up competitive 20:01 - Developing expertise 23:30 - Farmland development 28:33 - Pueblo County 30:56 - Colorado water 36:27 - Solutions? 40:57 - MIRASOL 45:20 - The Pueblo Chile 51:06 - Being an advocate 55:58 - Mike's advice to younger folks 59:03 - Time spent now 1:00:51 - Book (or video) recs and anthropology inspo 1:06:07 - Wrapping up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
The chief executive of Hawke’s Bay Rugby and spokesman for the NZPU Group applauds Farmlands, named today as the official national rural partner of 14 major rugby provinces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An Iowa widow is suing her financial advisor and two life insurance companies after a premium-financed IUL strategy left her family farm buried in $38 million of debt. Mary Jo has been warning about this exact scheme for years — now there's a real lawsuit to prove it. In Episode 363 of Farming Without the Bank, Mary Jo Irmen breaks down the November 2024 lawsuit involving a debt-free Iowa farm family who was sold $23 million in IUL coverage — with $2.5 million in annual premiums financed through bank loans secured by their paid-off farmland. The strategy was sold as a way to protect the farm from estate taxes. Instead, it put the entire farm at risk. In this episode: The full story behind the Iowa widow's lawsuit (agent Davis, Emeritus, and PacLife) How premium financing works — and why it's especially dangerous for farm families How unethical agents exploit estate tax fears to target debt-free farmers The difference between "churning" and "twisting" — and why neither costs agents their license Why the original $5 million policy would have been enough all along Red flags to watch for if someone is pitching this strategy to you or your family The original $5 million policy would have covered everything. Instead, the debt hit $38 million. Don't let this happen to your farm. If you've been presented with a premium-financed IUL strategy — or know someone who has — reach out before signing anything. Mary Jo and John will review it at no charge.
KANSAS WATER WARS: DATA CENTERS VS. FARMS IN THE FIGHT FOR THE OGALLALA AQUIFER Water is running out in Kansas, and a new competitor just showed up: data centers. Trent Loos heads to Sedgwick County to sit down with retired agronomist John Hecht and Mike Betzen for a hard look at the state's…More Info
New research suggests winter crops may offer California farmers an alternative to fallowing land while adapting to groundwater restrictions.
North Carolina enacts new law barring certain foreign entities from purchasing agricultural land and property near military installations, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek requests Federal Disaster Designation for pear growers in the Columbia River Gorge, and America's farmland continues to face pressure from development and ownership changes.
As of midyear 2026, farmland values across Compeer Financial's Upper Midwest territory have held firm despite weak farm incomes. Today's guest is Brent Wiest, a Regional Manager Appraisal for Illinois at Compeer Financial. He works closely with appraisers across Compeer's territory and has a unique perspective on the trends we're seeing throughout the Upper Midwest farmland market. He will discuss lower crop margins, elevated financing costs and uneven sales activity have made buyers more cautious. For more expert updates and in-depth analysis throughout the year, subscribe to Compeer's monthly appraisal e-newsletter and the Appraisal Report podcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
JAY TRUITT TALKS FEED MILL FIRES AND THE FIGHT OVER AI DATA CENTERS ON FARMLAND Trent Loos welcomes Jay Truitt from Texas for a hard-hitting look at issues shaking rural America. The two dig into a troubling rise in feed mill fires, breaking down decades of data and the real dangers farmers and…
Guano and the Double-Edged Sword of Industrial Farming Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World The story of the cormorant centers on guano, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer that once made businessmen like William Gibbs the richest commoners in England. While the Inca had used guano for centuries, the 19th-century trade was built on the tragic exploitation of Chinese indentured laborers on arid Peruvian islands. This "natural" fertilizer era eventually gave way to the Haber-Bosch process, which allowed for the mass production of synthetic nitrates. Mossargues that while this "high farming" prevented starvation, it led to a "drug addict" dependency on chemicals that has devastated wildlife. Farmland birds like the partridge and skylark have declined sharply as intensive practices destroy insects and degrade soil. Citing Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Moss highlights that the same agricultural revolution that boosted yields also created an ecological crisis, leaving many modern fields "hopeless for wildlife." (6)1658 HUNTING PARTRIDGES
The House's summer season focus on food security continues with a deep dive into the pressures on farmland — and the people who grow our food. Guest host Janyce McGregor speaks to the Stevens family, who turned down millions from developers to protect their farm for a thousand years. Tyler McCann of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute details where and how this land is being lost, while Ontario's agriculture minister Trevor Jones explains the Ford government's move to join other provinces' ban on foreign ownership of farmland. Then, former farmer-turned-Saskatchewan-trade-minister Warren Kaeding reflects on the difficult decisions farmers make when it's time to pass on the family farm, and Farm Credit Canada's Justine Hendricks outlines how the crown corporation is responding to the spike in land prices with more creative financing.And, Janyce McGregor speaks to three people who've experienced mental health challenges due to the extreme stress of managing precarious finances, unpredictable weather patterns and rural isolation. Stewart Skinner, Lesley Kelley and Gerry Friesen lay out what's needed to help farmers manage the weight of the responsibility to feed the nation in turbulent times. This episode features the voices of:Charles Stevens, owner Wilmot OrchardsCourtney Stevens, cafe and social media manager for Wilmot OrchardsIan Parker, general manager of Wilmot OrchardsTyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy InstituteTrevor Jones, Ontario Minister of AgricultureWarren Kaeding, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export DevelopmentJustine Hendricks, CEO of Farm Credit CanadaStewart Skinner, Ontario farmerGerry Friesen, author of The Recovering FarmerLesley Kelley, co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation
A new $42 million initiative from American Farmland Trust's Beef Grazing Network aims to help 700 beef producers improve profitability through better grazing, healthier soils and stronger marketing, and USDA is launching a pilot program designed to modernize crop acreage reporting by replacing paper maps with electronic reporting.
The BC Agriculture Council is moving forward with plans to establish a provincial Farmland Trust aimed at protecting agricultural land and keeping it in production for future generations. The proposed trust would preserve farmland, support farm succession and help ensure productive land remains available for farming rather than being lost to other uses. The council says the initiative comes as rising land values, affordability challenges and a growing number of farm transitions are making it increasingly difficult for new and next generation farmers to access land.
In this episode, we perceive an insightful refusal to a request, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 286, penned by Orambokiyaar. The verse is situated amidst the sounds of pounding in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and delves into abstractions about the actions of the noble. வெள்ளி விழுத் தொடி மென் கருப்பு உலக்கை,வள்ளி நுண் இடை வயின் வயின் நுடங்க;மீன் சினை அன்ன வெண் மணல் குவைஇ,காஞ்சி நீழல், தமர் வளம் பாடி,ஊர்க் குறுமகளிர் குறுவழி, விறந்தவராஅல் அருந்திய சிறு சிரல் மருதின்தாழ் சினை உறங்கும் தண் துறை ஊர! விழையா உள்ளம் விழையும் ஆயினும்,என்றும், கேட்டவை தோட்டி ஆக மீட்டு, ஆங்கு,அறனும் பொருளும் வழாமை நாடி,தற் தகவு உடைமை நோக்கி, மற்று அதன்பின் ஆகும்மே, முன்னியது முடித்தல்;அனைய, பெரியோர் ஒழுக்கம்; அதனால்,அரிய பெரியோர்த் தெரியுங்காலை,நும்மோர் அன்னோர் மாட்டும், இன்னபொய்யொடு மிடைந்தவை தோன்றின்,மெய் யாண்டு உளதோ, இவ் உலகத்தானே? In this trip to the farmlands, rather than the usual love-quarrels, we get to see a different dimension, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when he informs her about his wish to part away from the lady, earn wealth, and then return to marry her: “With the soft, black sugarcane stems as the silver-capped pestles, swaying their dainty waists to and fro, akin to ‘valli' vines, heaping white sand, akin to fish eggs, in the shade of the portia tree, as the young maiden of the town sing the praises of their kin, in tune with their pounding, a small kingfisher that has feasted on murrel fish sleeps on the low-hanging branch of the Arjuna tree in your cool river shores, O lord! Even if a heart, which tends not to desire unjust things, happens to desire some such thing, with sharp questions as the goad, they would rein it in. Only after delving on questions of justice and fairness, and establishing that one is worthy of something, do they work towards accomplishing that; This is the discipline of those who are noble. When we ponder on the actions of such noble people, if someone like you, who is considered as one such, shows falsehoods in your actions, then where is truth to be found in this world?” Time to take a walk through this town of complexity! The confidante starts by describing the town of the man, and to do that, she paints a picture of young girls, using a sugarcane as a pestle, and the river sand, which appears like fish eggs, as the grains, imitating the actions of their elders, they pound and play, in the shade of a portia tree, even as they sing the praises of their townsfolk. As they sing and pound, a kingfisher, with its tummy full of murrel fish, sleeps on a branch of a ‘Marutham’ tree nearby, in the lord’s lush river shores, the confidante adds. After that tangible depiction of the world around, the confidante jumps into abstractions, talking about how the nature of the noble was to seek only what they think is just and fair and even if their minds sometimes pull them in the other direction, they tame those wild elephants with the goad of their intellect. She also mentions how they would weigh their worth before wanting something and only when they find themselves worthy, they would work towards attaining that. The confidante thus presents a portrait of the noble and concludes by saying to the man, ‘You are considered to be one such noble person. But if your actions show falsifications of these laws, then where only can we find truth in this world?’ To understand these abstractions, we have to travel back to the time when the man took an oath to never part from the lady, which gave confidence to the confidante and the lady, about his sincerity. So, now when the man says he wants to leave, the confidante is talking about how he’s going back on his words and it appears as if he said all that only to win the lady, by any means possible. She tries to appeal to his better nature by asking him that seemingly cynical question about the fate of truth in this world. Perhaps, hearing this, the man would realise the mistake in his ways and try to seek the lady’s hand, instead of parting away. In the scene of the kingfisher that sleeps on, not minding the pounding of young maiden, the confidante places a metaphor for how the man had been intent only on his pleasures of trysting with the lady, unmindful of the slander that he has caused around town. Leaving aside all this heaviness, the aspect that lingers on pleasantly is the memory of those songs of praise, reverberating with the rhythm of the pounding in the river shores of that rich town!
The state is investing money to help counties develop land use plans that prioritize agricultural land.
This episode is presented by Create A Video – Andrew Dunn is the publisher of Longleaf Politics and a contributing columnist to The Charlotte Observer. We discussed the potential for Major League Baseball in Raleigh as well as Andrew's book about Pat McCrory. Plus, the North Carolina legislature looks to ban foreign adversaries from buying farmland within 50 miles of military installations.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast My preferred podcast platform: SpreakerAll the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com
A Wisconsin man was fired by the Environmental Protection Agency for signing a letter opposing the Trump administration's rollbacks of environmental regulations. Dozens of animal rights activists are charged after storming a beagle breeding facility twice. Plus, one of Wisconsin's biggest cities tackles housing by converting old farmland.
In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we're joined by four guests - Ian and Kristina, co-founders and co-executive directors of The Farmers Land Trust, and Julian and Alita, the visionaries behind the Earthen Heart Farmland Commons in Bangor, Michigan - to talk about a hopeful and replicable model in food systems work happening right now.The conversation that unfolds in this episode is a story about what becomes possible when land is decommodified, when ownership is reimagined as stewardship, and when the right people find each other at the right moment. Julian donated his 19.9-acre Bangor farm, built over 14 years of food forests, medicinal plants, and regenerative land practices, into the Farmers Land Trust, where it became the founding property of the Earthen Heart Farmland Commons. Alita Kelly, founder of Jade Rabbit and steward of community food work across West Michigan, received a 99-year lease on that land and a seat in the ownership structure. This conversation is part origin story, part how-it-works, and part invitation to anyone sitting on land, working with land, or dreaming of a different relationship to it.Tune in to learn more about:What The Farmers Land Trust does and how the farmland commons model works, including the 501c25 legal structure that makes it possibleHow farmers who lease land through this model also get a seat in the ownership structure, and why that changes everythingJulian's 14-year journey as steward of the Earthen Heart property, what he learned, and what guided him toward donating rather than sellingWhat it felt like to ask the land for permission, and to receive an answerWhy healing on this land is inseparable from healing the relationship that communities of color have had with land in AmericaThe vision for Earthen Heart as a site of communal farming, collective living, a freedom school, and transformation through the seasonsThe honest challenges: finding pro bono legal support, aligning values among farm partners, navigating shared leadership, and building something with no mapWhy land is donated all the time (to universities, municipalities, and conservation trusts) and what it would mean to shift that culture toward working farmland and food sovereigntyThe history of the word "homesteading" and why Julian chooses to use it anyway, and the distinction between farming for sale and farming for useLiberty Hyde Bailey, Teddy Roosevelt, the Commission on Rural Life, and the moment over a century ago that set us on the path we're still trying to heal fromResources MentionedEpisode 13: Bringing Hope to the Future of Farmland with Ian McSweeneyEpisode 34: Creating a Farmland Commons with Ian McSweeneyEpisode 48: Solidarity and Community Sufficiency: Land Justice, Food Justice and True Community Empowerment with Kristina Villa et al Liberty Hyde Bailey The Homestead Act of 1862 Connect + Learn MoreThe Farmers Land Trust Website: thefarmerslandtrust.org Earthen Heart Farmland Commons Website: thefarmerslandtrust.org/commons/earthen-heart Earthen Heart Website: earthenheart.comJade Rabbit: jade-rabbit.orgWest Michigan Young Farmers Coalition: youngfarmers.orgConnect with Hannah on Instagram: @hannahkeitel
The former Rural Support Trust chairman is also the winner of the champion award at the Primary Industries New Zealand Awards. He talks about a new partnership with Farmlands offering free access to mental health and wellbeing support for rural communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
(For Entertainment Purposes only, always seek a qualified professional.)Support: PositiveSarcasm.com/DonateSegment 1: From foreign influences, to private equity firms, to Bill Gates, an overhaul of America's Farmlands is needed before it's too late.https://nfu.org/news/why-farmers-are-worried-about-bill-gates-and-other-non-farming-land-owners/FREE STOCKS, IRA, CASH MANAGEMENT:https://a.webull.com/S4xAPPzv9rXFMdF8Q4Sign up via my referral link now!https://j.moomoo.com/00EoSCTrade Stocks and CryptoReward when you sign up:https://etoro.tw/47OmXMlPositiveSarcasm.com - 2014Therapy for yourself, for couples, for teens:https://www.betterhelp.com/
In this episode, we perceive the ire of a woman, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 276, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated amidst the fish-filled ponds of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and relays scenes of rivalry in a rich town. நீள் இரும் பொய்கை இரை வேட்டு எழுந்தவாளை வெண் போத்து உணீஇய, நாரை தன்அடி அறிவுறுதல் அஞ்சி, பைபயக்கடி இலம் புகூஉம் கள்வன் போல,சாஅய் ஒதுங்கும் துறை கேழ் ஊரனொடுஆவது ஆக! இனி நாண் உண்டோ?வருகதில் அம்ம, எம் சேரி சேர!அரி வேய் உண்கண் அவன் பெண்டிர் காண,தாரும் தானையும் பற்றி, ஆரியர்பிடி பயின்று தரூஉம் பெருங் களிறு போல,தோள் கந்தாகக் கூந்தலின் பிணித்து, அவன்மார்பு கடி கொள்ளேன்ஆயின், ஆர்வுற்றுஇரந்தோர்க்கு ஈயாது ஈட்டியோன் பொருள்போல்,பரந்து வெளிப்படாது ஆகி,வருந்துகதில்ல, யாய் ஓம்பிய நலனே! Sparks fly in this trip to the farmlands, as we hear a courtesan say these words to her friends, conveying a pointed message to the lady’s friends, listening near by: “Searching for prey in the long and vast pond, a stork, wishing to feed on the white male of the scabbard fish, fearing its footsteps would be heard, walks slowly, akin to a thief entering a well-guarded house, and takes soft steps in the shore-filled town of the lord! Why should I hold back out of modesty anymore? When he comes by to our neighbourhood, making sure his women with kohl-streaked eyes with red lines, see, clutching on to his garlands and garments, akin to a female elephant, trained by the Aryars, to seize a huge male elephant, with my arms as the post, I will bind him with my tresses and hold on tightly to his chest. If I don't do this, akin to wealth earned, which is not given away to those who plead in need, without being known and cherished with fame, let that beauty of mine, reared by my mother, languish and turn to ruin!” Let’s watch this familiar tussle in the land of plenty! The courtesan starts by describing the man’s town and to do that, she sketches the scene of a stork walking like a thief entering a guarded mansion, so as to prey upon the scabbard fish, swimming blissfully in a pond. After that scene of stealth, she goes on to say that there’s no use suffering with a sense of shame anymore. Declaring that the next time the man came to their neighbourhood, the courtesan, in the manner of a female elephant, trained by the Aryans to tempt and capture huge wild, male elephants, would clutch on to the man’s clothes and garlands and hold tightly, with her tresses as the rope and her arms as the post. The courtesan concludes with a vow that if she does not do such a thing then let the beauty that her mother reared in her, become ruined without any fame like the wealth of a person, who hoards and gives not, to those who come seeking in need. The core of this tale is that the courtesan is angered by the disparaging words of the lady that has reached her ears and she intends to send back a sharp message to the lady challenging that her husband was about to be stolen away like an elephant in the wild. The opening image of the stork stealing in softly to make its kill is a metaphor for how the courtesan would snag the man with her stealth and strategy. In a verse full of emotions that have not aged very well, there’s one line that shines and that’s about the purpose of wealth, which according to these ancients was meant to serve the needy. If this future descendant could talk to those women of the past, I would say, ‘Dear ladies, quit the fighting over that silly man and realise the power and beauty of being the best you can be!’
We wrap up the special session at the state Capitol where lawmakers delayed changing ballots and did not move on property taxes. Plus, developers are snapping up Georgia farmland for housing and other uses and that has some people worried. Also, a new report finds about half of Georgia households struggle to keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities like utilities and food, despite earning above the Federal Poverty Level. And the economy isn't much better for nonprofits as the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta says the staggering response they received for a new nonprofit funding initiative points to increased uncertainty in the sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6.17.2026 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Fla. Fake Voters & Black Voter Purges. Ma. Cop Kills Black Toddler. Black Farmland Under Siege. _ For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (724) 264-8281 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/roland *Paid Partnership*_ Black Star Network Partner: ChapterFor free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (724) 264-8281 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/roland *Paid Partnership* Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.____Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we listen to a pointed expression of discontent, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 266, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated amidst gushing new streams of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and relays a jilted woman’s feelings. “கோடுற நிவந்த நீடு இரும் பரப்பின்அந்திப் பராஅய புதுப் புனல், நெருநை,மைந்து மலி களிற்றின் தலைப் புணை தழீஇ,நரந்தம் நாறும் குவை இருங் கூந்தல்இளந் துணை மகளிரொடு ஈர் அணிக் கலைஇ,நீர் பெயர்ந்து ஆடிய ஏந்து எழில் மழைக் கண்நோக்குதொறும் நோக்குதொறும் தவிர்விலையாகி,காமம் கைம்மிகச் சிறத்தலின், நாண் இழந்து,ஆடினை என்ப மகிழ்ந! அதுவேயாழ் இசை மறுகின் நீடூர் கிழவோன்வாய் வாள் எவ்வி ஏவல் மேவார்நெடு மிடல் சாய்த்த பசும் பூண் பொருந்தலர்அரிமணவாயில் உறத்தூர் ஆங்கண்,கள்ளுடைப் பெருஞ் சோற்று எல் இமிழ் அன்ன,கவ்வை ஆகின்றால் பெரிதே; இனி அஃதுஅவலம் அன்றுமன், எமக்கே; அயலகழனி உழவர் கலி சிறந்து எடுத்தகறங்கு இசை வெரீஇப் பறந்த தோகைஅணங்குடை வரைப்பகம் பொலிய வந்து இறுக்கும்திரு மணி விளக்கின் அலைவாய்ச்செரு மிகு சேஎயொடு உற்ற சூளே!” In this colourful trip to the farmlands, as usual, we see sparks fly between a couple, as we listen to the lady say these words to the man, when he returns home, after being in the company of courtesans: “Leaping high up to the banks, amidst the dark and vast spread of those exquisite gushing new floods, akin to a strong and skilful male elephant, holding on to the head of the raft, yesterday, along with those young companions of yours, having thick clusters of tresses, wafting with the scent of bitter orange, adorning yourself with a wet attire and accessories, you played on and on, in those waters, and every time you looked at those exquisite, rain-like eyes of theirs, roving around, with desire brimming over, and passion exceeding its bounds, losing your sense of shame, you frolicked, they say, O lord of the town! The slander that arose because of this has become louder than the uproar at the festivities in the town of ‘Arimanavayil Urathoor', when copious toddy and ceaseless food were offered in the middle of the day, at a time when the lord of the ancient town, where the music of the lute spreads in the streets, Evvi, who wields an honest sword, ruined and routed the power of those clad in golden ornaments, those who had refused to accept his command! But even the uproar of that slander is not something that brings distress to me. Fearing the resounding beats made by farmers in the field nearby, a peacock, fluttering its wings, takes off to those fear-evoking mountain ranges, and lands in a place called ‘Alaivaai', lit by exquisite lamps, the abode of the battle-worthy Dark-skinned One. It's the memory of the oath that you had taken before this God, which happens to brings that sense of suffering in me!” Let’s listen in to this quarrel and learn more! The lady starts by coming straight to the point and talking about how the news of the man’s activities the previous day had reached her ears already. Apparently, the man had adorned himself with ancient wet-wear and jumped into the gushing new river streams along with maiden he desired, and was romping around, without any sense of shame. The lady goes on to talk about how the uproar of slander in town owing to his activities was louder than the festivities at a place, filled with toddy and much food, called ‘Arimanavayil Urathoor’, after Lord Evvi quelled those wealthy others, who refused to heed to his command. That’s a pretty common comment, made in these situations but the lady follows that up by saying to the man, ‘Even that uproar is not causing me any concern. The only thing that worries me is when I remember the oath you took in front of God Murugan, at ‘Alaivaai’, frequented by peacocks that have arrived thither, after being frightened by the drums of farmers’. What this implies is that during the time of their courtship, the man had taken an oath of being true and loyal to the lady in front of God Murugan, which is now washed away in the flood of that river he played in. The lady means to say to the man, ‘All this slander is nothing but I fear some harm may befall you for you did not keep the promise you made in front of God’. Through that reference of the peacock flying away to God’s mountain, after being frightened by the farmer’s drums, the lady places a metaphor for how the man has come to their home, only because he feared the slander that arose in town and not any true feeling of love within. This will hopefully make the man reflect on his past promises, present aberrations and change his future path. Through multiple modes, the lady expresses her dissatisfaction with the man’s behaviour and illustrates an instance of effective communication in interpersonal conflict!
Farmlands’ chief executive and our host for Fieldays wraps the week. She discusses Farmlands’ partnership with the Rural Support Trust and digital wellbeing platform Ignite to deliver a free online mental health and wellbeing service for farmers and growers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We learn now about this weekend's Forever Farmland event - connecting local farmers with the community to celebrate a special collaboration between the Argyle Brewing Company and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.The event on Sunday from Noon – 5 PM at the Beer Garden at Argyle Brewing Company in Greenwich, NY is a perfect opportunity to meet the dedicated farmers behind ASA-conserved properties, learn about vital local conservation efforts, and raise a glass to our vibrant agricultural community.
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two special guests for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred interview: Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons Canada & U.S., and Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer of Restaurant Brands International (RBI). With Dunkin' Donuts announcing its return to Canada and Canadians passionately debating the future of their most iconic coffee brand, Axel and Duncan showed up ready to answer the tough questions. In a candid 40-minute conversation, Schwan and Fulton open up about Tim Hortons' "Back to Basics" strategy — the largest consumer research project in the company's history — and the quality overhaul that followed: freshly cracked eggs replacing frozen patties in breakfast sandwiches, 40% more apple in the apple fritter, more Venetian cream in the Boston cream, and the removal of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives across the menu. They share how Tim Hortons serves four million guests a day across 4,000 restaurants owned by 1,500 Canadian franchisees, why traffic is the one metric Axel watches daily, and how the brand is winning younger consumers with its Quenchers platform — including the imminent launch of Popping Quenchers — plus celebrity partnerships with Justin Bieber and Ryan Reynolds. The duo also tackles the controversy head-on: Is the wave of announcements — 400 restaurant renovations, 80 new builds, a national hiring campaign — a reaction to Dunkin's arrival? Fulton sets the record straight on the temporary foreign worker debate, noting roughly 4,000 of 110,000 restaurant team members are part of the program, and explains how AI is being deployed to improve the team member experience, from labour scheduling to order accuracy. A rapid-fire round covers everything from the biggest public misconception about Tim Hortons to the products Canadians want back, while Michael shares his own fun factoid: he helped invent Roll Up the Rim during his Dixie Cup days. But first, we start with the food and agriculture news of the week. Sobeys gets served as the Competition Bureau flexes its new Competition Act powers to investigate property controls in Canadian grocery. We break down Ottawa's newly published AI strategy and what it means for agriculture and food, where Canada's persistent data deficit threatens to undermine even the best intentions. Then, the screwworm fly resurfaces in Texas, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to take targeted action — and sending cattle futures and already-high beef prices climbing. Sylvain also reports from Delaware, where he keynoted a healthcare conference on food as medicine and discovered a surprising threat to American farmland: hundreds of AI data centres being built on fertile soil. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.
On this episode of American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) welcomes Laura Brittingham of Brittingham Farms in Delaware for a conversation about the evolving realities of modern farming and the importance of preserving family agricultural traditions. Laura shares her unique path from a career in medical device sales to helping lead her family's fourth-generation farm, offering insight into the rewards and challenges of returning to agriculture.The discussion explores the growing pressures of urban expansion in Delaware and how rising development has affected farmland valuation and the future of family-owned farms. Laura also discusses the farm's successful diversification efforts, including the addition of lavender production and agritourism experiences that help create new revenue streams while connecting the public with agriculture.Throughout the episode, Laura reflects on the vital role family and community play in sustaining agricultural operations across generations. She shares the challenges faced by long-standing farm families as they balance tradition, economic realities, and changing consumer interests while working to preserve their land and agricultural heritage. This inspiring conversation highlights the resilience, adaptability, and community spirit that continue to define American farming. For more on the American Family Farmer…Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.comSocial Media: @GoodDayNetworks
Florida's detailed plan to keep screwworm infestations at bay. Proposed additional restrictions on AI data centers. And the state's work to restore agricultural land used for solar farms when their useful life ends, with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson
A concern is escalating across the country regarding AI data centers. This includes those that are presently in use, those that are under construction, and those that are proposed for communities coast to coast. Farmlands that produce our food supply are a key target for the data centers. Electric power is in high demand. Recently the Daily Caller reported that "the lakeside resort communities on the California side of Lake Tahoe will need a new energy source by May 2027 as energy-guzzling data centers keep springing up on the Nevada side of the lake, according to reports." Some communities are trying to place moratoriums on data centers only to be met with multi-million dollar lawsuits. Joining us today is Tom DeWeese. Tom is one of the nation's leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence and protecting our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
A concern is escalating across the country regarding AI data centers. This includes those that are presently in use, those that are under construction, and those that are proposed for communities coast to coast. Farmlands that produce our food supply are a key target for the data centers. Electric power is in high demand. Recently the Daily Caller reported that "the lakeside resort communities on the California side of Lake Tahoe will need a new energy source by May 2027 as energy-guzzling data centers keep springing up on the Nevada side of the lake, according to reports." Some communities are trying to place moratoriums on data centers only to be met with multi-million dollar lawsuits. Joining us today is Tom DeWeese. Tom is one of the nation's leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence and protecting our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here you'll meet Dustin Raschein from Farmland Tractor and Supply based in Tangent, Oregon and a place we'll be visiting in July during the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association Summer Meeting. In this conversation we talk about the beginnings of his business, his work with the NTPDA and what the company does in offering both new and remanufactured (reman) tractor parts, with over 30 acres of inventory on-site and a huge database of parts to find what folks need. They have parts for tractors, combines and industrial machines including Allis Chalmers, Case, David Brown, Ford New Holland, International Harvester, John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson and Oliver. Here's Dustin... Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode, George Bravante shares his journey from pharmacy to real estate and agriculture, highlighting the importance of relationships, sustainable farming, and the future of California's water management. Discover insights into private equity, farming, and renewable energy projects in the agricultural sector. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
After years of rising values, the price of farmland saw a decline over the past year specifically in the Federal Reserve Ninth District. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode takes a unique approach to ag finance: “Think like a lender. Act like an investor. Farm like an operator.” Jake explains how sophisticated lenders and institutional investors evaluate farming operations differently than producers often evaluate themselves. The discussion challenges farmers to step back and ask an important question: “If your farm walked into your office asking for a loan… would you approve it?” We break down: What lenders actually look at first when evaluating an operation What separates a “bankable” farm from a risky one Why consistency and decision-making discipline matter more than acres alone How lenders think in terms of risk while farmers often think in bushels The conversation introduces a practical framework for understanding farm financial health through three key buckets: Liquidity — Can you survive? Working capital Cash flow flexibility Burn rate management Equity — Can you withstand shocks? Land values Leverage ratios Collateral strength Efficiency — Can you win long-term? Cost structure ROI on assets Decision quality Jake also explains why institutional investors continue to value farmland as an asset class, what they see in agricultural real estate, and whether current farmland prices are sustainable. Additional topics include: Whether farmland is overpriced, fairly valued, or still undervalued What could actually cause land values to decline Why farmland may remain strong while farm cash flow weakens Long-term land financing versus operating lines Flexible financing structures and matching debt to asset life How growth-oriented operations approach lending differently What top-tier operators are doing differently in today's economy Conversations successful operators are having with lenders right now The episode also explores how data, performance analysis, and decision-making tools used in athletics and business could transform financial management in agriculture. 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/Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode, we perceive a sharp refusal, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 256, penned by Madurai Tamizh Koothanaar Kaduvan Mallanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming lilies of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’, and depicts an anecdote about an act of justice in those times. பிணங்கு அரில் வள்ளை நீடு இலைப் பொதும்பில்மடி துயில் முனைஇய வள் உகிர் யாமைநொடி விடு கல்லின் போகி, அகன்துறைப்பகுவாய் நிறைய, நுங்கின் கள்ளின்நுகர்வார் அருந்து மகிழ்பு இயங்கு நடையொடுதீம் பெரும் பழனம் உழக்கி, அயலதுஆம்பல் மெல் அடை ஒடுங்கும் ஊர!பொய்யால்; அறிவென், நின் மாயம். அதுவேகையகப்பட்டமை அறியாய்; நெருநைமை எழில் உண்கண் மடந்தையொடு வையைஏர் தரு புதுப் புனல் உரிதினின் நுகர்ந்து,பரத்தை ஆயம் கரப்பவும், ஒல்லாதுகவ்வை ஆகின்றால், பெரிதே; காண்தகத்தொல் புகழ் நிறைந்த பல் பூங் கழனி,கரும்பு அமல் படப்பை, பெரும் பெயர்க் கள்ளூர்,திரு நுதற் குறுமகள் அணி நலம் வவ்வியஅறனிலாளன் ‘அறியேன்’ என்றதிறன் இல் வெஞ் சூள் அறி கரி கடாஅய்,முறி ஆர் பெருங் கிளை செறியப் பற்றி,நீறு தலைப்பெய்த ஞான்றை,வீறு சால் அவையத்து ஆர்ப்பினும் பெரிதே. We get to see plenty of picturesque scenes from the farmlands, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, who has returned after courting with a courtesan, seeking entry into the lady’s house: “Disliking its curled-up sleep amidst the long-leaved bushes of the rough and twisted ‘Vallai' vines, a tortoise with sharp nails, crosses pebbles that resound aloud, and reaches the river shore. There, filling its split mouth to the full, by feasting on the drops that spill around those who are relishing the toddy of palm fruit, it proceeds with a swaying gait, muddles the huge and pleasant fields, and takes cover within the soft leaves of white lilies nearby, in your town, O lord! Don't you utter lies! I know well about your tricks! You know not that you have been caught red-handed. Yesterday, along with the maiden having painted, kohl-streaked eyes, you delighted so rightfully in the exquisite, fresh stream of the Vaigai river. Even though the mates of that courtesan tried to hide the incident, relentlessly it has risen as a huge slander; In the town of Kalloor, celebrated for its good name, having ancient, picturesque and famous fields, filled with flowers, and soaring stems of sugarcane, an unjust man, had stolen the decorated beauty of a young maiden, having a fine forehead, and then denied knowing her. After investigating this unfair, harsh pledge with those who knew of their relationship, they tied him to the branches of a huge tree with sprouts, and poured slaked lime upon his head, causing a loud uproar in that esteemed assembly. Louder than that, is the slander you've caused in town, O lord!” Let’s tread in the footsteps of the waddling tortoise and listen to this intriguing tale! The confidante starts by painting a picture of the man’s town, and to do that, she brings a field tortoise into the frame. We catch this little creature, at a moment when it has grown tired of relishing a sweet sleep amidst the bushes of the ‘Vallai’ vines, and then sets out amidst the screeching pebbles, and reaches the shore of the gushing river. No doubt, this shore is a place of revels, where people delight in the toddy of palm fruit, and drops slosh about around them. Our wandering tortoise gulps these drops and with an intoxicated gait of a drunk, heads towards the fields, and seeking out the soft-leaves of a lily, conceals itself there, the confidante sketches. Seems like the confidante is projecting the man’s behaviour on this tortoise in his town! Then, she comes to the crux of the matter and asks the man not to go on with his lies, and details how his secretive actions of the previous day in the company of the courtesan, playing in the gushing stream of the river, had become common knowledge in town, even though the courtesan’s friends had tried to hush it up. From here, the confidante takes us on a visit to an ancient and famous town by the name of ‘Kalloor’, and here, a huge injustice has been uncovered, that of a man denying knowing a maiden, with whom he had had a secret love relationship. The townsfolk, had investigated the crime and got the reports from those who knew what had happened and pronounced a verdict. That unjust man was to be tied to the branches of a tree, and something called as ‘neeru’ was to be poured on his head. The confidante emphasises on the uproar that this incident caused in that town and equates it to their current situation, saying the slander the man’s actions had aroused was louder than that commotion. As for us, let’s investigate what this ingredient named as ‘neeru’ could be! Looking at the many meanings, it could first of all, be just water, but I doubt that a water wash is a punishment for anyone other than stubborn toddlers. Next, the word could mean ‘holy ash’. Again, just applying holy ash is not going to make the man repent. And so, the right meaning of the word should be ‘slaked lime’. When I researched about whether there was any recorded mentions of punishments by pouring slaked lime, I learnt that indeed there was, in Ancient Persia, an act that would end up blinding the one who was punished, and is referred by the term ‘Abacination’. Shocking punishment indeed! But goes to show how much importance these ancients endowed on the honour of their women. Quite a shift from that serene scene of the wandering tortoise to the enactment of justice on an erring human!
With manufacturers calling 2026 the bottom — or near-bottom — of the current large-ag equipment cycle, farmers are left trying to answer a big question: is this a buying opportunity, a warning sign, or both? Luke and Andy bring real-world auction data and market perspective to help explain what's actually happening with equipment values right now. We discuss: Whether 2026 feels worse, better, or just different than 2025 How auction results compare to manufacturer reports Why big iron like high-horsepower tractors, combines, sprayers, and planters is under pressure What equipment is still selling well Which machines are sitting longer than expected Who is selling right now: retirements, dealer trades, financial stress, or right-sizing Who is still buying aggressively Whether bankruptcies and forced liquidations are really increasing What separates successful sales from disappointing ones Why photos, records, transparency, and seller reputation matter more in a softer market What farmers should do today if they plan to sell equipment in the next six months The conversation also goes beyond machinery. We talk about the broader forces shaping buyer psychology, including tighter credit, repayment stress, interest rates, trade uncertainty, tariffs, Farm Bill delays, and global headlines. Then we connect equipment values to farmland. Land values remain strong in many regions, but cash flow is tightening. That raises an important question for farmers: are we becoming land rich and cash poor? Luke and Andy share what they're watching in the farmland market, whether strong land values are still supporting confidence, and why machinery could stay soft even if land remains firm. Finally, we look ahead to summer and fall 2026. Will there be a seasonal bounce after planting? What needs to happen for the market to improve? And what could make it worse? 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/Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Presented by Agri Financial: https://linkly.link/2iQk2Our conversation with Brandon Hunt on E15 making it through the house and what it means for corn growers and the ethanol industry.Thanks for coming! Produced by Atlas AG Media Solutions:https://www.atlasmediagroup.usFollow Clayton:https://www.instagram.com/clayton.atlas/Find Neil on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/neil_denton_farms/Subscribe to @Atlas-Agriculture
China may only own “1%” of U.S. farmland — but this isn't about acres. It's about access. Farmland near military bases. Land near critical infrastructure. A growing espionage threat hiding in plain sight. That's why Senator Pete Ricketts is pushing the PLOT Act — the Property Location Oversight and Transparency Act.The media focuses on the “1%.” The PLOT Act focuses on the map. And that's where the real story is.This episode is brought to you by:Get up to $20,000 in FREE Gold & Silver with a qualified purchase. Text ASKPHIL to 50505 or visit https://DrPhilgold.comDon't wait! If you're on Medicare or will be soon, reach out to Chapter: Call: (352)-845-0659 or go to https://askchapter.org to learn about your Medicare options and get help finding ways to save money.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I discuss the China farmland & student question; Alpha Schools; and the typical “senior pranks” that exist in high schools and how they highlight the hypocrisy of k12 indoctrination. Substack: https://theamericanclassroom.substack.com/p/the-absurdity-of-alpha-schools Book Websites: HERE and HERE. https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop PROMO CODE: “AEFM” for 10% OFF, or https://armreg.co.uk PROMO CODE: "americaneducationfm" for 15% off all books and products. (I receive no kickbacks). https://www.thriftbooks.com/ Q posts book: https://drive.proton.me/urls/JJ78RV1QP8#yCO0wENuJQPH
In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell is joined by Alsie Parks, C0-Executive Director of SAAFON and Lindsey Richards, Texas Gulf Coast Outreach and Education Specialist with American Farmland Trust. Alsie and Lindsey share their different yet complimentary perspectives of the importance of planning for farmland succession through estate planning or land trusts, tips for starting hard conversations, and stories of successful farmland hand-offs to the next generation of farmers.Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.References:American Farmland TrustSAAFON
From coast to coast there is a massive expansion underway of AI (artificial intelligence) data centers being constructed. This expansion is happening simultaneously across the states. Farmland once used to grow our nation's food supply is being destroyed. Green spaces that caused individuals to move to a particular location are now being overrun with dirt, concrete and non-stop construction. The demand for electricity and resources is staggering. What's going on here? Joining us to answer that question was Tom DeWeese. Tom is president of American Policy Center. He's one of the nation's leading advocates for individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education, American sovereignty and independence, and protecting our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights. According to Tom, the purpose of data centers is to collect and store every single piece of information that makes up human society including your biometrics, your daily actions, even your bank account transactions. Is there any "grassroots" opposition to this? Hear the details, discover what listeners had to say, and find out what you can do on this edition of Crosstalk.
From coast to coast there is a massive expansion underway of AI (artificial intelligence) data centers being constructed. This expansion is happening simultaneously across the states. Farmland once used to grow our nation's food supply is being destroyed. Green spaces that caused individuals to move to a particular location are now being overrun with dirt, concrete and non-stop construction. The demand for electricity and resources is staggering. What's going on here? Joining us to answer that question was Tom DeWeese. Tom is president of American Policy Center. He's one of the nation's leading advocates for individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education, American sovereignty and independence, and protecting our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights. According to Tom, the purpose of data centers is to collect and store every single piece of information that makes up human society including your biometrics, your daily actions, even your bank account transactions. Is there any "grassroots" opposition to this? Hear the details, discover what listeners had to say, and find out what you can do on this edition of Crosstalk.
Communities across Tennessee are facing the challenge of managing rapid growth while also protecting valuable farmland. Josh Suddath, Executive Director of the University of Tennessee Center for Local Government, is working to support these communities by providing guidance and resources to help them plan more effectively for the future.