Podcasts about fsa

Loan Opportunities with the Farm Service Agency Japanese Beetles and Corn Rootworms in Kansas Cattle Health Starting in Gestation   00:01:05 – Loan Opportunities with the Farm Service Agency: Beginning the show is David Schemm, Kansas Farm Service Agency state executive director, as he reviews FSA loan opportunities and what is coming up for the agency. Farmers.gov Service Center Locator   00:12:05 – Japanese Beetles and Corn Rootworms in Kansas: Jeff Whitworth, K-State crop entomologist, keeps the show rolling as he discusses Japanese beetles and corn rootworms. He explains what crops they could be impacting and what growers can be doing.   00:23:05  – Cattle Health Starting in Gestation: Part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast with Brad White, Bob Larson and special guest Lee Jones ends today's show as they chat about a key health risk in cattle.  BCI Cattle Chat Podcast Bovine Science with BCI Podcast Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit Extension.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

In this episode, the Florida Sheriffs Association sits down with two of FSA's contract lobbyists for a behind-the-scenes look at Florida's finalized state budget, after lawmakers returned to Tallahassee for a special session nearly two months after regular session adjourned. The conversation breaks down the budget process that brought legislators back to the table, highlights major public safety investments included in the final agreement, and discusses the final funding secured for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center through the continued support of House and Senate leadership and Governor DeSantis.

President Trump today said Iran is "negotiating on fumes" and says he won't let the upcoming mid-term elections rush to a deal to end the conflict. Farmers can now review their base acres with the FSA for the first time since 2002. An Agri-Pulse webinar at noon central tomorrow will concentrate on industry growth and reaching historic RVO numbers. 

The Young Professional Advisory Council's Ben Tolzmann sits down with Doug Norris of the SOA's fellowship education department to discuss the recent changes to the FSA pathway and how the transition has been going through 2 exam cycles.

ARCHIVE EPISODE: This is an archive episode with hosts Joe Giordano and Elena Volkova originally released in 2020.

Gerit Tolborg, CEO and co-founder of Chromologics, joins Karl and Erum to explore how filamentous fungi can replace synthetic and plant-extracted food dyes with a fermentation-derived red pigment called Tellurin. Gerit shares how a PhD discovery in Denmark led to a venture-backed startup producing a tasteless, odorless, and highly vibrant natural color that performs across processed food categories — from cured meats to bakery to dairy. The conversation covers the real economics of bio-based colorants (including the critical concept of cost-in-use versus kilo price), the challenges of scaling downstream processing from a two-liter reactor to industrial CMOs, and how regulatory pathways at the FDA and EU's FSA are evolving to accommodate fermentation-derived ingredients. Gerit also makes a compelling case for fermentation as a tool for decentralizing and de-risking global supply chains — freeing agricultural land from color crop production and building resilience against climate and geopolitical disruption.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters:(00:00:00) - Science News: A Sulfur Exoplanet and What It Means for Extremophile Life(00:03:45) - Is Biotech Winter Over? New IPOs and the Industrial Biotech Outlook(00:08:45) - Introducing Gerit Tolborg and the Chromologics Origin Story(00:10:15) - Discovering Novel Fungal Pigments During a PhD in Denmark(00:13:15) - How Fermentation Produces a Tasteless, Odorless Red Pigment(00:16:30) - Color Vibrancy, Purity, and Competing with Synthetic Dyes(00:19:00) - Building a Mission-Driven Team in the Post-COVID Purpose Economy(00:20:45) - Color as the Forgotten Ingredient and Main Purchase Decision Driver(00:23:00) - Navigating FDA and EU Regulation for Novel Food Colors(00:25:45) - The GMO Perception Gap Between Europe and the US(00:27:30) - Scaling Fermentation: Downstream Processing and Cost Realities(00:30:15) - Cost-in-Use vs. Kilo Price: The Real Economics of Bio-Based Color(00:34:15) - Target Markets: Meat, Bakery, Dairy, Cosmetics, and Beyond(00:37:15) - Clean Labels, E-Numbers, and Naming a Novel Ingredient(00:42:00) - Quick Fire Round and Host TakeawaysLinks and Resources:ChromologicsChromologics raises $ bring its natural colour ingredients closer to market Chr. Hansen - Color House (now Novonesis)Scientists found new sulfur-rich exoplanetTickets for the GE Live Event with Roebling BioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingTopics Covered:fungi pigments, bio-based colorants, fungal dyes, natural pigments, sustainable color, food colorants, synthetic dyes alternatives, antioxidant pigments, food and beverage, clean ingredientsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media

On this special episode of the Sorghum State Podcast, hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York sit down with Kansas Farm Service Agency Director David Schemm for an in-depth conversation on the issues shaping agriculture across Kansas in 2026.From drought concerns and market volatility to ARC and PLC decisions, disaster assistance programs and trade opportunities, Schemm breaks down what Kansas sorghum producers and rural communities need to know heading into the growing season.The episode also explores how FSA programs support beginning farmers, generational farm transition and the future of Kansas agriculture. Listeners will hear practical reminders on acreage reporting, farmers.gov tools, disaster program eligibility and the expanded farm safety net provisions impacting sorghum producers this year. Whether you're a producer, agribusiness professional or simply interested in the future of Kansas agriculture, this episode delivers timely insight straight from the front lines of farm policy and program delivery.

In this episode, FSA speaks with Colonel Gary Howze, the head of the Florida Highway Patrol. We cover all the work a trooper must do to keep Florida's roadways safe. Colonel Howze discusses the size and scope of the agency and how it has been supporting immigration enforcement work over the past year. We also learn more about his previous work with a nationwide motorcycle theft task force and how the Florida Highway Patrol prepares and responds to natural disasters.

In this week's episode of Federal Prison Authority Presents: Around the Block, Bruce and Susan open the show talking about their third and new book. It is ready for purchase and covers the Second Chance Act and halfway housing. It is a very thorough yet easy-to-read guide to help inmates and families navigate the system and build self-efficacy. After spending time going over their new book, they transition to exploring a case, breaking down the steps involved in sentencing and risk assessment for an inmate. A point of emphasis during this episode is goal planning and how to redirect after they have to change their career and lifestyle. This allows Bruce to discuss his counseling background and his vocational training. Families and inmates looking for jobs, this is the episode for you. Bruce and Susan help lay out the path to reintegrate into the workforce and society. Bruce and Susan. Dr. Susan Giddings can be found on their shared website https://federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Bruce can be reached through his cell (214) 431-2032, and their First Step Act Book: https://a.co/d/2dWCECE

In this episode of This Week in AML, John and Elliot cover a wide range of financial crime and compliance developments from around the globe. John opens by honoring the Foley Foundation's annual Freedom Awards dinner, recognizing the organization's vital work advocating for American hostages and journalist safety. The conversation then turns to Canada, with updates on a newly introduced bill to establish a Financial Crime Agency, a proposed ban on crypto ATMs, and recent FinTrac monetary penalties across the real estate, banking, and precious metals sectors. Internationally, they cover the FCA's preparations for the UK's new crypto asset regime taking full effect in 2027, Denmark's FSA referral of Nordea Bank to police over customer due diligence failures, and Europol's launch of a new EU anti-scam intelligence sharing platform. Back in the U.S., John highlights new research from the Anti-Corruption Data Collective on suspicious win rates in prediction market defense and military sectors, the retirement and recognition of Guy Fico, the passing of RICO statute architect Bob Blakey, and the Manhattan DA's return of over 650 antiquities to India. The episode closes with updates on the DOJ's decision to drop its investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, concerns over judicial nominees, and a preview of the AML Partnership Forum's upcoming May 28th webinar on financial access challenges domestically and globally.

In this episode, the Sunforged gets recruited by the FSA to take on more serious jobs. You'll never guess where they're set on the trail of what could become a mass casualty event.#dnd #5e #dndpodcast #SuperHeroesJoin our free Discord! https://discord.gg/N6PaAnWgSeFind us on X/Twitter:Paul - @curunir471Mike - @MathRockStudioRSC Pod - @rscpodSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/vanderheyden)Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/funk-youLicense code: F0I6X71UXLJ6HMPV

Spring is a season of fresh starts. Closets get cleaned out, garages get organized, and routines reset after a long winter. But while many people focus on their homes, their finances often go untouched—because money habits tend to collect clutter just as easily.  Links: Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  For many people, spring is an ideal time to reset financially. Life changes quickly at this stage, and small inefficiencies can quietly add stress or hold you back. A financial spring cleaning doesn't require perfection or dramatic changes—it's about reviewing what you have, cutting what no longer serves you, and optimizing what you keep. I'll call this the three-step Financial Cleaning Plan: Review, Cut, and Optimize.    Before you cut or optimize anything, you need a clear picture of where you stand. Think of this as opening all the closet doors before deciding what stays.    With a clear overview established, let's begin the Financial Cleaning Plan with step one: Review.   Identify all income sources like primary checks, bonuses, commissions, and side income. Note any recent changes, such as job switches or raises. The key is understanding what actually comes in each month, which sets the foundation for every other decision you'll make going forward.   Next, review your monthly spending patterns. Check where your money goes each month.   Scan the last two or three months of transactions and group expenses into two categories: Fixed expenses (rent, mortgage, childcare, insurance) and variable spending (food, entertainment, convenience purchases).   Don't be alarmed if your variable expenses over the last few months come in a little higher than you thought. Winter often brings higher spending, and habits formed during busy seasons can linger longer than expected.   Check your debt balances. Make a list of all debts—credit cards, student loans, and auto loans. Record current balances, interest rates, and required monthly payments. Don't get discouraged if your total debt balance gets you down. This part of the review isn't about judgment. It's about awareness.   Finally, review your savings and emergency funds. Check what you have set aside for unexpected expenses. Will your fund still cover many of the more common emergency expenses? Can it help out with an unexpected job loss? A sudden medical emergency, a quick home repair?  As life changes, families grow or careers evolve, the savings targets need to evolve too.   Alright, the first step was Review. The second step of our three-part plan is to cut:   Start by identifying what's no longer serving you. Once you clearly see where your money goes, cutting becomes easier—and less emotional.   Start by reviewing your streaming platforms, app subscriptions, gyms, and delivery memberships. Remove or cancel any that haven't been used recently.   Watch for lifestyle creep. As income increases, spending often quietly follows. Look for convenience costs that climbed during hectic seasons and any spending that doesn't align with your priorities or values.   Reduce high‑interest costs. Identify high‑interest credit card balances or unnecessary fees. Cut what you can to create relief.   Eliminate overlap. Identify multiple savings accounts, outdated insurance coverage, or redundant financial tools and remove those that add confusion to your financial plan.     Now we're onto step three: Optimize—improve your finances so what remains works better for you.   One of the best optimization strategies is to automate your finances. Set up automated savings transfers, bill payments, and retirement contributions. The best part about this is that all you have to do is set it once, then let it run.    Review your savings goals. Adjust your emergency fund for lifestyle changes. Update short- and long-term savings priorities, such as travel, home projects, retirement, or education, and use an automatic savings tool to adjust the contributions to those funds.   Optimize by improving your debt strategy. Ask whether your current repayment plan still makes sense. Could refinancing lower the interest rate? Should higher‑interest balances be prioritized more aggressively? Does your strategy match your current cash flow? Would a debt consolidation move help? Make the right adjustments to answer these questions and consider taking steps towards active debt refinancing or consolidation if needed.    And finally, optimize any of your employer benefits. Take time to review your retirement plan contributions, any HSA or FSA use, and insurance choices. Confirm you are making the most of what is offered.   To wrap up, you don't need a complete overhaul to feel in control. With review, cut, and optimize, head into warmer months with clarity and confidence.   In spring cleaning season, your finances deserve some attention, too. A little cleanup can leave you lighter, calmer, and more prepared for the future.  If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.   Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast. 

In this episode, FSA speaks with Matt Walsh, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.  Secretary Walsh is a 28-year law enforcement professional who last year was appointed secretary by Governor Ron DeSantis. We cover emerging issues and work the department is doing to prevent juvenile crime as well as what can be done to rehabilitate youth who have committed serious crimes. We also learn more about Matt's work to reduce/eliminate suicide of law enforcement professionals and why taking care of our own personal metal health is critically important for all of us.

In this in-depth conversation, Mark Vandermolen, Managing Director, and Steven Tenure, Aftermarket & OEM Sales Manager at FSA, share their personal journeys in the cycling industry, dive into FSA and Vision's product ranges and innovations, and discuss the evolving trends shaping the market, from gravel bikes to 32-inch wheels.Whether you're a retailer, mechanic, or cycling enthusiast, discover how FSA approaches product development, industry challenges, and the road ahead.Support the show

Better quality sleep = better focus. Head to https://eightsleep.com/bigdeal and use code 'DEAL' to get $350 off the Pod 5 Ultra. If you have an HSA or FSA, the Eight Sleep Pod may qualify as a medical expense through Truemed, and qualified customers save about 30% on average. Stack that with the code above for even more savings. Check your eligibility at https://www.truemed.com/eightsleep before you buy. Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. You've had a decision sitting on your desk for two weeks. You keep telling yourself you're just gathering information. You're not. You're stalling. And while you stall, someone less qualified just did a worse version of your idea and they're about to eat your lunch. Here's the lesson history keeps screaming at us: speed wins every time. Companies like Instagram and Square have perfect plans; they had faster clocks. They moved while everyone else was still in meetings. And in business, hesitation is just a polite word for losing. In this episode, you'll learn: Why information doesn't age like wine, it ages like milk The decay question that will tell you if you're at 70% or just overthinking Jeff Bezos's 70% rule and the door test that separates reversible decisions from real risk The 24 hour rule that forces clarity and why every meeting should end with a decision or a deletion Why perfection is the trap you have to avoid on the way to quality and how Reid Hoffman ships embarrassingly early every time ___________ (00:00:00) Introduction: The Decision You're Stalling On (00:02:55) Decision Decay: The Shelf Life of Opportunity (00:04:42) The Square Story: Three Weeks to a Billion Dollar Company (00:06:37) The 24-Hour Rule: Overwhelming People with Speed (00:08:09) Instagram's Pivot: From Bourbon to Billion in 18 Months (00:09:29) The 70% Rule and The Door Test: Bezos's Speed Framework (00:11:59) The Zeigarnik Effect: Why Unfinished Tasks Drain Your Brain (00:15:49) Quality vs Perfection: The False Dichotomy (00:18:42) The Five Moves to Triple Your Speed (00:21:47) Think Big or Don't Talk to Vendors (00:24:09) Closing: Your Speed Homework and Growth Accelerator Invite ___________ MORE FROM BIGDEAL

Young Professional Advisory Council's Jake Davis discusses exam education and career development with Eddie Smith, Director of SOA Exams at The Infinite Actuary and FSA exam instructor. Learn about Eddie's transition from practicing actuary to exam educator, effective study strategies for FSA exams, and how exam preparation has and will continue to evolve.

On this episode of Federal Prison Authority Presents: Around the Block, Bruce and Susan begin the program by explaining the services they provide and go over if they would be a good fit for you or your loved one. They also use this time to discuss how they are different from government agencies and how they came into practice in the first place. About halfway through, they transitioned to elaborate on a circuit case that came out in 2025, which sparked many questions and concerns. This time also allows them to tie in their second book and to show how these are things that can be used positively from the case findings. To close the show, they go over a case in Illinois and how it impacts sentencing and assessments. This episode covers multiple cases and provides practical steps and guidelines to follow. Please feel free to send questions to Bruce and Susan. Dr. Susan Giddings can be found on their shared website https://federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Bruce through his cell (214) 431-2032, and their First Step Act Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2dWCECE

SDRP Payment #2 is coming into focus, and for many producers, it may be much simpler than expected. In this episode of The Ag View Pitch, Chris talks with Paul Neiffer about the latest SDRP announcement, how the second payment works, why many farmers may receive roughly the same amount as their first SDRP payment, and how the combined payment limit could affect larger operations.They also break down the extended August 12 deadline, what producers likely need to do next, how Stage One and Stage Two payments fit together, and why Stage Two has been so frustrating for many farmers. Later in the conversation, they discuss possible additional farm aid, fertilizer cost concerns, 2026 payment limit questions, and what farmers should be watching heading into the rest of the year.Topics include SDRP Payment #2, farm program payments, payment limits, FSA deadlines, fertilizer prices, 2026 farm aid, and row crop profitability.

In this episode of the Get Plugged In Podcast, Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the Society of Actuaries Research Institute, speaks with Carlos Arocha, FSA, Managing Partner at Arocha & Associates GmbH in Zurich, Switzerland, about the growing role of artificial intelligence in understanding and managing climate risk. Together, they explore why climate risk can be difficult to measure using traditional actuarial methods and how AI can help actuaries assess individual assets, improve hazard modeling, strengthen scenario testing, and better understand transition risk. This conversation offers timely insights for actuaries looking to enhance their climate risk analysis with more advanced tools and approaches. Tune in to hear practical perspectives on how AI can support the profession as climate-related risks continue to evolve. Visit our Artificial Intelligence landing page Send us your feedback at AI-Insights@soa.org

The AgNet News Hour featured a detailed conversation with USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce, who outlined key federal efforts aimed at supporting farmers, improving financial stability, and expanding opportunities for agriculture across California and the nation. Fordyce, a fourth-generation farmer from Missouri, emphasized that the USDA remains focused on one core mission, supporting farmers through increasingly complex and challenging conditions. “Farmers today are mechanics, agronomists, chemists… they're a whole bunch of things wrapped into one,” Fordyce said, highlighting the technical demands of modern agriculture. A major focus of the discussion was the impact of what Fordyce referred to as the “one big, beautiful bill,” which includes several provisions designed to strengthen agriculture's financial outlook. Among the most significant is a major adjustment to estate taxes, raising the exemption to $15 million per individual, something Fordyce said will help keep family farms intact across generations. “There is a $15 million per individual estate tax exemption to eliminate the death tax,” he explained. The legislation also expands Section 179 tax provisions, allowing farmers to expense equipment, buildings, and improvements in the year of purchase rather than depreciating them over time. According to Fordyce, this change offers growers greater flexibility in managing their finances and reinvesting in operations. In addition, updates to safety net programs like ARC and PLC include increased reference prices and expanded base acres, both critical factors in determining federal support payments. These updates aim to better reflect today's economic conditions and provide a stronger financial cushion for producers. Fordyce also outlined the role of USDA agencies within the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA). These programs provide everything from disaster assistance and conservation funding to crop insurance and technical support. “The best resource is your local FSA or NRCS office,” Fordyce said, encouraging farmers to connect with local experts who can help navigate available programs. For California growers, Fordyce acknowledged unique challenges, particularly around water, regulation, and labor, but stressed that federal programs are well-positioned to support the state's highly diverse agricultural sector. “California is the most diverse agriculture state in the union,” he said. Looking ahead, Fordyce noted that while input costs remain a concern and weather continues to be unpredictable, efforts to expand trade opportunities and build demand, both domestically and internationally, could help strengthen market conditions in 2026. At the same time, he pointed to strong margins in sectors like cattle, even as herd sizes remain constrained due to drought and market dynamics. Ultimately, Fordyce reinforced that the USDA is committed to standing behind farmers and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to succeed. “Farming can be great again, without a doubt,” he said. Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Bruce and Susan discuss the 11th Circuit's decision outlining factors the District Courts should consider when determining whether the incarcerated person is the "only available caregiver" in a Compassion Release request. They also discuss the U.S. Sentencing Commission's Amendment 821 and the required documentation to ensure that criminal history point reductions are applied to custody classification and PATTERN risk assessment. United States v. Robelo-Galo, No. 24-12128 (11th Cir. 2006); USA v. Juan Aguiar Parada, No. 24-12775 (11th Cir. 2026). Please feel free to send questions to Bruce and Susan. Dr. Susan Giddings can be found on their shared website https://federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Bruce through his cell (214) 431-2032, and their First Step Act Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2dWCECE

This episode of the Society of Actuaries' Professional Development Edge podcast features Dave Dillon, Senior Vice President and Principal at Lewis & Ellis; entrepreneur and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, Mark Cuban; and Jon Forster, the SOA's Director of PD Learning and Content Design. Together, they explore entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and the evolving healthcare landscape. The conversations move from what it takes to be successful in business, the current healthcare landscape, and the state of AI in Actuarial work.  Mark shares the origin and mission behind Cost Plus Drugs, underscoring the critical role of price transparency and trust in improving healthcare access and affordability. Listeners will gain practical insights and forward-looking perspectives relevant to actuaries, business leaders, and anyone interested in the future of healthcare and innovation. Contributors: Mark Cuban; Dave Dillon, FSA, FCA, MAAA; Jon Forster, ASA, MAAA

Interest Rates and Loan Programs at FSA Improving Hay Quality Cattle Recordkeeping Program   00:01:05 – Interest Rates and Loan Programs at FSA: David Schemm, state executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, begins today's show as he highlights FSA loan programs and current interest rates. Farmers.gov   00:12:05 – Improving Hay Quality: K-State Extension agronomists Tina Sullivan and Logan Simon keep the show rolling as they discuss factors to help grow, cut and maintain quality hay. Considerations to Improve Hay Quality eUpdate.agronomy.ksu.edu   00:23:05 – Cattle Recordkeeping Program: Ending the show is part of a Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast with Brad White, Bob Larson and special guest Cambree Schmaltz chatting about the CalfDex project and what they want to provide producers.  BCI Cattle Chat Podcast Bovine Science with BCI Podcast Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit Extension.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles for young and beginning farmers—Brownfield's Erin Anderson and Kellan Heavican dig into how the Farm Service Agency is helping bridge that gap.Nebraska FSA State Executive Director Hilary Maricle and Farm Loan Specialist Paul Guenther break down the tools available for beginning producers, from operating loans to real estate financing and microloans.The conversation also explores how FSA works alongside commercial lenders, why partnerships matter in ag lending, and how programs are designed to support producers in their first 10 years of farming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The crew discusses the White House missing its offshore wind appeal deadline, France’s 12 GW tender with restrictions on Chinese permanent magnets, and WOMA 2027 planning. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by Strike Tape, protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit strike tape.com. And now your hosts. Allen Hall: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I’m your host, Allen. I’m here with Rosemary Barnes, who is in Australia, and our newest guest is Nikki Briggs, who is the new CCO of Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Welcome to the show, Nikki.  Nikki Briggs: Thank you. Nice to, nice to be here.  Allen Hall: So there’s the full docket, and Nikki’s gonna get indoctrinated today to the podcast, and she’s gonna be holding on tight because we have a really, uh, very controversial podcast. I think once Rosemary gets in here and starts talking about. Offshore wind. And I wanna lead off this week ’cause it is a big deal, although not many people are talking about it, that, uh, the White House missed a deadline to file an [00:01:00] appeal against all the offshore wind farms in the United States. And the feeling was, is that there was gonna be an appeal and they’re gonna push to slow down those projects or cancel those projects. And obviously, uh, one of the purchasers of one of the sites decided to sell it back to the US for about a. Billion US dollars, but the administration missed a key deadline for appeals, uh, which may indicate that they have other things to do besides fight offshore wind Now. The question really remains is, is this going to continue on that nothing is going to happen. Uh, hopefully all the wind projects that are being built at the moment will complete and we’ll be providing power to all the onshore locations, particularly up and down along the East coast. But, uh, there’s still a long way to go here. Rosemary, I know there’s been a lot of concern about what’s happened in the United States on offshore [00:02:00] wind for several months now. You think this is gonna be just a change of direction because there’s other things happening in the world.  Rosemary Barnes: To me, it just sounded like too hard to, unlikely to actually succeed and kind of keeps on drawing attention back to the issue. So better to just kind of let it quietly fade away and not talk about it anymore. Allen Hall: And there is a financial emphasis for those companies that have these wind farms because if they can get their projects done. They get paid sooner. They can produce power, obviously they’re gonna get paid sooner. So there is a big incentive to push, push, push, push. And a lot of the projects are delivering power right now. And I think the, the biggest one, which is uh, dominion Energy’s Project of Coastal Virginia, offshore Wind is doing that. So. All these wind projects that are kinder in a way I think are going to finish, which is gonna be a, a big relief to a lot of the states.  Rosemary Barnes: I don’t wanna talk about us, um, politics because I am not living there. But don’t you have midterms coming up and potential [00:03:00] for the situation to dramatically change? Like, my understanding is that the expectation is that there will be. More, um, democratic involvement in, in decision making after the midterms. And so surely, you know, like if they don’t, if they’re not acting now, then things are likely to be easier from here on out. Is that, is that a correct interpretation of what’s going on over there?  Allen Hall: Not correct. And Nikki, you can jump in here too. Congress can change and does every two years there’s elections in the US and so the full House of Representatives is voted in or out. So all 435 members of the House of Representatives have an election, but about a third of the Senate has an election. So the Senate doesn’t change as dramatically as the House does, but, uh, for everything that’s been codified into law, which happened a year and a half ago, uh, the executive branch can kind of do what they [00:04:00] want there. So there will be very little that Congress can do. Once a law is a pass and the executive branch can continue on,  Rosemary Barnes: it’s two year terms for your house of reps. Allen Hall: Yeah. It’s two years terms. Yeah.  Rosemary Barnes: That’s not very long. That’s not very good job security.  Allen Hall: It was never meant to be  Rosemary Barnes: in school. About a thousand years ago, I learned that, um, the Australian government is, is, is largely based on a combination of um, UK and. US government basically. But I think it’s a lot closer to the us. Um, and yeah, we have, I, I think we have not, we haven’t got fixed terms, but it’s usually about every three years and yeah, you lose a few, a few months, but we don’t, we don’t do the big song and dance about it that you do with all of the, um, pre-selection and all that stuff. We don’t do that. So our, our system is a lot quicker. Um, so yeah, I just wonder like how, how do you actually govern when you have to spend half of your time worried about, um, getting in and then you can only make plans for basically one year [00:05:00] ahead or two years ahead, like at the absolute maximum.  Allen Hall: That’s the problem with House of Representative is you nailed it right on the head, which is they’re constantly fundraising and trying to get to the next election. Two years is a short amount of time anymore. They didn’t used to do it like that, where the last six months, maybe a year were campaign time, but pretty much once they get an election over, which happens in November, they’re already campaigning for the next one. So it does lead to a lot of chaos where things don’t happen in the House of Representatives like. They used to maybe 20, 25 years ago. It’s changed dramatically and I don’t think Australia has that same issue weirdly enough. Although I would say you’re becoming more like the US in a lot of ways. That’s not one of them.  Rosemary Barnes: We’ve got some, there’s some things in place, like one of the advantages of basing our system on other countries as we could take. Take the bits that worked and see what, what we could already see what didn’t really work and um, you know, try to, try to take it, um, try to take care of that, ensure that it couldn’t happen. [00:06:00] So  Allen Hall: the offshore wind piece in America rolls into other offshore wind, uh, across Europe in that, uh, although US is reconsidering offshore wind in some sense. Europe is not. In fact, uh, France is getting very active. So you remember the France has been trying to launch, uh, offshore wind tenders for about two years. So you keep hearing France is gonna go to offshore wind, and then it didn’t really happen. Well, that political gridlock is, uh, over really how to pay for the renewables, uh, and how they’re gonna try to finance this thing. Meanwhile, uh, France has, uh. Less than what? Two gigawatts of offshore wind operating against a, a national target of about 15 gigawatts by 2035. Uh, so there’s a lot of catching up to do the 12. They just had a 12 gigawatt package. They announced where, uh, they, they’re [00:07:00] attempting to really catch up all at once, uh, but buried inside of this tender. Is a supply chain rule, which is very unique. So coming outta Scotland and all the things that happen with Ming Yang in Scotland, France is doing something very similar. France is limiting the percentage or the quantity of permanent magnets that can come from China. So France is saying, Hey, they don’t wanna get locked into an offshore, offshore wind supply chain that involves China specifically for, but they’re probably the most important ingredient, which is. Permanent magnets. The Netherlands is moving ahead also and has offered two one gigawatt offshore wind farms, and it’ll be permitting those pretty quickly. So all of a sudden, the offshore wind effort for some of the countries that have been quiet in Netherlands in particular, and then France, all of a sudden probably ’cause of what’s happening in the. The straight in the Middle East have decided to speed up their offshore wind [00:08:00] projects. Is this gonna be the right move? Do you think they’re gonna stick with this process of, of completing these projects or is this a spur of the moment decision that they’re gonna change their minds later on in the next year or two once things calm down to the Middle East? Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. I mean, if it is a, a knee jerk response to the. Specific right now problem and doesn’t seem very well advised because it’s gonna be years before they actually see any electricity entering their grid. I mean, France is a bit different to other European countries ’cause they’ve got so much nuclear and in general, uh, I think with the exception of like the year before last, they had that summer where it was really hot. They had heat waves and they had to shut down a lot of. Nuclear power plants because the cooling water was too hot. They, they couldn’t, they couldn’t put it back into the river. And, um, yeah, uh, river levels were too low in some cases. So in, in that year, they did have to import energy. Um, but in general, their energy exporters. So I don’t, I, I would be surprised if this [00:09:00] was in direct response to, you know, that I don’t think they have an electricity crisis right now. Um, and, uh, yeah, I think it’s probably more of a long-term plan.  Allen Hall: Are they gonna force the OEMs to build product in country? GE already has an offshore wind blade factory in France. And, uh, they can get a lot of components in Europe for sure. You could actually dictate what percentage of the wind turbine is built in France and what is built in Europe and what’s gonna be left to be imported in from China. You think this is where everybody is headed?  Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. I mean, I think it is. Smart move to make sure that you don’t have one single country locking down any critical part of your supply chain. So I’ll agree with that. I haven’t seen the exact wording, but it’s not like it’s just banned that anything comes from China. I mean, that would be a good way to make sure that you didn’t ever get a timely, uh, a project completed in time. Um. So, you know, that makes sense. But, you know, if no one [00:10:00] project can use a hundred percent Chinese magnets or I, I don’t know the wording, maybe they’re allowed to buy, um, the rare Earth materials from China and then turn them into magnets locally. I don’t, I don’t know what the wording is, but, um, it is going to require that, you know, some new manufacturers start up and I just wonder what kind of support they’re gonna provide for that and what kind of guarantees, because it’s not, um. So straightforward to just start up a new manufacturing facility for something that has never been made in that, in that area before. Um, you know, there’s a lot of risk and hard to get financing. They’re gonna want to have some, um, guarantees from the government or some support to, you know, make sure that the risk benefit is worth it.  Allen Hall: I think that’s probably the most important part of this, is the business aspect. You can’t spool up a 20 year business. In a year that’s hard to do and you’re not gonna do it if the supply chain can willy-nilly switch to an external supply chain to China, for example. So if you do set up [00:11:00] something complicated in France, I would almost bet that they would have to pass something in law and lock it in before you see a lot of investment happening that way. Similar things happen in the UK really is uh, with all the offshore wind growth and wanting to build turbines in the country. They’re gonna have to put some barriers in to keep the Chinese out, which they’re obviously doing  Rosemary Barnes: or provide direct support. They don’t necessarily need to make it a law. I think like the way we would do it in Australia is that the government would either co-invest or they would, you know, underride a loan or um, you know, guarantee revenue or something, something like that, to make all the pieces fall into place. I don’t think, um, law is the only way to do it.  Allen Hall: France obviously is gonna be able to choose from a couple of wind OEMs. Where do you think they’ll go is It’s pretty much right now, I guess it’s Siemens and Vestas for sure. I’m not even sure GE is offering a offshore wind turbine at the moment. Does France [00:12:00] have a Siemens or Vestas stake at the minute? Rosemary Barnes: Not that I know of, but what’s happening to the um, Bel Factory? The GE Blade Factory? That was. They were making blades for hall aids, which is the troubled platform that kind of turned them off. Offshore wind altogether. Um, yeah, I don’t, I don’t know what’s happened to that one.  Allen Hall: Remember that GE sold the LM factory, what up in Poland and Vestas ended up buying that? I wonder if something similar happened here.  Rosemary Barnes: Uh, yeah. I dunno. I need to, we should have, we should have looked it up before we started recording.  Allen Hall: The thing about this podcast is that we start putting the puzzle pieces together. Before the, the pieces are out on the table. And when you see the way that GE has really slowed down offshore, obviously they talked about it a number of times that they don’t like the offshore business and would like to finish vineyard wind and all the commitments they have and then pause until they can make sure they’re gonna make money on offshore wind. Vestas is going crazy and has made a lot of sales, [00:13:00] and I know Siemens is trying to get back into that offshore market. So you really have two players. If you are not gonna choose a Chinese turbine, you see image and you have Vestas. But onshoring, that work is an obvious, uh, French move, I think just like it was in the uk. Rosemary Barnes: I mean, assuming that they are not gonna be choosing, uh, Chinese manufacturers, given that they’re trying to move away from that, um, yeah. Complete dominance, but I mean, why couldn’t Ming Yang or someone supply turbines but just, you know, get their, their magnets from a local supplier instead? I mean, it’s very common that, you know, like European manufacturers, if they wanna sell in India, then they have to have a certain local, um, you know, amount of local manufacturing. So. Why wouldn’t a, a Chinese company do the same thing? So, yeah, I don’t think they’ve only got two choices, but. Those will be the obvious ones.  Allen Hall: As wind energy professionals, staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast [00:14:00] recommends PES Wind Magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES Wind has the high quality content you need. Don’t miss out. Visit PES wind.com today. So Rosemary, after the successful WMA 2026 event in Melbourne, in which I know I mispronounced, but you’re just gonna have to let it go. There’s been a a ton of inquiries about WMA 2027 and I. I’m thinking, man, we just finished moment 2026. You ready for 2027? The answer is yes, we need to go.  Rosemary Barnes: I think it’s because the, um, certain other Australian wind energy events are spamming everyone’s inboxes with like multiple emails a day, months out. It’s got everyone thinking, gee, this conference is super annoying. Thought about that [00:15:00] non annoying conference that I went to.  Nikki Briggs: Yeah. Well I’m not pestering people, but if anybody wants to, you know, get signed up to be a sponsor for WMA 2027, reach out to me because, you know, we’re that not annoying conference. So, um, we gotta have good sponsors. And  Rosemary Barnes: that is true. That is one thing about, about Wilmar is we keep it really cheap for attendees, but it is still a high quality conference. And the main way that we’re able to do that is because we have really good sponsors that. Um, yeah, they, they provide money obviously, to pay for, uh, a large chunk of the event, but they also don’t expect to be allowed to get up and sell at people. Um, yeah, I, I don’t even know how we managed to get such great sponsors that are, you know, happy with that trade off, but I guess that, yeah, they’ve figured out that it isn’t actually that beneficial to get up and give a sales pitch to people who. Receptive to it. It is much better to just get up and talk about all the things that you know, and then the people who have problems that can be solved by what you [00:16:00] do will naturally get in touch with you. I mean. I think it works better. That’s, that’s my entire sales sales approach. And I guess everybody at the, at the conference, that’s what, yeah, that’s what we’re relying on. I think it’s a better way  Nikki Briggs: and we’re here to help and save you money.  Allen Hall: Yeah. And the Woma 2027 website is up. Just Google. It’s, and we’re looking for sponsors, although a number of sponsors, pretty much everybody from 26 who wants to be back into twenties. 27. So we’ll be, uh, reaching out to all of you and making sure that happens. But the conference is probably gonna get bigger in 2027 just because of the demand. So we’ll be looking for a, a couple of more key sponsors. We want you to get involved as soon as possible. You should do that by, in the us. You can do that by getting a hold of, of Nikki. It’s Nikki, N-I-K-K-I dot Briggs, B-R-I-G-G s@wglightning.com. Or you can just go to Nikki’s LinkedIn page and send her an InMail and, uh, get ahold of her that way or [00:17:00] connect with her on LinkedIn and she’d be glad to help you. Now, Rosemary, I know one of the things we talked about was, uh, some of the expansion of topics for 2027. There was a lot of feedback and we are paying close attention. And thanks to everybody who sent us feedback on the conference, uh, the number of five star reviews are really high, and I, I’m, I’m still a little shocked and um, maybe embarrassed by like, wow. Uh, that’s awesome. But we wanna expand on some of the topics for next year, and we’re talking about doing a blade masterclass and that which would involve rosemary. Maybe some others talking about some of the blade issues that exist around the world. And Rosemary, what are you thinking about?  Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, describing how the process works. ’cause that’s the, that’s probably one of the main things, or the main value that I bring to Australia is the time that I spent working at a, um, um. Wind turbine blade manufacturer, and you know, how does the design process work? What kind of testing do they do? What [00:18:00] does certification mean? Um, all those sorts of things. Uh, they, you might think, oh, I don’t really care about that ’cause I just use the blade once I’ve got it. But anytime you run into a problem, you do need to kind of know how all that stuff works, basically. So, um, yeah, we’ll give a, a masterclass on that topic and so you can come and get. You know, a bit of an understanding about how that works. Ask whatever questions that you’ve got that relate to your specific problems, but then, you know, even if you don’t have a problem now in the future when something comes up, you’ll have that knowledge to fall back on. And it just really helps to be able to know when something’s not right, um, when something wasn’t done right. Um, yeah, I mean there are always at some point an argument about, you know, who’s gonna pay. So it is really helpful to know if things have been done the way that they said that they would be. The way they should be. Um, yeah, but I’m also. I’m really keen to hear about what to include in the main conference. ’cause you know, it can’t be the same every year. Um, I’m super focused on, on blades and I, I think we, I [00:19:00] mean, blades is the biggest, the biggest topic in wind turbine o and m, so it makes sense that we would be focused on that and we’re, we will, but I have less of, um, yeah, in depth knowledge about what non blade issues people are really struggling with at the moment. So definitely be keen to hear from. Viewers about, um, sorry, I’ll say that again. Definitely be keen to hear about potential attendees about what topics they would wanna see covered to make sure that, yeah, it’s interesting and fresh every year.  Allen Hall: Can I circle back on the masterclass a little bit because I had my own little, little mini masterclass this past week looking at the IE specification for wind turbine blades, and I don’t know what prompted me to read that document. I thought it was gonna be a lot thicker than it was, and I was shocked at the lack of detail that on the requirement side, I always think the blade people must have millions of requirements to go [00:20:00] do. And it’s gonna be very technical and a lot of check boxes there, but turns out maybe not as many as I thought there would be. Rosemary Barnes: Oh yeah. That’s interesting that you’re, you’re surprised. Um. I mean, I haven’t worked with it closely since when I was doing my PhD, uh, the PhD was on, there was a, yeah, design of a family, family of wind turbine blades. And so, you know, I was looking at the standard to see what, um, load cases that you had to consider, you know, like the 50 year extreme gust is one of the big ones. And then, you know, various operational loads and that sort of thing. Um, it’s never gonna cover absolutely everything. But I, yeah. What, what, what issues do you see that are, are missing from it?  Allen Hall: Well, when, when I look at the airplane world and we qualify an airplane with the Federal Authority, whoever that could be, it could be Yasa in Europe, could be the FAA in the United States, there’s a pages, there are books of requirements and [00:21:00] guidance materials and details of things you must do to show that the airplane is. Safe to go fly. I figured the wind turbine world would’ve adapted that to some level to have very specific requirements on design margins and, and maybe they’re there as an electrical engineer. I can’t suss all that out, but I can usually tell how rigorous the requirements are by the weight of the document. Usually those documents make a lot of noise when you drop ’em on the desk. This was, uh, a very soft whimper. I thought, well, okay, maybe there’s a lot here I’m missing. I’m sure that I am. I’m an electrical guy. I’m gonna admit it. Right now, I don’t understand all the structural things, but on the airplane side, I know that the airplanes have a lot to do and the requirements are crazy hard, but maybe there’s a lot more tolerance in wind. Rosemary Barnes: They do include safety margins, and there is, uh. A lot more, a lot more tolerance in wind as [00:22:00] there should be because people aren’t flying and wind turbines. You know, like if there was somebody like physically seated inside every blade 24 7, then I think that you would see that the, the standard would be, would be tightened up because you know, like every tightening of the standard is going to result in an increase in cost. So I mean, the biggest difference that I. I I see between, um, arrow and wind, aside from the, the safety issue is the maintenance. There is annual maintenance and they are maintained more than that. They’re, they’re constantly doing stuff, but like if it’s possible to design it to last for 20 or 30 years without needing maintenance, and that’s the way that you want it to be. In general, blades are not supposed to be maintained until there’s a problem. Um, you know, it’s not like. Places where you know that you’re gonna be replacing grease or, um, you know, anything, anything like that that’s built for accessibility. The blades are certainly, certainly not. So yeah, I mean, [00:23:00]you’re definitely not maintaining in the same way as you are with, um, aerospace or Yeah, just aviation. Allen Hall: Howard Pinrose has the, for motor dock, has the Chaos and Caffeine podcast. Which is on YouTube and I watch that. Typically Saturday morning, I think that’s when it comes out. It’s on the weekend. And his last, uh, podcast was about the studies about general maintenance. Back to Rosemary, your point that performing general maintenance, regardless of how much there is, is less costly than trying to fix it on the fly. And that if you devote. Sufficient resources to keeping the equipment maintained in the, in the way it was intended to. You’re gonna have significantly less problems. Uh, and lower costs, but it’s surprising. Wind doesn’t do that  Rosemary Barnes: well, but I mean, the difference is that wind is designed to not be maintained. So it’s, it’s not easier engineering, or not [00:24:00] engineering. It’s not like lazy. It’s actually the opposite. It’s actually really hard to design something that won’t need to be maintained for 30 years. I mean, think about another machine that is not supposed to be looked at for 30 years and you know, that will go through the stress that a wind turbine blade does. But you know, if you think of. Yeah, anything that’s inside your blade, like think about, um, the lightning cable in a blade. Um, you know, like the, if it, if it breaks, you have to cut open the blade to get into it. And, um, most of the length of the blade, that would be, that would be what you would do. It’s huge, huge, huge repair. Um, so, you know, you design it so that that will very rarely happen in theory, you know, if everything’s working well, maybe the lightning cable is a bad example because, um, the lightning protection system is. Almost certainly the, the least well-functioning part of a, a wind turbine, I’d say. But you know, like you think about in every other part of the blade structure, you know, you design it so that it will last for 30 years easily. Um, and then [00:25:00] it’s only when several things go wrong that you would end up having to go in and do that. Um, that maintenance.  Allen Hall: This should be kind of a woma topic actually, because is it even conceivable that you could have minimal maintenance on such a. Heavy industrial piece of equipment for 30 years versus every other machine in human operation that can’t do that. What other machine, I’m sure somebody will write in about that. And if you, if you know what, a machine will operate for 30 years with no maintenance, please send us a note because I don’t know what that is.  Rosemary Barnes: No, I, I think Brent turbines are really, are really special and I think that it is, uh, like commonly misunderstood that, um, you know. Not maintaining for 30 years is, you know, somehow not in engineering correctly or making the engineering easier, but it’s the opposite. You’re making the engineering harder. The same with manufacturing of, um, the blades specifically or anything made out of composite materials. Like the tolerances are huge, but the fact is that that makes the engineering harder, not easier because it has to work at [00:26:00] any, you know, if the web is here or if it’s a hundred millimeters this way, it’s still has to work exactly the same for the exact same amount of time. So to make it low cost and reliable for that amount of time with that little maintenance is a huge job. Um, and you know, one world record that I know that wind turbines have is that the blades are the largest, like single piece component of any human made structure. There is nothing, there’s nothing bigger than, um, a wind turbine blade. Like a bridge is made of multiple different members and a airplane. Has, you know, two, two wings that don’t even, even the span of most airplanes isn’t, um, both wings together isn’t the same as the longest wind turbine blades. Like, there’s not, there’s no one big single component that’s bigger than a wind turbine blade. Not to mention the strain. Um, they bend a lot that they, they really, they really bend a lot. That’s a very. Difficult operating environment. They do millions of, of fatigue cycles in their [00:27:00] lifetime. Uh, it’s just like, you know, they’re, they’re breaking records all over the place. It’s a, it’s a super cool thing to mark on as an engineer, to be honest. Allen Hall: Okay. So at Walmart 2026, I know that was one of the discussions that popped up, uh, on the panel, was what should we expect for a lifetime? Or sort of a less re a reduced level of maintenance on a wind turbine. And the answer was maybe a year. And I thought that was a very Australian way of answering that question. It’s, it’s a real answer. I think, uh, the people that operate wind turbines know that that probably is true. You got about a year and then you gotta get on it. But financial investors don’t necessarily have that opinion about it. They think you just turn it on, let it run 30 years and collect all this money and. What we’re learning is it’s, it’s a complicated problem. And Rosemary, I think you’re 100% right. All the variables that happen during the manufacturing and the design of a wind turbine have to incorporate safety features that keep that operating for 30 years. That’s really hard to do, [00:28:00] and you’d have no way to really verify it once you shove it out the door, especially the first thousand you make. It’s almost an impossible task.  Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, I mean there obviously there is heaps of maintenance that needs to be done to, to wind turbines, even if it is incredibly low maintenance compared to other kinds of machines. And if you are skipping that kind of maintenance or doing it incorrectly, then that is definitely a very um, Australia relevant issue. You know, everyone’s on these full service agreements. Sometimes not for the full lifetime of the the turbine. So you can imagine if you’re kind of like half-assing your maintenance for the, those first 10 years, then you’re just sending a, you know, time bomb to the next person to take over that contract. So. That’s a real challenge, but I’d see it with blades where it’s like, oh, they’re just quietly fixing, um, damages. They get the same damage over and over again and they just quietly fix it and not say anything and, or, you know, not really raise it like maybe you’re technically getting the reports, but it’s never flagged that, you know, Hey, this is a serial issue and no one’s ever investigating. What’s the [00:29:00] real root cause of this? It might be that, you know, they’re fixing it well enough to last to the end of the FSA period. And then, yeah. Oh hey. Turns out your whole fleet has a serial issue that you need to take care of now with, without the backing of the manufacturer, which, um, you know, obviously makes it about 10 times harder. Allen Hall: And that’s why you want to go to Wilma 2027 because we’re gonna to talk about that issue in a. About 20 others during the two day event. At least that’s what it’s scheduled for right now. Maybe it’ll go to a third day. Rosemary, maybe we need to add a third day because of all the topics  Rosemary Barnes: we need to move to a beach location. If we’re gonna start going for multiple days,  Allen Hall: Rosemary wants to have it in Fiji or was it Tahiti? What was the other place you were saying you would like to go to?  Rosemary Barnes: Tahiti would be fine. Um, Maldives is what I was saying, but yeah, I will accept that. It’s not that. Logical to run Australia. Um, win o and m event offshore. Allen Hall: We wanna send a congratulations to Yolanda and [00:30:00]Manuel as they have gotten married down in Mexico, uh, with all friends and family, several hundred attendees as I have learned. So congratulations to those two. And Yolanda will be back on the podcast. In the next week or two, that wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love for to hear from you, just reach out to us on LinkedIn and don’t forget to subscribe. So if you never miss an episode. And if you found value in today’s conversation, please leave us a review. It helps other wind energy professionals discover the show. For Rosie and Nikki, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy [00:31:00] Podcast.

In this episode, Bri Conn CFP® sits down with Hillary, a client who is Childfree not by choice, for a real-life Childfree Wealth® checkup. Hillary has already done much of the emotional heavy lifting, moving through grief, redefining what her future looks like, and arriving at a place of clarity and intention. Now she is ready to match that clarity with a financial plan that actually fits her life.What unfolds is an honest, grounded conversation about inherited accounts, trust income, estate planning gaps, career sustainability, and what it really means to plan for a future you once imagined differently.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why a Childfree Wealth® checkup is a discovery session first, and how the process of gathering your financial information can bring surprising clarity before the first meeting even beginsHow the emotional journey from childless not by choice to Childfree by intention shapes the way you save, plan, and envision your futureWhy inherited IRAs come with time-sensitive distribution rules that depend on the original account owner's date of death, and what that means for long-term planningHow to tell the difference between an HSA and an FSA, why it matters more than most people realize, and the triple tax advantage you may already have access toWhy six months of liquid savings carries even more weight when you are single, and how an accessible emergency fund protects you when disability coverage, job changes, or healthcare costs create unexpected gapsThe episode mentioned in this conversation can be found here: https://childfreeinsights.com/resources/podcast/episode-168/ Episode Host:Bri Conn, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Childfree Wealth Specialist® at Childfree Wealth®, and Customer Experience Manager at Childfree Trust®.About Childfree Insights:Childfree Insights is a trusted resource for life planning without children. It explores financial planning, estate planning, relationships, and long-term decisions for adults building a future without kids. Home of Childfree Wealth® and Childfree Trust®.Connect with Us:Ready to work on building better financial habits? Connect with our financial planning team at childfreewealth.com or learn more about estate planning at childfreetrust.com.Follow Childfree Life by Design on your favorite podcast platform and join the conversation on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreeinsightsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeInsights/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfreeinsightsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChildfreeInsightsDisclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast.

Everton will play their 7th Monday night game of the season in May. It affects travel plans, enjoyment, and if we look at the stats, it could be affecting results, too.Is it time for fans to get together and take a stand against the ridiculous scheduling of matches? Or are we too tribal to ever really come together for a common cause?An FSA poll has found that 75% of football fans don't support the use of VAR, with 92% agreeing it's removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations. Should its use at least be rolled back, as it currently feels more like video refereeing than video assistance.And there's the small matter of this weekend's European six-pointer at Brentford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode of Federal Prison Authority Presents: Around the Block, Bruce and Susan continue from last week's episode, which covered the First Step Act Law and its issues and details. Bruce and Susan take time to discuss their new book, which will be released soon, and encourage viewers to reach out with any comments or questions. After this, they transition to reviewing the Second Chance Act and Halfway House, and to the high- or low-risk assessment, which affects where inmates are placed. This is a very informative episode and does a great job continuing the topic introduced last week. For more information on these processes, listen to older podcasts for a fuller picture and understanding! Please feel free to send questions to Bruce and Susan. Dr. Susan Giddings can be found on their shared website https://federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Bruce through his cell (214) 431-2032, and their First Step Act Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2dWCECE

In this episode, FSA speaks with Calhoun County Sheriff Michael Bryant. Sheriff Bryant was elected in 2024, and we discuss his first year in office as well as ways in which he is working to improve the lives of the citizens he serves. Learn about how he first got started in the sheriff's office, his time with the Blountstown Police Department and why he eventually decided to run for sheriff.  We also cover the important work his office is doing to help those reenter society and why addressing mental health issues is a top priority.

FSA's Conservation Reserve Programs K-State's Cow Camp Should Calves get Vaccines and Implants Following Birth?   00:01:05 – FSA's Conservation Reserve Programs: Starting the show is David Schemm, state executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, as he highlights the multiple conservation reserve programs and what emergency plans they have in place. Farmers.gov   00:12:05 – K-State's Cow Camp: K-State beef systems specialist Jaymelynn Farney keeps the show going as she discusses the Cow Camp in eastern Kansas and what hands-on learning will take place for the attendees. Cow Camp jkj@ksu.edu    00:23:05 – Should Calves get Vaccines and Implants Following Birth?: Part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast ends the show as Brad White, Bob Larson and Todd Gunderson chat about calf care right after birth when it comes to vaccines and implants. BCI Cattle Chat Podcast Bovine Science with BCI Podcast Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit Extension.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but understanding key benefits and strategies can help you make the most of your financial future. On the show this week, I tackle listener questions on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Social Security. If you're considering an HSA, are curious about contribution limits, or want to know how HSAs can work alongside FSAs, I break it down in simple, clear language. I also answer a wide range of Social Security questions, and discuss how your benefits are calculated, timing your claim, navigating survivor benefits, and how to avoid costly mistakes during retirement.   You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... 03:44 HSA vs. FSA & social security 09:12 HSA and the triple tax advantage 16:38 "HSA vs. FSA explained 21:02 Early retirement social security adjustments 26:45 IRMAA Surcharges and Roth Conversions 30:00 Social security claim rules 37:09 Social security benefits strategy 38:36 Social security survivor benefits 44:45 Understanding social security earnings & inflation   The Power of Health Savings Accounts HSAs stand out because contributions are tax-deductible, invested money grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. Unlike IRAs or 401(k)s, there are no required minimum distributions (RMDs), making them an appealing vehicle for long-term savings. Contributions via payroll deductions also avoid Social Security and Medicare taxes, enhancing their tax efficiency. HSAs are often misunderstood or underused, but they offer some of the most attractive tax benefits for medical expenses in retirement. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. The latest contribution limits for 2026 are $4,400 for individuals and $8,750 for families, with a $1,000 catch-up for those 55 and older. Interestingly, the catch-up for HSAs starts at 55, unlike the 401(k) catch-up, which begins at 50.   HSAs vs. FSAs: What's the Difference? Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) often get confused with HSAs, but they are fundamentally different. FSAs are a "use it or lose it" account, meaning funds must be spent within the plan year or risk forfeiture. HSAs roll over year to year and can accumulate significant balances for future health expenses and even long-term care. HSAs also have more flexible investment options and ownership, making them superior for many long-term planners.   Navigating Social Security Statements, Timing, and Benefits Social Security's rules and estimates can be confusing. Your Social Security statement provides estimates based on the assumption you'll continue working at your current salary until retirement. If you retire early, these estimates adjust, but they don't include cost-of-living increases or Medicare Part B premiums, which will come directly out of your benefit. Many retirees are surprised to find their actual monthly check is lower than expected due to these deductions. One major factor is IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount), which increases Medicare premiums for higher-income retirees, based on income from two years prior. However, you can request an exception if your income drops due to retirement, using the SSA-44 form. Timing your claim is important. Social Security is typically a month or two behind when benefits start, so plan accordingly. Earned income before claiming does not count toward the annual limits; only income earned after starting benefits does. Spousal income also doesn't affect your individual Social Security benefit.   Strategy Matters Retirement planning goes beyond just saving—it's about making strategic decisions for your health, income, and legacy. HSAs, Social Security, and FSAs all have unique rules that affect how you can maximize their benefits. Take time to understand how these accounts work, and don't be afraid to seek expert advice for your unique situation.   Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning   Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com Podcast: https://RetireStrongFA.com/Podcast Website: https://RetireStrongFA.com/ Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made Easy On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts  

This week's episode of Federal Prison Authority Presents: Around the Block is foundational to all the work Bruce and Susan do. Bruce opens by explaining the purpose of their work, then transitions to Susan discussing the cons of the new First Step Act. They also discuss a variety of drugs and how the Law is written pertaining to these substances. Next, Susan goes through the different sections and statutes in the law and helps critique and clarify their meanings. Qualifications for time credits are covered around the halfway point and extend to much of the episode. To conclude the show, Bruce shows their new edition of "The Champion" and goes over their new Federal Time Credit books. Please feel free to send questions to Bruce and Susan. Dr. Susan Giddings can be found on their shared website https://federalprisonauthority.com/who-we-are/ Bruce through his cell (214) 431-2032, and their First Step Act Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2dWCECE

Hatred is one of the most destructive human emotions, responsible for some of the greatest atrocities that humans have committed against each other. But why did it evolve in the first place? What is the evolutionary advantage of hating someone? Why is hate the ‘evil twin' of love? And will we ever be able to ‘treat' hatred and open the door to a utopian world of peaceful coexistence?This lecture was recorded by Robin May on the 4th of March 2026 at Bernard's Inn Hall, LondonProfessor of Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham, and (interim) Chief Scientist at the UK Health Security Agency, Robin May was appointed Gresham Professor of Physic in May 2022. Between July 2020 and September 2025 he served as Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency (FSA).Professor May's early training was in Plant Sciences at the University of Oxford, followed by a PhD on mammalian cell biology at University College London and the University of Birmingham. After postdoctoral research on gene silencing at the Hubrecht Laboratory, The Netherlands, he returned to the UK in 2005 to establish a research program on human infectious diseases. He was Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham from 2017-2020. Professor May continues his work on Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham. A Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Wolfson Royal Society Research Merit Fellow and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, Professor May specialises in research into human infectious diseases, with a particular focus on how pathogens survive and replicate within host organisms.As the FSA's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor May provides expert scientific advice to the UK government and plays a critical role in helping to understand how scientific developments will shape the work of the FSA, as well as the strategic implications of any possible changes.The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/why-hateGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham College's mission, please consider making a donation: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-today Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukX: https://x.com/GreshamCollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/greshamcollege.bsky.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greshamcollegeSupport Us: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-todaySupport the show

George Wright III interviews financial strategist Jeff Stock, CEO and founder of Stock Alternatives, about tax-optimized wealth building, risk management, and alternative investments. Stock shares his path from actuary to fund manager, including early lessons from losing over 80% in a student-managed endowment fund during the dot-com crash and how it shaped his focus on diversification and correlations. He talks about how many advisors rely too heavily on stocks/bonds and emphasizes alternatives such as real estate development, fix-and-flips, trading strategies, oil and gas, and investments designed to perform in market corrections. Stock highlights advanced tax planning for high earners, including clean energy/EV charger incentives, depreciation, and strategies to reduce taxes by up to 60%, and discusses evaluating opportunities by targeting high returns across multiple deals. He also previews his upcoming podcast and shares ways to connect.01:10 Actuary to Fund Manager02:23 Early Investing Lessons05:19 Actuarial Edge and Tax Savings06:46 What Advisors Miss08:24 Downturn Proof Diversification10:00 EV Charger Tax Strategy12:03 Evaluating Deals Framework13:55 High Earners and After Tax Returns16:09 Advanced Write Off Stories17:41 Why Jeff Started a Podcast20:17 How to Connect and Next Steps21:30 Favorite Alternative InvestmentsThanks for listening, and Please Share this Episode with someone. It would really help us to grow our show and share these valuable tips and strategies with others. Have a great day.George Wright III“It's Never Too Late to Start Living the Life You Were Meant to Live”FREE Daily Mastermind Resources:CONNECT with George & Access Tons of ResourcesGet access to Proven Strategies and Time-Test Principles for Success. Plus, download and access tons of FREE resources and online events by joining our Exclusive Community of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and High Achievers like YOU.Join FREE at DailyMastermind.comFollow me on social media Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | TikTok | YoutubeGrow Your Authority and Personal Brand with a FREE Interview in a Top Global Magazine HERE.About the Guest:Jeff Stock is a private wealth strategist, actuary, and founder of Stock Alternatives, a firm focused on helping high-income and high-net-worth individuals grow and protect their wealth through tax-efficient and alternative investment strategies.He is known for combining risk analysis, financial modeling, and real-world investment strategies to create systems that go beyond traditional financial planning.Guest Resources:Website: https://www.stockalternatives.comPersonal Site: https://www.jeffstock360.comLinkedIn: Jeff Stock, FSA, MAAA

Chris McGarvey is the Director of the Regulatory and Compliance Team for Walker Morris LLP in the UK. He has more than 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sector, and has a track record of helping clients navigate complex legal challenges in areas of highly regulated economic activity. Chris specializes in food law and led the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) Legal Team through Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain challenges associated with the Ukraine conflict. Chris' typical clients are Directors, Senior Managers, and specialists, particularly food scientists, who demand quick, accessible, and accurate advice. His work often has national reach and spans all four nations of the UK. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Chris [26:40] about: Impending regulatory changes in the UK and EU that will have immediate impacts for food business operations, and what companies should be doing to prepare The legal, ethical, and compliance challenges posed by the increasing regulatory attention being paid to emerging food innovations like precision fermentation and cannabidiol (CBD) products, and the potential influence of consumer perceptions on regulatory outcomes How Brexit can serve as a case study for food businesses navigating significant regulatory changes The legal and financial implications for food exporters related to ongoing UK–EU food trade negotiations Benefits, drawbacks, and realities of the EU's prescriptive, stringent approach to regulating food substances versus the U.S.'s current deregulatory, voluntary approach Possible consumer health and legal outcomes that could emerge if countries choose to adopt Codex-aligned, risk-based precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) requirements Advice for companies to go beyond minimum compliance with traceability and recall regulatory requirements, including the role that technology can play in achieving this goal. News and Resources News Larry Keener to be Honored with Food Safety Magazine's 2026 Distinguished Service Award [7:16] RFK Jr. Says Federal Ultra-Processed Foods Definition is Coming in April [8:49] FDA Releases Initial Findings from Foodborne Pathogen Study in California Growing Region [15:09] EU Considers Adoption of Harmonized Precautionary Allergen Labeling Rules [20:27] UK-EU Trade Agreement Would Harmonize Certain Food Safety Rules by Mid-2027 [21:33] EU Launches AI Traceability Platform to Strengthen Detection of Food Fraud, Safety Risks [22:45] World Food Safety Day 2026 to Coincide with Release of Updated WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Estimates [23:33] Resources "2026 Trends in the EU/UK Food Law Space" by Chris McGarvey Sponsored by: Eagle Product Inspection We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Send a textPing pong tables do not build trust and wellness stipends do not fix a broken culture. We get real about the messy intersection of employee benefits, wellness, culture, and retention, and why the “perks” playbook fails when it is copied from companies with totally different people, pay realities, and business goals.I sit down with Oksana Lukash, a seasoned chief people officer and leadership advisor, to unpack what actually makes a culture scalable. We talk about culture starting on day one, showing up in every decision and every conversation, and why leaders have to be honest about expectations so the right talent self-selects in. We also dig into the hidden damage of “culture subtraction” hires and why protecting team dynamics is not soft, it is financial.Then we shift into practical employee benefits strategy: working with a strong benefits broker, using utilization data, running short pulse surveys, and designing coverage around your real workforce demographics. We explore why meeting basic needs through compensation comes before any wellness program, and how high-impact benefits like fertility or adoption support can beat the ROI of many traditional retention tactics. We also highlight the underused lever that changes everything: ongoing benefits education, so employees can confidently use tools like HSA, FSA, dependent care, and retirement plans.If you're a founder, HR leader, or operator trying to scale without burning people out, this is a playbook you can use immediately. Subscribe, share this with a builder who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest question about benefits, culture, or trust.Support the show

This week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie and Karen discuss three new House bills focused on preventing fraud in the student aid programs, all of which were advanced by the House Education and Workforce Committee this week. Karen explains what each of the three bills would do and how they would impact institutions. From there, Melanie discusses what's happening with the Department of Education's (ED) Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) reporting requirement following a federal judge's temporary injunction blocking ED from enforcing its March 18 deadline. The team also discusses updates from Federal Student Aid (FSA), including when final rules are expected for the RISE and AHEAD negotiated rulemaking sessions and when recordings of the FSA training conference will be available to the public. Finally, Melanie gives a brief update on what NASFAA knows about an influx of institutions receiving borrower defense claims. 

Hearing from County FSA Offices Using Ammonium Sulfate and Residual Corn Herbicides Helping Keep Feedlot Cattle Cooler   00:01:05 – Hearing from County FSA Offices: David Schemm, state executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, begins today's show as he highlights FSA farm programs and explains what he is doing traveling around the state. Farmers.gov   00:12:05 – Using Ammonium Sulfate and Residual Corn Herbicides: K-State weed specialist Sarah Ganske and K-State weed scientist Pat Geier keep the show rolling as they discuss the use of ammonium sulfate and importance of residual herbicides for corn. Ammonium Sulfate - It's Not Just for Conditioning Spray Water Residual Herbicides for Corn   00:23:05 – Helping Keep Feedlot Cattle Cooler: Part of a Cattle Chat podcast from the Beef Cattle Institute ends the show as Brad White, Phillip Lancaster and Maddie Mancke chat about research on feeding times to help keep feedlot cattle cooler.  BCI Cattle Chat Podcast Bovine Science with BCI Podcast Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit Extension.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Anders Larson, FSA,MAAA and Shea Parkes, FSA, MAAA provide a clear, approachable look at how modern AI systems really think, act, and respond. They dive into the hidden machinery behind today's GenAI applications – exploring how agent frameworks guide LLMs through structured, choose‑your‑own‑adventure–style decision loops. Using practical examples from Microsoft Copilot and actuarial workflows, they break down how middleware, tool calls, and general context transform raw models into useful business assistants.

In the final episode of the 60-day regular session, FSA provides an update on where things stand as the legislative session comes to a close (sort of) and reviews the sheriffs' priority issues that made it across the finish line this year. FSA then sits down with Representative Yvette Benarroch to discuss her bill, which passed this session and takes an important step toward addressing growing safety concerns surrounding e-bikes and scooters, particularly among youth across the state. 

This week on "Off the Cuff," Hugh, Jill, and Sarah share some takeaways from last week's Federal Student Aid (FSA) training conference, where officials from the Department of Education (ED) provided policy updates geared towards financial aid professionals. Jill provides updates on FAFSA, Pell Grant and Workforce Pell developments, the common manual for the Federal Direct Loan Program, and more. Sarah then catches listeners up on more updates regarding implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and explains a recent electronic announcement detailing upcoming changes to several FSA systems to support the expansion of Pell Grant eligibility for eligible workforce programs and revised limits on federal student loans.

In this episode of Farm4Profit, we sit down with Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, for a timely conversation about federal policy and what it means for American producers.

In this episode of the Society of Actuaries Research Institute's Research Insights Podcast, Dale Hall speaks with Michael Bean, FSA (also a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries) about the 2026 Emerging Risk Survey Results. Drawing on input from 100+ senior risk leaders—including Chief Risk Officers, Chief Actuaries, lead consulting partners, and other C-suite decision-makers—Michael shares what risk executives see as most impactful in 2026 and what they believe could matter three or more years out. Listeners will hear why economic and geopolitical risks are driving near-term concern, why technological risks (especially adverse AI outcomes) dominate the longer-term view, and which risk combinations (like cyber + AI and financial volatility + AI) leaders believe could create the toughest scenarios to manage. 2026 Emerging Risk Survey Results

Insurance coverage for doulas sounds like a win for everyone. More clients, broader access, sustainable practice. But the reality is messier than the headline, and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss and Dr. Hillary Melchiors have both lived that reality from opposite sides of the billing process. Robin brings a background in health management system sciences, years of taking insurance as a doula, and experience running an oral surgery practice where insurance claims were part of every single day. Hillary brings the on-the-ground perspective of a doula agency owner who has navigated company benefits, watched payment timelines stretch, and done the math on whether Medicaid reimbursement rates actually pencil out. Together, they unpack what it genuinely means to accept insurance as a birth professional. This episode covers the credentialing process, the critical distinction between insurance and company benefits like the Walmart employee program, balance billing rights, and the hidden contractual traps that can turn a missed call into a fraud risk if you are not paying attention. FSA and HSA accounts get real attention here as a lower-barrier starting point for most doulas, along with Robin's "open season" approach to client education each fall. The conversation is practical and honest, including a frank look at why insurance-based doula work may make sense as one piece of a mixed caseload rather than the foundation of a sustainable practice.  

In this episode, FSA provides a Week 8 legislative recap. We discuss the status of the state budget and then sit down with Rep. Chuck Brannan to reflect on his eight years in the Florida Legislature, where he has been a leading voice on public safety issues, as he prepares to wrap up his final term in office. 

Today, I'm joined by Sam O'Keefe, co-founder & CEO of Flex.   Enabling use of HSA and FSA funds at checkout, Flex unlocks tax-advantaged spending on preventative health products — from fitness and recovery to supplements and wearables.   In this episode, we discuss making "pay with HSA/FSA" as common as PayPal.    We also cover:   Confusion around HSAs & FSAs Value props for merchants and consumers Integrating with Equinox's membership flow    Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast  Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe  Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider    Flex's Website: www.withflex.com  Shop with Flex: www.withflex.com/shop  Instagram: www.instagram.com/paywithflex/  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/withflex/  X (Twitter): https://x.com/paywithflex  Sam's Email: sam@withflex.com    -   The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities.   Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/  Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/  Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/    Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:39) Sam's background (02:26) Why HSA/FSA funds are hard to use (04:00) Making HSA/FSA work (05:35) IRS regulations (07:05) The education problem (09:00) Merchant value proposition (10:30) Increased accessibility (11:10) API-first infrastructure (12:05) Custom integrations (14:40) Patterns across fitness, sleep, supplements, wearables (16:15) Women directing family healthcare spending (18:00) Subscription retention (19:15) Psychology of separate health spending pool (21:25) Equinox partnership (22:40) Seamless checkout integration vs reimbursement friction (24:15) Fitness language shift (25:05) Making HSA/FSA ubiquitous in every checkout (27:15) $150 billion underutilized in HSA/FSA accounts (28:40) Consumer marketplace (29:30) Growing B2C alongside B2B focus (30:30) 2026 priorities (32:33) Conclusion  

Can you deduct free food, rent your house to your business or avoid double taxation with a C Corp?In this Q&A episode, Mike answers rapid-fire tax questions submitted by business owners across industries. From restaurant deductions to partnership restructuring, foreign contractors, co-mingled expenses, and advanced C Corp investing strategies, this episode walks through what's legal, what's smart, and what's risky. If you want clarity before you file, this is the one to listen to.

a16z general partner Erik Torenberg speaks with Justin Mares, founder and CEO of TrueMed. They discuss why American health outcomes are so poor compared to the rest of the developed world, how crop subsidies created a food system that "systematically outputs unhealthy people," and what it would take to treat the chronic disease crisis as a national security issue. Mares explains how TrueMed allows people to spend tax-free HSA and FSA dollars on lifestyle interventions like gym memberships, sleep aids, and healthier food—and why he believes this could redirect hundreds of billions of dollars toward prevention. They also explore the case for psychedelics as mental health therapy and why peptides could disrupt the pharmaceutical industry. Resources:Follow Justin Mares on X: https://x.com/jwmaresFollow TrueMed on X: https://x.com/truemed Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's blockchain and crypto news Bitcoin is up slightly at $87,866   Ethereum is down slightly at $2,913 Binance Coin is up slightly at $879 Japan's FSA opens public comments on stablecoin amendments Kraken launching DeFi Earn Kalshi opens new DC office Polymarket signs multi-year deal with MLS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2024 with Calley Means at South by Southwest, we sat down and talked about his mission to flip the old American food pyramid upside down for the greater good. Well guess what, the pressure is finally working! This rerun is the ultimate receipt that focus, repetition, and smart lobbying for human health can still move the needle! Host Dave Asprey sits down with Calley Means, entrepreneur, policy advocate, and co-author of Good Energy. Together, they break down how the U.S. healthcare system became a sick-care system, why ultra-processed food dominates public policy, and how individuals can reclaim autonomy over their biology. From CGMs and metabolic health to food subsidies, lobbying, and free speech, this episode challenges deeply held assumptions about medicine, nutrition, and personal responsibility.You'll Learn: • Why chronic disease is the most profitable business model in modern history • How metabolic dysfunction drives obesity, diabetes, depression, and infertility • Why ultra-processed food sits at the root of America's health collapse • How CGMs and metabolic data threaten entrenched healthcare incentives • What “food is medicine” really means and where it gets weaponized • How HSA and FSA dollars can legally support food, exercise, and prevention • Why fixing incentives matters more than blaming individuals • How reclaiming health autonomy is tied to free speech and human resilience Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: Calley Means Good Energy, Calley Means interview, Good Energy metabolic health, metabolic dysfunction America, ultra processed food policy, food is medicine debate, healthcare incentives crisis, chronic disease economics, insulin resistance epidemic, CGM health data access, metabolic health lobbying, seed oils sugar inflammation, glyphosate food system, HSA food exercise eligibility, health autonomy biohacking, metabolic freedom podcast, american food pyramid, rfk food pyramid, 2026 food pyramid Thank you to our sponsors! Essentia | Go to https://myessentia.com/dave and use code DAVE for $100 off The Dave Asprey Upgrade. Resources: • Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/ • Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 2:11 – Mom's Cancer Story 4:24 – Healthcare System Incentives 10:14 – TruMed and Food as Medicine 15:51 – FDA and IRS Pushback 17:25 – Political Solutions and RFK 19:49 – Childhood Obesity Crisis 21:49 – The Chronic Disease Industry 26:54 – State of Emergency Proposal 29:07 – Healthcare Industry Mindset 31:30 – COVID and Metabolic Health 32:28 – Taking Back Health Autonomy 34:16 – Medical System Collusion 35:56 – Research Corruption 37:21 – Pharma Bribes and Conflicts 40:17 – Ozempic and Civil Rights Groups 42:35 – Personal Mission and Mom's Legacy 50:16 – Media Power and Free Speech 54:00 – Weaponizing Social Justice 55:16 – Systemic Poisoning of the Population 57:37 – Technology as a Health Solution 1:03:20 – Regenerative Farming and Robotics 1:06:34 – Controlling the Food Supply 1:10:18 – Closing Thoughts See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.