Farm4Profit Podcast

What makes Ag PhD Field Day one of the premier educational events in agriculture every year?

In this What's Working in Ag segment, Darren Hefty joins Farm4Profit to preview everything coming to the 2026 Ag PhD Field Day, including brand-new equipment launches, recently approved herbicides, AI discussions, fertility management, and practical agronomic advice for the season ahead.

The conversation covers why farmers from across the country attend the event, how innovation continues to reshape agriculture, and why networking with fellow producers can be just as valuable as the latest technology demonstrations.

Darren also discusses current crop conditions, disease pressure, fungicide timing, drone applications, fertility economics, and offers practical advice for farmers dealing with flooded fields and prevented planting situations.

Whether you're planning to attend Ag PhD Field Day or simply want to stay ahead of the latest developments in agriculture, this episode provides a preview of the technology, products, and management strategies shaping the future of farming.

Topics include:

Ag PhD Field Day 2026

New equipment introductions

AI in agriculture

Rapidacill and Convento herbicides

Fertility management

High fertilizer prices

Fungicide timing

Tar spot and southern rust

Agricultural drones

Cover crop strategies

Field drainage improvements

Learning from other farmers

Crop scouting and crop protection

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
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Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
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In this episode, Farm4Profit welcomes John Deere Combine Specialist Tim Ford along with Millennial Farmer Zach Johnson for an in-depth conversation about harvest automation.

You'll learn how predictive ground speed automation uses cameras, satellite imagery, and onboard sensors to maintain optimal combine performance throughout the day while reducing operator fatigue.

Topics include:

Predictive Ground Speed Automation

Harvest Settings Automation

Camera-based crop detection

Satellite imagery integration

Green crop detection

Down crop detection

Machine learning in combines

Fuel efficiency improvements

Harvest productivity gains

Operator fatigue reduction

Future autonomous harvesting

Return on investment for automation

Tim also explains how customer feedback directly shapes future software updates and how John Deere continuously improves automation through real-world testing with cooperating farmers.

Meanwhile, Zach shares firsthand experience using harvest automation on his own farm and discusses how quickly operators gain confidence once they understand how the technology works.

 

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
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Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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The conversation explores the history behind the Albert City Threshermen Show, now celebrating its 55th year, and why thousands of visitors continue traveling from across the United States—and even internationally—to experience farming as it once was.

You'll hear about:

Live wheat harvesting demonstrations

Antique combines and threshing machines

Steam engines and prairie tractors

Horse-powered farming equipment

Blacksmith and woodworking demonstrations

Corn shelling and sawmill operations

The famous 60 Minutes of Farming demonstration

Family activities for all ages

The annual Wheat Run and Old Power Roundup

Why preserving agricultural history matters for future generations

The episode also shares stories about multi-generational volunteers, restored equipment over 100 years old, and the passion required to keep agricultural history alive.

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Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
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Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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In this episode of What’s Working in Ag, Tanner, Corey, and David sit down with Drew Grundmeyer, founder of Harvest Ready, to discuss a practical solution to one of farming’s most persistent problems: labor. Drew shares how his background in education and farming inspired him to create a training program that helps prepare people for real-world farm work before they ever climb into a tractor or grain cart.

Harvest Ready combines classroom instruction, safety training, equipment familiarization, and hands-on experience to help participants develop the foundational skills needed to support farm operations during harvest. The goal isn’t to create expert operators overnight—it’s to build confidence, improve safety, and provide farmers with a pool of trained individuals who understand the basics of agricultural equipment and harvest logistics.

Topics discussed include:

The growing labor shortage facing agriculture

How Harvest Ready was created to fill a critical need

Why basic training can make a major difference during harvest

The concept behind Harvest Ready’s Core and Alpha training programs

Safety education and equipment familiarization

Grain cart operation fundamentals

Training new operators before harvest begins

Creating opportunities for non-farm individuals to gain agricultural experience

Potential partnerships with FFA and agricultural education programs

The challenges of training across different equipment brands and technologies

Building a future workforce for agriculture

How farmers can prepare for labor needs before harvest starts

Whether you're a farmer looking for reliable help, a student interested in agriculture, or someone wanting to gain hands-on farm experience, this conversation highlights an innovative approach to strengthening the agricultural workforce and helping operations stay productive during their busiest seasons.

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Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
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Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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The discussion covers everything from almonds, vineyards, tomatoes, melons, cucurbits, tobacco, cotton, sweet potatoes, peanuts, peaches, apples, and leafy vegetables while comparing production practices to the corn and soybean systems familiar to much of the Farm4Profit audience.

Topics include:

Specialty crop production across the United States

California almonds, walnuts, pistachios, vineyards and vegetables

North Carolina sweet potatoes, tobacco and cotton

Why long-term planning matters in permanent crops

Water management and irrigation challenges

Labor costs versus traditional row crop production

Weed management strategies and residual herbicides

New Corteva herbicides including Hulk CA

Managing nematodes with Celebro

Disease and insect pressure in specialty crops

How growers balance profitability with quality expectations

Multi-generational family farms across specialty agriculture

What all farmers can learn from one another

The conversation highlights that regardless of geography or crop, every producer faces weather risk, pest pressure, rising input costs, and the need to make timely management decisions.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!
https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.