Farm4Profit Podcast

In an industry driven by razor-thin margins, volatile markets, and rising input costs, mid-market cattle producers often face a simple truth: expertise matters more than luck.
In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we welcome Todd Drake, CEO of Balance4Ward — a company dedicated to helping cattle feeders break out of the “daily grind” and build intentional, profitable, and sustainable operations. Balance4Ward is built on decades of real-world cattle feeding experience and a mission to empower producers with both strategy and execution.
Todd shares:
Balance4Ward’s origin story — how hands-on cattle feeding experience led to solutions for mid-market feeders rather than generic advice.
Why traditional cattle feeding models leave producers chasing short-term wins instead of building long-term strength.
How the company developed Cattle Business Systems — a transparent, coaching-based approach where producers have access to expert guidance, custom planning, and monthly check-ins.
What practical value advisory and coaching adds — from back office clarity to production decisions that preserve margins and unlock profit potential.
Why Balance4Ward combines data, people, and experience into a system that lets feeders call the shots, rather than follow generic prescription models.
The evolution of the company into feed delivery, ration formulation, onsite consulting, blended feed, and strategic coaching designed to help operations compete with the biggest players.
Whether you’re an established feeder or a producer looking to scale smarter, Todd’s insights show why a systematic, coachable approach — not guesswork — is what it takes to thrive long-term.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: [email protected]
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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From copper wire and irrigation pumps to fencing and remote electrical systems, thieves are targeting farms more aggressively than ever — driven by rising metal prices and the reality that rural law enforcement is stretched thin.
We dig into:
Why agricultural crime is surging across the U.S.
What thieves are stealing most — and why farms are uniquely vulnerable
The true cost of theft beyond scrap value (downtime, crop loss, repairs, and missed irrigation)
Why traditional tools like trail cameras and motion lights often fail in remote areas
How new technology is shifting security from reactive to proactive
Bobby also shares how real-time theft detection systems like COP-R-LOCK can pinpoint theft instantly, trigger on-site alarms, and provide alerts fast enough to actually stop criminals before the damage is done.
With repair costs ranging from $20,000 to $90,000, this conversation is about more than stolen copper — it’s about protecting your farm’s productivity, infrastructure, and long-term resilience.

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: [email protected]
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/

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In this episode of Farm4Profit, we sit down with Lance Weaver, a Texas native, former ag banker, and now business coach with Legacy Farmer, to talk about what really happens behind the scenes in agricultural lending — and what farmers need to understand to protect their operations.
After earning degrees in Ag Business and Ag Economics and spending over a decade in ag finance, Lance reached a breaking point. Despite good intentions, he realized the system wasn’t built to serve farmers the way they thought it was.
We dig into:
The moment Lance said, “I can’t do this anymore as a banker”
Why loan officers don’t always have your back in loan committee meetings
Red flags in both farm financials and bank relationships
Why balance sheets, cash flow, and production knowledge must align
The danger of confusing bank renewals with actual profitability
How farmers can start thinking — and operating — like CEOs of multimillion-dollar businesses
What Legacy Farmer does differently to help producers build clarity, structure, and long-term resilience
This episode challenges farmers to take ownership of their numbers, their leadership role, and their future — because the bank will always protect its own interests, but your farm needs someone protecting yours.

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: [email protected]
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/

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Nels farms corn and soybeans in Iowa, including seed beans for major companies, while running a diverse lineup of equipment and managing challenges like field fires, weather swings, and land access as a next-generation farmer. He shares what it was like returning to the family operation, starting on his own acres, and building a farm business one decision at a time.
We also dive into:
Why he started sharing farm life on social media in 2019
How simple things like rain gauge updates connect farmers and non-farmers alike
What it’s like raising kids who actively help on the farm
Lessons learned from Iowa Corn’s I-LEAD program and international trade missions
Why community involvement — fire department, PTO, Lions Club — still matters in rural America
The reality of farming through tough seasons, including multiple field fires in one year
This conversation is a reminder that farming isn’t just about acres and yields — it’s about people, perspective, and showing the real side of agriculture.

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

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

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: [email protected]
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/

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In this What’s Working in Ag segment, we highlight a growing trend we’re seeing across agriculture heading into 2026: farmers investing in skills instead of opinions.
Agris Academy is hosting a 2026 Winter Workshop on Merchandising and Futures Risk Management on February 19th in Baltic, South Dakota, with both in-person and online options available. What makes this workshop stand out is what it doesn’t promise.
This session focuses on:
Teaching real merchandising skills farmers can use immediately
Sharing practical “tricks of the trade” from professional risk managers
Helping producers build repeatable systems, not one-off trades
Creating skills that become a permanent asset to a farm or business
What it won’t do:
Predict market direction
Push trading strategies
React to daily headlines
In a year where volatility, tight margins, and uncertainty continue to dominate agriculture, farmers are realizing that better decisions come from better understanding — not better guesses.
This short segment explains why educational workshops like this are gaining momentum, why farmers are choosing to attend in person, and how developing merchandising discipline can change how farms manage risk long-term.

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: [email protected]
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/

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