Farm4Profit Podcast

• From Texas to Montana, Georgia to Michigan: The Life of Custom Harvesters

  This special two-part Farm4Profit Podcast episode takes listeners into the high-paced, high-stakes world of custom harvesting—where crews and families crisscross the country to bring in America’s grain crops.First, we sit down with Paul Paplow, President of Paplow Harvesting & Trucking. What started in 1992 as a two-combine family operation has grown into a 10-machine fleet traveling from Texas to Montana each season. Paul shares insights on managing crews of all sizes, keeping up with new regulations, and using the J1 Visa program to staff harvest runs. With experience representing the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) in Washington, D.C. and at Commodity Classic, Paul brings a national perspective to the challenges and opportunities in the custom harvesting industry.Next, we talk with David from Orrson Custom Farming LTD of Apple Creek, Ohio, a third-generation family business that has been custom harvesting since 1946. Today, Orrson Custom Farming employs 16 crew members and covers ground from Georgia to Michigan, starting harvest in February and running all the way through Thanksgiving. David discusses the importance of safety protocols, crew training, and risk management, as well as the family’s ongoing crop production on 700 acres back home. With the fourth generation now involved, Orrson’s story is one of resilience, expansion, and dedication to customer service.Together, these conversations paint a vivid picture of life on the road as a custom harvester—long days, tight schedules, family traditions, and the incredible logistics behind getting America’s crops out of the field and into the supply chain. Whether you’re a farmer, an ag enthusiast, or someone curious about how food gets from field to table, this episode shines a spotlight on an essential but often overlooked part 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.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

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• Peer Groups are Power Tools from an Army Ranger, Farmer, Business Owner

  In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we sit down with Shay Foulk—a fifth-generation farmer, Army Ranger veteran, agronomist, consultant, and podcaster who wears many hats in agriculture. Shay grew up on a family farm in Northeast Iowa, studied agronomy at Iowa State University, and went on to serve five years in the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, an experience that sharpened his leadership and discipline. Today, he continues his service in the Illinois National Guard while managing his family farm, Foulk Farms, and co-operating Monier Seed, a seed cleaning and packaging business.Shay’s passion lies in conservation-minded farming—using cover crops, precision tools, and variable-rate fertilizer strategies to protect soil health while driving profitability. Beyond his own farm, he serves as a consultant and coach with Ag View Solutions, where he helps farm families tackle everything from profit management and equipment analysis to succession planning, peer groups, and team health.He also reaches thousands through his podcasts—Ag View Pitch and 19 Minutes with Chris Barron—where he shares timely market outlooks, business insights, and farmer-to-farmer conversations that resonate across the industry.Listeners will gain practical advice on:Building sustainable and profitable farm practices.Approaching farm management with a business-first mindset.Balancing family life, military service, consulting, and farming.Why podcasts and peer groups can be powerful tools for farm education and connection.Shay’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and service—making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges of modern agriculture. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

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• Farming Through the Generations: HiTech Farmer Blends Tradition with Technology

  We’re joined by Matthias Kunerth—HiTech Farmer, a fifth-generation farmer from southwest Minnesota who is making waves online by blending his family’s farming legacy with cutting-edge agricultural technology.Matthias farms corn and soybeans alongside his family, works as a sales rep for Dekalb and John Deere, and runs a drone operation. His passion for technology shines through in everything he does—whether it’s testing the latest GPS-guided equipment, exploring autonomous tractors, or showing how precision agriculture tools can boost efficiency and sustainability.On social media, where he’s built a following of nearly 80,000 across platforms, Matthias highlights the contrast between how his dad and grandpa farmed and how technology is shaping his generation’s approach. His content ranges from time-lapse planting videos to behind-the-scenes drone spraying journeys, giving his audience a unique window into modern agriculture.We dive into how Matthias finances his farm as a young producer, what tools and strategies he uses to keep his operation organized, and how his role as both a farmer and content creator allows him to promote agriculture to a broader audience. He also shares stories from working alongside his family, why showcasing generational differences matters, and what excites him most about the next wave of farm technology.To keep things light, we close the episode with a round of “Start, Bench, Cut” where Matthias chooses between autonomous tractors, drone spraying, and GPS-guided planters—and reveals whether he’d rather film harvest with his grandpa or rebuild old equipment in the shop.This episode blends nostalgia and innovation, offering listeners a look at how one young farmer is carrying tradition forward while embracing the tools that will define agriculture’s future. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

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• Beyond Blame or Divide: Working Together for Iowa Water's Future

  We’re joined by the CEOs of Des Moines Water Works and Central Iowa Water Works, who provide a utility perspective on what it takes to ensure clean, safe drinking water for over 600,000 residents. They explain what nitrate removal looks like in practice, why one winter alone cost more than $540,000, and how proposed new facilities could require investments of up to $183 million.From the agricultural side, we explore the progress farmers have made in reducing erosion, improving nitrogen use efficiency (down from ~1.2 lbs per bushel in the 1990s to ~0.7 lbs or less today), and adopting conservation practices like no-till, cover crops, and prairie strips. We also look at the barriers—like cost, adoption rates, and weather extremes—that keep nitrate reductions from moving as fast as water utilities and regulators would like.The conversation highlights the drivers of change, from climate volatility to increased corn production, and examines the broader economic context: agriculture still contributes over $53 billion to Iowa’s GDP and supports 1 in 5 jobs statewide. Any solutions must balance environmental protection with economic sustainability for farm families and rural communities.Ultimately, this discussion is about bridging the divide. Both farmers and utilities are making major investments in infrastructure—whether that’s treatment plants or conservation practices. The question is: how do we build trust, share data, and create partnerships that deliver measurable water quality improvements while protecting Iowa’s agricultural economy and heritage?This episode gives listeners a nuanced look at the nitrate issue beyond the headlines, showing how public health, environmental stewardship, and agricultural productivity can coexist with the right mix of science, collaboration, and leadership. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

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• The Farmer’s Life: Brian Scott - Legacy, Innovation, and Connection

  We welcome back Brian Scott, the Indiana farmer behind The Farmer’s Life. Brian is a fourth-generation farmer raising corn, soybeans, popcorn, and wheat on his family’s 2,400-acre operation. Farming alongside his father and grandfather, Brian not only manages the day-to-day work of no-till practices, cover cropping, and seed production but also shares it with the world through his blog and growing social media platforms.We talk about the evolution of his farm—from planting soybeans before corn and experimenting with cover crops across 25% of their acres each fall, to the anticipation of earning a centennial designation for his grandpa’s farm in 2028. Brian also shares how his Purdue Ag degree and openness to new agronomic practices have helped him continually adapt and improve his operation.Beyond the farm, Brian has built a large online community through The Farmer’s Life blog and daily content on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Starting in 2011, his writing evolved into video and social storytelling, where he now connects with hundreds of thousands of people globally. He shares how projects like Cruisin’ with Corteva and conversations with followers have expanded his perspective on biotech, cover cropping, and farm transparency.Listeners will also get a peek at Brian’s journey from working in retail management after college back to farming full time, his experience growing up outside the FFA/4-H path, and how music shaped his early years. Whether it’s managing soil health, using precision ag tools, or reflecting on the role of family legacy, Brian offers an honest look at what it really means to live “The Farmer’s Life.” Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: [email protected]/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

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