Field Notes by AgChoice

Episode 120: A Bright Future: Farewell from Darrell Curtis

Big things are on the horizon for Farm Credit. Effective July 1, AgChoice will merge with MidAtlantic Farm Credit to form Horizon Farm Credit. Together, we’ll be lending support to agriculture and our local communities across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. With the merger upon us, we’re taking a summer break from our podcast, so this will be the final episode for a few months. For all of the podcast lovers out there - don’t worry! We’ll let you know when we start p...

Episode 119: Opportunities in Specialty Mushroom Farming

Jumpstart grant spotlight: This episode highlights Esperanzo Wilcox, or Espo. This past year, Espo began the PA Mushroom Company, an organic mushroom farm, specializing in cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms and mushroom grow kits. He is also a 2021 recipient of the AgChoice Farm Credit jumpstart grant which awarded 15 startup farmers with a $10,000 grant this past fall. Tune in for an inside scoop on mushroom production and tips for start up farmers!

Episode 118: 17 Acres and Big Plans

Jumpstart grant spotlight: This episode features Jonathan and Winter Weaver. The Weavers operate Wheat and Sparrow, LLC, a 17-acre farm in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. They are 2021 recipients of the AgChoice Farm Credit jumpstart grant which awarded 15 startup farmers with a $10,000 grant this past fall. Listen in to hear how their operation has benefitted from this grant opportunity.

Episode 117: What’s the “Beef” on Grass-Fed Pasture-Raised Livestock?

Jumpstart Grant spotlight: This episode features Rachel Wagoner who is the owner of Tall Pines Farms in western Pennsylvania. Rachel and her husband raise grass-fed pasture-raised beef and lamb along with breeding stock, and hay. Listen in to hear more about what it takes to raise and finish beef and lamb on grass and some of the management practices they utilize on their farm.

Episode 116: From Chemical Engineer to Beginning Farmer

Jumpstart grant spotlight: This week's podcast highlights Matthew Hansen who is a beginning farmer and began growing vegetable crops in western Pennsylvania. Matthew markets his products through a CSA and serves his local community through providing fresh produce to those in need. He is also a recent recipient of the AgChoice Farm Credit jumpstart grant which has helped to fund the startup of his operation.

Episode 115: Continuing the Family Farming Legacy

Episode 114: Disruption of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Chris Herr, executive director of PennAg Industries, joins us to discuss Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. In recent weeks HPAI has had a tremendous disruption on the poultry industry in Pennsylvania and across the United States. Chris will help us learn more about HPAI, the current status in the state and next steps all of us can take to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Episode 113: Turning a Love for Animals into A Career

Tiffany Kline is carrying on her family’s farming legacy with her husband, Mack. This week’s Field Notes is another feature from the AgBiz Cast podcast.

Episode 112: Growing Specialty Apples for Cider

Grant Winner Spotlight: Joel and Emily Kuhns will run Odyssey Orchard, a veteran-owned business. Odyssey Orchard focuses on producing high quality sharp and bitter-sharp apples for the fine and craft cider markets.

Episode 111: An Expanding Sheep Farm

Jumpstart grant spotlight: Mackenzie Strawser and her husband Eli own and operate Top Line Meats, LLC. They started the business in late 2020 and raised sheep for breeding and meat purposes.

Episode 110: Dairy Industry Outlook

This week's podcast is a recap of the recent AgChoice Dairy Industry Outlook webinar. AgChoice ag business consultants Mike Hosterman and Heather Weeks share highlights from the report including a 2022 Pennsylvania milk price outlook and areas of focus for dairy producers.

Episode 109: Mentor Program Supports Beginning Farmers

In this podcast episode with talk with Jim Hoge about the PA Agriculture Mentor Program. The program has five mentors with extensive agricultural backgrounds to assist beginning farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs and others in troubleshooting new strategies and ideas for their farm businesses.

Episode 108: Hops Farming: From Bines to Steins

Jumpstart grant spotlight: Devin Winklosky started Teufel Hunden Hops Company, a hop farm in western Pennsylvania. His two-acre hopyard includes seven varieties of hops.

Episode 107: Mini Grants Support the Future of Agriculture

Mini grants for big dreams. Apply for a $2,500 grant for youth, ages 16 to 21, who began a farming business in the last two years or plan to start one in the next two years.

Episode 106: Starting a Microdairy and Creamery

Jumpstart grant spotlight: Jesse and Lisa Vivian operate Lane’s End Farm Creamery. The microdairy and creamery opened in February 2020 with one milking cow. Today, the Vivians milk seven cows and sell over 150 gallons of milk each week to the local community.

Episode 105: Legal Considerations in Farm Transitions with Jody Anderson Leighty

In a three part series we are highlight farm transition planning. Jody Anderson Leighty joins us for the final episode. As you are planning your farm transition, there are a long list of things to consider. Jody covers legal considerations. Thinking about farm transitioning? Check out PA Farm Link and their resources.

Episode 104: Reflections on Farm Transitions with Marlin Hartzler

In a three part series we are highlight farm transition planning. Returning, Marlin Hartzler joins us for the second episode. His farming story started with a farm transition. Listen as Marlin shares his reflections of a farm transition.

Episode 103: Guiding Families Through Transition with John Black

In a three part series we are highlight farm transition planning. John Black joins us for the first episode. He shares tips to guide families through a farm transition.

Episode 102: Poultry and Cash Crop Farming with Arvin Horst

This week's episode is a rerun of AgBiz Cast podcast, which shares inspiring stories of young, beginning and small farmers. We feature Arvin Horst, a poultry and crop farmer in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Episode 101: Preparing Students in Agriculture

AgChoice recently announced a new Growing Your Career Scholarship for students this year, and Jenn Hilliard will share more about this opportunity. Apply today: http://ow.ly/QyXP50HJfzC

Episode 100: What’s Ahead for Agriculture

Welcome to our 100th Field Notes by AgChoice podcast! Our special guest is Dr. David Kohl. Dr. Kohl has keen insight into the agriculture industry gained through extensive travel, research and involvement in ag businesses. During this podcast, he will share his perspectives on what’s ahead for agriculture.

Episode 99: Becoming a Certified Appraiser

Mandy Rhodes, an appraiser with AgChoice Farm Credit, shares about the process it takes to become an appraiser and her perspectives on the importance of an appraisal in the loan process. Mandy has held a number of positions during her tenure at AgChoice and recently passed her state certification exam to be a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser.

Episode 98: From 4-H to Full-Time: Farming with Eliza Walton

Eliza Walton sits down with us this week to tell her story of growing up on a farm to eventually operating her own business in Centre County, Pennsylvania. She reflects on the challenges of finding farmland for young and beginning farmers while offering her advice for those looking to get started with their own businesses.

Episode 97: Center for Rural Pennsylvania with Kyle Kopko

Joining us this week is Kyle Kopko, director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. We’ll learn more from Kyle about the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and its resources. The Center serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Episode 96: Don't Forget to Update Your Year-End Balance Sheet

AgChoice Loan Officer Kara McClure joins us for this episode. She discusses why balance sheets are important to loan officers and how to complete a year-end balance sheet. Need help getting started, check out our building a balance sheet guide: https://bit.ly/3zdDxWE

Episode 95: Innovation in the Apple Industry

In this week's episode we talk with Leighton Rice who is part of R&L Orchards and Rice Fruit Company in Adams County, PA. Leighton is also a semifinalist in the 2022 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge for his StemPunk invention.

Episode 94: Talking with Tuckaway Tree Farm

Tis the season! We are gearing up for the holiday season by talking with Larry and Ashley Latta of Tuckaway Tree Farm. Listen to hear the couple's journey of buying a Christmas tree farm and their lessons learned.

Episode 93: What’s New in the Forest Products Industry

In this week's episode we sit down with Matt Gabler, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. Gabler shares the importance of the forest products industry as well as updates and what issues are currently facing the industry.

Episode 92: Growing a Diversified Business

In this week's podcast episode, we talk with Brian Smyser from Smysers Richlawn Farm about how to grow a diversified business. Brian shares his experiences with operating a roadside stand, hosting weekend fall festivals, selling freezer beef and more!

Episode 91: Farming: A "Growing Business"

Daniel Hartzell joins us this week to share stories of his family's dairy farm. Daniel reflects on the rewarding feeling of farming as a career and focusing on what you can control in a business. Listen to hear more about his "growing" business!