Are you considering getting into agriculture but not sure you want to take all the risk? You’re going to want to tune into this episode! After a six-month hiatus, returning guest, Dan Vague, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Dan is the Vice President of Swine Production at SwineLink, a division of Premier Companies that handles the management for family-owned pork facilities.

You’ll learn the ins and outs of SwineLink, a wean-to-finish program, and how it’s designed to get the younger generation back on the farm with more income streams. Dan, Jeff, and Sal will explain how the sow share system works to allow the production of pigs that will be brought in and finished out as part of SwineLink. You’ll learn how the pigs are raised and the automated systems that are installed in the barns and the processes involved to keep the pigs healthy and the facilities free from contamination. Dan will also share what happens before the next group of pigs arrives to keep the barns clean and make sure the pigs will have a safe environment. Curious about what’s happening in the swine market? They’ll tackle that topic as well! “The biggest thing for us, from a profitability standpoint, is to keep the pigs healthy…”

Sal’s favorite agronomist is back! Glenn Longabaugh is in the podcast room with Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. You know and love Glenn as Premier’s Technical Agronomist, and he’s handing his agronomy secrets out, but you won’t be learning any of his tricks for bowhunting turkeys.

In addition to his hunting adventures, you’ll learn about ideal planting windows and why you should plant according to the weather and not according to the calendar. Considering skipping the phosphate this year? Glenn will also share why you should rethink that and consider sticking to your original application plans to be able to raise a large crop. “It’s not a good time to build… I think it’s a good time to… have that relationship with your account manager, and let’s look at crop removal and what your maintenance levels are… Let’s weather this storm.”

We’re not sure if he’s famous or infamous, but we’re glad he’s here even though he’s bringing a lot of bad news. Josh Linville returns to join hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Though you may remember him as Jeff’s most famous friend, Josh is also the Vice President of Fertilizer at StoneX.

Josh, Jeff, and Sal dig into what has caused the fertilizer market to struggle so much this year. You’ll hear about how low inventories, import and export issues, and spring production issues have combined to cause the perfect storm within the industry. They’ll talk specifically about the high Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) prices and why they think there’s no reason to anticipate correction before summer. They’ll also discuss the countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers and why there’s reason to believe this won’t stay tough forever. Until that time, like Josh says, “This will be probably the biggest standoff we have ever seen between buyers and sellers…”

Why is the timing of a fungicide application so important? Dr. Megan Taylor is in the podcast room with our hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Dr. Taylor is the Technical Agronomist at Bayer, and as a fun fact, she is a former colleague of Sal’s!

Dr. Taylor will share about her educational background and what eventually led to her working for Bayer. You’ll learn about the changes that have occurred in the world of fungicides over the last decade including emerging diseases and how planting practices have changed application needs. You’ll learn about best application practices for growers who need to cover a lot of acres and what will give you the biggest bang for your buck to protect your yield potential. Struggling with stink bugs not just in your field but in your home as well? Dr. Taylor will share her thoughts on those as well, and if you are looking for fungicide data, head on over to the wealth of knowledge at https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/.

What’s going on in the ag department of Indiana? Don Lamb joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for today’s episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Don is the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and is a second-generation farmer who has produced popcorn, corn, soybeans and seed wheat.

Don describes some of the chaos happening in the ag department and the unknowns associated with the budget cuts and the challenges that have occurred as a result of that. You’ll learn more about how the Department of Agriculture works with some of Indiana’s regulatory agencies and how tariffs are impacting the agriculture industry. Sal, Jeff, and Don will tackle tough topics like the urban sprawl, increased wages for H-2A workers, and what’s happening with the idea to create a water pipeline to move water to Boone County, Indiana. “We’re in a very, very interesting time, and I think the people that would say, ‘Here’s where we’re going’ don’t really know. We’re all a little bit riding the waves right now…”

Today’s guest is quite literally outstanding in his field! Fan favorite, Glenn Longabaugh, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. As the Technical Agronomist for Premier Companies, Glenn is no stranger to the podcast (or to turkeys), and he’s full of tips for getting this crop year off to a good start.

Today, you’ll learn about the technology and regulations changes that have changed the application of herbicides and suggestions for growers as they think through that process coming off of the windiest April on record. Glenn will share how drift reduction technology has helped keep the peace between neighbors and how understanding Pulse Width Modulation (PMW) can help growers make sure their fields are getting the appropriate amount of herbicide. “21st century technology is doing some wonderful things to make growers’ lives easier and really do a better job of getting herbicides where they’re supposed to be, and that’s in the fields and not on the neighbor.”

This is the most expensive podcast we’ve done! We’ve got some long-time listeners turned first-time podcasters as Brianna J. Schroeder and Todd J. Janzen join hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Todd is the President and Founder, and Brianna is the Law Partner at Jenzen Schroeder Ag Law LLC.

Brianna and Todd will tell us how they got their start in ag law and how their background enables them to better serve those who work in agriculture. Since they’re based in Indianapolis, you may be surprised to hear they serve the entire state and serve farmers, agribusinesses, and ag technology including startups. You’ll also hear about some of the victories they’ve won in court and how and why it may be worth it for individuals to challenge the final decisions made by state and federal agencies and how Jenzen Schroeder can help.

What’s going on in the grain markets? The old favorite, the standby, the grain expert is back! Aaron Bledsoe returns to join hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. You know him and love him as the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and today, you’ll get to hear about his buffalo meals and Ron Burgundy couch.

Together, Jeff, Sal, and Aaron tackle what’s going on in the USDA’s 2025 Prospective Plantings and quarterly grain reports. Aaron will share his thoughts regarding the number of corn or bean acres that will be planted, and what the quarterly stocks might tell us about where we are and where we might be in the future. You’ll hear about the impact the tariffs have had on the markets, what’s happened with the stocks-to-use ratio, and what the basis could look like through the summer. Are you wondering what you should do regarding the direct payment program for the 2024 crop? Aaron will cover that and more on today’s episode!