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!

When should growers terminate cover crops? Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Glenn is the ultra-famous Technical Agronomist for Premier Companies, and he’s here to share his tips for growers planning their year in light of this wild weather we’ve experienced in the midwest.

Glenn will share his tips for knowing when to terminate cover crops including cereal rye and annual ryegrass and the impact sunlight has on herbicides including why it’s important to apply herbicides at the appropriate time of day. Glenn will dive deeper into adjustments that should be made in application due to wind and when he does donuts in the field. Jeff and Glenn will tackle some of the changes they’re seeing in problems from field to field and potential causes. Glenn is spitting a lot of wisdom today, so you’re going to want to be like Sal and take notes! “Every time we get less prescriptive and more operational, there’s more opportunities for mess ups.”

What is going on with California and their move to all electric vehicles? To discuss this topic and many others, special and returning guest Matt Smorch joins hosts Jeff Jarett and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Matt is the President and CEO of CountryMark Cooperative, one of the largest private Indiana companies by revenue.

Jeff, Sal, and Matt discuss some of the changes the new administration has brought about and the impacts those changes have had on the energy industry including the new EPA tailpipe standards. Matt will discuss the yo-yo effect the market has had with changing leadership and how CountryMark manages to stay stable in the midst of it. You’ll learn how having their own pipeline and refineries has helped CountryMark meet demand needs and benefit their consumers. If you’re wondering what’s going on with California’s desired gas car ban and how you can help individuals retain their ability to choose their own vehicles, you’ll want to make sure you tune into today’s episode, and get involved by visiting https://empower.afpm.org/actions/stop-californias-gas-car-ban-take-action-now-cm-emp.

What should high schoolers who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine be doing to prepare for higher education? Returning and special guest Bret Marsh, DVM, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama for today’s episode of The High Ground Powered by Premier Companies. Bret serves as the Dean of Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, and a lot has changed since he joined us last time!

Bret will share about his educational and career journeys and how he’s ended up back at Purdue University. In addition to speaking about his single biggest surprise as he’s come back to Purdue, he’ll share about the competitive process, and the challenges that exist for rural and large animal vets. You’ll also learn Dr. Marsh’s recommendations for high school students who may be interested in pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine and how you can stay up-to-date with the most recent news from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

How do you keep cattle comfortable and their water unfrozen during a harsh winter? Returning guest Ryan Batt joins Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, and he’s no stranger to the podcast! If you’ve been a listener for a while, you already know Ryan is the Facility Manager at United Producers, Inc.

Ryan will share how the cold winter impacted the cattle farmers and calving operations in southern Indiana. Sal, Jeff, and Ryan will dig into how genetics and a little TLC play into the grower’s return on investment. You’ll also learn about some summer projects you can take up to protect the cattle in the future including continuous fence panels that can be used as windblocks. Ryan will dig into how the cold winter has impacted the cattle market and what a marketing plan should look like for a farmer this year in light of rising costs of caring for cattle. If you’ve got cattle and struggled this winter or you’re trying to figure out how to weather the changes in the cattle industry, you’re going to want to tune in to this episode!