Episode 25: Milestone Musings, Timely Ag Updates & Answering My Own 5 Questions Artwork

Patio Ponderings

Exploring the Expected and the Obscure in Agriculture

From a lifetime in agriculture to deep dives into leadership, rural life, and the evolving food system, Patio Pondering is a podcast where thoughtful conversations meet the open air. Hosted by [Your Name], a seasoned Swine Nutritionist, agricultural thinker, and storyteller, this podcast explores the connections between our agricultural roots and the broader world.

What started as daily reflections—scribbled with a morning coffee in hand—has grown into a podcast that uncovers the insights, challenges, and sometimes-forgotten history of the industry that feeds us all. Whether solo pondering or engaging in candid discussions with guests, this show digs into everything from livestock production to food trends, rural business shifts, and the personal stories that shape agricultural life.

Now available in both audio and video formats, Patio Pondering brings these discussions to life on YouTube and podcast platforms alike. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch the conversation unfold, you’ll find fresh perspectives, candid storytelling, and the kind of conversations that make you think twice.

Subscribe and join the conversation—because agriculture is more than just dirt and livestock. It’s a story worth telling.

All Episodes

Patio Ponderings

Episode 25: Milestone Musings, Timely Ag Updates & Answering My Own 5 Questions

February 27, 2025 • Jim Smith, Ph.D. • Episode 25

Send us a text

It’s a milestone episode—Patio Ponderings hits 25 episodes! Today, I’m shaking things up by turning the mic on myself.

🔹 First, we’ll cover timely ag topics, including:
The new USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins—can she push a new Farm Bill through Congress?
Commodity market shifts & USDA’s latest acreage projections—how are corn and soybeans stacking up?
The bird flu crisis—166 million birds gone, and is forced vaccination on the horizon?
Trump’s ag policy outlook—what’s coming for tariffs, trade, and grain exports?

🔹 Then, I’ll reflect on 25 episodes of podcasting:
What I’ve learned about scheduling, preparation, and the hidden work behind a podcast.
Why editing takes 1-4 minutes per minute recorded—and how it’s changed how I speak.
The unexpected enthusiasm from guests and listeners that keeps this show growing.

🔹 Finally, I turn the tables and answer my own Five Signature Questions for the first time.
The lesson from agriculture that sticks with me every day.
The historical figure in ag/media I’d love to have coffee with.
My favorite ag tool or innovation—and the small change that could have a big impact.

This episode is a look back, a look ahead, and a deep dive into what I’ve learned along the way. Whether you’ve been here since Episode 1 or just tuned in, thank you for listening.

👉 Listen, subscribe, and let me know—who should be my next guest?

People on this episode

Jim Smith, Ph.D.

Host