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 Jim Smith, Ph.D., 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.
Patio Ponderings
Episode 53: Farming, Retirement, and the Iron Trap
Farmers often say, “My land is my retirement plan.” But what happens when that plan never gets cashed in?
In this solo Patio Pondering episode, Jim Smith, Ph.D. dives into the hard realities of retirement planning in agriculture. From the trap of buying equipment at year’s end to minimize taxes, to the risks of relying on farmland as a “retirement plan” that never gets sold, Jim explores why so many farmers find themselves still running combines into their 80s.
He contrasts the lack of young farmers entering the industry with ag media celebrating 86-year-olds still harvesting, raising the question: is this passion — or poor retirement planning?
Key points in this episode:
- Why minimizing income can hurt your Social Security eligibility
- How off-farm income and retirement accounts (401k, IRA) provide real security
- The Platte River problem: wide retirement talk, but shallow planning
- Why farmland and machinery aren’t true retirement plans without a plan to liquidate
👉 Whether you’re a farmer, an ag lender, or anyone thinking about succession planning, this episode will challenge how you see farming as both a lifestyle and a business.