How American Farmers Can Thrive and Protect the Environment

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Mitchell Hora, the founder and CEO of Continuum Ag, a company helping farmers better understand their carbon footprint, implement regenerative agriculture practices, and take advantage of exciting new government credit programs.

Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.

I wanted to have Mitchell on the show to learn more about farming and the agriculture industry. Unless there is an egg shortage or massively higher prices at the grocery store, you don’t hear much about farming in the news these days. But it’s a critical industry where a lot of things are in flux in light of climate change and rapidly advancing technology. Mitchell, a 7^th generation corn farmer and tech entrepreneur, is the perfect person to help us explore this fascinating world.

Tune in to this episode to learn: 

• How Contiuum Ag’s innovative TopSoil platform is helping farmers across the country understand and quantify their carbon footprints

•  Why modern farming has become so economically challenging and its implications on the global food supply chain

•  How the government’s push for biofuels has completely changed the incentive structure of modern farming  

• Why Mitchell is pushing for American farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices like cover crops and no-till planting

• How the Inflation Reduction Act’s 45z program works to incentivize low carbon farming and why it could revolutionize global agriculture

• & Much, much more

Stay tuned to the end to learn what Mitchell thinks about GMOs, the organic movement, and the proper role of government in farming and the food supply chain. You’ll also learn why Mitchell believes promoting healthy soil is the single most important issue in global agriculture. 

As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in! 

Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show. 🙏 Thank you

Keywords

agriculture, carbon intensity, sustainable farming, Continuum Ag, environmental challenges, farming practices, 45Z tax credit, carbon footprint, cover crops, no-till farming, decarbonization, biofuels, agriculture, government regulations, sustainable aviation fuel, soil health, GMOs, farming economics, tax credits, environmental sustainability

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Halaris speaks with Mitchell Hora, CEO of Continuum Ag, about the critical role of agriculture in today's economy and the environmental challenges it faces. They discuss the importance of sustainable farming practices, such as cover crops and no-till farming, and how these methods can help reduce carbon footprints. Hora shares insights on the 45Z tax credit, a new incentive for farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, and emphasizes the need for a balance between food production and environmental responsibility. In this conversation, Mitchell Hora discusses the critical role of agriculture in decarbonization, particularly through biofuels and government regulations. He emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in farming, the challenges posed by soil health, and the ongoing debate surrounding GMOs. Hora also highlights the economic difficulties faced by farmers and the potential impact of tax credits on their livelihoods.

Takeaways

• Agriculture is crucial for the economy but often overlooked.

• Continuum Ag helps farmers quantify their carbon intensity score.

• Environmental challenges in farming include extreme weather conditions.

• Balancing food production with carbon footprint is essential.

• Cover crops and no-till practices can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

• Only a small percentage of farmers currently use cover crops.

• Soil health is vital for sustainable farming practices.

• The 45Z tax credit incentivizes farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

• Farmers can produce more with less environmental impact.

• Technology and data are key to improving farming practices. Decarbonization in agriculture is essential for sustainability.

• Biofuel producers can create tax credits to lower tax liabilities.

• Government regulations are crucial for implementing sustainable practices.

• Soil health can be improved through better farming practices.

• GMOs have significantly reduced pesticide use in agriculture.

• The economics of farming are challenging, with high input costs.

• Sustainable aviation fuel production is a monumental task ahead.

• Farmers need to adapt to changing regulations and market demands.

• Organic farming practices can sometimes lead to soil degradation.

• The future of agriculture relies on collaboration between farmers and policymakers.

Titles

• Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Role of Continuum Ag

• Sustainable Farming: Balancing Productivity and Environment

• The Future of Farming: Carbon Intensity and Innovation

• Mitchell Hora on the Importance of Soil Health

• Understanding the 45Z Tax Credit for Farmers

• From Traditional to Sustainable: A Farming Transformation

• The Environmental Challenges Facing Modern Agriculture

Sound Bites

• "Most folks don't think about agriculture."

• "The environment and weather is our biggest challenge."

• "We can produce more with less environmental impact."

• "Using cover crops has helped us sequester carbon."

• "Only 5% of farmers use cover crops."

• "Soil health is the story behind responsible farming."

• "The 45Z tax credit is a game changer."

• "Ethanol has a carbon intensity score of 53."

• "A third of the corn goes to biofuel production."

• "We need to decarbonize all of it."

• "GMOs have decreased pesticide use by 75%."

• "Organic farming can lead to soil degradation."

• "The average farm in the US is about 400 acres."

• "The impact of 45Z could double farmers' income."

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Agriculture Today

02:12 Understanding Continuum Ag and Carbon Intensity

04:20 Environmental Challenges in Farming

10:08 Balancing Carbon Footprint and Food Production

17:02 Innovative Farming Practices: Cover Crops and No-Till

23:21 Barriers to Adoption of Sustainable Practices

28:22 The Business Case for Responsible Farming

34:27 The 45Z Tax Credit and Its Impact

37:22 Decarbonizing Agriculture: The Role of Biofuels

41:43 Navigating Government Regulations and Tax Credits

46:55 The Future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

57:20 Soil Health: Myths and Realities

01:02:30 The GMO Debate: Pros and Cons

01:06:49 The Economics of Farming: Challenges and Opportunities