DRG Agriculture In-depth podcast: Fraudsters put new twists on old scams

Dec. 29, 2025: Fraudsters put new twists on old scams

Amy Nofziger is the Senior Director of Victim Support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, Amy chats with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about some new variations on old scams, the tactics criminals are using to exploit vulnerabilities during the holiday season and why it’s important to report scams to law enforcement and advocacy organizations.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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*NOTE: You can find previous episodes of Agriculture In-depth, for free, by clicking on either of the links below:

• on the DRG Media Group website, https://drgnews.com/2025/07/31/agriculture-in-depth/
• on the DRG Media Group Beyond the Mic Podbean podcast platform, https://kgfxbeyondthemic.podbean.com/

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Dec. 22, 2025: Beef in the Classroom Experience connects students with nutritional benefits of beef

Beef Logic Inc., and the South Dakota CattleWomen are working together on a beef-focused nutrition education program for middle and high school students. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, Beef Logic Director of Nutrition Holly Swee shares some info about their “Beef in the Classroom Experience” program.

To learn more about Beef in the Classroom Experience or Beef Logic Inc., visit www.beeflogicinc.org.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Dec. 15, 2025: Agriculture hoping to recover from economics of 2025 during 2026

Tariffs and trade wars, lower crop commodity prices, rising input costs, increased price of beef in the retail meat case and general political dysfunction in Washington, D.C., all contributed to another roller coaster year for economics connected to agriculture. In this episode, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew, who was one of the speakers during the 2025 South Dakota Farmers Union Convention in December 2025, chat with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about what he sees as priorities for his organization and its members heading into 2026.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Dec. 8, 2025:  Explaining the Beef Checkoff program

The Beef Checkoff program in the United States will turn 40 years old in 2026. The cattle industry has changed over the years, but the job of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be stewards of those dollars remains the same. In this episode, CBB CEO Greg Hanes and DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra talk about the program and what Hanes sees coming in 2026.

Incidentally, Hanes will be speaking Dec. 11, 2025, during the South Dakota Farmers Union’s 110th annual convention in Huron.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Nov. 24, 2025:  Funds are the biggest factor in current agriculture commodity market prices swings

During the 2025 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention, Arlen Suderman, Chief Commodities Economist at StoneX, chatted with DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about some of the main factors causing swings in the agriculture commodity markets in recent months.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Nov. 17, 2025:  FARM program giving USD Sanford School of Medicine students extensive training experience in rural healthcare

In its 118 years of delivering medical education, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine has designed and implemented programs specifically to train physicians who are prepared and eager to practice in rural and underserved areas. In this episode, USD SSOM Dean Dr. Tim Ridgway chats with DRG’s Jody Heemstra about the school and their Frontier and Rural Medicine– or FARM—program, where students are immersed in rural clinical settings, fosters a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of rural practice.

Current FARM training sites are in Chamberlain, Milbank, Mobridge, Parkston, Pierre, Spearfish and Vermillion. In addition, with clinical school campuses in Yankton and Rapid City, along with clinical partners across the state, students are guaranteed a wide range of training experiences.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Nov. 10, 2025: Sustaining the Legacy of your farm or ranch

Between Dec. 2025 and March 2026, South Dakota State University Extension is hosting Sustaining the Legacy conferences in Winner, Mitchell, Aberdeen and Watertown. In this episode, Heather Gessner with SDSU Extension explains how these conferences help farmers and ranchers evaluate their current estate plans and determine if they need to make any changes.

The conference is designed for farming and ranching families at all planning stages. Participants will learn methods to pass on farm and ranch assets and businesses and provide a financial inheritance to non-farming and ranching children. Estate planning and ranch transition attorneys, along with other industry experts, will present the material.

Registration is required and seats are limited. The early registration fee is $70 per person up to two weeks before each conference, or $80 after that. Registration closes one week before the first date of each conference and can be done through the SDSU Extension Events website, https://extension.sdstate.edu/events, by searching “legacy.”

The locations and dates for the Sustaining the Legacy conferences are:

• Winner– Dec. 4, 11 and 18, 2025;
• Mitchell– Jan. 8, 15 and 22, 2026;
• Aberdeen– Feb. 3, 10 and 17, 2026; and
• Watertown– March 3, 10 and 17, 2026.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Nov. 3, 2025: South Dakota State University and Capital City Campus team up to offer Ag Science Degree in central SD

People in the central part of South Dakota can earn an Associate Degree in Agricultural Science thanks to a collaboration between South Dakota State University in Brookings and the Capital City Campus in Pierre.

In this episode of Ag In-depth, Capital City Campus Executive Director Laurie Gill sat down with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra to talk more about the 60-credit-hour program approved by the state Board of Regents in May 2024.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Oct. 27, 2025: South Dakota readying for America 250th activities

South Dakota kicked off its America250th activities during the 2025 State Fair, but as state Historical Society Director Dr. Ben Jones tells DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra, there’s plenty more in the works before July 4, 2026.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Oct. 20, 2025: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard talks buying beef from Argentina and how MCOOL could help

United States President Donald Trump said Oct. 19, 2025, that the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an effort to bring down retail beef prices for American consumers. In this episode, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard doesn’t think that’s the answer, but he does think implementation of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling– MCOOL– would make a difference.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Oct. 6, 2025: Mosquitoes, Multicolored Asian lady beetles and Minute pirate bugs, oh my!

While some people have been enjoying the mild fall weather so far in South Dakota, others are waiting for a good, hard freeze or two to kill off this year’s crop of pesky biting insects. In this episode, SDSU Extension Urban Entomology Field Specialist Dr. Amanda Bachmann talks about mosquitoes, Multicolored Asian lady beetles, Minute pirate bugs and what we can do to try to minimize how much they annoy us until they disappear for the winter.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Sept. 23, 2025: South Dakota farmer discusses current struggles of row crop producers

Trent Kubik farms near Hamill, SD. In mid-September 2025, he was part of a roundtable discussion organized by South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, that also included representatives from agribusiness, ag banking, corn, soybeans, wheat. In this episode, Kubik, who represented South Dakota Corn on the panel, recaps the roundtable discussion and talks about his personal operation.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Sept. 8, 2025: 77 Years of Horse Racing in Fort Pierre, SD

Two days of  horse racing action will happen Oct. 4-5, 2025, at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre, SD. In this episode, Track Manager Shane Kramme chatted with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about some history and what people can look forward to this year.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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Aug. 25, 2025:  Farmers share luncheon, property tax panel, safety and more all part of South Dakota Farmers Union Day at 2025 South Dakota State Fair

The 2025 South Dakota State Fair runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 1 at the state fairgrounds in Huron, with Saturday, Aug. 30 being Farmers Union Day. In this episode, SD Farmers Union President Doug Sombke chats with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about SDFU’s support for the fair, the 52 cent cost of the Farmer’s Share Luncheon, their interactive Farm Safety Trailer and more.

The Farm Safety Trailer will be set up every day of the fair, on Third Street of the state fairgrounds, in front of the Dakotaland Museum. The safety demonstrations will be given at 11 AM, 2 PM and 4 PM, each day of the 2025 South Dakota State Fair.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

July 29, 2025: Public invited to tour Stomprud Angus Ranch, SD’s 2025 Leopold Conservation Award® winner

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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July 22, 2025: Food Safety Modernization Act training course for ethanol producers being held in Sioux Falls, SD

To comply with preventive control requirements as mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act, a training course for ethanol producers is being held August 26-28, 2025, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In this edition of Agriculture In-depth, Farm Broadcaster Cindy Zimmerman spoke with one of the organizers with the Renewable Fuels Association and has more.

To learn more about the training course and to register, click here.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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July 14, 2025: USDA National Farm Security Plan

On July 8, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the details of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. In this episode, hear Rollins, Hegseth, Bondi and Noem lay out their respective agency’s role in implementing the Plan.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

To read the full plan, click this link.

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July 7, 2025: SDSU Extension helps first responders train for crashes involving livestock

Livestock Field Specialists from South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University have developed a training program to help those responding to vehicle accidents involving cattle, bison, sheep, horses or other livestock understand how to handle the animals in that type of stressful situation. In this episode, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson chats with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about developing a Bovine Emergency Response Plan.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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June 30, 2025: Testing quality of livestock water sources helps prevent loss from reproductive issues, poor weight gain or even death

South Dakota State University Extension is offering free, on-site livestock water testing services to farmers and ranchers across the state. In this episode, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson says animal health should not be used as the indicator of water quality. She encourages producers to test water sources prior to turnout because contaminated water can cause illness or death, and even clear water can be of poor quality.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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June 23, 2025: Sioux Nation Fort Pierre celebrates 40 years with launch of Drake Seed

July 7, 2025, is the scheduled official opening date for the new Drake Seed seed cleaning facility in Fort Pierre, SD. Business partners Cody Hostler and Chad Stoeser bought the Sioux Nation feed, seed and animal health store about 7 years ago. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, Hostler talks with DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra how and why they decided to expand the seed cleaning portion of the business.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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June 9, 2025: Diverse crop rotation, turning cropland back to grass and more to be discussed June 17, 2025, at Dakota Lakes Research Farm field tour near Winner

People interested in learning more about conservation practices used in farming can do that June 17, 2025, during the Dakota Lakes Research Farm’s Foxley Farm Field Tour near Winner, SD.

Blake Foxley says the field tour goes from 9-11:30am CT. To RSVP or to get directions to the Foxley Farm Field Tour, call the Dakota Lakes Research Farm at 605-224-6357 or email manager@dakotalakes.com.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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June 9, 2025: How to use high tunnels, low caterpillar tunnels and other ways to extend your gardening season

People interested in learning more about different structures and techniques used for gardening have the opportunity to do that June 12, 2025, from 10am-4pm CT at Cedar Creek Gardens located south of Midland, SD. Held in coordination with the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association, co-owner Peggy Martin says there will be information for people at all levels of gardening experience. Registration is not required.

Find more information at https://cedarcreekgarden.com/ or at www.sdspecialtyproducers.org.

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May 19, 2025:  Forage production and outlook for South Dakota

South Dakota’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service produces a forage production and outlook map, available to farmers and ranchers for free. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra visits with NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist Emily Rohrer to learn more.

Forage maps relate to grassland forage production and not cropland, and the maps will not predict forage quality. These reports will subside starting July 1. Find more information using this link: https://bit.ly/Range_Pasture.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

May 5, 2025: Federal government drops criminal charges; Maudes finally able to speak

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins hosted South Dakota ranchers Charles and Heather Maude at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025,– the day after the federal government dropped criminal charges it had filed against the West River couple. In this episode, hear that news conference in its entirety. Additionally, USDA launched a new web portal for potential victims of ongoing lawfare originating under the Biden Administration to submit their concerns and experiences. This site is www.usda.gov/lawfare.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

You can also listen to the news conference using the audio file below:

Heather, Kennedy, Lyle and Charles Maude.
Photo credit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Flickr account).

Lyle and Kennedy Maude.
Photo credit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Flickr account).

April 24, 2025: What are weather models showing for rainfall outlook this spring in South Dakota?

This episode of DRG Media Group’s Agriculture In-depth podcast features SDSU Extension State Climatologist Laura Edwards. She talks about spring weather models and what they show heading into spring planting Season in South Dakota.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

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April 7, 2025: “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health” project

In this episode, SDSU Extension Soil Health Field Specialist Hans Klopp and DRG Media Group News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra talk about a new nationwide project called “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health.” The project leaders are working to understand the status of soil health around the country and use that information to develop a new tool called Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation– or SHAPE. SHAPE is an online tool designed to interpret soil health measurements, monitor soil health change and offer management practice alternatives for improving soil health. The goal of the project is to collect 13,000 soil samples across the U.S. from approximately 6,000 fields, sampling different soil, climate and management conditions. The SHAPE tool will be available as a free web-based app for easy soil health scoring. Project leaders want 80 South Dakota farmers and ranchers to participate.

For more information, go to https://extension.sdstate.edu/news/80-south-dakota-farmers-needed-nationwide-soil-health-project-enroll-today or contact Jason Clark, SDSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, at Jason.D.Clark@sdstate.edu, or Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Specialist, at Hans.Klopp@sdstate.edu.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

March 24, 2025: Horse racing on track to happen in South Dakota in 2025

South Dakota’s Governor has signed a bill that will partially fund the horse races in Fort Pierre in October 2025. DRG Media Group News and Farm Directror Jody Heemstra sat down with Track Manager Shane Kramme to talk about how the dollars are used to keep the horse racing industry alive in South Dakota. The horse races will be held Oct. 4-5, 2025, at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre. Fort Pierre is the last location left in South Dakota that still hosts horse racing events.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

March 18, 2025: SD Secretary of Ag and Natural Resouces recaps 2025 legislative session, National Ag Week, state fair and more

The leader of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources spent about a week in Washington, DC, in early March 2025, speaking with Trump Administration Cabinet officials about an assortment of agriculture-focused topics. In this episode, Secretary Hunter Roberts says they discussed everything from EPA regulations to federal Department of Agriculture programs.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

March 3, 2025: SDSU Extension offering virtual Master Gardener training; Mandatory in-person sessions being held in Pierre, Sturgis and Sioux Falls

South Dakota State University Extension is offering Master Gardener training classes, starting in mid-April 2025. In this episode, Master Gardener Ruth Beck says much of the training course is virtual, but there are two, mandatory in-person sessions, with the location choices of Pierre, Sturgis or Sioux Falls. Registration is required. The training course costs $250 with 40 hours of volunteer work required or $500 with no volunteer work requirement. For details or to register, visit the SDSU Extension Events website and search for “master gardener,” email the Prairie Potters Master Gardener group at Pierre at prairiepotters.36@gmail.com or call the SDSU Extension Pierre Regional Center at 605-773-8120. The registration deadline is March 10, 2025.

Feb. 24, 2025: CattleFax 2025 Outlook shows strong markets, tight demand

The CattleFax 2025 Outlook shows the  U.S. beef industry is poised for another year of strong market performance, driven by tight cattle supplies and robust consumer demand. Additionally, weather conditions will remain a critical factor influencing grazing availability, herd expansion and cattle prices. In this episode, hear CattleFax Director of Global Meat Analysis Mike Miller provide some perspective.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Feb. 17, 2025: National Farm Medicine Center continues researching, advocating for rural health and safety

Scott Heiberger is with the National Farm Medicine Center, and the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. In this episode, hear Scott talk about why they focus their research and outreach on rural populations.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Feb. 10, 2025: Cattle industry conversation from CattleCon

Many people with interest in the cattle industry came together in San Antonio, TX, Feb. 4-6, 2025, to have discussions, participate in educational opportunities or to network with people who have similar interests. Jesse Allen, host of DRG sister network shows AOA and MarketTalk, was one of them. In this episode, hear Jesse’s conversation with Gene Copenhaver, who was the vice-president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Feb. 3, 2025: Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Agriculture Innovation Conference

The Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Agriculture Innovation Conference is being held Feb. 6-7, 2025, in Oacoma, S.D. In this episode, Brenda Dreyer with the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association share information about the schedule and the featured speakers.

In this episode, hear how the two-day Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Agriculture Innovation Conference includes four dedicated tracks, including one day dedicated to Regenerative Organic Practices, and another day devoted to Business Development, Urban Agriculture and Advanced Practices for Producers. For more information or to register, go to sdspecialtyproducers.org.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Jan. 30, 2025: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture nominee confirmation hearings held

Brooke Rollins is United States President Donald Trump’s pick to become the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. She shared some insight about her stances on various ag-related topics during her Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee confirmation hearing January 23, 2025, in Washington, DC.

In this episode, hear Rollins replies on a variety of topics.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Jan. 13, 2025: Farm Rescue 20 years and still going strong

Over 20 years, Farm Rescue has supported nearly 1,200 farm and ranch families facing injuries, illnesses, and natural disasters. Since starting in North Dakota, Farm Rescue has expanded its core planting, haying, and harvesting assistance services to Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

In this episode, Cathy Patton-Strunk shares her family’s story and experience with Farm Rescue.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.

Jan. 6, 2025: Propane’s place in the push for renewable energy

Mike Newland is with the Propane Education and Research Council. In this episode of the DRG Media Group Beyond the Mic Agriculture In-depth podcast, he chats with DRG News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra about there being room for propane in the mix of sources of renewable energy. He also talks about some unique testing they’re doing in California.

You can also hear the conversation by downloading the podcast– for free– from most podcast platforms.

Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.