The Grower & The Economist

Rene is back by popular demand, for his fourth episodes of The Grower & The Economist. We are reminded that growers range from hobby gardeners, homesteaders, small businesses, and commercial operations. This week we discuss starting spring plants. Our discussion applies to all growers looking to maximize their growing season.

How do you tackle crop scheduling? Let us know.

Since last summer, Dr. Peter Konjoian and Michelle Klieger have been talking about metrics to evaluate business decisions. Peter likes ROI. Today, they work through a real-life ROI case study with a subscription tool that Michelle is considering for her research project. This situation can be applied on small and medium sized operations as well. Have a situation? Please let us know! 

Have you started planning your seed order for the spring? Peter and Michelle are too! We love talking about crop scheduling. This episode starts with some new thoughts about ordering seeds and planning your crop schedule 2024 and also goes back to one of our first episodes on crop scheduling back in 2020.

Here at The Grower & The Economist we are experiencing our first snowstorm in two years. Winter is usually considered the slow season for small to medium vegetable growers but there is still work to be done. Greenhouses allow us to extend our season but they require maintance and planning. Listen to Michelle and Peter discuss the "off season."

As land grant extension agents have become further and further stretched, private consultants with company affiliations have been on the rise. Andy Peterson was recently interviewed to discuss his role as a consultant that also educates farmers. His career path has put him in contact with many small and medium sized growers that had questions that he answered and/or tried to assist with! 

The Grower & The Economist is officially kicking off Season 2 of our podcast! As we closed in on 100 episodes, we've realized that the show has grown and evolved since 2020. This episode gives a preview of the amazing material we have schedule for 2024!

Thanks for listening and Happy New Years.

-Peter & Michelle

Dr. Peter Konjoian questions Michelle Klieger on what is ROI (Return on Investment) and why she thinks there are limitations on this model of decision making. Michelle shared her concerns with ROI during prep calls for their #Cultivate2023 workshop. Looking for more tools to enhance your decision making process... this episode has them!

Dr. Peter Konjoian & Michelle Klieger each share two tips for growers this summer. These tips highlight how differently growers and economists think & how different each part of your business is. We hope you find these four midsummer tips helpful!

Michelle Klieger and Dr. Peter Konjoian interview Eileen Mullet, a recent graduate from University of Wisconsin River Falls, on her research involving soils and her time working in a greenhouse. We learn how her experience in a university greenhouse was similar and different to a production operation. This researcher is able to apply her classroom knowledge to her real life experience that is invaluable to our small growers, who listen to this podcast.

After being in business 30 years, Dr. Peter Konjoian has gone digital and launched a website for his company. This discussion between Peter and Michelle Klieger delves into the complexity of being a small business owner who wants to do it all. Is it possible to tackle every task on your own as technology evolves? And at what point should you consider contracting out the work? Listen today for their in-depth discussion and analysis! 

Most technology comes with a steep up-front cost, which will be amortized over a few years. Is this investment worth it for your small farm? Dr. Peter Konjoian and Michelle Klieger discuss the economics of trying to decide if new technology is cost effective. 

Your polyethylene cover on your greenhouse has become more important than ever as technology expands to include anti-condensate and improve the growing environment. Learn from Yannis Lempidakis of Sunmaster Greenhouse Films and Dr. Peter Konjoian how your next polyethylene cover purchase can create a better and healthier environment for your plants for 5 years!

Dr. Peter Konjoian and Michelle Klieger discuss how crop scheduling can benefit local New England farms as early and late season crops usually command the highest value but not the largest volume. The discussion also delves into value-added food products as a potential source of diversified income for the small Northeast grower. 

Dr. Konjoian and Michelle discuss climate change impact on greenhouses and small to medium sized farms with examples ranging from maple trees to impatiens. They challenge the perspective of crop schedules by asking questions, such as does a grower maintain their current schedule or adjust to the warmer temperatures and get ahead of the market. Another big decision discussed in this week’s episode is experimenting with nighttime temperature in greenhouses as it relates the product quality and price premiums. Listen to learn how this can diversify and de-risk your portfolio.

Rene returns as a three-time guest on The Grower and The Economist podcast. His reason for gardening may be different than a small and medium sized grower, but he faces the same challenges and successes! We discuss some of the decisions behind ordering seeds, the importance of logging and taking pictures, fertilizer decisions, and some experiences to look forward to in the upcoming season. One point that hits home for many gardeners is the added benefit of teaching others a responsibility and respect for growing one’s own food.

Decades ago, cabbage demand was off the charts and Dr. Konjoian listened to his father not to grow cabbage the following season. Dive into the technical terms and more examples of leading indicators in the agriculture business. We have talked about fuel prices and labor, but how can farmers adapt to local consumer behaviors and national fashion trends? Qualitative observations as well as the absence of indicators as we saw in the unprecedented pandemic are key in the gamble of agriculture.

Guest: Janeen Wright and Brian Sparks, Meister Media publishers

Dr. Peter Konjoian and Michelle discuss takeaways from GROW Executive Summit with Janeen Wright and Brian Sparks, two editors for Meister Media Worldwide. This year, the conference brought an interactive schedule on labor, profitability and the supply chain. Positive feedback was received on the topics, size, and participation of guests and kudos was given to the agriculture industry as a whole for finding new ways to get information from diverse voices to growers. We also hear an inside perspective on how and why the conference was built and what to expect for next year.

The past two episodes we talked with Guest Expert Keith Bemerer from Prospiant about keeping greenhouse heating costs down. This we discuss specific strategies for starting and maintaining propagation in a greenhouse. We review the main benefits, such as giving ownership over your supply, managing quality of your main cultivators and diversifying income. Dr. Peter Konjoian recommends solutions for four factors of temperature, moisture, lighting and ventilation. Michelle brings the key point on knowing when to choose to take control versus outsource. This discussion echoes the resourceful mindset and ingenuity of a small and medium sized grower.

In the second of a three-part series with Keith, we go back to the history of roofing materials to dive into the intricacies that make up an efficient greenhouse operation. There are four technology advancements to watch out for in the greenhouse system with relatable examples. Keith gives insight into low cost solutions from using repurposed materials to environmental controllers, thermostats and propagation with one main goal - don't lose the heat.

Donated food is a major part of our food system. Even with low levels of unemployment, many families have not recovered from the pandemic. High prices are pushing families in every American community to see out more food from local services. Some of the need is met by local farmers, some from national food programs, and others from dozens of diverse programs that aim to collect excess produce from farms and bring it to those who need it.

Peter and I talk about the economics of farms donating excess. We cover the tax implications as well as the emotional value we get when we contribute to our communities. We touch on when it makes sense and when it might not make sense for a farm. As well as best practices.

This episode is re-aired. It was produced before Thanksgiving 2020.

This week’s podcast episode dives deep into inflation, rising input costs, and the economic relationships we can use to prepare for challenges in the upcoming growing season. One of the major drivers we are seeing in this cycle is that there are fewer goods available across industries. Take a look back with us at the patterns of the Great Depression to Great Recession to the financial crisis and pandemics. We can predict challenges in export commodities with the rising value of the dollar and competition in import commodities. Learn from two small farmers Michelle visited this week who are still using this economic shift to experiment with crops and management practices. “It’s our game to lose” is referenced from a previous podcast guest, Dr. Bridget Behe.

Kroger and Albertson's grocery stores are looking to merge in a $26 billion deal. The resulting company will have 5,000 locations. Peter and Michelle discuss the impact on local farmers, local brands, and consumers. This bonus episode acts a quick take. For additional information, check out Michelle's weekly newsletter or Twitter feed. 

This week’s episode is a continued discussion on the threats to agriculture, such as recent global droughts and input price inflation, as well as strategies to mitigate unforeseen risks. Michelle and Peter explore the advantages for nimble growers while applying cross-industry examples from a business perspective. They dive into two difficult questions: what does it take for a crop to be profitable in a local structure and for a farm to be sustainable in an unstable economy? Input is welcomed from all listeners to share knowledge on threats and risk-mitigation strategies on the farm.

Food security is normally described in terms of affordability and accessibility. Dr. Marcus Coleman explains why acceptability and accommodations are important as well. Understanding what the community actually wants and helping support a system that meets those needs. 

Can you imagine that roses and other ornamental flowers without any fragrance? Dr. Konjoian tells us how it nearly happened. Plant breeding is power but single tracked improves sometimes have unintended consequences. 

So far this year, Michelle and Dr. Peter Konjoian have talked to experts at every spot on our food supply chains. From Alice Hill, who runs a non-profit grocery store, to Dr. Cari Peters, who works to help producers at all levels understand the importance of fertilizer, the GATE has taken a full tour of how food gets from the farm to the table.

With all this input from experts, one big question has come to the surface: what's the role of profit when it comes to groceries and food? Our current system is completely built around the idea that farmers and other producers are in the business of producing food for profit. But what if our system being based on profit means it is harder for people to eat fresh healthy foods? Can we improve freshness and availability in our food system without it pricing consumers out? Michelle and Peter try to figure it out in this episode where we review everything we've learned so far about the food system this year.

This is the second part of a two-part series on the end of Just-in-Time production. Businesses are used to operating lean, with little inventory. They could purchase the inputs they needed on short notice. After months of higher prices and supply chain disruptions businesses are not only facing higher prices but also lack of availability of critical inputs. In Part 1, we explain what's going on and why. In Part 2, we offer small and medium-sized growers solutions and opportunities that help their businesses thrive.

"The pandemic might be winding down, but the disruptions are here to stay."

To be successful in business many companies are lean. They don't hold excess inventory or supplies. This has worked for decades. For example, if the plastic on the greenhouse rips the grower goes to the hardware store and replaces it easily. Today, almost every industry is facing supply chains disruptions. And a replacement that used to be easy to secure is not quite challenging. Inventory is out-of-stock and shipments are delayed. It could take days, weeks, or even months to get the inputs needed to run the business. That means, the grower needs to have the plastic on-hand or face much steeper consequences. 

We finish with some places where small businesses can use this change to their advantage.