Listen up: New economics podcast aimed at farmers
“Everybody can listen, but our main target audience is our farmers.” — Ryan Loy
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Aug. 9, 2024
Fast facts
- Ag economists launch ‘Morning Coffee and Ag Markets’ podcast
- Weekly segments run 10-20 minutes each
(250 words)
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas agricultural extension economists have launched a new weekly podcast aimed at giving farmers an earful — in a good way.
The “Morning Coffee and Ag Markets” podcast is the brainchild of Ryan Loy and Hunter Biram, both extension economists for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Anchoring the podcast each week is Riley Smith, agricultural economics and agribusiness program associate.
“Everybody can listen, but our main target audience is our farmers,” Loy said. Each episode will be 10-20 minutes, an easy listen in the combine, truck with a cup of coffee.
So far, their topics have included Farm Bill proposals and the spread between input and output prices.
Biram and Loy conceived the podcast as a way to stay in touch with Arkansas’ ag professionals during the growing season, not just on the off-season.
“In the winter, Hunter and I get out in the counties making presentations and just having that every day rapport with farmers,” Loy said. “The podcast is a way that we can still have that conversation with them.”
The podcast launched July 24 and has four episodes. Biram and Loy will alternate weeks at the microphone.
“In addition to our regular episodes, we would like to have round table discussions,” Loy said. “We want to bring in industry folks and farmers and talk about what they see going on in the industry.”
Listeners can also sign up for a companion newsletter. They are also welcome submit topics for coverage by emailing Loy.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagra.m.at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.
Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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