Growing Farms Podcast

There's a 70-day window to turn a national labeling initiative into real marketing momentum for your farm, and most farmers don't know it exists. The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) has filed petitions with USDA and FDA to establish consistent "pasture raised" standards for egg labeling. That's newsworthy, and local news organizations are actively looking for exactly this kind of national-story-with-local-impact angle. In this episode I walk through how to pitch your story to local media, use the coverage to deepen customer relationships, and keep people engaged all the way through the comment deadline. Comment deadlines: USDA June 5, 2026 | FDA June 6, 2026 Templates, scripts, and how to submit a comment: Farmmarketingsolutions.com/action

Facebook is one of the most talked-about marketing tools in the farming community. But when does it actually make sense to use it? In this episode, I sit down with Jeff from Regenerative Success to talk through: The difference between organic posting and paid Facebook campaigns Whether you need a strong social presence before running ads Why relying entirely on Facebook can be risky How subscription farms can use Facebook strategically What farmers should think about before spending money on ads If you're raising pastured poultry, selling direct-to-consumer meat, or trying to grow a subscription model, this episode will help you think more clearly about where Facebook fits in your overall marketing plan.

Before you worry about websites, social media, or sales funnels, you need to answer one basic question: do you actually know your numbers? In this episode, I break down why understanding your costs, margins, and unit economics is the foundation of effective farm marketing. If you don't know what it costs you to produce food, every marketing decision that follows is a guess. This episode is part of a larger series focused on building a durable marketing foundation for small farms and homesteads, starting with clarity instead of tactics. If you're raising chickens, selling farm products, or thinking about turning a farm project into a real enterprise, this is where it starts.

If you're starting a livestock operation, your fencing system can make or break your farm. In this episode, I sit down with Matt Cadman of Shady Grove Ranch—an experienced farmer and engineer—to talk through the essentials of livestock fence systems for beginning farmers. We cover: How to choose the right fence for your animals Pros and cons of electric fencing, woven wire, and temporary setups Mistakes new farmers make (and how to avoid them) How to design a livestock fence that fits your land and budget Building for durability, flexibility, and multi-species grazing Whether you're raising chickens, pigs, sheep, or cattle, good fencing is critical to your success. This episode will help you save money, reduce stress, and build a better system from day one. Resources & Links: More episodes and farming guides: https://farmmarketingsolutions.com Learn more about Matt's farm: https://shadygroveranch.net Support for pastured poultry farmers: https://apppa.org

In this reflective solo episode, I take a walk through the spring woods with my dog, Zip, and share thoughts on content creation, social media algorithms, and connecting with a small but meaningful audience. It's an unfiltered moment to talk about farming, marketing, and why I create videos with specific people—like farmer Sydney—in mind. Whether you're a livestock farmer, a fellow content creator, or just need a break from the noise, join me for a slow walk, a few rants, and a reminder to enjoy the birdsong.

In this practical episode, I share a game-changing approach to farm marketing that follows the natural rhythm of your operation. Learn how to use your grazing chart as more than just a livestock management tool—transform it into your marketing roadmap. I'll walk you through identifying key production moments throughout your season and creating targeted content to maximize sales when products are available. Whether you're selling pastured poultry, grass-fed beef, or seasonal vegetables, this system helps you stop the feast-or-famine marketing cycle that leaves farmers scrambling. Discover how to build anticipation before harvest, maintain customer engagement during production, and convert interest into sales at exactly the right moment.

You have the power to attract your ideal farm customers - isn't that liberating? When you consistently create content around your farm, you're building more than awareness - you're crafting a recognizable personality. If you regularly share your passion for raising chickens, you'll naturally become known as the chicken expert in your community. The key is showing up consistently. Success starts with understanding your customers' needs. Put yourself in their shoes - they want delicious, ethically-raised chicken, and you have the solution. Focus your content on addressing that one perfect customer you want to reach. Make an authentic connection with them. If that specific person watches your video, that single view represents true success. The more you embrace the farming lifestyle, the more naturally you'll share those magical moments - like watching your animals peacefully grazing as time seems to stand still. The people who appreciate these moments are your people. They'll value what you offer. By sharing farming's authentic beauty, you'll attract customers who ensure your farm remains both beautiful and sustainable.

Mental health is one of those tricky subjects to talk about because it is so different for everyone. After spending over 15 years working in agriculture, I have found that as much or more than any group, farmers should be doing more to address their mental health. Because I find mental health topics so tricky to talk about in any one piece of content, I have made it my life's work to do what I can to make the conversation approachable, and to support groups/organizations/businesses that can help me scale my efforts. In 2011 I rode my bicycle across the money raising awareness and money for Farm Aid's crisis hotline. https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/online-request-for-assistance-form/ I started and ran my own farm for over a decade. So I know how hard it can be. Now I work for a company that has donated over $150 million dollars to mental health research. If any of my content helps at least one person to open up and have a conversation about their needs and get support, I will consider myself successful. Take care of yourselves, and if you can, someone else too. Cheers!

From backyard chickens to profitable pastured poultry: Join us as Joe shares his journey scaling a thriving broiler chicken operation. Discover the financial realities of farming at scale, innovative wholesale strategies, and how his Michigan farm evolved from just 3 chicks to a multi-state pastured poultry enterprise generating sustainable income while maintaining regenerative practices. https://www.joesfarm.us/ https://apppa.org/ https://farmmarketingsolutions.com/growingfarmspodcast/

Are you a small farm making $100k to $1M in gross annual revenue? How are you reaching your customers? What are you business goals? Customer retention? New customer acquisition? Increasing average order value? Selling a specialty product? Marketing is about knowing your numbers, having goals, and running tests to meet those goals while reducing risk. It's the scientific method but with fun videos and relationship building mixed in. To help us refine our process and become better farm marketers we are joined by Bryan Butler of SmarTech https://smartech.company/ . SmarTech is a technology company that helps businesses improve how they operate and grow. Founded by Bryan Butler, who has over 18 years of digital marketing experience, SmarTech specializes in online advertising, customer engagement, and selling products online.

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we are going to discuss the state of Email in 2025. To answer a question from my friend Sidney, we're going to discuss why email is still relevant, what types of customers you are targeting, and what are some tactics for sending email marketing. We cover a lot of ground in this episode. If you have questions find this video on YouTube and leave them in the comments so that I can sort the conversations by topic. That way we all learn and grow together.

We kick this season of podcasts off with a discussion about context and demographics and their role in farm business and marketing.

I share my thoughts on creating farm marketing content in 2025. It is easier than ever to start, and the good news is that you don't have to worry about going viral. This audio is from a video I shot for YouTube. The crunching noise is me walking my dog through the woods.

In this Episode of the Growing Farms Podcast I bring in a couple of my friends from around the country to give their perspective on what life is like on their farms in the first quarter of the year. We all manage mixed livestock farms, with a diversity of sales avenues for our products. Personally I gain a lot from having these types of conversations with my friends and peers, and I hope you do too. There's something to be said about stepping off your farm for a minute, talking with like-minded people, and remembering that even though all of our farms are individual, we're all in this together.

It's the year 2050. My grown daughter looks me in the eye and asks what I did to help make the world a better place. What do I tell her? Belief: What do you believe in? When you woke up this morning, you got up with at least one core belief - something in your mind that defines how you see the world. Such core beliefs are unshakable, unmovable, and dictate what actions you take on a day-to-day basis. Commitment: How committed to that belief are you? When you head for the door, you are going to act out your day based on your belief. That action represents your commitment. Everyone's level of commitment will be different, based on the resources they have available. Resources - time, money, energy, experience, land base, manpower, etc. - are different for each of us. Everyone will have advantages to draw on, and disadvantages to face. But we all have at least some resources to commit, which allow us to put our beliefs into action.

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we will discuss all of the decision-making that goes into raising pigs in 2022. There are a lot of things to think about, and a lot of variables outside of your control. where are you going to process? what breed should you raise? how do you manage them? are they profitable for your farm business? We are joined by Grazing Specialist and all-around nice guy Troy Bishopp -The GrassWhisperer - to add FOUR DECADES of farming experience to the podcast.

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast we discuss: why email is still foundational to your marketing how to get your first 100 subscribers what to write in your emails how to grow your list over time Whether you are just starting a farm or you are looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with simple actionable advice to help you along your journey.

In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast I give you some perspective on what my farm brewery business looks and functions like. We are all on different paths, and I share these monthly updates to give more depth behind the farming and business advice that I share on other episodes.

Many of us know how to use Instagram, but do we know why we use it? What are you accomplishing, and is it worth your time? In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast, host John Suscovich discusses Instagram best practices, his strategy on Instagram, and he shares several accounts worth following if you're in the pastured poultry space.

Today on the podcast I am joined by my friend Dave Shields of Pastured Life Farm in North Central Florida. Dave and his wife Ginger have been raising animals on pasture and direct marketing them to customers for years. It just so happens the farming and sales model they set up is perfectly suited to serving their community in a time of need. On today's farm podcast Dave shares how they got started, why they set up their farm the way they did, and how they have been able to provide healthy food to people while adhering to safety guidelines.