The Ag Executive is the podcast where agriculture meets leadership. Join us as we sit down with CEOs and top executives from across the agriculture industry to uncover insights, strategies, and stories that are shaping the future of farming, agribusiness, and beyond.
Rich Kreps shares a pistachio season outlook, market context, and actionable agronomy tips to boost yields, quality, and profitability today.
Cliff Beumel, CEO and president of Agromillora, joins Jason Scott to share what he sees from the front end of California’s value chain. He explains why today’s challenges go beyond a single bottleneck, driven instead by higher interest rates, tighter margins, trade uncertainty and global competition. Beumel discusses the shift toward risk mitigation, how diversification is shaping nursery demand, the cost of delaying replant decisions, and why olives offer a lower-input, domestic-market hedge in a volatile ag economy.
Jason Scott sits down with the JCS editorial team to reflect on the biggest ag themes of 2025 and what’s ahead for 2026. Kristin Platts, Cecilia Parsons and Jay Visser share insights from the field, including efficiency trends, technology adoption and changing grower priorities. They also preview the coverage and conversations shaping West Coast Nut and Progressive Crop Consultant magazines in the coming year.
Jason Scott sits down with Todd Sanders, executive director at California Apple Commission, California Blueberry Commission, California Wild Rice Advisory Board, California Olive Committee and more, to discuss how he fell into agriculture and the everyday fight in Sacramento/DC. Sanders urges retailers to back locally grown produce and spotlights research partnerships that keep California competitive.
Nichols Farms VP of Farming and HotSpot AG CEO James Nichols shares his grower-to-AgTech journey and a water-first playbook built on ET scheduling, automated irrigation and continuous fertigation. He breaks down SGMA compliance, evolving pest pressures in pistachios and what’s next in nutrient dosing and crop protection.
LMG Ag Products CEO Josh Cox shares his farm-to-CEO journey and the company’s service-first playbook backed by transparent pricing and gritty, go-the-extra-mile execution. He digs into the company’s Lodi expansion, shrinking pipelines for new chemistries and AI’s upside for ag.
Jason Scott sits down with Russell Taylor, vice president of Live Earth Products, who shares how growing up in the mines of Emery, Utah shaped his work ethic and passion for agriculture. He also discusses the role of humic products in improving nutrient efficiency, the push for regulatory updates through the Plant Biostimulant Act and why mentoring the next generation is vital for the future of agribusiness.
Jason Scott sits down with Wayne Sledge, CEO of CultivAce, to discuss his journey from farming to developing acetate-based fertilizer solutions. He shares hard-earned insights into product innovation, sustainability, efficiency and the critical role of balanced crop nutrition in the future of agriculture.
Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Colson Steber, founder and co-CEO of Ag Access, to discuss his journey from a small-town family business to leading a specialized agricultural market research firm, emphasizing the power of relationships, niche expertise and his philosophy of 'relentless, intentional action' to drive strategic impact for agribusinesses.
Jason Scott sits down with Robert Verloop, executive director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission, who shares insights into revitalizing the walnut industry through leadership, innovation and a ground-up strategic approach. Verloop discusses overcoming industry crises, driving market development, expanding global reach and fostering stronger grower relationships, all while positioning California walnuts as a modern, health-driven consumer product.
