Patio Pondering LLC

06/18/2026

We Were Sold the Bearded Woman but Got the Girl Next Door

The models changed. The track shifted south, some of it as late as six hours before the event. That's meteorology — and I understand that. The storms were real, the damage was real, and for those in the path the warnings were warranted.

06/17/2026

Stupid Enough to Open My Mouth

There was no feeling of cooperation, no pulling the same wagon. There was fear of someone watching over your shoulder and criticizing, quietly threatening employment even though there were no firings or restructures.

06/16/2026

Just dropped a new Patio Pondering Podcast episode with Dr. Michael Langemeier from Purdue.

Michael and I have crossed paths through Purdue and Kansas State over the years, but somehow never had the chance to sit down for a real conversation until now.

We covered everything from the similarities between today's farm economy and the 1980s farm crisis to succession planning, working capital, strategic risk, and even artificial intelligence.

One thing I appreciate about Michael is that he has a way of taking complicated financial concepts and making them practical for producers.

If you've ever wondered:

Why cash flow matters more than land appreciation when paying bills
How larger farms think about growth and risk
What makes a farm business resilient
How AI might fit into agriculture

I think you'll enjoy this conversation.

🎙️ Why Farming Needs More Strategy and Less Guesswork | Dr. Michael Langemeier

Episode link:

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06/14/2026

Waiting for Someone Who May Never Come

What happened? How do my ancestors who crossed an ocean, built a business, raised a family, became citizens, voted, joined civic organizations, and helped build a city end up remembered by nothing more than a small family marker?

06/09/2026

On the heels of World Pork Expo, I've been thinking about a question that came up during a recent conversation with Dr. Doug Newcom of the National Swine Registry:

What has the modern swine industry gained... and what has it quietly lost?

The pork industry has become remarkably efficient. We produce more pigs, use fewer resources, and have access to genetic tools that previous generations could only dream about.

But progress always comes with tradeoffs.

In Episode 89 of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Doug and I discuss everything from genetics and pork quality to youth livestock programs, international travel, and the future of the U.S. swine industry.

Along the way, we found ourselves reflecting on stockmanship, resilience, independent seedstock producers, and the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Whether you raise pigs, work in agriculture, or simply enjoy thoughtful conversations about how industries evolve, I think you'll find something worth pondering.

🎙️ Episode 89: What Has the Modern Swine Industry Gained... and What Has It Quietly Lost?

🔗 https://www.patiopondering.com/podcast/what-has-the-modern-swine-industry-gained-and-what-has-it-quietly-lost-dr-doug-newcom

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06/09/2026

Food production is not one-size-fits-all.

In this clip from my conversation with Lori Stevermer, we discuss the importance of choice in agriculture and food production. Consumers have different priorities, farmers operate in different environments, and agriculture is strongest when we recognize there is rarely a single solution that fits every situation.

One of the things I appreciated about this conversation was the reminder that agriculture's diversity is one of its strengths.

What role do you think choice should play in food production?

06/08/2026

Sitting in my hotel room in Owatonna, Minnesota editing a podcast. No rest for the wicked!

06/06/2026

Check this out from my friend Doug Warters.

Pork is the best deal in the meat case bar none!

06/04/2026

Day 2 of World Pork Expo starts the old-fashioned way — with an iron and a wrinkled shirt. Used to be routine. Then jeans took over for a few years. Some habits just wait for you to need them again.

06/03/2026

On my way to World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

Apparently AI thinks I need a cape.

Looking forward to a few days of learning, catching up with friends, meeting new people, and talking pork production.

If you're at Expo and spot the guy who looks nothing like this picture, stop and say hello!