I traveled to LaPorte County, Indiana for today's show and sat down with Denise Scarborough, a third-generation farmer, ag lender, and chair of the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), to discuss what modern farming really looks like, from growing soybeans, commercial corn, seed corn, and wheat to adopting cover crops, irrigation, intercropping, and precision GPS mapping.
Denise explains why she and her husband Mark volunteer through groups like Indiana Farm Bureau and ISA to combat farming misconceptions, build relationships, and represent farmers on trade missions that strengthen export demand, noting the United States' grain's consistent quality and how soy and corn become products like biodiesel, ethanol, and high oleic soybean oil.
Denise also discusses scaling a family farm through patience, community reputation, the realities of capital costs, commodity pricing, weather risk, and the importance of strong lender partnerships and youth programs like 4-H and FFA.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
- Modernized Farming
- GPS Mapping for Fields
- How Indiana Farmers Help Feed the World
- Biodiesel, Ethanol, and High Oleic Soybean Oil
- The mportance of 4-H and FFA
Thank you to our partners:
ClusterTruck (use code GETIN at checkout for $5 off order of $25 or more)
Greek's Pizzeria
Check out these great clips from the show:
00:00 Big Picture Farming
01:14 Guest Introduction: Denise Scarborough, Indiana Soybean Alliance
02:30 From 4-H to Farm Life
05:33 Why Advocate Volunteer
08:33 Global Soybean Exports
11:55 From Field to Port
13:31 Soy Products Innovation
15:35 Checkoff Funding Explained
17:46 Family Farms Reality
19:40 Seed Corn Basics
21:22 Starting Farming Today
24:30 Growing Acres Advice
27:21 Choosing Tenant Farmers
29:17 Learning New Practices
30:11 Learning Intercropping
30:37 Risk And Trial
31:22 Taking Over Young
33:35 Tech Costs And Side Gigs
35:13 GPS Mapping Breakthroughs
37:27 Farmers And Stewardship
39:00 Legacy And New Farmers
42:10 Youth Programs And Careers
45:31 Finance And Lender Relationships
50:32 Indiana Hidden Gems
53:55 Mentors And Favorite Memory
56:45 Wrap Up And Links
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