Tile Drainage ROI, Tax-Smart Farm Succession & Grassroots Battles (9-17-26)

Broadcasting live from the Morton Building at the Big Iron International Land Show in West Fargo, host Scott Hennen brings together top agricultural leaders, financial experts, and policy advocates. This action-packed episode dives deep into the real-world solutions driving upper Midwest agriculture—from transforming unfarmable acres into high-yielding land with smart water management, to leveraging little-known IRS tax codes for seamless multi-generational farm succession. Plus, the show covers severe drought realities, critical crop insurance deadlines, and the grassroots policy battles shaping North Dakota's legislative future. Standout Moments & Timestamps 00:00 – Live from Big Iron & Upcoming North Dakota Honors Scott sets the stage from the fairgrounds, previewing upcoming inductions into the ND Music Hall of Fame and John Odegard’s induction into the U.S. Aviation Hall of Fame. 02:15 – Turning Zeros Into Bushels with Ellington Drainage Spike Alexander and Mike Proknow break down tile drainage ROI, turning saline or flooded land into prime production, and utilizing the Bank of North Dakota’s Ag PACE interest buy-down program. 08:40 – Full-Service Ag Excavation with Apex Companies Kyle details how Apex Companies supports family farms through specialized underground utility work, rural water installations, and custom drainage design. 11:20 – Grassroots Conservatism & North Dakota Measure 1 Jennifer Benson from the Center of the American Experiment and entrepreneur Carissa Gasky discuss small business hurdles, engaging young voters, and preserving the state constitution via Measure 1. 16:05 – Legacy & Wealth Planning for Multi-Generational Farms John Hogue of Financial Wealth Solutions reveals how farmers can shelter up to $800,000 annually using specific IRS tax codes to create fair estate equalization for non-farming children. 21:10 – Navigating D3 Drought & Crucial Crop Deadlines Nate Thorsrude from JLA Insurance shares updates on local drought conditions, Actual Production History (APH) calculations, and the September 30th dual-county wheat deadline. 25:30 – Walking a Mile in a Farmer's Shoes Scott Hennen offers candid commentary on diesel inflation, input costs, ag mental health, and political accountability. 31:45 – Water Management vs. Drainage with Deep Roots Levi Otis explains how modern water management preserves essential soil moisture profiles and how returning land-grant graduates are changing farm balance sheets. 36:10 – Custom Shop-Houses & Post-Frame Innovation Garrett from Morton Buildings breaks down post-frame clear-span construction, energy efficiency, and low-maintenance shop-house trends.