The Whole Farm Podcast
Gary Black on Trust, Change & the Future of American Agriculture
Agriculture has never stopped changing. From the transition from horses and mules to tractors, to decades of consolidation across the agricultural industry, farmers have continually adapted to new technology, new markets, and new pressures. Today, agriculture finds itself in another period of significant change, and Gary Black believes the lessons of the past can help farmers prepare for what comes next. In this episode of The Whole Farm Podcast, Michael Pisciotta sits down with Gary Black, longtime agribusiness leader, farmer, former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, and advisor to CHONEX. Gary frames the conversation with a simple image: the rearview mirror and the windshield. The rearview mirror matters because it helps us understand where we’ve been. But the windshield is much bigger because ultimately, agriculture has to keep moving forward. Gary and Michael discuss how dramatically agriculture has evolved, why farmers have always found ways to adapt, and what the next several years could require from producers as they make decisions around scale, markets, costs, regenerative practices, and new technologies. Gary also argues that farmers increasingly have a responsibility to move beyond the farm gate, build relationships with decision-makers, and help consumers understand the people and practices behind their food. At the center of that conversation is trust. Gary shares why rebuilding trust between farmers, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and agricultural organizations may be one of the industry's most important challenges. And for farmers communicating their story, he believes it starts with understanding a simple question: Why do you do what you do? The conversation also gets practical for growers who may feel worn down by the current farm economy. Gary discusses intentionally evaluating costs, marketing decisions, farm size, productivity, and whether regenerative approaches could offer opportunities to accomplish more with less while building something stronger for the next generation. On his own Georgia cattle operation, Gary shares how he's beginning to explore practices such as increased grazing management, improving forage diversity, and finding better ways to manage nutrients already present in his soil. He closes the episode with three questions that can help any farmer create what he calls a “windshield plan”: - What do I do well? - What do I need to improve? - What do I need to stop doing? That final question may be the hardest, but Gary believes having the courage to answer it can help create a clearer path forward. In this episode: - How agriculture has adapted through generations of major change - Why the next several years could require new decisions from farmers - The growing disconnect between consumers, policymakers, and the farm - Why trust matters to the future of agriculture - The importance of farmers getting involved beyond the farm gate - Finding your “why” as a producer of food and fiber - Whether farmers can become more productive while doing less - Gary’s early steps toward regenerative practices on his cattle operation - Three questions for building a practical plan for the future Whether you’re navigating tight margins, evaluating new practices, or simply trying to determine what the next chapter of your operation should look like, this episode is a reminder to learn from what’s behind you without taking your eyes off what’s ahead. To learn more about CHONEX, explore additional resources, and receive future episodes to your inbox, visit chonex.ag . If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone in your network.
