Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

With less than a month until the general election and early voting starting tomorrow, Farm Bureau has gathered candidate survey responses that agriculture members will receive by email and mail to inform their voting decisions. The episode also highlights upcoming events: the Women’s Leadership Committee’s annual Ag Social on Thursday, October 15 in Buckeye at Sweet Flower Home (free with RSVP via maricopacountyfb.org/events); Copper Country Music Fest October 13–15 featuring Randy Rogers Band, Nolan Hoffman, Crews Brothers, and more, with Maricopa County Farm Bureau members receiving 20% off tickets using code MCFB at coppercountrymusicfest.com; and the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension’s Soil to Table Summit on November 16–17 covering water resources, farm-to-table initiatives, soil health, and agribusiness (registration via maricopacountyfb.org). The next episode will feature recipes with local ingredients with Chef Kevin Barko. 00:10 Election Updates 00:31 Ag Social Invite 01:02 Music Fest Discount 01:24 Soil to Table Summit 01:45 Join us Next Week with Chef Kevin Barco

This episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection focuses on Suicide Awareness Month and why suicide prevention matters in agriculture, citing 2024 U.S. figures of 48,824 deaths by suicide and millions more who considered, planned, or attempted. The host explains that farmers and agricultural workers are about twice as likely to die by suicide, describing unique stressors such as lack of control over prices, weather, and legislative pressures, generational and societal expectations, and financial crises, while noting a family loss in the mid-1980s and ongoing concerns in 2026. The episode highlights stigma around therapy in rural communities, limited access to mental healthcare, and the benefits of telehealth. It encourages checking in with neighbors and friends and shares the free, confidential AgriStress hotline (call/text 833-897-2474), available 24/7 in multiple states, including Arizona. Learn more and get resources at https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/. 00:00 Why This Matters 00:14 Suicide Facts And Risk 01:02 Unique Farm Stressors 02:05 Personal And Generational Impact 02:45 Rural Culture And Stigma 03:50 Access Gaps And Telehealth 05:13 Check In On Neighbors 06:53 AgriStress Hotline Resource 08:14 Community Support And Closing

The episode recaps September agriculture news, highlighting the Bureau of Reclamation’s finalized 10-year Colorado River plan featuring smaller, shared lower-basin cuts totaling 1.25 million acre-feet, with Arizona taking the largest share: a 760,000 acre-feet cut through 2028 plus 300,000 acre-feet in voluntary savings. It notes Lake Powell release adjustments could occur if elevations drop below 3,500 feet to protect Lake Mead, and discusses rising hydropower costs prompting Arizona utilities and irrigation/electrical districts to reduce reliance on hydropower through solar, storage, and gas plants. Politically, it previews Arizona races and Farm Bureau AgPAC endorsements for Andy Biggs and Sine Kerr for governor/lieutenant governor and Warren Petersen for attorney general, with voter registration due Oct. 5 and the general election Nov. 3. Nationally, diesel averages $6.28/gal and the Senate Ag Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line vote, with a mental health episode teased next week. Learn more and get tapped in at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 September Ag News Rundown 00:13 Colorado River Cuts Ahead 00:54 Hydropower and Utility Shifts 01:21 Water Politics and Elections 01:44 AgPAC Endorsements Spotlight 03:06 Voting Deadlines Reminder 03:13 Diesel Prices Squeeze Farms 03:40 Farm Bill Moves Forward

In this farm edition of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Clint Gladden of Gladden Farms and Saddle Mountain Dairy shares the history and structure of his fourth-generation family operation in Buckeye/Palo Verde, where they milk about 4,000 cows and farm 3,000 acres growing alfalfa, corn, sorghum, triticale, and wheat for silage. Clint manages the farm side while his older brother Josh manages the dairy, and he discusses the challenges of working with family and the importance of detailed crop tracking and organization for nutrition and field decisions. He describes impacts from rapid urbanization, traffic, obstacles for equipment, trash in fields, and uncertainty around leased land and future development. Clint explains why he engages with Farm Bureau: to ensure producers tell their story, inform policy decisions, and address issues like high diesel costs, Colorado River water, air quality, and development, while staying focused on long-term sustainability for future generations. Learn more and get involved with Maricopa County Farm Bureau at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:10 Meet Clint Gladden 01:07 Brothers Split Roles 01:59 Family Business Dynamics 03:48 Vertical Integration Story 06:04 Crops Grown for Feed 07:19 Tracking and Organization 10:27 Land Ownership and Leasing 10:46 Urbanization Pressures 16:11 Advocacy and Farm Bureau 22:04 Big Issues Facing Arizona 22:51 Hope for Next Generation 25:46 Why Farming Matters

This week’s Arizona Agriculture Connection reports that wheat futures falling after Russian media said Russia is taking steps to protect grain vessels amid the war with Ukraine; Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter with USDA estimating 46 million metric tons expected to ship. President Trump announced an executive order allowing 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports under lowered tariffs for 90 days, drawing pushback as U.S. beef herds are at a 50-year low and imports are already at record levels, potentially rising nearly 60% over the period; Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall warned of long-term impacts. Mexican feeder cattle crossed into the U.S. for the first time in over a year via Douglas, Arizona, as New World screw worm cases remain mostly inactive and Mexico increases sterile fly releases. The Bureau of Reclamation finalized Colorado River plans requiring a 1.25 million acre-feet cut shared by AZ, CA, and NV, with Arizona taking 760,000 plus at least 300,000 voluntary savings, implying a 14% municipal pool shortage for CAP. For more news and local happening on Arizona Agriculture, check out https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/