Episode
Wesley Davis: Separating Signal from Noise in the Ag Economy
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2033
- Processing state
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- https://intentional-ag.captivate.fm
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Summary
Join our champion program: [email protected] Attend a Thriving Leader event: https://thriving-leader-2026.lovable.app/ Instagram: @the.momentum.company LinkedIn: /momentum-company In this episode, Mark sits down with Wesley Davis, Partner and Chief Agricultural Economist at Meridian Ag Advisors, for a sharp conversation about cutting through the noise in agriculture — and building a business worth building. Wes defines intentionality simply: shut out the distractions and be fully present with the person or problem in front of you. Just be here. Be now. Signal vs. Noise in the Ag Economy Wes has built his career around one skill: separating signal from noise. Three things he's watching closely right now: Farmer P&L at the acre level. Not the headline — what does a specific commodity pencil out to on a specific acre? That's the number that tells the real story. Trade policy — the tail that wags the dog. Major trade flows are rerouting away from China toward Europe and Southeast Asia. The picture isn't great. But it's not dire. Our stuff is moving. Farmer financial health — the whole picture. About 70–80% of farmers have strong balance sheets. There's a stressed pocket — 10–20%, higher in small grains and row crops — and a critical 5% in real trouble. That's a very different story than "all farmers are failing." Know your numbers. That's not optional. Why Wes Started Meridian — and What Entrepreneurship Actually Costs Wes left his previous consultancy not because something went wrong, but because he got clear on what he wanted to build: truly independent economic research in ag. Not tracking every USDA amendment, but answering the real question — what does this actually mean for farmers? The deeper driver? He wanted the freedom of entrepreneurship again. But…