At the 16th annual Land Investment Expo in Des Moines, speakers approached agriculture from very different angles: Peter Zeihan warned of geopolitical threats to food and fertilizer supplies, Jim Knuth focused on farm finances, and other presenters made political arguments, promoted Alaska farmland, shared business stories, or discussed parenting. These were speakers’ views at a 2023 event—not a unified set of findings or independently verified forecasts.
Natalina Sents Bausch’s January 10, 2023, report for Successful Farming recapped the event, hosted by People’s Company. The speakers’ claims are best understood in context: a geopolitical forecast is not a farm budget, an investment pitch is not an independent land assessment, and a reported relationship between parenting habits and child outcomes is not established without its supporting study.
What did Peter Zeihan say about China, fertilizer, and food?
In his keynote, “Getting Through the End of the World,” geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan connected demographic and political risks in China with potential disruption to fertilizer supplies, food production, and global manufacturing.
The report says Zeihan discussed China’s aging workforce and the information environment around Xi Jinping, as well as African swine fever, Chinese phosphate exports, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and consequences for German manufacturing. He argued that these pressures could have severe consequences for food production. Among his reported remarks were, “We’re at the end of the Chinese system,” and “Farmers will try to feed the world and fail.”
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
Zeihan also forecast famine claiming one billion lives and urged farmers to expand, particularly in soybeans and wheat. These were his predictions and advice as reported at the Expo—not measured outcomes or current, independently validated forecasts. The story also quotes him saying, “If you want a BMW, get it now — and 10 years of parts.”
What was Jim Knuth’s advice for managing farm finances?
In a breakout session titled “Agriculture Looking Forward,” Jim Knuth of Farm Credit Services of America focused on what farmers can control if margins narrow. His advice centered on testing whether costs and debt obligations remain manageable when commodity prices and unusually favorable margins change.
- Recheck the cost structure. Review breakeven assumptions, fixed costs, land costs, and machinery costs, and assess whether each remains sustainable if margins shrink.
- Be cautious about rent commitments. Knuth warned against assuming costs will fall as commodity prices do and urged care with long cash-rent agreements signed near market peaks.
- Protect liquidity and plan for debt. He advised preserving liquidity and said debt restructuring could become more difficult.
His central point was that payments should fit through more than the most profitable part of a cycle: “Farmers have to have a payment they can afford every year, not just at the peak of cycles.”
What proposals did Vivek Ramaswamy present?
Vivek Ramaswamy, identified in the report as co-founder and executive chairman of Strive Asset Management, presented four political and institutional proposals. They were his advocacy, not neutral conclusions reached by the Expo.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Prepare to defeat the Chinese Communist Party and pursue semiconductor self-sufficiency.
- Dismantle what he called the “managerial class.”
- Restore free speech.
- Embrace merit.
He summarized one part of his argument with the line, “We cannot defeat an enemy we rely on.”
Why did Mike Dunleavy promote Alaska farmland?
Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy joined by Zoom and made the case for farmland investment in the state. He cited a combination of tax, land, climate, and access advantages:
- Lower or no income and sales taxes;
- Land without prior pesticide or herbicide use;
- Relatively few ownership limits;
- Freshwater and access to Pacific export routes;
- A climate he said can support crops; and
- Room for livestock.
Dunleavy also cited a recent sale at $500 per acre. The event report did not independently assess the land’s quality, applicable tax rules, ownership restrictions, or potential returns, so his remarks should be read as an interested speaker’s investment case rather than a valuation or due-diligence finding.
What did Jimmy John Liautaud and Sarah Frey share about business and land?
Jimmy John Liautaud: entrepreneurship and farmland
Jimmy John Liautaud recounted starting his sandwich business with a $25,000 loan from his father. He also described farmland holdings in Illinois, Kansas, and Wisconsin, along with ownership of two wineries. The report says he earned $200 million in profit in 2019, but gives no accounting basis for that figure. His remarks included, “If you don’t go, you don’t get,” and “Tenacity will beat brains seven days a week.”
Sarah Frey: the human stakes of a land deal
Sarah Frey, CEO and founding farmer of Frey Farms, described choosing to save her family’s distressed farm in southern Illinois. Speaking about land transactions, she urged people not to treat them as purely financial decisions: “That brings emotions. Don’t forget the human aspect.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What six parenting questions did Frank Luntz ask?
Public opinion researcher and pollster Frank Luntz asked attendees whether they:
- Have family meals;
- Attend religious meetings;
- Know whether their children have completed their homework;
- Take week-long trips;
- Know where their children are on Friday and Saturday nights; and
- Have children who participate in team sports.
The report says Luntz claimed higher scores on these questions predict better outcomes for children. It does not identify a study, sample, methods, or figures supporting that claim, so the event recap alone is not enough to establish the relationship.
What do Iowa farmland figures add to the event’s context?
Separate from the speakers’ remarks, People’s Company reported figures from the 2022 Iowa State University Land Value Survey. The survey put Iowa’s average farmland value at $11,411 per acre in November 2022, up 17% from November 2021. People’s Company also reported that nominal values were 31% above the 2013 nominal peak. After inflation adjustment, it gave the average as $9,088 in 2015 dollars, up 9% and at a record.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Those are survey figures reported by People’s Company, not findings attributed to the Expo speakers. They provide Iowa market context, but do not establish the value or investment return of any individual farm or Alaska property.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
