Brad Haire is Executive Editor at Farm Progress, focusing on Southeastern U.S. agriculture. With 30+ years covering crop production, policy, and rural economies, his work bridges academic research and on-farm practicality.
Haire’s reporting has informed USDA policy briefings and is frequently cited in Southern agricultural extension programs. His avoidance of speculative trends (e.g., vertical farming) ensures relevance to mainstream row-crop producers.
Brad Haire’s career is rooted in the soil of rural Georgia, where his early experiences stacking watermelons and scouting cotton fields shaped his understanding of agriculture’s economic and cultural significance. Transitioning to journalism in the mid-1990s, Haire merged his hands-on farming knowledge with storytelling, eventually becoming Executive Editor at Farm Progress. Over three decades, his work has chronicled the evolving challenges of Southern agriculture, from pest outbreaks to policy shifts.
This 2025 analysis underscores the financial risks of inefficient planting practices amid volatile commodity prices. Haire interviews agronomists and farmers to highlight how minor errors—like improper seed depth—can reduce yields by up to 15%. The piece blends technical advice with macroeconomic context, urging growers to view planting as a "make-or-break investment." Its impact was evident in reader surveys, with 68% of respondents adopting at least one recommended practice.
Amid 2024’s record input costs, Haire documented how Southeastern farmers adapted through crop diversification and cooperative purchasing. The article profiles a third-generation peanut grower who shifted 40% of acreage to drought-resistant sorghum, balancing sentimentality with pragmatism. Agricultural economists cited this piece in congressional testimony on farm loan reforms.
Haire’s 2023 coverage of Kip Cullers’ record harvest deconstructs the agronomic innovations behind the feat, including tailored micronutrient regimens and AI-driven irrigation. While celebrating the achievement, he questions scalability for smallholders, sparking industry debates about equity in precision agriculture adoption.
Haire prioritizes stories demonstrating how Southeastern farmers combat climate volatility. A 2024 piece on using winter storms for pest control exemplifies his interest in unconventional solutions. Pitches should highlight localized strategies—e.g., cover cropping systems reducing irrigation needs in Georgia’s clay soils—with data from university trials or USDA surveys.
With 23% of his 2025 articles addressing policy, Haire seeks clear connections between legislation and daily operations. The March 2025 analysis of North Carolina’s disaster relief package linked specific bill provisions to crop insurance claim reductions. Successful pitches will quantify impacts: "How the Farm to Fork Act could cut diesel costs by $12/acre" rather than broad overviews.
Profiles like the 2024 feature on sisters revitalizing a family ranch resonate with Haire’s focus on legacy. He avoids nostalgia, instead highlighting innovative transitions—e.g., integrating agritourism into row-crop operations. Pitches should include financial metrics and third-party validation, such as NRCS partnership data.
While formal awards aren’t highlighted in public profiles, Haire’s influence is evident through repeated sourcing by policymakers and academic institutions. His 2021 series on dicamba alternatives was incorporated into Auburn University’s extension curriculum, reaching 15,000+ growers annually.
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