Groundwork

Ep. 34 (Ray Starling, Author of Farmers versus Foodies)

It’s a rallying cry pushed by special-interest groups and farm policy critics: dismantle the U.S. food system! But a fundamental misunderstanding of how our food is grown leads to bad ideas and even worse policy. Ray Starling, a former White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture official, explores this debate in his new book "Farmers versus Foodies."

Ep. 33 (Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis, American Sugar Alliance)

As Thanksgiving approaches, food prices might be a topic of conversation around your dinner table. Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis at the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) and the former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), joined Farm Policy Facts on our Groundwork podcast to talk about the importance of an affordable and accessible supply of American-made sugar.

Ep. 32 (Jim Sugarek, 6th Generation Farmer, president of the Southwest Council of Agribusiness)

When you look at farms across the American southwest, you’re struck by the incredible diversity of agriculture. Rice, poultry, timber, peanuts, pecans, cotton, corn and “all the vegetables you can imagine” help fuel our national food and fiber supply.

Jim Sugarek, president of the Southwest Council of Agribusiness, told the Groundwork podcast that each of the half a million farms across the southwest have one thing in common: “They are fathers and daughters, they’re husbands and wives. They are families that are all trying to produce a great product for our nation.”

Listen in as Jim talks about the incredible importance of family farmers to rural economies and our national food supply and the need for a strong farm safety net. Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org. 

Ep. 31 (Jennifer James, Arkansas Rice Farmer)

With a Farm Bill on the horizon, Congress is already hearing from policy wonks, think tank experts, and DC insiders about what they think legislation should say. But the most important voice in this conversation is the American farmer. So, we asked fourth-generation rice farmer Jennifer James to join us on the Groundwork podcast and provide her perspective on the challenges facing agriculture, especially the unique set of circumstances facing rice growers.

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org.

Ep. 30 (August Pfluger, Congressman for Texas’ 11th district)

When August Pfluger decided to join the Air Force, he drew upon a deeply ingrained desire to put service before self. Now, as the congressman representing Texas’ 11^th district, Pfluger recognizes that same motivation in the small number of hardworking men and women who farm and ranch to provide all Americans with food, fuel, and fiber.

“It’s very difficult what that one percent of the population does to farm and ranch and provide food for every single American, because every American eats,” he recently said on the Groundwork podcast.

Pfluger joined Farm Policy Facts to discuss how farming contributes to the security of our nation, and the critical role that farm policy plays in ensuring that this security remains uncompromised.

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org. 

Ep. 29 (Jocelyn Schlichting, Fourth-Generation Minnesota Farmer)

Jocelyn Schlichting is a fourth-generation farmer who recently joined Farm Policy Facts on our Groundwork podcast to talk about the future of agriculture. Jocelyn returned to the farm five years ago after working as an accountant in corporate America, finding new purpose in growing the food that helps feed America, and the world.

Jocelyn is much more likely to be found in front of a computer than driving a combine. She uses her accounting and analytical skills to help her family make data-driven decisions on their farm.

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org.

 

Ep. 28 (Joanie Grimes, Crop Insurance Agent)

In America, approximately 220,000 farming and ranching families raise 80 percent of the crops and livestock that feed and clothe our nation. All 330 million of us.

“That is a very big task for a very small group of people,” crop insurance agent Joanie Grimes recently told Farm Policy Facts on our Groundwork podcast

It’s a task that comes with big risks, too. Joanie, an agent with the Auburn Agency in Ohio and a board member of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA), joined Groundwork to talk about the challenges facing farmers today – and how crop insurance is a vital component of the farm safety net that protects them.

Ep. 27 (Paul Neiffer, The Farm CPA)

Benjamin Franklin once famously said, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. So, we invited Paul Neiffer, Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen and author of the blog Farm CPA Today, to join us on the Groundwork podcast to discuss how current – and proposed – tax provisions affect our farmers.

 

Ep. 26 (Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy)

When we think of farming, the food on our plates and clothes on our backs likely comes to mind. But what about the fuel in our cars?

Ethanol is a low-carbon, high-performance biofuel made from American-grown crops such as corn and sorghum. Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, the nation’s largest ethanol trade association, joined us on Groundwork to talk more about how farmers help fuel America. 

Ep. 25 (Kevin Van Trump, Who Are America’s Family Farmers?)

Kevin Van Trump has built a successful career translating the economics of agriculture as president and founder of Farm Direction and author of the Van Trump Report.  

So, when USDA released its updated report on America’s Diverse Family Farms – a critical report on American farm production, but one that is easily open to misinterpretation and misuse by farm policy critics – we knew we had to get Kevin’s insights.