Podcasts about Agriculture

Welcome to The Agriculture Season, our new series that explores the food on your plate, how it got there, and it's global impact on the environment, social justice, and the economy. This first episode explains why we chose to dive into this industry and gives a big-picture reality check of the current system. Time stamps:3:17 Intro9:15 Ari's "why agriculture?"16:17 Lexi's "why agriculture?"22:24 Modern agriculture28:40 Agriculture history lesson39:44 Voices from the industry47:00 (Some) farming setbacks 52:06 Wrap-up and details about next episodeSources:https://restpublisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/26.-Modern-Farming-Practices-Balancing-Productivity-and-Environmental-Impact-1.pdfhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/industrial-agriculture#:~:text=Industrial%20agriculture%20is%20defined%20as,biofuels%2C%20and%20processed%20food%20ingredients.https://www.nrdc.org/stories/industrial-agriculture-101#:~:text=There%20is%20soil%20depletion%20and,leaches%20from%20a%20manure%20pile.https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/agriculture#:~:text=Agriculture%20is%20the%20practice%20of,Revolution%2C%20leading%20to%20increased%20productivity.https://professionale.saissementi.it/en/news/english-the-evolution-of-agriculture-from-1-0-to-4-0/#:~:text=Agriculture%2C%20the%20backbone%20of%20human,and%20productivity%20in%20all%20crops.https://www.britannica.com/technology/Haber-Bosch-process#:~:text=Haber%2DBosch%20process%2C%20method%20of,favouring%20product%20formation%20is%20maintained._____________________________________________________________To stay on top of Hotel Earth 360° updates, check out our links belowSubstack: https://hotelearth360.substack.com/ Instagram: @hotelearth360TikTok: @hotelearth360Website: hotelearth360.com To receive the Hotel Earth newsletter, for environmental news, episode announcements, book club updates, and more, subscribe to our Substack: https://hotelearth360.substack.com/su...

In this episode of The Produce Moms Podcast, host Lori Taylor welcomes Commissioner Jonathan Shell, Heather Becker, and Dana Feldman from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to discuss how the Commonwealth is transforming school nutrition through its Local First School Food initiative.

The podcast reunion kicks off with updates and a rockin' theme song, followed by discussions on life changes, relocations, family, parenthood, community, political engagement, ranching, and investment ventures.TChapters00:00 Podcast Reunion and Updates06:04 Family and Parenthood19:30 Ranching and Investment Ventures25:23 Red Hook: A Weekend Outing Turned Home36:05 The Role of a County Commissioner51:21 Agriculture and Food as the Backbone of Civilization01:03:50 Everyday Carry and Heirlooms

Newscast from Capital Public Radio

At more than 70% of U.S. water withdrawals, agriculture is one of the most significant drivers of water demand in the country. In this episode, host Reese Tisdale sits down with Bluefield Analyst Olivia Kranefuss to unpack her newly released report, Water for U.S. Agriculture: Irrigation Trends, Technology Adoption, and Market Forecasts, 2026–2031, and the US$84 billion transition reshaping how the market spends over the next several years. The conversation covers where capital is flowing across a cost structure dominated by energy and labor, the key shifts underway in technology adoption and company strategy, and what the M&A moves of major players signal about where the market is heading. Key questions addressed include: What's driving an US$84 billion spending shift in a relatively mature market? Across the full cost structure—equipment, labor, energy, digital tools—where are farmers and irrigation providers actually allocating capital? How does the fragmented, family-farm-dominated demand base shape technology adoption and vendor strategy? As the irrigation sector faces a strategic divide, is the market shifting from hardware to software-driven value creation? What's driving rapid growth in digital irrigation technologies, and how big is the opportunity relative to traditional equipment? What structural barriers are slowing adoption—and what do companies need to understand before entering this market? Where are the biggest opportunities ahead for equipment suppliers, technology companies, and infrastructure providers? If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven't already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you'd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: Water for U.S. Agriculture: Irrigation Trends, Technology Adoption, and Market Forecasts, 2026–2031 Orbia Weighs Netafim Precision Agriculture Divestment

Danny Bernstein, Founder & CEO, Reservoir joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss Physical AI and the growing role it is playing in agriculture.Currently, less than 2% of this high-value agricultural sector is automated, creating a significant growth opportunity that Reservoir is positioned to capture through a startup incubator specifically designed for Physical AI and specialty crops.By utilizing a 40-acre farm in Salinas paired with an adjacent 6,000-square-foot prototyping studio, Reservoir offers startups immediate access to a commercial testing ground. This infrastructure eliminates the traditional six-to-nine-month delay between raising venture capital and deploying on a real farm, allowing founders to roll their machines directly into the field.Reservoir's methodology emphasizes deep rural integration to solve complex labor and economic challenges. By encouraging founders to immerse themselves in local farming communities, Reservoir helps startups build trust and fit their solutions into existing agricultural cost structures. This approach has enabled successful innovations ranging from AI-powered drones for bird mitigation to specialized disease detection for vineyards.Reservoir's Physical AI ecosystem functions as the Olympic Village of Ag Tech, hosting dense cohorts of international and domestic startups working side by side. This collaborative environment enables companies to share foundational technologies while gaining direct access to major agricultural incumbents and corporate partners.To further fuel this ecosystem, Reservoir operates a $50 million early-stage venture fund dedicated to ag tech and Physical AI applications.Looking ahead, Danny envisions Reservoir expanding to five or six locations across the American West, with active and planned sites in Sonoma County, the Central Valley, Washington State, and Arizona.By elevating ag tech's position within the global autonomy economy, Reservoir aims to drive double-digit automation adoption within five years, fundamentally transforming rural workforce development and securing the global food supply.Episode Chapters00:00 Less than 2% of Specialty Crop Agriculture is Automated07:32 Physical AI on Farms13:35 The Six to Nine Month Farm Access Problem18:49 Inside Reservoir Farms26:01 The Olympic Village of Ag Tech32:29 Building Trust with Farmers43:19 The Growth of Automation and Autonomy on Farms47:50 The Future of Automation and Autonomy on Farms--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy is the definitive media brand covering the Autonomy Economy™. Through our podcasts, newsletter, and proprietary market intelligence, we set the narrative for institutional investors, industry executives, and policymakers navigating the convergence of automation, autonomy, and economic growth.Join institutional investors and industry leaders who read This Week in The Autonomy Economy every Sunday. Each edition delivers exclusive insight and commentary on the autonomy economy, helping you stay ahead of what's next.Subscribe today for free: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a strategy and guidance for use of artificial intelligence on Thursday, setting a direction for the agency's own work and providing resources for public health officials across the country. Those documents point to a desire to promote adoption of the technology, empower the workforce to use it, and ensure the tools are governed properly. But, more uniquely, the publications encourage the use of “agentic” or “deep research” AI uses — those that can autonomously carry out specific tasks — which CDC is already tapping into. Almost 10% of CDC's roughly 100 AI use cases were agentic tools in 2025, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' recently reported AI use case inventory. Its share of agentic uses makes up roughly a third of such deployments across the department. As a result, the CDC's new strategy includes specific language to leverage that technology to support public health, strengthen research and data management, and improve access to data. And simultaneously, the agency released specific guidance for state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) public health authorities on the use of AI agents for research based on experiences from its own exploration. The White House is launching a task force aimed at eliminating fraud in federally run programs — a goal that will be pursued largely through beefed-up data-sharing processes. The executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump is framed through the lens of various fraud cases in Minnesota involving Medicaid, a Department of Agriculture child nutrition program and Small Business Administration loan programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigations into the alleged fraud began under the Biden administration's Department of Justice, but the scandal has since been wielded by the Trump White House to freeze funds and strip away benefits from residents of the Gopher State. Under Trump's new order, the task force will be charged with developing a national strategy to combat fraud in federal benefit programs. The EO calls specifically for new measures to improve eligibility verification processes and create controls to prevent the disbursal of improper payments. The task force will also be required to “promote the facilitation of information and data sharing and coordination between State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and the Federal Government, and benefit-providing agencies and law enforcement agencies,” per the order. Interagency data-sharing would additionally be prioritized as part of an overarching enforcement push aimed at disrupting and dismantling “fraud networks and facilitators,” the EO states. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

A controversial ballot initiative in Oregon is raising alarms across the country. Could it criminalize hunting, fishing, and ranching—and reshape how wildlife is managed in America? Click on the Voices of Montana podcast as “The Real Yellowstone” filmmaker Tom Opre […] The post Radical Animal Rights Proposal Threatens Hunting, Fishing, Agriculture first appeared on Voices of Montana.

The Best Milk Alternative: Oat vs. Soy Milk They're both great options and MUCH healthier and more ethical than animal milk, but can oat milk's nutritional profile compete with soy milk's? Listen to today's episode written by Kristine Dennis at @NutritionFacts.org #vegan #plantbased #Plantbasednutrition #plantmilk #oatmilk #soymilk #dairy #cowmilk   ===================== Original post: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-best-milk-alternative-oat-vs-soy-milk/  New Documentary (Free): How Not To Die https://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-not-to-die-documentary/  ====================== Dr. Michael Greger is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Greger is licensed as a general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition. He is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. He founded NUTRITIONFACTS.ORG is a non-profit, non-commercial, science-based public service provided by Dr. Michael Greger, providing free updates on the latest in nutrition research via bite-sized videos. There are more than a thousand videos on nearly every aspect of healthy eating, with new videos and articles uploaded every day.   His latest books —How Not to Die, the How Not to Die Cookbook, and How Not to Diet — became instant New York Times Best Sellers. His two latest books, How to Survive a Pandemic and the How Not to Diet Cookbook were released in 2020.  100% of all proceeds he has ever received from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements have always and will always be donated to charity.   FOLLOW THE SHOW ON: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantbasedbriefing     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GONW0q2EDJMzqhuwuxdCF?si=2a20c247461d4ad7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-based-briefing/id1562925866 Your podcast app of choice: https://pod.link/1562925866 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-briefing/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedbriefing/     

Don Schieber built a seed cleaning business that saved his farm. He has traveled the world selling American wheat, and spent 50 years officiating Friday night football in Oklahoma. Now he's retiring and he's got stories you won't hear anywhere else. This is what a life in agriculture looks like.

Rod and Karen banter about going for walks, hilarious injuries, getting your hair done, having the same last name as white people and the origin of French Fries. Then they discuss Food Stamp Recipients Suing USDA Over Candy, Soda, and Energy Drink Restrictions, AOC of bust voters, Kyrsten Sinema Admits to Having Affair With Former Bodyguard, Republican candidate ineligible for Nov. 3 ballot after voting in Democratic primary, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture says agency focused on Louisiana crawfish labor shortage, The Cookout™ (Sydney Sweeney, Jack Harlow), Jamal Bryant apologizes after saying the Target boycott was over, mom ditches kid at bar, man stabs mom because she wouldn’t let him use her speaker, KFC employee stabbed and sword ratchetness. Podjam 3 Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/podjam3 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theblackguywhotips Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rodimusprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SayDatAgain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TBGWT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheBlackGuyWhoTips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theblackguywhotips@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theblackguywhotips.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teepublic Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://the-black-guy-who-tips-podcast.dashery.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wishlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PDD9JUQUNVY5?ref_=wl_share ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crowdcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.crowdcast.io/theblackguywhotips Voicemail: ‪(980) 500-9034Go Premium: https://www.theblackguywhotips.com/premium/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 546 of District of Conservation, Gabriella went to USDA HQ in Washington D.C., to interview Aubrey Bettencourt- the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief. Aubrey is a third-generation California farmer, sportswoman, and passionate conservationist. Chief Bettencourt discusses her background, USDA's priorities, what the NRCS does, changes to the food pyramid, how agriculture isn't at odds with conservation, how Secretary Brooke Rollins is making her department more functional and efficient, the value of hobby farms and agribusinesses, if USDA needs a Farm Bill to survive going forward, and more. SHOW NOTESUSDANRCS: Chief Aubrey J.D. BettencourtNRCS WebsiteKennedy, Rollins Unveil Historic Reset of U.S. Nutrition Policy, Put Real Food Back at Center of Health

The Moneywise Radio Show and Podcast Monday, March 16th  BE MONEYWISE. Moneywise Wealth Management I "The Moneywise Radio Show & Podcast" call: 661-847-1000 text in anytime: 661-396-1000 website: www.MoneywiseGuys.com facebook: Moneywise_Wealth_Management LinkedIn: Moneywise_Wealth_Management Guest: John Cox, Business Editor for The Bakersfield Californian  website: www.Bakersfield.com The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision. John Cox and The Bakersfield Californian are not affiliated with nor endorsed by LPL Financial or Moneywise Wealth Management].

Sustainable irrigation starts with understanding how water moves through the entire system. Every interaction—from where it originates to where it's taken off, stored, or lost—influences a crop's ability to survive, especially in arid regions like Utah, USA and Punjab, India, where every drop matters. In this episode, PhD candidate Tejinder Singh joins us to discuss his research in soil hydraulics, evapotranspiration modeling, and sustainable irrigation.

Agriculture is often framed as an economic driver, but Alison Sunstrum says that Canada should treat it as something far more strategic: national security. In this conversation on the Ag Policy Connection podcast with co-hosts Tyler McCann and Elise Bigley of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), Sunstrum—CEO of ConserveX, managing partner at NYA Ventures,... Read More

Welcome back to Barn Talk, where what happens in the barn usually stays in the barn—but not today. In this episode, Tork and Sawyer welcome fifth-generation Minnesota farmer and powerhouse AG creator Chet Larson to the show. With nearly half a million YouTube subscribers, Chet Larson has built Larson Farms into one of the most recognized names in agriculture, giving viewers an unfiltered look at the mud, breakdowns, triumphs, and everyday madness of real farm life.In this wide-ranging conversation, the guys dig into what it takes to grow a massive online following while maintaining an authentic farming operation. Chet Larson opens up about the realities behind the scenes—balancing family, filming, and farm work—and shares some hard-won lessons on growth, resilience, and keeping it real amid internet fame. From discussing the evolution of their farm and the challenges of ag media, to honest talk about personal loss, rural isolation, and aspirations for the future, this episode brings you the highs and lows of life on the land—straight from someone who's living it.Whether you're in agriculture, love a good comeback story, or just enjoy a dose of farm wisdom and a few laughs, you'll find something to take away from this conversation. So grab your boots and pull up a seat—it's time to get real inside the barn today on Barn Talk.JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.

Today’s episode features the latest in agribusiness news, markets and weather with Tony St. James [...]

Newscast from Capital Public Radio

If a species is horrible enough, do we have the right to kill it forever? Seventy years ago, a nightmare parasite feasted on the live flesh of warm-blooded creatures in North America: the screwworm. That is, until a young scientist named Edward F. Knipling discovered a crucial screwworm weakness and hatched a sweeping project to wipe them out. Knipling's seemingly zany plan to spray screwworms out of planes all over the continent— with US taxpayer money— succeeded, becoming one of humanity's biggest environmental interventions ever.  Today, screwworms have been gone so long that none of us in North America even remember them. But now, they're coming back. And they're forcing us to ask: in an era of climate change and rapid mass extinction— should we kill off a species on purpose?  Special thanks to James P. Collins, Max Scott, Amy Murillo, Daniel Griffin, Phil Kaufman, Katie Barnhill, Arthur Caplan, Ron Sandler, Yasha Rohwer, Aaron Keefe, Gwendolyn Bogard, Maria Sabate, Meredith Asbury, and Joanne Padrón CarneyEPISODE CREDITS:  Reported by - Sarah Qari with help from - Latif Nasser Produced by - Sarah Qari Sound design contributed by - Sarah Qari Fact-checking by - Emily Krieger EPISODE CITATIONS: **The latest information on screwworm outbreaks and precautions: screwworm.gov Videos: Oral history interviews of Edward F. Knipling: here (https://zpr.io/njhMedFN5jsZ) and here (https://zpr.io/VQReQbfznCrq)  Podcasts: Here's a Spotify playlist (https://zpr.io/PNMEM274G7vh)  of all of our Golden Goose-inspired episodes! Sam Kean's podcast The Disappearing Spoon – his episode about screwworms is called The Screwiest and Perhaps Most Original Idea of the 20th Century (https://zpr.io/UYf6dR2yG3eN)  Our episode on CRISPR & gene drives (https://zpr.io/UYf6dR2yG3eN)  New to Radiolab? Check out our Radiolab Starter Kit (https://zpr.io/QpPnrHAZVQLR)  playlist of all-time favorite episodes! Articles: Sarah Zhang's latest piece in The Atlantic: American Milk Has Changed (https://zpr.io/xebbdq2MWV4L)  Her most recent piece on screwworms: The ‘Man-Eater' Screwworm Is Coming (https://zpr.io/ECmjCs7ScbS4)  Her initial reporting on screwworms: America's Never-Ending Battle Against Flesh-Eating Worms (https://zpr.io/PNMEM274G7vh)  Gregory Kaebnick's paper (https://zpr.io/yqNC3q5FbCcq)  about screwworm eradication in Science Archival materials:  The USDA's Screwworm Eradication Records (https://zpr.io/dY7zuVdGYKjf) contain lots of cool images and letters Signup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org. Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Host Cody Cook sits down with Patrick Carroll, a sharp libertarian opinion journalist based near Toronto whose writing appears in outlets like the Mises Institute, Libertarian Institute, AIER, and FEE (where he once served as managing editor). Carroll's Substack, Against the Left, regularly dismantles progressive arguments from a free-market vantage point—and this conversation dives deep into one of his most provocative pieces: “Why SNAP Spending Should Be Cut Even If Charity Doesn't Replace It.”The episode centers on the dramatic events of late 2025, when a record-breaking U.S. government shutdown stretched into its second month. By early November, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) faced a funding lapse. The Department of Agriculture announced that the roughly $100 billion annual program—serving about 42 million Americans, or one in eight—would not issue full November benefits. Chaos ensued: food banks reported overwhelming demand, long lines formed, and media stories highlighted desperate families suddenly without their usual grocery support.Left-leaning commentator Carl Beijer seized on the crisis in a Jacobin piece, declaring it definitive proof that private charity cannot substitute for state welfare. Overwhelmed pantries and panicked recipients, he argued, exposed the fantasy of market-based solutions replacing government safety nets.Carroll pushes back hard. He concedes the short-term strain on food banks but argues the episode reveals more about SNAP's overreach than charity's inadequacy. With little advance certainty (the shutdown's duration remained a day-to-day uncertainty), private organizations had scant time to scale. Yet many still responded impressively—businesses like DoorDash offered free meals, churches and local groups rallied, and some food banks pivoted quickly. Had there been months of clear notice, Carroll contends, the charitable response would have been far stronger.More controversially, he challenges the scale of need SNAP addresses. Citing a 2021 USDA study, he notes that 39% of recipients are obese, 26% overweight, 33% normal weight, and only 3% underweight. This, he says, shatters the media stereotype of widespread starvation and suggests the program subsidizes far beyond genuine hardship—often enabling poor lifestyle choices rather than preventing famine.Carroll proposes an initial 50% cut, returning spending to roughly 2007 levels after years of ballooning budgets. He acknowledges “food insecurity” statistics (around 13% of Americans) but critiques their definitions, which can include anyone who occasionally buys cheaper groceries or skips a preferred item—hardly a crisis justifying $100 billion annually.The discussion turns philosophical and theological. Carroll invokes the “negative contact hypothesis”: while meeting marginalized groups often reduces prejudice, direct exposure to many in poverty can erode naive sympathy when observers see patterns of self-inflicted hardship—addiction, unwise relationships, financial irresponsibility. Anecdotes from YouTuber Caleb Hammer's Financial Audit series reinforce this, as do studies showing that more well-off people's support for redistribution weakens after real contact with the poor.From a Christian libertarian perspective, Carroll emphasizes voluntary generosity over state coercion. Jesus warned against lording authority over others (Matthew 20); early Christians practiced communal sharing without petitioning Caesar for taxes. He praises historical mutual-aid societies and modern examples like Mormon welfare systems as superior, more personal, and non-coercive alternatives to centralized bureaucracy.Addressing bleeding-heart objections, Carroll entertains the sequencing argument: enact free-market reforms (deregulation, free trade, ending occupational licensing and minimum wage barriers) first to boost opportunity and reduce poverty, then phase out welfare. He's sympathetic but rejects indefinite delay—some cuts can and should happen now without catastrophe, especially given SNAP's questionable targeting.This episode is bold, data-driven, and unapologetically challenging. It refuses easy compassion narratives, forces listeners to grapple with uncomfortable stats, and calls Christians to prioritize peaceful, voluntary charity over state redistribution. Whether you bristle or cheer, it's a thought-provoking case for rethinking welfare in a free and faithful society.Links:Patrick's SubstackPatrick's piece Why SNAP Spending Should Be Cut Even If Charity Doesn't Replace ItPatrick's Twitter/X: https://x.com/PatrickC1995David Beito's book From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Services, 1890-1967Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI!Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Today we welcome Julie McLaren to the R2Kast

We sit down with Olusola Sowemimo, a lawyer-turned-farmer and founder of Ope Farms in Nigeria, to unpack how grief became a blueprint for organic, traceable, and profitable agriculture. Her catalyst was a cancer conference in California where survivors only ate what they could trace—an idea that reshaped how she thinks about soil, inputs, and integrity. Back home, the early days were rough: antibiotic-laced manure wiped out hundreds of tomato plants, a strong tobacco extract burned cucumbers, and buyers were nowhere in sight. What changed? Relentless record keeping, strict organic standards, and smart design—corner plots with buffer zones, on-farm worker housing, and a refusal to cut down trees.Olusola details how rabbits and carefully managed poultry helped her close nutrient loops, why fruit trees are the most underrated cash-flow asset for new organic farms, and how processing gluts into shelf-stable products saved revenue. She shares the playbook for market fit—from salad staples to premium greens like kale—and the power of traceability in winning home deliveries, retail partners, and even international lab validations for turmeric and ginger. We also explore the human side: training that prevents avoidable mistakes, social media that tells an honest story, and the mindset shift needed to move beyond "organic is impossible".More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================

*Drought is causing problems for spring planting.  *General CRP signup is underway.  *Texas peanut acreage is expected to drop this year.  *When beef on dairy calves go into the feedlot, they tend to be there for an extended stay.  *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is underway.  *The Senate Ag Committee is discussing ways to drive demand for U.S. grown commodities.*The winter has been mild in most of Texas, but farmers may pay the price with a dry, windy March.  *There are studies on a new way to castrate calves.  

Today's episode is a Soul Sessions Extra, a shorter conversation with Jessica Walzer, curator of collections and exhibits at the two Mississippi museums about a brand new exhibition called “Mississippi Made.” In celebration of America 250, it's 250 artifacts spanning from the early 19th century to the present day. Agriculture, manufacturing, music, fashion, science, literature, film, the breadth alone tells you something about what this state has produced. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.visitjackson.com/blog/soul-sessions-mississippi-made

Every five years, the Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services jointly issue guidelines on what we should eat. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) have been controversial. [Here is a link: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov] Among other things, the administration decided to flip the food pyramid upside-down in illustrating its recommendations. Why did […]

New York Maple Weekends are returning later this March. The event is hosted by the New York State Maple Producers Association and is funded by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.New York Maple Weekends allows you to visit your local maple producer. Producers will open their doors to visitors to enjoy some local maple syrup and experience how NY maple products are made. This year's Maple Weekends are this weekend: March 21-22 and March 28-29 from 10:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M each day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to allow pork and poultry plants to speed up the pace of work. The agency says existing speed limits are outdated. Some plants have waivers that allow them to exceed those rules. Industry groups have praised the move to loosen requirements across the board. But labor representatives say a faster pace puts greater strain on workers' health and safety. Rena Wong is president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 663. It represents several meatpacking plants in the state of Minnesota. Wong spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about her concerns about faster speeds in the plants.

As people drink less wine, vineyard removal companies are busy.  The Farm Bill passes the Ag Committee. A beekeeper talks almond pollination and bee health The Census of Agriculture ranks California #1 in Horticultural Specialties Farmers get more good news on their “Right to Repair” farm equipment.  

SNAP Recipients Sue Over Soda & Candy Ban | Should Food Stamps Restrict What People Buy? Food stamp recipients are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over new restrictions that block SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, energy drinks, candy, and sugary desserts. Since May, the USDA has approved waivers in 22 states allowing limits on what SNAP recipients can buy with their benefits. Supporters say the policy promotes better health and responsible spending of taxpayer money. Critics argue the restrictions are unlawful, stigmatizing, and make it harder for low-income Americans to manage their lives. So the big question is: Should the government control what poor people buy with food stamps? At the same time, the war that was supposed to end quickly is now entering another week, and gas prices are rising again. What's the long-term strategy—and does Trump actually have an end game? On today's Karel Cast, we dive into: • The SNAP soda and candy ban lawsuit • Government control vs personal choice • Food policy and poverty • Rising gas prices and global conflict • The politics behind the headlines The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel Watch, like, and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast is available on all major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Spreaker. Live Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST. Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer broadcasting from Las Vegas with his little service dog Ember. #SNAP, #FoodStamps, #SNAPBenefits, #SNAPLawsuit, #FoodPolicy, #SugarTax, #SodaBan, #CandyBan, #PovertyPolicy, #GovernmentControl, #PublicHealth, #USPolitics, #PoliticsNews, #TrumpNews, #GasPrices, #EnergyPrices, #WarNews, #EconomicPolicy, #SocialPolicy, #FoodJustice, #LowIncome, #PoliticalCommentary, #NewsAnalysis, #CurrentEvents, #BreakingNews, #YouTubePolitics, #TheKarelCast, #Karel, #VegasBroadcaster, #PodcastNews

In this engaging conversation, Suzy Brandt shares her experiences as a dairy farmer and mother, discussing the challenges and joys of balancing family life with agricultural responsibilities. The discussion delves into the importance of crop insurance, the impact of climate change on farming, and the vital role of community support in rural living. Suzy also reflects on her personal growth, parenting challenges, and the significance of communication and accountability in raising children. The conversation highlights the realities of modern farming and the interconnectedness of family, work, and community.We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch.If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

The latest AgNet News Hour Podcast delivers another packed episode with Nick “The Ag Meter” Papagni and “Sir” Josh McGill, bringing listeners a wide-ranging discussion on agriculture, business, education, water policy, and crop protection. From inspiring entrepreneurship stories to the future of ag education and emerging orchard threats, this episode highlights the voices shaping agriculture across California. If you want to stay informed about the issues affecting farmers, ranchers, and the broader ag industry, this episode is one you won't want to miss. Entrepreneurship Lessons from Pappy's Seasoning The show begins with the final segment of a fascinating interview with Eddie Papulias, owner of Pappy's Choice Seasoning and Pappy Fine Foods. Papulias shares his journey from building a small family operation into a nationally recognized seasoning brand found in kitchens across the country. During the conversation with the Ag Meter, Papulias offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to launch their own food products. He explains that while starting a business is still possible today, the process has become much more complex due to regulations, insurance requirements, and rising operational costs. Papulias encourages new entrepreneurs to consider working with co-packers, manufacturers who produce products for emerging brands. This approach allows startups to bring family recipes or unique products to market without the heavy investment required to build their own manufacturing facility. His story highlights the perseverance required to build a successful business—and why maintaining strong family values and faith helped guide his company through decades of growth. Ag in the Classroom: Educating the Next Generation The episode also features an important conversation with Amanda Fletcher, Executive Director of the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Fletcher discusses the organization's mission to connect students with agriculture and help them understand where their food comes from. Through curriculum resources and educational programs, the foundation now reaches approximately 1.3 million students across California each year. One of the organization's biggest upcoming initiatives is Virtual Farm Day on March 18, a live online learning event that takes students on a virtual journey through the farm-to-school process. The program will highlight produce operations, beef production, and school food service programs to show how food travels from the field to students' lunch trays. Fletcher also explains how agriculture offers a wide range of career opportunities—from technology and communications to engineering and mechanics—many of which students may not realize exist within the industry. Water History and the Central Valley Project The Ag Meter also previews an upcoming discussion with GeoffreyVanden Heuvel, who dives into the history of California water infrastructure and the development of the Central Valley Project. This massive project, launched in the early 1900s, included the construction of major dams, pumping stations, and hundreds of miles of canals designed to deliver water to California's Central Valley farms. The upcoming conversation promises a deeper look at how California's water system began and how water policy continues to impact agriculture today. Almond Growers Monitor Red Leaf Blotch The episode wraps up with Todd Burkdoll of Valent USA, who joins the “Growing Edge” segment to discuss the spread of almond red leaf blotch across the Central Valley. This fungal disease infects almond leaves during spring, causing orange-colored spots and potentially leading to significant defoliation if left untreated. Burkdoll explains that early monitoring, winter sanitation practices, and timely fungicide applications are critical for protecting orchard health. For growers across the valley, staying ahead of this disease is essential for maintaining long-term productivity. Listen to the Full AgNet News Hour Podcast From business success stories to ag education initiatives and critical crop protection updates, this episode of the AgNet News Hour brings together important conversations from across the agricultural industry. Be sure to listen to the full podcast to hear every interview with The Ag Meter and “Sir” Josh McGill, and stay informed about the issues impacting agriculture today.

*Wheat prices have taken a big jump.  *The FDA is giving Texans another tool to fight screwworms.   *There could be more farm financial aid coming from Washington.   *Texas High Plains dairies are responding to the water challenge.*Easements can affect Texas rural property.  *Tensions in the Middle East continue to weigh on fertilizer prices.  *Farmers on the Texas Southern Plains are preparing for spring planting. *Vitamin E is an important vitamin for horses.  

Discussions around mental health, resiliency, and navigating workplace challenges drew strong interest at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference at Calgary, Alta. last week, highlighting how conversations around women’s roles in the industry have continued to evolve. For Iris Meck of Iris Meck Communications and Farms.com, that shift reflects decades of change. Meck has worked... Read More

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Shahar Botzer about the future of social impact investing and current trends and opportunities.Shahar Botzer is co-founder and managing partner at Good Company, an early-stage VC fund with a mission to back bold entrepreneurs who solve the world's biggest challenges for people and the planet. They invest in software-driven innovations in Digital Health, Education, Energy, Circular Economy, and Agriculture because they believe these are the domains where technology can rewrite the future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a culture where age is, at best, ignored, how do we rebuild a cohort of genuine Elders fit for the rapid transitions of the 21st Century: those who can combine the wisdom of wide boundary perspectives with the humility that allows flexibility of thinking, feeling and being? This is one of the core questions of our time and this week's guest is working to find answers. Alain Gauthier is co-founder and coordinator of the Regenerative Elder Process at the Elders Action Network. With John Izzo, he is co-host of The Way Forward Regenerative Conversations podcast and over his long life, he has been an international consultant, facilitator, coach, researcher-educator, and author. His book Actualising Evolutionary Co-Leadership: To Evolve a Creative and Responsible Society was published in 2014 - and is only available on Kindle (sorry) - but it is nonetheless a fascinating and inspiring read. A graduate from HEC (Paris), with an MBA from Stanford University, Alain was once a senior consultant at McKinsey & Company, As you'll hear, a life-changing experience led him to co-found Core Leadership Development in Oakland, California and to focus his professional work on developing co-leadership, partnering and coaching capabilities. Now in his eighties and as an elder, he devotes his time to co-creating conditions for elders to explore how they can live a regenerative life and collaborate with younger generations in transforming education and community life.  Over the last seven years, he has been an active member of the Elders Action Network (EAN), where he initially led a visionary planning process and now co-leads the Regenerative Elder Process (REP) – which, this April (2026) is offering for the seventh time an in-depth exploration called Embodying Regenerative Worldviews. He co-leads the REP Community and is a member of the Advisory Council of Elders Rising, EAN's educational arm. This was a rich, deep and heart-felt podcast.  Enjoy!LinksElders Action Network https://eldersaction.org/Regenerative Elders Process https://eldersaction.org/regenerative-elder-processIntroductory Exploration of Regenerative Elder Process https://sutra.co/space/2eqo2s/register - New Cohort April 2026 Alain's book (only on Kindle) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Actualizing-Evolutionary-Co-Leadership-Creative-Responsible-ebook/dp/B00JE4FRHY/The Way Forward Regenerative Conversations Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803Peter Senge's Centre for Systems Awareness https://systemsawareness.org/person/peter-senge/Jeff Carreira's Mystery School https://mysteryschool-memberscircle.com/Otto Scharmer's Presencing Institute https://www.presencing.org/About Accidental Gods - What we offer. We offer three strands all rooted in the same soil, drawing from the same river: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered as part of our Accidental Gods Programme, it's 'FINDING YOUR SOUL'S PURPOSE' on Sunday 22nd March 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here. You don't have to be a member - but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are hereManda and Louise both offer one-to-one Mentoring Calls.  Manda is fully booked just now, but if you'd like to contact Louise, details are here.

Gary Wickham, founder and CEO of MagrowTec, shares how he's watching how AI will fit into agriculture and how we can turn data into meaningful interactions.  To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here. 

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

What if humanity's capacity for cruelty was actually one of our greatest moral achievements? That's just one of the provocative ideas philosopher Hanno Sauer explores in this conversation about his book The Invention of Good and Evil with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Sauer tackles a fundamental puzzle: in a Darwinian world of selfish genes, how did humans become so extraordinarily cooperative? Sauer traces a fascinating journey from small hunter-gatherer bands to modern civilizations, revealing surprising mechanisms along the way--including the systematic killing of the most aggressive tribe members over millennia, which made humans the "golden retrievers of the primate kingdom." The conversation ranges from whether agriculture was history's worst mistake, to a spirited debate about religion and morality between Sauer (a German atheist who doesn't know any believers) and host Russ Roberts (a person of faith living in Israel).