Humans have used fermentation to preserve crops and add flavor and health benefits to their diets for thousands of years. Since 2015, Sarah Conezio and Isaiah Billington have been putting their own stamp on that age-old tradition with Keepwell Vinegar. Together, they partner directly with small, organic farms to turn apples, ginger, and persimmons into specialty vinegars, farro into miso, and soybeans into soy sauce, bottling the Mid-Atlantic’s seasonal bounty. Home cooks and the best chefs in Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia—and increasingly far beyond—now use their products. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to the Keepwell founders about making vinegar, working with farmers, and why they do what they do.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Humans have used fermentation to preserve crops and add flavor and health benefits to their diets for thousands of years. Since 2015, Sarah Conezio and Isaiah Billington have been putting their own stamp on that age-old tradition with <a href="https://www.keepwellvinegar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keepwell Vinegar</a>. Together, they partner directly with small, organic farms to turn apples, ginger, and persimmons into specialty vinegars, farro into miso, and soybeans into soy sauce, bottling the Mid-Atlantic’s seasonal bounty. Home cooks and the best chefs in Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia—and increasingly far beyond—now use their products. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to the Keepwell founders about making vinegar, working with farmers, and why they do what they do.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

From Harvest to Vinegar

Whether they’ve grazed on grass their entire lives, been raised in an organic system, or lived on a conventional dairy farm, the vast majority of dairy cows get sold into the commodity beef system when they’re retired and get integrated into the same cheap meat supply. With Butter Meat Co, Jill Gould is betting on a different model. By selling retired organic dairy cows directly in her local community in Western New York and online, she’s working to get struggling organic dairies higher prices for their animals while getting more flavorful and environmentally friendly beef to consumers. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Gould about eating beef from dairy cows, the economic proposition for farmers, and what the model might mean for the planet.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Whether they’ve grazed on grass their entire lives, been raised in an organic system, or lived on a conventional dairy farm, the vast majority of dairy cows get sold into the commodity beef system when they’re retired and get integrated into the same cheap meat supply. With <a href="https://buttermeatco.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Butter Meat Co</a>, Jill Gould is betting on a different model. By selling retired organic dairy cows directly in her local community in Western New York and online, she’s working to get struggling organic dairies higher prices for their animals while getting more flavorful and environmentally friendly beef to consumers. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Gould about eating beef from dairy cows, the economic proposition for farmers, and what the model might mean for the planet.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Butter and Meat—from the Same Cows

America’s farmers are aging rapidly, and those looking to sell their land are finding no shortage of buyers. Billionaires, global corporations, investment firms, and developers are all buying up farmland for profit at a quick clip, driving up prices and making it nearly impossible for young and beginning farmers without accumulated wealth to afford their own acreage to plant and harvest. “Farmers Need Equitable Access to Land Now” is the message behind the National Young Farmers Coalition’s One Million Acres for the Future Campaign. In this episode, NYFC Land Campaign Director Holly Rippon-Butler talks to host Lisa Held about the factors driving land access challenges, historic and ongoing injustices that make accessing land even more difficult for BIPOC farmers, and the long-term policy solutions NYFC is pushing for.Photo Courtesy of National Young Farmers Coalition.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

America’s farmers are aging rapidly, and those looking to sell their land are finding no shortage of buyers. Billionaires, global corporations, investment firms, and developers are all buying up farmland for profit at a quick clip, driving up prices and making it nearly impossible for young and beginning farmers without accumulated wealth to afford their own acreage to plant and harvest. “Farmers Need Equitable Access to Land Now” is the message behind the <a href="https://www.youngfarmers.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Young Farmers Coalition</a>’s <a href="https://www.youngfarmers.org/land/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Million Acres for the Future Campaign</a>. In this episode, NYFC Land Campaign Director <a href="https://www.youngfarmers.org/people/holly-rippon-butler/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holly Rippon-Butler</a> talks to host Lisa Held about the factors driving land access challenges, historic and ongoing injustices that make accessing land even more difficult for BIPOC farmers, and the long-term policy solutions NYFC is pushing for.Photo Courtesy of National Young Farmers Coalition.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

One Million Acres for the Future

Adrien de Botin and his wife Carolina Prioglio are the husband-and-wife founders of Maison/Made, and to make the certified biodynamic skin-care products that they sell, they grow their own medicinal herbs on a family farm in Burgundy and have built a network of small farm suppliers around the world. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to de Botin about the couple’s efforts—from the specifics of biodynamic practices and why they matter, to how biodynamic farming, a system focused on minimizing inputs, building healthy soil, and working with local ecology, compares to systems like organic or regenerative agriculture.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Adrien de Botin and his wife Carolina Prioglio are the husband-and-wife founders of <a href="https://www.maisonmade.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maison/Made</a>, and to make the certified biodynamic skin-care products that they sell, they grow their own medicinal herbs on a family farm in Burgundy and have built a network of small farm suppliers around the world. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to de Botin about the couple’s efforts—from the specifics of biodynamic practices and why they matter, to how biodynamic farming, a system focused on minimizing inputs, building healthy soil, and working with local ecology, compares to systems like organic or regenerative agriculture.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Growing Biodynamic Botanicals for Skin Care

Over the past decade, hummus has exploded in popularity in the U.S, but compared to the many brands that now line shelves at every supermarket, Little Sesame is doing things differently. The Washington D.C. fast casual restaurant, which now also sells its hummus at Whole Foods and other stores in the region, gets all of its chickpeas from a single Montana farmer who is pushing the envelope on climate-friendly farming with his organic, regenerative practices. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Nick Wiseman, co-founder of Little Sesame, and Casey Bailey, regenerative farmer, about their unique partnership, how chickpeas are grown, why they’re a particularly beneficial crop in terms of climate impact, and more.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Over the past decade, hummus has exploded in popularity in the U.S, but compared to the many brands that now line shelves at every supermarket, <a href="https://www.eatlittlesesame.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Sesame</a> is doing things differently. The Washington D.C. fast casual restaurant, which now also sells its hummus at Whole Foods and other stores in the region, gets all of its chickpeas from a single Montana farmer who is pushing the envelope on climate-friendly farming with his organic, regenerative practices. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Nick Wiseman, co-founder of Little Sesame, and Casey Bailey, regenerative farmer, about their unique partnership, how chickpeas are grown, why they’re a particularly beneficial crop in terms of climate impact, and more.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

The (Regenerative) Chickpea Connection

While USDA-certified organic food still accounts for a small fraction of total U.S. food sales, it’s now big business. In 2020, data from the Organic Trade Association showed sales of organic food rose at a record rate to a new high of $56.4 billion, and as the industry has become more lucrative, fraud and cheating have increased. The Cornucopia Institute is a non-profit watchdog organization that has been working to hold companies and the USDA accountable to organic’s original ideals around soil health, animal welfare, and more. In this episode, host Lisa Held speaks with executive director Melody Morrell about the organization’s organic scorecards, a new Living Soil campaign, and what’s happening at the USDA right now to close loopholes and strengthen the standards.Correction: In this episode, Melody Morrell's statement that 25 operations produce 75% of the organic milk in the country is false. The correct statistic is: 22 operations produce 25% of the organic milk in the country.Photo Courtesy of Cornucopia Institute.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

While USDA-certified organic food still accounts for a small fraction of total U.S. food sales, it’s now big business. In 2020, data from the Organic Trade Association showed sales of organic food rose at a record rate to a new high of $56.4 billion, and as the industry has become more lucrative, fraud and cheating have increased. The <a href="https://www.cornucopia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cornucopia Institute</a> is a non-profit watchdog organization that has been working to hold companies and the USDA accountable to organic’s original ideals around soil health, animal welfare, and more. In this episode, host Lisa Held speaks with executive director Melody Morrell about the organization’s organic scorecards, a new Living Soil campaign, and what’s happening at the USDA right now to close loopholes and strengthen the standards.Correction: In this episode, Melody Morrell's statement that 25 operations produce 75% of the organic milk in the country is false. The correct statistic is: 22 operations produce 25% of the organic milk in the country.Photo Courtesy of Cornucopia Institute.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Cornucopia Institute and the State of Organic

When Alice Waters opened her trailblazing California restaurant Chez Panisse in 1971, she launched what would become a movement around truly seasonal cooking and eating that could support farmers, communities, and the environment. In 1995, Waters also started the Edible Schoolyard Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children about food and transforming the public education system. To mark the Edible Schoolyard Project’s 25th anniversary, in this episode, host Lisa Held talks to executive director Angela McKee-Brown about the organization’s history and original school garden, how it has grown its programming to reach thousands of schools around the world, and what the future of edible education looks like.Photo Courtesy of The Edible Schoolyard Project.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

When Alice Waters opened her trailblazing California restaurant Chez Panisse in 1971, she launched what would become a movement around truly seasonal cooking and eating that could support farmers, communities, and the environment. In 1995, Waters also started the <a href="https://edibleschoolyard.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edible Schoolyard Project</a>, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children about food and transforming the public education system. To mark the Edible Schoolyard Project’s 25th anniversary, in this episode, host Lisa Held talks to executive director Angela McKee-Brown about the organization’s history and original school garden, how it has grown its programming to reach thousands of schools around the world, and what the future of edible education looks like.Photo Courtesy of The Edible Schoolyard Project.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

25 Years of Edible Education

On September 23, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is hosting the first UN Food Systems Summit, with a goal of “setting the stage for global food systems transformation.” In this episode, Ruth Richardson, the executive director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, talks to host Lisa Held about the significance of the Summit, some of the controversies surrounding it, and what she thinks global food systems transformation should look like—from a shift toward agro-ecological practices in farming to calculating the true costs of food.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

On September 23, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is hosting the first <a href="https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UN Food Systems Summit</a>, with a goal of “setting the stage for global food systems transformation.” In this episode, <a href="https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/profile/ruth-richardson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ruth Richardson</a>, the executive director of the <a href="https://futureoffood.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Global Alliance for the Future of Food</a>, talks to host Lisa Held about the significance of the Summit, some of the controversies surrounding it, and what she thinks global food systems transformation should look like—from a shift toward agro-ecological practices in farming to calculating the true costs of food.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

The Future of the Global Food System

Extra virgin olive oil is a delicious, healthy, pantry staple. It can also be a luxury product for special dining experiences. However, most olive oil in the world is low quality and highly processed. What does producing a truly great extra virgin olive oil—from farm to bottle—actually involve? Armando Manni is the founder of Manni Organic Olive Oil in Tuscany, and his high-antioxidant, long-lasting, organic oils are used by some of the best chefs in the world. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Manni about how production practices impact the quality of the oil, the challenges of organic, utilizing olive waste, and how climate change is impacting olive groves.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Extra virgin olive oil is a delicious, healthy, pantry staple. It can also be a luxury product for special dining experiences. However, most olive oil in the world is low quality and highly processed. What does producing a truly great extra virgin olive oil—from farm to bottle—actually involve? Armando Manni is the founder of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/manni_oil/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manni Organic Olive Oil</a> in Tuscany, and his high-antioxidant, long-lasting, organic oils are used by some of the best chefs in the world. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Manni about how production practices impact the quality of the oil, the challenges of organic, utilizing olive waste, and how climate change is impacting olive groves.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Zero-Waste, Organic EVOO—from Farm to Bottle

Cover crops are good for soil health, water quality, and climate resilience, and while more farmers are planting them compared to a decade ago, the number of covered acres is still miniscule compared to the amount of cropland that goes bare each winter. Now, a new analysis from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that in crucial Midwest states, increases in cover crop planting might be plateauing. In this episode, EWG director of spatial analysis Soren Rundquist joins host Lisa Held to talk about the report, its significance, and how spatial data can contribute to our broader understanding of agricultural climate solutions.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by becoming a member!The Farm Report is Powered by Simplecast.

Cover crops are good for soil health, water quality, and climate resilience, and while more farmers are planting them compared to a decade ago, the number of covered acres is still miniscule compared to the amount of cropland that goes bare each winter. Now, a new analysis from the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/environmentalworkinggroup/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Environmental Working Group (EWG) </a>found that in crucial Midwest states, increases in cover crop planting might be plateauing. In this episode, EWG director of spatial analysis Soren Rundquist joins host Lisa Held to talk about the report, its significance, and how spatial data can contribute to our broader understanding of agricultural climate solutions.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Farm Report by<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> becoming a member</a>!The Farm Report is Powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Why Cover Crops Are Unlikely to Deliver Climate Benefits Anytime Soon

Learn about the people, processes, and policies that shape how food is produced today, from the latest agricultural innovations to the day-to-day challenges of running a viable business growing vegetables and grazing cattle. Host Lisa Elaine Held is an experienced journalist who covers food, agriculture, and the environment for Civil Eats, The Guardian, and many other publications. On The Farm Report, she engages in conversations with farmers, farmworkers and the people who work alongside them—like chefs, researchers, activists, and investors. Expect from-the-field insights paired with real-world context as guests explore how producing fresh, delicious food relates to environmental and community sustainability, equality and justice, politics and policy, and better health.

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Debuting in theaters on May 10, The Biggest Little Farm is a film that follows two urban professionals, John and Mary Chester, as they leave Los Angeles on a mission to build a farm that exists in harmony with nature. Eight years later, the pair owns and operates Apricot Lane Farms, a thriving diversified, organic, biodynamic farm. In this episode, farmer and filmmaker John Chester joins host Lisa Held in the studio to talk about the challenges they faced as new farmers (from foxes and snails to depleted soil and wildfires), the process of making a movie while building a farm, and lessons they learned about building systems alongside the brutality—but also wisdom and intricacies—of nature. Photo courtesy of Apricot Lane Farm. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

Debuting in theaters on May 10, The Biggest Little Farm is a film that follows two urban professionals, John and Mary Chester, as they leave Los Angeles on a mission to build a farm that exists in harmony with nature. Eight years later, the pair owns and operates Apricot Lane Farms, a thriving diversified, organic, biodynamic farm. In this episode, farmer and filmmaker John Chester joins host Lisa Held in the studio to talk about the challenges they faced as new farmers (from foxes and snails to depleted soil and wildfires), the process of making a movie while building a farm, and lessons they learned about building systems alongside the brutality—but also wisdom and intricacies—of nature. Photo courtesy of Apricot Lane Farm. The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast.</a>

Episode 356: The Biggest Little Farm

Will Harris

Meet Will Harris, the the owner/operator of White Oak Pastures, a multi-generational family farm that was established in 1866 in the small, southwest Georgia community of Bluffton. White Oak Pastures is the only farm in the United States that has both a beef and chicken abattoir on the property. Erin Fairbanks interviews Will on this week’s episode of The Farm Report. Mr. Harris explains what inspired him to transition away from the big industrial farming model and back to the humane and organic methods his great grandfather practiced. Learn more about what animal welfare means at White Oak Pastures and how they set the standard for excellence in modern livestock production. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.  “We’re the only farm in the country that has both a beef and poultry slaughterhouse on the farm – we’re very proud of that.” “When I was in my 40’s in the 1990’s I became disgusted with the excesses of the industrial practices and started transitioning back to the ways of my great grandfather.” “Good animal welfare is very easy to determine. If you enjoy watching the animal – you have good animal welfare. The animals need to be able to express their instinctive behavior.” –Will Harris of White Oak Pastures on The Farm Report

Meet Will Harris, the the owner/operator of White Oak Pastures, a multi-generational family farm that was established in 1866 in the small, southwest Georgia community of Bluffton. White Oak Pastures is the only farm in the United States that has both a beef and chicken abattoir on the property. Erin Fairbanks interviews Will on this week’s episode of The Farm Report. Mr. Harris explains what inspired him to transition away from the big industrial farming model and back to the humane and organic methods his great grandfather practiced. Learn more about what animal welfare means at White Oak Pastures and how they set the standard for excellence in modern livestock production. This program was sponsored by <a href="http://www.WholeFoodsMarket.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Foods Market</a>. <h2>“We’re the only farm in the country that has both a beef and poultry slaughterhouse on the farm – we’re very proud of that.”</h2> “When I was in my 40’s in the 1990’s I became disgusted with the excesses of the industrial practices and started transitioning back to the ways of my great grandfather.” “Good animal welfare is very easy to determine. If you enjoy watching the animal – you have good animal welfare. The animals need to be able to express their instinctive behavior.” –Will Harris of White Oak Pastures on The Farm Report

Episode 139: Will Harris of White Oak Pastures

Virginia Scholomiti

Andy Rice

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks continues her exploration into the world of agricultural fiber. First on the show, Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm describes the process of breeding and managing flock to produce fleeces of superior quality for hand-spinners and crafters. From artificial insemination to sheep coats, learn about everything it takes to produce high end fiber from sheep. Later on, Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm joins the conversation to talk about his work with the Swiss Village Foundation, the process of retaining heritage breed genetics and concerns of parasite control and diversity. Learn how the process of shearing has been perfected in New Zealand and why what’s good for the sheep is good for the shearer. This program was sponsored by International Culinary Center.  “We are always there when our lambs are born, because our sheep are very rare and we can’t afford to lose any of them.” –Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm on The Farm Report “The idea behind preserving rare breeds is that some of these breeds, for instance the Santa Cruz breeds in California, have developed some of their own natural parasite control. If we can use some of these genetics in our modern breeds and not have to use drugs [to fight parasites], it would be a whole lot better.” “The better a shearer gets the more relaxed the animal gets. It has nothing to do with the sheep, it’s all dependent on the shearer and how you control them. Whether the sheep like it or not is very hard to say.” “A good blade shearer can shear 200 sheep in a day.” –Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm on The Farm Report

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks continues her exploration into the world of agricultural fiber. First on the show, Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm describes the process of breeding and managing flock to produce fleeces of superior quality for hand-spinners and crafters. From artificial insemination to sheep coats, learn about everything it takes to produce high end fiber from sheep. Later on, Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm joins the conversation to talk about his work with the Swiss Village Foundation, the process of retaining heritage breed genetics and concerns of parasite control and diversity. Learn how the process of shearing has been perfected in New Zealand and why what’s good for the sheep is good for the shearer. This program was sponsored by <a href="http://www.InternationalCulinaryCenter.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Culinary Center</a>. <h2>“We are always there when our lambs are born, because our sheep are very rare and we can’t afford to lose any of them.”</h2> –Virginia Scholomiti of Yellow Farm on The Farm Report “The idea behind preserving rare breeds is that some of these breeds, for instance the Santa Cruz breeds in California, have developed some of their own natural parasite control. If we can use some of these genetics in our modern breeds and not have to use drugs [to fight parasites], it would be a whole lot better.” “The better a shearer gets the more relaxed the animal gets. It has nothing to do with the sheep, it’s all dependent on the shearer and how you control them. Whether the sheep like it or not is very hard to say.” “A good blade shearer can shear 200 sheep in a day.” –Andy Rice of Hogget Hill Farm on The Farm Report

Episode 127: The Fiber Series: Virginia Scholomiti & Andy Rice

This week's episode of The Farm Report is focused on immigration and agriculture. Guest host Challey Comer is joined by Maria Rojas from GrowNYC and Mary Jo Dudley from the Cornell Farmworker Program. While there are many aspects of immigration to discuss, today's conversation is focused on community aspects of the issue. We learn about farmworker communities, employment experiences, and regulations that impact this integral part of the agricultural industry. Mary Jo Dudley is the director of the Cornell Farmworker program and a faculty member of the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University. Her research is focused on immigrant workers, farmworker empowerment, migration from Latin America to the U.S. and immigrant communities within the U.S. Through her work in the extension system, she provides education on health and safety for farm operators and workers, planning assistance related to state and federal laws that impact farmworkers and workshops to improve communications between farmworkers, their employers, and members of communities in wich they live. More information on the program is available at farmworkers.cornell.edu Maria del mar Rojas is the beginning farmer program manager at GrowNYC. In this role, she provides direct technical assistance and organizes trainings to beginning and immigrant farmers who are part of the Greenmarket network. This work is part of GrowNYC's Farm Assistance Retention and Management program, FARMroots. More details on FARMroots is available at www.grownyc.org/farmroots

This week's episode of The Farm Report is focused on immigration and agriculture. Guest host Challey Comer is joined by Maria Rojas from GrowNYC and Mary Jo Dudley from the Cornell Farmworker Program. While there are many aspects of immigration to discuss, today's conversation is focused on community aspects of the issue. We learn about farmworker communities, employment experiences, and regulations that impact this integral part of the agricultural industry. Mary Jo Dudley is the director of the Cornell Farmworker program and a faculty member of the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University. Her research is focused on immigrant workers, farmworker empowerment, migration from Latin America to the U.S. and immigrant communities within the U.S. Through her work in the extension system, she provides education on health and safety for farm operators and workers, planning assistance related to state and federal laws that impact farmworkers and workshops to improve communications between farmworkers, their employers, and members of communities in wich they live. More information on the program is available at <a href="http://farmworkers.cornell.edu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">farmworkers.cornell.edu</a> Maria del mar Rojas is the beginning farmer program manager at GrowNYC. In this role, she provides direct technical assistance and organizes trainings to beginning and immigrant farmers who are part of the Greenmarket network. This work is part of GrowNYC's Farm Assistance Retention and Management program, FARMroots. More details on FARMroots is available at <a href="http://www.grownyc.org/farmroots" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.grownyc.org/farmroots</a>

Episode 309: Immigration and Agriculture

Fred Magdoff

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Fred Magdoff, author of the book “Agriculture and Food in Crisis: â€¨Conflict, Resistance, and Renewal”. Fred is also an adjunct professor at Cornell and discusses the variety of problems facing our country when it comes to food security. Find out why there is such a price squeeze on crops these days and how Wall Mart manages to sell 20% of the food in this country! This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards &amp; Sons. For more information visit www.surryfarms.com

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Fred Magdoff, author of the book “Agriculture and Food in Crisis: â€¨Conflict, Resistance, and Renewal”. Fred is also an adjunct professor at Cornell and discusses the variety of problems facing our country when it comes to food security. Find out why there is such a price squeeze on crops these days and how Wall Mart manages to sell 20% of the food in this country! This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards &amp; Sons. For more information visit <a href="http://www.surryfarms.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.surryfarms.com</a>

Episode 68: Fred Magdoff

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Mircha King of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives about the Pigford case- a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination on the part of the USDA concerning the distribution of loans and credits. Tune in to hear Mircha and Erin discuss the roots of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in the Civil Rights Movement, the history and intricacies of the Pigford case, and the changes that black farmers see twenty years after the case. To learn more about the Pigford case, visit BlackFarmerCase.com. This episode has been brought to you by Fairway Market.   “What these lawsuits had asserted that the United States Department of Agriculture had systematically discriminated against African American farmers on the basis of race, which violates the 5th Amendment.” “Before Reagan left office, one of the things that he did was terminate the office of civil rights for the U.S.D.A… So for years there were stacks of boxes and boxes with claims of discrimination that no one even touched.” “We have all of these discrimination claims- we have black farmers, Native American farmers, women farmers, Hispanic farmers- and he [Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture] made a personal commitment to settle these claims.” — Mircha King on The Farm Report

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is talking with Mircha King of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives about the Pigford case- a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination on the part of the USDA concerning the distribution of loans and credits. Tune in to hear Mircha and Erin discuss the roots of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in the Civil Rights Movement, the history and intricacies of the Pigford case, and the changes that black farmers see twenty years after the case. To learn more about the Pigford case, visit <a href="http://www.blackfarmercase.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BlackFarmerCase.com</a>. This episode has been brought to you by <a href="http://www.fairwaymarket.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fairway Market</a>. <h2>“What these lawsuits had asserted that the United States Department of Agriculture had systematically discriminated against African American farmers on the basis of race, which violates the 5th Amendment.”</h2> “Before Reagan left office, one of the things that he did was terminate the office of civil rights for the U.S.D.A… So for years there were stacks of boxes and boxes with claims of discrimination that no one even touched.” “We have all of these discrimination claims- we have black farmers, Native American farmers, women farmers, Hispanic farmers- and he [Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture] made a personal commitment to settle these claims.” — Mircha King on The Farm Report

Episode 122: The Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Nicolette Hahn Niman

This week on The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks welcomes Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of “Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production” to the show. Kicking off the show talking about Nicolette’s background and how she became involved with ranching cattle, she elaborates exactly why beef is in need of defending. Nicolette’s take is that for decades it has been nearly universal dogma among environmentalists and health advocates that cattle and beef are public enemy number one. She asks if the matter really so clear cut? In “Defending Beef,” Nicolette argues that cattle are not inherently bad for either the Earth or our own nutritional health. In fact, she discusses with Erin that properly managed livestock play an essential role in maintaining grassland ecosystems by functioning as surrogates for herds of wild ruminants that once covered the globe. Grass-fed, small-scale farms can and should become the basis for American food production, replacing the factory farms that harm animals and the environment. While no single book can definitively answer the thorny question of how to feed the Earth’s growing population, Nicolette explains that, whatever the world’s future food system looks like, cattle and beef can and must be part of the solution. Tune in for an interesting discussion! This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market.   “There are many wonderful water intensive foods but that suggestion you hear over and over again that beef is some water guzzler and some outlier, that’s just not true.” [20:00] “I think the reason why beef has been the favorite target of sensational journalism because it was the most consumed meat in the United States and considered the most desirable.” [23:00] —Nicolette Hahn Niman on The Farm Report

This week on The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks welcomes Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of “Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production” to the show. Kicking off the show talking about Nicolette’s background and how she became involved with ranching cattle, she elaborates exactly why beef is in need of defending. Nicolette’s take is that for decades it has been nearly universal dogma among environmentalists and health advocates that cattle and beef are public enemy number one. She asks if the matter really so clear cut? In “Defending Beef,” Nicolette argues that cattle are not inherently bad for either the Earth or our own nutritional health. In fact, she discusses with Erin that properly managed livestock play an essential role in maintaining grassland ecosystems by functioning as surrogates for herds of wild ruminants that once covered the globe. Grass-fed, small-scale farms can and should become the basis for American food production, replacing the factory farms that harm animals and the environment. While no single book can definitively answer the thorny question of how to feed the Earth’s growing population, Nicolette explains that, whatever the world’s future food system looks like, cattle and beef can and must be part of the solution. Tune in for an interesting discussion! This program was brought to you by <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Foods Market</a>. <h4>“There are many wonderful water intensive foods but that suggestion you hear over and over again that beef is some water guzzler and some outlier, that’s just not true.” [20:00]</h4> “I think the reason why beef has been the favorite target of sensational journalism because it was the most consumed meat in the United States and considered the most desirable.” [23:00] —Nicolette Hahn Niman on The Farm Report

Episode 229: To Beef or Not to Beef: Meat Talk with Nicolette Hahn Niman

Ben Machin

This week on ﻿The Farm Report﻿, host Erin Fairbanks is joined by Ben Machin of Redstart Natural Resource Management in Vermont, which provides forest management, invasive species management, ecosystem restoration, and land use consulting services to landowners and property managers. Prior to joining Redstart Forestry in 2001, Ben was employed as a firefighter/smokejumper with the USDA Forest Service, parachuting and fighting fires from Alaska to Arizona. In addition to his work as a partner of Redstart, Ben is the land management consultant for the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, VT.

This week on ﻿The Farm Report﻿, host Erin Fairbanks is joined by Ben Machin of Redstart Natural Resource Management in Vermont, which provides forest management, invasive species management, ecosystem restoration, and land use consulting services to landowners and property managers. Prior to joining Redstart Forestry in 2001, Ben was employed as a firefighter/smokejumper with the USDA Forest Service, parachuting and fighting fires from Alaska to Arizona. In addition to his work as a partner of Redstart, Ben is the land management consultant for the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, VT.

Episode 307: Ben Machin of Redstart

Janet Britt

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Janet Britt, farmer and Easement Steward of the Agricultural Stewardship Association. Tune in to learn more about the ASA, Janet’s life on the farm and the origins of Community Supported Agriculture. Find out why young farmers are in such a good position today, and how the “organic revolution” has truly evolved over the years. This episode was sponsored by The Museum of Food &amp; Drink. Learn about the “Get the Ball Rolling” fundraiser here. 

This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined by Janet Britt, farmer and Easement Steward of the Agricultural Stewardship Association. Tune in to learn more about the ASA, Janet’s life on the farm and the origins of Community Supported Agriculture. Find out why young farmers are in such a good position today, and how the “organic revolution” has truly evolved over the years. This episode was sponsored by The Museum of Food &amp; Drink. <a href="http://www.mofad.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn about the “Get the Ball Rolling” fundraiser here.</a>

Episode 71: Janet Britt of Agricultural Stewardship Association

Chellie Pingree

United States Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is a former organic farmer and currently serves on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. She's been a longtime advocate for policies that support farmers and contribute to building a healthier, more sustainable food system—in her home state of Maine and across the country. With the Farm Bill deadline of September 30 fast approaching, host Lisa Held caught up with Rep. Pingree to talk about the Farm Bill programs she's been working on—like the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)—and other pressing policy issues facing farmers right now. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

United States Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is a former organic farmer and currently serves on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. She's been a longtime advocate for policies that support farmers and contribute to building a healthier, more sustainable food system—in her home state of Maine and across the country. With the Farm Bill deadline of September 30 fast approaching, host Lisa Held caught up with Rep. Pingree to talk about the Farm Bill programs she's been working on—like the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)—and other pressing policy issues facing farmers right now. The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Episode 329: Federal Farm Policy Update with Rep. Chellie Pingree

This week on The Farm Report, co-hosts Challey Comer and Maria Rojas are joined by Sarah Gray Miller, the Editor-In-Chief of Modern Farmer, to discuss an article from the magazine's most recent issue titled "The High Cost of Cheap Labor." New immigration orders will greatly impact the food world, and this piece is an in-depth look at the facts and history of farm workers in the U.S., as well as a frank discussion with farmers that these policies affect.

This week on The Farm Report, co-hosts Challey Comer and Maria Rojas are joined by Sarah Gray Miller, the Editor-In-Chief of Modern Farmer, to discuss an article from the magazine's most recent issue titled "<a href="http://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/migrant-farm-workers-the-high-cost-of-cheap-labor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The High Cost of Cheap Labor</a>." New immigration orders will greatly impact the food world, and this piece is an in-depth look at the facts and history of farm workers in the U.S., as well as a frank discussion with farmers that these policies affect.

Episode 315: The High Cost of Cheap Labor

John Mackey

On the season finale of ﻿The Farm Report﻿, host Erin Fairbanks is joined by John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, and author of the new book ﻿The Whole Foods Diet﻿. Mackey's mission in writing it, along with Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman (the bestselling authors of Forks Over Knives), was to distill the huge body of science, research, and advice into one undeniable consensus: that a whole foods, plant-based diet is the optimum plan for health and longevity.

On the season finale of ﻿The Farm Report﻿, host Erin Fairbanks is joined by John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, and author of the new book ﻿The Whole Foods Diet﻿. Mackey's mission in writing it, along with Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman (the bestselling authors of Forks Over Knives), was to distill the huge body of science, research, and advice into one undeniable consensus: that a whole foods, plant-based diet is the optimum plan for health and longevity.

Episode 316: Whole Foods Market Founder & CEO John Mackey

June Russell

On this week's episode of ﻿The Farm Report﻿, June Russell joins host Erin Fairbanks to share a bit of what's exciting in the world of grains. June Russell is the Manager of Farm Inspections and Strategic Development for Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC. Greenmarket is the largest network of farmers’ markets in the country with fifty five locations within the City’s five boroughs. It provides retail outlets for nearly two hundred and thirty local farmers, fishers, and bakers who sell what they grow, raise, catch, and bake themselves. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of ﻿The Farm Report﻿, June Russell joins host Erin Fairbanks to share a bit of what's exciting in the world of grains. June Russell is the Manager of Farm Inspections and Strategic Development for Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC. Greenmarket is the largest network of farmers’ markets in the country with fifty five locations within the City’s five boroughs. It provides retail outlets for nearly two hundred and thirty local farmers, fishers, and bakers who sell what they grow, raise, catch, and bake themselves. The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>

Episode 322: NYC Greenmarket Grain Project with June Russell

With funding from New York State, American Farmland Trust (AFT) recently launched its most ambitious program to help young farmers access land and conserve farmland statewide. The program is modeled after the Hudson Valley Farmlink Network and is aimed at connecting landowners—especially retiring farmers—to young farmers via online listings and resources, on-the-ground support and guidance, and financial assistance. Host Lisa Elaine Held talks to AFT's New York Policy Manager Samantha Levy about how the program will work, what she anticipates the challenges will be, and why she thinks it is a successful model for getting more young people on land to start farming. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast

With funding from New York State, <a href="https://www.farmland.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">American Farmland Trust</a> (AFT) recently launched its most ambitious program to help young farmers access land and conserve farmland statewide. The program is modeled after the <a href="https://hudsonvalleyfarmlandfinder.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Farmlink Network</a> and is aimed at connecting landowners—especially retiring farmers—to young farmers via online listings and resources, on-the-ground support and guidance, and financial assistance. Host Lisa Elaine Held talks to AFT's New York Policy Manager <a href="https://www.farmland.org/staff/slevy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Samantha Levy</a> about how the program will work, what she anticipates the challenges will be, and why she thinks it is a successful model for getting more young people on land to start farming. The Farm Report is powered by <a href="https://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>

Episode 340: Farmland for a New Generation

This week on The Farm Report, Erin talks policy with Carmine Rivetti of United Way of NYC &amp; Carlos Rodriguez of Food Bank For NYC. Tune in to learn more about the constant steps being taken to feed New Yorkers in need and help families through these challenging economic times. Learn more about how programs like food stamps and WIC play into the equation and what’s in store for the future of food security in our city. This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

This week on The Farm Report, Erin talks policy with Carmine Rivetti of United Way of NYC &amp; Carlos Rodriguez of Food Bank For NYC. Tune in to learn more about the constant steps being taken to feed New Yorkers in need and help families through these challenging economic times. Learn more about how programs like food stamps and WIC play into the equation and what’s in store for the future of food security in our city. This episode was sponsored by <a href="http://www.HearsRanch.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hearst Ranch</a>.

Episode 81: United Way of NYC & Food Bank For NYC

In this first half of this episode of The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks speaks with Becca Rimmel, co-manager of the Ithaca Farmers Market. Becca's experience as a professional naturalist led her to begin questioning the origin of the food on her dinner plate, and how food choices affected the landscape around her. Through this curiosity, she began exploring her own bio regional food system, completing her Masters in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2016, and beginning as the manager of the Ithaca Farmers Market shortly after. When she’s not managing the Ithaca Market, she’s working to build her own business, Bottomland Farm. After the break, we hear a recording from Erin's visit to Fishkill Farms in September. Owner/operator Josh Morgenthau walks us through the history of his family business. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast

In this first half of this episode of The Farm Report, host Erin Fairbanks speaks with Becca Rimmel, co-manager of the Ithaca Farmers Market. Becca's experience as a professional naturalist led her to begin questioning the origin of the food on her dinner plate, and how food choices affected the landscape around her. Through this curiosity, she began exploring her own bio regional food system, completing her Masters in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2016, and beginning as the manager of the Ithaca Farmers Market shortly after. When she’s not managing the Ithaca Market, she’s working to build her own business, Bottomland Farm. After the break, we hear a recording from Erin's visit to Fishkill Farms in September. Owner/operator Josh Morgenthau walks us through the history of his family business. The Farm Report is powered by <a href="https://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>

Episode 323: Ithaca Farmers Market & Fishkill Farms

According to The Washington Post, the number of dairy goats in the US is now climbing quickly. But Suzanne Behrmann, owner of Shepherd’s Way Creamery, got into milking goats a long time ago, simply because she liked them. Now, her farm has a herd of 14, and she sells her artisanal goat cheese at farmers markets in West Virginia and Washington DC’s famed Dupont Market. In this episode, Behrmann is in DC to attend Freshfarm’s annual Feast, and she talks to host Lisa Held about what it takes to run a goat dairy, setting up an on-farm cheesemaking operation, and her experiences selling at farmers markets.The Farm Report is a Heritage Radio Network show, recorded live on Full Service Radio at the LINE Hotel in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

According to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/23/americas-new-pastime-milking-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>, the number of dairy goats in the US is now climbing quickly. But Suzanne Behrmann, owner of <a href="http://www.shepherdswayfarms.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shepherd’s Way Creamery</a>, got into milking goats a long time ago, simply because she liked them. Now, her farm has a herd of 14, and she sells her artisanal goat cheese at farmers markets in West Virginia and Washington DC’s famed Dupont Market. In this episode, Behrmann is in DC to attend Freshfarm’s annual Feast, and she talks to host Lisa Held about what it takes to run a goat dairy, setting up an on-farm cheesemaking operation, and her experiences selling at farmers markets.The Farm Report is a Heritage Radio Network show, recorded live on<a href="https://www.thelinehotel.com/full-service-radio/home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Full Service Radio</a> at the LINE Hotel in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for <a href="https://heritageradionetwork.org/gala" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio</a>. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted <a href="https://heritageradionetwork.org/halloffame/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HRN Hall of Fame</a>, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/gala" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> heritageradionetwork.org/gala</a>.The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Episode 377: The Goat Milk (and Cheese) Moment

Meriwether Hardie is the chief of staff at Bio-Logical Capital, where her work focuses on developing new models for regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and climate-positive land use. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Hardie about how the company invests in farms and projects that “un-scale” the food system, how small farms and diversified, regenerative agriculture operations can compete for investment when up against commodity agriculture and ag-tech operations, and her upcoming participation in “The Innovative Farmer” summit at Slow Food Nations, the food and agriculture festival happening in Denver, Colorado July 19–21. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

Meriwether Hardie is the chief of staff at <a href="https://www.biologicalcapital.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bio-Logical Capital</a>, where her work focuses on developing new models for regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and climate-positive land use. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Hardie about how the company invests in farms and projects that “un-scale” the food system, how small farms and diversified, regenerative agriculture operations can compete for investment when up against commodity agriculture and ag-tech operations, and her upcoming participation in “The Innovative Farmer” summit at <a href="https://slowfoodnations.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slow Food Nations</a>, the food and agriculture festival happening in Denver, Colorado July 19–21. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to <a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/donate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heritageradionetwork.org/donate</a> The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Episode 364: Investing In Small Farms and Regenerative Agriculture

Hemp played an important role in America’s history—it was grown by many of the founding fathers, and the Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper—but its production has been restricted since 1937. That changed with the passage of the Hemp Farming Act, which was attached to the 2018 Farm Bill and legalized hemp farming, processing, and selling in the US. Now, hemp is set to become an important American agricultural crop once again. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Joy Beckerman, president of the Hemp Industries Association, about the growing market for hemp (especially for CBD) and how it will affect farmers. Then, she’s joined by Tara Caton, the director of the Rodale Institute’s Industrial Hemp Trial, to discuss growing hemp, and how as a crop it has the potential to suppress weeds, add diversity to crop rotations (and therefore build soil health), and boost farmers’ bottom lines. Photo courtesy of Rodale Institute The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

Hemp played an important role in America’s history—it was grown by many of the founding fathers, and the Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper—but its production has been restricted since 1937. That changed with the passage of the Hemp Farming Act, which was attached to the 2018 Farm Bill and legalized hemp farming, processing, and selling in the US. Now, hemp is set to become an important American agricultural crop once again. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to Joy Beckerman, president of the <a href="https://www.thehia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hemp Industries Association</a>, about the growing market for hemp (especially for CBD) and how it will affect farmers. Then, she’s joined by Tara Caton, the director of the <a href="https://rodaleinstitute.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rodale Institute’</a>s Industrial Hemp Trial, to discuss growing hemp, and how as a crop it has the potential to suppress weeds, add diversity to crop rotations (and therefore build soil health), and boost farmers’ bottom lines. Photo courtesy of Rodale Institute The Farm Report is powered by <a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplecast</a>.

Episode 346: Say Hello to Hemp

Sonny Perdue

United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently made a lot of farmers angry. At a time when small dairy farms are going out of business at unprecedented rates (and small farms producing other crops are also struggling), Perdue made a comment that suggested the situation was par for the course. “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out,” he said. This week, host Lisa Held is joined by three guests—Brenda Cochran, dairy farmer and president of Farm Women United, Russell Diez-Canseco, president and CEO of Vital Farms, and Jordan Treakle, policy director at the National Family Farm Coalition—to discuss Perdue’s comments, what current challenges faced by America’s small farmers really look like, and what can be done to help small farms survive.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast.

United States Secretary of Agriculture <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/people/sonny-perdue/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sonny Perdue</a> recently made a lot of farmers angry. At a time when small dairy farms are going out of business at unprecedented rates (and small farms producing other crops are also struggling), Perdue made a comment that suggested the situation was par for the course. “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out,” he said. This week, host Lisa Held is joined by three guests—Brenda Cochran, dairy farmer and president of <a href="https://www.farmwomenunited.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farm Women United</a>, Russell Diez-Canseco, president and CEO of <a href="https://vitalfarms.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vital Farms</a>, and Jordan Treakle, policy director at the <a href="https://nffc.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Family Farm Coalition</a>—to discuss Perdue’s comments, what current challenges faced by America’s small farmers really look like, and what can be done to help small farms survive.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for <a href="https://heritageradionetwork.org/gala" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio</a>. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted <a href="https://heritageradionetwork.org/halloffame/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HRN Hall of Fame</a>, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at<a href="http://heritageradionetwork.org/gala" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> heritageradionetwork.org/gala</a>.The Farm Report is powered by<a href="http://simplecast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Simplecast</a>.

Episode 376: Dear Sonny Perdue, Small Farms Matter

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