Farm and Fiddle

The subject of happy dogs and happy dog owners is especially important in a time of covid-19 lockdowns. Howie Shucard, dog trainer, says the most important time in a dog's life is early puppyhood when dogs should be exposed to all kinds of people in all kinds of settings. This early socialization prevents many future problems and results in a secure, attentive dog that an owner can work with. He h...

This program, which aired on July 8, 2020, begins with regular feature, "Agriculture in the News," focusing on land grabs by investment firm TIAA in Brazil. Then, the featured interview is with Dr. Elliott Murphy, Kansas City pulmonologist now involved in the fight against factory farming in Cooper County, Missouri. Dr. Murphy talks about the importance of health ordinances to protect citizens and...

The interview with Dr. Robert Lawrence for the July 15 episode went longer than we could broadcast on a 60-minute show. Portions of the interview had to be cut including the closing remarks. We feel that Dr. Lawrence’s messages are important to share and so have included some of the cut portions in a bonus podcast.    In this bonus podcast Robert shares information about coronavirus data and a web...

Josh interviews Dr. Robert Lawrence, founder and retired Director of the Center for a Livable Future at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Lawrence has spent multiple decades clinically treating and studying patients suffering from exposure to CAFO's. In this episode Dr. Lawrence shares stories and scientific studies regarding specific health risks that result when CAFO's ent...

The discussion begins with stinging nettle and moves to other plants as time passes. A lot of topics are mentioned. Hope you enjoy. Nadia has extensive knowledge in cultivation of native plants. Thank you Nadia for sharing. 

This conversation with Steve Smith covers the following issue: When the Environmental Protection Agency approved dicamba-tolerant soybeans for planting, the approval followed the failure of other chemical-dependent GMO (genetically modified organism) crops. Weeds had quickly become tolerant of the chemical Roundup, which was the first poison spray to be used on growing GMOs. Now, agribusiness is g...

Rodale Institute was the first farming organization to experiment and promote organic principles. Indeed, Rodale was the inventor of organic farming, insisting that the soil be nurtured and pests be fought without petroleum-based chemicals. On their Pennsylvania property, they try new and old experiments for row-cropping, vegetable farming, livestock maintenance and equipment innovation by using t...

In 2017, the Missouri State Legislature passed a law allowing the cultivation of hemp in Missouri. Dan Kuebler of the Salad Garden in Boone County is one of the early adopters for the new crop. With his co-worker Garrett Fosse, Dan explains how he's learning the new system and what it will mean for his farm. 

Amy Klobuchar was one of four presidential candidates invited to the Iowa Farmers Union annual meeting. As a Minnesotan, she is well-aware of the problems facing farmers. She covers issues around trade wars, climate change, the aging rural population, consolidation of industry and the favoritism for wealthy now shown by the present administration, especially in the tax bill. 

Cory Booker is the only black person left in the race. He has met with farmers in several states to gain an understanding of what's going on. His resounding last statement includes, "I'm here because people that didn't look like me helped me..." As he ended this talk, he got a standing ovation from the crowd of Iowa farmers. 

Buttigieg spoke about the importance of farmers' markets, which is a place where people of different backgrounds come together, but he also realizes that international markets have been a major pain point for farmers because of unfair trade agreements and the recent rush to tariffs to manipulate policy. He is concerned about quality of life issues, pollution and climate change. He was the only can...

It may be surprising to learn that two of Iowa's broadbased farm organizations--Iowa Organic Association and Iowa Farmers Union-- brought Democratic candidates to their annual meetings last week. But Iowa has always had a core of progressive support, from the days of the Granger movement to today. Sanders was invited to both meetings and in this podcast addresses the organic farmers. You can tell...

Farm and Fiddle hosts Rhett Hartman and Margot McMillen begin the conversation with Steve Jeffery with the questions, "what is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation" and continue with background on CAFOs in Missouri, including the dismantling by the legislators of protections for neighbors and the environment. Jeffery is involved in lawsuits against the state, challenging the new make-up of the...

Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center was an early entry into the magic of horse therapy for people of all ages, with all kinds of needs. In this episode, founder Karen Grindler talks about CCTC's beginnings in 1989 with four horses and the present Center with 20 horses and hundreds of volunteers. The Center's work with autistic children, PTSD-stricken veterans, recent amputees and brain-injured p...

While Kentucky whiskeys are famous, they are made mostly with Missouri ingredients--corn, other grains, and aged in MIssouri-made barrels. Agronimist Gary Hinegardner spent a career studying heritage corn types--corn that tastes good even though it might not yield as high as commercial hybrids. Then, he went to work for the world's largest oak barrel maker, using wood sourced from Missouri forests...

In this half hour podcast, Josh Stevens, forester, talks to Rhett Hartman about forest products--medicinal, food and wood--and how to manage them in Missouri forests. It turns out that, besides sourcing local foods, Missourians can source local lumber and wood products. 

Susan Williams and Tena Potts are leaders in their Cooper County community. They have been fighting against corporate power that seeks to take over Cooper County's clean air, water and land to place a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in their midst.  The outrage prompted passage of a Health Ordinance for the county which simply demands that CAFOs follow the same rules as ordinary farme...

This podcast continues the conversation with Steve Jeffery, and gives the early timeline of the fight in Cooper County, Missouri, which will soon be heard in the Supreme Court. Jeffery is keenly aware and articulate about the part that politics has played in fixing laws so that citizen voices are shut out.

Scott Dye has been active as an organizer for communities faced with the incursion of a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO. His own family farm, in northwest Missouri, is now surrounded by CAFOs owned by a Chinese firm that bought out Smithfield a few years ago. Being keenly aware of how factory farming takes over the market and destroys neighborhoods, Scott has dedicated his life to h...

While surrounding counties host thousands of CAFOs, Jefferson County has managed to keep the incursion to a minimum. Rosenberg credits constant vigilance and a community willing to work. Learn more at https://www.jfaniowa.org/

Attorney Steve Jeffery has been working with neighborhoods that fight the incursion of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations into their midst. Having begun his career as an environmental lawyer for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), he knows the problems that occur when under-funded departments try to protect citizens with the few tools allowed by lawmakers. Nevertheless, Steve a...