Canary In A Cornfield

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam speaks with Angela Huffman, co-founder of the farmer-led watchdog group Farm Action, about how consolidation and weak antitrust enforcement have reshaped U.S. agriculture and squeezed farmers, workers, and consumers. Huffman responds to a widely covered letter from former USDA officials and commodity leaders warning of agricultural collapse, agreeing with its concerns about broad Trump-era tariffs and retaliation but arguing it overlooks the root cause: decades of consolidation and policies that reward overproduction of commodity crops and export dependence. The conversation covers Farm Action’s data on corporate control across the food chain, concerns about price fixing and small settlements in the meat sector, and policy priorities for the 2026 Farm Bill, including rebuilding regional processing, diversifying farms toward food crops and mixed systems, and using government procurement to support healthier, locally produced food. They also discuss efforts to override California’s Proposition 12, pesticide immunity proposals, and Farm Action’s outlook on renewed federal investigations into meatpacker price fixing.Links from episode:Farm Action Website Former Farming Leaders Warn U.S. Agriculture Could Face ‘Widespread Collapse’The Farm Crisis Is Real. But This Letter Misses the PointTyson’s $48 Million “Price-Fixing” Check Won’t Lower Your Grocery Bill

Don’t forget to register for the Harkin on Wellness Symposium on March 11! My guest for this episode is Kari Hamerschlag, Deputy Director of Friends of the Earth’s Agricultural Program. I’ve followed her work for a while, which includes both great work in the US and also work dealing with international institutions. What caught my eye most recently is an op-ed that Kari wrote for the Hill where she discusses something that’s being missed in many of the discussions about toxic chemicals in her food.Namely, the dense amount of toxic contaminants that accumulate in animal tissue, fat, and milk that comes from industrial animal agriculture. In this episode, we discussed the op-ed Friends of the Earth’s extensive environmental portfolio of working on agricultural issues. And we continue our discussion of the recent nutrition guidelines.Kari also gives some great suggestions of what her priorities are in regards to reforming our current agricultural system.Links for the week:Friends of the Earth’s Food and Agriculture PageKari’s Op-Ed: Saturated fat debate overlooks toxic chemical contaminants in industrial meatLast week’s discussion of the Nutrition Guidelines with Professor Marion Nestle

 In this episode, Adam speaks with one of the most influential voices in public health and food policy today. Professor Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Science, and Public Health, emerita, at New York University, a department she not only chaired for 15 years, but essentially pioneered when she founded one of the nation’s first academic food studies programs. We discuss her new book, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find it and Why it Matters, including observations on what’s changed since the pandemic and a detailed description of the dynamics of how supermarkets convince people to buy more (often unhealthy) food. Professor Nestle also offers a detailed critique of the new USDA Dietary Guidelines, which includes both positive and negative suggestions but unfortunately has a clear emphasis on some of the least supported claims. Some relevant links:Professor Nestle’s blog: https://www.foodpolitics.com/Buy her new book, What to Eat Now!The Iowa Farmer’s Union Lunch and Learn interview with Dr. Nestle

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, Adam interviews Matthew Dominguez from Compassion In World Farming (CIWF). They discuss CIWF’s work in the United States and abroad, and talk about an important recent report about food waste that illustrates how industrial farming significantly contributes to inefficiencies and environmental degradation. Matthew explains that factory farming, despite being touted as efficient, wastes massive amounts of food resources that could otherwise feed billions. The conversation touches on the global impact of farming practices, the necessity for policy changes, and the benefits of regenerative farming and plant-forward diets. Matthew also shares his background and advocacy journey, emphasizing the need to align agricultural subsidies with public health and environmental sustainability.Links from the show:Compassion in World Farming USAFood Not Feed: How to Stop the World’s Biggest Source of Food Waste Full ReportFood Not Feed SummaryGreener By Default (mentioned in episode)

Denmark actually has quite a bit in common with Iowa; the country has a population of roughly 6 million people, but raises almost 30 million pigs per year. Iowa raises about 25 millions hogs/year and has a human population of about 3.2 million people. But one thing Denmark doesn’t have in common with Iowa is that their government take nitrates in drinking water very, very seriously! In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, the podcast explores the connection between nitrates in drinking water and cancer with Professor Thor Halldorsson from the University of Iceland. Professor Halldorsson chaired the Denmark Ministry of the Environment's Scientific Committee, which suggested a new drinking water standard significantly lower than the current EU and US standards. The discussion delves into the biological mechanisms linking nitrates to cancer, particularly colorectal cancer, and highlights a comprehensive study involving 1.7 million people in Denmark. The episode also covers the differences in nitrate measurement between the US and EU, the agricultural context of Denmark, and how these findings could influence global standards.Some links from the podcast:The report from the Denmark Ministry of the Environment.The Schullehner et al 2018 study “Nitrate in drinking water and colorectal cancer risk: A nationwide population-based cohort study”Another important study: “Source-specific nitrate and nitrite intake and association with colorectal cancer in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort”

In the latest episode of Canary in a Cornfield, Adam interviews Professor and author Neil Hamilton from Drake University. They discuss Professor Hamilton's impactful career, which includes founding the Drake Agricultural Law Center and the Iowa Nature Summit, as well as chairing the Governor’s Food Policy Council from 2000 to 2007, and delve into Hamilton's trilogy of environmental books: The Land Remains, The River Knows, and Through Nature's Lens. Discussions include the evolution of agricultural law, the importance of community and advocacy in environmental policy, and the need ethical approaches to nature and food production. Hamilton also reflects on current issues in water quality, public health, and the significance of nurturing future generations of environmental advocates. The conversation reinforces the pivotal role law and community play in shaping sustainable agricultural and environmental policies.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam speaks with Dr. Walter Willett, a leading expert in epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They discuss the first and second EAT Lancet reports, which examine the possibility of feeding the growing world population while staying within planetary boundaries. Among the topics discussed:The current administration’s clash with higher ed institutionsThe first and second Eat Lancet Reports and their recommendations for a healthy and sustainable food systemThe need for reforming the food system if we want to address climate change.The industry funded PR campaign to undermine the reportSimple rules for a healthy and environmentally friendly dietSome relevant links from the episode:The first EAT Lancet ReportThe second EAT Lancet ReportThe EAT ForumDr. Willett’s Faculty PageGuardian Article: PR campaign may have fueled food study backlash, leaked document shows

In one of my favorite episodes so far, we speak with Michael Schmidt, the General Counsel of the Iowa Environmental Council, the largest environmental coalition in the state. Michael reflects on his time working in Minnesota and Iowa to give context to how the laws that regulate water quality impact our quality of life. He discusses the Clean Water Act, as well as competing constitutional amendments in the two states that have so far had very different outcomes. He also covers tile drainage, the Farm Bill, concentrated animal feeding operations, and rules that currently incentivize planting marginal land. A few links related to the episode: Local 5 News (with an interview of Michael)KCCI: Drake University Hosts Town Hall on Water Quality SolutionsDes Moines Register: Takeaways from a town hall on Iowa water quality at Drake University

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, hosted by the Harkin Institute, Adam speaks with Bob Martin, a longtime advocate for agricultural reform. Martin, who served nearly two decades at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, discusses his role as the executive director of the Pew Commission’s landmark report ‘Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America.’ The conversation delves into the report’s origin, key recommendations on public health, the environment, and animal welfare, and the challenges of advocating for systemic change in the face of industry resistance. Martin reflects on his extensive career in politics and policy, shares insights on the current state of agriculture, and emphasizes the importance of continuing advocacy for sustainable farming practices.Links:The Pew Report: Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in AmericaJohns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver discusses the promises and pitfalls of biogas digesters with Patty Lovera from the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment. The conversation explores the alleged environmental benefits of biogas digesters, their economic dependencies on public subsidies, and the long-term impacts on communities living near concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). While digesters are marketed as a green solution to manure management and methane reduction, they often fail to address the root environmental and public health problems, leading to increased consolidation in the agriculture industry. The episode also highlights the need for more durable, community-centered solutions over speculative industrial fixes.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we focus on a new book titled "We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy," featuring the work of conservationist and public servant Paul Johnson. Host Adam Shriver interviews Annika Johnson, Paul’s daughter, and Kurt Meine, the book's editor and a senior fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. The discussion covers Paul Johnson's life, career, and influence on conservation and agricultural policy, while highlighting his vision of community-focused farming and ethical land use. The guests also discuss ongoing efforts by the Paul Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy to continue his legacy through fellowships, events, and policy initiatives.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, guests Anna Pesek of Over the Moon Farm and Kara Shannon of the ASPCA discuss recent legislative efforts to overturn state laws protecting animal welfare. The conversation focuses on California's Proposition 12, which mandates better living conditions for farm animals, and the industry's attempts to counter it through the Save Our Bacon Act. Anna shares insights into sustainable farming practices and why many small farmers like her would be put at a disadvantage by overturning the law, while Kara highlights the broader implications for animal welfare, public health, and the environment.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver sits down with Megan Hunter and Tanner Faaborg to discuss the Transformation Project, an initiative that helps farmers transition from factory farming to more sustainable practices. Megan discusses the project's origins and goals, highlighting the importance of policy support and farmer solidarity. Tanner shares his personal journey, detailing how his family farm moved from hog CAFOs to growing specialty mushrooms. The conversation underscores the environmental impacts of traditional farming, the challenges of gaining autonomy, and the importance of consumer support for local farmers.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver delves into the troubling issue of water regulation in Iowa with investigative journalist Peter Waldman from Bloomberg News. The conversation highlights Waldman's groundbreaking article on the rising nitrate levels in Iowa's water, focusing on the small town of Remsen as a microcosm for the state-wide problem. Waldman recounts his extensive reporting process, the political dynamics hindering effective water regulation, the impact of agricultural practices, and the influence of powerful entities like the Iowa Farm Bureau. The episode underscores the pressing need for policy change and the potential role of regenerative agriculture in addressing these environmental and public health crises.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver welcomes Andrew deCoriolis from Farm Forward to discuss current counterproductive policies related to avian influenza (bird flu) as well as potential solutions. This episode is the second in a two-part series on avian influenza.

In this first episode of a two-part series on avian influenza, host Adam Shriver sits down for an in-depth discussion with Dr. Gregory Gray from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Gray, a leading expert in infectious disease epidemiology, explains what avian influenza is, how it differs from other flu types, and why it poses a potential risk to human and animal health.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we are joined by Aaron Lehman, President of the Iowa Farmers Union; Colleen Fowle, Water Program Director at the Iowa Environmental Council; Amy Kahler, CEO of Des Moines Water Works; and Audrey E. Tran Lam, Environmental Health Program Director at UNI. Our guests provide reactions to the first official presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment (CISWRA) report.You can watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we explore a comprehensive report on water quality in central Iowa. The discussion highlights the extensive work done by experts like Dr. Claire Hruby, Dr. Peter Levy, Professor Keith Shilling, Dr. Elliot Anderson, and Professor Mary Kopec, led by Jennifer Terry. Topics include the impact of nitrates, fish kills, and other pollutants on drinking water, ecology, and recreation. The episode also previews a forthcoming presentation on the findings of the report and stresses the importance of community action and creative solutions to address the water quality issues facing Iowa.

In this second episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we discuss the impact of nitrates on public health and the environment with Dr. Christopher Gobler from Stony Brook University. The conversation covers research into health risks from nitrate pollution, a "magical septical mystery tour" that helped improve septic systems in New York, and proposed solutions like the nitrogen credit payment program.

Welcome to Canary In A Cornfield - a new podcast from The Harkin Institute! Together, we'll explore how the policies that shape our food and farming systems impact our health, our communities, and our future.Our first episode features our namesake, Senator Tom Harkin (retired). In this episode, Sen. Harkin discusses his extensive career in agriculture and health policy, including his role in the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act, two farm bills, and more. Be sure to subscribe to get updated when new episodes drop. You can also get email updates by signing up here.