At the Iowa Farm Table Podcast

Cancer, Prairie Strips and a Man's Soul

Jon Bakehouse is a corn and soybean farmer in southwest Iowa. He and his family were working to improve the sustainability of the farm over the years. But an unexpected h

Do we have a moral obligation to "feed the world"?

Arlyn Kauffman, a row crop and egg farmer from southern Iowa, took a group of high school students to one of the nation’s largest agricultural shows, where major seed and

Farmers and Land

More than 70% of farms in the U.S. have been lost over the past 125 years. Today less than 2% of Americans call farming their profession. Yet, in a world with a changing

How Prairie Made Iowa

We wanted to send a quick note of appreciation for all of our listeners! Thank you so much for your support. Please be sure to write a review of this podcast (especially

Iowa, Farming and Cancer: What Do We Really Know?

Iowa has a cancer problem. We are one of the only states in the nation with a growing cancer rate, and have higher levels of certain kinds of cancers than do similar area

USDA, Beginning Farmers, and Broken Promises

The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program was slated to bring millions of dollars into Iowa, while supporting new farmers. Contracts were signed, fellows qu

Can Restaurants Transform Iowa into a Farm-to-Table Mecca?

In the second episode of our two part mini-series on restaurants, Beth visits with those championing for the transformation of Iowa into a farm-to-table haven. She talks

Iowa Restaurants, Broadliners, and Meh Food

How come so much of the food in Iowa seems to taste the same? In this two-part mini-series, Beth Hoffman dives deep into how and why restaurants have evolved (not for the

A Triple Win For Iowa

Fruits and vegetables are often not the first thing many SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants buy. Produce can be more expensive, and when yo

Healing From the Ground Up

“Food as medicine.” The phrase is everywhere in the news and on social media. But food and farming impacts not only our bodies. In this episode of At the Iowa Farm Tabl

A 160+ Year Family Legacy

Todd Western III’s family settled in Mahaska County in 1864, a year after Abraham Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation. More than 160 years later, the fami

Inspiration comes in all forms

Working to change the food system can feel like a slog. Progress is slow, challenges are constant, and wins can be hard to see. And yet, change has happened. Public unde

Chickenizing the American food system

There’s a word that explains a lot about modern agriculture, even if Merriam-Webster hasn’t caught up yet: chickenization. It’s what happens when animals become “widgets,

Here's the beef (on beef)

This week on At the Iowa Farm Table, learn more about how and where your food is raised! Beth Hoffman and Amanda Severson chat about their cattle businesses and how they

Raise More Hell and Less Corn

What’s going on in farm country? China, which normally buys half of America’s soybean crop, hasn’t bought a bean. Corn prices are dragging below the cost of production.

The Key to Ecological Healing

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day (October 13th in Iowa), we hear from two Indigenous women residing in Iowa and learn how shifting our perspective can help bring

Who Benefits from Iowa’s School Lunch Dollars?

Iowa schools spend millions feeding kids — in effect, they’re the largest restaurants in the state. But here’s the catch: most of those tax dollars don’t stay in Iowa. Wh

Food Grows Iowa: A Vision for a Diverse Midwest

Iowa’s food system has been engineered into sameness. This episode explores how diversification—of crops, markets, and farmers—could reshape the Corn Belt and prove that

4 IDEAs to Help Our Nitrate Problem

Iowa’s nitrate levels have hit historic highs, forcing lawn watering bans, swim advisories, and costly cleanups. A new report — the Central Iowa Source Water Research Ass

Iowa State Fair Showdown: Small, Squeaky, and Delicious

Cheese curds. Goat cheese. Ice Cream. Beverages. At the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Quality Dairy Products Competition showcases the best dairy products in the state, from