American Family Farmer Podcast Por Doug Stephan arte de portada

American Family Farmer

American Family Farmer

De: Doug Stephan
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A weekly look at trends in Family Farming and Healthy Eating.Copyright Doug Stephan Economía Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Empowering Organic Farmers: A Conversation with Julia Barton of the Organic Farmers Association

    Empowering Organic Farmers: A Conversation with Julia Barton of the Organic Farmers Association
    Jul 16 2025

    This week on The American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan welcomes Julia Barton, Farmer Services Director at the Organic Farmers Association (OFA), for an in-depth look at how OFA is advocating for a healthier, more equitable future for American agriculture.Julia brings over a decade of hands-on experience supporting organic, transitional, and sustainable farmers. In her role with OFA, she works directly with farmers across the country to help them navigate certification, overcome challenges, and find success in the growing organic marketplace.

    In this episode, Julia and Doug dive into:
    • The mission and values of the Organic Farmers Association
    • How federal policy can better support independent organic farmers
    • The importance of farmer-led advocacy in shaping the future of food
    • What new and transitioning organic farmers need most
    • How OFA is building a unified voice for domestic certified organic producers
    As a farmer herself, Julia brings a grounded, personal perspective to the national policy conversation — and shares how her own journey with Octagon Acres, her family’s organic farm, shapes her work.Whether you're a seasoned organic grower, curious consumer, or policy advocate, this conversation will inspire and inform.

    🌐 Learn more at organicfarmersassociation.org


    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 m
  • This Is the Most Trustworthy Source for Truly Clean Food

    This Is the Most Trustworthy Source for Truly Clean Food
    Jul 16 2025
    This week on The American Family Farmer, host and lifelong farmer Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) shares critical updates impacting small farms across the country.

    Doug opens the show with a look at the ongoing immigration enforcement issues that are threatening family farms. The American Farm Bureau Federation has expressed serious concern over reports of renewed immigration crackdowns that are removing essential, hardworking laborers from small farm operations.

    Next, Doug dives into the challenges facing the beef cattle industry — including the reemergence of screwworm infestations coming up from Mexico, raising alarm for U.S. livestock. On top of that, an increase in tick activity is causing a surge in infestations across farms this season. Despite these concerns, there’s good news: the cattle market remains strong, with continued high demand.

    Turning to the honeybee crisis, Doug reports that bee colonies are down by two-thirds, due to a combination of migratory stress, parasitic threats, and erratic weather — especially recent floods across the U.S. Given the vital role bees play in agriculture, Doug encourages anyone with the interest and ability to consider starting a colony of their own to support pollination and food production.

    In his “Doug’s Opine” segment, Doug revisits his recent conversation with Julia Barton from the Organic Farmers Association (episode: "Empowering Organic Farmers: A Conversation with Julia Barton of the Organic Farmers Association"). He reflects on the challenges surrounding the “organic” label — a term that has been increasingly compromised by government red tape and industrial agriculture interests. Doug shares his strong belief that real organic farming should return to its roots — before chemical farming — and stresses the importance of knowing your farmer. As he says, if your organic food comes from a local farm, it’s far more trustworthy than products from big ag brands bearing the same label.
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    18 m
  • Farmers vs. Screwworms, SNAP Cuts & the Microplastic Problem

    Farmers vs. Screwworms, SNAP Cuts & the Microplastic Problem
    Jul 9 2025
    Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the news affecting small farmers in America, including a focus on President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” and how it will affect farmers. What should farmers know about his bill? Major cuts to the SNAP program, stricter qualifications for recipients, and passing costs off to the states. Next up, the continued issues of the screwworm and the problems these invasive, flesh eating pests are causing. ICYMI, a screwworm is a type of parasitic fly larva that fees on living flesh of warm blooded animals, including humans. Its name comes from the maggot’s appearance as it burrows into a wound, resembling a screw being driven into wood. Th screwworm can cause severe damage and even death if left untreated. The USDA is making plans to better prepare farmers should these pests get into their herds. Moving on, Doug shares a list of foods with the highest amounts of microplastics. They are apples and carrots (most commonly used in juice cleanses). Other foods with higher levels of microplastics include rice, pink Himalayan sea salt, sugar, tea, plant-based nuggets, fish sticks, shrimp, and water. What are farmers doing — or, what should they be doing — to minimize microplastics infiltrating their crops.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    17 m
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