American Family Farmer

For 40 years, Farm Aid has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with family farmers, ensuring they can stay on their land and thrive despite corporate pressures, bad policies, and climate challenges. In this episode of American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan welcomes Jennifer Fahy, Co-Executive Director and longtime Communications Director of Farm Aid.Jennifer shares how Farm Aid began as a one-day benefit concert in 1985 — founded by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp — and has since grown into a powerful nonprofit movement raising over $60 million to keep family farmers farming. We dive into the upcoming Farm Aid 40 festival in Minneapolis, the importance of Homegrown Concessions® and Homegrown Village, and the ongoing fight for a fair and sustainable food system.

In this episode of American Family Farmer, host and farmer Doug Stephan of Eastleigh Farm shares why he created this program — to give voice to the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of America’s family farmers.Doug dives into the latest news shaping agriculture, including:

This week on American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (EastleighFarm.com) welcomes Jared Zystro, Research & Education Director of the Organic Seed Alliance (OSA). For more than two decades, OSA has worked to put the power of seed back into the hands of growers through research, education, advocacy, and community-building.Jared shares how OSA is confronting the challenges of seed industry consolidation, advancing organic plant breeding, and ensuring farmers have access to diverse, high-quality organic seed. He also discusses OSA’s vision for a resilient and equitable future of food—where seed is stewarded by interconnected communities across the country.From the history of seed preservation to the fight for farmers’ rights to save seed, this conversation sheds light on why seed sovereignty is essential for the health of our farms, food systems, and future generations.Learn more about Organic Seed Alliance at SeedAlliance.org.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

This week on American Family Farmer, host and farmer Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) shares the latest news impacting small farmers across the U.S. Doug breaks down the “Big Beautiful Bill,” being called Farm Bill 2.0, which includes:Higher statutory references for all commodity program crops

This week, Doug Stephan talks with Janelle Maiocco, Founder and CEO of Barn2Door (Barn2Door.com) — the all-in-one software platform helping independent farmers sell directly to local customers. From streamlining online and in-person sales to simplifying marketing and farm management, Barn2Door empowers farmers to keep more profit, save time, and connect with buyers anytime, anywhere.Janelle shares how Barn2Door has grown to serve thousands of farms in all 50 states, why technology is becoming essential for farm-to-table success, and how her deep roots in agriculture and food have shaped her mission to help farmers thrive in today’s market.Whether you’re a farmer, foodie, or just love supporting local, this conversation will inspire you to think about where your food comes from — and the technology making it easier to get it there.

Doug Stephan — veteran broadcaster and proud dairy farmer (EastleighFarm.com) — breaks down the week’s top stories impacting family farms across the country. This week:Why the term “crisis” may be overused in U.S. agriculture.The USDA’s reorganization plan and what it means for farmers.How the Big Beautiful Bill could affect depreciation and capital gains taxes for farmers selling to other qualified farmers.The Skinny Farm Bill — and the $8 billion needed to fund programs left out of the Big Beautiful Bill.And yes… could ice cream actually be good for your heart? One analyst found that people with Type 2 diabetes who ate small amounts of ice cream a couple times a week had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.It’s the latest ag news with a healthy scoop of Doug’s insight — and maybe a side of ice cream.

This week, Doug tackles a mix of hot-button issues impacting family farmers across the U.S., offering insight only a hands-on farmer can provide.

Guest: Ed Maltby, Executive DirectorOrganization: Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA)

On this week’s American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan takes on some of the week’s biggest agricultural stories. He begins with Brooke Rollins' surprising success at the USDA despite her lack of ag experience, especially in supporting disaster-hit farmers.Doug also dives into new findings on the dangers of ultra-processed foods vs. traditional whole grains and whole milk.Corn season is underway — and so is destruction from the corn earworm, worsened by extreme weather.Plus, a lighthearted look at the “cow decor” craze, and a serious note on why only real milk from mammals should be called milk.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

This week on The American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan welcomes Tyler Hawk of Hawk Farms in Kansas, Ohio. Though Tyler now lives in California, he still travels home to work the family’s 230-acre soybean and corn farm.Tyler shares the story of a beloved family heirloom — a 1947 Farmall M tractor restored after sitting in pieces during his childhood.Now serving as Executive Director at an assisted living facility, Tyler talks about how his farming roots continue to ground and guide him, even from across the country.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

This week on The American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan welcomes Warren Eckstein, Pet Behaviorst and Host of The Pet Show. The discussion starts off dispelling the false concept that animals don’t share many of the emotions humans have, but also the beautiful friendship and comradely we have with our animal friends and animal family members. When summer temperatures soar, it’s not just humans who suffer — farm animals, barn cats, and loyal working dogs are all vulnerable to heat stress. This week on the American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan is joined by internationally renowned pet behaviorist Warren Eckstein to talk about how to keep your animals safe and healthy during extreme heat.From simple solutions like shade and clean water to advanced cooling strategies, Warren shares practical, humane tips every farmer can implement. He also breaks down the critical early warning signs of heatstroke in animals and what to do if your livestock or pets are at risk. Warren’s four decades of experience — includin

On this week’s episode of The American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (EastleighFarm.com) unpacks the latest developments from Washington and beyond that are shaping the future of America’s small farms.Policy Watch:Doug covers updates from the new "Big Beautiful Bill" — including key tax policies and increased federal spending aimed at supporting ag-businesses. With border security becoming an even bigger issue for American farmers, Doug shares why immigration reform and labor access are crucial to keeping small farms afloat.Protecting Our Farmland:The USDA has rolled out its National Farm Security Action Plan, aiming to limit foreign ownership of U.S. farmland — a move designed to reduce influence from adversarial nations and preserve our agricultural independence.Tomatoes, Tariffs & Trade Wars:Doug dives into the latest news on import restrictions from Mexico, including a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes, and ongoing prohibitions on live animal imports due to screwworm detection. Plus, how similar t

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 wea

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 AssociationHow federal policy can better support independent organic farmersThe importance of farmer-led advocacy in shaping the future of foodWhat new and transitioning organic farmers need mostHow OFA is building a unified voice for domestic certified organic producersAs a farmer herself, Julia brings a grounded, personal perspective to the national policy conversation — and share

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com introduces us to Tim Gradert, Senior Tax Manager with Uncommon Farms. In this episode, Doug and Tim explore the often-overlooked power of smart tax planning in agriculture. From proactive strategies that boost profitability to overcoming unique hurdles family farmers face during tax season, Tim shares insight drawn from years of hands-on experience in ag-specific tax preparation. They dive into deductions that can make a difference—like Section 179 and bonus depreciation—and highlight the importance of year-round tax planning, accurate record keeping, and leveraging tools like AgManager® for seamless tax integration. You’ll also hear how UnCommon Farms supports farmers not just at tax time, but year-round—through education, software solutions, and personal consultation—to help ensure no opportunity is missed. Whether you're navigating asset basis, succession planning, or compliance with changing ag laws, this episode is packed with advice des

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).

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the news affecting small farmers in America, including a focus on the approval of the Whole Milk For Healthy Children Act, which expands options for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program allowing them to offer whole and reduced fat. Next up, Purdue University has come up with an overview of the farm custom rates, increases in the cost of what it costs to do hay and the increase in hiring for mowing, tedding and raking. Additionally, Chinese nationals have been charged with smuggling a small grain fungus considered an agri-terrorism, with symptoms including liver damage, vomiting, reproductive problems, and more. Lastly, Doug shares news of Flags For Farms Rescue Challenge from the Farmer’s Business Network and how you can support farms in crisis with donation on FarmRescue.orgWebsite: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.comSocial Media: @GoodDayNetworks

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com introduces us to Patrick Whittle, Environment and Oceanic Reporter with the Associated Press, for a conversation on how the effects of wildfire smoke affects small farmers. The wildfires in Canada sent smoke as far away as Europe, and caused smoke to linger over cities like Kansas City and Minneapolis (far, far away from their origin in Canada), raising alarms in many parts of the U.S. from an unhealthy air quality, affecting soil quality, and more. While fire can be a good thing for land as it burns off the old trash and new growth comes in, but the smoke that comes with the fire has a completely different influence. Additionally, you can hear about the mentorship with IT students and the Associated Press, like Patrick’s mentee who was on the program last week, which you can hear in the episode titled, “Is Organic Still Worth It?” Next up, the discussion shifts to how fishermen are battling changing oceans after President Trump’s deregulatio

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com introduces us to Caitlyn Daproza, Photojournalism Student at the Rochester Institute of Technology., joining today’s episode with a conversation on less farm land going to organic crops and the importance of sustainability.Caitlyn's curiosity for documentation began at a young age, going through family photo albums and old letters, and through asking questions and connecting pieces of memory, she began to understand the quiet power of storytelling through archived moments. Caitlyn's work centers on community, optimism, and the preservation of personal and collective memory.Currently pursuing a BFA in Photojournalism at the Rochester Institute of Technology, she brings experience across photography, audio, video, and reporting. Inspired by family archives and everyday joy, their creative practice amplifies diverse voices through storytelling.Together, Doug and Caitlyn explore why fewer farmers are turning to organic certification—and what that

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the news affecting small farmers in America, including a focus on US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visiting farms and laying out the Trump Administration’s “Farmers First” policies that help smaller farmers and why it’s a lead focus with the USDA, Nebraska is the first state to ban sugary drinks from being bought on the SNAP program, and how the immigration issue is affecting farmers having the workers they need. Then, the conversation shifts to diversification farming production and why a singular focus may create a surplus, why it’s important to know who owns the seed companies, and how you get your news and whether or not you read into opinions. Lastly, Doug takes a look at farm markets and how they’re being manipulated by tariffs and agri-business monopolies, he opines why Brooke Rollins is divisive but possibly proving to favor small farmers.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmer.comSocial Media: @GoodDayNetworks