In his first work of nonfiction, 'Wastelands,' author and attorney Corban Addison tells the story of a rural community in North Carolina fighting against the polluting practices of large-scale hog farming operations. (This episode was originally produced October 14, 2024)
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A recent Iowa Climate Statement warns that extreme weather is already pushing insurance costs higher for homeowners and farmers. We break down what the data means for the state’s future. (This episode was originally produced in November 2025.) -
Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria was told she could never make a career researching environmental agriculture practices. Today, she is the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate. She joins the show to discuss how her groundbreaking research in soil microbiology and biological nitrogen fixation has transformed global agriculture. Hungria shares the impact her science-loving grandmother had on her life and explains how science and sustainability can coexist to feed the planet’s growing population. (This episode was originally produced on Oct. 20, 2025)
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At this year's Obermann Symposium, University of Iowa researchers are tackling the achievement gap for rural students, unequal access to nutritious food and communities not adapting to an aging population. The symposium is meant to harness the work being done in rural areas to better collaborate. Ben Kieffer speaks with one of the organizers, law professor Daria Fisher Page, and the experts focusing on rural issues; professor of gerontology Brian Kaskie; professor in learning sciences and educational psychology Duhita Mahatmya; and professor of occupational and environmental health Brandi Janssen.
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Each year, Choose Iowa awards grants to local farmers and agriculture-related businesses. The state initiative also helps promote products made and grown in Iowa — and it’s continuing to grow. One western Iowa farm is thriving with support from the program. -
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs Friday, farm groups called on the Trump administration to pursue a different approach to trade. The president of the Iowa Farmers Union wants to see more congressional oversight. -
Biofuel leaders say the shipping industry could be a golden goose for ethanol and soy-based biodiesel. One of the big barriers is the Trump administration, which torpedoed a global agreement to reduce pollution.
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Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Art Cullen and president of Iowans for Stronger Communities Jesse Case join to discuss the new documentary series, 'What's Eating Iowa?' Then, two farmers share how their family has evolved to regenerative farming in northwest Iowa. -
Cottonseeds could help reduce hunger and add new revenue for farmers. One researcher has been working for decades to make edible seeds a reality. -
For more than 60 years, Iowa State University has sponsored an annual land survey. This year shows a small increase that lags behind inflation.
