Jenny Ifft

Fertilizer is one of agriculture’s most important inputs—and one of the most exposed to global trade and conflict-prone regions.​ In this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft talks with Veronica Nigh of The Fertilizer Institute about how fertilizer moves through global markets and why disruptions matter for U.S. agriculture. The U.S. produces about 65% of the fertilizer it uses, while TFI represents roughly 260 members across the supply chain.​ They also discuss trade policy, transportation constraints, the sulfur shortage, environmental regulation, current limitations of private and USDA fertilizer-use data, and why expanding domestic production takes years.​

In this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft sits down with Peter Orazem to explore the rural labor landscape and the policies shaping local economies.​ Together, they discuss rural labor shortages, why some rural communities thrive while others struggle, how mobility and public services influence opportunity, and the state and federal policies that can help rural America grow.​ This conversation serves as the starting point for Smoke & Mirrors' ongoing series on #AgLaborPolicy. It provides important context for understanding the labor policy issues that shape agriculture and rural communities. In future episodes, we'll take a closer look at the policies, workforce challenges, and programs affecting agriculture and the food system.

The Flinchbaugh Center sat down with Seth Meyer, Director of FAPRI at the University of Missouri and former USDA Chief Economist, for a conversation that pulled back the curtain on how policy actually gets made — the assumptions, data vulnerabilities, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape outcomes long before legislation reaches a floor vote.