Smoke & Mirrors: Ag Policy Unfiltered

Why do rural communities sometimes push back on new development? Whether it’s wind and solar, data centers, power plants or something else, these projects can become highly contentious. Questions about land, local control, who benefits and the future of the community can all shape how people respond. In this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft is joined by Rich Stedman from Cornell University to talk about when and why rural communities resist new development, and why that resistance often goes well beyond the project itself. They discuss the long history of rural communities feeling left out of decision-making, the lasting effects of the "shale gas hangover" and how past experiences can shape reactions to new energy projects. The conversation also looks at the economic side of development, including research on how farmers view solar leases and how those agreements can fit alongside their existing farming operations. Rich also explains why involving communities earlier can make a difference and how public involvement can fall short when it becomes more of a box-checking exercise than a genuine conversation.

n this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft talks with Marianna Wetherill to make sense of the growing Food is Medicine movement, which seeks to connects agriculture and healthcare, and what those connections look like in rural communities.​ Drawing on her experience teaching and practicing culinary medicine, Marianna discusses how nutrition science and hands-on cooking education are being integrated into healthcare, the unique barriers rural communities face in accessing nutritious food, and the role federal programs like WIC and SNAP play in food access. She also shares how social media, AI, and community resources like libraries are helping scale these efforts in places traditional programs often miss.​ Food is medicine is generating a lot of optimism and excitement. This conversation looks at what we know works, where the evidence is strongest, and what we are still learning.​

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, the mic gets turned as Jenny Ifft joins Trey Malone to discuss her background and professional journey. They also discuss her research and outreach on the farm safety net, the farm financial system, and the constant risk facing agriculture.

In this episode of Smoke and Mirrors, host Dr. Jenny Ifft (Flinchbaugh Agricultural Policy Chair at Kansas State University) sits down with members of the renowned farmdoc team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Featuring agricultural economists and policy experts Dr. Gary Schnitkey, Dr. Nick Paulson, and Jonathan Coppess, this panel tackles some of the most pervasive "conventional wisdom" and cliches in the farming industry. From the reality of farmland markets ("they aren't making any more of it") to the debate over corporate versus family farms, the team breaks down how these common sayings impact public perception and drive agricultural policy. Join us for a deep dive into the economics of modern farming, the challenges of conservation on rented land, and the exciting future of careers in agriculture.

Waterfowl rely on entire landscapes to thrive—focusing on a single pond or wetland is often insufficient. In this episode, Billy Gascoigne from Ducks Unlimited explains how voluntary, large-scale conservation efforts are designed to support birds while collaborating with agriculture. Through partnerships with farmers, ranchers, conservation groups, government programs like NRCS and FSA, and private industry, this conversation highlights how wildlife interests are a key partner in advancing ag conservation policy.

Local food might seem simple—but behind it is a system shaped by policy, infrastructure, and evolving market channels. From farmers markets to institutional buyers, this episode explores how local and regional food systems have developed, the key challenges they face, and how policies in the Farm Bill have played a major role in expanding opportunities far beyond direct-to-consumer sales.

Paul Lee connects healthcare and agriculture, showing how local farms, regenerative practices, and accountable supply chains can support measurable health improvements. He also discusses the barriers—affordability, education, and adherence—that must be addressed to make food-based care work at scale.