As we heard throughout the first season of Against the Grain, American farmers have historically struggled to get the United States Department of Agriculture to listen to, and address their most pressing concerns. That was certainly true when Farm Aid was founded in the midst of the 1980s farm crisis when farmers were pushed off their land due to loan foreclosures. We've also heard that there's a range of reasons why farmers - particularly farmers of color and Tribal producers - feel a sense of distrust towards the USDA. But the USDA recently announced major rule changes that affect farmers' access to and delivery of farm loans. In this bonus episode of Against the Grain, Farm Aid's Communications Director, Jennifer Fahy explains the significance of this rule change. We also hear from Zach Ducheneaux, the USDA's Farm Service Agency's (FSA) administrator, who is perhaps the person most responsible for this sea change in USDA policy.

Food desert is a term that is used in reference to the absence of good quality, nutritious food in a particular geographic area. But as Chef Bleu Adams of Indigehub says in this episode of Against the Grain, a more appropriate term is "food apartheid" because there's nothing natural about the absence of good food for Native Americans. For Tribal producers and eaters, the legacy of colonization and land theft carries on in the structures of food apartheid on what is, ostensibly, tribal land. As Kari Jo Lawrence and Abi Fain of the Intertribal Agriculture Council tell us, a variety of forces - from infrastructure to bureaucracy to lack of credit to land and soil issues - make it difficult for tribal communities to produce and distribute their own food. But people like Kari Jo, Abi, and Bleu work tirelessly to find solutions. Listen to this episode to find out more.

As Farm Aid artist Micah Nelson says, "the soil is the most fundamental source of life." When Micah and his family were riding out the pandemic at their ranch in Luck, Texas, they decided to start growing their own food. But as anyone who lives in Texas Hill Country can tell you, it is rough, rugged terrain, frequently distinguished by densely packed, seemingly inhospitable earth. Fortunately, Micah's mother, Farm Aid board member Annie Nelson, encountered Tina and Orion Weldon at the farmers market they launched in Spicewood, TX, and invited them to collaborate. In this episode of Against the Grain, we hear the story of how the Nelsons and the Weldons joined forces to regenerate and rejuvenate that Texas soil. Using the principles of regenerative agriculture they're bringing back grassland species, which are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant food economy. This form of farming is a viable alternative to the prevailing system of industrial agriculture. Learn why this is and how you can take action by demanding that your Congressional representatives include support for climate-friendly farming in the upcoming Farm Bill.

We just got back from Luck Reunion, a music festival held on Farm Aid president Willie Nelson's ranch every March.  There, we got to interview a lot of artists, farmers, and chefs.  In this special bonus episode, you'll hear from superstar chef Rick Bayless, who traveled to Luck from Chicago.  Rick recounts how, years ago, when he lived in Mexico, he noticed that no matter where he traveled, if folks had a really strong local agricultural economy, the food in the restaurants and in people's homes just tasted better.  In this episode, Rick talks about how over the last 37 years, his Frontera Farmer Foundation has invested $3.5 million in the Chicago’s local agricultural economy.

Take a quick listen - you won't want to miss it! 

For more on Rick Bayless, Luck Reunion, and Farm Aid go to www.farmaid.com/podcast 

How do farmers lose land? As Kenya Crumel of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance says, it's not like losing a set of keys: "Nobody's just accidentally losing land." Rather, she explains land has been taken – specifically from Black farmers – through a variety of means over the last century. The decline is staggering! In the 1920s Black farmers held somewhere between 15 and 19 million acres of land and represented 14% of all American farmers. Today, Black farmers represent 1% of all American farmers and own as little as 2 million acres of land. In this episode of Against the Grain, we hear from Kenya, Shirley Sherrod of the Southwest Georgia Project, and from Farm Aid artist Kyshona, about their experiences with land, legacy and farming. You'll learn how farmers and organizers are fighting back to both defend and reclaim farmland and, of course, you'll enjoy some musical performances from the Farm Aid archives.

We know some of you may be traveling in the next week or two, so we created this bonus episode as our holiday gift to you. In this episode we’ll highlight one of our Farm Aid board members, the legendary Neil Young. Enjoy and happy holidays from Against the Grain and Farm Aid. Learn more at https://www.farmaid.org/blog/neil-young-truth-to-power/

As Farm Aid board artist Dave Matthews says, “the vast majority of people are good, the vast majority of people are community driven and want to take care of each other,” and understanding that fact can motivate us to change the farm and food systems that prioritize corporate profits over communities. In this second episode of Against the Grain, called “Hoodwinked,” you’ll hear from artists Dave Matthews and Allison Russell, former contract poultry farmer and whistleblower Craig Watts, and organizer Tim Gibbons about the scourge of industrial agriculture that has come to dominate our farm and food systems in recent decades. They’ll explain how this system evolved and propose solutions for how to get out of it. And, of course, you’ll hear some great music from past Farm Aid festivals along the way. Learn more at www.farmaid.org/podcast

 As Farm Aid’s Executive Director, Carolyn Mugar says, “Music opens you up … you hear what's happening and you can take it in.” In this first episode of Against the Grain called, “There’s Something About Music,” you’ll hear from Margo Price, David Senter, and Carolyn Mugar about the power of music as a vehicle for social change. They’ll also regale you with stories — including archival sound from Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan — about the origins of Farm Aid. Learn more at: www.farmaid.org/podcast

A sneak peek at what's ahead on Against the Grain!