Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares why he created the American Family Farmer program before jumping into the news affecting family farmers, beginning with a story from Florida and how farmers are plowing over perfectly good tomatoes as the tariff policies are costing prices to go down. 

The latest on how the I.C.E. raids are affecting small farmers. Then, the problem in most parts of the U.S. with attacks on cattle by wolves and coyotes.

Apparently, there are drones being used to deter the wolves in order to protect the cattle — and the drones are blasting AC/DC music to chase the wolves and coyotes away.

Next up, Doug thinks about the problems that keep coming up with getting fresh vegetables and having a source, and how many are thinking about starting their own vegetable garden.

Doug also shares information on the agri-hood he’s developing. 


Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

On this episode of American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) welcomes Svitlana “Lana” Synkovska, Portfolio Director of Women in Agribusiness (WIA):  http://womeninag.com.

They discuss:

👩‍🌾 How Women in Agribusiness is empowering women across the agriculture and food sectors
🌍 The growth of the WIA community — from 200 attendees in 2012 to over 1,000 in 2024
🤝 Networking, events, and initiatives helping women build careers in agribusiness
🏆 The Demeter Award of Excellence and how it honors women breaking barriers
🎓 Student scholarships that connect young leaders with career opportunities
📅 What to expect at the upcoming 14th Annual WIA Summit in Orlando, September 22–24

It’s an inspiring look at how women are shaping the future of agriculture through innovation, leadership, and collaboration.

Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

On this episode of American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) shares why he created the program and why supporting family farms matters more than ever.

He covers:

🏡 Brooke Rollins’ plans for rural development funds and how they’ll impact farmers
📜 The “Big Beautiful Bill” and key highlights that affect agriculture
🌽 Rising corn prices and what that means for farmers
🚫 The spread of the screwworm, new bans on Mexican livestock imports, and even a rare human case
🇺🇸 Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” push
🌱 Why some farmers resist restrictions on Monsanto and similar products

It’s an honest look at the challenges and opportunities facing America’s family farmers today.

Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

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.

🎶 Plus, get the inside scoop on this year’s incredible lineup, from Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews to Wynonna Judd, Kenny Chesney, and more.

👉 Learn more at FarmAid.org.

Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

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:
🌱 The One Big Beautiful Bill, with key estate planning and tax changes
🌱 Shifts in health policy taking a softer approach to corporate regulation
🌱 An update on the screwworm and what farmers need to know
🌱 Why farming looks different as larger companies take over more operations
🌱 The harsh reality that many farm owners must work outside jobs just to sustain their farms.

It’s a candid look at the pressures family farmers face today — and why supporting them is more important than ever. 


Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

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 🌾
• Increased agricultural spending 💵
• More affordable crop insurance 🌱
• Expanded foreign market development in favor of U.S.-owned land 🇺🇸

He also covers the reintroduction of the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, designed to expand farmer-led conservation education and technical assistance—especially for underserved farmers and high-poverty areas. Other topics include the new U.S. Farm Security Plan, challenging Chinese ownership of farmland and major agribusinesses, and Doug’s own reflections on what makes family farm operations successful. His conclusion? Time management is the most critical variable. For many farmers, balancing off-farm income with the demands of the land is the reality—and not always sustainable. Doug shares his perspective as both a broadcaster and working farmer on how to navigate these challenges.

Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

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.

🧠 Episode Highlights:

🚜 The “Immigration Highway” Crisis
Doug unpacks the growing confusion and legal challenges facing agricultural employers navigating immigration. He shares the tragic story of a multigenerational cherry farm forced to shut down due to a lack of labor — a painful example of a broken system. 🔍 “We need a clear and fair path to a stable farm workforce,” Doug says, “because most of our farm laborers today are foreign-born — and without them, farms fail.”

📜 The “One Big Beautiful Bill”
Though it’s not technically a farm bill, Doug explains how this sweeping piece of legislation will have a greater impact on agriculture than anything else passed this year — from labor to land use, sustainability, and economic support.

🥩 Doug’s Take: U.S. Beef & Imports
In his closing thoughts, Doug zeroes in on the beef industry — questioning the role of imports, their impact on American ranchers, and what consumers should know about where their meat comes from.
💡 Doug brings real-world experience and common sense to the issues that matter most to family farmers — from the ground up.

🎧 Listen now and stay connected to the people who grow your food.

📍 More about Doug's farm at EastleighFarm.com

Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks