Episode Outline

1. Introduction - "Get Matched" feature announcement & episode overview
2. Personal Connection - Nate's family ranch stories in Kimberly
3. Early Agricultural Changes (1800s-1920s) - John Deere's plow, refrigerated rail cars, Bennett's soil work
4. Dust Bowl Era (1930s-40s) - "Black Sunday," New Deal programs, peak of 6.8 million farms
5. Post-WWII Transformation (1950s-60s) - Industrial agriculture, "Silent Spring," feedlot expansion
6. Earl Butz Era (1970s) - "Get Big or Get Out," Roundup introduction, Savory's & Berry's alternative visions
7. Modern Developments (1980s-Present) - GMOs, farm decline, COOL labeling repeal
8. Today's Crossroads - Industrial vs. regenerative approaches, supporting local farms

Key Books & People

• Silent Spring (Rachel Carson): Amazon
• Unsettling of America (Wendell Berry): Amazon
• Hugh Bennett: Wiki
• Earl Butz: Wiki
• Rachel Carson: Wiki
• J.I. Rodale: Wiki
• Allan Savory: Wiki
• Wendell Berry: Wiki
• Gabe Brown: Understanding Ag
• Joel Salatin: Wiki
• Will Harris: Wiki

Key Statistics

• 1935: Peak of 6.8 million American farms
• 2022: Decline to 1.9 million farms
• 2022: 3.4 billion pounds of beef imported
• Farmer suicide rate: 3.5x higher than general population
  • Resources: Rural Health Info
• GMO percentages: 94% soybeans, 92% corn, 96% cotton, 99.9% sugar beets
  • Source: USDA Feed Your Mind

Disclaimer

I use Anthropic's AI assistant Claude to help with research, organization, and editing of this podcast content. However, this podcast will always feature my authentic voice and perspective - I will never use AI-generated voice technology to replace my own narration. The stories, opinions, and experiences shared are genuinely mine, with AI serving only as an editorial tool to help deliver the best content possible to you.

Our Links

• Website: https://www.localbeefpodcast.com

The Local Beef Podcast shares revenue with featured farms and ranches. Learn more and discover local producers at https://www.localbeefpodcast.com