“Policies built for emergencies rarely stay temporary.” 

In this solo episode of Farming on Purpose, I continue the conversation about resource allocation in agriculture — but this time through the lens of policy, infrastructure, and the decisions that quietly shaped modern farming. 

Most farmers today operate within a system that was built long before they ever planted their first crop. Grain elevators, crop insurance programs, futures markets, rail systems, and federal farm programs all grew out of a moment of crisis during the Great Depression. What started as an emergency response to collapsing farm prices eventually became the framework that now guides much of modern agricultural production. 

In this episode, I walk through how government involvement in agriculture began in the 1930s, how the Agricultural Adjustment Act reshaped production decisions, and how the infrastructure that followed reinforced those choices for generations. 

This conversation isn’t about criticizing the system — the policies created during that era helped stabilize agriculture and protect the country’s food supply. But it is worth asking how those policies continue influencing the crops we grow, the risks farmers take, and the structure of rural communities today. 

If you’ve ever wondered why corn and soybeans dominate so much of the agricultural landscape — or why switching crops isn’t nearly as simple as people often assume — this episode helps explain the deeper story behind it. 

Key Topics 

Reflection Questions from This Episode 

This episode closes with questions designed to help producers think more deeply about the systems they operate within: 

Links Referenced in This Episode 

FRASER wholesale price data 

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/SCB/pages/1935-1939/2755_1935-1939.pdf 

CBO crop insurance subsidy 

https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/60893 

GAO crop insurance 

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106228 

USDA soybean use 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/coexistence-soybeans-factsheet.pdf 

MSU soybean use 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/where_do_all_these_soybeans_go 

MSU trypsin inhibitor 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/hidden-variable-in-soybean-meal-trypsin-inhibitors-and-swine-growth 

Journal of Animal Science 

https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/doi/10.1093/jas/skaf253/8234085 

USDA ERS corn overview 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn-and-other-feed-grains/feed-grains-sector-at-a-glance 

USDA ERS ethanol use 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details?pubid=105761 

AHA advisory 

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/cir.0000000000000510 

Linoleic acid review 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22889633 

JAMA plant oils study 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2831265 

Johns Hopkins explainer 

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/the-evidence-behind-seed-oils-health-effects 

Alternative PUFA interpretation 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5437600 

LINKS 

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Episode #124: Marriage, Parenthood & Building a Business 

Building a farm or ag-related business affects more than just production decisions—it shapes family life as well. This episode dives into the reality of building a business while raising a family, exploring the leadership, structure, and long-term vision required to create something that supports both your work and your life. 

Episode #123: Year-End Tax Planning and Financial Confidence on the Farm 

Understanding the financial side of farming is critical to managing risk and building resilient operations. In this episode, Kansas Farm Management economist Tressie Mitzner shares practical strategies for improving financial clarity, preparing for taxes, and making better long-term business decisions on the farm. 

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright: 

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture. 

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