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  • Farm-to-Table Meets Tech: How Barn2Door Helps Farmers Thrive

    Farm-to-Table Meets Tech: How Barn2Door Helps Farmers Thrive
    2025/08/13
    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.
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    20 分
  • Farm Policy, USDA Changes & Ice Cream’s Heart Health Twist

    Farm Policy, USDA Changes & Ice Cream’s Heart Health Twist
    2025/08/13
    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.
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    18 分
  • Labor, Legislation & Livestock: Doug Stephan on the Real State of U.S. Farming

    Labor, Legislation & Livestock: Doug Stephan on the Real State of U.S. Farming
    2025/08/06
    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
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    18 分
  • Saving Organic Dairy: Grassroots Advocacy with Ed Maltby of NODPA

    Saving Organic Dairy: Grassroots Advocacy with Ed Maltby of NODPA
    2025/08/06
    Guest: Ed Maltby, Executive Director

    Organization: Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA)

    📍 Deerfield, MA Topic: 🐄 Organic Dairy & Advocacy in Washington, DC This week, host Doug Stephan welcomes Ed Maltby, Executive Director of NODPA — the largest grassroots organization representing organic dairy producers in the Northeast. With over two decades of leadership in the organic dairy space, Ed shares insights into the challenges facing small organic family farms, including unfair milk pricing, market instability, and the fight to uphold USDA Organic integrity.

    🎧 Key Takeaways:
    • Why organic dairy farmers are in crisis — and how NODPA is stepping up.
    • Ed’s recent advocacy trip to Washington, DC, working to ensure organic voices are heard in policy decisions.
    • How NODPA is farmer-led, nonprofit, and committed to fair prices and transparent regulations.
    • The importance of grassroots producer networks and alliances across the U.S.
    • What consumers need to know about the future of organic milk.
    Ed also highlights NODPA’s work:
    ✔ Hosting educational events & annual field days
    ✔ Publishing the bi-monthly NODPA News
    ✔ Running peer support networks like Odairy
    ✔ Administering a Farmer Emergency Fund
    ✔ Collaborating nationally through FOOD Farmers and with groups like the Organic Trade Association

    🔗 Learn more or support NODPA at www.nodpa.com and www.organicmilk.org

    📲 Follow the American Family Farmer podcast for more stories from the frontlines of American agriculture.



    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 分
  • Cows, Corn, and Controversy: Updates from the Family Farm

    Cows, Corn, and Controversy: Updates from the Family Farm
    2025/07/30
    On this week’s American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan takes on some of the week’s biggest agricultural stories. He begins with Brooke Rollins' surprising success at the USDA despite her lack of ag experience, especially in supporting disaster-hit farmers.

    Doug also dives into new findings on the dangers of ultra-processed foods vs. traditional whole grains and whole milk.

    Corn season is underway — and so is destruction from the corn earworm, worsened by extreme weather.

    Plus, a lighthearted look at the “cow decor” craze, and a serious note on why only real milk from mammals should be called milk.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    18 分
  • From Tractor Barn to Memory Care: Tyler Hawk’s Roots in Farming

    From Tractor Barn to Memory Care: Tyler Hawk’s Roots in Farming
    2025/07/30
    This week on The American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan welcomes Tyler Hawk of Hawk Farms in Kansas, Ohio. Though Tyler now lives in California, he still travels home to work the family’s 230-acre soybean and corn farm.

    Tyler shares the story of a beloved family heirloom — a 1947 Farmall M tractor restored after sitting in pieces during his childhood.

    Now serving as Executive Director at an assisted living facility, Tyler talks about how his farming roots continue to ground and guide him, even from across the country.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 分
  • Protecting Farm Animals from Summer Heat with Pet Behaviorist Warren Eckstein

    Protecting Farm Animals from Summer Heat with Pet Behaviorist Warren Eckstein
    2025/07/28
    This week on The American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan welcomes Warren Eckstein, Pet Behaviorst and Host of The Pet Show.

    The discussion starts off dispelling the false concept that animals don’t share many of the emotions humans have, but also the beautiful friendship and comradely we have with our animal friends and animal family members.

    When summer temperatures soar, it’s not just humans who suffer — farm animals, barn cats, and loyal working dogs are all vulnerable to heat stress.

    This week on the American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan is joined by internationally renowned pet behaviorist Warren Eckstein to talk about how to keep your animals safe and healthy during extreme heat.

    From simple solutions like shade and clean water to advanced cooling strategies, Warren shares practical, humane tips every farmer can implement. He also breaks down the critical early warning signs of heatstroke in animals and what to do if your livestock or pets are at risk.

    Warren’s four decades of experience — including working with celebrities and serving as a longtime expert on national TV and radio — make him one of the most trusted voices in animal care. Tune in for a conversation that’s as informative as it is heartfelt.

    Learn more: ThePetShow.com


    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 分
  • New Federal Policies, Farm Security & Fresh Tomato Tariffs — What It Means for America's Farmers

    New Federal Policies, Farm Security & Fresh Tomato Tariffs — What It Means for America's Farmers
    2025/07/23
    On this week’s episode of The American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (EastleighFarm.com) unpacks the latest developments from Washington and beyond that are shaping the future of America’s small farms.

    Policy Watch:
    Doug covers updates from the new "Big Beautiful Bill" — including key tax policies and increased federal spending aimed at supporting ag-businesses. With border security becoming an even bigger issue for American farmers, Doug shares why immigration reform and labor access are crucial to keeping small farms afloat.

    Protecting Our Farmland:
    The USDA has rolled out its National Farm Security Action Plan, aiming to limit foreign ownership of U.S. farmland — a move designed to reduce influence from adversarial nations and preserve our agricultural independence.

    Tomatoes, Tariffs & Trade Wars:
    Doug dives into the latest news on import restrictions from Mexico, including a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes, and ongoing prohibitions on live animal imports due to screwworm detection. Plus, how similar tariffs on European agricultural goods could impact our domestic food supply — and whether the U.S. is putting enough focus on what's grown here at home. This episode delivers a timely look at the intersection of farming, policy, and global trade — and how it affects the families who feed America.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    17 分