Canary In A Cornfield – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Canary In A Cornfield, a new podcast from The Harkin Institute! Our first episode features none other than our founder, Senator Tom Harkin (retired)! Here's a preview of the full episode, which drops on 7/10.

Welcome to Canary In A Cornfield - a new podcast from The Harkin Institute! Together, we'll explore how the policies that shape our food and farming systems impact our health, our communities, and our future.

Our first episode features our namesake, Senator Tom Harkin (retired). In this episode, Sen. Harkin discusses his extensive career in agriculture and health policy, including his role in the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act, two farm bills, and more.

Be sure to subscribe to get updated when new episodes drop. You can also get email updates by signing up here.

In this second episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we discuss the impact of nitrates on public health and the environment with Dr. Christopher Gobler from Stony Brook University. The conversation covers research into health risks from nitrate pollution, a "magical septical mystery tour" that helped improve septic systems in New York, and proposed solutions like the nitrogen credit payment program.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we explore a comprehensive report on water quality in central Iowa. The discussion highlights the extensive work done by experts like Dr. Claire Hruby, Dr. Peter Levy, Professor Keith Shilling, Dr. Elliot Anderson, and Professor Mary Kopec, led by Jennifer Terry. Topics include the impact of nitrates, fish kills, and other pollutants on drinking water, ecology, and recreation. The episode also previews a forthcoming presentation on the findings of the report and stresses the importance of community action and creative solutions to address the water quality issues facing Iowa.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, we are joined by Aaron Lehman, President of the Iowa Farmers Union; Colleen Fowle, Water Program Director at the Iowa Environmental Council; Amy Kahler, CEO of Des Moines Water Works; and Audrey E. Tran Lam, Environmental Health Program Director at UNI. Our guests provide reactions to the first official presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment (CISWRA) report.

You can watch the presentation on our YouTube channel.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, guests Anna Pesek of Over the Moon Farm and Kara Shannon of the ASPCA discuss recent legislative efforts to overturn state laws protecting animal welfare. The conversation focuses on California's Proposition 12, which mandates better living conditions for farm animals, and the industry's attempts to counter it through the Save Our Bacon Act. Anna shares insights into sustainable farming practices and why many small farmers like her would be put at a disadvantage by overturning the law, while Kara highlights the broader implications for animal welfare, public health, and the environment.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver sits down with Megan Hunter and Tanner Faaborg to discuss the Transformation Project, an initiative that helps farmers transition from factory farming to more sustainable practices. Megan discusses the project's origins and goals, highlighting the importance of policy support and farmer solidarity. Tanner shares his personal journey, detailing how his family farm moved from hog CAFOs to growing specialty mushrooms. The conversation underscores the environmental impacts of traditional farming, the challenges of gaining autonomy, and the importance of consumer support for local farmers.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver delves into the troubling issue of water regulation in Iowa with investigative journalist Peter Waldman from Bloomberg News. The conversation highlights Waldman's groundbreaking article on the rising nitrate levels in Iowa's water, focusing on the small town of Remsen as a microcosm for the state-wide problem. Waldman recounts his extensive reporting process, the political dynamics hindering effective water regulation, the impact of agricultural practices, and the influence of powerful entities like the Iowa Farm Bureau. The episode underscores the pressing need for policy change and the potential role of regenerative agriculture in addressing these environmental and public health crises.

In this episode of Canary in a Cornfield, host Adam Shriver welcomes Andrew deCoriolis from Farm Forward to discuss current counterproductive policies related to avian influenza (bird flu) as well as potential solutions. This episode is the second in a two-part series on avian influenza.

In this first episode of a two-part series on avian influenza, host Adam Shriver sits down for an in-depth discussion with Dr. Gregory Gray from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Gray, a leading expert in infectious disease epidemiology, explains what avian influenza is, how it differs from other flu types, and why it poses a potential risk to human and animal health.