Sean Dengler.

A boy can dream. While I do not have a ton of experience in agriculture outside of farming – and I do not have a formal education in it – coming from a different background with different perspectives can lead to one seeing agriculture in a different light. With this being said, the dream is to become the Godfather of Agriculture. When it comes to breaking the mold, if recent and upcoming presidential elections are any indicator, thinking outside of the box is encouraged.

This is what I would change.

Preventing or curtailing water hemp. This dastardly weed has become resistant to many chemical tactics leading to it becoming more expensive to kill and taking nutrients away from crops in the field. Instead of throwing more chemicals at it like farmers have done and will continue to do, why not grow markets for different crops besides corn and soybeans? This might sound counterproductive, but different crops with different chemical and cultural practices will confuse this dastardly weed. Water hemp is only a symptom of the greater problem of lack of diversity. Using a crop like oats, wheat, or rye can stifle this weed from growing. While growing these as a cover crop can help, creating markets for them as a cash crop is more important. Iowa has Quaker Oats, but have I ever heard of anyone utilizing them? No. Encouraging and helping different companies take Iowa products is the best option. If a food company wants to do business in Iowa, they should support Iowa farmers.

Supporting farmers is the most important part of being the Godfather of Agriculture. It is common to hear people say the government is always looking out for farmers. It is true and not true. The government should be invested in protecting agriculture. Food is what people need, but the problem is when subsidies like crop insurance help enrich the insurance companies, seed companies, and chemical companies more than farmers. When only specific crops get subsidies instead of others, it further encourages farmers to grow the same crops.

Ethanol is a whole other complex issue, and the water quality issues which come from the leaching of nitrogen. While it is important to produce big crops, it should be more necessary to sustain farmers on the land more than sustain the shareholder’s pocketbooks. This is not to absolve farmers of all responsibility, but instead to say while farmers can take the criticism, it is important to note big corporations make a lot of money off the risks farmers take.

Using antitrust laws to block further consolidation in chemical, seed, meatpackers, insurance companies, or breaking them up can also help. Farmers compete with their neighbors to grow the best crop. It only makes sense to encourage more competition between these different companies. Most of the markets farmers deal with only have a few companies within them, and this is not good for farmers or rural Iowa. Agriculture policy should be to protect farmers, non-farmers, anything else, and agribusiness last. Not that agribusiness does not matter, but when companies are more concerned about their shareholder’s bottom line than a farmer’s bottom line, then this is a problem.

Building a more resilient food system is important like using foods from local farms to be used in rural schools. Iowa used to be a big apple-producing state and grew other crops besides what is on Iowa’s current landscape. It is possible, and it will allow for more opportunities. It could lead to healthier outcomes for Iowans. Allowing farmers to use a free market for their animals and grain instead of contracting with one meatpacker. This lets the meatpacker get everything they want while the farmer takes on most of the risk. It is about giving farmers a fair chance. Getting the government’s thumb off the ethanol scale would naturally open more opportunities for different farms. Whether it is in nature or business, when everything looks the same, this is not a healthy sign.

The last part is to require every citizen to visit a farm. It is astonishing how many people do not understand agriculture, and the good and bad of it. Through multiple conversations with Iowans, it has been revealed they believe crops are irrigated in Iowa. There is probably irrigation somewhere but not for the most part. This is concerning. Explaining how chemicals work and the pros and cons of them are also necessary. It is unfortunate, and something people need to understand that agriculture is not easy.

It is clear agriculture needs a change. Rural areas are hollowing out as the system promotes consolidation, and this is a shame. By promoting policy which opens different markets, breaking up big agribusiness or at least stopping consolidation, and building a resilient food system will help farmers and non-farmers live a better life. It needs to happen.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.