Jenny Ifft

In this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft talks with Rich Stup from Cornell about one of agriculture's biggest challenges: finding and keeping employees.​ Drawing on his experience working with agricultural employers across the Northeast, Rich discusses how labor markets, immigration policy, the H-2A program, labor regulations, and other policy decisions are shaping the farm workforce. He also shares how employers are adapting through leadership development, workplace culture, technology, and management practices.​ This conversation explores how policy and on-farm decision-making intersect as agricultural employers respond to today's workforce challenges.​

Effective agricultural policy depends on credible facts and a clear understanding of scientific reality. But research can contribute to policy decisions only when its findings are communicated clearly, at the right level of detail, and while the issue is still under consideration.​

Fertilizer is one of agriculture’s most important inputs—and one of the most exposed to global trade and conflict-prone regions.​ In this episode of Smoke & Mirrors, Jennifer Ifft talks with Veronica Nigh of The Fertilizer Institute about how fertilizer moves through global markets and why disruptions matter for U.S. agriculture. The U.S. produces about 65% of the fertilizer it uses, while TFI represents roughly 260 members across the supply chain.​ They also discuss trade policy, transportation constraints, the sulfur shortage, environmental regulation, current limitations of private and USDA fertilizer-use data, and why expanding domestic production takes years.​