S3E12 A View from the Farm with Allen Schrag

Lamar and Tom welcome Allen Schrag, an innovative Kansas farmer and business person with a lifetime of experience in farming. In this conversation, they discuss the current state of agriculture, comparing it to the 1980s farm crisis, and explore the risks and challenges faced by farmers today. Allen, and his son Paul, operate Silver Creek Farms where they utilize an array of innovative farming techniques, including the use of biologicals to enhance crop production and to maintain soil health for future generations. To learn more about Allen, Paul, and their approach to farming, visit this website: https://locusag.com/grower-spotlight/allen-schrag-silver-creek-farms/ 

Learn more: 

The Farm Crisis, a 2013 documentary by Iowa Public Television (film, approx. 90 minutes): https://www.pbs.org/video/iptv-specials-farm-crisis/

The Farm Crisis of the 1980’s, a short-course based on the 2013 documentary above: https://www.iowapbs.org/iowapathways/mypath/2422/farm-crisis-1980s 

Country (1984 film starring Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087091/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 

The River (1984 film starring Cissy Spacek and Mel Gibson): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088007/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 

The Farmer’s Wife (1998 Frontline Series from PBS):

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/farmerswife/

Also, check out these concepts described by Allen:

Biologicals in agriculture: https://locusag.com/blog/agricultural-biologicals/

Carbon offsets: https://www.climatefarmers.org/blog/carbon-credits-for-farmers-what-are-they-and-what-benefits-do-they-bring/ 

Chapter 12 bankruptcy: https://www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chapter-12-Bankruptcy-Brief.pdf 

Sustainable Airline Fuel (SAF): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_biofuel 

How We Check Ourselves

Fact Checking: Because there are a lot of things happening…some true, some false, some unbelievable…we use the following fact checking sites. Take a look for yourself:

• Snopes - https://www.snopes.com/ 

• FactCheck.org - https://www.factcheck.org/ 

• Politifact - https://www.politifact.com/

• RealClearPolitics - https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ 

Because media can have its own biases, we also rely upon these sites to help us get balanced coverage:

• Media Bias/Fact Check - https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/

• All Sides - https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news

• Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart - https://app.adfontesmedia.com/chart/interactive 

Meet Lamar and Tom

Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus are lifelong friends exploring how to get to a 3rd Space - a space where two or more people with opposing viewpoints, ideologies, and worldviews can come together to hear, listen, share, and connect with one another. Together Lamar and Tom hope to carve out a 3rd Space where everything can be on the table for open, straightforward, honest, and, yet kind and respectful inquiry. 

Want to watch us do the podcast? Visit the Klaus Haus Productions YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@KlausHausProductions