Bonus Episode with Zach Ducheneaux: Administrator with An Ear to the Ground

As we heard throughout the first season of Against the Grain, American farmers have historically struggled to get the United States Department of Agriculture to listen to, and address their most pressing concerns. That was certainly true when Farm Aid was founded in the midst of the 1980s farm crisis when farmers were pushed off their land due to loan foreclosures. We've also heard that there's a range of reasons why farmers - particularly farmers of color and Tribal producers - feel a sense of distrust towards the USDA. But the USDA recently announced major rule changes that affect farmers' access to and delivery of farm loans. In this bonus episode of Against the Grain, Farm Aid's Communications Director, Jennifer Fahy explains the significance of this rule change. We also hear from Zach Ducheneaux, the USDA's Farm Service Agency's (FSA) administrator, who is perhaps the person most responsible for this sea change in USDA policy.