232. Chris Jones on the Precarious Future of Rural America

Has rural farming and small town America changed where you live?  On today’s episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, our guest is Chris Jones who has recently served as a Research Engineer at the University of Iowa. While there, he studied and wrote about the declining quality of water as a result of the changes in agriculture and the environment over the past century. He shares those thoughts and critiques through his blog which was released as a book entitled The Swine Republic on May 19th. Through authoring books, advocacy and research, few have attracted more attention to the causes and sources of farm-related pollution than Chris Jones.  Tune in to hear about Chris’ thoughts on how we can protect our environment and the future of rural America. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Chris got started in water quality research 1:51 About the water quality of the places Chris has researched 5:12 More on what happens when nitrate gets into the water 9:39 About Chris’ role throughout the majority of his career 13:11 How people in Iowa can give political pushback in support of cleaner water 21:00 What Chris’ new book is about and the future state of rural America 26:17 Products mentioned in the show: Chris’ book The Swine Republic (or pre-order via Amazon) About the Guest: Chris Jones is a Research Engineer with IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Montana State University and a BA in chemistry and biology from Simpson College. Previous career stops include the Des Moines Water Works and the Iowa Soybean Association. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, bird watching, gardening, and mushroom hunting in both Iowa and Wisconsin. While he spends most of his time in Iowa City, he is especially fond of the Upper Mississippi River and the Driftless Area. Resources: Blog: https://riverraccoon.blogspot.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiverRaccoon Substack: https://riverraccoon.substack.com/     This podcast is sponsored by Small Farm University, THE go-to resource for gardeners, homesteaders, and farmers around the world. Small Farm University delivers classes online and on demand, with training on how to grow crops AND how to grow a profitable farm business that serves you, your family, and your community well.  Applying what you learn in SFU could save you countless hours and thousands of dollars. And, it can save you the agony of costly mistakes some make, just because they “don’t know what they don’t know.” Delivered by real farmers with hands-on experience and expertise, it is unique in its approach, using the RIPEN method for growing and building a farm or farm business. To learn more, visit:  GrowingFarmers.com today!