Gus Schumacher & Richard A. Jones are the guests on this week's edition of HRN's flagship show, The Main Course. Gus Schumacher is a founding member of Wholesome Wave and formerly the Undersecretary of Agriculture for the Clinton Administration. Gus discusses his work with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and farmers markets, and explains how we can add more "Nutrition" to the SNAP program. He also talks about the upcoming Farm Bill and how we can move towards a more local and regional food system in America. Richard A. Jones, author of The Beekeepers Bible, does into depth about beekeeping and the incredible lives of bees. This episode was sponsored by The Museum of Food & Drink. For more information on the "Get the Ball Rolling Fundraiser" click here.

Gus Schumacher

This week on Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer is geeking out with Dr. Charles Benbrook. Dr. Benbrook is a research professor at the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University. He is the program leader of “Measure to Manage: Farm and Food Diagnostics for Sustainability and Health.” His career has focused on developing science-based systems for evaluating the public health, environmental, and economic impacts of changes in agricultural systems, biotechnology, and policy. He has worked extensively on pesticide use and risk assessment, and the development of bio-intensive Integrated pest Management. He played an important role in the evolution of the 1996 “Food Quality Protection Act,” and has produced multiple reports on agricultural biotechnology. Tune into this episode to hear about herbicide-resistant crops, and whether or not they will be a solution to extravagant herbicide usage. Learn the differences between GMO crops and hybridized plants. Are resistant insect populations a worry for farmers in the United States? Hear about some commonly used herbicides, and their health and environmental concerns. Click here for a study concerning toxicity and Roundup-resistance. This program has been sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"This largest group of GE crops that have been planted around the world since 1996, they really don't have anything to do with increased yields. In fact, the evidence suggests a small yield drag as a result of the genetic transformation that renders them tolerant to applications of this Roundup herbicide..." [4:55]

"I'm just trying to keep the industry honest. You will still find claims by so-called experts that today's GE crops are reducing pesticide use. It's just not true!" [32:00]

-- Dr. Charles Benbrook on Straight, No Chaser

This week on Beer Sessions Radio it's all about Vermont beers. Joining host Jimmy Carbone in the studio is Jay Steinhauer of American Beer and Todd Hardie of Caledonia Spirits. They talk about the rise of Vermont as a state that has become dominant in the craft beer world by being home to breweries such as Lawson's Finest, Shelton Brothers, Captain Lawrence, and McNeill's, all of whom are putting out award winning beers. Tune in as the Vermont brewmaster himself, Sam McNeill, calls in to talk about his very careful research and development in crafting his beers as well as enlightening us to what exactly a decoction mash is. This episode is sponsored by GreatBrewers.com

"I would try to educate myself on beer styles as well as I could before I tried to make something"

--Ray McNeill on Beer Sessions Radio