Corn: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

LastWeekTonight
23 May 202424:53

Summary

TLDRThis script explores America's deep-rooted relationship with corn, from its prevalence in food and culture to its political significance. It delves into the environmental and health consequences of corn subsidies and farming practices, highlighting how 45% of corn is used for ethanol, 40% for livestock feed, and a mere 1% for human consumption. The script critiques the Renewable Fuel Standard, the impact of industrial farming on soil and water, and calls for a rethinking of farm policy to address the negative externalities of corn production, suggesting a shift towards more sustainable and responsible agricultural practices.

Takeaways

  • 🌜 Corn is deeply ingrained in American culture, from food to entertainment and politics.
  • 🏰 The Illinois Corn Maze is a 28-acre family activity that showcases the versatility and cultural significance of corn.
  • 👚‍🌟 Politicians often use corn as a symbol to appeal to voters, especially in agricultural states like Iowa.
  • 💰 The U.S. government heavily subsidizes corn production, which incentivizes farmers to grow large quantities of it.
  • 📈 The subsidies and policies have led to a significant increase in corn production, creating surpluses.
  • 🌟 Only a small percentage of corn grown in the U.S. is for direct human consumption; the majority is used for other purposes.
  • 🚜 Industrial farming practices, such as the use of chemical fertilizers, have contributed to environmental issues.
  • 🌊 Nitrogen runoff from cornfields has caused water contamination, leading to health risks like blue baby syndrome and dead zones in water bodies.
  • 🐄 A large portion of corn is used as livestock feed, which can lead to health issues in animals and contribute to antibiotic resistance.
  • 🌟 Ethanol production, heavily reliant on corn, has its own set of environmental concerns, including high water usage and questionable greenhouse gas reductions.
  • 🛑 There is a call for a rethinking of current farm policies and the Renewable Fuel standard to address the negative impacts of corn production.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of corn in American culture and politics?

    -Corn holds a significant place in American culture, being featured in various forms such as caramel corn, the Corn Palace in South Dakota, and as a mascot for the Nebraska Corn Huskers. In politics, appealing to the Corn Growers of America and showing interest in corn has been a common strategy for presidential contenders, demonstrating corn's importance in American agriculture and economy.

  • What is the Illinois Corn Maze and why is it created?

    -The Illinois Corn Maze is a large family activity that covers 28 acres and features nearly 10 miles of trails. It is designed to be the world's largest corn maze, with a theme that changes every year. The aim is to create amazement with an aerial photograph that showcases the maze's design, attracting visitors and offering a unique experience.

  • How much of the corn produced in the United States is used for human consumption?

    -Only 1% of the corn produced in the United States is made for direct human consumption. The rest is known as field or dent corn, which is not typically consumed directly by humans due to its poor taste and texture.

  • What are some of the uses of field or dent corn?

    -Field or dent corn is used in a variety of products such as cornmeal and high fructose corn syrup. It is also utilized in industrial products like paint and plastics. Additionally, a significant portion is used for livestock feed and the production of ethanol, a gasoline alternative.

  • What impact has the subsidization of corn had on the environment and farming communities?

    -The subsidization of corn has led to its dominance in American agriculture, which has come at the expense of the environment, health, and some farming communities. The intensive farming practices have caused issues like soil erosion, contaminated water sources leading to health problems like blue baby syndrome, and environmental disasters such as dead zones in water bodies due to fertilizer runoff.

  • How have government policies influenced the farming of corn in the United States?

    -Government policies, such as those introduced during the Great Depression and further changes in the 1970s, have heavily incentivized the growth of corn by subsidizing farmers and reducing the risk of expanding operations. These policies have led to surpluses in commodity crops, especially corn, and have benefited large producers more than small family farmers.

  • What is the Renewable Fuel Standard, and how does it relate to corn production?

    -The Renewable Fuel Standard is a mandate created by the 2005 Energy bill that requires a certain amount of renewable fuel to be blended into the domestic gasoline supply. This has significantly increased the demand for corn, as ethanol, a form of renewable fuel, is primarily produced from corn, leading to further expansion of corn farming.

  • What are some of the negative environmental impacts of producing ethanol from corn?

    -Producing ethanol from corn has been found to have a carbon footprint at least 24% higher than regular gasoline when considering the fertilizer and land use changes needed for corn cultivation. Additionally, the water-intensive nature of corn farming contributes to the depletion of groundwater resources, especially in areas where irrigation is necessary.

  • How does the use of corn in livestock feed affect the animals and potentially human health?

    -The predominant use of corn in livestock feed can be detrimental to the animals' digestive systems, as they are not evolved to consume such a diet. This can lead to health issues like liver abscesses in cattle, prompting the use of antibiotics in feed, which contributes to antibiotic resistance, a significant concern for human health.

  • What are some suggestions for rethinking the current farming policy and practices related to corn?

    -Suggestions include reevaluating the Renewable Fuel Standard and resetting farm policy to include federal safety nets contingent on farmers having strategies for preserving topsoil, controlling chemical runoff, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to create a more sustainable and less harmful agricultural system.

  • What is the significance of the 'non-liquid gold' nickname for corn, and how does it reflect the current state of corn production?

    -The 'non-liquid gold' nickname for corn reflects its high value and importance in the American economy. However, it also highlights the lack of innovation in describing corn, much like regular gold, and points to the need for a shift in how corn is produced and utilized to address the environmental and health issues associated with its current dominance in agriculture.

Outlines

00:00

🌜 The Cultural and Political Significance of Corn

This paragraph delves into the deep cultural connection Americans have with corn, highlighting its versatility in food and entertainment, such as the Illinois Corn Maze. It also touches on the political aspect, where presidential candidates often appeal to corn growers for support. The script humorously critiques the use of corn as a campaign tool and introduces the concept of 'non-liquid gold' as a nickname for corn. The paragraph concludes by discussing the vast scale of corn production in the U.S., its minimal direct human consumption, and its use in various industries, leading to environmental and health concerns.

05:01

💰 The Impact of Government Subsidies on Corn Production

This section examines the role of government subsidies in promoting corn cultivation in the U.S. It explains how policies, starting from the Great Depression and significantly altered in the 1970s, have incentivized farmers to grow corn extensively. The paragraph discusses the shift from paying farmers to reduce supply to subsidizing them when prices fall, leading to surpluses. It also reveals that these subsidies disproportionately benefit large producers rather than small family farms. The script points out the manipulation of subsidy systems by large landowners and the lack of benefits for smaller, diverse farms.

10:02

🌿 Environmental Consequences of Industrial Corn Farming

This paragraph focuses on the environmental impact of large-scale corn farming, particularly the use of nitrogen fertilizer. It discusses how this practice contributes to water contamination, leading to health issues like blue baby syndrome and ecological problems like dead zones in water bodies. The script also mentions soil erosion and dust storms, which have severe consequences, including fatalities. The paragraph underscores the need for a reevaluation of agricultural practices and policies to mitigate these environmental issues.

15:05

🐄 The Effects of Corn on Livestock and Antibiotic Resistance

Here, the script discusses the use of corn in livestock feed and its unintended consequences on animal health. It explains that the overuse of corn in diets not naturally high in this grain leads to digestive issues in animals, which in turn results in the widespread use of antibiotics. This practice is criticized for contributing to antibiotic resistance, a significant global health concern. The paragraph also satirizes the absurdity of using corn in ways that are detrimental to both animal and human health.

20:09

🚗 The Ethanol Mandate and Its Unintended Negatives

The final paragraph addresses the ethanol mandate, which was intended to reduce dependency on foreign oil but has had several negative repercussions. It points out that ethanol production has a higher carbon footprint than previously thought and that the demand for corn to produce ethanol is depleting water resources. The script also criticizes the Renewable Fuel Standard for being outdated and calls for a rethinking of farm policy to include strategies for environmental conservation. The paragraph ends with a call to action to change the status quo for the benefit of the environment and public health.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Corn

Corn is a cereal grain and one of the world's most widely cultivated and consumed crops. In the video's context, it represents both a cultural symbol and a significant agricultural product in the United States. The script discusses America's love for corn in various forms, from food to entertainment, and its extensive cultivation, which leads to various environmental and health issues.

💡Corn Maze

A corn maze is a large maze created in a cornfield, designed for recreational purposes. The script mentions the Illinois Corn Maze, which is depicted as a family-friendly activity and a symbol of the American rural culture. The maze's theme changes annually, and it is presented as a source of pride and amazement, although the video also humorously highlights the potential for it to be a terrifying experience.

💡Non-liquid Gold

The term 'non-liquid gold' is used metaphorically in the script to describe corn, emphasizing its economic value and importance to American agriculture. It is mentioned in a humorous context where politicians use the nickname to appeal to corn growers and voters in corn-producing states like Iowa.

💡Subsidies

Subsidies in the script refer to financial aid provided by the government to support farmers, particularly those growing corn. The video explains how subsidies have been used to incentivize the production of certain crops, leading to an oversupply and the dominance of corn in American agriculture. Subsidies are also criticized for benefiting larger producers more than small family farms.

💡Earl 'Rusty' Butts

Earl 'Rusty' Butts was an American politician and Nixon's agriculture secretary. The script uses him as an example of a policymaker who pushed for increased agricultural production, which contributed to the current state of corn farming and its associated problems. His nickname 'Rusty' is used in a playful manner, highlighting the absurdity of his influence on farm policy.

💡Dead Zone

A 'dead zone' in the script refers to areas in bodies of water where oxygen is depleted, often due to agricultural runoff. It is mentioned in the context of the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, illustrating the environmental damage caused by the excessive use of fertilizers in corn farming.

💡Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel that can be made from fermented corn. The script discusses how ethanol production has become a significant consumer of corn due to government mandates and subsidies. It also points out the negative environmental impacts, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and water usage, associated with corn-based ethanol production.

💡Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is a piece of legislation in the United States that addresses agricultural policy, nutrition, and conservation programs. The script mentions the Farm Bill as a key driver of agricultural practices, including corn production, and suggests that it is currently being reconsidered, offering an opportunity for policy reform.

💡Cargill and Monsanto

Cargill and Monsanto are mentioned in the script as examples of large corporations that have benefited from the current state of corn farming in the U.S. Cargill is a major player in the nitrogen fertilizer industry, while Monsanto is known for its dominance in corn seed supply. Their involvement highlights the industrialization and commercialization of agriculture.

💡Blue Baby Syndrome

Blue baby syndrome, also known as methemoglobinemia, is a medical condition caused by high levels of nitrates in drinking water. The script uses this term to illustrate the human health risks associated with the runoff from nitrogen fertilizers used in corn farming.

💡Industrial Meat Producers

Industrial meat producers are large-scale operations that raise livestock, often in confined environments, for meat production. The script discusses how the cheap cost of corn, due to subsidies, has led to an increase in corn-fed livestock, which can have negative health impacts on the animals and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Highlights

America's love for corn is evident in its various forms and cultural significance.

The Illinois Corn Maze, a 28-acre family activity, aims to be the world's largest with a theme that changes annually.

Politicians often use corn as a symbol to appeal to voters, especially in agricultural states like Iowa.

The U.S. is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of corn, with a nearly 90 billion dollar industry.

Only 1% of corn grown in the U.S. is for direct human consumption; the rest is used for various industrial and livestock purposes.

Government policies, such as subsidies and insurance coverage, have incentivized large-scale corn farming.

Subsidies tend to benefit larger producers rather than small family farms, leading to an imbalance in the distribution of support.

The environmental impact of corn farming includes erosion, contaminated water, and the depletion of groundwater resources.

The use of corn in livestock feed has increased due to its subsidized low cost, leading to health issues in animals.

Ethanol production, which consumes a large portion of U.S. corn, has been criticized for its negative environmental effects.

The Renewable Fuel standard is up for renewal, presenting an opportunity to reassess corn farming policies.

The transcript highlights the need for a shift in farming policy to address the environmental and health impacts of corn production.

Corn's dominance in American agriculture has led to a monoculture that negatively affects the environment and small farming communities.

The corn industry's growth has benefited large corporations more than individual farmers, centralizing control and profits.

The U.S. government's agricultural policies have historically influenced the types and amounts of crops farmers grow, with玉米corn being a major beneficiary.

The transcript calls for a reevaluation of the way corn is subsidized and used in various industries to promote a more sustainable and equitable agricultural system.

Transcripts

00:04

our main story tonight concerns corn we

00:07

love it in all of its forms from caramel

00:09

corn to the Corn Palace in South Dakota

00:11

to the mascot of the Nebraska Corn

00:13

Huskers except not the modern travesty

00:15

I'm talking about the early one no not

00:16

that demon the original yeah that's him

00:19

the guy in regular clothes with an

00:21

enormous corn cop for a head asking the

00:23

question am I man or am I corn we love

00:26

corn so much we've even found a way to

00:28

make it a wholesome family activity this

00:31

Illinois Corn Maze is rural sprawl 28

00:35

acres in all with almost 10 mil of

00:38

trails we said if we're going to do it

00:40

why not be the world's largest the theme

00:42

changes every year that great aerial

00:45

photograph we want people to go wow

00:48

that's a magnificent picture our Beatles

00:50

maze in in

00:52

2013 I mean you could see the faces of

00:55

The Beatles fifth graders zigzagging

00:57

through a corn maze thinking we got to

01:00

find a way out or this field trip could

01:02

be our

01:04

last

01:06

wow that got dark quick although I think

01:10

even the Beatles would agree there is

01:12

just no better tribute to their legacy

01:13

than having terrified children wander

01:15

around Ringo's nostrils wondering if

01:18

they'll ever see their families again

01:20

and because of how much we love corn

01:22

appealing to the Corn Growers of America

01:24

has always been good politics

01:26

presidential contenders love to Pander

01:28

to people in Iowa from Obama standing in

01:30

front of a corn field to Mitt Romney

01:32

pretending to be intently interested in

01:34

an ear of corn to whatever George Bush

01:36

thought he was doing here there is a

01:39

long history of American politicians

01:41

being weird around corn but perhaps no

01:43

one has ever been weirder while

01:45

discussing it than this I just met

01:48

non-liquid gold you know where it was

01:50

Iowa it's called corn they have it's non

01:54

liquid that's my day you have more non

01:57

Liquid Gold they said what is that I

01:59

said corn they said we love that idea

02:01

you know that's pretty cool thought

02:02

isn't it that's a nickname in its own

02:04

way but we came up with a new word for

02:06

new couple of words for corn

02:10

yeah did you though because non-liquid

02:13

gold isn't so much a way of describing

02:14

corn as it is a way of describing

02:16

regular gold that's a level of non-

02:19

innovation Innovation that we haven't

02:21

seen since Lyft invented something

02:23

called lift shuttle which was and this

02:25

is true the

02:27

bus but he is right we are the world's

02:30

largest producer consumer and exporter

02:32

of non-liquid not gold in the world we

02:35

also produce more corn than any other

02:37

crop in the US farming it is a nearly 90

02:40

billion industry with Farmers planting

02:41

roughly 90 million Acres a year and in

02:44

case you're like me and don't really

02:46

understand what an acre is it might help

02:48

to know that cornfields currently occupy

02:50

nearly 5% of the land surface of the

02:53

contiguous United States and you might

02:55

already be thinking well so what that

02:57

means that America's well stocked for

02:59

the movies barbecues and House parties

03:02

where someone wants that Black Bean

03:03

Salsa thing why do you have to ruin a

03:05

good thing to which I say one it's a

03:07

calling and a Clarity of purpose and two

03:09

of those millions of acres of corn only

03:12

1% is made for direct human consumption

03:15

the rest is called field or Dent corn

03:17

which as these documentaries discovered

03:19

might look delicious but very much

03:26

isn't it's not very good

03:32

tastes like s yeah it's disgusting it

03:35

tastes like chalk I really thought it

03:38

would taste

03:39

better yeah it turns out sweet corn is

03:42

as similar to Dent corn as a chocolate

03:44

bunny is to a real bunny only one of

03:47

them actually tastes good raw now I

03:50

should point out Dent corn is used in a

03:53

lot of things that we do consume like

03:54

cornmeal and high fructose corn syrup

03:57

it's also used in Industrial Products

03:59

like paint Plastics but in recent years

04:01

such uses have only accounted for around

04:03

15% of what we do with Dent corn with

04:05

around 40% being used for Liv stock feed

04:08

and the final 45% becoming the gasoline

04:11

alternative ethanol but as you will see

04:13

while corn is incredibly versatile the

04:15

way we've incentivized farming it has

04:17

caused considerable Downstream harm

04:19

because it turns out Corn's utter

04:21

dominance of American agriculture comes

04:23

to the expense of our environment our

04:25

health and some of our farming

04:27

communities just listen to One scientist

04:29

who grew up farming sum up how he feels

04:31

about it I go by a field of corn looks

04:35

beautiful to me you know that that comes

04:38

from having grown up on the Kansas farm

04:40

if you're not aware as to what it is

04:43

that stands behind all of that

04:46

agriculture you can live with the

04:48

illusion that there's nothing wrong

04:50

right if you don't know what's behind

04:52

those stalks of corn you can easily

04:54

believe that there is nothing wrong but

04:55

I've already shown you that there could

04:57

well be a bunch of fifth graders

04:59

wandering around back there running low

05:01

on Supply so I think we're past the

05:02

point of the illusion here and given

05:05

that tonight let's talk about a few of

05:06

the key problems with corn specifically

05:08

how we subsidize it how we grow it and

05:11

what we shove it into and let's start

05:13

with the fact that the US is incredibly

05:15

well suited to growing corn as this

05:17

professor explains in a bizarre walkand

05:19

talk it's really a tropical crop warm

05:22

season crop but the growing season here

05:25

the precipitation the rainfall that we

05:27

get the amount of light that we get

05:30

all those things combined to just be a a

05:33

wonderful perfect environment for it to

05:35

grow in what is happening there whose

05:38

idea was it to make him do that you know

05:40

what would make this point about the

05:42

perfect climate of the Corn really land

05:44

for people Professor Roger Elmore being

05:46

aggressively groped by horny stalks of

05:48

it but while chemical fertilizers

05:51

careful breeding and new technology have

05:53

made Farmers able to grow massive

05:55

amounts of corn government policy has

05:57

also played a significant role by by

06:00

heavily thumbing the scale in

06:01

incentivizing what crops Farmers choose

06:03

to grow modern farm policy was born

06:06

during the Great Depression when Farmers

06:07

faced a crisis nearly a million lost

06:10

their farms in the first four years

06:12

alone and that is when FDR's

06:14

Administration passed legislation to

06:16

drive the price of farmed Goods up

06:18

during times of over Supply by doing

06:20

things like paying Farmers to plant less

06:23

but a key turning point came in the

06:25

1970s thanks to in large part to a man

06:28

named and this is true Earl

06:30

butts his nickname was actually Rusty

06:32

meaning he was known as and this is true

06:34

again Earl Rusty

06:36

butts anyway buts who was Nixon's

06:39

agriculture secretary disagreed with the

06:40

policy of paying Farmers to reduce

06:42

Supply and sought to swing the pendulum

06:44

all the way in the opposite direction

06:47

with the new Farm Act we have

06:49

experienced a 180 degree turn in the

06:51

philosophy of our farm programs we've

06:54

abandoned the longtime philosophy of

06:57

curtailment and cut back to the new

06:59

philos phos opy of expansion we're going

07:01

to see the most massive increase in

07:04

production of farm products ever in the

07:06

history of this country yeah Rusty buts

07:09

a man who looks like he'd probably one

07:11

day have to resign after saying a racial

07:13

slur insisted everyone should grow more

07:16

and he did that only a few years before

07:17

unsurprisingly resigning after saying a

07:20

racial slurp but while he was still in

07:23

the job buts pushed hard for Farmers to

07:26

expand their operations and Nixon's 1973

07:29

Farm Bill reflected his philosophy

07:30

Farmers would no longer be paid for not

07:33

planting crops instead if prices fell

07:36

below a certain Target the federal

07:38

government would simply pay Farmers to

07:40

make up the difference significantly

07:42

reducing the risk of expanding your

07:44

operation and incentivizing Farmers to

07:46

go as big as they could these policies

07:49

help create almost immediate surpluses

07:51

in commodity crops especially corn and

07:54

similar policies still exist today and

07:56

on top of them the government now issues

07:58

subsidies to pay for part of a farmers's

08:00

crop insurance which provides coverage

08:02

to Farmers if their crops fail those

08:04

subsidies have amounted to over 60% of

08:07

the insurance premiums in recent years

08:09

and while these policies sometimes get

08:11

positioned as protections for small farm

08:13

family Farmers the truth is that is not

08:16

who reaps the vast majority of the

08:18

benefits which tend to flow to the

08:20

biggest producers in fact over the last

08:22

28 years the top 10% of farm subsidy

08:25

recipients received

08:27

79% of the subsidies with over a quarter

08:30

of them going to the top 1% meanwhile

08:33

the vast majority of farmers do not

08:36

benefit from Farm subsidy programs at

08:38

all and that is for many reasons not

08:40

least of which is that it's much harder

08:42

for small farms which might grow a wider

08:44

variety of crops to qualify for them

08:47

just listen to this family explain their

08:49

small farm situation we grow tomatoes we

08:52

grow basil we grow cauliflower we grow

08:54

broccoli we grow um chard and carrots we

08:58

grow the health healthiest crops we we

09:01

possibly can't I don't think there is a

09:03

subsidy for any of the crops we grow as

09:04

far as I'm concerned the only subsidies

09:06

out there are for the big grain

09:08

producers okay first let me just address

09:10

something quickly that's a up

09:12

looking carrot that that kid is holding

09:14

there but second it does feel wrong that

09:17

an operation growing healthy produce

09:20

wouldn't receive any subsidies even if

09:21

it is called s which sounds less like a

09:25

small family farm and more like a pH

09:26

balancing douche and so

09:30

big land owners have over the years

09:32

developed all sorts of ways to gain the

09:34

farm subsidy system for instance

09:36

payments used to be capped on a per Farm

09:39

basis so they simply started subdividing

09:41

themselves into multiple entities Each

09:44

of which could then collect the maximum

09:46

payout back in the 2000s the GAO pointed

09:48

out this problem noting that one land

09:50

owner in Arkansas David Brooks Griffin

09:52

had split his farm into 66 smaller ones

09:56

and seem to be listing his employees as

09:58

their owners just watch what happened

10:00

when one reporter tried to pay Griffin a

10:02

visit we wanted to speak with Mr Griffin

10:04

shown here leaving on his helicopter but

10:06

he refused so instead we set out to find

10:09

some of the people Griffin enlisted as

10:11

owners of those smaller Farms it took

10:14

some hunting for us to find Quia pots

10:17

I'm a partner in three different Farms

10:19

the government lists him as a part owner

10:21

of several of the smaller Farms but like

10:24

many listed as owners of paper Farms

10:26

pots appeared to be an owner in name

10:29

only the records indicate over 3 years

10:32

you received

10:34

$340,000 through the Farms through the

10:36

farm payments that's right but did you

10:38

put that money in your bank account yeah

10:40

no yeah of course no that is very well

10:45

said and if you're wondering how to tell

10:47

who the real owner of the farm is it is

10:49

not the guy who agreed to that interview

10:51

and it is the guy showed leaving on his

10:53

helicopter but USDA investigators said

10:56

that that was perfectly legal and

10:58

Incredibly some of the rules have only

11:00

gotten looser since then under the

11:02

current farm bill that per Farm payment

11:04

limit has been scrapped and while there

11:06

is technically a limit of $125,000 per

11:08

year per person crucially there is no

11:11

cap on how many people can reach the

11:13

payment limit so in addition to more

11:15

immediate family members like parents

11:17

siblings and adult children cousins

11:19

nieces or nephews also qualify for

11:21

payments the only real requirement is

11:23

that you must be actively engaged in

11:25

farming but it turns out even that

11:27

doesn't really mean much the definition

11:30

of actively engaged in farming is very

11:33

vague so you can call into a shareholder

11:35

meeting every now and then a few times a

11:38

year or do things like have some small

11:42

Financial Risk in the farm in order to

11:46

receive payments so you don't have to

11:47

ever set foot on a farm to receive these

11:50

payments that's true you don't have to

11:52

even set foot on a farm you can just be

11:54

the farm owner's cousin which as we are

11:56

all aware can be someone you barely know

11:59

a normal relationship with your cousin

12:01

is get their holiday card announcing

12:03

their third pregnancy think didn't they

12:05

say they hated kids hang the card on

12:07

your fridge and then throw it away once

12:09

you stop feeling guilty all of which in

12:11

my opinion doesn't entitle you to

12:13

$125,000 a year and look it is not like

12:16

corn is the only crop that we subsidize

12:18

in this way you could make similar

12:20

criticisms of wheat or soybeans but the

12:22

biggest share of these subsidies in

12:24

recent decades have gone to Corn far

12:27

surpassing that of any other crop

12:29

basically in the world of agricultural

12:31

products corn is the unquestionable

12:33

Superstar beans want to be it oats want

12:36

to it and and as the corn industry

12:40

has ballooned some of the biggest

12:43

beneficiaries haven't actually been the

12:45

farmers themselves but enormous

12:46

corporations from these four companies

12:48

that now dominate the nitrogen

12:50

fertilizer industry to these two that

12:51

now dominate nearly three quarters of

12:53

the supply of seeds for corn and the

12:56

production of corn has become

12:58

increasingly Industrial the methods that

13:00

we've used to supercharge its growth

13:01

have taken a toll on the environment

13:03

take nitrogen fertilizer it is needed to

13:06

intensively Farm one crop over and over

13:09

again especially if Farmers don't take

13:11

steps to protect the soil's natural

13:13

fertility and corn uses the most

13:16

fertilizer of all major US crops and

13:19

that can have consequences that many

13:20

scientists including that guy that you

13:22

saw earlier are very concerned about

13:25

because nitrogen fertilizer is the

13:26

biggest contributor to a problem that

13:28

happens when contaminated water on

13:30

agricultural land leeches into

13:32

groundwater or runs off into rivers and

13:35

streams and eventually gets into our

13:36

drinking water which can cause a

13:38

condition with a truly horrifying name

13:42

since the 1940s scientists have warned

13:45

that exposure to excess nitrates can

13:47

inhibit oxygen circulation in an

13:49

infant's blood consuming high nitrate

13:52

water will tend to strip oxygen out of

13:54

the blood and that's produces this blue

13:57

baby syndrome it's true there is a

14:00

condition called blue baby syndrome

14:02

where excess nitrates deprive kids of

14:05

oxygen and it can be fatal it is so

14:07

horrifying you're not even registering

14:09

that that man is called Randy beavers

14:11

which in any other situation would be

14:14

all anyone cares about and I do hope we

14:18

can all at least agree no child should

14:21

ever be turned blue unless they

14:23

disobeyed Mr Wonka's clear instructions

14:25

about not trying the chewing gum and now

14:27

suffering the only slight L

14:29

disproportionate consequences and it's

14:31

not just humans at risk here because

14:33

when that contaminated runoff eventually

14:35

washes into the sea it can cause serious

14:37

problems in there too as this local news

14:39

reporter chose to tell people in a

14:42

totally normal way here is a little bit

14:45

what it's like to be a fish this time of

14:47

year in parts of the Chesapeake

14:52

Bay can't breathe I can't

14:56

breathe that's because in the hottest

14:58

part of the summer as much as 15% of the

15:02

Bay has no oxygen in the water it's

15:05

called The Dead Zone bre what are you

15:09

doing the number one thing you are

15:12

taught as a child is not to put a

15:14

plastic bag over your head and he's

15:16

doing it on TV which is hugely Reckless

15:19

everyone has a plastic bag it's not hard

15:21

to get I've got one right here but I

15:23

know I know I shouldn't put it on my

15:25

head not even to make a point about the

15:28

lack of oxygen in the be Bay or about

15:30

how you shouldn't put a plastic bag on

15:32

your head on TV I I I could do it but

15:34

but but I shouldn't it's

15:35

tempting but I won't I won't children

15:37

are watching not

15:39

mine they said you couldn't pay us to

15:41

watch which for what it's worth I kind

15:42

of do all their money was first my money

15:44

but that said it's a no for my kids

15:47

anyway I I won't do it but this isn't

15:50

goodbye it's see you

15:54

later and it's not just the Chesapeake

15:57

the Gulf of Mexico has a dead zone that

15:59

at one point was the size of New Jersey

16:01

with studies finding Farm fertilizer is

16:03

the single largest contributor over

16:05

farming of corn is also led to severe

16:08

erosion in some areas which can lead to

16:10

hazardous dust storms in fact this storm

16:12

from last year in Central Illinois

16:13

killed seven people and was directly

16:16

tied to Farmers tilling their land to

16:18

plant corn and soybeans so we've talked

16:20

about how our subsidies for corn have

16:22

caused an increase in production and

16:24

we've talked about how we grow it which

16:26

brings us to the third set of problems

16:27

here what we put in in and remember 40%

16:31

of the Corn that we grow is going to

16:32

feed cows Hogs and poultry and while

16:34

livestock has always been fed some corn

16:37

the use of it has been turbocharged by

16:39

the fact that it is now so cheap as one

16:41

journalist has written taxpayer

16:42

subsidies for corn have served as

16:44

Financial jet fuel for a new breed of

16:46

industrial meat producers because feed

16:49

is their biggest cost but the thing is

16:52

these animals aren't evolved to have a

16:54

diet that is predominantly corn it's bad

16:55

for their digestive system as this man

16:57

in the car explains to those two

16:59

documentaries that you saw earlier in a

17:01

weirdly cheery way what are you eating

17:04

for lunch or uh today cornfed

17:07

beef do you actually know anything about

17:10

cornfed bee do you know what it does to

17:12

them what is it to the cabin um it's a

17:15

good thing they slaughter when they do

17:17

because it actually kills them to feed

17:20

them to make the meat like that so

17:22

they'd be dead in 6 months anyway eating

17:24

that stuff so it's just as well that

17:25

they slaughter really yeah it's terrible

17:28

where is this

17:29

every major confinement feed lot

17:32

everywhere honestly I kind of love that

17:36

guy he should be the mascot for every

17:38

fast food chain Ronald McDonald

17:41

this is the most accurate mascot

17:43

imaginable an impossibly American man

17:45

who thinks the food tastes good knows

17:47

it's tied to suffering and ultimately

17:48

just wants to bring his Wild Card energy

17:50

to the parking lot this is my Burger

17:53

King right here and the problems corn

17:57

causes for the digestive systems of

17:59

livestock can leave cattle more

18:00

susceptible to liver abscesses which is

18:02

a major reason why antibiotics are often

18:05

added to the feed of entire herds of

18:07

beef cattle a practice that the who has

18:09

discouraged and of concerned that it's

18:11

contributing to expanding antibiotic

18:13

resistance and I admit it is much less

18:16

fun to learn about that from me than it

18:18

would have been from that guy absolutely

18:20

housing his cheeseburger yeah medicated

18:22

feed might give us all antibiotic

18:23

resistant UTI bonap te cornfed

18:27

beef but maybe the most ridiculous way

18:30

that we use corn is ethanol which

18:31

remember accounts for 45% of our

18:34

domestic corn use ethanol used to be

18:37

known as gahle and while it's been

18:39

around since the 30s it was during the

18:41

1970s energy crisis that it really took

18:43

off with boosters like this Illinois

18:45

Agriculture official Leading The Way

18:47

with an unfortunate historical analogy

18:50

Mr Mavis why are you so high on gasal

18:54

well if you can tell I have some age on

18:56

me Charlene and it's probably since

18:58

Pearl Harvard the only thing that I've

19:00

seen that's been good for all of

19:04

America that's a pretty weird way to

19:07

characterize Pearl Harbor the surprise

19:09

attack that killed over 2400 people and

19:11

led to the US entering World War II but

19:13

you know what let's give that guy a

19:14

break he probably just misspoke I'm sure

19:17

he won't say it again it burns without

19:20

use of tetra ayad eliminates an EPA

19:23

problem it employs people in America it

19:25

takes an agricultural Surplus as kill us

19:27

and turns it into Dollars instead of the

19:29

storage it's it's that Pearl Harbor

19:31

we've needed okay

19:37

okay the first time he said it I thought

19:40

I don't think Al Mavis knows what Pearl

19:42

Harbor is the second time I thought

19:45

maybe I don't know what PE Harper is cuz

19:48

what is going on there was Al Mavis of

19:51

the Illinois Department of Agriculture

19:53

and Admiral in the Japanese Navy cuz I

19:56

don't know what the other explanations

19:57

could be I'm just saying it this point I

19:58

can only assume that the people in knew

20:00

him spent 911 tifully going Al would

20:02

have loved

20:04

this but Al maybe got his way basically

20:08

in an attempt to reduce our dependency

20:10

on foreign oil we passed the energy Tax

20:12

Act of 1978 which encouraged the use of

20:15

gahol or ethanol but what really set the

20:18

wheels in motion for our huge ethanol

20:20

industry today was the 2005 Energy bill

20:22

that created the Renewable Fuel standard

20:25

which mandated that a certain amount of

20:27

renewable fuel had to be blended into

20:29

the domestic gasoline Supply essentially

20:31

every gallon of domestic gasoline now

20:34

legally has to have at least a little

20:36

bit of ethanol in it the same way that

20:37

every pop album currently has to have at

20:39

least a little bit of Jack antinoff it's

20:41

just the law now understandably that

20:45

mandate created even more demand for

20:47

corn in the domestic market and some

20:49

like this Iowa farmer were thrilled by

20:51

that we've seen our yields rais quite a

20:53

bit in the last several years and and we

20:55

needed a place for this extra corn to be

20:57

going and and ethanol has filled that um

21:01

for us um I'm sure there's some

21:05

negatives but I guess I I I'm not

21:08

thinking of them right now yeah I'm sure

21:11

you're not but to be fair that is not

21:13

really your job unfortunately though it

21:15

is mine thinking of the negatives is

21:18

pretty much all I do here along with

21:20

speaking the negatives out loud and

21:22

making jokes about the negatives or one

21:23

modeling the latest suits from Sir

21:25

Michael gamon's habitatery for oddly

21:27

long gentlemen

21:29

and the truth is there are lots of

21:32

negatives when it comes to ethanol

21:34

mainly because the positives have been

21:35

so wildly overstated while ethanol

21:38

lobing groups have long argued that it

21:40

slashes Greenhouse emissions one recent

21:42

study found that thanks to the

21:43

fertilizer and land use changes needed

21:45

to grow the corn for it corn ethanol

21:47

produced under the Renewable Fuel

21:49

standard has a carbon footprint at least

21:51

24% higher than regular gasoline on top

21:55

of that the demand for ethanol is now

21:57

expanding production to areas where it

22:00

is much less suited to be grown places

22:01

like Texas and Western Kansas where the

22:04

shortage of water means that corn fields

22:06

need to be irrigated but that is a real

22:09

problem because corn is a water

22:10

intensive crop and it can take hundreds

22:12

of gallons of water to produce a single

22:14

gallon of ethanol and this is all

22:16

happening even as groundwater is being

22:18

dangerously depleted Nationwide and that

22:21

brings us back to our larger Point here

22:23

well well for some big farm operations

22:25

and especially the big companies that

22:27

benefit from corn there may be no

22:29

negatives to the current way that we

22:32

produce it for everyone else there

22:34

really are from dust storms to sick cows

22:37

to blue babies to this reporter from

22:39

your absolute

22:40

nightmares so what can we do well for

22:43

starters I would argue that we have to

22:45

rethink the Renewable Fuel standard

22:47

because it just makes no sense but on

22:49

top of that we might want to

22:50

significantly reset our farm policy one

22:52

idea that's been floated is to make the

22:54

federal safety net for Farmers

22:56

contingent on them having a strategy for

22:58

things like preserving top soil

23:00

controlling chemical runoff and reducing

23:02

greenhouse gas emissions and the good

23:03

news is the farm bill is actually

23:05

currently up for Renewal and we could do

23:07

all of that the bad news is as you have

23:10

seen there are powerful interests with

23:12

no reason to want the status quo to

23:13

change at all but it just has to and let

23:17

me be clear here this is not a takeown

23:19

of corn I know for large swats of

23:21

America it's an understandable symbol of

23:23

Pride and source of jobs and I also get

23:25

that it is frustrating to be lectured

23:28

about it or be panded to by a politician

23:30

pretending to be fascinated by its ears

23:33

but I do think it is long past time that

23:35

we shift our farming policy when it

23:37

comes to America's number one crop and

23:39

maybe the best way to drive this home is

23:42

to explain it in the way that people

23:43

seem to most enjoy being educated about

23:46

corn and that is watching someone be

23:50

absolutely assaulted by it because look

23:53

corn is as beautiful to watch grow as it

23:56

is to eat slathered in butter but unless

23:59

we force the

24:01

government and the handful of large

24:03

companies that control this industry to

24:06

change their priorities we're going to

24:08

be stuck where we are like a bunch of

24:10

fifth graders in the world's largest

24:12

corn maze begging for our lives

24:15

that is our show thanks so much for

24:17

watching we're off next week we're back

24:19

the week after that we'll see you then

24:20

good night how the

24:23

do I get out of

24:25

here is it

24:28

is it this

24:29

way and get off me get off me give me

24:34

some personal

24:35

space I don't like to be touched by

24:39

corn or honestly anybody

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関連タグ
Corn SubsidiesAgricultural ImpactEthanol ProductionEnvironmental ConcernsHealth RisksFarm PolicyFood IndustryCultural SymbolPolitical PanderingIndustrial Farming
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