Bet the Farm

“John and Beth knew that they were somewhat naive when they moved to Iowa, but Hoffman is very skilled (and eloquent) about turning that ignorance into observation and learning…her book is so precise and well-thought-out…Read her book – and listen.” –Jane Smiley “The Washington Post”“Highly recommended…. The sustainable agriculture movement focuses on social, moral, and ecological facets of farming. Hoffman reminds readers that without also looking at the economics, such efforts will not succeed.” – “Choice”“Bet the Farm is the best book… Malcolm Gladwell could [not] have done what Hoffman has done to explain present-day agriculture’s policies.” – “Des Moines Register”“This wide-ranging discussion personalizes the farmer’s current milieu in a manner that connects national perspectives and situations with individual pursuits. Bet the Farm is a powerful presentation that should be a mainstay of any agriculture book collection or discussion of farming’s future.” – “Donovan’s Literary Services”

Beth Hoffman is a beginning farmer on 540 acres in Iowa. For the last twenty years, she has worked as a journalist covering food and agriculture. Her work has been aired and published on NPR’s Morning Edition, The Guardian, The Salt, Latino USA, and the News Hour.