Cornhole Champions #19: Iowa Econ 101 Blues

By Zachary Oren Smith

April 9, 2025

Toss some bags with us and hear about Iowa’s shrinking economy, pesticide lawsuit protections, school funding battles, and how Trump’s tariffs are impacting Iowa farmers.

Iowa’s economy is in trouble. According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Iowa’s economy shrank by 0.5% last year, making it the second-worst performing state in the entire country.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Algona farmer Josh Manske about the impact of President Trump’s new tariffs on Iowa agriculture. Manske, a fifth-generation farmer who publishes the Corn Belt Newsletter, discusses how these tariffs could further harm Iowa’s already struggling farm economy.

Then Iowa Starting Line’s Amie Rivers and Avery Staker join to break down a Republican bill that would have shielded pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits, the legislature’s 2% increase in school funding, and the political blame game around Iowa’s economic decline.

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out cornholechampions.substack.com.

Links:

1st Story – Iowa economy shrinks, posts second-worst growth as political parties pass the blame (Iowa News Now)
2nd Story – Iowa Republicans Want to Shield Pesticide Firms From Cancer Lawsuits (The New Republic)
3rd Story – Iowa Senate approves 2% increase in school funding, other funding provisions (WHO 13)
Farm-state Republicans rocked by tariffs fear Trump lacks exit strategy (The Hill)

Guest:

Josh Manske is a fifth-generation farmer in Algona, Iowa who grows corn and soybeans. After a career as a professional golfer, Josh returned to farming in 2019. He’s also a farm realtor and publishes the Corn Belt Newsletter.

Zachary Oren Smith

Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to [email protected].

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