'We crapped in our nest:' a conversation with Art Cullen

Introducing Art Cullen and the Book's Origin

The episode opens with a brief sponsor intro for Dwell Home Furnishings, followed by a recap of Art Cullen’s Pulitzer Prize win and the documentary *Storm Lake*. Host Charity Nebbe introduces Cullen and sets the stage for a deep dive into his new book, *Dear Marty, We Crapped in Our Nest*, which frames Iowa’s ecological and political collapse as a collective failure.

The Birth of a Book: From New York Rejection to Iowa Independence

Cullen and his friend Marty Case attempted to publish a book on Iowa’s agricultural crisis through New York publishers, only to be rejected with the dismissive claim that 'rural doesn't sell.' This rejection led Cullen to abandon commercial publishing and instead write directly to his audience via Substack, eventually finding an ally in independent Iowa publisher Steve Semkin.

The Golden Age That Wasn’t: A Brief, Fragile Prosperity

Cullen reflects on Storm Lake’s past prosperity during the 1960s–1970s, when unionized meatpacking jobs allowed workers to afford homes, cars, and college tuition. He contrasts that with today’s reality: non-union, immigrant laborers earning $40,000 a year, living in fear of deportation, and working in dangerous conditions.

The Green Revolution and Its Hidden Costs

Cullen traces the roots of Iowa’s agricultural industrialization to the Green Revolution, petrochemical fertilizers (like hydrous ammonia), and hybrid seeds. He emphasizes how this shift, while increasing yields, made farming more extractive, destroyed rural communities, and led to the decline of family farms and small towns.

Climate Change: The Unavoidable Wall

Cullen discusses climate change with Gene Tocley, a leading Iowa State agronomy professor, who warns that corn may no longer be viable south of Interstate 80 within 30 years due to extreme heat during pollination. He notes that China is already seeing 5% annual wheat yield declines, forcing geopolitical shifts.