Public News Service

Human symptoms of U.S. avian influenza cases to date include conjunctivitis, mild respiratory symptoms and some increased lethargy, according to Crystal Heath of Our Honor. (Scott Griesel/Adobe Stock)

Growing concern over avian influenza in humans

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

The USDA claims its electronic tag requirements will prevent disease outbreaks and protect beef export markets. (Jackie Nix/Adobe Stock)

USDA electronic tag mandates worry some smaller TX ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon require electronic eartags for cattle and bison that cross state lines. The USDA says its rule will …

The latest report from the Federal Trade Commission found some grocery price increases were unwarranted during the pandemic. (polack/Adobe Stock)

Report: Grocery prices unnecessarily inflated during pandemic

Americans got a bit of a reprieve last month, as food and auto prices dipped for the first time in 90 days. As Texas households continue to deal …

By 2031, good jobs accessible to people with only a high school education will represent just 6% of all jobs. (bodnarphoto/Adobe Stock)

TX leaders work to improve job opportunities for rural students

Work is being done in rural areas across Texas to make sure students are prepared for the workforce even if they intend to stay put after graduation…

Only two humans in the U.S. have been infected with avian flu in the United States. A case in Texas this month is the first time it has been linked to exposure to cattle. (syhin_stas/Adobe Stock)

Texas officials address human avian flu case

The cattle industry and health officials in Texas are on alert after a person contracted avian flu while working around infected cattle in the Texas P…

Financial pressures, lack of mental health resources in rural areas and a stigma about using them all contribute to a suicide rate among farmers that is triple the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. (primipil/Adobe Stock)

TX works to address wildfire survivors' mental health

Residents in the Texas Panhandle are starting to put their lives back together after surviving the largest wildfire in the state's history. The …

Raging wildfires damaged more than 1 million acres of land in the Texas Panhandle. (yelantsevv/Adobe Stock)

TX legislative committee to investigate Panhandle wildfires

Several members of the Texas Legislature have been appointed to a committee to investigate wildfires that ravaged the Texas Panhandle and parts of Okl…

Young farmers, ranchers and others want issues of equitable land access, retention and transition addressed in the next Farm Bill. (StockMediaProduction/AdobeStock)

Eager but cash-strapped farmers seek Farm Bill solutions

Advocates for America's small farmers say younger folks express a growing interest in agriculture, but without necessary capital, they can't get a …

Suicide rates in rural communities increased by 48% between 2000 and 2018, compared with 34% in urban areas, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. (StockMediaProduction/Adobe Stock)

TX AgriStress Helpline highlighted for Suicide Prevention Month

Texas farmers face the obvious stressors of weather, costs and market fluctuations, but their responsibility of providing for family and workers also …

From Florida to Texas and California, excessive heat warnings have plagued the United States for weeks. (ALAN/AdobeStock)

TX Bill Banning Heat-Related Worker Breaks Could Be Overridden

Scorching temperatures are not letting up across much of the Southwest, including Texas, just as the issue of how to protect outdoor workers heats up …

Texas is a leading exporter of agricultural commodities, including peanuts. (maryviolet/AdobeStock)

Transitioning to Organics Made Easier for Texas Farmers

Texas farmers who want to transition some of their land from conventional crops to organics are getting help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture…

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid approved by Congress in 2020 will delay application availability from Oct. 1 until December this year. (cienpies/AdobeStock)

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Texas educates more rural students than any other state at nearly 700,000, and there is concern a new law meant to simplify applying for college …

If you put faith in predictions by the Old Farmer's Almanac, expect record-breaking cold in the eastern half of the United States this winter and above-average snow totals. (Claudia/Pixabay)

Old Farmer's Almanac Predicts 'A Tale of Two Winters' for 2023

Fall arrives in Texas next week, which means winter and its challenges will be right behind. But never fear, the Old Farmer's Almanac says it will be …

Cover cropping offers many benefits in dryland farming in eastern and central Texas. (agrilife.org)

Sustainable Agriculture Gets Boost from New USDA Program

The federal government is adding financial support for farmers in Texas and across the U.S. to adopt climate-friendly practices. This month, the U.S…

A new pilot program in Texas is teaching college students about the agriculture industry and career options they might not otherwise have considered. (ionlfox/Pixabay)

TX Farm Bureau Recruits College Students for Pilot Program

AMARILLO, Texas - The American Farm Bureau Federation hosts more than 100 college level chapters across 35 states, but this is the first time its …

Un nuevo programa piloto en Texas est� ense�ando a los estudiantes universitarios sobre la industria agr�cola y otras opciones profesionales que no hubieran sido consideradas. (ionlfox / Pixabay)

Texas Farm Bureau recluta estudiantes universitarios para un programa piloto

AMARILLO, Texas - La American Farm Bureau Federation alberga más de 100 capítulos de nivel universitario en 35 estados. Pero esta es la …

Citrus crop losses in Texas were estimated at $230 million following February's freak winter storm, according to AgriLife Extension at Texas A&M. (sanantonio.org)

Rescue Plan May Reduce Hunger, But Threats Linger

AUSTIN, Texas -- Scientists expect climate change to increase extreme weather events such as the rare deep freeze that hit Texas in February…

It's estimated one in four Texas children are experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (afmc.org)

COVID-19 Increases Number of Texas Children Going Hungry

AUSTIN, Texas -- More than two million children are suffering from food insecurity in Texas, where the rate has increased more than 7% since the …

in Texas, 25% of households in AT&T's service areas do not have access to broadband that meets the Federal Communications Commission's standard of 25-mbps download speed. (janeb13/PIxabay)

Rural Residents in Texas May Suffer if AT&T Discontinues DSL

AUSTIN, Texas -- Customers of AT&T in Texas are at risk of losing service after the telecommunications giant announced it's retiring its Digital …

When the coronavirus hit in March, more than 12 million of the 55 million American students sent home did not have home broadband access for online learning, according to the Brookings Institute. (geralt/Pixabay)

Coronavirus Shows Need to Boost Broadband for Rural TX Students

AUSTIN, Texas -- The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated that every school needs 21st-century remote access to broadband, according to Connected …

Cuando el Coronavirus golpe� en Marzo, m�s de 12 millones de los 55 millones de estudiantes Americanos enviados a sus casas no ten�an acceso a la banda ancha para su aprendizaje en l�nea, de acuerdo al Brookings Institute. (geralt/Pixabay)

El Coronavirus Muestra la Necesidad de Impulsar la Banda Ancha en el Texas Rural

AUSTIN, Texas -- La pandemia ha ilustrado que toda escuela necesita un acceso remoto del Siglo 21 para banda ancha, de acuerdo a Connected Nation …

Texas students are getting hands on, high-tech experience growing fresh produce inside converted shipping containers. (Freight Farms)

Texas Schools Tap Container Farms to Fill Cafeterias with Fresh Produce

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Texas schools are using refrigerated freight containers converted into hydroponic farms as an extension of the classroom…

Community health centers generate $54.6 billion in total economic activity each year and employ more than 220,000 people across the country. (Queens University)

Texas Health Centers to Make Stable Funding Case in DC

DENTON, Texas - Thousands of community health-center advocates, doctors, nurses, professionals and patients are headed to the nation's capital this …

As Texas farmers have increased corn and soy production to reach goals set by the Renewable Fuel Standard, water supplies have been strained. (U Delaware/Flickr)

Report: Feds' Biofuel Policy Produced Unintended Environmental Consequences

AUSTIN, Texas – A new report says the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, created to spur ethanol production and cut air pollution, is responsible …

Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has tapped revenues from offshore oil and gas development to preserve public lands, including McKinney Falls State Park. (Roy Niswanger/Flickr)

Texas Parks, Wilderness Areas to Benefit in Conservation-Fund Revival

AUSTIN, Texas - In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate last week passed a measure by a vote of 92-8 to reauthorize the Land and Water …

In 2019, the average American is projected to eat more than 110 pounds of beef. (Pixabay)

Study: Climate-Friendly Foods Also Healthier

AUSTIN, Texas – Foods produced with fewer greenhouse gas emissions are healthier than foods that create more climate pollution, according to …

A new federal report says antibiotic use in farm animals decreased by about one-third from 2016 to 2017. (Flickr)

Plan Announced to Reduce Antibiotics in Livestock

AUSTIN, Texas – The major players in the meat industry have developed what they're calling a stewardship plan that they say will ensure that …

Ebel Grasslands Ranch sits on 525 acres of native grasses near Sulphur Springs, where it has been a family farm for more than 100 years. (Ebel Grasslands Ranch)

Farm Bill Expiration Stalls Conservation Efforts on Farms

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — While Senators were moving forward with the confirmation of the next Supreme Court justice, what wasn't moving on …

The U.S. Postal Service employs more than 500,000 Americans at 30,000 outlets across the country. (USAF)

Is U.S. Postal Service Too Popular to Privatize?

AUSTIN, Texas – President Donald Trump's announced intention in April to reform the U.S. Postal Service landed with a thud, and now – six …

New Tool Grades Integrity of Organic Labels

STRATFORD, Texas — Shoppers can now choose between organic dairy products produced by large-scale factory operations and those produced by …

Research shows that health outcomes for patients cared for by nurse practitioners are the same or better of that of a physician. (Twenty20)

Could Rule Change Improve Rural Health Care in Texas?

AUSTIN, Texas – There are more than 300 medically under-served communities in Texas that some groups say could be better served by a change in …

Poor reimbursement rates have forced 16 rural hospitals in Texas to close their doors since 2013. (highwaystarz/iStockphoto)

Report: Texas Rural Health Care Faces Funding Crisis

AUSTIN, Texas – A new report warns that rural hospitals in Texas could be hit hardest under a Congressional plan to repeal and replace the …

Native Americans and environmental groups protest at the Houston headquarters of Energy Transfer Partners, the contractor building Dakota Access and other pipeline projects. (Grassroots Global Justice Alliance)

Natives, Environmentalists Protest in Houston Over Pipeline

HOUSTON – A coalition of environmental groups and Native American activists has taken protests over a controversial pipeline to the Houston offi…

Conservation groups have filed suit to protect the endangered ocelot from a federal program to kill other predators such as coyotes and bobcats. (TomSmiley/USFWS)

Groups Sue Feds to Protect Endangered Ocelots in Texas

HARLINGEN, Texas - A pair of conservation groups has sued to protect endangered ocelots by blocking a federal agency's plan to remove other predators …

Wild bee habitat is on the decline in many of the country's most important farmlands, according to a new report. (Derek Keats/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Wild Bee Decline Threatens U.S. Crop Production

AUSTIN, Texas - Wild bee populations in the U.S. are disappearing in many of the country's most important farmlands, including West Texas, …

Climate change is likely to have far-reaching impacts on livestock and crops throughout the world, according to a new report. Credit: USDA

Global Food System Faces Multiple Threats from Climate Change

AUSTIN, Texas - Climate change will have a big impact on food security across the globe, but will hit the poor and people living in tropical regions …

$Water use for hydraulic fracturing is increasing. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.$

Water Use Rising for Fracking in Texas and Nation

AUSTIN, Texas - Water used for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is on the rise across the nation, according to a new study from the U.S. …

PHOTO: The 2013 explosion in West, Texas, killed 15 and resulted in damages surpassing $100 million. Proposed state legislation to reduce the chance of a repeat has cleared the House and awaits a vote in the Senate. Photo credit, VOA/Wikimedia Commons.

Texas Senate to Vote on Chemical Safety

AUSTIN, Texas - A fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, exploded on April 17, 2013, killing 15 people, including 10 first responders. The …

PHOTO: Postal workers are rallying across Texas and the nation today to demand better service for customers, less than a week before their union contract expires. Photo credit: American Postal Workers Union.

Postal Workers Hold Nationwide Protests

AUSTIN, Texas - Less than a week before their contract expires, postal workers are rallying today in more than 85 cities in 36 states. The American …

PHOTO: The 2013 explosion in West, Texas, killed 15 and caused as much as $230 million in damages, a number dwarfed by the West Fertilizer Co.'s $1 million insurance policy. A bill in the Texas Legislature proposes using private market forces to ensure safe storage of ammonium nitrate. Photo credit: Shane.Torgerson/Wikimedia Commons.

TX Lawmakers Hear Fertilizer Explosion Bill

AUSTIN, Texas - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board called the 2013 fire and explosion of ammonium nitrate at West Fertilizer Co. the "worst chemical …

Renee King-Sonnen married a fourth generation cattle rancher, but now is converting the 96-acre Angleton cattle ranch into an animal farm sanctuary.

Cattle Rancher's Wife: Cows too Priceless to Sell

ANGLETON, Texas - Cattle are the state's most profitable agricultural product, but one cattle rancher's wife decided the animals are too priceless to …

PHOTO: People with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems from the common mold Aspergillus (as seen above). Photo credit: albertstraub/Flickr.

Lung Disease Dangers Grow Along with Fungicide Resistance

AUSTIN, Texas - A new study points to the growing threat of fungicide resistance to agriculture and public health, and calls for fundamental changes …

PHOTO: McDonald's is being urged to stop using meat that's been raised with antibiotics, with a new campaign from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Photo credit: Mike Mozart/Flickr.

They'd Be Lovin' It if McDonald's Went Antibiotic Free

AUSTIN, Texas – A new campaign has been launched urging the largest restaurant chain in the nation to stop purchasing meat that's been raised …

PHOTO: Time is running out for Texas ranchers and farmers to voice their views about how the Conservation Stewardship Program is set to operate for the next five years. Photo credit: Timothy J/Flickr.

Time Now for Texas Voices on Ranch and Farm Conservation

AUSTIN, Texas - It's an opportunity that only comes along once every five years, so as the public comment period on the Conservation Stewardship …

PHOTO: It's estimated as many as one-in-five workers in the Texas construction sector aren't paid the proper wages as required by law. Photo credit: Matthew Rutledge/Flickr.

Wage Theft Takes Billions from Texas Workers and Communities

AUSTIN, Texas - It happens every month of the year, but the issue of wage theft in Texas is even more acute around the holidays, as impacted workers …

PHOTO: A new analysis of the Earned Income Tax Credit shows its effects are more significant in small towns and rural areas than in bigger cities. Photo credit: Tax Credits/Flickr.

Earned Income Tax Credit: More Common in Small-town Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – A tax credit helping many low-income working families keep more of their earnings is proving to be especially important in …

PHOTO: According to the Center for Rural Affairs, rural areas have higher percentages of households receiving SNAP benefits than urban areas or small cities. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Flickr.

Study Finds Greater Rural Reliance on Food Stamps

AUSTIN, Texas – Oftentimes, the issue of hunger is associated with people in inner cities, where the cost of living tends to be high. But a …

PHOTO: A long-running legal battle over which water bodies are covered by the Clean Water Act could be coming to an end, with a proposed rule to provide clarity on which are eligible. Photo credit: Robert Nunnally

Texas Brewer Raises a Glass for Clarity on Clean Water Act

AUSTIN, Texas - It's a plan to better protect the most vulnerable waters across the state and nation, and among those giving cheers are some Texas …

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TX: Rural/Farming