Rural/Farming / Public News Service

Washington Bee Atlas volunteers participate in a collecting event in the Palouse, a region in the state known for its agricultural production. (WA State Dept of Agriculture)<br />

First complete survey of native WA bees finds new species

After one year, Washington's first comprehensive bee survey has documented 15 species that have never been collected in the state before. The …

Accurate climate and hydrologic data are essential to managing the Colorado River Basin and forecasting drought. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado officials urge congressional delegates to support public lands

On Tuesday, 20 Colorado officials sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation protesting six cuts to public lands management in the new tax …

California's Proposition 12 requires producers to give laying hens one square foot of space each, and breeding sows 24 square feet each. (Krustovin/Adobe Stock)

Congressional hearing challenges CA animal welfare laws

Pork producers are expected to argue against California's animal welfare laws at a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Agriculture…

Nebraska farmers harvested 1.89 billion bushels of corn in 2024, ranking it third highest in the nation, according to the Nebraska Corn Board. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska farmers benefit from tax incentives for corn-based fuel

Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Nebraska corn farmers will benefit from one that …

Iowa farmers produced 2.63 billion bushels of corn in 2024, making the state the nation's number one corn producer, according to CropProphet. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa corn farmers stand to gain from tax breaks

Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was …

An agroforestry project is a partnership between the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Savannah Institute and The University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish four publicly-accessible, educational demonstration sites across southeast Wisconsin. (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)

Wisconsin nonprofit looks to expand agroforestry project

A Wisconsin nonprofit is working with farmers in Southeast Wisconsin to educate communities about the importance of agroforestry, with plans to …

April's Clean Water Lobby Day was held by Oregon Rural Action and the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem. (Oregon Rural Action)

Environmentalists: OR's new groundwater law too diluted to be effective

Environmental groups say Oregon's new groundwater law, meant to curb pollution, has been diluted to the point they can no longer support it. …

In 2022, Iowa exported $1.2 billion worth of corn, ranking the state as the nation's number one corn exporter, according to the U.S. Office of the United States Trade Representative. (Adobe Stock)

Tariff uncertainty rattles Iowa farmers, small businesses

The Trump administration's unstable tariff deadlines and looming trade deals have left Iowa farmers and small businesses feeling uncertain about their…

Northern pike spawning habitats require roughly a foot of water in grassy marshland. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Assoc.)

Green Bay collaborations help restore wildlife, wetlands

An effort to restore Northern pike habitat in Green Bay is also benefiting other wildlife species and raising local awareness about the effects of cli…

The shift to cage-free eggs has accelerated after 11 states, including Colorado, set regulations on so-called conventional eggs, and the recent bird flu crisis, which led to the loss of more than 125 million U.S. hens. (Adobe Stock)

'Compassion Calculator' helps CO meat eaters offset animal welfare effects

A new "Compassion Calculator" launched by the charity portal FarmKind aims to help Coloradans who eat meat improve their animal welfare footprints by …

According to the Trump administration's 2026 fiscal year budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cut 22% of its workforce, in addition to the workforce reductions that have already taken place. (Adobe Stock)

Federal impacts to ag conservation in WI 'complex'

Wisconsin's agriculture industry could see both wins and losses under the new federal budget. Climate change isn't a priority for the Trump …

Close to half of all American whiskey, bourbon and rye is sold internationally, primarily to Canada, Mexico and the European Union. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier businesses face fallout from tariff shake-up

Hoosier businesses across the state are feeling the ripple effects of rising tariffs and shifting trade policies, especially in farming, …

A seed drill used by New Mexico farmers to plant cover crops causes minimal disturbance to the soil. (photo: courtesy NMhealthysoil.org)

Building NM's soil for future farmers a marathon, not a sprint

New Mexico farmers finding it more difficult to grow historic crops are taking up conservation techniques to meet the challenge. Drought, water …

Some Pennsylvania farmers benefit from carbon markets or improved efficiency, such as savings on bedding from manure separators or reduced fuel costs from no-till farming. But owners of some smaller farms question the practicality of

PA farmers calculate return on climate-friendly ag practices

By Carolyn Beans for Lancaster Farming.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Lancaster Farming-MIT…

More than 85% of the land in Iowa is dedicated to farming. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowa farmers diversify crops for future success

Iowa is the nation's number one corn and soybean producer and federal polices are designed to keep it that way but more farmers are moving away from t…

1 in 8 Ohioans are employed in the agricultural industry, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio farmers say federal policies hinder healthy food production

Ohio's food and agriculture industry contributes $124 billion to the state's economy annually. Some farmers, however, argue that government …

As the nation's farmers retire, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers could fill the void but their input is needed in developing support programs. A Minnesota group said it was trying to create awareness before a federal grant was abruptly canceled. (Adobe Stock)

MN ag group, promoting local food systems, sues feds over canceled grant

Farm-linked organizations, including one from Minnesota, are ratcheting up legal pressure over canceled federal grants, saying projects designed to …

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says farmers in south Texas are suffering the most from water shortages caused by drought and failing infrastructure. (sawitreelyaon/Adobe Stock)

Without changes, TX could run out of water by 2030

Because of drought and failing infrastructure, the state of Texas will run out of water by 2030, according to the Texas Water Development Board…

The Buffalo National River is America's first national river. It's 135 miles long and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. (Phil Fitzgerald/Adobe Stock)

CAFOs banned from Arkansas' Buffalo National River but not other rivers

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs, are banned from the Buffalo National River watershed. That's after the Arkansas Legislative …

Agriculture advocacy group Farm Action says the federal government's support of corporate farms over smaller, family producers means less healthy food is available to American consumers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government action needed to help WV farmers produce healthier foods

A group of farmers says government policies need to change to support farms in West Virginia and elsewhere in cultivating foods that will improve Amer…

Ethanol sales bring in nearly $3 billion to Indiana every year, according to the industry watchdog group, Growth Energy. (Adobe Stock)

IN ethanol industry is robust but criticism is surfacing

A new report questions the sustainability of biofuels. Biofuels, or ethanol, are produced from fermented sugars and starches found in corn and …

In Wisconsin, 300 farmers participated in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which funded $4.2 million worth of food to more than 250 pantries. (Adobe Stock)

WI communities grapple to make up for fresh food grant cuts

By Olivia Herken for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indep…

Prairies once covered a significant portion of Wisconsin, but today less than 0.1% of original prairies remain, making them one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. (Adobe Stock)

WI group empowers women to restore prairies, pollinators

June is National Pollinator Month and a local agricultural group which aims to empower women in conservation is bringing awareness to how prairie rest…

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas farmers sell almost $14 billion in goods annually. (Pawel/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit: Budget reconciliation bill could affect AR farming

More than 37,000 farmers in Arkansas could be affected by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" before Congress, according to a sustainable farming …

The University of Minnesota and The Land Institute are among those leading research into developing an earth-friendly grain which can be used for beer. (Adobe Stock)

MN raises a glass to a powerful and sustainable grain

CLARIFICATION: In the initial release of this story, the photo caption included a typo that resulted in an unintentional racial slur. In discussions …

Nationwide, 10% of the farm labor force is in the United States on an H-2A visa. (nick barounis/Adobe Stock)

WA workers could be harmed by H-2A visa expansion

Advocates for immigrants' rights in Washington state are voicing concerns about the possible expansion of the H-2A visa program, which they say …

Lawmakers have recently introduced legislation to compensate chicken farmers more fairly as they work to contain avian flu. (Nipawan/Adobe Stock)

Trump’s plan to lower egg prices, explained

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

Nutrient management planning has been around for more than 30 years, traditionally developed for farmers by private sector farm co-ops and agronomists. (Adobe Stock)

WI farmer education collab helps save money, environment

A joint effort is helping Wisconsin farmers protect water quality in their communities by learning more about how to prevent manure and fertilizer spi…

Christina Eastman, a fifth-generation farmer who is a co-founder of Farmers Against Foster Farms. Her farm is located next to a proposed CAFO site which has now been blocked. (Kendra Kimbirauskas)

OR farmers block construction of new factory farm

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Oregon News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

In Fiscal Year 2024, Ohio's state-funded food programs created or sustained 292 jobs, supported $11.3 million in income and generated $38.4 million in economic output. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio foodbanks: Funding needed for fresh food with local roots

Ohio food banks are urging state lawmakers to approve what they said is a modest budget increase needed to get more fresh, local produce into the …

Iowa judge rules in favor of 'Swampbuster' conservation protection measure

A District Court judge in Iowa has ruled in favor of an effort to protect the state's wetlands. The legal move protects a key environmental …

The Kickapoo River carries water to the Gulf of Mexico where contaminants like manure contribute to an oxygen-depleted area known as the

8-mile manure spill in Monroe County kills hundreds of fish

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Most U.S. states have CAFOs, typically ranging from 100 to 1,000 animals, although a few have fewer than 10. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

CAFO v. factory farm: What’s the difference?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Missouri News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Ohio has more than 74,500 farms, about half of which have livestock and the industry provides one of seven jobs in the state, according to the Ohio Livestock Association. (Adobe Stock)

OH farmers consider adopting 'regenerative agriculture' practices

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

California law bans unnecessary animal suffering but enforcement is rare in large-scale factory farms.(Adobe Stock)

Cal student faces prison for rescuing chickens

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

A single Abercrombie dairy facility will house 12,500 cows. Combined with the planned 25,000-cow Herberg site, these two operations will generate manure equivalent to that of a city of 1.5 million. (Adobe Stock)

ND mega-dairies draw criticism at Winnipeg news conference

North Dakota is facing growing opposition to two massive dairy operations planned near the Red River. Environmental advocates say the projects could …

Until the 1960s, the New World screwworm was common across Mexico and the southern United States. But it was thought to be eradicated in the late 1950s. (Adobe Stock)

Oklahoma aims to protect livestock from possible screwworm outbreak

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Oklahoma News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

The budget reconciliation bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, increases both the amount of money dairy producers receive through the Dairy Margin Coverage Program and the number of producers who are eligible for the program. (Adobe Stock)<br />

House GOP bill a win for big meat and dairy industries

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

The Nebraska Rural Response Council provides mental health services for agriculture producers facing financial and other challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Mental health calls flood farmer crisis hotline

A farm crisis hotline in Nebraska has seen a sharp uptick in mental health-related calls from farmers, worried about losing access to loans and …

There are currently some 15,000 producing oil and gas wells in Weld County, not counting shut-in wells and temporarily plugged and abandoned wells. (Adobe Stock)

New alert system brings oil and gas spill data directly to Colorado residents

Over the past 12 months, 884 oil and gas spills were reported near homes in Greeley, Fort Lupton, Kersey, La Salle and Platteville, according to …

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not declared glyphosate itself carcinogenic, some toxicologists have said the components in the pesticide Roundup, a herbicide which includes glyphosate, make it 50 times more toxic than glyphosate alone. (Adobe Stock)

Cancer 'Gag Act' sputters in Iowa, federal push continues

Groups advocating for clean, safe water are pushing back on proposals to revive a pesticide labeling law introduced last year in Congress which would …

U.S. retail egg prices fell in April from the record-high prices they hit earlier this year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Pixabay)

Corporate practices jack up Mississippi’s egg prices

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Nebraska produces nearly 8.5 million hogs a year, ranking the state the sixth-highest producer in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

International students sue NE firm for being recruited to work in CAFOs

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration At …

Recent Consumer Reports testing found concerning pesticide levels, some 100 times higher than deemed safe, in 20 percent of the foods tested, including common produce items such as blueberries and green beans. (AdobeStock)

Lawsuit seeks transparency on new dietary guidelines affecting Tennesseans

A nonprofit is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for not releasing records that could show beef industry influence in the …

Male pig castration is done to prevent unwanted breeding and improve meat quality. (Adobe Stock)

IN animal research lab reduced to shoestring staff

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration The U…

In Iowa, the United States' largest pork producer, factory farms produce 109 billion pounds of manure annually, more than any other state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa partners to study agriculture's link to cancer

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

The U.S. biogas industry grew quickly in 2023, adding 96 new projects, reaching a total of more than 2,251 active sites. (Wolfgang Jargstorff/Adobe Stock)

Battle brews in Michigan over methane deregulation bills

More than 20 groups are urging Michigan lawmakers to reject two bills they say would turn the state's farmland and rural towns into dumping grounds fo…

TX family transitions from growing chickens to growing hemp

An east Texas farming family is reaping the benefits after transitioning from industrial chicken farming to growing hemp. For 30 years, the Halley …

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Rural/Farming