Rural/Farming / Public News Service

According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, cover-crop acres in the United States have increased to 10 million. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, December 2, 2022

WI Farmers Have New Tool to Stay in 'Cover-Crop Game'

Agriculture groups and government agencies aren't slowing down in trying to convince farmers to use more sustainable practices such as cover crops…

As of 2017, the United States had 48,697 producers who identified as Black, either alone or in combination with another race. They accounted for 1.4% of the country's 3.4 million producers, according to the USDA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, December 1, 2022

KY Black Farmers Work to Reduce Barriers to Food Programs

Black farmers in Kentucky said they have benefited from participating in Farms to Food Banks, an agricultural program funneling leftover produce from …

Kelsey Scott, left, operates DX Beef in South Dakota. Scott is a fourth-generation Native American farmer who practices regenerative agriculture. (Photo courtesy of SJN)

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Decolonizing Regenerative Cattle Ranching

By Ray Levy Uyeda for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Approximately 60% of land in Colorado is privately owned. (Adobe Stock)

New Tools Available to Navigate Conservation Easements

Some three million acres of Colorado lands have been protected through land trusts and their partners, and new online resources launched by the group …

Biologists say there is ample natural winter range for Wyoming's elk populations without continued use of controversial winter feedgrounds. (Adobe Stock)

Getting Priorities on Track to Foster Healthy Elk Populations

After receiving input from stakeholders earlier this year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released a list of priorities guiding its initial …

Makerspaces allow Native American youths, communities and teachers to engage with culturally connected making activities using high- and low-tech materials, leveraging existing indigenous technologies and craft practices. (Adobe Stock)

Native American Makerspace Coming Soon to Macy and Santee

The Center for Rural Affairs is launching collaborative work spaces on Nebraska Indian Community College campuses in Macy and Santee for making…

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

More than 85% of Iowa's land is farmland. (Stock/Adobe Stock)

Iowa Farmers' Priorities Released for 2023 Farm Bill

Rural advocacy groups in Iowa have released their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, which is already being discussed in Washington, D.C. The Center …

The Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Initiative is estimated to have created or retained more than 39,000 jobs since 2015.(Adobe Stock)

Garrett County, MD Wins Grant for Broadband Expansion

The Appalachian Regional Commission has announced its 2022 POWER grant awards, and Garrett County Maryland is on the list. The POWER program focuses …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overall cattle inventory is down 2% in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Small Iowa Livestock Producers Benefit from Federal Grants

Thirteen livestock producers in Iowa are getting grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep meat and money closer to home. The dollars …

When a carbon dioxide pipe exploded in Satartia, Miss., in 2020, the Huffington Post reported,

NE Groups Take on a New Kind of Pipeline Fight

A Nebraska group that led the fight against the Keystone X-L Pipeline has turned its attention to a different environmental cause. Bold Alliance…

A Pew Research Center survey in 2021 found that 24% of Americans living in rural settings said lack of access to high-speed internet was

More Broadband Needed to Address Rural Mainers' Health Needs

For older Mainers living in rural areas of the state, access to reliable and affordable internet service can mean the difference between life and …

According to a report by One Earth, since the beginning of agriculture. 133 gigatons of carbon have been lost from soils. Regenerative agriculture is designed to keep that carbon in the soil. (Adobe Stock)

Regenerative Agriculture Makes for Sustainable Farming

Virginia farmers looking for a sustainable way to tend to their crops can look at regenerative agriculture. The idea is to focus on soil health and …

The CDC says infected birds can shed and transmit the avian flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock) The CDC says infected birds will shed and transmit the bird flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock)

Avian Flu Takes Big Toll on UT Turkey Farms

About 700,000 turkeys across 18 Utah farms have to be euthanized following an outbreak of the avian flu. Bailee Woolstenhulme, public information …

In the latest Census of Agriculture, North Dakota had nearly 20 counties where the average farmer age was 57 or older. (Adobe Stock)

As More Farmers Near Retirement, ND Focuses on Succession Planning

The U.S. has seen the average age of farmers inch upward. In states such as North Dakota, there's outreach to help those farmers with retirement on …

Fields amid a sinking delta in California's Central Valley. (California Dept. of Water Resources)

Carbon Credits versus the Big Gulp

By Katherine Ellison for Hothouse.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

A group of state attorneys general is asking the feds to enforce the antitrust provisions of the 1929 Packers and Stockyards Act. (Etonastenka/Adobestock)

NV Cattlemen Welcome Biden Move to Promote Competition in Meat Processing

The Biden administration recently announced $73 million in grants to diversify the meat processing industry, an effort to improve competition…

Proposition FF includes grants school districts can use to purchase locally produced food, which proponents argued will help support local farmers and strengthen regional food systems. (Adobe Stock)

Proponents: Prop FF Key to Reducing Hunger in Colorado Springs

Proposition FF on Colorado's November ballot aims to ensure all students can access healthy, nutritious food at school, at no cost to families…

As buffalo herds graze, they inspire new vegetative growth across vast tracts of lands in a natural process that mimics the onset of spring. (Adobe Stock)

Buffalo Restoration Key to Wildlife Economy, Tribal Health

Some 50 million bison roaming across the Great Plains once served as the backbone for thriving western economies, before European settlers …

Surveys of blind and low-vision voters following every presidential election since 2008 indicate that as many as one-third of poll workers don't know how to operate their location's accessible ballot-marking devices. (Adobe Photo)

'One4All' Accessible Voting in NH Expected to Grow

All polling places are required to have at least one accessible voting machine for federal elections, but as communities across New Hampshire age…

A new poll of rural voters in battleground states found people who

Poll Shows Rural Voters Have Grim Economic Outlook

By Tim Marema and Sarah Melotte for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonde…

According to the Environmental Working Group, Iowa loses an estimated 5.2 million tons of soil per acre, per year, to erosion. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Utilities Look to Slow Soil Erosion, Improve Water Quality

A cattle operation in Grinnell has been fined for stockpiling manure on its property that had been washing into a nearby creek. It's the latest in a …

Over the past year, several polls have indicated a majority of South Dakotans support Medicaid expansion. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Health Expert Discusses Medicaid Expansion in SD

In less than a week, South Dakota will learn whether voters support expanding Medicaid, where a researcher said approval would especially help tribal …

According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, about $5.6 billion is needed during the next 20 years for rural America to preserve more than 470,000 rental homes in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's portfolio for current and future residents. (Adobe Stock)

VA Forum Discusses Rural Housing Issues

A forum in Virginia today will address accessible and affordable housing options in Appalachia. The forum is a collaboration between AARP chapters …

A new report showed fully funding the pollution-reduction efforts needed to restore the bay would add $655 million annually to the regional economy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Could See Economic Benefit from Farm Conservation Practices

A new study out this week reports Maryland could realize economic benefits from agricultural conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region…

The company Solectrac is providing the electric tractors for Oregon's

OR Farmers Can Test Out Electric Ag Vehicles with Rideshare Program

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Co…

A group of state attorneys general is asking the feds to enforce the antitrust provisions of the 1929 and even the playing field between meat processors and producers. (Branex/Adobestock)

Feds Move to Increase Meatpacking Competition, Lower Consumer Prices

With the election approaching, the Biden administration has announced millions of dollars in grants Wednesday to diversify the meat-processing …

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Land Management, the majority of wild horses in the U.S. are found in Nevada, followed by California and Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Group Pushes to Protect Wild Horses from Intentional Shootings

At least 16 wild horses have been shot dead in Utah's rural San Juan County since the beginning of the year, and one group working to protect them …

In 2021, volunteers drove or flew 42 injured raptors 9,583 miles and donated more than 165 hours of their personal time to help wild birds rehabilitate. (Adobe Stock)

Teton Raptor Center Nears Historic Restoration Goal

The Teton Raptor Center was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help the site become a year-round de…

Nebraska is home to many industrial-scale operations, where livestock live in densely populated, confined quarters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraskans Urge Better State Management of Factory Farm Animal Waste

Clean-water advocates are urging the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to do more to protect drinking water and soil quality impacted by i…

In Johnson County, Iowa, 13% of adults describe themselves as being in

IA County Studies Why Residents Don't Get the Healthcare They Need

Johnson County, Iowa, is on a fact-finding mission - to determine what its residents need most for a good community health program. The county is …

For two years, Shodair Children's Hospital worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, to accomplish a land purchase. The proceeds will help Shodair fund construction of a new children's hospital. (Adobe Stock)

MT Land Board Acquires Large Property for Public Use

The Montana Land Board has approved acquiring a new piece of land to become a Wildlife Management Area. In a four-to-one vote, the board acquired …

One million acres of grasslands, considered to be some of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, are lost each year to agricultural and residential development in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming, USDA Agree on Partnership to Conserve Wildlife Habitat

Gov. Mark Gordon has signed onto law a new pilot program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which aims to support Wyoming …

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as dry as this September was in Iowa, it was only the 19th-driest September in the last 128 years. (Adobe Stock)

IA Farmers Opt for Federal Assistance to Weather Drought

New data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows all of Iowa's 99 counties are abnormally dry, with a handful experiencing extreme drought conditions…

According to the Campaign for HIP Funding, the Healthy Incentives Program has resulted in an additional $61 million in local economic impact across the Commonwealth. (Atlas Farms)

Farmers Markets Help MA Shoppers Eat Healthier, Beat Inflation

Some low-income shoppers might assume farmers markets, with their specialty products, are out of reach. But more of these markets in the Commonwealth …

Michelle and Brielle Wright have seen firsthand the impact of climate change on their 11-acre farm in North Carolina. (The Farmer's B.A.G.)

In NC, Black Family Farms Grapple with Climate Change

Two sisters running a small vegetable farm in Bladen County said they are struggling to keep their business profitable in a changing climate…

Local government planning experts say while the decommissioning of solar farms isn't as difficult as taking a power plant offline, it still requires things such as an environmental review in bringing the land back to its original state. (Adobe Stock)

Solar Power Grows In IA: Taking the Long View

Drive around Iowa these days, and you're likely to see more evidence of solar power. Policy analysts say it gives the state's clean energy …

More than 5,700 farms produce poultry and eggs in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Poultry Federation. (Adobe Stock)

USDA to Tighten Protections for Contract Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is finalizing rules aimed at increasing protections for contract farmers who grow the nation's poultry and cattle …

About 67% of firefighters in the United States are volunteers, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteer Firefighter Shortage Spurs ME Departments into Action

If you dial 911, it is more than likely a volunteer firefighter will respond to your emergency, but in Maine, there are not enough volunteers for …

Two major rivers in Pennsylvania are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: the Susquehanna, with a watershed of 21,000 square miles, and the Potomac, with 1,600 square miles. (Michael/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Lags in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Goals

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has deadlines for Pennsylvania, and other states in the watershed, to implement practices to reduce water-…

According to a 2020 report, as Lake Placid has become more of a vacation destination and second home location, the year-round population of the town has been on the decline. The decline has been faster than Essex County and New York's North Country. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New NY Housing Development Highlights Rural Affordability Crisis

A new affordable housing development is coming to Lake Placid, an area facing a workforce housing crisis. Fawn Valley, with six homes and 16 town …

Washington and five other states accounted for half of the H-2A jobs certified in 2021. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

Farmworkers Tour WA to Demand Better Labor Conditions

Farmworkers are touring Washington state to call for better conditions in agriculture. The union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, based in northwest …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers training for military veterans, and has grant programs available to help purchase and develop land and facilities, as well as equipment and supplies.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Military Veterans Wanted for Service in Ag Industry

This winter, military veterans will have an opportunity to translate hard-won skills on the battlefield into Nebraska's fields and pastures through …

The Farm Bill is a five-year spending measure that addresses the agriculture industry, food systems, nutrition programs and more. (Mike/Flickr)

2023 Farm Bill: Creating Healthier Future for Farming, Food

Congress must pass a 2023 Farm Bill before the end of the year, a measure which not only impacts farming but also what's on our plates. The Ohio …

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is fostering an equitable local food system in part by providing bilingual farm business training and engaging the next generation of farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Conservation Heroes Honored

Nine Colorado groups and individuals have been honored as "Conservation Heroes" for their outstanding contributions to land, water and wildlife …

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, net farm income is expected to increase by $7.3 billion. This comes when farmers are faced with a bevy of changes in their business.

Farmers Adapting to Industry Changes

Farmers are adapting to numerous shifts in their industry, ranging from price hikes to the effects of climate change. A big change for agribusiness …

Nuestras Ra�ces manages nine urban community gardens in Holyoke, plus four for the Holyoke Education System, supporting over 100 families with locally grown, fresh food. (Adobe Stock)

Celebrating 30 Years of Puerto Rican “Agri-Culture” in Western MA

The Holyoke area is home to many Puerto Rican families who say they will do what they can to help people there as they recover from the latest hurrica…

In the early days of the pandemic, people repurposed rags and other household materials to make masks. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Mask-Making Showcases Appalachia's Radical Resourcefulness

At the onset of the pandemic, medical professionals struggled with cracks in communication which caused confusion and worry. Amid the misinformation…

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Rural/Farming