Illinois is making ‘rewilding’ an official conservation strategy
A new law in Illinois formalizes efforts to reintroduce native keystone species like bison and beavers in the state, which advocates say will help other species recover.
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As some states prepare to cut junk foods from SNAP, rural grocers face more costs
Grocery stores accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in 12 states will soon have to accommodate new exclusions to the program.
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Your food probably traveled a long way before reaching the grocery store. Here’s why
The interest in local food systems, like farmer’s markets and direct farm-to-consumer sales, is on the rise. But the U.S. is still more reliant on imported foods than ever before.
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The Midwest is getting warmer, even though summer highs are dropping. Here’s why
Summer afternoon temperatures have cooled off in the middle of the country in recent decades. But hotter nights and winters are still driving more overall warmth in the region.
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USDA canceled a support program for small businesses. This Midwest grower may lose her farm
Farmers who were promised funding through the federal Regional Food Business Centers have been left in limbo after the Trump administration shut down the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will honor grants the program already approved, but it’s unclear when.
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Will Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ help farmers in the Midwest and Great Plains? It depends
The massive legislation extends tax cuts and increases safety nets for farmers who grow commodities, like corn, wheat and rice. But deep cuts to federal food assistance spending could hurt specialty growers who benefit from programs like Double Up Food Bucks.
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Already in the red, rural hospitals across the Midwest brace for Medicaid changes
Health care leaders worry rural hospitals could be hit hard by Medicaid spending reductions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” In the Midwest and Great Plains, Oklahoma and Kansas could face the highest risk of hospital closures and service reductions.
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USDA’s end of diversity efforts in farm programs will mean ‘less food for the community’
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will no longer take a farmer’s race or gender into consideration for many of its loans and benefit programs.
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Farmers in Illinois may lose conservation resources, allowing soil to ‘fly in the breeze’
After two years of funding cuts in Illinois, conservation advocates worry that soil health could suffer – and dust storms could become a greater risk.
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Drought means ‘drier than normal.’ How will climatologists define drought if the new normal is dry?
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is developing a framework for assessing drought in a changing climate. It’s a difficult task, as what’s considered drought is often situational.
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Millions of acres of Midwest forest were left vulnerable by a storm. What’s being done to protect it?
A massive ice storm hit northern Michigan in late March, knocking down limbs and trees across an estimated 3 million acres. The acres of fallen trees and brush have created concern over invasive species and the looming threat of wildfires.
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SNAP will soon cost states millions of dollars more. What does that mean for food access?
Lawmakers and officials in support of the new measure say it will cut down on waste and fraud, but food advocates warn it could mean fewer people receiving the benefit.
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Some farmers are using this new, experimental practice to help prevent flooding
Across much of the Midwest, the atmosphere is becoming warmer and retaining more water, leading to heavier downpours. A two-crop system called relay intercropping could help farmers buffer weather whiplash and boost profits.
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HIV community faces a double whammy: Medicaid reductions and CDC funding cuts
Public health workers, advocates and patients are bracing for what they describe as a perfect storm, which may undo years of progress in HIV treatment and prevention efforts.
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America depends on hydroelectric power, but regulatory hurdles could take plants offline
Hydropower accounts for nearly 30% of utility-scale renewable energy in the U.S., but federal hurdles may prevent older hydroelectric plants from staying online and new projects from getting off the ground.
