There are rows and rows of small white structures housing individual roosters on Troy Thompson’s farm in southern Oklahoma. “You know, some people like pigs, some people like horses — I like chickens,” Thompson said. These breeds of colorful Hatches and Kelsos are said to derive from jungle fowl and have historically been bred for…
Biosolids — a type of treated sewage byproduct from wastewater treatment plants — are used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer on farms across the Midwest. But a group of toxic “forever chemicals” are slipping through the cracks and could be inadvertently contaminating millions of acres of farmland. Jason Grostic comes from a long line of…
An environmental activist group charges that many “climate smart” farming practices recently added to a list for U.S. Department of Agriculture funding are not yet proven. The Environmental Working Group says funding from the Inflation Reduction Act should not be used to pay farmers for using the practices, until there is more evidence that they work.
When Dr. Bailey Lammers started her veterinary career nearly a decade ago in her home state of Nebraska, she joined a minority of women practicing in rural areas. At first, Lammers said clients were hesitant of her ability to care for their livestock. “There would be times where they would call in and be like,…
The sale of a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa to Koch Industries is shining a spotlight on consolidation in the industry. Several groups are asking the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to carefully review the deal. When Koch Industries announced a $3.6 billion dollar deal in December to buy OCI’s Iowa Fertilizer…
The majority of states are not processing food assistance applications on time and making too many payment errors, according to the federal government. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to the governors of 44 states earlier this month that are failing to meet federal standards when it comes to processing applications…
The average farmer in the U.S. is now 58 years old, according to the Census of Agriculture, released Tuesday. There are also fewer farms in the country than there were in the last census. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is continuing to increase while the number of farms declines, according to new…
As the number of wind and solar farms increases, so does opposition in the rural areas where they’re being built. While more counties and townships passed restrictions in the last year, some states are responding by passing laws making it harder for local governments to say no to wind and solar. The land in Piatt…
Thousands of miles of oil and natural gas pipelines already crisscross the country. Now, many more are being proposed to carry things like hydrogen and carbon dioxide as ways to combat climate change. The pipeline runs right through Kenny Davis’ modest Scott County, Illinois, farm, where he had planned to build a home for him…
Fresh food availability targeted in grant program; IDOR begins processing returns.
ADM said that an investigation was initiated in response to a voluntary document request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said late Sunday that it’s cooperating with the SEC. ADM named Ismael Roig as interim CFO.
Congress kicked the can down the road by failing to negotiate a new farm bill last year. The bill has been extended through the end of September, but experts say it won’t be easy for lawmakers to approve a new plan. During his 30 years of farming, Mark Recker has seen a lot of farm…
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report found “socially disadvantaged producers,” especially Black farmers, operate at a higher risk level compared to their white counterparts and are less likely to receive government payments. A report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found farms operated by socially disadvantaged producers are more likely to be at high risk…
Back when Kelly Roberts was a kid during the 1970s, her family would scout their northeastern Oklahoma pasture every year, looking for the perfect eastern redcedar for their Christmas tree. “I remember traipsing across the pasture and there were very few,” Roberts said. “So we would have to walk a while before we would find…
The agriculture department’s annual projections show a slowing economy and lower crop prices for the upcoming year. The USDA also looks ahead to the next decade, showing rising crop yields but a competitive job market. Both inflation and interest rates will slow in 2024, according to preliminary projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while…