How exactly did cyclospora infiltrate our food supply? We still don’t know
Food safety experts say contaminated water in farm fields is a likely culprit. But questions still remain about the current outbreak.
Tag: Harvest Public Media
Farmers are struggling to turn a profit. How does it compare to the farm crisis in the ’80s?
Corn and soybean growers have seen several years of low commodity prices and increased costs for supplies like fertilizer and fuel. That has many farmers worried about whether they’ll turn a profit this year and drawn some comparisons to a dark time in American agriculture.
Bayer won its Roundup case. Where does that leave thousands of pending lawsuits?
Attorneys say cases that claim the popular weedkiller causes cancer will have to change course to move forward in court after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the agriculture company last month.
Pesticide pollution in Midwest and Great Plains rivers is getting worse, decade-long study reveals
Pesticide pollution is a problem especially in the middle of the country. And sometimes there’s enough of it to possibly hurt aquatic plants and animals.
In the fight to save prairies, some Great Plains ranchers embrace a new landscape – with goats
These ranchers tried to protect grassland from trees and shrubs in all the traditional ways. It didn’t work. So they brought in hungry goats that turned woody plants into a cash stream.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore grants for underserved farmers
A preliminary court order reinstated federal grants largely helping Black, Indigenous, veteran and immigrant farmers access land, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut earlier this year. Now, organizations are cautiously moving forward with their projects.
A potent weedkiller can drift for miles, killing crops and trees. EPA’s new rules may not stop it
New federal rules for dicamba aim to help cotton and soybean farmers control weeds. But the herbicide, which can kill other crops and trees, remains controversial.
Trump reduced tariffs on farm machinery. But prices could still increase
The Trump administration lowered tariffs on farm equipment last month. But with economic pressures on farmers, equipment dealers and manufacturers, the move may not bring much relief.
After drought and wildfires, wheat farmers in the Great Plains are in for a rough year
Nearly half of the U.S. winter wheat crop is in poor or very poor condition, following a tough growing season. Some farmers are choosing to leave their crop in the field
Trump says the U.S. doesn’t need a trade deal with its neighbors. Farm groups push hard for renewal
An official review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement begins in July. President Trump already has suggested the U.S. would be better off without it.
Efforts to get year-round E15 sales could hurt soybean farmers
A bill allowing year-round sales of E15, a fuel blended with up to 15% corn-based ethanol, is being debated in the Senate. While the bill is hailed as a boon for corn growers, there are concerns that it could hurt soybean prices.
As people protest data centers across the Heartland, lawmakers rush to regulate development
Development of large-scale data centers is booming across the Midwest and South. As some communities push back, local and state governments are trying to catch up on how to regulate the new development.
These seed banks preserve crucial corn and soy varieties. A federal plan may put them at risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing moving the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center and the National Soybean Germplasm Collection from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, where they’ve both been housed for decades.
Bird populations are shrinking faster in agriculture hotspots— including the Midwest, study finds
New research out of Ohio State University found the rate of bird decline was quicker in areas with more intense agricultural practices.
Federal aid for farmers aims to offset losses on farms. Will it help?
The one-time payments could offer short-term support as many farmers grapple with less income and extreme weather.