Biochar — an ancient farming method — is finding new life improving soil and burying carbon
Nick Cuchetti is mixing up something special in a bucket on his family farm in Luebbering, Missouri. The dusty substance looks a lot like charcoal, but scientists who study it bristle at the comparison. This is biochar — a soil amendment and a hot topic in sustainable agriculture. As Cuchetti pours the biochar onto his […]
Bird flu is spreading in dairy herds. Midwest farmers say they’re vigilant but not alarmed
The flu has been found in cows for the first time, but most cattle seem to be showing only mild symptoms and recovering from the illness. Officials say the pasteurization process means milk remains safe. Midwest farmers and others in the dairy industry say they are staying vigilant but are not overly alarmed as bird […]
Raising roosters is big business. Now a push to ease penalties for cockfighting is ruffling feathers
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 […]
This farmer’s livelihood was ruined by PFAS-contaminated fertilizer that few Midwest states test 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 […]
Most veterinarians are women, but they still face sexism in rural areas where they’re most needed
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, […]
Ag groups and lawmakers warn of a monopoly in the fertilizer industry with one plant’s sale
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 […]
Aging farmers and fewer farms in the new agriculture census should be a ‘wake up call,’ says Vilsack
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 […]
The U.S. hopes to build more pipelines for carbon capture. Landowners don’t want them
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 […]
Electric buses are coming to a school near you — but are they more than a fad?
The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to send nearly 5,000 electric buses to school districts around the country after a nearly two-year ramp-up. A few Midwestern districts weigh in on how the new buses are working so far. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s60/audio/2024/01/electricbuses-featureweb.mp3 The yellow buses lined up after school in the Ralls County School District look nearly identical. […]
How a National Music Museum full of treasures made its home in the Midwest
The National Music Museum has one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of historical instruments — a sort of musical Smithsonian.
The farm bill stalled in Congress last year, leaving lawmakers to deal with it in an election year
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 […]
The Midwest could produce more biofuels and bio-based products. A federal bill aims to help
Legislation in Congress would expand a federal grant and loan program that helps producers of biofuels and other biomanufactured products build and expand their facilities. A Congressional bill proposed by Midwestern representatives from both parties is aimed at spurring innovation in biofuel technology and increasing its production. The Agriculture Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act, or […]
Socially disadvantaged producers operate at a higher risk, USDA study says
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 […]
Christmas tree drama: Why many states want to get rid of the eastern redcedar
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 […]
USDA predicts lower 2024 crop prices, but that won’t immediately show up at the grocery store
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 […]
