Farmers Try To Figure Out How Much Carbon They Could Sell
Some Midwestern farmers are involved in a research project to help determine how good some practices are for the environment, and it may help them take advantage of new attempts to establish a carbon credit trade market. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kcur2/audio/2021/09/CARBON-FEATURE-WEB.mp3 The project run by Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Soybean Association is looking at quantifying the […]
Energy Bill Heads To Pritzker, Who Says He Will Sign It
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate put the final legislative stamp on an energy regulation overhaul bill Monday, sending it to Gov. JB Pritzker, who says he will sign it. It’s the culmination of years of negotiation, and it marks a policy win on one of Pritzker’s biggest outstanding first-term campaign promises as the 2022 campaign […]
Changing The Rock Dust Applied To Farm Fields Could Help Reduce Carbon Emissions
SHELDON — Agriculture is responsible for more than 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and some in the industry are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One of those efforts is replacing the kind of crushed rock farmers use to neutralize their soil’s acidity, from limestone […]
As Climate Change Ramps Up Heat, Farmers Struggle To Keep Animals Cool
RAYMOND — A pig’s ideal temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. So on a 90-degree day in the middle of July, Phil Borgic keeps a close eye on his herd. “A pig can’t sweat,” he says. “So the only way that it can transfer the heat is by panting.” https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s138/audio/2021/08/livestock-climate-change-hpm-web.mp3 The air is humid and heavy […]
Hurricane Ida Traps Louisianans, Leaves The Grid In Shambles
NEW ORLEANS — A fearsome Hurricane Ida has left scores of coastal Louisiana residents trapped by floodwaters and pleading to be rescued, while making a shambles of the electrical grid across a wide swath of the state in the sweltering, late-summer heat. One of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. mainland has […]
Heat Advisory Continues; Strong Storms Possible Too
URBANA – Meteorologists say dangerous heat and possibly strong thunderstorms will continue in Central Illinois on Thursday. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Heat Advisory until 8:00 p.m. It is the third advisory this week. Forecasters also say there could be strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, with the main […]
Health Or A Paycheck: New Report Shows How Extreme Heat May Hurt Farmworkers
People who work outside increasingly risk their income, illness and even death as climate change ramps up extreme heat. That’s according to a first-of-its-kind study from the Union of Concerned Scientists, titled “Too Hot To Work.” The study focused on workers who spend some or all of their work time outside, including construction workers, emergency […]
Major Report Warns Climate Change Is Accelerating And Humans Must Cut Emissions Now
WASHINGTON — Global climate change is accelerating and human emissions of greenhouse gases are the overwhelming cause, according to a landmark report released Monday by the United Nations. There is still time to avoid catastrophic warming this century, but only if countries around the world stop burning fossil fuels as quickly as possible, the authors […]
More Than 1 Million Deaths In 2017 Linked To Burning Fossil Fuels, Wash U Study Finds
ST. LOUIS — Burning fossil fuels has created a massive, global problem: climate change. New research from Washington University finds these fuel sources also have serious health consequences. The study found more than 1 million people died worldwide in 2017 related to air pollution from burning coal, oil and natural gas. When inhaled, the microscopic […]
Cover Crops Can Help Slow Climate Change, But Few Farmers Are Planting Them
Amid a push from the Biden administration for U.S. agriculture to help slow climate change, a new study shows farmers in the Corn Belt are dropping the ball on adopting a climate-friendly practice. A mountain of research shows the benefits of planting cover crops — from sequestering carbon from the environment to keeping waterways […]
Ethanol Industry Banks On Carbon Capture To Slow Climate Change, But Researchers Have Doubts
The Biden administration plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the next decade. Renewable fuels are part of the plan, but some researchers say ethanol doesn’t help that much. The ethanol industry says steps it’s taking could make it more of a player in slowing climate change. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kcur2/audio/2021/06/0623ETHANOLCO2.mp3 Listen to this story here. President […]
Organic Farmers Seek Successors, Stability After Strong Year
BLOOMINGTON — Organic food growers have seen a boost in demand since the pandemic began. There’s also demand for more people to farm the land. But as more farmers get set to retire, it’s unclear if there will be enough farmers to take their place. Ron Ackerman and his wife Angie grow corn, soybeans, grains […]
‘We Need To Be Concerned About This:’ New Report Details How Climate Change Will Transform Illinois
URBANA — 80 years from now, Illinois’ climate may be unrecognizable. Summers could get a lot hotter, with temperatures reaching up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. The state could see up to 150% more rainfall per year than it does currently, with more storms dumping more rain more frequently. Snow days would mostly […]
Barge Industry May Be A Mixed Bag For The Green Energy Movement
ALTON — The Biden administration is fighting climate change in part by pushing for cars and trucks to be more fuel efficient and reduce emissions, but so far, that talk hasn’t landed in another mode of transportation: barges. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kcur2/audio/2021/04/BARGE-WEB.mp3 Listen to this story here. In light of more pressure to advance the cause of green […]
Biden’s First 50 Days: Where He Stands On Key Promises
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden laid out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office, promising swift action on everything from climate change to immigration reform to the coronavirus pandemic. On his 50th day in office, on Wednesday, his administration celebrated congressional passage of his massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package. The bill […]