Grant Winterer
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Harvest Public Media
Planting is well underway across the Midwest, but farmers are still grappling with dry conditions that led to lower than normal corn yields last fall. It’s the third year of a near historic drought for parts of the Corn Belt.
Map production by Drs. Yuchi Ma and David Lobell of Stanford University
Rachel Cramer
/
Harvest Public Media
The Latest Harvest Stories
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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the food program for low-income individuals — has become one of the hottest topics in farm bill negotiations, as congressional Republicans seek more changes. -
Fewer farmers are planting hemp across the Midwest and Great Plains. The decline is most acute in hemp grown for its oils, like CBD, but experts say there’s greater opportunity in industrial hemp. -
A recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found working-age rural residents die from natural causes at a higher rate than their urban counterparts. And that gap has widened over the years. -
Since 1952, Schwan’s yellow trucks and friendly drivers have been delivering frozen food to households. The industry has become more competitive and crowded and the company has responded, rebranding and halting deliveries in most states. -
As the country tries to meet its climate goals, tackling emissions from farming will be key. One climate-smart agriculture strategy sequesters carbon while recycling agricultural waste and improving soil. -
As newspapers around the country close and consolidate, a printing press in Liberal, Kansas, is a lifeline for local media in the region. -
The U.S. has lost more than 2,800 newspapers since 2005, many of them in rural areas. Now some journalists are redoubling their efforts to provide local news and trying new models in a difficult industry. -
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. -
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the first federal limits on PFAS in drinking water. Only two Midwestern states currently have limits on levels acceptable in drinking water.
