Rural / Public News Service

According to 2021 data, Nebraska was home to more than 1,700 concentrated animal feeding operations. (Freepik)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

As candidates are sworn in, some will be reminded of factory farm health impacts

When newly elected candidates take office next month, they will hear from a range of constituents and special interest groups about a wide range of …

Agricultural researchers said farmers can now use technology to evaluate different crop zones and individually adjust how they irrigate and fertilize each area to improve their yield. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

High tech brings efficiency but adds complexity to rural SC farming

By Jessica Kutz for The People Sentinel.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for South Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

A new report from the University of California-Santa Barbara argued nature-based agriculture can reduce the environmental footprint of fossil fuel-based, chemical-intensive agriculture while providing good jobs in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Growing sustainable agriculture by investing in skilled workforce

As Colorado experiences more frequent extreme weather events, prolonged drought and loss of biodiversity because of a changing climate, farmers and …

Community Health Centers across the United States serve 3.8 million patients age 65 and older as well as 9.4 million children, according to The National Association of Community Health Centers. (Nadzeya/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

SD rep joins 300 in D.C. calling for more rural health center funding

Nearly 300 Community Health Center leaders from across the U.S. and South Dakota are on Capitol Hill today, urging Congress to act before their …

Animal nutritionists confirm sugar is a key energy source for cows, due to its concentrated and rapidly digestible nature. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 2, 2024

PA chocolate surplus finds new use on farms

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public Ne…

About 30% of agricultural methane emissions stem from manure storage. The other 70% comes from the digestive systems of livestock. (Adobe Stock)

CT, US take steps to mitigate methane emissions

By Seth Millstein for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Connecticut News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News …

Poultry consumption has skyrocketed over the last 60 years. Between 1961 and 2022, the average person went from eating 6.3 pounds of chicken every year to more than 37 pounds, an increase of almost 600%. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of animal welfare laws lead to misery on 'factory farms'

Advocates said a lack of animal welfare laws is leading to pain and suffering on American factory farms. Close to 99% of livestock is now raised in …

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida ranks 15th among states in the number of farms, and 29th for the amount of land farmed in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers, aquaculturists unite to protect Florida's land, water

For decades, Florida's upstream farmers and downstream aquaculturists have been at odds over water quality and environmental impacts. Now, the new …

A monarch butterfly can travel between 50 to 100 miles a day during its migration. (Derek Ramsey/Wikimedia Commons)

Are monarchs 'threatened enough?' Government soon decides

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to decide soon whether to list the monarch butterfly as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act…

Every 24 hours, between 3 and 6 billion animals are killed for food. That comes to a lower-end estimate of 1.2 trillion animals killed every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Few animal welfare laws lead to misery in factory farms

Advocates said a lack of animal welfare laws is leading to pain and suffering on American factory farms. Close to 99% of livestock is now raised in …

The Northern Illinois Food Bank reports that in 13 counties, 100,000 children are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

IL food banks to receive USDA funding to address low food inventory

People will gather over the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends to count their blessings. While the holiday feast is plentiful for many…

Milk is the only food that makes up an entire food group. (magdal3na/Adobe Stock)

Activist: Dairy may not be best way to get your calcium

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Wh…

The USDA is investing more than $3 billion in about 140 pilot projects for

USDA's 'Climate-Smart' efforts raise questions on transparency, impact

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Alabama News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Since the 1940s, about 50% of zoonotic diseases have been traced to agriculture, according to research in the journal BioScience. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Probiotics on farms could fight antibiotic resistance

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

One megawatt (MW) of electricity generated by a wind turbine in Wisconsin can typically power around 350 typical Wisconsin homes, according to Renew Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Despite lag in WI wind energy, potential is high for takeoff

Wisconsin ranks 26th in the nation for wind energy, generating far less than neighboring states. Wisconsin has about 900 megawatts of installed …

Some 72% of those benefiting from the programs of United Methodist Churches are not members of those congregations. In effect, says a new report, rural Methodist churches are de facto community centers, much like urban congregations. (Adobe Stock)

NC church becomes hub for disaster relief, community resilience

Churches are often seen as cornerstones of their communities in North Carolina and elsewhere, but Swansboro United Methodist Church in Onslow County …

Food systems are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with meat production, particularly beef, being a significant driver. (CanYalicn/Adobe Stock)

From Ohio to Azerbaijan: How COP29 could shape local farming

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

In 2020, roughly 9.9% of all U-S adults over age 20 were, or 28.6 million people, were affected by cardiovascular disease, according to a review article from the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Advisory: Heart health plummeting in rural areas in SD and nationwide

It is National Rural Health Day and experts are flagging research showing increasing health disparities between urban and rural places, including in …

More than 3,000 Maine apprentices were actively working on industry-recognized skill certification in 2022, according to the Maine Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME businesses boost apprenticeships to counter workforce shortage

State officials in Maine said they are working to expand the number of registered apprenticeship programs to help counter a persistent worker shortage…

The nonprofit FracTracker Alliance has created an online map that shows the proximity of CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states to ecologically vulnerable areas and Indigenous lands. (Adobe Stock)

'FracTracker' maps pipeline effects on Indigenous land

A nonprofit group that tracks oil and gas development has created an interactive map to show how close CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states come to en…

Since the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program began in 2017, SNAP households have purchased more than $63 million from local farmers in healthy, local foods. (Adobe Stock)

MA farmers, families brace for cuts to fresh produce benefits

Massachusetts farmers said they are bracing for revenue losses due to cuts in fresh produce SNAP benefits. Starting Dec. 1, families who utilize the …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends states monitor biosolids, which can end up being used as farm fertilizer, for PFAS contamination and identify industrial discharges of PFAS. (Adobe Stock) <br />

KY farmers should think twice about using ‘biosludge’ as fertilizer

Kentucky farmers are using biosolids or "biosludge" from city sewage as cheap fertilizer but the price tag is high in terms of health, from toxic …

Several Midwestern states, including North Dakota, have been looking over plans submitted by Summit Carbon Solutions for what's described as one of the largest carbon capture and storage projects in the world. (Adobe Stock)

Carbon pipeline debate reaches new stage after ND permit OK'd

More regulatory action is needed, but a controversial pipeline project in North Dakota is moving forward after a permit was approved last week…

In 17% of Colorado households with children, the children are not eating enough because the family did not earn enough to purchase enough food, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger Free Colorado celebrates 15th birthday

Colorado's leading advocate for people experiencing hunger turns 15 this year and a new report outlined key advances and persistent challenges facing …

Wisconsin will receive $78 million over five years from the federal government to expand electric vehicle improvements. It plans to have all new charging stations up and running by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

WI makes innovative strides, but lags in EV adoption

Electric vehicles have seen a nationwide uptick, yet Wisconsin lags behind - with EVs making up only about 1% of all cars on the road. …

A growing number of Iowa farmers are shunning the use of gestation crates where sows are held until they give birth. (Adobe Stock)

More Iowa farmers support gestation crate ban

By Nina Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration When B…

According to MSCI, 97% of nickel, 89% of copper, 79% of lithium and 68% of cobalt supplies in the U.S. are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Federal agendas aside, tribes have a lot to offer in 'energy evolution'

President-elect Donald Trump's agenda for "energy dominance" could majorly impact leaders in the sector, including the state of Wyoming and the …

Economists suggest for a more budget-friendly holiday feast, consider hosting a potluck. Sharing dishes not only brings variety to the table but helps spread the costs among guests. (Adobe Stock)

What Coloradans can expect on holiday groceries, and tips for saving money

With Thanksgiving now two weeks away, will Coloradans face sticker shock at the grocery store while planning their holiday meals? There is a mix of …

The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance was created to help preserve and protect the scenic beauty and pristine water quality of the Buffalo National River by opposing and preventing the construction and operation of industrial concentrated animal feeding operations within the Buffalo River watershed. (ODell Outside/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofit works to protect Buffalo National River from contamination

Members of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance are supporting two moratoriums on concentrated animal feeding operations to be voted on today by the A…

Bobcats are elusive, native predators known for their sharp senses and solitary nature, typically hunting at dawn or dusk. (Adobe stock)

Hoosiers push back on bobcat hunting season

Indiana's Department of Natural Resources is pushing a bobcat trapping plan after a new law required a hunting season by 2025. Opponents said the …

According to a United Nations 2015 report, food system emissions were responsible for 18 billion tons of carbon dioxide, making up 34% of global emissions. (Pattadis/Adobe Stock)

Shareholders step up to shape climate goals in corporate world

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

A new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cattle grazing rule is being challenged by environmental advocates who claim it would increase dangerous interactions between cattle and grizzlies. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups buck grazing expansion in MT's Custer Gallatin

A federal court in Montana has held a hearing more than two years after a coalition of environmental advocates sued the U.S. Forest Service and the …

Virtual power plants, a microgrid connecting renewable energy with smart appliances, costs ratepayers 40% to 60% less than building and maintaining conventional coal or gas-powered plants. (Adobe Stock)

Creating virtual power plants for resiliency during extreme weather, wildfires

An electric cooperative supplying power to Western Colorado is pioneering energy independence for homes, businesses and farms. They are creating a …

Low Water Bridge in Fries, Va., was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. (Adobe Stock)

Helene leaves Virginia communities struggling with long-term recovery

The hills and hollers of Virginia are no strangers to hardship, but few were prepared for the devastation Hurricane Helene would bring. Six weeks …

An Emmy award-winning television spot features regenerative ranching practices in grasslands on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. (Ron Nichols)

SD PSA on grasslands wins regional Emmy award

Native grasslands are the most threatened ecosystem in North America. A South Dakota advocacy group hopes its educational campaign will reach a …

As a part of new Farm Service Agency loan improvements, an online direct loan repayment feature will be available to help relieve borrowers from having to call, mail or visit a local USDA Service Center to pay a loan installment. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)

As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed

New federal loan adjustments aim to ease financial burdens for farmers but advocates said lasting change requires legislative action. The U.S…

Author and academic Nick Jacobs says rural voter resentment of the Democratic Party didn't start with Donald Trump, arguing that over the decades, these communities have grown increasingly distrustful of Democrats. (Adobe Stock)

Post-election analysis: Rural voter nuance is deeply entrenched

Donald Trump's victory in the race for the White House was again aided by wins in rural states such as Nebraska. While other contributing factors …

The latest Census of Agriculture renewed concerns about the growing size of farms around the United States, prompting more calls for farmers to embrace climate-smart practices. (Adobe Stock)

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers se…

Four companies control 85% of the beef processed in the United States, according to data just released by the advocacy group Farm Action. Consolidation continues to grow in the agriculture industry. (Adobe Stock)

Montana's agriculture industry becomes more consolidated

Advocates for a fair, sustainable and healthy food system have released a report showing increasing consolidation in Montana's agriculture sector…

Animal-rights advocates are testing whether asking for people's votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas) Animal rights advocates are testing whether asking for people�s votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas)

Denver could become first city to ban slaughterhouses

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

More than one-third of Iowa voters live in rural areas. Research shows them highly engaged in this year's election. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's rural voters show historic engagement, passion

Poll results indicate Iowa's rural voters say the economy, jobs, and inflation top the list of critical issues for them in tomorrow's election…

Polls will be open on Election Day from 7:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. (Alan/Adobe Stock)

Lower early voting numbers in AR compared to 2020

Election officials in Arkansas say fewer people cast early votes in this year's general election than in 2020. They say more people voted early …

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative registered nearly 160,000 new voters for the Nov. 5 election, which represents the largest grassroots voter registration program in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's voting system affects BIPOC communities

Ohio voters are facing significant challenges at the ballot box, with some groups expressing concerns over voter roll purges and gerrymandering …

The Wisconsin State Division of Hearings and Appeals has the power to modify permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or require the agency to include stronger terms and conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Kewaunee County residents take legal action against dairy CAFO

Some northeast Wisconsin residents are challenging a wastewater permit issued by the state to a large dairy operation. The Wisconsin Department of …

Community leaders in a recent Progress Michigan webinar said if the GOP's Project 2025 is implemented, it could have a devastating effect on Michigan farms, rural schools and the state's Indigenous tribes. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders fear GOP 2025 plans would harm people in rural Michigan

Groups from across Michigan are sounding the alarm on the effect Republican-backed policies would have on people in rural parts of the state…

PacifiCorp has committed to retiring just 27% of its coal use by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

PacifiCorp has 'room to improve' on clean energy commitments

A new report grades utilities based on their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. The Sierra Club has graded utilities on their …

Before Madeleine Ahlborn bought an empty church, the most expensive thing she owned was a 2002 Toyota 4Runner with 340,000 miles on it. (Madeleine Ahlborn)

Old House of Prayer becomes community art space

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Small rural hospitals often struggle financially to provide services such as emergency care because of high costs and low reimbursement rates. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Emergency Hospital program aims to keep rural facilities from closing

With many rural hospitals on the financial critical list, Congress created a Rural Emergency Hospital model in 2021 to help deliver critical care to …

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PNS Daily Newscast - December 3, 2024

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Rural

As candidates are sworn in, some will be reminded of factory farm health impacts

High tech brings efficiency but adds complexity to rural SC farming

Growing sustainable agriculture by investing in skilled workforce

SD rep joins 300 in D.C. calling for more rural health center funding

PA chocolate surplus finds new use on farms

CT, US take steps to mitigate methane emissions

Lack of animal welfare laws lead to misery on 'factory farms'

Farmers, aquaculturists unite to protect Florida's land, water

Are monarchs 'threatened enough?' Government soon decides

Few animal welfare laws lead to misery in factory farms

IL food banks to receive USDA funding to address low food inventory

Activist: Dairy may not be best way to get your calcium

USDA's 'Climate-Smart' efforts raise questions on transparency, impact

Research: Probiotics on farms could fight antibiotic resistance

Despite lag in WI wind energy, potential is high for takeoff

NC church becomes hub for disaster relief, community resilience

From Ohio to Azerbaijan: How COP29 could shape local farming

Advisory: Heart health plummeting in rural areas in SD and nationwide

ME businesses boost apprenticeships to counter workforce shortage

'FracTracker' maps pipeline effects on Indigenous land

MA farmers, families brace for cuts to fresh produce benefits

KY farmers should think twice about using ‘biosludge’ as fertilizer

Carbon pipeline debate reaches new stage after ND permit OK'd

Hunger Free Colorado celebrates 15th birthday

WI makes innovative strides, but lags in EV adoption

More Iowa farmers support gestation crate ban

Federal agendas aside, tribes have a lot to offer in 'energy evolution'

What Coloradans can expect on holiday groceries, and tips for saving money

AR nonprofit works to protect Buffalo National River from contamination

Hoosiers push back on bobcat hunting season

Shareholders step up to shape climate goals in corporate world

Environmental groups buck grazing expansion in MT's Custer Gallatin

Creating virtual power plants for resiliency during extreme weather, wildfires

Helene leaves Virginia communities struggling with long-term recovery

SD PSA on grasslands wins regional Emmy award

As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed

Post-election analysis: Rural voter nuance is deeply entrenched

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

Montana's agriculture industry becomes more consolidated

Denver could become first city to ban slaughterhouses

Iowa's rural voters show historic engagement, passion

Lower early voting numbers in AR compared to 2020

Ohio's voting system affects BIPOC communities

Kewaunee County residents take legal action against dairy CAFO

Leaders fear GOP 2025 plans would harm people in rural Michigan

PacifiCorp has 'room to improve' on clean energy commitments

Old House of Prayer becomes community art space

Rural Emergency Hospital program aims to keep rural facilities from closing