Sustainable Agriculture / Public News Service

Goats on the Go clear brush and other unwanted vegetation, including poison ivy, often to restore native grasses to Iowa farm and grass lands. (Matt Vermeersch)

Monday, November 11, 2024

Hungry goats help restore native Iowa habitat

Some Iowa farmers are putting a new spin on an age-old animal behavior. They're using goats to remove weeds, overgrown brush, and non-native …

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

Monday, November 11, 2024

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…

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…

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 …

At Ocean Rainforest's Santa Barbara research farm, giant kelp grows at different depths on horizontal lines strung between buoys. (Ocean Rainforest)

Seaweed farming works toward a greener future

By Alexandra Talty for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

The practice of intentionally burning excess vegetation has faced opposition from the public. (gilitukha/Adobe Stock)

Ancient technique used to fight west TX wildfires

By Keaton Peters for Inside Climate News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

Nearly 67,000 schools participate in Farm-to-School programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Ohio schools bring local farms to lunch trays with USDA funding

This October, Ohio schools are celebrating National Farm to School Month by serving local produce in their meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture …

Researchers at the World Resources Institute said the average American can cut their environmental footprint in half by reducing dairy and meat consumption. (Molly Condit/Sinergia Animal/We Animals)

Congressional briefing promotes dairy digesters to curb methane emissions

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

According to the American Sheep Industry Association, as of January 2024, there are 5 million sheep in the U.S. Illinois ranks 27th in the nation for sheep production. (Adobe Stock)

IL sheep farmer embraces land for solar use

By Kari Lydersen for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Energy News Network-Public News…

North Carolina's agricultural business employs more than 100,000 farmers in poultry. (Adobe Stock)

How a NC farmer's shift to sustainable practices could guide others out of debt

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

More than 55% of agricultural lands in South Dakota, or 24 million acres, are dedicated to animal production, according to the Governor's Office of Economic Development. (Adobe Stock)

Sustainable meat industries could use boost from billionaires

Since 1964, per capita meat consumption has doubled and environmental advocates cautioned it is unsustainable. And there are more billionaires…

The Hazleton Area School District received a grant for more than $99,000 to implement a sustainable agriculture program in its career center, providing local, nutritious food to students and addressing health disparities in its community. (Adobe Stock)

Program builds bridge between PA's local farms, school cafeterias

Schools in Pennsylvania are recognizing October's National Farm to School Month by serving local produce in their meals. The U.S. Department of …

Adrian Sinclair is the plant manager at the 1839 Cherokee Meat Co. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. (Ben Felder/Investigate Midwest)

OK tribes' meat processing plants reverse historic ag consolidation

By Ben Felder for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Oklahoma News Service reporting for the Investigate Midwest-Solutions Jo…

Nearly 67,000 schools participate in Farm-to-School programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Michael Chamberlin/Adobe Stock)

Program helps build bridge between local farms, school cafeterias

This October, schools in Georgia are celebrating National Farm to School Month by serving local produce in their meals. The U.S. Department of …

The practice of agroforestry combines traditional agricultural practices of raising livestock with growing trees and shrubs acting as carbon sinks on the same land. (Mongabay/Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Paying Iowa farmers to expand 'climate smart' acres

By Sarah Derouin for Mongabay.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service…

Groups sounding the alarm over the need to feed larger global populations in the near future say billionaires have the resources to significantly improve food systems by investing in alternatives to traditional products. (Adobe Stock)

How the world's ultra-rich are trying – or not – to make meat sustainable

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration O…

An algal bloom is seen near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia in August 2021. (Photo courtesy Wyatt Young/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Could Mississippi River benefit from East Coast water-quality strategy?

By Bennet Goldstein for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Service…

Federal regulations are an area in which the president has significant latitude to affect food policy. (Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)<br />

Where does Harris stand on meat, factory farming?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

Supporters of large-scale aquaculture say it's needed to meet the growing demand for seafood. U.S. per capita consumption of fish and shellfish rose from nearly 16 pounds in 2002 to more than 20 pounds in 2021, a 31% increase, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Adobe Stock)

Federal court rejects permit for industrial aquaculture structures

Ocean advocates are hailing a federal judge's decision that deemed a nationwide permit for industrial aquaculture structures unlawful. The U.S…

Living roots reduce soil erosion and provide food for organisms like earthworms and microbes that cycle the nutrients plants need, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

AZ nonprofit teaches sustainable practices to next gen farmers

By Lauren Kobley for Cronkite News.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

The process for testing for bacteria in foods can be a tricky, segmented process. (sinhyu/Adobe Stock)

After listeria outbreak, food regulations under scrutiny

A recent foodborne illness outbreak linked to deli meats is putting the spotlight on how these foods are regulated. The listeria outbreak in Boar's …

The federal Rural Energy for America Program provides loan guarantees and grants to farmers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. (Adobe Stock)

Report: USDA program helped hundreds of KY businesses become energy efficient

In Kentucky, 462 businesses, farms and schools have received $77 million in federal funding to boost energy efficiency through the U.S. Department of …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates more than one-third of food produced in the U.S. is never eaten, wasting the resources used to produce, process and distribute it. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME tackles food waste in effort to mitigate climate change

A new study found Maine households are a leading contributor of food waste in local landfills, which in turn contributes to climate change. …

Viva Farms leases out parcels of more than 100 acres it operates in the Skagit Valley. (Lena Beck)

WA incubator helps new farmers overcome land access barrier

By Lena Beck for Modern Farmer.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Modern Farmer-Public News Service Col…

The debate over a new Farm Bill and where to prioritize funding comes as the number of farms declines while farm sizes go up. Experts said it is a symptom of corporate consolidation within agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Future health of WI's farmland monitored in Farm Bill fight

Congress has one week from today to reauthorize a sweeping policy playing a big role in shaping the nation's food production system, and Wisconsin …

Retention basins are artificial ponds often used on farms to manage water and prevent fertilizer and other contaminants from reaching nearby waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Flooded farm fields no longer the norm for some MN producers

Minnesota has had a dry start to the fall but saw record rain this past spring. One farmer said changes to his land made it easier for the crop …

Environmental researchers say locally based-food growers tend to be more conscious about minimizing harmful runoff from their farmland. (Adobe Stock)

WI program serves up fresh produce, with a side of climate benefits

Access to nutritious food can be hard to come by for underserved populations. A Wisconsin program that relies on contributions from locally based …

In 2017, the country's seafood industry supported 1.7 million jobs and contributed $212 billion in sales, according to NOAA's Office for Coastal Management. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

Clamming for workers: ME boosts aquaculture training programs

The University of Maine is helping to train the next generation of skilled aquaculture workers. Designs for a new $10 million Sustainable …

More than 180 local and state elected officials from more than 40 states are coming together urging Congress to reject the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed ‘EATS’ Act could devour NY agriculture laws

A federal bill could spell trouble for New York farmers. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act would remove local and state governments' …

One cow can produce up to 264 pounds of methane every year, and it's estimated that livestock production is responsible for 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. (Adobe Stock)

How livestock farming fuels climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

So far, 34 farmers markets, food hubs and retail locations across the state offer Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot program makes fresh Colorado produce accessible to more families

As Colorado's fall harvest kicks into high gear, people participating in SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, can now get up to $60 per …

Lawmakers are considering a provision in the current Farm Bill to incorporate

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MA fishermen see opportunity as Farm Bill advances

Massachusetts fishermen said they are optimistic the next Farm Bill will provide greater support to smaller, community-based fishing fleets. The …

Sheep graze on a solar field in Garrard County owned by Silicon Ranch Corp. (Silicon Ranch)

KY communities consider solar zoning ordinances

As Fayette County considers approving industrial-scale solar operations on farmland, more communities in the Commonwealth are considering special …

Solar energy costs far less than fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency finds utility-level solar costs about $20 per unit less to produce than natural gas. (Adobe Stock)

Misinformation prevents VA from reaping solar-energy benefits

Although most Virginians support and prefer solar energy, misinformation is keeping more of it from being built. Several counties and cities have …

Weston Lombard, at his Athens County farm, uses regenerative practices funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. (Photo credit Sijie Yuan)

Ohio reacts to Biden's investment targeting rural electrification

President Joe Biden has announced a landmark $7.3 billion investment, the largest since the FDR New Deal, aimed at electrifying rural America…

Brazil and Vietnam are currently the largest coffee-producing countries in the world. Production is increasing in China and even in California and on the Gulf Coast. (Somchai20162516/Adobe Stock)

Climate solutions for the future of coffee

By Anne Connor for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

The Center for Rural Affairs said if all forecasted solar in the Midwest was developed on prime farmland, it would occupy only 1.45% to 2.9% of such farmland in this part of the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Tractors, barns and solar panels: Renewables help reshape MN ag land use

Minnesota has plenty of prime farmland, with some of it being converted in the transition to clean energy sources such as solar. The movement has …

Independent agriculture producers are asking Congress to consider small family farmers in the next Farm Bill, which has yet to be debated in the nation's capital. (Adobe Stock)

Family farmers call for a level playing field

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering new rules, seeking to level the playing field for independent farmers in Iowa and across the …

Meatpackers are able to lower the cost of processing each animal by running bigger operations compared to smaller facilities. (Dragosh/Adobe Stock)

AR ranchers want a bigger cut from beef industry

The price of beef could be on the minds of Arkansas farmers and ranchers when they go to the polls in November. Currently, just four companies - …

Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering landowners incentives to restore habitat to low-yield areas. (Adobe Stock)

Incentives for farmers work to restore Iowa habitat, protect soil

Practical Farmers of Iowa is looking for landowners who want to help restore natural habitat on their property, and get help doing it. It's part of …

Research shows South Dakota had the fifth-highest rate of cropland abandonment between 1986 and 2018, trailing Texas, North Dakota, Kansas and Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Former croplands could be ‘sweet spot’ for renewable-energy production

Researchers mapped American croplands that have fallen out of production in hopes of inspiring new uses for them, such as renewable energy. Roughly 3…

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Mainers seek more ‘sustainable’ seafood but labels may be misleading

Mainers are buying more "sustainable" and "humane" seafood but animal welfare advocates said such labels may not be telling the whole story. The …

China is Maine's top export destination for seafood, accounting for 80% to 85% of U.S. lobster sales and bringing in more than $300 million to the state's economy in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

U of Maine study reveals pathways for U.S. seafood independence

A new study from the University of Maine found the nation could reduce the amount of seafood it imports and still meet consumer demand. Americans …

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, lower courts usually define a

MN livestock producers may take concerns to the polls

Concerns about consolidation in the meat industry could drive livestock producers to the polls. Just four companies process about 85% of American …

Health effects from exposure to toxic algae include skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, pneumonia and more, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock/AI-generated)<br />

Factory farms cited as one cause of rise in toxic algae blooms

According to the latest Environmental Protection Agency data, harmful algae bloom events are increasing across the country - including in Wisconsin…

A field of sunflowers is shown on fourth-generation Koelling land in Ord, Nebraska. The Koellings grew their sunflower oil business with the help of the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program. (Photo courtesy of Alan Koelling, Simply Sunflowers)

Federal funds back renewable energy, efficiency upgrades for NE ag, small business

Nebraska ag producers and small businesses have until Sept. 30 to apply for the latest funding round of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural …

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Sustainable Agriculture and Farming