Agriculture
States Expand Efforts to Squash Spread of Dangerous Insect
The invasive spotted lanternfly kills many crops and trees and can cause a state hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Several states are sounding the alarm and quarantining more counties.
Invasive Insects Will Kill 1.4M Trees Across the US
Replacing trees attacked by the East Asian beetle, which has invaded 35 states, could cost $900 million, one report shows.
Murder Hornets in US Being Trapped With ‘Sex Spray’
The Asian giant hornet is killing honeybees in the west and may migrate east, which could have a devastating economic impact.
With $1.4B in Awards, USDA Seeks to Loosen Grip of ‘Extraction Economy’ on Rural America
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said a new package of loans and grants is meant to help build wealth outside of cities and suburbs.
Black Texas Farmers Were on Track To Get Federal Aid. The State’s Ag Commissioner Is Helping Stop That
Sid Miller is challenging a debt relief program that the U.S. Department of Agriculture saw as a way to correct historic discrimination. An advocate for Black Texas farmers says the challenge “pushes us back even further.”
Farmers Markets are Growing Their Role as Essential Sources of Healthy Food For Rich and Poor
COMMENTARY | Many farmers markets enjoyed their strongest-ever sales in 2020.
Wisconsin Doesn’t Have a State Cheese, and Some Lawmakers Think That’s No Gouda
Colby, a cheese created in Wisconsin, could be the state’s first official cheese under a proposal under consideration in the legislature. But some lawmakers have reservations.
The Hemp Boom is Over. What Now?
Farmers facing low hemp CBD prices are storing their plants and hoping to someday sell them for a higher price.
Environmentalists Make Long-Shot Attempt to Ban New Factory Farms
It’s becoming clear that some lawmakers no longer see factory farming as a nuisance, but an emergency, as the industry's operations degrade water quality and cause other problems.
Corporate Concentration in the U.S. Food System Makes Food More Expensive and Less Accessible for Many Americans
COMMENTARY | Consolidation has placed key decisions about the nation’s food system in the hands of a few large companies, giving them outsized influence.
Farmers Can be Isolated and Unsure How to Seek Support. One State is Trying to Help.
Farmers in Wisconsin can access a 24-hour hotline, free counseling and, soon, virtual support groups. It's all part of a state-funded wellness program focused on the agricultural community.
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