Farm Policy, Food Supply & Rural Coverage
305 articles · page 4 of 11
Forty Cents on the Dollar: The Labor Economics of Specialty Crops
Labor accounts for 40% of farm expenses on specialty crop operations, yet wages stagnate as climate, automation, and policy squeeze farmworkers and growers alike.
EPA Guts Chemical Plant Pollution Rule, Industrial Farms Cheer
Hard-won protections against chemical contamination are being dismantled, leaving farmland and groundwater vulnerable to industrial discharge.
Screwworms at the Border: A Tropical Pest Creeps North
A livestock-devastating parasitic fly once eliminated from the US is resurfacing at the southern border, forcing ranchers and federal agencies into emergency response.
Automation's Silent Shift: Why Farms Are Replacing Workers
As precision ag and machinery improve, farm consolidation accelerates. Smaller operators face a choice: mechanize or disappear.
Arizona Pushes Farmworker Overtime; Federal Law Stays Silent
Rep. Grijalva introduces bill mandating overtime pay for Arizona farmworkers, exposing a labor gap that leaves seasonal workers unprotected despite long harvest shifts.
Climate Is Making Farm Work More Dangerous
Farmworkers face escalating health threats from parasites and pathogens as warming winters expand pest ranges and lengthen exposure seasons.
H-2A Wage Ruling Throws Labor Costs Into Chaos for Farmers
A federal judge ruled the Trump administration unlawfully cut wages for seasonal farmworkers, leaving growers unsure what they'll pay next season and whether relief is coming.
Trump's Latest Waters Rule Would Gut Protections Farmers Need
A proposed federal rule eliminating wetland and stream protections would deepen agricultural water pollution and strip farm country of crucial environmental safeguards.
Gulf's Dead Zone Hits 40-Year Low
For the first time in a generation, the Gulf of Mexico's oxygen-starved dead zone has nearly disappeared, a sign that agricultural runoff controls are finally working.
DOJ Sends Letters to Grocery Giants Over Beef Price Crackdown
The Justice Department's Antitrust Division sent letters to eight of the nation's largest grocery chains — including Kroger and Walmart — demanding information on grocery beef pricing practices.
Food Safety Fears Send Salinas Valley Farmers to the Brink
Consumer caution over contamination concerns has left California's produce heartland with plummeting sales, abandoned crops, and layoffs at struggling farms.
John Boyer and Michigan's Land Preservation Fight
John Boyer's Michigan farm story shows how land trusts and conservation easements can preserve farmland as developers and speculators pressure family farms.
Illinois loses conservation staff as farmers struggle
Illinois lost 77 federal conservation staff this year. With nearly half the state's counties affected, farmers are losing expert guidance on soil health and resilience.
Farm Bill Must Fund Climate Action or AG Emissions Will Spiral
Agriculture's share of U.S. emissions could balloon from 10% to 41% by 2050 without major conservation funding. The next farm bill is the moment to act.
Mexico's EU Trade Deal Threatens $1B in US Dairy Exports
A new Mexico-EU agreement restricts cheese names, putting American dairy producers' access to the Mexican market at risk and squeezing already-thin margins.
First Phosphate Plant in 40 Years Could Cut US Import Dependence
A new phosphate fertilizer plant near New Orleans could reduce US import dependence by 60 percent, offering relief to farmers struggling with input costs.
Canada's $20B Tariff Hits Farmers Where It Hurts Most
After Washington escalated trade tensions, Ottawa struck back with duties on US agricultural equipment—pushing tractor and machinery costs higher just as farmers face tight margins.
Corn Hits $5 a Bushel, But Yields Are Falling Fast
Record-high corn prices look good on paper, but farmers face a dangerous trap: yields are dropping sharply, squeezing margins despite the headline numbers.
Judge Halted H-2A Wage Cuts. Vineyards Ignore the Ruling
Despite a federal court blocking wage reductions, Mendocino County vineyards continue enforcing cuts, exposing the gap between legal victories and worker protection.
USDA Shelves Cyclospora Research as Food Safety Gaps Widen
Funding cuts force USDA to shutter three cyclospora research projects. The timing could not be worse as consumers worry about contaminated produce.
Roadless Rule Under Threat: What Logging 45 Million Forest Acres Means for Farms
The Trump administration is moving to open millions of acres of protected national forest to logging and development. For farmers, it signals accelerated climate chaos and eroded water sources.
When Towns Lose Their Grocery, Farmers Lose a Market
A year after Shoals, Indiana's last grocer closed, rural communities rely on convenience stores. The cascading cost for local food systems and farm viability.
Nevada Goes to Court Over Colorado River Water
As Western drought drags on, Nevada breaks ranks to sue over Colorado River allocation, raising stakes in the fight for farm and city survival.
Ukraine Crisis Dims Hopes for US Wheat Prices
As Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine's grain corridor, US wheat farmers face price chaos from a war they can't control. Global market shocks keep reshaping harvest season earnings.
Trump Eyes Gutting Rules on Beef Processors
The administration is considering cutting safety and labor rules on meat processing plants. Critics warn this favors consolidation, not competition.
Trump Formalizes Beef Import Plan Amid Rancher Backlash
The administration moved forward with expanded beef imports despite fierce opposition from U.S. cattle producers already squeezed by consolidation and volatile markets.
Western Wildfires Scorch 7.5M Acres, Displace Ranchers
Thirty-seven fires have burned 7.5 million acres across the Pacific Northwest. Ranchers face years of lost grazing land as recovery timelines stretch impossible.
Canada Retaliates With Tariffs on U.S. Dairy and Seafood
In response to Trump's July tariffs, Canada targeted American milk, cheese, and hundreds of fish products—escalating trade tensions that threaten already-fragile farm economics.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Admin's H-2A Wage Cuts
A federal court ruled the Department of Labor's plan to lower seasonal farmworker wages unlawful, handing a win to farmworker advocates.
Iowa's bet on beginning farmers: tax credits alone won't cut it
Iowa's largest tax incentive for new farmers supports a handful of beginners yearly. The program reveals a harder truth: subsidizing access isn't the same as solving why young people can't afford to farm.