To fund climate-friendly agriculture, farmers seek financial support from restaurants

Nov 28, 2022
Some restaurants have joined an effort to support regenerative farming with a 1% charge on sales.
Cows graze at Nick DiDomenico's farm located in Longmont, Colorado.
Rae Solomon/KUNC

Drought in South Texas has farmers worried about their crops

Oct 17, 2022
In South Texas, two reservoirs supply water to both sides of the border. For the past few years, they’ve struggled to remain half-full.
Above, a cotton field post-harvest near Waxahachie, Texas, on Sep. 19. Farmers across south Texas are grappling with historically dry conditions.
Andy Jacobsohn/AFP via Getty Images

Controversy follows changes to federal debt relief program for farmers of color

Aug 22, 2022
A federal program to aid farmers of color has been changed to omit references to race.
A federal program to provide aid to farmers of color was broadened by the recently-passed climate bill and now omits references to race.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Farmers in the Midwest are behind on planting. That could mean lower yields come harvest.

May 19, 2022
Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes is "at least two and a half weeks" behind due to wet weather.
"That's farming, buddy!" says April Hemmes, a corn and soybean farmer, in the face of drought in her home state of Iowa.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

Farm groups push for allowing growers to plant on protected land

Mar 30, 2022
They see using land in the Conservation Reserve Program as a way to help ease crop crunches created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
With the global supply of soybeans, corn and wheat disrupted by the war in Ukraine, U.S. farm lobbying groups think growers can increase output by using some of the 4 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Government aims to make federal loans more accessible to Native American farmers

Mar 25, 2022
The plan includes training for federal lenders about working with farmers and ranchers who work inside the borders of tribal nations.
When farmers apply for federal loans, they often put up land as collateral, which can be complicated on tribal lands.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Farm profits, up last year, may sink again as farmers' costs rise

Feb 21, 2022
Seed and fertilizer are just a few of the products whose costs have risen because of ongoing supply chain problems.
Though farmers' profits rose by nearly 25% last year, surging costs for labor and supplies are cutting into those gains.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

As prices at the grocery store rise, farmers' costs are up too

Jan 20, 2022
Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes paid double for nitrogen this year. Consumers shouldn’t blame growers for inflation, she said.
"That's farming, buddy!" says April Hemmes, a corn and soybean farmer, in the face of drought in her home state of Iowa.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

Will farmers dig Deere's new autonomous tractor?

Jan 5, 2022
John Deere has unveiled a new autonomous tractor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Farmers may be slow to adopt the technology.
Front cameras on John Deere's fully autonomous tractor are shown ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 4.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

New lender aims to boost access to credit for Native farmers, ranchers

Dec 20, 2021
Indigenous agricultural producers say they've had it with the federal government's loan programs.
The Native American Agriculture Fund’s financial institution will support the tribe-owned community banks that many Indigenous producers use.
Cavan Images via Getty Images