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Harvest Public Media is a reporting collaboration focused on issues of food, fuel and field. Based at KCUR in Kansas City, Harvest covers these agriculture-related topics through an expanding network of reporters and partner stations throughout the Midwest.Most Harvest Public Media stories begin with radio- regular reports are aired on member stations in the Midwest. But Harvest also explores issues through online analyses, television documentaries and features, podcasts, photography, video, blogs and social networking. They are committed to the highest journalistic standards. Click here to read their ethics standards.Harvest Public Media was launched in 2010 with the support of a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Today, the collaboration is supported by CPB, the partner stations, and contributions from underwriters and individuals.Tri States Public Radio is an associate partner of Harvest Public Media. You can play an important role in helping Harvest Public Media and Tri States Public Radio improve our coverage of food, field and fuel issues by joining the Harvest Network.

Vilsack Continues Push for Farm Bill

Politico.com

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is urging Congress to send a farm bill to President Obama’s desk.

At a summit in Ames sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Vilsack repeated a common refrain: that the bill encompasses food, farm and jobs policies and affects many more Americans than just farmers and recipients of nutrition assistance.

An extension removes any impetus for getting a farm bill done

Vilsack doesn’t favor the idea of extending the current farm bill for another year.

“Honestly, an extension removes any impetus for getting a farm bill done,” Vilsack said.

Vilsack also said it won’t get any easier to write a new farm bill in 2014, which is an election year.

But with the August Congressional recess looming, Vilsack said time appears to be running out for getting the job done this year.

Amy Mayer is a reporter based in Ames. She covers agriculture and is part of the Harvest Public Media collaboration. Amy worked as an independent producer for many years and also previously had stints as weekend news host and reporter at WFCR in Amherst, Massachusetts and as a reporter and host/producer of a weekly call-in health show at KUAC in Fairbanks, Alaska. Amy’s work has earned awards from SPJ, the Alaska Press Club and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island AP. Her stories have aired on NPR news programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition and on Only A Game, Marketplace and Living on Earth. She produced the 2011 documentary Peace Corps Voices, which aired in over 160 communities across the country and has written for The New York Times, Boston Globe, Real Simple and other print outlets. Amy served on the board of directors of the Association of Independents in Radio from 2008-2015.