Agriculture

Farmers die by suicide at a higher rate than the general population. That’s leading Midwestern states to train bankers, veterinarians and agribusiness professionals to be the new front line of defense against farm stress.

Climate experts say summer nights have gotten warmer. One study found the average minimum temperature in the United States has gotten warmer by 2.5 degrees over the last 50 years. For farmers, this means crops and livestock could suffer.

An invasive species of worm is making its way across the Midwest, but not much is known about how to manage them. Some gardeners have taken matters into their own hands.

There aren’t any definite numbers about how many farmers belong to the LGBTQ community in the U.S, but many are making a point to become more visible in their rural communities.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created high prices for wheat. But between drought and costly inputs, wheat farmers might not benefit from the booming market.

The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging discrimination has put the aid on hold.

Nearly 5.5 million chickens and turkeys have died or had to be destroyed in Buena Vista County, Iowa, during the latest bird flu outbreak — more than in any other county in the nation. That’s impacted producers, as well as workers and their families.

Agriculture companies are looking for people who are interested in science, and hiring managers are increasingly looking for people who don’t have traditional ag backgrounds.

Agriculture accounts for a tenth of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which are a big driver of climate change worldwide. Some farmers in the U.S. are taking on climate change by trying to sink the air’s carbon in the ground.

For the first time, researchers have assigned a value to the Black-owned farmland lost over the past century.