Rural/Farming / Public News Service

Fossil research suggests the oldest chile pepper specimen may be from the Southwest, and not South America as originally believed. (R. Deanna/University of Colorado)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

NM Chile Peppers Likely Millions of Years Older Than Previously Thought

New research shows ancient chili peppers were likely growing in Southwestern states like New Mexico millions of years earlier than previously thought…

States across the country are working to bring broadband to rural areas. (Pink Badger/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

State Grants Bring High Speed Internet to Rural Washingtonians

State grants could bring high-speed internet access to nearly 15,000 Washingtonians. The State Broadband Office is awarding $121 million to 19 …

More than 60% of rural counties lack a psychiatrist, and almost half do not have a psychologist, compared with 27% and 19% of urban counties, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Addressing Challenges to Behavioral Health Care in Rural Wyoming

A new report spotlights some of the challenges to accessing behavioral health care for the one in seven Americans who live in rural areas. Kendall …

Smaller and mid-sized farms say due to market concentration and supply-chain issues within agriculture have made it much harder to get their foods to various markets, including schools and restaurants within their own regions. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

ND Farm Communities See Brighter Path with Food Business Centers

Rural development leaders say getting healthy, locally grown food to underserved areas is a challenge in states like North Dakota. They hope a new …

An American Hospital Association report revealed net losses in 2022 for some of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems were well above $1 billion, and in some cases, approached $2 billion. (AntonioDiaz/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Report: Hospitals Face Mounting Financial Pressures

The mounting financial pressures hospitals in Arkansas are facing are part of a national trend affecting people's access to care, according to a …

About 5.7 million acres of North Carolina or 17% of the state is made up of wetlands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Sportsmen's Group Voices Concern Over SCOTUS Wetlands Ruling

Conservation and sportsmen's groups are voicing concerns that wetlands areas are now in jeopardy of being drained and developed or otherwise eliminate…

Wetlands make up 10% of Alabama. They vary in size from under an acre to a 100,000-acre forested area in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Does SCOTUS Decision Put AL Wetlands at Risk?

Wetlands make up one in ten acres in Alabama - and the latest U.S. Supreme Court decision could be putting them at risk by limiting federal …

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

Oil and gas leasing are currently allowed on 90% of publicly-owned lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Seeks Coloradans' Input on New Public-Lands Rule Aiming for Balance

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is holding a public hearing today in Denver on its new rule, which aims to put conservation, protection of …

In exchange for 25 pro bono hours and 225 reduced rate service hours, the Montana Legal Services Association's RIPL program provides networking, assistance with business and client development, and hands-on legal experience. (Adobe Stock)

Program 'Incubates' New Lawyers and Rural Montanans

The Montana Legal Services Association has started a program to help young attorneys get started on a path to success - becoming community leaders…

Scientists say to correct the problem of overgrazing and wildlife habitat degradation on public lands, the livestock stocking rate would need to be reduced by about two-thirds from present numbers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: U.S. Forest Service Serving Grizzly Habitat to Livestock Industry

Critical Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear habitat has been degraded by a 2019 U.S. Forest Service decision to allow more than 17,000 …

Hundreds of wildlife crossing structures are still needed across Colorado to restore historic migration corridors. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Set to Tap Federal Infrastructure Funds for Wildlife Crossings

New funding recently added to the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund could provide relief for mule deer and elk populations, which are on the …

Ideal Option's mobile clinic for substance abuse treatment is operating in the small eastern Idaho town of Rexburg. (Ideal Option)

Mobile Clinic Aids in Addiction Treatment in Rural ID

A mobile clinic is bringing drug treatment to rural Idaho. The organization Ideal Option's first treatment clinic on wheels is in Rexburg. Ideal …

If passed, the Food for All Oregonians legislation would go into effect by 2025. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Food Aid Expansion Bill Could Benefit Rural Immigrant Communities

Rural immigrant communities could benefit greatly from legislation known as Food for All Oregonians, anti-hunger groups say. Senate Bill 610 would …

South Dakota officials say their new program, which gives rural EMS crews access to telemedicine inside an ambulance, is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Telemedicine in Motion: SD's Rural EMS Crews Go High-Tech

People might picture a defibrillator or stretcher when they think of a first responder. But what about an iPad? South Dakota says a new program …

The 2022 National Young Farmers Coalition Survey found more than 70% of respondents have experienced at least one climate impact such as floods or drought in the past five years, impacting their livelihood and mental health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Network of Young Farmers Provides Mental Health Supports

Young farmers in the United States face extensive structural barriers affecting their mental health, according to a new survey from the National …

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid approved by Congress in 2020 will delay application availability from Oct. 1 until December this year. (cienpies/AdobeStock)

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Texas educates more rural students than any other state at nearly 700,000, and there is concern a new law meant to simplify applying for college …

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is researching the opportunities and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics. (Adobe Stock)

Battle Heats Up Over Iowa Solar-Project Sites

Supervisors in Tama County this week are considering an ordinance to limit the size of solar installations on farmland, to generate no more than 25 …

Wheeling, W. Va., City Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum talks to advocates at the 2023 Rural Policy Action Summit, Omaha, Neb. (Michael Chameides)

WV Leaders Talk Farm Bill at Rural Policy Summit

Rural West Virginia communities are struggling to recover from decades of disinvestment, and some are counting on the next Farm Bill to help propel …

A new training program developed by the High Plains Research Network Community Advisory Council is helping community members intervene and prevent suicides in rural areas across Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's Rural Communities Mobilizing to Prevent Suicide

Community advisory committees across rural Colorado are working to better understand the mental-health needs for community members including farmers…

Senate Bill 442 would have appropriated $30 million to Habitat Montana, the state's premier environmental conservation program. (Adobe Stock)

MT Gov. Vetoes Key Environmental Bill; Supporters Still Hopeful

Despite the veto of a key piece of Montana environmental legislation, advocates are not giving up on the measure becoming law - even though the state …

Colorado school districts creating a local food advisory council will be eligible for funding to purchase food for school meals directly from local farmers and ranchers. (Adobe Stock)

State on Track to Roll Out School Meal Program

Colorado is one step closer to ensuring all kids can access healthy food at school regardless of their ability to pay, after Gov. Jared Polis signed …

The Land Stewardship Project recently surveyed more than 700 farmers and food system workers from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin about Farm Bill priorities. They want to see things such as crop insurance reform, as well as less consolidation in agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

MN Family Farms Make Their Case for Farm Bill Inclusion

Congress is gathering input as it looks to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Voices from Minnesota's agricultural sector hope independent family farms get a …

Siena Chrisman of State Innovation Exchange, Kellon Patey of People's Action and Caitlin Cromwell of Northern Plains Resource Council discuss policy goals at the 2023 Rural Policy Action Summit. (Photo courtesy of Rural Democracy Initiative)

Wisconsin Voices Reflect on Rural Summit

Rural advocates from around the U.S. recently gathered to lay out policy priorities at the state and federal levels in hopes of making smaller …

Produce Purpose has two goals in mind - to offer meaningful employment to individuals with special needs and to bring healthy, nutritional food to college campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Hydroponic Farm Boosts Healthy Eating, Special-Needs Jobs at NC University

William Peace University is teaming up with Produce Purpose, a nonprofit organization, to install a hydroponic farming operation on campus. The new …

Farmers in North Carolina lose crops worth roughly $79 million as a result of equipment breakdowns. (Alexey Zarodov/Adobe Stock)

Tractor ‘Right to Repair’ Could Save NC Farmers $103 Million a Year

North Carolina farmers are calling on lawmakers to address manufacturer-imposed repair limitations on tractors, and minimize disruptions on their …

Washington state implemented rules to prevent farmworkers from the hot summer weather. (Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

WA Workers March Ahead of May Day

Workers in Washington state are holding a march this weekend ahead of May Day, which commemorates the workers' rights movement around the world…

There are around 35 commercial facilities applying Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage to industrial processes, fuel transformation and power generation, with a total annual capture capacity of almost 45 metric tons of carbon dioxide. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Table Ethics Complaint Over CO2 Pipeline Bill

Iowa lawmakers have tabled an ethics complaint against a state senator whom critics said blocked a bill to regulate carbon dioxide pipelines in the st…

The Spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first spotted in Pennsylvania in September 2014. They are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. (ondreicka/Adobe Stock)<br />

USDA Warns Pennsylvanians to Protect Plants from Invasive Pests

April is Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Pennsylvanians that it's the best time of …

According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 41% of rural renters are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income for housing. (Adobe Stock).

Local Governments Work to Address West Virginia’s Housing Crisis

In Parkersburg, West Virginia local government officials have an innovative plan to address the region's housing crisis - getting 50 families into …

Potato farming practices have not changed much in many decades. (John Finnell)

ID Farm Pioneers Regenerative Ag Practices for Potato Growing

A farm in Idaho is pioneering a new way to grow the state's most famous crop: potatoes. The pioneering method is being demonstrated on Ladd Wahlen's …

In recent weeks, House and Senate committees in Congress have been holding hearings on the Farm Bill, which faces a fall deadline for reauthorization. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill Debate: More Breathing Room Sought for Conservation

Funding for a longstanding food-assistance program is at the center of the Farm Bill reauthorization debate. But there also are calls to make it …

The majority of North Carolina farmworkers are not covered by workers' compensation. (Adobe Stock)

FLOC Fights for Better Farm Worker Conditions Against Tobacco Company

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee is working to better the harsh conditions faced by North Carolina farm workers. During the British American …

Advocates for regional food economies say bringing locally produced dairy products to local schools not only improves food security for students, but reduces food waste and contributes to a more sustainable food system for New Hampshire. (Adobe Photo Stock)

Grants Help NH Farmers Keep Dairy Products Local

Dairy farmers and processors in New Hampshire are eligible for grants to help improve their operations, as part of a growing movement to keep locally …

In the last week of July 2022, a five-mile stretch of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, N.M., ran dry for the first time in 40 years. (GregMeland/AdobeStock)

Rio Grande River Water Usage Accountability Heats Up

A conservation group which has fought to know how water from the Rio Grande is being used by a regional irrigation district in New Mexico will continu…

Planting trees, updating streetlights to LED bulbs and installing

Initiative Helps Hoosiers Get Environmental Resilience Funding

A funding hub has launched in Indiana, designed to help small communities pursue federal funding for climate, energy and resilience projects…

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint calls for Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen runoff by 40% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over the agency's failure to make Pennsylvania abide by the same c…

Since 1939, Maine has celebrated June as Maine Dairy Month. The event currently honors the 176 dairy farmers caring for 700,000 acres of critical farmland across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Grants Help ME Farmers, Processors Keep Milk Local

Dairy processors and farmers throughout Maine are eligible for grants to help them improve their operations as part of a growing movement to keep loca…

Fire hardening a home also involves managing vegetation within 100 feet of the home. (jryanc10/Adobe Stock)

Hardening Homes Could Be More Effective Defense Against Wildfires

Wildfires are a growing threat in the Northwest and a lot of money is spent on fire suppression. But a less costly approach could be to make homes …

The Aspen Institute says more than 1.5 million people attend the nearly 500 community colleges in rural parts of the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SD Tech College Bucks Enrollment Trend

Community colleges in the U.S. have struggled with enrollment declines. But a new report says schools in smaller towns and cities, including South …

Electric vehicles, which can carry a battery pack with up to 50,000 volts of electricity, can be a danger, both to passengers and first responders, in accidents. (Adobe Stock)

EV Accident Response Training Emerges for First Responders

The auto industry and public agencies are looking ahead to a bigger transition to electric vehicles, and it's not just adding more charging stations…

Beyond Infrastructure, EV Movement Includes First-Responder Training

The auto industry and public agencies are looking ahead to a bigger transition to electric vehicles, and it's not just adding more charging stations…

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation promotes the economic stability of agriculture through a sound system of crop insurance and providing the means for the research and experience helpful in devising and establishing such insurance, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Organic Farmers Want More Time to Plant, Qualify for Crop Insurance

Organic farmers want more time to get their corn crops in the ground and still be able to qualify for crop insurance. Right now, they are held to the …

In the Keystone State, 474,000 cows produce more than 10 billion pounds of milk annually. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Money Geared to 'Keep Milk Local' in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania dairy processors and farmers can apply for grants to assist them with upgrading their facilities, as part of a larger effort to keep …

The global commercial drone market size was estimated at almost $30 billion in 2022. It is anticipated to increase 38% over the next seven years, according to Grand View Research. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Bill Would Prohibit Drone Use Near Livestock Operations

The Iowa House has voted to ground drones over livestock containment and feedlots. Critics of the measure say drones are used to document unhealthy …

The Whooping Crane -- the tallest bird in North America -- is known to make stopovers on the Platte River in Nebraska. Conservation efforts have increased the Whooping Crane population from a low of about 20 birds in the 1940s to an estimated 600 today. (Adobe Stock)

Recovering America's Wildlife Act Helps Wildlife, Farmers and Ranchers

CORRECTION: The number of species at risk in Nebraska is nearly 800. A previous version of the story listed only those the state currently considers …

Oregon's budget writing committee has proposed a $31 billion budget over the next two years. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

State Agency Budget Cut Proposal Could Hit Rural OR Hardest

Under a proposal in the Legislature, Oregon's service agencies could see spending cuts, which could hit hardest in rural areas. Under the Committee …

Hedgerows are straightforward strips of shrubs or trees roughly 15 feet wide, and they highlight nature's complex work. (Sierra Orchards)

Hedgerows: Can They Help Save the Planet?

By Anne Marshall-Chalmers for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

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PNS Daily Newscast - May 30, 2023

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Rural/Farming

NM Chile Peppers Likely Millions of Years Older Than Previously Thought

State Grants Bring High Speed Internet to Rural Washingtonians

Addressing Challenges to Behavioral Health Care in Rural Wyoming

ND Farm Communities See Brighter Path with Food Business Centers

Report: Hospitals Face Mounting Financial Pressures

Sportsmen's Group Voices Concern Over SCOTUS Wetlands Ruling

Does SCOTUS Decision Put AL Wetlands at Risk?

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

BLM Seeks Coloradans' Input on New Public-Lands Rule Aiming for Balance

Program 'Incubates' New Lawyers and Rural Montanans

Report: U.S. Forest Service Serving Grizzly Habitat to Livestock Industry

Colorado Set to Tap Federal Infrastructure Funds for Wildlife Crossings

Mobile Clinic Aids in Addiction Treatment in Rural ID

OR Food Aid Expansion Bill Could Benefit Rural Immigrant Communities

Telemedicine in Motion: SD's Rural EMS Crews Go High-Tech

Network of Young Farmers Provides Mental Health Supports

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Battle Heats Up Over Iowa Solar-Project Sites

WV Leaders Talk Farm Bill at Rural Policy Summit

Colorado's Rural Communities Mobilizing to Prevent Suicide

MT Gov. Vetoes Key Environmental Bill; Supporters Still Hopeful

State on Track to Roll Out School Meal Program

MN Family Farms Make Their Case for Farm Bill Inclusion

Wisconsin Voices Reflect on Rural Summit

Hydroponic Farm Boosts Healthy Eating, Special-Needs Jobs at NC University

Tractor ‘Right to Repair’ Could Save NC Farmers $103 Million a Year

WA Workers March Ahead of May Day

IA Lawmakers Table Ethics Complaint Over CO2 Pipeline Bill

USDA Warns Pennsylvanians to Protect Plants from Invasive Pests

Local Governments Work to Address West Virginia’s Housing Crisis

ID Farm Pioneers Regenerative Ag Practices for Potato Growing

Farm Bill Debate: More Breathing Room Sought for Conservation

FLOC Fights for Better Farm Worker Conditions Against Tobacco Company

Grants Help NH Farmers Keep Dairy Products Local

Rio Grande River Water Usage Accountability Heats Up

Initiative Helps Hoosiers Get Environmental Resilience Funding

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

Grants Help ME Farmers, Processors Keep Milk Local

Hardening Homes Could Be More Effective Defense Against Wildfires

Report: SD Tech College Bucks Enrollment Trend

EV Accident Response Training Emerges for First Responders

Beyond Infrastructure, EV Movement Includes First-Responder Training

Organic Farmers Want More Time to Plant, Qualify for Crop Insurance

Grant Money Geared to 'Keep Milk Local' in Pennsylvania

Iowa Bill Would Prohibit Drone Use Near Livestock Operations

Recovering America's Wildlife Act Helps Wildlife, Farmers and Ranchers

State Agency Budget Cut Proposal Could Hit Rural OR Hardest

Hedgerows: Can They Help Save the Planet?