Farm & Field
The Meaning Of Milk: A War Over Words Erupts In The Dairy Aisle
A war is brewing over what you pour on your breakfast cereal. Dairy farmers say the makers of plant-based milks – like almond milk, soy milk and a long list of other varieties – are stealing away their customers and deceiving consumers. And they’d like the federal government to back them up. At its heart,…
Why You’ll Be Seeing More GMOs At The Grocery Store
Genetically engineered crops are nothing new. But new technology that allows scientists to alter plants more precisely and more cheaply is taking genetically engineered plants from the field to the kitchen. The first version of the Arctic Apple, a genetically modified Golden Delicious, is headed for test markets in the Midwest in February, according to…
Midwest Farmers Prepare For Another Year In The Red
Farmers across the Midwest are trying to figure out how to get by at a time when expected prices for commodities from corn, to wheat, to cattle, to hogs mean they’ll be struggling just to break even. “Prices are low, bins are full, and the dollar is strengthening as we speak and that’s just making…
Agriculture Secretary Lone Trump Cabinet Post Without A Nominee
And then there was Agriculture. Agriculture Secretary is the only post in President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet without a nominee, mystifying many in rural America and spurring worries that agriculture and rural issues will land near the end of the line among the new president’s priorities. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who served for all 8 years…
With Attorney Shortage, Rural Areas In Search Of Lawyers
Fewer young attorneys are choosing to set up shop in small towns and take over for retiring professionals. Just like the shortages of doctors, nurses, dentists, even farmers, many rural areas are seeing a shortage of young lawyers. “Ten counties in Nebraska have no lawyers at all,” says Lyle Koenig, an attorney from West Point,…
Growing Nebraska Poultry Industry Spurs Environmental Concerns
A proposal that would jumpstart the chicken business in Nebraska has some residents concerned about the potential impact on the environment and are trying to block or delay its construction. Costco, the warehouse retailer and grocery chain, plans to build a giant $300 million chicken slaughterhouse on the south side of the town of Fremont…
Should Organic Food Be Grown In Soil?
There is a battle going on in the organic industry over hydroponics, the technique of growing plants without soil. The debate gets at the very heart of what it means to be “organic” and may change the organic food available to grocery store shoppers. To be labeled as organic, fruits and vegetables are required to…
Colorado Startup Tries Cutting Food Waste With Garbage-Munching Bugs
Americans waste a staggering amount of food. Instead of letting it rot and wreck the environment, some entrepreneurs want to put it to work feeding insects, and see the potential to revolutionize how we feed some of the livestock that provide us our meat. Phil Taylor’s enthusiasm for insects is infectious. The University of Colorado…
By Planting Corn, A Native American Man Hopes To Return To Indigenous Foods
Long before European settlers plowed the Plains, corn was an important part of the diet of Native American tribes like the Omaha, Ponca and Cherokee. Today, members of some tribes are hoping to revive their food and farming traditions by planting the kinds of indigenous crops their ancestors once grew. Taylor Keen is hoping to…
5 Ways Drones Bring Food to Your Table
Unmanned machines may improve agricultural practices as the use of drones continues to evolve from hobby to military use and now to agriculture. Farmers have begun to use drones to inspect crops, detect diseases, and deliver chemicals. This technology is expected to increase crop yields and save growers time and money. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle…