Forest Service will close 57 of 77 research facilities. Critics warn closures threaten wildfire research.

Many of the research facilities slated for closure conducted
wildfire research. (Photo via Rocky Mountain Research Station)

As part of its ongoing restructuring plan, the U.S. Forest Service announced it's "closing 57 of its 77 research facilities in 31 states," reports Eric Niiler of The New York Times. Critics say the shake-up threatens wildfire and climate research on forests, just as wildfires are becoming more common and more severe in several parts of the United States.

USFS leadership said the consolidation will streamline research facilities into a main hub in Fort Collins, Colorado, and relocate staff to nearby states. Niiler writes, "But employees said they feared the move would lead many scientists to leave instead." The USDA already announced plans in late March to relocate USFS headquarters and 260 agency employees from Washington to Salt Lake City.

The closures include "six research and development facilities in California, five in Mississippi, four in Michigan and three in Utah," Niiler reports. The agency will also shutter all nine of its regional offices, which "currently manage 154 national forests," Niiler explains. "Some states will have their own offices, and others will be consolidated."

USFS oversees a massive amount of land -- some 193 million acres -- that includes several laboratories and "experimental forests where scientists can monitor the effects of environmental changes over long periods of time," Niiler writes. They also investigate wildfire risks, prevention and how forests recover after a severe wildfire.

Thomas M. Schultz, Jr., the Forest Service chief, told the Times, "Forest Service R&D has produced world-class science for over a century, and that will continue. The consolidation is about organizing the research enterprise more efficiently, not diminishing it."

It was once a thriving lakeshore; now it's toxic and poisoning residents. Mining lithium might offer a solution.

In the Imperial Valley of southeast California, community members are seeking a solution to the harmful effects of the Salton Sea, reports Jill Johnston and Shohreh Farzan for The Conversation. In addition to emitting a foul smell that permeates neighborhoods, chemical blow-off from the drying lake bed is causing lung problems in children.

Formed in the early 1900s when the Colorado River flooded and breached an irrigation canal, the Salton Sea has been kept afloat by contaminated irrigation runoff from the Imperial Valley's agricultural region, which contains fertilizers, pesticides, salt and toxic metals. What was once a thriving tourist and celebrity attraction in the 1950s is now a toxic, shrinking lake.

“As the lake shrinks, wind blowing across the exposed lake bed kicks up toxic dust left by years of agriculture chemicals and metals washing into the lake,” Johnston and Farzan report. “That dust makes its way into the lungs of the children of the Imperial Valley.” 

Findings show the Imperial Valley children's respiratory health symptoms. (Chart via The Conversation CC, data from Jill Johnston 2024 environmental research, Click to enlarge)

They even found the effects on lung function near the Salton Sea are greater than what studies find in urban California areas by busy roadways.

Their study following 700 elementary school-age children across five northern Imperial Valley cities for several years shows higher rates of air pollution were linked to overall poorer respiratory health and children living closer to the sea had poorer lung function. They also report 1 in 5, or 20% of, children in the Imperial Valley have asthma, which is much higher than the national rate of 5.4-7%.

One solution to the deteriorating quality of life in the Imperial Valley is a well-done lithium extraction facility, community members told Soumya Karlamangla at The New York Times. The Salton Sea sits on top of $500 billion worth of lithium, enough to provide the entire nation’s demand for decades, Karlamangla explains. The U.S. currently imports most of its lithium as it only has one active lithium mine in Nevada.

The Imperial Valley region has crumbling infrastructure and a high unemployment rate. “The lithium companies could collectively create 1,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent operations jobs,” Karlamangla reports.

Residents worry that a lithium extraction will cause the air pollution to worsen and require more use of the community’s depleting fresh water source, especially if not done correctly, Karlamangla reports. Currently, three companies are trying to extract the metal, but lawsuits from environmental groups and broken promises from geothermal and solar industries have slowed the process.

One company expects to commercially extract lithium by 2028, and the California State Legislature authorized a tax on each pound of lithium extracted, giving 80% to Imperial County communities and 20% to the state for Salton Sea restoration efforts, reports Karlamangla.

Rural water operators can receive free expert guidance for water issues of all sizes through a new EPA program

RealWaterTA experts can help rural water operators address
federal compliance issues. (Photo by E. Ekdahl, Unsplash)

In an effort to help rural municipal water services that are facing challenges with aging infrastructure and federal compliance, the Environmental Protection Agency launched the Real Water Technical Assistance initiative in March, reports Claire Carlson of The Daily Yonder.

RealWaterTA connects "rural communities with experts like those at the National Rural Water Association to help them repair water utilities or help them apply for loans and grants through USDA’s Rural Development," Carlson writes. 

Rural community water treatment facilities are often understaffed, so having knowledgeable guidance while completing a detailed USDA application can take some of the grant-writing burden off water operators.

Charles Stephens, a senior executive policy director at the National Rural Water Association, believes the new program's approach, which provides expert guidance at no charge, will be useful to rural water operators. He told Carlson, "A lot of [rural] communities don’t need big, expensive projects; they need help making what they already have work better, or help getting into compliance with [federal] regulations."

Through RealWaterTA, rural communities can get help with addressing federal compliance standards, fixing aging systems and training new water operations staff. Carlson writes, "While the program itself will not provide money for these efforts, Stephens said it will act as an 'extra pair of hands' for rural communities that lack the staffing cities often have."

RealWaterTA specialists can help: 

• Local governments/communities
• Drinking water utilities/systems
• Wastewater utilities/systems
• Stormwater utilities/systems
• States, Tribes, territories
• Non-governmental organizations

Find program details here. To request RealWaterTA assistance, click here.

April is the month to celebrate American libraries

Whether it's supporting patrons with digital literacy classes, becoming a new telehealth hotspot, or hosting literacy tutoring nights, American libraries are hubs for learning and civic life. Especially in rural communities where meeting places might be lacking, the local library can be a welcoming gathering place.

To celebrate all the strength, smarts and social connections libraries across the U.S. contribute to their local regions and patrons, April 19 to 25 is set aside as National Library Week, with the theme 'Find Your Joy.'

How do individuals 'find their joy' at the library? That depends. Some kids love story time and the weekly craft, while other youngsters do puzzles or drag out all the games. A teen might relish the time reading alone in a cozy corner. One adult patron might love their library's new 3-D printer, while another loves being able to check out the latest mystery book for free. 

For school librarians, the entire month of April is set aside to remind students, parents, teachers and education professionals of the role libraries play in school learning and educational spaces.

Ways to celebrate libraries of all sizes in April:

• Participate in National Library Week (April): Attend special events, such as author signings, workshops and book club meetings hosted by local branches.
• Support library staff: Celebrate National Library Workers Day (Tuesday of National Library Week) by thanking librarians and staff for their contributions.
• Get involved and advocate: Attend "Take Action for Libraries Day" (Thursday of National Library Week) to support funding and programs. Volunteer or join a "Friends of the Library" group.
• Use and promote services: Visit the library to check out items, attend digital literacy workshops, or explore online resources such as e-books and databases.
• Support intellectual freedom: Celebrate Right to Read Day (Monday of National Library Week) by checking out and reading books that have been challenged or banned.
• Read up on a Checkout Challenge: Some libraries run challenges during the week to encourage borrowing items (physically or digitally)

Kansas fitness centers focus on providing exercise care to rural residents with Parkinson's disease

Kansas has the second-highest rate of 
Parkinson's disease cases in the U.S.

Among the nearly 1 million Americans living with Parkinson's disease, rural residents face more challenges accessing the exercise and support programs that could improve their quality of life.

In rural Kansas, some fitness centers have opened or expanded care to help area patients work out more regularly, according to Bek Shackelford of NPR. Regular exercise is one of the few proven ways Parkinson's disease sufferers can lessen the muscle stiffness, tremors, sleep problems and brain-health issues that often accompany the disease.

The Parkinson's Exercise and Wellness Center in Leawood, Kansas, which offers "gym services to around 280 people and offers classes ranging from Pilates and boxing to theater" serves as an example, Shackelford adds. The head coach and co-founder of the center, Sarrisa Curry, told Shackelford that the center's enrollment has been on the rise as more baby boomers are diagnosed with the disease.

Medical scientists are still unsure what causes Parkinson's disease to develop. Some studies indicate that the disease may have a genetic basis. Other research suggests that exposure to pesticides, such as those encountered in rural farming communities, could be partially to blame. Shackelford reports, "Recent data shows Kansas has some of the highest rates of Parkinson's diagnosis in the country." Only Nebraska has a higher rate.

Elaine Ptacek, who founded the Parkinson's Families of Northwest Kansas, a nonprofit that "offers things like physical therapy and art classes, says about 90% of her group's participants live on farms and are exposed to pesticides," Shackelford adds. "Ptacek's organization serves a rural area she says desperately needs Parkinson's support."

To reach as many patients as possible, Parkinson's Families of Northwest Kansas offers exercise classes to "groups in eight counties [who can] join Zoom calls and follow along with a fitness instructor," Shackelford adds.

Quick hits: New 'Product of USA' seal launched; mistaken inventions; farming worms win; a new weed killer

The label will require an affidavit be provided to the 
meatpacking company. (Photo via DTN)

Born. Raised. Harvested. Processed. That's the tagline for the new, voluntary USDA seal for U.S. meatpackers, intended to highlight "Product of USA" labeling for meat, poultry and egg products from U.S. farmers, Jennifer Carrico of Progressive Farmer reports. Unlike the previous "Product of USA" label, which only indicated that packaged food passed USDA inspections, the new label states that the meatpacker has proof that animals or eggs are in the U.S. throughout their life cycle. Labels can also be state-specific. Ethan Lane, from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told Carrico, "You can now do a born, raised and harvested in Iowa label, through a USDA facility in Iowa." 

Goofs, flubs and unexpected outcomes are all part of inventions in the making, but in some cases, the mistakes turn into success. "From cornflakes to the pacemaker, some of our most beloved — and useful — products were born of blunders," reports Zlati Meyer of The Wall Street Journal. "The U.S. has repeatedly proved itself to be the land of luck. Harnessing happenstance has led to inventions that have changed the world." Read about 10 of the best mistaken inventions here. 

As earthworms move lime through farming soil, they help
 balance soil pH. (Photo by Blake Vince via Farm Journal)

Blake Vince is a Canadian farmer working to spread the word about no-till farming practices supported by worms. Vince likes to think of worms as "some of the most highly-valued help on his 1,200-acre Ontario, Canada, farm that never show up on a payroll sheet," reports Rhonda Brooks of Farm Journal. The well-known soil conservationist sees "earthworms as more than a sign of good soil — they’re central characters in how he farms, evaluates risk and stays profitable. . . . In a production system shaped by no-till, planting green and cover crops, he sees earthworms as the quiet workforce that’s helping hold the whole thing together."

The Herbert family in northern Iowa had old tractors that needed technology, but the upgrades that could take their machinery into the modern age weren't yet on the market. So, the Herbert family "developed the Cab Radio Upgrade Kit, a solution designed to bring modern connectivity to legacy equipment," reports Eduardo Morales of Farm Journal. "The project was a collaborative effort between T.L. Herbert, his wife, Rochelle, and their three teenage sons: Thomas, Mason and Colin. The idea sparked when Mason and Thomas grew tired of subpar audio options while working on their row-crop and cattle operation."

Part of being a farmer is battling weeds, and despite the perseverance of many farmers, sometimes the weeds seem to be winning, which explains why herbicides are so popular. This summer, one of the world’s biggest chemical companies, Syngenta, is releasing a new herbicide aimed at annihilating weeds in soybean and cotton crops. Patrick Thomas of The Wall Street Journal reports, "Syngenta will begin selling a new weedkiller capable of eradicating grass weeds that have evolved to resist other common crop sprays." The chemical, called Virestina, will be sold and applied in South America first. 

After an unseasonably warm winter and spring, western states are heading into summer facing an "above-normal threat of wildfires," reports Grist. Predictive maps from the National Inter-agency Coordination Center show areas in the Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and northern California as high-risk for wildfires this summer based on "snow drought, rapid snowmelt, and a recent unprecedented heat wave." 

U.S. farmers secure $99 million settlement fund in right-to-repair court battle against John Deere

Deere agreed to supply U.S. farmers with the tools required to
 make their own repairs. (Photo by R. Fath, Unsplash)

U.S. farmers fighting for the right to repair their own tractors secured a class-action suit victory against John Deere. Reuters reports, "U.S. agriculture equipment maker Deere agreed to pay $99 million into a settlement fund for ‌farms and farmers that are part of a class action over costs and access to repairs."

Since 2017, Deere has put up a bulwark of defenses to prevent sharing repair access and knowledge with U.S. farmers who wanted to fix their tractors themselves rather than wait for a Deere-authorized repair tech to make it to their farm. Reuters reports, "The settlement fund covers eligible plaintiffs who paid Deere’s authorized ​dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment from January 2018."

The right-to-repair suits from farmers are only part of a bigger tug-of-war between companies that produce technology-based products, such as cell phones and computers, and American consumers. Reuters reports, "Regulators and plaintiffs argue that some ​manufacturers limit competition by controlling access to repair tools and ⁠software."

Within Deere's settlement, the company gave a 10-year commitment to supplying "farmers with the 'tools ​required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair' of large agricultural equipment, ​including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters," Reuters reports.

Although this week's settlement ends some of Deere's litigation headaches, the company still faces "a separate lawsuit brought by the Federal ​Trade Commission," Reuters reports. "A ​U.S. judge ruled ⁠in 2025 that Deere must face that lawsuit, which accused the company of forcing farmers to ​use its authorized dealer network and driving up their ​costs for ⁠parts and repairs."

Farmers' share of consumer food spending dollar shrinks to 5.8 cents

Despite planting, growing and harvesting most foundational food in the United States, American farmers only glean a tiny amount of consumer food spending, reports Faith Parum of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Department of Agriculture data from 2024 estimates show that "farmers and ranchers received a combined 5.8 cents of every food dollar, down slightly from 5.9 cents in 2023."

The 5.8 cents in profits are divided by sectors. Parum explains, "Crop producers saw their share decline from 2.9 to 2.5 cents, while livestock producers experienced a modest increase from 3 to 3.3 cents." But overall, the trends show that farmers' share of consumer food dollars has decreased over time. In contrast, the largest share of each consumer dollar is spent on food processing and food service.

The shrinking income underscores why increases in agricultural input costs, such as higher fuel or fertilizer prices, can quickly erode farm income and strain farmers already burdened by low commodity prices.

When it comes to food-at-home purchases, farmer and rancher profits gained a "0.5% increase year over year," Parum explains. "In 2024, the farm share of the food-at-home dollar was 18.5 cents, up slightly from 18.4 cents in 2023."

Products that require little processing produce bigger profit margins. Parum reports, "Fresh eggs returned 69.1 cents per dollar to farmers in 2024, up from 65.2 cents in 2023. Beef rose from 49.8 cents to 52.2 cents, and fresh milk increased from 48.1 cents to 50.8 cents."

The overall picture of farming income spotlights the realities of modern food production and distribution, where "most of the economic value is created after products leave the farm," Parum writes.

'No Kings' protests in rural Minnesota highlight changes in some residents' opinions

Faribault residents Matthew, left, and Sarah said they wanted to protest
local ICE activity. (Photo by Betsy Froiland,The Daily Yonder) 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, cost of living increases and the U.S. war in Iran have moved some rural Minnesotans to speak out for change. "Minnesotans in small towns across the state joined the third wave of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests Saturday, March 28," reports Betsy Froiland of The Daily Yonder.

Although some rural residents protested the Trump administration's immigration policies in October, many didn't feel called to action until ICE conducted aggressive raids and searches in smaller Minnesota towns, such as Faribault, Windom and St. James in early 2026.

Protesters from all three towns "reported escalated ICE activity in their communities in recent months," Froiland explains. "Many told stories of neighbors arrested, local businesses shuttered, and fear spreading in their schools and workplaces."

While the number of protesters who lined the streets of their respective towns was small, their growing numbers and repeated presence mark a change in areas that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.  

"Some protesters wondered what happened to due process, like Travis McColley, a lifelong Republican who joined the protest in Faribault," Froiland reports. McColley told the Yonder, “People who have been in the community for years who are going through an asylum process are getting grabbed."

Beyond ICE activities, rural Minnesotans also protested against the war in Iran, cost of living increases and overall frustration with Washington. Froiland writes, "Faribault protester Norm Kokes, a ‘No Kings’ protester and a U.S. military veteran, worried about how the war would impact the world economy."

A St. James protester told Froiland, “I’m dissatisfied that billionaires are trying to run our country, and they’re not going to do anything for the common people."

In some places, protesters were met by counter-protesters driving by or standing across the street. Froiland adds, [Some] "revved their engines and gave middle fingers." Despite the difference in opinions, the protests remained non-violent.

Why the closed Strait of Hormuz will increase grocery prices and add to world hunger

Goods and fuel normally flow out of the Persian Gulf and through the Strait of Hormuz. (Wikimedia map)

As the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues through the spring planting season, Americans and the world at large are likely to see food costs increase as farmers who would normally be fertilizing their soils for corn seed may change their planting choices, writes Aya S. Chacar, an expert on how institutions affect businesses and supply chains, for The Conversation.

Part of the increased expenses will come from fertilizer costs or from reduced crop productivity due to reduced fertilizer supplies during planting season. "Three staple crops – corn, wheat and rice – supply more than half of the world’s dietary calories. To maximize production, those crops need three main nutrients: nitrogen, phosphate and potassium," Chacar explains. "The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has reduced the supply and increased the cost of all three."

Faced with soaring fertilizer prices, farmers will have to choose how much nitrogen-hungry seeds like corn to plant and when. "Reducing nitrogen application by 10% to 15% or delaying application by 2 to 4 weeks can reduce corn yields by 10% to 25," Chacar writes. Less food for people also changes what foods are available for livestock and its cost. Higher grain costs to feed cattle, for instance, will increase the price of beef. In the end, consumers will see prices increase.

While Americans have seen gas prices increase in real time as the war continues, more expensive food prices will take longer to emerge, but they will come all the same. Chacar adds, "In March 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture used data from before the Iran war to project a 3.1% average increase for all food prices."

Beyond fuel costs, corn prices are likely to be a primary driver of grocery price increases. "Corn tortillas and other relatively lightly processed corn foods are more likely to show price responses within a few months after corn prices increase," according to Chacar. Cereal and meat price increases will take a bit longer to reach consumer pocketbooks.

Should the Strait of Hormuz remain closed, the resulting fertilizer shortage will be a global problem, as it will affect American crop choices and yields. Chacar writes, "More than 300 million people worldwide already do not have enough food. The U.N. World Food Program predicts an additional 45 million could join them by the end of 2026 if the conflict in the Middle East continues into the middle of the year."

U.S. farmers battle bugs in the field, but once grains are stored, pests remain a challenge

Bugs normally eat at least 30% of a stored crop.
(Graphic by Adam Dixon, Offrange)

Storing commodities like corn or soybeans in grain bins or in shipment packing on land or at sea doesn't mean food is safe from hungry bugs. Jonathan Feakins reports for Offrange, "From bins to packaging, the amount of lost product brought about by entomological pests alone could easily rival better-known, higher-profile losses that occur in both the field or in dumpsters."

Most people know that pests like to eat crops, but they don't realize how much bugs can eat after a crop is harvested. Hannah Quellhorst, an expert in stored product entomology at Kansas State, told Feakins, "After harvest, we always lose a minimum of 30%. It can be as high as 80%, especially in regions where maybe there’s less access to inputs or secure storage."

Beetles, specifically weevil and borer larvae and adults, are among the most worrisome insects for stored grains and rice.

Researchers, including Quellhorst, have been studying the Khapra beetle, which isn't native to the U.S., but has hitchhiked into the country. "One of the top hundred most dangerous invasive species in the world, Khapra beetle larvae can be voracious, devouring their way through stored grains while leaving behind an unholy mess of skins and waste," Feekins explains.

Prostephanus truncatus, the
larger grain borer (Wikipedia photo)

The larger borer, native to the U.S., has incredible eating power that can mow through stored crops before a farmer even knows they are there. Quellhorst told Feakins, "It can chew through metal. It can chew through plastic. I have pictures of it chewing through a plastic petri dish so it can escape."

Jacob Landis, a regenerative farmer outside of Sterling, Illinois, who often battles with grain weevils, uses the colder temperatures common to the Midwest to "kill or arrest the life cycle of insects," Feakins reports.

Reducing food waste is part of the push for stored-product entomology. Landis told Offrange, “I push back on the fallacy that we need to raise bumper crops to be able to feed the world. There is just a lot of waste in the system. If we would manage our waste, it wouldn’t be as much of a concern.”

U.S. Forest Service headquarters will move from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah

Almost 90% of  U.S. Forest System land is in
the West. (Western Ag Network photo) 

The U.S. Forest Service headquarters will move from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of the Trump Administration's continued efforts to shrink the USDA by closing "research facilities in 31 states and concentrating resources in the West, reports Hannah Schoenbaum and Susan Montoya Bryan of The Associated Press. 

The restructuring will move 260 USFS staff positions to Salt Lake City, while 130 positions will stay in Washington. The move is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins said the relocation will help "bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the people who depend on them," AP reports.

While western states encapsulate "nearly 90% of National Forest System land. . . Utah is only the 11th-ranked state for national forest coverage, with about 14,300 square miles," Schoenbaum writes. In contrast, Idaho has roughly 31,875 to 32,000 square miles of NFS land.

According to Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden, Salt Lake City was chosen for its affordability, access to an international airport, and the state’s family-centric reputation, AP reports. "It’s a Democratic-led capital city in a red state with values rooted in the locally headquartered Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church."

Taylor McKinnon, a director of the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity, expressed concern that the relocation would benefit corporations seeking to mine or drill on public lands.

McKinnon told AP, "National forests belong to all Americans. Our nation’s capital is where federal policy is made and where the Forest Service headquarters belongs.”

Meatpacker strike at one of the county's largest slaughterhouses continues as negotiations fizzle

JBS Foods is the leading beef producer in the world.

As nearly 3,800 JBS meatpackers at Swift Beef Company in Greeley, Colorado, remain on strike for the third week, the possibility of disruption to the U.S. beef supply and increased beef prices grows.

"Negotiations between the company and union representatives have stalled," reports Tony St. James for RDF TV. "The strike, which began on March 16, centers on allegations of unfair labor practices, wage concerns, and workplace conditions."

JBS is the nation's biggest beef supplier, and the Greeley plant is one of its largest slaughterhouses, which, in many cases, would bring JBS to the bargaining table to get workers back on the line. But in today's economy, where meatpacking companies have been losing money due to "excess slaughter capacity," JBS has little incentive to move negotiations forward, report Matthew Brown and Colleen Slevin of The Associated Press.

With the Greenly plant nearly shut down, and other slaughterhouse "capacity reductions — including the closure of a major Tyson Foods’ plant in Nebraska — JBS and other companies are seeing profits increase," AP reports.

The economic timing may mean the strike drags on until JBS sees some economic benefit to discussing any concessions. St. James writes, "Union officials say the company has not returned to the bargaining table, while workers are seeking higher wages that better reflect inflation. The dispute follows months of negotiations" in which JBS offered a 2% wage increase.

The last slaughterhouse strike happened at a Minnesota Hormel plant in 1985. AP reports, "That strike lasted more than a year and included violent confrontations between police and protesters."

Telehealth hub addresses lack of care in rural Texas

The Davis Mountain Clinic offers an exam room
for patients. (Photo by Carol Brewer, Daily Yonder)

In the midst of rural West Texas, a shipping container is giving residents of Jeff Davis County access to telehealth through reliable connectivity and a local registered nurse, reports Madeline de Figueiredo for the Daily Yonder.

The Davis Mountain Clinic was created by Texas A&M and Texas Tech universities to bring remote medical and mental health care to the area’s aging population, explains Figueiredo.

One in five residents in this mountainous county don’t have reliable broadband, and the only doctor is semi-retired, causing most of the population to drive 30 minutes for care, Figueiredo reports.

As the county has a median age of 58, the telehealth hub offers not just reliable broadband, but “digital literacy for older residents, trusted community health workers, and practical ways for clinicians to weave virtual visits into everyday care.”

The director and local registered nurse for the clinic, Carol Brewer, can monitor vital signs, execute physical exams and help patients navigate their virtual telehealth appointments. She told the Yonder, "The advantage is, when they come here to see the doctor, I manage the technology on my end, they don’t have to deal with that at all…I’m the hands of the physician via telehealth.” 

This is not the only area of Texas that struggles with internet connectivity and access to nearby health care. Communities in Erath, Hockley and Reeves counties are working on bridging the gap in services by offering private telehealth rooms, medical monitoring equipment and guidance from staff through local libraries, Figueiredo reports.

Global liquified natural gas shortage pushes countries back to coal

An active coal mine in Indonesia. (Photo by Dominik Vanyi, Unsplash)

Countries are turning back to coal-fired power to fill the energy gap left by liquefied natural gas imports held up by Iran's choke hold on the Strait of Hormuz, The Economist reports.

With nearly a fifth of LNG supplies stuck in the Persian Gulf, countries that rely on LNG imports for electricity generation are scrambling to find a substitute. "Rich ones are forking out more for whatever LNG they can get their hands on. Some poor ones have shut schools or urged businesses to cut short their work week," The Economist reports. "Everyone is looking for alternatives. Many are eyeing coal."

Despite its declining popularity, coal-fired energy remains part of the global energy mix that some countries are putting back online to replace LNG supplies. "Japan and South Korea have lifted restrictions on older coal-fired power plants, which were being phased out," The Economist reports. "Prices for Australian coal, most of which typically ends up in Asia, have risen three times as fast as those in Europe and five times as fast as in America since the start of the war."

While the coal market is warming up, its progress could be slowed by China and Indonesia, which have active mines that can increase production to counter the LNG shortages.

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the coal market is likely to see a temporary boom, since demand from major energy importers such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan could push coal prices higher, The Economist reports. 

What does science say about health risks from widely used glyphosate on U.S. farms? An expert weighs in.

Unlike soybean and corn farmers, wheat growers don't
 routinely use glyphosate. (Photo by H. Shedrow, Unsplash)

Despite thousands of lawsuits and some scientific studies linking glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, to serious human diseases, the compound remains the most popular herbicide for farmers worldwide.

In the U.S., where Roundup is the most commonly used herbicide, many consumers have questions about the health risks glyphosate may pose. According to epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, writing for Your Local Epidemiologist on Substack, the most pressing questions are: "Does glyphosate cause cancer? And how much exposure is actually risky?" She provides some background and details about what "the scientific evidence actually says."

Like many chemicals, natural and synthetic, the dose determines toxicity. "So, at what dose is glyphosate poisonous? The LD50 in rats (the dose that kills half the test animals) is around 5,600 mg/kg body weight," Jetelina explains. "Table salt is roughly 3,000 mg/kg. By that classic measure, glyphosate is less acutely toxic than salt."

Still, many people who work on farms or live near farms may be regularly exposed to "a lot of glyphosate," Jetelina writes. "Among the general public, there are many questions about low-dose, cumulative exposure from multiple sources over long periods."

Correlation maps that show the number of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in counties that spray the most glyphosate seem to point to a relationship between the two. Jetelina adds, "But correlation alone doesn’t establish cause, which is why animal and human studies matter."

Food and Water Watch graph via Your Local Epidemiologist

Tests on rats, which have often been cited as the most alarming, and observation testing on humans, indicate the same thing: "At very high exposure levels, there may be some cancer risk," Jetelina explains. "But that’s about as far as the science currently takes us."

The U.S. EPA, the European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada, and regulatory agencies in Australia and Japan have "all concluded that glyphosate is 'unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans' at realistic exposure levels," Jetelina writes. Those regulatory bodies looked at "how much glyphosate people actually encounter and asked what is the probability of harm? Your actual exposure is what determines your actual risk."

In daily life, an average American would be hard-pressed to consume enough glyphosate to do any harm. To exceed EPA's herbicide residue limits, a "150-pound adult would need to eat roughly 50 pounds of oats every day," Jenelina writes. Organic certification doesn't allow synthetic herbicides, so in practice, most herbicides can be avoided by purchasing organic foods.

For farm workers who mix and apply glyphosate, Jenelina advises using personal protective equipment consistently to prevent unnecessary exposure. People who live near farms can help protect themselves from spray drift by "knowing your local agricultural calendar and keeping windows closed during application are the first steps."

Reporter tips: Spiking gas prices unify many Americans; the general misery offers a multitude of story possibilities

Gas prices in Holden, Maine, after Russia invaded 
Ukraine in early 2022. (Photo by GG, Unsplash) 

Dismayed by soaring gasoline prices, many Americans are coping by sharing their frustration and misery. For journalists, the increase in gas prices combined with eventual transportation-cost price hikes on consumer and grocery goods is an opportunity to explore energy resources, shared financial stresses and the effects of the war in Iran.

"Whatever you think of the war in the Middle East, people’s patriotism is being eclipsed by anxiety over fuel prices," reports Joseph A. Davis for the Society of Environmental Journalists. "That means the whole crisis is an opportunity to report on the environmental implications of burning petroleum. . . . It makes a big difference in people’s lives.”

For the most part, lamenting over eye-popping fuel prices -- and what some Americans are doing to cope -- isn't a partisan conversation. Community reporting can bring those stories to light. Davis writes, "People who live in rural and western areas may have to drive long distances daily. Many commercial truck drivers are independent entrepreneurs who pay for fuel out of their own pockets." 

Local reporting can remind readers about more recent gasoline price spikes and share some history on how older generations weathered previous gas crunches and steep inflation. In the spring of 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused gas prices to spike to levels similar to today's prices. Davis adds, "In July 2008, crude prices peaked at over $150/barrel, higher than even today, due to several factors, including Mideast tensions. They had previously peaked in late 1973 in response to a Mideast war and the Arab oil embargo."

At some point, there will likely be an opportunity to report on energy resources and the future of energy in your community, region or the nation. 

Davis' story ideas and reporting resources are shared below.

• If you are in a rural area, visit feed and fertilizer stores, and ask farmers how fuel prices affect them. Ask about fertilizer prices, too.
• Go to local car dealers (ideally ones that sell both gas vehicles and EVs). Talk to customers, salespeople and managers about whether interest in EVs is going up.
• If you live in a region, such as the Northeast or Alaska, where people still use fuel oil for heating, talk to customers and suppliers about how people are responding to higher fuel prices.
• Most states use fuel taxes to fund transportation infrastructure. Talk to your state legislators about any proposals to reduce fuel taxes.
• Beyond the steep prices at the pump, many Americans are facing historically high utility bills. Is there anything your community can learn from surrounding communities to help lower bills?  

Reporting resources:

• Price trackers: AAA, GasBuddy and the Energy Information Administration
• Consumer Energy Alliance: A nonprofit that advocates for lower energy prices for consumers
• U.S. Oil & Gas Association: An industry trade group that lobbies for oil and natural gas producers
• National Consumers League: A nonprofit that educates consumers about vehicle mileage standards, among other things

Local News Day is April 9; it offers Americans opportunities to reconnect with the local news they trust

Thursday, April 9, is Local News Day across the USA.

Most Americans consider local media coverage to be their most important, trusted and reliable news source. On April 9, Local News Day will help millions of Americans in communities of all sizes reconnect with the local outlets they trust to provide coverage of recent events, hold leaders accountable and strengthen an overall sense of community. 

As part of the day, Rebuild Local News and the Online News Association will co-host “2026 State Policy Playbook for Newsrooms,” an online event for newsroom leaders and journalists offering a clear, practical overview of emerging policy models and guidance on how to engage policymakers effectively. Register here.

Local News Day also offers connection support and tools for nonprofit organizations and government offices that want to support their valued news resources. Local News Day will provide organizations with ready-to-use tools designed to engage communities and strengthen the trusted local news they rely on. Sign up by April 2.

Individuals looking to voice their support for the community strength local news provides can sign up for updates on Local News Day activities here. 

Trump administration announces sharp increase in biodiesel fuel requirements, giving corn and soybean farmers a lift

The Trump administration announced biodiesel quota increases last week, which will give a much-needed financial lift to some corn and soybean farmers. "The new rule increases biomass-based diesel — which is partly derived from soybeans — blending by more than 60%," reports Patrick Thomas of The Wall Street Journal. "It raises the biofuel requirement for all fuels by a lower percentage."

Federal biofuel requirements from 2025-2027. (Graph via Farm Progress)

The quota announcement, which tells refineries "how much biofuel made from crops must be blended into the gasoline and diesel supply" ... "is closely watched by corn and soybean farmers," Thomas explains. The percentage also impacts companies such as Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge and Cargill, which "buy crops from farmers and process grains and oilseeds into fuel, food ingredients and other products."

Trump announced the quota requirements at a White House event "surrounded by farmers, ranchers and a gold-colored tractor," Thomas explains. Trump outlined how the increased renewable fuel requirements "would help bolster the U.S. fuel supply, while generating $10 billion for rural economies."

Trump also told the crowd that "he was seeking congressional action to allow gas containing 15% of ethanol year-round and new loan guarantees for farmers," Thomas reports. Farmers have been pushing for year-round sales of E-15 gasoline, commonly known as "Unleaded 88" for its higher octane rating. Ninety-seven percent of U.S. ethanol is made from corn, so continuous E-15 sales would primarily benefit American corn farmers.

The farmer loan guarantees Trump referenced are aimed at lowering grocery prices. Trump said the loans, which will flow through the Small Business Administration, will "open up 'massive new loan guarantees' for farmers and food producers," reports Joshua Baethge of Farm Progress. 

Once a stalwart Republican, this Wisconsin dairy farmer is reconsidering his position because of ICE and immigration

Dairy cows wander and graze on O'Harrow Family Farm acreage.  

For decades, being a Wisconsin dairy farmer and voting Republican went hand in hand for Tim O'Harrow and his family. But GOP immigration politics and Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions are no longer in sync with the O'Harrows' experience and what they feel is moral, reports Sabrina Tavernise for The New York Times. Some family members are considering shifting their political alliances.

"Immigrant workers are the lifeblood of the O’Harrow farm, a four-generation family enterprise with 1,600 cows in northeastern Wisconsin," Tavernise writes. "But many of them will not travel to Mexico to see dying parents, or drive to nearby towns to visit siblings... because they are afraid of being swept up in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown."

The second Trump administration's approach to immigration doesn't make good business sense to Tim O'Harrow or his son, Joel, who runs the farm. Tavernise explains, "These workers oversee America’s milk. By one estimate, dairies that employ immigrant workers produce 79% of the nation’s milk supply, and the price of milk would double without them."

Tim O'Harrow knows conflicts over undocumented immigrant farm workers aren't a new problem. He's been talking to politicians in Washington and in Madison, Wisconsin, the state's capital city, for 20 years, asking them to create a visa system or path to citizenship for these vital workers. But politics have gone the opposite way.

"Washington has failed to make any meaningful changes, and Republican voters continue to be anti-immigration, particularly those in Wisconsin," Tavernise reports. "That has left the O’Harrows in an uncomfortable place — stuck between what they see as an obvious truth, that immigrants are essential to America’s food supply, and a national political mood hurtling in the other direction."

Tim O'Harrow told the Times, "I don’t know that I’m a Republican anymore. I don’t know what we are anymore.”

Both Tim and his son told the Times they would be open to voting for a Democrat in future elections. Tavernise writes, "And for the first time in 20 years, a Democratic primary will be held in their district, a sign that the party believes it has a chance to flip what has been a solidly Republican seat."

For more explanation on why a stalwart GOP family would consider voting for a Democrat, read the full story here.

A small infusion clinic in rural Texas helps cancer patients not have to drive hundreds of miles a week for care

New Jersey and Rhode Island do not have rural hospitals and are excluded from the analysis.

(Map by Deidre McPhillips, CNN, from Chartis data)

Rural cancer patients often drive hundreds of miles for treatments only bigger cities can offer, but a smaller hospital that chose to add an infusion clinic in a rural area shows that cancer care can move closer to home, reports Caleb Hellerman of CNN News.

Childress Regional Medical Center, which serves roughly 30,000 people in a 5-county region of North Texas, did the opposite of what many smaller hospitals have been doing. They added services instead of shrinking them. Hellerman writes, "Childress [began with] opening a small infusion center in 2013 and steadily expanding its capabilities in order to serve patients."

When it comes to diagnosis, treatment and survival rates, rural cancer patients are already at a disadvantage. Hellerman reports, "Rural cancer patients tend to be diagnosed later and have worse outcomes. . . . Rural patients are also less likely to receive treatment that meets the standard of care."

Although the Childress infusion clinic started small, the need for it quickly became apparent, and its provider count grew to meet the needs of rural patients. Hellerman explains, "The infusion center started with two chairs but has since grown to encompass 10 spots for patients, three full-time pharmacists and three full-time oncology nurses."

Residents in the region are luckier than many of their rural peers. The medical consulting group Chartis "found that 448 rural hospitals – nearly a quarter of the nation’s total – stopped offering chemotherapy services between 2014 and 2024," Hellerman writes. Out of all the states, Texas lost the most.

Beyond the transportation issues, rural cancer patients will continue to face a dwindling number of oncologists willing to practice in rural regions. Some of that shortage is attributed to younger specialists preferring to live and work in more urban areas. But, according to Hellerman, the high cost of cutting-edge cancer drugs is also preventing younger oncologists from considering rural-leaning positions. 

"Oncologists and hospital administrators say pressures are likely to worsen over the next few years as provisions of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' kick in," Hellerman reports. Most of those cuts are slated to come from reducing the number of Americans who receive Medicaid.

After being dropped by their Medicare Advantage Plan, millions of seniors were left scrambling for health insurance

Some rural residents can no longer enroll in Medicare
Advantage Plans.

Privatized Medicare coverage, also known as Medicare Advantage Plans, stopped providing health insurance to residents in counties where profits were too slim or nonexistent. The shift in coverage options has disproportionately affected rural residents, reports Christopher Rowland of The Washington Post.

Over the past 20 years, Medicare Advantage Plans have grown exponentially by offering extra perks and low premiums to seniors seeking health care coverage that provides more benefits than traditional Medicare, but that trend has reversed. Rowland explains, "Insurers sharply retreated from the plans in some regions, saying rising health care costs and reduced government reimbursements have hurt profitability. . . . Hardest hit were a half-dozen rural states from New England to Idaho."

The sudden change "highlights one of the risks for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, especially in rural areas where options tend to be meager: plans are under no obligation to offer coverage year-to-year," Rowland reports. "When profit margins are threatened, insurance companies can suddenly withdraw coverage."

Many rural counties have been the first to be cut off, leaving residents with traditional Medicare Part B, which has an 80/20 split, as their only option. Many seniors fear their 20% share will leave them with large medical bills.

In 2026, nearly 3 million people, or 10% of Medicare Advantage Plan beneficiaries, were dropped and forced to find other health care coverage, Rowland reports. "That’s a big jump from 2018 to 2024, when the rate of involuntary terminations was below 2% each year."

Quick hits: Mississippi bans lab-grown dairy; Lawyers for Reporters; pay phones help boomers and zoomers connect

State-level bans like Mississippi's can restrict access to the 
 lab-grown dairy industry. (Photo by A. Chaudhary, Unsplash)

Mississippi is the first state to ban lab-grown dairy after passing a bill effective July 1, reports Karen Bohnert for Dairy Herd Management. Lab-grown dairy is "produced through precision fermentation or cell-culturing techniques" and often referred to as "fake milk," Bohnert explains. The bill, HB 1153, requires strict labeling requirements and updated authority to state inspectors to prevent the manufacture, sale and distribution of cell-cultured dairy throughout the state, Bohnert reports.

Lawyers for Reporters, created by the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, is a free resource for American local and public-interest journalism organizations needing legal services, reports Tandy Lau for E&P Magazine. There's a five-person in-house legal team based in New York offering assistance, and they partner with outside counsel for extra support in farther areas. Managing Attorney Kay Murray told E&P they "really guide [journalists] to ensure that they've got the backup to get it right, that they are confident about getting it right [and] that their understanding with their sources is something that everybody is on the same page about." They hope to soon provide more support for investigative reporting and coverage of immigration issues as well. "If I was trying to quantify the value of [Lawyers for Reporter's assistance], it would add up to easily tens of thousands of dollars if not well into the six figures," Warwick Sabin, CEO and president of Deep South Today, told E&P.

A new study found a long-term shift in cancer death trends, with rural areas facing higher cancer death rates than urban areas in recent years, reports Dennis Thompson for U.S. News & World Report. Previously, between 1969 and 1971, “large cities had the highest overall cancer death rates, followed by small- to medium-sized cities.” However, rural areas had the highest rates in 2021 to 2023, and large cities had the lowest rates. Specifically, lung cancer deaths among rural men were 26% lower than city dwellers in 1969 to 1971, but 55% higher in 2021 to 2023. Researchers said the shift and continuously widening gap is “likely driven by limited access to health care, lower cancer screening rates, higher poverty, more smoking and other lifestyle and environmental factors” in rural communities.

In a new social experiment by Matter Neuroscience, two old payphones set up at a nursing home in Nevada and near Boston University allow "zoomers" and "boomers" to call each other from 3,000 miles apart, reports Scottie Andrew for CNN. Designed to help people feel less lonely, this pilot project will last at least a month, according to Matter Neuroscience. "Friendship could come in all ages. Wisdom can come in all forms, and we just want people to get out of their comfort zone and have a conversation," Matter Neuroscience social strategist Calla Kessler said.

GM announced it will be adding a day of factory
production to it heavy-duty truck line. 

General Motors is increasing its heavy-duty truck production, as consumer demand remains strong despite rising gas and diesel prices, reports Christopher Otts for The Wall Street Journal. GM's Flint Assembly plant in Michigan will operate six days a week now, rather than five, producing more heavy-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, Otts reports. Workers will be "mandated into overtime hours to cover the additional day of production," explains Otts. As gas prices have risen by about one-third since the beginning of the Iran war, GM's stock has declined about 10% so far this year, and forecasters predict new-vehicle sales to fall 6.5% in the first quarter.

Report: Food and agriculture sector will contribute $10.4 trillion to U.S. economy in 2026

The U.S. food and agriculture industries will produce $10.4 trillion for the economy in 2026, backing 48.7 million jobs, reports Feed & Grain staff.

Despite rising inflation and global trade pressures, the sector makes up almost 20% of the national economy, increasing profits by $894 billion each year, according to data from the Feeding the Economy report.

Food manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in the country, from two million farms and ranches to 200,000 food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities. It also includes more than one million restaurants and foodservice establishments, and 200,000 retail food stores.

The economic impact of the food and agriculture sector in each state. (Interactive map via Feeding the Economy, Click here to choose your state.)

Some of the highlights from the report show the food and agriculture sector generating:

• More than $177.3 billion worth of exports
• More than $3 trillion in workers' wages
• 6.5% growth in direct employment over the last decade
• 4% yearly rise in wages and 13% rise over the last decade, surpassing inflation
• $1.35 trillion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments, increasing 7% each year

Many rural communities rely on food and agriculture revenue as the backbone of their local economy, with wages reinvested to support local housing, healthcare, education, small businesses and infrastructure, reports Feeding the Economy. “From farm to factory and truck to table, food and agriculture's impact sustains jobs, powers commerce, and strengthens communities across America."

AI giants ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Grok all 'pilfer' stories from Canadian news outlets, a new audit finds

AI companies chose not to attribute their source materials.
(Photo by Markus Winkler, Unsplash)

ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Grok all hijack Canadian news stories to use in their databases without adding legal attributions to stories pilfered from authors or arranging for copyright payment to publishers, according to an AI audit by Canadian researchers at McGill University, reports Brier Dudley, Free Press editor for The Seattle Times.

Professors Taylor Owen and Aengus Bridgman at McGill "tested four major AI models to see how much they knew about current news stories in Canada and how much credit they give to outlets that originally reported the stories," Dudley explains. The audit proved that tested AI models were "quite knowledgeable about current news stories. But in queries involving web searches, they provided no source attribution in 82% of the responses."

Owen and Bridgman write, "They have [taken and used content] without compensation, without attribution, and without any obligation to sustain the infrastructure they are drawing from. The result is a system that accelerates the economic decline of the journalism it relies on.”

The lack of attribution by AI companies is intentional. "When asked about a story from a specific outlet, the responses named the source 74% to 97% of the time," Dudley adds. "That indicates the companies are technically capable of naming sources but are making a 'design choice' not to, the audit states."

AI's pilfered stories let people get news without visiting the publisher's site or paying for a subscription. Dudley writes, "AI companies get the subscription and advertising revenue, instead of news sites that paid to report, edit and publish the stories."

Through the Online News Act, Canada now requires tech behemoths like Google and Meta that profit from using news sources to compensate publishers. With the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, the U.S. tried to pass protections similar to those adopted in Canada, but the bill faded in Congress in 2023. 

Dudley writes, "It’s past time for a new version of the JCPA, addressing how AI companies are changing the way people get information and preventing them from suffocating the local news industry. . . . To help get the ball rolling, I encourage academics in the U.S. to connect with Owen and Bridgman, who are willing to share their models, and produce similar audits here."