A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky.
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The annual report on household food security produced by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be discontinued, Dan Frosch, Patrick Thomas and Andrea Petersen of The Wall Street Journalreported.
The 2024 report is set to be released on Oct. 22 and will be the last of a series of reports that started in 1990 as a result of a 10-year comprehensive plan that was developed in accordance with the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act (NNMRR).
A press release from the USDA stated that the reports were “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous,” and “subjective, liberal fodder.”
Despite concerns from researchers, policy analysts, academics and others across the nation, the USDA states that it has other “timely and accurate data sets available.”
You can read more about how the USDA defines food insecurity and the survey questions they use here.
Many U.S. farmers are harvesting crops that don't have a buyer. (Adobe Stock photo)
President Donald Trump announced plans to use tariff dollars to help U.S. farmers facing extreme economic strain due to high input costs and poor trade opportunities. Grace Yarrow and Meridith Lee Hill of Politico report, "Trump said he will use tariff revenue to offer cash bailouts for farmers who are struggling with trade uncertainty and other economic headwinds."
Trump told reporters, "We’re going to take some of that tariff money that we made, we’re going to give it to our farmers, who are, for a little while, going to be hurt until the tariffs kick into their benefit. . . .So we’re going to make sure that our farmers are in great shape, because we’re taking in a lot of money.”
Some Republicans share Trump's preference for tapping tariff dollars to help farmers, but other GOP lawmakers worry the plan "could run into roadblocks if the Supreme Court decides Trump’s tariffs are not legal," Politico reports. Several Republicans also cite what Democrats might ask for in return for agreeing to use tariff dollars to fund farmer checks.
While the Trump administration has promised to deliver better trade deals, American farmers are still waiting. Meanwhile, lobbyists and lawmakers from farming districts are pushing hard for a farm aid package to be passed soon.
Pests are identified by AI as they fly through a light sensor inside this trap.(Photo by D. Mcgee via The Conversation)
Researchers working to introduce precision agriculture practices to farmers and agriculture students made progress during their recent project, in which AI was deployed to outsmart cotton-eating bugs in Jenkins County, Georgia.
Jenkins County, with a population of roughly 8,700, is "among the top 25 cotton-growing counties in the state," write Debra Lam, Atin Adhikari and James E. Thomas for The Conversation. The area's farmers rely heavily on expensive pesticides to defeat "stink bugs, cotton bollworms, corn earworms, tarnished plant bugs and aphids."
The project aimed to help farmers determine when to spray their crops by combining "AI-based early pest detection methods with existing integrated pest management practices and the Georgia Cotton Insect Advisor app," according to the report. By integrating those tools, researchers learned how to "improve pest detection, decrease pesticide exposure levels and reduce insecticide use."
The project's outcome demonstrated that AI tools could reliably predict where and when pest infestations would occur, providing farmers with the knowledge they need to save money and labor costs by applying pesticides only where and when necessary.
Through the use of AI sensors, the research provided farmers with practical and intuitive ways to plan and protect their crops. According to the report, "Even after the sensors are gone, farmers who used them become better at spotting pests. . . . AI dashboards and mobile apps help them see how pest populations grow over time and respond to different field conditions."
The project was part of Georgia's ongoing effort to train more farmers and students on how to integrate precision agriculture into their farming or pest management practices. According to The Conversation's report, "The same tools could help local governments manage mosquitoes and ticks and open up more agtech innovations."
U.S. farming income ratio in 2024 was negative. (Photo by Betty Haynes, Farm Progress)
Many U.S. farmers are already struggling to make ends meet as costs for equipment, labor and fertilizer remain high and crop income continues to drop. In her opinion piece for Farm Progress, Holly Spangler writes, "Grain prices are down, input prices are up, and not enough folks are buying U.S. products." Spangler shares insights on what Congress and the Trump administration can do to help farmers without sending bailout checks.
The National Corn Growers Association just "released a survey of U.S. corn growers, and nearly half — 46% — believe the U.S. is on the brink of a farm crisis," Spangler writes. "More than 75% are very or moderately concerned about the farm economy. . . . The average 2024 farm operating income ratio was negative for the first time in 30 years, and well below the five-year average of 18.2%."
Action from policy officials and Congress could help corn farmers access improved markets and better prices. Spangler explains, "Congress needs to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which would remove an outdated provision in the Clean Air Act that restricts summertime fuel sales with 15% ethanol blends, or E15."
Soybean farmers also need robust market development since China is purchasing its soybeans from South America. Spangler notes, "The only deal to come out of last week’s U.S.-China trade talks involved TikTok, not soybeans."
While the Trump Administration and the Department of Agriculture may have plans to send farmers bailout checks, Spangler points out that this approach isn't a long-term solution. She writes, "Another bailout just produces money that flows through the farmer’s hands and back to landowners, input suppliers and equipment companies. Nobody has to lower prices when farmers can afford it."
Spangler believes farmers need to demand action from the Trump Administration and the USDA that fixes the E15 issue, passes a Farm Bill and secures trade partners. She adds, "Farmers need to make money. But they need to do it by selling crops — not by cashing another government check."
Finding out what a child knows about an event can help parents know where to start. (Adobe Stock photo)
The frequency and extremes of today's news and online media can leave parents and guardians wondering how to help their children process what's happening in the world. Eepti Hajela of The Associated Pressoutlines how to talk to your kids about "what’s going on."
First, be willing to talk about it. "It’s a basic parental impulse to want to protect kids from harsh realities or complicated situations," Hajela explains. But when it comes to national or world events, "information is EVERYWHERE." Shielding children is not realistic.
When approaching difficult or violent events, it's helpful to gauge how much your children or young adults know. "Don't assume they know everything," Hajela writes. To help kids process news or visuals, it's best to know what they know or might have consumed on social media before jumping into a conversation.
Parents and guardians who have processed their own responses first can better help younger people interpret events. They are their children's role model, so if possible, getting to a level of calm about any situation helps kids feel safer, even when discussing disturbing events or images.
Make it an ongoing conversation, rather than a one-time discussion. Parents and guardians can't stop the world from turning to protect their kids, but they can provide a safe space where kids can ask questions and learn tools to process their emotions.
Pregnant women in Idaho often drive hours for prenatal care. (Adobe Stock photo)
New rules for Medicaid have Idaho clinicians predicting more emergency visits, fewer residents with health care coverage and more maternity care deserts, reports Madeline de Figueiredo for The Daily Yonder. The systemic Medicaid changes will be the hardest on rural residents who tend to be more reliant on Medicaid.
Many Idaho medical providers see new Medicaid work requirements, income checks and possible co-payments as "changes [that] are already creating hurdles and could lead to major coverage losses and reduced access to care," according to the article.
Coverage losses often increase emergency room visits because people delay care until their symptoms are so severe that they have no choice but to go to the emergency room. Individuals can be left with costly ED bills for care that could have been affordable if it had been sought sooner.
Idaho is already facing rural hospital closures and provider shortages, both of which impact prenatal care for expecting mothers and their babies. Figueiredo reports, "Bonner General Health, the only hospital with OB-GYNs in Bonner County, closed its obstetrics services in 2023. . . . All four OB-GYNs from Bonner County told NBC that Idaho’s strict abortion laws influenced their decision to leave."
The lack of obstetric care throughout the state means pregnant women often have to travel hours for care. Many are told to purchase insurance for emergency medical flights. Amy Klingler, a primary care physician assistant in Stanley, Idaho, told Figueiredo, “We encourage everyone, really, in our community to have that [coverage]. . . . Helicopter rides are probably anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000."
China usually buys 51% of U.S. soybeans every year. (Unsplash photo)
A North Dakota soybean farm is expected to lose $400,000 this year due to China’s boycott of American soybeans because of tariffs President Trump placed on Chinese goods, Alan Rapperport of The New York Timesreported.
That farm is just one of many being hurt by the tariffs and trade wars. “Are we going to lose a generation of farmers because of the trade war? I think that’s what we’re fast approaching,” Justin Sherlock, a farmer and president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association said in an interview with Rapperport.
China has used its status as a major consumer of American agricultural products since Trump’s first term to strategically pressure the administration toward more favorable trade deals. This year soybean farmers have taken a major hit, but China has also scaled back purchases of other products as well.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has considered rolling out aid for farmers impacted by China’s pushback against tariffs.
“Farmers tend to live in Republican states that voted for Mr. Trump, so harming them economically threatened a core constituency,” Rapperport wrote. In other words, the livelihoods of American farmers have become bargaining chips in the U.S.-China trade war.
Farmers in North Dakota are increasingly worried that a deal will not be made in time for the nearing soybean harvest season. And for an industry that is already struggling to stay afloat, that could mean more farm closures.
New World screwworm was found roughly 70 miles from Laredo, Texas. (USDA photo)
The New World screwworm and its flesh-eating larvae have made their way through Mexico to hover fewer than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. "The case was reported near Sabinas Hidalgo in Nuevo Leon," reports Joshua Baethge of Farm Progress. "That city is close to a major highway connecting Monterrey, Mexico’s second-largest metro area, and Laredo, Texas."
Screwworm larvae were discovered in "an 8-month-old cow that was moved to the area from southern Mexico, which has active NWS cases," Baethge writes. Concerned lawmakers and livestock owners would like Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to persuade the Mexican government to restrict cattle movement to contain the pest.
While NWS larvae will eat the flesh of any warm-blooded animal, female screwworm flies most often lay their eggs in the open wounds or scratches of sheep or cattle. The larvae are considered a threat to U.S. livestock and rancher economies as well as the U.S. food supply.
Rollins said "protecting the U.S. from New World screwworm is a 'national security priority," Baethge reports. Rollins added that "U.S. farmers and ranchers should know that the U.S. 'will not rely on Mexico' to defend the cattle industry, the food industry or 'our way of life.'"
State of Nuevo León within Mexico (Wikipedia map)
The USDA and Mexican authorities have been working together to push the NWS away from both countries' livestock herds through sterile fly releases, animal surveillance and fly trapping and testing work.
Since July, the USDA and Mexico "have been monitoring almost 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico," reports Jennifer Carrico of Progressive Farmer. "Currently, all the 13,000-plus screening samples have detected no NWS flies."
While the latest detection in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, appears to be limited to one cow, the USDA is still investigating. "Rollins said the U.S will be 'taking no chances,'" Baethge reports.
What's big, brown, hungry and loves salmon? Alaskan brown bears in Katmai National Park, Alaska. The bears and their voting minions are gearing up for Fat Bear Week, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 23 and chowing down through Sept. 30.
Wait, what? "With the help of this playful competition, Fat Bear Week aims to bring Katmai National Park and Alaska’s brown bears closer to the people who may not be able to visit the park in person," reports Emese Maczko for Forbes. "Anyone can vote daily for which bear advances in the bracket to determine the eventual champion, Katmai's bulkiest brown bear."
Bulk is the aim, and salmon is their game. "To make it into the bracket, bears must first be visibly fat and appear at Brooks River in both early summer and fall, criteria that not all of the park’s bears meet," Maczko explains. "Bears in the brackets often have a compelling storyline that showcases the challenges of survival in Katmai."
No need to vote to join the fat bear fandom. "Voters can follow eight bear cams that provide live video feeds from different locations around the Brooks Camp area of Katmai National Park, Maczko adds. "Anyone can join the live chat, where Mike Fitz, resident naturalist at Explore.org, Christine Kliesrath, ranger at Katmai National Park and Naomi Boak from Katmai Conservancy will answer all questions."
The bears are here to eat and teach. "Classrooms can bring Katmai directly to their students. Teachers may request a virtual program with a park ranger to discuss the bears, the park and Fat Bear Week," Maczko writes. "The park also offers numerous free printable materials for classroom use, available online."
In its initial report, the national "Make America Healthy Again" commission advocated for changes to U.S. food production and dietary guidance while criticizing "lobbying efforts by American corporations to shape policy," report Jesse Newman, Liz Essley Whyte and Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal. But the commission has since "held talks with scores of leaders from the food and agriculture industries."
Farm groups criticized MAHA's first report for not giving them a voice. (Adobe Stock photo)
When the commission released its follow-up plan last week, it left "nutrition experts and consumer advocacy and watchdog groups, lamenting its lack of emphasis on regulatory action," the Journal reports. MAHA supporters worry that the commission's initial agenda, led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has curtailed its mission to appease corporate leadership.
By comparison, agricultural and industry groups were glad their input was included. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, told the Journal, "We appreciate the commission’s willingness to meet with farmers across the country, hear our concerns and develop smart solutions."
When the MAHA commission released its first report, "It questioned the health effects of glyphosate. . .a widely used farm pesticide," according to the Journal article. "It scrutinized ultraprocessed foods over some 15 pages."
The report then faced backlash from agricultural leaders and farmers who balked at the "report’s contents and a lack of engagement from the administration during its writing," the Journal reports. Before its follow-up strategy was released, the commission "sought input from farmers, food makers and retailers."
In an effort to juggle agricultural leadership and MAHA supporters, the commission said it aimed to give both sides a seat at the table. According to the article, "The White House used broad language in the latest MAHA report to leave the door open to take sharper or more lenient action in the future."
Map from SmokyMountains.com shows fall leaf color projections. Red indicates peak color.
As autumn begins across much of the U.S., many Americans and tourists plan day trips or vacations to take in nature’s stunning fall colors. "Parts of the U.S. will soon start to see — if they haven't already — leaves and shrubs trade their green hues for vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red as the days get shorter and temperatures get chillier," reports Rachel Treisman of NPR. Explore Fall, TheSmokyMountains.com and Almanac websites offer some of the best "estimates [for] when leaves will change and colors will peak across the country."
Faced with ongoing population growth, an aging water system, and intermittent droughts paired with scorching temperatures, Texas officials and lawmakers are working to address the state's water crisis. But even as solutions are hammered out in Austin, the "state's regional diversity and patchwork of governments complicate matters further," reportsThe Texas Tribune. "Texas voters will be asked this fall to approve a $20 billion package to protect the state’s water supply. . . . The $20 billion is just a fraction of what some experts believe the state needs to invest going forward."
In a bid to help balance pharmacy payments, Optum Rx "has increased reimbursement minimums for brand drugs for approximately 2,300 independent pharmacies," reports Heather Landi of Fierce Healthcare. The company's shift to a cost-based model is helping the bottom line of the "more than 24,000 independent and community pharmacies it works with. . ." More than half of all independent pharmacies operate in rural areas of the U.S., but many have closed or struggle to stay afloat due to high operational costs and low reimbursement rates.
When it comes to remembering 2020, many Americans would probably prefer not to recall the year at all. But film director Ari Aster doesn't want anyone to forget. In his latest film, "Eddington," Aster takes viewers back to the early days of the pandemic through the lens of a rural town drama set between a town sheriff and its mayor. Eddington captures the "anxiety, confusion, listlessness, and frustration of those first few months of lockdown as the backdrop for a dark and twisted story of a man, a town, and a country gone crazy," writes Anya Petrone Slepyan of The Daily Yonder. "Ari Aster’s latest rural thriller will give you something to think about."
When individuals suffering from opioid addictions are released from jail or prison, they face a high risk of overdose; however, a recent study shows that medication treatment during incarceration can lower their chances of overdosing upon release. "Use of medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jail was strongly associated with lower risks for overdose, death, and re-incarceration after release into the community," reports Shannon Firth of MedPage Today. The observational study was conducted in Massachusetts correctional facilities.
No matter where adults live, it may seem like kids have a different language that includes words that don't mean what they meant even three years ago. Keeping up with what young people are saying can feel impossible for anyone attempting to stay "hip," but not knowing kid-jargon can be a particular nightmare for parents. "As a little bit of an explainer, here’s a quick guide to slang terms that have made a mark in recent months," writes Paul Anthony Jones for Mental Floss. A few "explainers" are shared below.
Kid-jargon can mystify adults. (Graphic by Justin Dodd, Mental Floss)
W in the chat! "W has been used as a slang abbreviation for a win for over 50 years — although nowadays it’s used not just of victories, but of anything that could be regarded as laudable or impressive."
What the sigma?!? "As Merriam-Webster has noted, [the word] sigma has become increasingly ironic, pejorative, and jokey. . . This phrase in Gen Z and Gen Alpha vernacular is roughly the 2020s equivalent of 'What the heck?!'"
Do it for the plot! "If you imagine your life as one big movie, 'doing something for the plot' means doing something bold or risky that, in the retelling of your life story, would act as a major plot point."
