The Rural Blog

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. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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Higher interest rates, heavier debt and increased costs have Midwest farmers drawing comparisons to 1980s struggles

Ag round-up: Nearly 70% of farmers can't afford fertilizer; union and JBS reach deal; real help for stressed farmers

Farmer income declines and U.S. government disaster payments begin; roughly $9.8 billion will be paid out

Quick hits: Wallet-draining breakfast prices; the 'Walmart effect;' rural short story winner; bird flu stats; shouses

Vilsack says legacy of his 12 years at USDA is new revenue sources that will help smaller farmers and small towns

Coffee prices continue to spike as global demand grows and supplies lag; China is driving increases

U.S. beef herd hits a dramatic low as ranchers face repeated droughts and extreme weather

How low will it go? Farmers worry over Mississippi River levels and fear repeat of last year's crop-transportation crisis

Drought-stricken lands leave farmers and ranchers to plow under crops and sell off herds

Oats could be making a comeback; they help the soil and control pests and diseases in rotation with other crops

American farmers will plant less cotton this year, partly due to drought in high-production areas like Texas

Quick hits: Wikipedia gets a makeover, unions' share keeps falling, religion is changing, best ideas do come in showers

Farmers' hopes for a respite from seven years of mainly bad news fade, amid market problems caused by pandemic

Crop-insurance deadline delayed as harvest problems and farmers' struggles continue; land prices go negative

After 18th ethanol plant idles, state corn-grower associations ask Trump to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard

Agricultural economists say farmer bailout necessary, but criticize Trump and Congress for work on trade, ag supply

Moderate Democrats object to House plan to exclude farm-bailout money from bill that would keep government running

Leading Iowa soy farmers say trade war makes times 'pretty dire' and only billions in special aid keeps them with Trump

Trump and Democrats ignore farmers' biggest issue, five years of low crop prices, agricultural policy experts write

Trade-war package for farmers won't make them whole