agriculture

Report Questions Crop Insurance Structure

Frank Morris — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:02:02 +0000

Taxpayers are contributing billions more than necessary for farmers’ crop insurance, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The study, which examined the 2012 crop year, argues that big subsidies channel farmers into lavish policies that in some cases paid drought-afflicted farmers last year more than they would have earned with a good harvest.

Effects Of An Extended Drought

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Recent snowfalls brought much needed moisture to our region. Even so, the drought of last year has not been broken. Should it continue for months ... or even years ... what are the potential long-term effects?

90-Mile View: Howard Blender

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander and Danie — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

There are few images of the West as iconic as cattle and few people as optimistic as a cattle rancher. Just ask Howard Blender.

Food: From Farm To Table

Beth Lipoff — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Food is a major part of American culture, and the way we mass produce it has made headlines in the last few years— many of them not good.

New Reporting Series Covers 'America's Big Beef'

Harvest Public Media — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:35:21 +0000

On Monday, Harvest Public Media launches a five-part series called "America’s Big Beef: An Industry in Transition." It's a deep dive into the big business of cattle.

Update From Cass Co. Dairy Farmer Eric Neill

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:18:54 +0000

When we last spoke with dairy farmer Eric Neill, he was in the middle of trying to get his dairy cows through this summer's drought.

Heat, Drought & You

Stephen Steigman, Steve Kraske and Frank Morris — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:05:24 +0000

Your neighbors' lawn is green. And yours? A pale shade of brown, with grass that crunches underfoot. Area golf courses remain emerald and pristine, yet corn fields in Missouri, Arkansas, and elsewhere wither, their kernels destined for silage.

The drought affects each of us a bit differently: will you spike your water bill just to keep your lawn green, your plants flowering, and your vegetables growing? Can area farmers salvage what little remains of their crops?

'My Farm Roots' Collects Stories From The Land

Sylvia Maria Gross — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:38:54 +0000

Many people in the Kansas City area have close ties to agriculture, whether they currently work on a farm, or grew up on one and left. Or maybe their ancestors settled in the region to work the land.

What Will The Farmer Of The Future Look Like?

Andrea Silenzi, Jabulani Leffall and Charlie Upchurch — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:38:39 +0000

For this Thursday's Central Standard, we've teamed up with Iowa Public Radio's Talk of Iowa and Harvest Public Media to produce a talk show on the challenges facing young farmers today.

Possible Funding Boost For Kan. Agro-Defense Facility

Laura Ziegler — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:41:13 +0000

The troubled National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan., got a financial shot in the arm yesterday.

Farm & Food Controversies With Harvest Public Media

Andrea Silenzi and Jabulani Leffall — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:29:13 +0000

On this Wednesday's Central Standard, a look at the role of semantics when we discuss industrial agriculture. What does it mean when we say pink slime vs. lean beef trimming? Biotech vs. GMO?

Food Industry Courts Meat-Eating Vegetarians

Jeremy Bernfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:59:00 +0000

Some vegetarian food is getting a makeover. It's being made to look, feel and taste more like meat.
The industry is looking to latch on to a new group of eaters: “Flexitarians,” health conscious, mostly young consumers who are cutting back on meat in their diets. Some cut out almost all meat, others cut out just a little.

The Ingredients In The Food We Eat

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:08 +0000

NOTE: Audio is unavailable from today's show. We apologize for the technical difficulties.

Consumers are getting smarter about the food they eat. We know to check labels for the levels of sodium and saturated fat, and that "high fructose corn syrup" is still sugar. Most of us hit a wall though when it comes to ingredients such as malodextrin, flavonoids and silicon dioxide. What are these ingredients found in the foods we eat and drink?