Farming

Ranchers across the Midwest are battling black vultures, a federally protected bird that has a reputation for killing newborn livestock. While the birds play a major ecological role, their expanding population is becoming a big nuisance for producers.

The EPA has completed less than 5% of its Endangered Species Act caseload in reviewing pesticides. Now the agency is proposing a new strategy for scrutinizing agricultural chemicals’ effects on listed species.

A group of Midwestern shrimp farmers is on a mission to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but farmers remain hopeful that the industry will come back stronger than ever.

A cold spell in late December damaged peach crops across southern Illinois. Some orchards estimate a loss of nearly 90%. That means there will be fewer local peaches in area grocery stores.

Elderberries are native to the Midwest, but the commercial cultivation of the crop is relatively recent and saw a big increase during the coronavirus pandemic. That has the burgeoning industry wondering if its future is as a small, niche crop or something bigger.

The food co-op aimed to provide food insecure residents with healthy products, but low business and dwindling grant money forced it to close.

Also in response to the drought, Wentzville issued a voluntary water conservation declaration that takes effect Monday.

Missouri farm income is projected to decrease $546 million in the coming year.

Increased limits on a loan program for new farmers and expanded tax credits for small farmers could help producers as inflation continues, but more could be taking advantage of the opportunities.

Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.