Agriculture

Every spring, high school students from across the country travel to Oklahoma for the National Land and Range Judging Contest. The three-day event tests their knowledge of land and soil.

Community-supported agriculture has been a popular way for people to buy produce from local farms for decades. There's new pressure on farmers to offer more customization and convenience – but some CSA supporters worry that may dilute the original purpose.

Many farmers are facing a challenging economy. That’s forcing some to make tough choices about how much to invest in this season’s crops. Harvest Public Media’s Michael Marks has more from a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist about the demands. The City of Lubbock is hosting the annual Move Out Give Back Program to provide students and residents with an opportunity to drop off reusable items, such as hard-surface furniture and small working appliances, as well as large or bulky items that are too big for dumpsters.

The cost of doing business in agriculture was already high before the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which spiked fertilizer and fuel prices. Now, making any money this season may require farmers to cut back on certain resources.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade passageway, remains virtually closed due to the war in Iran. That's driven up the prices of key agricultural necessities, which could remain high into next year.

When beekeepers saw widespread honeybee die-offs last year, researchers at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center stepped in to help. The Trump administration now plans to close the facility, sparking concern among beekeepers and scientists.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a new letter on support for the U.S. Forest Service as wildfires continue to threaten much of the western United States. Our Charley Maranville reports the first half of this year has already been very busy for first responders. Fire management experts say land owners will need to opt in to prevention methods, like prescribed burning, and fire departments will have to collaborate across county and state lines.

Texas leads the nation in utilities shutting off electricity and natural gas services to customers who can't afford their energy bills. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has more on the report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $390 billion Farm Bill last week. Harvest Public Media’s Frank Morris reports the House didn't make many changes to the policy, but the legislation faces serious obstacles in the Senate.

The United States has lost about 90% of its food animal veterinarians since the 1940s, according to a 2023 Johns Hopkins study.

Lubbock’s city council approved a design yesterday for the expansion and renovation of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center downtown. The budget for the plan is expected to be presented to the council in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Texas farmers say they're facing a mounting number of challenges that go beyond the severe drought in the region. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports many of the advantages associated with farming in Texas are no longer available.