Amy Mayer

Amy Mayer appears in the following:

In California, leafy greens farmers both suffered from floods and welcomed the water

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Most of the country's lettuce and leafy greens come from California, where 13 atmospheric rivers hit this winter. Farmers both welcome the water and sometimes suffer from the deluge.

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Rockslide repairs are underway on California's Pacific Coast Highway

Friday, March 10, 2023

The parade of storms that have pummeled California this winter caused hundreds of rockslides around the state. Now, geologists are out assessing new risks and shoring up protections.

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Coastal tribes in Oregon hope to bring sea otters back to their community

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Sea otters were hunted to near extinction along the U.S. West Coast. During the century they have been away, a lucrative shellfish industry has grown in the waters where restoration would take place.

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Meatpackers Warn That The Coronavirus Outbreaks Might Lead To Meat Shortages

Saturday, May 09, 2020

The meatpacking industry has slowed down due to the coronavirus outbreaks at the plants. Meatpackers warn that it could lead to meat shortages and stores limiting purchases.

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How Warming Winters Are Affecting Everything

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Winters are warming faster than summers in many places, and colder parts of the U.S. are warming faster than hotter ones. The warming winter climate has year-round consequences across the country.

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Collateral Damage Of The Trade War, Farmers Want Chinese Market Reopened

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

American farmers rely heavily on selling their goods overseas. As the trade war heats up again, many Midwest soybean farmers have huge surpluses and are receiving government aid.

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During Shutdown, Farmers And Others Lack Critical USDA Reports

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The Department of Agriculture publishes the price, sales and inventory of the country's many agricultural products. Because of the partial government shutdown some of those reports aren't happening.

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How The Government Shutdown Hits Rural America

Saturday, January 05, 2019

The partial government shutdown means farmers and other rural residents will be waiting for services they can usually rely on.

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Caught Between Trump's Tariffs And Tax Changes, Soybean Farmers Face Uncertain Future

Friday, October 26, 2018

A daunting trifecta is threatening many Midwest farmers' profit margin: wet fields, stubbornly low crop prices exacerbated by a trade war with China — and some twists from the new tax law.

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Hog Farmers Worry They'll Be Further Squeezed By China's Pork Tariffs

Thursday, April 05, 2018

One farmer says he has seen hog prices drop to the point where it may cost some farmers more to raise a pig than they can sell it for — and he worries about lower sales.

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Puerto Rico's Hurricane Recovery Hinders Farm Businesses' Seed Research

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Many agriculture companies rely on the island's climate for the research and development of commercial corn, soybean and other seeds grown in the U.S. But the storm wiped out needed infrastructure.

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Trump's Nominee To Be USDA's Chief Scientist Is Not A Scientist

Monday, September 04, 2017

Sam Clovis has a doctorate in public administration, is skeptical that humans have a role in climate change and pushed theories suggesting former President Barack Obama was born in Kenya.

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How, And Why, Some Farmers Are Bringing Livestock Back To The Prairie

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

Some farmers are grazing different types of animals on the same land in a carefully controlled pattern, which ideally will enhance animal welfare and also help regenerate the landscape.

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Winds Of Change Could Come Slowly For Agriculture Nominee Perdue

Monday, April 24, 2017

If confirmed, agriculture secretary nominee Sonny Perdue confronts an industry in search of stability. In the Corn Belt, farmers wonder about the government programs they rely on.

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To Diversify The Farming Landscape, Diversify Who Works It

Thursday, March 02, 2017

The people working on farms and elsewhere in agriculture often don't reflect the nation's demographics. Changing that is becoming a priority, in hopes that new people will bring fresh ideas.

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How Fancy Cheese May Save Some Small-Scale Dairies

Friday, February 17, 2017

Because of unstable milk prices, small-dairy owners are also selling artisanal cheeses to help them stay afloat. The idea is catching on — in Iowa, the number of on-farm cheese-makers has doubled.

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Sons Are Still More Likely Than Daughters To Take Over The Family Farm

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Traditional gender roles on farms are changing, but slowly. While men are typically still in charge of operations, women are beginning to take on greater leadership.

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A Student-Run Farm Cultivates Passion For Sustainable Agriculture

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

The Student Organic Farm at Iowa State sends out CSA boxes to the local community — and of course, it gives students a chance to enjoy the (fresh, organic) fruits of their own labor.

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To Survive The Bust Cycle, Farmers Go Back To Business-School Basics

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Farming is entering its third year on the bust side of the cycle. Major crop prices are low, while expenses like seed, fertilizer and land remain high. That means getting creative to succeed.

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Taking Cues From Human Nutrition To Reduce Antibiotic Use In Livestock

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Researchers are trying to figure out whether probiotics — the stuff we like to eat in yogurt to keep our guts healthy — could also help pigs, cows and chickens thrive.

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