farmers

Politico reports that an unexpected figure has become influential in the growing battle over solar projects on agricultural land. Conflicts between renewable energy developers and farmers over land use continue to intensify across the United States, and new players are shaping how these disputes play out at the state and local levels.

Soaring diesel prices are hitting communities loyal to Donald Trump particularly hard, creating tension within his political base. Rising fuel costs raise operating expenses for truckers, farmers and small businesses that form a core part of the MAGA coalition, prompting frustration and debate over who bears responsibility and whether the movement's economic promises are being met.

Researchers are developing soybean varieties with deeper root systems, aiming to help crops endure droughts and extreme weather while locking away more carbon in the soil. The work reflects broader efforts to make staple crops more resilient as climate change disrupts growing seasons and threatens yields for farmers worldwide.

Scientists at a Colorado cold laboratory are working to better understand hail as the damage it causes continues to grow. Hail already causes billions of dollars in losses each year in the United States, and researchers warn that a warming climate could make severe hailstorms more frequent or more destructive. The reporting by Hannah Covington in High Country News highlights how little is still known about how hailstones form and grow inside storms, and why improved forecasting matters for insurers, farmers and homeowners across hail-prone regions.

Attention is turning to whether the European Union is reconsidering its biofuels policy, a question trade publication Ethanol Producer Magazine poses in its latest headline. Brussels has shifted position on crop-based fuels several times over the past two decades, first encouraging them and then capping food-based ethanol and biodiesel over sustainability concerns. Any new rethink would matter for fuel producers, farmers and climate targets across Europe.

The Iowa Farmers Union has endorsed Democratic candidates across the board in federal elections, according to the Telegraph Herald. The endorsement means the group is backing Democrats in every federal contest on the Iowa ballot, including House and Senate races. It is a notable signal from a farm-group organization in a state where rural and agricultural voters often swing between parties, and it could shape campaign messaging on farm policy, biofuels and rural economics.

Wisconsin farmers are calling on Congress to pass a new farm bill, saying they need certainty on crop insurance, support programs and long-term planning. With the previous legislation repeatedly extended, growers in the state say uncertainty over federal policy is making it harder to budget and invest. The issue is drawing attention in Washington as lawmakers face pressure to finalize the bill.

In 2023, New York farmer Tony Emmi began converting 30 acres of productive farmland into a solar field, part of a growing debate over whether solar development should occupy good agricultural land. Three years in, the project highlights the tension between clean energy goals and preserving farmland in rural New York.

Scientists at CIMMYT argue that successful zinc biofortification of wheat depends on more than breeding fortified seed. In a new piece, they say outcomes hinge on matching the right varieties to local soil conditions and pairing them with proper crop management, including fertilizer practices. The message is aimed at researchers, policymakers and farmers working to reduce zinc deficiency through staple crops.

Alberta, which has proudly kept itself rat-free for decades through one of the world's most aggressive pest-control programs, is reporting that rats have now been found in the province. The discovery marks the end of a status Alberta has promoted since the 1950s, and people are discussing what the finding means for the province's farms, food storage and pest-control efforts.