Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'farmers'

The Ninth Inning: A Strong Taste For Life

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:35:00 EST

Chester Aaron, a World War II veteran, garlic farmer and writer thinks on his life so far.

Wind Associations Cropping Up In Rural Wyoming

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:46:00 EST

Wyoming landowners are banding together to form "wind associations." These ad-hoc groups are providing leverage for farmers who are looking to use their land to profit from new wind farms. Wind energy could provide the ranchers with a more stable source of income.

Christmas Beer Yields Christmas Cheer

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:33:00 EST

For millennia, farmers around the globe have marked the winter solstice by brewing particularly potent beer. This holiday season, brew expert Don Russell (better known as "Joe Sixpack") recommends some of his favorite Christmas ales.

Rules May Make Hiring Foreign Farm Workers Easier

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

The Bush administration is posting new rules for bringing foreign farmworkers into the U.S. The goal is to make it easier for farmers to find a workforce that's here legally. Critics say the new rules will drive down wages and housing benefits, and put Americans out of work. The regulations would take effect over the next year, starting in January.

Struggling Illinois Farmer's Hard Choice Cuts Deep

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:08:00 EST

The costs of raising cattle have gone up in recent years — but the price of cattle has not kept pace. That has put farmer Dave Burt in a bad position in southern Illinois. He says farming expenses are now "so staggeringly high, it's frightening."

Turkey Dinner's Carbon Footprint

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Most likely your turkey traveled by truck to get to your grocer. That trip probably started in a state like Minnesota or North Carolina, which are leading turkey producers. The cranberries are most likely from Wisconsin or Massachusetts, two states that produce more than 80 percent of the nation's cranberries. But the National Resources Defense Council suggests that many ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner can be found at local farmers markets.

What Will Happen If Farmers Can't Get Credit...

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Brazil is the third largest producer of wheat, so what happens if farmers can't get credit? Brian Willott, a farmer in Brazil and former commodities analyst, talks about why frozen credit lines spell trouble for the global food crisis.

2012 Hopefuls Already Stumping In Iowa

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

No, Iowa, the campaigning is not over, it's only just begun. Iowan farmer and cattleman Bill Couser talks to Andrea Seabrook about the recent visits to the Hawkeye state by 2012 presidential hopefuls.

Argentine Farmers Try To Weather Economic Woes

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

Until just a few months ago, farmers in Argentina were thriving like never before. Now, they are facing the pressures of a worsening international economy, as well as drought. Demand for crops is plummeting as costs for fertilizers, herbicides and other necessities have gone up.

Farmers' Health Insurance: A Costly Row To Hoe

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:25:00 EST

Many U.S. farmers struggle to meet their health care costs. A recent survey by the nonprofit Access Project says farmers pay twice as much as nonfarmers for insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. As small business owners, they have few options and often buy insurance as individuals.

A Strange Shortage Illustrates The Global Economy

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:32:00 EST

A dearth of shipping containers connects a homeowner in Philadelphia, a grocery shopper in Japan and a farmer in North Dakota, and underscores the interdependence of producers, consumers and economies around the world.

Egyptians Battle The 'Black Cloud' Of Cairo

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST

Egypt's capital city is blanketed by an inky haze of pollution that on its worst days can bring noxious, throat-burning fumes. Most people blame the black cloud on farmers burning agricultural waste. While the government has made some progress in trying to reduce the smog level, it has a long way to go.

Egyptians Battle The 'Black Cloud' Of Cairo

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:01:00 EST

Asian Markets Spike On China Stimulus Package

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

China has launched an economic stimulus package worth nearly $600 billion, which includes more government investment in infrastructure, tax deductions for exporters, and bigger subsidies to the poor and farmers. Asian markets soared in response.

Chinese Rural Reforms Free Farmers From Land

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:52:00 EST

Some rural farmers in China are consolidating their individual small plots of land into farming cooperatives, as a result of new reforms. The reforms are jettisoning Communist Party ideology for the sake of economic necessity. But not everyone is happy.

Rice Shortage Silver Lining For Calif. Farmers

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Rice farmers in California are benefiting from a shortage of rice in the world market. Because the price of other grains were rising, many major rice exporting countries decided to keep their surplus at home this year. That's doubled the price of rice used in most Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. Julie Small reports for member station KPCC.

An Autumnal Feast

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:22:00 EDT

Fall brings the kind of days when you're glad to be inside, standing over a hot stove and listening to the rain on the roof. Celebrate with a hearty meal featuring a farmers-market bounty — and capped with a pear-studded rustic bread pudding.

U.S.-Bolivia Ties Strained As Coca Production Rises

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:04:00 EDT

The two countries have been sharply at odds over coca, which Bolivian President Evo Morales says is unfairly demonized by the United States. Some Bolivians say the spread of coca is troubling, but farmers say they just can't make it without planting the crop, now that the price is increasing.

Bolivian President's Career Tied To Coca Leaf

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:26:00 EDT

Embattled Bolivian President Evo Morales owes his rise to his support for poor coca farmers and a promise to share the country's resource wealth.

Failing Wheat Crop Causes Afghan Food Crisis

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:39:00 EDT

A lingering drought in Afghanistan has led to the smallest wheat harvest in the country in years. The diminished crop has thrown farmers and residents into a food crisis. Many point to the government for not coming to the farmers' aid fast enough.

Take Me To Your Leader: Ted Nugent Or Jesus...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

David Greene is traveling the country in search of local leaders. Along the journey, he meets a soybean farmer who has diversified into the frog legs business to ward off trouble. Greene also tells Madeleine Brand about a ferryboat captain hard-pressed to choose between Ted Nugent and Jesus Christ as a role model.

In Struggling Cuba, Signs Of New Opportunities

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:23:00 EDT

In Cuba, one of President Raul Castro's most dramatic recent announcements was that he would allow private farmers access to up to 100 acres of idle government land. The plan is a shift toward private enterprise on the socialist island.

Heirloom Tomato Farmer Finds Beauty In The Ugly

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:16:00 EDT

Tim Stark was a management consultant when he stumbled into heirloom tomato farming, as he describes in Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Farmer. (Tip: The ugliest tend to be tastiest.) Now his tomatoes are served in the finest New York restaurants.

High Food Prices A Two-Edged Sword For Farmers

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:35:00 EDT

For some farmers in Honduras, high food prices mean greater profits. But others can't afford the higher costs for fertilizer and pesticides, so they're cutting back on production.

Farming Is Latest Casualty In Drought-Stricken Iraq

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

A record drought, made worse by razing of fields and greenbelts to limit havens for insurgents, is plaguing farmers across Iraq. The drought has particularly hit hard in Diyala, a province where fighting still rages.