COVID

With colder weather ahead, or in some cases already here, we’ll be spending more time indoors.  Health officials remind us that increases the opportunity for sharing respiratory diseases that regularly pop up during the indoor seasons.   “The b...

Protect the Harvest will cease operating on October 31st citing funding challenges that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The organization was created in 2011 as a non-profit educational and advocacy effort to promote and defend American farmers and ranchers, improve food security, protect property rights, ensure animal welfare, and support outdoor sports.   “...

Several Northwest lawmakers signed a letter Thursday calling for the reauthorization of a highly effective Farm Bill to be a top priority of the 118th Congress.  The letter, sent to Republican Leadership, calls for a commitment supporting rural America, and investing in critical programs for agriculture.   ...

For the 13th consecutive month, the Rural Mainstreet Index sank below growth neutral.  That’s according to a September survey of rural bank CEO’s.  The reading sank from 40.9 in August to 37.5 in September.  That is the lowest level for the Rural Mainstreet Index since the COVID Pandemic began in spring 2020.  The index ranges from 0 to 100, wi...

The National Dairy Council was founded by America’s farm families and funded by the National Dairy Checkoff.  Katie Bambact, vice president of nutrition affairs for the National Dairy Council, says the NDC has championed child nutrition for over 100 years.  The Coun...

With the holidays here, medial professionals say now is a good time to get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster to protect your family.  Rural families will gather over the holiday season, just as the U.S. faces a potential increase of COVID-19 cases, according to Dr. Mic...

"Oil prices this morning have plummeted down to about $75 a barrel the lowest level since Russia's invasion of Ukraine back in February that has pushed gasoline and diesel prices down," said Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy.  He added fuel prices have tumbled considerably over the past couple of weeks, resulting in relief at the local station.  He said ther...

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to linger even as society and rural communities are ready to move on.  Dr. Michael Stevens, West Virginia University System Health Care Epidemiologist, Morgantown, West Virginia, said rural communities have seen disproportionate levels of COVID   “Rural communities have been disproportionately affected and impacted by the pandemic in terms of having more severe COVI

During 2020 and 2021, the FSA provided $31 billion in aid to more than 950,000 producers of agricultural commodities, including crops, dairy, and livestock.  The goal was to help offset losses and costs associated with the COVID pandemic.  Th...