Harvest Public Media Group

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OUR MISSION:   Global demand for food is rising, and the push and pull for resources has serious ramifications for our country’s economic recovery and prosperity. Today’s emerging agenda for agriculture is headlined by energy and climate change, food safety, biofuels, animal production and welfare, human health, water quality, and local food systems. By examining these local, regional and national issues and their implications, Harvest Public Media has created a rich multimedia resource devoted to food, agriculture and rural issues.

HOW WE REPORT:   Most Harvest Public Media stories begin with radio — regular reports are aired on our six member stations in the Midwest. But Harvest also explores issues through online analyses, television reports, podcasts, photography, video, blogs and social networking.  

FUNDING:   Harvest Public Media is a collaboration of public media stations across the Midwest and is funded by those stations. Initial funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

PARTNER STATIONS: KCUR inKansas City (lead station); Iowa Public Radio; Nebraska Public Media; WILL in Illinois; St. Louis PUblic Radio; KOSU in Oklahoma City

Series

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2 Pieces

For the Midwest farmer, every year is unique. Early spring. Long, cold winter. Sizzling heat wave. Mother Nature throws up constant curve balls. So, honestly, what’s the big deal about climate change? Well, that’s what we’re exploring here at Harvest Public Media in our ongoing series “Climate Pains: America’s Breadbasket braces for change in the weather.”

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5 Pieces

In a five-part special report, Harvest Public Media asks: Just who will be the U.S. farmer of the future?

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6 Pieces

Americans seem to be spending a lot of time talking about how and what they eat. Credit the local food movement for much of this discussion. From home gardens to farmers markets to a concern about food miles, Americans are connecting to food in new ways. Some “lovacores” even advocate for food systems to be rebuilt on the premise of a local food advantage.

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5 Pieces

In this five-part series, Harvest Public Media explores the American ethanol industry and its impact on consumers and rural communities. The first three parts of this series aired on NPR’s Morning Edition, and the entire series is free for download and broadcast. You can find an online package HERE; please link back to this on your station’s site should you air any part of this series. Doing so will help support Harvest’s mission to produce high quality agriculture and biofuel journalism for public media.


Pieces

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What does it take to be a world champion auctioneer? In a livestock arena, it helps to be knowledgeable, fast and friendly. At least that's what Ha...

Bought by KPIK-LP, New Hampshire Public Radio, Louisville Public Media, and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 10, 2011
  • Length: 03:43
  • Purchases: 4
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Bob Dole, Abraham Lincoln, John Deere and … Willie Nelson have something new in common. Nelson, the famed country singer, is being inducted into th...

  • Added: Aug 04, 2011
  • Length: 05:40
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Wal-Mart, Walgreens and other large retailers joined first lady Michelle Obama this week in a pledge to open or expand a combined 1,500 stores in c...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 02, 2011
  • Length: 05:37
  • Purchases: 1
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Climate change is already affecting agriculture in the Midwest. And some aspects have actually helped farmers, like a longer growing season and mor...

Bought by WTIP and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 01, 2011
  • Length: 03:39
  • Purchases: 2
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Global warming? More like global weirding. Historic floods and drought conditions are happening at the same time, setting this up to be a rough ye...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 01, 2011
  • Length: 03:27
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: A soil penetrometer, used to test the amount of moisture in the ground, stands in a southwest Kansas field., Credit: Eric Durban/Harvest Public Media
It's not a dust bowl, but scorching temperatures and next-to-no rain are causing plenty of problems in western Kansas. Almost two-thirds of Kansas ...

  • Added: Aug 01, 2011
  • Length: 03:53
Caption: Ryan Jepsen and his wife started Grass Run Farms in 2006 to sell grass fed beef and hogs. With more demand than they could meet, they began buying from other farmers, and found themselves stepping into the role of local foods middlemen., Credit: Kathleen Masterson/Harvest Public Radio
Local food is becoming more popular, but it remains what some might call a "boutique industry." It's frequently sold in small quantities to an indi...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, and WNIJ


  • Added: Jul 20, 2011
  • Length: 05:21
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Local produce on display at Clover's Natural Market in Columbia, Mo., one of two independently owned health food stores in Columbia that offer local food., Credit: Jessica Naudziunas/Harvest Public Media
I’m walking down 9th Street in downtown Columbia, Missouri. This is a thoroughfare for local eateries, shopping and business. It’s not uncommon to ...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, WNIJ, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 05:39
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: "I will pay the higher price to get the local product,” says Kevin Shinn (left), who owns Bread & Cup, a restaurant in downtown Lincoln, Neb. He works with vendors at the farmers market to source local food., Credit: Clay Masters / Harvest Public Media
Would you pay more for local food? Or would you expect to pay less? In today's installment of our five part series on local food, Harvest Public Me...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, WNIJ, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 03:52
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Mike Callicrate owns a feed yard in St. Francis, Kan. where the mobile meat processing unit currently resides. Owned by the Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition, the slaughter unit has been tested on Callicrate’s northwest Kansas property since last fa, Credit: Eric Durban / Harvest Public Media
Local food takes on a whole different meaning in the vast open spaces of rural Kansas. Harvest Public Media’s Eric Durban reports that supporting f...

Bought by KEOS, WTIP, KIDE Hoopa Tribal Radio 91.3fm, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jul 12, 2011
  • Length: 04:45
  • Purchases: 4