Harshawn Ratanpal
Environmental Impact Reporter, KBIAHarshawn Ratanpal is a Report for America corps member and reports on the environment for KBIA and the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. You can contact him at harshawnratanpal@gmail.com.
-
Missouri to lose 200 jobs after Congress kills SNAP-Ed nutrition program: 'This will be devastating'The program partners with schools and communities to teach people of all ages about proper nutrition, physical activity and how to effectively use money from food stamps. Missouri received more than $11 million for SNAP-Ed this year.
-
Red crown rot stems from a fungus that lives in the soil. Its first confirmed case in Missouri was last year, and in one field, it cut soybean yields by more than half.
-
Scientists in the Columbia, Missouri, lab have studied the relationship between animals, toxic chemicals and ecosystems since the 1960s. Today, research of PFAS, invasive and endangered species and other environmental risks could end if this part of the U.S. Department of Interior is defunded.
-
New Madrid, Missouri, was terrorized by its fault line in the early 19th century, and earthquakes are still the region's claim to fame. But these days, earthquake insurance is prohibitively expensive.
-
Every spring, thousands of turtles begin their yearly search for places to forage, mate and lay eggs. Sometimes they have to cross Missouri's roads to do it.
-
Despite efforts to develop markets and genetics, Missouri's industrial hemp industry is at its lowest point in years. “Most of the farmers who started with hemp — they lost money,” says a Missouri agricultural economist.
-
Many of these programs offered incentive payments to farmers who adopt an environmentally sustainable or “climate-smart” practice. Some partnerships will be renewed and folded into a new program.
-
Hundreds of employees were fired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week. The mood was grim the next morning in an atmospheric science class at the University of Missouri.
-
One letter cites a lack of “fitness or qualification” as the reason for termination – despite positive performance reviews. The letters also contained inaccuracies and inconsistencies about the employee and their job.
-
Missouri state Sen. Mike Henderson said the bill protects farmers’ privacy. Public information advocates and environmental groups worry about the loss of transparency.