Rachel Cramer
Reporter, Iowa Public RadioI cover agriculture, rural communities and environmental issues for Harvest Public Media, and I cover news from north-central Iowa as the Ames-based reporter for Iowa Public Radio.
Before returning to my home state, I was a reporter for Yellowstone Public Radio in Bozeman, Montana. Some of my favorite stories involved riding in pick-up trucks with farmers, hiking behind ecologists and chatting with Main Street business owners.
I learned how to cut tape and write for radio as a newscaster/reporter for Montana Public Radio and produced stories across the U.S. as a Crossing the Divide fellow with the GroundTruth Project in 2017.
I grew up on a small farm outside Guthrie Center, Iowa, and hold degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Montana.
You can reach me at rcramer@iowapublicradio.org.
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Summit Carbon Solutions’ plan to build a pipeline across five states included the right to use eminent domain in some states. A South Dakota law says that’s no longer allowed, and an Iowa bill seeks to do the same. -
More states in the Midwest and Great Plains are trying to support rural, independent grocery stores through tailored grant programs. Advocates say these businesses are vital for rural communities to thrive. -
A federal freeze on certain USDA programs has held up billions of dollars for conservation and caused layoffs at a nonprofit in Iowa that supports soil and water quality. -
Biofuel advocates say the industry is at an inflection point. They’re calling on the new administration to increase ethanol and biodiesel volumes in the country's fuel supply, expand E15 gasoline and clarify tax credits. -
Under a 40-year-old law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture can withhold subsidies, like crop insurance and disaster payments, from farmers who clear, drain or convert wetlands. A company that owns farmland in Iowa says it’s unconstitutional. -
Incoming president Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from countries such as China, Mexico and Canada. Many economists and commodity groups say these import taxes could boomerang and harm U.S. agriculture. -
Often described as the Nobel of food and agriculture, the $500,000 prize this year shines a light on the role of seed banks and their stewards, including some in the Midwest. -
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the core of a major flyway for migrating birds and one of the most visited refuges in the U.S. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts saved it from being drained 100 years ago, but the next century brings new challenges. -
Decades of data show nitrate levels in rivers often drop during dry years and spike when rain returns. Experts say more conservation practices in and around farm fields could help smooth out the sharp peaks to protect drinking water and downstream impacts. -
While corn and soybeans dominate the Midwestern landscape today, some farmers are integrating strips of native prairie back into their fields. This conservation practice has expanded to more than a dozen states.
