Rural Economy

Farmers continued to take on more debt through the first quarter of 2025, prolonging a trend from last year. That’s as farm incomes have shrunk over the last couple of years, and some worry President Trump’s tariffs could make economic conditions tougher.

Agronomists at the University of Missouri have created a new cultivar of black walnut that grows faster and produces a better nut than the native black walnut tree. Missouri provides three-fourths of the country's native black walnuts.

Some rural Missouri towns like Oak Grove don’t have control over their main streets because they happen to be state highways. When they attempt downtown revitalization projects like planting trees and improving walkability, the Missouri Department of Transportation can make things complicated.

The federal spending cuts proposed by the Republican-controlled Congress could lead to tens of thousands of jobs lost across Missouri and Kansas health care systems and food suppliers, a new study found.

As Missouri lawmakers enter the second half of the legislative session, they are considering bills to amend or repeal the voter-approved measure that ended the state’s near-total abortion ban. They also must pass a state budget. Plus: Layoffs and court-ordered rehiring have all but paralyzed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency.

As the number of fetal and infant deaths in Kansas City begins to rise again, a group of women is trying to make sure expecting mothers are well educated on risk factors.

Despite the postmaster general resigning, a plan to cut back services will move forward this year.

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.

Immigration enforcement rumors circulating on social media are terrifying people — and that's hurting businesses. In Missouri, Hispanic workers make up 5.3% of the labor force.

Employees at U.S. Department of Agriculture research facilities across the Midwest have lost their jobs as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to trim the federal workforce. Former and current employees at one of those labs say the job cuts will impact agricultural research and support for farmers.

Kansas Supreme Court Justice Keynen Wall led a taskforce of state leaders to investigate a shortage of legal services in Kansas counties. He was surprised at how severe the state's "justice gap" has become.

Poverty, job loss and high insurance costs have led to a lack of earthquake insurance in New Madrid, Missouri — a town with a big fault and bigger problems.