Worsening local effects on health and recreation in states like Minnesota and Wisconsin are spurring action on problems that also cause the Gulf of Mexico’s chronic 'dead zone.'
This summer’s 'dead zone,' a low-oxygen area where the river empties into the sea, could span 5,827 square miles across the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana has the power to call for change.
One year away from a federal deadline to reduce nutrient runoff into the Gulf of Mexico by 20%, increases in tile drainage, livestock and fertilizer use have made success unlikely.
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a major Clean Water Act provision protecting wetlands. Illinois lawmakers attempted to codify protections into state law during this year’s session. The bill will be brought up again during the fall veto session.
Michigan has reported the most cases of the bird flu in dairy herds in the country, but officials said that’s likely because of widespread testing in the state.
Precision agriculture has long promised to provide more granular data — and new technology to use it — for farmers facing pressure to increase yields while being more environmentally friendly. It's had some successes, but some of the loftiest promises of precision ag are still out of reach.
