MAX WEBSTER: So we don't have that that long term dedicated funding like other states do. He says while Illinois joined other states like Iowa was dedicated funding the money is only for one year. At the end of Illinois's legislative session, money was set aside to address the state's nutrient loss reduction strategy - a plan to reduce fertilizer runoff into the Mississippi river. Max Webster is the Midwest policy manager with the American Farmland Trust. RENEE REED: Addressing farm runoff into waterways is becoming a priority in more midwestern states. JONATHAN AHL: Duvall says it's important that rural communities hear encouragement from people they trust, namely local farm organizations, religious leaders, and businesses with a presence in rural areas. ZIPPY DUVALL: We all understand that as farmers and ranchers that herd immunity really works but we have to get to that 70% or higher level before we can feel like it will get to that point. President Zippy Duvall says farmers and ranchers already know the benefit of vaccinations. The effort includes the American Farm Bureau. JONATHAN AHL: With vaccination rates in rural counties still lagging behind urban centers, there's more focus on changing a message to convince vaccine hesitant people to get a shot. Harvest Public Media's Jonathan Ahl reports. A consortium of agriculture business and healthcare groups are teaming up to try and increase covid-19 vaccination rates among rural residents. The debt relief is part of a $5 billion dollar effort to support farmers of color. RENEE REED: Ducheneaux says they are going to defend the debt relief program in court and are committed to getting the payments out as planned despite complaints that it would hurt smaller banks. ZACH DUCHENEAUX: They have had an administrator of the FSA that has been in their shoes, nor have they had an administrator that has spent the last 20 years of their life advocating for producers just like them, getting producers in the door. Zach Ducheneaux is the FSA administrator, he says under the new administration they're trying to change for the better. A conservative law firm filed the suit claiming the program violated the constitutional rights of white farmers. The agency discriminated against black farmers for decades by denying them payments needed to build and maintain a farm. USDA's Farm Service Agency had planned to pay about 16,000 farmers in two phases. Department of Agriculture had planned to start sending out the payment this month. Hello Renee! RENEE REED: Hello Kayte! A federal judge has stopped debt payoffs black and other minority farmers. We'll start with some food and farming updates with Renee Reed. I'm Kayte Young and thanks for tuning in to Earth Eats. Stay tuned for the conversation after the news. Don't worry if you missed it, you can catch the next one in 17 years. KAYTE YOUNG: This week on the show we celebrate the Brood X cicada and speak with an organizer and chef for a pop-up event called Cicada Mania. JEREMEY CHASTEEN: I think that there's so much that this world has to offer when it comes to flavor and food and I think we miss out on a lot of it.
KAYTE YOUNG: From WFIU in Bloomington Indiana, this is Earth Eats, and I'm your host Kayte Young.
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