Ben Felder

Oklahoma City

Reporter and Writer at Investigate Midwest

I cover agribusiness and the meat industry in Oklahoma for Investigate Midwest / @IMidwest 📧: [email protected], also OKC transit and BBQ

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Articles

Bill Seeks to Increase Farmland Access for Young Farmers and Ranchers

1 week ago | m.farms.com | Ben Felder

By Ben FelderA bipartisan-backed bill in Congress seeks to help young farmers and ranchers gain better access to farmland, responding to a growing challenge recently highlighted by Investigate Midwest. The New Producer Economic Security Act would increase access to low- and no-interest loans for new farmers, support state and Tribal governments in purchasing land to be made available to young producers, and fund access to legal services related to land acquisition.
Bill seeks to increase farmland access for young farmers and ranchers

1 week ago | investigatemidwest.org | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest

A bipartisan-backed bill in Congress seeks to help young farmers and ranchers gain better access to farmland, responding to a growing challenge recently highlighted by Investigate Midwest. The New Producer Economic Security Act would increase access to low- and no-interest loans for new farmers, support state and Tribal governments in purchasing land to be made available to young producers, and fund access to legal services related to land acquisition.
Why climate change is a big worry for farmers in this Colorado county

1 week ago | investigatemidwest.org | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest

Less than half of residents in farming-dependent counties say they are worried about climate change, well below the 63% national average. However, in Costilla County in south-central Colorado, more than 70% of residents said they are either somewhat or very worried about climate change, according to the 2024 Climate Opinion survey from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
Oklahoma BBQ Roadtrip

1 month ago | okbbq.substack.com | Ben Felder

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OKLAHOMA TRAILBLAZERS: Myron Mayberry

1 month ago | okgazette.com | Ben Felder

Oklahoma Gazette: After moving to OKC, what type of work did you do? Myron Mayberry: I always knew that I never wanted to sit in an office all day, and so finding different things to do was key for me. I did a lot of volunteerism. I worked at Oklahoma City Community College for about three and a half years. At the same time, I was on the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and did volunteer work with them.
These 13 large cities have added farms. Trump’s DEI cuts could jeopardize continued growth. - Investigate Midwest

1 month ago | investigatemidwest.org | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest

The number of farms in America has long been on a steady decline, shrinking by 9.9% from 2012 to 2022, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. The decline around large cities has been even more pronounced, with an 18.7% drop in the counties that are home to the nation’s 30 largest cities. However, some cities, including Baltimore, Portland, Chicago, and Detroit, have seen an increase in farming operations.
Kendra Horn

2 months ago | okgazette.com | Ben Felder

Kendra Horn served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represented Oklahoma’s Fifth District from 2019 to 2021. The Oklahoma native recently took on a new job as president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that helps support one of the state’s largest school systems. She recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette about her former work in Congress and her new job advocating for local schools.
RFK Jr. wants to wean America off corn syrup, but production is already on the decline

Jan 12, 2025 | arkansasadvocate.com | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest |Arkansas Advocate

by Ben Felder, Investigate Midwest, Arkansas Advocate January 12, 2025 Corn, the nation’s largest crop, is produced for a variety of uses, including food for humans and animals, alcohol for fuel and exports to foreign countries. Almost all of those uses have increased over the last several years. However, corn produced for high-fructose corn syrup has decreased by 21% over the past decade, dropping from 521 million bushels in 2010 to 410 million bushels last year.
RFK Jr. wants to wean America off corn syrup, but production is already on the decline

Jan 12, 2025 | newsfromthestates.com | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest

Corn, the nation’s largest crop, is produced for a variety of uses, including food for humans and animals, alcohol for fuel and exports to foreign countries. Almost all of those uses have increased over the last several years. However, corn produced for high-fructose corn syrup has decreased by 21% over the past decade, dropping from 521 million bushels in 2010 to 410 million bushels last year. High-fructose corn syrup is used in a variety of processed foods, including ketchup, soda and candy.
RFK Jr. Has Targeted GMO Corn Syrup. That Puts Him at Odds With America’s Corn Belt

Jan 8, 2025 | childrenshealthdefense.org | Ben Felder |Investigate Midwest

By Ben FelderCorn, the nation’s largest crop, is produced for a variety of uses, including food for humans and animals, alcohol for fuel and exports to foreign countries. Almost all of those uses have increased over the last several years. However, corn produced for high-fructose corn syrup has decreased by 21% over the past decade, dropping from 521 million bushels in 2010 to 410 million bushels last year.