News from rural America.

Staff cuts at the USDA could hinder the rollout of a regenerative agriculture program, rural voters led a record-turnout in the Texas primaries, and conservationists there worry a massive border wall will spoil the Rio Grande.

TRANSCRIPT

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, this is the news from rural America.

A federal farm program that restores soil health and biodiversity is losing momentum because of USDA staff cuts.

The Trump administration's Regenerative Agriculture Initiative set aside $700 million for strategies like cover crops and no-till farming.

Missouri farmer John Himme took up regenerative ag when he saw others having success with such techniques.

We got started in 2017 planting some cover crop, and I've spent a lot of time since then learning how to manage them and try to use them to be profitable.

But the USDA's Division managing the program has fired more than 2000 employees, many who work directly with farmers to help them identify possible projects and apply for grants.

Because techniques used in regenerative farming have high startup costs, Most producers depend on federal support and technical assistance.

Himme says it's frustrating for those who see regenerative ag working.

It used to be we were the really weird ones.

And I think over time it's going to be more standard.

In the recent Texas primaries, Julia Tilton reports it was rural voters who had a record-breaking turnout.

More than a quarter of registered rural voters showed up, which is extremely high for a primary.

A Daily Yonder analysis by Madeline DeFigurado found it was a bigger turnout than in suburbs, cities, and large towns.

Given how many registered voters there are in rural counties, the highest percentage of turnout was amongst rural communities.

Nearly 4.5 million voters cast ballots across Texas, more than either of the last two presidential primaries.

She says the biggest race was the competitive Democratic Senate contest, with more turnout than the Republican Senate primary now headed for runoff.

We know that this was the highest Democratic voter turnout in recent elections and that there were more Democratic voters that voted in this election cycle than in previous election cycles.

I'm Julia Tilton.

Many Texans worry a big border wall along the Rio Grande River will spoil an area known for hiking, biodiversity and clear skies for stargazing.

The administration says a barrier along Big Bend National Park and adjacent Ranch State Park could deter illegal crossings.

But Graham Jones with the Texas Conservation Alliance notes drones, trail cameras and personnel already secure the border.

He says a wall will disrupt wildlife migration, restrict access to the Rio Grande and impact private and public lands.

I think a lot of people don't have a clear idea of where and how long these sections of border wall are going to be.

The public documents that I've seen suggest hundreds of miles of infrastructure.

Jones says the Texas House of Representatives sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott asking him to oppose the project.

It's a federal issue but at the same time as Texans we have a vested interest in this as well.

For the Daily Yonder and Public News Service, I'm Roz Brown.

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