Rural Economy
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WI diversified, specialty farmers could be slighted in federal aid
Policy experts predict small, specialty farms will be on the losing end of the latest federal agricultural bailout meant to offset farmers’ losses from rising production costs and the market disruptions from new tariff policies.
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Rural resilience runs deep but crisis looms for WI schools
Wisconsin educators are shedding light on the unique dilemma rural school districts face as they work to meet a large portion of the state’s student needs despite significant funding and resource uncertainty.
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Facing Medicaid cuts, Wisconsin families stockpile medical supplies
In July, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, bringing cuts of around $1 trillion to federal Medicaid spending from 2025 through 2034. The cuts are predicted to result in a loss of the health insurance coverage affecting around 80 million lower-income Americans, including children and people with disabilities.
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The clock is ticking on a popular land stewardship effort in Wisconsin
Some Republicans expressed interest in saving the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program, but other GOP lawmakers want the conservation effort defunded. A Democratic legislator is making a public plea to a Republican colleague to schedule a committee hearing on a bipartisan effort to save a popular land conservation program from its pending demise. The Knowles Nelson…
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China has resumed U.S. soybean imports. It might not be enough for Wisconsin farmers
After a tense months-long standoff over tariffs, China has agreed to resume U.S. soybean imports in exchange for the U.S. easing up its tariff policy. As part of the Oct. 30 agreement, China committed to buying 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in the last two months of 2025 and at least 25 million…
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Federal cuts threaten rural progress in Wisconsin, report finds
While rural communities in Wisconsin have made strides in recent years, their progress is in jeopardy due to federal cuts and funding freezes.
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WI Farmers Union calls for policy investments in rural Wisconsin
As rural communities in Wisconsin grapple with the increasing uncertainty of federal policies and the government shutdown, local farmers are asking Congress and the administration to prioritize federal policies to support rural America.
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Wisconsin Dems’ hail Mary to save rural hospitals from Trump
An inside look at what Wisconsin state lawmakers did just before Trump signed his ‘big beautiful bill’ to try to prevent rural hospitals from closing. Will it work?
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Rural health care faces ‘death spiral’ from GOP Medicaid cuts
A doctor from Tomah talks to Pete Buttigieg’s online audiences about cuts in services and longer travel times for life-or-death care.
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Superior launches city-owned high-speed internet network thanks to Biden’s American Rescue Plan
Wisconsin’s first publicly-owned, open-access broadband network means competitive pricing and no monopoly ownership of the cables that keep Superior connected. The city of Superior has found success building out its broadband network, and now the second phase is underway to connect another part of the city to the state’s first publicly-owned, open-access system for…
