Another great, local idea: Harvest Public Media

Something good needs to be said about this new--to me, anyway--development that is Harvest Public Media.

What a cool idea.

More importantly, it serves such a great function, locally, regionally and nationally for farming and agriculture news and information.

It is a production/reporting group, as nearly as I can explain it and they report on global food security, according to the site, and all that goes along with farming and farm production throughout the country.

They are also, apparently, an outgrowth of our own local area NPR radio stations, too, which is really great.  Their site tells more about them, naturally:

OUR MISSION:   Global demand for food and fuel is rising, and the push and pull for resources has serious ramifications for our country’s economic recovery and prosperity. Today’s emerging agenda for agriculture is headlined by energy and climate change, food safety, biofuels, animal production and welfare, human health, water quality, and local food systems. By examining these local, regional and national issues and their implications, Harvest Public Media seeks to create a rich multimedia resource devoted to food, fuel and field.

HOW WE REPORT:  Most Harvest Public Media stories begin with radio — regular reports are aired on our six member stations in the Midwest. But Harvest also explores issues through online analyses, television reports, podcasts, photography, video, blogs and social networking.  

FUNDING:  Harvest Public Media is one of seven Local Journalism Centers nationwide created with the support of a two-year grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  The initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration among six Midwest public broadcasting stations. Additional editorial support comes from American Public Media, National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System.

PARTNER STATIONS: KCUR in Kansas City (lead station); Iowa Public Radio; NET which operates statewide public TV and radio networks; KBIA in Columbia, Mo.; High Plains Public Radio/KANZ in Garden City, Kan.; and Kansas Public Radio/KNAU in Lawrence.

I've heard some of their reporting on NPR, nationally, already, too and they are stories we just wouldn't otherwise get, but for their creation and existence.

Some of the stories they're reporting on right now, for instance, are:

--Making (not so much) hay
--Stripped down: How ecosystems could help farmland weather climate change
--Floods, droughts, pests, oh my!
--No need to worry about Chinese buying farmland in Iowa

I thought it important to maybe put this out here, so more people know they're there, what they do and what we can look for from them and use their information for.  I thought it important, too, to just say how great it is and how rather proud I am of the fact that it's a local product, born and raised right here in the heartland.

So kudos and many congratulations and thanks to Harvest Public Media and the people and stations making all this information available to us.  Terrific job!

Link:  http://www.harvestpublicmedia.org/