Two Minute Tips

Agriculture

Is there growth in gardening?

As the pandemic forced people to spend more time at home, one activity many have turned to is gardening. A Reuters article published in 2020 found that there are a

Business journalists who want to cover climate change for a local audience can focus on the impact on agriculture. ("Calf" image by "zdenet" via Pixabay, CCO Creative Commons)

How to localize climate change through agriculture

Discussions about climate change usually center around global temperatures and the general state of the environment. The relevance to a local audience isn’t always apparent. A person in Arizona, for

Farming plays a major role in many U.S. regions. These recent reports highlight some of the big topics reporters should keep in mind. (Image by "tpsdave" via Pixabay, CCO Public Domain)

Agriculture update: Six great reads

Farming is a vital part of the American landscape. According to the USDA, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed $992 billion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, a 5.5-percent share.

From farm-to-table to environmental issues, there are plenty of oyster tales to be told. ("Oysters" image by Jeremy Keith via flickr CC BY 2.0)

Oyster season basics for business reporters  

Oyster season, which traditionally runs from fall through early spring, is a great time to harvest business stories on these tasty bivalves. Particularly as the oyster industry, global in scale,

No need to go out on a limb to find a business story in Christmas trees . ("Christmas Tree Sale" by Patrick Lentz via flickr CC BY 2.0)

Oh, Christmas trees! Ideas for business stories

With the holiday season around the corner, the economic impact of Christmas trees is a timely business story. The industry has evolved profoundly over the last 100 years. Originally cut

The humble cranberry delivers a good story. (Image by "WikiImages" via pixabay)

The business of cranberries: 4 story ideas

As Thanksgiving approaches, business reporters ought to start thinking about the cranberry industry and features around this small but powerful fruit. This blog outlines the important themes and news. The core

A farm

Take national farming trends to the local level

The recently announced Bayer and Monsanto acquisition has grabbed headlines and raised fears. Farmers worry that the large market share in seeds and pesticides captured by the merger will increase

5 story ideas for covering the cotton industry

Looking for new beats as a business reporter? Consider writing on the cotton industry, an often overlooked crop story with tension, volatility and drama. This blog explores some of the

The apple industry: Four fresh ideas for reporters

With the fall season almost underway, what better time to consider the apple industry as subject matter for your agribusiness coverage. This blog outlines some of the main themes  and

Finding the business stories in food waste

America faces a food waste crisis: The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 30 to 40 percent of the country’s food supply goes unused. Journalists can explore the trend by looking at

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