Land, Water and Rural Services
Land, Water and Rural Services from Farmer Gripe: 16 articles for readers in Oklahoma and beyond.
From “Trump Country” to Political Drift: The Growing Rural Disconnect
A fair look at claims of a growing rural disconnect, what supporters and critics say, and how farm families can follow…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesA “Five-Alarm Fire” in Rural America: The Farm Crisis Nobody in Washington Wants to Name
Is rural America facing a farm crisis? A fair look at the evidence cited by supporters, the case made by skeptics, and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesFarm Debt Is Growing Faster Than Assets—Here’s What That Means for the Heartland
What it means when farm debt grows faster than assets, how to read your own debt-to-asset ratio, and what lenders and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Land Value Trap: Why Asset-Rich Farmers Are Still Cash-Poor
Rising land values look like wealth on paper but do not pay the bills. Learn why many farmers are asset-rich and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Broken Promises of Rural Broadband and What It Costs Agribusiness
Slow or missing rural internet costs farms time and money. See how connectivity affects precision ag, marketing and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Death Tax Is “Permanent” Now—But the Relief Is Not Universal
Estate tax rules affect farm families differently. Learn how it works in general terms, who may still face it, and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesWater Rights, Drought, and the New Geography of Agricultural Despair
Drought and water rules reshape where farming works. Learn how water rights work in general, where to find drought…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Rural Healthcare Crisis Is a Farm Crisis
Hospital closures, long drives and thin insurance coverage hit farm families hard. Why rural health access is an…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesHow Property Tax Assessments Are Forcing Families Off the Land
Rising land values can push farm property tax bills up. Learn how assessments work, how to check yours and what to ask…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Farm Bureau’s Frustration: Even the Usual Optimists Are Worried
When groups known for optimism voice worry, what are they saying? Learn to read farm advocacy statements critically…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Conservation Conundrum: When Environmental Rules Conflict with Survival
How conservation programs and environmental rules affect farm budgets, and how Oklahoma producers can weigh costs…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Weather Doesn’t Care About Your Loan Payment
Drought, hail and freezes do not wait for due dates. How to plan weather risk into your loan payments, insurance and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Shrinking Pool of Rural Veterinarians and What It Means for Herd Health
Fewer large-animal vets are available in many rural areas. How to protect herd health, build vet relationships and…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesWhen the Co-op Can’t Pay: The Domino Effect of Rural Business Failure
What happens to growers, lenders and small towns when a co-op or rural business fails, and how producers can reduce…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe Land Grant University Gap: When Research Doesn’t Reach the Field
Why university research sometimes never reaches the field, what extension is meant to do, and how producers can pull…
Land, Water and Rural ServicesThe 2026 Farmer’s Manifesto: What We Actually Need (and It’s Not Another Press Release)
An opinion list of what many farmers say they need in 2026: fair margins, usable credit, simpler rules, rural services…