Rachel Cramer
Harvest Public Media ReporterExpertise: Telling stories about agriculture, environmental issues and rural communities
Education: Masters degree from the University of Montana, Bachelors degree from Iowa State University
Favorite Iowa Destination: Yellow River State Forest
Experience:
- Has written features on native prairie agriculture, management of bird flu and other disease outbreaks in animal populations, the agricultural industry and sustainability efforts in small towns in Iowa
- Served as a fellow with the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka, contributing to a photo story feature with The Guardian, about using latrine waste for compost in Bangladesh
- Launched Cobs & Spikes, a podcast focused on explainers, stories and conversations with experts innovating in the fields of agriculture, food security and nutrition
- Has reported and written features on the challenges and opportunities facing states with aging populations and state values and beliefs as it relates to voting
- Has produced features for Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now and Native News
- Served as a fellow with Crossing the Divide, a cross-country reporting road trip from WGBH and The GroundTruth Project
- Is an award-winning reporter, including a Best Spot News Coverage award from the AP in 2019 for "Threatening Video Tests Emergency Response Plan at Belgrade Schools"
My Latest Stories
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Congress extends critical Farm Bill for a third time. It's a relief for farmers, but raises concernsThe federal funding package to reopen the government included a one-year extension of certain 2018 Farm Bill programs. Several expired Sept. 30 or would have been null by the end of the year. -
The Iowa Board of Regents selected David Cook as the next president of Iowa State University. Cook is an ISU alumnus and currently serves as the president of North Dakota State University. He plans to start in March, taking over from retiring President Wendy Wintersteen. -
Nearly 200 science faculty from 26 colleges and universities across Iowa endorsed the 15th annual Iowa Climate Statement, which warns of higher homeowner insurance costs due to a warming atmosphere. -
The central Iowa community of Perry officially opened a $30 million treatment plant that helps meet the state’s goals to reduce pollution from wastewater. City officials said it also increases their capacity to attract new companies and accommodate residential growth. -
A fertilizer spill killed hundreds of thousands of fish in southwest Iowa last year. Now, a group of locals are building a network of citizen scientists and advocates for clean water. -
Roughly 25% to 50% of the total commercial nitrogen applied to fields across the state occurs in the fall. Waiting for cooler soil temperatures helps prevent nitrates from flushing into streams and rivers. -
The Polk County Board of Supervisors voted to support a network of water quality sensors in rivers and streams across Iowa. They hope other counties will follow suit to prevent a funding cliff next year. -
Beaches at two dozen state parks and recreation areas had at least one "swimming not recommended" advisory this summer because of high E. coli levels. Years-long efforts at the Iowa DNR aim to pinpoint potential sources, better understand the health risks for beachgoers and find solutions. -
JBS USA officially broke ground on a new sausage production facility at the Perry Industrial Park. It comes more than a year after the largest employer closed a pork processing plant in the central Iowa community. -
Virtual fencing uses GPS collars, sounds and electrical cues to move cattle across a landscape. Along with saving ranchers time, researchers say this new technology can help protect, and create, wildlife habitat.
