NPR Series: The Far Reach Of The West's Drought https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=281971911 The profound drought in the western U.S. has farms, cities and wildlife struggling. From dairy and cattle farmers to migrating birds, NPR explores how the state is coping in crisis. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 04:49:57 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: The Far Reach Of The West's Drought https://www.npr.org/series/281971911/droughts-far-reach-in-california Even In A Desert, Drought Spells Trouble For Ranchers Northern Nevada is feeling the wide-ranging effects of the drought. With grazing land diminishing and feed prices soaring, the cattle industry is reeling. Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/02/284828184/even-in-a-desert-drought-spells-trouble-for-ranchers https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/02/284828184/even-in-a-desert-drought-spells-trouble-for-ranchers

Northern Nevada is feeling the wide-ranging effects of the drought. With grazing land diminishing and feed prices soaring, the cattle industry is reeling.

(Image credit: Frederic J. Brown)

]]> Kirk Siegler Drought Could Dry Up Nevada Dairy Farmers' Expansion Plans Severe drought has left northern Nevada's farmers scrambling to find enough feed for the cows they already have. It comes as farmers are under pressure to expand to provide powdered milk to China. Fri, 28 Feb 2014 03:21:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/02/28/283534984/drought-could-dry-up-nevada-dairy-farmers-expansion-plans https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/02/28/283534984/drought-could-dry-up-nevada-dairy-farmers-expansion-plans

Severe drought has left northern Nevada's farmers scrambling to find enough feed for the cows they already have. It comes as farmers are under pressure to expand to provide powdered milk to China.

]]> Kirk Siegler The Search For Drinking Water In California Has Led To The Ocean As the state slogs through a major drought, officials look for new water sources — like desalination plants that make water from the Pacific drinkable. Opponents worry about environmental damage. Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:45:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2014/02/26/281984555/the-search-for-drinking-water-in-california-has-led-to-the-ocean https://www.npr.org/2014/02/26/281984555/the-search-for-drinking-water-in-california-has-led-to-the-ocean As the state slogs through a major drought, officials look for new water sources — like desalination plants that make water from the Pacific drinkable. Opponents worry about environmental damage.

]]> Nathan Rott Amid California Drought, Migrating Birds Enjoy Pop-Up Cuisine During the state's profound drought, farmers are keep their fields flooded to make temporary wetlands for migrating birds. They serve as pop-up pit stops to help birds put on fat for their journeys. Sat, 22 Feb 2014 05:50:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2014/02/22/280766931/amid-california-drought-migrating-birds-enjoy-pop-up-cuisine https://www.npr.org/2014/02/22/280766931/amid-california-drought-migrating-birds-enjoy-pop-up-cuisine

During the state's profound drought, farmers are keep their fields flooded to make temporary wetlands for migrating birds. They serve as pop-up pit stops to help birds put on fat for their journeys.

(Image credit: Lauren Sommer)

]]> Lauren Sommer Drought Politics Grip California's Central Valley California's drought is reigniting a political debate about how to manage the state's limited water resources and who should take priority. Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/277011247/drought-politics-grip-californias-central-valley https://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/277011247/drought-politics-grip-californias-central-valley California's drought is reigniting a political debate about how to manage the state's limited water resources and who should take priority.

]]> Nathan Rott Obama To See California Drought Conditions Firsthand Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is less than 30 percent of what it should be, and that means farmers and ranchers will have to get by with much less water than they'd like come spring. Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/276782516/obama-to-see-california-drought-conditions-firsthand https://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/276782516/obama-to-see-california-drought-conditions-firsthand Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is less than 30 percent of what it should be, and that means farmers and ranchers will have to get by with much less water than they'd like come spring.

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