As farmers near retirement, some are using conservation easements to keep their land from becoming subdivisions. Easements protect farmland forever, but the high price tag means not everyone can afford them. 🎧story by @kbianews.bsky.social’s Jana Rose Schleis

Conservation easements too costly for many aging farmers

A federal program promises to pay for farmland preservation. Few landowners are taking advantage.

agwaterdesk.org

That’s a wrap on #NYClimateWeek! Members of the Desk team spent the week connecting with partners, exploring ideas and learning from leaders tackling our biggest environmental challenges. We're back home inspired to keep building collaborations for wider understanding and action.

@tennesseelookout.com's @cstephenson.bsky.social shares the history of black bears in the Mississippi River Basin — and what's behind their remarkable comeback https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/08/27/after-decades-of-overhunting-black-bears-are-slowly-recolonizing-the-lower-mississippi-river-basin/

Nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River and underwater heat waves are damaging a massive coral reef ecosystem off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Story by @lailluminator.com reporter Elise Plunk https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/15/nitrogen_reef_study/ 

Far offshore, scientists find fresh evidence of human harm to reefs • Louisiana Illuminator

An isolated reef off the coast of Louisiana and Texas holds within its corals a record of Earth’s history, and scientists are reading it to understand how nutrients from the Mississippi River are affecting the reef’s health amid rising threats to corals around the globe. 

lailluminator.com

Amazon says its data center in Ridgeland, Mississippi, will use 93 million gallons of water per year upon completion. But a private agreement shows it could use up to 14 times more. Story by @mississippifreepress.org reporter @illanireland11.bsky.social www.mississippifreepress.org/inside-the-p...

Inside the Private Deal Between Amazon and Ridgeland’s Water System

Amazon has promised Ridgeland, Mississippi, that its data center won’t strain local water supplies. Their agreement shows few guarantees.

mississippifreepress.org

As data centers expand in the Mississippi River Basin, advocates say the facilities have one problem that’s easy to solve: light pollution. Story by Desk reporter Héctor Alejandro Arzate https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2026/09/as-data-centers-expand-advocates-call-for-regulations-on-lights/ 

As data centers expand, advocates call for regulations on lights 

The Midwest has more than 600 data centers, with hundreds in development. Light pollution rules would protect wildlife.

minnpost.com

@tennesseelookout.com reporter Cassandra Stephenson recently joined @scifri.bsky.social to discuss her latest reporting for the Desk: black bears’ rebound and their interactions with humans in the Mississippi River Basin. Listen now 🎧https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/black-bears/

Black bears are moving into the neighborhood. How do we coexist?

As black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?

sciencefriday.com

We’re seeking more newsrooms to join our award-winning collaborative. Apply to host one of six new reporting positions through @Report4America. Applications open today through Oct. 19. https://agwaterdesk.org/2026/09/14/newsrooms-invited-to-apply-to-join-ag-water-desk-through-report-for-america/ 

This Saturday, the Desk is heading to the Conservation Expo at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia, MO! Stop by to chat about Missouri watersheds, learn more about our work and connect with others who are passionate about conservation and the outdoors. https://cooperslandingmo.com/event2022/expo2026/ 

Diagnoses of alpha-gal syndrome are rising throughout the Mississippi River basin. Story by Arkansas Times’s Elizabeth Cline (@elizabethlcline.bsky.social) https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2026/09/02/tick-tick-boom-alpha-gal-syndrome-the-severe-tick-borne-allergy-is-spreading-rapidly 

TICK, TICK, BOOM! Alpha-gal syndrome is spreading rapidly. Arkansas may hold clues to why. - Arkansas Times

As an epicenter of a mysterious tick-borne illness, The Natural State offers a window into what’s driving its rise, how it functions — and what comes next.

arktimes.com

Black bears are starting to recolonize the lower Mississippi River basin. Story by bsky@tennesseelookout.com’s Cassandra Stephenson https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/08/27/after-decades-of-overhunting-black-bears-are-slowly-recolonizing-the-lower-mississippi-river-basin/ 

After decades of overhunting, black bears are slowly recolonizing the lower Mississippi River basin • Tennessee Lookout

Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency say black bears are slowly recolonizing Middle and West Tennessee.

tennesseelookout.com

Desk reporter Héctor Alejandro Arzate explains why this summer’s “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico fell below earlier predictions. Read the full story at the link below. https://lailluminator.com/2026/08/13/dead-zone-gulf/

Meet Lina Tran! She is the Desk’s new assistant editorial director. She will edit our expanding lineup of content, with a particular focus on digital and social media. Join us in welcoming Lina to the Desk!

Meet Annika McGinnis! She is the Desk’s new data journalist. She will work with our reporters to enhance their data work and visual presentation, while producing stories using her deep experience and knowledge of water issues. Join us in welcoming Annika to the Desk!

In two places at once? You might have caught Desk staff and reporters at today’s Report For America National Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana. You might also have seen us in Columbia, Missouri. Today was a day when our staff from across the Basin had the chance to rep the Desk!

We hope to see you at the Missouri State Fair! Desk Social Media Producer Dominique Hodge is sharing a booth with the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources and the Missouri Water Center. Stop by to learn more about our reporting, Missouri watersheds and how to stay connected with us.

Meet Stella Mayerhoff (@stellamayerhoff.bsky.social)! She is KAXE/KBXE’s Mississippi River Headwaters Reporter and Report for America Corps member. She is thrilled to be back in the Midwest and extend her love of science in her reporting. Join us in welcoming Stella to the Desk!

Meet Claire Carlson (@clairecarlson.bsky.social)! She is MinnPost’s Drinking Water Reporter. Claire is excited to explore Minnesota communities’ relationship with water and other topics, such as PFAS contamination or climate change impacts on drinking water. Join us in welcoming Claire to the Desk!

Meet Elizabeth Cline! She covers climate and environment for the ArkansasTimes and a Report for America Corps member. Elizabeth enjoys connecting readers with nature and communicating complex environmental issues in clear ways. Join us in welcoming Elizabeth to the Desk!

Meet Cheree Franco (@chereefranco)! She is Verite News’s Ag and Water Reporter and a Report for America Corps member. She plans to cover everything from urban farmers and farmers markets to local and regional implications of national policy like the Farm Bill. Welcome Cheree to the Desk!

Meet Maria Peralta Arellano! She is WXPR’s Water Quality and Environmental Reporter and Report for America Corps member. She is excited to learn more about PFAS and other key issues affecting her home state of Wisconsin. Join us in welcoming Maria to the Desk!

Meet Rose LaForest! She is Nine PBS’s Agriculture Reporter and a Report for America Corps member. Rose will cover farming, food science, agriculture technology and rural issues. Join us in welcoming Rose to the Desk!

AI-generated social media posts are spreading misinformation about solar panels nationwide. Story by Delaney Nolan of The Lens https://thelensnola.org/2026/06/30/unfounded-fears-hamper-louisianas-solar-boom/ 

Unfounded fears hamper Louisiana’s solar boom | The Lens

Misinformation, spread by social media and AI-generated content, derails solar projects

thelensnola.org

Thank you for filling out our survey! Your responses are helping us innovate and grow to meet your needs and the needs of communities across the basin. We will use your insights and feedback to sharpen our website and our storytelling.

Desk reporter Héctor Alejandro Arzate explains how this summer’s “dead zone” in the Gulf will be larger than average. Full story in the link. https://www.wwno.org/coastal-desk/2026-06-29/this-summers-dead-zone-in-the-gulf-will-be-larger-than-average-but-task-force-claims-progress-is-being-made 

Desk reporter Madeleine Heim discusses how Mississippi River towns are redefining themselves. Visit her story at the link below. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/environment/2026/07/08/towns-along-mississippi-now-mix-tourism-entertainment-with-tradition/90373481007/ 

More than 800,000 Mississippi River basin households may not have access to air conditioning amid dangerous heat. Story by Tennessee Lookout’s Cassandra Stephenson https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/07/07/census-data-model-nearly-50k-tennessee-households-may-not-have-access-to-air-conditioning/ 

Census data model: Nearly 50K Tennessee households may not have access to air conditioning • Tennessee Lookout

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May estimated that about 2% of Tennessee households have no access to any kind of air conditioning.

tennesseelookout.com

Thank you to @dailyyonder.bsky.social for picking up our recent story about farmer-led planning. Check it out on your local public radio station, or hear it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/43veKEzVgsDE4k0PtdGOuz?si=qXkylZc6RfONdo31zObinQ&nd=1&dlsi=56bb0974c2144d02 

Last chance! Guide our coverage and tell us what’s important to you. Let our Desk reporters, editors and staff know how we can improve. → Take the survey: https://tally.so/r/A7956l 

We still want to hear from you! The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is running a short reader survey to better understand our audience, sharpen our website, hear what's working and what's missing. Take the survey before it closes in two days! → Take the survey: https://tally.so/r/A7956l