Radio Features Archive

More than fifty years apart, two separate moon missions included tree seeds in spacecraft in lunar orbit. While the trees from many seeds within the first mission are thriving, a second set of seed from a more recent event are now undergoing research and will eventually be planted. Rod Bain looks at the history, legacy, and study of tree seeds as part of moon missions in this edition of “Agriculture USA”.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Crew of planned Artemis Two manned moon mission. Heidi McAllister of the U.S. Forest Service. Apollo 14 astronauts Stuart Roosa, Alan Shepard, and Edgar Mitchell.

A USDA meteorologist calls the five-month pace of drought coverage reduction across the country truly amazing. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

Over fifty years ago, tree seeds flew around the Moon as part of an Apollo mission. Now tree seeds, many of the same species, that also orbited the Moon aboard Artemis One are being studied. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Crew members of planned Artemis Two moon mission. Heidi McAllister of the U.S. Forest Service. Apollo 14 astronauts Stuart Roosa, Alan Shepard, and Edgar Mitchell.

They may be small in number, but Vidalia onions have a big reputation and will soon be available again at grocery stores. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Chelsea Blaxton with the Vidalia Onion Committee.

How many big mistakes can a home tomato grower make? One expert says, "A LOT". Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Kansas State University Extension gardening expert, Dennis Patton. Also, Guy Clark.

Does Spring have you inspired to plant a tree or two? An expert says do your homework before you start digging. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Ward Upham, Kansas State University Extension horticulture expert.

Support for research and development of new natural resources conservation tools and practices is behind USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grant program, with announcements made recently for the latest round of funding for projects. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Secretary Tom Vilsack. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby.

A USDA trade report shows the pace of agricultural exports is slowing while imports are growing. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. USDA economist, Bart Kenner. USDA Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski.

Fiscal year funding applications are now available for five programs under USDA’s realm of export market development – each with a specific focus. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Curt Alt of the Foreign Agricultural Service

Several Western water reservoirs are expected to rebound from long-term drought – filled in coming weeks by runoff from near record to record snowpack in many mountain ranges. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

What have been some of the changes regarding the scope of drought coverage in growing areas of certain commodities between last fall's harvest and the spring planting season? Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey