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Heather Chapman

Heather Chapman is a freelance writer and the chief blogger for the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues within the College of Communication and Information. Previously she was a journalist for the Lexington Herald-Leader and WUKY. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in integrated strategic communication in 2015. . It publishes The Rural Blog, a daily digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America; and Kentucky Health News, which provides coverage for news media in the state.

Report finds ‘alarming spike’ in book bans at U.S. schools

More than 40% of banned books had prominent characters who were people of color.
By Heather Chapman
ripped book pages

Meatpacking magazine explores how processor concentration affects beef industry’s resiliency

After many plants were forced to closed during the pandemic, agricultural economists have begun to research the beef industry's resiliency in the face of such threats and what it means in the long term.
By Heather Chapman
cattle

USDA has $3 billion to help farmers adopt green practices, support school meal programs

The programs, set to go into effect next year, would provide incentives for producers who adopt climate-friendly practices.
By Heather Chapman
corn in field feature

DEA issues warning about deadly black-market pills laced with fentanyl, meth

The number of seized counterfeit pills found to contain fentanyl has jumped 430% since 2019.
By Heather Chapman
Fentanyl

New booklets aim to improve youth safety on the farm

Over the past decade, more youth have died working in agriculture than in all other industries combined.
By Heather Chapman
Youth-farming_milking-cows

Black farmers received least amount of USDA loans over past 3 years

They also received a lower share of COVID-19 relief funding.
By Heather Chapman
black farmer

Family farms struggling with health insurance, child care

In addition to farming, half of all farm families have at least one adult working an additional full-time job, often for health insurance coverage. It’s an affordable option, but pulls time and energy away from farm work.
By Heather Chapman
farmer tractor feature
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