Taller grasses, deeper roots: Texas ranchers adapt to era of extremes
Drought has imposed a harsh test on Texas cattle ranchers. But some have been adapting, even before this year, in ways that make them more resilient.
Read moreReviving Navajo identity, one sheep at a time
In the Navajo Nation, a connection to the land is a connection to heritage and identity – ties that were lost when the U.S. government nearly exterminated Navajo-Churro sheep in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, churro flocks are on the rebound, signaling hope and resilience on the reservation.
Read moreAmid drought in Texas Panhandle, farmers scratch crops from dust
With the Ogallala Aquifer in a state of “managed depletion” in many parts of Texas, farmers are adapting what they grow and how they water it. Scientists are researching new drought-resistant crops and more efficient irrigation technologies. The overall picture, however, is of a water-poor region that is only going to keep losing water. With a century of economic, political, and cultural investment in agriculture, farming in the Panhandle isn’t likely to go extinct. But as farmers scratch their way through this year’s drought, they know it will be even tougher for their children and grandchildren.
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