Census data shows the life expectancy rate for rural Americans has dropped over time and is now less than that in urban areas. It is something the National Rural Health Association has been studying and says there is one major reason for the switch.
“Lack of access to healthcare, first and foremost, and if you can’t get to your doctor for preventive care or a checkup, you wait until things get really bad, and then you go into the emergency room. Environmental issues. You know, for our ranchers and farmers, that’s a tough, difficult profession to be in by itself. Then you get into lifestyle choices, a lot of processed fast food, which is easy to get and cost less, well that impacts your health. And then on top of that, you just have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cancer across the board,” said Alan Morgan.
The 2022 Census of Ag showed around 60 percent of farmers received healthcare in the past year.
JBS representatives told Reuters that the original deal has not changed and that they welcome employees back to the facility.
April 06, 2026 11:08 AM
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Charly Cummings with Superior Livestock Auctions provides a real-time look at cattle market activity, demand trends, and what lies ahead for upcoming livestock auctions in Texas.
April 02, 2026 04:43 PM
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Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are studying the clouded plant bug, which causes millions of dollars in damage to crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton growing across the state.
April 02, 2026 03:49 PM
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Leadership closer to western forests may speed decisions impacting timber, land use, and wildfire management.
April 02, 2026 12:07 PM
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More than 15 million birds were affected by bird flu, but fewer outbreaks are helping bring egg prices down
April 02, 2026 11:50 AM
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Fewer DEF-related shutdowns could mean more uptime during planting and harvest seasons.
April 02, 2026 11:44 AM
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