Xcaret Nuñez, Harvest Public Media

Xcaret Nuñez covers agriculture and rural communities for Harvest Public Media at Oklahoma’s NPR member station, KOSU in Oklahoma City.

Stories by Xcaret Nuñez, Harvest Public Media

Three people fishing in a boat on Table Rock Lake.

Rural America Grew Early in Pandemic, Mostly in Recreational Counties

By Xcaret Nuñez, Harvest Public Media | January 26, 2023

Despite a spike in deaths from COVID-19 and fewer births, recent research suggests rural counties saw population growth during the first year of the pandemic. Remote work opportunities could have contributed to more people moving to scenic rural destinations.

Parts of the Platte River in central Nebraska dried up completely this summer, like this stretch near Chapman, Nebraska.

A Hotter, Drier Future Could Change How We Eat, Breathe and Get Our Water

By Elizabeth Rembert, Harvest Public Media, David Condos, Kansas News Service, Xcaret Nuñez, Harvest Public Media | November 30, 2022

This year’s drought could be a dress rehearsal for a drier, hotter future that scientists predict climate change has in store. Long-lasting droughts could alter the way we live.

Farmer Alex Millershaski watches the wind blow a handful of dry, sandy soil across one of his wheat fields. His county in southwest Kansas just experienced its driest October on record.

Here’s How This Year’s Drought has Battered the Midwest — and What it Might Mean for Next Year

By David Condos, Kansas News Service, Xcaret Nuñez, Harvest Public Media, Elizabeth Rembert, Harvest Public Media | November 29, 2022

From deadly wildfires to choking dust storms to decimated crop harvests, this year’s drought has left its mark across the country. For the hardest hit areas, such as the Great Plains, recovering from the far-reaching impacts of this historically dry year won’t be easy.