Cheese in the Desert: Why Mega-Dairies are Piping Water onto Oregon’s Shrub-Steppe
An environmental coalition is lobbying for a moratorium on mega-dairies, which have proliferated in a water-challenged area of northeastern Oregon
In Boardman, Bombing Range Road divides a disused U.S. Navy bombing range (left) and large areas of irrigated land. On the right, Sage Hollow Ranch, one of several mega-dairies in the area, is permitted for up to 8,700 cows. Photo by NASHCO
This piece is part of a collaboration that includes the Institute for Nonprofit News, California Health Report, Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, Circle of Blue, Columbia Insight, Ensia, High Country News, New Mexico In Depth and SJV Water. It was made possible by a grant from The Water Desk, with support from Ensia and INN’s Amplify News Project.
A drive-thru coronavirus testing facility in South Korea. Credit: Republic of Korea.
It feels strange to look back on 2020 and try to think of anything good to say about the year, the last 12 months being largely defined by a deadly pandemic and a presidential election that seemed to expose the fragility of US democracy. It’s hard to look past the distressing stuff the pandemic lockdowns, the agonizingly long vote counts, the unexpected national importance of Wayne County, Michigan’s election canvassing board and to remember the positive things that happened.
But throughout the cataclysms of 2020, the
Bulletin, its expert contributors, and its staff produced excellent work. Here are a few stories that are among the best we produced within the category we call disruptive technology.