Latest news with #homesteaders
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Newfoundland farmer says he's never seen anything like this year's drought, ‘not even close'
MOBILE, N.L. – An unseasonably warm and dry stretch across much of Newfoundland and Labrador has left crops and animals parched — and farmers hoping for a steady dose of rain. Eastern parts of the island have received less than half of normal precipitation, while St. John's has seen temperatures between 2 to 4 degrees warmer than usual, according to an analysis by Agriculture Canada. Its Canadian Drought Monitor measurement system found much of the province classifies as abnormally dry, while a northeastern stretch including St. John's, Bonavista and Gander is in a moderate drought. 'We've been here, on the homestead pretty much off the grid for 12 years now, and I've never seen anything like this,' said Steve McBride. 'Not even close.' Steve and his partner Lisa McBride are homesteaders. They try to produce as much of their own crops, eggs, milk and other food as possible. Between his turkeys, goats, ducks and bees, it all adds up to a lot of work for the couple. 'I've got a million mouths to feed and water over the course of the day,' Steve said. Since early June, McBride's well has been dry, and he's seeing the colour leave his grass and other plants too. His animals are also showing signs that they're struggling with weather conditions, drinking about twice as much water as usual, and his goats are avoiding the sunshine by hiding in the shade and staying in their shelters 'A dry duck is not a happy duck,' he added. To compensate, Steve and Lisa McBride have begun once-or-twice daily trips to a local freshwater pond to fill up 5-gallon buckets of water and bring them home to their animals. 'This is going to be the reality until September,' Steve McBride said. 'Barring getting a water truck to come in and fill up a 1000-litre tote for us, or something like that, which is an added expense. That's it.' At Lester's Farm Chalet in St. John's, owner Jim Lester is also scratching his head. This summer, he's been working Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Living Labs program to track moisture content in his soil. Ideally, he said, you'd get a measurement of about 10 per cent. As of the end of July, his soil is reading just three per cent. 'Once upon a time, irrigation was kind of not needed here in Newfoundland,' Lester said. 'Then, you know, about 15 years ago it became a luxury to have irrigation. But now it's truly a necessity.' The yellowed, short grazing fields on his farm are testament to how difficult the year has become. Lester said he'll likely have to consider either selling some of his animals or buying more hay later this year. Either approach could mean extra costs. He's had to supplement summer feeding with hay before — but only because it's been too wet in the past, never because it's been too dry. 'You'll see lots of fellows having to bring their cattle and their sheep home from the community pastures, whereas normally we can leave them out until the 1st of December or at least the end of October.'
Fox News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Chip Gaines responds to backlash after Magnolia Network reality show features same-sex family
Former HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines are facing backlash for their new reality show which features a same-sex couple. "Back to the Frontier," a show about three American families who attempt to survive as 1880s homesteaders, debuted on HBO Max on July 10. The Gaines are executive producers of the Magnolia Network series, the cable network they co-founded with Warner Bros. Discovery, which was promoted as featuring "family-friendly unscripted programming." After clips of the show were shared on social media, the Gaines' were criticized by conservative Christian pastors, organizations and media commentators over the show casting two Texas dads and their 10-year-old twin sons, who were born via a surrogate. Critics claimed the Gaines were promoting an anti-biblical lifestyle while they'd built a media empire professing their Christian faith. Reverend Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called the casting decision "very disappointing." "While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God's Word," he wrote on social media. "His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin." Ed Vitagliano, vice president of the American Family Association, said the move was "sad and disappointing" from the couple who've been "very influential in the evangelical community." "Moreover, in the past, they have stood firm on the sanctity of marriage regardless of the personal cost that has entailed. We aren't sure why the Gaines have reversed course, but we are sure of this: 'Back to the Frontier' promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family –– a view no Christian should embrace," he added in a statement posted to X. Chip Gaines' July 10 social media post promoting the show was also flooded with thousands of negative comments. He responded to the backlash on Sunday. "Talk, ask qustns [sic], listen.. maybe even learn," he told critics. "Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st [sic], understand later/never." "It's a sad sunday [sic] when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian," he added with a "heartbreak" emoji. Gaines also responded to Joel Berry, managing editor of Christian satirical news website The Babylon Bee, who asked Gaines to "filter out some of the online vitriol and consider taking to heart some of the substantive concerns and heartbreak from the Christians who make up your fanbase." "Don't be sad Joel.. plenty of other stuff out there," Gaines replied. "I'm sure everyone will be fine. BUT I sincerely appreciate the advice about taking some of the thoughtful, heartfelt, encouraging constructive criticism to heart.. and I certainly will." Magnolia Network representatives did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DeSantis hosts property tax relief roundtable in South Tampa, may veto sales tax bill
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – There are two opposing plans in Tallahassee involving cutting taxes. Gov. Ron DeSantis has called on reducing or eliminating property taxes. State lawmakers are finalizing a plan in their budget that involves reducing the state sales tax. Judge sentences James Staten, of Olympus Pools, to 20 years in prison, orders $1 million in restitution During a roundtable in South Tampa on Wednesday, DeSantis proposed that state lawmakers do two things relating to property taxes before the extended session ends. 'I've proposed, we have the money to fully fund the education budget,' DeSantis said. 'We could send you a rebate on your property taxes this year. We'll only do it for homesteaded Floridians. We're not going to do it for the snowbirds.' The governor said many homeowners could get a rebate from $300 up to $1,000 by December of this year, if lawmakers approve. He also pushed lawmakers to put language on the November 2026 ballot to reduce or eliminate property taxes altogether. 'Which is really how you have to do it by a constitutional amendment to provide protections for homeowners. This is all very doable,' DeSantis said. If voters approve, that could force county and city leaders to make major changes before 2027. Previously, some elected officials in Tampa Bay municipalities have expressed concerns on how to fill the gap for crucial services if they are forced to reduce or eliminate their main source for their budgets. 'You can bank on tourists coming,' DeSantis said. 'You can obviously look at expenditures, but you can also shift the tax to the non-residents. That could be done very easily.' The governor said bigger counties, like Pinellas, could easily shift the tax burden to tourists and possibly seasonal residents for budgetary purposes. For smaller and rural counties, the governor says the state could help. No Tampa Bay County leader has responded to a request for comment about the governor's idea. State lawmakers are scheduled to continue working on the budget next week, which includes a plan to reduce the sales tax. DeSantis disagrees with the effort. 'The average Floridian would save a whopping $47, if they were to do it,' DeSantis said. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez previously spoke about the state house version of the plan before reaching a deal with the senate. 'It is $5 billion of real cutting going back to the people in a way that has never been done in the state. The first time ever,' Perez said. The state house has recently started a 37-member committee to look at whether reducing or eliminating property taxes is feasible. However, any decision is expected to be discussed during the next regular session. As for discussions on reducing the sales tax, the governor has hinted that he plans to veto the plan. 'Any 'Florida last' tax package is going to be dead on arrival. We are not going to kneecap our ability to provide you property tax relief, just so we can give a little bit of a benefit to Canadian tourists,' DeSantis said. As of now, it's unclear if property owners will see any relief on sales or property taxes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
