Report highlights cost-effective strategies to protect wildlife habitat and save taxpayers, farmers and consumers money

National Wildlife Federation
Mékell Mikell

American farmers provide food, fuel and fiber for a growing nation. In the face of challenges including tight budgets, increasing threats to natural systems, climate change and extreme weather, farmers can implement strategies that assure yields and farm income while helping to address these challenges. A new report from the National Wildlife Federation, Future Friendly Farming: Seven Agricultural Practices to Sustain People and the Environment, offers techniques that farmers and ranchers can use to increase profits, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect soil, water and wildlife habitat. Read Full Article »

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ShanghaiDaily

Wal-Mart China has apologized for selling ordinary pork as organic in three stores in the southwest city of Chongqing, the eighth time this year the local industry watchdog has uncovered illegal practices at the global retailer.

The Chongqing Industry and Commerce Administration launched an investigation into the supermarket chain after receiving complaints that ordinary pork was sold as organic at higher price, Chongqing Evening News reported yesterday. Read Full Article »

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Press Democrat
By ROBERT DIGITALE

Should an organic chicken be allowed to scratch outside in the native earth?

Federal farm experts meeting in Seattle this week are expected to consider this question, and the outcome could impact one of Sonoma County’s two main egg producers.

Petaluma Farms is a longtime supplier of organic and conventional eggs, all produced “cage free,” that is, without the small wire cages that confine most of the nation’s laying hens. Critics recently filed a federal complaint involving the company, saying the U.S. Department of Agriculture should require Petaluma Farms to give its organic hens access to soil outdoors, rather than limit their outside space to raised, screened porches. Read Full Article »

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LongIslandPress.com
By Missy Yates

In an unprecedented partnership that demonstrates the growing power of Long Island’s local food movement, three organizations representing the diversity of the local food movement – Slow Food Huntington, Sustainable Long Island and the Long Island Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) – have united to launch a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of local food.

The goal of the campaign is to connect Long Island’s diverse food communities at the LI Small Farm Summit on April 15th at SUNY Old Westbury. The campaign seeks to unite in all of the co-producers of Long Island’s sustainable food system including farmers and fishermen, gardeners and homesteaders, chefs and restaurateurs, food distributors and food retailers, beekeepers and chicken-keepers, land owners and land seekers, local foodies and food justice advocates, community organizers and elected leaders. Read Full Article »

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Washington Post
By Lyndsey Layton

Public health officials closed the books this month on an outbreak of salmonella illness that had sickened more than 1,900 people since May and led to the largest recall of eggs in U.S. history.

Two Iowa egg farms drew most of the blame, triggering a congressional investigation, a federal criminal probe and several lawsuits filed by victims.

What has not drawn much scrutiny is the role of the federal government, which recognized 20 years ago that salmonella in eggs posed a public health threat. Although federal inspectors have closely monitored meat and poultry production for the better part of a century, they have largely ignored eggs, another staple of the American diet. It was not until July, well after the recent outbreak was underway, that the government’s first rules on safe egg production took effect. Read Full Article »

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