Pesticide Action Network, North America by Marcia Ishii-Eiteman Earlier this month, USDA welcomed in the new year by presenting Dow AgroSciences with a bountiful gift: A virtual green light for the pesticide company’s new genetically engineered (GE) corn and soybean seeds. These crops are designed specifically to be used with Dow’s infamous herbicide, 2,4-D. Dow… Read more »
Pollution Rising, Chinese Fear for Soil and Food
The New York Times by Edward Wong CHENJIAWAN, China — The farm-to-table process in China starts in villages like this one in the agricultural heartland. Food from the fields of Ge Songqing and her neighbors ends up in their kitchens or in the local market, and from there goes to other provinces. The foods are… Read more »
FACT’s Fund-a-Farmer Project – Call for Applications!
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) is now accepting grant applications from livestock farmers for its Fund-a-Farmer Project! The Fund-a-Farmer Project provides grants to qualifying humane farmers who need assistance in improving the welfare of their farm animals. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded for projects that (1) help farms transition to pasture-based systems,… Read more »
Grasslands Get Squeezed As Another 1.6 Million Acres Go Into Crops
NPR, The Salt by Dan Charles CRP Land in Idaho Credit: Glenn Shea, USDA NRCS As the year winds down, we here at NPR are looking at a few key numbers that explain the big trends of 2013. Today’s number: 1.6 million. That’s 1.6 million acres — about the area of the state of Delaware…. Read more »
Supreme Court Denies Family Farmers the Right to Self-Defense from Monsanto Abuse
Refusal to Reinstate OSGATA et al v. Monsanto Prevents Farmers from Protecting Themselves Beyond Partial Court of Appeals Victory The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision January 13 in the landmark federal lawsuit, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et al v. Monsanto. Farmers were denied the right to argue their case in court and… Read more »
Daunting Calculus for Maine Shrimpers as Entire Season Is Lost
The New York Times by Jess Bidgood Northern Shrimp Catch in 2008 Credit: NOAA FishWatch PORT CLYDE, Me. — Shrimping in the Gulf of Maine was so bad last season that Randy Cushman, a longtime fisherman, wondered if there was any point in going out at all. “I can honestly say it was the worst… Read more »
Farmacology: What Business Can Learn From Sustainable Farming
Medical and business communities can take surprising lessons from farming and improve employee wellbeing and productivity The Guardian By Judith D Schwartz Frustrated that conventional medicine had little to offer many of her patients, Daphne Miller, a practicing physician and professor of family medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, decided to take… Read more »
MOFGA Hails Maine’s Adoption of GMO Labeling Law
The Portland Daily Sun by Staff Report The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will celebrate Maine’s adoption of a law that provides for labeling of genetically engineered food. Governor Paul LePage has signed LD 718 — An Act To Protect Maine Food Consumers’ Right To Know about Genetically Engineered Food, MOFGA announced. MOFGA will… Read more »
Action Needed NOW on Organic Certification Cost Share in the Farm Bill
National Organic Coalition National Organic Certification Cost Share (NOCCS) is a top item for Farm Bill Conference. The House Bill repeals Certification Cost Share and the Senate Bill fully funds the program. If you live or work in any of the States/Districts listed below, please call your conference member (see below) and ask them to: … Read more »
Food Industry to Fire Preemptive GMO Strike
PoliticoPro By Jenny Hopkinson and Helena Bottemiller Evich The giants of the U.S. food industry who have spent millions fighting state-by-state efforts to mandate new labels for genetically modified organisms are taking a page from their opponents and pushing for a federal GMO law. But the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents such food and beverage… Read more »
