Cornucopia’s Take: Beekeepers in North Dakota and Minnesota claim that farmers’ move towards corn and soy, along with a decrease in conservation land, leaves bees without pollen. Cornucopia supports organic and sustainable farms, recognizing the far-reaching benefits of working with nature. Dakotas’ honeybee habitat shrinking with changing environment The Bismarck Tribune by Patrick Springer Source:… Read more »
Avoid These Autumn Garden Mistakes
Cornucopia’s Take: Organic gardening is sometimes more labor-intensive than conventional gardening, but there are tricks to ease the workload. Rodale offers great advice for gardeners. 8 Gardening Mistakes You Make Every Fall Rodale’s Organic Life by Rebecca Straus Source: Bill Barber These autumn errors set you up for extra work come spring. Fall is probably… Read more »
Cuba: Regional Leader in Sustainable Agriculture
Cornucopia’s Take: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s food systems by necessity became local and sustainable. Growing practices were pioneered for the specific circumstances of environment and economics, and grassroots organizations and co-ops proved critical to the new path. Although circumstances in the U.S. prevent exact duplication of Cuba’s efforts, much can be… Read more »
Sikkim in India Has Been Declared Organic—Now What?
Cornucopia’s Take: Certifiers and organic wholesalers are, so far, the major beneficiaries of India’s efforts to shift agricultural practices to organic in Sikkim. As in the U.S., certification is expensive (farmers in the U.S. are eligible for cost sharing from the USDA), although it is mandatory in Sikkim. India’s First Fully Organic State Faces Many… Read more »
Most Doctors Know Little About Nutrition – Some Schools are Changing That
Cornucopia’s Take: Nutrition is crucial to health. However, few doctors can advise you about how to eat well as most never benefited from studying nutrition even though their patron saint Hippocrates is known to have said “Let thy food be thy medicine.” But this may be changing as some schools of medicine now include cooking curriculum… Read more »
Minnesota Leads the Country Towards Protecting Pollinators
Cornucopia’s Take: Minnesota is a major producer of soybeans, a conventional crop known for being farmed with bee-killing neonicotinoids. Governor Dayton’s executive order aims to limit farmers’ use of these harmful chemicals. Minnesota sets broadest U.S. limits on chemicals blamed for bee declines Reuters by Tom Polansek Source: Distant Hill Gardens Minnesota’s governor on Friday ordered… Read more »
Farmers Using Natural Predators to Kill Corn Rootworm
Cornucopia’s Take: Pesticides have had their turn at trying to keep the corn rootworm at bay, resulting in their eventual development of resistance to the chemicals. Scientists and some farmers are now inviting predators into their fields to finish the job. Bugs, fungi, and nematodes deployed to battle corn rootworm Food & Environment Reporting Network… Read more »
Big Drop in Neonics in Pollinator Plants at Big Box Stores
Cornucopia’s Take: Increasing consumer awareness is clearly encouraging stores to consider pollinators as they procure garden plants for sale. Voting with our forks as well as our gardens is changing what is available in the marketplace. Big drop found in neonicotinoid content of home stores’ ‘bee-friendly’ flowers MinnPost by Ron Meador Source: Marcia Cirillo Big… Read more »
New Certification Program for Growing Cannabis
Cornucopia’s Take: With the rise in medical marijuana prescriptions, concerns arise about environmental practices and toxic chemicals used in growing the plants. MOFGA is now offering Clean Cannabis Certification to growers following organic guidelines. MOFGA Announces Clean Cannabis Certification Program Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) (This article is from their newsletter) One-year Trial… Read more »
OCA Sues Handsome Brook Farm Over Pasture-Raised Claims
Cornucopia’s Take: Cornucopia seeks to ensure the integrity of organic egg production. Handsome Brook’s rating on our egg scorecard has been listed as “suspended,” pending our own investigation that we have been conducting over the last few months. For specifics on this investigation, please see the status of our investigation. Egg Retailer Handsome Brook Farm Sued Over… Read more »
