Source: PNASH, Flickr EPA management first approved the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos for use in conventional agriculture based on data from the pesticide industry declaring its safety. EPA scientists later determined chlorpyrifos is linked to lower IQs and levels of gray matter in children exposed prenatally, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the EPA… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: That’s a real public servant! Bring legitimate complaints about cheating in organics to the USDA, and the Secretary of the agency suggests that you are a crybaby-socialist and should move out of the country. – Mark A. Kastel Trump’s USDA Is Killing Rules That Organic Food Makers Want Bloomberg by Andrew Martin and Shruti… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: The FDA is slowing company bids to create hornless cattle and tailless pigs, seeking regulations for the possible animals of the future. Some of these companies are working with the White House to be (less) “regulated” by the USDA, given Secretary Perdue’s recent statement on gene editing in plants. Gene editing is not… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Over 320 farmer, consumer, beekeeper, environmental, and worker groups sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions demanding a stop to Dow/DuPont and Bayer/Monsanto mega-mergers. Cornucopia was a signatory. It is difficult to see how such mergers benefit either farmers or consumers. Over 300 food and farm groups Urge Jeff Sessions to… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: The corporate takeover of organics began long before President Trump thought about running for office. Hydroponic production was allowed under previous National Organic Program director Miles McEvoy during the Obama administration, while the National Organic Standards Board was packed with corporate executives eager to grow their brands. Thus far, the Trump administration has… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: With more than half of all U.S. farmworkers being undocumented immigrants, a new report suggests over 1,000 farms in New York could close or significantly reduce operations if deportations continue. Farmers across the country are concerned about their shrinking workforce and consumers should be similarly concerned about what this means for their food… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: New research shows that chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion are washing into streams and rivers and making wildlife sick. Based on years of research by the EPA, chlorpyrifos was to be banned from agricultural use, until the Trump administration reversed the decision. These pesticides are prohibited in organic agriculture. Government Scientists Say A Controversial… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary during the entire Obama administration, recently met with Sonny Perdue, the Trump administration nominee for Secretary of the USDA. Under the Bush administration the USDA monkey-wrenched the organic program (mostly through numerous delaying tactics in terms of rulemaking and enforcement).  But under the Obama/Vilsack administration they perfected the game… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: When the conservative-leaning, agribusiness-loving American Farm Bureau Federation and the more liberal, family farm-supporting National Farmers Union are both vociferously criticizing the administration, you know something has to be pretty decisively bad. The Trump administration’s proposed budget will cut cost-sharing for transitioning organic farmers and the overall budget at the National Organic Program. TRUMP’S… Read more »