USDA Stops Pesticide, Fertilizer Data

August 27, 2008–The Bush administration is killing a longstanding program that publishes free the information it gathers on the application of pesticides and fertilizer by U.S. farmers.

USDA Raises Barriers to Disclosure of Predator Control Info

August 13, 2008–The Department of Agriculture has stopped reporting publicly how many animals it kills for farmers and ranchers in its predator control program.

Farm Bill Launches Sweeping New Secrecy Initiative

May 21, 2008–New language added to the 2007/08 Farm Bill by conferees at the 11th hour could create a sweeping new secrecy mandate that would prohibit the Agriculture Department from disclosing almost any information about individual US farm operations.

Farm Bill + Global Ag Report = Deeper Ag Policy Stories

April 30, 2008–A new report on global agriculture can deepen your Farm Bill stories.

FDA Decision on Cloned Food Expected Soon

January 9, 2008–FDA's decision on the sale of cloned meat and dairy products is expected soon.

Senate Passes Farm Bill With Softened Secrecy Language

January 2, 2008–The Senate passed a five-year Farm Bill Dec. 14, 2007, that softened a provision imposing draconian penalties for publication of information from a federal database for tracking food animals.

Judge Forces USDA to Disclose Fields of Roundup Ready Alfalfa

August 15, 2007–A judge's decision has cracked open the black box of at least one genetically engineered crop: alfalfa.

Federal Crop Insurance: Can It Keep Up With Climate Change?

May 9, 2007–According to a recent GAO report, the nation's federally subsidized crop insurance program might not be ready to manage increasing risks to US crops due to climate change.

Crop Pollinators Very Important, and in Trouble

January 31, 2007–Emerging evidence suggests another nemesis should be on the priority list of agricultural production threats - a significant decline in the animals that pollinate crops (bees, insects, birds, bats, etc.).

NGOS Fill Federal Void on Plant Hardiness Zone Changes

May 10, 2006–The American Horticultural Society and the National Arbor Day Foundation offer generalized hardiness maps as a starting point, until the US Department of Agriculture gets around to unveiling its own update.