Agriculture

Western Reservoirs That Supply California Fall To Record Low Levels

"The Colorado River’s largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have declined to their lowest combined levels on record.
Researchers say the new low underscores the urgent need to cut water use in the seven states that depend on the river."

Source: Los Angeles Times, 07/22/2026

Trump EPA Kills Proposed Rules For Pfas-Contaminated Sewage Fertilizer

"The Trump administration has killed the regulatory review of sewage sludge contaminated with Pfas and spread on farmland as fertilizer, a practice that has sickened farmers, destroyed their livelihoods, killed livestock, polluted water supplies, and poisoned meat and food products sold to the public."

Source: Guardian, 07/22/2026

Veterinarians Press Congress To Preserve State Animal Welfare Laws

"More than 700 US veterinarians are asking Congress to leave out an industry-backed provision from the Farm Bill that would preempt states from having stricter animal welfare laws than other states. The provision — often referred to as the “Save Our Bacon Act” — was included in the House draft Farm Bill released in May, but was omitted in the Senate draft released last month."

Source: The New Lede, 07/21/2026
August 27, 2026

DEADLINE: Journalismfund's The Invisible Life Grant

This program supports cross-border teams of professional journalists and/or news outlets investigating issues related to farm animal welfare and European interests, both within and beyond Europe. Two application rounds are scheduled for this grant program in 2026: Thursday 27 August 2026 at 1 pm CET (Brussels time) and Thursday 29 October 2026 at 1 pm CET (Brussels time). 

Visibility: 

How Europe’s Most Powerful Farming Lobby Killed EU’s Pesticide Law

"Newly revealed documents from inside the most powerful farming lobby in Europe show how it delayed, gutted and overturned some of the most sweeping farming reforms in EU history, including a plan to cut pesticide use in half."

Source: Guardian, 07/20/2026

China’s ‘Green Great Wall’ Tames Desert Growth, But Fight Is Not Over

"For half a century, millions of workers have repeated a task across the deserts in northern China: inserting forearm-length sticks into shifting sand, ... The technique, known as “straw checkerboards,” is a simple yet widely used method to stabilize sand dunes against the wind and help plants take root by using water supplied through an irrigation system."

Source: AP, 07/15/2026

Trump BLM Clears Path For Controversial Mojave Desert Water Pipeline

"The Trump administration has signed off on a company’s plan to convert an oil and gas pipeline to pump groundwater from the Mojave Desert to thirsty California cities for the first time, a lucrative venture that critics say threatens natural springs and wildlife."

Source: Los Angeles Times, 07/15/2026

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