Publication Items

CRS Reports: You Paid for Them — You May As Well Read Them [1]

Here are some recent reports by the Congressional Research Service related to the environment/energy beat. Congress does not release them to the public. We again thank the Federation of American Scientists' Government Secrecy Project for doing so.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [4]
Food [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Climate Change [8]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about CRS Reports: You Paid for Them — You May As Well Read Them [1]
Denver Post Exposes FDA Secrecy on Food Threats to Public Health [11]

Reporter Michael Booth's story resurrected the old issue of whether the public has a right to know the identity and source of foods in commerce that government agencies actually know may be causing fatal illness. The FDA refused to comment on the story.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [12]
Government [4]
Food [5]
Economy & Business [13]
Consumer [14]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Denver Post Exposes FDA Secrecy on Food Threats to Public Health [11]
"Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit" [15]

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about "Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit" [15]
Read the Secret Backgrounder on the Secret 2012 Farm Bill [17]

This year's Farm Bill deliberations have been less transparent than ever before. In that spirit, SEJ's WatchDog shares a backgrounder, published by the Federation of American Scientists, on the 2012 Farm Bill done by the Congressional Research Service — which keeps their taxpayer-funded reports secret from the public.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [18]
Environmental Politics [6]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Read the Secret Backgrounder on the Secret 2012 Farm Bill [17]
Consortium Launches Web Site on Feedlot Air Pollution [19]

The confidential National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool helps the livestock owner/operator figure out how changing on-site practices can reduce emissions of ammonia, methane, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, fine particulates, and odors. This may be useful for journalists; whether an owner/operator will discuss the details of their operation or not, there's a story.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [21]
Pollution [22]
Air [23]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Consortium Launches Web Site on Feedlot Air Pollution [19]
New USDA Plant Hardiness Map Reflects Changing US Climate [24]

Finally, after numerous delays amid allegations of political interference by people who don't want to see documented evidence of climate shifts, the wait is over. The new detailed interactive map is based on data from 1976-2005, and is the first official revision since the 1990 update.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Planning & Growth [25]
Climate Change [8]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about New USDA Plant Hardiness Map Reflects Changing US Climate [24]
NGOS Fill Federal Void on Plant Hardiness Zone Changes [26]

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.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [8]
Agriculture [9]
Planning & Growth [25]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about NGOS Fill Federal Void on Plant Hardiness Zone Changes [26]
Judge Allows Pool Video, Audio Coverage of WV Monsanto Trial [27]

In response to a request for live-streaming of the trial, the judge has expanded the gag order for the case, a class-action lawsuit seeking medical monitoring for people who may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals produced at Monsanto's former plant in Nitro, W.V.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [18]
Health [12]
Environmental Health [28]
Chemicals [29]
Agriculture [9]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [30]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Judge Allows Pool Video, Audio Coverage of WV Monsanto Trial [27]
Winter Farmers Markets Provide Hook for Many Ag Issues [31]

The USDA says the number of winter farmers markets rose 38% from 2010 to 2011; 17% the year before. Coverage can include local foods, family-owned vs. corporate enterprises, validity of claims about being family-owned and/or local, food inspections, quality control, state, FDA and USDA regulations, immigration, unemployment, and career changes.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Food [5]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Winter Farmers Markets Provide Hook for Many Ag Issues [31]
Advocates Push for and Against Crop Insurance [32]

As the federal budget battle continues, President Obama outlined on Sept. 19, 2011, a package of ideas designed to cut costs and increase income over the next decade. One element of the $3 trillion package is an $8.5 billion reduction in costs for crop insurance.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [13]
Agriculture [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Advocates Push for and Against Crop Insurance [32]

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