Publication Items

Feds Award Millions for Environmental Projects [1]

There is local news in these USDA and USFWS grants. These on-the-ground projects involve specific groups and individuals, offering prime examples of programs you can investigate to see whether federal tax dollars are being effectively and efficiently spent.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [3]
Agriculture [4]
Climate Change [5]
Natural Resources [6]
Wildlife [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Feds Award Millions for Environmental Projects [1]
On-Farm Renewable Energy Generation Rises Sharply [9]

The first national report on renewable energy generation on farms and ranches indicates that the number of solar, wind, and methane digestion energy sources is increasing substantially. The US Dept. of Agriculture report, based on 2009 data, provides information on multiple factors.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [10]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about On-Farm Renewable Energy Generation Rises Sharply [9]
Are Farmland Prices Ready To Burst? [11]

If this happens, the agricultural community could suffer much as many people did after the recent housing-market implosion. It could significantly damage farmers, food production, certain banks, and bond holders who are the sole source of capital for some banks.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [12]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Are Farmland Prices Ready To Burst? [11]
Food News Hooks: Safety, Healthfulness, Availability, Cost, and More [13]

Much of your audience likely considers food a minor issue since they see it as generally available, affordable, healthy, environmentally benign, and unrelated to issues such as national security. You can help paint a more realistic picture for them, from the global to the local.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [14]
Food [15]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Food News Hooks: Safety, Healthfulness, Availability, Cost, and More [13]
BLM To Disclose Names and Addresses of Grazing Rights Owners [16]

Permittees and lessees of public lands are a key part of covering issues that involve grazing, hunting, public lands access, utility corridors, and related topics. The public comment period on BLM's proposal to identify these people closes Feb. 7, 2011.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Planning & Growth [17]
People & Population [18]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about BLM To Disclose Names and Addresses of Grazing Rights Owners [16]
Nearly 900 Farmers Markets Open in Winter [20]

The US Dept. of Agriculture says that 898 of these markets are open during some or all of the winter, even in many northern states. The USDA inventory is searchable by state and city, and considerable detail is provided for each market.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Food [15]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Nearly 900 Farmers Markets Open in Winter [20]
SLAPP Win: Court Awards Legal Fees to Filmmaker in Dole Case [21]

The makers of "Bananas!," which claimed that Dole's use of pesticides had caused harm to farm workers in Nicaragua, were awarded $200,000 in court costs and attorney fees.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [23]
Agriculture [4]
Activism [24]
Region:
South America [25]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about SLAPP Win: Court Awards Legal Fees to Filmmaker in Dole Case [21]
Report: Nitrogen and Phosphorous Pollution Remains Serious Threat [26]

The USGS study used data from thousands of locations to analyze trends from 1992 to 2004. You can probably find many local and regional stories as these pollutants contribute to various environmental and human health problems.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [27]
Pollution [28]
Health [14]
Fish & Fisheries [29]
Environmental Health [30]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Chemicals [23]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Report: Nitrogen and Phosphorous Pollution Remains Serious Threat [26]
Court: BLM Must Release Names of Grazing Permit Holders [31]

The decision could eventually force disclosure for holders of some 18,000 permits across 160 million acres in the West.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [6]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Agriculture [4]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Court: BLM Must Release Names of Grazing Permit Holders [31]
Urban Agriculture: Down, But Not out, on the Farm [32]

This growing trend can yield a crop of homegrown food stories with strong environmental angles. Here's a roundup of recent and upcoming urban agriculture issues, as well as some background and resources, to whet your appetite.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [33]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Urban Agriculture: Down, But Not out, on the Farm [32]

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