Agriculture

States Go It Alone on Food Safety [1]

"When it comes to food safety, state lawmakers around the country seem to believe in the adage, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself."

Agriculture [2]

Public [3]

National (U.S.) [4]

Source: Wall Street Journal [5], 05/12/2009

Read more about States Go It Alone on Food Safety [1]

Jews Go 'Eco-Kosher' Print | Forward | [6]

With Sabbath candles burning, 14 guests eat a "sustainable" Sabbath dinner with "food that was locally grown, mostly organic and intended to elevate their practice of Judaism."

Agriculture [2]

Public [3]

National (U.S.) [4]

Source: Los Angeles Times [7], 05/08/2009

Read more about Jews Go 'Eco-Kosher' Print | Forward | [6]

Judge Rules That Feedlot Phone-Book Can Be Secret [8]

As of March 31, 2009, the Agriculture Department may keep secret the locations and phone numbers of feedlots — however much the public may complain about their smell and the pollution emanating from them.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [11]

Region:

National (U.S.) [4]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Judge Rules That Feedlot Phone-Book Can Be Secret [8]

"Federal Judge Says No to Modified Crops on U.S. Refuge Land" [12]

WASHINGTON -- In a court case with potential impact in Missouri and across the country, a federal judge in Delaware ruled today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife should not have permitted farming with genetically modified crops on a national wildlife refuge. U.S. District Judge Gregory Sleet wrote that the Fish and Wildlife agency erred by failing to conduct environmental studies to determine whether farming with genetically modified crops at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware was compatible with conservation and habitat preservation. Bill Lambrecht reports for the St.

Agriculture [2]

Public [3]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch [14], 03/25/2009

Read more about "Federal Judge Says No to Modified Crops on U.S. Refuge Land" [12]

"Antibiotics Pose Concern for Ethanol Producers" [15]

"The ethanol industry must be wondering where the bottom is. Profits are slim or non-existent and about 20 percent of all U.S. plants are shut down. In addition, ethanol's main by-product, which is sold as livestock feed, has raised potential food safety concerns.

Agriculture [2]

Public [3]

National (U.S.) [4]

Source: Minnesota Public Radio [16], 03/25/2009

Read more about "Antibiotics Pose Concern for Ethanol Producers" [15]

Obscure Farm Bill Provision Blacks Out Agricultural Data [17]

The USDA is interpreting a provision in the 2008 Farm Bill so broadly that it may amount to a FOIA exemption for most information about individual agricultural operations.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Laws & Regulations [10]

Government [11]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Obscure Farm Bill Provision Blacks Out Agricultural Data [17]

Toolbox: USDA Releases New Census of Agriculture [18]

Data range from the very big picture, such as the total acreage devoted to agriculture in the country, and each state and county, to myriad details.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [19]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Government [11]

Region:

National (U.S.) [4]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Toolbox: USDA Releases New Census of Agriculture [18]

EPA Mulls Loosening Limits on Atrazine in Drinking Water [20]

Atrazine, one of the most commonly used pesticides on crops ranging from corn to trees, may not be as dangerous to humans as previously thought.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [19]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Chemicals [21]

Food [22]

Region:

National (U.S.) [4]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about EPA Mulls Loosening Limits on Atrazine in Drinking Water [20]

Terrorism Down on the Farm [23]

Amid the torrent of terrorism news, one angle that's been overlooked is agroterrorism -- using biological agents as weapons against crops or livestock.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [19]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Food [22]

Region:

National (U.S.) [4]

Visibility:

Public [3]

Read more about Terrorism Down on the Farm [23]

EPA Hides Data on Pesticide Link to Bee Die-Off [24]

The Environmental Protection Agency looks determined to keep the public from knowing whether a pesticide on which it has waived safety rules may be a factor in the worldwide bee die-off known as "colony collapse disorder."

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [9]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [2]

Chemicals [21]

Biodiversity [25]

Region:

National (U.S.) [4]

Visibility:

Public [3]