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Sunset farmers in field

Farm Bill Updates

About every five years, the U.S. Congress passes the biggest set of food and farming policies that define the majority of federal farm, food, nutrition, and rural economic programs. At a cost of about $440 billion over five years, these programs influence: What is grown; who grows it; how it is grown or produced; what is done with those products and where they are sold; who can access and afford those goods; and how we invest in rural communities.

Watch and listen as two experienced farmers share stories and practical approaches for small-scale, diversified farms that use the principles of agroecology.  This discussion may provide you with ideas that small farms where you live can adapt and thrive.

After many long days of negotiations, the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) made a historic move for safer food and farming by passing a resolution on highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) that calls for action to globally phase out the use of the world’s most toxic pesticides by 2035. Tied with this resolution was the passing of a mandate for UNEP to implement this commitment by forming the Global Alliance on HHPs.

EPA Scott Pruitt

Pruitt’s (polluter) priorities

We saw this coming with Scott Pruitt. Long before he became Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), his allegiances to industry were clear. And with new policies at the agency, he’s paving the way for even more corporate sway over how our air, soil,

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bus-rural-school-drift

A win! Buffer zones around CA schools

After years of pressure from communities across California, the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) finally took action last week to protect schoolchildren from agricultural pesticide exposure.  While not all that we’d hoped for, state officials announced new rules that establish a buffer zone for

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lead image warning school 1

New Rule Puts Limits on Pesticide Use Near Schools

First-ever statewide school buffer zone hailed as a step forward but more is needed, advocates caution For Immediate Release: November 7, 2017 Sacramento, CA – A new rule announced today designed to reduce acute exposure to hazardous agricultural pesticides for California schoolchildren and staff was

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opinion

Big news! Clovis is out

Sam Clovis — controversial nominee for the top scientist post at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) — withdrew his name from consideration.

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