News & Analysis

Generic filters
Exact matches only
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.

farmers-seeds-plant

A win for seed diversity in California

In the midst of September’s busy harvest, California farmers and gardeners received good news from the state capitol. Governor Jerry Brown signed two important amendments to the California Seed Law that critically support the practices of farmers who do not use genetically-engineered (GE) seed or

Read More »
rural-school-kids-ca

Part-time pesticide protections? No thanks, DPR.

After years of pressure from communities across the state, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) finally released their proposed new rules to protect schoolchildren from the harms of agricultural pesticides. While we’re glad the draft regulations are finally out, the proposed rules leave a lot

Read More »
mcdonalds-protest2

Farm to family, McDonald’s can do better

Families across the country are worried about McDonald’s, for more reasons than one. Because McDonald’s is such a huge player in our food system, the decisions the company makes — from marketing, to sourcing, to wages — have a ripple effect. This year, families who

Read More »
PAN iconJoin PAN to receive the latest news and alerts straight to your inbox.