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.

Iowa News

Iowa Updates: February 2023

I recently had the opportunity to share my experiences using intercropping techniques with a new audience at the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference. One of my primary goals was to promote intentional diversity and complexity in our growing systems — which is one of the tenets

Read More »
brocholli farm

Tools in the farmer’s toolbox: Crop rotation

Perhaps the most well-known tool a farmer can use to introduce diversity into their growing system is the crop rotation. Each farm is different and may benefit from a crop rotation designed specifically to fit the needs of the land and the stewards who

Read More »
kid on farm with cucumbers

PACTPA would correct pesticide law’s shortcomings

The Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA) was re-introduced in the Senate by Senator Cory Booker on February 6 and is due to be reintroduced in the House mid-March. This bill would overhaul U.S. pesticide regulations, ultimately mandating new rules to protect people

Read More »
Hawaii News

Hawai’i Updates: February 2023

Recent data shows that central Oahu suffers from the heaviest application rates of these chemicals in all of Hawai‘i. Over 215,000 pounds of RUPs were applied in this region during 2019 alone, approximately 60% of RUPs applied in Hawai‘i during this time period.

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