In first test before appeals court, important worker safety law is affirmed, with notable caveat
The case revolved around meatpacking workers who sued OSHA to enforce safety standards at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An appeals court affirmed one of the “most important tools” available to workers but also limited its application.
GRAPHIC: Iowa leads numbers in ongoing outbreak of bird flu
The Hawkeye State is followed by Nebraska and Colorado.
‘Carbon Express’ pipeline runs into skepticism in Minnesota farm country
A massive project to store climate-harming emissions from ethanol plants hinges on landowners. One said she would gladly give back the money to undo the deal. Summit contends it is being respectful as it approaches landowners.
High input costs might turn more farmers to regenerative practices
While fertilizer prices are coming down, experts at a recent industry conference say high input costs are at least one factor driving some farmers to look more at no-till systems and cover crops as a way to reduce nutrient and chemical needs.
Roundup caused her cancer, but she was denied a settlement because of her citizenship status, lawsuit says
Roundup’s manufacturer, the multinational Bayer, has faced myriad lawsuits related to the weed killer. Roundup’s main ingredient likely causes cancer, according to numerous reports and studies.
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Record bird flu outbreaks contribute to budget-busting egg prices
Egg prices have surged in recent weeks, resulting in higher grocery bills for households and restaurants across the country. Experts blame the increase on last year’s record-breaking outbreaks of deadly bird flu, which wiped out more than 52 million birds across the country as flocks were culled to keep the virus from spreading.
Farmers endured a rough year, but fertilizer companies cashed in
Even though some farmers could not afford the rising costs of fertilizer, the commodity’s prices have massively boosted company profits this year. One major player saw net earnings over the first nine months of 2022 jump more than 1,000% over the same time period in 2021.
‘Immense sense of pride’: Iowa farm owned by Black family for 158 years
The Western family owns one of only about 1,700 Iowa Heritage Farms, which means a farm in the same family for at least 150 years. Theirs is likely the only such farm owned by a Black family.
Voluntary measures may not be enough: Bacteria and algae plague Iowa beaches
The Gazette and Investigate Midwest analyzed 20 years of beach monitoring data from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Government & Politics
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GRAPHIC: Bird flu main cause of record-breaking egg prices, USDA says
Since February, more than 39 million hens died or were killed as a result of the disease.
Here’s what you need to know about the Farm Bill
The Farm Bill was first passed in 1933. While the bill still serves to support farmers, it has also evolved to fund food assistance programs and conservation efforts. It’s up for negotiation in 2023.
GRAPHIC: Hog welfare laws covered less than 3% of all hogs in U.S. in 2022, USDA says
Laws governing hog welfare are primarily in states that don’t contribute much to the nation’s pork supply, according to the USDA.
New FCC broadband map of the U.S. is ‘a step in the right direction’
The new map improves on its past iterations, experts say, but there are still questions about the accuracy of some of the information included.
3M to end manufacture and use of ‘forever chemicals’ by 2025
3M will also “work to discontinue use of PFAS across our product portfolio” by 2025.
Minnesota tries new technologies to remove ‘forever chemicals’ from water
In efforts to address long-running PFAS contamination in the east metro, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is trying to suck the chemicals out of groundwater.
Opinion
Column: Are you in the mood for some lab-grown chicken?
Michelin-star chef Dominique Crenn soon may have an interesting conundrum. As owner of Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, she specializes…
