Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: COVID-19 death rates in rural communities surpassed urban ones in September
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In December, small towns had a rate of about 10 deaths a week, according to a USDA analysis.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Environmental regulation enforcement varies widely from state to state
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The number of enforcement actions and the size of fines levied against companies for violating environmental protection laws is vastly different from state to state.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Seed and fertilizer make up more than half of the operating costs for corn and soybean producers
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Seeds and fertilizers make up 62% of the operating costs to produce corn and 51% of the operating costs to produce soybeans, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
Graphic of the Week
Graphic: Glyphosate vs. Dicamba
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The pesticides glyphosate and dicamba, both in products produced by Bayer (formerly Monsanto) have made headlines in the past year as lawsuits mount against the company for damages from these products.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Meatpacking workers still complain to OSHA about COVID-19
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OSHA received its first complaints about meatpacking plants almost a full year ago, on March 17, 2020. At two plants in North Carolina, people were elbow-to-elbow, with no change in operations, according to OSHA data.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Leafy greens have caused more than 40 E. coli outbreaks in the past decade. The FDA is trying to change that.
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After a 2018 E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce hospitalized more than 100 people and killed five, the US Food and Drug Administration put together an action plan to reduce E. coli contamination in leafy greens.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Fines for environmental violations dropped during Trump administration
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Fines have ebbed and flowed over the years, but there was a drop off in the past four years.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: One in six U.S. residents get sick from food poisoning each year. These are among the costliest germs.
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Foodborne illnesses cost more than $15 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity and wages, according to the federal government.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: More meatpacking companies are using temporary visa labor
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The number of companies using these visas is small compared to the entire industry, but a trend has emerged over the past several years.
Graphic of the Week
GRAPHIC: Poultry plants were already dangerous. Then came COVID-19.
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There had been about 8 deaths a year on average across the poultry industry — until this year.