#agalerts

#AgAlerts: CAFOs; Solar; Partial wavers

By |

A roundup of news, reports, and research on agribusiness and related issues. Do factory farm bans have a political future? | Newfoodeconomy.com   

CAFOs have long been a hot-button issue in big farming states like Iowa and North Carolina. “In Iowa, there’s been like, 15,000 new CAFOs in the last eight years or something like that,” says Bob Martin, program director of Food System Policy at the Center for a Livable Future. “And they’re continuing to intensify in North Carolina, in broiler [chicken] CAFOs on the Eastern Shore [of Maryland] … they’re kind of moving unabated,” he adds.

#agalerts

#AgAlerts: Climate change; pollinators; news deserts; meth; hemp

By |

“We are watching these young farmers, beginning farmers, stemming the tide. After watching the drain of our young people leaving agriculture, this is the first sign we’ve had in quite some time—hemp is bringing people back to farming.”

Agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. But it can also be a part of the solution.

By |

The global food production system, which
includes agriculture, accounts for more than a third of manmade greenhouse
gases, according to an August report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change.

And while past focus has been on industries
such as fossil fuels and transportation, new attention is being put on
agriculture’s role in the climate change
solution. On September 18, a coalition representing 10,000 farmers and ranchers
delivered a letter to congress supporting the Green New Deal, a congressional resolution to
transition the United States to 100 percent clean energy by 2030.

Farming, more than any other industry, might be the best hope for curbing climate change.

#agalerts

#AgAlerts: Iowa grain seller sentenced in organic fraud case; banned pesticide found in California’s forest; solving climate change through farming

By |

A roundup of news, reports, and research on agribusiness and related issues. KFC to hold US trial of vegan ‘chicken’ nuggets | TheGuardian.com

KFC says their vegan chicken nuggets are a "Kentucky fried miracle." Give peas a chance? Warren and Sanders think this farm policy will help rural America rebound. Does it stand a chance?

Agribusiness

DowDupont split off its agriculture business; here’s what to know about Corteva Agriscience

By |

A new spinoff from DowDupont could mean fewer
seed and pesticide options for farmers, who are already facing mounting
challenges that include low commodity prices, poor weather conditions and a
growing trade war. On June 1, DowDuPont separated its
agricultural chemical and seed business into a standalone company called
Corteva Agriscience. Dow Chemical and Dupont Nemours, Inc. merged in 2017, and made $86 billion in sales last year. Its agriculture division provided pesticides and seeds to farmers, but the company also made paints, silicone and other chemicals in its material science and specialty products divisions. Before the merger, Dow offered more pesticide products to farmers, while Dupont sold more variety of seeds.