From reduced food inspections to a lapse in services for farmers, the shutdown’s effects are hitting more than just furloughed workers across the country.
A Conversation About Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Food Systems
Experts in agriculture, artificial intelligence, and technology sit down to discuss the current and future role of tech in agriculture. Former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack opens the discussion.
The Fate of a USDA Program That Helps Small Farms Survive Is Uncertain
A USDA study found businesses that received VAPG grants were significantly more likely to succeed compared to similar businesses that did not, and created more jobs. As U.S. farmers face unique economic challenges, the VAPG program may be discontinued.
Re: Response to Fred Haberman on Making Organic Mainstream
“I was dismayed to read the article ‘Making Organic Mainstream.’ I am one of a group of old-time organic farmers who have been battling against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for allowing hydroponic, aquaponic, etc. to be certified ‘organic.'”
Opinion | Time for a Win for Conservation in the New Farm Bill
Another status quo Farm Bill may jeopardize the future of the food system, failing to regulate pesticides, improve water quality, support organic farmers, and more.
Opinion | The 2018 Farm Bill Battle Lines Have Been Drawn: Here’s What You Can Do
Every four years, a new Farm Bill must be passed by the U.S. Congress. This massive piece of legislation covers many different aspects of food and agriculture in the United States—from nutritional assistance for low-income communities to subsidies for farmers to conservation of natural resources.
Opinion | 2018 Farm Bill Watch: A Sneak Attack on the Organic Standards?
The U.S. Congress is currently writing a new version of the Farm Bill, a massive piece of legislation that will determine the future of food and agriculture for the next four years. Senator Pat Roberts, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, could use his position to undermine the power of the National Organic Standards Board. The Board is a valuable source of democratic representation in the regulatory process for agriculture across the United States.
New Report: Rural American Workers Still Struggle to Recover from Great Recession
President Trump’s Task Force on Agricultural and Rural Prosperity reveals hardships of rural life after the Great Recession.
In Wine Country, Agricultural Communities Measure Wildfire Tolls
Recent unprecedented wildfires in California wine country, where agriculture and tourism are key industries, have brought uncertainty for winemakers, farmers, laborers, and communities trying to assess damage and rebuild.
Researchers Find Food Insecurity “A Key Contributor to Poor Health and Higher Costs” in Canada
Researcher Naomi Dachner discusses with Food Tank her team’s work on the association between health care costs and food insecurity in Canada, which they found “consistent with U.S. research that has raised concerns about food insecurity as a key contributor to poor health and higher costs.”
