Just Label It, News Roundup 3-23

A federal judge has halted California’s plan to require Monsanto to place warning labels on glyphosate products, saying scientists haven’t shown a clear connection with cancer. This ruling is a testament not to justice or to science, but to Monsanto’s lobbying power. No-till is a farming technique that is showing up heavily in agriculture news. We till because typically the soil that we’re starting with is too compacted for planting annual vegetables into, but to the soil ecologist, tilling is a violent approach to soil improvement. Modern farmer explores a double digging and no-till gardening approach. Reduced tillage, cover crops and widespread interest in soil health all have roots in the organic farming community. In the grocery aisle, General Mills, which acquired Annie’s in 2014, announced it would convert 34,000 acres to organic farmland in South Dakota, creating the state’s largest organic crop farm, and it intends to help farmers implement regenerative practices like crop rotations and cover cropping. This process could help fight climate change by pulling carbon from the air, while also promoting biodiversity and soil health.

Judge: Monsanto not required to place warning labels on products

A federal judge has halted California’s plan to require Monsanto to place warning labels on glyphosate products, saying scientists haven’t shown a clear connection with cancer. This ruling is testament not to justice or to science, but to Monsanto’s lobbying power. While overall agricultural enrollment at America’s 75 land-grant universities remained relatively flat between 2004 and 2015, the number of programs devoted to sustainable-farming practices, or “agroecology,” has soared since the USDA started tracking them in 1988. In August the Kern County agricultural commissioner issued more than $50,000 in fines against two firms, including Sun Pacific, the produce company behind the popular Cuties oranges, for violating pesticide rules in an incident that sickened 37 farmworkers near the town of Maricopa in May.

The Current State of Agricultural Education

While overall agricultural enrollment at America’s 75 land-grant universities remained relatively flat between 2004 and 2015, the number of programs devoted to sustainable-farming practices, or “agroecology,” has soared since the USDA started tracking them in 1988.

How a Grain and Legume Farmer Harvests Nutrition from the Soil

Larry Kandarian grows legumes alongside ancient grains on his California farm, producing a polyculture that benefits both the health of the land and his own.

Double Digging: How to Build a Better Veggie Bed

There is an odd paradox in agriculture: In the effort to create rich, loose soil for planting, we till it up, which undoes much of the work that the earthworms, microbes, and fungi in the soil—nature’s little army of soil improvers—have already done. We till because typically the soil that we’re starting with is too compacted for planting annual vegetables into, but to the soil ecologist, tilling is a violent approach to soil improvement.

France was the first country to ban supermarkets from throwing away unused food — and the world is taking notice

France is starting to reap the benefits of a recent law that forces supermarkets to make use of unused food, rather than tossing it away. Food waste is a huge, and expensive, global issue. France is way ahead of other countries, including the US.

Annie’s embraces regenerative farming practices

General Mills — which acquired Annie’s in 2014 — will convert 34,000 acres to organic farmland in South Dakota, creating the state’s largest organic crop farm, and it intends to help farmers implement regenerative practices like crop rotations and cover cropping. This process could help fight climate change by pulling carbon from the air, while also promoting biodiversity and soil health.

Organic farming movement shaping agriculture’s future

Reduced tillage, cover crops and widespread interest in soil health all have roots in the organic farming community.

Ag Industry Fights Pesticide Penalties and State Efforts to Increase Future Fines

In August the Kern County agricultural commissioner issued more than $50,000 in fines against two firms, including Sun Pacific, the produce company behind the popular Cuties oranges, for violating pesticide rules in an incident that sickened 37 farmworkers near the town of Maricopa in May.