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El Niño droughts, floods, fires affect 60 million people
While the El Niño weather pattern is waning, an estimated 60 million people worldwide are suffering from the droughts, floods and forest fires linked to the phenomenon, says the United Nations.
USDA approves Monsanto biotech corn resistant to dicamba
The U.S. government approved commercialization of a genetically engineered corn variety from Monsanto that tolerates the weedkillers dicamba and gulfosinate.
Republican-drawn House budget plan cuts food stamps by 20 percent
The largest U.S. anti-hunger program would be cut by 20 percent in the coming decade under the budget resolution now awaiting a vote on the House floor. Combined, the cuts total more than $150 billion, says the think-tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
ConAgra to label GMO foods; activists ask, ‘Who’s next?’
The seventh-largest food and beverage company in Canada and the United States, ConAgra Foods, says it will comply with Vermont's first-in-the-nation GMO food-labeling law by putting labels on products sold throughout the country.
Farm, consumer groups ask USDA to reinstate ‘grass-fed beef’ label
Two months after USDA terminated a voluntary program for labeling grass-fed beef, nine farm and consumer groups asked the department to spell out the conditions for using the term.
In North Carolina, hog manure is a civil rights issue
A nonprofit law firm and the Center for Civil Rights is using federal civil rights laws in a challenge to the pork industry in North Carolina, says Civil Eats. "This crisis involves the lasting impact of pollution from large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) housing pigs," writes Steve Holt.
ADM sues railroad over shipping delays
The Canadian Pacific is being sued by agri-processor ADM, which says service disruptions at its plants in North Dakota and Minnesota in 2013 and 2014 were due to the railroad's cost-cutting and pursuit of merger partners.
Senate chairman tells EPA to be judicious in ‘neonic’ review
The EPA should "proceed with utmost caution and continuously re-evaluate the underlying assumptions of your approach" in its ongoing review of neonicotinoid insecticides, said chairman Jim Imhofe of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Self-pollinating almond trees do away with bees
California farmers are turning to a new variety of self-pollinating almond tree, says NPR. With Independence almond trees, farmers don't have to hire commercial beehives.
Iowa congressman, backer of ethanol critic Cruz, draws primary challenge
Seven-term Rep. Steve King, a rock-ribbed Iowa conservative, is being challenged in the Republican primary by state Sen. Rick Bertrand of Sioux City in a contest where ethanol may be the elephant in the room.
Kellogg joins parade of foodmakers who will label GMO foods
Best known for its breakfast cereals, Kellogg Co. became the third major U.S. foodmaker in four days to say it will put GMO labels on is products nationwide to satisfy Vermont's first-in-the-nation label law, which is effective July 1.
Rice-growing experiment could cut water use by 50 percent
A massive farm in Central Valley, California, is teaming with Israeli water experts running the first ever experiment with drip irrigation for rice production in the U.S.
Don’t ask, won’t tell on the presidential trail
When it comes to food and agriculture policy, "we know very little about where the candidates stand," says Huffington Post's Joseph Erbentraut. "None of the presidential campaigns responded to our eight-question survey" on public nutrition, school lunches and farm subsidies.
Suspected case of mad cow in France, first in 12 years
A five-year-old cow in the Ardennes region of northeastern France may have the brain-wasting affliction known as mad cow disease, says Reuters. If confirmed, it would be the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the country since 2004.
Tyson Food loses pay dispute over ‘donning’ safety gear
The Supreme Court, on a 6-2 ruling, upheld a decision that Tyson Foods, the largest U.S. meatpacker, must pay $5.8 million in a wage dispute involving 3,000 workers at a pork processing plant in Iowa, reports the Associated Press.
What will happen to Cuba’s large organic farm sector?
U.S. farm groups see Cuba, with its $2-billion-a-year grocery list, as a neighborhood market for American-grown food. Less attention has been given to the impact of stepped-up food and agriculture trade, says Timeline.
Impasse on GMO labeling: state pre-emption meets mandatory disclosure
A third major food company, Mars Inc., says it will put GMO labels on its products nationwide and pointed to Vermont's first-in-the-nation labeling law as the impetus.
Eastern monarch butterfly at risk of extinction
The population of the Eastern monarch butterfly declined 84 percent in less than two decades, says a team of researchers.
Agriculture may help end the Cuban trade embargo, says Obama
The United States and Cuba, adversaries since the 1960s, agreed to cooperate in improving food production and conserving natural resources as part of President Obama's visit to Havana.