Today’s quick hits, July 7, 2023

Glyphosate decision: With the EU facing a decision about renewing its approval of glyphosate, an assessment of the weedkiller’s impact on human, animal, and environmental health “did not identify critical areas of concern,” said an EU agency that studies risks to the food chain. (European Food Safety Authority)

Farm Belt drought eases: Heavy rains in parts of the Midwest, from southeastern Nebraska to southern Indiana, reduced the portion of the corn and soybean crops in drought — 67 percent and 60 percent — by 3 percentage points each. (USDA)

Farmworkers pick UFW: In its biggest organizing success in years, the United Farm Workers unionized 500 workers at four orchards and a vegetable farm in New York State. (Guardian)

Fewer fireflies: Nearly one in three species of fireflies in the United States and Canada may be at risk of extinction, in large part due to habitat loss, according to a recent study. (Washington Post)

U.S. defends chlorpyrifos: Although the EPA announced a ban on the agricultural use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos almost a year ago, the government has stalled a proposed global ban on the chemical. (ProPublica)