Environmental, anti-hunger groups join opposition to House farm bill
Anti-hunger groups, environmentalists, and fiscal conservatives are mobilizing against the House Republicans’ proposed farm bill ahead of its markup later this week, arguing that it benefits agribusiness at the expense of low-income people, taxpayers, and the climate.
Tyson plant closures left contract chicken farmers with debt and uncertainty
Tyson Foods says recent plant closures were aimed at “driving out waste from the business.” Contract chicken farmers are now stuck with uncertainty and massive loans.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Electric spoon: Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings will start selling an electrified spoon that researchers claim can promote healthier eating by enhancing salty tastes without extra sodium. (Reuters)
Pathogens travel with livestock: Tens of millions of farm animals cross state lines every year in the U.S., traveling in cramped, stressful conditions that can facilitate the spread of disease. (New York Times)
Cocoa farmers track plots: An EU law that aims to make chocolate more sustainable by requiring that it be traceable has left farmers racing to map their plots with GPS. (Wall Street Journal)
Oregon’s B-Team: Under a new project at Oregon State University, volunteers trained by the school’s Extension office will survey the state’s 780 species of bees and the plants that support them in an effort to better assess their status prior to federal evaluations. (USDA)