Cornucopia’s Take: The new and “less volatile” version of dicamba being sprayed on dicamba-resistant crops continues to drift onto neighboring fields, trees, and gardens. Controversy surrounding the extent of the damage rages on, and the University of Missouri professor who has been tracking the trouble has posted an update, including his personal disappointment that individual… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Cornucopia frequently receives questions about the integrity of organic store brands, which are often far cheaper than organic name brand and local organic foods. Private-label store brands typically source the cheapest product at any given time, making it difficult to discern the farm origin of their food and raising questions as to its integrity. Organic consumers… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: For over seven years, organic farmers and advocates have worked to improve organic animal welfare. While Cornucopia thought the proposal was weak, it was still withdrawn by the USDA in response to concerns raised by the giant confinement egg production operations.  And the withdrawal raises huge questions about the future of organic regulations… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: The Arkansas Plant Board recently banned the use of dicamba in the state because of the damage being done to farm fields from the toxic pesticide’s unwanted drift.  The ban extends through October 2018, and Monsanto is now challenging the ban in court. The EPA has separately struck a deal with the herbicide… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: A recent study on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in yellowfin tuna is drawing attention to chemicals people consume when they eat fish. More research is needed to determine the breadth of the contamination in fish and shellfish, as well as the potential hazards to human health. Study Finds Chemicals in Yellowfin Tuna Are Widespread… Read more »

Cornucopia’s Take: Farmers with extra food after the harvest often donate to charitable organizations like Second Harvest and local food pantries, making the farms eligible for the Enhanced Federal Tax Deduction. The Natural Resources Defense Council has created a PDF containing helpful information for donating farmers, and we have shared it below. A FARMER’S GUIDE… Read more »

Rodale’s Organic Life by Sarah West Source: Susy Morris Our how-to guide breaks it down into ten easy steps. 1. Shop, Prop + Prep To get started, you’ll need seeds and some gear. Prop up your seed-starting shelf in a dry location that stays between 50 and 75 degrees. (Air hotter than that along with… Read more »

Common Dreams by Sarah Lazare Source: Lock the Gate Alliance New report finds that the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership poses a threat to state regulations against hazardous pesticides, products, and fracking chemicals The mammoth Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) under secret negotiation between the United States and European Union is poised to slash… Read more »

Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen by Lisa Bunin, PhD, Organic Policy Director, Center for Food Safety Lisa Bunin, PhD Sure, I eat organic food because I think it’s healthier for me than food grown with synthetic, toxic agrochemicals or food that’s been genetically engineered or injected with growth hormones. But equally important to me are the multiple… Read more »