Senate Committee Takes Historic Vote to Overhaul US Chemical Policy
MOFGA Announcements - 7/25/2012. In a historic vote today, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) passed S.847, the Safe Chemicals Act, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). This is the first time in over three decades that Congress has voted on any proposal to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a 36-year-old law that is widely considered to be outdated and ineffective at protecting health and ensuring chemicals used in everyday products are adequately tested for safety.
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Maine blueberry farmer lures tiny but mighty allies
Portland Press Herald - 7/25/2012. By Lynn Ascrizzi – In the organic, wild blueberry fields at Twitchell Hill Farm in Montville, a rosy green blush of new growth has been emerging from underground stems since early spring. Now, the white, bell-shaped blossoms that clustered on tender stalks are ripening into small, dark-blue fruit, promising a late-summer berry crop raised without pesticides or herbicides. |
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Woody agriculture – on the road to a new paradigm
Energy Bulletin - 7/25/2012. By Philip A. Rutter, B L. Rutter-Daywater, and S.J. Wiegrefe – According to chroniclers of the (1st) Renaissance, living inside it was exciting, but also dangerous, bewildering, and often lethal. Like right now. Thirty years ago, most historians would have blithely stated that Humanity emerged from the Renaissance spectacularly, with “progress” assured in all fields. We are again in a turbulent struggle to find a path forward for Humanity. |
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Gambling with our food
The Contrary Farmer - 7/25/2012. By Gene Logsdon – The drought that is affecting much of the Midwest is scary enough but what makes me even more nervous is the way speculators in the grain futures market are sending grain prices gyrating all over the place as they bet on what will happen next. Betting on the future supply of food is risky business. |
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