Maine farmers criticize pesticide law repeal
Bangor Daily News - 6/15/2011.AP – Augusta: The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is criticizing a new law that eliminates what some consider redundant notifications of pesticide applications. Associate Director Heather Spalding says the repeal signed Tuesday by Gov. Paul LePage is “an attack on people’s right to know about pesticides.” |
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Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to birth size
Reuters - 6/14/2011. Reuters – Exposure to even moderate amounts of certain pesticides during pregnancy may affect infants' birth size, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among nearly 500 newborns whose umbilical cord blood was tested for pesticide residues, those with higher levels tended to be smaller at birth. |
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Poison apples bad for consumers, Snow White
Grist - 6/14/2011. By Tom Philpott – Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) sifts through USDA testing data and figures out which "Dirty Dozen" fruits and veggies deliver the largest doses and the widest variety of pesticides. This year's winner, announced Monday: apples. According to EWG, 92 percent of the apples tested by the USDA carried two or more pesticide residues. |
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Save and grow (new FAO report)
Energy Bulletin - 6/14/2011. The challenge: To feed a growing world population, we have no option but to intensify crop production. But farmers face unprecedented constraints. In order to grow, agriculture must learn to save. The Green Revolution led to a quantum leap in food production and bolstered world food security. In many countries, however, intensive crop production has depleted agriculture’s natural resource base, jeopardizing future productivity. |
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