After two long years of trying to pass a new Farm Bill—a giant, 5 year piece of legislation that funds everything from food stamps to agriculture subsidies to conservation programs—members … Read more
agriculture
COP 19 Update: Delivering the Message
This weekend marked the official end of the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Governments have agreed on a text after working through … Read more
Having Lost Thousands of Cattle to the Blizzard, Northern Plains Ranchers Need a Farm Bill
The recent blizzard in western South Dakota didn’t just dump up to four feet of snow in the Black Hills, northwestern Nebraska and northeastern Wyoming. In killing thousands of cattle, … Read more
Thinking of the Future at America’s Grasslands Conference
Like a herd of cattle heading to a stock tank, leaders in grassland conservation from all over the country are convening today in Manhattan, KS for two days of reflecting … Read more
Are Your Taxpayer Dollars Helping to Destroy Wetlands?
The Senate passed a 2013 Farm Bill that would stop this unbridled wetland drainage, but the House just refused to follow suit. Call your representatives and insist on wetland conservation … Read more
Heavy Rains, Runoff, Toxic to Wildlife
Lake Erie is experiencing a one-two punch of heavy rains and excess farm runoff that influences the magnitude of algae toxic to wildlife and humans. In a recent report: Taken … Read more
Is One of Our Country’s Greatest Conservation Achievements at Risk?
If I asked a group of people what this country’s greatest conservation success in last 25 years was, I might expect to hear stories about the protection of national forests, … Read more
Drought, Fire and Freeze: Lawmakers Consider Impacts of Extreme Weather on Agriculture
The votes are in and the winner for Most Arresting Title for a Senate Committee Hearing goes to the Agriculture Committee for yesterday’s hearing, “Drought, Fire and Freeze: The Economics … Read more
What I Learned About My Farm from Two Minutes in the Rain
Driving home one evening earlier this summer, I noticed a lot of water in roadside ditches after a sizable storm rolled through the area. I thought it would be a … Read more
