Publication archives

May 5, 2020

US-Kenya FTA and the rights to land and food

Karen Hansen-Kuhn

You might be surprised to learn that while we’re all sheltering in place and wondering what comes next, trade negotiations that could set labor, environmental and climate rules for decades to come are moving forward. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced plans to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Kenya. This would be the first free-trade agreement the U.S. has negotiated with an African nation.

May 4, 2020

Minnesota regulators side with mega-farm

Tara Ritter

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released its decision last week on whether to permit Daley Farms, one of the largest dairies in the state, to expand from 1,500 to 4,000 cows. Despite concerns about climate change and water quality impacts of industrial feedlots, the agency decided to award Daley Farms a permit to expand.

May 1, 2020

Cold hard (storage) facts about meatpacker threats of scarcity

Dr. Steve Suppan

"It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” said Smithfield Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth Sullivan when he announced the closing of its Sioux Falls, South Dakota slaughterhouse due to a COVID-19 outbreak among more than 200 Smithfield workers.

Apr 22, 2020

COVID-19 aid offers little for farmers selling locally

Tara Ritter

Late on Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), a $19 billion payout that includes cash for farmers and ranchers and purchases food for redistribution to food banks.

Apr 20, 2020

Revisiting Crisis by Design: Corporate concentration in agriculture

Sharon Anglin Treat

The horizontal concentration in nearly all aspects of agricultural production, processing and distribution that began in the 1980s has become entrenched.

Apr 20, 2020

Revisiting Crisis by Design: Climate change — crisis by denial?

Ben Lilliston

Climate change is increasingly disrupting farmers, the agriculture economy and rural communities. The growth of industrial agricultural operations and practices are increasing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Apr 20, 2020

Revisiting Crisis by Design: The agricultural technology treadmill

Dr. Steve Suppan

Agricultural technology has enabled overproduction of agricultural commodities, which has left farmers dependent on taxpayer funds in most years to compensate for low commodity prices. Technology adoption statistics do not measure the impacts of technologies on rural communities, particularly in developing countries.