Thanks to Dan Flynn and Food Safety News for highlighting the likely causes of three E. Coli 0157:H7 outbreaks in romaine lettuce in 2019. These contamination episodes sickened at least 188 people. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cattle fecal matter from nearby feedlots caused all three of the 2019 E. Coli O157:H7 […]
California Study Raises the Question: Are Monarchs the New Canary in the Coal Mine?
Monarch butterflies need milkweed to survive. Declining populations of this iconic butterfly have been driven by many factors, but until recently, one undisputed factor has received the most attention — the loss of milkweed in the wake of the near-universal adoption of Roundup Ready corn, soybean, cotton canola, alfalfa, and sugarbeets. And these are serious […]
Europe is Calling for a 50% Reduction in Pesticide Use by 2030, But Insect Advocates Say More is Needed
A consortium of environmental groups are urging EU policy makers to do more to protect declining insect populations as part of the European “Green Deal.” As ABC news has reported , the EU’s sweeping climate proposal seeks to make Europe “the first climate-neutral continent.” It calls for, among other things, several major ag and land […]
New Video Highlights Benefits of Animals on Pasture
A new video features lush pastures, grubby farmers, and happy cows showing off the benefits of pasture-based animal agriculture. Produced by the Real Organic Project, a “a farmer-led movement created to distinguish soil-grown and pasture-raised products under USDA organic,” the video Raising Animals on Pasture highlights the animal welfare, nutritional, and environmental advantages of animals on pasture. […]
Key science: Many Little Hammers and Integrated/Ecological Weed Management
Liebman and Gallandt, 1997 Matt Liebman and Eric Gallandt, “Many Little Hammers: Ecological Management of Crop-Weed Interactions,” In Ecology and Agriculture,” Ed: L.E. Jackson, 1997, Academic Press. SUMMARY: This is the first introduction of the phrase “many little hammers” to describe what is now known as integrated weed management, or IWM. IWM relies on using a […]
Bayer Apologizes and Opens Investigation in Response to French Inquiry into Monsanto Tactics
Reuters reports that Bayer has issued an apology and will open an external legal investigation into attempts by Monsanto to influence journalists and politicians. Bayer had to take action after French prosecutors opened an investigation following media complaints that Monsanto, which was purchased by Bayer last year, had compiled a file of 200 names of […]
Herbicide Graphics Portfolio
Videos and Prezis Please cite Hygeia Analytics as a source for all materials unless otherwise noted. Resources below are in either video or prezi format. To view infographics, charts, and other static resources, see that section of the Portfolio here. Prezi is a software tool for creating dynamic, zoomable presentations. To view, just push the […]
A Tale of Two Dairies: Farms at Risk From the Emerging Threat of PFAS Chemicals
“Forever chemical” contamination of groundwater is both extremely hazardous and difficult to clean up or otherwise mitigate. They don’t break down, and can continue to move through the hydrogeological system for years, often ending up in wells used for human and livestock drinking water, and crop irrigation. In a compelling, detailed story by Chris Clayton, […]
Secretary Purdue Needs a Weed-Management 101 Briefing
In a carefully orchestrated exchange during an April 9, 2019 House Appropriations Committee hearing, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue asserted that Europe is an “[ag] technology-free zone” and will pay a big price as agricultural productivity suffers. What prompted this striking assertion? Coverage of the Secretary’s comments in EURACTIV.com identifies what prompted the […]
Guest Blog: A Dicamba Update from the Save Our Crops Coalition
Reprinted with permission from an email update sent March 26, 2019 by Steve Smith, Senior Director of Agriculture for Red Gold and Chairman of the Save Our Crops Coalition. Links and photos added by Hygeia. For background on the dicamba drift crisis, see our Special Coverage. Updates are coming fewer and farther between as the […]