In The News
Law360: Iowa Again Loses Legal Fight To Save ‘Ag Gag’ Law
An Iowa federal judge on Monday ruled that a state law aimed at preventing animal rights activists from filming farming practices violates the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
Wall Street Journal: In Clampdown on U.S. Methane Emissions, Belching Cattle Get a Pass
The Biden administration is taking aggressive steps to curb the energy industry’s methane emissions, tightening pipeline regulations and spending billions of dollars to clean up abandoned coal mines and other…
Investigate Midwest: Former OSHA officials urge court to side with workers in case against OSHA
In mid-2020, workers at a Pennsylvania food processing plant sued the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They needed immediate protection from COVID-19, they alleged: They hadn’t been provided enough masks,…
NPR: How dairy farmers are cashing in on California’s push for cleaner fuel
California is trying to cut greenhouse emissions from the state’s cars and trucks, and in a controversial twist, its efforts are putting cash in the pockets of dairy farms across…
The Guardian: California subsidies for dairy cows’ biogas are a lose-lose, campaigners say
A coalition of climate, environmental and animal welfare groups is calling for California to remove the huge subsidies provided to dairy farms to turn animal waste into a form of…
Law360: Ex-DOL Officials Urge 3rd Circ. To Side With Meatpackers
A group of former senior U.S. Department of Labor officials are urging the Third Circuit to revive a suit alleging the government didn’t do enough to protect meatpackers from COVID-19,…
Law360: ‘Long Road Ahead’ For Tyson Workers Despite 8th Circ. Win
The Eighth Circuit recently rejected Tyson Foods’ bid to litigate twin coronavirus-related wrongful death suits in federal court, but the road remains uncertain for the families of deceased workers to…
Civil Eats: Dust Is a Growing Problem. What Role Does Farmland Play?
With a growing set of tools, scientists are digging into questions about the links between modern agriculture, drought, and rising incidents of dust storms and respiratory illness.
The Counter: Independent cattle ranchers continue fight against national checkoff program
For 28 years, rancher Kyle Hemmert ran cattle auctions out of his sale barn near Oakley, Kansas. He had a front-row seat as the industry changed over the decades, and…