Farmers & Rural Communities
Montana Free Press: Tribal groups join lawsuit seeking restoration of $127 million in canceled farm grants
"The new plaintiffs are represented by lawyers from a variety of advocacy organizations, including FarmSTAND, Farmers’ Legal Action Group and Earthjustice. They argue that the USDA’s March grant terminations were…
Recently Shuttered USDA Program Grantees Join Suit to Restore $125M+ in Illegally Canceled Grants
LCM grantees join initial plaintiffs in case, who won a preliminary injunction restoring critical support for a fairer food system 24 organizations and local governments who had grant agreements under…
The New Lede: Pork lobbyist helping lead “nonpartisan” group working against state animal welfare laws
“You can look back at tobacco litigation … automobile safety,” [Leys] said. “This is a very well-worn corporate playbook.”
Public News Service: Sustainable farmers urge high court to reject Monsanto immunity bid
Nathan Leys, staff attorney for FarmSTAND, said with the rise of glyphosate-resistant weeds, farmers have been forced to use more toxic chemicals. He argued the cycle shows the dangers of…
Agri-Pulse: Holding Monsanto accountable in court is not what’s holding America’s farmers back
"What’s at stake before the high court is the legal exposure of a handful of 'Big Ag' executives, not the day-to-day realities farmers are facing."
The Chicago Tribune: Illinois farmers hope Supreme Court protects state safeguards in Roundup cancer case
“Shielding manufacturers from accountability is no way to run a modern country, especially when we understand more than ever about the risks,” Leys added.
Law360: 8th Circ. Ends 1st Amend. Challenge To Iowa ‘Ag-Gag’ Law
"'The panel diminished the First Amendment to protect property and business interests,' Muraskin said. 'The lack of concern for transparency harms the environment, animals, workers, and consumers.'"
Meatingplace: Agri Stats Fights Renewed Push to Open DOJ Antitrust Records
"Agri Stats asked a federal judge in Minnesota to reject an effort by advocacy group FarmSTAND to unseal confidential records in the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against the…
USDA Downplaying Worker Injury Toll from Increasing Meatpacking Line Speeds, Experts Say
Proposed USDA rules that would allow industrial animal ag corporations to speed up chicken, turkey, and hog slaughter and processing are based on a misreading of landmark worker safety studies, the co-lead principal investigators of those studies say in comments submitted late yesterday.