Why the FDA's Plan to Regulate Gene Editing in Animals Has Some Scientists Worried
The agency's new plan retains several key limitations on animal biotechnology, despite language promoting innovation.
Agriculture
Inside the Land Rights Struggle for the Descendants of Runaway Slaves in Brazil
Communities made up of fugitive slave descendants have been forced from their lands and denied their rights, a situation that may only get worse under newly elected president Jair Bolsonaro.
Oregon's Extreme Drought Looks Set to Continue
The Oregon drought this year is most striking because it covers many coastal areas known historically as some of the wettest in the country.
Here's What Trump Gets Wrong About California's Water Supply
No, the state does not really have plenty of water.
Behind the Partisan Fight to Eliminate the Country's Largest Conservation Program
With Congress at an impasse, sustainability advocates worry the farm bill could cut funds for conservation and give more to agriculture's biggest polluters.
What Hurricane Michael Meant for Farms, Oil Production, and Nursing Homes
Preliminary estimates of the damage are just coming in.
With Hurricane Michael, Southern Farmers Face a 'New Normal'
Extreme climate events wreak havoc on agriculture, and farmers are trying to adjust—but entrenched industry and government practices may be holding them back.
The Cost of Cleaning Up Nitrate Contamination Falls on America's Poorest Counties
A new report estimates that remediating contaminated small water systems could cost up to $666 a year per person.
What Will Happen Now That the Farm Bill Has Expired?
The current farm bill expired on Sunday, putting the debate over key USDA programs that protect public health and the environment on hold.
A New Study Reveals Global Drivers of Deforestation
Commodity-driven deforestation is most responsible, with farming and forestry also playing a major role in the global tree cover loss.
The Exceptional State: An Accounting
Where California outshines other states, and by how much.
The Trump Administration Calls for More Water and Less Regulation in California's Central Valley
The announcement prompted the California State Water Resources Control Board to postpone its vote on a proposal restricting agricultural water use in the Delta.
Inside an Unsuccessful Effort to Turn Vacant Lots Into Urban Farms
A tax incentive aimed at getting landowners to allow their unused lots to become urban farms has generated little interest in Los Angeles County.
Despite Billions in Relief Payments, American Farmers Are Still Hurting From Trump's Tariffs
An economist explains how the trade conflict with China continues to harm American farmers as well as the overall economy.
California Regulators Consider Conservation Protections for the State's Largest Estuary
Conflict over the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta has played out over decades of back-and-forth between regulators and farmers.
Is It Safe to Eat Local Produce After a Wildfire?
New findings could help unravel the larger mystery of how pollution affects produce.
How Litigation Has Become Rural America's Best Bet to Curb Farm Pollution
Those living near factory farms have to contend with noxious odors, toxic emissions, and swarms of insects, and have had little success in obtaining relief—but that is changing.
Breaking Down the Complex Case of Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture
Due to a mix of factors around the issue there is a risk we may be moving toward a non-ideal situation for animals and humans alike.
How Chicken Activists in California Broke the Law to Start a Reasonable Debate About Animal Cruelty
A protest in Petaluma, California, prompts the question: Do we have a right to help farm animals that are suffering?
Could Hemp Be a Lifeline for Struggling Farmers?
Hemp, which produces valuable CBD oil, is set to become recognized as an agricultural crop this year, and could provide a much needed influx of revenue for Western agriculture.
Monitoring the Dangerous Decline of Wild Bees
Bees are an essential part of food production and a healthy ecosystem, so following the rise and fall their populations is essential.
The Edit, Episode #10: The Great, Chaotic Biochar Experiment
On the latest episode of Pacific Standard's podcast about how our stories are made, a feature story about Australian plant ecologist Brenton Ladd—an outsider who wants to save the region's trees.
California's Delta Tunnels Project Has Funding, but Regulatory Issues Remain
A recent funding decision has put the ambitious water project on firmer financial ground, but California Water Fix must still clear numerous regulatory and legal hurdles.
Uncovering the Literal Roots of Your Ideology
New research suggests our ancestors' agricultural practices may have shaped our beliefs and assumptions.