Nationwide, there are some 300,000 new farms since 2002. And the farmers? More diverse than ever, including a higher number of women. This is a genuine source of hope for American agriculture.
Good News From Iowa by Verlyn Klinkenborg. NYT, Feb 9, 2009.
( in its entirety here. )

Now and then I will save a magazine with an article in it I particularly like. Over time there end up being a few magazine piles around my home, and as I'm winnowing through items these days, I go through these caches, taking the time to quickly look through the table of contents to see why I saved one to begin with. Every now and then there's an ( Read more... )

The BBC provides informative graphics and stats on The cost of food: facts and figures -- price rises in a single year (March 2007-2008) and the map that shows the impact of projected food price increases are especially troubling. I found the graphics after reading more about food riots in Haiti, and long lines for government subsidized rice in ( Read more... )

I'm always on the look-out for simple and persuasive examples of how the federal farm bill causes all kinds of woe, and is mostly an impediment to biodiversity, organic farming, small farmers, sustainable agriculture, and well, yes, common sense. This op-ed is a quick read and an effective if egregious example -- if you're looking for one. I ( Read more... )