Anne Schechinger
@anneschech.bsky.social
Data, agriculture, food, CAFOs, sustainability, climate change, water, policy. Former Michigander and Iowan, current Minnesotan. Views are my own.
Definitely not good news. www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/h...
Washington resident dies of complications from bird flu strain never before reported in humans | CNN
A Washington resident died of complications from an infection with a bird flu strain never before reported in humans, the state Department of Health said on Friday.
www.cnn.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Definitely not good news. www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/h...
Some pretty serious fraud claims about the insurance division of Farm Bureau Financial www.newsfromthestates.com/article/laws...
Lawsuit claims Farm Bureau hid fraudulent activity from insurance regulators
Two alleged whistleblowers are suing Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and its affiliates for alleged racketeering, wrongful termination and concealment of information from state regulator...
www.newsfromthestates.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Some pretty serious fraud claims about the insurance division of Farm Bureau Financial www.newsfromthestates.com/article/laws...
New today: at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we just released our updated Conservation Database. We now have conservation funding by practice for multiple different conservation programs, down to the county level for most programs. Found over $31B went to farmers 2017-2024. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Updated EWG database finds over $31B spent on U.S. farm conservation programs
MINNEAPOLIS – Between 2017 and 2024, U.S.
www.ewg.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM
New today: at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we just released our updated Conservation Database. We now have conservation funding by practice for multiple different conservation programs, down to the county level for most programs. Found over $31B went to farmers 2017-2024. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Big news- at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we have reached a settlement in our lawsuit with Tyson Foods. Under the settlement, Tyson will stop making “net zero” and other climate claims for five years, including “climate-smart beef”. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Tyson Foods agrees to stop making ‘net-zero’ and ‘climate-smart beef’ claims
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group has re
www.ewg.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Big news- at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we have reached a settlement in our lawsuit with Tyson Foods. Under the settlement, Tyson will stop making “net zero” and other climate claims for five years, including “climate-smart beef”. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
My readers are excited about the possibility of Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Iowa secretary of agriculture.
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
"We deserve better": Why Chris Jones may run for secretary of agriculture
"What farmers do affects everyone"
laurabelin.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My readers are excited about the possibility of Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Iowa secretary of agriculture.
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
One thing that I was surprised to see in the deal to end the govt shutdown and that is actually a good thing- the bill requires the USDA to continue the ag census, including measuring livestock facilities/animal counts by county, which had been cut by previous admin. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Trump Signs Bill to Fund Government and Extend Farm Bill Programs
President Donald Trump on Wednesday night signed a funding bill after the House voted 222-209 on Wednesday evening to end the 43-day shutdown. The bill provides short-term funding through January 2026...
www.dtnpf.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
One thing that I was surprised to see in the deal to end the govt shutdown and that is actually a good thing- the bill requires the USDA to continue the ag census, including measuring livestock facilities/animal counts by county, which had been cut by previous admin. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
That Trump "trade truce" with China is really working out well for US farmers... farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/11/chin...
China Buys More Brazil Soybeans as US Purchases Stall - Farm Policy News
China’s purchases of American soybeans appear to have stalled, less than two weeks after the US touted a wide-ranging trade truce that signaled thawing relations between the world’s two biggest econom...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
That Trump "trade truce" with China is really working out well for US farmers... farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/11/chin...
Unsurprisingly, the deal to open the govt has a lot of bad parts. Extremely disappointing to see it cut funding for USDA Climate Hubs. I have used a lot of their research in my work when recommending the best conservation practices to improve farm #climate resilience. www.eenews.net/articles/env...
Environment takeaways from the spending deal
The Senate approved a three-bill spending package for fiscal 2026. Lawmakers also passed a stopgap for the rest of the government.
www.eenews.net
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Unsurprisingly, the deal to open the govt has a lot of bad parts. Extremely disappointing to see it cut funding for USDA Climate Hubs. I have used a lot of their research in my work when recommending the best conservation practices to improve farm #climate resilience. www.eenews.net/articles/env...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
If I’m reading the senate deal correctly, they’re planning to get rid of payment limits on USDA conservation programs like EQIP.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
If I’m reading the senate deal correctly, they’re planning to get rid of payment limits on USDA conservation programs like EQIP.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
BREAKING: The Trump administration asked an appeals court on Friday to immediately halt a judge's recent ruling that would require the government to pay food stamps in full. (That's supposed to happen by today.) In short, it could again jeopardize critical aid to millions of poor families. Story TK.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
BREAKING: The Trump administration asked an appeals court on Friday to immediately halt a judge's recent ruling that would require the government to pay food stamps in full. (That's supposed to happen by today.) In short, it could again jeopardize critical aid to millions of poor families. Story TK.
The USDA has transferred billions of dollars to a slush fund at the Office of the Secretary for the farmer trade bailout. Shockingly, the money seems to be coming from the Conservation Reserve Program and Dairy Margin Protection Program, and even potentially loans. www.govexec.com/management/2...
USDA transfers $13B into ‘slush fund’ for future tariff relief
The move has left the department incapable of delivering some mandatory farmer aid programs, and is raising concerns in Congress.
www.govexec.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The USDA has transferred billions of dollars to a slush fund at the Office of the Secretary for the farmer trade bailout. Shockingly, the money seems to be coming from the Conservation Reserve Program and Dairy Margin Protection Program, and even potentially loans. www.govexec.com/management/2...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Are we living in a post Farm Bill world? We try to answer this question and more in our latest Q&A.
Two years past the current Farm Bill's original expiration date, the future of the next Farm Bill is still unclear. In a new Q&A, IATP's Michael Happ explains what we know, what we don't, and what might be coming next: www.iatp.org/farm-bill-qa...
Q&A: What's next for the Farm Bill?
On top of trade turmoil and a U.S. government shutdown, Congress has still not passed a new Farm Bill, the primary legislation that sets a majority of U.S. food and farm policy and funding. The future...
www.iatp.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Are we living in a post Farm Bill world? We try to answer this question and more in our latest Q&A.
Every story on this topic needs to mention the cost of daycare in the U.S. In the Twin Cities, spending $25k a year on infant/toddler care at a daycare center is common. And it's even more expensive in cities on East/West coasts. Of course people are having less kids. www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
People are having fewer kids. Their choice is transforming the world's economy
Family size around the world is dropping. That choice by couples is triggering a population shift that's sending shock waves through economies.
www.npr.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Every story on this topic needs to mention the cost of daycare in the U.S. In the Twin Cities, spending $25k a year on infant/toddler care at a daycare center is common. And it's even more expensive in cities on East/West coasts. Of course people are having less kids. www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
Trump Administration Is Legally Required to Provide SNAP in Shutdown, Contrary to Its Claims
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency r...
www.cbpp.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
It was a great getting to talk about our work at the Reducetarian Foundation Summit this past weekend in Atlanta. For 8 years @ewgofficial.bsky.social has been using satellite/aerial imagery to locate factory farms on the landscape to help our fight for clean water and healthy communities.
October 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It was a great getting to talk about our work at the Reducetarian Foundation Summit this past weekend in Atlanta. For 8 years @ewgofficial.bsky.social has been using satellite/aerial imagery to locate factory farms on the landscape to help our fight for clean water and healthy communities.
Lots of people have opinions on Trump's decision to increase Argentine beef imports. Argentina only accounts for 2.2% of U.S. beef imports currently, so quadrupling their imports as proposed would make them still only a small share of the total U.S. beef supply. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Fact Check: Can Argentine Beef Really Lower U.S. Prices?
The U.S. is already importing more beef than at any time on record, but Argentina currently accounts for just under 2.2% of total U.S. beef and veal imports. Looking at the numbers, it doesn't seem pr...
www.dtnpf.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Lots of people have opinions on Trump's decision to increase Argentine beef imports. Argentina only accounts for 2.2% of U.S. beef imports currently, so quadrupling their imports as proposed would make them still only a small share of the total U.S. beef supply. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Trump is certainly showing who he is to farmers and ranchers. Of course, ranchers don't set consumer prices - that's controlled by the big 4 companies (JBS/Tyson/Cargill/Natl Beef) that dominate the beef sector, several just settle price-fixing cases. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/t...
Trump says U.S. cattle ranchers 'don't understand' tariffs after some slam Argentine beef plan
President Donald Trump said U.S. cattle ranchers "don't understand" how they have benefitted from his tariffs, adding that they "have to get their prices down."
www.cnbc.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Trump is certainly showing who he is to farmers and ranchers. Of course, ranchers don't set consumer prices - that's controlled by the big 4 companies (JBS/Tyson/Cargill/Natl Beef) that dominate the beef sector, several just settle price-fixing cases. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/t...
"Mr. Trump has committed to a destructive mix of tariffs, bailouts, biofuels mandates and immigration crackdowns that will make consumers pay more for food and saddle taxpayers with more debt. It’s a bizarre combination of crony capitalism and agricultural socialism." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/o...
Opinion | They’re Small, Yellow and Round — and Show How Trump’s Tariffs Don’t Work
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"Mr. Trump has committed to a destructive mix of tariffs, bailouts, biofuels mandates and immigration crackdowns that will make consumers pay more for food and saddle taxpayers with more debt. It’s a bizarre combination of crony capitalism and agricultural socialism." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/o...
People have talked about ag biologicals being silver bullets for a long time. We know by now that they are not. But potentially some hope on reducing nitrogen pollution/nitrous oxide emissions in the future. ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
Should Farmers Use Microbial Biological Products? It Depends. - Offrange
Microbial products made for improving crop growth, also known as biologicals, are a billion-dollar industry, but the promises touted by these products might be too good to be true.
ambrook.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
People have talked about ag biologicals being silver bullets for a long time. We know by now that they are not. But potentially some hope on reducing nitrogen pollution/nitrous oxide emissions in the future. ambrook.com/offrange/tec...
As an avid @mprnews.org listener, it was extremely exciting to talk with @paulhuttnerweather.bsky.social for Climate Cast this week! We talked about my recent report for @ewgofficial.bsky.social on continuous corn, and its associated nitrous oxide emissions www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...
Report: Corn fertilizer is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions
A new report from the Environmental Working Group shows the use of nitrogen fertilizer to grow corn year after year on the same land results in a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
www.mprnews.org
October 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
As an avid @mprnews.org listener, it was extremely exciting to talk with @paulhuttnerweather.bsky.social for Climate Cast this week! We talked about my recent report for @ewgofficial.bsky.social on continuous corn, and its associated nitrous oxide emissions www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
This week on Climate Cast from @mprnews.org, EWG's @anneschech.bsky.social tells us why a corn-corn crop rotation is bad for the environment.
The short of it is that corn requires a lot of fertilizer, and that fertilizer requires a lot of energy to make.
one.npr.org/i/fis-414685...
The short of it is that corn requires a lot of fertilizer, and that fertilizer requires a lot of energy to make.
one.npr.org/i/fis-414685...
🔊 Listen Now: Report: Corn fertilizer is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions
Climate Cast from MPR News on NPR One | 4:37
one.npr.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This week on Climate Cast from @mprnews.org, EWG's @anneschech.bsky.social tells us why a corn-corn crop rotation is bad for the environment.
The short of it is that corn requires a lot of fertilizer, and that fertilizer requires a lot of energy to make.
one.npr.org/i/fis-414685...
The short of it is that corn requires a lot of fertilizer, and that fertilizer requires a lot of energy to make.
one.npr.org/i/fis-414685...
Farm Action is sending a petition to Ag Secretary Rollins to undo the cuts to USDA's local food programs and ensure that USDA sends potential bailout funding to small farmers who grow actual food, not just large commodity growers. Anyone can sign the petition here: farmaction.us/tell-secreta...
SIGN THE PETITION
Join us in urging USDA to stand with family farmers—not corporate giants—to rebuild local, healthy food systems.
farmaction.us
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Farm Action is sending a petition to Ag Secretary Rollins to undo the cuts to USDA's local food programs and ensure that USDA sends potential bailout funding to small farmers who grow actual food, not just large commodity growers. Anyone can sign the petition here: farmaction.us/tell-secreta...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
An overview. @profsecchi.bsky.social and @anneschech.bsky.social also write about this and point out the absurdity of USDA crowing about 2M farms to justify welfare programs. Reality: there is high concentration and only 1.9M "farms" and shrinking.
www.ers.usda.gov/publications...
www.ers.usda.gov/publications...
October 14, 2025 at 2:34 PM
An overview. @profsecchi.bsky.social and @anneschech.bsky.social also write about this and point out the absurdity of USDA crowing about 2M farms to justify welfare programs. Reality: there is high concentration and only 1.9M "farms" and shrinking.
www.ers.usda.gov/publications...
www.ers.usda.gov/publications...
Me in a new @insideclimatenews.org article talking about our new @ewgofficial.bsky.social report: "Nitrous oxide is powerful. It lasts a long time. But it’s also something that these types of conservation practices can really have an impact on reducing." insideclimatenews.org/news/0810202...
Growing ‘Continuous Corn’ Drives Emissions of a Powerful Greenhouse Gas. It Doesn’t Have To. - Inside Climate News
Corn monocropping emits higher levels of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas which traps heat in the atmosphere more than 300 times as effectively as carbon dioxide. Simple interventions could drastically...
insideclimatenews.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Me in a new @insideclimatenews.org article talking about our new @ewgofficial.bsky.social report: "Nitrous oxide is powerful. It lasts a long time. But it’s also something that these types of conservation practices can really have an impact on reducing." insideclimatenews.org/news/0810202...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Another EWG 🎯, read the 🧵
“the top 4 practices that would generate the largest reductions in GHG emissions on continuous corn […] are: riparian forest buffers, tree or shrub establishment, hedgerow planting & windbreak establishment”
Note how these are all PERMANENT practices,unlike cover crops.
“the top 4 practices that would generate the largest reductions in GHG emissions on continuous corn […] are: riparian forest buffers, tree or shrub establishment, hedgerow planting & windbreak establishment”
Note how these are all PERMANENT practices,unlike cover crops.
New @ewgofficial.bsky.social analysis released today from me and @albine14.bsky.social. We found that just under 15 million cropland acres across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are used for continuous corn, representing 20% of the total harvested cropland. 1/4 www.ewg.org/research/fer...
Fertilizing ‘continuous corn’ drives major source of farm greenhouse gases, but conservation can help
Millions of acres in four major Corn Belt states are used to grow "continuous corn” on the same fields year after year, requiring significant use of
www.ewg.org
October 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Another EWG 🎯, read the 🧵
“the top 4 practices that would generate the largest reductions in GHG emissions on continuous corn […] are: riparian forest buffers, tree or shrub establishment, hedgerow planting & windbreak establishment”
Note how these are all PERMANENT practices,unlike cover crops.
“the top 4 practices that would generate the largest reductions in GHG emissions on continuous corn […] are: riparian forest buffers, tree or shrub establishment, hedgerow planting & windbreak establishment”
Note how these are all PERMANENT practices,unlike cover crops.