Author | Lightnews

Montana farmers see Canadian trade dry up due to tariffs

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 11

Another day, another sad story of #us #agriculture.

nbcmontana.com/news/local/m...

The Montana Farmers Union reports the Trump Administration’s widespread tariffs already caused a significant drop in the price of several crops -- and they say

nbcmontana.com

Trump administration axes EPA center that helps rural and tribal communities

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 10

Here's an opportunity to research #indigenous #agriculture squashed by #Krasnov. Anything even whiffing of #DEI or #environmentaljustice is now verboten.

www.cpr.org/2025/04/09/t...

The EPA canceled the grant that helped with sidewalks, stormwater systems and water quality because of its focus on environmental justice and diversity, records show.

www.cpr.org

In tough times, they sold farmers cheaper fungicides. A top manufacturer, Syngenta, intervened. - Investigate Midwest

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 8

Loyalty Programs: This is the biggest hammer used by Ag Mega Corporations to tamp down generic #pesticide competition as well as small company #innovation.

In tough times, they sold farmers cheaper fungicides. A top manufacturer, Syngenta, intervened.

investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/01/i...

When faced with generic competition, Syngenta tried to prevent cheaper pesticide options from reaching farmers, court records show. The company said it was protecting its investments and helping consu...

investigatemidwest.org

Abruptly Eliminating Social Security Phone Services Threatens Access to Benefits | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 8

We didnt cut social security. We just it made it that much harder for you to actually get the benefits you earned from a lifetime of work. www.cbpp.org/research/soc...

Starting April 14, phone service will no longer be an option for retirees and survivors applying for benefits, or for beneficiaries making direct deposit changes. Instead, these services will only be ...

www.cbpp.org

‘Clean water,’ ‘equity,’ ‘microplastics’ and other words banned in leaked USDA memo - Investigate Midwest

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 8

Brooke Rollins is #USDA Barbie. I've never seen a more uneducated and inexperienced Ag Sectretary ever. #embarrassment

‘Clean water,’ ‘equity,’ ‘microplastics’ and other words banned in leaked USDA memo

investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/07/c...

This story was originally published by Barn Raiser. On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump claimed his administration would end the “censorship of protected speech.” But actions speak ...

investigatemidwest.org

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 7

Thanks for your service. I've long worked with folks at OPMP and have great respect for their expertise and knowledge.

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 7

Svalbard is a must. The US Seed Bank is a must. I didn't catch the DOGE cuts here, thank you for sharing.

When Roundup isn’t Roundup anymore… - East Idaho News

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 7

Good reminder that Bayer formulated #glyphosate out of home & garden products a while ago. Always know your active ingredients! They're on the label.
www.eastidahonews.com/2025/04/when...

I was recently surprised to learn that Roundup Lawn and Garden products no longer contain the active ingredient glyphosate. Professional-use Roundup, for the agriculture and the turf and ornamental in...

www.eastidahonews.com

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 4

READ: Sorry/not sorry for tanking the 2025 season before it really even is fully underway. Anyone remember when #Krasnov tanked the US #soybean market in 2018 from his first term tariffs? Yeah, they clearly don't either.

www.farmprogress.com/farm-busines...

www.farmprogress.com

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 4

Which is accentuated by the fact that all sources i see are predicting a record corn harvest in the US, stealing ~5-6% of acreage from soybeans. I'm guessing we won't have the record yields we could get based on just this!!

www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Apr 4

The Expert Who Kept Eye Drops From Blinding You Was Fired Yesterday

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency terminated thousands of experienced public health professionals in an April Fools’ Day massacre. We’re all about to pay the ...

www.vanityfair.com

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 29

Weather and pest pressure have long been constant threats to #agriculture, but there is a shrinking #cropinsurance safety net for #specialtycrops. And we wonder why fruit, veg, and treenuts are getting so expensive....

grist.org/food-and-agr...

The $20B question hanging over America’s struggling farmers

Extreme weather wiped out billions in crops last year — but most federal aid may end up going to the wrong farms.

grist.org

Brazil's soybean boom shocks U.S. farmers

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 29

This is amazing. Thanks for sharing. I was just commenting to my partner that took an undergraduate class in the history of epi, which completely glossed over developments from this era and implied these principles were much younger than they actually are.

4

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 26

#Soybeans in #Brazil are taking off. And they love #biopesticides there.

www.farmprogress.com/soybean/braz...

Discover how Brazil's soybean production has skyrocketed, outpacing U.S. growth and reshaping global agriculture with staggering increases in acreage and exports.

www.farmprogress.com

Triggering parasitic plant 'suicide' to help farmers

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 23

Tricking parasitic #weeds into early emergence with strigolactones. #agriculture #research

phys.org/news/2025-03...

Parasitic weeds are ruthless freeloaders, stealing nutrients from crops and devastating harvests. But what if farmers could trick these invaders into self-destructing? Scientists at UC Riverside think...

phys.org

Insecticides may contribute to bigger problems with certain weeds

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 22

Addressing the use of at-plant preventative #insecticide application vs. #IPM based application ... does it lead to MORE weeds? And more importantly ... why? #agriculture #cropprotection

phys.org/news/2025-03...

Insecticides may help growers hoping to protect their crops from harmful insects, but they also may contribute to a larger amount of some weeds, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.

phys.org

The most innovative companies in agriculture for 2025

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 19

The most #innovative companies in #agriculture for 2025. Cool stuff. One of these companies was founded by ex-Monsanto people actually.

www.fastcompany.com/91268613/agr...

Why Diageo, Rodale Institute, Zero Foodprint, and more are among Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in agriculture for 2025.

www.fastcompany.com

Protecting crops: RNA-based substances open up new avenue to combat a widespread plant virus

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 19

Wow, really #innovative approach to ramping up the efficacy of #RNA #pesticides. Cone on #Canada, get on board with this #agtech. #cdnag #cropprotection

phys.org/news/2025-03...

New RNA-based active agents reliably protect plants against the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. They were developed by researchers at the Martin Lut...

phys.org

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 18

When you cut off the science arm, then you can't blow your science nose. But you can still cut off your science nose to spite your science face.

Vivasection lunacy.

thehill.com/policy/energ...

thehill.com

Give back the Statue of Liberty, French MEP tells US

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 17

Well then. Vive le France.

www.politico.eu/article/stat...

French Socialist MEP says Washington’s embrace of dictators negates the values that led France to bestow the iconic statue some 140 years ago.

www.politico.eu

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 15

They're coming for your #medicine after they take the #seedoil. Are they trying to increase heart disease? They hate #science. #resist #firerfkjr

apnews.com/article/seed...

Kennedy and influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists

Seed oils have been the focus of fiery critics from internet influencers to high-profile politicians like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

apnews.com

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 15

Totally.

Erik R. Janus @stretchenstuff.bsky.social · Mar 15

As they are saying up North now ... elbows up. Canada will never join the US.