anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger
@anneschech.bsky.social
4.1K followers 610 following 190 posts
Data, agriculture, food, CAFOs, sustainability, climate change, water, policy. Former Michigander and Iowan, current Minnesotan. Views are my own.
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Reposted by Anne Schechinger
profsecchi.bsky.social
Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 14h
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.
anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
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
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Reposted by Anne Schechinger
masbenmaas.bsky.social
Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 15h
Great work from the folks ag EWG! From thr report...

"We found that adopting the four best conservation practices on just 1% of continuous corn acres each in the four states would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at an amount that would be like taking over 850,000 cars off the road."
anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
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
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
Ag conservation practices can help. We found that adopting the four best conservation practices on just 1% of continuous corn acres each in the four states would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at an amount that would be like taking over 850,000 cars off the road. See report for more info. 4/4
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
Significant fertilizer use to grow continuous corn also generates nitrate pollution of drinking water, which has dangerous public health harms including several types of cancer and birth defects in babies. EWG has previously found widespread nitrate pollution in drinking water in Midwest states. 3/4
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
This matters because corn requires significant fertilizer to grow, which generates greenhouse gas emissions including nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, and agriculture is the main contributor, representing 79% of all U.S. nitrous oxide emissions. 2/4
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15h
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
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 1d
"The findings suggest that only about a quarter of climate articles in 11 major US outlets, including the Guardian, mention food and agriculture as a cause. And of the 940 articles analyzed, only 36 – or 3.8% – mentioned animal agriculture or meat production." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Meat is a leading emissions source – but few outlets report on it, analysis finds
Sentient Media reveals less than 4% of climate news stories mention animal agriculture as source of carbon emissions
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Anne Schechinger
bryceoates.bsky.social
Bryce Oates @bryceoates.bsky.social · 5d
Trump's USDA is Engaging in Partisan Politics. That is a Threat to us All, and Could/Should Be Illegal.
Trump's USDA is Engaging in Partisan Politics. That is a Threat to us All, and Could/Should Be Illegal.
The USDA website has been a mess all year. Now they've crossed the line.
open.substack.com
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 6d
I think a lot of us haven't known what we can do about all of this *waves hand* in 2025. But one thing that makes me feel better is knowing that I'm not on the wrong side of history. I'll keep talking about what the government is doing (and not doing) to hurt the environment, climate, public health.
kairyssdal.bsky.social
Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 6d
One of my many, many questions about America in 2025 is how long it will take for people to realize they’re on the wrong side of history
ryanenos.bsky.social
Ryan Enos @ryanenos.bsky.social · 6d
My best guess is still that we will get through to the other side with our democracy intact. The question for university leaders is whether they want to live with the shame of having been on the wrong side of history.
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 12d
Just a staggering transfer of wealth from taxpayers to mostly large commodity farms. "Since 2018, USDA and/or Congress have paid nearly $176 billion in inflation-adjusted economic assistance to farmers." farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/09/hist...
History & Tough Reality: When Payments Do More Harm Than Good, Consider Other Options - farmdoc daily
Jonathan Coppess and Otto Doering - Maybe history can provide handrails in turbulent, difficult times. For many farmers, this harvest season threatens such times. Some of the crops being combined in f...
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 13d
New research from @farmdocdaily.bsky.social shows that public support for #farmsubsidies has decreased, while it has increased for food assistance. And yet the One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased farm subsidy money while decreasing food assistance. farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/09/do-c...
Do Changes in Food and Agriculture Policy Align with Changes in Public Priorities? - farmdoc daily
Brenna Ellison, Jonathan Coppess, and Maria Kalaitzandonakes -
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 15d
Me: “I like to say we’re in this gold-rush era of regenerative certifications and claims, because everyone, essentially, is rushing to label their food products, to label conservation practices—anything a farm is doing—as regenerative.” @insideclimatenews.org insideclimatenews.org/news/2209202...
Regenerative Agriculture Is All Over the Agenda at Climate Week NYC. But What Does It Mean? - Inside Climate News
Critics say the term is vague and are pushing for specific standards so consumers aren’t lured into false climate promises.
insideclimatenews.org
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 16d
There are so many "regenerative" food claims that don't restrict synthetic fertilizer or pesticide use on farms, or require annual/third party auditing. We also found examples of products claiming to be regenerative, without describing what that means. 2/2 brothersbondbourbon.com/products/bro...
Brother's Bond® Regenerative Grain Bourbon
A testament to our commitment to sustainable craftsmanship Mash Bill: 73% Corn, 10% Rye, 8% Wheat & 9% Malted Barley Each bottle is crafted using grains cultivated through regenerative agriculture...
brothersbondbourbon.com
anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 16d
New @ewgofficial.bsky.social piece published today, exposing different "regenerative" food certifications. We found that USDA organic, “Regenerative Organic”, and "Demeter" certifications were the best guarantee a food has been produced with regenerative practices. 1/2 www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Beware misleading ‘regenerative’ claims on food
Some food companies are making “regenerative” claims on their product packages or in their advertising – but these statements may not be everything they seem to be.
www.ewg.org
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 16d
It was a great experience talking with people at #farmaid40 about @ewgofficial.bsky.social's Meat and Dairy Label Decoder as well as our work on nitrous oxide emissions from big ag this weekend! And getting to see some of the performers was unreal. @farmaid.org
Performers including Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price speak at the Farm Aid 40 press conference before the concerts. A photo of EWG's Midwest Team at Farm Aid 40.
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 20d
One last reminder to come visit us from @ewgofficial.bsky.social at our booth at the Farm Aid 40 HOMEGROWN Village this Saturday! We will be talking about decoding meat and dairy food labels, and big ag's impact on the environment, climate and public health. @farmaid.org #FarmAid40
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 22d
Trump should be getting rid of tariffs instead of potentially making taxpayers, who are also struggling in this economy, pay billions of dollars in another farm bailout. Subsidies mostly go to largest farms, so aid would not help struggling small farms. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/09/usda...
USDA Considering Economic Aid, Secretary Rollins Says - Farm Policy News
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working with Congress to evaluate whether economic aid might be needed for the nation's farmers this autumn amid trade disputes and record-high yields, Agricultur...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 23d
Good explainer piece in @nytimes.com about the clash between MAHA and the GOP on pesticides. Is it a clash that most of us predicted in January? Yes. But it will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of it. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/c...
G.O.P. Plan on Pesticides Faces Revolt From MAHA Moms
www.nytimes.com
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 26d
While nitrous oxide makes up a small portion of total U.S. #GHGs, it's the number one source of GHGs from agriculture (even bigger than methane), and it is almost 300 times more powerful than CO2. It is not often talked about, but it's a powerful #GHG and 79% of US N2O emissions come from ag.
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 26d
I got to be a contributor on a new report from the McKnight Foundation that was released yesterday. It's a first of its kind look at the sources of nitrous oxide emissions and how farmers, policymakers and fertilizer manufacturers can lead the way in reducing emissions. www.mcknight.org/n2oaction/
Report: Nitrous Oxide – A Hidden Threat Report: Nitrous Oxide – A Hidden Threat
It’s time to bring one of agriculture’s biggest climate challenges into the spotlight. NITROUS OXIDE — A HIDDEN THREAT dives into the overlooked but potent greenhouse gas that’s quietly contributing t...
www.mcknight.org
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 27d
If anyone is coming to Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis next week, come visit us! Me and my @ewgofficial.bsky.social colleagues will be hosting an activation in the Homegrown Village to talk about food labels, and the environmental and climate harms from big ag. www.farmaid.org/festival/the...
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 27d
Me in a new @civileats.com story by @megwilcox.bsky.social: “Crop insurance is getting more expensive because of climate change, [yet] spending more money on climate resilience practices could lower [those] costs... We’re spending money for the wrong things." civileats.com/2025/09/10/a...
As Extreme Weather Increases Flooding on Farms, Federal Support for Climate Resilience Evaporates
USDA’s staffing cuts, scuttled conservation programs, and misdirected crop insurance are hitting farmers hard.
civileats.com
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Reposted by Anne Schechinger
megwilcox.bsky.social
Meg Wilcox @megwilcox.bsky.social · 28d
Taxpayers foot 63% of crop insurance payouts & climate change is driving up costs. Far less funding goes to conservation practices which could help lower those costs.
@anneschech.bsky.social @ewg-official.bsky.social
@nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social @civileats.com

civileats.com/2025/09/10/a...
As Extreme Weather Increases Flooding on Farms, Federal Support for Climate Resilience Evaporates
USDA’s staffing cuts, scuttled conservation programs, and misdirected crop insurance are hitting farmers hard.
civileats.com
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 28d
Extremely hypocritical that GOP members of Congress from Minnesota, who voted to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from SNAP in the OBBBA, sent a letter to Gov Walz claiming that his administration has "weakened" the program. GOP cutting $ = weakening program. finstad.house.gov/2025/9/finst...
Finstad Leads Charge to Hold Minnesota Accountable on SNAP
Congressman Brad Finstad
finstad.house.gov
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anneschech.bsky.social
Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 29d
Statement from @ewgofficial.bsky.social about the MAHA report released today. "The report acknowledges “confidence” in the Environmental Protection Agency’s “robust” pesticide review process, with zero words about banning the use of harmful pesticides." www.ewg.org/news-insight...
EWG: MAHA report parrots pesticide industry playbook, abandoning RFK Jr.’s promises
The Environmental Working Group today criticized the Trump administration’s final “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, report for abandoning MAHA leaders’ promises to ban toxic agricultural chemical...
www.ewg.org
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