Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 5m

This piece by @ucs.org does a great job explaining the over-production problem in US ag that pushes prices paid to farmers down. There would be multiple benefits - for farmers and the climate - if we produced less corn. And had the #FarmBill reforms to support it. blog.ucs.org/kathryn-ande...

Why Planting Too Much Corn Hurts Farmers—and the Environment

US agriculture encourages farmers to plant too much corn, which drives prices down and increases pollution that harms our water and climate.

blog.ucs.org

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 23m

The limits of voluntary corporate climate commitments exposed once again as Nestle backtracks. How much good publicity and/or money did they raise associated with their broken promise? www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Nestle Bows Out of Initiative to Reduce Dairy’s Climate Impact

The food giant has left the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from herds of cattle.

www.bloomberg.com

Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 37m

Two of the biggest players in the highly concentrated beef sector settle price-fixing charges, after consumers accused Tyson and Cargill of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef prices by restricting supply. www.producer.com/daily/tyson-...

Tyson, Cargill to pay $88 million to consumers in U.S. beef price-fixing lawsuit | The Western Producer

Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to pay a combined $87.5 million (C$122.1 million) to settle a federal lawsuit brought by consumers who accused the companies of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef pric...

www.producer.com

Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 6h

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 Ben Lilliston

Civil Eats @civileats.com · 1d

We looked into the backgrounds of the most prominent individuals currently working on food and agriculture within federal agencies.

What follows is the first full accounting of those individuals’ past and present links to corporations.

The Industry Ties Within Trump’s Food and Ag Leadership

Many of the president’s top officials at USDA, EPA, HHS, and FDA have connections to chemical, agribusiness, or fossil fuel interests.

buff.ly

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 2d

Let's hope New Mexico doesn't repeat the mistakes of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and rig the climate accounting to favor factory farm gas - www.wastedive.com/news/new-mex...

New Mexico begins debating clean fuels program; plus RNG news from Vanguard, Ameresco

Stakeholders are weighing in on how the country’s fourth state clean fuels program will be shaped. As in other states, environmental groups are hoping to nix a policy that benefits renewable natural g...

www.wastedive.com

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Minneapolis Fed @minneapolisfed.bsky.social · 2d

Where and how much are tariffs showing up in consumer prices? Daily retail price data analyzed by Harvard Business School Pricing Lab give a more detailed view than government statistics. @jeffhorwich.bsky.social breaks down the data with economist and Pricing Lab co-founder Alberto Cavallo.

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 2d

The Trump Admin's trade fights are lowering crop prices, but so are low Mississippi River levels affecting exports. Barges need to lighten loads to get through. Fourth year in a row this has happened - a predicted #climate risk. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/10/low-...

Low Mississippi River Levels to Again Disrupt Harvest Shipping - Farm Policy News

Water levels in parts of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are likely to reach critically low stages soon, forcing shippers to light-load harvest-season grain barges for the fourth year in a row.

farmpolicynews.illinois.edu

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 2d

Finally caught up on this. Truly enjoyable ride knocking down Balmer and his apologists + forestry carbon offset company (and now foundation/nonprofit) acting as a money laundering tool to violate NBA salary cap. NBA/Balmer's crisis comms people sleeping?

Pablo Torre @pablo.show · 9d

Hello. A special Monday drop: youtu.be/Ab7k09CI9qI?...

Kawhi's Agent Pushed Aspiration to Pay Up. The Feds Closed In. Ballmer Made a Quiet Donation. | PTFO

YouTube video by PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT

youtu.be

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

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.

The USDA website has been a mess all year. Now they've crossed the line.

open.substack.com

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 5d

"The preliminary class action settlement disclosed on Wednesday is the largest in more than seven years of antitrust litigation by the consumers against pork producers" www.nbcnews.com/business/con...

Tyson Foods to pay $85 million in largest pork price-fixing settlement

Dozens of supermarket chains, including Kroger; restaurant chains, including McDonald’s; food producers; and food distributors have also sued over pork prices.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) @nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social · 7d

🗞️The government shutdown is hurting farmers nationwide. Vital USDA services (loans, disaster aid, conservation funding, & food safety) are halted or at risk. Congress & the President must act now. Farmers can’t wait! Read NSAC's press comment:
sustainableagriculture.net/blog/comment...

Comment: NSAC Laments Government Shutdown as It Harms Farmers, Halts Progress

NSAC responded to the October 2025 government shutdown, warning that it threatens vital USDA services such as farm loans, disaster aid, and food safety inspections. NSAC urged Congress and the Preside...

sustainableagriculture.net

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 6d

I assume so - not seeing anything in regen plans about pesticide reductions and potatoes.

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 6d

I raise a few questions about McDonald's commitment to regen ag here. @nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social puts this initiative in context, including major cuts to #USDA staff managing programs that could help farmers. Great reporting by @clairek.bsky.social www.foodandpower.net/latest/mcdon...

How McDonald’s Latest Regenerative Beef Investment Falls Short — Food & Power

RFK Jr. praised McDonald’s $200M donation as the Trump administration cuts USDA staff that support rangeland conservation. Rather than fund short-term projects, advocates want McDonald’s to pay ranche...

www.foodandpower.net

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 7d

While a U.S. government shutdown looms, Congress has once again failed to pass a new Farm Bill, jeopardizing crucial programs that farmers and rural communities depend on. Read our statement: www.iatp.org/2018-farm-bi...

As Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill, its expiration leaves farmers and rural communities in the dark

MINNEAPOLIS—In response to the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill on September 30 — and no new Farm Bill to take its place — the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) has issued the followin...

www.iatp.org

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Angie Rupchock-Schafer @angrschafer.bsky.social · 8d

It was a total blast running into the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social at #FarmAid in Minneapolis!

Even better!? Learning about all their #FarmToSchool work in the Homegrown Village 🌱

www.iatp.org/farm-school-... @farmaid.org

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Nick Levendofsky @nickblev.bsky.social · 8d

newrepublic.com/post/201064/...

Camerawoman Captures Scott Bessent’s Texts, Exposing White House Panic

Why we all need screen protectors, feat. Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary.

newrepublic.com

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Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 8d

Minnesota farmer Hannah Bernhardt explains how seeing other young farmers using sustainable agriculture practices inspires her to stay on the land growing for the future. Moses Momanyi talks about creating co-ops to grow and sell food together:

Young Minnesota Farmers Explain How They're Hopeful for the Future of Farming

Minnesota farmer Hannah Bernhardt grew up on a farm during the devastating 1980s Farm Crisis. She explains how decades later, seeing other young farmers using sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices inspires her to stay on the land growing for the future. Moses Momanyi and Lonah Onyancha spe

youtu.be

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 10d

A drop in land values has played a role in past farm crises.

"Overall, the report showed a 12-month drop of 2.2% in farmland values across the state." www.americanfarmlandowner.com/post/new-rep...

New Report Shows Small Dip in Iowa Farmland Values

Farmland values in Iowa decreased slightly over the past six months, according to the latest Land Trends and Values Survey released by the REALTORS® Land Institute – Iowa Chapter. The report, which re...

www.americanfarmlandowner.com

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 12d

It seems clear that one of the goals of the Trump Admin is to dismantle large parts of the USDA. This will make it harder for farmers to access programs, including conservation programs that protect water, soil, and the climate. sustainableagriculture.net/blog/usda-st...

USDA Staffing Crisis: Conservation Staff Losses Will Further Undermine Services to Farmers and Ranchers

USDA is facing a proposed reorganization that, if implemented, would deepen the staffing crisis already set in motion by past efforts to dismantle key divisions, including the Natural Resources Conser...

sustainableagriculture.net

Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Oliver Ward @oliward.bsky.social · 12d

Trump's comments today on directing some tariff revenues to farmers begs the question: "how?" 1/4

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 13d

Cattle are particularly vulnerable to drought. Despite an historically small cattle herd, policymakers still not considering the implications.

"It's not gonna be easier to do what we do for a living. It will only get harder and harder." www.cbsnews.com/news/vermont...

Vermont drought is hitting dairy farmers hard as they turn to costly measures to care for cattle

An ongoing drought in Vermont is depleting feed crops, causing problems for dairy farmers who have been pushed to adapt and take costly measures to care for their cattle.

www.cbsnews.com

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Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 13d

"The divergence between US trade lanes and global shipping patterns represents a fundamental shift in global trade dynamics."

gcaptain.com/tariffs-spli...

Tariffs Split Container Shipping: U.S. Imports Sink as Global Trade Grows

The container shipping industry is experiencing an unprecedented divergence in the market, with US-bound trade lanes suffering significant declines while routes to other regions show surprising streng...

gcaptain.com

Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 13d

“I get the feeling that after fall harvest, if farmers aren’t able to pay their bills at the co-op, or pay their fertilizer bill, spray bill, seed bill, that kind of thing, then that means they’re struggling to put food on the table, too.”

investigatemidwest.org/2025/09/24/t...

These rural communities feed the world. They’re also going hungry. - Investigate Midwest

Over the last four decades, America’s agricultural output has nearly doubled, as the production of livestock and crops has not only fed the nation but also fueled growing food demand in Asia and South...

investigatemidwest.org

Reposted by Ben Lilliston

Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 13d

So just to be clear: The US is propping up Argentina’s economy, and now Argentina can eliminate its export taxes, so it can sell tons of soybeans to China, so China isn’t forced to buy soybeans from the US, so the US can pay subsidies to keep our farmers solvent.

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

China expands Argentina soybean buying to 20 cargoes, traders say

Chinese importers kept up a hectic pace of Argentine soybean purchases after the South American supplier's move to abolish export taxes temporarily made its prices competitive, traders said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

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