@earthjustice.org @iatp.bsky.social

Good reporting on how the big 4 meat companies share info to manage production to set a price ceiling for ranchers and higher prices for consumers thefern.org/2026/02/big-...

"The hazards of confined spaces on farms and dairies are a well-known and persistent cause of death in agriculture across the U.S. — often from exposure to odorless and colorless noxious gases, or due to asphyxiation in closed spaces where oxygen has been depleted" apnews.com/article/colo...

Bayer has secured a string of favors from the Trump administration. What's going on? We looked at the German pesticide and pharmaceutical giant, its lobby firms and their ties to power players in Trump's Washington. Here's what we found: usrtk.org/pesticides/t...

Former ICE agent: My first day training new cadets, I received secretive orders to teach them to violate the Constitution by entering homes without a warrant. I watched ICE cut classes that teach our legal system, firearms training, use of force, lawful arrests, and the limits of officers' authority

Donald Trump’s new 15% global tariff will most greatly benefit countries he has singled out for heavy criticism, including China and Brazil. Long-standing US allies including the UK, the EU and Japan will suffer the largest hit from the new levy. ft.trib.al/O1tXfR7

Story of Mexican immigrant dairy farmworker in Stearns County, MN: No holidays. No paid vacation. No health insurance. “Trabajo, trabajo, trabajo” www.startribune.com/tolkkinen-in...

The shaky ground of these touted "deals" has always been in question: are they legally binding, how firm and for how long are tariff commitments, how are claimed purchasing commitments enforced? We may find out. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/b...

Today, the Supreme Court announced its decision to strike down Trump's tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. We applaud this decision — but the damage to farmers has already been done. Read our full statement here: www.iatp.org/statement-su...

It is welcome news that the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s unlawful tariffs. Today’s ruling vindicates the work my fellow attorneys general and I have been doing to rein in this lawless president and stand up for Minnesotan's rights, freedoms, and pocketbooks.

New Jersey. You got a problem with that?

Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs. A stitched together majority, as expected. Read along thread here.👇 www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

House Agriculture Committee releases its newest farm bill draft On Friday, February 13, the House Agriculture Committee released a new draft of their proposed farm bill, representing the first movement towards a new farm bill since May 2024. 1/5

New investigation: Investigate Midwest analyzed national data and extensive reporting across rural America and found that counties with the highest pesticide use often overlap with higher cancer rates. investigatemidwest.o...

Trump Admin moves to protect multinational seed/chemical giant Bayer/Monsanto. "The Defense Production Act provides a pathway for companies to be shielded from certain liability suits" www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...

“Judges are no longer willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the federal government that they’re acting in good faith and with the integrity expected of government lawyers." Justice Dept. Lawyer Is Found in Contempt by Federal Judge www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...

Two female ICE agents popped the hood of their car and knocked on the door of a mechanic born in Mexico. He went out to help. “A bunch of agents jump out and tackle him, essentially restraining him, and take him away...His six kids are now without their father." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

New from USDA on economics of dairy - fewer, bigger farms. From 2000 to 2024, "Total economic costs, which include opportunity costs such as unpaid labor and land, were covered by the average dairy farm in only 4 years." ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/...

UFCW on Trump Admin/USDA decision to increase line speeds in meat/poultry processing: “Today’s move risks taking us back to the days of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, where terrible working conditions in meatpacking plants left workers sick and injured at alarming rates" www.ufcw.org/press-releas...

1/ Today's Farm Policy News Summary covers how "the number of U.S. #farms shrank by 15,000 in 2025, bringing the total to 1.865 million, USDA said (last week) in its Land in Farms report." "This continues a long-lasting trend of declining farm numbers." farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2026/02/numb...

"This [Farm Bill] draft perpetuates the status quo that enriches and empowers corporate agribusiness. The result is an accelerating farm crisis that continues to hollow out rural communities across the US.” Read more: shorturl.at/cC6vl 🪡2/2 We're in DC this week 4 our spring fly-in. Stay tuned!

Last Friday, the House Agriculture Committee released a draft Farm Bill. In the face of a farm crisis, this bill keeps in place a brittle, fragile status quo that has brought us to this point. Read our full statement here: www.iatp.org/iatp-comment...

Are you paying more for groceries because of s secret and illegal deal between Pepsi and Walmart? Yes. And it's probably a much larger problem than that. vist.ly/4rrne @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social @moreperfectunion.bsky.social

To offset transportation emissions, California is paying hog farms in North Carolina to turn manure into renewable gas. Although six NC farms are selling carbon credits to the other side of the country, the operations’ permits already have civil rights complaints against them.

Trump's perfect storm for ag economy: hurt exports, diminish USDA, attack labor. “What we’re hearing from the farmers is the workers are going to decide to go to another state. There’s jobs out there. You don’t have to come to Minnesota.” www.startribune.com/minnesota-fa...

Nearly a decade has passed since the last Farm Bill was written and approved by Congress. Will we ever have one again — and why does it matter? New from Claire Carlson: ambrook.com/offrange/leg...

This happened multiple times while I was in the car with observers. In one case, agents led an observer to her own home. When they drove away, she continued following them. Minutes later, more agents showed up at her house and banged on the door. Her wife, terrified, pretended she wasn't home.

Vows of accountability and collecting potential evidence are vital at this moment.

How far can ICE/DHS go to intimidate people trying to protect their community? Nearly 100 people submitted sworn statements in this case, but could have included many more. ICE Agents Menaced Minnesota Protesters at Their Homes, Filings Say www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...

This visualization of daily activity of ICE is unreal.

“They were hellbent on not allowing anybody to help him until he was dead,” she said. “I was right there, and they — all of them — made the decision to deny me access to give him the best possible chance of survival.”

Corn growers want DOJ investigation of fertilizer cartel, but. "Just days after the TCPA sent its letter, Abigail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division, was ousted from her job." www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...

US India trade "deal" apparently is a very fluid situation. "the US removed a reference to pulses — a staple food in India that includes lentils and chickpeas — and changed some phrasing around India’s offer to buy more American goods." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Greater Minnesota, too: ‘Not the same town anymore:’ ICE surge hit businesses in Worthington, where 1 in 3 are immigrants minnesotareformer.com/2026/02/13/n...

Yesterday upwards of 300 million people across India held a national strike. Numerous unions and farmers' groups flooded the streets, shutting down large segments of the economy. One of the key demands was a withdrawal from the trade deal struck with the Trump administration.

How not to do it: Germany has spent decades investing in biogas - what lessons for Ireland, Poland, Spain & other MS? Op-ed by Sophie Scherger @iatp.bsky.social www.arc2020.eu/learning-fro... #EnergyTransition #Biogas #Germany @seobirdlife.bsky.social @nabu.de @foeeurope.bsky.social

The lying is endemic to ICE/DHS culture, from top to bottom. The victim's lawyer: “The identity of the ICE agent should be made public and he should be charged for his crime.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...

Cargill certainly holds close a lot of data/info about food markets. The closure was meant to “better align” the company's portfolio with “current customer demand” and future investments - www.startribune.com/cargill-grou...

IATP was proud to join NSAC’s lobby day in Washington, DC yesterday, calling on Congress to take real action to address the farm crisis, fund conservation & local food programs, and support sustainable, long-term solutions to keep farmers on the land. sustainableagriculture.net/blog/release...

And now Gail Slater, the chief antitrust enforcer at DOJ, has just resigned, a prelude to this settlement happening. Slater was cut out of the negotiations with MAGA lobbyists on the Live Nation case. DOJ is just a corrupt shell at this point.

Farms & food processing feeling ICE attacks. "the federal immigration effort has swept up many agricultural workers with no criminal record, often deploying tactics that advocates, lawyers and judges say push the limits of probable cause and due process" investigatemidwest.org/2026/02/11/t...

From a water quality and climate perspective, the overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer is a top challenge. "Every year, US farmers apply between 30 and 50 percent more synthetic nitrogen fertilizer than their crops can actually absorb" www.ucs.org/resources/le... Less Fertilizer, Better Outcomes

More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...

"Never in my 43-year career have I seen the whispering, the cautious wording and the intellectual emasculation of leaders in this industry because no one dares betray even the slightest hint that they've had a negative or critical thought about this administration."

The Department of Labor's Inspector General warns that #OSHA enforcement staff is at an all-time low, threatening the health and lives of American workers. jordanbarab.com/confinedspac...

Not a surprise inspection. “All detainees I observed were shackled at the ankles, even while sleeping and in the holding cells...I did not see any detainee who had a blanket, pillow, sleeping pad, or cot. I saw men sleeping on the floor with no bedding.” www.startribune.com/immigration-...

Farmers and rural residents made their voices heard at our first two People’s Town Hall meetings of 2026 today in Austin and Owatonna. Folks are concerned about a number of issues, including harmful trade policies, the ICE surge in MN, and lack of access to affordable healthcare.

As an organizer, he helped win back $6M+ in stolen wages for low-wage workers--it's clear who the real criminals are, & it's not who's getting detained. Great coverage from @sarahlazare.bsky.social- & good to see the petition mentioned is now at 5k signatures workdaymagazine.org/worker-organ...

Important story directly tied to the Trump Admin's decision to cut staff at #USDA - and declining trust farmers have in USDA as survey participation drops. Agbiz companies with their own private data/info at a bigger advantage now - www.reuters.com/business/usd...

Depending on the emissions scenario analysed, PIK's new study in @pnas.org shows 36-50% of land with suitable climatic conditions for grazing today will experience a loss of viability by 2100, affecting more than 100mill pastoralists and up to 1.6bill animals🐄🐐🐑 www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/late...