Food Policy

illustration of a farmer with a no-RWR sticker on their tractor, in the San Luis valley of Colorado. Illustration by Sarah Gilman.

As Drought Hits Farms, Investors Lay Claim to Colorado Water

August 10, 2022

The debate over how to treat water—as a public resource or an investment tool—is escalating as climate change accelerates the water crisis in the West.

The Field Report: What the Historic Climate Bill Means for Farmers and the Food System

By Lisa Held

August 9, 2022

Op-ed: Farmworkers Face Stress and Depression. The Pandemic Made It Worse.

By Amy Quandt and Luis Flores

July 28, 2022

Migrant farm laborers have their temperature checked in King City, California. (Photo credit: Brent Stirton, Getty Images)

California Takes a Step Toward Restricting Bee-Killing Pesticides

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters

July 22, 2022

Close-up of honey bee pollinating almond blossom in Northern California almond orchard. California contributes over 80% to the worldwide almond market with many of those almonds being grown in Butte County.

The Field Report: In DC, Lawmakers Push ‘Common Sense’ Food Waste Solution

By Lisa Held

July 13, 2022

Food donations are piled up on a table in the wake of a natural disaster.

Do Regulations Designed to Promote Nutrition Make WIC Food Lists Too Restrictive?

By Lisa Held

July 12, 2022

This Pilot Program Is Supporting Tribal Food Sovereignty with Federal Dollars

By Kalen Goodluck

July 5, 2022

Op-ed: With Food Prices on the Rise, Is a ‘Bean New Deal’ the Answer?

By Matthew Miles Goodrich, The Nation

July 1, 2022

A man working in the garden planting beans and legumes

The Field Report: New Report Says Plans to Reduce Methane Fall Short on Big Meat and Dairy

By Lisa Held

June 29, 2022

A New Bill Aims to Ban Mergers in Ag and Food Sectors

By Bryce Oates, Daily Yonder

June 14, 2022

The US Is a Dumping Ground for Illegal Seafood. Some Lawmakers Want to Clean Up the Market

By Lee Van der Voo

June 13, 2022

The Field Report: Tom Vilsack on How the USDA Can Transform the Food System

By Lisa Held

June 2, 2022

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces Food System Transformation at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2022. (USDA photo by Tom Witham)

Op-ed: East Buffalo Needs Community-Driven Structural Investments, Not Fly-In, Fly-Out Charity

By The Food Equity Scholars, U.B. Food Lab

May 24, 2022

Mourners light candles at a makeshift memorial outside of Tops market on May 16, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

What the Insect Crisis Means for Food, Farming—and Humanity

By Tilde Herrera

May 19, 2022

journalist oliver milman and the cover of his new book, the insect crisis

Op-ed: Food Price Spikes Are About Much More than Ukraine

By Jennifer Clapp

May 16, 2022

NYC Street Food Vendors: ‘We’re Not Hurting Anyone’

By Max Rivlin-Nadler, Hell Gate

May 13, 2022

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 07: People gather for a rally held in support of street vendors targeted by NYPD in Hudson Yards in Manhattan on May 07, 2021 in New York City. Various organizations and elected officials along with street vendors gathered to speak about the alleged targeting of street vendors by NYPD, who Mayor Bill de Blasio had announced would no longer oversee street vendor enforcement. In January, City Council passed Intro 1116, a bill that lifted the permit cap for street vendors by 4,000 permits for the first time since the 1980s. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

In the Face of Numerous Threats, Bees Are Producing Less Honey

By Lisa Held

May 9, 2022

The Field Report: We Asked the USDA About Its New Garden—and Its Larger Climate Goals

By Lisa Held

May 5, 2022

Tom Vilsack breaks ground at the USDA People's Garden. (Photo credit: Tom Witham, USDA)

Op-ed: Monopolies Are Giving Chicken Farmers a Raw Deal. We’re Urging States to Act.

By Patti Anderson and Mike Weaver

May 2, 2022

Manual worker in farm for broiler chickens

$1,000 a Month for Farmworkers? Proposed Payments Aim to Help Amid Drought

By Melissa Montalvo, CalMatters

April 29, 2022

MESA, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Agricultural laborers pick lemons inside the orchards of Samag Services, Inc, where they grow Avocado, Lemons and Oranges. The bottom has fallen out of the Avocado market as restaurants close during this period of the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Agricultural workers have become essential workers in the race to maintain Americas food supply while simultaneously staying healthy. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images.)

The Field Report: Congress Grills Beef Industry Leaders Over Consolidation

By Lisa Held

April 28, 2022

Coy Young (right) and other ranchers testify in front of the House Agriculture Committee on cattle price fixing on April 27, 2022. (Photo by the House Agriculture Committee)

US Farmland Increasingly Controlled by Foreign Investment

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

April 22, 2022

The Field Report: Conservation Dollars Funding CAFOs Instead of Soil Health

By Lisa Held

April 19, 2022

industrial agriculture tractors working in a corn or soy or wheat field

How Mexican Public Health Advocates Fought Big Soda and Won

By Lisa Held

April 18, 2022

As Dollar Stores Proliferate, Some Communities Push Back

By Wesley Brown

April 13, 2022

Lays potato chips are displayed at a Dollar General store in Vallejo, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Food Policy

As Drought Hits Farms, Investors Lay Claim to Colorado Water

The Field Report: What the Historic Climate Bill Means for Farmers and the Food System

Op-ed: Farmworkers Face Stress and Depression. The Pandemic Made It Worse.

California Takes a Step Toward Restricting Bee-Killing Pesticides

The Field Report: In DC, Lawmakers Push ‘Common Sense’ Food Waste Solution

Today’s food system is complex.

Do Regulations Designed to Promote Nutrition Make WIC Food Lists Too Restrictive?

This Pilot Program Is Supporting Tribal Food Sovereignty with Federal Dollars

Op-ed: With Food Prices on the Rise, Is a ‘Bean New Deal’ the Answer?

The Field Report: New Report Says Plans to Reduce Methane Fall Short on Big Meat and Dairy

A New Bill Aims to Ban Mergers in Ag and Food Sectors

The US Is a Dumping Ground for Illegal Seafood. Some Lawmakers Want to Clean Up the Market

The Field Report: Tom Vilsack on How the USDA Can Transform the Food System

Op-ed: East Buffalo Needs Community-Driven Structural Investments, Not Fly-In, Fly-Out Charity

What the Insect Crisis Means for Food, Farming—and Humanity

Op-ed: Food Price Spikes Are About Much More than Ukraine

Thank you for being a loyal reader.

NYC Street Food Vendors: ‘We’re Not Hurting Anyone’

In the Face of Numerous Threats, Bees Are Producing Less Honey

The Field Report: We Asked the USDA About Its New Garden—and Its Larger Climate Goals

Op-ed: Monopolies Are Giving Chicken Farmers a Raw Deal. We’re Urging States to Act.

$1,000 a Month for Farmworkers? Proposed Payments Aim to Help Amid Drought

The Field Report: Congress Grills Beef Industry Leaders Over Consolidation

US Farmland Increasingly Controlled by Foreign Investment

The Field Report: Conservation Dollars Funding CAFOs Instead of Soil Health

How Mexican Public Health Advocates Fought Big Soda and Won

As Dollar Stores Proliferate, Some Communities Push Back