Soil and Climate

08/06/2021

A unique ‘pig toilet’ and a diet of organic leftovers are part of former vet Kees Scheepens’ plans to put animal welfare and sustainability first

18/03/2021

‘This is not just the men’s protest. We toil on the fields alongside the men. Who are we—if not farmers?'

10/03/2021

Brown was invited to explain how climate change is affecting farmers and ranchers.

25/02/2021

Today is a turning point for regenerative agriculture in America! The first hearing of the new Agriculture Committee, led by Chairman Congressman David Scott, will include a screening of Kiss the Ground Movie trailer as well as testimony from one of the film’s stars, North Dakota regenerative rancher Gabe Brown (Brown's Ranch) & partner at Understanding Ag, LLC.

The award-winning documentary on regenerative agriculture impacted Chairman Scott so much that he chose to incorporate it in his first hearing as Chairman titled, “Climate Change and the US Agriculture and Forestry Sectors."

We’re grateful for Chairman Scott's enthusiasm for regenerative agriculture and soil health, and look forward to continuing to work with him and other members of Congress to bring forth the wide-scale adoption of regenerative agriculture. The next hearings led by Chairman Scott will be on discrimination of Black farmers and human health, which we look forward to supporting as well.

Please note: Kiss the Ground is not alone in this effort! For the last 8 years, we've worked alongside a diverse group of organizations and individuals to ensure soil health practices are prioritized at the federal level. To keep the conversation going, we're working with Chairman Scott to host a private Q+A on the film with a diverse expert panel for members of the House of Representatives and their staff.

For those interested in learning more and getting involved, here are some actions you can take and share with your community:

🌱 Watch the livestream today starting at 9:30 am PST / 12:30PM EST at http://bit.ly/Feb25Hearing.

🌱 Write to your Representatives and encourage them to watch Gabe’s testimony and learn about soil health & regenerative agriculture via www.soilpolicyaction.us.

🌱 Thank Chairman Scott via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and/or email! Repost or reshare this post on all social platforms. Be sure to tag him.

20/02/2021

Three contentious laws that will change the way India's farmers do business have sparked one of India's biggest protests and a months-long standoff with the government.

Since November, tens of thousands of protesting farmers demanding repeal of the laws have been camping out on highways on the outskirts of Delhi.

The new laws will loosen rules that have long protected farmers from the vagaries of the market.

18/02/2021

The global obesity rate is on the rise, having nearly tripled since the 1970s. Hasan examines how federal policy and corporations like Coca-Cola helped Ameri...

11/12/2020

France will give financial aid to farmers who agree to halt use of glyphosate, the farm ministry said on Monday after President Macron said he had failed with efforts to ban use of the weedkiller by 2021.

24/11/2020

Glyphosate May Affect Human Gut Microbiota

More than half of bacterial species in the core of the human gut microbiome are potentially sensitive to glyphosate, shows new research. Researchers from the University of Turku introduced the first bioinformatics resource to determine and test the potential sensitivity of organisms to glyphosate.

Read More Here: press release from the study's scientists!
https://bit.ly/2KClmVg

23/09/2020

If you've lost hope, but want to believe there's a better way - to take care of the planet, to take care of your health and your local community - then Kiss the Ground Movie
is the movie for you! In an age of conflict, it's more important than ever to Keep Hope Alive - tune in tonight to Kiss the Ground's GLOBAL PREMIERE - join an All-Star Cast - Woody Harrelson, Gisele Bündchen, Ian Somerhalder
Dr. Mark H. Hyman
Pashon Murray, Doniga Markegard, Ryland Engelhart and Josh and Rebecca Tickell on Facebook Live tonight!

25/03/2020

We know that people are concerned right now, but in this time of crisis we’re hoping that we can all take a moment to remember the important connections that bring us together. Thursday, March 26th, an incredible film about the interconnectedness of nature called Fantastic Fungi is launching a special viewing opportunity.

We know that people are concerned right now, but in this time of crisis we’re hoping that we can all take a moment to remember the important connections that bring us together. Thursday, March 26th, an incredible film about the interconnectedness of nature called Fantastic Fungi is launching a special viewing opportunity.

WATCH Fantastic Fungi from the comfort of your home and JOIN a special Online Q & A Conversation with Louie Schwartzberg, the film’s director and the world-famous mushroom expert Paul Stamets, who has worked for decades to bring the amazing power and knowledge of mushrooms to the public.

Join US with Louie and Paul tomorrow: https://fantasticfungi.com/connect/

In case you didn’t know, mushrooms are a high protein food that can help build our immunity, clean contaminated soils and have been used as a healing medicine for centuries by indigenous cultures.

Join Us Today to make sure the Mycelium Network Remains Strong & Connected!

In response to the Coronavirus, we are making the film Fantastic Fungi available to rent or buy as a digital download.

It's time now to truly gather as a united global mycelium network from the comfort and safety of your home.

You won't want to miss this!

On March 26th, we will offer three times throughout the day to connect with every corner of the world:

FIRST Q&A
1:00 pm PST /8:00 pm London Time/9:00 pm Paris Time.

SECOND Q&A
6:00 pm PST/9:00 pm EST/8:00 pm CST

THIRD Q&A
9:00 pm PST/10:00 pm MST

Join US with Louie and Paul tomorrow: https://fantasticfungi.com/connect/

23/02/2020

"A jury on Saturday awarded US$ 250 million in punitive damages to a southeastern Missouri peach farmer who argued that weedkiller dicamba that had drifted onto his orchards from other farms had severely damaged his trees — an award that could bode well for over 140 other farmers suing the chemical’s makers – Bayer (Monsanto) and BASF.

The punitive damages awarded to farmer Bill Bader, of Campbell, came a day after the jury awarded him $15 million in actual damages, agreeing with his argument that dicamba had drifted over from other farms and severely damaged Bader Farms, which is one of the largest peach farms in Missouri. Bader’s attorneys argued that his trees likely wouldn’t survive the dicamba exposure, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The jury verdict is the latest litigation nightmare for Bayer, which is also seeking to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming exposure to its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer."

READ THE STORY HERE: https://sustainablepulse.com/…/bayer-on-the-edge-as-jury-…/…

"A jury on Saturday awarded US$ 250 million in punitive damages to a southeastern Missouri peach farmer who argued that weedkiller dicamba that had drifted onto his orchards from other farms had severely damaged his trees — an award that could bode well for over 140 other farmers suing the chemical’s makers – Bayer (Monsanto) and BASF.

The punitive damages awarded to farmer Bill Bader, of Campbell, came a day after the jury awarded him $15 million in actual damages, agreeing with his argument that dicamba had drifted over from other farms and severely damaged Bader Farms, which is one of the largest peach farms in Missouri. Bader’s attorneys argued that his trees likely wouldn’t survive the dicamba exposure, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The jury verdict is the latest litigation nightmare for Bayer, which is also seeking to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming exposure to its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer."

READ THE STORY HERE: https://sustainablepulse.com/2020/02/16/bayer-on-the-edge-as-jury-awards-265-m-to-us-peach-farm-over-illegal-pesticide-drift/ #.Xk6zxihKjIU

20/02/2020

By using cover crops, farmers can help fight climate change, water pollution and a whole lot more!

Farmers in Maryland and Iowa are investing in crops that improve water quality, soil health, and build resiliency in the face of climate change.

"Indeed, cover crops are now one of the most common, accessible agricultural strategies for improving soil health and water retention and preventing nitrogen pollution in water and erosion—to the benefit of both the environment and the farmer. Some early science also shows that cover crops can improve the ability of soils to store carbon."

“It’s a modest increase in yield that typically occurs as the soil health improves. And then the majority of farmers … start to find some savings in their input costs. They may cut back slightly on fertilizers or herbicides, or maybe they’re making less trips over the field for tillage.”

"... farmers who had been planting cover crops for many years reported getting back to planting and harvesting their crops days before their neighbors, who watched with curiosity.

“There’s science that says we get better water filtration and soil structure with cover crops, but farmers might not know what that’s going to look like,” Carlson said. “It looks like pulling their equipment out of the mud [sooner].”

READ THE STORY HERE: http://bit.ly/37GoViV

10/02/2020

If you care about food, farmers and climate change - this is an important article! With Regenerative Agriculture by building soil health, America's farmers can help reverse this by drawing carbon from the atmoshphere into their soils!

The Pacific Ocean is becoming more acidic, and the cash-crabs that live in its coastal waters are some of its first inhabitants to feel its effects.

The Dungeness crab is vital to commercial fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, but lower pH levels in its habitat are dissolving parts of its shell and damaging its sensory organs, a new study found.

Their injuries could impact coastal economies and forebode the obstacles in a changing sea. And while the results aren't unexpected, the study's authors said the damage to the crabs is premature: The acidity wasn't predicted to damage the crabs this quickly.

Read more here: https://cnn.it/31Kuuvf

Read about how soil health and regenerative farming can help our polluted oceans: http://bit.ly/2UMGn2F

The Pacific Ocean is becoming more acidic, and the cash-crabs that live in its coastal waters are some of its first inhabitants to feel its effects.

03/02/2020

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) shares a message of hope and positive change to Iowa family farmers from the campaign trail in New Hampshire. Gabbard speaks directly to the serious problems facing Iowa's farmers and our food and agricultural system. Gabbard talks about the direct connection between industrial agricultural practices like glyphosate and the need to rebuild soil health so farmers can help lead the charge in the fight against climate change.

03/02/2020

“Too many of the people we elect have Farm Bureau in their ear and in their pocketbook, and we do not have the mass movement that is required to force those elected officials to actually give a damn about family farmers and about the health of our soil. That is what is fundamentally different about this campaign and what we are trying to do.”

“Not Me, Us!”

- Chris Neubert, Senator Bernie Sanders representative

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan, 25th, 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders campaign representative Chris Neubert discusses Sander’s progressive policies on family farmers, soil health, climate change and the current Farm Crisis.

Learn how a Sander’s administration would help America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

Chris Neubert is the Sanders Rural Political Coordinator in Iowa.
Chris is a Fullbright Scholar, a University of North Carolina PhD candidate and former CCI organizer in Iowa.

For more information click here: https://soilandclimate.org/

03/02/2020

"We need young people to have a path back on to the farm. If we want to rebuild our communities, we need to rebuild the path home. So, we have a land trust program where we want to fund buying land from retiring farmers and selling it on favorable terms to new beginning and diverse farmers. All of this is coupled with a call to restore the extension mission of our land grant universities, and to prevent their capture by ag monopolies."
- John Russel, Senator Elizabeth Warren representative

Policy highlights from Senator Elizabeth Warren:
• Appoint anti-trust regulator at the DOJ and rollback consolidation and mergers.

• Prevent contract farming that led to the rise animal confinements, re-establish GIPSA to regulate CAFO's.

• Re-build local and farm economies by funding Conservation Stewardship Program from less than a billion to $15 billion dollars.

• Transition from crop subsidies to a supply management program that guarantees a fair price in exchange for putting land in to conservation measures to curtail over production.

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Senator Elizabeth Warren's Rural Political Coordinator discusses Warren's progressive policies on how America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

John Russell is an Ohio family farmer & Warren’s Iowa Rural Political Coordinator. & former Democratic candidate for Congress from Galena, Ohio.

Russell currently serves as the Rural Political Coordinator for presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren in Iowa. He has travelled extensively across the state and worked with dozens of Iowa farmers to help draft Senator Warren’s progressive Plan for Rural America and New Farm Economy platform.

03/02/2020

Kat Tayler, wife of environmentalist and presidential candidate Tom Steyer, is the founder of TomKat Ranch, an 1,800 acres grassfed cattle ranch in the San Francisco Bay Area, which hopes to inspire the transition of one million acres of California rangeland to regenerative management in the next 5 years.

Tom and Kat are dedicated to working with rural America, because they know the ingenuity of farmers and ranchers are what will solve our climate crisis.

03/02/2020

“I want my government to spend on research and development, incentivize sustainability at all levels and sizes.

“To me, this is what capitalism is: create an environment where there is a marketplace of ideas flowing out there. But when you get to a point in an industry where that's almost become choked, then that is where government needs to take the step to examine whats going on in our agricultural industry now.

“I hear this everywhere I go, there are no more family farms in Iowa.
“Get rid of Trump and then we can have this conversation. Part of the problem is the corporate interests who lobby both political parties so hard,... they tend to have the ear of politicians.

“This is too important to ignore. I want my Department of Agriculture to have a separate climate department... I really believe rural America can help lead the way when it comes to climate change. They need the tools and they need the resources.”

- Joe Walsh, Republican Presidential Candidate

Republican Presidential candidate Joe Walsh, former Tea Party Congressman, talks farm crisis, soil health and climate change At the Farmers, Soil and Climate...

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Republican Presidential candidate Joe Walsh, former Tea Party Congressman discusses policies on family farmers, soil health, climate change and the current Farm Crisis.

Learn how a Walsh administration would help America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

Joe Walsh is a former Illinois congressman elected to Congress in the Tea Party wave of 2010.

From day one, Joe went to Washington hellbent on shaking up the political establishment, and that he did. He was one of the most outspoken members of Congress, advocating for a balanced budget amendment, term limits, common-sense tax cuts, and a range of free-market conservative principles.

His time in office was just one chapter in a life devoted to public service and advocacy for limited government policies. Following his service in Congress, Walsh became one of the most popular conservative talk radio hosts in the country, syndicated in major markets throughout the U.S.

A native of Illinois, Joe grew up the middle of nine children in an Irish Catholic family with deep midwestern roots. He attended Grinnell College, the University of Iowa, and the University of Chicago, where he earned a master's degree in public policy.

03/02/2020

“One key point is the Conservation Stewardship Program. It takes a while to re-build soil health. As you start in to no-till and cover crops, it takes time for the biology to build. While a producer is learning, they need something to support them. After 5 years, which is the length of the CSP contract, the soil biology is such that a farmer needs less purchased inputs.

“Another key point is we need public research. We need that how-to research going back to the public, that all of us as citizens own and benefit from.

"We need to put a stop to budget bills that say, 'USDA cannot spend money on these issues', things such as GIPSA and Clayton Antitrust. Having the ability to actually take action, to write rules, and Congress not telling us no is the number one thing.

“The key word in my mind is: biodiversity. Having that diversity out there in out production systems helps all of us be healthier.”

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Vice President Joe Biden campaign representative John Whitacker discusses Biden’s progressive policies on family farmers, soil health, climate change and the current Farm Crisis.

Learn how a Biden administration would help America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

John Whitaker is an Iowa farmer and former Iowa State House of Representatives.

John served 7 years in the Iowa House of Representatives and 10 years on the Van Buren County Board of Supervisors, chairing the Board during a portion of that time.

In 2009, John was appointed the Iowa State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in the Obama Administration, where he oversaw the delivery of Federal farm programs.

These programs included disaster assistance, conservation, commodity and price support programs and farm loans and are designed to improve the economic stability of the agricultural industry and to help farmers adjust production to meet demand. These programs are delivered by 100 local county offices throughout Iowa.

His affiliations have included the Iowa Farmers Union, serving as Vice President and later President. He also enjoys membership in the Hillsboro Baptist Church, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited.

For more information click here: https://soilandclimate.org/

03/02/2020

“Senator [Klobuchar] understands that ag policy has been moved forward from an economic perspective over the years.

"I think that we've forgotten that we need to look at it from an environmental perspective, and you certainly have to look at it from a social perspective. Any time I mention that, those detractors will say, '... you're socially engineering the countryside!'

"My response is, 'What have you done in the past 50 years to socially engineer farmers off the land!'

"So maybe we try to socially engineer more [farmers] back on the land.”

- Dave Frederickson, Senator Amy Klobuchar representative

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s discusses Klobuchar's progressive policies on how America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture

Dave Frederickson is the former Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner and former President of National Farmers Union 2002 to 2006.

Frederickson served as the Minnesota Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture from January, 2011 to 2019, and previously as a member of the Minnesota Senate from West Central Minnesota from 1987 to 1993.

After Frederickson's service in the legislature concluded, he was elected president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, serving from 1991 to 2002. In 2002, he was elected president of the National Farmers Union the second largest general farm organization in the country.

For more information click here: https://soilandclimate.org/

02/02/2020

"I have read the climate justice plan, and prioritizing programs to support regenerative agriculture, soil building, training for young farmers, incentives for soil building practices are all things that are in the plan. I think those are the things that make differences. As many people in this room know the practices are out there, so we just have to get them on to the ground."

Learn how a Steyer administration would help America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

Wendy Millet is the Ranch Director at TomKat Ranch, a regenerative ranch owned and operated by Presidential candidate Tom Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor, the founder of TomKat Ranch.

02/02/2020

"We need young people to have a path back on to the farm. If we want to rebuild our communities, we need to rebuild the path home. So, we have a land trust program where we want to fund buying land from retiring farmers and selling it on favorable terms to new beginning and diverse farmers. All of this is coupled with a call to restore the extension mission of our land grant universities, and to prevent their capture by ag monopolies."

- John Russell, Senator Elizabeth Warren representative

02/02/2020

"I have read the climate justice plan, and prioritizing programs to support regenerative agriculture, soil building, training for young farmers, incentives for soil building practices are all things that are in the plan. I think those are the things that make differences. As many people in this room know the practices are out there, so we just have to get them on to the ground."

- Wendy Millet, Tom Steyer representative

Businessman Tom Steyer campaign rep Wendy Millet talks farm crisis, soil health and climate change At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held i...

01/02/2020

“One key point is the Conservation Stewardship Program. It takes a while to re-build soil health. As you start in to no-till and cover crops, it takes time for the biology to build. While a producer is learning, they need something to support them. After 5 years, which is the length of the CSP contract, the soil biology is such that a farmer needs less purchased inputs.
“Another key point is we need public research. We need that how-to research going back to the public, that all of us as citizens own and benefit from.
"We need to put a stop to budget bills that say, 'USDA cannot spend money on these issues', things such as GIPSA and Clayton Antitrust. Having the ability to actually take action, to write rules, and Congress not telling us no is the number one thing.
“The key word in my mind is: biodiversity. Having that diversity out there in out production systems helps all of us be healthier.”

- John Whitaker, VP Joe Biden representative

Iowa 2020: VP Joe Biden campaign rep John Whitacker talks farm crisis, soil health and climate change At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum hel...

01/02/2020

“I want my government to spend on research and development, incentivize sustainability at all levels and sizes.

“To me, this is what capitalism is: create an environment where there is a marketplace of ideas flowing out there. But when you get to a point in an industry where that's almost become choked, then that is where government needs to take the step to examine whats going on in our agricultural industry now.

“I hear this everywhere I go, there are no more family farms in Iowa.
“Get rid of Trump and then we can have this conversation. Part of the problem is the corporate interests who lobby both political parties so hard,... they tend to have the ear of politicians.

“This is too important to ignore. I want my Department of Agriculture to have a separate climate department... I really believe rural America can help lead the way when it comes to climate change. They need the tools and they need the resources.”

- Joe Walsh, Republican Presidential Candidate

Republican Presidential candidate Joe Walsh, former Tea Party Congressman, talks farm crisis, soil health and climate change At the Farmers, Soil and Climate...

01/02/2020

“Senator [Klobuchar] understands that ag policy has been moved forward from an economic perspective over the years.

I think that we've forgotten that we need to look at it from an environmental perspective, and you certainly have to look at it from a social perspective. Any time I mention that, those detractors will say, '... you're socially engineering the countryside!'

My response is, 'What have you done in the past 50 years to socially engineer farmers off the land!'

So maybe we try to socially engineer more [farmers] back on the land.”

- Dave Frederickson, Senator Amy Klobuchar representative

Senator Amy Klobuchar campaign rep Dave Frederickson talks farm crisis, soil health & climate change At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held...

01/02/2020

“Too many of the people we elect have Farm Bureau in their ear and in their pocketbook, and we do not have the mass movement that is required to force those elected officials to actually give a damn about family farmers and about the health of our soil. That is what is fundamentally different about this campaign and what we are trying to do.”

“Not Me, Us!”

- Chris Neubert, Senator Bernie Sanders representative

Senator Bernie Sanders campaign rep Chris Neubert talks farm crisis, soil health and climate change. At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held...

01/02/2020

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Senator Elizabeth Warren's Rural Political Coordinator discusses Warren's progressive policies on how America's farmers can survive increasing corporate consolidation and help fight climate change and rebuild rural America by focusing on soil health and environmentally beneficial farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

At the Farmers, Soil and Climate presidential forum held in Des Moines Iowa, Senator Elizabeth Warren's Rural Political Coordinator discusses Warren's progre...

31/01/2020

Two of Iowa's leading family farmers talk about soil health, healing the land and helping turn modern agriculture to a regenerative future to help fight climate change, increase farmer profitability, reduce input costs for farmers, improve Iowa's water quality and help rebuild rural America - from the ground up! Thank you Fred Kirschenmann and Francis Thicke for you wise words and leadership! Soil and Climate

25/01/2020

25/01/2020

We are live!

17/01/2020

"Food and farming haven’t been high on the list of campaign priorities in recent decades, except maybe in Iowa. But this year, that appears to be shifting. With the pivotal role that rural voters played in the 2016 election firmly in mind, many presidential candidates are zooming in to address the challenges that abound in today’s farm country. And a number of them are connecting agriculture to other pressing issues—notably climate change, food insecurity, economic development, and more."

We’ll be tracking the presidential candidates' policy positions and public statements so you don’t have to.