Canada Says Chemical in Hard Plastic Bottles May Be Unsafe
By Rob Gillies – Associated Press (18 Apr 2008)
U.S. Welcomes Korean Decision on Beef Imports
By Missy Ryan – Reuters (18 Apr 2008)
Credit Crunch? The Real Crisis is Global Hunger. And if You Care, Eat Less Meat
By George Monbiot – Guardian.co.uk (15 Apr 2008)
Chinese Potash Importers Agree to Triple Payments
By Euan Rocha – Reuters (16 Apr 2008)
The Real Good Life: An Entire Village Turns Against Supermarkets and Grows Its Own Food
By Luke Salkeld – DailyMail.uk (14 Apr 2008)
As Other Staples Soar, Potatoes Break New Ground
By Terry Wade – Reuters (15 Apr 2008)
Prices Soaring as Biggest Grain Exporters Halt Foreign Sales
By Javier Blas, et al – Financial
More than Three Billion People Condemned to Premature Death from Hunger and Thirst
By Fedel Castro – Information Clearing House (28 Mar 2007)
Farm Subsidy Database Updated
Environmental Working Group
Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear
By Donald L. Barlett & James B. Steele – Vanity Fair (May 2008)
Suicide by Soda: The Dangers of Aspartame
By William Mac – Dandelion Salad (12 Apr 2008)
Some Good News on Food Prices
By Kim Severson – New York Times (2 Apr 2008)
The following was included in an email I received today from a Virginia farmer who sells pasture-raised meat and poultry in a local buying club.
We continue to shake our head at the insanity that is the agriculture commodity market. The price of corn, a staple in most feed including chicken and hogs, has tripled in price in the past three years. The rise is propelled by the push towards ethanol but ethanol is only one factor. The increase in corn prices has also lead to drastic increases in the prices of soybeans, wheat and other feedstuffs. You see these increases everyday at the grocery store most notably in milk, eggs and flour. Increasing commodity prices would normally indicate improved fortunes for farmers. Unfortunately, the rewards aren’t there with fuel, fertilizer, land rent and other farm expenses rising just as rapidly. We have no crystal ball only just a little history to go by. Increased production typically results in oversupply. Something has to give. Remember the tractor march on Washington from the early 80’s or Willie Nelson’s farm aid? Expect to see this again as farmers leverage themselves to stay in the game. If you think the housing market is scary, just wait. By the way, our feed prices have increased 65% since January 2007.
Thank you for supporting our family farm,