Texas farmers are battling PFAS contamination from biosolid fertilizers,
leading to cattle deaths, poisoned water, and health issues. They are suing the
EPA and the company that spread biosolid fertilizer in their area. This week,
their county commission court will also ask Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a
disaster declaration.
FHow PFAS Ruined Some Small Texas Farms
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, USDA will release its February Crop Production and
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports. The February
WASDE will likely offer the most accurate view to date of 2024-25 corn and
soybean production expectations in South America and may hold some surprises
for the U.S. balance sheet as well.
BUSDA Reports Preview
Farmers are learning their conservation payments are frozen because those
contracts were funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The White
House has frozen IRA dollars across the federal government. Other conservation
programs tied to the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities program are also
frozen.
BFarmers Hit by USDA Funding Freeze
Attorneys for the U.S. government told a federal court that a Michigan
farmer who pleaded guilty to theft in connection with a federal crop insurance
and farm benefits fraud case is a former USDA Farm Service Agency employee who
"knew better."
BUS Seeks Prison for Michigan Farmer
Researchers from the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center
(UMASH) are seeking direct input from farmers in three Northern Plains states
on how they decide to seek help for their mental health, help-seeking behaviors
and the factors that influence these decisions. These efforts will raise
awareness for farmer mental health and shape policy moving forward.
7^Study to Examine Farmers' Mental Health