Planet in Peril (PinP) where science gets respect!

PHYS ORG A PinP photo. Historically, coal-fired power plants were the largest source of reactive sulfur, a component of acid rain, to the biosphere. A new study shows that fertilizer and pesticide applications to croplands are now the most important source of sulfur to the environment. Details here.

SCIENCE NEWS Wine crops in Chile. A dreamstime phot o. A new study finds that expanding cropland to meet growing food demands,  poses a far greater threat to biodiverity in the tropics than intensification.  More here.

Nature - Agriculture Harvesting corn in Canada. A PinP photo. The dominant US crop plant has a voracious appetite for fertilizer, which leads to air pollution and health problems. More here.

George Monbiot's view from the U.K, here.

Yale Environment 360 Producing charcoal in the rainforest. By User Kelberul on de.wikipedia  A growing body of evidence indicates that the continuing destruction of tropical forests is disrupting the movement of water in the atmosphere, causing major shifts in precipitation that could lead to drought in key agricultural areas in China, India, and the U.S. Midwest. Story here.

The Western Producer Farmers in central and northern Alberta should brace for drought this summer, according to AccuWeather. Story here.

AgroNews New research announced by scientists at CABI (Center for Agriculture and Bioscience Information) confirms that a recently introduced crop-destroying armyworm caterpillar is now spreading rapidly across Mainland Africa and could spread to tropical Asia and the Mediterranean in the next few years, becoming a major threat to agricultural trade worldwide. Story here. Manitoba "crop-duster." PinP photo.

Manitoba Co-Operator But soil scientist Mario Tenuta says there are things farmers can do to help themselves. More here.                                                      PinP  photo.

Foreign Policy in Focus We need to start tilting the playing field back in favour of farmers and the environment. Story here.

AlbertaFarmer A hog barn in Israel.  Shpernik088 You don’t have to sacrifice productivity or compromise health standards by going antibiotic free, say swine managers at Spring Creek Hutterite Colony. Story here.

MANITOBA CO-Operator U of M students search site for historical artifacts. Story here. RELATED: " Is Modern Agriculture Threatening Traditional First Nations Food and Medicine?"(Story & Video)

National Farmers Union National Farmer Union (NFU) is working with the Manitoba government to develop new ways for the province’s farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, and to reduce the impacts of climate change on our farms. More here.

Manitoba Co-Operator Unlike other regions, Manitoba may be able to benefit from climate change.  Story here. These were the soggy fields we drove by on Victoria Day last year, on the Trans Canada Highway west of Portage La Prairie (smack-dab in the middle of planting season): torrential rains most likely made worse by climate change. Does this look like the kind of weather that will "benefit" farmers? PinP video.

bilaterals .org Rice has been at the centre of Japan’s economy and culture for centuries. But changes are afoot. There is growing concern among Japanese farmers that the country’s rice-producing capabilities are diminishing in the face of international trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In fact, all local agriculture is in the spotlight as pressure mounts to increase local imports of overseas produce. Details here.

Earth Institute Increased investment in agriculture is critical. In a world confronting anticipated increases in food demand arising from a growing world population and changing diets, as well as potential decreases in food supply due to climatic changes and water scarcity, agricultural investment will prove crucial to addressing food security needs in the future. Story here.                     Two huge tractors and seeders,  probably worth about $2M, stand ready to begin work in Manitoba, Canada. PinP photo.

PRESSPROGRESS It sounds like Brian Jean is  flip flopping once again. The leader of Alberta's Wildrose Party has been  making hay over Bill 6 lately, new legislation that seeks to correct Alberta's potentially unconstitutional labour laws by  extending Workers' Compensation Board coverage to paid farm workers and bringing workplace safety up to par with other Canadian provinces . "What goes around comes around," Jean recently told one rally  opposing these changes. Funny thing about that, mind you – Jean didn't seem to think the proposed WCB changes he's currently opposing were such a bad idea eight months ago. MORE HERE.

INTER PRESS SERVICE MAHABUBNAGAR, India:  “My profits have increased from 5,000 to 20,000 rupees (80-232 dollars) each season,” declares  a smallholder farmer participating in a mobile technology scheme to create awareness among rural women. Story here.

The Manitoba Co-Operator The NFU has a message that Canadians desperately need to hear. Time and time again the union is not only right about the effects of policy change on producers, it is practically clairvoyant. Story here.

By George Monbiot Every child should visit an abattoir. If you disagree, ask yourself why. Story here. Related: "Saving the Planet, One Meal at aTime."

New Democratic Party OTTAWA – New numbers from Statistics  Canada reveal that the number of farms in  Canada continues to decline.     “In just one year, almost 5,000 farms of all sizes disappeared from the Canadian landscape. We need to act now to help farming families and protect our local food system,” said Agriculture critic Malcom Allen (Welland), “With food prices going up, the last thing we need is less security in our food supply.”   Earlier this year, New Democrats raised the alarm that less than a tenth of farms are operated by an owner under the age of 40.     “Conservatives are turning a blind eye as our rural economies suffer. We need to give our family farms the support they need before they disappear,” added deputy critic Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier – Maskinongé).   – 30 – For more information, please contact: Véronique Breton, Press Secretary, (613) 408-1483 or  veroniqu...@parl.gc.ca   http://www.ndp.ca/news/ another-5000-farms-dissappear- unde