Are Plant Infection Rates Increasing For Crops?

Grainews

Prairie farmers are spending more time and money on disease prevention than ever before. Story here.

Organic Farm Sales Soar in the US

Common Dreams

Organic onions on their way to market. PinP photo.
"We need a higher rate of growth in order to get close to meeting the demand," said Laura Batcha, chief of the Organic Trade Association. Story here.

Million-Liter Cyanide Spill in Argentina Highlights Canadian Mining Crimes

Common Dreams

'They cannot continue to handle affairs that are so delicate, that affect the environment and people this way.' Details here.

Harper’s Research Station a ‘Cloak' For Arctic Oil Push, Says Climate Expert

National Observer

An expensive remote Arctic facility, personally promoted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a "world-class” research station, is less about pure science, and almost entirely about pushing oil, gas and mining development in the rapidly melting north, says one of Canada’s top polar climate scientists. Story here.

American Corn Farmers Are Suing Syngenta for $2.9 Billion. Should Canadian Farmers Sue Too?

Manitoba Co-Operator

A pair of lawyers came all the way from Alabama to gauge Manitoba farmers’ interest. Story here.

Pope's Climate Push is 'Raving Nonsense' Without Population Control, Says Top US Scientist

theguardian

Paul Ehrlich writes in Nature Climate Change that Francis is wrong to fight climate change without also addressing the strain from population growth on resources. Story here.

Harper’s Bad Bet on China

Gus Van Harten - bilaterals.org

With its focus on the economy, the recent election debate pointed to the Harper government’s big – and thus far spectacularly bad – bet on China. Story here.

Related: Free Trade: Path to Prosperity - or Back Road to Corporatism?

Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Manitoba Becomes Part of World-Wide Health Study Destined for United Nations

APTN National News

A non-governmental organization has initiated a water-related study about Shoal Lake 40 First Nation as part of a world-wide investigation into healthy communities. Story here.

Livestock Seen Threatened as Biting Insects Press North Thanks to Climate Change

Manitoba Co-Operator

Researchers see increased risk for insect-borne pathogens in livestock by 2050. Story here.

Smoke and Mirrors

George Monbiot - theguardian

Pollution, as scandals on both sides of the Atlantic show, is a physical manifestation of corruption. Story here.

With New Ban on Cultivation, Northern Ireland Joins EU's Anti-GMO Ranks

Common Dreams

Environment minister expresses "concern" that growing GMOs would tarnish nation's "clean and green image.” Story here.