Series - Modern Farmer

Faces of the Farm Bill

Modern Farmer — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:13:55 +0000

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Fighting Factory Farms

Lena Beck — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:06:14 +0000

The American food system relies heavily on industrial animal agriculture. Thousands or tens of thousands of animals packed into one place have been justified by the industry as a way to feed more people. But there are undeniable costs associated with this type of food production.

Communities living near these operations bear the brunt of air and water pollution, among other things. Animal advocates say that the way animals are raised in this system is inhumane from start to finish. Lakes, rivers, and streams experience unprecedented environmental degradation. The producers themselves, many of whom get into the business for a stable farming job, experience demoralization and unsafe working conditions.

All of us, in some way, are impacted by industrial animal agriculture. This series of stories looks at the impacts, but also some of the ways that people are advocating against this system and looking for a way of farming that is sustainable—for communities, the environment, animals, and farmers themselves.

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The Future is Farmers

Modern Farmer — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:57:35 +0000

At Modern Farmer, we believe that creating a sustainable and equitable food system is only possible with small, local, and family farms. But North America is facing a farmer shortage. The average farmer is just under 60 years old, and the trend of inheritance within families is declining, which means there is a need to train the next generation of farmers.

There are also huge benefits to supporting new farmers. Aside from bolstering our food supply, new and young farmers tend to bring unique new perspectives to the field, including a dedication to sustainable farming methods. According to the National Young Farmers Coalition’s (NYFC’s) 2022 National Young Farmer Survey, 86 percent of young farmers practice regenerative farming—growing in harmony with nature—while 97 percent use other sustainable practices.

However, for young people interested in a career in agriculture, there can be many roadblocks in their path. The price of land continues to rise, grants and educational opportunities can be hard to come by and there’s a steep learning curve for folks who didn’t grow up in a farming family.

With these stories, we spoke to young farmers directly about how they see farming as a viable future and what they need to succeed.

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The PFAS Problem: Demystifying “Forever Chemicals”

Modern Farmer — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:01:29 +0000

In April 2024, the EPA passed its first-ever legally enforceable drinking water standards on a handful of PFAS—a group of man-made chemicals widely used to make non-stick coatings and products that resist heat, oil, water and more. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective. They are referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to not break down. PFAS have been used commercially since the 1940s, and it has long been known that these chemicals are toxic to people. Big chemical companies, such as 3M, have known about the harmful qualities of these toxic chemicals for decades but intentionally hid the evidence. The EPA now admits that “exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.

We are closely following PFAS regulations and researching ways to protect ourselves in the meantime. Please reach out to our staff writer Lena Beck directly with questions about PFAS, to tell us what you want to know next, or to share your story. Email: Lena@modfarmer.com

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Phonies, Fakes and Food Fraud

Modern Farmer — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 18:30:51 +0000

How do you know that what you’re eating is what you think it is?

Most consumers aren’t thinking about fraud in their food supply while pushing a cart around their local grocery story. But shady shenanigans, fakery, and outright fraud happen more than you might realize.

In this Modern Farmer feature series, we investigate the wide world of food fraud and fakery—and explore the technology poised to make supply chains more transparent.

Series edited and illustrated by Rose Garrett

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State of Abundance

Modern Farmer — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 13:50:00 +0000

California is an agricultural powerhouse, producing over a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. It’s also experiencing extreme weather in the form of heat, drought, wildfires and floods, issues experts say will become increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change.

In this Modern Farmer feature series, we dig into how climate is impacting California’s producers through the lens of five of the state’s most iconic food products: dairy, citrus, salmon, wine grapes, and almonds.

Series edited by Rose Garrett and Emily Baron Cadloff
Illustrations by Adam Ming

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