Anne Schechinger
@anneschech.bsky.social
Data, agriculture, food, CAFOs, sustainability, climate change, water, policy. Former Michigander and Iowan, current Minnesotan. Views are my own.
Me on @npr.org's Morning Edition last week talking about the new farm bailout: "Essentially, the President is sending taxpayer money to farmers to paper over the problems that his own tariffs have caused."
www.npr.org/2025/12/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/11/n...
Farmers say Trump administration's $12 billion bailout won't fix long-term problems
The Trump administration is giving farmers a $12 billion bailout. Critics say the money won't be enough, won't be distributed fairly and won't address long-term problems.
www.npr.org
December 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Me on @npr.org's Morning Edition last week talking about the new farm bailout: "Essentially, the President is sending taxpayer money to farmers to paper over the problems that his own tariffs have caused."
www.npr.org/2025/12/11/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/11/n...
Me in the @startribune.com today: "The main problem with this program is that it’s like all of the other farm subsidy programs. It’s sending money to the largest farms, and it’s not going to help people who are really struggling with this economic uncertainty.” www.startribune.com/what-to-know...
What Trump’s bailout means for Minnesota farmers
President Donald Trump unveiled an $11 billion bailout earlier this week. The aid package might not be enough to make up for farming losses.
www.startribune.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Me in the @startribune.com today: "The main problem with this program is that it’s like all of the other farm subsidy programs. It’s sending money to the largest farms, and it’s not going to help people who are really struggling with this economic uncertainty.” www.startribune.com/what-to-know...
Our statement at @ewgofficial.bsky.social on USDA's new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative announced today. It's a good first step in prioritizing EQIP and CSP funding for practices that improve GHG mitigation and climate resilience. But it's also not any new funding. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
EWG statement on USDA announcing regenerative agriculture initiative
WASHINGTON – The Department of Agriculture today announced an initiative that will prioritize certain regenerative agriculture practices, including cover crops, in national conserva
www.ewg.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Our statement at @ewgofficial.bsky.social on USDA's new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative announced today. It's a good first step in prioritizing EQIP and CSP funding for practices that improve GHG mitigation and climate resilience. But it's also not any new funding. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
The new farm bailout is clearly being paid for with taxpayer money through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Trump saying that the money is coming from tariffs is not true. As taxpayers, we're paying more $ for goods due to tariffs, and more $ for this bailout. www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...
www.usda.gov
December 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The new farm bailout is clearly being paid for with taxpayer money through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Trump saying that the money is coming from tariffs is not true. As taxpayers, we're paying more $ for goods due to tariffs, and more $ for this bailout. www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...
Me on the new $11B farm bailout: “These bailouts are a direct result of the president’s own trade war with China, which greatly downsized our largest soybean market and is now forcing taxpayers to prop up the biggest players, not the farmers who need help the most." www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Bridge to nowhere: Trump bailout to again flow to the largest, wealthiest farms, leaving struggling farmers behind
WASHINGTON – Today the Trump administration announced yet another multibillion-dollar round of trade-war-related bailouts for the agricultural industry.
www.ewg.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Me on the new $11B farm bailout: “These bailouts are a direct result of the president’s own trade war with China, which greatly downsized our largest soybean market and is now forcing taxpayers to prop up the biggest players, not the farmers who need help the most." www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Further proof that the Trump admin does not, and has never, actually cared about MAHA. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/12/trum...
Trump Admin Backs Bayer's Bid to Limit Roundup Lawsuits - Farm Policy News
President Donald Trump's administration urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to take up Bayer’s bid to curtail thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer.
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
December 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Further proof that the Trump admin does not, and has never, actually cared about MAHA. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/12/trum...
This first episode is really great, required watching for anyone who cares about water quality in the Corn Belt. Looking forward to the next episode!
Check out the first episode of a video documentary series by cinematographer Jerry Risius and me on issues facing Iowa: water, cancer, resilient agriculture and rural consolidation. Please share! Thanks.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xqa...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xqa...
What's Eating Iowa: Episode 1 - Water
YouTube video by Iowans for Stronger Communities
m.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:33 PM
This first episode is really great, required watching for anyone who cares about water quality in the Corn Belt. Looking forward to the next episode!
It was great talking with @amesalex.bsky.social for his exceptional story with @floodlightnews.org on the environmental and climate impacts of corn production. They mentioned my report with @albine14.bsky.social for @ewgofficial.bsky.social about continuous corn. floodlightnews.org/corn-ethanol...
Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint
Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.
floodlightnews.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It was great talking with @amesalex.bsky.social for his exceptional story with @floodlightnews.org on the environmental and climate impacts of corn production. They mentioned my report with @albine14.bsky.social for @ewgofficial.bsky.social about continuous corn. floodlightnews.org/corn-ethanol...
Definitely not good news. www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/h...
Washington resident dies of complications from bird flu strain never before reported in humans | CNN
A Washington resident died of complications from an infection with a bird flu strain never before reported in humans, the state Department of Health said on Friday.
www.cnn.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Definitely not good news. www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/h...
Some pretty serious fraud claims about the insurance division of Farm Bureau Financial www.newsfromthestates.com/article/laws...
Lawsuit claims Farm Bureau hid fraudulent activity from insurance regulators
Two alleged whistleblowers are suing Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and its affiliates for alleged racketeering, wrongful termination and concealment of information from state regulator...
www.newsfromthestates.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Some pretty serious fraud claims about the insurance division of Farm Bureau Financial www.newsfromthestates.com/article/laws...
New today: at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we just released our updated Conservation Database. We now have conservation funding by practice for multiple different conservation programs, down to the county level for most programs. Found over $31B went to farmers 2017-2024. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Updated EWG database finds over $31B spent on U.S. farm conservation programs
MINNEAPOLIS – Between 2017 and 2024, U.S.
www.ewg.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM
New today: at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we just released our updated Conservation Database. We now have conservation funding by practice for multiple different conservation programs, down to the county level for most programs. Found over $31B went to farmers 2017-2024. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Big news- at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we have reached a settlement in our lawsuit with Tyson Foods. Under the settlement, Tyson will stop making “net zero” and other climate claims for five years, including “climate-smart beef”. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Tyson Foods agrees to stop making ‘net-zero’ and ‘climate-smart beef’ claims
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group has re
www.ewg.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Big news- at @ewgofficial.bsky.social, we have reached a settlement in our lawsuit with Tyson Foods. Under the settlement, Tyson will stop making “net zero” and other climate claims for five years, including “climate-smart beef”. www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
My readers are excited about the possibility of Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Iowa secretary of agriculture.
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
"We deserve better": Why Chris Jones may run for secretary of agriculture
"What farmers do affects everyone"
laurabelin.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My readers are excited about the possibility of Chris Jones @theswinerepublic.bsky.social running for Iowa secretary of agriculture.
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
ICYMI, highlights from his recent remarks in Des Moines and my interview with him afterwards:
laurabelin.substack.com/p/we-deserve...
One thing that I was surprised to see in the deal to end the govt shutdown and that is actually a good thing- the bill requires the USDA to continue the ag census, including measuring livestock facilities/animal counts by county, which had been cut by previous admin. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Trump Signs Bill to Fund Government and Extend Farm Bill Programs
President Donald Trump on Wednesday night signed a funding bill after the House voted 222-209 on Wednesday evening to end the 43-day shutdown. The bill provides short-term funding through January 2026...
www.dtnpf.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
One thing that I was surprised to see in the deal to end the govt shutdown and that is actually a good thing- the bill requires the USDA to continue the ag census, including measuring livestock facilities/animal counts by county, which had been cut by previous admin. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
That Trump "trade truce" with China is really working out well for US farmers... farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/11/chin...
China Buys More Brazil Soybeans as US Purchases Stall - Farm Policy News
China’s purchases of American soybeans appear to have stalled, less than two weeks after the US touted a wide-ranging trade truce that signaled thawing relations between the world’s two biggest econom...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
That Trump "trade truce" with China is really working out well for US farmers... farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/11/chin...
Unsurprisingly, the deal to open the govt has a lot of bad parts. Extremely disappointing to see it cut funding for USDA Climate Hubs. I have used a lot of their research in my work when recommending the best conservation practices to improve farm #climate resilience. www.eenews.net/articles/env...
Environment takeaways from the spending deal
The Senate approved a three-bill spending package for fiscal 2026. Lawmakers also passed a stopgap for the rest of the government.
www.eenews.net
November 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Unsurprisingly, the deal to open the govt has a lot of bad parts. Extremely disappointing to see it cut funding for USDA Climate Hubs. I have used a lot of their research in my work when recommending the best conservation practices to improve farm #climate resilience. www.eenews.net/articles/env...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
If I’m reading the senate deal correctly, they’re planning to get rid of payment limits on USDA conservation programs like EQIP.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
If I’m reading the senate deal correctly, they’re planning to get rid of payment limits on USDA conservation programs like EQIP.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
When thousands of farmers get turned away from EQIP each year, this change would funnel even more federal money to the biggest farms while turning away small farms.
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
BREAKING: The Trump administration asked an appeals court on Friday to immediately halt a judge's recent ruling that would require the government to pay food stamps in full. (That's supposed to happen by today.) In short, it could again jeopardize critical aid to millions of poor families. Story TK.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
BREAKING: The Trump administration asked an appeals court on Friday to immediately halt a judge's recent ruling that would require the government to pay food stamps in full. (That's supposed to happen by today.) In short, it could again jeopardize critical aid to millions of poor families. Story TK.
The USDA has transferred billions of dollars to a slush fund at the Office of the Secretary for the farmer trade bailout. Shockingly, the money seems to be coming from the Conservation Reserve Program and Dairy Margin Protection Program, and even potentially loans. www.govexec.com/management/2...
USDA transfers $13B into ‘slush fund’ for future tariff relief
The move has left the department incapable of delivering some mandatory farmer aid programs, and is raising concerns in Congress.
www.govexec.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The USDA has transferred billions of dollars to a slush fund at the Office of the Secretary for the farmer trade bailout. Shockingly, the money seems to be coming from the Conservation Reserve Program and Dairy Margin Protection Program, and even potentially loans. www.govexec.com/management/2...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Are we living in a post Farm Bill world? We try to answer this question and more in our latest Q&A.
Two years past the current Farm Bill's original expiration date, the future of the next Farm Bill is still unclear. In a new Q&A, IATP's Michael Happ explains what we know, what we don't, and what might be coming next: www.iatp.org/farm-bill-qa...
Q&A: What's next for the Farm Bill?
On top of trade turmoil and a U.S. government shutdown, Congress has still not passed a new Farm Bill, the primary legislation that sets a majority of U.S. food and farm policy and funding. The future...
www.iatp.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Are we living in a post Farm Bill world? We try to answer this question and more in our latest Q&A.
Every story on this topic needs to mention the cost of daycare in the U.S. In the Twin Cities, spending $25k a year on infant/toddler care at a daycare center is common. And it's even more expensive in cities on East/West coasts. Of course people are having less kids. www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
People are having fewer kids. Their choice is transforming the world's economy
Family size around the world is dropping. That choice by couples is triggering a population shift that's sending shock waves through economies.
www.npr.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Every story on this topic needs to mention the cost of daycare in the U.S. In the Twin Cities, spending $25k a year on infant/toddler care at a daycare center is common. And it's even more expensive in cities on East/West coasts. Of course people are having less kids. www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
Trump Administration Is Legally Required to Provide SNAP in Shutdown, Contrary to Its Claims
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency r...
www.cbpp.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
It was a great getting to talk about our work at the Reducetarian Foundation Summit this past weekend in Atlanta. For 8 years @ewgofficial.bsky.social has been using satellite/aerial imagery to locate factory farms on the landscape to help our fight for clean water and healthy communities.
October 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It was a great getting to talk about our work at the Reducetarian Foundation Summit this past weekend in Atlanta. For 8 years @ewgofficial.bsky.social has been using satellite/aerial imagery to locate factory farms on the landscape to help our fight for clean water and healthy communities.
Lots of people have opinions on Trump's decision to increase Argentine beef imports. Argentina only accounts for 2.2% of U.S. beef imports currently, so quadrupling their imports as proposed would make them still only a small share of the total U.S. beef supply. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Fact Check: Can Argentine Beef Really Lower U.S. Prices?
The U.S. is already importing more beef than at any time on record, but Argentina currently accounts for just under 2.2% of total U.S. beef and veal imports. Looking at the numbers, it doesn't seem pr...
www.dtnpf.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Lots of people have opinions on Trump's decision to increase Argentine beef imports. Argentina only accounts for 2.2% of U.S. beef imports currently, so quadrupling their imports as proposed would make them still only a small share of the total U.S. beef supply. www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Trump is certainly showing who he is to farmers and ranchers. Of course, ranchers don't set consumer prices - that's controlled by the big 4 companies (JBS/Tyson/Cargill/Natl Beef) that dominate the beef sector, several just settle price-fixing cases. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/t...
Trump says U.S. cattle ranchers 'don't understand' tariffs after some slam Argentine beef plan
President Donald Trump said U.S. cattle ranchers "don't understand" how they have benefitted from his tariffs, adding that they "have to get their prices down."
www.cnbc.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Trump is certainly showing who he is to farmers and ranchers. Of course, ranchers don't set consumer prices - that's controlled by the big 4 companies (JBS/Tyson/Cargill/Natl Beef) that dominate the beef sector, several just settle price-fixing cases. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/t...