Anne Schechinger
@anneschech.bsky.social
Data, agriculture, food, CAFOs, sustainability, climate change, water, policy. Former Michigander and Iowan, current Minnesotan. Views are my own.
From @politico.com Morning Ag: "Internet personalities, a former NBA player and activists who oppose transgender women participating in women’s sports have started appearing on USDA’s Instagram account promoting whole milk." Anti-trans activists in milk campaigns. I don't know where we go from here.
January 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
From @politico.com Morning Ag: "Internet personalities, a former NBA player and activists who oppose transgender women participating in women’s sports have started appearing on USDA’s Instagram account promoting whole milk." Anti-trans activists in milk campaigns. I don't know where we go from here.
Elon musk is worth $700B, but sure the rest of us should only eat a piece of chicken, broccoli and a tortilla. Make it make sense. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Tortilla, broccoli, ‘a piece of chicken’: US agriculture secretary mocked for ‘money-saving’ meal
Brooke Rollins claimed meal featuring tortilla, broccoli, chicken and ‘one other thing’ can cost around $3
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Elon musk is worth $700B, but sure the rest of us should only eat a piece of chicken, broccoli and a tortilla. Make it make sense. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Anne Schechinger
Trying to fix OBBBA SNAP issues and increasing support for small family farms is good. But a Minnesotan introducing a #farmsubsidy bill in DC when MN is being terrorized by federal agents and the Insurrection Act is being threatened is like ????? democrats-agriculture.house.gov/news/documen...
Ranking Member Angie Craig Unveils Farm and Family Relief Act Framework
democrats-agriculture.house.gov
January 15, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Trying to fix OBBBA SNAP issues and increasing support for small family farms is good. But a Minnesotan introducing a #farmsubsidy bill in DC when MN is being terrorized by federal agents and the Insurrection Act is being threatened is like ????? democrats-agriculture.house.gov/news/documen...
In 2025, Brazil became the world's top beef producer, replacing the U.S. www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Brazil surpassing US as top beef producer, easing global supply squeeze
If the official numbers confirm market estimates, 2025 will be the first year that Brazil's output will have surpassed U.S. production.
www.reuters.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:29 PM
In 2025, Brazil became the world's top beef producer, replacing the U.S. www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Just a reminder when news like this comes out that corn farmers will be getting payments from at least 3 farm subsidy programs in 2026. Corn prices being lower and input prices being higher is far from the whole story. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2026/01/usda...
USDA Says 2025 Corn Production Hit 17 Billion Bushels, Likely to Keep Prices Low - Farm Policy News
Corn futures plunged to the lowest levels since August after USDA stunned the market by boosting its 2025 U.S. crop estimate above 17 billion bushels for the first time, signaling a heavy supply outlo...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
January 13, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Just a reminder when news like this comes out that corn farmers will be getting payments from at least 3 farm subsidy programs in 2026. Corn prices being lower and input prices being higher is far from the whole story. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2026/01/usda...
Can confirm that this is true, and also disgusting and reprehensible. What is happening right now in the Twin Cities is hard even to describe, but the fear is extreme for so many. www.startribune.com/ice-detainin...
Tribal leaders say ICE is detaining American Indians during immigration sweeps
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is trying to locate four members detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
www.startribune.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Can confirm that this is true, and also disgusting and reprehensible. What is happening right now in the Twin Cities is hard even to describe, but the fear is extreme for so many. www.startribune.com/ice-detainin...
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments are based on the # of acres that were planted in 2025, meaning the program was designed to send more money to large farms. And a farmer and their spouse would have to farm >8,000 corn/bean acres to hit the payment limit. farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/01/farm...
Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Payment Rates - farmdoc daily
Nick Paulson, Gary Schnitkey, Jonathan Coppess, and Carl Zulauf - The USDA recently announced payment rates for row crops eligible for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. Acres planted to corn ($44....
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu
January 7, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments are based on the # of acres that were planted in 2025, meaning the program was designed to send more money to large farms. And a farmer and their spouse would have to farm >8,000 corn/bean acres to hit the payment limit. farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/01/farm...
Minnesota folks: join me at the Great Northern Winter Festival at the end of the month! I'll be speaking about how sustainable agriculture in the Midwest can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the festival's Climate Solutions Series, on Jan 31st. thegreatnorthernfestival.com/event/insigh...
January 5, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Minnesota folks: join me at the Great Northern Winter Festival at the end of the month! I'll be speaking about how sustainable agriculture in the Midwest can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the festival's Climate Solutions Series, on Jan 31st. thegreatnorthernfestival.com/event/insigh...
Will be interesting to see how much EQIP and CSP funding actually goes to farmers this year, given that NRCS lost 22% of their staff in the first half of 2025 alone. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/12/2000...
20,000 Employees Left USDA in First Half of 2025 - Farm Policy News
More than 20,300 employees left the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the first five months of the administration of President Donald Trump, about a fifth of staff, according to a report from the agen...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu
January 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Will be interesting to see how much EQIP and CSP funding actually goes to farmers this year, given that NRCS lost 22% of their staff in the first half of 2025 alone. farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/12/2000...
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...
The narrative of "this is the worst farm crisis since the 80s" is especially weird given that net farm income is up 37% this year compared to 2024, after adjusting for inflation... Some farmers are definitely hurting, but as always those aren't the ones who will benefit from the bailout.
December 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The narrative of "this is the worst farm crisis since the 80s" is especially weird given that net farm income is up 37% this year compared to 2024, after adjusting for inflation... Some farmers are definitely hurting, but as always those aren't the ones who will benefit from the bailout.
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!
Had great company in the story! @profsecchi.bsky.social provided some powerful insights about "sustainable" aviation fuel. A condensed version of the story was also in @theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The environmental costs of corn: should the US change how it grows its dominant crop?
Amid concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, the Trump administration has abolished climate-friendly farming incentives
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Had great company in the story! @profsecchi.bsky.social provided some powerful insights about "sustainable" aviation fuel. A condensed version of the story was also in @theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
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...
Huge thanks to the tireless efforts from the people that represented us in this suit, including @animallegaldefense.bsky.social, @earthjustice.org, Edelson PC, and @farmstand.bsky.social.
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Huge thanks to the tireless efforts from the people that represented us in this suit, including @animallegaldefense.bsky.social, @earthjustice.org, Edelson PC, and @farmstand.bsky.social.
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...