While Land Grants are sometimes charged with being in the pockets of big agribusiness, any serious look at their activities will reveal robust and active research on organic and no till cropping systems, local foods and farmer's markets, obesity prevention, and food security in the US and abroad. As such, one shouldn't expect the controversies surrounding modern food and agriculture to quell anytime soon. But, at least we can begin to acknowledge what the debate is really about. We may be on the cusp of immigration reform, Merrigan said, noting an immigration bill was passed out of committee yesterday. The History of Plant Breeding--Improving on Nature? "There’s definitely money that can be squeezed out of the bureaucracy," she said. "This is a huge issue," she said. She not only heard from many people about the need for immigration reform, but she also saw the need herself on a recent trip throughout her home state of Massachusetts. On a related note, Merrigan believes that producing fruits and vegetables for local markets is a great way for young people to get started in agriculture, especially since demand is growing. 1. College and controversial topics go hand in hand, making it a great time to sharpen your debate skills and determine your stance on today's most controversial issues. ©2020 Verizon Media. Certainty Programs. So perhaps we move on to organic until we learn that organics too use pesticides, and that the production method may not make the most efficient use of our scarce resources. The Barroso is one of Portugal’s most isolated areas, known for its rough terrain, abiding agricultural traditions and stunning beauty. Merrigan described this as a "sort of whack-a-mole" problem. she asked. And controversial. The Federal Budget. Having the privilege and opportunity to talk to thousands of college students around the country, I'm often surprised at the air of certitude that permeates food debates. Regents Professor and Willard Sparks Endowed Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. Having the privilege and opportunity to talk to thousands of college students around the country, I'm often surprised at the air of certitude that permeates food debates. Stay informed with daily content from across Farm Journal's properties. "Because it’s a hard job.". Theirs is a respectful discussion of the positions taken up by different advocacy groups, but there is no hesitation in drawing conclusions where logic and science warrant. This treaty could create a huge new market opportunity for certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts where U.S. producers don’t have decent access currently. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. Controversial Issues in Agriculture by admin on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 10:46 Through the efforts of the animal rights organizations, the Humane Society, etc., we lost this right six years ago. Developing a free-trade agreement with the European Union will be tough, she said, but it could create big opportunities for U.S. producers. The book is an indispensable guide for understanding how the government regulates pesticides and GMOs and for seeing how competing interests can seem to have their own sets of seemingly conflicting "facts" on both sides of an issue. AgWeb is the farmer’s source for agriculture news online. Food safety. Eco-System Markets. By the time you graduate, you'll likely have been involved in spirited classroom discussions, lively political disagreements, or … "There are certain things you can’t cut," she said. They also recognize that debates about food pesticides, GMOs, and carbon footprints are often surrogates for deeper, often unacknowledged conflicts over competing values and worldviews. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont. Agriculture’s Ongoing Role in Climate Change. Here’s her top 10: 1. Merrigan, who also worked on Capitol Hill, said agriculture might be able to secure a new approach to estate taxes. Large agribusinesses have a lot to say on these issues, but their predictable messages about feeding the world easy to dismiss. The purpose of this publication is to help farmers sort through their options and make the best energy production choice for their farms. Peterson also said Sen. Pat Roberts (R, Kan.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has indicated he is giving consideration to introducing a new farm bill. There’s "a lot of good energy around the issue" of creating eco-system markets to reward farmers for conservation stewardship. It is cultivated from a narrow perspective of writings that blanket bookshelves and newsstands. Rather than striking a defensive or muckraking tone, as so often is the case in this genre of writing, Norwood and colleagues embrace the controversies, interpreting them as a sign of a healthy democracy struggling to deal with pressing challenges. Merrigan spoke at dozens of colleges during her time at USDA. Foreign-Trade Agreements. Asked why she had recently left her job as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture after four years, Kathleen Merrigan noted that she was just one of many deputy secretaries who had left the administration recently. 2021 Top Producer Summit: Breaking New Ground. I'm referring to our system of Land Grant Colleges and Universities that officially began with President Abraham Lincoln's pen stroke. FDA’s pending food safety regulations are "big" and likely to change agriculture "more than you might imagine." Europe’s Controversial Common Agricultural Policy European nations have been following a controversial policy called the common agricultural policy. 5. ASPCA: What Is Ag-Gag Legislation? She’d give hand-held devices to the audiences and ask them questions to gauge the depth of their knowledge about agricultural issues. But Merrigan, who met with FDA officials on the proposed regulations, indicated the proposal will likely be revised before its finalized. 3. In the meantime, she said, the public appears to be irritated by large companies, such as Apple, avoiding U.S. taxes by managing their finances through other countries. Much of what has come to be accepted as the received wisdom about food and agriculture just ain't so. But the budget-cutting process, she said, has moved into an even more difficult phase. As the authors ironically note, however, it is precisely our fears and worries that have led to improvements in food safety, quality, and affordability.

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