Agriculture

  January 2023

Consumer Food Choices and Voices Matter

by Judy Hopkinson One of the most powerful tools available for combatting climate change is the opportunity to transform current agricultural practices. Agriculture accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than several forms of transportation combined. (1) Yet, farmland could become a … Continue reading

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  April 2021

USA/Canada Team Up to Eliminate Giant Hornets

USA/Canada Team Up to Eliminate Giant Hornets The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), an invasive pest that threatens pollinators and ignores international borders, is the focus of an international effort to eradicate it in the Pacific Northwest. That’s why, in … Continue reading

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  March 2018

A Paradigm Shift From Industrial Agriculture to Diversified Agroecological Systems

Lead Author: Emile A. Frison The following excepts were obtained from a report by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).The complete 96 page report can be acquired at www.ipes-food.org/images/Reports/UniformityToDiversity_FullReport.pdf. Key Messages • Today’s food and farming systems … Continue reading

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  June 2017

Our Environmental Future Depends on Viable Local Farms

by Fred Likkel and Brad Rader In the April 2017 issue of Whatcom Watch, one of the leaders of RE Sources effectively presented the environmental group’s position on dairy farming. Simply put, their position is that most of our 90-some … Continue reading

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  February 2017

State Water Quality Permit Sacrifices Public Health

The coalition backing the following statement includes Citizens for a Healthy Bay, Friends of the Earth, Sierra Club, the Center for Food Safety, Snake River Waterkeeper, OneAmerica, the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, Aqua Permanenté, the Waterkeeper Alliance, the Center for … Continue reading

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  July 2016

Irrigation Dominates Whatcom Water Use

Whatcom County faces a variety of water supply, water quality and fish habitat problems. Understanding and resolving these problems require a detailed and accurate knowledge of who uses water, for what purposes and when. Irrigation is the largest – and … Continue reading

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  April 2016

Organic Commodities Less Risky than Conventional

by Bill Davison Editor’s Note: The following was originally published under Local Food Frontier, Local Food Systems and Small Farms, “Ag Lender Cites Organic Commodities as Less Risky than Conventional” http://web. extension.illinois.edu/lmw/eb343/ entry_10550/ Reprinted with per­mission. by Bill Davison Changes … Continue reading

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  March 2016

Why Larger Farms in Whatcom County Are Needed for Small Farms to Survive

by Rich Appel Editor’s Note: Writer Jennifer Moon recently published two articles about small farms in Whatcom Watch in January and February 2016 issues. She invited readers to respond to issues about farming. Rich Appel of Whatcom Family Farmers submitted … Continue reading

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  February 2016

Small Farms: Diversify and Strengthen

by Jennifer Moon Editor’s Note: This is the second of two articles exploring Whatcom County’s agricultural past and present and current efforts to diversify and strengthen Whatcom County’s food system, from the farm to the factory to the consumer. For … Continue reading

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