Huge corporations use Ag Checkoff Programs to lobby against family farmers. It’s time to change that. You may not know what a checkoff program is, but chances are, you’ve seen one. Checkoff programs are essentially government-created commodity research and promotion enterprises. … Continued
Mining riders on NDAA puts public lands and millions of Americans at risk from mining pollution. Updated 6/12/2018: The Senate will vote on their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week, and there are two possible riders … Continued
Fruitland, Idaho, clears the air with a city ordinance that sites oil and gas wells almost a ¼ mile from homes and businesses. This Spring, the city of Fruitland, Idaho, passed an ordinance regulating oil and gas development within city … Continued
How the 2018 Farm Bill impacts your table, your community, and our country. Chances are, you’ve seen a bit of news about the Farm Bill lately. There’s also a good chance that, especially if you’re not a farmer, you passed … Continued
Dakota Rural Action racks up some wins as well as some lessons on winning future legislative fights. Dakota Rural Action continued its lobbying and coalition-building work in 2017-2018 bringing an agenda of positive change to the South Dakota Legislature. Fighting … Continued
Guest editorial lays out why the BLM’s approach to coal leasing lags behind both science and the coal market. The following piece was printed as a guest editorial in the Billings Gazette on May 4, 2018. The column, written by … Continued
Following the Crimes Against Critical Infrastructure Bill, which threatens 1st Amendment and property-owners’ rights, through the winding halls of the Wyoming Legislature. Legislation drafted by a consortium of the most powerful fossil fuel industries and corporate interests in the country … Continued
This report is the result of a collaboration between Appalachian Voices and the Western Organization of Resource Councils to assess the effect of Trump Administration policies on economic growth in coal-producing regions. By Colin Lauderdale & Erin Savage One year … Continued
For every step forward in 2017, the coal industry saw at least two steps backward. The slow unraveling of the industry will take time, but each passing month begs certain questions about the future more and more urgently. Will coal … Continued
November 17 marked the beginning of the 5th round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) re-negotiations in Mexico. It also marked the anniversary of when the U.S. House of Representatives passed NAFTA into law in 1993. When we heard … Continued