Agriculture

"Bacteria that is destroying ancient olive groves in the Apulia region of southern Italy is very likely to spread to other areas of Europe, says report."

"Its first attempt to develop genetically engineered grass ended disastrously for the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The grass escaped into the wild from test plots in Oregon in 2003, dooming the chances that the government would approve the product for commercial use."

"Farmers in western Poland are warning of civil unrest if a vast coalmine and power plant are given the go-ahead, with thousands of people at risk of being forcibly relocated."

Industrial-scale palm oil plantations and processing plants in Colombia are at the center of conflict between leftist rebels, government ­forces, right-wing paramilitary groups and criminal gangs.
 

"CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Gabriele Rausse tends to grape vines that are thriving on the same high slope where Thomas Jefferson tried, and failed, to launch a Virginia wine industry more than 200 years ago."

"While the Obama administration is touting Virginia's pollution trading program as an 'innovative market-based approach' to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland's trading effort remains stuck in limbo after years of study and debate."

"When Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) hits his last few days in office next month, he plans to enact dramatic new regulations for farmers who use chicken droppings to fertilize their fields."

"Proponents of an Oregon ballot measure requiring labels on genetically modified foods conceded defeat Thursday after a judge ruled against them and an automatic recount appeared unlikely to sway the outcome."

"Gov.-elect Larry Hogan promised Maryland farmers Monday that his 'first fight' in office would be against costly new farm pollution regulations, even as environmental groups released new data showing many Eastern Shore chicken farms could be fouling the Chesapeake Bay."

"Some of the best-known chefs in the country are leaving the kitchen this week and heading to Capitol Hill to press for mandatory labels on genetically modified food."