"Two dozen federal agencies flagged the biggest dangers posed by a warming planet. The list spreads across American society."

"California's agricultural empire is facing a shakeup, as a state law comes into effect that will limit many farmers' access to water."

"A jury in Los Angeles found Tuesday that Bayer’s Monsanto unit wasn’t liable for the boy’s cancer. Bayer lost three earlier trials in the state and said in July it will set aside an additional $4.5 billion to deal with all lawsuits tied to the weedkiller, which will be pulled from the U.S. consumer market in its current form in 2023."

"California’s reservoirs are so dry from a historic drought that regulators warned Thursday it’s possible the state’s water agencies won’t get anything from them next year, a frightening possibility that could force mandatory restrictions for residents."

"Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today he’ll use billions of dollars from a Depression-era agency to pay for a carbon-saving program for farms, and to help farmers prepare for drought and adverse weather associated with climate change."

"Two North Carolina civil rights organizations have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the approval by state environmental regulators of a plan to produce “biogas” from vast waste lagoons at large industrial hog operations despite what they say is the likelihood that the project will increase air and water pollution."

"Nations, companies and foundations pledged billions of dollars to feed the world in connection with an ambitious United Nations food summit Thursday, while some grassroots anti-hunger groups and food experts blasted the event as too corporate, tech-focused and top-down."

"The creation of synthetic fertilizers in the early 20th century was a turning point in human history, enabling an increase in crop yields and causing a population boom. But the overuse of nitrogen and phosphorus from those fertilizers is causing an environmental crisis, as algae blooms and oceanic “dead zones” grow in scale and frequency."