Articles by Steve Davies

A widely used neonicotinoid insecticide poses a risk to honey bees, EPA said in an analysis released today that drew criticism from a leading manufacturer of the product as well as environmental groups.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2016 - EPAàs agenda for 2016 is shaped heavily by the Paris Agreement on climate change, Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a Jan. 4 blog post, as she promised to àhit the ground running.à

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2016 -- The Food and Drug Administration will consider whether to ban the use of seven food additives based on their potential to cause cancer in humans or other animals.

The Justice Department has reportedly launched a criminal investigation of Blue Bell Creameries over a deadly listeria outbreak, the latest example of the Obama administration s effort to turn up the heat on producers and processors over food safety failures.

A USDA senior research entomologist can proceed with a whistleblower complaint alleging he was punished for publishing research that found neonicotinoid insecticides harm pollinators such as bees and monarch butterflies.

USDAPs new poultry inspection rules, which place more responsibility for examining birds on the processing establishments themselves, have survived their first court challenge.

Five prominent farm groups are asking EPA to withdraw its request to a federal court to vacate the registration of Enlist Duo, a widely used Dow herbicide.

Anhydrous ammonia dealers will soon get relief from some federal safety requirements under the spending and tax legislation approved by Congress. A provision in the bill, which President Obama is expected to sign, prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fr

Farmers, ranchers and grain elevator operators who use the commodity futures market to manage risk are getting relief from some record-keeping requirements.

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor say they plan to enforce environmental and worker safety laws more vigorously in the coming year, and agriculture is one area the agencies will be looking at closely.