Farmers take legal action over removal of climate data from USDA websites

Organic farmers and environmental groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging it unlawfully deleted climate-related data from its websites, stripping farmers of crucial resources for business planning.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

In short:

The Agriculture Department ordered the removal of climate-related content from its websites on Jan. 30, leading to the deletion of data sets, interactive tools, and funding information relied on by farmers and researchers.
At the same time, the agency froze funding for conservation and climate programs, making it harder for farmers to access promised financial support.
The lawsuit, filed by Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute, claims the purge violates federal law and seeks to restore the deleted pages.

Key quote:

“You can purge a website of the words climate change, but that doesn’t mean climate change goes away.”

— Peter Lehner, Earthjustice attorney

Why this matters:

Farmers across the country are facing increasingly volatile weather patterns, from prolonged droughts to sudden, devastating floods. To navigate these challenges, they rely on long-term climate data — information that helps them make crucial decisions about planting, irrigation, and soil conservation. But when that data is restricted or removed, it can leave them struggling to plan for the future and to access funding designed to help mitigate climate risks.

At stake is not just the ability of farmers to prepare for extreme weather but also the broader implications for scientific research and policy decisions. Without reliable data, agricultural experts warn, efforts to develop sustainable farming practices and conservation strategies could be severely hindered.

www.nytimes.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

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a bridge that is lit up at night with wave breaking on a nearby lake shore in foreground.

Credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

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