New Science Shows Bee-Killing Pesticides Are Unnecessary on Most Farms
Honeybees Help Farmers, But They Don't Help the Environment
Can California Reverse EPA’s U-Turn on Pesticide Ban?
How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again
How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind?
EPA Announces New Rules To Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides
Big Food is Spending Millions to Lobby for Less Transparency
The Future Strawberry: Will the Loss of a Major Pesticide Help the Industry to Go Green?
Organic vs. "Organic": How Much Does Certification Matter?
Sponsored
window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={"attachmentsReducer":{"audio_0":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_0","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"}}},"audio_1":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_1","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"}}},"audio_2":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_2","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"}}},"audio_3":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_3","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"}}},"audio_4":{"type":"attachments","id":"audio_4","imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"}}},"placeholder":{"type":"attachments","id":"placeholder","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-160x96.jpg","width":160,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-800x478.jpg","width":800,"height":478,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1020x610.jpg","width":1020,"height":610,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-960x574.jpg","width":960,"height":574,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-240x143.jpg","width":240,"height":143,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-375x224.jpg","width":375,"height":224,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-520x311.jpg","width":520,"height":311,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1180x705.jpg","width":1180,"height":705,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-1920x1148.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/GettyImages-896326950-e1514998105161.jpg","width":1920,"height":1148}}},"bayareabites_127468":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_127468","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"127468","found":true},"title":"180328-seed-coatings-top2","publishDate":1525109278,"status":"inherit","parent":127465,"modified":1525109790,"caption":"Planting corn seeds","credit":"courtesy Civil Eats","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"complete_open_graph":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-1200x800.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-960x640.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-520x347.jpg","width":520,"height":347,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/04/180328-seed-coatings-top2.jpg","width":1200,"height":800}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_124598":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_124598","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"124598","found":true},"title":"Nigel Raine keeps a collection of wild bees in his laboratory at the University of Guelph, in Canada. Farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive.","publishDate":1517183882,"status":"inherit","parent":124597,"modified":1517184092,"caption":"Nigel Raine keeps a collection of wild bees in his laboratory at the University of Guelph, in Canada. Farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive.","credit":"Dan Charles/NPR","description":"Nigel Raine keeps a collection of wild bees in his laboratory at the University of Guelph, in Canada. Farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive.","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1180x786.jpg","width":1180,"height":786,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-960x640.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-520x347.jpg","width":520,"height":347,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1180x786.jpg","width":1180,"height":786,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-1920x1280.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2018/01/wild-bees_custom-f1d7181ff70d45082b915047d371bbd4d9639a7e.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_116888":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_116888","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"116888","found":true},"title":"170413-chlorpyrifos","publishDate":1492632138,"status":"inherit","parent":116883,"modified":1492632138,"caption":null,"credit":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-160x107.jpg","width":160,"height":107,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-1020x680.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-960x640.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xxsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-240x160.jpg","width":240,"height":160,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xsmall":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-375x250.jpg","width":375,"height":250,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"small":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-520x347.jpg","width":520,"height":347,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"xlarge":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-1180x787.jpg","width":1180,"height":787,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2017/04/170413-chlorpyrifos.jpg","width":1200,"height":800}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_111829":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_111829","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"111829","found":true},"title":"A farmer sprays a soybean field in Granger, Iowa. There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded.","publishDate":1472749775,"status":"inherit","parent":111828,"modified":1472751844,"caption":"A farmer sprays a soybean field in Granger, Iowa. There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded.","credit":"Charlie Neibergall/AP","description":"A farmer sprays a soybean field in Granger, Iowa. There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-400x225.jpg","width":400,"height":225,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-800x450.jpg","width":800,"height":450,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-768x432.jpg","width":768,"height":432,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-1440x810.jpg","width":1440,"height":810,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-1920x1080.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-1180x664.jpg","width":1180,"height":664,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-960x540.jpg","width":960,"height":540,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"cat_post_thumb_sizecategory-posts-2":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-50":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-50x50.jpg","width":50,"height":50,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/09/cropspraying_wide-5b4c1af546ef534eba831d46a929d59781786d69.jpg","width":1978,"height":1113}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_107374":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_107374","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"107374","found":true},"title":"A crop duster sprays a field with pesticides. Former USDA scientist Jonathan Lundgren says that he has been persecuted by the agency because his research points out problems with popular pesticides.","publishDate":1457129281,"status":"inherit","parent":107373,"modified":1457129311,"caption":"A crop duster sprays a field with pesticides. Former USDA scientist Jonathan Lundgren says that he has been persecuted by the agency because his research points out problems with popular pesticides.","credit":"iStockphoto ","description":"A crop duster sprays a field with pesticides. Former USDA scientist Jonathan Lundgren says that he has been persecuted by the agency because his research points out problems with popular pesticides.","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-400x266.jpg","width":400,"height":266,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-800x533.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium_large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-768x511.jpg","width":768,"height":511,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-1440x959.jpg","width":1440,"height":959,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-1920x1279.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-1180x786.jpg","width":1180,"height":786,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-960x639.jpg","width":960,"height":639,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"cat_post_thumb_sizecategory-posts-2":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9-75x75.jpg","width":75,"height":75,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2016/03/pesticideplane_enl-90a539ba1b4c40cace19b5a5051dd590c24fc6c9.jpg","width":2000,"height":1332}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_101392":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_101392","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"101392","found":true},"title":"A worker pours a bucket of pesticide into a machine to be sprayed on almond trees at Del Bosque Farms Inc. in Firebaugh, Calif., on April 6, 2015. California and Washington already have adopted, through state regulation, many of the rules that the EPA now wants to put in place nationwide.","publishDate":1443498968,"status":"inherit","parent":101391,"modified":1443499137,"caption":"A worker pours a bucket of pesticide into a machine to be sprayed on almond trees at Del Bosque Farms Inc. in Firebaugh, Calif., on April 6, 2015. California and Washington already have adopted, through state regulation, many of the rules that the EPA now wants to put in place nationwide.","credit":"David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images","description":"A worker pours a bucket of pesticide into a machine to be sprayed on almond trees at Del Bosque Farms Inc. in Firebaugh, Calif., on April 6, 2015. California and Washington already have adopted, through state regulation, many of the rules that the EPA now wants to put in place nationwide","imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-400x267.jpg","width":400,"height":267,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"medium":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-800x534.jpg","width":800,"height":534,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"large":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-1440x961.jpg","width":1440,"height":961,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-lrg":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-1920x1282.jpg","width":1920,"height":1282,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-med":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-1180x788.jpg","width":1180,"height":788,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"fd-sm":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-960x641.jpg","width":960,"height":641,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"twentyfourteen-full-width":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-1038x576.jpg","width":1038,"height":576,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"cat_post_thumb_sizecategory-posts-2":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d-75x75.jpg","width":75,"height":75,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/09/gettyimages-468840748_custom-93ed36dc67cafc6a445ad9d93d2f390eb79e771d.jpg","width":3000,"height":2003}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_99777":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_99777","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"99777","found":true},"title":"bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454","publishDate":1440629555,"status":"inherit","parent":99774,"modified":1440629578,"caption":null,"credit":"shutterstock","description":null,"imgSizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-400x267.jpg","width":400,"height":267,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"post-thumbnail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-672x372.jpg","width":672,"height":372,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-32":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-32x32.jpg","width":32,"height":32,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-64":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-64x64.jpg","width":64,"height":64,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-96":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-96x96.jpg","width":96,"height":96,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"guest-author-128":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-128x128.jpg","width":128,"height":128,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"cat_post_thumb_sizecategory-posts-2":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"detail":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454-75x75.jpg","width":75,"height":75,"mimeType":"image/jpeg"},"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/08/bigfoodspending-shutterstock_269127776-680x454.jpg","width":680,"height":454}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_92046":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_92046","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"92046","found":true},"title":"strawberry","publishDate":1421125068,"status":"inherit","parent":92041,"modified":1421125108,"caption":"Strawberries in the field (Shutterstock)","credit":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/strawberry.jpg","width":680,"height":346}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false},"bayareabites_86378":{"type":"attachments","id":"bayareabites_86378","meta":{"index":"attachments_1591205162","site":"bayareabites","id":"86378","found":true},"title":"Pranav_Bhatt--e1408335354949-680x408","publishDate":1408555970,"status":"inherit","parent":86366,"modified":1408555970,"caption":"Photo by Pranav Bhatt","credit":null,"description":null,"imgSizes":{"kqedFullSize":{"file":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/24/2014/08/Pranav_Bhatt-e1408335354949-680x408.jpg","width":680,"height":408}},"fetchFailed":false,"isLoading":false}},"audioPlayerReducer":{"postId":"stream_live"},"authorsReducer":{"byline_bayareabites_127465":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_127465","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_127465","name":"\u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/author/dgurian/\">Doug Gurian-Sherman,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/civileat\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_124597":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_124597","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_124597","name":"Dan Charles, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/27/581007165/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment\">NPR Food\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_116883":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_116883","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_116883","name":"\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/egrossman/\">Elizabeth Grossman\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/civileat/\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_111828":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_111828","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_111828","name":"Dan Charles, NPR Food","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_107373":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_107373","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_107373","name":"Dan Charles, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/nprfood/\">NPR Food\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_101391":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_101391","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_101391","name":"Dan Charles, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/npr-food/\">NPR Food\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"byline_bayareabites_99774":{"type":"authors","id":"byline_bayareabites_99774","meta":{"override":true},"slug":"byline_bayareabites_99774","name":"\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/egrossman/\">Elizabeth Grossman, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/civileat/\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","isLoading":false},"civileat":{"type":"authors","id":"5583","meta":{"index":"authors_1591205172","id":"5583","found":true},"name":"Civil Eats","firstName":"Civil","lastName":"Eats","slug":"civileat","email":"twilight@civileats.com","display_author_email":false,"staff_mastheads":[],"title":null,"bio":"\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/\">Civil Eats\u003c/a> is a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. We publish stories that shift the conversation around sustainable agriculture in an effort to build economically and socially just communities. Follow Civil Eats on Twitter \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/CivilEats\">@civileats\u003c/a> and on \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/Civil-Eats/56766540637\">Facebook\u003c/a>.","avatar":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f6f50bfb6403afe7cbc194b66cc1d4d?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twitter":"CivilEats","facebook":"/pages/Civil-Eats/56766540637?ref=hl","instagram":null,"linkedin":null,"sites":[{"site":"bayareabites","roles":["contributor"]},{"site":"food","roles":["contributor"]}],"headData":{"title":"Civil Eats | KQED","description":null,"ogImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f6f50bfb6403afe7cbc194b66cc1d4d?s=600&d=blank&r=g","twImgSrc":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8f6f50bfb6403afe7cbc194b66cc1d4d?s=600&d=blank&r=g"},"isLoading":false,"link":"/author/civileat"}},"breakingNewsReducer":{},"campaignFinanceReducer":{},"firebase":{"requesting":{},"requested":{},"timestamps":{},"data":{},"ordered":{},"auth":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"authError":null,"profile":{"isLoaded":false,"isEmpty":true},"listeners":{"byId":{},"allIds":[]},"isInitializing":false,"errors":[]},"navBarReducer":{"navBarId":"arts","fullView":true,"showPlayer":false},"navMenuReducer":{"menus":[{"key":"menu1","items":[{"name":"News","link":"/","type":"title"},{"name":"Politics","link":"/politics"},{"name":"Science","link":"/science"},{"name":"Education","link":"/educationnews"},{"name":"Housing","link":"/housing"},{"name":"Immigration","link":"/immigration"},{"name":"Criminal Justice","link":"/criminaljustice"},{"name":"Silicon Valley","link":"/siliconvalley"},{"name":"Forum","link":"/forum"},{"name":"The California Report","link":"/californiareport"}]},{"key":"menu2","items":[{"name":"Arts & Culture","link":"/arts","type":"title"},{"name":"Critics’ Picks","link":"/thedolist"},{"name":"Cultural Commentary","link":"/artscommentary"},{"name":"Food & Drink","link":"/food"},{"name":"Bay Area Hip-Hop","link":"/bayareahiphop"},{"name":"Rebel Girls","link":"/rebelgirls"},{"name":"Arts Video","link":"/artsvideos"}]},{"key":"menu3","items":[{"name":"Podcasts","link":"/podcasts","type":"title"},{"name":"Bay Curious","link":"/podcasts/baycurious"},{"name":"Rightnowish","link":"/podcasts/rightnowish"},{"name":"The Bay","link":"/podcasts/thebay"},{"name":"On Our Watch","link":"/podcasts/onourwatch"},{"name":"Mindshift","link":"/podcasts/mindshift"},{"name":"Consider This","link":"/podcasts/considerthis"},{"name":"Political Breakdown","link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown"}]},{"key":"menu4","items":[{"name":"Live Radio","link":"/radio","type":"title"},{"name":"TV","link":"/tv","type":"title"},{"name":"Events","link":"/events","type":"title"},{"name":"For Educators","link":"/education","type":"title"},{"name":"Support KQED","link":"/support","type":"title"},{"name":"About","link":"/about","type":"title"},{"name":"Help Center","link":"https://kqed-helpcenter.kqed.org/s","type":"title"}]}]},"pagesReducer":{},"postsReducer":{"stream_live":{"type":"live","id":"stream_live","audioUrl":"https://streams.kqed.org/kqedradio","title":"Live Stream","excerpt":"Live Stream information currently unavailable.","link":"/radio","featImg":"","label":{"name":"KQED Live","link":"/"}},"stream_kqedNewscast":{"type":"posts","id":"stream_kqedNewscast","audioUrl":"https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1","title":"KQED Newscast","featImg":"","label":{"name":"88.5 FM","link":"/"}},"bayareabites_127465":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_127465","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"127465","score":null,"sort":[1525109919000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms","title":"New Science Shows Bee-Killing Pesticides Are Unnecessary on Most Farms","publishDate":1525109919,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cem>Alternatives are available for neonicotinoid insecticide seed coatings, saving farmers money and better protecting the environment.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Conventional corn farmers—who grow the ubiquitous grain on \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn/background.aspx\">90 million acres\u003c/a> in the U.S.—are struggling. Since 2014, these farmers have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/commodity-costs-and-returns/#Recent%20Costs%20and%20Returns:%20Corn\">spending more to produce corn\u003c/a> than they can earn by selling it. Periods of overproduction and low prices are nothing new, but they can hit hard, as some farmers are forced to sell their operations and the largest landowners tend to get even larger, contributing to the hollowing-out of rural America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What is new this time around is that the last two decades have also seen \u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/2017/04/10/monsantos-driverless-car-is-crispr-gene-editing-driving-seed-consolidation/\">dramatic consolidation\u003c/a> of the seed and pesticide industries, as well as the arrival of expensive genetically engineered traits like glyphosate herbicide resistance and Bt and insecticide seed coatings. The economic concentration of a few large seed and pesticide companies and their expensive products have \u003ca href=\"https://www.agweb.com/article/seed-price-triples-over-last-20-years-naa-sonja-begemann/\">allowed them\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/farming-and-farm-income/\">capture more farm profit\u003c/a>, leaving less for farmers and their communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.agweb.com/article/seed-price-triples-over-last-20-years-naa-sonja-begemann/\">some farmers begin to question these costs\u003c/a>, a \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-1052-5.pdf\">recent study\u003c/a> has confirmed that the cost of seed coatings is rarely justified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seen as an easy way to keep early-season pests at bay, this technology involves coating each seed with neonicotinoid insecticide (or neonics) so that farmers don’t have to apply insecticides in the field. And it has become very popular within the industry. Non-organic corn farmers used to apply insecticides directly to the soil or use crop rotations to control soil-borne pests. Only \u003ca href=\"https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/ael/articles/2/1/170026\">a minority of corn acres were treated\u003c/a> with insecticides. Now, however, \u003ca href=\"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es506141g\">somewhere between 70 and nearly 100 percent\u003c/a> of corn seed is treated with neonic insecticides, with most experts agreeing that the figure is well over 90 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neonics have also made national headlines because of their impact on the ecosystems in which they’re used. They are now firmly established as causing \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-0341-3.pdf\">widespread harm\u003c/a> to a range of organisms, including the bees that produce our honey and pollinate our fruits and vegetables, the insects that protect our crops from pests, birds, and a range of aquatic life that provide food for fish. Widespread pesticide use in Germany is also a prime suspect in the \u003ca href=\"http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809\">loss of 75 percent of flying insects\u003c/a> there over the course of 27 years, and no doubt elsewhere, which is likely contributing to an equally \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/catastrophe-as-frances-bird-population-collapses-due-to-pesticides\">dramatic loss of the birds\u003c/a> that depend on them for food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With all this in mind, it’s hard not to ask: Are neonics really improving farmers’ lives?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>\u003cstrong>Good News for Farmers and the Environment, Bad News for Pesticide Companies\u003c/strong>\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The new \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-1052-5.pdf\">study\u003c/a>, published in the journal \u003cem>Environmental Science and Pollution Research\u003c/em>, shows that, in fact, only a small fraction of corn acres need neonic seed treatments. Researchers from several European universities found that only about 1 percent of corn acres experience yield loss in corn due to soil pests; the exception is in fields that include factors known to predispose crops to yield loss, such as soil with high organic content and poor drainage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in fields where such factors are present, only about 20 percent of corn acres would need neonic or other insecticide treatment—and simple management practices like avoiding planting corn into recently converted pasture can reduce that to 4 percent. Pests reviewed in Europe are also found in the U.S., showing that even for conventional, non-organic farmers, insecticide use could be reduced dramatically on most farm acres—saving the expense for farmers and the reducing the harms they cause the environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those skeptical that the European results would apply here in the U.S., I conducted an earlier \u003ca href=\"https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/alternatives-to-neonics_v9_23186.pdf\">review and analysis\u003c/a> of the U.S. research literature that came to similar conclusions. Shortly thereafter, several leading researchers in the study of neonics from Purdue University \u003ca href=\"http://pollinatorstewardship.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Krupke-et-al-2017-neonic-corn-seeds.pdf\">also found\u003c/a>that neonic seed treatments were likely to “far exceed demonstrable need.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the small percentage of farmers that may still experience some yield loss by forgoing seed treatments, the new report describes what it calls a mutual fund, an insurance pool that could reimburse those farmers. Based on their data, it would cost farmers only 10 percent of the current cost of neonic pesticide coatings to contribute to such a fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So why are neonics so popular?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One explanation may be that they’re intended to control early-season pests found in the soil. You see, once the seed is planted, the crop cannot be treated for these pests because it would disturb the seeds and seedlings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers don’t like to add unnecessary risks to an already risky business. And many would rather pay more for pesticides to be more confident they won’t lose productivity. But it’s worth noting that the current approach is new. Farmers didn’t used to take such a risk-averse approach with soil insecticides, which they used to apply much less often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In my research, I examined possible reasons why farmers are accepting the cost of neonic seed coatings at rates far above what can be justified by damage from pest insects. One by one, reasons such as changed farming practices like reduced tillage or adoption of engineered Bt traits were not found to explain or justify the cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the end, one of the main reasons left standing is that farmers have little choice. \u003ca href=\"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es506141g\">Virtually all corn seed is pre-treated by the seed companies\u003c/a> long before the point of purchase, with some companies not even providing untreated seed. And farmers who want to avoid using neonics must special-order untreated seed very early in the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Secondly, \u003ca href=\"https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/ael/articles/2/1/170026\">surveys have found\u003c/a> that many corn farmers don’t even know that their seeds have been treated. Seed sold by the big corporations now comes with multiple engineered traits and coatings, all with unhelpful trade names, such as Poncho. So it’s not surprising that some farmers don’t have time to learn about everything in their seed package.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On top of that, the people who farmers most often turn to for advice and information for controlling pests usually work for seed dealers. As the number of public sector extension scientists has sharply declined in recent years, and public research devotes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901115300812\">minimal funding\u003c/a> to alternatives to pesticides, it can be harder than ever to access impartial advice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gets to the fact that, regardless of the science, Bayer and Syngenta—the makers of neonics—need to keep selling them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Minnesota, for example, Governor Mark Dayton has \u003ca href=\"https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/?id=1055-253957\">convened a panel\u003c/a> to recommend policies to protect pollinators. When I attended their December meeting, representatives on the panel from industry and several large farms insisted that neonicotinoids are necessary. Their argument? That the seed coating prevents large yield losses in corn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As in the case of climate change, where entrenched and socially destructive corporate interests resist science, reducing neonic use is an uphill challenge without the larger systemic change toward agroecology that we ultimately need. But we can start by supporting farmers in their quest for stable profits \u003cem>and \u003c/em>safe fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was originally published on\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/2018/03/28/new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms/\">\u003cem>Civil Eats\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Alternatives are available for neonicotinoid insecticide seed coatings, saving farmers money and better protecting the environment.\r\n\r\n","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1525109919,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":24,"wordCount":1243},"headData":{"title":"New Science Shows Bee-Killing Pesticides Are Unnecessary on Most Farms | KQED","description":"Alternatives are available for neonicotinoid insecticide seed coatings, saving farmers money and better protecting the environment.\r\n\r\n","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"New Science Shows Bee-Killing Pesticides Are Unnecessary on Most Farms","datePublished":"2018-04-30T17:38:39.000Z","dateModified":"2018-04-30T17:38:39.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"127465 https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=127465","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2018/04/30/new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms/","disqusTitle":"New Science Shows Bee-Killing Pesticides Are Unnecessary on Most Farms","source":"Sustainability, Environment, Climate Change","sourceUrl":"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/sustainability","nprByline":"\u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/author/dgurian/\">Doug Gurian-Sherman,\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/civileat\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","path":"/bayareabites/127465/new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Alternatives are available for neonicotinoid insecticide seed coatings, saving farmers money and better protecting the environment.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Conventional corn farmers—who grow the ubiquitous grain on \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn/background.aspx\">90 million acres\u003c/a> in the U.S.—are struggling. Since 2014, these farmers have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns/commodity-costs-and-returns/#Recent%20Costs%20and%20Returns:%20Corn\">spending more to produce corn\u003c/a> than they can earn by selling it. Periods of overproduction and low prices are nothing new, but they can hit hard, as some farmers are forced to sell their operations and the largest landowners tend to get even larger, contributing to the hollowing-out of rural America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What is new this time around is that the last two decades have also seen \u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/2017/04/10/monsantos-driverless-car-is-crispr-gene-editing-driving-seed-consolidation/\">dramatic consolidation\u003c/a> of the seed and pesticide industries, as well as the arrival of expensive genetically engineered traits like glyphosate herbicide resistance and Bt and insecticide seed coatings. The economic concentration of a few large seed and pesticide companies and their expensive products have \u003ca href=\"https://www.agweb.com/article/seed-price-triples-over-last-20-years-naa-sonja-begemann/\">allowed them\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/farming-and-farm-income/\">capture more farm profit\u003c/a>, leaving less for farmers and their communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"https://www.agweb.com/article/seed-price-triples-over-last-20-years-naa-sonja-begemann/\">some farmers begin to question these costs\u003c/a>, a \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-1052-5.pdf\">recent study\u003c/a> has confirmed that the cost of seed coatings is rarely justified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seen as an easy way to keep early-season pests at bay, this technology involves coating each seed with neonicotinoid insecticide (or neonics) so that farmers don’t have to apply insecticides in the field. And it has become very popular within the industry. Non-organic corn farmers used to apply insecticides directly to the soil or use crop rotations to control soil-borne pests. Only \u003ca href=\"https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/ael/articles/2/1/170026\">a minority of corn acres were treated\u003c/a> with insecticides. Now, however, \u003ca href=\"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es506141g\">somewhere between 70 and nearly 100 percent\u003c/a> of corn seed is treated with neonic insecticides, with most experts agreeing that the figure is well over 90 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neonics have also made national headlines because of their impact on the ecosystems in which they’re used. They are now firmly established as causing \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-0341-3.pdf\">widespread harm\u003c/a> to a range of organisms, including the bees that produce our honey and pollinate our fruits and vegetables, the insects that protect our crops from pests, birds, and a range of aquatic life that provide food for fish. Widespread pesticide use in Germany is also a prime suspect in the \u003ca href=\"http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809\">loss of 75 percent of flying insects\u003c/a> there over the course of 27 years, and no doubt elsewhere, which is likely contributing to an equally \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/21/catastrophe-as-frances-bird-population-collapses-due-to-pesticides\">dramatic loss of the birds\u003c/a> that depend on them for food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With all this in mind, it’s hard not to ask: Are neonics really improving farmers’ lives?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>\u003cstrong>Good News for Farmers and the Environment, Bad News for Pesticide Companies\u003c/strong>\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The new \u003ca href=\"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11356-017-1052-5.pdf\">study\u003c/a>, published in the journal \u003cem>Environmental Science and Pollution Research\u003c/em>, shows that, in fact, only a small fraction of corn acres need neonic seed treatments. Researchers from several European universities found that only about 1 percent of corn acres experience yield loss in corn due to soil pests; the exception is in fields that include factors known to predispose crops to yield loss, such as soil with high organic content and poor drainage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even in fields where such factors are present, only about 20 percent of corn acres would need neonic or other insecticide treatment—and simple management practices like avoiding planting corn into recently converted pasture can reduce that to 4 percent. Pests reviewed in Europe are also found in the U.S., showing that even for conventional, non-organic farmers, insecticide use could be reduced dramatically on most farm acres—saving the expense for farmers and the reducing the harms they cause the environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For those skeptical that the European results would apply here in the U.S., I conducted an earlier \u003ca href=\"https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/alternatives-to-neonics_v9_23186.pdf\">review and analysis\u003c/a> of the U.S. research literature that came to similar conclusions. Shortly thereafter, several leading researchers in the study of neonics from Purdue University \u003ca href=\"http://pollinatorstewardship.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Krupke-et-al-2017-neonic-corn-seeds.pdf\">also found\u003c/a>that neonic seed treatments were likely to “far exceed demonstrable need.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the small percentage of farmers that may still experience some yield loss by forgoing seed treatments, the new report describes what it calls a mutual fund, an insurance pool that could reimburse those farmers. Based on their data, it would cost farmers only 10 percent of the current cost of neonic pesticide coatings to contribute to such a fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So why are neonics so popular?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One explanation may be that they’re intended to control early-season pests found in the soil. You see, once the seed is planted, the crop cannot be treated for these pests because it would disturb the seeds and seedlings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers don’t like to add unnecessary risks to an already risky business. And many would rather pay more for pesticides to be more confident they won’t lose productivity. But it’s worth noting that the current approach is new. Farmers didn’t used to take such a risk-averse approach with soil insecticides, which they used to apply much less often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In my research, I examined possible reasons why farmers are accepting the cost of neonic seed coatings at rates far above what can be justified by damage from pest insects. One by one, reasons such as changed farming practices like reduced tillage or adoption of engineered Bt traits were not found to explain or justify the cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the end, one of the main reasons left standing is that farmers have little choice. \u003ca href=\"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es506141g\">Virtually all corn seed is pre-treated by the seed companies\u003c/a> long before the point of purchase, with some companies not even providing untreated seed. And farmers who want to avoid using neonics must special-order untreated seed very early in the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Secondly, \u003ca href=\"https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/ael/articles/2/1/170026\">surveys have found\u003c/a> that many corn farmers don’t even know that their seeds have been treated. Seed sold by the big corporations now comes with multiple engineered traits and coatings, all with unhelpful trade names, such as Poncho. So it’s not surprising that some farmers don’t have time to learn about everything in their seed package.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On top of that, the people who farmers most often turn to for advice and information for controlling pests usually work for seed dealers. As the number of public sector extension scientists has sharply declined in recent years, and public research devotes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901115300812\">minimal funding\u003c/a> to alternatives to pesticides, it can be harder than ever to access impartial advice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This gets to the fact that, regardless of the science, Bayer and Syngenta—the makers of neonics—need to keep selling them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Minnesota, for example, Governor Mark Dayton has \u003ca href=\"https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/?id=1055-253957\">convened a panel\u003c/a> to recommend policies to protect pollinators. When I attended their December meeting, representatives on the panel from industry and several large farms insisted that neonicotinoids are necessary. Their argument? That the seed coating prevents large yield losses in corn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As in the case of climate change, where entrenched and socially destructive corporate interests resist science, reducing neonic use is an uphill challenge without the larger systemic change toward agroecology that we ultimately need. But we can start by supporting farmers in their quest for stable profits \u003cem>and \u003c/em>safe fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was originally published on\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://civileats.com/2018/03/28/new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms/\">\u003cem>Civil Eats\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/127465/new-science-shows-bee-killing-pesticides-are-unnecessary-on-most-farms","authors":["byline_bayareabites_127465"],"categories":["bayareabites_11028","bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_4084","bayareabites_2554","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_358","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_875","bayareabites_14400","bayareabites_16134","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_127468","label":"source_bayareabites_127465"},"bayareabites_124597":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_124597","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"124597","score":null,"sort":[1517184191000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment","title":"Honeybees Help Farmers, But They Don't Help the Environment","publishDate":1517184191,"format":"audio","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Listen to the story on Weekend Edition:\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nhttps://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesat/2018/01/20180127_wesat_honeybees_help_farmers_but_they_dont_help_the_environment.mp3\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Honeybees are amazing and adorable, and they suffer when people spray pesticides or mow down wildflowers. We've heard plenty in recent years about collapsing bee colonies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Jonas Geldmann, at the University of Cambridge, says he understands how the honeybee became a symbol of environmental conservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he still doesn't like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Lots of conservation organizations are promoting local honey, and even promoting sponsorships of honeybees and that kind of stuff, and that increasingly annoyed me,\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It annoyed him because the honeybee is perhaps the one type of bee that we should worry about the least. Honeybee hives aren't natural, and they don't help the environment. In fact, they may harm it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are thousands of bee species. Almost all of them live in the wild, hiding away in the ground or in odd cavities, like hollow plant stems. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, pollinating flowering plants. Many are in peril; some species have disappeared.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researcher \u003ca href=\"https://www.uoguelph.ca/ses/people/nigel-raine\">Nigel Raine\u003c/a> has a whole array of wild bees impaled on pins in his laboratory at the University of Guelph, in Canada. Many are tiny. Raine says that gardeners often assume they're flies. \"If you sit down and say, 'No, that's a small, solitary bee; that's a metallic green one' — when you show them a metallic green bee in their yard, they say, 'Wow! That's amazing!' \"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And then there's the honeybee: originally imported from Europe, raised and managed by beekeepers in order to make honey or to pollinate crops like almonds. It's an agricultural animal, in the same way that sheep and cattle are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When flowers are abundant, there is plenty of pollen for both honeybees and their wild cousins. But in many landscapes, or when an orchard stops blooming, farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Basically, a healthy environment needs bees — but not honeybees, Geldmann says. This week, he published a \u003ca href=\"http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6374/392\">commentary\u003c/a> in the journal \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> trying to spread the word to a wider audience. \"The way we're managing honeybees, in these hives, has nothing to do with nature conservation,\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists who study bees already understand this. But they struggle with how to talk to the public about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We're on a learning curve, all of us,\" says \u003ca href=\"https://www.beelab.umn.edu/meet-us/dr-marla-spivak\">Marla Spivak\u003c/a>, at the University of Minnesota, one of the country's most prominent bee researchers. \"It's like honeybees were the portal — the door to much larger issues, conservation issues in general.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Concern for honeybees helped more people understand why it's important to have more land covered with wildflowers and trees — and free from pesticides, Spivak says. Such a landscape is good for both honeybees and wild bees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"My preference is not to pit one bee against another,\" Spivak says. \"I would prefer to live on a planet where there are bountiful flowers to support all of our bees.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the bee that needs our help the most may be that tiny green bee in your garden and not the honeybee. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2018 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Maybe honeybees get too much attention. They are agricultural animals, like sheep or cattle, and they sometimes make life harder for wild bees. In fact, the bees in true peril are the wild ones.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1517184191,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":19,"wordCount":547},"headData":{"title":"Honeybees Help Farmers, But They Don't Help the Environment | KQED","description":"Maybe honeybees get too much attention. They are agricultural animals, like sheep or cattle, and they sometimes make life harder for wild bees. In fact, the bees in true peril are the wild ones.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Honeybees Help Farmers, But They Don't Help the Environment","datePublished":"2018-01-29T00:03:11.000Z","dateModified":"2018-01-29T00:03:11.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"124597 https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=124597","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2018/01/28/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment/","disqusTitle":"Honeybees Help Farmers, But They Don't Help the Environment","nprImageCredit":"Dan Charles","nprByline":"Dan Charles, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/27/581007165/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment\">NPR Food\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>","nprImageAgency":"NPR","nprStoryId":"581007165","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=581007165&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/27/581007165/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment?ft=nprml&f=581007165","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Sat, 27 Jan 2018 18:13:00 -0500","nprStoryDate":"Sat, 27 Jan 2018 08:21:55 -0500","nprLastModifiedDate":"Sat, 27 Jan 2018 18:13:50 -0500","nprAudio":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesat/2018/01/20180127_wesat_honeybees_help_farmers_but_they_dont_help_the_environment.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1025&d=170&p=7&story=581007165&ft=nprml&f=581007165","nprAudioM3u":"http://api.npr.org/m3u/1581269104-e58aa8.m3u?orgId=1&topicId=1025&d=170&p=7&story=581007165&ft=nprml&f=581007165","path":"/bayareabites/124597/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment","audioUrl":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesat/2018/01/20180127_wesat_honeybees_help_farmers_but_they_dont_help_the_environment.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1025&d=170&p=7&story=581007165&ft=nprml&f=581007165","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Listen to the story on Weekend Edition:\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"nprOneAudioLink","attributes":{"named":{"src":"https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesat/2018/01/20180127_wesat_honeybees_help_farmers_but_they_dont_help_the_environment.mp3"},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Honeybees are amazing and adorable, and they suffer when people spray pesticides or mow down wildflowers. We've heard plenty in recent years about collapsing bee colonies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Jonas Geldmann, at the University of Cambridge, says he understands how the honeybee became a symbol of environmental conservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he still doesn't like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Lots of conservation organizations are promoting local honey, and even promoting sponsorships of honeybees and that kind of stuff, and that increasingly annoyed me,\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It annoyed him because the honeybee is perhaps the one type of bee that we should worry about the least. Honeybee hives aren't natural, and they don't help the environment. In fact, they may harm it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are thousands of bee species. Almost all of them live in the wild, hiding away in the ground or in odd cavities, like hollow plant stems. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, pollinating flowering plants. Many are in peril; some species have disappeared.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researcher \u003ca href=\"https://www.uoguelph.ca/ses/people/nigel-raine\">Nigel Raine\u003c/a> has a whole array of wild bees impaled on pins in his laboratory at the University of Guelph, in Canada. Many are tiny. Raine says that gardeners often assume they're flies. \"If you sit down and say, 'No, that's a small, solitary bee; that's a metallic green one' — when you show them a metallic green bee in their yard, they say, 'Wow! That's amazing!' \"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And then there's the honeybee: originally imported from Europe, raised and managed by beekeepers in order to make honey or to pollinate crops like almonds. It's an agricultural animal, in the same way that sheep and cattle are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When flowers are abundant, there is plenty of pollen for both honeybees and their wild cousins. But in many landscapes, or when an orchard stops blooming, farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Basically, a healthy environment needs bees — but not honeybees, Geldmann says. This week, he published a \u003ca href=\"http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6374/392\">commentary\u003c/a> in the journal \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> trying to spread the word to a wider audience. \"The way we're managing honeybees, in these hives, has nothing to do with nature conservation,\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists who study bees already understand this. But they struggle with how to talk to the public about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We're on a learning curve, all of us,\" says \u003ca href=\"https://www.beelab.umn.edu/meet-us/dr-marla-spivak\">Marla Spivak\u003c/a>, at the University of Minnesota, one of the country's most prominent bee researchers. \"It's like honeybees were the portal — the door to much larger issues, conservation issues in general.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Concern for honeybees helped more people understand why it's important to have more land covered with wildflowers and trees — and free from pesticides, Spivak says. Such a landscape is good for both honeybees and wild bees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"My preference is not to pit one bee against another,\" Spivak says. \"I would prefer to live on a planet where there are bountiful flowers to support all of our bees.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the bee that needs our help the most may be that tiny green bee in your garden and not the honeybee. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2018 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/124597/honeybees-help-farmers-but-they-dont-help-the-environment","authors":["byline_bayareabites_124597"],"categories":["bayareabites_1874","bayareabites_358","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_875","bayareabites_877","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_124598","label":"bayareabites"},"bayareabites_116883":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_116883","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"116883","score":null,"sort":[1492635736000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"can-california-reverse-epas-u-turn-on-pesticide-ban","title":"Can California Reverse EPA’s U-Turn on Pesticide Ban?","publishDate":1492635736,"format":"image","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cp>A year and a half ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) \u003ca href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/30/epa-may-ban-common-pesticide-used-on-fruits-and-vegetables.html\">announced\u003c/a> it would ban the use of the neurotoxic \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/order-denying-petition-revoke-all-tolerances-pesticide\">insecticide chlorpyrifos\u003c/a> on food crops. Then, at the end of March—reversing course on decades of agency science and a decision that was years in the making—EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/order-denying-petition-revoke-all-tolerances-pesticide\">would not ban\u003c/a> the pesticide after all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the wake of Pruitt’s decision, and given overwhelming scientific evidence of adverse impacts on \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">children’s neurological development\u003c/a>, environmental and farmworker \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/press-release/trumps-epa-ignores-its-own-science-farmworker-communities-call-california-ban\">advocates in California\u003c/a> are calling on their state, which uses more chlorpyrifos than any other, to ban the insecticide. As it has for other environmental issues—air quality, for example—California could take action on chlorpyrifos that would have nationwide impacts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chlorpyrifos has long been on the radar of California’s environmental health advocates. Since 1999, University of California, Berkeley \u003ca href=\"http://www.healthresearchforaction.org/sph/chamacos-cohort-study\">researchers have been studying\u003c/a> the effects of \u003ca href=\"http://bit.ly/2oNPjW8\">organophosphate\u003c/a>pesticides—including \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/09/16/5-reasons-to-care-whether-the-epa-bans-chlorpyrifos-on-your-food/\">chlorpyrifos\u003c/a>—on children in the state’s farming communities. They’ve consistently found that exposure, which often begins prenatally, is linked to lower IQ, \u003ca href=\"http://e360.yale.edu/features/from_the_fields_to_inner_city_pesticides_affect_childrens_iq\">cognition\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/6/e1845?download=true&sso=1&sso_redirect_count=2&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A%20No%20local%20token&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token\">attention problems\u003c/a>, and other adverse effects. State data also shows children’s exposure to be widespread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://www.cehtp.org/file/pesticides_schools_report_april2014_pdf\">2014 California Department of Public Health report\u003c/a> found chlorpyrifos among the top 10 pesticides used within a quarter-mile of schools in the 15 agricultural counties studied. This puts thousands of children at risk of exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Approximately one million pounds of chlorpyrifos—about 20 percent of what’s used nationwide—are applied annually in California to dozens of food crops, including almonds, citrus, grapes, and broccoli. The greatest use is in agricultural counties, like Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties, where homes and schools are often adjacent to agricultural fields. State air monitoring in several of these communities has found chlorpyrifos levels that \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">exceed EPA safety targets by three to 44 times\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s time to get it out of the fields,” said United Farm Workers national vice president, Erik Nicholson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>EPA’s Contradictory Decision\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/09/16/5-reasons-to-care-whether-the-epa-bans-chlorpyrifos-on-your-food/\">adverse neurodevelopmental effects\u003c/a> well documented, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/chlorpyrifos\">EPA has been restricting chlorpyrifos’ use\u003c/a>. Most indoor residential uses, and use on tomatoes, are now banned. Use on various other food crops is restricted. The EPA also requires buffer zones around public spaces and homes. And in its 2016 \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/revised-human-health-risk-assessment-chlorpyrifos\">human health risk assessment\u003c/a>, the agency concluded that chlorpyrifos may be causing \u003ca href=\"https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0653-0454\">neurodevelopmental problems\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0653-0454\">extremely low levels\u003c/a> of exposure. The EPA has also found \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/epa-toxic-pesticide-fruitsveggies-puts-kids-risk\">residues on food at levels far above\u003c/a> what it considers safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These neurodevelopmental effects have been found in lab studies and long-term studies of children exposed to chlorpyrifos. Additional research has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22547821\">physical alterations in the brains\u003c/a> of chlorpyrifos-exposed children that correspond to learning and behavior disorders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These results are really very consistent,” said Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of public health at the University of California, Davis and director of the university’s Environmental Health Sciences Center. She calls the outcome of children’s exposure to neurotoxic chemicals like chlorpyrifos “\u003ca href=\"https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/EHP358/\">a chronic, silent epidemic\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The EPA’s current decision results from a 10-year legal process that began in 2007. In October 2015, the agency proposed (in a \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20160415171542/https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-proposes-revoke-chlorpyrifos-food-residue-tolerances\">press release\u003c/a> that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/search/year/2015?filter=&page=11\">no longer available\u003c/a> on the EPA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-proposes-revoke-chlorpyrifos-food-residue-tolerances\">website\u003c/a>) to \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/chlorpyrifos_nprm_prepublicationcopy_2015-10-28.pdf\">ban\u003c/a>chlorpyrifos for food crops because cumulative food and drinking water exposures could exceed safety limits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, under Pruitt, the EPA says more study is needed and chlorpyrifos’ safety doesn’t have to be reconsidered until 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think this is a very unfortunate decision,” said Philip Landrigan, dean of global health and a pediatrics professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. “Not only is it scientifically wrong but it’s also morally wrong. And it shows a blatant disregard for a very strong body of science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/agriculture-community-reacts-recent-epa-action\">Agricultural trade groups,\u003c/a> including the American Farm Bureau Federation and Corn Growers Association, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ccgga.org/epa-denies-activist-petition-aimed-to-ban-chlorpyrifos/\">welcomed the EPA decision\u003c/a>, as did \u003ca href=\"http://www.chlorpyrifos.com/news-and-resources/news/2017/20170329a.htm\">Dow AgroSciences\u003c/a>, a major chlorpyrifos producer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>California has Authority to Ban Chlorpyrifos\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On March 31, Californians for Pesticide Reform held \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/press-release/trumps-epa-ignores-its-own-science-farmworker-communities-call-california-ban\">rallies protesting the EPA’s decision\u003c/a>—and calling for a state ban on chlorpyrifos—in Salinas, Fresno, and other agricultural communities in the state. “California has the independent authority to ban chlorpyrifos here,” Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) senior scientist Miriam Rotkin-Ellman told Civil Eats. “What we need is for California to follow the science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, California can do just that. If state authorities determine the science doesn’t support its use, state-level authorities have the authority to ban a pesticide. For example, due to concern for its toxicity to bees, California refused to allow the pesticide \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressreader.com/usa/los-angeles-times/20150911/281835757480818\">sulfloxaflor\u003c/a> to be used in the same way the EPA did. And under the state’s safe drinking water law, California is in the process of listing\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">glyphosate\u003c/a>—the active ingredient in Roundup—as a \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">carcinogen\u003c/a>, a move that goes well beyond the EPA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A California chlorpyrifos ban would be a powerful market signal, since the state grows \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/\">more than a third\u003c/a> of U.S. vegetables and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/\">two-thirds\u003c/a> of U.S. fruits and nuts. It could also significantly reduce children’s exposures, given the proximity of California homes and schools to active farm fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s my hope that our Governor will follow through on his promise to lead when the feds fail us,” said Lucia Calderon, \u003ca href=\"http://safeagsafeschools.org/\">Safe Ag Safe Schools coalition\u003c/a> coordinator in California’s Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s chlorpyrifos restrictions already exceed federal requirements. “In California, the pesticide cannot be used without licensing, training, and oversight by a county agricultural commission,” explained California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) spokesperson Charlotte Fadipe. California growers must explain “when, where, and how they want to use the pesticide,” and obtain county permits. Some counties require buffers of up to 150 feet between pesticide application and schools, rivers, or other sensitive sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In January, CDPR announced it would increase air monitoring for pesticides, including chlorpyrifos. “California,” Fadipe explained, “is the only state that monitors air as part of its continuous reevaluation of pesticides to ensure the protection of workers, public health, and the environment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">environmental health advocates\u003c/a> say more rigorous monitoring is warranted, given the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">high levels found\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">agricultural communities\u003c/a>. They’d also like to see tighter restrictions on pesticide use around schools, including for chlorpyrifos, which can easily drift from where it’s applied. “It’s fairly clear that the buffer zones currently proposed are nowhere [near] what’s needed to protect against chlorpyrifos,” said Rotkin-Ellman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The implication of the EPA’s decision could be far-reaching and that concerns me,” said Brenda Eskenazi, director of the University of California Berkeley’s \u003ca href=\"http://cerch.berkeley.edu/\">Center for Environment Research and Children’s Health\u003c/a>, who has led \u003ca href=\"http://sph.berkeley.edu/brenda-eskenazi\">groundbreaking research\u003c/a> investigating organophosphate pesticides’ impacts on children’s health. “These chemicals are poison and we have enough doubt about their safety that we need to be reconsidering their use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the EPA decision, “It’s not over yet,” said Patti Goldman, managing attorney with \u003ca href=\"http://earthjustice.org/features/what-you-need-to-know-about-chlorpyrifos\">Earthjustice\u003c/a>, which is representing NRDC and PANNA in a lawsuit aimed at compelling the EPA to act rather than wait for more evidence. “The real tragedy,” said Goldman, is “as the delay keeps going on, more children are being exposed every year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an outrage that the science is being ignored at the federal level but a real travesty to have it ignored in the state when we know what’s at stake for children’s lives,” said Rotkin-Ellman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that sulfloxaflor is not a neonicotinoid pesticide, though it does also have significant negative impacts to bees, and that California significantly restricted but did not fully ban its use.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Author\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nElizabeth Grossman is a senior reporter for Civil Eats focused on environmental and science issues. She is the author of \u003cem>Chasing Molecules\u003c/em>, \u003cem>High Tech Trash\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Watershed\u003c/em> and other books. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including National Geographic News, \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>, The Intercept, \u003cem>Scientific American\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Environmental Health Perspectives\u003c/em>, Yale e360, Ensia, \u003cem>High Country News\u003c/em>, \u003cem>The Washington Post\u003c/em>, Salon, \u003cem>The Nation\u003c/em>, and \u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Lawmakers in the Golden State have the power to go beyond the agency’s recent decision not to ban chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxin that impacts thousands of children, farmworkers, and rural communities.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1492637810,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":29,"wordCount":1440},"headData":{"title":"Can California Reverse EPA’s U-Turn on Pesticide Ban? | KQED","description":"Lawmakers in the Golden State have the power to go beyond the agency’s recent decision not to ban chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxin that impacts thousands of children, farmworkers, and rural communities.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Can California Reverse EPA’s U-Turn on Pesticide Ban?","datePublished":"2017-04-19T21:02:16.000Z","dateModified":"2017-04-19T21:36:50.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"116883 https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=116883","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2017/04/19/can-california-reverse-epas-u-turn-on-pesticide-ban/","disqusTitle":"Can California Reverse EPA’s U-Turn on Pesticide Ban?","nprByline":"\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/egrossman/\">Elizabeth Grossman\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/civileat/\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","path":"/bayareabites/116883/can-california-reverse-epas-u-turn-on-pesticide-ban","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A year and a half ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) \u003ca href=\"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/30/epa-may-ban-common-pesticide-used-on-fruits-and-vegetables.html\">announced\u003c/a> it would ban the use of the neurotoxic \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/order-denying-petition-revoke-all-tolerances-pesticide\">insecticide chlorpyrifos\u003c/a> on food crops. Then, at the end of March—reversing course on decades of agency science and a decision that was years in the making—EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/order-denying-petition-revoke-all-tolerances-pesticide\">would not ban\u003c/a> the pesticide after all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the wake of Pruitt’s decision, and given overwhelming scientific evidence of adverse impacts on \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">children’s neurological development\u003c/a>, environmental and farmworker \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/press-release/trumps-epa-ignores-its-own-science-farmworker-communities-call-california-ban\">advocates in California\u003c/a> are calling on their state, which uses more chlorpyrifos than any other, to ban the insecticide. As it has for other environmental issues—air quality, for example—California could take action on chlorpyrifos that would have nationwide impacts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chlorpyrifos has long been on the radar of California’s environmental health advocates. Since 1999, University of California, Berkeley \u003ca href=\"http://www.healthresearchforaction.org/sph/chamacos-cohort-study\">researchers have been studying\u003c/a> the effects of \u003ca href=\"http://bit.ly/2oNPjW8\">organophosphate\u003c/a>pesticides—including \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/09/16/5-reasons-to-care-whether-the-epa-bans-chlorpyrifos-on-your-food/\">chlorpyrifos\u003c/a>—on children in the state’s farming communities. They’ve consistently found that exposure, which often begins prenatally, is linked to lower IQ, \u003ca href=\"http://e360.yale.edu/features/from_the_fields_to_inner_city_pesticides_affect_childrens_iq\">cognition\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/6/e1845?download=true&sso=1&sso_redirect_count=2&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A%20No%20local%20token&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token\">attention problems\u003c/a>, and other adverse effects. State data also shows children’s exposure to be widespread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://www.cehtp.org/file/pesticides_schools_report_april2014_pdf\">2014 California Department of Public Health report\u003c/a> found chlorpyrifos among the top 10 pesticides used within a quarter-mile of schools in the 15 agricultural counties studied. This puts thousands of children at risk of exposure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Approximately one million pounds of chlorpyrifos—about 20 percent of what’s used nationwide—are applied annually in California to dozens of food crops, including almonds, citrus, grapes, and broccoli. The greatest use is in agricultural counties, like Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties, where homes and schools are often adjacent to agricultural fields. State air monitoring in several of these communities has found chlorpyrifos levels that \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">exceed EPA safety targets by three to 44 times\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s time to get it out of the fields,” said United Farm Workers national vice president, Erik Nicholson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>EPA’s Contradictory Decision\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/09/16/5-reasons-to-care-whether-the-epa-bans-chlorpyrifos-on-your-food/\">adverse neurodevelopmental effects\u003c/a> well documented, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/chlorpyrifos\">EPA has been restricting chlorpyrifos’ use\u003c/a>. Most indoor residential uses, and use on tomatoes, are now banned. Use on various other food crops is restricted. The EPA also requires buffer zones around public spaces and homes. And in its 2016 \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/revised-human-health-risk-assessment-chlorpyrifos\">human health risk assessment\u003c/a>, the agency concluded that chlorpyrifos may be causing \u003ca href=\"https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0653-0454\">neurodevelopmental problems\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0653-0454\">extremely low levels\u003c/a> of exposure. The EPA has also found \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/epa-toxic-pesticide-fruitsveggies-puts-kids-risk\">residues on food at levels far above\u003c/a> what it considers safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These neurodevelopmental effects have been found in lab studies and long-term studies of children exposed to chlorpyrifos. Additional research has found \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22547821\">physical alterations in the brains\u003c/a> of chlorpyrifos-exposed children that correspond to learning and behavior disorders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These results are really very consistent,” said Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of public health at the University of California, Davis and director of the university’s Environmental Health Sciences Center. She calls the outcome of children’s exposure to neurotoxic chemicals like chlorpyrifos “\u003ca href=\"https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/EHP358/\">a chronic, silent epidemic\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The EPA’s current decision results from a 10-year legal process that began in 2007. In October 2015, the agency proposed (in a \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20160415171542/https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-proposes-revoke-chlorpyrifos-food-residue-tolerances\">press release\u003c/a> that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/search/year/2015?filter=&page=11\">no longer available\u003c/a> on the EPA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-proposes-revoke-chlorpyrifos-food-residue-tolerances\">website\u003c/a>) to \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/chlorpyrifos_nprm_prepublicationcopy_2015-10-28.pdf\">ban\u003c/a>chlorpyrifos for food crops because cumulative food and drinking water exposures could exceed safety limits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, under Pruitt, the EPA says more study is needed and chlorpyrifos’ safety doesn’t have to be reconsidered until 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think this is a very unfortunate decision,” said Philip Landrigan, dean of global health and a pediatrics professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. “Not only is it scientifically wrong but it’s also morally wrong. And it shows a blatant disregard for a very strong body of science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/agriculture-community-reacts-recent-epa-action\">Agricultural trade groups,\u003c/a> including the American Farm Bureau Federation and Corn Growers Association, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ccgga.org/epa-denies-activist-petition-aimed-to-ban-chlorpyrifos/\">welcomed the EPA decision\u003c/a>, as did \u003ca href=\"http://www.chlorpyrifos.com/news-and-resources/news/2017/20170329a.htm\">Dow AgroSciences\u003c/a>, a major chlorpyrifos producer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>California has Authority to Ban Chlorpyrifos\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On March 31, Californians for Pesticide Reform held \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/press-release/trumps-epa-ignores-its-own-science-farmworker-communities-call-california-ban\">rallies protesting the EPA’s decision\u003c/a>—and calling for a state ban on chlorpyrifos—in Salinas, Fresno, and other agricultural communities in the state. “California has the independent authority to ban chlorpyrifos here,” Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) senior scientist Miriam Rotkin-Ellman told Civil Eats. “What we need is for California to follow the science.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, California can do just that. If state authorities determine the science doesn’t support its use, state-level authorities have the authority to ban a pesticide. For example, due to concern for its toxicity to bees, California refused to allow the pesticide \u003ca href=\"https://www.pressreader.com/usa/los-angeles-times/20150911/281835757480818\">sulfloxaflor\u003c/a> to be used in the same way the EPA did. And under the state’s safe drinking water law, California is in the process of listing\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">glyphosate\u003c/a>—the active ingredient in Roundup—as a \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2017/02/02/as-trumps-epa-takes-shape-heres-your-pesticide-cheat-sheet/\">carcinogen\u003c/a>, a move that goes well beyond the EPA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A California chlorpyrifos ban would be a powerful market signal, since the state grows \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/\">more than a third\u003c/a> of U.S. vegetables and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/\">two-thirds\u003c/a> of U.S. fruits and nuts. It could also significantly reduce children’s exposures, given the proximity of California homes and schools to active farm fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s my hope that our Governor will follow through on his promise to lead when the feds fail us,” said Lucia Calderon, \u003ca href=\"http://safeagsafeschools.org/\">Safe Ag Safe Schools coalition\u003c/a> coordinator in California’s Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state’s chlorpyrifos restrictions already exceed federal requirements. “In California, the pesticide cannot be used without licensing, training, and oversight by a county agricultural commission,” explained California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) spokesperson Charlotte Fadipe. California growers must explain “when, where, and how they want to use the pesticide,” and obtain county permits. Some counties require buffers of up to 150 feet between pesticide application and schools, rivers, or other sensitive sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In January, CDPR announced it would increase air monitoring for pesticides, including chlorpyrifos. “California,” Fadipe explained, “is the only state that monitors air as part of its continuous reevaluation of pesticides to ensure the protection of workers, public health, and the environment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">environmental health advocates\u003c/a> say more rigorous monitoring is warranted, given the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">high levels found\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrdc.org/experts/miriam-rotkin-ellman/federal-reversal-means-ca-must-ban-pesticide-toxic-kids\">agricultural communities\u003c/a>. They’d also like to see tighter restrictions on pesticide use around schools, including for chlorpyrifos, which can easily drift from where it’s applied. “It’s fairly clear that the buffer zones currently proposed are nowhere [near] what’s needed to protect against chlorpyrifos,” said Rotkin-Ellman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The implication of the EPA’s decision could be far-reaching and that concerns me,” said Brenda Eskenazi, director of the University of California Berkeley’s \u003ca href=\"http://cerch.berkeley.edu/\">Center for Environment Research and Children’s Health\u003c/a>, who has led \u003ca href=\"http://sph.berkeley.edu/brenda-eskenazi\">groundbreaking research\u003c/a> investigating organophosphate pesticides’ impacts on children’s health. “These chemicals are poison and we have enough doubt about their safety that we need to be reconsidering their use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the EPA decision, “It’s not over yet,” said Patti Goldman, managing attorney with \u003ca href=\"http://earthjustice.org/features/what-you-need-to-know-about-chlorpyrifos\">Earthjustice\u003c/a>, which is representing NRDC and PANNA in a lawsuit aimed at compelling the EPA to act rather than wait for more evidence. “The real tragedy,” said Goldman, is “as the delay keeps going on, more children are being exposed every year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an outrage that the science is being ignored at the federal level but a real travesty to have it ignored in the state when we know what’s at stake for children’s lives,” said Rotkin-Ellman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor’s note: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that sulfloxaflor is not a neonicotinoid pesticide, though it does also have significant negative impacts to bees, and that California significantly restricted but did not fully ban its use.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Author\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nElizabeth Grossman is a senior reporter for Civil Eats focused on environmental and science issues. She is the author of \u003cem>Chasing Molecules\u003c/em>, \u003cem>High Tech Trash\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Watershed\u003c/em> and other books. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including National Geographic News, \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>, The Intercept, \u003cem>Scientific American\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Environmental Health Perspectives\u003c/em>, Yale e360, Ensia, \u003cem>High Country News\u003c/em>, \u003cem>The Washington Post\u003c/em>, Salon, \u003cem>The Nation\u003c/em>, and \u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/116883/can-california-reverse-epas-u-turn-on-pesticide-ban","authors":["byline_bayareabites_116883"],"categories":["bayareabites_1874","bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_1245","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_358","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_15827","bayareabites_11952","bayareabites_15714","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_116888","label":"bayareabites"},"bayareabites_111828":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_111828","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"111828","score":null,"sort":[1472751976000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-it-again","title":"How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again","publishDate":1472751976,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cp>In the ferocious, sprawling brawl over genetically modified crops, one particular question seems like it should have a simple factual answer: Did those crops lead to more use of pesticides, or less?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, there's no simple answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pesticides include both insecticides and herbicides. Backers of GMOs point to the example of crops containing new genes that fight off insect pests, so farmers don't have to spray insecticides. Biotech critics \u003ca href=\"https://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/GE13YearsReport.pdf\">point\u003c/a> to the example of crops that have been altered to tolerate specific weedkillers, like glyphosate, thus encouraging farmers to rely more heavily on those herbicides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week, scientists at Iowa State made a fresh \u003ca href=\"http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/8/e1600850\">attempt\u003c/a> to answer this question. It's based on the most detailed data ever assembled to examine the issue. Those data came from a private company, which gathered information about the farm practices of 5,000 randomly selected farmers who grew corn and soybeans, the two most widely planted crops in the country. That information allowed detailed comparisons of pesticide use on fields planted with GMO corn and soybeans, compared to non-GMO fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, this study probably won't settle the debate. It's that complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the study's conclusions is straightforward and difficult to dispute. Genetically modified, insect-protected corn has allowed farmers to reduce their use of insecticides to fight the corn rootworm and the European corn borer. There is, however, concern that this effect won't last. Corn rootworms have evolved resistance to one of the genes that's been deployed against them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to weedkillers, though, the picture gets more murky. For one thing, the effect of GMOs has been different in corn than in soybeans. Farmers who switched to glyphosate-tolerant corn also switched herbicides, and used less total herbicide than farmers did on conventional corn — for a while. In the years since 2007, however, glyphosate-tolerant corn got sprayed with more weedkillers, as measured in kilograms per acre, than corn without that GMO trait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers who are growing genetically modified, glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, meanwhile, have been using more weedkillers than their non-GMO neighbors. In fact, that gap has been widening in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/directory/faculty_directory/perry/\">Edward Perry\u003c/a> of Kansas State University, a co-author of the new study, which appears in the journal \u003cem>Science Advances\u003c/em>, says farmers may be using more herbicides on glyphosate-tolerant crops in recent years because they have to fight off an increasing number of weeds that have evolved to become resistant to glyphosate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Complicating the picture, however, is the fact that the war on weeds involves many different herbicides, and they vary tremendously in their environmental effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new study tries to account for that by comparing the \"environmental impact quotient,\" or EIQ, of the herbicides sprayed on each field, in addition to their weight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"http://www.uwyo.edu/plantsciences/department-directory/kniss.html\">Andrew Kniss\u003c/a>, a weed scientist at the University of Wyoming, says that the EIQ falls woefully short as a measure of real environmental impact. \"Toxicity can vary by a factor of 10 or a hundred,\" he says. The EIQ doesn't come anywhere close to capturing those large differences among chemicals, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much better, he says, is a \"risk quotient\" measure that's used by the Environmental Protection Agency. \"It is, frankly, disappointing to see continued use of the EIQ in the peer-reviewed literature,\" Kniss wrote in an email to The Salt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kniss says the EIQ is such a crude measure that this study can't convincingly show whether GMO crops have been helpful or harmful to the environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the debate continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1472751976,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":18,"wordCount":598},"headData":{"title":"How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again | KQED","description":"There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again","datePublished":"2016-09-01T17:46:16.000Z","dateModified":"2016-09-01T17:46:16.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"111828 http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=111828","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2016/09/01/how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-it-again/","disqusTitle":"How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again","nprImageCredit":"Charlie Neibergall","nprByline":"Dan Charles, NPR Food","nprImageAgency":"AP","nprStoryId":"492091546","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=492091546&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/01/492091546/how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-them-again?ft=nprml&f=492091546","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:43:00 -0400","nprStoryDate":"Thu, 01 Sep 2016 11:43:00 -0400","nprLastModifiedDate":"Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:43:00 -0400","path":"/bayareabites/111828/how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-it-again","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>In the ferocious, sprawling brawl over genetically modified crops, one particular question seems like it should have a simple factual answer: Did those crops lead to more use of pesticides, or less?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, there's no simple answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pesticides include both insecticides and herbicides. Backers of GMOs point to the example of crops containing new genes that fight off insect pests, so farmers don't have to spray insecticides. Biotech critics \u003ca href=\"https://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/GE13YearsReport.pdf\">point\u003c/a> to the example of crops that have been altered to tolerate specific weedkillers, like glyphosate, thus encouraging farmers to rely more heavily on those herbicides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week, scientists at Iowa State made a fresh \u003ca href=\"http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/8/e1600850\">attempt\u003c/a> to answer this question. It's based on the most detailed data ever assembled to examine the issue. Those data came from a private company, which gathered information about the farm practices of 5,000 randomly selected farmers who grew corn and soybeans, the two most widely planted crops in the country. That information allowed detailed comparisons of pesticide use on fields planted with GMO corn and soybeans, compared to non-GMO fields.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, this study probably won't settle the debate. It's that complicated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the study's conclusions is straightforward and difficult to dispute. Genetically modified, insect-protected corn has allowed farmers to reduce their use of insecticides to fight the corn rootworm and the European corn borer. There is, however, concern that this effect won't last. Corn rootworms have evolved resistance to one of the genes that's been deployed against them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to weedkillers, though, the picture gets more murky. For one thing, the effect of GMOs has been different in corn than in soybeans. Farmers who switched to glyphosate-tolerant corn also switched herbicides, and used less total herbicide than farmers did on conventional corn — for a while. In the years since 2007, however, glyphosate-tolerant corn got sprayed with more weedkillers, as measured in kilograms per acre, than corn without that GMO trait.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers who are growing genetically modified, glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, meanwhile, have been using more weedkillers than their non-GMO neighbors. In fact, that gap has been widening in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/directory/faculty_directory/perry/\">Edward Perry\u003c/a> of Kansas State University, a co-author of the new study, which appears in the journal \u003cem>Science Advances\u003c/em>, says farmers may be using more herbicides on glyphosate-tolerant crops in recent years because they have to fight off an increasing number of weeds that have evolved to become resistant to glyphosate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Complicating the picture, however, is the fact that the war on weeds involves many different herbicides, and they vary tremendously in their environmental effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new study tries to account for that by comparing the \"environmental impact quotient,\" or EIQ, of the herbicides sprayed on each field, in addition to their weight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But \u003ca href=\"http://www.uwyo.edu/plantsciences/department-directory/kniss.html\">Andrew Kniss\u003c/a>, a weed scientist at the University of Wyoming, says that the EIQ falls woefully short as a measure of real environmental impact. \"Toxicity can vary by a factor of 10 or a hundred,\" he says. The EIQ doesn't come anywhere close to capturing those large differences among chemicals, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much better, he says, is a \"risk quotient\" measure that's used by the Environmental Protection Agency. \"It is, frankly, disappointing to see continued use of the EIQ in the peer-reviewed literature,\" Kniss wrote in an email to The Salt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kniss says the EIQ is such a crude measure that this study can't convincingly show whether GMO crops have been helpful or harmful to the environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the debate continues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/111828/how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-it-again","authors":["byline_bayareabites_111828"],"categories":["bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_10787","bayareabites_15583","bayareabites_14400","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_111829","label":"bayareabites"},"bayareabites_107373":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_107373","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"107373","score":null,"sort":[1457129737000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"how-free-are-usda-scientists-to-speak-their-mind","title":"How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind?","publishDate":1457129737,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>For the past several years, a scientist in Brookings, S.D., has been engaged in an escalating struggle with his employer, the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The scientist, Jonathan Lundgren, says that he has been persecuted because his research points out problems — including \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/24/457130929/as-beekeepers-lose-more-hives-time-for-new-rules-on-pesticides\">harm to bees\u003c/a> — with a popular class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. The USDA, for its part, accuses the scientist of various professional misdeeds, including insubordination and sexual harassment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's often difficult to get to the full truth of such whistleblower cases, which is perhaps the reason this one hasn't received more attention. So \u003cem>The Washington Post\u003c/em> and freelance reporter Steve Volk deserve credit for their \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/was-a-usda-scientist-muzzled-because-of-his-bee-research/2016/03/02/462720b6-c9fb-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_story.html\">investigation\u003c/a> into the case, featured this week in the \u003cem>Post\u003c/em>'s Sunday\u003cem> Magazine.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I won't go through the whole article here; read it yourself. Perhaps the most striking anecdote in it has nothing to do with Lundgren. It describes the experience of the USDA's former head of bee research, Jeff Pettis, while testifying before a congressional committee about the causes of honeybee declines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hearing, as Pettis describes it, was stacked with witnesses who downplayed the impact of pesticides on bees. Pettis was asked to talk about another cause of the bees' problems, a pest called the varroa mite. Pettis did, however, bring up the dangers of pesticides. When the hearing was over, the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, told Pettis that he had not \"followed the script.\" Pettis, who has since been relieved of his management responsibilities, confirmed to The Salt that he was quoted accurately by the \u003cem>Post.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The incident suggests that some members of Congress, at least, expect USDA researchers to follow a script.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lundgren's main offense, it appears, was also in some sense going off-script. He stepped beyond the gathering and publishing of data into the realm of opinion and policy. He talked publicly about the environmental dangers of common agricultural practices and about ways to change what farmers do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among scientists, ARS researchers have a reputation for being extremely cautious. The Lundgren case, if it helps explain some of the caution, raises an uncomfortable possibility for the USDA: Perhaps this caution is born of fear. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"Jonathan Lundgren's research pointed out problems with popular pesticides. He says that message — and the messenger — are unwelcome at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1457130297,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":10,"wordCount":375},"headData":{"title":"How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind? | KQED","description":"Jonathan Lundgren's research pointed out problems with popular pesticides. He says that message — and the messenger — are unwelcome at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind?","datePublished":"2016-03-04T22:15:37.000Z","dateModified":"2016-03-04T22:24:57.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"107373 http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=107373","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2016/03/04/how-free-are-usda-scientists-to-speak-their-mind/","disqusTitle":"How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind?","source":"Politics, Activism & Food Safety","sourceUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/politics-activism-food-safety/","nprByline":"Dan Charles, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/nprfood/\">NPR Food\u003c/a>","nprImageAgency":"iStockphoto","nprStoryId":"469186025","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=469186025&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/04/469186025/how-free-are-usda-scientists-to-speak-their-mind?ft=nprml&f=469186025","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:44:00 -0500","nprStoryDate":"Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:53:00 -0500","nprLastModifiedDate":"Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:44:55 -0500","path":"/bayareabites/107373/how-free-are-usda-scientists-to-speak-their-mind","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For the past several years, a scientist in Brookings, S.D., has been engaged in an escalating struggle with his employer, the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The scientist, Jonathan Lundgren, says that he has been persecuted because his research points out problems — including \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/24/457130929/as-beekeepers-lose-more-hives-time-for-new-rules-on-pesticides\">harm to bees\u003c/a> — with a popular class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. The USDA, for its part, accuses the scientist of various professional misdeeds, including insubordination and sexual harassment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's often difficult to get to the full truth of such whistleblower cases, which is perhaps the reason this one hasn't received more attention. So \u003cem>The Washington Post\u003c/em> and freelance reporter Steve Volk deserve credit for their \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/was-a-usda-scientist-muzzled-because-of-his-bee-research/2016/03/02/462720b6-c9fb-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_story.html\">investigation\u003c/a> into the case, featured this week in the \u003cem>Post\u003c/em>'s Sunday\u003cem> Magazine.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I won't go through the whole article here; read it yourself. Perhaps the most striking anecdote in it has nothing to do with Lundgren. It describes the experience of the USDA's former head of bee research, Jeff Pettis, while testifying before a congressional committee about the causes of honeybee declines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hearing, as Pettis describes it, was stacked with witnesses who downplayed the impact of pesticides on bees. Pettis was asked to talk about another cause of the bees' problems, a pest called the varroa mite. Pettis did, however, bring up the dangers of pesticides. When the hearing was over, the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, told Pettis that he had not \"followed the script.\" Pettis, who has since been relieved of his management responsibilities, confirmed to The Salt that he was quoted accurately by the \u003cem>Post.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The incident suggests that some members of Congress, at least, expect USDA researchers to follow a script.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lundgren's main offense, it appears, was also in some sense going off-script. He stepped beyond the gathering and publishing of data into the realm of opinion and policy. He talked publicly about the environmental dangers of common agricultural practices and about ways to change what farmers do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among scientists, ARS researchers have a reputation for being extremely cautious. The Lundgren case, if it helps explain some of the caution, raises an uncomfortable possibility for the USDA: Perhaps this caution is born of fear. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/107373/how-free-are-usda-scientists-to-speak-their-mind","authors":["byline_bayareabites_107373"],"categories":["bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_358"],"tags":["bayareabites_875","bayareabites_11446","bayareabites_11445","bayareabites_8913"],"featImg":"bayareabites_107374","label":"source_bayareabites_107373"},"bayareabites_101391":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_101391","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"101391","score":null,"sort":[1443499523000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"epa-announces-new-rules-to-protect-farmworkers-from-pesticides","title":"EPA Announces New Rules To Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides","publishDate":1443499523,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{},"content":"\u003cp>The Environmental Protection Agency has \u003ca href=\"http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/revisions-worker-protection-standard#when\">released\u003c/a> a final version of updated rules intended to keep farmworkers from being poisoned by pesticides. The previous \"worker protection standard\" for farms has been in effect since 1992.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new rules require farms to make a host of changes. Employers will have to train workers on the risks of pesticides every year, rather than every five years. Workers will have to stay farther away from contaminated fields. Farmers will have to keep more records on exactly when and where they used specific pesticides. And no children under the age of 18 will be allowed to handle the chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There's very little solid data on exactly how many workers are exposed to hazardous levels of pesticides, though the EPA estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 workers may be poisoned by pesticides each year. Many others are exposed to hazardous chemicals but experience less severe symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmworker advocates praised the new rules. \"We've been fighting for more than 20 years from some of these improvements,\" says Virginia Ruiz, director of occupational and environmental health at \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/\">Farmworker Justice\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the new rules do not go as far as some had hoped. They do not, for instance, require routine medical monitoring of workers who specialize in applying the most dangerous pesticides. Both California and Washington require such monitoring, and these programs have identified workers who had been been exposed to pesticides and were at risk for developing more serious health problems. The EPA, however, \u003ca href=\"http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/agricultural_worker_protection_standard_revisions.pdf\">decided\u003c/a> that requiring such monitoring across the nation would cost too much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also decided not to demand that employers and pesticide manufacturers translate their safety documents into Spanish or other languages that workers \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/07/17/203015727/how-to-better-protect-farm-workers-from-pesticides-use-spanish\">may understand\u003c/a> better than English. According to the EPA, there's little convincing evidence that such a requirement would improve safety, although the agency still \"encourages ... employers to display this information in such a way that workers and handlers can understand, including translation.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California and Washington already have adopted, through state regulation, many of the rules that the EPA now wants to put in place nationwide. The EPA rules will take effect about 14 months from now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rules will not apply, however, to farm owners and their immediate families. This was intended to reduce the regulatory burden on small, family-operated farms. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2015 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"The federal government is requiring farmers to keep more records on exactly when and where they used specific pesticides. And no children under the age of 18 will be allowed to handle the chemicals.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1443499523,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":11,"wordCount":392},"headData":{"title":"EPA Announces New Rules To Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides | KQED","description":"The federal government is requiring farmers to keep more records on exactly when and where they used specific pesticides. And no children under the age of 18 will be allowed to handle the chemicals.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"EPA Announces New Rules To Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides","datePublished":"2015-09-29T04:05:23.000Z","dateModified":"2015-09-29T04:05:23.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"101391 http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=101391","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2015/09/28/epa-announces-new-rules-to-protect-farmworkers-from-pesticides/","disqusTitle":"EPA Announces New Rules To Protect Farmworkers From Pesticides","source":"Health and Politics","sourceUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/politics-activism-food-safety/","nprByline":"Dan Charles, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/npr-food/\">NPR Food\u003c/a>","nprStoryId":"444220963","nprApiLink":"http://api.npr.org/query?id=444220963&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004","nprHtmlLink":"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/09/28/444220963/epa-announces-new-rules-to-protect-farmworkers-from-pesticides?ft=nprml&f=444220963","nprRetrievedStory":"1","nprPubDate":"Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:09:00 -0400","nprStoryDate":"Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:09:22 -0400","nprLastModifiedDate":"Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:09:22 -0400","path":"/bayareabites/101391/epa-announces-new-rules-to-protect-farmworkers-from-pesticides","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Environmental Protection Agency has \u003ca href=\"http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/revisions-worker-protection-standard#when\">released\u003c/a> a final version of updated rules intended to keep farmworkers from being poisoned by pesticides. The previous \"worker protection standard\" for farms has been in effect since 1992.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new rules require farms to make a host of changes. Employers will have to train workers on the risks of pesticides every year, rather than every five years. Workers will have to stay farther away from contaminated fields. Farmers will have to keep more records on exactly when and where they used specific pesticides. And no children under the age of 18 will be allowed to handle the chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There's very little solid data on exactly how many workers are exposed to hazardous levels of pesticides, though the EPA estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 workers may be poisoned by pesticides each year. Many others are exposed to hazardous chemicals but experience less severe symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmworker advocates praised the new rules. \"We've been fighting for more than 20 years from some of these improvements,\" says Virginia Ruiz, director of occupational and environmental health at \u003ca href=\"https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/\">Farmworker Justice\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the new rules do not go as far as some had hoped. They do not, for instance, require routine medical monitoring of workers who specialize in applying the most dangerous pesticides. Both California and Washington require such monitoring, and these programs have identified workers who had been been exposed to pesticides and were at risk for developing more serious health problems. The EPA, however, \u003ca href=\"http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/agricultural_worker_protection_standard_revisions.pdf\">decided\u003c/a> that requiring such monitoring across the nation would cost too much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also decided not to demand that employers and pesticide manufacturers translate their safety documents into Spanish or other languages that workers \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/07/17/203015727/how-to-better-protect-farm-workers-from-pesticides-use-spanish\">may understand\u003c/a> better than English. According to the EPA, there's little convincing evidence that such a requirement would improve safety, although the agency still \"encourages ... employers to display this information in such a way that workers and handlers can understand, including translation.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California and Washington already have adopted, through state regulation, many of the rules that the EPA now wants to put in place nationwide. The EPA rules will take effect about 14 months from now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rules will not apply, however, to farm owners and their immediate families. This was intended to reduce the regulatory burden on small, family-operated farms. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Copyright 2015 \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/101391/epa-announces-new-rules-to-protect-farmworkers-from-pesticides","authors":["byline_bayareabites_101391"],"categories":["bayareabites_1874","bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_1245","bayareabites_10916","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_11952","bayareabites_3644","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_101392","label":"source_bayareabites_101391"},"bayareabites_99774":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_99774","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"99774","score":null,"sort":[1440629953000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency","title":"Big Food is Spending Millions to Lobby for Less Transparency","publishDate":1440629953,"format":"standard","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cp>By all accounts, Americans want a more transparent food system. Recent \u003ca href=\"http://consumersunion.org/news/new-consumer-reports-poll-shows-consumer-demand-for-strong-federal-standards-for-genetically-engineered-food/\">polling\u003c/a> suggests the majority of Americans \u003ca href=\"http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-reports-survey-majority-of-americans-look-for-natural-label-when-shopping-believe-it-carries-benefits-despite-the-contrary-263259671.html\">favor labeling\u003c/a> that tells them exactly how and \u003ca href=\"http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-reports-survey-majority-of-americans-look-for-natural-label-when-shopping-believe-it-carries-benefits-despite-the-contrary-263259671.html\">where\u003c/a> their food is produced. And yet, several bills are currently moving through Congress that could make it much harder to learn about the source of our food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These bills would prevent state and local governments from requiring \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1599\">labeling of GMOs\u003c/a>; remove country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements for most of the meat we buy; and make it harder to know where \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1500\">pesticides are used.\u003c/a> The \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/05/18/what-do-international-trade-agreements-have-to-do-with-dinner/\">international trade agreements\u003c/a> now being negotiated also include provisions that could make such information less available to consumers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The food industry is spending an enormous amount of money to promote and lobby for this legislation. Food companies may have shelled out over $100 million* in the first six months of 2015 alone, according to federal lobbying disclosure reports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Businesses and \u003ca href=\"http://www.gmaonline.org/news-events/newsroom/grocery-manufacturers-association-calls-on-us-house-to-pass-safe-and-accu/\">trade groups\u003c/a> promoting these policies say putting more information on food labels will send the wrong message about food safety, add costs, and pose barriers to trade. And in some cases, they worry it will open U.S. food producers and other companies to \u003ca href=\"http://www.gmaonline.org/news-events/newsroom/gma-applauds-house-passage-of-country-of-origin-labeling-reform-bill/\">punitive import-export taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But good food advocates disagree. “This is basic transparency,” says Patty Lovera, assistant director of the advocacy group \u003ca href=\"http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/\">Food & Water Watch\u003c/a>. “We’re not saying anything’s unsafe,” says \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/big-food-companies-spend-millions-defeat-gmo-labeling\">Environmental Working Group\u003c/a> (EWG) policy analyst Libby Foley. “We’re saying it’s about consumer choice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are the numbers the food industry doesn’t want you to see:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GMO Labeling\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far this year, food and beverage companies have spent $51.6 million on a series of lobbying including efforts efforts to defeat GMO labeling laws such as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1599\">H.R. 1599\u003c/a>), which opponents have dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” or \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/07/20/5-things-to-know-about-the-dark-act/\">DARK Act\u003c/a>. According to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/big-food-companies-spend-millions-defeat-gmo-labeling\">recent analysis\u003c/a> by EWG, nearly a quarter of this money—$12.6 million—comes from just six companies: Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, and PepsiCo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other big spenders in these efforts include the Grocery Manufacturers Association ($5.1 million); American Farm Bureau (nearly $1 million); and the National Restaurant Association ($2 million). Many state farm bureaus have also chipped in—among them, Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Oregon. Big name food producers, including Campbell Soup, Mars, Inc., Mondelez, Nestlé, OceanSpray, Safeway, and Unilever, are all spending significant amounts money on this issue as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to direct lobbying of members of the House, Senate, and other federal policy-makers, some of the groups lobbying for H.R. 1599 have come together as the \u003ca href=\"http://coalitionforsafeaffordablefood.org/coalition/\">Coalition for Safe Affordable Food\u003c/a>, running a consumer-oriented \u003ca href=\"http://coalitionforsafeaffordablefood.org/category/news/\">website\u003c/a>, as well as \u003ca href=\"http://cjonline.com/news/2015-08-16/anti-gmo-labeling-group-airing-television-ads-kansas\">television ads\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/safeaffordablefood\">social media\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/safeaffordable\">campaign\u003c/a>. And the money tallied by EWG was spent specifically on federal lobbying so it doesn’t include the millions spent last fall to defeat state GMO labeling measures—like those in \u003ca href=\"http://inewsnetwork.org/2014/10/20/in-gmo-labeling-initiative-fight-those-against-are-spending-all-the-money/\">Colorado\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/measure_92_gmo-labeling_initia.html\">Oregon\u003c/a> or on the ongoing legal challenge to the GMO-labeling bill passed in \u003ca href=\"http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/07/23/welch-blasts-food-giants-gmo-vote/30580331/\">Vermont\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>H.R. 1599 \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/07/24/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-eat-house-passes-dark-act-a-fast-food-worker-victory-farmers-tap-recycled-water/\">passed the House\u003c/a> on in July. No companion bill has yet been introduced in the Senate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An additional $4.1 million has been spent so far this year by companies to promote \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/24/413755699/genetically-modified-salmon-coming-to-a-river-near-you\">genetically engineered salmon\u003c/a>, with most of this coming from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bio.org/\">Biotechnology Industry Association\u003c/a>, which is also supporting H.R. 1599. There’s also plenty of lobbying going on to keep GE salmon out of Pacific coast waters, where salmon fishing is big business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meat Labeling\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the same companies and organizations spending heavily to block GMO labeling requirements have also been lobbying to repeal existing country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, chicken, and pork through the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 (\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2393/actions\">H.R. 2393\u003c/a>).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among them are the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Campbell Soup, Cargill, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, and Unilever. They are joined by others in the meat business, including Tyson Foods, Smithfield, Hormel, the National Pork Producers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, as well as Walmart and the big-spending U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Together, the supporters of this bill have spent at least $54.2 million.*\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those spending money to repeal COOL argue that labeling meat with the country of origin would increase costs for producers and therefore for consumers—with the threat that tariffs could be levied against U.S. producers if the labeling is found in violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Canada and Mexico have argued that COOL labels hurt sales of their meat by signaling to U.S. consumers that the product is somehow less safe or desirable. While the Obama administration is defending the existing policy, meat and other food producers fear that if Canada and Mexico prevail, those countries would impose costly tariffs that would harm U.S. exports. H.R. 2393 passed the house in June, but its companion Senate bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1844/actions\">S. 1844\u003c/a> has not yet had a committee hearing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And a heads up: Provisions in the \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/05/18/what-do-international-trade-agreements-have-to-do-with-dinner/\">TTP and TTIP could facilitate similar policies\u003c/a> to those of the WTO—making it possible, not only for countries but also individual companies to file objections to labeling if it harms trade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pesticides\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet another bill that would curtail access to agricultural information is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1500/text\">Sensible Environmental Protection Act\u003c/a> of 2015 (S. 1500). It would eliminate permits now required to discharge pesticides into rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water regulated under the Clean Water Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.croplifeamerica.org/news/cla/6415-Senate-Introduces-Sensible-Environmental-Protection-Act-to-Affirm-FIFRA\">CropLife America\u003c/a>—a trade association for agri-chemical producers and users—explains that the bill is designed to reverse a 2009 federal court decision that directed the EPA to require permits from pesticide applicators who spray over “navigable waters.” \u003ca href=\"http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-democratic?ID=A99C3910-6FEA-4B31-8DD4-04C0B45AF2EE\">Senator Barbara Boxer\u003c/a> (D-California) has called S.1500 “a far-reaching bill that is dangerous to people” that would “would allow pesticides to be sprayed where kids are swimming, which would expose them to substances that are known to be toxic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/\">Pesticide Action Network \u003c/a>(PAN) says the bill would remove the EPA’s ability to monitor and take action on waterways contaminated by pesticides. This, said PAN spokesperson Paul Towers, would leave both the EPA and the public “in the dark” and put “the health of waterways and public health in jeopardy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the bill was just introduced in June, a good accounting of lobbying on its behalf is not yet available through Congressional disclosure filings. But when virtually the \u003ca href=\"https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/billsum.php?id=s802-113\">same bill was introduced in 2013\u003c/a>, it garnered support from agribusinesses and agricultural organizations and trade associations including the American Farm Bureau, CropLife America, Agricultural Retailers Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Monsanto, North Carolina Farm Bureau, National Council of Farmer Co-ops, and the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. These groups spent more than $11 million lobbying for the bill during 2013 and 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fate of all these bills is uncertain given the limited time before Congress adjourns for the year. But given how contentious these issues have become—and what food producers and agribusinesses perceive as high financial stakes—it’s unlikely that they will disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One note of optimism for transparency-in-food-production advocates, but disappointment for Idaho dairy groups, is the ruling earlier this month by the U.S. District Court in Idaho striking down the state’s so-called “ag-gag” law—formally the “\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/08/19/big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency/%2522Agricultural%2520Security%2520Act%2522\">Agricultural Security Act\u003c/a>” that made illegal undercover documentation of farming operations. Citing First Amendment free speech protections, Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled the bill unconstitutional.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So where does this leave consumers? Right now, the only way to be sure the food you buy doesn’t contain genetically engineered foods is to seek out the USDA’s certified organic and \u003ca href=\"http://www.nongmoproject.org/\">Non-GMO Project\u003c/a>‘s GMO-free label. As for meat and fish—if it is not cooked or prepared before it reaches store shelves, its country of origin is probably still labeled. But that could change. And if the new trade agreements go into effect, these and other labeling provisions could be open to challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile a sizable fortune is being spent trying to keep this information off food labels. “This has turned into a bigger fight than either side anticipated,” says EWG’s Foley. And that may be one point on which both sides can agree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>*This estimate is based on lobbying expenditures listed on disclosure forms filed with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Secretary of the U.S. Senate and compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. It is only a partial accounting as this represents spending by 20 of the approximately 100 members of the COOL Reform Coalition that signed a June 8 letter to Congress voicing support for H.R. 2393. This is the same source—and method—that EWG used to estimate spending to oppose GMO labeling bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>* Because of the limitations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the numbers in this post are all estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nElizabeth Grossman is a Portland, Oregon-based journalist specializing in environmental and science issues. She is the author of Chasing Molecules, High Tech Trash, Watershed and other books. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including\u003cem>Scientific American\u003c/em>,\u003cem>Environmental Health Perspectives\u003c/em>, Yale e360, \u003cem>Ensia\u003c/em>,\u003cem>High Country News\u003c/em>, The Pump Handle, Chemical Watch,\u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>, TheAtlantic.com, Salon, \u003cem>The Nation\u003c/em>, and \u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"From GMO labeling to pesticides to the source of the meat you buy, a handful of companies are spending heavily to keep information off your food labels.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1440629953,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":32,"wordCount":1634},"headData":{"title":"Big Food is Spending Millions to Lobby for Less Transparency | KQED","description":"From GMO labeling to pesticides to the source of the meat you buy, a handful of companies are spending heavily to keep information off your food labels.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Big Food is Spending Millions to Lobby for Less Transparency","datePublished":"2015-08-26T22:59:13.000Z","dateModified":"2015-08-26T22:59:13.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"99774 http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=99774","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2015/08/26/big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency/","disqusTitle":"Big Food is Spending Millions to Lobby for Less Transparency","nprByline":"\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/egrossman/\">Elizabeth Grossman, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/author/civileat/\">Civil Eats\u003c/a>","path":"/bayareabites/99774/big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>By all accounts, Americans want a more transparent food system. Recent \u003ca href=\"http://consumersunion.org/news/new-consumer-reports-poll-shows-consumer-demand-for-strong-federal-standards-for-genetically-engineered-food/\">polling\u003c/a> suggests the majority of Americans \u003ca href=\"http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-reports-survey-majority-of-americans-look-for-natural-label-when-shopping-believe-it-carries-benefits-despite-the-contrary-263259671.html\">favor labeling\u003c/a> that tells them exactly how and \u003ca href=\"http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-reports-survey-majority-of-americans-look-for-natural-label-when-shopping-believe-it-carries-benefits-despite-the-contrary-263259671.html\">where\u003c/a> their food is produced. And yet, several bills are currently moving through Congress that could make it much harder to learn about the source of our food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These bills would prevent state and local governments from requiring \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1599\">labeling of GMOs\u003c/a>; remove country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements for most of the meat we buy; and make it harder to know where \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1500\">pesticides are used.\u003c/a> The \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/05/18/what-do-international-trade-agreements-have-to-do-with-dinner/\">international trade agreements\u003c/a> now being negotiated also include provisions that could make such information less available to consumers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The food industry is spending an enormous amount of money to promote and lobby for this legislation. Food companies may have shelled out over $100 million* in the first six months of 2015 alone, according to federal lobbying disclosure reports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Businesses and \u003ca href=\"http://www.gmaonline.org/news-events/newsroom/grocery-manufacturers-association-calls-on-us-house-to-pass-safe-and-accu/\">trade groups\u003c/a> promoting these policies say putting more information on food labels will send the wrong message about food safety, add costs, and pose barriers to trade. And in some cases, they worry it will open U.S. food producers and other companies to \u003ca href=\"http://www.gmaonline.org/news-events/newsroom/gma-applauds-house-passage-of-country-of-origin-labeling-reform-bill/\">punitive import-export taxes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But good food advocates disagree. “This is basic transparency,” says Patty Lovera, assistant director of the advocacy group \u003ca href=\"http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/\">Food & Water Watch\u003c/a>. “We’re not saying anything’s unsafe,” says \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/big-food-companies-spend-millions-defeat-gmo-labeling\">Environmental Working Group\u003c/a> (EWG) policy analyst Libby Foley. “We’re saying it’s about consumer choice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are the numbers the food industry doesn’t want you to see:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GMO Labeling\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far this year, food and beverage companies have spent $51.6 million on a series of lobbying including efforts efforts to defeat GMO labeling laws such as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1599\">H.R. 1599\u003c/a>), which opponents have dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” or \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/07/20/5-things-to-know-about-the-dark-act/\">DARK Act\u003c/a>. According to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/big-food-companies-spend-millions-defeat-gmo-labeling\">recent analysis\u003c/a> by EWG, nearly a quarter of this money—$12.6 million—comes from just six companies: Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, and PepsiCo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other big spenders in these efforts include the Grocery Manufacturers Association ($5.1 million); American Farm Bureau (nearly $1 million); and the National Restaurant Association ($2 million). Many state farm bureaus have also chipped in—among them, Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Oregon. Big name food producers, including Campbell Soup, Mars, Inc., Mondelez, Nestlé, OceanSpray, Safeway, and Unilever, are all spending significant amounts money on this issue as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to direct lobbying of members of the House, Senate, and other federal policy-makers, some of the groups lobbying for H.R. 1599 have come together as the \u003ca href=\"http://coalitionforsafeaffordablefood.org/coalition/\">Coalition for Safe Affordable Food\u003c/a>, running a consumer-oriented \u003ca href=\"http://coalitionforsafeaffordablefood.org/category/news/\">website\u003c/a>, as well as \u003ca href=\"http://cjonline.com/news/2015-08-16/anti-gmo-labeling-group-airing-television-ads-kansas\">television ads\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/safeaffordablefood\">social media\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/safeaffordable\">campaign\u003c/a>. And the money tallied by EWG was spent specifically on federal lobbying so it doesn’t include the millions spent last fall to defeat state GMO labeling measures—like those in \u003ca href=\"http://inewsnetwork.org/2014/10/20/in-gmo-labeling-initiative-fight-those-against-are-spending-all-the-money/\">Colorado\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/11/measure_92_gmo-labeling_initia.html\">Oregon\u003c/a> or on the ongoing legal challenge to the GMO-labeling bill passed in \u003ca href=\"http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/07/23/welch-blasts-food-giants-gmo-vote/30580331/\">Vermont\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>H.R. 1599 \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/07/24/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-eat-house-passes-dark-act-a-fast-food-worker-victory-farmers-tap-recycled-water/\">passed the House\u003c/a> on in July. No companion bill has yet been introduced in the Senate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An additional $4.1 million has been spent so far this year by companies to promote \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/24/413755699/genetically-modified-salmon-coming-to-a-river-near-you\">genetically engineered salmon\u003c/a>, with most of this coming from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.bio.org/\">Biotechnology Industry Association\u003c/a>, which is also supporting H.R. 1599. There’s also plenty of lobbying going on to keep GE salmon out of Pacific coast waters, where salmon fishing is big business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meat Labeling\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the same companies and organizations spending heavily to block GMO labeling requirements have also been lobbying to repeal existing country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, chicken, and pork through the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 (\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2393/actions\">H.R. 2393\u003c/a>).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among them are the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Campbell Soup, Cargill, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, and Unilever. They are joined by others in the meat business, including Tyson Foods, Smithfield, Hormel, the National Pork Producers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, as well as Walmart and the big-spending U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Together, the supporters of this bill have spent at least $54.2 million.*\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those spending money to repeal COOL argue that labeling meat with the country of origin would increase costs for producers and therefore for consumers—with the threat that tariffs could be levied against U.S. producers if the labeling is found in violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Canada and Mexico have argued that COOL labels hurt sales of their meat by signaling to U.S. consumers that the product is somehow less safe or desirable. While the Obama administration is defending the existing policy, meat and other food producers fear that if Canada and Mexico prevail, those countries would impose costly tariffs that would harm U.S. exports. H.R. 2393 passed the house in June, but its companion Senate bill, \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1844/actions\">S. 1844\u003c/a> has not yet had a committee hearing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And a heads up: Provisions in the \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/05/18/what-do-international-trade-agreements-have-to-do-with-dinner/\">TTP and TTIP could facilitate similar policies\u003c/a> to those of the WTO—making it possible, not only for countries but also individual companies to file objections to labeling if it harms trade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pesticides\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet another bill that would curtail access to agricultural information is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1500/text\">Sensible Environmental Protection Act\u003c/a> of 2015 (S. 1500). It would eliminate permits now required to discharge pesticides into rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water regulated under the Clean Water Act.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.croplifeamerica.org/news/cla/6415-Senate-Introduces-Sensible-Environmental-Protection-Act-to-Affirm-FIFRA\">CropLife America\u003c/a>—a trade association for agri-chemical producers and users—explains that the bill is designed to reverse a 2009 federal court decision that directed the EPA to require permits from pesticide applicators who spray over “navigable waters.” \u003ca href=\"http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-democratic?ID=A99C3910-6FEA-4B31-8DD4-04C0B45AF2EE\">Senator Barbara Boxer\u003c/a> (D-California) has called S.1500 “a far-reaching bill that is dangerous to people” that would “would allow pesticides to be sprayed where kids are swimming, which would expose them to substances that are known to be toxic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/\">Pesticide Action Network \u003c/a>(PAN) says the bill would remove the EPA’s ability to monitor and take action on waterways contaminated by pesticides. This, said PAN spokesperson Paul Towers, would leave both the EPA and the public “in the dark” and put “the health of waterways and public health in jeopardy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the bill was just introduced in June, a good accounting of lobbying on its behalf is not yet available through Congressional disclosure filings. But when virtually the \u003ca href=\"https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/billsum.php?id=s802-113\">same bill was introduced in 2013\u003c/a>, it garnered support from agribusinesses and agricultural organizations and trade associations including the American Farm Bureau, CropLife America, Agricultural Retailers Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Monsanto, North Carolina Farm Bureau, National Council of Farmer Co-ops, and the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. These groups spent more than $11 million lobbying for the bill during 2013 and 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fate of all these bills is uncertain given the limited time before Congress adjourns for the year. But given how contentious these issues have become—and what food producers and agribusinesses perceive as high financial stakes—it’s unlikely that they will disappear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One note of optimism for transparency-in-food-production advocates, but disappointment for Idaho dairy groups, is the ruling earlier this month by the U.S. District Court in Idaho striking down the state’s so-called “ag-gag” law—formally the “\u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/08/19/big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency/%2522Agricultural%2520Security%2520Act%2522\">Agricultural Security Act\u003c/a>” that made illegal undercover documentation of farming operations. Citing First Amendment free speech protections, Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled the bill unconstitutional.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So where does this leave consumers? Right now, the only way to be sure the food you buy doesn’t contain genetically engineered foods is to seek out the USDA’s certified organic and \u003ca href=\"http://www.nongmoproject.org/\">Non-GMO Project\u003c/a>‘s GMO-free label. As for meat and fish—if it is not cooked or prepared before it reaches store shelves, its country of origin is probably still labeled. But that could change. And if the new trade agreements go into effect, these and other labeling provisions could be open to challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile a sizable fortune is being spent trying to keep this information off food labels. “This has turned into a bigger fight than either side anticipated,” says EWG’s Foley. And that may be one point on which both sides can agree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>*This estimate is based on lobbying expenditures listed on disclosure forms filed with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Secretary of the U.S. Senate and compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. It is only a partial accounting as this represents spending by 20 of the approximately 100 members of the COOL Reform Coalition that signed a June 8 letter to Congress voicing support for H.R. 2393. This is the same source—and method—that EWG used to estimate spending to oppose GMO labeling bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>* Because of the limitations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the numbers in this post are all estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nElizabeth Grossman is a Portland, Oregon-based journalist specializing in environmental and science issues. She is the author of Chasing Molecules, High Tech Trash, Watershed and other books. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including\u003cem>Scientific American\u003c/em>,\u003cem>Environmental Health Perspectives\u003c/em>, Yale e360, \u003cem>Ensia\u003c/em>,\u003cem>High Country News\u003c/em>, The Pump Handle, Chemical Watch,\u003cem>Washington Post\u003c/em>, TheAtlantic.com, Salon, \u003cem>The Nation\u003c/em>, and \u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/99774/big-food-is-spending-millions-to-lobby-for-less-transparency","authors":["byline_bayareabites_99774"],"categories":["bayareabites_13718","bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_12555","bayareabites_2035"],"tags":["bayareabites_14730","bayareabites_10802","bayareabites_10787","bayareabites_10774","bayareabites_14731","bayareabites_11445"],"featImg":"bayareabites_99777","label":"bayareabites"},"bayareabites_92041":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_92041","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"92041","score":null,"sort":[1421173132000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green","title":"The Future Strawberry: Will the Loss of a Major Pesticide Help the Industry to Go Green? ","publishDate":1421173132,"format":"aside","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_92046\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/strawberry.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/strawberry.jpg\" alt=\"Strawberries in the field. Photo: Shutterstock\" width=\"680\" height=\"346\" class=\"size-full wp-image-92046\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Strawberries in the field. Photo: Shutterstock\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/jsteinberger/\" target=\"_blank\">Jillian Steinberger\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/01/12/the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green/\" target=\"_blank\">Civil Eats\u003c/a> (1/12/15)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to growing strawberries, \u003ca href=\"http://www.farmfuelinc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Farm Fuel, Inc.\u003c/a>, a Watsonville, California-based company, is on the cutting edge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company grows wild and domesticated mustard and lightly processes the harvest into mustard meal, a soil amendment. They also work with farmers on a technique called \u003ca href=\"http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?accn_no=424327\" target=\"_blank\">Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD)\u003c/a>. This precise farming technique involves applying a combination of water and carbon-rich material (think rice bran, grape pomace, mustard meal, and molasses), and then wrapping the soil in plastic. Under the plastic, the ingredients combine to create anaerobic conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The idea with both of these approaches is to kill the organisms that cause the \u003ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_strawberry_diseases\" target=\"_blank\">long list of diseases\u003c/a> that plague strawberry farmers–without pesticides or \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/resources/specific-pesticides/fumigants\" target=\"_blank\">fumigants\u003c/a> (a form of pesticide that treats the soil before anything is even planted). Why the search for alternatives?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As pesticide use becomes more restricted, growers have a greater need for solutions that are effective and affordable,” says Farm Fuel CEO and research director Stefanie Bourcier, who has received sizable grants to work with both organic and conventional farmers on these non-toxic techniques. “Ultimately, ASD and mustard meal offer both organic and conventional growers more options.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The restrictions Bourcier is talking about are no small change. For over 40 years, U.S. strawberry farms–88 percent of which are in California–have relied on methyl bromide, the pesticide that works like a “magic bullet” to control diseases, persistent pests, and weeds. Methyl bromide has made it possible for growers to blanket coastal communities—from Santa Cruz south to Ventura County—with acres of perfect red berries that sell for as little as $2 to $3 a basket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, after a very long, gradual phase out, this fumigant–also a \u003ca href=\"http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205682/\" target=\"_blank\">potent neurotoxin\u003c/a>, known for affecting the health of \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/heavy-methyl-bromide-use-near-california-schools/health-effects-methyl-bromide\" target=\"_blank\">populations\u003c/a> living close to strawberry fields and a contributor to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.mnn.com/home-blog/guest-columnist/blogs/can-private-industry-solve-the-dead-sea-disaster-it-created\" target=\"_blank\">disappearance of the Dead Sea\u003c/a>–will no longer be in use by 2017.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Methyl bromide sterilizes the soil by killing off virtually all micro-organisms, good and bad. But the chemical also contributes to the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer when it evaporates during application. For this reason, thanks to the internationally binding \u003ca href=\"http://ozone.unep.org/new_site/en/montreal_protocol.php\" target=\"_blank\">Montreal Protocol\u003c/a>, it has been gradually disappearing from the marketplace since 1993.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, most conventional growers–many of whom say there are no other reliable methods to eradicate pests and diseases–are scrambling for other options. Farmers and regulators have invested considerable resources into other fumigants, including the highly controversial \u003ca href=\"http://www.pesticidereform.org/article.php?id=392\" target=\"_blank\">methyl iodide\u003c/a>—another known carcinogen and neurotoxin that is considered one of the most toxic chemicals on earth. But after\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2012/11/21/methyl-iodide-manufacturer-to-end-sales-of-controversial-pesticide\" target=\"_blank\"> public uproar\u003c/a>, the manufacturer, Arysta LifeScience Corporation, withdrew it from the market in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while other chemicals are plentiful in the marketplace, some advocates of alternative farming methods see a positive side to the phase out: New organic and agroecological methods–like the ones Farm Fuel is working on–are on the rise in the 2.6 billion industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_92047\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/UCSC_CASFS_Strawberry_Planting_by_Interns.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/UCSC_CASFS_Strawberry_Planting_by_Interns.jpg\" alt=\"Interns plant strawberry starts in an ASD trial field at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at U.C. Santa Cruz. Photo: Brandon Blackburn \" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" class=\"size-full wp-image-92047\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Interns plant strawberry starts in an ASD trial field at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at U.C. Santa Cruz. Photo: Brandon Blackburn\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>A Real Sea Change? Or Just Different Pesticides?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>While the \u003ca href=\"http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---6315.htm\" target=\"_blank\">European Union phased out methyl bromide\u003c/a> completely in 2013, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/cueinfo.html\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been granting so-called critical use exemptions (CUEs) since 2005\u003c/a>. These have been granted whenever an industry argues that not using methyl bromide would create “significant market disruptions” and when there are “no technically or economically feasible alternatives or substitutes.” But after 2016, CUEs will no longer be an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For California growers, this change is worrisome. Today, strawberry farms and nurseries account for nearly all methyl bromide used in agriculture. But they’ve only been granted a CUE for 412 tons this year, enough to treat 8,000 acres, or 20 percent of the 40,000 acres planted in strawberries, according to Carolyn O’Donnell, Communication Director at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.calstrawberry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">California Strawberry Commission\u003c/a> (CSC).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2016, that number will drop to 255 tons–enough for only around 9 percent of the current strawberry acreage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help growers make the inevitable transition, University of California and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have spent several years testing methyl bromide alternatives, both chemical and biological, with well over $5 million in grants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professor Carol Shennan, an agroecologist at the \u003ca href=\"http://casfs.ucsc.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">University of California, Santa Cruz\u003c/a>, is at the forefront of the research with multiple year grants from the USDA to study Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation at the farm scale. Over 10 years, Dr. Shennan and lead researcher Dr. Joji Muramoto have seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7phq_p2JQk\" target=\"_blank\">positive results with field tests\u003c/a> on farms around the state. In fact, \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/CUN2015/2015CUNStrawberry.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">a government document\u003c/a> notes that, “These experimental trials have shown good disease suppression and fruit yields comparable to methyl bromide treatments and other chemical fumigants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farm Fuel brought ASD to market in 2011, which was its first commercial introduction. In 2013, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) awarded the company a three-year grant to introduce conventional growers to the non-toxic alternative. Currently, the company has 22 trial sites across California and another 28 commercial clients. It estimates that about 25 percent of the new acreage it treated in 2014 was on conventional farms. Farm Fuel also claims that it is cost effective, with a per acre cost of $2,700 compared to $3,900 or more for methyl bromide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite these efforts, most conventional growers will begin using other fumigants. In particular, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/alts.html\" target=\"_blank\">EPA recommends\u003c/a> as substitutes chloropicrin and 1,3-D, and combinations of the two with other chemicals. Neither is considered as effective as methyl bromide and both have negative \u003ca href=\"http://www.nrdc.org/health/kids/farm/chap1.asp\" target=\"_blank\">health impacts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After World War I, leftover stockpiles of \u003ca href=\"http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750034.html\" target=\"_blank\">chloropicrin\u003c/a>—a weapon then nicknamed “vomiting gas”—were directed to agricultural use. Although its use is on the rise in the U.S., chloropicrin was \u003ca href=\"http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/eu/eu-reviews/Withdrawal-of-chloropicrin-products-from-the-market\" target=\"_blank\">phased out in Europe\u003c/a> in 2013 due to respiratory health effects. The other go-to fumigant is 1,3-D, a known carcinogen produced by Dow Chemical. The DPR outlawed \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519572/\" target=\"_blank\">1,3-D\u003c/a> in 1990, but allowed it back on the market in 2004 with restrictions, anticipating its need in light of the phase-out of methyl bromide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprbios.htm\" target=\"_blank\">DPR Director Brian Leahy\u003c/a> believes that ASD shows promise and he says that the department is actively committed to helping California farmers find less toxic ways to tackle soilborne pests and reduce their use of chemical fumigants. Leahy, a former organic rice farmer, said in a recent email exchange: “It is no secret that the department has and continues to take a long hard look at fumigants to ensure they are used in a protective manner. DPR believes the right to farm does not mean the right to cause harm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Slowly but surely the fumigant tools are going away,” says the California Strawberry Commission’s O’Donnell. The Commission also received a grant from DPR to study ASD in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As O’Donnell sees it there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the pests that plague strawberry growers, but adding ASD to the toolbox is good for all farmers. “What is coming out of the research is essentially a cookbook full of recipes,” says O’Donnell. “‘If you have this soil type and these types of disease organisms, then these are the materials and methods you need to use,’ and so on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Donnell says that strawberry farmers are already in the habit of trying out new techniques on small sections of their fields—and that 20 percent of conventional growers also have organic operations. Plus, she says, “Anyone who’s working on strawberries—they’re all talking to each other.” CSC also hosts “field days” to help farmers connect to scientists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, O’Donnell is hesitant to embrace biological controls because she says it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to perform as consistently as fumigants over the long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What farmers need—or want—is another magic bullet. O’Donnell, whose organization represents approximately 400 farmers, points to the up-front investment strawberry farmers make, spending up to $20,000 per acre for the land, plants, fertilizer, etc. before they harvest a single berry. “If your crop peters out, you lose your investment—and sometimes your house or your business.” In other words, farmers have to be sure they’ll protect their investment or they won’t adopt new methods.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>What About Organic?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Some farmers have been growing strawberries for years without methyl bromide. Take \u003ca href=\"http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/cultiv/cochran\" target=\"_blank\">Jim Cochran\u003c/a>, president of \u003ca href=\"http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Swanton Berry Farm\u003c/a>, a 75-acre farm in Davenport, just north of Santa Cruz. Cochran is also the first farmer to grow organic strawberries in the state. He sits on the board of directors at Farm Fuel and is part of the company’s ASD trials along with seven other strawberry farms, in collaboration with the \u003ca href=\"http://casfs.ucsc.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems\u003c/a> at U.C. Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like any strawberry farmer, Cochran is concerned with pests and diseases and he is interested in ASD. However, for over 30 years he has relied on traditional organic practices such as adding compost to his soil and crop rotations. Each field gets planted in strawberries just once every five or six years. During other years the fields are planted with crops like cauliflower or broccoli—which are modestly profitable—or the fields are fallow with cover crops like alfalfa. On the other hand, conventional growers who rely on chemical fumigants grow strawberries in the same field every other year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The multi-crop organic farm is vastly more complex than the single crop chemical strawberry farm. It requires much more management,” says Cochran. Crop rotation and organic methods are expensive and the yields are generally a little lower. “It’s not easy. What we’re up against is people who use chemicals and produce strawberries at $2.50 a basket and can still be quite profitable,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/cultiv/cantisano\" target=\"_blank\">Amigo Cantisano\u003c/a>, a leading organics advisor who helped found the \u003ca href=\"http://eco-farm.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Ecological Farming Association\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.ccof.org/\" target=\"_blank\">California Certified Organic Farmers\u003c/a> (CCOF), says that ASD is “an increasingly viable alternative to methyl bromide, and that’s a good thing.” But he worries that fumigants allow farmers not to “deal with soil biologically in a holistic way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Cantisano sees it, controls—whether they are chemical or biological—allow farmers to forego building up the necessary \u003ca href=\"http://www.soilfoodweb.com/\" target=\"_blank\">soil foodweb\u003c/a>. And fungicides wipe out soil flora, which create resistance to the very pathogens methyl bromide is used to kill. “The lack of a long-term \u003ca href=\"http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-farming1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">crop rotation\u003c/a> system eliminates the opportunity for the soil to cleanse itself biologically,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, it’s not just conventional growers who rely on methyl bromide. While organic farmers do not use it in the fields, their \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/CUN2013/2013CUNStrawberryNursery.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">certified pest-free nursery “starts”\u003c/a> (baby plants) are grown in soil sterilized with methyl bromide, just like conventional growers. This is legal for certified organic farms, and the justification is that even one diseased start could ruin an entire crop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Lisa Bunin, Organic Policy Director at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Food Safety\u003c/a> (CFS), “Both stages in the strawberry production process use enormous amounts of methyl bromide, and both represent critical junctures in the supply chain that need to figure out alternative production strategies.” According to a \u003ca href=\"https://beta.cironline.org/reports/even-organic-strawberries-are-grown-with-dangerous-pesticides/\" target=\"_blank\">recent in-depth report by the Center for Investigative Reporting\u003c/a>, CFS is leading a project to grow an experimental nursery crop of organic strawberry starts in Central California, and late last year, six organic farms planted those starts in soil for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>What Lies Ahead?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>While the DPR will clearly continue to allow—and indeed support—the use of chemical fumigants, Director Leahy is cognizant of the bigger picture. “In order to better understand pest control for any crop, California needs to better understand the soil ecosystem and how pests behave,” he says. “This requires a major public investment and dedicated research.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, it’s likely that companies like \u003ca href=\"http://www.farmfuelinc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Farm Fuel\u003c/a> will gradually make inroads into the market as they develop relationships with the many curious farmers willing to give ASD and other biological approaches a try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in 1996–just a couple years after the Montreal Protocol’s phase-out went into effect–some individuals at the EPA were already talking about non-chemical approaches. In a \u003ca href=\"http://mbao.org/orgsber2.html\" target=\"_blank\">paper they released that year\u003c/a>, the officials wrote: “Organic strawberry production is an effective integrated approach that offers an alternative to methyl bromide use for California strawberries.” Sometimes we have to look back to look forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nJillian Laurel Steinberger is on the case, always looking for a good story to write about plants, health, and food justice. Recent stories investigate the herbal economy, mushroom culture, Fibershed, drought tolerant edible gardening, and rethinking wheat. Her style is informed by whole systems thinking and pattern literacy à la Permaculture. She is a regular contributor to \u003cem>Edible East Bay\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Edible Monterey Bay\u003c/em>, and her work has appeared in \u003cem>BUST\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Bitch\u003c/em>, the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>, \u003cem>San Jose Mercury News\u003c/em>, and the \u003cem>Huffington Post\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"When it comes to growing strawberries, Farm Fuel, Inc., a Watsonville, California-based company, is on the cutting edge.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1421270449,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":37,"wordCount":2284},"headData":{"title":"The Future Strawberry: Will the Loss of a Major Pesticide Help the Industry to Go Green? | KQED","description":"When it comes to growing strawberries, Farm Fuel, Inc., a Watsonville, California-based company, is on the cutting edge.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"The Future Strawberry: Will the Loss of a Major Pesticide Help the Industry to Go Green? ","datePublished":"2015-01-13T18:18:52.000Z","dateModified":"2015-01-14T21:20:49.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"92041 http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=92041","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2015/01/13/the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green/","disqusTitle":"The Future Strawberry: Will the Loss of a Major Pesticide Help the Industry to Go Green? ","path":"/bayareabites/92041/the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_92046\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/strawberry.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/strawberry.jpg\" alt=\"Strawberries in the field. Photo: Shutterstock\" width=\"680\" height=\"346\" class=\"size-full wp-image-92046\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Strawberries in the field. Photo: Shutterstock\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/jsteinberger/\" target=\"_blank\">Jillian Steinberger\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2015/01/12/the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green/\" target=\"_blank\">Civil Eats\u003c/a> (1/12/15)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to growing strawberries, \u003ca href=\"http://www.farmfuelinc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Farm Fuel, Inc.\u003c/a>, a Watsonville, California-based company, is on the cutting edge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company grows wild and domesticated mustard and lightly processes the harvest into mustard meal, a soil amendment. They also work with farmers on a technique called \u003ca href=\"http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?accn_no=424327\" target=\"_blank\">Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD)\u003c/a>. This precise farming technique involves applying a combination of water and carbon-rich material (think rice bran, grape pomace, mustard meal, and molasses), and then wrapping the soil in plastic. Under the plastic, the ingredients combine to create anaerobic conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The idea with both of these approaches is to kill the organisms that cause the \u003ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_strawberry_diseases\" target=\"_blank\">long list of diseases\u003c/a> that plague strawberry farmers–without pesticides or \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/resources/specific-pesticides/fumigants\" target=\"_blank\">fumigants\u003c/a> (a form of pesticide that treats the soil before anything is even planted). Why the search for alternatives?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As pesticide use becomes more restricted, growers have a greater need for solutions that are effective and affordable,” says Farm Fuel CEO and research director Stefanie Bourcier, who has received sizable grants to work with both organic and conventional farmers on these non-toxic techniques. “Ultimately, ASD and mustard meal offer both organic and conventional growers more options.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The restrictions Bourcier is talking about are no small change. For over 40 years, U.S. strawberry farms–88 percent of which are in California–have relied on methyl bromide, the pesticide that works like a “magic bullet” to control diseases, persistent pests, and weeds. Methyl bromide has made it possible for growers to blanket coastal communities—from Santa Cruz south to Ventura County—with acres of perfect red berries that sell for as little as $2 to $3 a basket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, after a very long, gradual phase out, this fumigant–also a \u003ca href=\"http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205682/\" target=\"_blank\">potent neurotoxin\u003c/a>, known for affecting the health of \u003ca href=\"http://www.ewg.org/research/heavy-methyl-bromide-use-near-california-schools/health-effects-methyl-bromide\" target=\"_blank\">populations\u003c/a> living close to strawberry fields and a contributor to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.mnn.com/home-blog/guest-columnist/blogs/can-private-industry-solve-the-dead-sea-disaster-it-created\" target=\"_blank\">disappearance of the Dead Sea\u003c/a>–will no longer be in use by 2017.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Methyl bromide sterilizes the soil by killing off virtually all micro-organisms, good and bad. But the chemical also contributes to the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer when it evaporates during application. For this reason, thanks to the internationally binding \u003ca href=\"http://ozone.unep.org/new_site/en/montreal_protocol.php\" target=\"_blank\">Montreal Protocol\u003c/a>, it has been gradually disappearing from the marketplace since 1993.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, most conventional growers–many of whom say there are no other reliable methods to eradicate pests and diseases–are scrambling for other options. Farmers and regulators have invested considerable resources into other fumigants, including the highly controversial \u003ca href=\"http://www.pesticidereform.org/article.php?id=392\" target=\"_blank\">methyl iodide\u003c/a>—another known carcinogen and neurotoxin that is considered one of the most toxic chemicals on earth. But after\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2012/11/21/methyl-iodide-manufacturer-to-end-sales-of-controversial-pesticide\" target=\"_blank\"> public uproar\u003c/a>, the manufacturer, Arysta LifeScience Corporation, withdrew it from the market in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while other chemicals are plentiful in the marketplace, some advocates of alternative farming methods see a positive side to the phase out: New organic and agroecological methods–like the ones Farm Fuel is working on–are on the rise in the 2.6 billion industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_92047\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/UCSC_CASFS_Strawberry_Planting_by_Interns.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/UCSC_CASFS_Strawberry_Planting_by_Interns.jpg\" alt=\"Interns plant strawberry starts in an ASD trial field at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at U.C. Santa Cruz. Photo: Brandon Blackburn \" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" class=\"size-full wp-image-92047\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Interns plant strawberry starts in an ASD trial field at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at U.C. Santa Cruz. Photo: Brandon Blackburn\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>A Real Sea Change? Or Just Different Pesticides?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>While the \u003ca href=\"http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---6315.htm\" target=\"_blank\">European Union phased out methyl bromide\u003c/a> completely in 2013, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/cueinfo.html\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been granting so-called critical use exemptions (CUEs) since 2005\u003c/a>. These have been granted whenever an industry argues that not using methyl bromide would create “significant market disruptions” and when there are “no technically or economically feasible alternatives or substitutes.” But after 2016, CUEs will no longer be an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For California growers, this change is worrisome. Today, strawberry farms and nurseries account for nearly all methyl bromide used in agriculture. But they’ve only been granted a CUE for 412 tons this year, enough to treat 8,000 acres, or 20 percent of the 40,000 acres planted in strawberries, according to Carolyn O’Donnell, Communication Director at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.calstrawberry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">California Strawberry Commission\u003c/a> (CSC).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2016, that number will drop to 255 tons–enough for only around 9 percent of the current strawberry acreage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help growers make the inevitable transition, University of California and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have spent several years testing methyl bromide alternatives, both chemical and biological, with well over $5 million in grants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professor Carol Shennan, an agroecologist at the \u003ca href=\"http://casfs.ucsc.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">University of California, Santa Cruz\u003c/a>, is at the forefront of the research with multiple year grants from the USDA to study Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation at the farm scale. Over 10 years, Dr. Shennan and lead researcher Dr. Joji Muramoto have seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7phq_p2JQk\" target=\"_blank\">positive results with field tests\u003c/a> on farms around the state. In fact, \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/CUN2015/2015CUNStrawberry.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">a government document\u003c/a> notes that, “These experimental trials have shown good disease suppression and fruit yields comparable to methyl bromide treatments and other chemical fumigants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farm Fuel brought ASD to market in 2011, which was its first commercial introduction. In 2013, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) awarded the company a three-year grant to introduce conventional growers to the non-toxic alternative. Currently, the company has 22 trial sites across California and another 28 commercial clients. It estimates that about 25 percent of the new acreage it treated in 2014 was on conventional farms. Farm Fuel also claims that it is cost effective, with a per acre cost of $2,700 compared to $3,900 or more for methyl bromide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite these efforts, most conventional growers will begin using other fumigants. In particular, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/alts.html\" target=\"_blank\">EPA recommends\u003c/a> as substitutes chloropicrin and 1,3-D, and combinations of the two with other chemicals. Neither is considered as effective as methyl bromide and both have negative \u003ca href=\"http://www.nrdc.org/health/kids/farm/chap1.asp\" target=\"_blank\">health impacts\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After World War I, leftover stockpiles of \u003ca href=\"http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750034.html\" target=\"_blank\">chloropicrin\u003c/a>—a weapon then nicknamed “vomiting gas”—were directed to agricultural use. Although its use is on the rise in the U.S., chloropicrin was \u003ca href=\"http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/eu/eu-reviews/Withdrawal-of-chloropicrin-products-from-the-market\" target=\"_blank\">phased out in Europe\u003c/a> in 2013 due to respiratory health effects. The other go-to fumigant is 1,3-D, a known carcinogen produced by Dow Chemical. The DPR outlawed \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519572/\" target=\"_blank\">1,3-D\u003c/a> in 1990, but allowed it back on the market in 2004 with restrictions, anticipating its need in light of the phase-out of methyl bromide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprbios.htm\" target=\"_blank\">DPR Director Brian Leahy\u003c/a> believes that ASD shows promise and he says that the department is actively committed to helping California farmers find less toxic ways to tackle soilborne pests and reduce their use of chemical fumigants. Leahy, a former organic rice farmer, said in a recent email exchange: “It is no secret that the department has and continues to take a long hard look at fumigants to ensure they are used in a protective manner. DPR believes the right to farm does not mean the right to cause harm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Slowly but surely the fumigant tools are going away,” says the California Strawberry Commission’s O’Donnell. The Commission also received a grant from DPR to study ASD in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As O’Donnell sees it there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the pests that plague strawberry growers, but adding ASD to the toolbox is good for all farmers. “What is coming out of the research is essentially a cookbook full of recipes,” says O’Donnell. “‘If you have this soil type and these types of disease organisms, then these are the materials and methods you need to use,’ and so on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>O’Donnell says that strawberry farmers are already in the habit of trying out new techniques on small sections of their fields—and that 20 percent of conventional growers also have organic operations. Plus, she says, “Anyone who’s working on strawberries—they’re all talking to each other.” CSC also hosts “field days” to help farmers connect to scientists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, O’Donnell is hesitant to embrace biological controls because she says it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to perform as consistently as fumigants over the long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What farmers need—or want—is another magic bullet. O’Donnell, whose organization represents approximately 400 farmers, points to the up-front investment strawberry farmers make, spending up to $20,000 per acre for the land, plants, fertilizer, etc. before they harvest a single berry. “If your crop peters out, you lose your investment—and sometimes your house or your business.” In other words, farmers have to be sure they’ll protect their investment or they won’t adopt new methods.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>What About Organic?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Some farmers have been growing strawberries for years without methyl bromide. Take \u003ca href=\"http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/cultiv/cochran\" target=\"_blank\">Jim Cochran\u003c/a>, president of \u003ca href=\"http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Swanton Berry Farm\u003c/a>, a 75-acre farm in Davenport, just north of Santa Cruz. Cochran is also the first farmer to grow organic strawberries in the state. He sits on the board of directors at Farm Fuel and is part of the company’s ASD trials along with seven other strawberry farms, in collaboration with the \u003ca href=\"http://casfs.ucsc.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems\u003c/a> at U.C. Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like any strawberry farmer, Cochran is concerned with pests and diseases and he is interested in ASD. However, for over 30 years he has relied on traditional organic practices such as adding compost to his soil and crop rotations. Each field gets planted in strawberries just once every five or six years. During other years the fields are planted with crops like cauliflower or broccoli—which are modestly profitable—or the fields are fallow with cover crops like alfalfa. On the other hand, conventional growers who rely on chemical fumigants grow strawberries in the same field every other year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The multi-crop organic farm is vastly more complex than the single crop chemical strawberry farm. It requires much more management,” says Cochran. Crop rotation and organic methods are expensive and the yields are generally a little lower. “It’s not easy. What we’re up against is people who use chemicals and produce strawberries at $2.50 a basket and can still be quite profitable,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/cultiv/cantisano\" target=\"_blank\">Amigo Cantisano\u003c/a>, a leading organics advisor who helped found the \u003ca href=\"http://eco-farm.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Ecological Farming Association\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.ccof.org/\" target=\"_blank\">California Certified Organic Farmers\u003c/a> (CCOF), says that ASD is “an increasingly viable alternative to methyl bromide, and that’s a good thing.” But he worries that fumigants allow farmers not to “deal with soil biologically in a holistic way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As Cantisano sees it, controls—whether they are chemical or biological—allow farmers to forego building up the necessary \u003ca href=\"http://www.soilfoodweb.com/\" target=\"_blank\">soil foodweb\u003c/a>. And fungicides wipe out soil flora, which create resistance to the very pathogens methyl bromide is used to kill. “The lack of a long-term \u003ca href=\"http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-farming1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">crop rotation\u003c/a> system eliminates the opportunity for the soil to cleanse itself biologically,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, it’s not just conventional growers who rely on methyl bromide. While organic farmers do not use it in the fields, their \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/CUN2013/2013CUNStrawberryNursery.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">certified pest-free nursery “starts”\u003c/a> (baby plants) are grown in soil sterilized with methyl bromide, just like conventional growers. This is legal for certified organic farms, and the justification is that even one diseased start could ruin an entire crop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Lisa Bunin, Organic Policy Director at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Center for Food Safety\u003c/a> (CFS), “Both stages in the strawberry production process use enormous amounts of methyl bromide, and both represent critical junctures in the supply chain that need to figure out alternative production strategies.” According to a \u003ca href=\"https://beta.cironline.org/reports/even-organic-strawberries-are-grown-with-dangerous-pesticides/\" target=\"_blank\">recent in-depth report by the Center for Investigative Reporting\u003c/a>, CFS is leading a project to grow an experimental nursery crop of organic strawberry starts in Central California, and late last year, six organic farms planted those starts in soil for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>What Lies Ahead?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>While the DPR will clearly continue to allow—and indeed support—the use of chemical fumigants, Director Leahy is cognizant of the bigger picture. “In order to better understand pest control for any crop, California needs to better understand the soil ecosystem and how pests behave,” he says. “This requires a major public investment and dedicated research.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, it’s likely that companies like \u003ca href=\"http://www.farmfuelinc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Farm Fuel\u003c/a> will gradually make inroads into the market as they develop relationships with the many curious farmers willing to give ASD and other biological approaches a try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in 1996–just a couple years after the Montreal Protocol’s phase-out went into effect–some individuals at the EPA were already talking about non-chemical approaches. In a \u003ca href=\"http://mbao.org/orgsber2.html\" target=\"_blank\">paper they released that year\u003c/a>, the officials wrote: “Organic strawberry production is an effective integrated approach that offers an alternative to methyl bromide use for California strawberries.” Sometimes we have to look back to look forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nJillian Laurel Steinberger is on the case, always looking for a good story to write about plants, health, and food justice. Recent stories investigate the herbal economy, mushroom culture, Fibershed, drought tolerant edible gardening, and rethinking wheat. Her style is informed by whole systems thinking and pattern literacy à la Permaculture. She is a regular contributor to \u003cem>Edible East Bay\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Edible Monterey Bay\u003c/em>, and her work has appeared in \u003cem>BUST\u003c/em>, \u003cem>Bitch\u003c/em>, the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>, \u003cem>San Jose Mercury News\u003c/em>, and the \u003cem>Huffington Post\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/92041/the-future-strawberry-will-the-loss-of-a-major-pesticide-help-the-industry-to-go-green","authors":["5583"],"categories":["bayareabites_13718","bayareabites_1874","bayareabites_10028","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_358","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_14065","bayareabites_11445","bayareabites_1012"],"featImg":"bayareabites_92046","label":"bayareabites"},"bayareabites_86366":{"type":"posts","id":"bayareabites_86366","meta":{"index":"posts_1591205157","site":"bayareabites","id":"86366","score":null,"sort":[1408557301000]},"guestAuthors":[],"slug":"organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter","title":"Organic vs. \"Organic\": How Much Does Certification Matter? ","publishDate":1408557301,"format":"aside","headTitle":"Bay Area Bites | KQED Food","labelTerm":{"site":"bayareabites"},"content":"\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_86378\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2014/08/Pranav_Bhatt-e1408335354949-680x408.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2014/08/Pranav_Bhatt-e1408335354949-680x408.jpg\" alt=\"Tomatoes Pesticides Free. Photo by Pranav Bhatt\" width=\"680\" height=\"408\" class=\"size-full wp-image-86378\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Pranav Bhatt\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/hwallace/\" target=\"_blank\">Hannah Wallace\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2014/08/18/organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter/\" target=\"_blank\">Civil Eats\u003c/a> (8/18/14)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whenever we go to the farmers’ market together, my husband and I disagree about whether we should buy the pricey certified organic berries (my husband’s vote) or the less expensive ones grown without certification, but described by the farm as “sustainably produced.” If I look deep into a farmer’s eyes and she tells me that her fruit is “no-spray,” I’ll buy her berries, saving almost a buck a pint. (After all, the strawberries we grow in our own backyard are not certified organic, but I feel good about eating them.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lately I’ve been wondering–is my husband right, or is no-spray enough? And what about the assertion—sometimes made by conventional growers—that certified organic farms use pesticides too?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Toxicity: It’s All Relative\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>In most cases, even certified organic produce is not pesticide-free. But compared to most conventional produce, it can mean a big step in a less-toxic direction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The overarching concept is that natural pesticides are allowed and synthetics are prohibited, unless specifically allowed,” says Nate Lewis, a senior crop and livestock specialist at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ota.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Organic Trade Association\u003c/a>. Furthermore, before they can use any approved pesticides, organic farmers must prove that they have a preventative plan in place—and that the plan is failing to prevent pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So while most organic farmers rely on plant-based pesticides such as Pyrethrum (from chrysanthemum flowers), extracts of the Benin tree, neem oil, or an extract of the Japanese knotweed root (an effective fungicide), they can occasionally use synthetic pesticides—with strict limitations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are roughly 40 synthetic substances farmers can use under U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards, says Lewis. Some of these are as innocuous as newspaper, which is allowed for use as mulch or as a “feedstock” for compost, or sticky traps, which provide a physical function (trapping insects) and then are removed from the field at the end of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others include zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt—essential plant micronutrients that cannot be used as insecticides or fungicides in most cases. Instead, they’re usually used as soil amendments. (A full list of the chemicals that are allowed under USDA organic standards is available at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.omri.org/omri-lists\" target=\"_blank\">Organic Materials Review Institute\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 26 of the 40 synthetic substances allowed in organic crop production are considered pesticides. But these have restrictions, too. For example, soap-based herbicides can only be used on right-of-ways and ditches, but can’t come into contact with organic food. Boric acid, which is a synthetic insecticide, can be used for pest control, but can’t come into contact with crops or soil. Similarly, ammonium carbonate can only be used as bait in insect traps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This list is constantly under scrutiny and is therefore always being revised. For example, until recently, USDA organic standards made an exemption for the use of antibiotics—specifically tetracycline and streptomycin—to be sprayed on \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2013/04/09/surprise-antibiotics-are-allowed-in-organic-apple-and-pear-farming/\" target=\"_blank\">organic apple and pear orchards\u003c/a> to prevent fire blight, which is highly contagious and can wipe out a whole orchard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was only allowed at bloom time, which is the only time the orchard is susceptible, so there’s no residue on fruit,” explains Lewis. Nonetheless, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nosb\" target=\"_blank\">National Organics Standards Board\u003c/a> (NOSB) let the exemptions for these antibiotics expire—starting October 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just because a chemical comes from a plant doesn’t make it safe. Rotenone, a toxic pesticide that’s derived from the roots of several tropical and sub-tropical plants such as the jicama, can no longer be used on crops in the U.S.—even conventionally farmed ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Rotenone has quite the sordid past,” says Lewis. Toxic to humans—it’s classified as “mildly hazardous” \u003ca href=\"http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard/en/\" target=\"_blank\">by the World Health Organization\u003c/a>—rotenone has been linked to Parkinson’s disease in farmworkers. The Environmental Protection Agency revoked its use as a pesticide in 2007, after the companies distributing and selling rotenone voluntarily \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/REDs/rotenone_red.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">cancelled all food use registrations\u003c/a> for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the NOSB recommended that it be put on the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5101282\" target=\"_blank\">prohibited list\u003c/a> by January 2016. But according to Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of the National Organics Program at the USDA, the agency has more work to do before it can follow the NOSB’s recommendation. Until that happens, Rotenone can still be used on organic banana crops grown in tropical countries like Ecuador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite these allowances, the pesticides and herbicides used on conventional farms are still significantly worse. Take \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/resources/organophosphates\" target=\"_blank\">organophosphates\u003c/a>, for instance. This class of pesticide is used on conventional peaches, apples, grapes, green beans, and pears. According to Pesticide Action Network’s database, organophosphates are some of the most toxic insecticides used today. They have been shown to “adversely affect the human nervous system even at low levels of exposure” and hamper neurological development in children. The commonly used herbicides \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539684\" target=\"_blank\">Glyphosate\u003c/a> (Roundup) and \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539684\" target=\"_blank\">Atrazine\u003c/a>, have also both been shown to act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the endocrine (or hormone system) in people and many animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Is Talking to Your Farmer Enough?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Oregon farmer Don Kruger, the owner of a \u003ca href=\"http://www.krugersfarmmarket.com/\" target=\"_blank\">150-acre farm\u003c/a> on Sauvie Island and two Portland farm stands, abhors labels. “I honestly would rather talk to the customers, if I could, or have them talk to my staff,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 14 years he’s owned his farm, he’s never sprayed a pesticide directly on any food crop. Yet, he says, “I have no interest in being straight-up organic. It gives me a little wiggle room to do things I might need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kruger uses a conventional fungicide on his raspberries. “The Tulameen is the best tasting raspberry—it’s fabulous. But the problem is, it’s prone to root rot,” he says. “I could grow another, inferior grade raspberry, but I don’t want to.” He sprays the plant just as it’s starting to leaf—before it blossoms or fruits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also uses an herbicide called \u003ca href=\"http://impactherbicide.com/faqs.html\" target=\"_blank\">Impact\u003c/a> (a broad spectrum herbicide with topramezone as the active ingredient) on his corn. It kills the weeds—grass, pig weed, thistle, etc.—that would otherwise hinder the corn’s growth. “Otherwise you have to hand hoe it, and it’s really tough to do,” Kruger says. He sprays when the plant is two inches high and that’s it. “There’s no chance it’s on the corn,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kruger believes he is offering a more affordable option, a middle-ground for folks who want local food that’s not conventional, but don’t mind that it’s not certified organic either. He is known in Portland for having the most affordable produce around and he prides himself on that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not everyone has the time for a 10 minute long conversation with their farmer about his growing practices and the nuances of what and when they spray. Furthermore, there are a lot of unregulated terms—like “no-spray” and “sustainably grown”—that get tossed around. And not everyone is as forthright about their practices as Kruger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Lively, vice president of sales and marketing at \u003ca href=\"http://organicgrown.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Organically Grown Company\u003c/a>, the largest organic produce wholesaler in the Northwest, says farmers markets aren’t always as transparent as many customers believe. “There have been instances where growers selling produce at farmers’ markets have been busted for selling conventional as organic and product they bought off the market as their own.” Lively thinks—and many others in the organic movement agree—that organic certification offers the consumer extra assurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Other Reasons to Go Organic\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>At the end of the day, organic agriculture is about much more than reducing pesticide use. To grow food organically, farmers must build their soil, using techniques like composting, cover crops, and crop rotations rather than fossil fuel-intensive synthetic fertilizer. Doing so is a lot more work. But on an environmental level, that matters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Excess nitrogen from fertilizer not only ends up in the atmosphere as nitrous oxide (where it’s a \u003ca href=\"http://epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/n2o.html\" target=\"_blank\">very potent greenhouse gas\u003c/a>), it also ends up in our waterways and aquifers, where it causes everything from \u003ca href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/us/tainted-water-in-california-farmworker-communities.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&\" target=\"_blank\">nitrate poisoning in drinking water\u003c/a>, to \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2014/08/05/what-toledos-water-crisis-reveals-about-industrial-farming/\" target=\"_blank\">toxic algae\u003c/a>, to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/05/tech/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone/\" target=\"_blank\">dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico\u003c/a>. Organic farms must also agree not to use genetically engineered seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that organic certification requires a time commitment on the part of the grower. In addition to a 12-page application, as well as regular audits, organic farmers must \u003ca href=\"http://organic.about.com/od/cropsfarming/tp/Record-Keeping-Tips-For-An-Organic-Farming-Business.htm\" target=\"_blank\">document a great deal of what they do\u003c/a>. The cost to farmers is also a factor, but it doesn’t have to be prohibitive. The USDA has a cost-share program that reimburses farmers 75 percent of the cost of certification, up to $750 per type of farming. Connie Carr, the certification director at \u003ca href=\"http://tilth.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Oregon Tilth\u003c/a>, which inspects and certifies food producers for the USDA, says farmers take advantage of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if your certification costs $1,000”—the upper end of what a small farmer would pay per year—“you’ll get $750 back,” says Carr. Fortunately for farmers, this funding was renewed in the 2014 farm bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help streamline the paperwork, which Carr says is no more arduous than applying for a loan or for college, the National Organic Program at the USDA introduced a “\u003ca href=\"http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/04/19/organic-101-sound-and-sensible-approach-to-organic-certification/\" target=\"_blank\">Sound & Sensible\u003c/a>” initiative in 2013, which \u003ca href=\"http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/04/19/organic-101-sound-and-sensible-approach-to-organic-certification/\" target=\"_blank\">works with farmers to remove barriers to certification\u003c/a>. Now, re-applying for certification each year is much easier (a farmer only has to submit changes) and some certifiers have launched online applications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Will these changes lead to more certified organic farmers? It’s too soon to say. But one thing is clear: Consumer demand for organic food continues to grow. Organic food in the U.S. has been growing by an average of 13 percent per year over the past decade and \u003ca href=\"http://www.organicnewsroom.com/2014/05/american_appetite_for_organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">reached $35 billion\u003c/a> last year. Most farmers who take the plunge and go organic will have no problem selling their crops—and they’ll be able to charge a premium for them, too. And why shouldn’t they? Hoeing weeds by hand, cover-cropping, and keeping meticulous records is hard work. Maybe next time I’ll spring for those certified organic berries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Curious about other sustainable farming labels? Stay tuned for a 2nd installment on alternative certification programs.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nHannah Wallace writes about food politics, integrative medicine, and travel for a wide variety of publications including Vogue, The New York Times, Spirit, and Portland Monthly. Her articles and book reviews have also appeared in O: the Oprah Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Mother Jones, and the Los Angeles Times. She is the \u003ca href=\"http://www.hannahmwallace.typepad.com/hannahs_clips/business/\" target=\"_blank\">food and agriculture columnist\u003c/a> at Oregon Business Magazine. \u003c/p>\n\n","blocks":[],"excerpt":"In most cases, even certified organic produce is not pesticide-free. But compared to most conventional produce, it can mean a big step in a less-toxic direction.","status":"publish","parent":0,"modified":1408557301,"stats":{"hasAudio":false,"hasVideo":false,"hasChartOrMap":false,"iframeSrcs":[],"hasGoogleForm":false,"hasGallery":false,"hasHearkenModule":false,"hasPolis":false,"paragraphCount":32,"wordCount":1889},"headData":{"title":"Organic vs. \"Organic\": How Much Does Certification Matter? | KQED","description":"In most cases, even certified organic produce is not pesticide-free. But compared to most conventional produce, it can mean a big step in a less-toxic direction.","ogTitle":"","ogDescription":"","ogImgId":"","twTitle":"","twDescription":"","twImgId":"","schema":{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Organic vs. \"Organic\": How Much Does Certification Matter? ","datePublished":"2014-08-20T17:55:01.000Z","dateModified":"2014-08-20T17:55:01.000Z","image":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"}},"disqusIdentifier":"86366 http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/?p=86366","disqusUrl":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2014/08/20/organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter/","disqusTitle":"Organic vs. \"Organic\": How Much Does Certification Matter? ","path":"/bayareabites/86366/organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter","audioTrackLength":null,"parsedContent":[{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_86378\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 680px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2014/08/Pranav_Bhatt-e1408335354949-680x408.jpg\">\u003cimg src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2014/08/Pranav_Bhatt-e1408335354949-680x408.jpg\" alt=\"Tomatoes Pesticides Free. Photo by Pranav Bhatt\" width=\"680\" height=\"408\" class=\"size-full wp-image-86378\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Pranav Bhatt\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/author/hwallace/\" target=\"_blank\">Hannah Wallace\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2014/08/18/organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter/\" target=\"_blank\">Civil Eats\u003c/a> (8/18/14)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whenever we go to the farmers’ market together, my husband and I disagree about whether we should buy the pricey certified organic berries (my husband’s vote) or the less expensive ones grown without certification, but described by the farm as “sustainably produced.” If I look deep into a farmer’s eyes and she tells me that her fruit is “no-spray,” I’ll buy her berries, saving almost a buck a pint. (After all, the strawberries we grow in our own backyard are not certified organic, but I feel good about eating them.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lately I’ve been wondering–is my husband right, or is no-spray enough? And what about the assertion—sometimes made by conventional growers—that certified organic farms use pesticides too?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Toxicity: It’s All Relative\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>In most cases, even certified organic produce is not pesticide-free. But compared to most conventional produce, it can mean a big step in a less-toxic direction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The overarching concept is that natural pesticides are allowed and synthetics are prohibited, unless specifically allowed,” says Nate Lewis, a senior crop and livestock specialist at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ota.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Organic Trade Association\u003c/a>. Furthermore, before they can use any approved pesticides, organic farmers must prove that they have a preventative plan in place—and that the plan is failing to prevent pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"fullwidth"},"numeric":["fullwidth"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So while most organic farmers rely on plant-based pesticides such as Pyrethrum (from chrysanthemum flowers), extracts of the Benin tree, neem oil, or an extract of the Japanese knotweed root (an effective fungicide), they can occasionally use synthetic pesticides—with strict limitations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are roughly 40 synthetic substances farmers can use under U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards, says Lewis. Some of these are as innocuous as newspaper, which is allowed for use as mulch or as a “feedstock” for compost, or sticky traps, which provide a physical function (trapping insects) and then are removed from the field at the end of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others include zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt—essential plant micronutrients that cannot be used as insecticides or fungicides in most cases. Instead, they’re usually used as soil amendments. (A full list of the chemicals that are allowed under USDA organic standards is available at the \u003ca href=\"http://www.omri.org/omri-lists\" target=\"_blank\">Organic Materials Review Institute\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 26 of the 40 synthetic substances allowed in organic crop production are considered pesticides. But these have restrictions, too. For example, soap-based herbicides can only be used on right-of-ways and ditches, but can’t come into contact with organic food. Boric acid, which is a synthetic insecticide, can be used for pest control, but can’t come into contact with crops or soil. Similarly, ammonium carbonate can only be used as bait in insect traps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This list is constantly under scrutiny and is therefore always being revised. For example, until recently, USDA organic standards made an exemption for the use of antibiotics—specifically tetracycline and streptomycin—to be sprayed on \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2013/04/09/surprise-antibiotics-are-allowed-in-organic-apple-and-pear-farming/\" target=\"_blank\">organic apple and pear orchards\u003c/a> to prevent fire blight, which is highly contagious and can wipe out a whole orchard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was only allowed at bloom time, which is the only time the orchard is susceptible, so there’s no residue on fruit,” explains Lewis. Nonetheless, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nosb\" target=\"_blank\">National Organics Standards Board\u003c/a> (NOSB) let the exemptions for these antibiotics expire—starting October 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But just because a chemical comes from a plant doesn’t make it safe. Rotenone, a toxic pesticide that’s derived from the roots of several tropical and sub-tropical plants such as the jicama, can no longer be used on crops in the U.S.—even conventionally farmed ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Rotenone has quite the sordid past,” says Lewis. Toxic to humans—it’s classified as “mildly hazardous” \u003ca href=\"http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard/en/\" target=\"_blank\">by the World Health Organization\u003c/a>—rotenone has been linked to Parkinson’s disease in farmworkers. The Environmental Protection Agency revoked its use as a pesticide in 2007, after the companies distributing and selling rotenone voluntarily \u003ca href=\"http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/REDs/rotenone_red.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">cancelled all food use registrations\u003c/a> for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the NOSB recommended that it be put on the \u003ca href=\"http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5101282\" target=\"_blank\">prohibited list\u003c/a> by January 2016. But according to Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of the National Organics Program at the USDA, the agency has more work to do before it can follow the NOSB’s recommendation. Until that happens, Rotenone can still be used on organic banana crops grown in tropical countries like Ecuador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite these allowances, the pesticides and herbicides used on conventional farms are still significantly worse. Take \u003ca href=\"http://www.panna.org/resources/organophosphates\" target=\"_blank\">organophosphates\u003c/a>, for instance. This class of pesticide is used on conventional peaches, apples, grapes, green beans, and pears. According to Pesticide Action Network’s database, organophosphates are some of the most toxic insecticides used today. They have been shown to “adversely affect the human nervous system even at low levels of exposure” and hamper neurological development in children. The commonly used herbicides \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539684\" target=\"_blank\">Glyphosate\u003c/a> (Roundup) and \u003ca href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539684\" target=\"_blank\">Atrazine\u003c/a>, have also both been shown to act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the endocrine (or hormone system) in people and many animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Is Talking to Your Farmer Enough?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Oregon farmer Don Kruger, the owner of a \u003ca href=\"http://www.krugersfarmmarket.com/\" target=\"_blank\">150-acre farm\u003c/a> on Sauvie Island and two Portland farm stands, abhors labels. “I honestly would rather talk to the customers, if I could, or have them talk to my staff,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 14 years he’s owned his farm, he’s never sprayed a pesticide directly on any food crop. Yet, he says, “I have no interest in being straight-up organic. It gives me a little wiggle room to do things I might need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kruger uses a conventional fungicide on his raspberries. “The Tulameen is the best tasting raspberry—it’s fabulous. But the problem is, it’s prone to root rot,” he says. “I could grow another, inferior grade raspberry, but I don’t want to.” He sprays the plant just as it’s starting to leaf—before it blossoms or fruits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also uses an herbicide called \u003ca href=\"http://impactherbicide.com/faqs.html\" target=\"_blank\">Impact\u003c/a> (a broad spectrum herbicide with topramezone as the active ingredient) on his corn. It kills the weeds—grass, pig weed, thistle, etc.—that would otherwise hinder the corn’s growth. “Otherwise you have to hand hoe it, and it’s really tough to do,” Kruger says. He sprays when the plant is two inches high and that’s it. “There’s no chance it’s on the corn,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kruger believes he is offering a more affordable option, a middle-ground for folks who want local food that’s not conventional, but don’t mind that it’s not certified organic either. He is known in Portland for having the most affordable produce around and he prides himself on that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not everyone has the time for a 10 minute long conversation with their farmer about his growing practices and the nuances of what and when they spray. Furthermore, there are a lot of unregulated terms—like “no-spray” and “sustainably grown”—that get tossed around. And not everyone is as forthright about their practices as Kruger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Lively, vice president of sales and marketing at \u003ca href=\"http://organicgrown.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Organically Grown Company\u003c/a>, the largest organic produce wholesaler in the Northwest, says farmers markets aren’t always as transparent as many customers believe. “There have been instances where growers selling produce at farmers’ markets have been busted for selling conventional as organic and product they bought off the market as their own.” Lively thinks—and many others in the organic movement agree—that organic certification offers the consumer extra assurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Other Reasons to Go Organic\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>At the end of the day, organic agriculture is about much more than reducing pesticide use. To grow food organically, farmers must build their soil, using techniques like composting, cover crops, and crop rotations rather than fossil fuel-intensive synthetic fertilizer. Doing so is a lot more work. But on an environmental level, that matters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Excess nitrogen from fertilizer not only ends up in the atmosphere as nitrous oxide (where it’s a \u003ca href=\"http://epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/n2o.html\" target=\"_blank\">very potent greenhouse gas\u003c/a>), it also ends up in our waterways and aquifers, where it causes everything from \u003ca href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/us/tainted-water-in-california-farmworker-communities.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&\" target=\"_blank\">nitrate poisoning in drinking water\u003c/a>, to \u003ca href=\"http://civileats.com/2014/08/05/what-toledos-water-crisis-reveals-about-industrial-farming/\" target=\"_blank\">toxic algae\u003c/a>, to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/05/tech/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone/\" target=\"_blank\">dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico\u003c/a>. Organic farms must also agree not to use genetically engineered seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that organic certification requires a time commitment on the part of the grower. In addition to a 12-page application, as well as regular audits, organic farmers must \u003ca href=\"http://organic.about.com/od/cropsfarming/tp/Record-Keeping-Tips-For-An-Organic-Farming-Business.htm\" target=\"_blank\">document a great deal of what they do\u003c/a>. The cost to farmers is also a factor, but it doesn’t have to be prohibitive. The USDA has a cost-share program that reimburses farmers 75 percent of the cost of certification, up to $750 per type of farming. Connie Carr, the certification director at \u003ca href=\"http://tilth.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Oregon Tilth\u003c/a>, which inspects and certifies food producers for the USDA, says farmers take advantage of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if your certification costs $1,000”—the upper end of what a small farmer would pay per year—“you’ll get $750 back,” says Carr. Fortunately for farmers, this funding was renewed in the 2014 farm bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help streamline the paperwork, which Carr says is no more arduous than applying for a loan or for college, the National Organic Program at the USDA introduced a “\u003ca href=\"http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/04/19/organic-101-sound-and-sensible-approach-to-organic-certification/\" target=\"_blank\">Sound & Sensible\u003c/a>” initiative in 2013, which \u003ca href=\"http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/04/19/organic-101-sound-and-sensible-approach-to-organic-certification/\" target=\"_blank\">works with farmers to remove barriers to certification\u003c/a>. Now, re-applying for certification each year is much easier (a farmer only has to submit changes) and some certifiers have launched online applications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Will these changes lead to more certified organic farmers? It’s too soon to say. But one thing is clear: Consumer demand for organic food continues to grow. Organic food in the U.S. has been growing by an average of 13 percent per year over the past decade and \u003ca href=\"http://www.organicnewsroom.com/2014/05/american_appetite_for_organic.html\" target=\"_blank\">reached $35 billion\u003c/a> last year. Most farmers who take the plunge and go organic will have no problem selling their crops—and they’ll be able to charge a premium for them, too. And why shouldn’t they? Hoeing weeds by hand, cover-cropping, and keeping meticulous records is hard work. Maybe next time I’ll spring for those certified organic berries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Curious about other sustainable farming labels? Stay tuned for a 2nd installment on alternative certification programs.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}},{"type":"component","content":"","name":"ad","attributes":{"named":{"label":"floatright"},"numeric":["floatright"]}},{"type":"contentString","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>About the Writer\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nHannah Wallace writes about food politics, integrative medicine, and travel for a wide variety of publications including Vogue, The New York Times, Spirit, and Portland Monthly. Her articles and book reviews have also appeared in O: the Oprah Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Mother Jones, and the Los Angeles Times. She is the \u003ca href=\"http://www.hannahmwallace.typepad.com/hannahs_clips/business/\" target=\"_blank\">food and agriculture columnist\u003c/a> at Oregon Business Magazine. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>","attributes":{"named":{},"numeric":[]}}],"link":"/bayareabites/86366/organic-vs-organic-how-much-does-certification-matter","authors":["5583"],"categories":["bayareabites_13718","bayareabites_1874","bayareabites_95","bayareabites_4084","bayareabites_1245","bayareabites_2035","bayareabites_358","bayareabites_60"],"tags":["bayareabites_13717","bayareabites_65","bayareabites_13715","bayareabites_11445","bayareabites_13716","bayareabites_8913"],"featImg":"bayareabites_86378","label":"bayareabites"}},"programsReducer":{"possible":{"id":"possible","title":"Possible","info":"Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.","airtime":"SUN 2pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.possible.fm/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Possible"},"link":"/radio/program/possible","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"}},"1a":{"id":"1a","title":"1A","info":"1A is home to the national conversation. 1A brings on great guests and frames the best debate in ways that make you think, share and engage.","airtime":"MON-THU 11pm-12am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/1a.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://the1a.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/1a","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=1188724250&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/1A-p947376/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510316/podcast.xml"}},"all-things-considered":{"id":"all-things-considered","title":"All Things Considered","info":"Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/all-things-considered"},"american-suburb-podcast":{"id":"american-suburb-podcast","title":"American Suburb: The Podcast","tagline":"The flip side of gentrification, told through one town","info":"Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"13"},"link":"/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"}},"baycurious":{"id":"baycurious","title":"Bay Curious","tagline":"Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time","info":"KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED Bay Curious","officialWebsiteLink":"/news/series/baycurious","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"4"},"link":"/podcasts/baycurious","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS9iYXktY3VyaW91cy1wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdA","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"}},"bbc-world-service":{"id":"bbc-world-service","title":"BBC World Service","info":"The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service","meta":{"site":"news","source":"BBC World Service"},"link":"/radio/program/bbc-world-service","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/","rss":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"}},"code-switch-life-kit":{"id":"code-switch-life-kit","title":"Code Switch / Life Kit","info":"\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />","airtime":"SUN 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"}},"commonwealth-club":{"id":"commonwealth-club","title":"Commonwealth Club of California Podcast","info":"The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.","airtime":"THU 10pm, FRI 1am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Commonwealth Club of California"},"link":"/radio/program/commonwealth-club","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"}},"considerthis":{"id":"considerthis","title":"Consider This","tagline":"Make sense of the day","info":"Make sense of the day. Every weekday afternoon, Consider This helps you consider the major stories of the day in less than 15 minutes, featuring the reporting and storytelling resources of NPR. Plus, KQED’s Bianca Taylor brings you the local KQED news you need to know.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Consider-This-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"Consider This from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/considerthis","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"7"},"link":"/podcasts/considerthis","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1503226625?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/coronavirusdaily","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM1NS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z6JdCS2d0eFEpXHKI6WqH"}},"forum":{"id":"forum","title":"Forum","tagline":"The conversation starts here","info":"KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.","airtime":"MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal","officialWebsiteLink":"/forum","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"8"},"link":"/forum","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"}},"freakonomics-radio":{"id":"freakonomics-radio","title":"Freakonomics Radio","info":"Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png","officialWebsiteLink":"http://freakonomics.com/","airtime":"SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/freakonomics-radio","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"}},"fresh-air":{"id":"fresh-air","title":"Fresh Air","info":"Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.","airtime":"MON-FRI 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/fresh-air","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"}},"here-and-now":{"id":"here-and-now","title":"Here & Now","info":"A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.","airtime":"MON-THU 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/here-and-now","subsdcribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"}},"how-i-built-this":{"id":"how-i-built-this","title":"How I Built This with Guy Raz","info":"Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this","airtime":"SUN 7:30pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/how-i-built-this","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"}},"inside-europe":{"id":"inside-europe","title":"Inside Europe","info":"Inside Europe, a one-hour weekly news magazine hosted by Helen Seeney and Keith Walker, explores the topical issues shaping the continent. No other part of the globe has experienced such dynamic political and social change in recent years.","airtime":"SAT 3am-4am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Inside-Europe-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","meta":{"site":"news","source":"Deutsche Welle"},"link":"/radio/program/inside-europe","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-europe/id80106806?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Inside-Europe-p731/","rss":"https://partner.dw.com/xml/podcast_inside-europe"}},"latino-usa":{"id":"latino-usa","title":"Latino USA","airtime":"MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm","info":"Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://latinousa.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/latino-usa","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"}},"live-from-here-highlights":{"id":"live-from-here-highlights","title":"Live from Here Highlights","info":"Chris Thile steps to the mic as the host of Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion), a live public radio variety show. Download Chris’s Song of the Week plus other highlights from the broadcast. Produced by American Public Media.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-8pm, SUN 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Live-From-Here-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.livefromhere.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"american public media"},"link":"/radio/program/live-from-here-highlights","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1167173941","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Live-from-Here-Highlights-p921744/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/a-prairie-home-companion-highlights/rss/rss"}},"marketplace":{"id":"marketplace","title":"Marketplace","info":"Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.","airtime":"MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.marketplace.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"American Public Media"},"link":"/radio/program/marketplace","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/","rss":"https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"}},"mindshift":{"id":"mindshift","title":"MindShift","tagline":"A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids","info":"The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn","officialWebsiteLink":"/mindshift/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"2"},"link":"/podcasts/mindshift","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"}},"morning-edition":{"id":"morning-edition","title":"Morning Edition","info":"\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3am-9am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/morning-edition"},"onourwatch":{"id":"onourwatch","title":"On Our Watch","tagline":"Police secrets, unsealed","info":"For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"On Our Watch from NPR and KQED","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/onourwatch","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"1"},"link":"/podcasts/onourwatch","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw","npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"}},"on-the-media":{"id":"on-the-media","title":"On The Media","info":"Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us","airtime":"SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wnyc"},"link":"/radio/program/on-the-media","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"}},"our-body-politic":{"id":"our-body-politic","title":"Our Body Politic","info":"Presented by KQED, KCRW and KPCC, and created and hosted by award-winning journalist Farai Chideya, Our Body Politic is unapologetically centered on reporting on not just how women of color experience the major political events of today, but how they’re impacting those very issues.","airtime":"SAT 6pm-7pm, SUN 1am-2am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Our-Body-Politic-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://our-body-politic.simplecast.com/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kcrw"},"link":"/radio/program/our-body-politic","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-body-politic/id1533069868","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9feGFQaHMxcw","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4ApAiLT1kV153TttWAmqmc","rss":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/_xaPhs1s","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Our-Body-Politic-p1369211/"}},"pbs-newshour":{"id":"pbs-newshour","title":"PBS NewsHour","info":"Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.","airtime":"MON-FRI 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/pbs-newshour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/","rss":"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"}},"perspectives":{"id":"perspectives","title":"Perspectives","tagline":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991","info":"KQED's series of of daily listener commentaries since 1991.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Perspectives-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/perspectives/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"15"},"link":"/perspectives","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"}},"planet-money":{"id":"planet-money","title":"Planet Money","info":"The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/sections/money/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/planet-money","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"}},"politicalbreakdown":{"id":"politicalbreakdown","title":"Political Breakdown","tagline":"Politics from a personal perspective","info":"Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.","airtime":"THU 6:30pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Political Breakdown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"11"},"link":"/podcasts/politicalbreakdown","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5Nzk2MzI2MTEx","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"}},"pri-the-world":{"id":"pri-the-world","title":"PRI's The World: Latest Edition","info":"Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.","airtime":"MON-FRI 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world","meta":{"site":"news","source":"PRI"},"link":"/radio/program/pri-the-world","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/","rss":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"}},"radiolab":{"id":"radiolab","title":"Radiolab","info":"A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.","airtime":"SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/radiolab","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/","rss":"https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"}},"reveal":{"id":"reveal","title":"Reveal","info":"Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.","airtime":"SAT 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/reveal","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/","rss":"http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"}},"says-you":{"id":"says-you","title":"Says You!","info":"Public radio's game show of bluff and bluster, words and whimsy. The warmest, wittiest cocktail party - it's spirited and civil, brainy and boisterous, peppered with musical interludes. Fast paced and playful, it's the most fun you can have with language without getting your mouth washed out with soap. Our motto: It's not important to know the answers, it's important to like the answers!","airtime":"SUN 4pm-5pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Says-You-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.saysyouradio.com/","meta":{"site":"comedy","source":"Pipit and Finch"},"link":"/radio/program/says-you","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/says-you!/id1050199826","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Says-You-p480/","rss":"https://saysyou.libsyn.com/rss"}},"science-friday":{"id":"science-friday","title":"Science Friday","info":"Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.","airtime":"FRI 11am-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/science-friday","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/","rss":"http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"}},"science-podcast":{"id":"science-podcast","title":"KQED Science News","tagline":"From the lab, to your ears","info":"KQED Science explores science and environment news, trends, and events from the Bay Area and beyond.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-News-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"kqed","order":"17"},"link":"/science/category/science-podcast","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqed-science-news/id214663465","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2Jsb2dzLmtxZWQub3JnL3NjaWVuY2UvZmVlZC8","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed-science-news","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/category/science-podcast/feed/podcast"}},"selected-shorts":{"id":"selected-shorts","title":"Selected Shorts","info":"Spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers take on a new life when they are performed by stars of the stage and screen.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Selected-Shorts-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.pri.org/programs/selected-shorts","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"pri"},"link":"/radio/program/selected-shorts","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=253191824&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Selected-Shorts-p31792/","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/selectedshorts"}},"snap-judgment":{"id":"snap-judgment","title":"Snap Judgment","info":"Snap Judgment (Storytelling, with a BEAT) mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. WNYC studios is the producer of leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, Note To Self, Here’s The Thing With Alec Baldwin, and more.","airtime":"SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/snapJudgement.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://snapjudgment.org","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/snap-judgment","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=283657561&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Snap-Judgment-p243817/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/snapjudgment-wnyc"}},"soldout":{"id":"soldout","title":"SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America","tagline":"A new future for housing","info":"Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/soldout","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":3},"link":"/podcasts/soldout","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america","tunein":"https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vc29sZG91dA"}},"ted-radio-hour":{"id":"ted-radio-hour","title":"TED Radio Hour","info":"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.","airtime":"SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/ted-radio-hour","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"}},"tech-nation":{"id":"tech-nation","title":"Tech Nation Radio Podcast","info":"Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.","airtime":"FRI 10pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://technation.podomatic.com/","meta":{"site":"science","source":"Tech Nation Media"},"link":"/radio/program/tech-nation","subscribe":{"rss":"https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"}},"thebay":{"id":"thebay","title":"The Bay","tagline":"Local news to keep you rooted","info":"Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"\"KQED The Bay","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/thebay","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"kqed","order":"6"},"link":"/podcasts/thebay","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM4MjU5Nzg2MzI3","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ","rss":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"}},"californiareport":{"id":"californiareport","title":"The California Report","tagline":"California, day by day","info":"KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The California Report","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareport","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"9"},"link":"/californiareport","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1MDAyODE4NTgz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"}},"californiareportmagazine":{"id":"californiareportmagazine","title":"The California Report Magazine","tagline":"Your state, your stories","info":"Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.","airtime":"FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"/californiareportmagazine","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"10"},"link":"/californiareportmagazine","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"}},"theleap":{"id":"theleap","title":"The Leap","tagline":"What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?","info":"Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Leap","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/theleap","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"14"},"link":"/podcasts/theleap","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM0NTcwODQ2MjY2","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"}},"masters-of-scale":{"id":"masters-of-scale","title":"Masters of Scale","info":"Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.","airtime":"Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://mastersofscale.com/","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"WaitWhat"},"link":"/radio/program/masters-of-scale","subscribe":{"apple":"http://mastersofscale.app.link/","rss":"https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"}},"the-moth-radio-hour":{"id":"the-moth-radio-hour","title":"The Moth Radio Hour","info":"Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.","airtime":"SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://themoth.org/","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"prx"},"link":"/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/","rss":"http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"}},"the-new-yorker-radio-hour":{"id":"the-new-yorker-radio-hour","title":"The New Yorker Radio Hour","info":"The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.","airtime":"SAT 10am-11am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"}},"the-takeaway":{"id":"the-takeaway","title":"The Takeaway","info":"The Takeaway is produced in partnership with its national audience. It delivers perspective and analysis to help us better understand the day’s news. Be a part of the American conversation on-air and online.","airtime":"MON-THU 12pm-1pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Takeaway-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/takeaway","meta":{"site":"news","source":"WNYC"},"link":"/radio/program/the-takeaway","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-takeaway/id363143310?mt=2","tuneIn":"http://tunein.com/radio/The-Takeaway-p150731/","rss":"https://feeds.feedburner.com/takeawaypodcast"}},"this-american-life":{"id":"this-american-life","title":"This American Life","info":"This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.","airtime":"SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"wbez"},"link":"/radio/program/this-american-life","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","rss":"https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"}},"truthbetold":{"id":"truthbetold","title":"Truth Be Told","tagline":"Advice by and for people of color","info":"We’re the friend you call after a long day, the one who gets it. Through wisdom from some of the greatest thinkers of our time, host Tonya Mosley explores what it means to grow and thrive as a Black person in America, while discovering new ways of being that serve as a portal to more love, more healing, and more joy.","airtime":"","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Truth-Be-Told-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Truth Be Told with Tonya Mosley","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.kqed.ord/podcasts/truthbetold","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr","order":"12"},"link":"/podcasts/truthbetold","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truth-be-told/id1462216572","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9jYXRlZ29yeS90cnV0aC1iZS10b2xkLXBvZGNhc3QvZmVlZA","npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/719210818/truth-be-told","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=398170&refid=stpr","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/587DhwTBxke6uvfwDfaV5N"}},"wait-wait-dont-tell-me":{"id":"wait-wait-dont-tell-me","title":"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!","info":"Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.","airtime":"SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"}},"washington-week":{"id":"washington-week","title":"Washington Week","info":"For 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.","airtime":"SAT 1:30am-2am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/washington-week.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"pbs"},"link":"/radio/program/washington-week","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/washington-week-audio-pbs/id83324702?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Current-Affairs/Washington-Week-p693/","rss":"http://feeds.pbs.org/pbs/weta/washingtonweek-audio"}},"weekend-edition-saturday":{"id":"weekend-edition-saturday","title":"Weekend Edition Saturday","info":"Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.","airtime":"SAT 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"},"weekend-edition-sunday":{"id":"weekend-edition-sunday","title":"Weekend Edition Sunday","info":"Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.","airtime":"SUN 5am-10am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"},"world-affairs":{"id":"world-affairs","title":"World Affairs","info":"The world as we knew it is undergoing a rapid transformation…so what's next? Welcome to WorldAffairs, your guide to a changing world. We give you the context you need to navigate across borders and ideologies. Through sound-rich stories and in-depth interviews, we break down what it means to be a global citizen on a hot, crowded planet. Our hosts, Ray Suarez, Teresa Cotsirilos and Philip Yun help you make sense of an uncertain world, one story at a time.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/World-Affairs-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg ","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.worldaffairs.org/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"World Affairs"},"link":"/radio/program/world-affairs","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/world-affairs/id101215657?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/WorldAffairs-p1665/","rss":"https://worldaffairs.libsyn.com/rss"}},"on-shifting-ground":{"id":"on-shifting-ground","title":"On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez","info":"Geopolitical turmoil. A warming planet. Authoritarians on the rise. We live in a chaotic world that’s rapidly shifting around us. “On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez” explores international fault lines and how they impact us all. Each week, NPR veteran Ray Suarez hosts conversations with journalists, leaders and policy experts to help us read between the headlines – and give us hope for human resilience.","airtime":"MON 10pm, TUE 1am, SAT 3am","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2022/12/onshiftingground-600x600-1.png","officialWebsiteLink":"https://worldaffairs.org/radio-podcast/","meta":{"site":"news","source":"On Shifting Ground"},"link":"/radio/program/on-shifting-ground","subscribe":{"apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/on-shifting-ground/id101215657","rss":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/36668/rss"}},"hidden-brain":{"id":"hidden-brain","title":"Hidden Brain","info":"Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain","airtime":"SUN 7pm-8pm","meta":{"site":"news","source":"NPR"},"link":"/radio/program/hidden-brain","subscribe":{"apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2","tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"}},"city-arts":{"id":"city-arts","title":"City Arts & Lectures","info":"A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available","imageSrc":"https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.cityarts.net/","airtime":"SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am","meta":{"site":"news","source":"City Arts & Lectures"},"link":"https://www.cityarts.net","subscribe":{"tuneIn":"https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/","rss":"https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"}},"white-lies":{"id":"white-lies","title":"White Lies","info":"In 1965, Rev. James Reeb was murdered in Selma, Alabama. Three men were tried and acquitted, but no one was ever held to account. Fifty years later, two journalists from Alabama return to the city where it happened, expose the lies that kept the murder from being solved and uncover a story about guilt and memory that says as much about America today as it does about the past.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/White-Lies-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510343/white-lies","meta":{"site":"news","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/white-lies","subscribe":{"npr":"https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/whitelies","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1462650519?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM0My9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/12yZ2j8vxqhc0QZyRES3ft?si=LfWYEK6URA63hueKVxRLAw","rss":"https://feeds.npr.org/510343/podcast.xml"}},"rightnowish":{"id":"rightnowish","title":"Rightnowish","tagline":"Art is where you find it","info":"Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/rightnowish","meta":{"site":"arts","source":"kqed","order":"5"},"link":"/podcasts/rightnowish","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast","apple":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"}},"jerrybrown":{"id":"jerrybrown","title":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","tagline":"Lessons from a lifetime in politics","info":"The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg","imageAlt":"KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown","officialWebsiteLink":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","meta":{"site":"news","source":"kqed","order":"16"},"link":"/podcasts/jerrybrown","subscribe":{"npr":"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","apple":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549","rss":"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/","tuneIn":"http://tun.in/pjGcK","stitcher":"https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown","spotify":"https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w","google":"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvbmV3cy9zZXJpZXMvamVycnlicm93bi9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv"}},"the-splendid-table":{"id":"the-splendid-table","title":"The Splendid Table","info":"\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.","imageSrc":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg","officialWebsiteLink":"https://www.splendidtable.org/","airtime":"SUN 10-11 pm","meta":{"site":"radio","source":"npr"},"link":"/radio/program/the-splendid-table"}},"racesReducer":{"5921":{"id":"5921","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":158422,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.97,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Doris Matsui","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":89456,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tom Silva","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":48920,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Mandel","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":20046,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:00:38.194Z"},"5922":{"id":"5922","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rudy Recile","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Garamendi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5924":{"id":"5924","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":185034,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.07,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark DeSaulnier","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":121265,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katherine Piccinini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34883,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nolan Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":19459,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Sweeney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":7606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mohamed Elsherbini","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1821,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-09T01:02:32.415Z"},"5926":{"id":"5926","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":153801,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lateefah Simon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":85905,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Tran","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22964,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Daysog","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17197,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Slauson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9699,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Glenn Kaplan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6785,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4243,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Abdur Sikder","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2847,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ned Nuerge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2532,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Andre Todd","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:22:36.062Z"},"5928":{"id":"5928","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":125831,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.14,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Eric Swalwell","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":83989,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Vin Kruttiventi","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":22106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alison Hayden","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11928,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luis Reynoso","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7808,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:51:36.366Z"},"5930":{"id":"5930","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":182135,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","timeUpdated":"3:04 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sam Liccardo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":38489,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Evan Low","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Simitian","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":30249,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Ohtaki","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23275,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Peter Dixon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14673,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rishi Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12377,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karl Ryan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11557,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Julie Lythcott-Haims","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11383,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ahmed Mostafa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5811,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Greg Tanaka","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joby Bernstein","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1651,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:32:05.002Z"},"5931":{"id":"5931","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":117534,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.92,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ro Khanna","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73941,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anita Chen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31539,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ritesh Tandon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":5728,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mario Ramirez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4491,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Joe Dehn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":1835,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T01:50:53.956Z"},"5932":{"id":"5932","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":96302,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.93,"eevp":98.83,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Zoe Lofgren","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":49323,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Peter Hernandez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":31622,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Charlene Nijmeh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":10614,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Lawrence Milan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2712,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Luele Kifle","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2031,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:26:02.706Z"},"5963":{"id":"5963","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":139085,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.62,"eevp":98.6,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Greer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38079,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Rogers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":27126,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rusty Hicks","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25615,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ariel Kelley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Frankie Myers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":17694,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ted Williams","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9550,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Click","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1538,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-22T21:38:36.711Z"},"5972":{"id":"5972","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":99775,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lori Wilson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":50085,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dave Ennis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":26074,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Wanda Wallis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14638,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeffrey Flack","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8978,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-08T02:01:24.524Z"},"5973":{"id":"5973","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":143532,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Damon Connolly","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":111275,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andy Podshadley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17240,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Eryn Cervantes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15017,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:25:32.262Z"},"5975":{"id":"5975","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 14","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":106997,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.06,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Buffy Wicks","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":78678,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Margot Smith","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18251,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Utkarsh Jain","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":10068,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:30:34.539Z"},"5976":{"id":"5976","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":97144,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.98,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sonia Ledo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":30946,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Anamarie Farias","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":29512,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Monica Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":24775,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Karen Mitchoff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11911,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T00:19:38.858Z"},"5977":{"id":"5977","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 16","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joseph Rubay","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rebecca Bauer-Kahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5978":{"id":"5978","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 17","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":111003,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Haney","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":90915,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Manuel Noris-Barrera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13843,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Otto Duke","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":6245,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:36:19.697Z"},"5979":{"id":"5979","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 18","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":86008,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.1,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:41 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mia Bonta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":73040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andre Sandford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":4575,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mindy Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4389,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Cheyenne Kenney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T08:03:23.729Z"},"5980":{"id":"5980","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":113959,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.8,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Catherine Stefani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":64960,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":33035,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nadia Flamenco","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":8335,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Arjun Sodhani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":7629,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-11T23:50:23.109Z"},"5981":{"id":"5981","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 20","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Ortega","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5982":{"id":"5982","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 21","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Gilham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Diane Papan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"5984":{"id":"5984","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 23","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":116963,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.91,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Marc Berman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":67106,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lydia Kou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":23699,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Gus Mattammal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":13277,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Allan Marson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12881,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:13:06.280Z"},"5987":{"id":"5987","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 26","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":72753,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Patrick Ahrens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25036,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tara Sreekrishnan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19600,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sophie Song","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15954,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Omar Din","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":8772,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bob Goodwyn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":2170,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ashish Garg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1221,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T21:06:29.070Z"},"5989":{"id":"5989","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 28","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Gail Pellerin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Liz Lawler","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6010":{"id":"6010","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 49","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:36 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Fong","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Long Liu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6018":{"id":"6018","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":229348,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.05,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:38 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jared Huffman","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":169005,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Chris Coulombe","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":37372,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tief Gibbs","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18437,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jolian Kangas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":3166,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Brisendine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":1368,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:46:10.103Z"},"6020":{"id":"6020","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":187640,"precinctsReportPercentage":96.32,"eevp":96.36,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":118147,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John Munn","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":56232,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Andrew Engdahl","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":11202,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Niket Patwardhan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":2059,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:30:57.980Z"},"6025":{"id":"6025","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":121271,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.17,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Harder","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":60396,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Lincoln","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":36346,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"John McBride","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":15525,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Khalid Jafri","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9004,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:49:44.113Z"},"6031":{"id":"6031","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Anna Kramer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Kevin Mullin","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6035":{"id":"6035","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":203670,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.11,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jimmy Panetta","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":132540,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jason Anderson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":58120,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Sean Dougherty","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Grn","voteCount":13010,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-07T00:23:46.779Z"},"6066":{"id":"6066","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jamie Gallagher","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Aaron Draper","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6067":{"id":"6067","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 4","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Cecilia Aguiar-Curry","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6087":{"id":"6087","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 24","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":66643,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.19,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alex Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45544,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Brunton","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14951,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marti Souza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6148,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T23:23:49.770Z"},"6088":{"id":"6088","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 25","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":69560,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.31,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ash Kalra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":35821,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Ted Stroll","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":18255,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Lan Ngo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":15484,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-14T02:40:57.200Z"},"6092":{"id":"6092","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State House, District 29","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Robert Rivas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"J.W. Paine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6223":{"id":"6223","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 46","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:16 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lou Correa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"David Pan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6530":{"id":"6530","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":222193,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Thom Bogue","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":61776,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christopher Cabaldon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":59041,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Rozzana Verder-Aliga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":45546,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jackie Elward","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41127,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jimih Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":14703,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-15T01:24:31.539Z"},"6531":{"id":"6531","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":171623,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:10 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jim Shoemaker","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":74935,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jerry McNerney","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":57040,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Carlos Villapudua","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":39648,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T20:07:46.382Z"},"6532":{"id":"6532","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":192446,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.72,"eevp":98.78,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:48 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jesse Arreguín","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61837,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Jovanka Beckles","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34025,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Dan Kalb","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28842,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Kathryn Lybarger","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":28041,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sandre Swanson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":22862,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jeanne Solnordal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16839,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-16T00:58:11.533Z"},"6533":{"id":"6533","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tim Grayson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marisol Rubio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6534":{"id":"6534","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":228260,"precinctsReportPercentage":99.09,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Scott Wiener","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":166592,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Yvette Corkrean","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34438,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Cynthia Cravens","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":18513,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jing Xiong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":8717,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T02:01:51.597Z"},"6535":{"id":"6535","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":227191,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.88,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Josh Becker","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":167127,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Alexander Glew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":42788,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Christina Laskowski","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":17276,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T01:56:24.964Z"},"6536":{"id":"6536","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":180231,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.81,"eevp":98.95,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:20 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dave Cortese","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":124440,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Robert Howell","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34173,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Tony Loaiza","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":21618,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-13T01:15:45.365Z"},"6548":{"id":"6548","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"State Senate, District 39","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":0,"uncontested":true,"precinctsReportPercentage":0,"eevp":0,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 20, 2024","timeUpdated":"4:55 PM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Akilah Weber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bob Divine","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":0,"isWinner":true}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:00:30.000Z"},"6611":{"id":"6611","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":188732,"precinctsReportPercentage":98.89,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 22, 2024","timeUpdated":"8:25 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Nancy Pelosi","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":138285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Bruce Lou","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":16285,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marjorie Mikels","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":9363,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Bianca Von Krieg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":7634,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Zeng","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":6607,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jason Boyce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":4325,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Larry Nichelson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3482,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eve Del Castello","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2751,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-12T00:31:55.445Z"},"8589":{"id":"8589","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7276537,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2299507,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2292414,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1115606,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":714408,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":240723,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Bradley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":98180,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":61755,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sharleta Bassett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":54422,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sarah Liew","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":38483,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Laura Garza ","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":34320,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Reiss","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":34283,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":34056,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gail Lightfoot","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"Lib","voteCount":33046,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Denice Gary-Pandol","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":25494,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"James Macauley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":23168,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Harmesh Kumar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21522,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Peterson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21076,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Douglas Pierce","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":19371,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Major Singh","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":16965,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"John Rose","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14577,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Perry Pound","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":14134,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Raji Rab","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":13558,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Mark Ruzon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":13429,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Forrest Jones","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"AIP","voteCount":13027,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stefan Simchowitz","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":12717,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Martin Veprauskas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":9714,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Don Grundmann","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"NPP","voteCount":6582,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T05:01:46.589Z"},"8686":{"id":"8686","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":3589127,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:48 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Biden","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":3200188,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Marianne Williamson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":145690,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Dean Phillips","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":99981,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Armando Perez-Serrato","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":42925,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Gabriel Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":41261,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"President Boddie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":25373,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Stephen Lyons","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":21008,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eban Cambridge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":12701,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:12:27.559Z"},"8688":{"id":"8688","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"President,","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":2466569,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Donald Trump","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":1953947,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Nikki Haley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":430792,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ron DeSantis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":35581,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Chris Christie","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":20164,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Vivek Ramaswamy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":11069,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Rachel Swift","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":4231,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"David Stuckenberg","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3895,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Ryan Binkley","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3563,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Asa Hutchinson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":3327,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:13:19.766Z"},"81993":{"id":"81993","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"U.S. Senate, Class I Unexpired Term","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top2","totalVotes":7358837,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Steve Garvey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":2444940,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Adam Schiff","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":2155146,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"Katie Porter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":1269194,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Barbara Lee","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":863278,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Eric Early","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"R","voteCount":448788,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Christina Pascucci","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":109421,"isWinner":false},{"candidateName":"Sepi Gilani","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"D","voteCount":68070,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-06T04:31:08.186Z"},"82014":{"id":"82014","type":"apRace","location":"State of California","raceName":"Proposition, 1 - Behavioral Health Services Program","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceType":"top1","totalVotes":7221972,"precinctsReportPercentage":99,"eevp":99,"tabulationStatus":"Tabulation Paused","dateUpdated":"March 25, 2024","timeUpdated":"5:47 AM","source":"AP","candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3624998,"isWinner":true},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":null,"voteCount":3596974,"isWinner":false}],"winnerDateTime":"2024-03-21T00:11:06.265Z"},"timeLoaded":"April 23, 2024 1:35 AM","nationalRacesLoaded":true,"localRacesLoaded":true,"overrides":[{"id":"5921","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5922","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 8","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5924","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 10","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5926","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/congress-12th-district"},{"id":"5928","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5930","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/congress-16th-district"},{"id":"5931","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5932","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5963","raceName":"State Assembly, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5972","raceName":"State Assembly, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5973","raceName":"State Assembly, District 12","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5975","raceName":"State Assembly, District 14","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5976","raceName":"State Assembly, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/state-assembly"},{"id":"5977","raceName":"State Assembly, District 16","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5978","raceName":"State Assembly, District 17","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5979","raceName":"State Assembly, District 18","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5980","raceName":"State Assembly, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5981","raceName":"State Assembly, District 20","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5982","raceName":"State Assembly, District 21","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"5984","raceName":"State Assembly, District 23","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-assembly-23rd-district"},{"id":"5987","raceName":"State Assembly, District 26","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/state-assembly-26th-district"},{"id":"5989","raceName":"State Assembly, District 28","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6010","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6018","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 2","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6020","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6025","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6031","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6035","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 19","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6067","raceName":"State Assembly, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6087","raceName":"State Assembly, District 24","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6088","raceName":"State Assembly, District 25","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6092","raceName":"State Assembly, District 29","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6223","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 4","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6530","raceName":"State Senate, District 3","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-3rd-district"},{"id":"6531","raceName":"State Senate, District 5","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6532","raceName":"State Senate, District 7","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/state-senate-7th-district"},{"id":"6533","raceName":"State Senate, District 9","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6534","raceName":"State Senate, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6535","raceName":"State Senate, District 13","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6536","raceName":"State Senate, District 15","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"6611","raceName":"U.S. House of Representatives, District 11","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":""},{"id":"8589","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Full Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/senator"},{"id":"8686","raceName":"California Democratic Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 496 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/president/democrat"},{"id":"8688","raceName":"California Republican Presidential Primary","raceDescription":"Candidates are competing for 169 delegates.","raceReadTheStory":"https://kqed.org/elections/results/president/republican"},{"id":"81993","raceName":"U.S. Senate (Partial/Unexpired Term)","raceDescription":"Top two candidates advance to general election."},{"id":"82014","raceName":"Proposition 1","raceDescription":"Bond and mental health reforms. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/california/proposition-1"}],"AlamedaJudge5":{"id":"AlamedaJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":200601,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Terry Wiley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":200601}]},"AlamedaJudge12":{"id":"AlamedaJudge12","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 12","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":240853,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mark Fickes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":133009},{"candidateName":"Michael P. Johnson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107844}]},"AlamedaBoard2":{"id":"AlamedaBoard2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 2","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33580,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Lewis","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6943},{"candidateName":"Angela Normand","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":26637}]},"AlamedaBoard5":{"id":"AlamedaBoard5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 5","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":26072,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Guadalupe \"Lupe\" Angulo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7521},{"candidateName":"Janevette Cole","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13338},{"candidateName":"Joe Orlando Ramos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5213}]},"AlamedaBoard6":{"id":"AlamedaBoard6","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Education, Trustee Area 6","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":30864,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"John Guerrero","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9989},{"candidateName":"Eileen McDonald","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20875}]},"AlamedaSup1":{"id":"AlamedaSup1","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":41038,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Haubert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":41038}]},"AlamedaSup2":{"id":"AlamedaSup2","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":31034,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Elisa Márquez","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":31034}]},"AlamedaSup4":{"id":"AlamedaSup4","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":57007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jennifer Esteen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22400},{"candidateName":"Nate Miley","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34607}]},"AlamedaSup5":{"id":"AlamedaSup5","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":81059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Ben Bartlett","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13518},{"candidateName":"Nikki Fortunato Bas","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":27597},{"candidateName":"John J. Bauters","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":16783},{"candidateName":"Ken Berrick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7520},{"candidateName":"Omar Farmer","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1240},{"candidateName":"Gregory Hodge","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3419},{"candidateName":"Chris Moore","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7428},{"candidateName":"Gerald Pechenuk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":305},{"candidateName":"Lorrel Plimier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3249}]},"AlamedaBoard7":{"id":"AlamedaBoard7","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Flood Control & Water Conservation District Director, Zone 7, Full Term","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":134340,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Alan Burnham","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15723},{"candidateName":"Sandy Figuers","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22454},{"candidateName":"Laurene K. Green","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":30343},{"candidateName":"Kathy Narum","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23833},{"candidateName":"Seema Badar","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7468},{"candidateName":"Catherine Brown","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":34519}]},"AlamedaAuditor":{"id":"AlamedaAuditor","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Oakland Auditor","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":59227,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Houston","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59227}]},"AlamedaMeasureA":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Civil service. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282335,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":167903},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":114432}]},"AlamedaMeasureB":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Alameda County. Recall rules. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/alameda/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":282683,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182200},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":100483}]},"AlamedaMeasureD":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Oakland. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":79797,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":59852},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19945}]},"AlamedaMeasureE":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Alameda Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":22692,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17280},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5412}]},"AlamedaMeasureF":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"Piedmont. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":4855,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3673},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1182}]},"AlamedaMeasureG":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Albany Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":5898,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4651},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1247}]},"AlamedaMeasureH":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Berkeley Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":33331,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":29418},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913}]},"AlamedaMeasureI":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Hayward Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":21929,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14151},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7778}]},"AlamedaMeasureJ":{"id":"AlamedaMeasureJ","type":"localRace","location":"Alameda","raceName":"Measure J","raceDescription":"San Leandro Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:02 PM","dateUpdated":"April 1, 2024","totalVotes":12338,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7784},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4554}]},"CCD2":{"id":"CCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":45776,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Candace Andersen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":45776}]},"CCD3":{"id":"CCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":25120,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Diane Burgis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":25120}]},"CCD5":{"id":"CCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":37045,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Barbanica","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14338},{"candidateName":"Jelani Killings","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5683},{"candidateName":"Shanelle Scales-Preston","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12993},{"candidateName":"Iztaccuauhtli Hector Gonzalez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4031}]},"CCMeasureA":{"id":"CCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Martinez. Appoint City Clerk. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":11513,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7554},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3959}]},"CCMeasureB":{"id":"CCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Antioch Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17971,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10397},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7574}]},"CCMeasureC":{"id":"CCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Martinez Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":9230,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6917},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2313}]},"CCMeasureD":{"id":"CCMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Contra Costa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Moraga School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:45 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":6007,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4052},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1955}]},"MarinD2":{"id":"MarinD2","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":18466,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Brian Colbert","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7971},{"candidateName":"Heather McPhail Sridharan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4851},{"candidateName":"Ryan O'Neil","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2647},{"candidateName":"Gabe Paulson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2997}]},"MarinD3":{"id":"MarinD3","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":13274,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Moulton-Peters","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13274}]},"MarinD4":{"id":"MarinD4","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":12986,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Dennis Rodoni","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10086},{"candidateName":"Francis Drouillard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2900}]},"MarinLarkspurCC":{"id":"MarinLarkspurCC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Larkspur City Council (Short Term)","raceDescription":"Top candidate wins seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4176,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Stephanie Andre","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2514},{"candidateName":"Claire Paquette","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1008},{"candidateName":"Lana Scott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":654}]},"MarinRossCouncil":{"id":"MarinRossCouncil","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Ross Town Council","raceDescription":"Top three candidates win seat.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top3","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1740,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Charles William \"Bill\" Kircher, Jr.","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":536},{"candidateName":"Mathew Salter","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":502},{"candidateName":"Shadi Aboukhater","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":187},{"candidateName":"Teri Dowling","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":515}]},"MarinMeasureA":{"id":"MarinMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Tamalpais Union High School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":45345,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24376},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20969}]},"MarinMeasureB":{"id":"MarinMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":132,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":62},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":70}]},"MarinMeasureC":{"id":"MarinMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Belvedere. Appropriation limit. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":870,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":679},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureD":{"id":"MarinMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Larkspur. Rent stabilization. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-d","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":4955,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2573},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2382}]},"MarinMeasureE":{"id":"MarinMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Ross. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/marin/measure-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":874,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":683},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":191}]},"MarinMeasureF":{"id":"MarinMeasureF","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure F","raceDescription":"San Anselmo. Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":5193,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3083},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2110}]},"MarinMeasureG":{"id":"MarinMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Bel Marin Keys Community Services District. Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":830,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":661},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":169}]},"MarinMeasureH":{"id":"MarinMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, fire protection. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1738,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1369},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":369}]},"MarinMeasureI":{"id":"MarinMeasureI","type":"localRace","location":"Marin","raceName":"Measure I","raceDescription":"Marinwood Community Services District. Appropriations limit, parks. Passes with a majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:54 PM","dateUpdated":"March 27, 2024","totalVotes":1735,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1336},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":399}]},"NapaD2":{"id":"NapaD2","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":8351,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Liz Alessio","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6340},{"candidateName":"Doris Gentry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2011}]},"NapaD4":{"id":"NapaD4","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":7306,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Amber Manfree","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3913},{"candidateName":"Pete Mott","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3393}]},"NapaD5":{"id":"NapaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/napa/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":5356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mariam Aboudamous","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2379},{"candidateName":"Belia Ramos","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2977}]},"NapaMeasureD":{"id":"NapaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Howell Mountain Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":741,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":367},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":374}]},"NapaMeasureU":{"id":"NapaMeasureU","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":86,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":63},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23}]},"NapaMeasureU1":{"id":"NapaMeasureU1","type":"localRace","location":"Napa","raceName":"Measure U","raceDescription":"Yountville. Appropriations limit. Passes with majority vote. ","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"April 3, 2024","totalVotes":925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":793},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":132}]},"SFJudge1":{"id":"SFJudge1","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-1","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202960,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Begert","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":124943},{"candidateName":"Chip Zecher","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":78017}]},"SFJudge13":{"id":"SFJudge13","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Seat 13","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/superior-court-seat-13","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":202386,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jean Myungjin Roland","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":90012},{"candidateName":"Patrick S. Thompson","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":112374}]},"SFPropA":{"id":"SFPropA","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition A","raceDescription":"Housing bond. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":225187,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":158497},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":66690}]},"SFPropB":{"id":"SFPropB","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition B","raceDescription":"Police staffing. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222954,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":61580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":161374}]},"SFPropC":{"id":"SFPropC","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition C","raceDescription":"Transfer tax exemption. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":220349,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":116311},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":104038}]},"SFPropD":{"id":"SFPropD","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition D","raceDescription":"Ethics laws. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222615,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":198584},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":24031}]},"SFPropE":{"id":"SFPropE","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition E","raceDescription":"Police policies. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-e","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222817,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":120529},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":102288}]},"SFPropF":{"id":"SFPropF","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition F","raceDescription":"Drug screening. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanfrancisco/proposition-f","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":224004,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":130214},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":93790}]},"SFPropG":{"id":"SFPropG","type":"localRace","location":"San Francisco","raceName":"Proposition G","raceDescription":"Eighth-grade algebra. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:50 PM","dateUpdated":"March 21, 2024","totalVotes":222704,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":182066},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":40638}]},"SMJudge4":{"id":"SMJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":108919,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Sarah Burdick","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":108919}]},"SMD1":{"id":"SMD1","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":29650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jackie Speier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":20353},{"candidateName":"Ann Schneider","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9297}]},"SMD4":{"id":"SMD4","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sanmateo/supervisor-4th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22725,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Antonio Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5730},{"candidateName":"Lisa Gauthier","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10358},{"candidateName":"Celeste Brevard","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1268},{"candidateName":"Paul Bocanegra","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1909},{"candidateName":"Maggie Cornejo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3460}]},"SMD5":{"id":"SMD5","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":19937,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Canepa","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":19937}]},"SMMeasureB":{"id":"SMMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"County Service Area #1 (Highlands). Special tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1360},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":189}]},"SMMeasureC":{"id":"SMMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Jefferson Elementary School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":12234,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8543},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3691}]},"SMMeasureE":{"id":"SMMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Woodside Elementary School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":1392,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":910},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":482}]},"SMMeasureG":{"id":"SMMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Pacifica School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":11548,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7067},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4481}]},"SMMeasureH":{"id":"SMMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"San Mateo","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"San Carlos School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:56 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":9938,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6283},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3655}]},"SCJudge5":{"id":"SCJudge5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":301953,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Jay Boyarsky","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":142549},{"candidateName":"Nicole M. Ford","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":52147},{"candidateName":"Johnene Linda Stebbins","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":107257}]},"SCD2":{"id":"SCD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-2nd-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":44059,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Corina Herrera-Loera","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10519},{"candidateName":"Jennifer Margaret Celaya","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2394},{"candidateName":"Madison Nguyen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":12794},{"candidateName":"Betty Duong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14031},{"candidateName":"Nelson McElmurry","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4321}]},"SCD3":{"id":"SCD3","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":42549,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Otto Lee","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42549}]},"SCD5":{"id":"SCD5","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara/supervisor-5th-district","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":88712,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Margaret Abe-Koga","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":37172},{"candidateName":"Sally J. Lieber","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":21962},{"candidateName":"Barry Chang","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6164},{"candidateName":"Peter C. Fung","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":17892},{"candidateName":"Sandy Sans","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5522}]},"SCSJMayor":{"id":"SCSJMayor","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José Mayor","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":167064,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Matt Mahan","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":144701},{"candidateName":"Tyrone Wade","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":22363}]},"SCSJD2":{"id":"SCSJD2","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14131,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Joe Lopez","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4950},{"candidateName":"Pamela Campos","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436},{"candidateName":"Vanessa Sandoval","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2719},{"candidateName":"Babu Prasad","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3026}]},"SCSJD4":{"id":"SCSJD4","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14322,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kansen Chu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5931},{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8391}]},"SCSJD6":{"id":"SCSJD6","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":25108,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"David Cohen","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9875},{"candidateName":"Alex Shoor","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3850},{"candidateName":"Angelo \"A.J.\" Pasciuti","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2688},{"candidateName":"Michael Mulcahy","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8695}]},"SCSJD8":{"id":"SCSJD8","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 8","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":21462,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Tam Truong","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6982},{"candidateName":"Domingo Candelas","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8466},{"candidateName":"Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5513},{"candidateName":"Surinder Kaur Dhaliwal","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":501}]},"SCSJD10":{"id":"SCSJD10","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"San José City Council, District 10","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top2","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":22799,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"George Casey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8805},{"candidateName":"Arjun Batra","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8354},{"candidateName":"Lenka Wright","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5640}]},"SCMeasureA":{"id":"SCMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed city clerk. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20315,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6580},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":13735}]},"SCMeasureB":{"id":"SCMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Santa Clara. Appointed police chief. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":20567,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5680},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":14887}]},"SCMeasureC":{"id":"SCMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Santa Clara","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Sunnyvale School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:05 PM","dateUpdated":"April 4, 2024","totalVotes":14656,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10261},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4395}]},"SolanoD15":{"id":"SolanoD15","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Department 15","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":81709,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mike Thompson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":36844},{"candidateName":"Bryan J. Kim","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":44865}]},"SolanoD1":{"id":"SolanoD1","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/supervisor-1st-district","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":13786,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Michael Wilson","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6401},{"candidateName":"Cassandra James","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7385}]},"SolanoD2":{"id":"SolanoD2","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 2","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":19903,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Monica Brown","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10951},{"candidateName":"Nora Dizon","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3135},{"candidateName":"Rochelle Sherlock","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5817}]},"SolanoD5":{"id":"SolanoD5","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":17888,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Mitch Mashburn","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11210},{"candidateName":"Chadwick J. Ledoux","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6678}]},"SolanoEducation":{"id":"SolanoEducation","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Sacramento County Board of Education","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":3650,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Heather Davis","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2960},{"candidateName":"Shazleen Khan","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":690}]},"SolanoMeasureA":{"id":"SolanoMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Benicia. Hotel tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-a","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10136,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7869},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2267}]},"SolanoMeasureB":{"id":"SolanoMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Benicia. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/solano/measure-b","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10164,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7335},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":2829}]},"SolanoMeasureC":{"id":"SolanoMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Benicia Unified School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":10112,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6316},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3796}]},"SolanoMeasureN":{"id":"SolanoMeasureN","type":"localRace","location":"Solano","raceName":"Measure N","raceDescription":"Davis Joint Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"7:08 PM","dateUpdated":"March 28, 2024","totalVotes":15,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10}]},"SonomaJudge3":{"id":"SonomaJudge3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":115405,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Kristine M. Burk","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":79498},{"candidateName":"Beki Berrey","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":35907}]},"SonomaJudge4":{"id":"SonomaJudge4","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 4","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":86789,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Paul J. Lozada","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":86789}]},"SonomaJudge6":{"id":"SonomaJudge6","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Superior Court Judge, Office 6","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":117990,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Omar Figueroa","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":42236},{"candidateName":"Kenneth English","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":75754}]},"SonomaD1":{"id":"SonomaD1","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 1","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":30348,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Rebecca Hermosillo","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23958},{"candidateName":"Jonathan Mathieu","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":6390}]},"SonomaD3":{"id":"SonomaD3","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 3","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/supervisor-3rd-district","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":16312,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Chris Coursey","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":11346},{"candidateName":"Omar Medina","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":4966}]},"SonomaD5":{"id":"SonomaD5","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Board of Supervisors, District 5","raceDescription":"Candidate with majority vote wins seat. If no candidate reaches majority, top two candidates advance to runoff in general election.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"top1","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":23356,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Lynda Hopkins","candidateIncumbent":true,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":23356}]},"SonomaMeasureA":{"id":"SonomaMeasureA","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure A","raceDescription":"Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":13756,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":10320},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3436}]},"SonomaMeasureB":{"id":"SonomaMeasureB","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure B","raceDescription":"Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":24877,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":15795},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":9082}]},"SonomaMeasureC":{"id":"SonomaMeasureC","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure C","raceDescription":"Fort Ross School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":286,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":159},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":127}]},"SonomaMeasureD":{"id":"SonomaMeasureD","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure D","raceDescription":"Harmony Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":1925,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":1089},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":836}]},"SonomaMeasureE":{"id":"SonomaMeasureE","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure E","raceDescription":"Petaluma City (Elementary) School District. Parcel tax. Passes with 2/3 vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":11133,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":7622},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":3511}]},"SonomaMeasureG":{"id":"SonomaMeasureG","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure G","raceDescription":"Rincon Valley Union School District. School bond. Passes with 55% vote.","raceReadTheStory":"","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":14577,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":8668},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":5909}]},"SonomaMeasureH":{"id":"SonomaMeasureH","type":"localRace","location":"Sonoma","raceName":"Measure H","raceDescription":"Sonoma County. Sales tax. Passes with majority vote.","raceReadTheStory":"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/sonoma/measure-h","raceType":"yesNo","timeUpdated":"6:51 PM","dateUpdated":"March 29, 2024","totalVotes":145261,"candidates":[{"candidateName":"Yes","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":89646},{"candidateName":"No","candidateIncumbent":false,"candidateParty":"","voteCount":55615}]}},"radioSchedulesReducer":{},"listsReducer":{"posts/bayareabites?tag=pesticides":{"isFetching":false,"latestQuery":{"from":0,"postsToRender":9},"tag":null,"vitalsOnly":true,"totalRequested":9,"isLoading":false,"isLoadingMore":true,"total":16,"items":["bayareabites_127465","bayareabites_124597","bayareabites_116883","bayareabites_111828","bayareabites_107373","bayareabites_101391","bayareabites_99774","bayareabites_92041","bayareabites_86366"]}},"recallGuideReducer":{"intros":{},"policy":{},"candidates":{}},"savedPostsReducer":{},"pfsSessionReducer":{},"siteSettingsReducer":{},"subscriptionsReducer":{},"termsReducer":{"about":{"name":"About","type":"terms","id":"about","slug":"about","link":"/about","taxonomy":"site"},"arts":{"name":"Arts & Culture","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"description":"KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.","type":"terms","id":"arts","slug":"arts","link":"/arts","taxonomy":"site"},"artschool":{"name":"Art School","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"artschool","slug":"artschool","link":"/artschool","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareabites":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"bayareabites","slug":"bayareabites","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareahiphop":{"name":"Bay Area Hiphop","type":"terms","id":"bayareahiphop","slug":"bayareahiphop","link":"/bayareahiphop","taxonomy":"site"},"campaign21":{"name":"Campaign 21","type":"terms","id":"campaign21","slug":"campaign21","link":"/campaign21","taxonomy":"site"},"checkplease":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"checkplease","slug":"checkplease","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"education":{"name":"Education","grouping":["education"],"type":"terms","id":"education","slug":"education","link":"/education","taxonomy":"site"},"elections":{"name":"Elections","type":"terms","id":"elections","slug":"elections","link":"/elections","taxonomy":"site"},"events":{"name":"Events","type":"terms","id":"events","slug":"events","link":"/events","taxonomy":"site"},"event":{"name":"Event","alias":"events","type":"terms","id":"event","slug":"event","link":"/event","taxonomy":"site"},"filmschoolshorts":{"name":"Film School Shorts","type":"terms","id":"filmschoolshorts","slug":"filmschoolshorts","link":"/filmschoolshorts","taxonomy":"site"},"food":{"name":"KQED food","grouping":["food","bayareabites","checkplease"],"type":"terms","id":"food","slug":"food","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"forum":{"name":"Forum","relatedContentQuery":"posts/forum?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"forum","slug":"forum","link":"/forum","taxonomy":"site"},"futureofyou":{"name":"Future of You","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"futureofyou","slug":"futureofyou","link":"/futureofyou","taxonomy":"site"},"jpepinheart":{"name":"KQED food","relatedContentQuery":"trending/food,bayareabites,checkplease","parent":"food","type":"terms","id":"jpepinheart","slug":"jpepinheart","link":"/food","taxonomy":"site"},"liveblog":{"name":"Live Blog","type":"terms","id":"liveblog","slug":"liveblog","link":"/liveblog","taxonomy":"site"},"livetv":{"name":"Live TV","parent":"tv","type":"terms","id":"livetv","slug":"livetv","link":"/livetv","taxonomy":"site"},"lowdown":{"name":"The Lowdown","relatedContentQuery":"posts/lowdown?","parent":"news","type":"terms","id":"lowdown","slug":"lowdown","link":"/lowdown","taxonomy":"site"},"mindshift":{"name":"Mindshift","parent":"news","description":"MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.","type":"terms","id":"mindshift","slug":"mindshift","link":"/mindshift","taxonomy":"site"},"news":{"name":"News","grouping":["news","forum"],"type":"terms","id":"news","slug":"news","link":"/news","taxonomy":"site"},"perspectives":{"name":"Perspectives","parent":"radio","type":"terms","id":"perspectives","slug":"perspectives","link":"/perspectives","taxonomy":"site"},"podcasts":{"name":"Podcasts","type":"terms","id":"podcasts","slug":"podcasts","link":"/podcasts","taxonomy":"site"},"pop":{"name":"Pop","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"pop","slug":"pop","link":"/pop","taxonomy":"site"},"pressroom":{"name":"Pressroom","type":"terms","id":"pressroom","slug":"pressroom","link":"/pressroom","taxonomy":"site"},"quest":{"name":"Quest","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"quest","slug":"quest","link":"/quest","taxonomy":"site"},"radio":{"name":"Radio","grouping":["forum","perspectives"],"description":"Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.","type":"terms","id":"radio","slug":"radio","link":"/radio","taxonomy":"site"},"root":{"name":"KQED","image":"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":630,"headData":{"title":"KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California","description":"KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."},"type":"terms","id":"root","slug":"root","link":"/root","taxonomy":"site"},"science":{"name":"Science","grouping":["science","futureofyou"],"description":"KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.","type":"terms","id":"science","slug":"science","link":"/science","taxonomy":"site"},"stateofhealth":{"name":"State of Health","parent":"science","type":"terms","id":"stateofhealth","slug":"stateofhealth","link":"/stateofhealth","taxonomy":"site"},"support":{"name":"Support","type":"terms","id":"support","slug":"support","link":"/support","taxonomy":"site"},"thedolist":{"name":"The Do List","parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"thedolist","slug":"thedolist","link":"/thedolist","taxonomy":"site"},"trulyca":{"name":"Truly CA","grouping":["arts","pop","trulyca"],"parent":"arts","type":"terms","id":"trulyca","slug":"trulyca","link":"/trulyca","taxonomy":"site"},"tv":{"name":"TV","type":"terms","id":"tv","slug":"tv","link":"/tv","taxonomy":"site"},"voterguide":{"name":"Voter Guide","parent":"elections","alias":"elections","type":"terms","id":"voterguide","slug":"voterguide","link":"/voterguide","taxonomy":"site"},"bayareabites_11445":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_11445","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"11445","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"pesticides","slug":"pesticides","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"pesticides Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null,"imageData":{"ogImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png","width":1200,"height":630},"twImageSize":{"file":"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"},"twitterCard":"summary_large_image"}},"ttid":5905,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/pesticides"},"source_bayareabites_127465":{"type":"terms","id":"source_bayareabites_127465","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Sustainability, Environment, Climate Change","link":"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/sustainability","isLoading":false},"source_bayareabites_107373":{"type":"terms","id":"source_bayareabites_107373","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Politics, Activism & Food Safety","link":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/politics-activism-food-safety/","isLoading":false},"source_bayareabites_101391":{"type":"terms","id":"source_bayareabites_101391","meta":{"override":true},"name":"Health and Politics","link":"https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/category/politics-activism-food-safety/","isLoading":false},"bayareabites_11028":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_11028","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"11028","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"food art","slug":"food-art","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"food art Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":7736,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/food-art"},"bayareabites_10028":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_10028","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"10028","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"food news","slug":"food-news","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"food news Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8301,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/food-news"},"bayareabites_4084":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_4084","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"4084","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"food trends and technology","slug":"food-and-technology","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"food trends and technology Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":2573,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/food-and-technology"},"bayareabites_2554":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_2554","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"2554","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"gardening and urban farming","slug":"gardening-and-urban-farming","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"gardening and urban farming Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":1016,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/gardening-and-urban-farming"},"bayareabites_2035":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_2035","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"2035","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"politics, activism, food safety","slug":"politics-activism-food-safety","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"politics, activism, food safety Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":943,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/politics-activism-food-safety"},"bayareabites_358":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_358","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"358","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"science","slug":"science","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"science Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":7943,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/science"},"bayareabites_60":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_60","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"60","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"sustainability, environment, climate change","slug":"sustainability","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"sustainability, environment, climate change Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":23,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/sustainability"},"bayareabites_875":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_875","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"875","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"bees","slug":"bees","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"bees Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":852,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/bees"},"bayareabites_14400":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_14400","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"14400","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"insecticides","slug":"insecticides","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"insecticides Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":98776,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/insecticides"},"bayareabites_16134":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_16134","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"16134","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"neonicotinoid","slug":"neonicotinoid","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"neonicotinoid Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":100464,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/neonicotinoid"},"bayareabites_1874":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_1874","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"1874","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"farmers and farms","slug":"farmers-farmers-markets","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"farmers and farms Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":1452,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/farmers-farmers-markets"},"bayareabites_877":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_877","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"877","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"honeybees","slug":"honeybees","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"honeybees Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":854,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/honeybees"},"bayareabites_1245":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_1245","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"1245","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"health and nutrition","slug":"health-and-nutrition","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"health and nutrition Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":1078,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/health-and-nutrition"},"bayareabites_15827":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_15827","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"15827","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"chlorpyrifos","slug":"chlorpyrifos","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"chlorpyrifos Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":100157,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/chlorpyrifos"},"bayareabites_11952":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_11952","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"11952","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"EPA","slug":"epa","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"EPA Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":6414,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/epa"},"bayareabites_15714":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_15714","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"15714","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"neurotoxin","slug":"neurotoxin","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"neurotoxin Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":100044,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/neurotoxin"},"bayareabites_10787":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_10787","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"10787","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"GMOs","slug":"gmos","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"GMOs Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5241,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/gmos"},"bayareabites_15583":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_15583","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"15583","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"herbicides","slug":"herbicides","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"herbicides Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":99913,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/herbicides"},"bayareabites_11446":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_11446","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"11446","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"neonicotinoids","slug":"neonicotinoids","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"neonicotinoids Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5906,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/neonicotinoids"},"bayareabites_8913":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_8913","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"8913","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"usda","slug":"usda","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"usda Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":3366,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/usda"},"bayareabites_10916":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_10916","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"10916","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"NPR food","slug":"npr-food","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"NPR food Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5375,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/npr-food"},"bayareabites_3644":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_3644","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"3644","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"farmworkers","slug":"farmworkers","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"farmworkers Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":2408,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/farmworkers"},"bayareabites_13718":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_13718","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"13718","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Civil Eats","slug":"civil-eats","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Civil Eats Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8190,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/civil-eats"},"bayareabites_12555":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_12555","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"12555","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"marketing, advertising & labeling","slug":"marketing-and-advertising","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"marketing, advertising & labeling Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":7018,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/marketing-and-advertising"},"bayareabites_14730":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_14730","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"14730","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"DARK act","slug":"dark-act","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"DARK act Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":99106,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/dark-act"},"bayareabites_10802":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_10802","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"10802","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"Food Labeling","slug":"food-labeling","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"Food Labeling Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5256,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/food-labeling"},"bayareabites_10774":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_10774","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"10774","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"labeling","slug":"labeling","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"labeling Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":5228,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/labeling"},"bayareabites_14731":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_14731","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"14731","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"meat labeling","slug":"meat-labeling","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"meat labeling Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":99107,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/meat-labeling"},"bayareabites_14065":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_14065","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"14065","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"foodscience","slug":"foodscience","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"foodscience Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8540,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/foodscience"},"bayareabites_1012":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_1012","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"1012","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"strawberries","slug":"strawberries","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"strawberries Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":923,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/strawberries"},"bayareabites_95":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_95","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"95","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"farmers markets","slug":"farmers-markets","taxonomy":"category","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"farmers markets Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":59,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/category/farmers-markets"},"bayareabites_13717":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_13717","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"13717","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"neem oil","slug":"neem-oil","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"neem oil Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8189,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/neem-oil"},"bayareabites_65":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_65","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"65","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"organic","slug":"organic","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"organic Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":29,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/organic"},"bayareabites_13715":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_13715","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"13715","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"pesticide free","slug":"pesticide-free","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"pesticide free Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8187,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/pesticide-free"},"bayareabites_13716":{"type":"terms","id":"bayareabites_13716","meta":{"index":"terms_1591234321","site":"bayareabites","id":"13716","found":true},"relationships":{},"included":{},"name":"pyrethrum","slug":"pyrethrum","taxonomy":"tag","description":null,"featImg":null,"headData":{"title":"pyrethrum Archives | KQED Bay Area Bites","description":null,"ogTitle":null,"ogDescription":null,"ogImgId":null,"twTitle":null,"twDescription":null,"twImgId":null},"ttid":8188,"isLoading":false,"link":"/bayareabites/tag/pyrethrum"}},"userAgentReducer":{"userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)","isBot":true},"userPermissionsReducer":{"wpLoggedIn":false},"localStorageReducer":{},"browserHistoryReducer":[],"eventsReducer":{},"fssReducer":{},"tvDailyScheduleReducer":{},"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer":{},"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer":{},"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer":{},"userAccountReducer":{"routeTo":"","showDeleteConfirmModal":false,"user":{"userId":"","isFound":false,"firstName":"","lastName":"","phoneNumber":"","email":"","articles":[]}},"youthMediaReducer":{},"checkPleaseReducer":{"filterData":{},"restaurantData":[]},"reframeReducer":{"attendee":null},"location":{"pathname":"/bayareabites/tag/pesticides","previousPathname":"/"}}
