A 70-year-old mathematician and professor is trying to connect the rural farmland of upstate New York to the South Bronx in an effort to bring healthy food to the poorest Congressional district east of the Mississippi. By creating a community-supported agriculture plan that allows members to have a say in what is grown and with the help of non-profit groups, Dennis Derryck has already sold 228 shares of the farm. Residents can pay $3.75 to $20 a week depending on income, subsidies and share size. Learn more

Two USDA employees died yesterday when the airplane they were in crashed in a Lock Haven, Pa., neighborhood. Dan Snider and Rodney Whiteman, who worked for Forest Service, were conducting aerial pest detection surveys on federal land when the single-prop Cessna went down and burst into flames. Snider, Whiteman and the pilot were killed. (WNEP-TV) Read more.

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer erred in prohibiting the planting of Monsanto’s genetically modified alfalfa seed until an environmental review is conducted. In a 7-to-1 vote, the justices reversed the decision stating that the district court had abused its discretion in barring the USDA from carrying out a partial deregulation and in prohibiting the planning of the seeds, pending the study. (San Francisco Chronicle) Read more. (Other news: The New York Times, Associated Press).

Less corn is required in order to produce ethanol, according to a report by the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Ethanol yields have increased 10 percent for the past 20 years, requiring less corn for production. Corn yields also have increased by 39 percent over the past 20 years, requiring less land to produce the biofuel. Based on the report, ethanol has made the transition from an energy sink to a substantial net energy gain. View the report.

The Obama administration is enforcing laws and issuing fines to farmers who employ children and underpay workers. Hundreds of investigators were hired and fines increased for labor and wage violators, specifically blueberry farmers, who typically hire migrant workers and children. A 1938 law still allows 12-year-olds to work on farms during the summer with no limits; however, Congress is considering whether to change that law. Meanwhile, fines for violators have increased from $1,000 to $11,000 per child. The move to crack down on farmers who violate the law has caused many farms to ban children from the fields altogether. (The New York Times). Read more.

Tomatoes have made a comeback after a January freeze slowed crop growth and delayed harvest. Massive amounts of tomatoes have been harvested since mid-May, causing tomato prices to plummet 78 percent since March. “Growers tend to stagger plantings based on their market projections. When you have a disaster that puts everybody on the same wavelength, they all come in at once and spoil that market timing,” said Gene McAvoy, director of Hendry County extension office for the University of Florida. USDA is buying $6 million of fresh tomatoes for federal food-nutrition assistance programs to aid Florida growers. Learn more.

USDA is seeking comments on a proposed rule that will provide additional protections for livestock and poultry producers against unfair, fraudulent and retaliatory practices. The proposed rule, which will publish on June 22 in the Federal Register, addresses market fairness and competition for producers as well as limiting exclusive arrangements between packers and dealers. Other protections include improving market transparency and enabling a fair and equitable process for producers that choose arbitration to remedy a dispute. Read more.