Articles by Grist staff

Drain, Oh!

The delicate balance of the Pantanal wetlands in southwestern Brazil may be forever altered by a massive project to straighten and dredge the area’s rivers. Powerful commercial interests in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina want to proceed with the Hidrovia project to improve barge navigation through the Paraguay River and other waterways in the region. […]

Not-so-green Acres

The U.S. government is running short on funds to promote conservation on privately owned farmlands. Last year, the U.S. Agriculture Department had to turn away almost 80 percent of applicants to one program — more than 59,000 farmers — because money to pay them was not available. The program helps farmers convert to environmentally friendly […]

Soon — Put a Tigerlily in Your Tank

Soybeans and corn may become hot new fuel sources if high fuel prices and low crop prices continue. Bio-fuels, such as corn-based ethanol and soybean oil, burn more cleanly than gasoline and could help stabilize the faltering U.S. farm economy. Ethanol has been in production as a fuel additive since the 1970s, but President Bush […]

States Get the Drift

The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand federal rules intended to reduce the amount of smog drifting across state borders from smokestacks in the Midwest and South to the Northeast. In 1998, the U.S. EPA required 22 states and the District of Columbia to submit plans to cut nitrogen oxide pollution, placing a heavier burden […]