New Special Publication. This new publication compiles national, state, and territory winning entries from an essay contest for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The contest was conducted by CAST, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s™ Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and other sponsors.

PART 1 OF A 9-PART SERIES, “ANIMAL AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY.”Written by a task force of nine scientists, this issue paper summarizes existing and emerging technologies and assesses their current and potential impacts. The authors suggest that research on biotechnology in animal production is leading to breakthroughs on many fronts.

This extensive report compiles the most current, complete information available on mycotoxins in order to provide an understanding of their associated risks and impacts on plant, animal, and human systems.

This issue paper takes a critical look at the environmental impacts of grazing systems and provides guidance on land management tools. Key issues of concern include alteration of wildlife habitat and degradation of soil and water quality.

This issue paper outlines the technologies and approaches that poultry and livestock producers can use to decrease the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the environment. This study focuses on two nutrients and addresses two environmental concerns: volatilization and manure nutrient distribution.

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature supports the conclusion that overall the currently commercialized biotechnology-derived soybean, corn, and cotton crops yield environmental benefits.

The changing role of agriculture in urban settings is considered in this comprehensive report written by a twelve-member task force. The report frames “urban agriculture” in both historical and contemporary American society, providing a picture of geographic, demographic, and economic changes in rural and metropolitan life.

This CAST issue paper provides policymakers and others with a nine-step guide to curtail the impact of non-native pests, including diseases, insects, and animals. These pests are the source of an estimated $137 billion annual economic burden to the United States and are the second leading cause of species endangerment. In addition, bioterrorism introduces another unknown risk factor into the already unstable mix of detrimental exotic species.

A group of nine science and policy experts prepared this evaluation of the process by which U.S. regulatory agencies determine the safety of biotechnology-derived crops. The authors found that the U.S. regulatory process is comprehensive and meets its charge of ensuring that biotechnology-derived foods are at least as safe as foods derived using traditional breeding techniques.

Individuals in the agricultural professions make valuable contributions to society, but the American public sometimes questions the relevance of those contributions and the impact of agriculture on the environment, human health, and the economy. This CAST issue paper was written to help agricultural professionals communicate clearly what they do and why it is important.