The US House Appropriations Committee approved $780,000 for research on Colony collapse disorder after a hearing yesterday.  Farmers and businesspeople talked about the current and potential concerns.  In an article by the AP and McClatchy Newspapers, 

"A record 36 percent of U.S. commercial bee colonies have been lost so far this year and worse may be yet to come, experts told the panel."

The New York Times has a series of excellent articles focused on issues related to food.  

Articles in the series include:

India’s Growth Outstrips Crops

By SOMINI SENGUPTA

India’s supply of arable land is second only to that of the United States, but when it comes to agriculture it must turn to international markets, exacerbating a global food crisis.

6/22

In late April, by a vote of 7-2, the Seattle City Council passed the Local Food Action Initiative.  The initiative was "crafted to help develop stronger ties between local agriculture and regional consumers and institutions" according to reporter Cookson Beecher in an article in the Capital Press, the West Coast's premier agricultural publication.  The initiative seeks to strengthen local farmers' markets, expand resources for food banks, and set up plans to reduce the cost of food and to secure food supplies during emergencies and disasters. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report detailing the increased risk of U.S. crop failures, depletion of water resources and outbreaks of invasive species.  The report, from the Joint Global Change Research Institute at the University of Maryland, synthesized research from more than 1,000 publications as part of an assessment on global warming. 

"I think what's really eye-opening is the depth and breadth of the impacts and consequences going on right now," said Tony Janetos, a study author, said in an article in the Seattle PI describing the USDA report. 

The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) led a strong Farm Bill campaign during the legislative session. The organization supports family farming and sustainable land stewardship and sought active support of these values in the recent bill. See their recent Farm Bill Overview for a very good analysis of the victories and disappointments of the process.
"The bill does have some good provisions – including a rural microenterprise program, livestock reforms, beginning farmer provisions, grants for value added agriculture, and strong conservation programs. Those positive features are overwhelmed, however, by subsidies for mega farms to drive smaller operations out of business."

Even as the demand for local food grows, its hard to see how a new generation of farmers will be able to find land near Seattle to farm. PI reporter Jennifer Langston wrote about the increasing demand for farmland and the difficulties that young people have finding and buying affordable land. "As demand grows for local food -- an appetite fueled by health-conscious urban families, schools, food banks and restaurants -- many are questioning where that supply and a new generation of farmers will come from." There seem to be two related issues. Despite efforts by King County to protect farmland, the programs don't always work to keep agricultural land in production.