1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,400 Welcome back everybody to Meteorology Matters. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:03,960 You know, we always bring you the most important 3 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,880 weather and climate stories, 4 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:10,520 but this one today is especially concerning for farmers. 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,640 It's a story about essential weather and climate data 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,400 that is just vanished from government websites. 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:19,320 Oh wow. 8 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,920 Leaving farmers, like what, 9 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:23,240 how are we supposed to plan for the future? 10 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:24,840 I mean, imagine you're running a business, 11 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,800 but you have no idea what the market's gonna do. 12 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:28,200 Like it's just impossible. 13 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,700 Yeah, you need that information 14 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:31,200 to make those critical decisions. 15 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Exactly. 16 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:33,920 So to help us understand what's going on, 17 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,560 we've got an expert on the line. 18 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:36,600 Thanks for having me. 19 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:37,960 So let's get right into it. 20 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,440 What exactly happened to this data? 21 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:41,800 Well, what's really concerning here 22 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,920 is the extent of this issue. 23 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:45,760 I mean, it's not like a couple of the data points 24 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:46,880 are missing here and there. 25 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,840 We're talking about entire web pages 26 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,600 that were full of information about climate change. 27 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,800 And, you know, this information was specifically designed 28 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,240 to help farmers adapt, and now it's just gone. 29 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:58,560 Like completely wiped clean. 30 00:00:58,560 --> 00:00:59,680 Yeah, pretty much. 31 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,400 And this didn't happen gradually either. 32 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:02,760 So it's like an overnight thing? 33 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:03,600 Basically, yeah. 34 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,960 Organic farmers and environmental groups 35 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:09,640 have filed a lawsuit against the USDA. 36 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:10,760 The US Department of Agriculture. 37 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:11,760 Right, the USDA. 38 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,780 And they're alleging that there was this directive 39 00:01:14,780 --> 00:01:16,440 that was issued on January 30th, 40 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,080 and it led to the very quick removal 41 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:20,800 of all these important web pages. 42 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,840 So we're talking about information that farmers rely on 43 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,800 to make decisions about their crops and their livelihoods. 44 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,760 And ultimately, their entire business strategy. 45 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:30,480 Exactly. 46 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,680 And this includes things like historical weather data, 47 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,240 which is crucial for understanding long-term trends. 48 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:37,560 But it's not just that. 49 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,080 It's also information about climate change risks, 50 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,960 things like heat waves and droughts. 51 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:43,520 Floods, wildfires. 52 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:44,440 Yeah. 53 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:45,120 All of that. 54 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,640 And these are things that can really make or break a harvest. 55 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,560 And farmers need as much information as possible 56 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:51,800 to navigate these challenges. 57 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,360 So what kind of specific information 58 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:54,280 are we talking about here? 59 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,200 Well, the lawsuit specifically mentions 60 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,000 the removal of information on climate change mitigation 61 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,160 strategies. 62 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,760 And these are new techniques and technologies 63 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,400 that could help farmers adapt to these conditions that 64 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:06,800 are constantly changing. 65 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,840 So it sounds like the USDA was actually 66 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,440 giving guidance on how to access resources. 67 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:12,940 Yes. 68 00:02:12,940 --> 00:02:14,480 Things like financial assistance programs 69 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,840 that are supposed to help farmers implement these climate 70 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:18,880 smart practices. 71 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,000 Absolutely. 72 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,000 And the lawsuit really emphasizes 73 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,600 how information on how to even apply for these climate 74 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,840 smart agriculture programs and farm loan programs 75 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:30,520 was also taken down. 76 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:31,600 Was also removed. 77 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:32,280 Yeah. 78 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,480 And it raises concerns about whether farmers 79 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,160 are now going to be left without the financial support 80 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,880 they need to adapt and thrive in a climate that's changing. 81 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,640 And all of this is happening as farmers 82 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,920 are getting ready for the summer growing season. 83 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:46,480 I mean, that timing couldn't be worse. 84 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:47,400 It's really unfortunate. 85 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,840 Imagine trying to prepare for the busiest time of the year 86 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,680 and then all the resources you depend on are suddenly gone. 87 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,120 It's hard to imagine that somebody 88 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,680 would make that decision without even thinking 89 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,240 about the impact it would have on the people who literally 90 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:00,640 feed us. 91 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:05,840 And it's not just the farmers that are affected by this. 92 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,240 Researchers and advocates who rely on this information 93 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,600 to study climate change and push for changes in policy 94 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,400 are also being left in the dark here. 95 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,200 It's like losing access to a library full of knowledge. 96 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,720 It's knowledge that's super important for understanding 97 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,720 and addressing the challenges that climate change poses 98 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:23,560 to our food systems. 99 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:24,160 Yeah. 100 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,440 And to add to that, the lawsuit also 101 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,000 claims that funding for businesses and nonprofits 102 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,800 was frozen at the same time that this information was removed. 103 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,960 And this was funding that had been promised 104 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,640 through various conservation and climate programs. 105 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,760 It really makes you question the transparency 106 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,600 and accountability of the USDA. 107 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,160 It definitely raises some red flags. 108 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,040 Yeah. 109 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,040 This whole thing really makes you think, 110 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,280 who gets to decide what information we can see 111 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:50,880 and how does that affect our ability 112 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,600 to participate in a democracy? 113 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,160 It's as if someone decided that climate change information just 114 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:57,200 shouldn't be public. 115 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:58,040 Yeah. 116 00:03:58,040 --> 00:03:59,240 It's scary. 117 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,800 And it's even worse when you hear from the farmers 118 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,440 themselves about how climate change is affecting them. 119 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,120 The lawsuit talks about this farmer in New York, West 120 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,960 Gillingham, who had to abandon his farm because there 121 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,080 were three floods in five years. 122 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:12,880 Oh, wow. 123 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,160 Imagine putting all your effort into something 124 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,320 only to see it watched away multiple times 125 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:18,600 because of extreme weather. 126 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:19,480 It's heartbreaking. 127 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,200 It really shows you just how hard it is for farmers these days. 128 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,200 They need every bit of information 129 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,600 they can get to adapt and make the right choices for their farms. 130 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,120 He makes a good point. 131 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,080 Farmers need the tools and the resources 132 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,200 to deal with these unpredictable storms 133 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,280 and not just to survive the current conditions, 134 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:37,920 but also to plan for the future. 135 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:38,680 Exactly. 136 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,360 And what's even more concerning is 137 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,240 that this isn't an isolated incident. 138 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,280 We've seen this kind of thing happen before with other information 139 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:48,800 on government websites, like stuff about diversity and inclusion. 140 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,560 So it's not just climate change. 141 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:52,400 It's about anything that someone might think 142 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,520 is too controversial or politically sensitive. 143 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:55,920 Right. 144 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,640 It makes you wonder if this is just the beginning. 145 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,520 Are we going to see more and more censorship and information 146 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,520 control where only the people in power 147 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,360 get to decide what we see? 148 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,520 It's a dangerous path, for sure. 149 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,480 And the lawsuit actually point out 150 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,440 that this might be illegal. 151 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,240 They mentioned something called the paperwork 152 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,760 reduction act and the freedom of information act. 153 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:18,600 Oh, yeah. 154 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:19,880 Can you explain what those are? 155 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,160 I think it's important for people to understand why 156 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,040 these laws are relevant in this situation. 157 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:24,680 Sure. 158 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,720 So the paperwork reduction act is basically 159 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:28,680 there to make sure that the government doesn't just 160 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,480 collect a ton of information for no reason. 161 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,120 They have to have a good reason for it, 162 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,480 and they need to actually use that information for the purpose 163 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:37,160 they said they would. 164 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:37,920 Like, sense. 165 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:39,600 And the freedom of information act 166 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,760 gives people the right to ask for access to government records. 167 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,360 It's all about transparency. 168 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,680 So the government can't just operate in secret. 169 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:47,560 Exactly. 170 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,840 The public has a right to know what's going on. 171 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:52,280 But in this case, it seems like those principles 172 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:55,400 of transparency and accountability are being ignored. 173 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:55,880 Yeah. 174 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,600 If they're hiding information, how can we 175 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,520 be sure they're making the right decisions? 176 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:01,800 How can we hold them accountable? 177 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,640 That's the key question. 178 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,960 If we don't have access to the information, 179 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:07,880 how can we trust that our leaders are 180 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,440 acting in our best interests? 181 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:10,520 It's a big deal. 182 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,880 It goes beyond just farmers. 183 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,480 It affects our whole democracy and our right 184 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,120 to know what's going on. 185 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,320 It really feels like we're at this point where information, 186 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,320 especially about climate change, is being controlled. 187 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:24,920 What can we even do about this? 188 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,400 Like, how can people stay informed when it seems like facts 189 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,240 and data are being manipulated? 190 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,880 Well, I think we have to be more careful about the information 191 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:33,840 we consume. 192 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:35,840 We can't just believe everything we read online, 193 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:38,360 especially now with all the misinformation out there. 194 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,080 So fact checking is more important than ever. 195 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:40,880 Exactly. 196 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,280 Don't just take things at face value, you know? 197 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:45,920 Especially if it's coming from a source that might have an agenda. 198 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,040 Do your own research. 199 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,120 Look for evidence. 200 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,280 And think about the biases that might be involved. 201 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:52,640 And don't be afraid to question what you already believe. 202 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:53,080 Yeah. 203 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,520 Look for information that challenges your own views. 204 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,080 You might even change your mind. 205 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,960 And we can't forget about taking action. 206 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:03,000 Support those groups that are fighting for transparency, 207 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,840 like the ones in this lawsuit. 208 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:06,640 They're the ones holding the powerful accountable. 209 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:07,440 Exactly. 210 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,800 And they need our support, whether it's donations 211 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,080 or volunteering or just spreading the word. 212 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:13,880 We all have a voice. 213 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,840 We can contact our elected officials, 214 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,320 speak up on social media, and talk about these issues 215 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:19,440 with our friends and family. 216 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,040 Every voice matters. 217 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,200 We need to demand better from our leaders. 218 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,520 This isn't just about data on a website. 219 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,680 It's about our right to know what's going on 220 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,960 and to have a say in how our country is run. 221 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,240 We have to make sure that facts and evidence matter 222 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,200 and that everyone has access to reliable information. 223 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,000 We can't let important information disappear. 224 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,480 So to all our listeners out there, 225 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,720 don't forget to follow meteorologist Rob Jones 226 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,120 on Instagram, meteorologist, on TikTok, TV meteorologist, 227 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,960 and on YouTube, follow Rob Jones' Hurricane, 228 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:50,880 where you can also find the Meteorology Matters 229 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:52,560 podcast playlist. 230 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,560 And remember, knowledge is power, but only if it's accurate. 231 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,800 Be informed and stay engaged. 232 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,640 Thanks for listening to Meteorology Matters. 233 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:01,480 Thanks for having me. 234 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:11,480 We'll see you next time.