Welcome back everybody to Meteorology Matters.
You know, we always bring you the most important
weather and climate stories,
but this one today is especially concerning for farmers.
It's a story about essential weather and climate data
that is just vanished from government websites.
Oh wow.
Leaving farmers, like what,
how are we supposed to plan for the future?
I mean, imagine you're running a business,
but you have no idea what the market's gonna do.
Like it's just impossible.
Yeah, you need that information
to make those critical decisions.
Exactly.
So to help us understand what's going on,
we've got an expert on the line.
Thanks for having me.
So let's get right into it.
What exactly happened to this data?
Well, what's really concerning here
is the extent of this issue.
I mean, it's not like a couple of the data points
are missing here and there.
We're talking about entire web pages
that were full of information about climate change.
And, you know, this information was specifically designed
to help farmers adapt, and now it's just gone.
Like completely wiped clean.
Yeah, pretty much.
And this didn't happen gradually either.
So it's like an overnight thing?
Basically, yeah.
Organic farmers and environmental groups
have filed a lawsuit against the USDA.
The US Department of Agriculture.
Right, the USDA.
And they're alleging that there was this directive
that was issued on January 30th,
and it led to the very quick removal
of all these important web pages.
So we're talking about information that farmers rely on
to make decisions about their crops and their livelihoods.
And ultimately, their entire business strategy.
Exactly.
And this includes things like historical weather data,
which is crucial for understanding long-term trends.
But it's not just that.
It's also information about climate change risks,
things like heat waves and droughts.
Floods, wildfires.
Yeah.
All of that.
And these are things that can really make or break a harvest.
And farmers need as much information as possible
to navigate these challenges.
So what kind of specific information
are we talking about here?
Well, the lawsuit specifically mentions
the removal of information on climate change mitigation
strategies.
And these are new techniques and technologies
that could help farmers adapt to these conditions that
are constantly changing.
So it sounds like the USDA was actually
giving guidance on how to access resources.
Yes.
Things like financial assistance programs
that are supposed to help farmers implement these climate
smart practices.
Absolutely.
And the lawsuit really emphasizes
how information on how to even apply for these climate
smart agriculture programs and farm loan programs
was also taken down.
Was also removed.
Yeah.
And it raises concerns about whether farmers
are now going to be left without the financial support
they need to adapt and thrive in a climate that's changing.
And all of this is happening as farmers
are getting ready for the summer growing season.
I mean, that timing couldn't be worse.
It's really unfortunate.
Imagine trying to prepare for the busiest time of the year
and then all the resources you depend on are suddenly gone.
It's hard to imagine that somebody
would make that decision without even thinking
about the impact it would have on the people who literally
feed us.
And it's not just the farmers that are affected by this.
Researchers and advocates who rely on this information
to study climate change and push for changes in policy
are also being left in the dark here.
It's like losing access to a library full of knowledge.
It's knowledge that's super important for understanding
and addressing the challenges that climate change poses
to our food systems.
Yeah.
And to add to that, the lawsuit also
claims that funding for businesses and nonprofits
was frozen at the same time that this information was removed.
And this was funding that had been promised
through various conservation and climate programs.
It really makes you question the transparency
and accountability of the USDA.
It definitely raises some red flags.
Yeah.
This whole thing really makes you think,
who gets to decide what information we can see
and how does that affect our ability
to participate in a democracy?
It's as if someone decided that climate change information just
shouldn't be public.
Yeah.
It's scary.
And it's even worse when you hear from the farmers
themselves about how climate change is affecting them.
The lawsuit talks about this farmer in New York, West
Gillingham, who had to abandon his farm because there
were three floods in five years.
Oh, wow.
Imagine putting all your effort into something
only to see it watched away multiple times
because of extreme weather.
It's heartbreaking.
It really shows you just how hard it is for farmers these days.
They need every bit of information
they can get to adapt and make the right choices for their farms.
He makes a good point.
Farmers need the tools and the resources
to deal with these unpredictable storms
and not just to survive the current conditions,
but also to plan for the future.
Exactly.
And what's even more concerning is
that this isn't an isolated incident.
We've seen this kind of thing happen before with other information
on government websites, like stuff about diversity and inclusion.
So it's not just climate change.
It's about anything that someone might think
is too controversial or politically sensitive.
Right.
It makes you wonder if this is just the beginning.
Are we going to see more and more censorship and information
control where only the people in power
get to decide what we see?
It's a dangerous path, for sure.
And the lawsuit actually point out
that this might be illegal.
They mentioned something called the paperwork
reduction act and the freedom of information act.
Oh, yeah.
Can you explain what those are?
I think it's important for people to understand why
these laws are relevant in this situation.
Sure.
So the paperwork reduction act is basically
there to make sure that the government doesn't just
collect a ton of information for no reason.
They have to have a good reason for it,
and they need to actually use that information for the purpose
they said they would.
Like, sense.
And the freedom of information act
gives people the right to ask for access to government records.
It's all about transparency.
So the government can't just operate in secret.
Exactly.
The public has a right to know what's going on.
But in this case, it seems like those principles
of transparency and accountability are being ignored.
Yeah.
If they're hiding information, how can we
be sure they're making the right decisions?
How can we hold them accountable?
That's the key question.
If we don't have access to the information,
how can we trust that our leaders are
acting in our best interests?
It's a big deal.
It goes beyond just farmers.
It affects our whole democracy and our right
to know what's going on.
It really feels like we're at this point where information,
especially about climate change, is being controlled.
What can we even do about this?
Like, how can people stay informed when it seems like facts
and data are being manipulated?
Well, I think we have to be more careful about the information
we consume.
We can't just believe everything we read online,
especially now with all the misinformation out there.
So fact checking is more important than ever.
Exactly.
Don't just take things at face value, you know?
Especially if it's coming from a source that might have an agenda.
Do your own research.
Look for evidence.
And think about the biases that might be involved.
And don't be afraid to question what you already believe.
Yeah.
Look for information that challenges your own views.
You might even change your mind.
And we can't forget about taking action.
Support those groups that are fighting for transparency,
like the ones in this lawsuit.
They're the ones holding the powerful accountable.
Exactly.
And they need our support, whether it's donations
or volunteering or just spreading the word.
We all have a voice.
We can contact our elected officials,
speak up on social media, and talk about these issues
with our friends and family.
Every voice matters.
We need to demand better from our leaders.
This isn't just about data on a website.
It's about our right to know what's going on
and to have a say in how our country is run.
We have to make sure that facts and evidence matter
and that everyone has access to reliable information.
We can't let important information disappear.
So to all our listeners out there,
don't forget to follow meteorologist Rob Jones
on Instagram, meteorologist, on TikTok, TV meteorologist,
and on YouTube, follow Rob Jones' Hurricane,
where you can also find the Meteorology Matters
podcast playlist.
And remember, knowledge is power, but only if it's accurate.
Be informed and stay engaged.
Thanks for listening to Meteorology Matters.
Thanks for having me.
We'll see you next time.