GMF conducted its annual Journalism Study Tour from May 26 to June 3, 2007 with visits to the countries of Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.  Participant journalists represented 11 top U.S. radio and print media outlets. 

As the U.S. farm bill continues to be debated Europe also is struggling with its farm policy as the "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy draws near. GMF's European Agriculture in the 21st Century: Perspectives from the Farm study tour introduced journalists to European farmers, policymakers and other agricultural stakeholders to learn more about EU agriculture at a critical time for future policy development.  Issues ranged from decoupling of farm payments and the relationship between farm and food policy to rural development and environmental stewardship policies.

GMF Journalism Fellow Keith Good of FarmPolicy.com and GMF launched a new podcast series to highlight events and expertise from the agricultural study tour. 

Additional stories and radio broadcasts produced by participant journalists can be viewed via the links below.  More stories to follow as they are reported.

Print

Philip Brasher of the DesMoines Register published on July 8, 2007 Strict rules accompany European farm payments.

Bill Lambrecht of the St. Louis Dispatch published on June 17, 2007 New catalyst for ethanol: Elephant Dung.

Rob Hotakainen of The Kansas City Star published on June 15, 2007 Breaking from the Herd.

Dan Morgan, GMF Transatlantic Fellow and Washington Post correpsondent, published on June 9, 2007 "Analysis from Washington" - Europe.

Radio

Agriculture is a industry linked to global trends. Charles Michael Ray of South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports the Dakota Digest from the rolling hills of Southern Poland, about an hour outside of Krakow. Listen 

Missy Shelton of KSMU Radio in Springfield, Missouri filed several audio reports while on the road with GMF's Agricultural Study Tour.  See segements and links below.

June 1, 2007 European Agriculture Study Tour-Debating Genetically Modified Crops and Hormones/Antibiotics in Livestock Missy Shelton reports from Europe on a journalism study tour funded by the German Marshall Fund, a nonpartisan American Public Policy and grantmaking institution, that promotes trans-Atlantic relations. She's among eleven journalists taking part in an agriculture study tour. In this installment of KSMU's European Agriculture Study Tour series, Missy Shelton examines the European Union's attitudes toward genetically modified crops and hormones in livestock, two major issues that impact the exports of US farmers.
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May 31, 2007 European Agriculture Study Tour--The Farm Bill Debate and Trade Negotiations Missy Shelton reports from Europe on a journalism study tour funded by the German Marshall Fund, a nonpartisan American Public Policy and grantmaking institution that promotes trans-Atlantic relations. She's among eleven journalists taking part in an agriculture study tour. In this installment of the European Agriculture Study Tour series, Missy Shelton gives us the US and European perspectives on the farm bill that Congress is slated to reauthorize this year. The debate directly bears on local farmers in Southwest Missouri who receive subsidies since subsidies are the main sticking point in international trade negotiations. Listen  ViewText

May 30, 2007 European Agriculture Study Tour--A Primer on European Agriculture Subsidies Missy Shelton reports from Europe on a journalism study tour funded by the German Marshall Fund, a nonpartisan American Public Policy and grantmaking institution that promotes trans-Atlantic relations. She's among eleven journalists taking part in an agriculture study tour. In this installment, Missy Shelton talks with a European agriculture expert to get some background on European agriculture subsidies. This helps set the stage for her next reports that include Missouri and European perspectives on trade negotiations through the World Trade Organization or WTO, farm subsidies and debate surrounding the reauthorization of the Farm Bill in Congress. Listen  ViewText

May 29, 2007 European Agriculture Study Tour--Comparing Agritourism in Missouri and Poland This week, KSMU's Missy Shelton reports from Europe on a journalism study tour funded by the German Marshall Fund, a nonpartisan American Public Policy and grantmaking institution that promotes trans-Atlantic relations. She's among eleven journalists taking part in the program. In this first in a series of reports, Missy Shelton takes a look at agri-tourism in Europe and Missouri. She begins in Poland, just outside Krakow where agri-tourism is a key part of the farm economy. (The interpreter for this story is Andrzej Michalik.)
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