According to Grist magazine: Over the course of 10 days in mid-April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued three "guidances" and one directive -- all legally binding interpretations of law -- that threaten to seriously dilute the meaning of the word organic and discredit the department's National Organic Program.

In other news: the Supreme Court of Canada sided with Monsanto today in the firm's lopsided patent fight against Percy Schmeiser, a Saskatchewan farmer. [Both via metafilter]