Spurred by environmental and health concerns, Mexico has stopped approving genetically modified cotton seeds. The move has met resistance in the northern states, where farmers depend on the modified crops.
Mexico's pajareros, who have trapped and sold cardinals and mockingbirds for generations, claim that captivity benefits birds. Avian advocates aren’t buying it.
Officially, the stimulant plant has been banned for seven years. In reality, enforcement of the law itself remains prohibited. For farmers, the question is how to plan for the future.