Articles tagged with Farming
A study found that US meat products with sustainability labels, such as organic chicken (7% increase) and grass-fed beef (33% increase), tend to be pricier than their non-labeled counterparts. The price premiums vary greatly depending on the type of label.
Heather Kelly, a UTIA plant pathologist, has been selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar to collaborate with researchers in Brazil. She will use advanced technologies to model soybean disease epidemics and predict potential threats to Tennessee row crop production.
New research highlights the importance of preserving traditional cattle breeds' unique genetic profiles for resilience against disease and environmental challenges. These populations carry irreplaceable traits that could help future generations of farmers respond to global challenges such as climate change.
The inaugural Southeast Farm and Forest Land Summit will bring together farmers, industry leaders, and state agencies to address rapid land use changes and their impact on rural communities. Participants will discuss ways to improve farm profitability, preserve working farmland, and explore policy options for sustainable agriculture.
Research team identifies best strategies for managing native cacao trees in Peru, resulting in 59% higher yields after three years. Grafting native 'Blanco de Piura' cacao varieties onto fully grown trees increases productivity levels comparable to commercial clones.
Researchers at UC Riverside identified a genetic marker that controls avocado tree flowering patterns, allowing breeders to determine flower type long before it blooms. This discovery could revolutionize avocado breeding by making decisions faster and more efficient, with potential benefits for high-quality fruit production.
Researchers at University of Missouri develop natural colorants from purple corn, showing stability and durability in various environments. The anthocyanins, rich in antioxidants, offer a viable path for food companies to create cleaner labels without sacrificing performance.
A new study found that unwritten social rules in small societies play a crucial role in regulating land use and maintaining forest regeneration sustainably. The research suggests that these norms can reduce the total amount of land cleared and promote biodiversity when used in moderation.
A recent study highlights the role of social relationships in knowledge sharing among farmers and proposes a new way to understand how climate-smart agricultural innovations begin. Trust, mutual support, and close relationships play a fundamental role in enabling knowledge sharing.
A new analysis from the University of Illinois and the Illinois Soybean Association finds that Illinois corn and soybean farmers could lose up to $609 million per year if the state bans the weedkiller glyphosate. This would represent a 3.6% revenue loss, mainly due to the need for more expensive herbicide products.
A shift to healthier diets could lead to a significant reduction in global agricultural land use and livestock production value, with potential benefits for human health and the environment. The study suggests that transforming food systems could result in a 42% decline in global livestock production value compared to 2020.
The University of Tennessee has won up to $160 million for the BRIDGES Engine, a collaborative initiative driving rural economic development in Tennessee and Alabama. The project aims to generate millions of dollars in additional annual income for farmers and create thousands of jobs across the state.
A two-year field study shows that biochar-derived from rice straw improves soil health and crop resilience to saline-sodic stress. Biochar enhances nitrogen metabolism, increases yield, and reduces oxidative stress, making it a promising strategy for sustainable rice production in salt-affected regions.
Researchers found that variable-rate seeding (VRS) can help farmers strike a better balance in corn and soybean fields. However, soybeans proved to be more complicated due to their adaptability to weather conditions. The study aims to make farming more accessible and efficient for small land holders using digital tools and data-driven ...
Researchers at Göttingen University found that virtual fences lead to a more even distribution of animals across the pasture and reduced movement near edges. Virtual fences also elicit similar behavior from cattle as conventional electric fences.
A study has developed an integrated process to produce dissolving pulp from sugarcane bagasse using a carbonate-based oxygen-alkali pulping combined with enzymatic totally chlorine-free bleaching. The process resulted in high-quality pulp with improved properties, meeting industrial requirements.
Research examines air quality and respiratory health among children in communities surrounding the Salton Sea, finding that outdoor dust events significantly affect indoor air quality. Families describe daily challenges of protecting children from dust and pollution, which can impact school attendance and overall quality of life.
Colorado State University researchers propose strategies to immobilize toxic metals and prevent plant uptake in rice grains, protecting food security and public health. The approach aims to reduce arsenic, cadmium, and mercury contamination in rice paddies using nanomaterials and chemical reactions.
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which microbes boost plants' ability to survive in salty conditions. Pseudomonad bacteria stimulate the production of lignin, a tough substance found in plant cell walls, helping plants withstand environmental stress.
A University of Göttingen study reveals that traditionally farmed landscapes can produce food while protecting nature and preserving cultural traditions. The research highlights four key strategies for adapting these systems to local environments and markets.
Research at Ohio State University found that just 10 viral particles can cause H5N1 avian flu infection in cows. The study also suggests that the virus has an affinity for cow mammary glands rather than airways.
A new study found that plants can reveal recent PFAS contamination linked to airborne deposition, suggesting direct exposure from the atmosphere rather than uptake through roots alone. The research suggests that vegetation can serve as a valuable tool for tracking emerging environmental contaminants and complement traditional soil-base...
A €6 million EU Horizon project is building Europe's first platform to coordinate a response to devastating agricultural and forest pest invasions. Plant health authorities will be able to model and optimise pest control strategies across the entire agri-value chain.
A new spatially explicit population model for springtails in soil simulates dynamic environmental conditions, linking development and reproduction to temperature and moisture. The model provides a realistic assessment of ecosystem health under changing environments.
A study by University of Exeter experts found that unified and local efforts can support a thriving environment and improve community well-being. The researchers propose tech-driven, community-led action to rescue local environmental enforcement from funding cuts and jurisdictional confusion.
Kaminski's work highlights the importance of perennial foods, which represent a way of belonging to the earth and a different way of farming. Her poem 'Neighbors' captures the bonds of reciprocity created through shared practices like tending to plants, highlighting the connection between community, land, and emotional content.
Researchers at Binghamton University developed a system that enables users to monitor real plants in real-time using virtual reality. This technology makes farming more accessible for older adults and people with disabilities, allowing them to observe plants without physically being present.
New AI tools can accelerate soil science by speeding up early-stage work, improving predictions to support decisions on land-use, carbon, and climate adaptation. The system successfully mimicked key parts of the scientific process, with outputs beyond what's currently being used that strongly align with expert research.
Researchers found that farmers and conservation groups share priorities on future uncertainty, collaboration, ecosystem-based approach, and creative management options. The study aims to improve dialogue and support effective management in the Klamath Basin and inform future river restoration efforts.
A new study estimates that corn diseases cost US farmers $13.8 billion from 2020 to 2023, resulting in reduced yields of 2.5 billion bushels. The top disease-causing pathogens were tar spot, Fusarium stalk rot, and plant-parasitic nematodes.
A new study found that coastal farmlands in the Mid-Atlantic region are losing land at a rate nearly twice as fast as previously thought. Between 1984 and 2022, approximately 25,000 acres of farmland were lost to sea level rise despite preventative measures taken by local farmers.
Researchers have developed a non-chemical method to kill burrowing shrimp in targeted areas, reducing their population by up to 98%. The technique uses vibration and pressure to compact sediment and trap shrimp, starved of oxygen, leading to their death. The method shows promise for shellfish farmers struggling with the invasive species.
Soil animal communities exhibit greater trophic diversity in agricultural systems and tropical regions, driven by resource limitation and disturbance. This flexibility helps maintain soil functions but may reflect the loss of specialized species.
Researchers found that mid-Holocene soil cooling reduced thermally suitable zones for millet cultivation, contributing to a southward displacement of farming. Soil temperatures recovered after around 6,000 years ago, facilitating millet expansion and late Neolithic development.
New research finds that higher temperatures can benefit bumble bees with underground nests by allowing them to spend more time foraging, but may devastate those with aboveground nests due to increased cooling costs. The benefits appear to outweigh the costs, but just a few damaging hours of extreme heat could set a colony back.
Researchers detected airborne virus, wastewater contamination, and asymptomatic cows on infected dairy farms, suggesting multiple modes of transmission. This finding highlights the need for mitigation strategies to reduce viral spread in herds and humans.
A new report highlights the catastrophic risks of nature loss on food systems, economies and societies. Chronic pressures like soil degradation and water scarcity are already reducing crop yields and increasing food prices.
Researchers found significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer overuse, and cattle populations among English farmers. The study's findings highlight the importance of regular assessments of farming's environmental impacts to inform policy and management.
Biofortifying staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and improve nutrition. Researchers have developed high-protein rice with elevated essential amino acids, which can also help manage blood sugar levels.
Field inundation causes widespread problems across the food system, including economic issues, biological changes, and human health impacts. Illinois scientists are working with farmers to develop a customizable toolbox of solutions suited to specific contexts.
A study found that leaf-cutter ants can provide ecological services to cocoa agroforests, reducing damage caused by the insects. By using simple methods like planting papayas as a 'distraction' and preserving surrounding forests, farmers can produce good cocoa while maintaining biodiversity
Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have discovered a new way to fight potato late blight, a plant disease that once triggered the Irish Potato Famine. The peptide CS5 specifically attacks Phytophthora infestans without harming other plants.
Global warming poses a significant threat to rice production, which has historically been heat-loving but is now facing its limits. Rice can tolerate temperatures below 82°F and 104°F, but rising temperatures will accelerate beyond these thresholds.
A new study found that children who start primary school at older ages completed more years of schooling, had greater wealth in adulthood, and fewer teen pregnancies. This delay allowed them to develop greater literacy and was associated with better health outcomes, including lower rates of HIV infection and child death.
Researchers developed a hybrid engine to predict sugar beet disease by combining drone images, weather data, and qPCR-based airborne spore monitoring. The system reduced prediction error by up to 39% and provided accurate forecasts of disease severity.
A new system can map soil moisture tree by tree, allowing growers to water specific trees if they're dry. Maintaining the right moisture level is crucial for plant health, as too little water can stress trees, while too much water can deprive roots of oxygen.
A new study finds that dairy manure digesters are highly effective in reducing methane emissions from cow manure, with most systems performing well. However, occasional leaks of large magnitude offset the climate benefits, highlighting the need for thorough monitoring and verification.
Researchers analyzed 48 isolates of P. griseola and found a potential symbiotic relationship between the fungus and endophytic bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans, influencing disease severity. The study sheds light on how the pathogen evolves and may point to new strategies for breeding disease-resistant crops.
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive wheat disease that can reduce yields and contaminate grain with toxins. New research in Plant Disease identified several emerging fungal pathogens, including a previously undescribed species, responsible for the severe outbreak in Ethiopia.
A comprehensive study reveals that staple crops such as maize, rice, and cassava are responsible for about 11% of all agriculture-driven deforestation globally. In contrast, major export-oriented commodities like cocoa, coffee, and rubber cause less than 5% of deforestation.
A new study uses fiber-optic sensors to monitor water movement through the soil, revealing that common farming practices can pool water near the surface, reducing its availability to plants. This can lead to crop drought stress and decreased yield.
Researchers found that tilling and compaction disrupt intricate capillary networks within the soil, causing it to pool rainwater and form a muddy crust. The study provides a clear explanation for why tillage changes the structure of soil in ways that affect water retention.
A new study suggests that ultra-sensitive food safety tests may drive food waste and unavailability without significant public health benefits. The researchers propose using more flexible risk-based approaches to align food safety policies with sustainability goals.
A study by Frontiers in Science argues that ultra-sensitive food safety tests may drive food waste and unavailability, but not always translate to health risk. The researchers propose a more balanced approach that considers trade-offs between food safety, sustainability, and nutritional health.
Research from Johns Hopkins University found that tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce accumulate pharmaceutical byproducts in their leaves, which may be a concern for consumers eating the fruit and roots of these vegetables
Researchers used aeroponic technology to grow pea shoots fortified with Vitamin B12, delivering the recommended daily allowance in a single serving. The fortified crop maintained shelf-life and persisted through cold storage, offering a commercially viable approach to dietary supplementation.
Researchers discover that resistant soybean varieties actively recruit beneficial soil microorganisms to suppress the devastating soybean cyst nematode. These microbes can be transferred to soil to help defend susceptible soybeans, providing a promising new approach for sustainable crop protection.
A new study from Ethiopia reveals that conservation agriculture methods like no-dig, crop-rotation, and mulching can significantly reduce water runoff and soil loss. These eco-friendly techniques have been shown to increase crop yields by as much as 122%.
The report highlights the need for an agreed definition of healthy soil, scalable biological indicators, and collaborative transitions to sustainable land management practices. It emphasizes the importance of building trust and aligning diverse priorities among all soil stakeholders.
Researchers at Colorado State University have found a way to boost plant growth while maintaining its immune system through hormone treatment, showing promise for increasing food production. The approach involves genetically manipulating phytohormone interactions to restore cell division and increase disease resistance.