Articles tagged with Farming
Agroecological methods improve biodiversity, pollination, natural pest control, and crop yields, but new subsidies are needed to support farms' transition. The study found that incorporating nature-friendly practices increases benefits for nature and farmers, with higher soil carbon and overall increased crop yields.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have found ants can be used to detect the presence of spotted lanternflies, a serious threat to crops and ecosystems. The method, called antDNA, uses environmental DNA testing to identify tiny traces of DNA in honeydew produced by the insect.
A new study finds that Salmonella Dublin causes increased calf mortality, lower milk yield, and higher medication costs in dairy farms. The disease leads to hidden financial losses due to gradual infection without visible symptoms.
A collaboration between Aston University and RAD Global developed pioneering cold storage boxes to keep food fresh without grid electricity. The RADiCool system extends the safe selling window for fish from 12 to 24 hours, reducing waste and improving livelihoods.
A new study reveals how nanoparticles can interfere with photosynthesis in plants, reducing their ability to convert sunlight into food. The research team found that nanoparticles undergo changes in pH and pick up lipid coatings from plant membranes, boosting their binding to RuBisCO and impairing its function.
The study develops a stochastic dynamic programming model that accounts for cumulative effects of cover crops on soil fertility, uncertain future prices, and irreversibility of sunk machinery costs. The findings suggest a threshold level of soil fertility above which it is optimal to adopt cover crops, favoring no-till practices.
A new study from the University of California, Riverside shows that sealing manure ponds at a Central Valley farm can dramatically reduce atmospheric methane emissions. The researchers found that this method can achieve an 80% reduction in emissions, comparable to California state officials' climate planning estimates.
The article discusses how emerging contaminants like agricultural pesticides and medicines are impacting water quality in developing countries. The presence of these pollutants is linked to toxic effects on humans and ecosystems, with many being undetected or under-regulated.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers found that large-scale solar farms have a complex impact on nearby property values. Agricultural land within two miles of the site saw a 19.4% increase in value, while residential homes lost an average of 4.8%. The negative impact was more pronounced in counties with conservative leanings.
Researchers develop a method using convolutional networks to automatically identify traditional, intensive, and super-intensive olive grove types from Sentinel-2 satellite images. The algorithm achieved an accuracy of 80% and offers a more efficient and precise alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers at Colorado State University have demonstrated the reversal of embolism in a type of wild grass, which can recover from extended drought within 24 hours. This finding has significant implications for improving agricultural productivity and food security, as it could potentially be bred into crops to make them more resilient...
A new study finds that California's Central Valley is a major contributor to human-caused dust events, with 77% of fallowed land in the region associated with 88% of major dust events. The study highlights the need for mitigation efforts to reduce wind erosion and improve soil health.
A new study from Colorado State University reveals that photovoltaic (PV) arrays in grasslands can improve soil moisture levels and increase plant growth, particularly during dry years. The research found a 90% increase in grass production on the east side of panels compared to neighboring open sites.
Gene editing technologies could enable climate-resilient crops, higher yields, and reduced fertilizers and pesticides. Researchers advocate allowing gene editing in organic farming to support the EU's goal of 25% organic agriculture by 2030.
Researchers found cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) infecting plants in southern US states as early as 2006, contradicting the assumption that it emerged more recently. The study used modern data-mining tools to uncover hidden threats and highlights the importance of maintaining accessible databases for disease surveillance.
Scientists have discovered a way to adapt food crops to Earth's changing climate using plant genebanks, which store millions of genetically diverse plants. This innovative approach combines DNA data with climate information to predict the best crops for future conditions.
Large-scale solar arrays will occupy approximately 0.2 percent of agricultural land in Arkansas, with projected impacts on crop prices and proximal real estate value. Researchers found that utility-scale solar projects can coexist with agriculture through integrated systems like agrivoltaics.
A new digital tool provides free satellite monitoring and analysis of vegetation and crop health across Kansas and the nation. The Sentinel GreenReport Plus combines satellite imagery with climate datasets to provide users with insights into vegetation greenness, changes in land cover over time, and climate abnormalities.
The SHOWCASE project has published four practice abstracts on the EU CAP Network platform, providing practical insights for farmers and policymakers. The findings highlight the importance of well-designed incentives, farmer behavior, and bridging the science-policy gap to promote biodiversity integration in European agriculture.
A new study suggests that urban agriculture alone can only feed about one fifth of a city's population, but combining it with near-urban farming can ensure food security for the entire city. Peas are found to be the best crop for maximizing protein and calories while minimizing land requirements in normal climate scenarios.
A new global model, DYNAMO-M, projects how 13 million farmers may respond to coastal flooding and salt intrusion due to sea level rise. The model simulates real human choices, such as adapting with salt-tolerant crops or migrating inland, to help communities stay and thrive despite the rising tides.
A new study by University College London researchers suggests that intensifying existing farmland can degrade local biodiversity more than expanding agricultural land, depending on factors like region and crop type. The study highlights the need for sustainable intensification techniques to mitigate the impact of farming on the environ...
New York dairy farms achieve low greenhouse gas emissions by producing high-quality crops and managing manure efficiently. The study provides a regional baseline for dairy farm emissions, offering opportunities for farmers to reduce emissions and increase productivity through sustainable practices.
Researchers have discovered a way to enhance wheat plants' sugar signalling ability, increasing yields by up to 12%. The new technology uses a Trehalose 6-phosphate pre-signalling molecule to activate the pathway for starch synthesis, leading to increased photosynthesis and grain filling.
Researchers develop mathematical modeling to predict aflatoxin outbreaks in Texas using remote sensing satellites and soil properties. The model has the potential to save farmers billions of dollars in losses by providing early risk prediction and targeted prevention strategies.
A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural Economics found that planting flower strips in apple orchards can reduce damage from pests by up to 32% and save farmers money. The research, conducted by the University of Reading, found that farmers could save up to £2,997 per hectare in years with high pest activity.
A new study from the University of Florida assembles the genome of a blackberry, which could lead to significant improvements in breeding techniques for farmers and consumers alike. The research uncovers the secrets behind key traits like growing blackberry plants with no thorns and enhancing the production of anthocyanin production.
A long-term shift towards drier conditions is reshaping landscapes and livelihoods globally, affecting 40% of Earth's land and 2.3 billion people. The research highlights solutions to adapt to a future where water is no longer guaranteed, including smarter irrigation strategies, data analytics, and restoring degraded land.
Researchers found that using rice malt instead of milled rice in beer brewing can decrease production costs by 2-12%. Malted rice also requires less crop-growing acreage, making it a viable alternative for craft brewers. The study suggests that malting could open up new markets for Arkansas rice and ensure its long-run sustainability.
The CDC has awarded a $3 million grant to the Texas A&M School of Public Health to investigate avian flu among dairy farm workers in Texas. The team, led by Dr. David Douphrate, aims to identify the scope of exposure and workplace factors involved in transmission.
Biomass is crucial for Europe's ability to reach its climate targets, providing both energy and negative emissions. Excluding biomass from the European energy system would increase costs by 169 billion Euros per year.
A study by TUMCREATE and TUM reveals CEA can produce safe food year-round, complementing traditional farming and enhancing food security in drought-prone areas. By controlling growth conditions, CEA minimizes environmental impact while increasing productivity for multiple food sources.
The World Cocoa Foundation and Alliance of Bioversity International assessed the accuracy of key maps for deforestation, tree planting, and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring. The study found that open access global maps are not accurate enough for cocoa analyses in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed an autonomous driving algorithm for robots to navigate raised cultivation beds, utilizing lidar point cloud data. The system enables precise movement and accuracy in both virtual and actual environments, promising to expand tasks beyond harvesting to monitoring and pruning.
A new study led by Amy Bogaard found that high wealth inequality emerged in regions with land-intensive farming systems, where a small number of households controlled productive land. In contrast, societies with more equitable governance practices avoided extreme wealth inequality.
A new study led by Washington State University archaeologist Tim Kohler challenges traditional views that disparities in wealth emerged suddenly with large civilizations. The research found that wealth inequality started to increase roughly 1,500 years after the advent of agriculture, driven by population growth and competition for land.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland explores the role of intuition in regenerative farmers' decision-making processes. Farmers perceive intuition as a reliable and future-oriented 'personal assistant', leading to better outcomes in farming practices.
A new report reveals that Indonesia's small farmers can increase productivity and market access through technology-driven innovations. The report outlines ten best practices for agritech startups and wider ecosystems to enable and shape the country's rural startup ecosystem.
Recent research highlights increased fire activity in the western US, with wildfires becoming less prone to calming down at night. Meanwhile, extreme turbulence on hurricane flights has led to a new 'bumpiness' metric. Climate extremes are also evident in shifting energy demands for heating and cooling in Chinese megacities.
A UMaine study compares two scallop farming methods to determine which approach yields the best results. Ear-hanging culture was found to have slightly larger shell heights and up to 12% more adductor muscle weight, a key factor in market value. The research provides new insights for commercial growers aiming to maximize profitability.
Callie Robinson, a junior at the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture, has won the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers 2025 Collegiate Discussion Meet. Her victory marks the second consecutive year a Herbert student has achieved this recognition.
A French study found that chronic exposure to the fungicide tebuconazole impairs offspring growth and survival in farmland birds. Sparrow chicks exposed to realistic concentrations of tebuconazole showed reduced growth and doubled mortality rates, particularly females.
A new mathematical model reveals that humans played an active role in the transition from hunting and gathering to farming, driven by factors like population growth rates and competition. The study challenges traditional views that focused on environmental factors, providing fresh insight into the rise of farming.
A professor is conducting a study to increase forest farming in Appalachia, with the goal of creating a sustainable economy for the region. The project aims to develop the workforce and formalize businesses to ensure efficient supply chains.
Crop mapping uses satellite imagery to create accurate crop type maps in various regions. The research team trained machines to recognize crops from satellite images, achieving high accuracy rates. However, models pre-trained on general image datasets performed better than those pre-trained on satellite images.
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a system that makes pesticides stick to plant leaves, reducing waste and costs for farmers. The new technology, which involves coating droplets with an oily material, improves the 'stickiness' of the droplets by up to a hundredfold.
A recent study from the University of Georgia found that female farm owners and managers face specific challenges such as animal mortality, succession planning and gender roles. These stressors can be overlooked in broader studies of agricultural well-being.
Scientists at UC Riverside discovered a way to exploit parasitic plant hormones to induce
A new study from the University of Illinois explores how heat stress affects US dairy production, finding a 1% decline in annual milk yield due to high heat and humidity. Small farms are hit harder than large farms, with yields declining by 1.6% annually.
Researchers demonstrate a new technique for encapsulating beneficial bacteria that can be stored and applied to plants to improve growth and protect against pests. The technique enables customized probiotics for plants, allowing farmers to use these bacteria in conjunction with agrochemicals.
Research proposes a new methodology for dynamically optimizing solar panel positioning based on the light needs of crops. Advanced ray tracing techniques are used to evaluate the distribution of solar radiation, enabling the automation of design optimization of agrivoltaic systems.
A new study estimates that US agriculture needs a 5-8% per year growth in research investment or $2.2 billion to $3.8 billion in additional funding to maintain productivity through 2050. The urgency is driven by the impact of climate change, which takes time to be addressed through publicly funded research and development.
The AGRI4POL project aims to transform agriculture into a positive force for biodiversity and crop pollination services. It will deliver an integrated analysis of the crop-farming system-pollinator interplay across biological organisation levels.
A special issue of the Journal of Dairy Science provides detailed technical recommendations for developing and implementing feed additives to reduce methane emissions from ruminants. The guidelines cover testing, trial, and modeling phases to ensure efficacy and safety.
The International Workshop on Space Agriculture and Horticulture 2025 will take place from March 9-11, 2025, at Chiba University. Researchers and postgraduate students can register for free via a Google form, with a registration deadline of March 7, 2025.
Researchers found that a combination of preemergence and postemergence herbicide treatments provided the greatest and most consistent weed control in early planted soybean. The study's results suggest that using both PRE and POST treatments can optimize weed control outcomes and yield in early planted soybeans.
A new study reveals that a rise in temperature by more than 1.5°C could lead to a marked decline in crop diversity, impacting global food security. Low-latitude regions are particularly vulnerable, with up to half of their crop production at risk.
The amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed for corn production has been rising due to increased yield demands and nutrient loss during wetter springs. Improving efficiency through practices like crop rotation and spring fertilizer application can help reduce environmental losses.
Researchers highlight the need for policymakers to learn from existing multistakeholder forums and implement 'real-world' changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote equity in Vietnam's food systems. The study suggests a holistic, cross-sectoral approach is necessary to address the issue.
New University of Sheffield research reveals agrivoltaics can meet UK electricity demand four times over, boosting crop yields and conserving water. Regions identified for effective deployment include Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England.