Entries by Tracy Mumma

Spanish Researchers Calculating Soil Footprint of Crops

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Researchers at the University of Córdoba in Spain are proposing a method to calculate, compare and communicate how different crops affect the loss of agricultural soil. While concepts like the carbon footprint or water footprint of different crops are well understood, the soil-erosion effects that particular crops have are less recognized. These scientists developed the […]

How Human and Ecosystem Health Intertwine

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By NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater Sometimes cause and effect are easy to understand. Habitat destruction, for example, obviously leads to a decline for those creatures that depend on that habitat. Less milkweed means fewer monarch butterflies. Cause, effect. But sometimes the cause and effect are not immediately apparent. Take this example outlined in […]

New Tool Identifies Optimal Photovoltaic Materials for Agrisolar Performance

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Scientists from Swansea University in the United Kingdom have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximizing crop growth while generating solar power in agrivoltaic installations. The team has developed an innovative freeware tool that predicts the light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials in nearly […]

California Explores Agave as Heat- and Drought-Tolerant Alternative Crop

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As part of its week-long focus on food and climate change, National Public Radio reported on California agriculture’s interest in agave as an alternative crop. Unlike many other crops, agave can grow with just three inches of water each year, and it is tolerant of high heat. More producers are planting agave in California, and […]

Small, Black-owned Farms Practicing Climate Farming

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As part of National Public Radio’s week dedicated to coverage of food and climate, a story highlighted small, Black-owned farms in the Gulf South that are choosing crops and farming practices with the climate in mind. For example, Louisiana farmer Hilery Gobert grows diverse crops, utilizes cover crops, and produces rice using drip irrigation rather […]

Study Links Higher Pesticide Use to Increased Infant Mortality

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Research published in the journal Science and reported in The New York Times showed that when bat populations declined from disease, farmers increased their pesticide use to address increased insect pressure on crops. In turn, this led to higher infant mortality, scientists found. Specifically, pesticide use in U.S. counties affected by white-nose disease in bats […]

USDA Announces Investments in Specialty Crops and Organic Agriculture

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USDA announced an investment of nearly $121 million to advance research and Extension activities that aim to solve key challenges facing specialty crop and organic agriculture producers. The announcement includes $70.4 million to fund 17 projects as part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative. An additional $50.5 million […]

Pilot Program Paying Farmers to Use Untreated Seed

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American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is launching an Untreated Seed Pilot Program that offers funding on a per-acre basis to American growers and producers interested in sourcing and using corn, soybean, and cereal-crop seeds not coated with neonicotinoid insecticides. The program aims to support beneficial insect populations which contribute to healthy habitats for birds. Pilot program […]

Adapting Bread for Climate Change

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As part of a series on climate change and food, National Public Radio featured research by Washington State University’s Breadlab, which is developing flours made from a mix of grains adapted to withstand intense weather brought about by climate change. Although industry has focused for years on making grain, and the flour ground from it, […]

New Tool Helps Producers in Search for Organic Certifiers

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USDA’s National Organic Program announced a new tool to help producers and handlers interested in organic certification connect with USDA accredited certifiers. Anyone interested in attaining organic certification can now use the Organic Certification Interest Form to answer a few questions about their business activities and products they want certified organic. Completed interest forms will […]