Entries by Tracy Mumma

Analysis Tools Can Help Farmers Calculate Economics of Agrivoltaics

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The University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a new set of analytical tools to help farmers calculate whether agrivoltaics make economic sense for them. The two spreadsheet-based tools consist of a crop-specific logbook to analyze farm-level activities and a whole-farm tool to calculate aggregate projections for trade-offs between crop production with or without agrivoltaics. The spreadsheets […]

Study Finds Increasing Plant Diversity Promotes Carbon Sequestration

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A study carried out at the University of Helsinki demonstrates that boosting plant diversity in agriculture can increase plant biomass and improve plant–microbe interactions, both of which promote the storage of carbon in the soil. The study investigated whether increasing plant diversity through use of undersown species in field ecosystems can affect the structure and […]

Report Offers Analysis of Conservation Stewardship Program Enrollment

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The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has published Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill. This report delves into Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) enrollment from fiscal year 2019 to 2023, uncovering trends in program spending and practices that have significantly enhanced environmental outcomes at the farm, state, and national levels. “This report shows that […]

Minnesota Unveils Farm to Kids Strategic Plan

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture unveiled the state’s first-ever Farm to Kids Strategic Plan. Developed collaboratively by Farm to School and Early Care partners across Minnesota, this plan is a five-year roadmap for advancing local procurement and agricultural education in K-12 schools and early care settings. Using insights collected from robust stakeholder engagement with producers, […]

Pawpaw Popularity Growing

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National Public Radio’s All Things Considered reported on efforts to increase the popularity of the pawpaw. It’s a fruit that can be grown in 40 states, yet it’s not often seen in stores, due to its short shelf life. Advocates see an opportunity to improve the crop through directed plant breeding, to make it a […]

Oregon State University Releases Mild Habanero Peppers

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Oregon State University has developed two new habanero pepper varieties that deliver the food’s signature flavor without the heat. Vegetable breeder Jim Myers spent 25 years developing ‘Notta Hotta’ and ‘Mild Thing.’ Oregon State University officials are ready to work with seed companies to license the peppers, and Myers anticipates that growers will be able […]

Global Centers Competition Invests in Bioeconomy Research

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The U.S. National Science Foundation and partner agencies in the U.S., Canada, Finland, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United Kingdom announced funding awards totaling nearly $82 million in their Global Centers competition. The 2024 Global Centers awards focus on advancing bioeconomy research to solve global challenges, whether by increasing crop resilience, converting plant […]

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 […]

USDA Explains Rule Changes to Help Child Nutrition Programs Purchase Local Products

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USDA Food and Nutrition Service published a memo on the recent expansion of the geographic preference option in the final rule “Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” that was published on April 25, 2024. Changes to the rule help ease challenges for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) related to […]

Agrivoltaics Help Keep the ‘Farm’ in ‘Solar Farm’

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National Public Radio’s Morning Edition reported on research in Iowa that’s exploring how to preserve agriculturally valuable land and produce energy at the same time through agrivoltaic development. Researchers from Iowa State University are testing different configurations of solar panels with a variety of crops to find out what combinations work best. The arrangement can […]