USDA is investing $124 million in renewable energy and fertilizer production projects, through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). This announcement represents an investment of more than $120 million in 541 REAP projects across 44 states, including wind, solar, and biomass energy installations. In addition, USDA is […]

Research from the University of California, Davis, published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, sheds light on better managing cattle grazing behavior. A two-year study of cattle fitted with GPS collars showed that some individuals had more grazing pattern variability, regardless of age or stage of pregnancy. Selecting these “nomadic” cattle, as indicated by […]

Scientists at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom say that using phosphorus more efficiently could extend its supply to more than 500 years. However, they warn that phosphorus is currently overused on 30% to 40% of farm soils, with the highest overuse in European and North American countries. Additionally, the scientists found that nearly three-quarters […]

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics published a study that explores the design of an affordable, farm-level operable kiln for biochar production and examines the properties of the biochar produced by this system. The system is aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in aiding agriculture’s shift towards net-zero emissions and in preventing soil […]

A study published in Science and conducted by researchers at UC Santa Barbara, University of British Columbia, and University of Colorado Boulder explored the complicated relationship between organic farming and pesticide use on neighboring fields. “We find that organic cropland generally leads to a decrease in pesticide use on nearby organic fields,” said lead author […]