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environment

09/07/2018 / By Rhonda Johansson

Moving away from chemicals: Consumer demand for cleaner food has researchers exploring plant-based extracts to protect against insects

The concept of achieving food independence is a lofty goal, but one which will not likely happen in the near future. It is evident that we still need to rely on big food manufacturers for our daily meals, even as we pray that what we put into our mouth is not laced with the various […]

08/27/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Conservationists looking at fungi to restore native plant populations

More than five million species of fungi have been identified so far, but only about 300 are known to make people sick. Fungi – both the “good” and the “bad” ones – play a vital role in the ecosystem, something that conservationists from Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities) are demonstrating through their research. Tanya […]

08/23/2018 / By Michelle Simmons

Natural pest management: Peach farmers are reducing crop loss to stink bugs by planting grains to lure them away

Scientists from Auburn University in the U.S. found a way to manage pest naturally. They discovered that planting different grain crops attract pests away from the fruit, resulting to lesser crop loss. For the study, the research team analyzed six winter host crops and six summer host crops as possible trap crops or attractant crops for […]

08/21/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Minnesotan farmers use 10-15% more fertilizer than they actually need for healthy crops

Minnesota’s farmers are using more fertilizer than needed, say the state’s agricultural officials. The state government’s response to regulate the use of nitrogen fertilizer – a bid to ensure clean drinking water at, according to detractors, the risk of impairing one of Minnesota’s biggest industries – is seemingly a question of which gets the higher […]

08/20/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The amount of protein found in corn depends on the type of insects that attack it

It can be hard to imagine plants proactively defending themselves from danger, but a study published in Springer Nature says they do, even going as far as modifying their own chemistry. It’s no secret that plants’ ability to defend themselves is somewhat limited. Unlike animals, they don’t have claws or teeth with which to threaten […]

08/07/2018 / By Zoey Sky

New detection method helps coffee farmers fight back against microscopic parasites damaging their crops

Coffee plants, which are used to create one of the most sought-after drinks around the globe, are being attacked by parasites. However, scientists are looking into a detection method that can help farmers protect their crops. While the microscopic worms exist in various soil samples from coffee farms, they’re immediately spotted because of a simple […]

08/02/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Applied insect ecologist says that neonicotinoid insecticides are used far more heavily than necessary, causing huge ecological damage

You’re probably aware by now that the use of neonicotinoid pesticides is threatening bee populations around the world. While this remains a serious concern, one expert has stated that he feels the focus on bees has obscured even greater concerns about the use of these chemicals. Applied insect ecologist John F. Tooker says the bigger […]

07/28/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Alternative tools for weed management, such as flame weeding, can be useful for crops such as field corn and winter wheat

Anybody who grows plants, whether it’s in a garden or a farm, knows how big a problem weeds can be. They can a huge challenge for organic farmers who cannot use synthetic herbicides lest they lose their organic certification. Propane-fueled flame weeding is just one of several alternative tools and approaches being developed to manage weeds […]

07/01/2018 / By Vicki Batts

SELLOUTS: The EPA’s pesticide approval office is funded by pesticide manufacturers and relies on their submitted data as “science”

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs is supposed to be responsible for producing independent analyses of pesticides. But is that what they really do? Like other federal agencies (à la the FDA), the Office of Pesticides does no actual studies or research of their own; instead, they review data provided to them by pesticide manufacturers. […]

06/20/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Natural is always better: Using predators to protect crops instead of herbicides boosts profit and conserves wildlife

Farmers in northwestern Michigan may have just found a way to hit two birds with one stone, figuratively speaking: They’ve been luring falcons to their farms to naturally cull pests and protect their crops, reducing their dependency on poison and pesticide use along the process. Since the 1990s, local orchardists have been using kestrels, a […]

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