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Agriculture

Controlling wild pigs can work if it’s a group effort

Feral swine are found in at least 35 states in the U.S.
Teaming groups of private landowners with federal efforts yielded measurable success, at least in terms of defending cornfields.
Chris Boyer, University of Tennessee; Aaron Smith, University of Tennessee, and Eunchun Park, University of Arkansas, The Conversation
Thursday, August 13

As family farms decline and the climate heats up, farmers weigh what to do with their land

Grist reports that as family farms decline and climate change impacts agriculture, farmers like John Boyer are grappling with land preservation amid rising pressures.

Vivian La for Grist
10 hours ago

What data on 11K farms reveals about the country’s factory farm hotbed

Sentient Media reports Iowa has the most factory farms, producing 170 billion pounds of manure annually, leading to severe water pollution and health risks, including cancer.

John McCracken for Sentient Media
4 days ago

Who shops at farmers markets in the US?

It’s not always a love of radishes that draws shoppers to these stalls. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images via The Conversation

Only about 1 in 5 of the Americans surveyed shop at farmers markets because they care a lot about food and enjoy buying, preparing and eating fresh food.

Bret R. Shaw, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Conversation
Monday, June 15
Agriculture news from Around the Nation
A sign warns passers-by that irrigation in the area uses treated sewage wastewater.
Cyclospora spreads through human waste – so how did it get on food?
US sewage treatment plants likely don’t get rid of all the disease-causing protozoa, and monitoring discharged wastewater for it is difficult.
Joan Rose, Michigan State University, The Conversation
Monday, August 10
Farmers hope to make New Jersey the hazelnut capital of America
A small but widening group of pioneers are working to make hazelnuts as much of a signature New Jersey crop as tomatoes and corn.
Dana DiFilippo
Tuesday, June 16
Iowa crops rated well despite heavy rain, damaging storms
Damaging storms, one of which reached derecho status, spread across Iowa over the past week, but the state’s crop conditions remain stable, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a news release Monday that severe storms damaged crops and homes in eastern and southern Iowa during […]
Cami Koons
Monday, June 15
Pseudorabies eradicated from Iowa, state ag department reports
Pseudorabies, a disease that primarily impacts swine, is again considered eradicated in Iowa, after the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed a spring outbreak did not spread to other farms.  The virus was detected April 30 in a small Iowa herd that was later depopulated, per U.S. Department of Agriculture protocol. According to […]
Cami Koons
Monday, June 15
A voter guide to Alabama’s primary runoffs
Voters across Alabama go to the polls Tuesday to select party nominees for the 2026 midterm elections in five statewide and six legislative primary runoff elections.  Sample ballots for all 67 counties can be found on the Secretary of State’s website. Alabama has open primaries, so voters can ask for a Democratic or Republican ballot […]
Anna Barrett
Monday, June 15
A spreader sprays sewage sludge, which is rich in phosphorus, across a farm in Oklahoma.
Why too much phosphorus in America’s farmland is polluting the country’s water
Plants need phosphorus, and other nutrients, to grow. But soil tests can’t tell if there’s too much.
Dinesh Phuyal, University of Florida, The Conversation
Monday, January 26
American farmers face a changing future for their businesses.
American farmers, who once fed the world, face a volatile global market with diminishing federal backing
The US government used to have American farmers’ backs, but that support has been dwindling for decades. New subsidies signal big changes for farmers.
Peter Simons, Hamilton College, The Conversation
Friday, January 16
‘Ask for help’ mental health resources and stress management tips for farmers
Communication with loved ones, neighbors and mental health professionals can be a key piece of addressing the stressors and mental health issues that affect farmers at higher rates than other professions.  According to the National Rural Health Association, suicide rates are “significantly higher” in rural areas than in urban areas and farmers die by suicide […]
Cami Koons
Saturday, January 3
A biologist maintains a large population of black soldier flies for protein farming.
Genomics can help insect farmers avoid pitfalls of domestication
Considering how easily bird flu swept through chicken farms, it’s clear that domestication has downsides. Lessons from the past paired with modern genomic technology can help with farming insects.
Christine Picard, Indiana University and Hector Rosche-Flores, Indiana University, The Conversation
Friday, August 15, 2025
This dairy farm in California's Central Valley has installed solar panels on a portion of its land.
California farmers identify a hot new cash crop: Solar power
Solar is helping farmers in California save water and secure reliable income in the face of drought and economic pressure.
Jacob Stid, Michigan State University; Annick Anctil, Michigan State University, and Anthony Kendall, Michigan State University, The Conversation
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Environmental News from around the web
A rescued Florida panther, one of fewer than 300 of the endangered big cats alive today, is released into the wild.
3 iconic animals show the value of the US Endangered Species Act – and the harm in stripping it away
The stories of a whale, a panther and a butterfly help explain why new interpretations of the Endangered Species Act could be catastrophic for species’ survival.
Timothy Randhir, UMass Amherst, The Conversation
4 hours ago
Power out? Here's how to keep your fridge on
(BPT) - If you've ever endured a power outage for any length of time, you know what a hassle it is. And one of the biggest issues? The loss of food and/or medications in your fridge and freezer. What …
9 hours ago
Canada’s sustainable finance taxonomy: What it is, what is happening, and what’s coming next
Future of Good reports on Canada's sustainable finance taxonomy aimed at ensuring credible "green" investments as the country seeks $115 billion for net-zero targets by 2050.
Diane Berard for Future of Good
10 hours ago
The Louisiana fishermen refusing to go down with the ship
Atmos reports on Louisiana fishermen struggling against the impacts of a massive LNG plant in Cameron, which destroys their fishing grounds and livelihoods.
Katie Hill for Atmos
3 days ago
Come hell or high water: How a small town became a blueprint for building climate resilience
Atmos reports on Machias, Maine, a small town facing extreme flooding due to climate change. 
Katie Hill for Atmos
4 days ago
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