…the soil microorganisms. The SOM also builds the sponge that allows the farm to thrive on less water, says Zahangir Kabir, Soil Health Specialist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service…
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Research Beneficial to Agriculture
…our tour we discussed research initiatives on climate change, water efficiency, soil health and urban agriculture. Those are all crucial pieces as we look to position food production to meet…
Environmental Assessment for the Biological Control of Giant Reed
Courtesy of California Invasive Plant Council USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites the public to review and comment on the draft environmental assessment relative to the control…
Food and Ag Science Will Shape Our Future
…cholesterol and weight-gain A portable method for identifying harmful bacteria in food that prevents foodborne illness and safeguards public health A new soil nitrogen test that rapidly and inexpensively determines…
Scientists Work to Define Threat from Palm Pest
…who directs the Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, talked about potential regulatory responses to the threat; besides trapping and…
USDA Expands Working-Lands Conservation Opportunities through CRP
…grasslands per farm. USDA’s goal is to enroll up to 200,000 acres. “For 30 years, lands in the Conservation Reserve Program have contributed to soil and water protection and wildlife…
USDA Seeks Applications for Conservation Innovation Grants
…of the effects of water management and soil health practices to minimize off-site impacts of natural resource challenges, such as excess sediment and nutrient runoff; Pay-for-success models that stimulate conservation…
Higher Dose of Vitamin D May Benefit Pregnant Women
…Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and overall health, but the amount our bodies make from sunlight exposure and obtain from foods is not always enough, particularly for pregnant…
Funding to Ensure Access to Needed Veterinary Services
…school loans in return for serving in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources critical to America’s food safety, food security, and to the health and well-being of animals and humans. The…
Lab System Aims to Protect State’s Livestock
…expensive—outbreak of avian influenza, with millions of birds depopulated. Cutler said California poultry farms avoided a catastrophe thanks in large part to the work of the California Animal Health and…
Looking for ‘Natural Enemies’ in Asia to Control Invasive Plants
…including threats to biodiversity, decreased agricultural yields, and impacts to human health. Biological control represents some of the most cost-effective and sustainable methods of long-term control of invasive species. Foreign…
Food and Forestry Research and Development Projects
…multiple USDA agencies including NIFA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service and U.S. Forest Service. Examples of projects that…
Ag Economy Barometer Dips
…collection began back in October of 2015. Producers’ expectations of the long-term health of the ag economy dove in October, with the Index of Future Expectations dropping to 95 in…
GMO Article Paints Incomplete Picture
…well. GMO technology provides for weed control without tilling the soil multiple times. This has dramatically increased the use of conservation tillage, reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, and reduced…