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09/27/2018 / By Jhoanna Robinson

Natural cycles: Cover crops bring balance to ecology

University of Illinois researchers have found another reason to plant cover crops: It seems that migratory birds prefer to rest in fields with cover crops. “We think cover crops, such as cereal rye, likely provide migrating birds with more vegetation and a safe area to escape from the elements and from predators. Cover crops also […]

09/24/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Scientists find a way to increase soybean yield through biological fixation, could remove the need for nitrogen fertilizers

Nitrogen fertilizers are a double-edged sword for soybean farmers. While they’re vital for large crops, they’re also expensive and potential pollutants. Thankfully, Brazilian researchers found a different way to boost yields by increasing the number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the plant’s roots, according to a ScienceDaily report. Nitrogen is essential to the production of protein. Soybeans […]

09/20/2018 / By Janine Acero

Balance is key: Farmers must maintain soil health to successfully grow both free-range pigs and energy crops

Owning livestock is a huge responsibility. Free-range farmers must ensure that their pigs do not cause permanent harm to the environment. Free-range pig farming is typically associated with a high risk of nitrogen loss in the soil known as leaching, as the pigs cause an uneven distribution of mineral nitrogen in the soil through their […]

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 […]

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 […]

06/05/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Tomato plants “eavesdrop” on snails to build preemptive defenses

New research could change the way you see the tomato. Findings published in this year’s March edition of Oecologia indicate that this salad favorite can detect an incoming attack from pests and launch a preemptive defense system that deters various herbivorous species. John Orrock, an ecologist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that tomatoes can […]

06/04/2018 / By Michelle Simmons

Modern farming has made it more difficult for honeybees to store food, new study concludes

Honeybees are facing an uphill battle when it comes to food storage as a result of modern farming practices, according to a study in the open access journal Ecology and Evolution. The study also suggested that commercial forestry and even our practices in the garden contribute to the challenges that honeybees face in storing food. […]

05/26/2018 / By Zoey Sky

A simple guide to creating a pollinator-friendly garden

Bees and butterflies do more than fly around flowers. As a homesteader, it is important to understand the role of pollinators in keeping the plants in your garden thriving. Pollination is the process by which insects – like bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and honeybees – called pollinators help move pollen from one plant to another to facilitate fertilization. If your […]

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