Advice | Community | State Reports | Videos | Photos | Blogs
Join | Login
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Earth Matters Lifestyle Technology Business Transportation Home Food Family
  • Green News Roundup
  • Our Bloggers
  • MNN TV
  • Community
  • State Reports
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Climate Change
  • Wilderness & Resources
  • Energy
  • Politics
  • Translating Uncle Sam
  • Cars
  • Planes, trains, bikes
  • Shipping
  • Green Office
  • Finance
  • Green Jobs
  • Building, Products, Supplies
  • Research & Innovations
  • Computers
  • Gadgets & Electronics
  • Cooking & Recipes
  • Farms & Gardens
  • Markets & Groceries
  • Dining Out
  • Beer
  • Wine & Spirits
  • Building & Remodeling
  • Interior & Design
  • Gardening & Landscaping
  • Household Products
  • Recycling
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Books
  • Ecollywood
  • Health & Well-being
  • My Green Day
  • Travel
  • Pets & Animals
  • Baby
  • Education & Activities
  • Holiday
MNN.COM > Eco-Glossary

Farming & Agriculture

 
With the vastly increased productivity of today's farmer comes added responsibility to ensure the environment is protected and the production is sustainable.
 
Agricultural practices can be very damaging. They contaminate rivers and streams, resulting in fish kills, reduced biodiversity, increased turbidity, eutrophication, algal blooms and more problems that can impact human and animal health. Agriculture is also a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
 

However, one should not overlook its many positive environmental benefits. Agricultural practices that conserve soil and increase productivity while improving soil quality also increase the amount of carbon-rich organic matter in soils, thereby providing a global depository for CO2 drawn from the atmosphere by growing plants. The same farming practices that promote soil conservation also decrease the amount of CO2 accumulating in the atmosphere. (Source: EPA / Photo: Flickr) 

Recent Stories


Federal regulators launch probe of big agriculture

Wed, Mar 10 2010 at 4:27 AM EST

The first joint workshops on agriculture are expected to give strong indication of where the Obama administration stands on consolidation in agriculture.


Is Detroit doing the right thing?

Wed, Mar 10 2010 at 12:54 AM EST

Does it really make environmental sense for Detroit to tear down large swaths of abandoned neighborhoods to build urban farms?


Growing your own cracker garden

Tue, Mar 09 2010 at 7:44 AM EST

An unlikely new campaign from Triscuit aims to educate cracker-snackers about the many joys of backyard farming.


What can you do about the tomato shortage?

Tue, Mar 09 2010 at 12:11 AM EST

A cold winter has damaged tomato crops. How can you make do in a shortage?


Canada rolling out plastic money in 2011

Fri, Mar 05 2010 at 4:25 PM EST

Next year our neighbors to the north are releasing two new bills made with plastic fibers that will last longer and cut down on the spread of germs.


Frigid winter bad news for tomato lovers

Fri, Mar 05 2010 at 8:23 AM EST

Record cold temperatures in Florida -- the nation's main source for winter tomatoes -- have destroyed the crop and sent prices through the roof.


Good for what ails you: Cow dung and urine

Thu, Mar 04 2010 at 1:49 AM EST

Hindu nationalist groups applaud the new bovine products based on sacred beliefs and medicinal remedies.


Manure becomes major pollution problem

Wed, Mar 03 2010 at 4:13 PM EST

Manure generated by large factory farms doesn't just stink, it may also face government regulation.


Cows to chardonnay: Can Connecticut dairy farms change?

Wed, Mar 03 2010 at 6:08 AM EST

Researchers hope to help dairy producers fill growing interest in specialty crops such as grapes.


Tuesday links: Reagan busted, Van Jones is back

Tue, Mar 02 2010 at 8:28 PM EST

Pillow flash mobs might get a hefty clean up bill while farmer flash mobs help small farms clean up, Dubai springs a leak, and Plastiki is done!


  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • �
  • >>
  • >|

ADVERTISEMENT

Mother Nature. Delivered.

MNN's weekly newsletter sent straight to your inbox.
Follow us on Twitter Fan us on Facebook


Quick Links

  • Earth Matters
  • Transportation
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Food
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Family

 

  • Advice
  • Community
  • State Reports
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Blogs

MNN Tools

  • Join MNN
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Eco-glossary
  • Widgets
  • MNN Contests
  • MNN Lists
  • MNN Mobile

All About MNN

  • About us
  • Advisory Board
  • Press
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us
 

Copyright © 2010 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by COLOCUBE
 
SPONSORS