Farming & Agriculture News

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)

Articles about Farming & Agriculture

Democrats: Climate change may force women into prostitution

Tue, Apr 30 2013 at 10:51 AM

A new resolution focuses on the specific hardships that women will endure in the face of global warming.
Do you know who farms your flowers?

Mon, Apr 29 2013 at 9:12 AM

The USDA wants Americans to 'Know Their Farmers, Know Their Flowers.'
2013's updated Dirty Dozen produce list

Mon, Apr 22 2013 at 12:36 PM

Each year the Environmental Working Group ranks supermarket produce by its pesticide load. The top offenders become the Dirty Dozen, the fruits and vegetables you should consider buying in their organic form.
West Virginia gave world indestructible tomato

Fri, Apr 19 2013 at 12:21 PM

West Virginia University is giving away free packets of seeds for what has been dubbed 'the people's tomato.'
How small-scale farmers are growing more rice with less water and fewer chemicals

Mon, Apr 15 2013 at 11:34 AM

SRI surprises agribusiness giants with its record-breaking harvests.
The fight over whether raw milk is safe continues

Fri, Apr 12 2013 at 2:39 PM

A recent CDC report on raw milk receives backlash from raw milk supporters.
Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act aims to increase production of local foods

Wed, Apr 10 2013 at 7:46 AM

A new bill seeks to make fresh, healthy food more accessible to consumers and support the farmers who grow it.
New laws would punish those who shoot undercover video of livestock abuse

Tue, Apr 09 2013 at 1:17 PM

Videos from PETA and other organizations have helped to uncover animals living in unsafe and inhumane conditions. But a new law may prohibit the practice.
Some Colorado towns could rake in millions from legal marijuana sales

Mon, Apr 08 2013 at 10:16 PM

If Aurora, Colo., treated marijuana shops like it does liquor stores, the city could bring in almost $3 million in annual tax revenue.
Another advantage of greener neighborhoods: Less crime

Mon, Apr 08 2013 at 11:38 AM

New research from Philadelphia shows that urban vegetation actually deters crime, the opposite of what most urban planners say.

MNN - Mother Nature Network

Farming & Agriculture

Articles about Farming & Agriculture

Democrats: Climate change may force women into prostitution

Do you know who farms your flowers?

2013's updated Dirty Dozen produce list

West Virginia gave world indestructible tomato

How small-scale farmers are growing more rice with less water and fewer chemicals

The fight over whether raw milk is safe continues

Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act aims to increase production of local foods

New laws would punish those who shoot undercover video of livestock abuse

Some Colorado towns could rake in millions from legal marijuana sales

Another advantage of greener neighborhoods: Less crime

EDITOR'S PICKS

TODAY'S MOST POPULAR