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

USDA rescinds recommendation for Meatless Mondays

Thu, Jul 26 2012 at 3:14 PM

After initially suggesting that employees eat less meat, the agency bows to pressure from the livestock industry.
Southern French worms wriggle as far north as Ireland

Tue, Jul 24 2012 at 7:37 PM

Earthworms has been discovered colonizing an Ireland farm, possibly aided by global warming to thrive so far north of their natural habitat.
Small Guatemalan coffee farmers benefit from sustainable certification

Tue, Jul 24 2012 at 4:22 PM

With the help of the Rainforest Alliance, an association of 52 small coffee farmers are farming more sustainably and getting more money for their coffee — and they're making the future better for their children.
Amid drought, U.S. opens up land for grazing, haying

Tue, Jul 24 2012 at 7:27 AM

The Obama administration opens up protected U.S. land to help farmers and encourages crop insurance companies to forgo charging interest for a month.
USDA to host live local foods Twitter chat

Mon, Jul 23 2012 at 9:41 AM

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will answer questions about Know Your Farmer Know Your Food and other local foods questions.
Clover Stornetta Farms adds solar cogeneration project

Mon, Jul 23 2012 at 8:00 AM

A new project at a California farm delivers electricity and hot water through one system.
Watch: How blueberries go from the farm to your table

Thu, Jul 19 2012 at 3:37 PM

In honor of National Blueberry Month, ‘The Chew’ visits a blueberry farm in Hammonton, N.J. to see the technology behind choosing the perfect berries.
U.S. drought worst in 25 years, food prices expected to rise

Wed, Jul 18 2012 at 3:59 PM

The U.S. is the world's biggest producer of corn and soybeans, but some farmers may be forced to harvest crops early to sell cheaply as animal feed.
Drought conditions could increase prices on meat and other food items

Tue, Jul 17 2012 at 4:54 PM

With wilting corn crops in the Midwest, rising prices for corn could be inevitable. This could lead to more expensive prices for beef, pork, poultry and other food items. It could also impact global food prices.
Is a prairie dog smarter than an industrial farmer?

Mon, Jul 16 2012 at 2:40 PM

Industrial agriculture likes to pretend it's all about domination and control. Its true motive force, though, is hubris. In farming, as in all things, the most powerful innovation engine is nature, not industry.

MNN - Mother Nature Network

Farming & Agriculture

Articles about Farming & Agriculture

USDA rescinds recommendation for Meatless Mondays

Southern French worms wriggle as far north as Ireland

Small Guatemalan coffee farmers benefit from sustainable certification

Amid drought, U.S. opens up land for grazing, haying

USDA to host live local foods Twitter chat

Clover Stornetta Farms adds solar cogeneration project

Watch: How blueberries go from the farm to your table

U.S. drought worst in 25 years, food prices expected to rise

Drought conditions could increase prices on meat and other food items

Is a prairie dog smarter than an industrial farmer?

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