Conservation NewsBriefs Archive

Farmers need to adapt crops to climate change to stay profitable, experts say

Climate change has become more and more real for Americans over the past few decades. Sea level rise has been a problem on the East Coast, wildfires have been getting more intense on the West Coast. And weather in the Midwest and...

source: MarketPlace

The hemp hype dies down

It's been nearly two years since the 2018 farm bill was signed into law, legalizing industrial hemp production nationwide and fueling hopes of a hemp farming boom. But that hasn't panned out yet, with growers around the country still struggling to reap the benefits of the...

source: POLITICO

Best farming practices for soil health vary by region

Farmers can use a variety of practices to keep their soils healthy. Some of these practices include not tilling the land, planting cover crops between growing seasons and rotating the type of crop grown on each field. However, research published in Agricultural & Environmental...

source: American Society of Agronomy via Phys.org

Use of switchgrass growing in popularity for ag conservation

Will switchgrass, a tall, resilient and fast-growing native plant once familiar to pioneers, become the next cash crop for farmers in states in the Chesapeake Bay drainage? In a convergence of promising developments, a new study gives switchgrass lofty environmental grades...

source: Bay Journal

Make agriculture a key to reconcile with our planet

The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted political priorities across the globe, drawing attention away from the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, this pandemic should reinforce efforts to transition to sustainable practices in all sectors,...

source: The Parliament Magazine

Soils contribute greatly to forest fire carbon emissions

As climate warming stokes longer fire seasons and more severe fires in North American boreal forests, calculating how much carbon each fire burns grows more urgent. The amount depends more on available fuels than fire weather, shows new research from Northern Arizona University...

source: Michigan Tech

Thawing permafrost releases organic compounds into the air

When permafrost thaws due to global warming, not only the greenhouse gases known to all, but also organic compounds are released from the soil. They may have a significant impact on climate change.

source: University of Helsinki via ScienceDaily

Cover crops enhance soil health

Fall harvest has started but farmers also need to think about planting cover crops. USDA-SARE publication (10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health) states "Cover crops lead to better soil health and potentially better farm profits." Here is a 10-point summary.

source: Ohio's Country Journal

Building a tradition of diversity and soil health

When David Neuharth started his 3Y3 Ranch in the 1980s near Hayes, South Dakota, he noticed a trend among area producers. "Everything in this country and in Stanley County around in the area was pretty much a 50-50 deal," David said. "Half summer fallow ... and the other...

source: Aberdeen News

These simple farming techniques can curb greenhouse gas emissions

Saving our climate — and the future of food — could be as simple as planting fields of clover or putting cows to pasture on wheat fields in winter. These steps could go a long way in reducing farmers' need for artificial...

source: Canada's National Observer

Solar-powered system extracts drinkable water from 'dry' air

Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have significantly boosted the output from a system that can extract drinkable water directly from the air even in dry regions, using heat from the sun or another source.

source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology via ScienceDaily

Cover crop could solve weed problems for edamame growers

For vegetable growers, weeds can mean lost income from reduced yield and foreign plant matter contaminating the harvest. But for many crops, particularly vegetable legumes, weed management options are very limited. Cover crops such as cereal rye reduce weed competition...

source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign via Phys.org

Researchers look into the effects of repeated droughts on different kinds of forests

Drought is endemic to the American West along with heatwaves and intense wildfires. But scientists are only beginning to understand how the effects of multiple droughts can compound to affect forests differently than a single drought alone.

source: University of California - Santa Barbara via Phys.org

Rule change helps producers implement more conservation activities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback...

source: Morning Ag Clips

Micro irrigation: Conserving water, promoting safe food

Micro irrigation sounds interesting ... and small? It is not literally, what it sounds like. Micro irrigation is the delivery of water to crops in a system that can directly deliver water to the plants roots. While this type of irrigation is not suited for all operations,...

source: Record-Eagle

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Delaying vote on California's Delta Tunnels gives estuary hope

Farmers need to adapt crops to climate change to stay profitable, experts say

The hemp hype dies down

Best farming practices for soil health vary by region

Use of switchgrass growing in popularity for ag conservation

Make agriculture a key to reconcile with our planet

Soils contribute greatly to forest fire carbon emissions

Thawing permafrost releases organic compounds into the air

Cover crops enhance soil health

Building a tradition of diversity and soil health

These simple farming techniques can curb greenhouse gas emissions

Solar-powered system extracts drinkable water from 'dry' air

Cover crop could solve weed problems for edamame growers

Researchers look into the effects of repeated droughts on different kinds of forests

Rule change helps producers implement more conservation activities

Micro irrigation: Conserving water, promoting safe food

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