Farming is reliant on soil to produce food. The main long-term threat to the soil is erosion by wind and water. Wind erosion is a soil health thief. In both sandy and […]
How does wind erosion affect farming in Washington state?
Why are seeds of different sizes and shapes?
Seeds come in different sizes and shapes across plant species. They range from dust-sized seeds in orchids to double coconut Lodoicea (yes, coconuts are seeds!). Depending on geographical location and the prevailing […]
The incredible, edible seed
Think about all the animals at the zoo. Even though the elephant looks drastically different from the eagle, they each share common functions for survival. Including humans, all animals (with few exceptions) […]
How does the USDA help make global seed trade safer?
Whether you garden, farm, research plants, or develop new plant varieties, healthy seeds are critical to your success. Seeds are also big business. In 2018, global seed exports were worth more than […]
Protecting seeds: The what, why, and how of seed treatments
For millennia, people have understood the need to protect seeds. They are precious packets of life that bring us food. As early as 2000 BC, there are records of people soaking seeds […]
How are seeds labeled for a farmer’s purchase?
When planning their successful farming enterprise, farmers often start with buying high-quality seed. Before even reaching the marketplace, Certified Seed goes through inspection to ensure: the amount of weed seeds present does […]
What are the long-term effects of the Fukushima disaster on local agronomy?
On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the unprecedented Tohoku earthquake. It was the largest in Japan’s history, and created a massive tsunami that impacted Japan’s northeastern coast. A result of the earthquake […]
Reviewing the importance of International Year of Plant Health
The United Nations (U.N.) declared 2020 the International Year of Plant Health. This sent a powerful message to the world: Plants are life. Sadly, the COVID-19 crisis changed a lot of 2020 […]
Urban agroforestry and its potential integration into city planning efforts
Should we reimagine a “garden city” that could help adapt our urban areas for a variable and uncertain future? One that provides several benefits, like cooling the city, providing green areas for […]
What is the status of public plant breeding programs in the United States?
Most plant-based foods we eat today are a product of innovative plant breeding programs. Careful choice of plant parents is followed by a multitude of intentional, hand-pollinated blooms. These result in thousands […]