Integrated agricultural systems often have both crops and livestock on the same farm. And, yes, integrated crop-livestock systems can have many benefits! Years ago, it was tradition for farmers to grow a […]
Woodchip bioreactors are sophisticated, engineered water treatment systems. Yet, they are simple woodchip-filled trenches, too. If that sounds complicated, it’s really not. These bioreactors clean water with no negative crop production impact. […]
Modern agriculture developed over time to meet a pressing need: feeding the world’s growing population. Agronomists discovered new techniques to increase crop yields. Chemists found ways to harness nitrogen from the air, […]
The plants in our diet are critical to our health. Food crops provide us with nutrients important to human health, growth, and metabolism. Different vegetable crops contain many types of vitamins and […]
At least three times a day, most humans and many animals consume food produced by the agricultural sector. Our cotton and natural fiber clothing is almost all made through agriculture. Our fuels […]
For centuries, farmers – and their crops – were defenseless against diseases. Insect pests can ruin a crop in days. So can diseases like “rust” and “molds”. Weeds can outcompete crops and […]
The “science” of plant breeding has only existed for a little more than a century. But, humans have unofficially been selecting for the ‘cream of the crop’ for over 10,000 years. Farmers […]
Did you ever wonder where plants get their nutrients? It’s from the soil that they are grown in! Tiny seeds planted by farmers and gardeners grow into plants that can produce grain […]
Food security and sustainable food production are both terms that are used by various organizations. What these terms mean depends on your perspective. From our scientific perspective, we look at both of […]