Ripe, juicy tomatoes are one of the hallmarks of a summer picnic – and a key ingredient in salads and the classic BLT. Like many of our modern crops, today’s tomatoes have […]
The tale of a wild tomato’s discovery
How is disease affecting soybean yields?
Soybean is one of the most important sources of vegetable protein globally. Valued as both a human and animal food source, soybeans are used to produce both soy meal and oil. The […]
How does plant disease affect my breakfast?
Editor’s note: This year is 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health, as designated by the UN. Agronomists, crop, and plant scientists work to develop disease-resistant varieties and to track the […]
How do the various soil types in Puerto Rico support different crops?
Puerto Rico, where I am from, is the main island of an archipelago in the Caribbean. The smaller islands are Caja de Muertos, Culebra, Desecheo, Mona, Monito, and Vieques. Our history is […]
How do farmers and agronomists determine which pests need to be managed?
Have you ever looked for insects? Insects are ubiquitous in our environment. For farmers, many types of insects live in their fields. Some are beneficial like pollinators and predators. Others, though, can […]
Why do we need to know harvest yield during crop growth?
When it comes to crop yield, most of us are concerned with what it will look like at harvest time. How many kilograms of a harvest can we expect – and when. […]
What are smallholder farms?
Smallholder farms refers to farms that are less than five acres in size. Most people think they only exist in developing countries. The truth is smallholder farms are common in both developing […]
Can newer irrigation techniques save water?
Yes! All plants need water to grow well. And, water can be a limiting factor in good crop yields on farms. Relying on natural rainfall to come at the right time, in […]
Industrial Hemp: reviewing history and hysteria
I research industrial hemp. As I discuss this with acquaintances, I’m usually met with two responses. One is excitement to hear about a potential up-and-coming crop. The other is a mixture of […]
How are coastal farmers responding to salty soils?
When most people think about agricultural fields, they envision vast landscapes of crops as far as the eye can see. Although that may be true for parts of the Midwest, it’s a […]