Agriculture(Page 2)

The latest on what's growing and what's faltering across the world's farms—and the resources they use to keep running.

Latest in Agriculture

man stands behind large pumpkin with scarecrow

Gargantuan pumpkin could flavor 74,794 pumpkin spice lattes Gargantuan pumpkin could flavor 74,794 pumpkin spice lattes

By Laura Baisas

Armenian sapphire (muscari armeniacum) flowers closeup. Shallow depth of field.

How to revamp your lawn’s reputation with bulbs How to revamp your lawn’s reputation with bulbs

By Debbie Wolfe

Leaf cutter ants

The dinosaur-killing asteroid turned ants into farmers The dinosaur-killing asteroid turned ants into farmers

How the Forest Service is trying to save Appalachian ginseng How the Forest Service is trying to save Appalachian ginseng

By Katie Myers/Grist

Monarch butterfly feeding on purple aster flower in summer floral background.

How to plant a garden butterflies will love How to plant a garden butterflies will love

By Debbie Wolfe

Hybrid potatoes created by the biotechnology company Solynta, grown and recently harvested in Kenya.

How crop science is transforming the humble potato How crop science is transforming the humble potato

By Martin Enserink / Undark

glass bowl filled with brown seaweed

Bye, kale: Marine scientists want you to eat more seaweed Bye, kale: Marine scientists want you to eat more seaweed

By Alisha McDarris

Spinach rows in farm field

Your recycled pee may be better for crops than synthetic fertilizer Your recycled pee may be better for crops than synthetic fertilizer

several loaves of golden rustic looking bread on a table

How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs

By Laura Baisas

stages of a plant's development

Yes, plants go through ‘puberty’ Yes, plants go through ‘puberty’

By Laura Baisas

a bunch of yellow bananas

Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan

By Laura Baisas

four different types of corn. one is long and yellow, the other is shorter and yellow. the other two are shorter and black

Love corn? Thank interbreeding Love corn? Thank interbreeding

By Laura Baisas

Two black morels in spring are well camouflaged on the forest floor

How to start forest farming: Grow delicious food in the woods How to start forest farming: Grow delicious food in the woods

By Alisha McDarris

a brick pathway through a lawn with clover

Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons. Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons.

By Debbie Wolfe

a lawnmower cuts grass

You’re probably mowing your lawn wrong You’re probably mowing your lawn wrong

By Debbie Wolfe

four red hens in a line. two are looking straight ahead, one is looking right, and the other is looking left. they have an expression that reads as suprise

Not to ruffle feathers, but chickens blush Not to ruffle feathers, but chickens blush

By Laura Baisas

How plant hunting has evolved over the centuries

How plant hunting has evolved over the centuries How plant hunting has evolved over the centuries

By Bill Gourgey

Located in the foothills of a rock emerging from a green field

Iron Age plant remains tell new agricultural story in east Africa Iron Age plant remains tell new agricultural story in east Africa

By Laura Baisas

a pot of venus fly trap plants on a table

How to care for a Venus fly trap How to care for a Venus fly trap

By Debbie Wolfe

Close up of Syntrichia caninervis moss

This inedible, indestructible moss may help humans thrive on Mars This inedible, indestructible moss may help humans thrive on Mars

California Forever concept art of utopian cityscape

California’s billionaire utopia may not be as eco-friendly as advertised California’s billionaire utopia may not be as eco-friendly as advertised

An NA Negroni sitting on the arm of an Adirondack chair with the Cascade Mountains in the background.

Inside the first non-alcoholic distillery in the United States Inside the first non-alcoholic distillery in the United States

yaks and sheep grazing on grassland with mountains in the distance

Bronze Age nomads used cauldrons for blood sausage and yak milk Bronze Age nomads used cauldrons for blood sausage and yak milk

By Laura Baisas

Close-up of three cows

Cow poop might make cleaner hydrogen gas a reality Cow poop might make cleaner hydrogen gas a reality

Chicken looking at camera against black background

Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future Chicken fat supercapacitors could store green energy of the future

Intercropped tomato (left) compared to monocropped tomatoes (right). Both were planted on the same day, but here we can see that the intercropped tomato plant is larger, bears more fruit, and the tomatoes ripened earlier than its monocropped counterpart.

Ancient farm practice could help sustain future humans on Mars Ancient farm practice could help sustain future humans on Mars

By Laura Baisas

Can AI help tell the difference between a good and bad sweet potato?

Can AI help tell the difference between a good and bad sweet potato? Can AI help tell the difference between a good and bad sweet potato?

By Mack DeGeurin

three baby chickens standing in a nest with open and unopened eggshells

Why chickens probably crossed the Silk Road Why chickens probably crossed the Silk Road

By Laura Baisas

Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship the Nimrod, among the ice in McMurdo's Sound, Antarctica.

Cracking open a 117-year-old Antarctic milk time capsule Cracking open a 117-year-old Antarctic milk time capsule

By Laura Baisas

dairy cows eating animal feed

Bird flu detected in dairy cow milk samples Bird flu detected in dairy cow milk samples

By Laura Baisas

a group of burmese pythons

Scientists propose eating more python Scientists propose eating more python

By Laura Baisas

Shelled and unshelled hazlenuts on a wooden table.

Humans have been eating hazelnuts for at least 6,000 years Humans have been eating hazelnuts for at least 6,000 years

By Laura Baisas

Pigs in sty at factory farm

Gene-edited pigs immune to deadly virus could arrive on farms by next year Gene-edited pigs immune to deadly virus could arrive on farms by next year

A clear glass tea cup with steaming brown tea sits on a table next to a green tea leaves.

The ingredients for a tastier, stronger tea could be in the soil The ingredients for a tastier, stronger tea could be in the soil

By Laura Baisas

Pink lab-grown beef rice in white bowl

Scientists swear their lab-grown ‘beef rice’ tastes ‘pleasant’ Scientists swear their lab-grown ‘beef rice’ tastes ‘pleasant’

A bunch of wet blueberries.

Why blueberries aren’t technically blue Why blueberries aren’t technically blue

By Laura Baisas

Green dots representing spores are dispersed from a leaf.

Watch ‘tiny tornadoes’ spread plant pathogens Watch ‘tiny tornadoes’ spread plant pathogens

By Laura Baisas

John Deere 8R Autonomous Tractor in field

John Deere and Starlink partner to provide satellite internet for rural farmers John Deere and Starlink partner to provide satellite internet for rural farmers

Salmon fishing in Alaska, fisherman in gloves handling fish in net on a boat

As salmon disappear, a battle over Alaska Native fishing rights heats up As salmon disappear, a battle over Alaska Native fishing rights heats up

By Max Graham/Grist

Three feral hogs in grass. One is black and standing while grazing. The middle is gray and sitting. The third is brown and also sitting.

Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs

By Marcus Lashley / The Conversation

Morel mushrooms growing in a greenhouse in central China's Hubei Province. The mushrooms have long brown caps and white stems.

Mysterious morel mushrooms at center of food poisoning outbreak Mysterious morel mushrooms at center of food poisoning outbreak

By Keely Larson / KFF Health News

The Best LED Grow Lights

The best LED grow lights The best LED grow lights

By Sarah Horaczek

Top: Beans at the CIAT gene bank in Colombia, which has just sent its latest consignments of seeds for conservation at the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway.

In the face of extreme weather, scientists look to adapt crops In the face of extreme weather, scientists look to adapt crops

By Lourdes Medrano/Undark

Multiple cows standing in an industrial barn.

What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat tomorrow? What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat tomorrow?

By Max Graham/Grist

Cranberries at a Thanksgiving table

Cranberries can bounce, float, and pollinate themselves Cranberries can bounce, float, and pollinate themselves

By Serina DeSalvio / The Conversation

Hot dogs at the grocery store without meat warning labels

Graphic warning labels might convince people to eat less meat Graphic warning labels might convince people to eat less meat

Why do we eat so many cows

Why cutting back on cow consumption is so hard Why cutting back on cow consumption is so hard

By Naoki Nitta / Grist

Several blooming yellow sunflowers under a blue sky with white clouds.

We still don’t fully know how sunflowers turn toward the sun We still don’t fully know how sunflowers turn toward the sun

By Laura Baisas

A steak with kelp on top is plated by a chef holding a sauce pan.

This sea-to-farm-to-table restaurant wants kelp to catch on This sea-to-farm-to-table restaurant wants kelp to catch on

By Laura Baisas

Chicken feather fibers could help make less toxic hydrogen fuel cells

Chicken feather fibers could help make less toxic hydrogen fuel cells Chicken feather fibers could help make less toxic hydrogen fuel cells

rendering of coop structure in grass

Finally, a smart home for chickens Finally, a smart home for chickens

By Charlotte Hu

A yellow-ish pepper named Pepper X sits on a crystal dish. Pepper X is the new hottest chili pepper in the world. It was crossbreed with Carolina Reaper and a mystery pepper.

The world’s hottest chili pepper is worse than bear spray The world’s hottest chili pepper is worse than bear spray

By Laura Baisas

Coral Beach on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, dotted with various types of seaweed.

Europeans ate a lot more seaweed 8,000 years ago Europeans ate a lot more seaweed 8,000 years ago

By Laura Baisas

Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota celebrates during a pumpkin-weighing contest in Half Moon Bay, California.

This year’s heaviest pumpkin could be baked into 700 pies This year’s heaviest pumpkin could be baked into 700 pies

By Laura Baisas

Green fir trees in neat rows as seen from the air.

Tree plantations try to offset our carbon pollution. Here’s the problem. Tree plantations try to offset our carbon pollution. Here’s the problem.

A pair of chickens at a poultry farm. Bird flu has been detected in at least 67 countries.

USDA bans French poultry imports over avian influenza vaccine USDA bans French poultry imports over avian influenza vaccine

By Laura Baisas

Aerial shot of sugar cane cropland.

How sprinkling volcanic rocks on farmland could capture carbon dioxide How sprinkling volcanic rocks on farmland could capture carbon dioxide

By Carla Delgado

Cows being breed to have slicker hair to resist heat

Farmers are breeding heat-resistant cows Farmers are breeding heat-resistant cows

By Katherine Rapin/Nexus Media

Lush and green mint leaves growing in a garden. To keep disruptive “jumping genes” quiet, some plant species use a process called methylation, which adds regulatory markers to the specific sites in the DNA and can be passed down through epigenetic memory.

We’re finally figuring out how plants pass on genetic memories We’re finally figuring out how plants pass on genetic memories

By Laura Baisas

This is what happens when feral cows take over a remote Alaskan island

This is what happens when feral cows take over a remote Alaskan island This is what happens when feral cows take over a remote Alaskan island

By Jude Isabella/Hakai Magazine

Brown-skinned child with black braids at the grocery store holding ripe fruit like pineapple and papaya in arms

Pick the sweetest, ripest fruit with this science-based guide Pick the sweetest, ripest fruit with this science-based guide

By Sara Chodosh

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) on a flower in Markham, Ontario, Canada, on August 27, 2022.

These invasive bugs are a nightmare for Washington’s cherries and hops These invasive bugs are a nightmare for Washington’s cherries and hops

By Natalia Mesa/High Country News

a john deere motor grader in a factory

In photos: How John Deere builds its massive machines In photos: How John Deere builds its massive machines

By Christopher Payne, Kristin Shaw

A group of colorful spices on a wooden table with a mortar and pestle.

Leftovers of a 2,000-year-old curry discovered on stone cooking tools Leftovers of a 2,000-year-old curry discovered on stone cooking tools

By Laura Baisas