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Protecting Water Supplies Through Agriculture
Water is one of our most precious resources, second only to the air we breathe. While we’ve generally had an abundance of fresh, useable water across the US, that has slowly been changing. Freshwater usage has tripled in the last 50 years, and it only continues to rise. Meanwhile, water shortages are becoming increasingly common in America. Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico,
Cargill’s Water Saving Initiative and the Impact of Agriculture on Our Water
Last month, Cargill announced their commitment to reducing water waste and restoring water supplies across the world. In addition to eliminating 11 million pounds of water pollutants and providing access to safe drinking water, they are working to restore 159 billion gallons of water to priority watersheds by 2030. They are doing this through a multi-faceted approach. To reduce water waste, they are utilizing smart irrigation technology that improves the
Wind Pollination Isn’t Enough
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the male part of a plant (the anther) to the female part of the plant (the stigma). This allows for a plant to produce seeds, which in turn grow into seedlings. While this is very similar to animal reproduction in many ways, most plants require some assistance
People Across the US Receive Unmarked Seeds from China
A few days ago, numerous people across the US found a surprise in the mail: unsolicited packages of seeds from China. Since then, there have been confirmed reports in all 50 states. The appearance of the seeds has varied, but almost all packages have come from somewhere in China. In some cases, recipients had previously
The Problem with Abandoned Farmland
America’s farmlands are shrinking. Between 1997 and 2018, the US lost 98,000 square miles (627,200,000 acres) of farmland. While some of this is due to development and urban expansion, some of it is simply because farmland is abandoned. Farmland is abandoned for a number of reasons. It may suffer from damaged soil, resulting in low crop yields that simply aren’t’ worth the
Reenrolling in CRP After Your Contract Expires
All CRP contracts come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the program. Even if your initial plan was to return to crop production after you contract expires, you may come to realize it isn’t the best idea for your situation. After all, reverting CRP back to crop production is a very involving process with no guarantees.