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How Agriculture is Contributing to The Gulf of Mexico’s Hypoxic Zone

There’s a dead zone growing in the Gulf of Mexico. Located off the Louisiana-Texas coastline, this murky blight is causing marine life to either flee or die in mass. Left unchecked, it could cause irreversible harm to local economies that depend on fishing and water-based activities.   What’s to blame for the creation of this hypoxic zone? The simple answer is the Mississippi River. The Mississippi discharges

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Understanding the Gulf of Mexico’s Hypoxic Zone

Spanning the shores of 5 US states and 6 Mexican states, the Gulf of Mexico is 10th largest body of water in the world, excluding oceans. It acts as a vital resource to both of its bordering countries, providing food, sport, oil, and more. Today, the Gulf of Mexico faces a growing threat that’s causing its waters to darken as marine life either leaves or

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Switchgrass: A Local, Sustainable, Cost-Saving Biofuel

Panicum virgatum, better known as switchgrass, just might be the most versatile grass around. Like other native warm season grasses (NWSG), it’s highly resilient to extreme temperatures and droughts and immune to toxic bacteria and fungus such endophyte. Endophyte can cause numerous issues in livestock and other cattle, including weight fluctuation, digestive issues, low rates of reproduction, and other health problems.  Additionally, switchgrass provides protective cover

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The NRCS’s Role in CRP

In our last post, we discussed the role that the FSA plays in CRP. While FSA is involved throughout the enrollment and establishment process, they’re not the only organization that contract holders work with.  Another organization is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Formally known as the Soil Conservation Service, the NRCS is an agency of the USDA that provides financial and technical

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FSA’s role in CRP

The Farm Service Agency (or FSA) is a branch of the USDA that primarily oversees a number of conversation programs. In their own words, the purpose of these programs is to address issues including: Drinking water protection Reducing soil erosion Wildlife habitat preservation Preservation and restoration of forests and wetlands Aiding farmers whose farms are damaged by natural disasters Of

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