Shrub willow as a bioenergy crop
Renewable energy demand and consumption is at an all-time high in the United States......»»
Autophagy: Balancing zinc and iron in plants
Nutrient imbalances can adversely impact crop health and agricultural productivity. The trace elements zinc and iron are taken up by the same transporters in plants, so zinc deficiency can result in excess uptake of iron. How does the plant cope with.....»»
Crop insurance and unintended consequences
A new study suggests that crop insurance serves as a disincentive for farmers to adopt climate change mitigation measures on their croplands......»»
Researchers identify new enzyme that infects plants—paving the way for potential disease prevention
By discovering previously unexplored ways in which crop pathogens break through plant cell walls, the scientists have opened up opportunities for developing effective disease control technologies......»»
Facial recognition AI helps save multibillion dollar grape crop
A radical collaboration between a biologist and an engineer is supercharging efforts to protect grape crops. The technology they've developed, using robotics and AI to identify grape plants infected with a devastating fungus, will soon be available t.....»»
Pyka shows off its new electric passenger plane, the P3
Pyka appeared out of nowhere in 2019 with an unusual take on electric aircraft: a pilotless crop duster. The success of this first plane led the company to begin developing its next one, the P3: a 9-passenger craft with a totally unique propeller set.....»»
Severe drought devastates Washington state"s wheat crop
The wheat harvest on Marci Green's farm doesn't usually begin until late August, but a severe drought stunted this year's crop and her crews finished harvesting last week because she didn't want what had grown so far to shrivel and die in the heat......»»
Twitter"s image crop algorithm prefers younger, lighter, more feminine faces, study finds
The study, from Bogan Kulynych (via The Guardian), tested artificially generated human faces on Twitter's image crop algorithm. The artificial faces could be subtly altered for different features indicating skin tone, age, or weight while controlling.....»»
Corn"s genetic diversity on display in new genome study
The newly assembled genomes of 26 different genetic lines of corn illustrate the crop's rich genetic diversity and could pave the way for a better understanding of what genetic mechanisms account for crop traits prized by farmers......»»
A climate model for mildew control
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that causes damage in many crops. This also applies to strawberry, a crop that is increasingly being grown in greenhouses. The Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research is investigati.....»»
Bronze Age farmers gave preferential treatment to cows over domesticated sheep, goats
The movements of ancient crop and animal domesticates across prehistoric Eurasia are well-documented in the archaeological record. What is less well understood: How Bronze Age farmers and herders incorporated newly introduced domesticates—like cows.....»»
New model tracks carbon in agroecosystems
Carbon is everywhere. It's in the atmosphere, in the oceans, in the soil, in our food, in our bodies. As the backbone of all organic molecules that make up life, carbon is a very accurate predictor of crop yields. And soil is the largest carbon pool.....»»
Farm-centric research focuses on yield variability in Nepal"s smallholder cereal systems
Smallholder cereal crop systems are essential to food and nutritional security in most regions of the developing world. However, the productivity of most rice, maize and wheat fields is falling well short of its potential. One of the root causes is r.....»»
Alternating magnetic field-responsive nano-platform developed for controlled pesticide release
Pesticides play a key role in controlling weeds, pests, and diseases in modern agriculture to promote crop yield. As one of the most extensively used neonicotinoid insecticides, imidacloprid can effectively kill insects. However, such pesticides tend.....»»
RNA Breakthrough Creates High-Yield, Drought-Tolerant Rice, Potatoes
"Thanks to a breakthrough in RNA manipulation, crop scientists have developed new potato and rice varieties with higher yields and increased drought tolerance," reports UPI: By inserting a gene responsible for production of a protein called FTO, sci.....»»
Microsoft Ramping Up Windows Phone 7 Rollout
As it moves gears up for the holiday release of a new crop of mobile devices, Microsoft is accelerating the distribution of test copies of Windows Phone 7 handsets......»»
Nuclear factor Y subunit facilitates histone acetylation for salt tolerance in soybean
Salinity and drought stress are major environmental factors affecting agricultural production. These abiotic stresses impaired growth and development of crops, leading to plant death and yield loss. Soybean is an important crop for food and feed reso.....»»
Epigenetic mechanism helps plants to live under high temperatures
Global warming imposes a major threat to plant growth and crop production. In many cases, plants could sense the temperature increase and adjust their morphology and development, facilitating plant cooling and warm adaptation. Hence, understanding th.....»»
Kelp for corn growth? Scientists demystify natural products for crops
Corn growers can choose from a wide array of products to make the most of their crop, but the latest could bring seaweed extract to a field near you. The marine product is just one class in a growing market of crop biostimulants marketed for corn......»»
Research team develops new tool to help farmers make crop input decisions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and nitrogen water pollution from agriculture are top environmental priorities in the United States. Key to achieving climate goals is helping producers navigate carbon markets, while also helping the environm.....»»
Modified yeast inhibits fungal growth in plants
About 70–80% of crop losses due to microbial diseases are caused by fungi. Fungicides are key weapons in agriculture's arsenal, but they pose environmental risks. Over time, fungi also develop a resistance to fungicides, leading growers on an endle.....»»