Swiss farmers contributed to the domestication of the opium poppy
Fields of opium poppies once bloomed where the Zurich Opera House underground garage now stands. Through a new analysis of archaeological seeds, researchers at the University of Basel have been able to bolster the hypothesis that prehistoric farmers.....»»
Q&A: Sierra Leone"s women farmers use a custom called bora to access land—but it"s making them more vulnerable
Bora—a type of thank you gift—is a Sierra Leonean custom of respect that is often used in relation to land. For instance, informal farmers pay bora to landowners to be able to farm on their land......»»
New simulations shed light on stellar destruction by supermassive black holes
Monash University astronomers have contributed to a breakthrough in understanding the dramatic fate of stars that wander too close to supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies......»»
Politicization of water use exacerbates farmers" distrust, researchers find
Researchers have found that in agricultural areas with declining resource availability, climate-adaptation risks increase when discussion about water allocation becomes politicized......»»
How a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in a dry part of South Africa
New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa's North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to a better maize yield, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops......»»
This flash drive became the Swiss army knife of my gaming setup
This external SSD looks like a flash driv,e but performs like an SSD, and it's turned into a jack-of-all-trades for my gaming needs......»»
Climate change raised the odds of unprecedented wildfires in 2023–24, say scientists
Unprecedented wildfires in Canada and parts of Amazonia last year were at least three times more likely due to climate change and contributed to high levels of CO2 emissions from burning globally, according to the first edition of a new systematic an.....»»
Wildfires don"t just burn farmland—they can contaminate water farmers use to irrigate crops and support livestock
The wildfires that burned across Maui, Hawaii, in August 2023 became the deadliest conflagration in the United States in more than a century. While the harm to homes and tourism drew the most attention, agriculture was also heavily affected across th.....»»
Unveiling the ancient Maya"s relationship to animals and nature
As the scorching May sun of Central Belize blazes down on us, temperatures soar to a staggering 106°F. Local farmers anxiously await the onset of the rainy season to sow their crops, but the much-needed first rain remains elusive. This property is o.....»»
How farmers and tech teamed up to better test crops
For over a decade, farmers across the world have been working hand-in-hand with researchers at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and their collaborators to develop a better way to test new crop varieties and improve food security in t.....»»
French sheep farmers fret over bluetongue outbreak
French authorities reported Thursday more than 20 suspected cases of bluetongue virus in sheep, raising fears a potentially fatal outbreak after hundreds of animals were infected in neighboring Belgium......»»
How media impacts digital technology adoption in US and Brazilian agriculture
Digital technologies on the farm improve efficiency, productivity, and profits, but few farmers are taking full advantage of available tools. According to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers, communication channels play an important r.....»»
Pixels to pasture: How AI can help farmers predict their pasture
Researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT have paved the way for farmers (from small-holders to big ranchers) information about the quantity and quality of their grazing pastures, right there on their smartphone......»»
Domestication causes smaller brain size in dogs than in the wolf: Study challenges notion
A recent study, published in Biology Letters, challenges the long-held notion that domestication is the primary driver of reduced brain size in domesticated animals, specifically dogs......»»
Attitudes such as distrust of government can cause swine farmers to resist animal biosecurity
A new University of Vermont study published in Scientific Reports examines the social and psychological aspects of farmers' decisions about whether or not to implement biosecurity measures on pig farms. This is the first study to look at human behavi.....»»
New bean varieties resist aphids and nematodes
Climate resilient, nutritious long beans are unfortunately susceptible to aphids and nematodes. By creating four new pest-resistant varieties of the beans, scientists aim to reduce farmers' reliance on pesticides......»»
Data protection is poor for African farmers who use digital services: Kenya and Ghana cases highlight gaps
Across Africa, agricultural producers are turning to digital solutions to get information about farming methods, market access or financial services. By 2022, there were 666 of these solutions operating on the continent, the highest number among all.....»»
Ancient poppy seeds and willow wood offer clues to the Greenland ice sheet"s last meltdown
As we focused our microscope on the soil sample for the first time, bits of organic material came into view: a tiny poppy seed, the compound eye of an insect, broken willow twigs and spikemoss spores. Dark-colored spheres produced by soil fungi domin.....»»
Farmers innovate to save Iraq"s rice production
After seeing his once-lush rice field shrink in recent years due to relentless drought, Iraqi farmer Muntazer al-Joufi fought back using tougher seeds and water-saving irrigation techniques......»»
Colombia, Guatemala learn from each other in rainforest preservation
In the lush jungle of northern Guatemala—in the largest protected area in Central America—30 leaders from Colombia's Amazon basin region are swapping strategies with local ethnic Maya farmers on how to live off this dense forest without destroyin.....»»
CDK outage fuels 86% drop in Asbury Q2 net income
Lost business and one-time costs related to the CDK Global outage contributed to an 86 percent drop in Asbury's net income, though the retailer managed to post record revenue of $4.2 billion......»»