Agriculture
The killing fields
To control weeds, American farmers apply vast amounts of herbicides to their fields each year. Glyphosphate is one of the most widely used herbicides; it’s effective at killing grasses, broadleaf, and woody plants. Crops tolerate it because they are genetically modified to be glyphosphate-resistant. [Read more…] about The killing fields
If you can’t beat 'em, eat 'em!
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-11-07-13-Eat-the-Invaders.mp3|titles=EW 11-07-13 Eat the Invaders]
When it comes to seafood, sustainability is a hot topic – around the world, fisheries are over-exploited and popular commercial fish populations are struggling to survive. At the same time, invasive species such as Asian carp are wreaking havoc on ecosystems and further threatening indigenous marine life. [Read more…] about If you can’t beat 'em, eat 'em!
Is fresh cafeteria food possible?
Like the ironic concept of “jumbo” shrimp, the idea of fresh school meals seems contradictory. After all, tater tots and chicken nuggets are staples in the country’s 30 million daily school lunches. [Read more…] about Is fresh cafeteria food possible?
Tracking disease in a warming world
Understanding how infectious diseases respond to climate change would help public health officials and environmental managers predict and mitigate disease impacts. [Read more…] about Tracking disease in a warming world
Seafood mislabeling
Next time you think about ordering a spicy tuna roll, you may want to consider this. A study by Oceana found that 59 percent of fish labeled “tuna” at restaurants and grocery stores in the U.S. were not, in fact, tuna. Sushi restaurants were the worst offenders, accounting for three-quarters of mislabeled tuna. [Read more…] about Seafood mislabeling
Gray seals thriving off Cape Cod
If you visited Cape Cod this summer, you probably heard tourists and locals all over town talking about the seals. [Read more…] about Gray seals thriving off Cape Cod
Keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are currently facing a significant threat from invasive carp. [Read more…] about Keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes
Think local produce!
If you’ve bitten into a Georgia peach this summer, it may not have tasted so sweet. That’s because rain has soaked the South this season, wreaking havoc on its crops – many of which end up in grocery stores throughout the East coast. [Read more…] about Think local produce!
Toxic blues
I’m a big fan of blueberries, so on our summer vacation in Maine, it was a treat to drive by the blue berry barrens, many of which are now converted to large farms for commercial harvest. [Read more…] about Toxic blues
Marijuana cultivation and fishers
Most of us are familiar with the stereotype of the peace-loving, tree-hugging hippy with a penchant for marijuana. So just how green is grass grown in sunny California? The answer might surprise you. According to a recent study in the journal Conservation Letters, illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands, such as California’s picturesque Sierra National Forest, is having a negative impact on wildlife. [Read more…] about Marijuana cultivation and fishers
The poison in your toothpaste
Chances are good that you’ve never heard of triclosan, despite the fact that the chemical is in everything from toothpaste to children’s toys. Triclosan is added to products to slow or stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mildew. A survey found that some three-quarters of Americans between 6 and 65 have residues of triclosan in their bodies. [Read more…] about The poison in your toothpaste
Swimming to cooler waters
There’s been a lot of anecdotal evidence that fish are migrating as a result of global warming. Over the past few decades, folks in the fishing industry have been noticing shifts in the quantity and type of their catch. [Read more…] about Swimming to cooler waters
Wild bees are unsung heroes
For more than a decade, pollinator populations have been declining. Causes are varied, from loss of habitat and pesticide exposure to the spread of parasitic mites. We have a lot of insight into the plight of managed honeybees. But wild bees and other insect pollinators are also struggling, and a new publication highlights why this should be of concern. [Read more…] about Wild bees are unsung heroes
New ideas from old barns
Driving around the Hudson Valley, I see a lot of old barns that were built into hillsides. This isn’t the result of poor planning but of really smart planning. [Read more…] about New ideas from old barns
The European Commission takes a stand for bees
Wild and managed pollinators are on the decline. Locally, this means less successful gardens. The big picture is even more sobering. Dwindling numbers of honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinating insects threaten our food security. About 1/3 of important food crops require pollinator services. [Read more…] about The European Commission takes a stand for bees
Grow vegetable gardens instead of lawns!
For years, I lived in a densely wooded neighborhood in suburban North Carolina. Anyone who wanted to grow vegetables needed to plant them in the front yard, where there was much more sunlight. Fortunately, the neighbors were very tolerant of street-side gardens. [Read more…] about Grow vegetable gardens instead of lawns!
The rise of the superbug
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A lot of our protein—especially chicken and pork—is now grown in Confined Animal Feeding Operations, known as CAFOs. Here a huge number of animals are kept under controlled conditions and fed special diets to fatten them up quickly. To combat the inevitable diseases that spread among animals kept at high density, the animals are often fed antibiotic-rich feed, even if they aren’t sick. [Read more…] about The rise of the superbug
Share your yard with wildlife
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Using satellite images, scientists have determined that the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. is turfgrass. This is astounding, especially when considering the recurring droughts we have suffered. Some cities and states have begun to limit lawn watering during drought periods. And many homeowners have been searching for sustainable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. [Read more…] about Share your yard with wildlife
From sap to syrup
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