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Agriculture
Biodiesel versus ethanol: American-made fuels
Bioethanol is in the gas most of us put in our cars. This renewable fuel comes from corn, potatoes, and other plants, and reduces the harmful emissions associated with petroleum-based fossil fuels. As a reminder, fossil fuels like coal and oil are also derived from plants, but they are not considered renewable because it takes the Earth thousands of years to convert plant material into these energy-rich forms. [Read more…] about Biodiesel versus ethanol: American-made fuels
Protecting the little fish to preserve big fish
Programs to bring back populations of large fish, like cod and tuna, often rely on limiting the catch of these species. But restoring large fish also means protecting the smaller fish that they eat. [Read more…] about Protecting the little fish to preserve big fish
Tough times for corn
This year, drought dealt a heavy blow to U.S. corn production, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture listing half the crops in poor or very poor shape. Yields are down and corn prices are rising–bad news for food processors, dairy operations, and livestock farms. Further complicating things, low inland water levels are causing shipping headaches for the barges that haul the grain. [Read more…] about Tough times for corn
Who's having the rice with arsenic?
New tests conducted by Consumer Reports have found that many rice products contain arsenic— some at worrisome levels. [Read more…] about Who's having the rice with arsenic?
Putting organic food in perspective
Recently, a Stanford University study on organic food received a firestorm of press coverage. The dominant buzz, heard from some of our nation’s leading newspapers and wire services: organic food isn’t worth its higher price tag. [Read more…] about Putting organic food in perspective
Old wine, new insights
Scientists are always looking for reliable records of past environmental conditions, so they can see if current observations are at all unusual. Good records are frequently obtained from lake sediments, which faithfully record yearly inputs of materials washed in from their watersheds. Increasingly, records taken from the ice packs on Greenland and Antarctica are used to show global changes in our atmosphere. [Read more…] about Old wine, new insights
Good food on a tight budget
By now, most of us know the drill. Eat more fruits and vegetables, less meats and processed foods. Whenever possible, go organic. And, in the words of Michael Pollan, “don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” [Read more…] about Good food on a tight budget
The benefits of organic farming
Cultivation turns over and loosens the soil, stimulating the microbes that decompose organic materials, and releasing nutrients. In fact, cultivation of soils in the Great Plains is thought to be responsible for the loss of about 1/3 of their organic matter, contributing to the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. [Read more…] about The benefits of organic farming
The decline of ocean fisheries
Nowhere is the decline of fisheries more obvious than in Downeast Maine and the maritime provinces of Canada. Abandoned canneries are a reminder of better days gone by. Commercial harvests of cod, herring, and sardines are a distant memory, and fishermen resort to dragging the ocean bottom for scallops, and harvesting shoreline seaweeds. [Read more…] about The decline of ocean fisheries
Are organic foods the solution?
Organic foods are certainly catching on in the United States—with sales topping $25 billion last year. Organic foods are grown without synthetic inputs—industrial fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. And they certainly don’t include genetically-modified crop species. [Read more…] about Are organic foods the solution?
Droughts and your grocery bill
In July, some 64% of the U.S. was experiencing intense drought. According to Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters the extent of the drought is second only to the great Dust Bowl of 1934. And, as you might have guessed, our crops are suffering. [Read more…] about Droughts and your grocery bill
Are Fish Made of Maple Leaves?
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Most of us learned about the aquatic food web in high school. Using a sealed aquarium, teachers explained that plants form the base of the web, with the organic carbon they create supporting aquatic life—from invertebrates to sport fish. [Read more…] about Are Fish Made of Maple Leaves?
How green is your dinner?
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Farmers have a real challenge —how to feed 10 billion people within the next few decades. Conventional agriculturalists say this isn’t a problem. We have the technology needed to increase global crop yields to the levels enjoyed by Iowa’s farmers. [Read more…] about How green is your dinner?
Large dairy farms are tied to estrogen pollution
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When buying dairy products, such as milk and cheese, we can opt to purchase items that are labeled ‘no added hormones.’ The same can’t be said of the wastewater that originates from large-scale dairy operations. [Read more…] about Large dairy farms are tied to estrogen pollution
Earthworms are invading our forests
