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Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed an “artificial nose” that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with impressive accuracy. The breakthrough could revolutionize how we identify a host of hazards, including spoiled food, early disease, dangerous gases, air pollution, and more. Professor Michael Cheffena of NTNU says the key …

“Artificial Nose” Can Sniff Out Spoiled and Contaminated Food Read More »

The Grand Canyon State has a rich agricultural economy thanks to its year-round sunshine and a surprisingly diverse climate. Nearly a third of Arizona farms and ranches raise cattle, with a total around 1 million head in the state. The state is also well known for its milk, cotton, and alfalfa production. Not surprisingly, all …

What Are They Growing Out There in “Arizona”? Read More »

Scientists have found a way to bypass the biological photosynthesis process that powers plant life by using electricity, and not to power lightbulbs. According to the researchers, their “electro-agriculture” method directly converts CO₂ into a nutrient-rich organic molecule that plants could “consume” as food. The researchers’ method uses a two-step “electrocatalytic” process to convert carbon …

Researchers Find a Way to Grow Food Without Sunshine… And Not By Using Lights! Read More »

Avian Influenza has killed millions of poultry birds in the U.S., giving rise to repeated outbreaks every year that wax and wane, depending on the season. The risk to humans has always been touted as “low” despite some infections in poultry workers over the years. Then in March of this year, the H5N1 strain of …

Why Bird Flu Migrating to Pigs is Worrying Scientists Read More »

Farmers contend with a long list of potential crop hazards every growing season, from droughts and floods, to disease and pests. But multiple farmer surveys done at the many conferences and workshops held this summer and fall reveal that the top challenge on the mind of farmers is labor. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates …

The H-2B Visa Program Isn’t Keeping Up With Seasonal Immigrant Worker Demand Read More »

U.S. farmers are expected to produce over 4 billion bushels of soybeans this season and next, putting it second after only corn among the country’s biggest row crops. The “miracle crop,” as it is sometimes called because of its many dynamic uses, traces back to Asia where there is evidence of domestication as early as …

How Soybeans Finally Became a Major Crop in America Read More »

While some forecasts show chances for rainfall across a good portion of the country might be setting up, it may not be enough to set cattle producers up for herd expansion in 2025. The outlook is complicated by the fact that USDA cancelled its mid-year July Cattle Inventory Report, making it unclear how much rebuilding, …

U.S. Cattle Herd Expansion Likely Delayed By Drought, Wildfires Read More »

Turkey producers are battling a new disease threat that is being blamed for low U.S. inventories of turkey eggs in incubators. According to the National Turkey Federation (NTF), Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has been seen in every poultry-producing state in the U.S. and will likely impact supplies heading into the holiday season. Meaning consumers could be …

NEW Poultry Disease Outbreak Likely to Raise Prices for Thanksgiving Birds Read More »

While most farmers wouldn’t give up their lifestyle for any amount of money in the world, their chosen occupation often puts them under higher levels of stress than other professions. Sadly, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association.  Interestingly, a new …

Farm Life Takes Mental Toll on Both Men and Women Read More »

John Louis Bragg had made four thousand dollars picking blueberries during his senior year in high school and he never forgot. John attended college and went to law school, but he left law school to go back home in hopes of buying into his Dad and brother’s small sawmill business. Keep in mind, the Bragg …

The Blueberry Billionaire… John Louis Bragg Read More »