According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic food has become the fourth largest food commodity in the United States. While more consumers are choosing organic, less than one percent of American farms had organic certification as of 2017. Since launching an initiative in 2016 to double harvested organic wheat acres by the end of 2019, Ardent Mills has made great strides in growing domestic supplies. New research has found pesticides damage the brains of baby bees. The odds of spotting the hardworking pollinators in Europe and America down by more than 30 percent since the last century. Pesticides, along with the climate crises and declining habitat, have been blamed for their declining numbers. In another new bee study published Tuesday, scientists examined exactly how pesticides by scanning bumblebee brains and testing their learning abilities affect bumblebees. Recent research found slightly stressed-out plants may be more nutritious. For years the produce industry has done everything it can to limit how many bugs can get into our crops, but recent years have seen steady growth in the organic foods industry. And a recent study may have another reason to hop on the trend: Researchers found that a bit of “tough love” may actually help our crops and provide more nutrients to consumers. Organic farming is gaining ground every day. People have come up with an innovative idea in rural agriculture development that can help for attaining both the objectives of organic food as well as provide irrigation for farmers – using banana tree trunks for the purpose of growing veggies even when the dry season is on. In fact, even farmers for having a good water retention capacity have known banana stems for a long period of time. The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced last month that it would develop regulations to phase out the regular use of the brain-damaging pesticide chlorpyrifos. But supporters of the legislation are pushing for a ban in the law. California, Hawaii and New York have approved bans on the pesticide.
Making organic progress
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic food has become the fourth largest food commodity in the United States. While more consumers are choosing organic, less than one percent of American farms had organic certification as of 2017. Since launching an initiative in 2016 to double harvested organic wheat acres by the end of 2019, Ardent Mills has made great strides in growing domestic supplies.
Study Finds Slightly Stressed-Out Plants May Be More Nutritious
For years the produce industry has done everything it can to limit how many bugs can get into our crops, but recent years have seen steady growth in the organic foods industry. And a recent study may have another reason to hop on the trend: Researchers found that a bit of “tough love” may actually help our crops and provide more nutrients to consumers.
Pesticides damage the brains of baby bees, new research finds
The odds of spotting the hardworking pollinators in Europe and America are down by more than 30% since the last century. Pesticides, along with the climate crises and declining habitat, have been blamed for their declining numbers. And in a new study published Tuesday, scientists examined exactly how pesticides by scanning bumblebee brains and testing their learning abilities affect bumblebees.
How To Use Banana Stems For Organic Farming
Organic farming is gaining ground every day. People have come up with an innovative idea in rural agriculture development that can help for attaining both the objectives of organic food as well as provide irrigation for farmers: Using banana tree trunks for the purpose of growing veggies even when the dry season is on. In fact, even farmers for having a good water retention capacity have known banana stems for a long period of time. No wonder, a few farmers have gone ahead to use the banana stems for planting short root crops inside the stems.
Nagaland School Kids Grow Their Own Organic Mid-Day Meals, Inspire Whole Village
Guided by head-teacher Keneisenu Vitsu, students from classes 1-8 grow tubers, vegetables and herbs in the school premises. These include beans, cabbage, pumpkin, squash, pomegranate and lemons. Maize and Naga dal comprise the staple grains, while mustard is the only condiment, grown in a small patch. The students in their mid-day meals consume the produce whereas the teachers sell the surplus vegetables and the profits are used to buy snacks for the students.
Maryland Senate votes to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos
The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced last month that it would develop regulations to phase out the regular use of the pesticide. But supporters of the legislation are pushing for a ban in the law. California, Hawaii and New York have approved bans on the pesticide.
https://wtop.com/maryland/2020/03/maryland-senate-votes-to-ban-pesticide-chlorpyrifos
