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Plant Stress Sensors Could Revolutionize Crop Management

crop graphic

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have introduced a pioneering pair of sensors crafted from carbon nanotubes in a recent news release. The nanotubes are designed to identify when plants are under stress from environmental factors like heat, light, or attacks by insects or bacteria. These sensors are sensitive to two crucial signaling molecules, hydrogen peroxide and salicylic acid, which plants use to orchestrate their stress responses.

Tennessee Student Studying Organic Wheat-Soybean Double-Crop Systems with SARE

wheat, organic farm, farmer

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Herbert College of Agriculture announced doctoral student Ravi Neelipally secured a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Graduate Student Research Grant. His research delves into the feasibility of organic wheat-soybean double-crop systems in the southeastern United States, a region increasingly adopting organic farming techniques.

Bending Your Beliefs 

Ask yourself: when was the last time that you allowed yourself to change your mind on a deep-rooted belief?  The key in that question is ‘allowed yourself’ because that is the […]

New ‘U.S. Farmed’ Certification to appear soon on beer cans

old truck, mountains, farm, field, american flag

The U.S. Farmed certification will appear on Anheuser-Busch beers beginning in May. It was developed by the American Farmland Trust (AFT)—a national nonprofit dedicated to helping farmers maintain their land and it assures consumers that at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are sourced from U.S. farms.

All the Commodity Market Headwinds Mean it’s Go Time!

Some of the macro trends are quite concerning. Highly productive agricultural land is being covered by solar panels. Chinese demand is falling due to a slowing economy. Soybeans from Brazil are showing up on the East Coast of the US because they are cheaper than beans grown in Delmarva.

Seed Management Academy Registration Filling Fast

wheat, field, crop

The 2024 academy will introduce an innovative blended learning approach. Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business recently announced a new blended learning format for its acclaimed Seed Management […]

Support Your Microbiome Year-Round: From Seed to Stubble

If you want to provide your farm with year-round support, there are four spheres you need to know about: spermosphere, rhizosphere, phyllosphere and detritusphere. From seed to stubble, healthy and active microbes in each sphere […]

USDA Greenlights Bioengineered Hemp with Enhanced Medicinal Properties

hemp, plant, leaf

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently approved the cultivation of bioengineered hemp, known as Badger G, which has been genetically modified to increase levels of medicinal ingredients while reducing psychoactive compounds. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) concluded that this enhanced hemp variety is unlikely to pose a greater plant pest risk compared to traditionally cultivated plants.

New Kid on the Block Revolutionizes GMO Testing

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer huge opportunity in agriculture, but they bring with them significant regulatory, compliance and testing challenges. To meet marketability standards, support international trade, and keep consumers […]

New Kid on the Block Revolutionizes GMO Testing

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer huge opportunity in agriculture, but they bring with them significant regulatory, compliance and testing challenges. To meet marketability standards, support international trade, and keep consumers […]

Mexico Postpones U.S. Corn Ban

corn, tortilla chips

Mexico has been threatening to ban GMO corn from the United States and Canada for a while. They had a deadline set to enact a glyphosate ban of March 31, 2024. That day came and went as Mexican officials decided to postpone the ban until 2025, citing concerns that it would threaten agricultural production and food security.

Kannar Earth Science to commercialize Cornell’s seed technology for pollinator habitat

monarch

Planting pollinator habitat needs to be as easy and economical as planting corn and soy. I’m excited to announce that Kannar Earth Science, Ltd. has exclusively licensed technology from Cornell University that uses standard row crop equipment to plant milkweed and wildflower seeds. Multi-Seed Pellets (MSP) can facilitate large-scale habitat restoration to revitalize the pollinator populations that boost yields for commodity and specialty crops alike.  

One-on-One with APSA’s new ED, Francine Sayoc

Sayoc brings communications experience, seed industry connections and enormous commitment to her new role. Francine Sayoc, the new executive director with the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), is a familiar […]