Posts Tagged ‘Climate’
In The Face Of An Uncertain Future, Ag Industry Titans Pair Up
Like most farmers, Mark Nelson, who grows corn, soybeans and wheat near Louisburg, Kansas, is getting squeezed. He’s paying three times more for seed than he used to, while his corn sells for less than half what it brought four years ago. “It’s a – that’s a challenge,” Nelson says. “You’re not going to be…
Read MoreIt May Not Cost You More To Drive Home In A Climate-Friendly Car
It has been a common belief that low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids and electric cars, are more expensive than other choices. But a new study finds that when operating and maintenance costs are included in a vehicle’s price, cleaner cars may actually be a better bet. The cars and trucks we drive are responsible for about…
Read MoreWatching Our Water | Researching New Ways Farmers Can Fight Gulf’s ‘Dead Zone’
Farming in the fertile Midwest is tied to an environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. But scientists are studying new ways to lessen the Midwest’s environmental impact and improve water quality. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the so-called “dead zone,” an area of sea without enough oxygen to support most marine…
Read MoreWatching Our Water | Farmers Feel Pressure to Fight Agriculture Water Pollution
Living in the Platte River Valley in central Nebraska means understanding that the water in your well may contain high levels of nitrates and may not be safe to drink. “When our first son was born in 1980, we actually put a distiller in for our drinking water here in the house,” says Ken Seim,…
Read MoreThese Midwest Farmers Are Brewing Up Hops For Local Beer
With craft beer booming and local breweries springing up all over the country, Midwest farmers are testing out ways to play a role in the growing market and, in the process, make local beer truly local. Nearly all U.S. hops, which along with water, malt and yeast, comprise the base ingredients in beer, is grown…
Read More