Agriculture

Plants

Banana threat: Attack of the clones

Researchers find that disease-causing fungi — all clones of one another — will continue to infect banana plants unless new steps are taken to stop their spread.

Agriculture

Profile: A human touch for animals

Temple Grandin uses her own autism to understand how animals think. The animal scientist is famous for fostering the humane treatment of livestock.

Animals

Cool Jobs: Crazy about cows

Scientists are studying cows from one end to the other, with the goal not only of making the animals healthier but also of helping the environment.

Earth

The dirt on soil

More than just dirt, soils teem with microbes essential for growing crops. Soils also help prevent floods and even play a role in climate change.

Animals

Weed killers may go from plant to pooch

Dogs love to roll around in the grass. But if there is weed killer around, it could end up on — and in — our furry pals.

Agriculture

‘Wildlife-free’ farms don’t make salads safer

Scientists find that removing wildlife from farms did not make raw vegetables safer to eat.

Agriculture

Made in the shade

Agroforestry combines woody plants and agriculture. Growing trees alongside crops and livestock benefits wildlife, environment, climate — and farmers.

Environment

Insecticide can change a spider’s personality

A chemical meant to kill moths affects the behavior of some spiders. It alters the spiders’ ability to capture prey — including those moths.

Plants

Plant ‘vampires’ lay in wait

A new study shows how some parasitic plants evolved the ability to sense a potential host — and then send out root-like structures to feed on them.

Agriculture

Organic food starts to prove its worth

Organic food often comes with a higher price. But research is showing that food grown this way can be better for the environment — and possibly for us.

Environment

Carbon ‘sponge’ found beneath desert

Watering farmlands in arid parts of the world could have long-term climate benefits, a new study concludes.

Agriculture

Ditching farm pollution — literally

An Indiana project shows how fighting fertilizer runoff can save farmers money, protect wild habitats and prevent harmful algae blooms.