Agriculture

The latest on what's growing and what's faltering across the world's farms—and the resources they use to keep running.

Latest in Agriculture

cattle grazing in a field

Feeding seaweed to gassy cattle can reduce methane Feeding seaweed to gassy cattle can reduce methane

By Laura Baisas

Focaccia baked in kiln

Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not Rome

Ripe tomatoes on green garden.

They CRISPR’ed tomatoes to make them sweet and large They CRISPR’ed tomatoes to make them sweet and large

'Electro-agriculture' prototype.

‘Electro-agriculture’ may help plants grow in the dark ‘Electro-agriculture’ may help plants grow in the dark

a close up of four pieces of sliced bread

Our love of delicious carbs may go back 800,000 years Our love of delicious carbs may go back 800,000 years

By Laura Baisas

A farmer promotes taro through a live webcast in a field in Suqian, Jiangsu province, China, on Sept. 9, 2024.

Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life

By Mitchell Gallagher / The Conversation

man stands behind large pumpkin with scarecrow

Gargantuan pumpkin could flavor 74,794 pumpkin spice lattes Gargantuan pumpkin could flavor 74,794 pumpkin spice lattes

By Laura Baisas

Armenian sapphire (muscari armeniacum) flowers closeup. Shallow depth of field.

DIY

How to revamp your lawn’s reputation with bulbs How to revamp your lawn’s reputation with bulbs

By Debbie Wolfe

Leaf cutter ants

The dinosaur-killing asteroid turned ants into farmers The dinosaur-killing asteroid turned ants into farmers

How the Forest Service is trying to save Appalachian ginseng How the Forest Service is trying to save Appalachian ginseng

By Katie Myers/Grist

Monarch butterfly feeding on purple aster flower in summer floral background.

DIY

How to plant a garden butterflies will love How to plant a garden butterflies will love

By Debbie Wolfe

Hybrid potatoes created by the biotechnology company Solynta, grown and recently harvested in Kenya.

How crop science is transforming the humble potato How crop science is transforming the humble potato

By Martin Enserink / Undark

glass bowl filled with brown seaweed

Bye, kale: Marine scientists want you to eat more seaweed Bye, kale: Marine scientists want you to eat more seaweed

By Alisha McDarris

Spinach rows in farm field

Your recycled pee may be better for crops than synthetic fertilizer Your recycled pee may be better for crops than synthetic fertilizer

several loaves of golden rustic looking bread on a table

How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs

By Laura Baisas

stages of a plant's development

Yes, plants go through ‘puberty’ Yes, plants go through ‘puberty’

By Laura Baisas

a bunch of yellow bananas

Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan

By Laura Baisas

four different types of corn. one is long and yellow, the other is shorter and yellow. the other two are shorter and black

Love corn? Thank interbreeding Love corn? Thank interbreeding

By Laura Baisas

Two black morels in spring are well camouflaged on the forest floor

DIY

How to start forest farming: Grow delicious food in the woods How to start forest farming: Grow delicious food in the woods

By Alisha McDarris

a brick pathway through a lawn with clover

DIY

Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons. Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons.

By Debbie Wolfe