The newest methods of early disease detection for crops use the plants themselves to help recognize and diagnose problems — before it’s too late.

Listening to Plants

As the Trump Administration’s trade war with China continues, soybean farmers wonder who will buy their crop.

Soybean Farmers Harvest and Wait, With No Export Ships on the Horizon

As ecological collapse forces New England’s fishers to diversify their catch, a sea snail once considered a nuisance might be able to stack up.

The Snails at the End of the World

Fracking produces millions of barrels of wastewater every day in Texas. Some companies want to use it to irrigate farms. 

Irrigating With Oil Waste

Most Americans have never heard of honeyberries. A small band of researchers is aiming to fix that.

The Secret Berry

State-contracted range riders assist cattle ranchers in protecting livestock from predators — particularly on the vast stretches of federal land where the animals graze.

Wolf Patrol

Over a century ago, one homegrown invention redefined stacking hay in the West. Some ranchers still see no reason to upgrade.

Why Don’t You Beaverslide?

Farmers may want to preserve wild birds near their farms, but buyers’ fears of foodborne illness — and subsequent lawsuits — can make it tough. 

That Won’t Fly

Like virtually every industry, farmers are feeling pressure to integrate AI into their everyday workflows. But even early adopters remain wary.

A Cautious Embrace of LLMs

We need trees more than ever — but seedlings are in short supply.

The Problem with Growing a Forest

Massive federal action stopped the Dust Bowl in its tracks. Will policy changes erode the progress we’ve made?

The Dust Bowl, 90 Years Later

At the annual Farm Olympics, young farmers in Tennessee discuss all the hurdles to acquiring their own property.

Racing to Buy Farmland

Battered by climate change and cultivated competitors, Maine’s wild blueberry growers stare down an existential crisis.

Black and Blue in the Barrens

California 4-H launched a series of drone camps this summer, preparing teens for farming’s future.

Drone Camp

It’s a vague term with a range of meanings. As a category, however, the rough fish designation is harming native fish populations.

The Plight of “Rough Fish”

A couple is resurrecting a long-lost native ecosystem, an island in the heart of a D.C. suburb.

The Time Traveler’s Garden

Millions of gallons of blood go to waste in slaughterhouses every year. But for some farmers, blood is the primary harvest. 

Blood Ranch

Few places are precious enough to grow pistachios to begin with.

Dubai Chocolate Made Pistachios Viral, But Are Small Farmers Winning?

The professionals tasked with keeping our livestock healthy are increasingly looking to less conventional techniques like applied kinesiology, acupuncture, and chiropractic care.

Traditional Vets Are Integrating Non-Western Treatments

Companies plan to sink agricultural waste to oxygen-free parts of the ocean. What could go wrong?

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