A new study found that over 30 million acres of arable land has been abandoned since the 1980s. Spoiler: It might be a rare win for both farmers and the environment.

Maybe It’s Fine to Abandon Cropland

The Bluegrass State currently imports a key ingredient for its signature spirit. The bourbon industry wants to change that.

Rye Not Here?

They have proven benefits in slowing erosion and improving soil health, making them central to the regenerative ag movement. But a new report questions their efficacy in mitigating climate change.

Are Cover Crops Overhyped?

There’s a new movement afoot, encouraging farmers to create bird habitats on their land. It provides natural insect control while mitigating the massive bird losses of recent decades.

Retro Pest Control: Inviting Birds Back to the Farm

Close-up of a face with sweat and a marijuana plant, featuring CA cannabis warning symbols in the corner.

Since the cannabis industry started to join the legal — and regulated — mainstream, workers who cultivate, process, and harvest the product are fighting for relief from low wages and dangerous working conditions.

Cannabis Workers Speak Out

As tensions have risen between owners of working cats and conservationists concerned with their environmental impacts, a beloved pastoral mainstay may be slipping away.

The Slow Death of the American Barn Cat

Outpaced by farmers with access to modern technologies, the Amish community has produced the first new horse-drawn combine in nearly 70 years.

Horsemen of the Future

Whether from grow-your-own kits or commercial producers, non-native fungus is among us.

Invasive Oyster Mushrooms Are Thriving

Results from our wholly unscientific, highly interesting election survey.

Who Are Farmers Voting For?

Louisiana crawfish farmers took a massive loss from drought this year. As climate change continues to disrupt the industry, will they be able to adapt?

Crawfish in Crisis

California just got its first new farm bureau in 40 years, in its smallest and most population-dense county. It’s not totally clear why.

California’s Most Urban County Lands a Farm Bureau

Kristian Thacker

Deep in West Virginia coal country, a lavender farm attempts to strike a balance between profit, cultivation, and remediation.

Can a Farm Survive on an Old Coal Mine?

Hemp’s detoxifying properties have been proven to tackle PFAS pollution. Through ongoing legal challenges, researchers are exploring its potential.

Can Hemp Fix Agriculture’s PFAS Problem?

With a combination of mental health and financial services, a notoriously challenging process could be made much easier for farmers.

Succession Planning Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

Team Beef is a nationwide consortium of running teams sponsored by a hefty infusion of beef checkoff dollars. What’s in it for the runners?

Running for the Ribeye

A D.C. insider argues BIPOC farmers may never see benefits from the Justice40 Initiative, a sweeping historical program for disadvantaged communities.

USDA Misses Another Chance to Help Farmers of Color

As ChatGPT and other LLMs enter the mainstream, ag practitioners should consider the potential dangers and rewards.

For Farmers, Are AI Chatbots Worth the Risk?

For many years, most living history farms in the U.S. focused on the agricultural history of white Americans alone. A shift is underway.

Living History for All

Some produce purveyors claim to offer exorbitant fruit of unparalleled quality — but are we mostly paying for a status symbol?

Putting a Down Payment on a Pineapple

Romance novels have long used farms and farmers as their themes — what’s the enduring appeal? Hint: It’s more than rugged studs in cowboy hats.