As the Trump administration fast-tracks mining for this potent fertilizer, advocacy groups sue over lack of environmental oversight.

The Clash Over Potash

Microbial products made for improving crop growth, also known as biologicals, are a billion-dollar industry, but the promises touted by these products might be too good to be true.

Should Farmers Use Microbial Biological Products? It Depends.

New England farmers are participating in the first known field trials of human-urine fertilizer in the U.S.

Can Human Urine Fertilize our Crops?

The FAA recently approved the use of multiple unmanned aircraft on a single farm, promising to make it easier to manage large fields. But regulators say the technology is weighed down by a lot of unknowns.

Hive Mentality: Drone Swarms Are On The Horizon

Algae sourced from algal blooms has shown much promise as a biofertilizer, potentially replacing the chemicals that cause … algal blooms.

Algal Blooms Are a Problem — They Could Also Be a Solution

The humble black soldier fly has been a chicken feed staple for years, but it’s only recently that researchers realized their untapped potential to convert waste into natural fertilizers and pesticides.

The Tiny Fly That Could Transform Agriculture

Dan Egan’s latest book investigates how phosphorus fertilizer enables the world’s food system — exacting a great price from from all of us.

Of Hubris and Feces: The Human Story of Phosphorus

A new study from North Carolina State University surveyed people throughout the phosphorus industry, finding dim views on its long-term sustainability.

We Can’t Keep Using Phosphorus Fertilizers — Just Ask Industry Stakeholders

Funding for the water quality sensor system that monitors ag-related pollution has been axed, making it harder to hold the industry accountable, and nearly impossible for citizens to check the quality of their drinking water.

Iowa’s Water Crisis Isn’t Drying Up Anytime Soon

New research shows some synthetic chemicals change the electric fields around flowers so that pollinators avoid them.

Fertilizer Is Making Flowers Repel Bumblebees

There are only a handful of fertilizer companies for American farmers to buy from. The USDA is trying to change that.

All “Fertilizer” Posts