The U-pick business model, which relies on farm visitors to do the harvesting, has the potential to produce big profits. But its success depends on an array of uncontrollable variables.

The Curious Economics of Pick-Your-Own Farms

For the first time, large farm groups are making affordable childcare a policy priority for the 2023 Farm Bill — a move that could help reshape and revive rural communities.

Can the Farm Bill Ease the Childcare Crisis for U.S. Farm Families?

Legislation penalizing companies that employ undocumented workers goes into effect on July 1. Some farmworkers, fearing discrimination and deportation, are already fleeing the state.

Florida’s New Anti-Immigration Law Spells Bad News for Agriculture

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

On the Experimental Farm in temperate North Carolina, research growers are cultivating tropical plants like taro, cassava, and chayote — crop options for a changing climate.

The Small Southern Farm Working to Forecast the Crops of the Future

And what Idaho researchers are doing to prepare the state’s top crop for a smokier future.

How Wildfire Smoke Shrinks and Shrivels Potatoes

The U.S. is the world’s top importer of vanilla beans, but American production has been minimal — until now.

A Domestic Vanilla Industry Is Slowly Unfurling in Florida

As the state considers permanent restrictions on the crop in the Willamette Valley, a decades-long debate is pitting farmers against each other.

The Battle Over Canola Farming in Oregon Heats Up

The Covid-19 pandemic amplified the demand for mental health resources, bolstering programs designed to meet the unique needs of farmers and ranchers.

Addressing Agriculture’s Mental Health Crisis

More than a dozen breeding programs across the country are competing to develop the next great chipping potato. The impact will be felt far beyond the snack aisle.

The Race to Breed a Better Potato Chip

Consumers are thirsty for raw milk, and more states are looking to legalize its place on grocery store shelves. But is it safe?

The Growing Movement to Liberate Raw Milk

Consumers went crazy for dry beans during the pandemic. Now, a group of Cornell researchers wants to help more farmers cash in on the trendy crop.

Bean Growers Are Eager to Rebuild a Once-Powerful Market

North Carolina’s tobacco production has been declining for years. A new specialty crop is emerging, but some growers are wary.

Can Growing Leaves for Cigar Wrappers Save Struggling Farmers?

Kernza was sold as a climate-friendly wheat that would save the planet and feed the hungry. More than a decade after its release, it has barely made a dent.

Perennial Wheat Is Not Going to Save Us — Not Yet, at Least

Grocery giant Kroger is expected to merge with Albertsons, further shrinking the pool of retail markets for farmers to sell to.

Why Supermarket Monopolies Are Bad for the Farm Economy

After a series of lousy blueberry harvests, Maine researchers hope the charcoal soil amendment will help survive future droughts — valuable info for all farmers.

Is the Biochar Boom Upon Us?

As wine regions grapple with labor shortages, rising temperatures, wildfires, and drought, some winemakers are betting on a future that’s dependent on smart technology. Others are less convinced.

Tech Companies Are Pushing Precision Agriculture Into American Vineyards

Nearly 20% of U.S. farms have no access to the internet, limiting their ability to embrace precision agriculture, boost crop yields, and implement more sustainable practices.

Missed Connections: How a Lack of Reliable Internet Access Hinders Rural Farmers

The future of cranberries in Massachusetts and New Jersey will need to be managed very carefully to survive.

Shelby Vittek