Soil bugs munch on plastics

Soil bugs

Our world is drowning in a flood of plastic. Eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. Agricultural soils are also threatened by plastic pollution.

Ancient farmers transformed Amazon and left an enduring legacy on the rainforest

Ancient farmers

Ancient communities transformed the Amazon thousands of years ago, farming in a way which has had a lasting impact on the rainforest, a major new study shows.

Archeological plant remains point to southwest Amazonia as crop domestication center

Archeological plant

Genetic analysis of plant species has long pointed to the lowlands of southwest Amazonia as a key region in the early history of plant domestication in the Americas, but systematic archaeological evidence to support this has been rare.

To keep more carbon on the ground, halting farmland expansion is key

This image shows a high-yield palm oil farm in Ghana.

The conversion of forests to farmland is recognized as a major contributor to rising levels of greenhouse gases. And yet it hasn't been clear how to best minimize the loss of sequestered carbon into the atmosphere.

Climate taxes on agriculture could lead to more food insecurity than climate change itself

Climate 

New IIASA-led research has found that a single climate mitigation scheme applied to all sectors, such as a global carbon tax, could have a serious impact on agriculture and result in far more widespread hunger and food insecurity than the direct impacts of climate change. Smarter, inclusive policies are necessary instead.

Time is running out in the tropics: Researchers warn of global biodiversity collapse

Time is running out in the tropics: Researchers warn of global biodiversity collapse

A global biodiversity collapse is imminent unless we take urgent, concerted action to reverse species loss in the tropics, according to a major scientific study in the journal Nature.

Paleontologists discover largest dinosaur foot ever

Paleontologists 

The Black Hills region of the United States is famous today for tourist attractions like Deadwood and Mount Rushmore, but around 150 million years ago it was home to one of the largest dinosaurs known.

Farmers seek off-farm income to counter rising costs

Federated Farmers meat and wool chairman Miles Anderson says the rural community is under increasing financial and regulatory pressure.

A farming leader says it is no surprise that farms are increasingly reliant on off-farm income. 

Many alarmed over boost to pesticide use in agriculture

Many alarmed over boost to pesticide use in agriculture

Families slam commission recommendation on easing restrictions on deadly pesticides that are contaminating the environment and causing sky-high cancer rates and other health crises.

Chinese TV to help Botswana setup an agriculture TV channel

A Chinese delegation headed by China Central Television (CCTV-7) Agricultural Program has agreed to help Botswana setup an agriculture television channel.

The television channel was proposed by Botswana’s Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security (MoA), during the China Africa Agriculture Cooperation and Development Summit which was organised by Global Max Media Group (GMMG) on Thursday.

New California Agriculture Program is a Boost for Bees

Unfortunately, thefts of beehives have skyrocketed in recent years as pollination costs have soared, increasing the hives’ value. Besides the safe movement of colonies, Bee Safe is intended to help prevent apiary theft. 

The Almond Alliance of California recently announced it has successfully advocated for $1.9 million for one to three years in additional, dedicated state funds for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) new Bee Safe program.

How the heat is affecting German agriculture, business

Farmland

Farmers are already asking for €1 billion in domestic aid and consumers may soon complain about the rising price of pommes.

Chamber of Commerce attacks Trump's farmer bailout

President Donald Trump 

President Donald Trump wants to give America's farmers $12 billion to shield them from losses in his global trade feuds. But if he bailed out every industry affected, it would cost more than triple that, a new report found.

Indian farm product tariffs curbing Australian exports: minister

Farm produce

Australia’s exports of farm products to India have taken a hit because of new tariffs and free trade negotiations between the two countries have stalled, trade minister Steven Ciobo said on Wednesday.

Farmer confidence at its weakest in 6 years

Farmer

New Zealand farmer confidence has fallen to the lowest level in six years amid uncertainty over government policies.

Beekeepers weigh levies

Beekeepers

Levies are vital for the ongoing health and growth of the beekeeping industry, a Central Otago commercial apiarist says.

Sheep farming 'poster boy' off to Australian conference

Farmer

He has been described a ''poster boy'' for the future of New Zealand's sheep industry. But young Maniototo shepherd Dave Ingham (24) is quick to stress that agriculture is ''not just going out shifting break fences and drenching lambs''.

French fries could be more expensive as drought threatens German potato crops

potato crops

French fries in Germany are about to get more expensive — or a lot smaller. And there will be no relief from other countries.

No immediate federal help for drought-hit German farmers, agriculture minister says

Sheep

For weeks, farmers in Germany have been waiting for rain and are calling for a billion euros in government aid. But German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner says she has to wait for data before giving out any money.

MOFA urges farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture

Farmland

Farmers in the country have been urged to adopt climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security.

We can feed 9.7 billion by growing crops for humans, not animals

Feed maize to people instead of animals, study says

The current crop production is sufficient to feed the predicted 9.7 billion world population in 2050, but only if we make radical changes to our dietary choices, new research shows.

Humanity has already exhausted Earth’s natural resources for 2018

Humanity has already used up nature’s budget for the entire year

August 1 marks Earth Overshoot Day this year – the day humanity has used up the resources nature can regenerate in a year, according to data from Global Footprint Network, an international research organisation.

Trump says China will buy ‘massive amounts’ of US farm products after putting trade war on hold

US President Donald Trump 

US President Donald Trump has said that China will buy “massive amounts” of American agricultural products as the two economic giants put an impending trade war “on hold”.

World’s soils have lost 133 billion tonnes of carbon since the dawn of agriculture, study estimates

Concern has been growing over a 'soil fertility crisis', a problem that can be masked by the use of artificial fertilisers 

The degradation of the Earth’s soil by humans has been an environmental catastrophe on a similar scale to the deforestation of much of the planet, a new study suggests.

Global vegetable supply could plummet by more than a third due to climate change, says study

Crop yields will be affected by rising temperatures and water shortages

The world's supply of vegetables could fall by more than a third by 2050 unless urgent action is taken to combat climate change, according to a new study.

Government seems so ‘hamstrung by Brexit immigration dogma’ it risks failing £1.2bn soft fruit industry, growers claim

The UK's soft fruit industry is currently facing a labour shortage which growers fear may be exacerbated by government reluctance to let in foreign fruit pickers

The Government seems so “hamstrung by dogma” around Brexit and immigration that it is failing to act decisively to ensure Britain’s fruit farmers will get the supply of foreign workers they need to survive, it has been suggested.

'Super crops' could revolutionise agriculture in Africa, expert claims

Zambia, one of the continent’s most fertile countries produces a wide range of foods including maize, rice, millet, sorghum, and sweet potatoes ( Alamy )

Super crops have the potential to revolutionize agriculture in Africa, a leading expert has claimed.

Agricultural report buttresses critics’ position on performance

Farm Produce

·         Agric  value chains suffer neglect

 The allegations of nonperformance in the agricultural sector in the last three years by critics has been buttressed by the statistical report of the National Agricultural Extension & Liaison Services (NAERLS) as the sector was underscored for not impacting on farmers for higher food productivity, just as incoherent operation in Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has been attributed to value chain crops neglect.

Irish government using wrong data to downplay greenhouse gas emissions from cows

Ireland's dairy herd has been increasing in recent years, and so have the levels of climate change-inducing gases emitted by the cows ( Getty Images )

The Irish government is misleading the public about levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s cows, according to An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland. 

Napier grass: solution to farmers/herders clash

Napier grass

The incessant clashes and the unrestrained killings perpetrated by herdsmen across Nigeria could become a thing of the past if the government would encourage farmers to key into Napier grass cultivation. 

National mushroom gets elected executive officers

*    Chief Micheal Awunor emerges president

In Red cap, the Mushroom Elected  President Chief Micheal Awunor, while casting his vote, with the National Vice President South-West Mr. Yufus Olaitan

In an election conducted by the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association (FACAN), Chief Michael Awunor has emerged the President of the National Mushroom Association of Nigeria (NMUSAN) with thirteen other officers that will paddle the affairs of the crop from production, processing and marketing for the period stipulated by its constitution.

India must ditch rice to feed growing population, scientists warn

India must ditch rice to feed growing population, scientists warn

India must shift from growing mainly rice and wheat to other crops that are healthier and better for the environment, according to new research.

Editorial- Food productivity and budget delay

 Food productivity 

The issue of budget delay in our economic activities in the country is gradually becoming part of our culture without carefully looking at its imperative disadvantages to our economy and growth especially in food productivity.

Jeremy Corbyn vows to reverse Tory move that stripped £149m from low-paid agricultural workers

Jeremy Corbyn will frame the announcement as part of a wider commitment to improving workers’ bargaining power

Jeremy Corbyn will vow to reverse a Conservative move that stripped £149m from the wages of low-paid agricultural workers.

Wheat plague spreading through Yemen

Wheat plague

Agricultural experts are seriously concerned about the spread of stem rust through Yemen to the world’s major wheat production regions, where it could wipe out huge cultivation areas of a crop crucial for food security.

PRESS RELEASE - NIGERIA TO TAP INTO MONEY SPINNING APICULTURE INDUSTRY: AUDU OGBEH.

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh receiving the symbolic honey touch from the Chairman of APIEXPO Africa 2018 Dr. Mrs. Dooshima Kwange.

Nigeria will soon join the comity of nations renowned for honey exports after securing accreditation and certification of its honey from the European Union Commission.