Your questions; expert answers
Learn how research is informing ecosystem service markets with Dr. LaKisha Odom.
Nutrient cycling has a profound impact on nutrient content in crops at harvest. What can farmers do to grow the most nutrient-dense crops?
Agricultural data expert Ben Craker shares invaluable insights on the importance of efficient farm data management, offering practical strategies to optimize agricultural operations and enhance overall farm success.
We've talked about a bunch of big changes to improve dairy sustainability, but what small things can you do right now to improve dairy farm water and electricity use?
Anaerobic digesters can turn organic waste into natural gas and nutrient-rich digestate. But how do they work? And when can a digester installation pay for itself on a dairy farm?
A new feed additive is on its way to FDA clearance, and it can reduce enteric methane emissions by as much as 30% in cattle, with no side effects. Listen in for more info.
Enteric methane is potent, short-lived, and a major target for reductions to improve the sustainability of livestock production.
Enteric methane and manure are the two biggest sources of greenhouse gases from dairy production. What causes them, and how can we reduce them?
Virtual fence can create invisible, movable boundaries to help manage cattle herds. It's a new technology, and the possibilities are exciting. But there are a few learning curves--listen in as a producer and researcher talk about the benefits and hurdles of using virtual fence.
Deciding when to irrigate can feel like half art, half science. But measuring soil water potential can help make even better use of limited water by showing you how much water is actually available to plants.
Carbon markets have hit a few hiccups. One is transparency: how much are carbon credits worth and where’s the money going? Blockchain could help.
Nearly 30% of the entire land cover of the United States is rangeland. Finding ways to improve carbon sequestration in rangeland soils can boost soil health, improve farmer profits, and make great use of potential untapped carbon sinks
Resilience is all about decreasing the impact of uncontrollable events--like weather, pests, disease, and drought--on crop yields and agricultural productivity. Discover how soil health can play a part.
Protect, preserve, and create economic resources. This is the mission of the National Indian Carbon Coalition (NICC), which works with tribal members and leaders to develop carbon sequestration projects, protect tribal natural resources, and generate revenue for land acquisition and community development.
There are three pillars of agriculture: Soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil biology. New techniques for measuring soil biology are popping up, but what can they actually tell you? And will they give you a better bang for your buck on the farm?
Crop residue is no waste--listen and learn how to use crop residue to feed soil microbes and add soil nutrients.
It’s tough to get conservation practices from concepts to on-the-ground implementation. Listen as John Swanson talks through how you, too, can ”hit the easy button” on conservation practices.
Precision nutrient management is all about “spoon-feeding” your crops just the right amount and kind of nutrients, just when they need them. Doing so can boost the efficiency of your inputs and improve your on-farm return on investment.
Soil is the medium for plant growth, regulates chemical processes, and filters water. So how does soil health impact water quality?
Nutrients are essential for us to grow food, feed, fuel, and fiber. But what happens when there's too much of a good thing?
Back in 2007, Alberta (one of Canada's 13 provinces) instituted new regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions, including a carbon market. So how did it go?
Over 90% of farmers are aware of carbon markets, but only 3% of the surveyed farmers are participating in a market, according to a 2022 report by Trust in Food. Listen as Lee Briese describes some of the barriers keeping farmers out of carbon markets.
When we talk about carbon markets, "additionality" is one of those terms that's tough to avoid. But what is additionality? And what does it mean when it comes to agricultural carbon?
Decarbonization is the push to hit "net zero" or "carbon neutral" emissions. But what does all that have to do with agriculture?
Say you're ready to commit to a carbon program. But before you declare "love at first sight" and sign on the dotted line, there are a few questions you should ask.
Voluntary carbon programs are cropping up around the U.S. But before you join a program, there are a few things to consider.
New technologies could be the next big step in helping agricultural and environmental service markets gain ground. But how? And which technologies will be most helpful?
If you care about something, you measure it. Just as doctors recommend annual checkups, soil scientists recommend measuring soil health. But it's one thing to take samples in a single field--how do you measure soil health at scale?
Carbon markets rely on accurate measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of soil carbon to issue carbon credits. But tallying soil carbon can be tricky. How should we go about sampling soil for MRV? And what does it tell us?
Agricultural soils hold great potential for sequestering carbon and improving soil health in the process. But how do you measure soil carbon?
Sinking carbon into soil is a powerful tool in our toolbox to decrease or offset carbon emissions. But how does carbon get into the soil? And once it's there, how do we keep it there?
