Items Tagged with 'USDA ARS'

As U.S. growers look for more crops that can withstand extreme drought, a South American staple is emerging as a potential option. But growing quinoa presents some challenges that need to be resolved before producers can adopt it into their rotations at scale.

Two scourges that sometimes appear together but have not been definitively linked to each other continue to threaten lettuce: Pythium wilt and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus. The state budget allocated $1 million in new research funding aimed at developing more strategies to effectively protect the major crop.

A minor oilseed may be poised to take on a larger role as climate-smart policies emphasize low carbon fuels and the soil health benefits of cover crops. Camelina is seen by some as a cover crop that recoups a farmer’s investment because it can be harvested instead of plowed under.

The rainy season is kicking off with enough moisture to ease some Californians’ water worries, but the long-term outlook for agriculture remains one that calls upon farmers to maximize “crop per drop.” In the case of almonds, one of the state’s most profitable crops, it could take decades to transition from existing trees to others that can achieve similar yields with less water.

A freezing strategy with origins in medical science could be the solution to successfully preserving fresh tomatoes and potatoes so they don’t defrost into mush, with the bonus of reducing energy consumption in the food products sector.

USDA broke ground in Salinas yesterday for a new center dedicated to ag research and technology.