In Yuma, Arizona, John Boelts of Desert Premium Farms and past president of the Arizona Farm Bureau, raises nearly 2,000 acres of crops by season’s end. Crops range from romaine, leaf and head lettuce to broccoli, cauliflower, melons, cotton, wheat, sudangrass and alfalfa. – Labor Shortages Planting, caring for and harvesting the grain crops is relatively … Read more
Plant diseases are caused by pathogens, as well as directly by environmental conditions. Environmental issues such as drought, excessive moisture, air pollution or nutrient deficits or imbalances can cause plant disease. Abiotic diseases, like blossom end rot, are noninfectious, whereas biotic diseases, or those caused by a pathogen, are infectious. Cultivation practices, weather conditions and … Read more
Climate-smart, agricultural system, climate resilience, adaptive capacity, and soil carbon sequestration are terms that evolved to help farmers and researchers communicate about climate change. – Climate Change A climate-smart agricultural system is a farm designed to operate and thrive through the extreme conditions caused by a changing climate. The terms “climate resilience” and “adaptive capacity” refer … Read more
A shared language is an important part of getting along and of understanding what’s happening around you. In this era, when comprehending what’s happening in your fields may help your neighbors understand what’s happening in their fields and vice versa, a shared language around agriculture as it relates to climate change may be essential. This … Read more
With 2017 right around the corner, let’s take a look back at the top five stories that caught our readers’ eyes in 2016. – Top 5 Most-Read Stories 1. Fruit Trees in the High Desert As interest in heirlooms and organic growing methods expands, Gordon Tooley and Margaret Yancey of Tooley’s Trees in Truchas, New Mexico, may have … Read more