A storytelling session was successful in raising awareness and understanding of the types of changes in weather patterns farmers are experiencing in Maine, what impacts those changes are having on their operations, and the changes farmers are making in response. Using an outreach approach rooted in farmer stories allowed us to bypass the controversy that
July 21, 2020 – By Ciara Linnane, MarketWatch – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released preliminary guidance on Tuesday on cannabis-related clinical research, outlining how companies seeking approval of drugs that contain cannabis or its derivatives must follow the traditional drug review and approval process involving clinical trials. More links FDA releases guidelines for
July 19, 2020 – By Sarah Spicer, The Wichita Eagle – To preserve the environment, mitigate climate change and stabilize the U.S. food system, Midwest farmers should diversify their crops and move away from raising corn and soybeans, researchers say. More links Farmers, researchers agree: COVID-19, climate change revealed holes in agriculture system
July 16, 2020 – By Ariel Rivers et al., Biological Control – Predatory arthropod activity-density, richness, and the relative predation index increased by the third year of organic management in rolled hairy vetch-triticale. More links Cover crops support arthropod predator activity with variable effects on crop damage during transition to organic management
July 16, 2020 – National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – This is the fifth blog in a series focusing on specific provisions included in the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA) introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in February 2020. More links Regional and Long-Term Agricultural Research Build Climate Resilience
July 13, 2020 – By Meg Wilcox, Civil Eats – For almost 20 years, Stephen Jones developed wheat varieties for white commodity wheat flour, but he never liked it much. So when the Washington State University (WSU) researcher was offered the chance to move to Washington’s Skagit Valley 10 years ago, he gladly shifted gears.
July 10, 2020 – By Jerrold J. Heindel, Environmental Health News – An article written by a group of 19 toxicologists has been published verbatim in eight toxicology journals in the last four months. More links The dangers of opinion masquerading as fact in science journals: Jerrold J. Heindel
July 6, 2020 – By Emma Gilbard, Farmers Weekly – Fermenting organic matter in a similar way to ensiling grass, rather than composting waste, can lead to greater improvements in soil health while at the same time helping farmers to reduce their carbon footprint. More links Fermenting organic matter better for soil health than composting
June 25, 2020 – By Pien Huang, Maine Public – Minks on two fur farms in the Netherlands began getting sick in late April. Some were coughing, with runny noses; others had signs of severe respiratory disease. Soon, they started dying. More links Dutch Minks Contract COVID-19 — And Appear To Infect Humans
June 22, 2020 – By Jessica Craig, Maine Public – Rattan Lal just won a quarter of a million dollars for his scientific research on dirt. Or as he prefers to call it, “soil.” More links Soil Prof Hits Pay Dirt: $250K Prize For Helping Farmers, Fighting Climate Change
