https://phys.org/biology-news/agriculture en-us Agriculture, livestock, farming and food processing news The European Commission's proposal to ease current restrictions on genetically modified crops has riled up EU organic farming leader Austria and its farmers. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-austria-farmers-arms-brussels-gmo.html Agriculture Thu, 03 Aug 2023 04:10:38 EDT news610254633 Earth's soil contains large stocks of carbon—even more carbon than in the atmosphere. A significant portion of this soil carbon is in organic form (carbon bound to carbon), called soil organic carbon (SOC). However, SOC has historically been greatly diminished by agricultural activity, releasing that carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-method-accurate-efficient-soil-carbon.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:46:40 EDT news610199195 Cadmium naturally occurs in the soil of much of Latin America's cacao farms, and is absorbed by the plants. With EU regulations restricting the amount of cadmium allowed in chocolate imports, it is important for farmers to know where they can grow cacao that is fit for the global market. Researchers have compiled a map that aims to address this challenge. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-cadmium-cacao-problem-isnt-bad.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:45:57 EDT news610199139 Chicken-meat is one of the most accessible, affordable and accepted animal protein worldwide, presenting a promising solution to food security while maintaining minimal greenhouse gas emissions and low carbon footprints. Broiler chicken diets typically comprise 20 to 23% protein, with soybean meal being the primary protein source. Advancements have been made in the form of low-protein broiler diets, which reduce soybean meal usage by substituting with crystalline amino acids. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-optimizing-low-protein-diets-broiler-chickens.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:43:02 EDT news610198979 When you shell out for artisanal food—Swiss Gruyère cheese, organic vanilla extract, Italian prosciutto—do you get what you paid for? With global food fraud estimates as high as $40 billion a year, it's a question Purdue University researchers are tackling with a food "fingerprint" technique sensitive enough to distinguish between foods made from the same ingredients, but in different locations. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-gourmet-imitation-technique-ferrets-food.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:35:35 EDT news610198531 Many cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, are prey to devastating fungal diseases caused by infection with so-called grass powdery mildews. A key battleground between the plants and the powdery mildews is the interaction between plant immune receptors and pathogen effectors, molecules which are delivered into host cells by pathogens to establish infection. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-insights-illuminate-arms-crop-fungal.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:33:58 EDT news610198430 Intensive farming practices have gained popularity in recent decades, largely due to the escalated demand for poultry products. Nonetheless, the high stocking densities these methods employ have amplified the susceptibility of commercial broilers to numerous stress factors. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-roles-chlorogenic-acid-growth-immune.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:10:14 EDT news610193411 It's around this time of year that Australian cherry growers look for cooler days. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-climate-view-farmers-insights-future.html Biotechnology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:00:02 EDT news610191167 Building on the Middle East's reputation as one of the historical birthplaces of cereal crop domestication, a KAUST-led team has compiled the first complete genome map of an ancient grain known as einkorn. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-ancient-grain-genetic-secrets-bread.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:00:02 EDT news610128139 Consider this agricultural riddle: What occupies more than 49 million acres in the United States, is the third largest agricultural crop by area and accounts for a $40 billion dollar industry? https://phys.org/news/2023-08-beneficial-bacteria-ud1022-fungal-pathogens.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:40:01 EDT news610191073 For some years now, biochar has been studied extensively as an alternative to phosphate fertilizer. Biochar is a recyclate produced by biomass pyrolysis, i.e., organic feedstocks are incinerated without oxygen at temperatures ranging from 400°C to 700°C. The biochar bases may differ considerably. Waste wood, chicken manure, or leaves can be processed to fertilizers. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-alternative-phosphate-fertilizer-biochar-basis.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:39:32 EDT news610184369 Using an industrial microwave can shorten the time needed to dry rice bound for beer making from days to hours and may lend itself to other food uses of the staple grain, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers found. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-beer-microwave-dried-rice-air-dried.html Biotechnology Agriculture Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:25:04 EDT news610118701 It's an elegant solution: Remove the habitat of a parasite-carrying aquatic snail and reduce the level of infection in the local community; all while generating more feed and compost for local farmers. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-nuisance-vegetation-senegalese-waterways-prevalence.html Ecology Agriculture Tue, 01 Aug 2023 03:51:56 EDT news610080705 Oat is among the top ten cereal crop species in terms of global production. It can adapt to different climates, and farmers can grow it successfully even in harsh environments where other crops such as rice and corn fail. However, not all oat plants are the same. Based on their grains, two major oat varieties can easily be distinguished: hulled, grains that are covered in a non-edible husk, and naked, grains that have a soft outer casing that easily separates from the edible grain during threshing. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-genome-rewrite-story-oat-domestication.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 19:00:02 EDT news610035671 Characteristic volatile compounds in cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit are the main factors to attract customers, which are highly correlated with consumer preference and overall satisfaction with strawberries. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-strawberry-fruit-flavor-quality.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:34:02 EDT news610036441 Scientists at the Children's Nutrition Research Center of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) helped develop healthier sorghum varieties containing significant concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids while also increasing mineral absorption to meet the nutritional needs of mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-scientists-healthy-sorghum-crop-healthier.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:11:04 EDT news610035062 The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of the subtype H5 has progressed from sporadic seasonal occurrences to a continuous and nearly global panzootic in wild birds. This raises HPAIV incursion pressure into poultry holdings, as well as the risks of secondary spread and human exposure at the poultry-human interface. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-vaccination-strategically-poultry-highly-pathogenic.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:32:03 EDT news610032721 California agricultural officials have placed a 79-square-mile area in Los Angeles County under quarantine because of the presence of an invasive fruit fly. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-invasive-fruit-fly-outbreak-prompts.html Ecology Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:22:02 EDT news610032121 The occupation, lifestyle and lack of formal education among pastoralists place them at higher risk of zoonoses. Moreover, zoonoses among pastoralists and their livestock in the Upper Benue Trough in northeastern Nigeria has not been studied holistically. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-zoonotic-parasites-pastoralists-cattle-soil.html Cell & Microbiology Agriculture Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:49:02 EDT news610030141 The effectiveness of antiparasitic products for cattle varies from pasture to pasture in treating parasite populations. Parasitologist Eva Wray helps Arkansas cattle producers pick the product and regimen to treat these tiny pests. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-antiparasitic-resistance-widespread-parasites-infect.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:41:04 EDT news609770461 A new national freshwater policy is causing tension for Otago farmers, as many of the new regulations oppose their perception of a "good farmer" and good farming practices, University of Otago research shows. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-good-farmer-struggle-otago-farmers.html Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:02:03 EDT news609768121 The European Union has banned the use of several pesticides, and heavily restricted others. This is because of their potential health effects or environmental contamination, or because there's not enough data to be sure that they aren't harmful. Over 50% of these pesticides are still registered in Nigeria, however. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-pesticides-nigeria-law.html Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:04 EDT news609764402 Palm oil is found in half the products sold in supermarkets and in biofuels. Around 50 percent of the world's supply is grown in Indonesia, mostly on massive plantations. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-palm-oil-myth-corporate-plantation.html Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:55:04 EDT news609764101 Common beans are important food sources with high nutritional content. Bean seeds also contain phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote health. A study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and CIATEJ in Guadalajara, Mexico, explored the composition of seed coat extracts from black and pinto bean varieties unique to the Chiapas region of Southern Mexico. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-unique-mexican-black-pinto-bean.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:45:04 EDT news609763501 Saltwater was once known as an invisible threat to farmers and their crops. It would sneak under the soil undetected on the surface until it intruded so far into groundwater that the soil became saltier and led to a decline in crop yields. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-saltwater-intrusion-wreaking-havoc-farms.html Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:51:04 EDT news609756661 As global temperatures continue to rise, maintaining the quality and yield of crops adapted to lower temperatures will increasingly become a challenge. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-gene-grain-quality-stress-rice.html Biotechnology Agriculture Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:35:03 EDT news609755701 Saying soil is important is an understatement. From serving as the medium where most of our food is grown, to sequestering carbon and reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, to being the home for enormous quantities of biodiversity—including antibiotic-producing bacteria—soil is key to life on Earth. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-cost-effective-efficient-soil-health-scale.html Ecology Agriculture Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:43:32 EDT news609677005 Developing disease-resistant, high-quality improved crop varieties to benefit agricultural producers and consumers may seem like a "hairy" task, but Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists may have gotten to the root of the issue. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-technology-citrus-varieties.html Agriculture Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:11:17 EDT news609675073 Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) cause significant damage to pig farms worldwide every year. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-treatment-porcine-virus-billions-farmers.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:08:04 EDT news609588481 Plodia interpunctella, better known as the Indian Meal Moth, is normally found where you store your grains. This means that it can move through tiny openings in plastic or cardboard packages in your pantry to feast on cereal, pet food, flour, cornmeal and other stored grains and dried fruit. It can also contaminate contents of larger food storage facilities and grain storage buildings. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-tracks-moth-species-destroy-packaged.html Ecology Agriculture Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:20:03 EDT news609517202