Renewable Farming

February 2021

Four research principles for reliable field trials on your farm this season

When a farmer hitches up a planter or climbs into a combine cab, a flood of adrenaline fuels his Mission From On High. Full speed ahead! No time for flagging test strips or recording weigh-wagon samples. (I’m just acknowledging reality!) February 26, 2021  By Jerry Carlson — Based on 30 years of encouraging practical field research with biological products […]

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If western Corn Belt drought forecast is correct, this biological “insurance” could help

“Over the last 20 years, we’ve never seen a drought situation looking like this through February. There’s extensive drought in the Northern Plains. There’s exceptional drought in the four-corner states. But there’s little drought in the eastern half of the U.S.” February 24, 2021 — That report is from Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist at Nutrien

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Does deepening of the polar vortex over North America raise odds of a dry summer?

One vital climate fact hammered into memory from my interview with climatologist Dr. Reid Bryson decades ago: Expansion of the westerly winds over the Northern Hemisphere relates directly to a cool, dry climate in North America.  February 18, 2021 By Jerry Carlson — The current deep loop in the circumpolar vortex over the U.S. might

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Concerned about a dry summer? These “endophytes” help crops tolerate stress

This season, Renewable Farming offers farmers one of the most intriguing biological innovations we’ve seen in years. They’re beneficial bacteria and fungi called endophytes. These microbes live inside your crops, helping them withstand stress from drought, heat, cold or excess moisture.  February 17, 2021 These natural organisms were first discovered in one of the world’s highest-stress zones: Yellowstone National

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Israeli developers produce “real” steak in a factory… without corn or beans

The Israel Institute of Technology and Aleph Farms of Rehavot, Israel just announced development of ribeye steak grown from living cells in a laboratory. Meat with the texture, appearance and taste of cuts from a steer. February 11, 2021 — If culturing live meat cells in a production plant is more efficient than raising meat in

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Best forecast sources I’ve found for farming through wild weather variability

My favorite weather website is Weather Underground. Its 10-day forecast displays a full-page linear chart predicting temperature, precipitation, wind speeds and other details you can see at a single glance. February 3, 2021  By Jerry Carlson — I keep the 10-day forecast bookmarked on my computer. A second valuable feature is its Wundermap, which shows you high-resolution radar images. With its sequential motion option, you can

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