Depleted Groundwater Could Be Refilled by Borrowing a Trick from Solar Power by Erica Gies of Scientific American
Read this quick discussion on how slowing excess water can help refill underground aquifers, by taking inspiration from how solar power is added and stored in the grid.
USDA adjusts Plant Hardiness Zone Map by Brent Murphree at Delta FarmPress
Murphree discusses how (in a rather tongue in cheek sort of way) the new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map that was rolled out this year. The climate's a-warming! Check out the map here.
Researchers Work to Develop, Test Dry-Farm-Adapted Corn Varieties
Western SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) discusses work by Lucas Nebert, a research associate in the Department of Horticulture at OSU. Read on to learn what they discovered and to find more information about Nebert's OSU Dry Farming Project, which is mapping areas of the state compatible with dry farming.
9 environmental organizations empowering long-term change with the circular fashion economy by Caroline Knapp
Check out 1% For The Planet's discussion of nine members' ways to minimize the environmental impacts of the fashion industry. Groups include Drip by Drip, an organization focused on cleaning freshwater where second-hand clothing is destroyed, and DIRT, which is focused on biodynamic farming of raw materials.
Read about updates to EPA rules governing water, how drones help detect vineyard issues, and more!
EPA publishes updated Waters of the United States rule by Rusty Rumley
In response to the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court ruling, the EPA has issued a rule change to narrow the scope of its definition of the "waters of the United States," which are waters regulated by the EPA. This article provides links to information on the court case, the rule change, and the Clean Water Act.
Eye in the sky spies on vineyard diseases by Lee Allen
Learn how drones and satellite imaging is helping grape growers identify vineyard issues early!
Research results: Producing food in a drying climate by Lee Allen
Learn about research into farming adaptation to climate change and drought-tolerance conducted by the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Keep up to date with news about farming & winemaking!
Retaining Soil Moisture at Lighthouse Herb’n Farm By Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez, NCAT Agriculture Specialist
Explore the methods that Lighthouse Herb’n Farm uses to retain soil moisture in this video interview with NCAT.
See just how deep cover crop roots can go by Tom J. Bechman of the Indiana Prairie Farmer
Bechman talks with Dena Anderson, a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, who explained how cover crop roots (and earthworms!) can go for multiple feet even when young.
Can you fence deer out of crop fields? by Chris Torres of the American Agriculturist
Torres explores how two Pennsylvanian farmers attempt to control deer on their land.
Technology: The future of grape growing by Lee Allen of the Western Farm Press
Allen explores how AI is coming to grape growing in its analysis of soil conditions, irrigation management, and drone-monitoring.
Old vines in Lodi area still producing by Lee Allen of the Western Farm Press
Allen talks with sommelier and wine writer Randy Caparoso's work on publishing "Lodi!", a history of the region and its old-vine vineyards.
Crack open a fresh can of depression with these headlines from around the country.
A Fracker in Pennsylvania Wants to Take 1.5 Million Gallons a Day From a Small, Biodiverse Creek. Should the State Approve a Permit? by Jake Bolster of Inside Climate News
Why waste water on drinking when you can use it to irrigate your own oil well? /s
The EPA removes federal protections for most of the country's wetlands by James Doubek of OPB
It's cool, folks, we'll just do better on Earth 2.0. /s
Artificial intelligence technology behind ChatGPT was built in Iowa — with a lot of water by Matt O'Brien and Hannah Fingerhut of the Associated Press
Learn about the devastating effects of the latest ubiquitous buzzword: AI.
America Is Draining Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow by Mira Rojanasakul, Christopher Flavelle, Blacki Migliozzi, and Eli Murray of the New York Times
Drill, baby, drill. /s
Catch up on the latest news! This batch features research vineyards, marketing, and why you might be telling the grandkids tales of dragonflies.
Wine industry ponders new marketing strategies by Lee Allen of Western FarmPress
From how to appeal to younger drinkers to sustainability, Lee Allen dives into the topic of packaging.
These Vines Aren’t for Wine. They’re for Data. by Shana Clarke of VinePair
Explore climate change research vineyards with Shana Clarke and learn the who, what and why behind testing plots of vines. Who is behind these test plots? Growers include wineries growing massale selection vines for propagation, non-profit groups, and research institutes.
Like Canaries in a Coal Mine, Dragonflies Signal Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems by Juanita Gordon
Feel like you're seeing less dragonflies? There's a reason. And it's terrible.
Sustainable September: Keep up to date with the latest news about dry farming, water and sustainable agriculture.
Brooks Wine Named #28 of the World’s Best Vineyards
One of our members in the news!
Dry farm researchers’ new mapping project will give Oregon growers a resource by Brian Bull for KLCC/NPR
Read about the new dry farm mapping project helmed by Lucas Nebert of OSU and the Dry Farming Institute.
The next pandemic could strike crops, not people by Saima Sidik for Grist
Learn how our modern commodity farming could be devastated by the next pandemic.
These five cities could be one natural disaster away from a catastrophic water crisis by Rachel Ramirez and Eric Levenson of CNN
The drinking water crisis in the USA explored.
When Drought Gripped Minnesota in 2021, Farmers Increased Water Usage by Dionne Searcey and Mira Rojanasakul of the NYT
This article explores how irrigation was overused in response to the 2021 drought in Minnesota, threatening local drinking water supplies, and how this crisis is likely to be repeated.
Slow start to wine grape harvest by Lee Allen of Western FarmPress
A look at the start of harvest in California.
Ste. Michelle informs growers of 40% decrease in grape need by Sean P. Sullivan of the Northwest Wine Report
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates had some bad news for its grape growers.
New Data Says U.S. Produces the Most High-ABV Wines in the World by Olivia White of Vinepair
There's something happening here, but what it is, is over-irrigation it's clear.
