Midwest Fights Weeds With Bugs

'No-till' agriculture is eco-friendly and rising in popularity

(NEWSER) - A transformation in farming may be under way, one that leaves plows in the dust. It's called "no-till" farming, and the AFP (via Raw Story ) catches up with the growing trend in Indiana. The idea is that a plow—or on a smaller scale, a garden shovel—disrupts the natural structure of soil. Leaving the earth intact results in healthier soil in the long run, thus reducing the need for fertilizers. About 35% of US crops, including half of all soybeans, are now grown with the practice, says the Agriculture Department. More»

Turns out that many plants have multiple names—some have hundreds

(NEWSER) - A comprehensive scientific study will trim some 600,000 duplicates from the world’s list of flowering plants, the Guardian reports. After centuries of scientists naming “new” plants that had already been discovered, we currently count the number of plant species at about 1 million—but a more realistic number is 400,000, a joint American-British study team says. More»

System of fish and fertilizer is catching on

(NEWSER) - Aquaponics—the word is a blend of hydroponics and aquaculture, the cultivation of fish—is backyard agriculture using only fish droppings as fertilizer. And it's not for everyone, at least yet. One man’s greenhouse “wouldn’t look out of place on a wayward space station where pioneers have gone to escape the cannibal gangs back on Earth,” Michael Tortorello writes. But you can’t argue with the results: He’s pulled 347 tomatoes from a single plant. More»

USDA says small farms are becoming more popular even as large farms grow

(AP) - Most evenings, Gary Mithoefer can be found at the end of a long gravel driveway off a busy highway, tending two garden plots filled with white sweet potatoes, squash, cabbages, and a dozen other vegetables still thriving in early fall. The 62-year-old, who gardens after his workday ends at his state highway job, is one of a growing number of Americans rolling up their sleeves and digging into the dirt to raise crops or livestock on a small scale. More»

(NEWSER) - For growers and gardeners of all kinds, Smart Grow mats could be revolutionary. Tucked around the stems of plants, the cheap, natural mats keep weeds and pests away as they spur growth. There’s just one thing holding them back: They’re made from human hair. “No matter what you do,” says CEO Blair Blacker, some people just “won’t get over it.” More»