Reducing pesticide use increases the number of bees that visit crops – boosting production, American scientists have found. A team of researchers at Purdue University found as-needed pesticide use increased pollination from wild bees and increased watermelon yield. The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized biological evaluations concluding that three common herbicides can adversely affect endangered species or their habitats. Bayer has announced that it will expand its vegetable seeds offerings under the new “Vegetables by Bayer” umbrella to include organically produced seed. The launch will focus on certified organic production in three key crops for the greenhouse market: tomato, sweet pepper, and cucumber. These will be followed by tomato rootstock varieties in 2023. Varieties will be sold under both the Seminis and De Ruiter vegetable seed brands. Factory farms of disease: how industrial chicken production is breeding the next pandemic. At least eight types of bird flu, all of which can kill humans, are circulating around the world’s factory farms – and they could be worse than Covid-19. Corporate influence has that kind of much more tacit control over the research agenda,” she said. “It’s a way for people to say, ‘Well, they’re not controlling us. They’re not our puppet masters.’ But we only research the crops that they’re heavily investing in.
Reduced pesticides can lead to increase in bees visiting crops
Reducing pesticide use increases the number of bees that visit crops – boosting production, American scientists have found. A team of researchers at Purdue University found as-needed pesticide use increased pollination from wild bees and increased watermelon yield.
https://farmweek.com/reduced-pesticides-can-lead-to-increase-in-bees-visiting-crops/
EPA finds herbicides may harm endangered species, angering ag groups
The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized biological evaluations concluding that three common herbicides can adversely affect endangered species or their habitats.
Bayer Launches Organic Greenhouse Vegetable Seed Pipeline
Bayer has announced that it will expand its vegetable seeds offerings under the new “Vegetables by Bayer” umbrella to include organically produced seed. The launch will focus on certified organic production in three key crops for the greenhouse market: tomato, sweet pepper, and cucumber. These will be followed by tomato rootstock varieties in 2023. Varieties will be sold under both the Seminis and De Ruiter vegetable seed brands.
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/crops/bayer-launches-organic-greenhouse-vegetable-seed-pipeline
Factory farms of disease: how industrial chicken production is breeding the next pandemic
At least eight types of bird flu, all of which can kill humans, are circulating around the world’s factory farms – and they could be worse than Covid-19.
Corporate money keeps university ag schools ‘relevant,’ and makes them targets of donor criticism
Corporate influence has that kind of much more tacit control over the research agenda,” she said. “It’s a way for people to say, ‘Well, they’re not controlling us. They’re not our puppet masters.’ But we only research the crops that they’re heavily investing in.
