Biochar and Bentonite in Sandy Soil Health Improve Crop Yields by 37%

A two-year study by Weijing, et al published in Scientific Reports shows biochar and bentonite improve sandy soil health, increasing water retention, nutrient availability, and crop yield by 36.6%. They also enhance carbon sequestration, offsetting 100 million tons of CO₂ annually, offering a sustainable solution for agriculture and climate resilience in degraded lands.

North Waikato Organic Beef Farmers Dedicated to Working in Harmony With the Land

North Waikato organic beef farmers, Hamish Browne and Robyn Budd, are now in their eighth year of farm ownership and bring very different skills to their new roles as farmers. Brought up on a dairy farm, Browne took a farming course but couldn’t see a path to farm ownership and changed to a mechanical diesel apprenticeship.

‘Virtually Any City on Earth Can Burn Now’

The journalist John Vaillant’s book “Fire Weather” begins in the spring of 2016 in the boreal forests surrounding the remote Canadian city of Fort McMurray, where a fire is growing. Although wildfire is a regular part of life in northern Alberta, this fire was destined to be different. “A new kind of fire introduced itself to the world,” Vaillant writes.

Yurok Tribe Lays 11,500 Pounds of Native Plant Seeds Along Free-Flowing Klamath River

The Yurok Fisheries Department has completed a major milestone in the restoration of the Klamath River ecosystem. Following the removal of dams along a 38-mile stretch of the river, the department’s Revegetation crew recently hand-sowed 11,500 pounds of native plant seeds between the former Iron Gate Dam and JC Boyle Reservoir.

President Claudia Sheinbaum Reaffirms Commitment to Ban Genetically Modified Corn in Mexico

In a decisive move to protect Mexico’s agricultural heritage and biodiversity, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Congress will deliberate a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn in February 2025. The initiative, grounded in ecological and cultural preservation, comes on the heels of a critical resolution by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) panel on GM corn regulations.

In Win for Agribusiness, Trade Panel Backs US Challenge to Mexican GM Corn Ban

A trade dispute panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement ruled on Friday that Mexico violated the trade accord with its ban on genetically modified corn for human consumption. The decision was a win for the agribusiness industry and the Biden administration, which called for the panel in August of last year after negotiations with the Mexican government failed.