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'It's a groundswell': the farmers fighting to save the Earth's soil

Matthew Taylor

April 24, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Governments, UN officials, and climate experts alike are ringing the alarm bells of growing soil degradation around the world. But a new agricultural movement is tackling this challenge head on. Instead of the centuries-old method of ploughing, or turning up the soil, farmers have recently taken to keeping their fields covered with varied plants year round, to keep soil healthier. Advocates also point to lower costs on machinery and labor, more resilient crops, and climate change dividends as added benefits as well.

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Ranchers Try New Tactics Coexisting with Wolves — Endangered or Not

Kimberly Cauvel

April 19, 2019 |

Bitterroot |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Eureka, Montana

The gray wolf was on the Endangered Species list when they were first reintroduced to the West in 1995, and although they have made an impressive comeback, there is now a debate between ranchers and environmentalists about the best way to handle the influx of predators to their cattle. Ranchers like Joe Purdy in Montana have found a successful mix of nonlethal tactics to keep them at bay: patrol of the area during the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., wildlife cameras, inviting campers to stay, building fences, and more.

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Florida strawberry farmers using robots to pick fruit, control mildew

Paul Brinkmann

April 18, 2019 |

UPI |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Orlando, Florida

Robots are the newest way to improve efficiency of agriculture in the context of an aging immigrant population of fruit pickers, specifically in the strawberry industry. Harvest CROO is the company behind the robot Berry, and it has received millions of dollars to develop this technology. Research shows advancements in agricultural technology may be the only way to feed a growing worldwide population.

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Female Farmers are Coming into Their Own—and Networking is Key to Their Success

Marianne Messina

April 16, 2019 |

Civil Eats |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

As the number of women in agriculture grows, a group of female farmers in Wisconsin participate in a networking cooperative called In Her Boots. Starting as a 12-person potluck, members of In Her Boots now come from more than 20 different counties and swap knowhow more specific to women, such as how to adjust farming practices to fit a smaller frame or how to apply for farm grants. The group is still growing and is now part of a data-gathering metric from the University of Wisconsin which aims to measure the growth of women in sustainable farming.

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One Way to Combat Climate Change: A Smartphone App That Lets Farmers Control Where Their Cows Graze

Kevin J. Ryan

April 15, 2019 |

Inc. Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

A San Diego startup called Vence has created a device that can help farmers control their livestock’s movements and behavior. The new technology – a collar with accompanying software – buzzes when an animal is somewhere it shouldn’t be and shocks them if they keep going. While the practice of shocking animals isn’t universally approved, doing so can prevent overgrazing and thus improve overall land health.

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Despite Many Challenges, the U.S. Has More Young Farmers Than it Did Five Years Ago

Julia Hotz

April 12, 2019 |

Civil Eats |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boone County, Kentucky

With the average age of the American farmer at 57.5 and the number of farmers over 65 outnumbering farmers under 35 by a factor of 6 to 1, many are worried about a severe shortage of ecologically-minded young farmers to take over from the older generation. To address this gap, states and institutions are launching initiatives like debt-free agricultural college, tax incentives, and loan programs.

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Oregon Wineries Come Together To Save Grapes Rejected For Smoke Taint

Shana Clarke

March 06, 2019 |

NPR |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Turner, Oregon

Grape growers and winemakers in Oregon recently worked together after a fire burned thousands of acres of land. After contracts were turned down due to smoke taint of the grapes, the Oregon Solidarity project was formed. It sourced winemakers willing to accept these grapes (which were still considered safe), created three special wines, and is funneling all profits back to the growers.

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Small ag feels growing pains: Lack of workers

Jonathan Romeo

March 06, 2019 |

Durango Herald |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Durango, Colorado

In southeastern Colorado, the Good Food Collective is piloting new initiatives to help small-scale farmers fill the labor shortages. With grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they’re looking at what others across the country have done to address this issue, like developing a workers cooperative where workers can have some security in an unstable field. For now, they’re figuring out what works for their region, which includes “gleaning” – using grant funding to pay for individuals to harvest food for food pantries.

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The Startup Taking On Bayer With Cheaper, Non-GMO Seeds

Elizabeth G. Dunn

March 04, 2019 |

Bloomberg |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Memphis, Tennessee

The Farmers Business Network (FBN) started as a way to create transparency about seed prices, and it has evolved into a platform to sell non-GMO seeds for lower prices. By cutting out the middleman, FBN can save farmers money and use data to show their seeds work, too.

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Farmers in Uttarakhand Look to the Past to Benefit the Future

Amrita Gupta

March 02, 2019 |

Earth Journalism Network |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Uttarakhand

Mountains are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and a mountain city in India is finding sustainable solutions in traditional agriculture. Women overwhelmingly make up the farming workforce in Uttarakhand and are using a number of ways to combat the effects of the temperature increase. These solutions include bringing back an ancient grain, finger millet, to appeal to new tastes and dishes, storing seed banks of traditional varieties, and opening a cafe serving local food using the ancient grains to attract outside visitors.

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