Animals pollinate about 75 percent of flowering plants, and they help to produce about one-third of all foods and beverages consumed by humans.
Author Archives: brandiepiper
How baby carrots became a nutritious snack
In 1986 Mike Yurosek, a California carrot farmer, came up with the idea to cut up and peel carrots that were too ugly or broken to be sold. Normally, the ugly carrots were sorted from the pretty carrots and discarded.
From farm to fork: Growing, selecting, & cooking sweet corn
More than 99 percent of the corn you see while driving through the Midwest is field corn, which is different from sweet corn.
Reducing waste to help the environment
Recycling and composting are two easy ways to help prevent unnecessary waste from polluting the ground. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says these methods led to a 7 percent decrease in the amount of trash sent to landfills in 2012 compared to 1990.
Monsanto’s plant breeders play matchmaker
Like matchmakers, the goal of plant breeders is to bring together the two plants best-suited for each other so they can produce offspring with the best characteristics of both. The resulting offspring are called hybrids or varieties, depending on the crop.
Composting improves soil health
Composting is a way to dispose of certain types of waste without sending it to landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, composting is important because it has the ability to enrich and clean contaminated soils; help prevent pollution; decrease water, fertilizer and pesticide usage; and eliminate heavy metals, oil, grease and solids from storm water runoff.
Looking for a job? Consider agriculture!
According to a recent analysis by Purdue University, only 61 percent of the estimated 57,900 annual openings are filled each year in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and environmental industries.
Unrest flares in Ferguson again as residents, police clash
A day after violent riots marred Baltimore, groups of people gathered in Ferguson, Mo., on Tuesday, clashing with police and lighting dumpster fires throughout the city.
Michael Brown’s parents sue Ferguson over son’s death
The family of an unarmed black teen who was fatally shot by a white police officer on a Ferguson, Mo., street filed a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday against the city of Ferguson, former police chief Thomas Jackson and former officer Darren Wilson.
Brown’s family files wrongful death lawsuit
Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. have filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, former police chief Thomas Jackson, and former officer Darren Wilson for the wrongful death of their son, 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr.
Brandie Kramer 