From the Ground Up
All healthy crops have to start somewhere. To be more specific – the ground. But hearty, high yielding crops can’t just sprout in any patch of dirt. In fact, “dirt” is really just the stuff [...]
Old As Dirt
Conservation-centered agricultural practices are restorative for ecosystems above and below the Earth’s surface – and this is nothing new! Keith Byerly is a field manager with the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) – [...]
The Untold Environmental Pros of Cow Poop
You’ve surely seen the headlines. In recent years, the carbon footprint of livestock production has received a fair amount of criticism from environmentalists, journalists and even legislators. Some consumers have cited it as a [...]
Using and Conserving Water
Irrigation is almost as old as farming is. As irrigation techniques advance, water conservation is the key to maintaining robust world food production. The goal of water conservation is not rocket science: be precise and [...]
Fueling a Cleaner Future
When you stop at the gas station to top off your tank, how much thought do you put in to choosing the fuel that’s right for your car? For your wallet? For the environment? [...]
Field to Market
Agriculture’s environmental footprint affects all of us, but it’s an especially high priority for the men and women who live and work within the agricultural supply chain. In 2006, a diverse group including farmers, [...]
Golden Triangle
Nebraska is better situated in terms of corn, livestock and ethanol than any other state in the nation. Together, these three components form “Nebraska’s Golden Triangle,” which serves as a powerful economic engine for [...]
Nebraska Grows Popcorn
Popcorn has always been an important part of Norm Krug’s story. His father grew it for 40 years. To Norm, popcorn symbolizes quality time spent with family; gathered around an evening television program, enjoying [...]
Bioplastics
The Problem Petroleum-based plastics are created using a man-made polymer called polyethylene terephthalate (or PET). Unlike other biodegradable materials such as food, or even newspapers, PET does not break down when exposed to the [...]
Improving Animals Through Genetic Innovation
Breeding practices have been used for centuries to improve the usefulness of animals to humans—as sources of food, as a means of transportation, a way to get work done, or simply for companionship. “If [...]
Farmers Become Gamers in TAPS Competition
It’s a unique combination of virtual farming and real life—with the winners claiming some very nice cash prizes. It’s called TAPS, Testing Ag Performance Solutions, an innovative competition created by Nebraska Extension that pits [...]
More choices at the pump: It’s a good thing.
When you pull up to a flex fuel pump, there are a lot of options—and American Ethanol is responsible for providing most of them. The result is a wide range of choices—and a lot [...]
