New genetic vulnerability to herbicide found in nearly 50 sweet and field corn lines
When a sweet corn breeder reached out in 2021 to report severe injury from the herbicide tolpyralate, Marty Williams hoped it was a fluke isolated to a single inbred line.
Study: Extreme rainfall increases ag nutrient runoff, conservation strategies can help
Nutrient runoff from agricultural production is a significant source of water pollution in the U.S., and climate change that produces extreme weather events is likely to exacerbate the problem.
Study: How farmers decide to store or sell their grain
When farmers harvest their grain, they can choose to sell it right away or store it to obtain better prices later in the season.
The silver bullet that wasn't: Glyphosate's declining weed control over 25 years
It has been a quarter century since corn and soybeans were engineered to withstand the withering mists of the herbicide glyphosate. Initially heralded as a “silver bullet” for weed control, the modified crops and their herbicide companion were quickly and widely adopted across corn and soybean-growing regions of North America. In the years that followed, though, weeds targeted for eradication quietly fomented a rebellion.
Recycled phosphorus fertilizer reduces nutrient leaching, maintains yield
A promising new form of ammonium phosphate fertilizer has been field-tested by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers.
Single gene controls Corn Belt weed's resistance to soil-applied herbicide
Waterhemp, the aggressive weed threatening Corn Belt crop production, is throwing curveballs once again, according to researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
New Funding, New Brand: I-Regen
URBANA, Ill. — The Illinois Regenerative Agriculture Initiative (IRAI) marks the successful completion of its first three years with a new name: I-Regen. The name change reflects an ongoing commitment to the future of regenerative agriculture in the Midwest. I-Regen encourages diversified value chains that balance the health and wealth of Midwest agricultural systems, creating a resilient bioeconomy that combats climate change, enhances soil and water quality, supports communities, and ensures food security.
Soy expansion in Brazil linked to increase in childhood leukemia deaths
Over the past decades, Brazil has become the world’s leading soybean producer, as well as the leading consumer of pesticides. Despite concerns about potential public health consequences, little is known about the effects of pesticide exposure in the general population.