From snack to science: Innovative grant brings popcorn into the classroom
In a few years, popcorn could become a standard element in science classrooms across Illinois and the nation.
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.
In TED Talk, Long describes three photosynthetic changes that boost crop yields
In a newly released TED Talk, Stephen Long a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor of plant biology and crop sciences, detailed his and his colleagues’ efforts to boost photosynthesis in crop plants.
New study indicates C4 crops less sensitive to ozone pollution than C3 crops
Ozone (O3) in the troposphere negatively impacts crop growth and development, causing significant decreases in crop yield worldwide. This airborne pollutant does not come directly from smokestacks or vehicles, but instead is formed when other pollutants, mainly nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, react in the presence of sunlight. In an increasingly polluted atmosphere, understanding what plants are tolerant of O3 is critical to improving crop productivity and resilience.
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.
Illinois farmers: Take advantage of free nematode testing program
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois farmers can now sample their fields for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) at no cost, thanks to the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and the
Illinois researchers prove new method to measure ozone stress in soybeans
As the world focuses on not only solving the climate crisis but also sustaining the world’s food supply, researchers need tools to evaluate how atmospheric pollutants affect crops. Over the past decade, the agriculture community has turned to solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) measurements to detect stresses on plants.
Illinois-led project to sequence 400 soybean genomes, improve future crops
URBANA, Ill. — As a source of protein and biodiesel for cleaner renewable energy, soybean is an important crop worldwide. But is it performing to its full potential?
International Agronomy Day showcases ACES innovations
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) welcomed dozens of international guests to the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center on August 28 to learn about the latest research in sustainable agricultural production, human dimensions of agriculture, and information management from its renowned faculty.