A sudden drop in temperature after a hot April spell has left many New Jersey farms without harvests. The heat pushed some areas over 90 degrees, making fruit trees bloom early. Then, from April 19 to 22, the weather flipped and temperatures fell into the low 20s. This timing was bad for crops that
China has announced that it will lower duties on American food items as part of a larger trade agreement, but the details are still fuzzy. The decision came after President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing last week, during which the U. S. said China would buy $17 billion of
Many governments push for drastic cuts in meat production, claiming livestock methane is a major climate threat. But science shows this fear is overblown. Even wiping out all 1. 6 billion cows wouldn’t cool the planet by much—just 0. 04°C. Sheep? Their removal would barely make a dent. New Zealand’s
The 48th meeting of the Environmental Mutagen Society in India took place at Jamshedpur College from January 29 to 31, 2026. The event drew scientists, teachers, and government leaders from India and eight other countries. Speakers covered many topics. They explained how the environment can ch
Illinois is seeing more dust storms these days, and they’re not just an annoyance—they’re a serious danger. Strong winds can lift dry soil from farm fields, creating sudden walls of dust that reduce visibility to almost zero. These storms can appear quickly, turning highways into risky zones for dri
Farmers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are bracing for a tough season ahead. After a sudden heatwave in mid-April followed by unexpected freezes just days later, many fruit crops are struggling to recover. Peaches, apples, and even some berries were hit hard, with some farms losing most of their pro
This grass isn’t just sitting around waiting to die—it’s actively planning its next move. Egyptian crowfoot grass, a tough C4 weed, doesn’t play fair with crops like rice or sugarcane. Scientists tested how this plant handles tough conditions like temperature swings, salty soil, and dry spells. Unde
Nebraska has been warmer and drier than usual since the start of the year. This dry spell has helped some areas grow, but it also means farmers and ranchers in the western part of the state are worried. Those places saw large grass fires last summer, and new fires have popped up again in the past we
Barley doesn’t always wait to be harvested. Sometimes, rain before cutting triggers premature sprouting in the field, turning starch into sugar and ruining quality. Scientists have now found small genetic differences that help some barley plants resist this problem, called preharvest sprouting. Inst
Australia’s leaders have voiced worry over a sudden rise in mice numbers across the western wheat belt. The rodents are eating grain and damaging farms, which could hurt the country’s ability to export food. Energy Minister Chris Bowen told a televised interview from Sydney that the government
