organic farming

Baby basil are planted in PVC piping through which nutrient-infused water flows at regular intervals at a hydroponics farm in Nevada. This week, the National Organic Standards Board is set to vote on whether foods grown hydroponically can be sold as "cert

National

Some Growers Say Organic Label Will Be Watered Down If It Extends To Hydroponic

3:31pm November 16, 2016

by Rebecca Sananes

The National Organic Standards Board this week plans to decide if hydroponically grown foods – a water-based model of cultivation – can be sold under the label "certified organic."

Some farmers are turning to chickens to ward off intruding insects and noxious weeds.

Farmers Enlist Chickens And Bugs To Battle Against Pests

2:24pm September 20, 2016

by Kristofor Husted

In an effort to turn away from chemical pesticides, which have the potential to damage the environment, some farmers are looking in a new direction in the age-old struggle against pests.

Non-GMO eggs. (this photo is for promo only, not for the page)

National

Organic Food Fights Back Against 'Non-GMO' Rival

4:30pm August 03, 2016

by Dan Charles

Sales of food labeled "non-GMO" are booming, and it's starting to annoy organic food companies. They see the non-GMO label as cut-rate competition that doesn't deliver what shoppers imagine.

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An assortment of organic vegetables are seen on display. A growing body of evidence documents how farming methods can influence the nutritional content of foods.

Is Organic More Nutritious? New Study Adds To The Evidence

2:15pm February 18, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

Organic dairy and meat contain significantly more omega-3s than their conventional counterparts, a huge new study finds. It's the latest research to show organic production can boost key nutrients.

Organic farmer Margot McMillen holds a grape leaf damaged by pesticide drift on her farm, Terra Bella Farm, in central Missouri.

Pesticide Drift Threatens Organic Farms

12:35pm August 03, 2015

by Kristofor Husted

Farmers use millions of pounds of pesticides each year to protect crops from weeds and insects. When those chemicals drift to neighboring property, they can ruin crops on organic farms.

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"Who Gets Kissed" corn is a variety bred in Wisconsin specifically for organic farmers. It's named for an old game. At corn husking time, a lucky person who found a rare ear of corn with red kernels had the right to kiss anyone that he or she chose.

Science

Do Organic Farmers Need Special Seeds And Money To Breed Them?

3:16pm July 02, 2015

by Dan Charles

Organic farmers say they need crop varieties that were bred specifically for conditions on their farms. Clif Bar & Company decided to back their cause with up to $10 million in grants.

Whole Foods says its new rating system is a way to talk to farmers and customers about issues that the organic rules don't encompass, like water, energy, labor and waste.

Organic Farmers Call Foul On Whole Foods' Produce Rating System

3:01pm June 29, 2015

by Dan Charles

Some organic farmers are protesting a new system Whole Foods is using to rate its suppliers. They say the system devalues the organic label because nonorganic producers can earn the highest grades.

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Pam Marrone (right), founder and CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations, inspects some colonies of microbes. Marrone has spent most of her professional life prospecting for microbial pesticides and bringing them to market.

Science

Mighty Farming Microbes: Companies Harness Bacteria To Give Crops A Boost

8:55pm June 12, 2015

by Dan Charles

Will agricultural chemical dealers start selling microbes? Some big pesticide companies are investing in efforts to turn soil bacteria into tools that farmers can use to grow more food.

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Near the Danish city of Ikast, some 1,500 spectators gathered on April 19 to celebrate what has become something of a national holiday at organic dairy farms around Denmark.

When Danish Cows See Fresh Spring Pasture, They Jump For Joy

2:21pm April 22, 2015

by Sidsel Overgaard

Thousands of spectators gather every April to see ecstatic cows return to fields on organic farms around Denmark. The organic industry says the event has helped fuel demand for organic foods.

Produce is often accompanied by signs like this one at a King Soopers grocery store in Fort Collins, Colo. But customers are often confused by their meaning, which is one reason the Organic Trade Association is trying to raise money for a "checkoff" to pa

National

Farmers, Trade Association Debate Merits Of Organic Marketing Fund

7:12pm April 10, 2015

by Luke Runyon

The fast-growing organic sector has no succinct motto like "Got milk?" A trade group wants growers to help pay for one, but the idea is splitting farmers, processors and marketers into factions.

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