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Survey Says Americans Love Broccoli
In its latest corporate survey , Green Giant found Americans really love their broccoli . The super vegetable took top spot , again , as America ’ s favorite vegetable . Carrots and corn rounded out the top three after polling done on 5,000 people in an open-ended survey . Interestingly , geography played a role as people living on the west coast coveted carrots over broccoli , while those in the east were firmly on side with broccoli . When it comes to age , people between 55-72 years old overwhelmingly chose corn as their top pick . Additionally , tomato ( which is technically a fruit ) and the humble cucumber fell out of favor and did not make the list in 2021 . And while broccoli was the top pick , it ’ s popularity is somewhat on the downside . From 2019 to 2021 , the number of states selecting carrot as the favorite vegetable has increased 500 percent ; meanwhile those selecting broccoli has decreased 23 percent .
— freshplaza . com
Less Pollution Means More Crop Yield
A key factor in America ’ s prodigious agricultural output turns out to be something farmers can do little to control : clean air . A recent study estimates pollution reductions between 1999 and 2019 contributed to about 20 percent of the increase in corn and soybean yield gains during that period — an amount worth about $ 5 billion per year . The analysis , published in Environmental Research Letters , reveals that four key air pollutants ( ozone , particulate matter , nitrogen dioxide , and sulfur dioxide ) are particularly damaging to crops , and accounted for an average loss of about five percent of corn and soybean production . The findings could help inform technology and policy changes to benefit agriculture and underscore the value of reducing air pollution in all parts of the world . Researchers estimated total yield losses from the four pollutants averaged 5.8 percent for maize and 3.8 percent for soybean over the past 20 years . Those losses declined over time as the air grew cleaner .
— sciencedaily . com
Birds : Mother Nature ’ s Natural Pesticide
One of the real benefits for farmers ( especially an organic farm or garden ) is a healthy bird population . Compelling on-farm research done over the years shows 220 bird species in North America consuming agricultural farm pests , making a great case for why farmers should take a second look at those birds flying by , and encourage them to stop and feed on crop pests . Savanah Sparrows and other songbirds are in their alfalfa fields ( the birds reduce alfalfa weevils by 33 percent ), and those aerial insectivores above the farm — the Barn Swallows — are eating crop pest insects ( pests can be 18 percent of their diet ). All farmers know birds can be pests themselves in a few crops . But many so-called pest birds are beneficial when nesting as they feed insects to their young . Supporting the birds when they are helpful , and by protecting the crop during the fall harvest , can foster the birds ’ natural tendency toward keeping insect pests in check .
— rewilding . org
16 Maximum Yield