In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, scientists at the University of Maryland and the U.S. Department of Agriculture identify a combination of insecticides and fungicides that are the probable cause of colony collapse disorder. This cocktail of pesticides contaminates the pollen that bees feed to their larvae, resulting in a significant decline… Read More ›

Researchers have identified another mechanism linking bee population decline to reduced biodiversity. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week showed that a decrease in a single bee species could result in reduced flower pollination rates, even when other species population numbers were unaltered. The reason behind this lack… Read More ›

  As reported in a blog post on the Huffington Post written by “Coach” Mark Smallwood, Rodale Institute’s executive director, Rodale Institute researchers designed a trial to compare the use of compost tea versus chemical fertilizer on sod. Over the course of a month, three applications of compost tea were applied to three raised beds… Read More ›

  A recent study published in Nature’s The ISME Journal reveals the profound effects crop rotation have on enriching soil with bacteria, fungi and protozoa. The study examined how alternating crop species can change the microbial content of soil, thus aiding plants in nutrient acquisition, growth regulation, and protection against pests and diseases. Continual planting… Read More ›

The long-absent western bumblebee, known to scientists as Bombus occidentalis, has been sighted in Washington state. This native bumblebee species, valued as a key pollinator for tomatoes and cranberries, experienced a dramatic population crash, all but vanishing from nearly all of its natural range. Last year, however, a single western bumblebee was discovered for the… Read More ›

In a study published on July 26 in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, researchers show that Pacific chorus frogs are being exposed to toxic pesticides even in remote areas many miles from conventional farmland. Testing frogs, water, and sediment from seven locations downwind of agricultural areas, researchers found traces of pesticides in frog tissues at every… Read More ›

Organophosphates, the pesticides blamed for killing at least 25 children in India, are widely used around the world. This is not the first instance of organophosphate-related deaths. In 1986, for example, they caused a death toll of over 20 people, when bread was made from tainted flour. While we currently understand the dangers associated with… Read More ›

A new study published in Weed Technology shows that non-chemical controls of weeds can be more effective than herbicides. The study focuses on the weed Palmer amaranth, which has become a major threat to soybean growth in the southern United States. In this study, 250,000 glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth seeds were incorporated into the soil, and… Read More ›

A study out of Sicily analyzing the sustainability of organic versus conventional orange and lemon orchards found that organic management has better environmental and energy performance than their conventional counterparts. Researchers used a lifecycle assessment to examine the production cycle over 50 years, focusing on energy use, environmental impacts, and economic analyses. In addition to… Read More ›

Herbicides may be associated with depression, according to a new study examining agricultural workers in France. While there has been a large amount of research focusing on health consequences of organophosphate exposures, few studies examine the effects of other pesticides. This research focusing on potential links between herbicide use and mental illness found that 14.6… Read More ›