Agriculture
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Drones give farmers eyes in the sky to check on crop progress
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – This growing season, crop researchers at the University of Illinois are experimenting with the use of drones – unmanned aerial vehicles – on the university’s South Farms. Dennis Bowman, a crop sciences educator with U. of I. Extension, is using two drones to take aerial pictures of crops growing in research plots […]
Labeling genetically engineered food
Many U.S. states are considering legislation that would require manufacturers to label food products that contain genetically engineered ingredients. In a new paper, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology examined the legal and economic implications of mandatory process-based labeling. Bruce M. Chassy, a professor emeritus of food science and human nutrition at the University […]
New master’s program at Illinois will train translators and interpreters
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The demand for translators and interpreters is projected to increase by at least 20 percent by the year 2020, and a new program at the University of Illinois will offer a master’s degree to equip graduates to fill those jobs. Elizabeth Lowe, the director of the U. of I.’s Center for Translation […]
Molecular techniques are man’s new best friend in pet obesity research
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – According to the World Health Organization, more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. And it’s not just humans who are packing on the pounds. Our furry companions are plagued by an obesity epidemic of their own. More than 50 percent of the dogs and cats in the United States are […]
Zoning restrictions also a key factor in foreclosure crisis, scholar says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The causes of the foreclosure crisis seem obvious: Buyers purchased homes they couldn’t afford, lured in part by lenders pushing subprime mortgages. Real estate values escalated, and when the bubble burst, buyers were left owing more than their homes were worth. Arnab Chakraborty, a professor of urban and regional planning at the […]
Carr visiting author series to showcase two acclaimed poets
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kathleen Graber – a former high school English teacher who was inspired to write poetry after taking students on a field trip – will read from her critically acclaimed collections at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 (Wednesday) at the Illini Union Bookstore. Now a professor in the creative writing program at Virginia […]
Drought, crop insurance, and farm profitability
Gary D. Schnitkey, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, is an expert on risk management who studies issues affecting the profitability of farms. He spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about the effect of the drought on crop insurance payments. Are crop insurance companies prepared for what will likely […]
What’s the potential impact of herbicide-resistant weeds on agriculture in the U.S.?
A growing concern for farmers and crop scientists is the proliferation of weeds that have evolved resistance to widely used herbicides, such as glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. Aaron Hager, a faculty member in the department of crop sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and expert in weed science and […]
What the media call ‘pink slime’ is not new or dangerous
The recent controversy about “pink slime” – the name given to a certain type of ground beef – has hurt a number of businesses, including one, AFA Foods Inc., which has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Pennsylvania company has said news coverage of its treated boneless lean beef trimmings has contributed to the company’s financial […]
Researcher tracks agricultural overuse of bug-killing technology
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – High corn prices are leading many growers to plant corn every year and to overuse pesticides and other bug-killing technology to maximize yields, researchers report. In many instances, pesticides are applied without scouting fields to see if they are needed, violating a bedrock principle of integrated pest management. The result is a […]
Expert: Keep consumer protection agency free of ‘regulatory capture’
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With many Americans now spending most of their adult lives owing debts to financial institutions, the need for a consumer financial agency free of “regulatory capture” is now more acute than ever, according to a University of Illinois expert in consumer credit. Robert M. Lawless, a professor of law, says the U.S. […]
Stink bugs a threat to farmers, smelly guests for homeowners
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The brown marmorated stink bug – scientific name Halyomorpha halys – has been found in four Illinois counties and could be a major threat to fruit, vegetable and agronomic crops if it proliferates. [EMBEDDED_IMAGE_0] First detected in Cook County last fall, several brown marmorated stink bugs were found in moving boxes by […]