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    Archives: Soil

    Organic Garden Planning for Beginne...  Jul 4, 2009
    Can the seeds be direct-sown into the soil, or do they need indoor germination weeks earlier ... Try to group plants with similar soil, water and light requirements together ... Plant perennial crops in their own area so they don't get in the way when you need to prep the soil for annual crops. (Suite101.com)

    Living Christmas Trees  Jul 4, 2009
    Store the soil in a place where it won t freeze. When the tree is ready to go into the ground, remove the mulch, place the tree in the hole and fill with the soil. (Suite101.com)

    A sanctuary threatened  Jul 4, 2009
    Environmentalists say another threat to the region is farming activity, which uses inappropriate soil management, and does not follow environmental legislation. Much of the work in the Pantanal is still done by cowboys. (BBC News -- Science)

    Simple Soil Test For the Best Home ...  Jul 4, 2009
    Simple Soil Test For the Best Home Grown Plants. Simple Soil Test For the Best Home Grown Plants ... Assessing soil quality is important for healthy plant growth. (Suite101.com)

    Free Men and Free Markets  Jul 3, 2009
    It is natural to focus on the flower, rather than the soil from which it springs or the roots that sustain. But neglecting the basics for the bloom, will cost us the flower. (Human Events Online)

    If it will keep eggs safe  Jul 3, 2009
    Cut off the lid, fill each cup with potting soil and plant seeds ... If the soil mix is too moist, add dry carton pieces. (Racine Journal Times, WI)

    Rain garden demonstrations show how to handle storms  Jul 3, 2009
    Water flows into the garden and stays there while it is absorbed by the plants or the soil. The garden dries out in three to four days, before mosquitoes can begin to hatch. (Racine Journal Times, WI)

    Clergy Views: Waiting and having patience -- we can't do it alone  Jul 3, 2009
    We watch and wait as the ground is tilled and planted and get excited as the colorful green plants begin to sprout forth from the soil. Our heart gets lighter as we gaze upon new leaves and the first sight of a berry. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)

    Lexington DPW begins move to new, under-budget building  Jul 3, 2009
    Excavators found underground vaults on the property, which had to be tested for soil contaminants ... Soil tests in those areas were also negative. (Lexington Minuteman, MA)

    More of this story  Jul 3, 2009
    The agency says intense showers and thunderstorms are expected to dump up to four inches of rain on saturated soil throughout the day today, a situation that could lead to flash floods. The weather service also advised residents that rainfall rates of one to two inches per hour will bring sharp rises in small streams. (Westerly Sun, RI)

    Ferns took to the trees and thrived  Jul 3, 2009
    And, around this time, some ferns also developed the ability to live on trees, sometimes without soil, as epiphytes. By storing water, developing thicker skin, or being more tolerant to drying out, the epiphytic ferns could now perch on a trunk, limb, or twig and live quite happily more than 100 feet off the forest floor, where moisture, temperature, and sunlight are very different indeed. (EurekAlert!)

    Downtown association plans for beauty  Jul 3, 2009
    Soil topped the discussion along with types of plants and shrubs best suited for the 2x2 foot planters at intersections along Moore Avenue between Rockwall and Virginia. If the soil isn t right, it doesn t matter how much we spend on plants, said committee member Susan Roberts ... Once removed, soil in the planters could be used for other landscaping projects, but the group proposes adding fresh, nutrient-rich earth to the planters. (Terrell Tribune, TX)

    Small Heat-Shielded Habitats Could Help Threatened Species Survive Climate Change  Jul 3, 2009
    During the decline of the Large Blue in Britain, M. sabuleti ants were crowded out by a competing species of ant, M. scabrinoides, which copes better with lower soil temperatures ... The soil temperature dropped because the meadows on which the butterflies and ants had lived together for so long were grazed less, and because an epidemic among the wild rabbits, which used to keep the grass short, caused their numbers to plummet ... The problem with the Large Blue butterfly was that the longer... (Science Daily)

    The Price of Cement and Flooding in Accra  Jul 3, 2009
    Not only should we cement the pavements, but we should also encourage landlords to plant grass and other plants on all open spaces around their properties to reduce soil erosion when it rains. Our politicians have to stop taking kickbacks and stop the monopoly of the provision of services to make life for the ordinary Ghanaians worthy and bearable remember the fishy deal of GACHEM where bribes were paid to government officials to allow them sole monopoly of cement production in the country. (Ghana Web, Ghana)

    Rain helps MetroWest growers, but more sun needed  Jul 3, 2009
    "We're about a week behind (in our crops), but we have really great soil by using turkey manure, so we are usually OK. Last year, during a drought we could still make mudballs out of our soil. "Corn could be a little higher and the tomatoes are OK, but we can't really take much more rain," Collins continued. "I think this is going to be a good year ... " Doherty went on to say that this rain is causing mildew, disease and black spot virus in their roses, because they can't fertilize and can't... (Hopkinton Town Crier, MA)

    Green Space: Attract native bees to the home garden  Jul 3, 2009
    In these cells, they are vulnerable to mechanical nest disturbances such as deep soil tillage or tree removal ... Jerry Clark is the Crops and Soils Educator for UW-Extension Chippewa County. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Fresh Sheet: High-energy fava beans a burst of summer  Jul 3, 2009
    Favas are actually a legume, which feed people (protein, iron, fiber, vitamins A,C, and B), and soil (by fixing nitrogen, like its cousin vetch does) ... Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Love affair with cacti: Plants that pokes back  Jul 3, 2009
    Given the right amount of sun, soil and water even you can make the prickly cacti your friend in the garden to be rewarded for your efforts with those gorgeous blooms they are do famous for. Light tips. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Va. woman rides to landfill in trash bin  Jul 3, 2009
    Mercury also has ill effects in our landfills, where it works its way into soil and ground water. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently pressuring stores to help with the recycling effort, but few have signed on. (Fresno Bee)

    Heads Up: Climate change bill passes U.S. House (36)  Jul 2, 2009
    Organic matter in our agricultural soils currently accounts for less than 1 percent of the carbon sinks that exist to offset greenhouse gas emissions ... Agriculture producers that adopt reduced soil tillage and other practices may have the opportunity to earn carbon credits ... Also, the current main alternative feedstocks to corn for producing biofuels are crop residue sources, which when removed from the soil could reduce soil organic matter and ultimately increase greenhouse gases. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)

    Try these three fragrant trees  Jul 2, 2009
    This tree is happiest in fertile, moist soil. Under such conditions, it handles full sun quite well. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Should spitting worms be protected?  Jul 2, 2009
    Most earthworms found in the Northwest originated in Europe, arriving on plants or in soil shipped to the New World. The giant Palouse earthworm is one of the few native species. (MSNBC -- Technology)

    New publication features state's agricultural industry  Jul 2, 2009
    In the same issue, Paschall writes in depth about the Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District commissioning a feasibility study to determine the suitability for growing canola and developing a biodiesel operation, and about the history of the pasteurization process for milk ... Bryce Wrigley, president of the Alaska Farm Bureau and district manager for the Salcha Delta Soil and Water Conservation District in Delta, said he is pleased with the publication. (Juneau Empire)

    City’s greenwaste recycling program proving worthwhile  Jul 2, 2009
    Acceptable materials include leaves, fallen fruit, grass clippings, weeds, plant prunings, small branches, clean wood, and plants with little soil. Unacceptable materials include glass, paper, trash, animal waste, diapers, palm or yucca trimmings, wood that is painted, glued or pressure treated, rocks, gravel, dirt, asphalt, cement, metal, paint, liquids and hazardous materials. (Santa Maria Times)

    Parking deck collapse a puzzle  Jul 2, 2009
    Others pointed to other possibilities soil erosion, stress on concrete panels, shallow spandrel beams that made the structure roll a bit more than it should have. When engineers design these types of structures, they design for worst-case scenarios, said Claude Goguen, director of technical services for the National Precast Concrete Association. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

    Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom  Jul 2, 2009
    The research team, led by Mark Pagani of Yale University, found that the critical role of plants in the chemical breakdown and weathering of rocks and soil gave them a strong influence on carbon dioxide levels ... "The rates of weathering reactions are largely controlled by plants. Their roots secrete acids that dissolve minerals, they hold soils, and they increase the amount of carbon dissolved in groundwater," says Caldeira ... Researchers found that the critical role of plants in the chemical... (Science Daily)

    Get Your Green On With Rooftop Gardening  Jul 2, 2009
    We've updated CBSNews. NEW YORK, July 1, 2009. (CBS News -- Early Show)

    Fresh Sheet: Gardens yield first crops; markets bountiful  Jul 2, 2009
    Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. Contact her at. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Be Berry Careful With Fresh Fruit In The Summer  Jul 2, 2009
    Harmful bacteria may be in the soil or water where produce grows and may come in contact with fruits and vegetables and contaminate them. Fresh produce also can become contaminated after it is harvested or during preparation or storage. (Nebraska Statepaper)

    July is prime time for some lawn TLC  Jul 2, 2009
    If this is the case, the reason is usually because the soil food web is not recycling the organics into nutrients for the grass plants quick enough. There are two great ways to speed up the process. (Anchorage Daily News)

    Plant-driven Fungal Weathering: Early Stages Of Mineral Alteration At The Nanometer Scale  Jul 2, 2009
    ScienceDaily (July 1, 2009) For the first time, the boundary between fungi and rock has been imaged on a nanoscale -- unraveling the fundamental processes by which fungi break down rocks into soil whilst extracting essential nutrients ... In exchange for the delivery of nutrients, the fungi receive carbon that has been fixed by the trees during photosynthesis, which effectively links the carbon cycle with the formation of soil from rocks ... The implications of this work are therefore very... (Science Daily)

    From garden lover to master gardener  Jul 2, 2009
    Colbert said she always liked gardening and the program offered extensive education in everything from perennials and woody shrubs to turf, plant diseases, landscaping and soil testing. For gardening tips, Colbert said those new to gardening should always check that the perennials they buy are suited to the cold winters. (Kalona News, IA)

    Fresh Sheet: Grill for the Fourth  Jul 2, 2009
    Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. Contact her at. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Wonders of Wulingyuan  Jul 1, 2009
    Purplish black in colour and nestled next to a boulder, it was effectively camouflaged against the dry leaves and greyish-brown soil. In addition to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzishan, Wulingyuan comprises Suoxiyu and the recently added Yangjiajie which has a residence that once temporarily sheltered the famous Yang family warriors of the northern Song period. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)

    Fresh Sheet: Gardens yield first crops; markets bountiful  Jul 1, 2009
    Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. Contact her at. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Fresh Sheet: High-energy fava beans a burst of summer  Jul 1, 2009
    Favas are actually a legume, which feed people (protein, iron, fiber, vitamins A,C, and B), and soil (by fixing nitrogen, like its cousin vetch does) ... Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Fresh Sheet: Grill for the Fourth  Jul 1, 2009
    Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. Contact her at. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Love affair with cacti: Plants that pokes back  Jul 1, 2009
    Given the right amount of sun, soil and water even you can make the prickly cacti your friend in the garden to be rewarded for your efforts with those gorgeous blooms they are do famous for. Light tips. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Scientists Flesh Out Fossilized Tissues from Mummified Dinosaur  Jul 1, 2009
    The waterlogged soil entombed it in a mineral-rich soup before the body could decay much, thus ensuring highly detailed preservation. Although fossils containing organic compounds or mummified soft tissues have been discovered before, the presence of both in one find is "as rare as hen's teeth, and the preservation seen in Dakota is something not seen in any other fossil to date," Manning says. (Scientific American)

    QDMA: Summer nutrition crucial for does  Jul 1, 2009
    Be sure to conduct a soil test and lime accordingly prior to planting. Water is the final habitat component and deer get water from three sources. (ESPN -- Outdoors)

    Green Space: Attract native bees to the home garden  Jul 1, 2009
    In these cells, they are vulnerable to mechanical nest disturbances such as deep soil tillage or tree removal ... Jerry Clark is the Crops and Soils Educator for UW-Extension Chippewa County. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    What It's Really Like To Be a "Free-Range" Pig  Jul 1, 2009
    In addition to the Soil Association, the Farm Animal Welfare Council in the United Kingdom officially opposes the practice, as does Compassion in World Farming and the. In the United States, the watchdog group Food and Water Watch supports the ban of tail-docking and nose-ringing, and the Humane Society told me in an e-mail to count them among the opposed as well. (Slate)

    Try these three fragrant trees  Jul 1, 2009
    This tree is happiest in fertile, moist soil. Under such conditions, it handles full sun quite well. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    High-Rise Farms: The Future of Food?  Jul 1, 2009
    For example, many existing greenhouses use hydroponics, a technique for growing crops in smaller spaces using nutrient-enriched water instead of soil. Energy Hogs. (National Geographic)

    Things are looking up for yards  Jun 30, 2009
    You shouldn't just climb the stairs and start spreading soil, though ... "You can't just go out and slap a green roof and 6 inches of soil on your garage. Mine is structurally built to accommodate this," Caruso said ... Other potential problems include use of the wrong soil mix, plants or fertilizer, ill-timed planting, even accidental perforations in the roof membrane, Schulz said. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)

    Congress Votes for Bad Weather  Jun 30, 2009
    Columns, funnies in your inbox. Townhall Daily Alert Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. (Townhall.com)

    Cities, citizens try to reclaim vacant blocks  Jun 30, 2009
    The city offers horticultural consultants for soil testing and provides funding for initial plantings. A team of city public works employees helps maintain the property along with a corps of volunteers. (The Augusta Chronicle)

    The silver lining  Jun 30, 2009
    Roots of plants in poorly drained soil, including soil heavy in clay, became oversaturated, while starts planted in soil with good drainage have done well ... Definitely don't add more water, and odds are your tree will survive once the soil dries out, Agenbroad said. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)

    Green Space: Attract native bees to the home garden  Jun 30, 2009
    In these cells, they are vulnerable to mechanical nest disturbances such as deep soil tillage or tree removal ... Jerry Clark is the Crops and Soils Educator for UW-Extension Chippewa County. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Fresh Sheet: High-energy fava beans a burst of summer  Jun 30, 2009
    Favas are actually a legume, which feed people (protein, iron, fiber, vitamins A,C, and B), and soil (by fixing nitrogen, like its cousin vetch does) ... Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Love affair with cacti: Plants that pokes back  Jun 30, 2009
    Given the right amount of sun, soil and water even you can make the prickly cacti your friend in the garden to be rewarded for your efforts with those gorgeous blooms they are do famous for. Light tips. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Green Space: It's a bird - it's a bee - no, it's a hummingbird moth  Jun 30, 2009
    The caterpillars pupate in small cocoons spun at the soil surface. The pupae are small, dark brown and smooth skinned. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Common cause  Jun 30, 2009
    But where many see disaster, others see opportunity in the vast amount of carbon locked away in the peat soils ... Tropical rainforests and particularly peatland forests, soak up vast amounts of carbon-dioxide, locking away carbon in the wood and soil ... Both governments hope to take the lessons learned to help design future REDD projects elsewhere and have already agreed to develop a second site involving a different soil type in Indonesia but have not yet decided on the location. (The Star Online, Malaysia)

    Kenya: Rising Sea Could Swallow Mombasa in 20 Years  Jun 30, 2009
    Salinity will make the water unfit for human consumption, it is feared, and local agriculture will collapse due to excess salts in the soil. That is the grim projection of scientists who are now warning that authorities must take urgent steps to save the coastal city from collapsing under the weight of the effects of global warming. (allAfrica.com)

    Sino Analytica, Keeping an Eye on China's Food Safety  Jun 30, 2009
    Sino Analytica: Recommended Laboratory Tests Fruit ables: Pesticides, Heavy metals, Microbiology Seafood ulture: Heavy metals, Microbiology, Malachite Green, Crystal violet, Polyphosphate, Veterinary drug Meat ry: Microbiology, Veterinary drug Dairy: Microbiology, Veterinary drug, Melamine Dried products Pesticides, Heavy metals, Aflotoxins, (tea s): Food colorants Nuts, grains and cereals: Pesticides, Heavy metals, Aflotoxins Beverages s: Pesticides Candies ctionary: Pesticides, Heavy metals,... (JCN Network, Japan)

    Try these three fragrant trees  Jun 30, 2009
    This tree is happiest in fertile, moist soil. Under such conditions, it handles full sun quite well. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Is It Easier To Grow Poppy Than Wheat?  Jun 30, 2009
    Soil preparation is minimal, and little fertilizer is required. The seeds can simply be scattered on the field rather than drilled into the ground. (Slate)

    Grassoline: Biofuels Beyond Corn  Jun 30, 2009
    Some, such as the short-rotation willow coppice, will decontaminate soil that has been polluted with wastewater or heavy metals as it grows. Huge amounts of cellulosic biomass can be sustainably harvested to produce fuel. (Scientific American)

    Carbon credit program benefits producers, environment  Jun 30, 2009
    It allows South Dakota producers to earn money by storing carbon in their soil -- which, in turn, helps fight climate change. "We've got probably close to a million acres enrolled here in South Dakota," Tofflemire said. (Madison Daily Leader, SD)

    Uganda's dilemma of competing goals  Jun 30, 2009
    This has Kagoro nervous about adding what she said could be one more shock to the soil and water: the spraying of homes with DDT to control malaria. The last 10 to 15 years, things have been booming, she said. (Boston Globe)

    Plan lush but low-water garden  Jun 30, 2009
    You just need to plan: Buy the right plant for the right space, sun exposure and soil condition ... And their adaptability to a harsh desert climate means they thrive in the sun with little water, lousy soil and sometimes below-freezing winter nights ... But starting a xeriscape garden means keeping the soil wetter than drier in the beginning. (AZCentral -- Home)

    Pioneer Talks Crops  Jun 30, 2009
    Growers may begin to find corn plants and fields that exhibit nutrient deficiency symptoms if soil fertility is low or nutrients are unavailable ... Since P is fairly immobile in the soil, any soil condition that limits root growth (cool temperature, wet or very dry conditions, compaction) can induce the deficiency ... The soils most likely to be deficient in Mg are acidic and sandy soils. (Agri-View, WI)

    Heat, drought prompt burn ban  Jun 30, 2009
    The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which measures soil moisture, was at 578 Friday for Williamson County, and the Texas Forest Service recommends local governments consider an index number of 575 or higher for issuing burn bans. The east side of the county has been in the upper 600 range for about a week or a week and a half, but the western side was lower. (Taylor Daily Press, TX)

    Gardening tips save money and effort  Jun 30, 2009
    The N-P-K label helps you choose a fertilizer that contains what your specific plants and soil need. - Prevent dirty fingernails: Scrape your fingernails on a bar of soap before you go out to work in the garden. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)

    Keeping weeds at bay in Saratoga Lake  Jun 29, 2009
    As they deteriorate, the lake weeds add nitrogen and organic matter to the clay soil at the farm. Harvesting isn't the only method in the protection district arsenal for controlling lake plants. (Albany Times Union)

    Forgotten evolutionist lives in Darwin's shadow  Jun 29, 2009
    That's when Beccaloni began noticing chunks of coal sticking out of the dark soil, a telltale sign of coal works that Wallace described in his book. It was here, Beccaloni surmised, that Wallace spent nine months collecting insects, discovering a strange tree-frog and shooting orangutans. (The Star Online, Malaysia)

    Try these three fragrant trees  Jun 29, 2009
    This tree is happiest in fertile, moist soil. Under such conditions, it handles full sun quite well. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Green Space: Attract native bees to the home garden  Jun 29, 2009
    In these cells, they are vulnerable to mechanical nest disturbances such as deep soil tillage or tree removal ... Jerry Clark is the Crops and Soils Educator for UW-Extension Chippewa County. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Holmen garden tour features a hillside challenge  Jun 29, 2009
    I add every year, Gartner said, pointing to a small circle of stones that delineates a new planting bed where calla lilies are just starting to push through the soil. Gartner s garden will be among those featured this week on the Holmen Area Garden Tour. (Winona Daily News, MN)

    One good landscaping project leads to two more (10)  Jun 29, 2009
    The Grommersches employ an independent crop consultant that provides soil recommendations along with manure analysis. The local cooperative completes soil tests and spreads the manure according to the crop consultant's recommendation ... Now we place our manure where the soil needs the nutrients, and we have more records on file. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)

    * The poet behind the music  Jun 29, 2009
    Its not the so-called idea of going back home or returning to ones native soil. Its not that simple. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)

    Flowers of Umbrella Plant Appear Be...  Jun 29, 2009
    At the beginning of the growing season, the Umbrella Plant looks like nubby wood in the soil ... This Umbrella Plant grows well in average garden soil with added compost ... It will grow in full sun if the soil is consistently moist or wet. (Suite101.com)

    Fresh Sheet: High-energy fava beans a burst of summer  Jun 29, 2009
    Favas are actually a legume, which feed people (protein, iron, fiber, vitamins A,C, and B), and soil (by fixing nitrogen, like its cousin vetch does) ... Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Mars Rover Yielding New Clues While Lodged In Martian Soil  Jun 29, 2009
    ScienceDaily (June 28, 2009) NASA's Mars rover Spirit, lodged in Martian soil that is causing traction trouble, is taking advantage of the situation by learning more about the Red Planet's environmental history ... In April, Spirit entered an area composed of three or more layers of soil with differing pastel hues hiding beneath a darker sand blanket ... "We are able here to study each layer, each different color of the interesting soils exposed by the wheels.". (Science Daily)

    Coreopsis Yellow Flowering Annual...  Jun 29, 2009
    Make sure the seeds come in contact with the soil. Covering them with a little soil helps protect them from hungry birds ... Coreopsis does best in moist, sandy soils, although it will tolerate almost any type of soil, including clay and gravelly soils. (Suite101.com)

    Organic Disease Control of Strawber...  Jun 29, 2009
    Alkaline Soil Problems. Strawberry plants require a soil that is slightly acidic, with a pH of 6 ... If the soil is too alkaline, strawberries can exhibit a problem called alkali yellows. (Suite101.com)

    Beautifying buildings  Jun 29, 2009
    But these vast expanses of vegetation require more than just some wind-blown soil and a suitable crack in the masonry. The irrigation systems need to be able to keep the plants watered, while simultaneously protecting buildings from moisture; they must also be able to withstand root damage. (CNN -- International)

    Growing pains for organic sector in chill economic climate  Jun 29, 2009
    " Organic industry growth is expected to slow to about 8 per cent this year, from an average annual rate of almost 14 per cent over the five years to 2008-09, according to research group IBISWorld. Organic revenue makes up less than 1 per cent of Australia's total supermarket industry, but costs 70 per cent more than conventional items for an average shopping basket. Woolworths plans to "ramp up" its organic range, perhaps through the introduction of Macro-label goods such as cereals and nuts,... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)

    Love affair with cacti: Plants that pokes back  Jun 29, 2009
    Given the right amount of sun, soil and water even you can make the prickly cacti your friend in the garden to be rewarded for your efforts with those gorgeous blooms they are do famous for. Light tips. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Green Space: It's a bird - it's a bee - no, it's a hummingbird moth  Jun 29, 2009
    The caterpillars pupate in small cocoons spun at the soil surface. The pupae are small, dark brown and smooth skinned. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Can producers thicken up young alfalfa stands? (2)  Jun 28, 2009
    Older, established alfalfa plants release water soluble compounds into the soil that inhibit seedling development of new alfalfa plants ... The autotoxicity effect is considered to be a serious problem in older stands, especially in heavy textured soils ... There is always the concern that a no-till drill will damage existing crowns of alfalfa, but broadcasting seed on the soil surface of an existing stand will almost certainly fail, unless it is accomplished as a frost-seeding, and we are well... (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)

    Fresh Sheet: High-energy fava beans a burst of summer  Jun 28, 2009
    Favas are actually a legume, which feed people (protein, iron, fiber, vitamins A,C, and B), and soil (by fixing nitrogen, like its cousin vetch does) ... Through tips from farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheese-makers and other food producers, as well as chefs and restaurateurs, Chris Peterson tracks what s flowing from soil and sea to local plates. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)

    Green Space: It's a bird - it's a bee - no, it's a hummingbird moth  Jun 28, 2009
    The caterpillars pupate in small cocoons spun at the soil surface. The pupae are small, dark brown and smooth skinned. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)

    Anger alone won't solve the Valley's water woes  Jun 28, 2009
    Once-fertile land in the Westlands Water District is ruined by salty irrigation water trapped between the soil surface and layers of clay. Farmers scramble for water. (Fresno Bee)

    The Price of Cement and Flooding in Accra  Jun 28, 2009
    Not only should we cement the pavements, but we should also encourage landlords to plant grass and other plants on all open spaces around their properties to reduce soil erosion when it rains. Our politicians have to stop taking kickbacks and stop the monopoly of the provision of services to make life for the ordinary Ghanaians worthy and bearable remember the fishy deal of GACHEM where bribes were paid to government officials to allow them sole monopoly of cement production in the country. (Ghana Web, Ghana)

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