yield « Biofortified

Small Scale Studies in the Real World

by pdiff on 12 April 2011

In a recent discussion on Biofortified, a conversation regarding the ability of small scale research plots to represent real world results was raised. For reasons of experimental control, practicality, and economy, the majority of agricultural research is carried out at smaller scales, i.e. through growth chambers, greenhouses, and small field plots. Almost uniformly, the results of such studies are extrapolated to larger “field” level scales for reporting purposes. While this translation may seem like a straight forward conversion, it can have considerable affects on the interpretation and inference made from the research. Specifically, it is important to understand how error rates at the small scale carry over and affect the larger scale results.

Today’s Organic, Yesterday’s Yields

by Steve Savage on 10 February 2011

In 2008, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of USDA conducted a detailed survey of Organic agriculture in the US. Participation rates were high with Organic growers, so the data is quite reliable. What it showed was probably surprising to many. After at least three decades of “rapid growth,” Organic now accounts for 0.52% of harvested US cropland. NASS did not go ahead and compare the yields of Organic crops to equivalent data for the rest of agriculture, but all that data is publicly available and I have posted a comparative analysis on SCRIBD (which is also embedded at the end of this post). Organic crop yields are generally lower, but it is hard to put that into perspective.

Interview with Margaret Mellon at MOSES

by Karl Haro von Mogel on 13 October 2010

Back in February, Frank & I went to the MOSES Organic Farming Conference, and while Frank was quick to put up his pictures, and I got one video up, I’ve been a bit lax in getting the rest of the material up and annotated. While discussing genetic engineering over at Grist, Doug Gurian-Sherman from the Union of Concerned Scientist popped in to say a big hello and a response to my comment. One of

Planting for a Greener Yield

by Guest Posts on 3 March 2010

By Brandon Hunnicutt

Over the last 15 years, agriculture has been changing technologically at an amazing pace. It is something that is truly fun to look back at and realize where we have come. As a producer of corn, soybeans, wheat, seed corn, and popcorn over many of those years it has truly changed what we are able to do and what we will be able to do in the future.

Equipment technology has created a way for us to be able to be better stewards of our ground and resources. Biotechnology has allowed us to push the food, feed, and fuel production to levels that only a few short years ago, many people would not have thought possible. Plus, we are utilizing fertilizer at a better rate.