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University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture to Host Cotton Tour Field Day Amid Optimistic Yield Predictions

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture to Host Cotton Tour Field Day Amid Optimistic Yield Predictions

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) is scheduled to host its annual Cotton Tour Field Day on September 9, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. This free event is open to farmers, consultants, agribusiness professionals, and others involved in Tennessee's cotton industry. Despite challenging cotton growing seasons in both 2024 and 2025, UTIA researchers are expressing optimism about the yield potential for 2026. Tyson Raper, cotton and small grains Extension specialist, noted that Tennessee typically grows approximately 1,000 pounds, or two bales, of cotton per acre. He encouraged producers to attend the tour to gain crucial information for making final defoliation decisions and to ensure a strong finish to the year. Attendees will also receive pesticide recertification points and a complimentary lunch. The complete program details will be made available on utcrops.com closer to the event date.
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Italian Banks Face Climate Change Threat to Parmesan Cheese Reserves

Italian Banks Face Climate Change Threat to Parmesan Cheese Reserves

Italian Banks Face Climate Change Threat to Parmesan Cheese Reserves
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APHIS Now Combines Science and Partnerships to Combat Plant Threats

APHIS Now Combines Science and Partnerships to Combat Plant Threats

Plant quarantine in the United States has evolved significantly since its early legislative beginnings, with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection...
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Climate Change Threatens Italy's Parmesan Cheese Reserves and Production

Climate Change Threatens Italy's Parmesan Cheese Reserves and Production

Climate Change Threatens Italy's Parmesan Cheese Reserves and Production
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Invasive Joro Spiders Continue to Spread Across Southeastern U.S., Researchers Advise Against Disturbing Them

Invasive Joro Spiders Continue to Spread Across Southeastern U.S., Researchers Advise Against Disturbing Them

Large, invasive Joro spiders, native to East Asia, are once again spreading across several states in the southeastern U.S., including Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Alabama. First spotted in Georgia in 2014, these spiders are characterized by their yellow bodies with bluish-green stripes and black and yellow legs, with adult females reaching up to 1 inch in body length and a 4-inch leg span. Despite their intimidating appearance and ability to create massive webs up to 10 feet in diameter, researchers emphasize that Joro spiders are largely harmless to humans and are unlikely to bite unless forcibly restrained. Only young spiders are capable of "ballooning," a method of long-distance travel using silk caught by the wind. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has asked visitors to report sightings through the iNaturalist app or email, but specifically advises against disturbing the spiders, citing both park regulations and ongoing research needs.
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Tufts University Establishes Shared R Facility for Cultivated Meat and Alternative Proteins

Tufts University Establishes Shared R Facility for Cultivated Meat and Alternative Proteins

Tufts University Establishes Shared R Facility for Cultivated Meat and Alternative Proteins
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Corn Maturity Crucial for Assessing Late-Season Disease Risk, University of Minnesota Expert Advises

Corn Maturity Crucial for Assessing Late-Season Disease Risk, University of Minnesota Expert Advises

Dean Malvick, an extension plant pathologist with the University of Minnesota, is advising corn growers to remain vigilant regarding crop diseases, even as the risk for late-season issues like tar spot and southern rust begins to lessen. According to Malvick, corn crops that have reached the dent stage or beyond are generally considered to be out of the high-risk period for significant damage from these fungal diseases. He emphasizes that at these advanced maturity stages, fungicide applications offer minimal benefit, as most fungicides are more effective as preventative measures rather than cures. While the overall risk is decreasing in many areas due to corn maturity, Malvick stresses the importance of continued monitoring to track disease development and prevalence. This guidance comes as farmers navigate the late stages of the growing season, balancing disease management with crop development.
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Senators Klobuchar and Rounds Introduce Bipartisan RANCH Act to Rebuild U.S. Cattle Herd

Senators Klobuchar and Rounds Introduce Bipartisan RANCH Act to Rebuild U.S. Cattle Herd

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) have jointly introduced the Rebuilding America’s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to address the significant contraction of the U.S. beef cattle herd, which is currently at its smallest size in over 70 years. The RANCH Act proposes to incentivize the voluntary conversion of marginal cropland into grazing land. The program would offer financial incentives to farmers and ranchers to restore these lands to grasslands suitable for grazing, with an enrollment cap of 20 million acres. Participants would receive annual payments equivalent to 75% of their county’s average cropland cash rental rate and 50% of the cost for establishing perennial grasses or non-woody vegetation, with increased support for beginning farmers and ranchers. The bill also prioritizes poorly performing and highly erodible cropland for conversion. This initiative seeks to support the cattle industry, provide wildlife habitat, and potentially reduce beef...
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Bald Eagle Shadow Forms New Pair Bond with KD1 Following Mate Jackie's Death

Bald Eagle Shadow Forms New Pair Bond with KD1 Following Mate Jackie's Death

Following the death of his longtime mate Jackie, bald eagle Shadow has been observed forming a new pair bond with another eagle, identified as KD1 or Kaydee, at their Big Bear nest. Raptor biologist Pete Bloom, who helped band KD1, believes it is highly likely that Shadow and KD1 will become a breeding pair by December. KD1, a 4½-year-old female eagle from the Prado Basin, was first seen on cameras operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley on August 6th, while Jackie was in critical care. Jackie subsequently died on August 9th. Just hours after Jackie's death was announced, KD1 appeared at Shadow's nest, and the two eagles have since been seen perching, singing, and engaging in pair-bonding behaviors, such as moving sticks in the nest and nibbling. The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley has officially named the new eagle Kaydee.
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Florida Farm in Jefferson County Permanently Protected from Development

Florida Farm in Jefferson County Permanently Protected from Development

A farm in Jefferson County, Florida, Bishop Family Farms, is among four Florida farms to receive permanent protection from future development. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, announced that the state's Rural and Family Lands Protection program is facilitating the protection of over 1,500 acres of farmland across Florida. Bishop Family Farms, spanning 228 acres, will be safeguarded through a rural lands protection easement. The total cost of this easement is approximately $1.3 million, with $655,500 of the funding provided by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service-Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The protected land includes various agricultural features such as crops, pasture, and planted timber, alongside some wetlands. Additionally, the property shares a border with the Aucilla River Watershed, highlighting its ecological significance.
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Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment

Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment

Cultivated Meat Industry Faces Significant Challenges Despite Early Hype and Investment
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Soil Bacteria Protect Wheat from Pathogenic Fungus, Offering New Agricultural Solutions

Soil Bacteria Protect Wheat from Pathogenic Fungus, Offering New Agricultural Solutions

Researchers from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the University of São Paulo (USP) have identified three bacterial species that can protect wheat plants from root rot caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana. Their study, published in NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes, demonstrates that inoculating soil with these bacteria can reduce disease symptoms by up to 60%. The bacteria, specifically Streptomyces virginiae, Paenibacillus ottowii, and Pseudomonas inefficax, do not eliminate the pathogen but rather alter the soil microbiome to create a 'microbiological shield' that strengthens the plant's defenses. Pseudomonas inefficax was found to be the most effective, significantly increasing root biomass and restoring microbiome functions linked to plant protection. This research builds on previous studies that surveyed the soil microbiome of ancestral wheat varieties and commercial cultivars, with the selected bacteria originating from landrace wheat varieties from Turkey and Iran.