Plant Nutrition

Ostara hires chief technology officer

Ostara, a leader in phosphate fertilizers and nutrient management, has hired Aaron Waltz as chief technology officer. Waltz has more than 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry and deep agronomic expertise. He began his... more »

Orchard covers, netting solutions have varied impact

Editor’s note: This article is an expanded version of the article that appeared in print. Orchard protective covers and netting used in fruit production can reduce hail damage and provide sunburn protection, along with other... more »

Salinas Biological Summit June 20-21

Among growers who rely on chemical inputs to ensure their crops aren’t lost to voracious insects or overgrown with weeds, it’s not a surprise that they’re not going to be able to rely on those... more »

Regenerative agriculture: a viable option for large-scale row crop farms?

Regenerative agriculture is one of the buzzwords of the moment and it seems like everyone from grassroot organizations to large corporations are now touting it as the holy grail of farming. But often, interesting concepts... more »

Worm Force: Vermiculture helps soil, protects crops

Earthworms can rejuvenate soil to create healthy crops. Through earthworms, unhealthy soil can quickly be made healthy, said George Hahn, owner and president of the Worm Gold/California Vermiculture LLC. “Go to a redwood forest or... more »

USDA awards grants to boost U.S. fertilizer production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has received $3 billion in applications from more than 350 independent businesses for the first two rounds of a new grant program to add innovative domestic fertilizer production capacity. The... more »

Biologicals summit focuses on next-gen tools

A new event is designed to raise awareness of biological solutions that are available to fruit and vegetable growers to enhance soil and plant health. The Salinas Biological Summit is set for June 20-21, at... more »

Fertilizer group seeks ‘regulatory certainty’ from Congress

Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) testified Feb. 28 at the House Committee on Agriculture hearing, “Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture.” “Fertilizer is an essential tool for farmers to... more »