Biofuel crops are not the only sources of renewable energy that
farmers can cultivate. A National Geographic Magazine article
discusses the emerging practice of constructing wind turbines on
Mid-western farmland and the implications for crop productivity.
According to research cited in the article, wind turbines could
help mitigate extreme temperatures on the farm, keeping crops
from overheating or freezing. But this area of study is still in
its infancy, and scientists say that more data is needed to
present a complete picture of the trade-offs for farmers. If
wind farms turn out to be a beneficial fixture on farms, the
U.S. Corn Belt could soon be producing a new crop for the market
– wind energy. As the International Year of Forests winds to a
close, a new FAO study released this week shows how plants and
fruits from Amazonian forests can be used to improve people’s
diets and livelihoods. Written in easy-to-grasp language, Fruit
Trees and Useful Plants in Amazonian Life seeks to take science
out of the ivo