Dungeness crab season was a beloved Bay Area holiday tradition, an annual $40 million boon for crabbers and restaurants alike. But with Humpback whales getting entangled in crabbing lines, the tides have shifted.

Crabs v. Whales

Buying the Farm

Pollution from this heavy metal is still being released into our atmosphere, soil, and waterways — both accidentally and on purpose.

Mercury Moves Up the Food Chain

Every gallon of bourbon produces 10 gallons of waste called “whole stillage,” traditionally converted into animal feed or spread on farm fields. We need somewhere else to put it. 

No Whiskey Wasted

In building a foundation for the future, tree crop cooperatives are taking a patient approach to agricultural sustainability. It all starts with chestnuts.

The Longest View in the Room

Corn detasseling continues to be a beloved Midwestern tradition, as youth labor regulations progress and migrant workers compete with the young workforce.

Teens in the Tassels: How Youth Farm Labor Still Powers the Midwest

Farmers are increasingly facing property seizures, instigated by eminent domain, that allow governments to develop their land for new projects.

Taking Your Farm

Steeped in a rich history, Black oystermen and women across U.S. coastal regions have been disappearing for decades — a revival may be underway.

The Legacy of Black Oyster Farmers

Ranchers will try anything to keep wolves away from livestock. Could an aerial approach be the answer?

Drones vs Wolves

This year’s devastating Crabapple Fire revealed ranchland vulnerabilities — and provided a roadmap for how to minimize future damage.

Wildfire Lessons From Texas Hill Country

After years of devastating wildfires, many producers are wondering if prescribed burns might improve their acreage. Here’s how to keep land, livestock, buildings, and selves safe. 

To Burn or Not to Burn

In California, grassroots groups of researchers, growers, and volunteers are using mushrooms to clean up after wildfires. 

Healing with Mycelium

The newest methods of early disease detection for crops use the plants themselves to help recognize and diagnose problems — before it’s too late.

Listening to Plants

As the Trump Administration’s trade war with China continues, soybean farmers wonder who will buy their crop.

Soybean Farmers Harvest and Wait, With No Export Ships on the Horizon

As ecological collapse forces New England’s fishers to diversify their catch, a sea snail once considered a nuisance might be able to stack up.

The Snails at the End of the World

Fracking produces millions of barrels of wastewater every day in Texas. Some companies want to use it to irrigate farms. 

Irrigating With Oil Waste

Most Americans have never heard of honeyberries. A small band of researchers is aiming to fix that.

The Secret Berry

State-contracted range riders assist cattle ranchers in protecting livestock from predators — particularly on the vast stretches of federal land where the animals graze.

Wolf Patrol

Over a century ago, one homegrown invention redefined stacking hay in the West. Some ranchers still see no reason to upgrade.

Why Don’t You Beaverslide?

Farmers may want to preserve wild birds near their farms, but buyers’ fears of foodborne illness — and subsequent lawsuits — can make it tough. 

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