Real Simple

Plus, tips for improving your soil's health.

10 Plants That Can Grow in Poor Soil

Iowa State

ROLFE, Iowa — Dave Duitscher may not have grown up in the dairy business, but it's clearly a part of his family's DNA. The family has owned and operated Dutchland Dairy since 1998. The Duitschers are one of seven farm families who will be recognized as recipients of the 2024 Way We Live Award at the Iowa State Fair. Nominations included descriptions of how living on the farm and choosing farming as an occupation has shaped the family’s life.

Dairy celebrates good people, good cows

Austin, TX

A newly engineered type of soil can capture water out of thin air to keep plants hydrated and manage controlled release of fertilizer for a constant supply of nutrients. Underpinning that exciting smart soil system is a hydrogel material developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. In experiments, the hydrogel-infused soil led to the growth of larger healthier plants, compared to regular soil, all while using less water and fertilizer.

Smart soil can water, feed itself

Kansas State

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, approximately 20% of Kansas presently faces drought conditions, while 40% remains abnormally dry. Many issues arise from this lack of rainfall that affects livestock producers. Kansas State University beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said ranchers who grow their own hay encounter forage fields that yield less than normal, which leaves them needing to buy more.

Got Hay? A guide to purchasing forage

As summer starts to wind down, August becomes a critical month for preparing your tomato plants for a bountiful September harvest. Tomatoes, native to western South America and Central America, thrive in warm weather but require specific care to maximize fruit production as the season progresses. By giving your tomatoes the right attention now, you can ensure they produce a generous, delicious crop next month.

Do This To Your Tomatoes In August For A Huge September Harvest

Choose from both natural and chemical ways to rid your yard of weeds.

How to Prevent Weeds From Growing in Your Yard

Manure is a great source of nutrients, but recent studies show there is something even more magical about it. Learn more about the importance of soil health to yield, the ways that manure can influence that and how the Nutrient Management Spear Program is investigating the relationship between microbial health, yield and climate resilience.

Manure boosts hidden ecosystem

For many home gardeners, raised garden beds are a wonderful solution to their yard woes. Raised beds can help you incorporate the exact right soil for your picky plants or extend the amount of garden space you have. But not every plant will do great in a raised bed. Some...

10 Plants You Should Never Grow in a Raised Bed

Ohio State

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The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Wisconsin State

Compeer Financial is accepting nominations for the 2025 Groundbreaker of the Year award through Aug. 30. Every year Compeer celebrates young, beginning and small farmers for their outstanding contributions. “We recognize the value they bring to agriculture and aim to support their dedication and hard work,” Compeer states. The...

Nominate trailblazing farmers

When planting your garden, an important factor to consider is how the plants you choose will interact with one another. There are a couple of factors that make some bad neighbors. It’s good to know ahead of time which ones will take over and which may inhibit the growth of its neighbors.

21 Popular Plants You Should Only Grow in Pots

August is a critical month for gardeners as the intense heat and dry conditions can put significant stress on plants. Ensuring your garden remains productive and healthy requires careful attention and the right strategies. However, many gardeners fall into common traps during this month. Here are the biggest mistakes to avoid and how to fix them.

The Biggest Mistakes That Gardeners Make In August (Don’t Kill Your Garden!)

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

A recent social media update from Cherokee, the site of North Carolina's first and only cannabis dispensary, announced that adult-use recreational marijuana is coming soon. The Aug. 1 post is a landmark occasion. The Great Smoky Cannabis Co., run by Qualla Enterprises backed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, will become the first N.C. recreational marijuana dispensary to fully open to adults over the age of 21.

Will recreational marijuana be legal in NC? What to know after Cherokee approved sales

Missouri State

Columbia, MO

Every year, Missouri farmers lose millions of dollars in valuable nutrients that wash away into rivers and lakes. Those nutrients — nitrates and phosphates found in fertilizers — are crucial for plant growth, but they wreak havoc on aquatic life when they end up in waterways. University of...

Researcher in search of smarter sensor

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Indiana State

The Census of Agriculture, which is conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides a comprehensive picture of U.S. farms and ranches. Using data from the 2017 and 2022 censuses, we examined the recent trends in the number of farms and land in farms across several Midwestern states. We included states – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. The 2022 Census confirms that the 21st-century decline in number of farms and land in farms continues in those states.

Farms, land in farms continue decline

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Late summer and early fall are the prime times to plant grass seed. The lawn may be a little worn from summer fun or heat, moisture, pest, or disease issues that take their toll. You may be ready to reimagine the turf, reshaping and refreshing existing zones. Whether filling in...

When and How to Plant Grass Seed

Keeping plants healthy and vibrant in the extreme summertime heat can be a daunting task, especially when breezy spring turns to stifling summer in the sunny South. But most who garden or enjoy plants want to ensure that their plants, whether indoor or outdoor, stay hydrated and healthy. No one wants to lose a beloved plant or vegetable, especially if there are simple steps you can take to set the plant up for having a successful growing life. Granted, there are some drought-tolerant plants that fare better than others in the heat of summer, but there are also some easy steps to take that can help most potted plants stay healthy. In fact, there is one specific step that inspires health in a plant, and it’s one step you don’t want to skip when potting your plants.

The One Important Step You Should Never Skip When Potting Plants

Livingetc

All you need to do is seed once and enjoy the blooms for ages to come

6 Self-Seeding Plants You Should be Growing in Your Backyard for a (Mostly) Self-Sufficient Garden

NewsBreak

Dig for answers on soil

Farmers know that organic practices can bring a greater price in the marketplace. But how does organic farming affect their soil? U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural...

Dig for answers on soil

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