From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. New studies have found that a chemical commonly used to fight plant disease is harming honeybees. Experts say the chemical may be partly to blame for the widespread loss of honeybees in the United States. The insects are important to farmers. When a honeybee lands on a flowering plant, pollen sticks to […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Irrigation systems can make a big difference in agricultural production. Irrigation can also improve the lives of farm families. However, a new study says bringing water to dry areas can also spread malaria. The study describes how irrigation water can lead to an increase in malaria cases — an increase […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. People with the condition do not have enough red blood cells. As the name suggests, iron deficiency anemia results from a lack of iron. The World Health Organization says half the pregnant women and about 40 […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Farms are spreading to unused city lots and old properties across the United States. These urban farms grow crops in areas where people rarely buy fresh fruits and vegetables. They have the power to change what people eat. They also have the power to influence troubled neighborhoods. ECO […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Farming without big machines is hard work. Planting and fertilizing alone can take days in the hot sun. Researchers are working to develop simple machines to make life easier for farmers in the developing world. They would also like to help the farmers save money. Jelle Van Loon is […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. The United Nations Environment Program says 200 million Africans go to sleep hungry. That number represents 23 percent of the population on the continent. A new UN study shows that eight out of 10countries facing the worst food shortages are in Africa. Recently, African experts, farmers and others gathered in Kenya for […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Cassava is a very important crop in many countries. More than 160 million people across Africa depend on the plant for food or to earn money. The continent produces 60 percent of the world’s cassava. In May, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that cassava production […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Researchers are developing ways to fight hunger in Africa by increasing rice production. The African Rice Congress discussed the work at a meeting in October. Experts say 60 percent of rice used in Africa is imported from Asia. They estimate that Africa spends $5 billion to import […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Raising chickens is gaining popularity in some American cities. Poultry farming may not be right for everyone, but the business seems to have a bright future. Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family in the state of Maryland. Naomi Hurst says her family started to […]
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Farmers use soil conservation methods to protect their land from the damage caused by farming, wind and other forces of nature. Planting windbreaks is one method of soil conservation. Windbreaks are barriers formed by trees and other plants. Farmers plant these barriers around their fields. Windbreaks stop wind from […]