The Fertilizer Falacy - Pushing Yields up and Profit Down

Understanding Agriculture

 Nitrogen fertilizer is applied to winter wheat. 
Photo by Michael Trolove.

There’s a deeply held belief in modern agriculture that more fertilizer equals more yield, and more yield equals more profit. It sounds reasonable on the surface. But when you sharpen your pencil and run the numbers, the math often tells a very different story. For many farmers, a significant chunk of their fertilizer bill is doing nothing more than padding someone else’s bottom line. Story here.

Alberta scraps environmental assessment for Kevin O'Leary's 'world's largest' data centre

Canada's National Observer 

Danielle with her "besties," Donald 
and Kevin.

Danielle Smith's government is exempting celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary's massive Wonder Valley data centre near Grand Prairie, AB, from a provincial environmental assessment, Canada's National Observer has learned. Story here.

AI minister meets with mining, energy companies on environment impacts — not green groups.

                             Canada’s National Observer

Chat GPT generated this image, representing AI.
No humans are present.
Author: Alenoach.

Canada's AI Minister Evan Solomon has met with energy and mining companies about the environmental impacts of AI infrastructure, but no environmental organizations, according to documents tabled in the House of Commons. Story here. 

Herbicide-resistant weeds now on 72 per cent of surveyed Manitoba fields, costing farmers $77M a year.

The Manitoba Co-Operator

Four new resistant weed species have emerged since the last survey in 2016, and researchers say integrated weed management is now critical to slowing the spread across Prairie cropland. Story here.

THE LAMENT OF A FAMED SCIENTIST

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

“I thought I’d spend my entire career working at this wonderful place. But I never expected that science itself would come under attack, simply because it—like journalism, history, and even the best kind of art—is a way of seeking the truth. I’m leaving because I want to tell the truth.” 

Famed climate scientist Kate Marvel on why she resigned from NASA, amid federal government turmoil and funding challenges. 

There is no historical precedent for how badly out of balance the climate is now, U.N. warns

Scientific American

The past eleven years were the eleven hottest on record amid an increasing onslaught ofclimate-driven disasters, the World Meteorological Organization says in a new report.                 

Story here.

‘Black rain’ in Tehran: what are the health effects?

 Journal Nature

Toxic smoke from burning oil depots has blanketed Iran’s capital after missile strikes. Story here..