Farming

A farmer of color tends crops on his diversified farm in hopes of getting more support from the farm bill in 2023

The Field Report: Calls Grow for a Farm Bill that Serves ‘All of Us, Not Just Corporations’

By Lisa Held

February 8, 2023

Plus, a new report on SNAP improvements and broken (egg) promises.

An Ancient Grain Made New Again: How Sorghum Could Help U.S. Farms Adapt to Climate Change

By Dana Cronin

February 7, 2023

A USDA scientist examines sorghum plants. (USDA photo by Peggy Greb)

Op-ed: Maryland’s New Governor Has His Sights Set on Ending Food Insecurity

By Anthony Nicome

February 2, 2023

Comic: Adapting Corn for Tortillas—and New Markets—in the Pacific Northwest

By Nhatt Nichols

February 1, 2023

A two-panel comic of a test farm hoop house growing corn and cactus and other crops on the left, with chef lisette garay working in her restaurant kitchen on the right.

For Melon Farmers, Insects’ Benefits May Outweigh Their Costs

By Ian Rose

January 31, 2023

A two-spotted long horn bee visits a watermelon flower (Photo credit: Ashley Leach)

These Chicago Urban Farmers Are Growing Local Food in the Wake of Steel Industry Pollution

By Paul Gordon

January 26, 2023

Xavier “X” Colon, a young person with long braided black hair, a baseball cap, and a bright orange hi-visibility shirt, stands in the fields at South Chicago Farm. (Photo by Paul Gordon)

The Field Report: The Future of Organic Food Is Taking Shape at the USDA—and Beyond

By Lisa Held

January 25, 2023

A grower at City Roots Farm in Columbia, S.C., waters the microgreens at the family-owned local organic vegetable farm.

Does Pastoralism Have a Place in the Future of Food?

By Kayla Frost

January 24, 2023

Ilse-Kohler-Rollefson, a camel, and the cover of the new book, hoofprints on the land

As Grocery Stores Get Bigger, Small Farms Get Squeezed Out

By Lisa Held

January 17, 2023

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 13: Produce is offered for sale at a grocery store on October 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. According to government data released today, the food at home index, a measure of grocery store prices, increased 0.7% in September from the month prior and saw a 13% increase over the last year. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Op-ed: Some Regenerative Farms Are Weathering California’s Unprecedented Rainfall

By Ryan Peterson

January 13, 2023

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, water floods a vineyard on January 09, 2023 in Santa Rosa, California. The San Francisco Bay Area and much of Northern California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events that have brought high winds and flooding rains. The storms have toppled trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands. Storms are lined up over the Pacific Ocean and are expected to bring more rain and wind through the end of the week. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Farm Credit Administration’s First Indigenous Chairman Wants to Level the Playing Field

By Gabriel Pietrorazio

January 12, 2023

Eldrige Hoy, left, and Bryson Sam, members of the Choctaw Nation, seed a high tunnel with Iron Clay peas as a cover crop to improve soil quality. (USDA photo by Bob Nichols)

Kristin Ohlson Wants Us to Reimagine Collaboration on the Land

By Lee Van der Voo

January 11, 2023

Kristin Ohlson and the cover of her book, sweet in tooth and claw

Can This Beef Cooperative Become ‘the West’s Largest Climate-Smart Ranching Program’?

By Caroline Tracey

January 10, 2023

Pratt Family Beef in Idaho is a member of Country Natural Beef. (Image courtesy of Country Natural Beef)

Farmers Embrace the Growing Domestic Spice Trade

By Bridget Shirvell

January 9, 2023

Krissy Scommegna moves pepper starts in the greenhouse. (Photo courtesy of Boonville Barn Collective)

Our Best Op-eds and Commentary of 2022

By The Civil Eats Editors

December 29, 2022

Indian farmers shout anti-government slogans during a protest against new farm laws in December 2020. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)

The Field Report: Reflecting on a Big Year for Food News

By Lisa Held

December 21, 2022

Goverment Capitol building in Washington DC with autumn park and green floor and blue sky , USA, United States of America

Insect Farms are Scaling Up—and Crossing the Atlantic—in a Play for Sustainable Protein

By Lynn Fantom

December 20, 2022

A black soldier fly. (Photo courtesy of Protix)

As Climate Changes Makes Desert Water Scarce, the Debate over Livestock vs. Wildlife Heats Up

By Leorah Gavidor

December 19, 2022

Desert Bighorn Sheeps in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. California.

Catholics Used to Forgo Meat on Fridays. Could Bringing the Practice Back Help the Climate?

By Anne Marshall-Chalmers

December 14, 2022

Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday during a mass at Holy Name Cathedral on March 1, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Field Report: FDA Data Shows a Worrisome Increase in Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture

By Lisa Held

December 13, 2022

a pig eating antibiotic-filled feed in a hog barn

In ‘Raw Deal,’ A Reporter Reveals the Dirty Underbelly of the Meat Industry

By Lindsey Margaret Allen

December 9, 2022

reporter chloe sorvino and the cover of her new book, raw deal

Our 2022 Food and Farming Holiday Book Gift Guide

By The Civil Eats Editors

December 7, 2022

a collage of the latest food and farming books for our holiday gift guide

Is This Biochar’s Big, Carbon-Rich Moment?

By Lisa Held

December 6, 2022

Ken Carloni of the nonprofit Yew Creek Land Alliance holds a piece of biochar created from thinned, overcrowded conifer in Yew Creek Forest, Oregon. (Photo CC-licensed by NRCS Oregon)

Climate Change Is Pushing Pacific Northwest Farmers to Protect Crops from Extreme Heat

By Michael Crowe

December 5, 2022

Soil Health Is Human Health

By Naomi Starkman

December 1, 2022

David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, authors of

Farming

The Field Report: Calls Grow for a Farm Bill that Serves ‘All of Us, Not Just Corporations’

An Ancient Grain Made New Again: How Sorghum Could Help U.S. Farms Adapt to Climate Change

Op-ed: Maryland’s New Governor Has His Sights Set on Ending Food Insecurity

Comic: Adapting Corn for Tortillas—and New Markets—in the Pacific Northwest

For Melon Farmers, Insects’ Benefits May Outweigh Their Costs

Today’s food system is complex.

These Chicago Urban Farmers Are Growing Local Food in the Wake of Steel Industry Pollution

The Field Report: The Future of Organic Food Is Taking Shape at the USDA—and Beyond

Does Pastoralism Have a Place in the Future of Food?

As Grocery Stores Get Bigger, Small Farms Get Squeezed Out

Op-ed: Some Regenerative Farms Are Weathering California’s Unprecedented Rainfall

The Farm Credit Administration’s First Indigenous Chairman Wants to Level the Playing Field

Kristin Ohlson Wants Us to Reimagine Collaboration on the Land

Can This Beef Cooperative Become ‘the West’s Largest Climate-Smart Ranching Program’?

Farmers Embrace the Growing Domestic Spice Trade

Our Best Op-eds and Commentary of 2022

Thank you for being a loyal reader.

The Field Report: Reflecting on a Big Year for Food News

Insect Farms are Scaling Up—and Crossing the Atlantic—in a Play for Sustainable Protein

As Climate Changes Makes Desert Water Scarce, the Debate over Livestock vs. Wildlife Heats Up

Catholics Used to Forgo Meat on Fridays. Could Bringing the Practice Back Help the Climate?

The Field Report: FDA Data Shows a Worrisome Increase in Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture

In ‘Raw Deal,’ A Reporter Reveals the Dirty Underbelly of the Meat Industry

Our 2022 Food and Farming Holiday Book Gift Guide

Is This Biochar’s Big, Carbon-Rich Moment?

Climate Change Is Pushing Pacific Northwest Farmers to Protect Crops from Extreme Heat

Soil Health Is Human Health