Working with pumpkins and squash, Ming-Kuem Lin, a visiting postdoctoral researcher in Lucas' lab and colleagues showed that a protein, FT, is transported through the phloem sap from the body of the plant to the growing tips to trigger flowering. Many plants, including important crops such as rice, maize and wheat, flower in response to lengthening days in the spring or shortening days in fall. UC Davis News & Information :: Flowering Signal Found. Researchers thought that florigen is made...

There was a time when Ontario strawberry growers had a gentleman's agreement with their California brethren, in which the latter would back off during the local season. Next to them is a stand of California strawberries that have travelled more than 4,000 kilometres over three days first to a central warehouse and then here. It's a common gripe among fruit and vegetable farmers in southern Ontario. It now pumps out almost 1 billion kilograms of berries a year more than 130 times what...

Can biofuels deliver? The answer appears contingent on fuel prices as well as three other variables that directly influence the profitability and environmental impact of biofuels: the cost and availability of feedstock, government regulation, and conversion technologies. Can biofuels deliver? The answer appears contingent on fuel prices as well as three other variables that directly influence the profitability and environmental impact of biofuels: the cost and availability of feedstock,...

States using inmates to augment crews picking fruits and vegetables highlight a reality in agricultural America: Hispanic workers are in tight supply. Jobs in the construction economy lure them from the farms, and the intensifying spotlight on illegal immigration along America's southern border has cut the number of prospective laborers willing to come north. It would have given permanent resident status to farmworkers who'd worked here for five years. Farmers from Washington state to New...

Water standing in acres of pea fields across the county has caused the plant roots to rot and die. Farmers say much of Lincolnshire's pea crop has been completely wiped out by the floods. A pea plant is like a pot plant in your house, if you over water it, it can get waterlogged, rotten and the plant will die," he said. Mr Watson said that if the fields were harvestable, machinery would not be able to reach them because of the muddy conditions. Agencies including the emergency services...

Quad-Cities Online Broccamoli Dip -- Quad-Cities Online Recipe Book. Ingredients 10 ounce package frozen chopped broccoli 1/2 teaspoon minced dried onion 1/2 cup nonfat sour cream 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chunky salsa 1 teaspoon low-sodium Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper. Ingredients 10 ounce package frozen chopped broccoli 1/2 teaspoon minced dried onion 1/2 cup nonfat sour cream 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chunky...

Savvy farmers all over the country have discovered a practice that might not work as a nationwide agricultural policy, but that has allowed some economically inefficient orchards to thrive: Encourage yuppies and their progeny to come pick your fruit they'll pay handsomely for the privilege, buy more than they'd ordinarily consume, and then shell out for all sorts of other value-added products. Savvy farmers all over the country have discovered a practice that might not work as a nationwide...

Barbara Kingsolver writes about bean trees, pigs in heaven and the dreams of animals, so her fans aren't surprised that her latest book is titled Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Thanks to industrial agriculture and the demand for a constant variety of foods, regardless of how far they must be transported, Americans "are putting nearly as much petroleum into their refrigerators as they are into their cars. Her family's experiment in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is part of a much larger movement...

Frozen peas could go up in price because the UK harvest has been hit by the downpours, growers warned. Growers fear the resulting shortage of peas will lead to price increase as high as 50p per 1kg bag. These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same. The crucial issues from every angle. The biggest stories and the best pictures. Up to 25% of this summer's harvest could be lost because of the heavy rains, according...