look | Environment.org

The Rio Grande is no longer a reliable source of water for South Texas.

That’s the sobering conclusion Rio Grande Valley officials are facing as water levels at the international reservoirs that feed into the river remain dangerously low — and a hurricane that could have quenched the area’s thirst turned away from the region as it neared the Texas coast.

Although a high number of storms are forecast this hurricane season, relief is far from guaranteed as the drought drags on.

For now, the state’s most southern cities have enough drinking water for residents. However, the region’s agricultural roots created a system that could jeopardize that supply. Cities here are set up to depend on irrigation districts, which supply untreated waters to farmers, to deliver water that will eventually go to residents. This setup has meant that as river …

Funding Available to Support Underserved Farmers: A Look at USDA’s 2501 Grants

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| Sustainability

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $ 22.3 million in funding for 2501 grants to help organizations conduct targeted outreach and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers.

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, more commonly known as the “2501 Program” and administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), helps to ensure that historically underserved producers have equitable access to the information, programs, and opportunities that will help them find success in agriculture. While 2501 typically has a 90-day application period, this year’s window is only 60 days.

All applications must be submitted via grants.gov by 11:59 pm EDT on July 5, 2024.

USDA will host two upcoming webinars to answer questions from potential grantees.

Session 1: May 22, 2024, …

A look back at US climate solutions this year

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| Pollution

Some of the most jarring ways the United States will feel the impacts of climate change began to reveal themselves this year.

The U.S. saw a record-setting 25 billion-dollar natural disasters. Maui experienced the country’s deadliest wildfire in the last century. Phoenix suffered temperatures over 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 31 consecutive days. Vermont endured epic floods. Despite all this, the Biden administration reneged on its promise and approved the Willow oil project in Alaska.

But this year was also filled with news of encouraging, inspiring, and groundbreaking progress in the U.S., not least of which was its joining a global agreement to transition away from fossil fuels and pledging with its biggest rival, China, to accelerate renewables.

Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will require decarbonizing the nation’s energy production, transportation, homes and buildings, and industries. Here’s a …

Hummingbird Moth Facts: Moths That Look (And Sound) Like Hummingbirds!

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| Wildlife

As they dart from flower to flower in search of nectar, not only do hummingbird moths look like the birds after which they are named, but they also sound like them; the rapid flapping of their wings making a hummingbird–like buzz.

This page contains hummingbird moth facts, pictures and information. First we’ll find out about hummingbird moths in general before turning our attention to the five species of hummingbird moth found in the United States.

Finally, we’ll take a look at the related hummingbird hawk-moth, a species found in Europe (including the UK), Africa and Asia.

Have you seen a hummingbird moth? Report your sighting in the comments section at the bottom of the page!

Page Index

What Is A Hummingbird Moth?
Hummingbird Moth Facts
Identifying A Hummingbird Moth
Hummingbird Moths Found In North America
Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe

…

Who Benefits? A Look at the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities Preliminary Awards

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| Sustainability

In February 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) first announced details of its Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities (PCSC). The PCSC is a centerpiece of the Biden Administration’s strategy to help farmers and ranchers address climate change. In late 2022 USDA announced further details about projects, and more recently debuted the Partnerships Network. As the PCSC ramps up in earnest, now is an important moment to take stock of where the program stands in spring 2023.

Overview

The Partnerships hold both promise and unanswered questions. The potential of USDA’s largest ever investment in climate-smart agriculture is undeniable, yet the specific details of each Partnership project–from which practices are implemented on which acres and how well, to the types of farmers participating in each project–matter greatly, and remain unknown. As the Partnership projects launch …

A Look at the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

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| Sustainability

The 2018 Farm Bill offered a variety of victories for NSAC’s priorities. It also elevated attention and support for the growing number of urban agriculture and small-scale innovative producers across the nation by directing USDA to create an Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) and programs to support related activities.

This blog post offers a look at the status of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production’s program activities since the 2018 Farm Bill. While full implementation has yet to be fulfilled, there has been immense progress. We are optimistic that the 2023 Farm Bill will continue to build upon its successes to date.

Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

The 2018 Farm Bill authorized a new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production whose mission is to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other innovative …

Beyond solar: Here’s what the clean energy future might look like

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| Pollution

Images of a clean-energy future tend to feature wind turbines and solar panels, iconic symbols of the struggle to halt global warming. But the United States is pursuing a much wider range of solutions to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. Soon, a direct air capture facility, or a carbon capture and storage project, or a clean hydrogen hub could be proposed in a town near you. Maybe one already has. Two recent laws — last year’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation and this year’s Inflation Reduction Act — offer developers billions of dollars to build these kinds of projects.

Experts say these technologies are needed to tackle climate change. They can help cut carbon from hard-to-decarbonize parts of the economy that cannot simply switch over to renewable electricity. But there are very few large-scale examples operating today. To help people visualize what …