Peak News and Blog

70 percent of freshwater is used for agriculture The World Bank says that in most regions of the world, over 70 percent of freshwater is used for agriculture. By 2050, feeding a planet of 9 billion people will require an estimated 50 percent increase in agricultural production and a 15 percent increase in water withdrawals. The USGS says that…

Soil moisture monitoring: more important than you think Soil moisture monitoring improves agriculture, both ecologically and economically. Then, I’ll examine some of soil moisture monitoring’s less widely known—yet still extremely important—use cases. Finally, to aid you in your soil moisture monitoring goals, I’ll also investigate several different options for soil moisture monitoring. The California Almond…

What’s great about green infrastructure? We hear a lot about infrastructure these days as our government debates economic stimulus spending. Green infrastructure is smart! It can entail green parking, green roofs, bioswales, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, urban tree canopies, and permeable pavements. “Green infrastructure” is a catch-all term that refers to using plant-based infrastructure to…

The Pacific Northwest is baking in a record-breaking heat wave, with an all-time high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit reported Saturday in Portland, Oregon. The previous record was set in 1981 (107 degrees) and 1965. Seattle hit 102 degrees on June 27 and is expected to smash the record today. Along the West Coast, more than…

Farmers Believe In Climate Change But Don’t Think Humans Are The Cause, New Poll Shows A new poll shows American farmers overwhelmingly believe climate change is real and will create significant weather problems. …but they do not think it’s caused by human actions. 80% of farmers* believe climate change is occurring, and more than half are concerned…

‘Kiss the Ground:’ Netflix Movie Features Soil Health Pioneers Ray Archuleta and Gabe Brown The movie, Kiss the Ground, features a lineup of some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names and faces, but two of its stars fly a little closer to the ground. The movie’s thesis proposes that by regenerating the world’s soils, humans can rapidly…