Energy and Environmental News for May 11: Reducing fossil energy use on the farm; Charging ahead with electric cars

Reducing Fossil Energy Use on the Farm: Impacts of Low-External-Input Cropping Systems on Energy and Yield

Conventional agriculture production relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly in its ability to provide energy at a low cost. However, the uncertain future of fossil fuel availability and prices point to need to explore energy efficiencies in other cropping systems.

Most of the U.S. Corn Belt relies on a two-year rotation of corn and soybean with heavy inputs of fertilizer, herbicides...