Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with crops

How can I learn about and collect images of the seed signs that are posted along large agricultural fields?

refractal — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:46:37 -0800

Agriculture Industry Filter: After a recent drive across the mid-western United States, I became very intrigued by the variety of signs along the road that seemed to be trademark or branding markers for the types of seeds being grown in the various fields. (1) Does anyone know the purpose of these? (2) Seen a collection of them online? or (3) Know how one might properly refer to them in order to go about collecting images of them?

What if I want a tiny farm?

zvs — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:37:05 -0800

How big is the smallest possible subsistence farm? Settle a living room bet -- what's the smallest amount of land on which a vegetable farm could feed a family of two for more than a year or two, barring famine or harsh winter or whatever? Let's say an Upstate New York-esque level of soil quality. How would I even go about solving this question?

What crops can I grow in poorly draining/waterlogged soil?

aqueousdan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:00:30 -0800

what fruit or vegetable crops I can grow in a rather poor draining back garden in the UK? I have just moved into a house with nice large back garden (compared to the postage stamp sized one we lived in before anyway) which backs onto a large fishing pond.

I have been digging out the plot for my vegetables but the soil looks rather waterlogged. Is there anything I can grow in there that wouldnt mind this type of earth?

I would like to grow potatoes, carrots, peas, beans and onions but also tomatoes, raspberries, blackberries and some fruit trees such as apples and pears.

What kind of world are we living in???

nintendo — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:16:24 -0800

Why does the US (and EU?) so heavily subsidize crops specifically for export? A good hypothesis I've heard goes something like... After having introduced cheap goods into a local market (because of government subsidies, cheaper than locals could ever produce themselves) long enough to drive local producers out of business, subsidies can than be lifted, leaving our new foreign consumers no choice but to continue to purchase US (EU) grown crops at market price.
Could this really be possible. Internet has helped some, anyone have any ideas about this?

(I hear the US and EU together spend something like $339 billion a year on just this type of subsidies)

Feed the world?

kidsleepy — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:06:15 -0800

Is there enough food on Earth to feed every person on Earth? Links to legitimate research (for or against) are a bonus.