Holy Cow! A Farmer Tries to Make a Better Calf through Genomic Analysis
Cheap, powerful genomic analysis technologies have revolutionized the way that dairy cattle are bred. With a little genomic know-how and a lot of luck, it’s possible for even small-scale farmers to produce some of the world’s most robust, fertile, and productive dairy cattle—and then sell them at a profit. 
 
Soils Are Endangered, but the Degradation Can Be Rolled Back
Soils are vital for producing nutritious crops and they filter thousands of cubic kilometers of water each year. Soils also help regulate emissions of greenhouse gases, thus fundamental for regulating climate. The world's soils are rapidly deteriorating due to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and other threats, but this trend can be reversed if countries take the lead in promoting sustainable management practices and the use of appropriate technologies.
 
Chinese Drone Maker Plows into Agriculture
China’s SZ DJI Technology, the world’s top consumer-drone maker, is setting its sights on the agriculture industry with the launch of a crop sprayer that will test whether farming is fertile ground for drone technology. DJI has unveiled an eight-rotor drone priced at roughly $15,000 that can spray pesticides on seven to 10 acres of farmland an hour.
 
This Peanut Farmer Turns to a Cellphone – and Prayer – for a Top Crop
Mariama Keita grows peanuts the old-fashioned way: using hoes, pitchforks and, when needed, horses as beasts of burden. She doesn't have a tractor or any mechanized tools. But the mother of two does have one new weapon in her agricultural arsenal to help keep her farm running: her cellphone. Keita uses her phone to check the latest climate information, sent by text by the national weather service (a service that's been available to American farmers for decades). 
 
Google and FAO Partner to Make Remote Sensing Data More Efficient and Accessible
Google Maps and FAO have agreed to work closely together to make geospatial tracking and mapping products more accessible, providing a high-technology assist to countries tackling climate change and much greater capacity to experts developing forest and land-use policies. Digital technology is revolutionizing the way countries can assess, monitor, and plan the use of their natural resources, including monitoring deforestation and desertification.