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soil

EPA proposes lower lead threshold, soil cleanup expansion in Butte

EPA proposes lower lead threshold, soil cleanup expansion in Butte

BUTTE, Mont. -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially proposed a new threshold for lead contamination in soil and attic dust to trigger remediation efforts, making much more of Butte eligible for that cleanup in the process. The newly proposed lead action level, for which the EPA had set a

Eastern, northern Montana hit with ‘disastrous’ wind storm

Jared Miller, a farmer who lives south of Havre, was at a high school conference track meet on May 13 when a “disastrous” wind storm whipped through eastern Montana. The storm stopped the track meet for an hour. “There was no visibility, and the winds were nuts,” Miller said. “Everyone

A deep-ocean climate plan wins rare EPA approval, but is sinking plants in the sea the answer?

A deep-ocean climate plan wins rare EPA approval, but is sinking plants in the sea the answer?

Innovators who are working on ways to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere to fight climate change are having a tough time lately. Their biggest supporter, Microsoft, recently began telling partners that it is pausing its carbon removal purchases. To get a sense of how big of a deal

Manila landfill fire leaves locals gasping

Manila landfill fire leaves locals gasping

Filipino ferry dispatcher Dave Delos Reyes has been handing out N95 masks for nearly three weeks to protect passengers against the smoke that a landfill fire has sent billowing above a stretch of Manila Bay. The fire at Metro Manila's Navotas landfill is largely invisible to the naked

MIT study finds plants can hear rain, and it makes them grow faster

MIT study finds plants can hear rain, and it makes them grow faster

By Stephen Beech Plants can sense the sound of rain, suggests a new study. Rice seeds sprouted faster to the sound of rainfall in a series of experiments by American scientists. They found that the sound of falling droplets effectively shook the seeds out of a dormant state, stimulating them

MSU ag researchers share advice for fertilizer use as Iran conflict impacts prices

MSU ag researchers share advice for fertilizer use as Iran conflict impacts prices

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Rising fertilizer prices tied to conflict in the Strait of Hormuz are putting more pressure on Montana producers, and Montana State University researchers are saying soil testing and careful planning could help farmers manage costs. Clain Jones with the MSU Extension is studying fertilizer practices as prices have

Thai farmers pin hopes on microbes to end annual burning crisis

Thai farmers pin hopes on microbes to end annual burning crisis

Rice farmers Siriporn and Amnat Taidee used to burn their paddy fields between plantings -- a common method of clearing crop residue partly blamed for toxic smog that blankets much of Thailand every spring. A quick and affordable way to prepare for a new growing cycle, the practice has long been