Nitrogen Pollution and Hamster Cults

A newsletter about the food system and other things

New study identifies 20 spots for tackling nitrogen pollution

A new study from the University of Vermont has identified 20 nitrogen pollution hotspots in the US. While these areas represent only 24% of the country’s cropland, they are responsible for “63% of the total surplus nitrogen balance.” But the researchers also identify “hotspots of opportunity,” areas where farmers can improve fertilizer and manure management by implementing better conservation practices and more precise fertilizer application using sensors. Better management in these areas could help reduce nitrogen pollution without sacrificing crop yields.

Top hotspots are primarily located in midwestern states, but also include some areas in the south as well as the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and California’s Central Valley.

Farms across many midwestern hotspots are uniformly growing soy and corn for animal feed to ship outside of the region. As a result, the farms in these areas have limited access to local manure. One solution might be to encourage some farms to switch to integrated livestock and cropping systems to address this disparity.

What I’m tweeting

My first piece in Vox

Jenny Splitter @jennysplitter

Two new studies suggest the way we eat threatens the habitats of thousands of species. The scope of this loss would be devastating but there is good news. We can avoid most of it by changing how we eat and how we farm. My story for @voxdotcom:

vox.comThe way we eat could lead to habitat loss for 17,000 species by 2050Two recent studies underscore the danger the meat production system poses for biodiversity.

My kid and a hamster cult

Jenny Splitter @jennysplitter

My kid joined some sort of hamster cult on TikTok and I'm basically like, okay, have fun.

What I’m cooking

pasta from scratch

and chocolate chip cookies