USDA researchers have developed a reusable antimicrobial wipe made from cotton.
They say it offers a sustainable alternative to the single-use synthetic wipes that dominate the market.
A USDA researcher, who helped lead the project, says they found a way for cotton fibers to naturally form silver nanoparticles, which kill bacteria through 30 washes.
“We can use those wipes made of a nanoparticle-filled cotton fiber and continuously wash after wash. We let cotton fiber self-produce nanoparticles naturally, so that nanoparticles are tagged or trapped within the fiber so that they don’t reach out, but release a very small amount of anti-microbial continuously so that we can use it for the whole course of the lifetime of a textile product,” said Sunghyun Nam.
She adds that the innovation is already patent-pending and being prepared for commercial use.
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Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.
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Federal assistance has helped, but the most recent row-crop losses remain on producers’ balance sheets.
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Rebuilding domestic textiles depends on automation and vertical integration, not tariffs or legacy manufacturing models.
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The EPA has approved over-the-top dicamba applications for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons, outlining new rules that impact herbicide use for U.S. crop producers.
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Mexico has fallen behind by several hundred thousand acre-feet in required water deliveries to the United States, a shortfall that has had devastating consequences across the Rio Grande Valley.
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Often overlooked, cotton wholesalers act as stabilizers during market stress, translating fragmented retail demand into workable production programs for mills and manufacturers.
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