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.
Autumn Lankford Higgins with the Farm Bureau joins us to discuss data center expansion on farmland, rural policy considerations, and the role of agriculture in emerging digital infrastructure.
Cotton margins improved slightly, even as fertilizer and fuel costs rose due to the Strait of Hormuz disruption linked to the Iran war.
Cotton prices improved last week, but drought, storms, and uneven planting are keeping risk elevated.
Corn and cotton gave the strongest signals this week, while soybean demand remained softer than in the previous report.
University of Arkansas researchers are working to help farmers reduce grain waste and get more value out of their crops.
April 29, 2026 03:03 PM
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Dry conditions have severely impacted key winter wheat states with persistent moisture deficits. As quality declines, analysts warn some crops may be lost despite upcoming rain.
April 24, 2026 11:18 AM
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