Summer Solstice is an Optimal Day for Plants — But Climate Change Could Disrupt This Timing

Jun 12, 2025

A new study led by UBC researchers suggests that the summer solstice the longest day of the year may serve as a key cue for plant growth and reproduction. But in a changing climate, relying on this fixed signal may no longer help plants to survive or thrive.

“Plants are known to use temperature to time things like leaf growth and flowering,” says lead author Dr. Victor Van der Meersch, a postdoctoral researcher at UBC’s faculty of forestry. “This study shows that the solstice is an optimal growth period and could also be an important trigger for reproduction.”

Scientists have long known that plants use daylength to time important seasonal events. But only recently have they begun to explore whether the solstice itself typically around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere plays a specific role.

Click here to see more...

Video: Cheapest States to Buy Farmland in America

The United States has more than 895 million acres of farmland, which includes all rural land tied to farming operations, from highly fertile Midwest cornfields to vast grazing ranges in the West, as well as the undeveloped rural land, which is often sold as ranches, homesteads, or uncultivated lots. Nowadays investing in rural land is very lucrative even billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett have bought up thousands of acres of farmland across America. In contrast to investors, agricultural companies, and business moguls, some buy farmland for their own requisites, like starting a small farmstead, creating a cottage, and becoming self-resilient. In this video we have ranked the top cheapest states to buy farmland according to the per-acre land value, which is accumulated from the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA’s per-acre land values come from an annual survey, which is cross-checked with actual sales data, appraisals, and market trends to ensure accuracy. So here are The top Cheapest States to Buy Farmland.