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영어

Climatic and environmental stresses make it challenging for farmers in the southwestern U.S. to generate revenue. However, increasing demand for pine nuts presents an opportunity for farmers to diversify by growing native pinyonpine (Pinus edulis) as a long-lived and drought-tolerant crop for regional markets. Pine nuts have long been collected in the western U.S. from wild populations since early Native American history and sold locally today at premium prices. Seed masting, drought, competition with wildlife, and disease make it hard to harvest profitable yields in the wild year after year. Domesticating pinyon pine would resolve many of these issues.