Datasets:

BAAI

/

IndustryCorpus

like 45

Follow

Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence 611

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/9750

Seven-year Christmas tree slump subsides CHristmas tree growers reports that the industry is coming out of a multi-year slump. By Mitch LiesFor the Capital Press Published on November 19, 2013 4:18PM Photo by Mitch Lies A helicopter pilot moves Christmas trees from a field to a loading station at Drakes Crossing Nursery in Silverton, Ore., as part of the 2013 Christmas tree harvest. Northwest growers report that orders and prices are up from a year ago. Buy this photo SILVERTON, Ore. — Northwest Christmas tree growers are seeing signs they may be emerging from a seven-year down cycle.“It’s definitely picked up this season,” said Charlie Grogan of Silver Bells Christmas Tree Farm in Silverton, Ore. “It is encouraging.”Growers said prices are up only slightly from a year ago, but after the seven-year slide, even a slight uptick is encouraging. And, growers said, for the first time in a long time, retailers are hungry for high-quality trees.“The challenge over the last few years has been oversupply,” said John Tillman of Northwest Plantations in Elma, Wash. “We would hear a lot about how they can get the same trees cheaper somewhere else.“There is a lot less of that this year,” Tillman said.Problems with oversupply date back to the early-2000s when investors, many of whom were new to the industry, planted millions of trees to take advantage of what was then a strong Christmas tree market.“People were planting 10 million trees a year in 2001 and 2003,” said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.Seven years later, when the noble fir and Douglas-fir trees reached market size, the market was flooded, and prices plummeted. Growers, especially those new to the industry, sold trees at rock bottom prices, growers said.“They sold the trees for whatever they could get out of them and then went on to another crop of some sort,” Tillman said. “Those of us who make our living at this had to compete with that, and it was tough.”“We were hanging on by our fingertips,” Grogan said. “It hasn’t been easy.”“It was bad enough,” said McKenzie “Ken” Cook of McKenzie Farms in Estacada, Ore., “that we lost over half of the growers that had over 100 acres of production in Christmas trees.”“Six years ago, there were over 110 growers in that category. Today that number is less than 50,” he said.Oregon leads the nation in Christmas tree production. Washington is the sixth leading producer.The total number of Christmas trees in the ground in the Northwest has dropped from about 85 million four or five years ago to about 75 million today, Cook said. Growers typically harvest about 10 percent of their trees in any one year.Prices, meanwhile, dropped 35 percent from their peak in 2004 to their low point last year, growers said. The slight price increase growers are experiencing this year amounts to only about 2 to 3 percent over last year, Cook said, well below what growers need to be sustainable.“We need more like a 10 to 15 percent increase in prices for growers to have sufficient cash flow to replant their crops and maintain their crops,” Cook said.But the industry expects prices to continue on their upward movement for at least the next two years, before they could plateau out.“No doubt prices are still soft,” Ostlund said, “but that will start to change once growers realize that the supply is not what everybody thought it was. That will put them in a very good position in 2014, and we look forward to it.“We knew the shift in the market was coming and that we were due for an uptick,” Ostlund said, “but until you see it, you can do nothing more than cross your fingers and hope for the best. Now it’s here. It’s for real.”Ostlund said that buyers that waited to come into the market late this season are having a hard time finding trees, particularly high-quality trees.“I’m hearing from a lot of growers that not only are they sold out, they are oversold,” Ostlund said. “They are starting to cut into next year’s inventory.“We haven’t heard comments like that for a long time,” he said.Tillman said the downturn was tough on many in the industry, especially as it dragged into its sixth and seventh year.“These last years have been real close to a lot of us not being able to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said.“The people who have stuck it out, who have made a living at this through thick and thin, at this point, I think we deserve to be rewarded a little bit for our perseverance and our ability to serve customers with the trees that they need, and to get through these times,” Tillman said.“This has not been easy; we have really had to figure out how to make do with a lot less,” he said.“I feel like a survivor,” Cook said. “I feel like I have been to war and I am coming home, and it’s a darn good feeling.”

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/10679

Cucumbers Backyard Farms opens R&D facility Madison, Maine-based Backyard Farms LLC is set to open a new research-and-development facility. The facility, to open in March, will be a free-standing building next door to an existing greenhouse, said Tim Cunniff, Backyard Farms’ executive vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s been a long time coming,” Cunniff said. “It took awhile to find the right head for the R&D project, then it took awhile to find the best location.” At the new R&D center, Backyard Farms will experiment with new seed varieties and other new technologies, with the goal of turning out better-tasting tomatoes, Cunniff said. Jeff McElroy, Backyard Farms’ vice president of research and development, will lead efforts at the new R&D facility, Cunniff said. For McElroy, it means a chance to spread out his operations in his own space. “He’s always been (doing R&D), but he’s had to work in our greenhouse,” Cunniff said. “There’s more space, different ways to secure calibrations. He can get a lot more aggressive with his experiments.” Company officials hope the new facility will turn a good R&D operation into a great one. “In the past, we were limited,” Cunniff said. “Which was fine — it gave us a good sense of what we could grow. But now we can really push ourselves.” Backyard Farms has been happy with the consistent quality it’s been able to provide its customers year-round. But if there’s anything Cunniff and other company officials have learned, it’s that in the fresh produce industry, you can’t stop improving. “We realize that you can’t rest on your laurels,” Cunniff said. “It’s a very competitive industry, and there are a lot bigger guys than us out there.” greenhouse vegetablesbackyard farms About the Author:

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/12880

Sugarbeet protest highlights GMO issue Published online: Apr 01, 2014 Lyn Colley-Talk and Ted Jones sell honey at Singing Bird Farm a few hundred yards from the Applegate River west of Grants Pass, Ore., and grow a vegetable garden each year. And they’re worried about the genetically modified crop nearby. “People really don’t know what’s going on,” Jones said. “It’s simple. We want them to leave.” They say their bees haven’t done well the last two years since a GMO sugarbeet crop was planted on the land a half-mile away, and they’re also not happy about the farm equipment and workers that drive past. Worried about potential tainting of their crops from increased use of pesticides and herbicides, Colley-Talk and other organic farmers in the area have taken to protesting along the road, holding signs that say “Syngenta Go Home.” The signs are directed at the Swiss company behind most of the GMO sugarbeets in the U.S., including those near them. Ten days ago, a farm worker contracted to Syngenta called the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, complaining that a protester had walked into the middle of the road and held her hand up. He told dispatchers he was concerned for the safety of the protesters and that their efforts might become violent. While things didn’t escalate beyond some exchanged words, it’s part of a growing debate over so-called GMOs, short for genetically modified organisms. The issue has become something of a hot button in Southern Oregon, where both Jackson and Josephine counties have measures on the May ballot seeking a ban on GMO crops. The Jackson County measure was filed before the deadline in a state law that forbids individual counties and cities from banning GMO crops and products. Therefore, if it passes it could effectively shut down operations in that county that plant GMO crops. Signatures for the Josephine County measure, however, were filed after the deadline, so if it passes it likely will be quashed by the state law. If they pass, both measures are expected to wind up in court. GMOs make up the vast majority of corn, cotton, soybeans, canola and sugarbeets grown in the United States, and smaller percentages of other crops. Last year someone dug up 6,500 waist-high GMO sugar beets near Ashland, a sabotage costing $1 million. Recently Colley-Talk and friends on Facebook tried to organize a boycott of Hart Jewelers in Grants Pass, because the Hart family owns the Applegate property where the beets are grown. As far as the protest, Colley-Talk said she was simply trying to get the farmer to talk to her and her mother-in-law when she motioned for him to pull over on the road. “It wasn’t my intent to stir things up. We just want to let people know what’s going on in their back yard,” she said. “I’ve noticed a decline in my bee population the last two years, and they (Syngenta) weren’t here before that. Last year I had my worst garden and my worst bee population.” Syngenta and opponents of the GMO ban proposal say the protesters are misguided. Nearly all sugar beets grown in the U.S. are genetically modified to withstand herbicides such as the popular weed-killer Roundup. “They don’t require any more pesticides than any other conventionally grown crop,” said Scott Dahlman, executive director of Oregonians for Food and Shelter, which opposes the proposed bans on GMOs. “Using an herbicide isn’t something limited to GMO crops. The reason it’s been adopted so much is it allows growers to use a single herbicide, and one that has one of the most environmental friendly profiles.” That would be Roundup, a brand name of glyphosate. “We’re very disappointed that a small group of growers and food activists in Jackson and Josephine counties want to impart their way of growing and outlaw what other people are doing,” Dahlman said. “Growers should be able to use what technology they want to use.” Syngenta spokesman Paul Minehart said GMO sugarbeets use 75 percent less pesticide compared to non-GMO beets. He said Syngenta has been growing sugar beet seeds since 1973 in Southern Oregon, and for nearly 20 years they’ve been genetically modified. There are two or three dozen sugar beet plots in Jackson and Josephine counties. “It’s not like we just moved into the area,” Minehart said. “The production hasn’t risen sharply.” Growers start the beets here, then harvest the “stecklings” and ship them to the Willamette Valley. “More than 90 percent of sugarbeet seed in the entire country comes out of Oregon,” Dahlman said. “Our overall impact in Oregon is $17 million a year, supporting local ag-supply businesses, farmers and other businesses,” Minehart added. “We think we’ve been a good neighbor there.” Others aren’t so sure. Janell Kittleson, who runs organic Kittleson Family Farm more than a mile away, said she and her husband lost their bees this year. “It’s in the area my bees fly,” Kittleson said. “GMO plants affect bees in a multitude of ways E’ We’re also worried about cross-pollination with our chard. “I don’t like the activity going on in our valley.” Source: www.opb.org

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/13211

GLOBE Foundation Suite 404 - 999 Canada Place V6C 3E2 One quarter of U.S. grain goes to cars while hunger is rising Source: GLOBE Foundation The 107 million tons of grain that went to U.S. ethanol distilleries in 2009 was enough to feed 330 million people for one year at average world consumption levels, according to the Earth Policy Institute Using Department of Agriculture data, the Institute reports that more than a quarter of the total 2009 U.S. grain crop was turned into ethanol to fuel cars last year. With 200 ethanol distilleries in the country set up to transform food into fuel, the amount of grain processed has tripled since 2004. The United States looms large in the world food economy: it is far and away the world's leading grain exporter, exporting more than Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Russia combined. In a globalized food economy, increased demand for food to fuel American vehicles puts additional pressure on world food supplies. From an agricultural vantage point, the automotive hunger for crop-based fuels is insatiable. The Earth Policy Institute has noted that even if the entire U.S. grain crop were converted to ethanol (leaving no domestic crop to make bread, rice, pasta, or feed the animals from which we get meat, milk, and eggs), it would satisfy at most 18 percent of U.S. automotive fuel needs. When the growing demand for corn for ethanol helped to push world grain prices to record highs between late 2006 and 2008, people in low-income grain-importing countries were hit the hardest. The unprecedented spike in food prices drove up the number of hungry people in the world to over 1 billion for the first time in 2009. Though the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has recently brought food prices down from their peak, they still remain well above their long-term average levels. The amount of grain needed to fill the tank of an SUV with ethanol just once can feed one person for an entire year. The average income of the owners of the world's 940 million automobiles is at least ten times larger than that of the world's 2 billion hungriest people. In the competition between cars and hungry people for the world's harvest, the car is destined to win. Continuing to divert more food to fuel, as is now mandated by the U.S. federal government in its Renewable Fuel Standard, will likely only reinforce the disturbing rise in hunger. By subsidizing the production of ethanol, now to the tune of some $6 billion each year, U.S. taxpayers are in effect subsidizing rising food bills at home and around the world. For more information on the competition between cars and people for grain, see Chapter 2 in Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), on-line for free downloading with supporting datasets. grain harvesting combine mobile milk tank crop turn grain processing crop turn time fuel crop animal-specific milking setting John Deere 5G Series Tractors Receive Prestigious AE50 Award for 2016 The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) awarded the JohnDeere 5G Series Tractors with an AE50 Award for 2016. The AE50 award highlights the year`s most innovative designs in product engineering, as chosen by a panel of international engineering experts. Introduced to the specialty crop markets in December 2015, the narrow and highly maneuverable JohnDeere 5G Series Tractors combine improved power, performance and productivity in often confined orchard and vine crop environments.... Harvesting can be so much more exciting... We have a superb finance deal on this machine. Assuming you have a trade in of £50,000 this demo combine can be purchased for 1+3 annuals at £27,500 + VAT.Simply contact us now for more details and this can be delivered to your farm in just days!Embodying DEUTZ-FAHR`s many years of experience in harvesting and its ongoing commitment to developing new technologies, processes and machinery, the C9206TSB is an exceptional machine. It combines outstanding productivity with extraordinary versatility (for... UF/IFAS study: Sweet potato crop shows promise as feed and fuel As some Florida growers try to find new crops and the demand for biofuel stock increases globally, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have found that sweet potato vines, usually thrown out during harvest, can serve well as livestock feed while the roots are an ideal source for biofuel. This could be a key finding for the agriculture industry in Florida and to biofuel needs worldwide, said post-doctoral researcher Wendy Mussoline. “The agriculture industry in... Fertiliser tax of €0.05–0.27 per kilogram calculated for France as incentive to limit its use Farmers seeking to make the most of high crop prices may increase the area of land farmed with a valuable crop and also apply more fertiliser. These two changes can have negative environmental effects, such as water pollution caused by nitrogen run-off, biodiversity loss due to land-use change, air pollution from fertiliser and the release of greenhouse gases through changes in land use. In the past decade, biofuel policies have been a major driver of rising prices for biofuel crops around the world, such as... NSP Announces Endorsement of Dr. Roger Marshall National Sorghum Producers announces the organization’s endorsement of Dr. Roger Marshall for the 1st Congressional District of Kansas. “NSP is seeking a partner in government from the largest sorghum-producing Congressional district in the country,” James Born, NSP Chairman, said. “Marshall has demonstrated a willingness to learn and take action during this time of legislative and regulatory challenges.” The NSP board of directors supports Marshall’s strong stance against... No comments were found for One quarter of U.S. grain goes to cars while hunger is rising. Be the first to comment!

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/13214

/ Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) / Beltsville Agricultural Research Center / Animal Biosciences & Biotechnology Laboratory Research Project: EVALUATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CATTLE AND REFINING TECHNIQUES FOR PRODUCING THEM Animal Biosciences & Biotechnology Laboratory Title: Animal productivity and genetic diversity: Transgenic and cloned animals) Author Wall, Robert Laible, Goetz Maga, Elizabeth Seidel, George Whitelaw, Bruce Submitted to: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Issue Paper Publication Type: Monograph Citation: Wall, R.J., Laible, G., Maga, E., Seidel, G., Whitelaw, B. 2009. Animal productivity and genetic diversity: Transgenic and cloned animals. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Issue Paper 43, Ames, IA, pp. 16. Interpretive Summary: Improvement in agronomic traits in all livestock species has been achieved over the past several decades using reproductive technologies. Cloning and transgenesis are the most recent of these technologies, providing geneticists with additional tools to influence population genetics. This Issue Paper describes both of these technologies, addresses their strengths and limitations, and provides a framework for discussion about their future use. Cloning is a reproductive tool that can be used to narrow or broaden genetic diversity. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is the most common method of animal cloning and is more efficient than other procedures, resulting in the use of fewer experimental animals to achieve success. Other cloning methods include embryonic cell nuclear transfer, using nuclei from cryopreserved, genetically superior cell lines, and bisecting and trisecting preimplantation embryos. The value of cloning genetically superior animals will vary depending on the situation. Cloning could increase the frequency of a desirable trait into the cattle population, for example, but because of the diverse nature of animal agriculture, it will not be possible to produce one phenotype of cattle that fits all needs. Whereas a clone is genetically identical to the animal from which it came, a transgenic animal is one into which a new gene has been introduced or in which an existing gene has been rearranged by human intervention. This technology offers potential solutions to some limitations of selective breeding while simultaneously increasing genetic diversity of populations. Applications of transgenic technology can generate animals that are better able to combat or resist infection, improve food safety and quality, increase production efficiency, decrease the environmental footprint of livestock production, and introduce new characteristics into the gene pool. The technology, however, cannot manipulate complex traits controlled by multiple genes. One of the main limitations to the development of cloning and transgenic technologies has been the lack of public acceptance. The public, for example, has been tentative to accept cloning as an animal breeding method, even though there is scientific consensus that no difference exists between food products of cloned animals and the same products of noncloned animals; this perspective recently has been supported by both a National Research Council study and by U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluations. The authors of this paper suggest that proponents of biotechnology consider consumers’ concerns and that the government provides a regulatory process that addresses consumers’ apprehension while offering realistic expectations of biotechnology. Technical Abstract:

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/13492

YOU ARE HERE: Aberdeen News Home→Collections→TractorFordson developed by father and sonJanuary 26, 2008|Delmer DooleyHenry Ford was the Irish son of a wealthy Michigan immigrant landowner and as a boy he walked behind a plough pulled by horses. He knew from experience the drudgery of it all. He dreamed of building a tractor even before he envisioned the assembly-line method of building an automobile for the masses. In 1917 he introduced the first Fordson tractor made at the Dearborn plant. The Board of Directors of the Ford Company opposed the tractor plant. So, Ford decided to form a separate company with family money. He and his son were the only shareholders. This was the genesis of the tractor's name -- the Fordson. In the second year of production, in 1918, the factory produced more than 34,000 units. Fordson led all tractors sales with the IHC in second place. Henry Ford's goal was to price the tractor cheap enough so any farmer could buy it. In the early 1920's it sold for from $400 to $500. By 1919 the demand for farm power accelerated because of WW I. The nation experienced a marked increase in tractor sales. Fordson manufactured 72,600 units to rank as the leader of the tractor industry. The Fordson replaced International, which was now the second largest manufacturer. By 1921 Fordson claimed just slightly less than half of total tractor sales. By 1922 it had about 68 percent of the tractor market. The Fordson was manufactured in the United States until 1928. That year, Ford opened a tractor plant in Cork, Ireland, and continued to make tractors for Europe and to import Irish Fordsons to the United States. By 1933 the Cork plant was moved to Dagenham, England, and Fordson continued to be manufactured there until the end of WWII in 1945. During WWI there was an urgent need for tractors in England. Ford produced 5,000 Fordsons and delivered them within 90 days to Britain at a cost of $700 each, which was less than half the price that was bid by British factories. The English Fordson was much improved over the Dearborn units. It had a magneto in place of the coil ignition. This made it easier to start, especially in damp climate. It also had a water pump, electric starting and rubber tires. Farmers soon discovered that the early Fordson was hard to start. Some would leave their machine's running during the noon hour. Others, rather than crank the tractor, would keep a horse in the barn and pull the tractor when it was to be used. Others said they "couldn't believe anything that could get so hot in the summer could still freeze in the winter." During the production run of U.S. Fordsons, there were about 740,000 built. It was powered by a four-cylinder engine that produced from 18 to 20 horsepower. It had an oil bath clutch, and a worm gear final drive. This feature made the tractor easy to identify in the field because of the howl produced as the draft load became heavy. The tractor weighed about 2,700 pounds. The English Fordson introduced the row crop, or tricycle design, in 1938. It resembled the early Case with a protruding front wheel and steering linkage that comprised a shaft and arm to turn the front tractor wheels. The Fordson was one of the American tractors that was sold in Russia. Between 1920-1926, more than 24,000 were shipped to that country. With the introduction of the Farmall models, Fordson production dropped since the company did not have a new model to compete with the International Harvester Farmalls. The next generation of domestic Ford tractors was the 9N that came on the market in 1939.AdvertisementFIND MORE STORIES ABOUTTractorRow CropRubber TiresFEATURED ARTICLESAllis-Chalmers Model UC was company's first entry with a...April 8, 2008First row crop tractor produced by CaseMay 16, 2008Olivers 60 was smallest of Fleetline seriesJuly 25, 2008Copyright 2016 Aberdeen NewsTerms of Service|Privacy Policy|Index by Date|Index by Keyword

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/14112

Midwestern Senators rally behind new effort to transform ethanol subsidies By Sara Wyant© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. WASHINGTON, May 5 - Under fire from critics who want to eliminate ethanol subsidies altogether, a bipartisan group of Midwestern Senators introduced the Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011. The bill would reduce the current 45-cent per gallon blender's credit, also known as the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit, or VEETC, to 20 cents a gallon next year and to 15 cents a gallon in 2013. From 2013 to 2016, the credit would be based on a variable rate, based on the price of oil, ranging from 30 cents a gallon if oil averaged $50 a barrel and zeroing out when oil is $90 a barrel. It also would extend, through 2016, the alternative fuel refueling property credit; the cellulosic producers' tax credit; and the special depreciation allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property. The bill, introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and Kent Conrad, D-N.D, also has the original co-sponsorship of Senators Mike Johanns, R-Neb., Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, Al Franken, D-Minn, Tom Harkin of Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D. "Affordable energy is a major concern for Americans, and Congress needs to keep energy security on the front burner. Now more than ever, it's time to ramp up production of traditional energy sources here at home and to expand alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. We've seen what ethanol can do, and the sky is the limit as we move to the next generation and cellulosic ethanol,” said Grassley. "Our nation is spending more than $850 million every day on imported energy," Conrad said. "Imagine what it would be like if we spent that money on energy from the Midwest instead of the Middle East? We need to do more to boost domestic energy production, especially from alternative fuels such as ethanol." The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) praised the legislation. “This legislation rightfully recognizes budget constraints by reforming the ethanol tax credit and significantly reducing its cost,” they wrote in a statement. “Additionally, this bill would improve current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps offering higher level ethanol blends and provide Americans more choice when they fill up. Critically, this legislation would also ensure progress made to commercialize advanced ethanol technologies utilizing new feedstocks such as grasses and municipal solid waste is accelerated. We thank these senators for their leadership in introducing this bill and look forward to working with them through the legislative process that ultimately ends with the President's signature.” For other Agri-Pulse news stories, go to: http://www.agri-pulse.com/#30

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/14121

Saved science fair projects: This is a saved copy of the relevant third party website. We save only the first page of every project because we've found that the third party sites are often temporarily down. We do not save all pages of the project because copyright belongs to the third party author. How does the sugar concentration vary in different brands of apple juices? Experiment Design The purpose of this experiment was to determine the sugar composition of various brand name apple juices, unknown brand apple juices, and juice blends. Then use that information to calculate the percentage of each kind of juice in the blends and compare the name brand apple juices to the unknown brands of apple juice to see if they are labeled truthfully. I became interested in this idea while looking through a list of ideas provided by my science teacher. The sugar content interested me and since our town produces so many apples, I chose apple juice. I got the idea of truth in labeling and juice percentages while discussing this idea with my science teacher. The information gained from this experiment will help consumers to know if the manufacturers are labeling their products correctly. My hypothesis is that in the studied juice blends, there will be a higher percentage of apple juice than any of the other fruit juices present. Additionally, I hypothesize that all the brands of pure apple juice will be labeled accurately and correctly. I base my hypothesis on the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which states that it is "required that the label on each package of a consumer commodity bear, in case such consumer commodity consists of two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient listed in order of decreasing predominance." It also states that "The following acts and the causing thereof are prohibited: The adulteration or misbranding of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic in interstate commerce." The constants in this study were: -the same methods of testing -the same equipment -all of the juices were 100% fruit juice The manipulated variable was the analysis of the presence of 100% apple juice in samples of juice from six different manufacturers. The responding variable was the presence and composition of sugar compounds associated with 100% apple juice. To measure the responding variable I used a refractometer, which measures the percent of juice that is sugar, in Brix. I also used a high pressure liquid chromatograph, which shows the amount of each kind of sugar in a liquid, in grams per 100 milliliters. Quantity Item Description 5 mL of the following nine juices: -Martinelli's Apple Juice -Juicy Juice Apple Juice -Washington's Natural Apple Juice -Seneca Apple Juice -Minute Maid Apple Juice -Tree Top Apple Juice -Tree Top Apple Raspberry Juice -Tree Top Apple Grape Juice -Tree Top Apple Pear Juice 1 Pair of Scissors 9 HPLC Vials 9 HPLC Vial Lids 9 Disposable Glass Pipettes 1 Pipette Bulb 1 Carousel 1 High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph 9 Straws 1 Automatic Refractometer High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph: 1. Go to the store and buy all juice. 2. Go to the lab and gather all materials. 3. Label all the juice with numbers. 4. Label all the HPLC vials with the corresponding numbers. 5. Open the first juice and use a glass pipette to fill the HPLC vial about 2/3 full of juice. 6. Get a new glass pipette and repeat step 5 for the remaining eight juices. 7. Screw the lids on the HPLC vials and put them into the carousel. 8. Put the carousel into the High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph and push start. Refractometer: 1. Stick a straw into the juice, clamp thumb over the end of the straw and pull it out. 2. Bring the straw over the refractometer and take the thumb off the end of the straw (juice should drip out). 3. Push Run and record the data. 4. Clean off the refractometer with Kimwipes®. Get a new straw and repeat steps 1-4 for the rest of the juice. Did you know that a tree needs 50-60 leaves to provide enough nutrients for one apple? Did you know that according to botanists a berry isn't really a berry at all? In this report you will learn many interesting facts, all relating to this project. There will be information on fruit, apples and apple trees, sugar, and chromatography. The fruit is the part that contains the seeds of a flowering plant. Each year fruit growers produce millions of tons of fruit. They use three main steps to produce good fruit: planting, caring for the crop, and harvesting the fruit. Fruit trees are perennials, meaning they come back every year and don't need to be replaced each year. Special machinery is used by many fruit growers to help them care for their trees. They use fertilizers to help the trees grow. Pruning usually needs to be done once a year and consists of cutting off all unproductive branches. All fruits are harvested at different times. Most growers use hand picking, but because of the increasing cost, some use machines. Over time, fruits have been improved by continual selection of the most desirable plants. The plants that are grown from a seed are examined for a certain quality. If that quality appears again when the plant is grown vegetatively it may become a new cultivated variety. Plant breeders use crossing or hybridization to improve fruits. In this technique, breeders take the pollen from one tree and place it in the flower of another tree, both chosen for a certain good quality. Sometimes they are good enough to be named as a new variety. Horticulturists classify fruits into three groups: temperate, subtropical, and tropical. The temperate fruits include apples, apricots, plums, blueberries, peaches, cherries, and pears. They need to have and annual cold season to grow right. They are mostly grown in North America and Europe. Subtropical fruits need warm temperatures throughout the year, but they can survive a few light frosts. Citrus fruits, including grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes pretty much make up the subtropical group. Some others in this group are dates, figs, olives, and avocados. The last group is the tropical fruits. They have to have a warm climate all year round and can't even stand a light frost. Some tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, mangos, and papayas. The fruit develops from the ovaries of the flowers. It has three layers: exocarp, the outside layer, mesocarp, the middle layer, and endocarp, the inner layer. All together they are called the pericarp. Botanists use this to help them classify fruits another way. They classify them into two different groups: the simple fruits and the compound fruits. The simple fruits come from just one ovary, while the compound fruits some from two or more. The simple fruits are divided into two more groups: the fleshy fruits and the dry fruits. The fleshy fruits have a fleshy pericarp and the dry fruits have a dry one. Some dry simple fruits are the pods of the bean plant, milkweed, pea plant, and locust tree; the grains of corn, rice, wheat; and nuts. Botanist classify nuts as single seeded fruits. The shell as the hard pericarp and the nut as part you eat. The fleshy simple fruits are divided into yet another three groups: berries, drupes, and pomes. A berry's pericarp is completely fleshy. Some berries are bananas, blueberries, grapes, oranges, and watermelons. The berries that have a hard rind, such as watermelons, are called hepos. The ones that have a leathery rind; oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit, are called hesperidiums. The fruits that people usually call berries, are not berries at all, most of them are compound fruits. The drupe is a fruit where the exocarp forms a thin skin and the endocarp develops into a stone or pit. Some drupes are cherries, plums, apricots, and peaches. Pomes have a fleshy exocarp with a paper-like core that encloses two or more seeds. Pears and apples are considered pomes. Compound fruits are made of clumps of ripened ovaries. They are also divided into two groups: the multiple and aggregate fruits. The multiple fruits grow from a cluster of flowers on one stem. Some compound multiple fruits are mulberries and pineapples. Aggregate fruits develop from one flower with many ovaries. These would include blackberries and raspberries. Apples and Apple Trees The apple tree starts its cycle of growing apples in the winter. It grows buds while it rests in the cold months. In the spring the leaf buds start to swell and break through their protective covering. Curing this same time the flower buds start to grow. They grow at the end of the branches in groups of fives. The bed is enclosed be five sepals, which make up the calyx. The flowers won't open, though, until the tree is completely covered with leaves. Which usually is in the spring. The flower contains all the materials needed to make new apple seeds. It has five sepals, five petals, a lot of stamen, and one pistil. The stamen produce the male sperm and the pistil produces the t female egg. The sperm is in the pollen that is produced by the anthers. The anthers is the part on the end of the stamen. The egg is made in the ovary, the hollow chamber at the base of the pistil. Inside the ovary is five compartments. In each compartment is two ovules. The ovule contains one egg and all the other materials needed to produce a seed. The process of fertilization begins with a bee. The bee flies around looking for nectar. The sperm cells in the pollen on the anther, sticks to its hairy legs. When it moves on to the next flower, the pollen sticks to the end of the stigma. Fertilization starts when the pollen splits open, sending the sperm down the stigma, into the ovary. The sperm then gets into the ovary and unites with the egg. As soon as the egg is fertilized, the seed starts to grow. Then the petals fall off and the five sepals pull together to form a tube. Swelling at the base of the ovary occurs, called receptacle. It starts to get round, the calyx, stamens, and pistil will stay with the apple as it grows. In the inside of the apple the parts are starting to grow into the core and flesh of the apple. The ovary is made of several layers. The outside becomes the fleshy white part of the apple and the inner layer becomes the core. In order to nourish itself, a tree uses photosynthesis. During photosynthesis a tree uses the chlorophyll in its leaves and sunlight to produce glucose. A tree needs 50-60 leaves to nourish just one apple. "June drop" is a time in June when all the apple that aren't getting enough nutrients, fall off the tree. About 85% of the apple is water. When they are mature the apples produce their own food by turning the starch from their flesh into sugar. Sugar is a chemical compound that is soluble in water, has no color, odorless, crystallizable, and usually sweet. Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and trisaccharides are all considered sugar, although Polysaccharides, such as starch, cellulose, and glycogen, are not. Sugar is made in plants during the process of photosynthesis. Glucose, lactose and maltose are used a lot commercially. Sucrose, often called cane sugar, is the most important sugar. Is used to sweeten foods, make candies, cakes, puddings, preserves, and many other foods. It makes up about 13% of the energy we get from food. Sugarcane is responsible for more than half of the world's sugar supply. It is usually grown in tropical and subtropical climates. Sugar beets make up most of Europe's sugar supply. Sucrose has the formula C12H22O11. It is often called cane sugar and comes mostly from sugarcane or sugar beets. It is considered a disaccharide. Glucose is a monosaccharide sugar with the formula C6H12O6. It is less sweet than regular table sugar and is found in fruit juice and honey. Fructose is also a monosaccharide with the formula C12H22O11. It is sometimes called fruit sugar or levulose sugar. It is found in fruits and fruit juices. Maltose has the formula C12H22O11 and is a disaccharide. It is an easily digested sugar so it is often used in infant food. Lactose is the sugar found in milk. It has the formula C12H22O11 and is also a disaccharide. It is not as sweet as sucrose, but is often used in baby food, confections, and pharmaceutical tablets. Sorbitol is only have as sweet as sucrose. It is used in sugar-free candies and products for diabetics. Saccharin is an artificial sugar and is also used in products for diabetics. It is estimated to be 375 times sweeter than sugar. It has been under investigation as a cause of cancer. Recent studies conclude that is does cause cancer in laboratory animals, but does not in humans. Chromatography is the process of separating and identifying substances that are very similar. It is impossible to do with vitamins, proteins, and hormones. Chromatography was discovered in 1906 by Michael Tswett. He was a Russian botanist who was trying to separate the pigments of plants. It was controlled by observing changes in color. Now it is used for colorless substances, but is still called chromatography. Substances are dissolved into a solvent and then passed over a column of some adsorptive material. Such as activated carbon or synthetic ion exchange resins. Each of the substances are dissolved separately, starting at the beginning. The column is then washed with a solvent and each of the substances are collected. As you can see all of this information is connected with my project. This information is here to give you a better understanding of my science project and tell you what I learned. I hope it was interesting to you and you enjoyed reading it. The original purpose of the experiment was to determine the sugar composition of various brand name apple juices, unknown brand apple juices, and juice blends. Then use that information to calculate the percentage of each kind of juice in the blends and compare the name brand apple juices to the unknown brands of apple juice to see if they are labeled truthfully. The results of this experiment were that the Apple Raspberry juice was made of 92% apple juice, 5.6% raspberry juice, and 2.4% pear juice. The Apple Grape juice was 63.9% apple juice, 20.8% grape juice, and 15.3% pear juice. The Apple Pear juice was made of 51.7% apple juice and 48.3% pear juice. On the average the unknown brands of apple juice had a higher total sugar content, at 11 g/100 mL, than the brand names of apple juice at 10.52 g/100 mL. For more exact data, see table and graphs on the following pages. Juice Blend Apple Rasberry Apple Grape Apple Pear Brand of Juice Martinelli's Juicy Juice Washington's Natural My hypothesis was that in the studied juice blends, there will be a higher percentage of apple juice compared to the other fruit juices present. Additionally, I hypothesize that all the brands of pure apple juice will be labeled accurately and correctly. The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted because all of the juice blends were in fact mostly made of apple juice. There were two brands of apple juice that had an unusually high amount of sugar, but they also had a different label. They were labeled as "premium" apple juice. I asked a qualified food scientist from the Tree Top Technological Center about this. He said that if a juice is labeled premium it hasn't been turned into a concentrate (it is squeezed and put right into the container). If the juice was turned into a concentrate, water had to have been added to turn it back into a juice. It would then dilute the juice, and the sugars. Therefore, I accept my hypothesis because these juices were not actually mislabeled, but fresh squeezed and not diluted down with water. Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if all items on the food market would also be labeled truthfully. If I were conduct this experiment again I would try to find another way to find the percentages of each kind of fruit juice in the juice blends. Johnson, Sylvia A., Apple Trees, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lerner Publishing Company, 1983 "Chromatography," The American Peoples Encyclopedia, 1965 "Chromatography," New Encyclopedia of Science, 1982 "Fructose," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 Janick, Jules. "Fruit," World Book Encyclopedia, 1997 "Glucose," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 "Lactose," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 "Maltose," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 RSK Values, Schönborn, Germany, Flüssiges Obst GmbH, 1987 "Sucrose," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 Finley, K. Thomas. "Sugar," Academic American Encyclopedia, 1988 "Sugar," Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia, 1996 "Sugar Production," Encyclopedia Britannica, 1983 http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact3.htm http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact4.htmView our all-time most popular science projectsYou might also like these projectsEffectiveness of garlic in fighting bacteriaLevels of carbohydrates in different varieties of milkThe most effective antacidTurmeric as an antioxidantHay Horse!What is fermentation technology and how can this be demonstrated with yeast?What factors affect the yield and composition of meat after cooking?ElectrolysisThe effect of salt and sugar on the freezing point of waterPollution and depth of water Search for more science fair projects or Ask the Mad Scientist for help with your Science Project

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/15058

Texas pecan producers expected more from 2016 crop Dec 01, 2016 Merchandising wheat requires time and effort Nov 29, 2016 Surviving farm accidents: A call to action Nov 30, 2016 Prevented Planting Program gets updates from USDA Nov 29, 2016 Conservation plan leads to financial help on the farm Dee Ann Burkes | Jul 17, 2006 Farming over the Edwards Aquifer for over 30 years, Lawrence Friesenhahn is very conscious of his water use. In fact he’s conscious of all his farming resources: water, soil, electricity, fuel, equipment and money. That’s why he contacted the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a conservation plan when he first started farming. He wanted to make sure he was getting the most crop for his money, and using his resources wisely. Friesenhahn grows corn, cotton and grain sorghum on his farm just south of Knippa, Texas. He is pleased to report that his conservation plan has served him well. “I started practicing no-till conservation 10 years ago,” Friesenhahn reports. “My yields are equal to or better than anyone else in the area. My maintenance repairs have gone down to about one quarter of what they were 10 or15 years ago. I don’t have any wind or water erosion, so I’ve saved soil and I’ve cut my water usage in half. “And all of that has saved me money,” he adds. “My machinery lasts longer because I use it less, pumping costs are reduced, repairs and maintenance are minimal and fuel expenses are reduced because I don’t make so many passes over the land.” Although he is a seasoned farmer, Friesenhahn credits the NRCS irrigation team serving Bexar, Medina and Uvalde counties in South Texas for a lot of technical assistance and scientific evaluations on his operation. “They have been a good sounding board,” Friesenhahn says. “They helped me do an evaluation on my sprinkler system and determined it was 98 percent efficient – which is exactly the way I designed it. “All you have to do is ask a question and they’ll have an answer that will help you out.” According to NRCS Agronomist Willie Durham, Friesenhahn has led the conservation revolution in the area. “People are starting to realize conservation practices Mr. Friesenhahn has been using over the years are not only good for the land and the Edwards Aquifer, it is good for their pocketbooks too,” Durham says. “Last year was hot and dry with double fuel prices. In those kinds of years people start paying attention to how they can conserve resources, and no-till is a very cost effective, yet productive alternative for them.” As a result of NRCS field days, one-on-one professional assistance from NRCS staff and Friesenhahn’s personal success with no-till, irrigation management and other water saving practices, more and more farmers in the area are coming into NRCS field offices and applying for programs and requesting technical assistance for improving irrigation system efficiency. The NRCS offers landowners financial incentives for residue management, irrigation water management, pest management and nutrient management through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Cost-share assistance is also available through EQIP for installing more efficient irrigation systems. Over time, no-till can change the composition of the soil because the organic matter in the crop residue naturally breaks down into the soil. As a result the soil becomes more porous and crumbly, allowing water to be more readily absorbed. In conventionally tilled fields, increased traffic and plowing compact the soil, creating a crust that ends up repelling water, which can lead to water erosion problems. NRCS scientists have studied the soil in fields where Friesenhahn has practiced no-till for more than a decade. They found corn roots and earthworms as deep as six feet beneath the soil’s surface, which indicate excellent soil condition. “His soil is porous so he harvests more rainfall,” Durham says. “Instead of storing water at two feet, which happens in conventionally tilled fields due to soil compaction, it goes six feet down in his soil. When we get 2 and 3-inch rains, it infiltrates into the soil and the rain doesn’t stand in the ditches.” According to Durham, this also helps Friesenhahn recharge his soil with moisture so he doesn’t have to use supplemental irrigation water nearly as much as people who haven’t practiced no-till. Because his soil can hold so much moisture he is able to use irrigation systems set to run at lower pressures, which, in addition to saving water resources, requires less energy to pump the water. “Mr. Friesenhahn is a great example of a successful holistic program, where everything is tied together,” Durham says. “We have learned a lot of things from him, knowledge we want to transfer to other farmers so they can achieve the same benefits. “When people start changing irrigation systems and farming practices, it takes proper planning and design to get it to work right,” he says. “We advise growers about options and help them work with irrigation system contractors to design systems that work with conservation tillage.” But the rewards seem to be more than worth the effort involved in getting the new system going. In many cases, no-till farming improves soil quality, reduces soil erosion, saves the farmer work, reduces the need for fertilizers and fuel and increases crop yields. Friesenhahn shares his experience with other farmers as a regular participant and speaker at NRCS irrigation field days. “If you want to be farming in the future, you better get with the program,” Friesenhahn says. “Otherwise, the price squeeze is going to push you out. Energy prices and inputs are too high these days. If you aren’t applying every best practice there is to cut costs, you aren’t going to make it.”

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/15134

More Tips For Finding a Good Turkey The rancher explains where to look and what to look for in buying a Thanksgiving bird--and offers cooking advice. Nicolette Hahn Niman Photo by The Bitten Word/Flickr CC Where to look: Stop being a supermarket zombie. To find a true heritage turkey that was raised on a real farm, you will need to get out of the supermarket. Explore alternative stores. Independently owned grocery stores and co-ops tend to be more willing to work with traditional farmers, and their staffs are generally much more knowledgeable about the meats, eggs and dairy products they offer. They are probably the best place to look for traditionally raised, heritage breed turkeys. Good examples of such stores are: Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco; Marczyk Fine Foods in Denver; Gateway Market in Des Moines; and Poppies Gourmet Farmers Market in Brevard, North Carolina. Examples of some of the excellent co-ops I'm familiar with are the co-ops in Boise, Idaho; Bozeman, Montana; and "The Wedge," in Minneapolis. Frequent your local farmer's markets. Locating a farmers market is easy: many states and localities have lists available, as does USDA . We are selling the bulk of our own turkeys this year at local farmers markets--but remember not to assume anything about how the foods were produced. Ask the farmers you're buying from how the animals were raised and what they were fed. Look for CSAs. An excellent way to know exactly where your food comes from is to join a CSA (community supported agriculture). You buy shares of what a farm produces. Generally, each "shareholder" (member) gets a box of farm products each week, which members pick up at a certain spot. Many CSAs encourage their shareholders to visit the farms for themselves, so they can really know where their food is coming from and how it was raised. When they first started, most CSAs were just doing produce. But in recent years, I've spoken with people from all over the country that are doing CSAs that include turkeys and other animal-based foods. CSAs can be found by searching Look online. Many smaller farms and ranches sell directly to consumers with a website. The other day, for example, I was speaking at a Sierra Club conference in Kentucky and met a local farmer who's raising Bourbon Red heritage turkeys. She told me she says most of her birds through her online store. An excellent online source of good turkeys is Heritage Foods USA . Be sure the Web site provides plenty of photos and information about how they raise their animals. If it's just showing photos of the food products, that's a bad sign. Seek chefs committed to sustainable sourcing. It can be especially hard to trace the origins of your food when dining out. If you're planning to have Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at a restaurant, look for chefs dedicated to sourcing from sustainable farms and ranches. Then they can do the work for you. Fortunately, the number of such restaurants is growing. Here are just a few of my favorites: Lumiere, near Boston; Blue Hill, Savoy, and Green Table in New York City; White Dog Café, in Philadelphia; Lantern, in Chapel Hill, NC, North Pond, in Chicago; Zingerman's Roadhouse, in Ann Arbor, MI; Highlands Bar and Grill, in Birmingham, AL; Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, CA; Frantoio, in Mill Valley, CA, and Oliveto, in Oakland, CA. An organization that promotes sustainable sourcing to chefs (and on whose board I sit), Chefs Collaborative, has a of participating restaurants throughout the country that buy all or some of their ingredients from sustainable farms. Another good way to find such restaurants is through What to look for: Domestic, please. I am generally skeptical about claims--like "organic"--on food imported from foreign countries. We always try to buy domestically, both because we want to feel confident about how food was produced and because we want to help build tdemand for domestic traditionally farmed foods. Pasture-raised: the gold standard. All animals, not just grazing animals, benefit tremendously from being outdoors daily on natural vegetation such as grass and clover. They exercise, lie in the sun, breath fresh air, and generally live much happier, healthier, more natural lives. Turkeys love to fly, roost in trees, and perch on fences; they are omnivores, and spend their hours outdoors grazing on vegetation and foraging for bugs and seeds. Although (in contrast to cattle) they cannot live on grass alone, they gain valuable minerals and fiber from their grazing. Winter weather makes year-round access to pasture difficult in some parts of the United States, but turkeys can and should have access to grass for most days of the year. If you're buying directly from a farmer or rancher, ask if the animals were on pasture. If you're buying from a store, read the labels or ask. If it doesn't say the animals had pasture access, assume they did not. Animal Welfare Approved, if you can get it. There's a growing cacophony of third-party-verified labels making all sorts of claims. A lot of them don't really mean much. By far the best for turkeys--and all animal-based foods--is the Animal Welfare Approved label, backed by the non-profit Animal Welfare Institute. Its stringent standards can be read . The AWA label assures that the turkeys are of sound body, were not mutilated, were raised with access to pasture, and not fed antibiotics. Regrettably, the program has only approved a handful of turkey farms to date, so AWA-approved turkeys are in short supply. However, the program is likely to be much more widely available in the future. You can look for an AWA-approved turkey near you by searching the AWA listing of farms and stores. Organic is very good. The label isn't as good. USDA regulates the use of the term "organic" on food labels. If you see the official "Certified Organic" label on a food, that means the USDA is maintaining a certain degree of oversight and that the food item was (or at least should have been) produced in accordance with USDA's standards. In many ways, especially with respect to animal feeding, the standards are stringent. Turkeys labeled organic must be fed only organic feed, which has at least 80 percent organic ingredients and does not contain slaughterhouse wastes, antibiotics, or genetically modified grains. These are important distinctions from typical factory farm turkeys. The organic standards also provide some assurance about how turkeys are housed and handled. They require that organic livestock and poultry be provided "living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of animals," and specifically mandate that animals have some access to the outdoors, to exercise, and to bedding. These too are crucial differences from factory farms. The problem is that the standards have not clearly mandated access to pasture. Thus, a turkey labeled organic might not have been provided any pasture access. For this reason, I prefer to know precisely where and how the animals lived that produced my food and do not like to rely on the organic label. Free range is okay--but the label is seriously flawed. The term "free range" is most commonly used for poultry. Strangely, it can mean different things depending on whether it's applied to poultry raised for meat versus egg-laying poultry. When "free range" is used on poultry meat, USDA requires that the birds have some access to the outdoors. However, there are no standards for what type of outdoor area it must be, and therefore might be a small cement patio. Note that even more problematic is "free range" when it's used for eggs. USDA has failed to create any definition of "free range" for egg-laying hens. Arguably, then, companies can label their eggs "free range" without providing any outdoor access at all--and I suspect that's what some of them are doing. "Antibiotic-free" doesn't mean much. Some turkeys are labeled "antibiotic free." This is slightly better than your average factory farm product, because the animals were not continually fed antibiotics. But there are several serious problems with this label. Most important, "antibiotic free" meat can be, and usually is, from a factory farm. Also, many companies are calling meat antibiotic free even though they used other anti-microbial drugs to raise the animals. In other words, it's largely a matter of semantics. Cooking it: Ok, so you've made the leap and paid the extra money to get yourself a real honest to goodness traditional turkey. Now what? People often worry that their preparation may ruin their heritage turkey. And they are right to be concerned. Heritage turkeys are different to prepare, but they are not more difficult. Chef Dan Barber of Blue Hill (and Blue Hill at Stone Barns) has gotten plenty of experience cooking heritage turkeys in recent years. We simply follow his instructions, , and our turkeys come out beautifully every time. Nicolette Hahn Niman is a livestock rancher, environmental attorney, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms (2009). previousA World Of Reflex?nextQuestion Of The Day: Communion

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/16300

Rosie The Robot Won't Serve Your Food, But She'll Pick It By Rachel Estabrook A lettuce thinner manufactured by Ramsay Highlander removes excess seedlings from the field so that others have room to grow. Just one worker is required to operate the machine. Rachel Estabrook Thinning a field of lettuce without a robot requires a crew of 20 who do the same task with long-handled hoes. / Rachel Estabrook From manufacturing to cupcake sales, companies are finding that machines can often do the job just as well, or better, than humans. But some tasks – like picking and tending to fruit and vegetable crops – have remained the territory of low-wage laborers. But labor-starved growers are now eying machines with increasing interest. Some 90 percent of the strawberries and 80 percent of the salad greens grown in the U.S. come from California. These crops and a lot of others have always been picked by hand because they don't ripen all at once and can bruise easily. As NPR's Kirk Siegler reported in April, immigration policies and enforcement along the border between the U.S. and Mexico lately have meant that growers in California can't find enough workers to pick these crops. "Over the last 10 years, there's been a new effort to restart mechanization," says Phil Martin, an agricultural economist at the University of California, Davis and curator of Migration News. That's partly because the technology has come a long way. New machines use computers and vision sensors to replicate the human ability to handle delicate crops. In recent years that technology has gotten cheaper, making it more feasible for farm use. Consider the lettuce thinner, developed by Frank Maconachy, president and CEO of harvesting equipment manufacturer Ramsay Highlander. The machine removes excess seedlings from the field so that others have room to grow. The Hummer-sized tractor uses a vision system to find the seedlings and sends their location to a computer on board, which uses an algorithm to determine which seedlings to save and which to eliminate. Then it zaps the unlucky ones with a concentrated shot of fertilizer, like an industrial-sized search-and-destroy robot. The process happens very fast: a whole row of lettuce thinned in just a few minutes. And it requires only one worker, versus a crew of 20 who would do the same task with long-handled hoes. Maconachy's company is also working on a robotic picker that seeks out a head of lettuce and then picks it — think of it as search and pick. Like the lettuce thinner, the robot picker relies on a sophisticated vision system to determine if the greens are ready for the picking. It's not quite Rosie, the TV show Jetsons' robot maid who delivers the food to the table, but it's close. In late May, Maconachy showed the lettuce thinner to a potential buyer, Bob Thorp. He's vice president of production at Growers Express, which is a partner of the Green Giant Fresh produce brand. "The labor [shortage] is the worst that I've seen, ever since I can remember," Thorp says. "Any way we can mechanize and take labor out of the equation, we're looking at it." But labor shortages aren't the only motivation, Maconachy says. Some producers fear new state and federal laws that require them to provide shaded areas for farmworkers during breaks, for example, or bathrooms within a certain proximity to workers. While the new requirements undoubtedly benefit workers, Maconachy says growers are worried that if they don't comply they'll be fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. More robots on the farm could also spell trouble for smaller farms that can't afford them, says Martin. The lettuce thinner starts at $250,000, and some farm machines run as much as $600,000. "It's inevitable that if you restructure an industry, you will dramatically change who's producing and what they're producing," he says. Martin estimates that two companies, Dole Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms, control about 60 to 70 percent of the bagged lettuce market in the U.S. "If we go to mechanization, it could go up to 80 to 90 percent." And, he says, that means "a whole lot of other guys are going to be out of business."Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2016 WVAS

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/16396

I Am Angus Begins Airing on AgDay & U.S. Farm Report This Weekend A new documentary series about the beef industry will begin airing this weekend on television and satellite networks across the country. The announcement was made today by the American Angus Association®, the nation’s largest beef organization, and Farm Journal Television, which produces AgDay & U.S. Farm Report, the longest-running television programs that focus on agriculture and rural America. The segments, titled I Am Angus, tell the personal stories of cattle producers from across the country. “We’re excited to be working with Farm Journal Television in this endeavor,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “Both AgDay and U.S. Farm Report have a long-standing tradition of broadcasting excellence. We feel privileged to provide them with quality content about beef producers and other beef industry segments.” AgDay and U.S. Farm Report are broadcast by more than 150 TV stations nationwide and on RFD-TV. Each weekday morning AgDay reaches more than 200,000 households. More than 500,000 households across the country view U.S. Farm Report. each weekend. “We’re looking forward to featuring many of the people involved in the Angus breed, and to the opportunity to tell their stories to our audience,” says Wes Mills, Executive Producer of Farm Journal Television. “Our audience will enjoy the stories and beautiful visuals that these segments have to offer.” The American Angus Association is the world’s largest breed registry, providing programs and services to nearly 33,000 members and thousands of commercial cattle producers across the United States. Its subsidiaries include Certified Angus Beef LLC; Angus Productions Inc.; Angus Genetics Inc.; and the Angus Foundation. For more information, please visit www.angus.org. For a list of stations that air AgDay and U.S. Farm Report, please visit www.agday.com & www.usfarmreport.com.

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/17469

www.wildcattleconservation.org | Wild Cattle News 2008 Cattle News 2008 Table of contents August, A Wildlife Mystery in Vietnam June 25, Regional conservation strategy aims to reverse decline of Asian wild cattle May 30, 37 gaurs in Parsa Wildlife Reserve May, Endangered Banteng found in Central Kalimantan April 29, Bison Could Make Comeback April 14, Madhya Pradesh plans to increase bison population March 4, Yellowstone Bison Killed to Protect Nonexistent Cattle All the news August 2008, Smithsonian magazine To the top A Wildlife Mystery in Vietnam By Richard Stone The discovery of the saola alerted scientists to the strange diversity of Southeast Asia's threatened forests Pseudoryx nghetinhensis Saola (aka Vu Quang ox) 4 - 5 month old female at the Forest Inventory & Planning Institute Botanical Garden. Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: David Hulse, WWF-Canon A landslide has blocked the cliff-hugging road into the Pu Mat National Park in northwestern Vietnam. To go farther, we must abandon our car and wade across a shallow river. My wife, Mutsumi, a photojournalist, and I roll up our jeans to the knee and look uncertainly at our two young boys. Do Tuoc, a 63-year-old forest ecologist, reads our minds. "I'll take the bigger boy," he says, hoisting our 6-year-old onto his shoulders. Before I can come to my senses and protest, Tuoc plunges into the current, sure-footed, and reaches the opposite bank safely. I wade out with our 3-year-old clinging to my neck. I stumble like a newborn giraffe on the slippery rocks of the riverbed. My jeans are soaked. My son, asphyxiating me, crows with joy. Both boys want to do it again. I shouldn't have been surprised by Tuoc's nimbleness: he knows this primeval wilderness better, perhaps, than any other scientist. It was near here in 1992 that Tuoc discovered the first large mammal new to science in more than half a century, a curious cousin of cattle called the saola. The sensational debut showed that our planet can still keep a fairly big secret, and it offered a reprieve from the barrage of bad news about the state of the environment. If only humans had reciprocated and offered the saola a reprieve. A decade after coming to light, the unusual ungulate is skidding toward extinction. Its habitat in Vietnam and Laos is disappearing as human settlements eat into the forest, and it is inadvertently being killed by hunters. Saola appear to be particularly vulnerable to wire snares, introduced in the mid-1990s to snag Asiatic black bears and Malayan sun bears, whose gallbladders are used in traditional Chinese medicine. For the saola, "the situation is desperate," says Barney Long, a World Wildlife Fund conservation biologist, who is working with local scientists to protect forests in central Vietnam inhabited by saola. The Vietnamese government created Pu Mat and nearby Vu Quang national parks in response to the saola discovery, and this past fall designated two more nature reserves in the saola's dwindling range and banned all hunting in critical saola habitat. Neighboring Laos, the only other country in which the saola has been spotted, has pledged similar action. But no one knows whether these eleventh-hour efforts will succeed. That's because the saola is so rare that not even Tuoc has spied one in the wild. Estimates of their numbers are based on interviews with villagers who have glimpsed the animal, and on trophies. Tuoc, who works for the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute in Hanoi, first beheld a partial saola skull mounted in a hunter's home in Vu Quang. He knew he was seeing something extraordinary. DNA tests confirmed that the saola was a previously unknown species, the first large mammal discovered since the kouprey, a Southeast Asian forest ox identified in 1937. The saola's horns, one to two feet in length and slightly diverging, inspired its name, which means "spinning wheel posts." Tuoc calls himself "very lucky" to have discovered the saola—and to be alive. Forty years ago, his older brother volunteered in the Vietnam People's Navy, which ran supplies to forces in the south on a sea version of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. His brother's service exempted Tuoc from the military and allowed him to focus on science. With his keen powers of observation, he has discovered two other species in addition to the saola. The best guess is that a couple of hundred saolas are left in Vietnam, Long says. "Very little is known about the saola. We don't know exactly where it occurs, or how many there are. There's a big question mark surrounding it," says Laos-based William Robichaud, who is leading a working group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature that met in June to draft a strategy for protecting saola. "The last incontrovertible evidence we have—a photograph from a camera trap—was in 1999," says Robichaud. Since February, Robichaud and his staff have placed about 20 camera traps in Laos' Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area—historical saola habitat, according to hunters' sightings. But neither the cameras nor interviews with locals have yielded evidence of saola activity. "Villagers seem unsure if it's still hanging on or not," he says. Robichaud is one of the few scientists who have observed a live saola. In early 1996, an adult female was captured and sold to a zoo in central Laos. "She was a remarkable animal," he says. Nicknamed "Martha," she stood about waist high, her 18-inch horns sweeping back over her neck. Although the saola's closest relatives are cows and bison, it resembles a diminutive antelope. It has coarse, chestnut-brown hair and a thick, white streak above its eyes. Its anatomical claim to fame is massive scent glands bulging from its cheeks. Martha would flare a fleshy flap covering a gland and dab a pungent green musk on rocks to mark her territory. Robichaud says he was most fascinated by Martha's calmness. A few days after her arrival at the zoo, she ate from a keeper's hand and allowed people to stroke her. "The saola was tamer and more approachable than any domestic livestock I've ever been around," he says. "You can't pet a village pig or cow." The only thing sure to spook a saola is a dog: one whiff of a canine and it crouches low, snorting and tilting its head forward as if preparing to spear the enemy. (Saolas are presumably preyed upon by dholes, or Asiatic wild dogs, common predators in saola territory.) Remove the threat, though, and the saola regains the Zen-like composure that in Laos has earned it the nickname "the polite animal." Martha's equanimity around people may have been genuine, but she died just 18 days after her capture. It was then that zookeepers discovered that she had been pregnant. But they could not determine her cause of death. The handful of other saolas that have been taken into captivity also perished quickly. In June 1993, hunters turned over two young saola to Tuoc and his colleagues in Hanoi. Within months, the pair succumbed to infections. The saola's baffling fragility underscores how little is known about its biology or evolutionary history. Robichaud and conservation biologist Robert Timmins have proposed that saola were once widespread in the wet evergreen forests that covered Southeast Asia until several million years ago. These forests receded during cool, dry ice ages, leaving just a few patches suitable for saola. "If we leave the saola alone," says Tuoc, "I think—no, I hope —it will survive." Other scientists argue for hands-on assistance. Pierre Comizzoli of the Smithsonian's Center for Species Survival says a captive breeding program is the only option left to save the saola from extinction. He teamed up with scientists from the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology in Hanoi on a survey late last year to find possible locations for a breeding site. "It's a sensitive topic," he acknowledges. "But captive breeding doesn't mean that we are going to put saolas in cages, or do industrial production of saolas." Instead, he envisions putting an electric fence around a select swath of saola habitat, perhaps half an acre. "They would have access to their natural environment and could feed themselves, and at the same time we could start to study them," says Comizzoli, adding that something as simple as fresh dung would be "fantastic" for research purposes. After fording the river, Tuoc and my family and I hike to a ranger station. The next leg of our journey is on motorcycles. Their make, Minsk, is emblazoned in Cyrillic on the gas tank. Our sons, sandwiched between my wife and a ranger, have never ridden a motorcycle before, and they squeal with delight. For several miles, we tear uphill on an empty, curvy road faster than this anxious parent would like. At the end of the road, we hike into the misty hills on our quest to spot a saola. Preserving this habitat will help a host of other rare creatures, including the two other new mammals in Vietnam that Tuoc helped uncover, both primitive kinds of deer: the large-antlered muntjac, in 1994, and the diminutive Truong Son muntjac, in 1997. Strange beasts continue to emerge from these forests, including the kha-nyou, a rodent identified in 2006 as a species thought to have been extinct for 11 million years. "If we lose the saola," says Long, "it will be a symbol of our failure to protect this unique ecosystem." At Pu Mat, the late morning sun is burning off the mist. With the spry Tuoc leading the way, we clamber up a slick path until we reach Kem Waterfall. Tuoc grabs a handful of broad, dark-green leaves near the entrancing falls. "Saola like to eat these," he says. "At least, we have seen bite marks." These Araceae leaves, I realize with a pang, may be as close as I ever get to a saola. Tuoc, too, has no delusions. "Maybe I'll never see one in the wild," he says. Richard Stone is the Asia editor for Science magazine. He lives in Beijing. 25th June 2008, IUCN News To the top Regional conservation strategy aims to reverse decline of Asian wild cattle and buffaloes Over 40 delegates from across South-east Asia have this week agreed to a new regional conservation strategy aimed to reverse the dramatic decline of Asian wild cattle and buffalo species. The landmark meeting was held over six days in Vĩnh Phúc Province, Vietnam. The Banteng (Bos javanicus), one of nine threatened species of Asian wild cattle and buffalo. IUCN Red List status: Endangered Photo: Rochmad Setyadi Plenary session during the regional workshop in Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam. Photo: Frederic Vallejo Plenary discussion during the workshop. Photo: Miguel Pedrono Workshop banner at Belvedere Resort, Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Minh Tuan All nine species of Asian wild cattle and buffaloes are threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ 2008. The worst affected is the Kouprey (Bos sauveli), a large forest-dwelling ox, about the same size as a Water Buffalo. Last seen in Cambodia in 1969, it has not been located since and may now be extinct in the wild. Asian wild cattle and buffaloes play a vital role in their natural environment. They are an important prey species and also help maintain habitat diversity through grazing. Wild cattle species also represent a major reservoir of genetic material that could help scientists safeguard and improve domestic cattle breeds throughout the world. Poaching and habitat destruction and degradation are amongst the major threats facing these species. Recent field research shows there is a real danger that Asia's eight other wild cattle and buffalo species are likely to suffer the same fate as the Kouprey unless immediate action is taken. Representatives from 11 countries comprising of academics, experts, policy makers, NGOs and government officials, came to the planning workshop hosted by the IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group and The Wild Cattle Conservation Project in Vietnam (CIRAD, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development). The event was held in Tam Dao National Park and was sponsored by the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), Earthwatch Institute and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Amongst the actions agreed for the Regional Conservation Strategy were; to strengthen enforcement of legislation on wildlife hunting and trade, to improve the effectiveness of protected areas and to manage interactions with domestic livestock that could lead to disease transmission and inter-breeding. In the coming months, further workshops will be held in South and South-east Asia, to continue the process of saving these species from extinction. For more information about the regional conservation strategy please contact: Simon Hedges, Wildlife Conservation Society, Large Bovini Working Group Coordinator of the IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group and member of IUCN/SSC Species Conservation Planning Task Force James Burton, Earthwatch Institute and Chair and Dwarf Buffalo Working Group Coordinator of the IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group Rosie Woodroffe, Zoological Society of London and member of IUCN Species Conservation Planning Task Force Miguel Pedrono, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development and member of the IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group 30th May 2008, WWF News To the top 37 gaurs in Parsa Wildlife Reserve KATHMANDU, Nepal – A recent census has confirmed the presence of 37 gaurs (Bos gaurus) in Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR). The census was conducted from 24-27 May 2008 by the PWR in coordination with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, WWF Nepal – Terai Arc Landscape Program, Nepal Army and Buffer Zone Management Committee. Nine elephants and twelve recorders participated in the count. An adult gaur © Babu Ram YADAV The Chitwan National Park has 296 gaurs as per the census in 2007, showing an increase of 98 individual animals from the last count a decade ago. Although not confirmed, gaurs are believed to be found in Triyuga of Udaipur district in eastern Nepal. The gaur, also known as the Indian bison, is the largest wild cattle species in the world, measuring up to 2 metres at the shoulders and weighing up to 900 kg. In Nepal, the gaur is listed as protected animal, as vulnerable in IUCN Red Data Book, and is listed in Appendix I of CITES. With only around 1000 left in the wild, their numbers are declining due to over-hunting, habitat destruction and exposure to diseases of domestic cattle such as rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax. Gaurs are found in eastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, and the Malay Peninsula. They inhabit evergreen and deciduous forest hills and grassy clearings up to 2,500m. Gaurs prefer to eat green grass, but in its absence will eat coarse dry grass, forbs, and the leaves of some trees and creepers. Despite their massive size, gaurs are wary and avoid contact with humans. They live in small herds, but the herd does not defend any specific territory. They prefer to stay around large forested areas along with grasslands to graze in. May 2008, Yayorin To the top Endangered Banteng found in Central Kalimantan By Yayorin (Yayasan Orangutan Indonesia) In 2005, an Indonesian conservation organisation, Yayasan Orangutan, gathered some information and data about Banteng in Kalimantan. According to the local people, banteng were often seen at saltlicks in the forest. Although the team found their tracks and faeces many times in these saltlick areas, they were not completely convinced of these findings because it was possible that they belonged to domesticated cows that were common in Belantikan. On November 20th, 2007, Yayorin team conducted another survey, and they found two well-preserved banteng tracks; one was about 12 cm x 11.5 cm and another one was about 14 cm x 13 cm. This implied the presence of a male and a female. In addition, the tracks were also found in a habitat dominated by bamboo trees. On April 11th, 2008, two local villagers found twobanteng (mother and child) while on a hunting expedition. They killed the mother using spears and captured the calf.. Additionally, some villagers who regularly go into the forest to hunt pigs also encountered more than ten banteng between January and February 2008. 14th April 2008, Thaindian News To the top Madhya Pradesh plans to increase bison population Bhopal, April 14 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department will move 20 bisons from the Kanha to Bandhavgarh national park as part of a long-term plan to boost the numbers of the endangered animal in the state, officials said here Monday. There are only 5,000-10,000 bisons left in India now. The new measure would ensure that its population is effectively spread out in the state so that they are not threatened in case of an outbreak of disease or hit by a natural calamity in one of the sanctuaries. Bison, also called Gaur, is protected by Schedule - I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and is included in the Appendix I of the Conservation on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). According to the 1997 action plan of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for Asian Wild Cattle and Buffaloes, the estimated population of gaur in India is between 5,000 and 10,000. “The number of the bisons is fast coming down. It has therefore become imperative to release these animals in other areas where they can multiply through natural breeding in a favourable environment,” Forest Minister Vijay Shah said in a statement. “Since such a rehabilitation scheme for these animals is being initiated for the first time in the country, a team of forest officials is being sent to South Africa for training, which has the expertise and experience in the subject,” he said. The team will leave by the end of this month. The five team members are Bandhavgarh park director Aseem Shrivastava, Kanha Tiger Reserve deputy director Shubh Ranjan Sen, Panna national park deputy director A.K. Nagar, veterinarian Sanjeev Gupta and Wildlife Institute of India's (WII) Parag Nigam. Shah said: “To start with, a herd of 20 bisons would be released in Bandhavgarh national park , in a joint effort of the forest department and the Conservation Corporation Of Africa, a South Africa-based tourism company.” 29th April 2008, Live Science To the top Bison Could Make Comeback By Andrea Thompson, Senior Staff Writer Photo is of a bison and a calf in Yellowstone National Park. Credit: Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society Bison could make a big comeback all across North America over the next 100 years, a conservation group said today. Bison once numbered in the tens of millions across the continent, but these icons of the American West were wiped out by commercial hunting and habitat loss. By 1889, fewer than 1,100 individuals remained. 1n 1905, the American Bison Society formed at the current Bronx Zoo headquarters of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and began efforts to repopulate reserves on the Great Plains with animals from the zoo's herd and other sources. Of the estimated 500,000 bison that exist today , only 20,000 are considered wild; the rest live on private ranches. "One hundred years ago, through our efforts and the efforts of others, the bison was saved from extinction," said WCS President and CEO Steven E. Sanderson. "We are now looking 100 years from now, because we believe there is an ecological future for the bison in the North American landscape." Researchers created a "conservation scorecard" that was used to evaluate possible areas that the keystone American species, whose grazing habits strongly shaped the ecology of North American prairies, could repopulate. To grade the potential areas, the researchers looked at the availability of existing habitat, the potential for interaction with other native species, such as elk, carnivores, prairie dogs and grassland birds, as well as the socio-economic climate of the regions. The study, detailed in the April issue of the journal Conservation Biology, found that a diverse range of landscapes could play host to a resurgence in the bison population . General sites identified by the researchers were grasslands and prairies in the southwestern United States, Arctic lowland taiga in Alaska, and large swaths of mountain forests and grasslands across Canada and the United States. Parts of the Mexican desert could also again support herds that once lived there. "The bison is one of the great living symbols of North America," said study leader Eric Sanderson of the WCS. "This assessment shows us what is possible; that with hard work and ambitious goals, we can restore this iconic species to a surprising amount of its former range over the next century." Other groups contributing to the report include the new American Bison Society, some Native American groups and some ranchers. 4th March 2008, Environment News Service To the top Yellowstone Bison Killed to Protect Nonexistent Cattle WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana, March 4, 2008 (ENS) - Bison advocates and local landowners today asked federal and state officials to stop capturing and slaughtering Yellowstone bison in a cattle-free zone outside the western boundary of Yellowstone National Park, until a review is conducted of changes in land ownership in the Horse Butte area. "The government has been killing our nation's last remaining wild bison, claiming it is necessary to prevent the spread of brucellosis to cattle on the Horse Butte Peninsula," said Michael Mease, campaign coordinator for the Buffalo Field Campaign. "There are no more cattle on Horse Butte, so that excuse rings hollow. It's about time the people in charge get behind the locals who support wild bison being on Horse Butte without harassment by the government." Bison are hazed back into Yellowstone National Park. (Photos courtesy Buffalo Field Campaign) Horse Butte is a 24,000 acre peninsula consisting of federal and private land that extends westward from the west boundary of Yellowstone National Park into Hebgen Lake. The peninsula is surrounded on its north, west, and south sides by the lake. Yellowstone bison typically migrate to the area in late winter and spring seeking forage only to be met by state and federal officials operating a bison trap that has already been used this winter to ship 30 wild bison to slaughter. Recent land management changes have eliminated cattle grazing from the Horse Butte peninsula. A court order ended grazing on a National Forest grazing allotment on Horse Butte in 2002. Last year, new owners purchased the sole remaining cattle grazing operation on the peninsula, removed the cattle and declared their property open to Yellowstone bison. Those purchasers, Rob and Janae Galanis, are among 39 Horse Butte landowners who joined the Buffalo Field Campaign in calling for a halt to the capture and slaughter of bison on Horse Butte given the complete absence of cattle from the area year-round. "When we purchased the Munns Ranch, one of our goals for the property was to willingly remove the last cattle from the Butte. However, yearly cattle grazing on the ranch has kept the grasses down, which has helped deter potential grass fires on both the ranch and the Butte and has also kept down the spreading of noxious weeds," said Rob Galanis. "For these reasons, we believe the ranch must continue to have a grazing component, which we hope to achieve naturally by allowing the bison to continue migrating out of Yellowstone National Park and on the ranch, as they have historically always migrated. To help achieve this goal we renamed the ranch The Yellowstone Ranch Preserve, the YRP, and posted the YRP as a 'Bison Safe Zone' to create a sanctuary for bison activity. In order to achieve this goal the hazing and slaughter of bison by the Department of Livestock on the Butte must cease," he said. The bison advocates submitted their request to federal and state officials in the form of a letter written on their behalf by the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice. The letter asks the officials to stop capturing and killing Yellowstone's bison and to initiate a new environmental impact study to assess changes to an Interagency Bison Management Plan in light of the changed circumstances on Horse Butte. "The government promised the public an adaptive management plan for bison; now it is time for them to adapt their management," said Earthjustice lawyer Tim Preso. "The government's bison plan was created at a time when cattle grazed across much of Horse Butte every summer. Now that the cattle are gone the plan needs to be changed to become more tolerant of Yellowstone's iconic bison." The bison advocates wrote that, in addition to its "unnecessarily brutal treatment of bison," the government's continued implementation of aggressive bison management is a waste of taxpayer dollars. A Yellowstone bison is killed and removed from the range. State and local governments spend more than $2 million each year to haze, capture and slaughter Yellowstone bison in the interest of an ever smaller group of livestock operations outside park boundaries, the advocates say. Agents use helicopters, snowmobiles, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles to haze bison that leave the western Park boundary. Agents capture those bison that do not flee from this hazing and test them for exposure to brucellosis; those testing positive are shipped to slaughter. During winters, such as the current winter, when the Yellowstone bison population exceeds 3,000 animals, agents are authorized to capture and ship to slaughter all bison leaving the west park boundary, without testing any for exposure to brucellosis. Agents shoot bison that cannot be hazed or captured. "The government is spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to protect cattle that aren't even here," said Mease. "It doesn't make sense and it is no way to manage some of our nation's most revered wildlife. The bison slaughter on Horse Butte should stop." Horse Butte is prime calving habitat for the Yellowstone buffalo, as the peninsula has south-facing slopes that green up early in the spring. Hebgen Lake and riparian wetlands along the Madison River provide habitat for trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, bald and golden eagles, and moose. Grizzly bear, grey wolf, elk, black bear and coyote all inhabit Horse Butte. © Miguel Pedrono 2005 - 2009 | Disclaimer

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/17548

ACP farmers in the corridors of power CTA. 1998. ACP farmers in the corridors of power. Spore 78. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Internet URL: http://spore.cta.int/images/stories/pdf/old/spore78.pdf The new farmers' organisations thrusting their way onto the political stage in the ACP countries are nothing if not ambitious. Although not yet fully recognised by their own states, they have already taken their place on the international stage.... The new farmers' organisations thrusting their way onto the political stage in the ACP countries are nothing if not ambitious. Although not yet fully recognised by their own states, they have already taken their place on the international stage. 'The fate of our farmers', they insist, 'is decided as much in Brussels, London or Geneva as it is in Bamako or Harare.' They have brought to the world scene a long, complex list of demands. They want to be listened to in the hallowed halls of power normally reserved for government officials, diplomats and experts. How can they make their voices heard? 'We are young, but we already have a history', asserts Moussa Para Diallo, a farmers' leader in Guinea. 'Farmers' groups have really taken off in the Fouta Djalon region in the last twelve years, as cultivation of potato and onions has increased.' The aura of Diallo's Farmers' Federation of Central Guinea (FPMG) now even reaches into neighbouring countries. The Senegalese farmers' leader, Bara Goudiaby, tells a similar tale 'We had to re-organise rice growing and market gardening in the Casamance region before we could enter into a dialogue with the government or the World Bank'. These two statements point to the fact that in most ACP countries, farmers' organisations are seizing the opportunities offered by freedom of expression and association, and are organising themselves. This is reflected in the new names and acronyms: FUPRO, the Federation of Farmers' Unions of Benin; the MVIWATA movement in Tanzania; AOPP, the Association of Popular Farmers' Organisations in Mali; CAM, the Circle of Farmers of Madagascar; and UNFA, the Ugandan National Farmers' Association 1. These organisations are actively discussing and debating, and their meetings pour out declaration after declaration. They all have one point in common: a razor-sharp concern for the upcoming series of international meetings that affect them (see box). At least three events loom large on the world stage: the re-negotiation of the current Lomé Convention, a process which started in September 1998, and should be completed before February 2000; the Convention of London, which regulates the food aid policies of donor nations and which is due to be renewed before June 1999; and lastly, discussions on the agricultural component of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Confusion before coordination 'The machine just rolls on relentlessly' says a worried Antoinette Aba'a, a cocoa producer in Cameroon. 'We and our governments must stop our 'empty chair' policy in international negotiations. Otherwise, others will decide upon our own future, and our children's future, for us.' It is not easy, though, to have a say. 'For years we have been knocking on the doors of power, and of the American and European negotiators', chips in Renwick Rose, a banana grower and director of the Windward Islands Farmers' Association (WINFA) in the Caribbean. 'But they do not always regard us as worthy negotiating partners. And that while we contribute almost 60% of export earnings for every island from St Vincent to St Lucia'2. Small wonder that farmers' organisations are frustrated, harassed by their lack of information and government enthusiasm to involve them. 'It is not necessarily a lack of goodwill' retorts Maurice Ouikoun, advisor to the Minister for Rural Development of Benin. 'I maintain a permanent dialogue with farmers' leaders. But, to be honest, if they ask me to produce documents about the results of the most recent debates of the WTO, I can't. And from what I know of the situation in Africa in general, the case of Benin is typical.' On the side of the European Commission, people are keen to demonstrate their noble intentions. Commission spokesperson Philippe Darmuzey: 'Take our Green Paper, which lists proposals for renewing Lomé. It emphasises a desire for partnership with civil society ? the 'decentralised stakeholders' in our jargon ? and in there we include, of course, farmers' organisations.' A Senegalese farmers' delegate, N'Diagou Fall, raises the stakes: 'That's encouraging, but how can we start this dialogue? The real issue now is to move from words to action. The Green Paper also says that the war on poverty is a central objective. Well it may be, but where in the fields of Africa can we see evidence of that?' (See box.) Reaching out without over-stretching The strident efforts of farmers' organisations to get farmers' interests recognised and taken into account are helped along by their many links to the world of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Yannick Jadot, a member of the Solagral association, is one of them. 'What is at stake for the farmers' organisations in the upcoming negotiations is how to broaden the debate. The issue is how to move beyond the simple reorganisation of food aid to adopting proper national policies for food security, and how to get farmers' social and environmental concerns integrated into trade negotiations.' Added to this is the need to ensure linkages between the knowledge systems of experts and farmers. Obstacles are legion here too. Farmers' organisations are inexperienced, and admittedly in need of training across the board. The pressure of sharing common goals leads some groups to fall by the wayside. 'In Central Africa, the farmers' movement is breaking up and re-forming in satellite groups' despairs the farmers' leader Jeanot Minla Mfou'ou of Cameroon3. Then again, the few real 'leaders' of farmers' organisations are often pulled away from their roots by demands on all fronts, sometimes from afar. In Mali, the leadership of the Cotton and Food Growers' Union (SYCOV) has been replaced. SYCOV's new general-secretary, Yacouba Doumbia, explains: 'It is true that we are too vulnerable to the instability of the world markets for us to ignore the international dimension of the production chain. But at the same time, and I admit it is hard, we have to deal with our immediate concerns. We have to try to get a better price for our farmers' cotton '4. Daouda Diagne of Inter-réseaux, another support organisation, sums it up: 'Farmers' organisations want their autonomy'. The difficulty is that they want to do this while globalisation is going on. They have no choice but to organise, one way or another, on all fronts. 1 See 'Etats désengagés, paysans engagés. En Afrique et en Amérique latine'. 1997. Editions FPH, 38 rue St Sabin, Paris 75011, France. 2 See 'A world of bananas', Spore 74 3 Executive secretariat of the network 'Agricultures paysannes et modernisation en Afrique' (APM-Afrique), BP 10008, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Fax: + 237 20 50 20. His remarks were made during a regional seminar held in January 1998 in Ebolowa, southern Cameroon, organised with support from CTA. 4 This point is on the agenda for the framework agreement on the management of the 'cotton production chain' between the State, the Malian Textile Company (CMDT) and SYCOV. MARKETING AND TRADE; AboutSend Feedback

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/18815

U.S. & WorldInvasive insect threatens iconic Florida citrus By Tamara Lush Associated Press Published: Aug. 24, 2014 12:00 a.m. LAKE WALES, Fla. — The tourists stream to Florida in their cars, intent on a week at Disney or a sugar-sand seashore or a nonstop party on South Beach. Road weary and thirsty, they pull over at one of the state's five official welcome centers. They walk inside, and then they look up. "The best start under the sun," reads a big sign. "FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE." Behind a counter, a woman sits with a stack of paper cups. "Welcome to Florida," she says with a big smile. "Orange or grapefruit?" The juice is cold and sweet. It tastes like the Sunshine State. Once, emerald green trees bursting with citrus carpeted more than half of the state, from the northern reaches of Jacksonville and the parks of Orlando to the Miami coastline. Oranges, especially, have long been synonymous with the magic of Florida. Think back to those old advertisements touting OJ as a vitamin-filled glass of goodness. The dream of Florida as a tropical vacation paradise was cemented in Americans' minds through such promotions. Today, the orange adorns the state license plate. There is even a county called Citrus. The people behind the groves have been among Florida's most influential. The University of Florida's famed football stadium was named after an orange magnate, and at least three of the state's governors were citrus growers. Throughout the decades, citrus has stood strong — through freezes, hurricanes and rampant development. But now the $9 billion industry is facing its biggest threat yet, putting at risk the state's economy and very identity. Blame a mottled brown bug no bigger than a pencil eraser and a disease called "the yellow dragon." Have you seen those commercials that begin with a farmer's leather-gloved hands opening to reveal a blossom that ripens into an orange? The ads are for Florida's Natural juice, and Ellis Hunt Jr. is the man behind the brand. Tall and thin, wearing jeans and a plain white button-down with a Florida-honed tan on his 61-year-old face, Hunt could star in one of those spots. His family owns 5,000-plus acres of groves and is part of the co-op that contributes to Florida's Natural — the third-largest juice brand in the country, behind Pepsi's Tropicana and Coca-Cola's Minute Maid. Hunt's grandfather started the company in 1922, and ever since Hunt could walk, his life was surrounded by oranges. He followed his father into the business, and now serves on the state's powerful citrus commission. He jokes that the backbreaking task of picking fruit was what inspired him to attend college, so he could take a rest from hard work. This summer, Hunt's has been driving his truck through his groves in Polk County, the state's top citrus-producing region, and what he sees is uncertainty. Many of his trees look beautiful, acres upon acres of vibrant green. But trouble can be spotted if you look closely. Hunt stops his truck, climbs out and points to a tree's limb. Some leaves have turned yellow, and the hue is spreading in waves. He guesses that 75 percent of his groves are infected. In China, where it was first found, the disease is called huanglongbing. Translation: "the yellow dragon." In Florida, it's known simply as "greening." It arrived here via a tiny invasive bug called the Asian Citrus Psyllid, which carries bacteria that are left behind when the psyllid feeds on a citrus tree's leaves. The tree continues to produce useable fruit, but eventually disease clogs the vascular system. Fruit falls, and the tree slowly dies. The psyllid isn't native to Florida but is believed to have arrived from someone who perhaps unknowingly brought a slip of a tree from Asia. The bug was first spotted in the state in 1998, and some think it then spread on the winds of hurricanes. Greening showed up in 2005. There is no cure, and no country has ever successfully eradicated it. All of that has Florida's growers in a frenzy to find a way to stop the disease. "It feels like you're in a war," Hunt said. Hunt estimates he's spending some $2,000 an acre on production costs, a 100 percent increase from 10 years ago. Much of that goes toward nutrients and spraying to try to control the psyllids. The trees that don't survive are pulled out of the earth and tossed onto a giant bonfire. Nearly all of the state's citrus groves are affected in varying degrees by greening, and researchers, growers and experts agree that the crisis has already started to compromise Florida's prominence as a citrus-growing region. Florida is second in the world, behind Brazil, in growing juice oranges, producing about 80 percent of juice in the U.S. This past growing season, the state produced 104 million boxes of oranges, which comprise the bulk of Florida's overall citrus crop. In 2003, two years before greening was discovered and prior to several devastating hurricanes, 243 million boxes were picked. "This affects the whole state. The economic impact. The landscape. The iconic image of Florida and how it has drawn people here to smell the orange blossoms in the spring and look forward to that Christmas gift of fresh Florida citrus," said state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose family has grown oranges in Polk County since the early 1900s. "It will have a ripple effect throughout the economy if we can't get our arms around this disease." Experts say that if a solution isn't found, Florida's entire citrus industry could collapse. Officials worry that some packinghouses and processing plants will have to close because of a lack of fruit. That could send the industry, with its 75,000 jobs, tumbling. Compounding the problem is the timing of it: The disease coincides with an increase in foreign competition and a decrease in juice consumption as health-conscious consumers count carbs. In July, U.S. orange juice retail sales fell to the lowest level in 12 years for a second consecutive four-week period. "We're in the fight of our life," said Michael Sparks, the CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, the marketing and lobbying arm for the state's citrus growers. Already, some are losing. In the early 1980s, farmer Richard Skinner and his wife took over a small grove near Tampa planted nearly 100 years ago by his wife's grandfather. For years they thrived, selling boxes of oranges to large juice companies to augment their roadside business. When greening struck his grove in 2011, Skinner realized he couldn't sustain the cost of chemicals and nutrients needed to keep the trees alive. Within two years, 2,600 trees were cut down — and the century-old grove was gone. "We cried," said Skinner, who is 74 years old and doesn't look like a man who cries easily. The war room in the fight against the yellow dragon is found in Lake Alfred, 30 miles southwest of Walt Disney World, in a nondescript cluster of buildings at the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center. There, some of the world's top citrus researchers — from the U.S., China, Brazil, India — slouch over microscopes and peer into makeshift greenhouses, hoping to unlock the puzzle that is greening. They talk about nucleotides and genomes like regular folks order a sandwich. They understand clearly that there is no magic bullet — an injection or spray, for example — to cure the disease instantly. So they concentrate on two things: a short-term workaround that will allow existing trees to survive, and a long-term solution — possibly three to five years away — to develop a greening resistant tree. Experiments study everything from how fast the psyllid flies to how it's attracted to the odor of an infected tree. One French researcher has tied the bug to a string and a post to measure its flight patterns. Another study, underway at an organic grower's groves, assesses whether tiny wasps can be released en masse to gobble the bad bugs. For three decades, horticulture professors Jude Grosser and Fred Gmitter have worked at the center, mostly studying citrus breeding and genetics. The two men are rock stars in the citrus world because of their vast knowledge. Now, much of their focus is on greening. Grosser and Gmitter have discovered that a certain variety of orange trees grafted onto one particular kind of rootstock appears to be more tolerant to greening. Those trees could play a big role in managing the disease down the road. "A lot of people are looking for miracle cures, but the answer for greening will be a number of different pieces," Grosser said. The pair want a solution and fast. They've spent their careers developing different fruit varieties, such as easy-to-peel and extra-juicy oranges. Some varieties are nearly ready for release and sales, they said, but most growers don't want to take a chance on anything new until greening is gone. "We need to give the tree a chance to beat the disease," said Grosser. "How can we do that?" Since 2008, $90 million has been spent in Florida on greening research, much of that money raised by growers from a tax they pay on every box of citrus that's picked. And the 2014 federal farm bill included $125 million for greening research. Growers are also taking matters into their own hands. Some have tried putting giant tents over their trees and using the sun's heat in an attempt to kill the greening. Rick Kress, president of Southern Gardens Citrus, one of the state's largest juice suppliers, has hired a private team of researchers to work on genetically engineering a greening resistant tree with the DNA from spinach. Kress knows that introducing juice from a genetically modified orange would create another hurdle because of the public's perception of such foods. But the alternative — no juice at all — is unthinkable. "Irrespective of the challenges, Florida orange juice is not going to go away," he said. "Because Florida had the disease first, we're on the forefront of dealing with it and finding a solution that will ultimately benefit the entire United States citrus industry." California growers, who raise the majority of the U.S.'s fresh citrus crop, are also petrified of greening. The psyllid has been found in various places around that state, and greening was detected in one residential tree in Los Angeles in 2012. California researchers are doing their own experiments and piggybacking on the Florida research. In Texas, greening has struck fewer than 200 commercial trees, and the disease has not been spotted in Arizona. In Polk County, Hunt has been planting new trees to replace the diseased ones. He realizes that this is a gamble; psyllids prefer to munch on young, tender leaves. But if he can keep the bugs away long enough for the new trees to grow and bear fruit, maybe by then researchers will have found a solution to greening. "We can't let this thing go down on our watch," he said. Hunt had always hoped his family's younger generation would one day take over the business. But now he worries that Florida juice could become a niche product, similar to pomegranate juice. It's something he's reluctant to contemplate. "You don't want to put your head in the sand and say everything's OK. It's not OK," he said. "But you have to get up in the morning and go to work believing that we will win the battle." Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/19539

Contract prices, production costs slow Palmetto state peanut boom Chris Bickers | Apr 05, 2006 The surge in peanut plantings in South Carolina appears to have come to a halt, at least for the moment. The twin whammy of higher production costs and lower contract prices seems certain to keep plantings from exceeding last year's record-high plantings of 59,000 acres. And it is not impossible that plantings may actually decline in 2006, says Jay Chapin, Clemson University Extension peanut and small grain specialist. “Even though the actual contract price in some cases is not that much different from last year, increased costs mean that even the same contract is worth less,” says Chapin. The acreage offered for contract has been reduced by some buyers as well. “We will definitely have some farmers cutting back from their 2005 acreage,” he says. “That will be partially offset by a few first-time growers and by a few existing growers who will increase from last year. But the net result will probably be some reduction.” The rate of growth was inevitably going to slow down anyway because South Carolina is a small state, he says. “But peanuts are a great fit where we have the right combination of soil type, rotation and management skills.” The story of peanuts in South Carolina can be read as powerful proof of the effect of the old federal supply/control programs. During the years of the peanut program, South Carolina farmers grew only about 10,000 acres of the crop. But as soon as the planting restrictions were removed, South Carolinians' acreage increased significantly. As before, the upper Coastal Plain counties were the location of peanut plantings. But a different set of them now lead the charge. Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, neither of which produced any peanuts prior to 2002, have become No. 1 and No. 2 in peanut production, accounting for 46 percent of all the peanuts produced in the state in 2005. The peanut belt in South Carolina is a two-county-wide swath across the upper Coastal Plain, running from Georgia to North Carolina, says Chapin. Acreage in South Carolina went from about 10,000 in 2002 to 19,000 in 2003 to 33,000 in 2004 to 59,000 in 2005. Almost all of the expansion has been on land that had never previously been in the crop, giving an undeniable positive impact on yields. “We gain an advantage by planting on land with no history of peanuts, no question about that, but our traditional growers were also making high yields when we got good rains and a favorable harvest season” says Chapin. Only about 20 percent of the current acreage can be irrigated. Overwhelmingly in the last three years, the new peanut enterprises in South Carolina have been on what were basically cotton farms, with an occasional tobacco farm getting into the crop. Peanuts are a great benefit to a cotton grower as a rotation crop. “It helps a lot in nematode and fertility management,” says Chapin. The new peanut growers are aware of the value of rotation in keeping yields high into the future, he says. “Our growers are committed to keeping land out of any legume for a minimum of two years. Three years would be better. Either cotton or corn is a good choice.” Last year, about two thirds of our peanuts were Virginias and one-third was runners, says Chapin. “We can grow either Virginias or runners very successfully. Which variety we plant is a matter of relative contract prices and availability of contracts [by type].” The standard runner variety is by necessity Georgia Green, says Chapin, because of the availability of seed. The two most promising runner varieties in this state are Georgia-03L and AP-3. But seed of these two is limited. Among Virginia varieties, the preferred is NC-V 11, he says. “We plant some Gregory's and some VA 98R's, and we plant Perry in situations where CBR is a problem. We would like to grow AT VC 2, but the market for that variety has been limited so far.” There are also a very small number of farmers growing Valencias as green peanuts in North Carolina. For 2006, Chapin's advice to growers is to control costs to the extreme. “With the current low contract prices and the escalating costs of production, we have to reduce inputs wherever we can,” he says. “One area to economize in is to eliminate any additives or supplements that haven't been proven yet. “On dryland runners, we can eliminate gypsum from the budget if soil test calcium is adequate. We also have lower-cost fungicide program options for dryland runner production.” Inoculants are critical to new land production. The peanut plant depends upon association with Rhizobium bacteria to form root nodules to “fix” atmospheric nitrogen for use by the plant. Liquid in-furrow inoculants have been most consistent and are less likely to become clogged. “Overall our new growers have done an excellent job of getting new land inoculated, and all of the liquid in-furrow inoculants we have tested have done an excellent job when used properly.” Growers are advised to focus on proper application rather than trying to improve performance with extra-cost additives. Source URL: http://www.southeastfarmpress.com/contract-prices-production-costs-slow-palmetto-state-peanut-boom

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/19763

Pesticides give consumers pest-free produce they want Nov 22, 2016 Arizona cotton leader Rick Lavis succumbs to cancer Dec 02, 2016 New innovations to reduce dust in almond orchards Nov 17, 2016 Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson: Their unique viticulture/wine dream fulfilled in Napa Nov 28, 2016 Key to citrus pest management Joseph G. Morse, Professor of Entomology, UC Riverside, and Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell, Director, UC Lindcove Research and Education Center | Apr 16, 2009 In California, we have a long history of citrus thrips and California red scale developing resistance to insecticides. When insecticides from the same class of chemistry are used repeatedly or for long periods of time, insecticide resistance appears, and the first sign of resistance is a reduction in how long an insecticide controls a population. For example, when Cygon (dimethoate) was first used for citrus thrips control in 1962, thrips levels typically remained at very low levels for six to eight weeks after treatment. In the early 1980s, resistant citrus thrips populations were seen in some parts of the San Joaquin Valley and growers began to see moderate levels of live thrips three to four weeks after treatment and, in some cases, as early as one to two weeks following a spray (Morse & Brawner 1986). Similarly, in the early 1990s, a number of populations of California red scale began to show resistance to broad-spectrum organophosphate (Lorsban and Supracide) and carbamate (Sevin) insecticides in the San Joaquin Valley (Grafton-Cardwell and Vehrs 1995, Grafton-Cardwell et al. 2001). Instead of these insecticides providing season-long control of California red scale, treatments only lasted one generation. As resistance increased, growers needed to treat for California red scale two to three times per season. Citrus thrips resistance to dimethoate was followed by heavy use of Carzol and resistance to this insecticide appeared in the late 1980s (Immaraju et al. 1989), which resulted in a Section 18 being obtained allowing the use of Baythroid for six years 1991-1996. Resistance of citrus thrips to pyrethroids such as Baythroid was seen as early as 1996 (Khan et al. 1998). Success was registered in 1998, and by the turn of the century, this insecticide was the main product used for citrus thrips control (Morse et al. 2001). In 1998-1999, two insect growth regulators, Esteem and Applaud, were given emergency registration for control of California red scale (Grafton-Cardwell 1999) because of organophosphate and carbamate resistance. Esteem acts as a juvenile hormone mimic that inhibits egg hatch and metamorphosis into the adult stage (Ishaaya et al. 1994) and Applaud is a chitinase inhibitor that inhibits molting. Although both insecticides were later registered, Esteem was shown to be more effective in controlling California red scale. Thus, Esteem rapidly became the most commonly used insecticide for control of California red scale (Grafton-Cardwell et al. 2006). In the last several years, there have been reports of lessened control with Esteem and laboratory studies have confirmed that the early stages of resistance are starting to appear in California red scale (Grafton-Cardwell, unpublished data). Treatments of Esteem initially reduced California red scale for three years and growers are now reporting that Esteem reduces scale for only one year in some locations. • Restraint – the best resistance management tool For both citrus thrips and California red scale, the No. 1 tool in managing insecticide resistance is restraint. That is, do not overuse any one class of insecticide during a given period of time. As a basic resistance management practice, pest populations should be monitored carefully and treatments applied only when they are warranted. For example, if citrus thrips populations are low one week after petal fall, carefully consider whether a treatment is needed this year or consider using a different class of chemistry. Use a different class even though it doesn’t have as high efficacy (e.g., Veratran D) as other options (such as the spinosyns) that thrips have been exposed to more frequently. Low populations of California red scale might be maintained at low levels using Aphytis melinus releases, rather than using an insecticide, to avoid selecting for resistance. When treatments are scheduled, they should be applied carefully, i.e. with proper timing of the treatment and optimal spray coverage (see Citrus Pest Management Guidelines at http://www.ipm.ucdavis. edu/ PMG/selectnewpest. citrus.html) so as to extend the time before another treatment might be needed. For example, with careful spray timing and coverage, California red scale can be treated every second or third year. Growers should maximize biological control to the degree that is possible to reduce the number of insecticide treatments applied per season. This is accomplished by minimizing the use of broad-spectrum pesticides and/or by carefully timing such treatments. For example, spring is a critical period for biological control of many citrus pests and so broad-spectrum pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates, and neonicotinoids should be avoided during that period. A combination of soft pesticides and natural enemies provides longer term control than broad-spectrum insecticides. When an insect develops resistance to one insecticide within a chemical class, it usually has resistance to all of the insecticides within that class (cross-resistance), whether they are exactly the same insecticide or a closely related insecticide. A large number of generic brands of abamectin and imidacloprid have become available in the last few years. • Delegate, a new spinosyn Delegate was registered for use on California citrus in 2007. Although it appears to be more effective against citrus thrips than Success (or Entrust, the organically approved formulation), it is in the same class of chemistry as Success. Cross-resistance is expected between Success and Delegate and possibly with Agri-Mek and other avermectins. Considering that many growers have been using Success since 1998, there is concern that resistance to this class of chemistry (the spinosyns) may appear in citrus thrips populations in the future. Thus, growers and pest control advisors should try not to use more than a single application of Delegate per year and if possible, should rotate to other insecticides to the degree that is possible so that Delegate is used only as much as every other year. Possible rotation insecticides include Veratran D, Agri-Mek (and generic avermectins), Movento (but see the discussion below), and possibly dimethoate, Carzol, Baythroid, or Danitol if resistance to one or more of these insecticides is not present or they haven’t been used in a particular grove for three to five years (i.e. try them some period of time after their last use to see if resistance has reverted; it is hard to generalize how well they will perform based on our limited experience to date — generally, one might expect to obtain fair control with a use once every 3-5 years if resistance has not reached high levels). • Movento, a new class of chemistry Movento was registered in California in 2008 and is effective against California red scale and citrus thrips and suppressive against a number of other pests including citrus red mite, citrus leafminer, and aphids. It will be a very important product for future control of Asian citrus psyllid (as will Delegate), should that pest spread outside the current eradication area in southern California into commercial citrus. Thus, it is critical that growers and pest control advisors be conservative in using Movento during the coming years so that resistance does not develop in one or more of these pests. We suggest that growers use Movento primarily for California red scale control (unless they have a citrus thrips-Delegate resistance concern) and strongly suggest that Movento not be used more than once a year. This is critical because of Movento’s persistence and will be even more important should Asian citrus psyllid be present. With the beginnings of California red scale resistance to Esteem showing, growers should carefully consider the variety of options that are available for control of this insect including minimizing broad-spectrum pesticide use coupled with releases of Aphytis melinus, and use of chemicals such as Movento, Esteem, Applaud and oils on a rotational basis. When Asian citrus psyllid moves into California citrus, we will have to be very careful to not overuse any one class of chemistry such as Movento, spinosyns, avermectins, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids. Unfortunately, relatively few new classes of chemistry are coming to the marketplace and invasive pests such as Asian citrus psyllid may require increased pesticide use, making resistance management an important consideration in optimizing a pest management program.

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/20994

Future's Bright For Biofuels Sherry Collins 1 [2] | Aug 01, 2005 The push to get biofuels legislation enacted via the energy bill has been moving with glacial speed. Farmers have planted five crops and harvested four since some form of this energy bill has been on the to-do list of the U.S. Congress. However, the bill has finally made it through both the House and the Senate and awaits the President's signature. In fact, the provisions that Congress has spent years hammering out may be law by the time you read this. Here are the energy bill provisions that affect biodiesel and ethanol: Extension of Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) VEETC was finally passed last year as part of the corporate tax bill, otherwise known as the JOBS bill. The bill was an extension of the current ethanol tax credit, which is now in effect until the end of 2010. The ethanol tax credit was amended to support the tax credit from the general fund, not the highway trust fund, and it allowed biodiesel to receive a similar credit for the first time. The tax incentive gives biodiesel producers a tax break of $1/gal. for agri-biodiesel — defined by a list of 11 virgin vegetable oils, including soybean and corn oils — and 50¢/gal. for other biodiesel, usually made from used vegetable oils. It equals 1¢/gal. or ½¢/gal, respectively, for each percentage point of biodiesel blended with petroleum fuels. But, as it was passed in the JOBS bill, VEETC only provided a short-term provision for biodiesel. The ethanol provision concludes at the end of 2010, while biodiesel's provision was scheduled to expire at the end of next year. “Last year at this time we did not have a tax incentive, so to go back to Congress and ask for an extension and have it pass right out of the gate is a remarkable achievement,” says Mark Palmer, Washington, D.C. representative for the American Soybean Association (ASA). “This is just going to be the beginning for this industry.” The biodiesel VEETC credit is now extended through Dec. 31, 2008. Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) This standard phases out the requirement under the Clean Air Act that an oxygenate — usually ethanol or MTBE — be blended into gasoline in non-attainment areas. Since MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) has been banned in many states due to groundwater contamination, it seems like it would be a bad idea to give up the oxygenate requirement. However, under the RFS, petroleum refiners and blenders will cede to a ramp up in the total amount of renewable fuels — either ethanol or biodiesel — that they are required to blend each year. The refiners gain more flexibility on when and where they blend renewable fuels and the renewable fuels industry secures a guaranteed market for a minimum number of gallons per year. Originally, the House version of the bill included an RFS of 5 billion gallons by the year 2012, while the Senate version was for 8 billion gallons in the same time frame. The bill that passed out of conference committee pegged the RFS at 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. “The passage of this energy bill has been a long time coming ,” says Leon Corzine, farmer and president of the National Corn Grower's Association. “It's taken the heart and soul of a lot of farmers to make it happen, but the political will of the House and the Senate has been there. They see that agriculture is the solution to moving our country away from dependence on foreign oil and it gives us the assurance of a growing market for renewables, which continues to help farmers invest in the best rural development opportunity we have ever seen.” Although it's aimed primarily at ethanol, the RFS has also turned out to be a boon for biodiesel as well, says ASA's Palmer. “We are fortunate, because the tax code is going to be the driver of the market,” says Palmer. “Congress has embraced a national marketplace for renewable fuels. The concept of regionalism is gone and that's going to be great for renewable fuels and that includes biodiesel.” The bill also calls for fixes to the credit-trading program available to refiners, says Samantha Slater, Washington, D.C. representative for the National Corn Growers Association. Refiners earn credits when they blend more ethanol than they're required to under the RFS, but they must use those credits in the year they are accrued. The flexibility provided by the credit trading program is crucial to the success of the RFS and ensures the benefits of renewable fuels are enjoyed nationwide, she says. “This preserves the integrity of the RFS program, while not taking away any flexibility from the refiners and blenders,” she says. A sticking point contained within previous energy bills was the MTBE liability protection issue, says NCGA's Slater. Previous House bills included liability protection for MTBE, while prior Senate bills afforded MTBE no such protection. MTBE liability issues were stricken from the bill and may be one reason the bill moved more quickly this time, she notes. Other Provisions The small ethanol producer credit was modified and enhanced to create a new small agri-biodiesel producer credit. The capacity for small ethanol producers increases from 30 million to 60 million gallons. And the bill creates a 10¢/gal. credit, for up to 15 million gallons of biodiesel, for every small agri-biodiesel producer with an annual capacity below the 60 million gallon cap. That provision will be effective through 2008. There are also credits for business or individuals who install an alternative fuel refueling site. The provision permits taxpayers a 30% credit for the cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling property to be used in a trade or business of the taxpayer, or to be installed at the taxpayer's principal residence. Clean fuels are defined as any fuel that is at least 85% by volume of ethanol, natural gas, compressed or liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen or diesel fuel containing a minimum of 20% biodiesel. The provision is in effect until Jan. 1, 2010. So while you could recoup 30% of the cost to install an E85 pump or a B20 pump on your farm, the bill is primarily to entice more gas stations to install them, says Palmer. There will be new issues that arise and new legislation battles to fight, but biofuels is off to a solid start, he says. “We've laid a good foundation, and we've just got to continue building the house.” Lower Gas Prices? Because energy prices have been so high, the pressure to pass the energy bill this year has been enormous, says Samantha Slater, Washington, D.C. representative for the National Corn Growers Association. “Oil is $60/barrel, gasoline is $2.20/gal. and natural gas is close to $7/MMbtu — that has not happened in the last four years,” she says. “Obviously, passing the energy bill is not a silver bullet,” Slater says. “It won't break down oil prices or gasoline prices the next day, or even the next year, but for every year we don't have this, that's another 5-10 years it will take for prices to come down. If we had passed this in 2001, prices would be on their way down by now.” Source URL: http://www.cornandsoybeandigest.com/futures-bright-biofuels

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/21763

Will the required spray nozzles for auxin crops work for peanuts? Nov 15, 2016 Myths and facts about US hemp farming today Nov 09, 2016 Demand growing for grafted tomato and cucurbit plants Nov 15, 2016 What to know about XtendiMax stipulations, recommendations for cotton Nov 16, 2016 Peanut official retires after 34 years Cecil H. Yancy Jr. Farm Press Editorial Staff | Jul 16, 2003 A man who's been involved in every major peanut policy change in the last three decades has retired. Russell Schools was recently inducted into the American Peanut Council's prestigious Peanut Hall of Fame. Schools retired recently after a 34-year career as executive secretary of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. The peanut grower group merged operations with the Peanut Grower Cooperative Marketing Association effective July 1. In 1968, Schools was working as a Virginia Tech Extension farm management agent when Sen. William Rawlings, then head of the peanut grower group, “borrowed” him to help work out a new peanut program in Washington. At the time, peanut growers operated under an allotment. Schools spent more than 60 days with the USDA's peanut and tobacco division, and came up with the two-price system to reduce government cost. The group hammered out details that helped growers, who were just beginning to experience huge leaps in yields per acre, maintain parity. Parity had fallen to 75 percent due to increased yields and costs to the government program. Then-Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman eventually granted 77.5 percent of parity, despite Congress' refusal to pass peanut legislation in 1968. “Everybody was doing all they could to increase production per acre and it was increasing costs to the government,” Schools says. “We came up with a two-price system where a grower could receive a higher percentage of parity if they voluntarily reduced production.” His work in 1968, which involved testimony before the House and Senate subcommittees, led to his appointment in March 1969 as executive secretary of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. His career has coincided with many of the program changes in peanuts during the past 30 years. He was chairman of the American Peanut Council, helped set up the National Peanut Council Foundation and served on export trade teams to Japan, Germany, Holland, England, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, China, South Korea and Hong Kong. He also served as vice chairman and chairman of the Peanut Administrative Committee as well as vice chairman of the National Peanut Growers Group. On the policy side, Schools saw and helped write the changes as they occurred. “In 1977 Congress changed producers from acreage controls to quota, where you had to stay within acreage limits but could produce above quota as additionals. In 1981 Congress lifted the acreage limits and quota sold for a higher price and you could grow all the additional peanuts you wanted,” Schools says. The quota and additional system was basically in place until the 2002 farm bill established a market-driven program. He says he's most proud of his work in getting the buy-back provision as part of the previous peanut program. The provision gave shellers another avenue to buy peanuts in times of short supply and growers a chance to profit. “In the early years it worked out pretty well, until we got into a situation where the profit from our crop had to go elsewhere to cover losses in other parts of the country.” Last year, Schools was also there battling against the changes that eventually became law. “Virginia and North Carolina didn't like the type of program that Congress finally came out with,” he says. “We liked the supply-management type program we had for many years. We were small and didn't have enough political pull” to influence the outcome of the new peanut program. “To show that our feelings were correct, all you have to do is look at the peanut acreage in Virginia over the past two years,” Schools says. “Acreage declined to 57,000 last year and this year is down to 30,000 to 35,000. We said all along we couldn't live with this kind of a program.” Still, Schools says it's now more important than ever for manufacturers, shellers and growers to work together “to make sure one segment of the industry is not put at a disadvantage. Producers are going to have to watch costs very closely because there's not as much profit in peanuts as there used to be. Peanuts will still be grown in Virginia, but by fewer growers on more acres.” In retirement, Schools plans to continue his outdoorsman activities of hunting deer and turkey and fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. He and his wife, Fay, who's an artist, also plan to attend exhibits of her artwork. They have two sons and a daughter and two grandsons and two granddaughters. “We hunt, fish, and go to soccer, football and T-ball games. I'll probably wonder how I ever had enough time to work.” e-mail: [email protected]

农业

2016-50/2592/en_head.json.gz/21765

Texas pecan producers expected more from 2016 crop Dec 01, 2016 Merchandising wheat requires time and effort Nov 29, 2016 Surviving farm accidents: A call to action Nov 30, 2016 Prevented Planting Program gets updates from USDA Nov 29, 2016 Livestock NMSU collaboration focuses on hypertension in cattle The nation's highest altitude beef cattle research facility managed by New Mexico State University at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico is determining if DNA markers exist that will identify if cattle are genetically predisposed to develop hypertension while at high elevations. By Jane Moorman, New Mexico State University | Sep 01, 2010 The nation's highest altitude beef cattle research facility managed by New Mexico State University at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico is determining if DNA markers exist that will identify if cattle are genetically predisposed to develop hypertension while at high elevations. Cattle, like humans, can be genetically predisposed for hypertension at higher altitudes, known as bovine high altitude disease (HAD) or brisket disease, when they graze above 7,000-feet elevation for extended periods. The inability to process oxygen efficiently is a key health issue that hampers beef cattle operations in the Rocky Mountain region. "Grazing cattle at high elevations comes with inherent risk due to their susceptibility of developing hypertension," said Manny Encinias, a beef cattle specialist with NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service and director of operations for the high altitude research facility. Most cattle producers don't know if individual cattle will have problems grazing at high elevations until the animal shows clinical symptoms. Unfortunately, in most situations, the discovery and disease confirmation is only after the death of the animal. Death and performance losses associated with HAD annually add up to more than $60 million for the beef cattle industry in the Rocky Mountain region. Develop tools "Our long-term goal at this facility is to develop indicators and tools beef producers can use to select cattle that will thrive at high elevations," said Encinias, "We believe high altitude disease is a condition impacted by multiple factors and teaming up with multidiscipline experts, universities and progressive beef cattle producers is a key to making rapid progress on managing this disease." NMSU's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is coordinating the facility that involves researchers from three universities - NMSU, Colorado State University and the University of Illinois - and cattle breeders from several states. National expert on bovine HAD Tim Holt, a veterinarian and assistant professor at Colorado State University's School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, has been actively involved at the facility since 2009 by performing pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) tests on cattle to evaluate individual adaptation to the high altitude. The PAP test is presently the beef industry's diagnostic tool of choice, as it detects early signs of hypertension through an animal's blood pressure. Establishing this research program at the Preserve has given Encinias and Holt the most unique venue in the United States to study HAD. "Mountain grazing is a high stress environment for cattle. The higher the elevation the more accurate the PAP test data," said Holt, "This is why the Valles Caldera National Preserve is such an important place to conduct this research." At more than 8,500 feet in elevation, the Top of the Valle research facility is the highest centralized facility in the U.S. focused on studying HAD. Abundant and highly nutritional grass also provides a natural grazing environment that is a typical grazing scenario for beef cattle grazing high altitude pastures. "The Valles Caldera gives us altitude and a natural grazing environment to evaluate numerous factors and scenarios to better understand HAD," said Encinias. "We are interested in nutrition, environment, water and anything else that might be influencing a low oxygen setting," said Holt. "We are also looking at the pregnancy rate to see if the elevation is impacting the reproductive process, such as if the cow is not pregnant after insemination do they have high PAP scores. Is that a factor to their not being pregnant?" DNA samples The newest addition to the research team is genetics researcher Jonathan Beever, associate professor at the University of Illinois' Department of Animal Science. Beever's research has been instrumental in the development of diagnostic tools to rapidly detect genetic disorders in multiple breeds of beef cattle. At the Top of the Valle facility, Beever is analyzing DNA samples gathered from the cattle during the PAP testing process to determine genes that influence the susceptibility to the potentially deadly condition. Beever is comparing genetic information from animals suffering from HAD to those that are not showing signs when given the PAP test. "The PAP test has become relatively straightforward at identifying animals having problems," said Beever. "This disease is clearly a genetic issue and with today's technology, we have the potential to identify the gene or a group of genes where a variation of genes might influence the animal's disposition to not have high altitude disease." The PAP test is a detection tool; however, not all cattle can be tested before the disease is deadly. The genetic test would be easier to administer. "With the DNA marker information we would be able to test any animal regardless of where it is raised, or its pedigree, and be able to say whether this animal will survive when you take him to a higher altitude," said Beever. Regional benefit Establishing the research facility at the Valles Caldera National Preserve has also given seedstock producers throughout the United States the opportunity to send bulls and heifers for the summer grazing season to the facility and begin to better understand the impact genetic pedigree and previous management practices have on the animal's ability to perform at higher altitudes. With approximately 1.5 million cattle living above 7,000 feet elevation, Roy Hartzog of Hartzog Angus Cattle in Bovina, Texas, who has sent bulls and heifers to the research facility for the last two years, says this research will benefit the entire western region. "We have learned from ranchers who live and have cattle above 8,000 feet that if they don't use the right bull, one without the genetic predisposition for HAD, when the calves are born they may die within a week to 10 days. This is the equivalent of a hail storm destroying a cotton farmer's crop," Hartzog said, adding that there is no government disaster program for this situation to offset the financial loss. "We need to provide those ranchers with bulls that are adapted to high elevation. In order to do that we need to develop our blood lines for a genetic pool that can survive and thrive in high altitude. Up until now ranchers have just had to use a natural selection process and suffer the consequences." On Saturday, Sept. 11, the Top of the Valle will host its second annual high altitude bull and female sale. This year 35 registered, yearling and two-year-old bulls, as well as 70 registered bred heifers, that have been PAP and performance-tested on 100 percent grass for 84 days, qualified for the annual sale at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The silent auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a live animal bid off will begin at 2 p.m. More information on the program and sale is available on the program's website at http://highcountrybeef.nmsu.edu. Available in the sale will be Angus bulls from A Lazy 6 Angus Ranch in Villanueva, Miller Angus in Floyd, McCall Land & Cattle in Moriarty and Hartzog Angus Cattle in Bovina, Texas; Angus Plus bulls from Lazy T Cattle Company in Las Nutrias; Charolais bulls from WK Ranches in Trementina; Red Angus bulls from Smith Land & Cattle in Fort Garland, Colo.; and Hereford bulls from Abercrombie Ranch in Tucumcari.

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/1003

Finally, a Farm Bill By Lydia Zuraw | January 27, 2014 Congressional negotiators finally reached agreement on a new farm bill on Monday evening. A press release issued by the office of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, hailed the agreement as a bipartisan, bicameral agreement. Stabenow said the five-year farm bill would reduce the deficit and help farmers and business create jobs in agriculture, while eliminating the direct payment subsidy program, streamlining and consolidating other programs, and cracking down on fraud and misuse. “This bill proves that by working across party lines we can save taxpayer money while at the same time strengthening efforts helping to create jobs,” she said. “Agriculture has been a bright spot in our economy and is helping to drive our country’s economic recovery.” The agreement is expected to result in an $800-million annual cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. Food-safety talking points in the “Agricultural Act of 2014” include: A modified version of the Benishek Amendment: The bill calls for scientific and economic analysis of the produce safety rule issued under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), along with a plan to systematically evaluate the impact of the final rule on farming and ranching operations and evaluate and respond to business concerns. This final version eliminated the House provision prohibiting enforcement of the regulation and now simply requires that an analysis of the information used in promulgating the rule be released alongside the final rule. No King Amendment:The proposal to forbid states from imposing their own higher standards or conditions on food produced or manufactured in another state — also know as the Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA) — did not survive negotiations. “There was just overwhelming opposition from many, many corners,” Stabenow said in response to press questions on the decision to kill it. “On the Senate side, there was strong bipartisan opposition to this.” Fellow conferee Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, agreed. No significant changes to country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements: It does apply regulations to venison and calls for an economic analysis of the final rule, which was adopted from the House provision. No change to catfish inspection: The bill proceeds with the move of catfish inspection from the Food and Drug Administration to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and deals with the delay of implementation by clarifying the definition of “catfish.” It also calls on FSIS and FDA to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve interagency cooperation and prevent duplicative inspection oversight by ensuring that inspections of dual jurisdiction facilities by the FSIS satisfy the requirements of the FDA. The “Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network”: A grant would be awarded to an institution “for purposes of establishing an internationally integrated training system to enhance the protection of the food supply in the United States, to be known as the ‘Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network.’” This article has been updated to include more information on the King Amendment and catfish inspection. Editor’s note: Check back to Food Safety News in the coming days for more analysis of and reactions to what the farm bill means for food safety. More Headlines from Food Policy & Law »Tags: Congress, Farm Bill

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/1948

← The Mysterious Death of Dr David Kelly: “Subversion of Due Process” of the Law in the United Kingdom We won’t eat halal meat, say MPs and peers who reject demands to serve it at Westminster – But, You Have No Choice!! → Fuelling World Hunger: How The Global Biofuel Industry Is Creating Massive Destruction THEY BEG YOU FOR £2 A MONTH- WHY DON’T THE COWARDS JUST TELL THE TRUTH? Fuelling World Hunger: How The Global Biofuel Industry Is Creating Massive Destruction by Jean Ziegler and Siv O’Neall Global Research, December 31, 2011 Axis of Logic This is an edited version of an article that first appeared on Axis of Logic [1]. The global expansion of the biofuel industry – in which agricultural land and crops are used to produce fuel for transport vehicles rather than food for humans – is a major factor driving the dramatic escalation of food prices worldwide. In a new book, Massive Destruction [2], French author Jean Ziegler [3] shows how the biofuel industry and wider agroindustry are threatening to inflict hunger on the world on an unprecedented scale. This is no blind accident, says Ziegler. It is the deliberate result of policies implemented by governments beholden to powerful agribusiness corporations in their pursuit of private profit. In that way, the resultant increasing levels of world hunger can be described as a form of “calculated murder”. Ironically, the biofuel industry is being promoted by corporations and governments as a sustainable, “ecofriendly” alternative to fossil fuels. In reality, it is just another form of the same reckless exploitation of resources that results from insatiable elite private profit under capitalist economic production. The biofuel industry stems from a marriage of agribusiness and oil corporations who know full well that this new global enterprise is inflicting massive environmental destruction and human suffering. Over the past five years, the world has witnessed skyrocketing food prices, which is putting millions more people at risk of hunger – all because they simply can no longer afford to buy food. This is a shocking indictment of an economic system that puts the imperative of private profit above the daily survival of human beings. Chief among the factors causing this inflation in food prices is the stellar rise of the global biofuel industry. So how can such a destructive industry continue to be promoted in the face of its own consequent human suffering? The short answer is because the public is largely unaware of the political and economic practicalities. The following are excerpts from Professor Ziegler’s book, translated by Siv O’Neall [4], which helps to uncover the realities of the biofuel industry. Three major factors contribute to the scarcity and the ever-increasing price of food commodities. Land grabbing for the cultivation of sugar cane and other plants, especially in the US, for the production of biofuels (ethanol), is one major cause of the scarcity of food since it deprives the small land owners of their land and reduces the amount of food for everybody. Also the loss of arable land for the production of biofuel has contributed to the scandalous increase in food prices. Less land, less food – so higher prices. Added to that is also the fact that biofuels even increase the damage to the earth that their advocates so loudly and dishonestly claim to reduce. The speculation in food commodities as well as in arable land must also be forcefully denounced as a major contributing factor in the dramatic increases in basic food prices that we have seen since mid-2007. Thus, not only are the small farmers deprived of their land, often with no, or very little, compensation, but also, with the skyrocketing food prices, they cannot even afford buying the food they need for survival. The third cause is desertification of land and soil degradation which is only hastened by the increased replacement of biological farms by huge monocultures for biofuel or for Genetically Modified Organism cultures that demand enormous amounts of water. Rivers and lakes are drying out and an ever-increasing number of people in the world are lacking access to clean drinking-water. The Lie “Green gold” has for several years been considered as a magic and profitable complement to “black gold”. Food-production trusts that dominate the trade in biofuels, in support of new products, make an argument that might appear irrefutable: the substitution of fossil fuel by energy derived from plants would be the ultimate weapon in the fight against the rapid deterioration of the climate and the irreversible damage this does to the environment and humans. Here are some figures: Over 100 billion liters of bioethanol and biodiesel will be produced in 2011. The same year, 100 million hectares of agricultural crops will be used to produce biofuels. Global production of biofuels has doubled over the past five years, from 2006 to 2011. Climate degradation is a reality. Globally, desertification and land degradation now affect more than 1 billion people in over 100 countries. Dry areas – where arid and semi-arid regions are particularly susceptible to degradation – represent over 44% of arable land on the planet. Destruction of ecosystems and degradation of large agricultural areas in the world, especially in Africa, is a tragedy for small farmers and animal breeders. In Africa, the UN estimates that there are 25 million “environmental refugees” or “environmental migrants”, that is to say human beings who have been forced to leave their homes because of natural disasters (floods, droughts, desertification ) and who eventually have to fight for survival in the slums of large cities. Land degradation fuels conflicts, especially between animal breeders and farmers. Transcontinental companies producing biofuels have persuaded the majority of world public opinion and substantially all of the Western states that energy produced from plants is the miracle weapon against climate degradation. But their argument is a lie. It ignores the methods and the environmental costs of biofuel production, which requires both water and energy. All over the planet, clean water is becoming increasingly scarce. One out of three persons is reduced to drinking polluted water. Some 9,000 children under ten are dying every day from drinking water that is unfit for consumption. According to the WHO, one-third of the world population still lacks access to safe water at an affordable price, and half of the world population has no access to clean water. Approximately 285 million people live in sub-Saharan Africa without regular access to clean water [5]. And, of course, it is the poor who suffer most severely from the lack of water. However, when you consider the water reserves that exist in the world, the production every year of tens of billions of gallons of biofuel is a real disaster. Some 4,000 liters of water are required to produce 1 liter of bioethanol. Barack Obama’s obsession Biofuel producers, some the world’s most powerful multinational corporations, have their headquarters in the US. Each year they receive billions of dollars of government aid. In the words of President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address in 2011: for the United States, the bioethanol and biodiesel program is “a national cause,” a cause of national security. In 2011, subsidized by $6 billion of public funds, US trusts will burn 38.3 % of the national corn harvest, against 30.7 % in 2008. And since 2008, corn prices on the world market have increased by 48%. The United States is by far the most dynamic industrial power and also the top producer in the world. Despite a relatively low number of inhabitants – 300 million, compared with 1.3 billion and more in China and India – the United States produces just over 25% of all industrial goods manufactured in one year on the planet. The raw material of this impressive machine is oil. The US on a daily average burns 20 million barrels, or about a quarter of the world production. Some 61% of this volume – slightly more than 12 million barrels per day – is imported [6]. For the US president, this dependence from abroad is obviously a concern. And most worrying is the fact that most of this imported oil comes from regions where political instability is endemic or Americans are not well regarded – in short, where production and export to the United States are not guaranteed. George W Bush was the initiator of the biofuel program. In January 2007, he set the goal to be reached: in the next ten years, the US had to reduce by 20% its consumption of fossil fuels and multiply by seven the production of biofuels. Burning millions of tons of food crops on a planet where every five seconds a child under ten dies of hunger is obviously scandalous. The tank of a midsize car holds 50 liters. To make 50 liters of bioethanol, 358 kg of corn have to be destroyed. In Mexico and in Zambia, corn is the staple food. With 358 kg of corn, a Zambian or a Mexican child can get enough to eat for one year. The curse of sugar cane Not only do biofuels each year consume hundreds of millions of tons of corn, wheat and other foods, and not only does their production release into the atmosphere millions of tons of carbon dioxide, but, in addition to this, they cause social disasters in the countries where the transcontinental companies that manufacture the biofuel become dominant. Take the example of Brazil. The struggle of the workers in the engenho [7] Trapiche is a suitable example. The vast lands that are barely visible in the evening mist were once state lands. They were, just a few years ago, agricultural plots of land, 1 to 2 hectares in size cultivated by small subsistence farmers. The families lived in poverty, but they were secure, enjoyed a certain degree of wellbeing and relative freedom. Through influential relations with the federal government in Brasilia and their significant capital, the financiers have obtained the “decommissioning”, that is to say the privatization of these lands. The small bean and cereal farmers who lived here were deported to the slums of Recife. The few exceptions were those farmers who agreed, for a pittance, to become sugar cane cutters. And today, those laborers are overexploited. In Brazil, the biofuel production program is considered a priority. And sugar cane is one of the most profitable commodities for the production of bioethanol. The Brazilian program for a rapid increase in the production of bioethanol has a curious name: the Pro-alcohol plan. It is the pride of the government. In 2009, Brazil consumed 14 billion liters of bioethanol (and biodiesel) and exported 4 billion. The aim of the government is to export over 200 billion liters. The Brasilia government wants to increase to 26 million hectares the cultivation of sugar cane. In the struggle against the bioethanol giants, the powerless cane cutters on the Trapiche plantation do not have a chance. The Brazilian Pro-alcohol implementation plan has led to the rapid concentration of land in the hands of a few indigenous barons and of transnational corporations. This monopolization increases inequalities and exacerbates rural poverty (as well as urban poverty, as a result of migration from rural areas). In addition, the exclusion of smallholders threatens the country’s food security, since they are the ones who can guarantee sustenance agriculture. As for rural households headed by women, they have less access to land and suffer greater discrimination. In short, the development of the production of the “green gold” on the agro-export model tremendously enriches the sugar barons but impoverishes the small farmers, the sharecroppers and “the boiafrio” [8] even further. It has actually signed the death warrant for small and medium family farms – and thus the country’s food sovereignty. But aside from the Brazilian sugar barons, the Pro-Alcohol program naturally creates profits for the transnational companies, such as Louis Dreyfus, Bunge, Noble Group, Archer Daniels Midland, and for the financial groups belonging to Bill Gates and George Soros, as well as the sovereign wealth funds of China. In a country like Brazil, where millions of people are demanding the right to own a piece of land, where food security is threatened, land grabbing by transnational corporations and sovereign wealth funds [9] is one additional scandal. To gain new grazing land, large landowners and managers of transcontinental companies burn Brazil’s forests. Tens of thousands of hectares each year. The destruction is final. The soils of the Amazon basin and of Mato Grosso [10], covered with primary forests, have only a thin layer of humus. Even in the unlikely event that the leaders of Brasilia would be seized by a sudden fit of lucidity, they could not recreate the Amazon rainforest, “the lungs of the planet”. According to a scenario accepted by the World Bank, at the current rate of burning, 40% of the Amazon rainforest will be gone by 2050. To the extent that Brazil has gradually replaced the culture of food crops by sugar cane, it has entered the vicious circle of the international food market: forced to import food that it does not produce itself, the global demand has thus amplified… which in turn causes an increase in prices. The food insecurity, of which a large part of the Brazilian population are the victims, is thus directly related to the Pro-alcohol program. This particularly affects the areas where sugar cane is cultivated, since the staple foods based almost exclusively on imported commodities are subject to significant price fluctuations. Many small farmers and agricultural workers are net buyers of food because they do not have enough land to produce a sufficient amount of food for their families. Thus, in 2008, the peasants could not buy enough food due to the sudden explosion in prices. In addition, in order to reduce costs, producers of biofuel exploit migrant workers by the millions, according to a model of ultra-liberal capitalist agriculture. They are not only paid pittance wages, but they work inhuman schedules, offered minimal support infrastructure, and the working conditions are bordering on slavery. Conclusion If the world is to be saved from the grip of neoliberalism, and from the immense greed and total callousness of the “new masters of the world” [121], we must act now. We have to see clearly with eyes and minds wide open how these predators are rapidly taking the people and the world hostage in their absurd attempt to increase their own wealth and dominate the planet. We must come together and work tirelessly, not losing hope, not losing sight of the goal of saving the earth. We must not be deluded by the deafening propaganda machines. We must stand firm and together. There may yet be a way out of the inferno. NOTES [1] Editing, with permission from the authors, by Finian Cunningham for Global Research. The original translated article and footnotes were first posted on Axis of Logic: http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_64191.shtml [2] Destruction Massive – Géopolitique de la Faim, by Jean Ziegler, Editions du Seuil, published 13 October 2011. [3] Jean Ziegler, a former professor of sociology at the University of Geneva and the Sorbonne, Paris, is member of the UN Human Rights Council’s Advisory Committee, with an expertise on economic, social and cultural rights. For the period 2000-2008, Ziegler was the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. In March 2008, he was elected Member of the UN Human Rights Council’s Advisory Committee. One year later, the Human Rights Council decided, by acclamation, to re-elect Jean Ziegler as a member of the Advisory Committee, a post he will now hold until 2012. In August 2009, the members of the Advisory Committee elected him as Vice-President of the forum. [4] Siv O’Neall is a writer and activist based in Lyon, France, who is a regular columnist for Axis of Logic on many international topics. She translated excerpts from Jean Ziegler’s latest book for the present article, with the author’s permission. She can be contacted at [email protected]. [5] 248 million in South Asia are in the same situation, 398 million in East Asia, 180 million in South Asia and the East Pacific, 92 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 67 million in Arab countries. [6] Only 8 million barrels are produced from Texas, the Gulf of Mexico (offshore) and Alaska. [7] Engenho is a colonial-era Portuguese term for a sugar mill and the associated facilities. The word engenho usually only referred to the mill, but it could also describe the area as a whole including land, a mill, the people who farmed it. [8] Landless workers (boia = ox ; frio = cold). He’ll be working like an ox and he’ll be eating cold food. [9] A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund composed of financial assets such as stocks, bonds, property, precious metals or other financial instruments. Sovereign wealth funds invest globally. [10] Mato Grosso is a state in the center-west of Brazil, bordering on Bolivia and Paraguay. [11] See Les Nouveaux Maîtres du Monde et Ceux qui leur Résistent de Jean Ziegler (Editions Fayards), 2005. Global Research Articles by Jean Ziegler Global Research Articles by Siv O’Neall http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28434 Like this:Like Loading... This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← The Mysterious Death of Dr David Kelly: “Subversion of Due Process” of the Law in the United Kingdom One response to “Fuelling World Hunger: How The Global Biofuel Industry Is Creating Massive Destruction” centurean2 Reply http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28434

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/2676

A Year That Was Good To Beets December 30, 2011 Children hate beets. Many adults hate beets. In fact, so few people in the U.S. eat table beets that the federal government doesn’t bother to keep track of how many are grown and sold, even though it does keep track of just about every other crop, including turnip greens and horseradish. But it turns out that this was a good year for beets (otherwise known as beet roots or garden beets, but not to be confused with sugar beets.) Some farmers markets say beet sales have surged since January, and they’ve doubled over the past few years. And it seems like every restaurant across the country serves beets these days — especially the ubiquitous beet salad. Does all this constitute a beet renaissance? Irwin Goldman says, absolutely, yes. He breeds beets at the University of Wisconsin, where he’s a professor of horticulture. He has been waiting for this renaissance for years. “I think it’s just wonderful to see because it’s just an incredibly fabulous vegetable that I think is totally underappreciated,” he says. Maybe it’s not surprising that chi-chi restaurants have rediscovered beets. Take, for example, the Oval Room across the street from the White House. Sous-chef Tamesha Warren shows how the staff turns beets into art. Her salad man gently places a red baby beet on the passion fruit squiggle, then a baby golden beet, then a striped one — it’s like of row of fantastic marbles. Then he shaves fresh baby horseradish over everything, like baby snowflakes. He adds some herbs — baby, of course — and vinaigrette. Warren says at one point they tried to get rid of the salad, but clients protested. “So we have to leave it on here,” she says. “They might as well put billboards up and say, ‘No, don’t get rid of the beet salad.'” Then again, this is Washington, D.C., where people are used to protests. But here’s even more compelling evidence that beets are back: They’ve been showing up in chain restaurants from California Pizza Kitchen to Jamba Juice. Matt Mandeltort of Technomic analyzes food trends for the food industry. The company’s survey found that beets showed up in 13 percent more appetizers in chain restaurants this year, compared to 2010. They’ve increased more than 55 percent in the last three years. Mandeltort says beets are becoming more popular partly because they’re cheap — or at least cheaper than a lot of vegetables. And restaurants have been struggling to control costs during the recession. But Goldman, the beet breeder, says remember: People have been eating beets since the times of the Greeks and Romans. They’ve never gone out of style in Europe. And, “the Australians — they will eat a beet slice on a sandwich like we would eat a tomato,” he says. Goldman would love to make beets that popular here in the U.S. So he has been breeding new varieties to try to capitalize on the current renaissance. For instance, he’s studying the compound that gives beets their distinctive flavor. Geosmin is produced by interactions between microbes in the soil and the roots. “People hate [these beets] because they taste like dirt,” Goldman says. “On the other hand, there are people who embrace them because they taste like dirt, and I think eating dirt or soil, or the smell of soil, is primal.” So Goldman wants to create beets with more geosmin, so they taste dirtier, if that’s what you like. He also wants to make other beets that taste less like dirt, so everyone will be happy. Incidentally, it was a good year not just for beets. Industry surveys show it was also a good year for pretzel rolls and Sriracha. That’s the spicy paste from Thailand. And that’s another story. Keywords: The SaltPrevious‹When The Road Back To Work DetoursNext The Perfect Champagne Pour: It’s A Science, Not An Art›Support for NEPR.net is provided by:Become a NEPR Underwriter

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/2992

Why Alliances Fail Big or small, alliances strumble because of basic business strategies. Find your niche, set your carcass targets and go for it. If it sounds too simple, it probably is. Just ask Chris Youngs, now the contract controller for what once was Rancher's Choice Cooperative, Sanford, CO.In 1994-95, a group of southern Colorado producers grabbed hold of an unusual, but doable, niche: kosher beef. The kosher Greg Lamp 1 [1] | Feb 01, 1998 Big or small, alliances strumble because of basic business strategies. Find your niche, set your carcass targets and go for it. If it sounds too simple, it probably is. Just ask Chris Youngs, now the contract controller for what once was Rancher's Choice Cooperative, Sanford, CO. In 1994-95, a group of southern Colorado producers grabbed hold of an unusual, but doable, niche: kosher beef. The kosher beef idea started when an Israeli ambassador visited Colorado and it just grew from there, says Youngs, Alamosa, CO. After two years of planning, in 1996 a group of 105 ranchers, Youngs included, purchased a small, federally-inspected packing plant. Their plan was to be producer-owned and market their forage-fed cattle as kosher, natural and standard beef. Kosher, though, was the big brainchild. The business plan called for $1.2 million in start-up monies, which came from in-kind Rocky Mountain Farmer's Union money, grants, loans and producer memberships. Only $750,000 had been secured when the group voted to proceed. In November 1996, Rancher's Choice beef rolled off the line at the Sanford plant. By then, Youngs explains, the group had put 11/43 down on the plant and had buyers for their fresh kosher beef in Denver, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. "We were getting 50 percent more for our kosher beef and 20 percent more for natural over regular beef," Youngs says. "The kosher market was there." However, the kosher market required special processing practices run by high-priced rabbis to certify beef was kosher. The goal of Rancher's Choice was to market 100 head of beef and 100 head of lambs every week, with cattle from about 100 producers. That's the point at which the business plan claimed the group would be profitable. At peak, they reached 45 head of cattle a week. The plan was in place and operating, and it seemed to be on the right track, Youngs says. However, seven months later the project came to a screeching halt. Problems And More Problems - "Our biggest problem was that we didn't have a mean s.o.b. to watch all the pennies," Youngs recalls. "Even though our producers were like that, we all thought someone else was watching." Although there was a manager, Youngs says the group needed more management and better financial accounting. "You can't run a business like a farm," he says. For example, Youngs points to high costs for kosher processing that included hiring two rabbis and paying for their room and board, and weekend travel expenses. "That alone cost us $25,000-30,000 a month," he says. "We chased kosher too hard and didn't develop the natural beef quickly enough, so our product got old and we had to sell it cheap. "We also had problems with the plant. It wasn't modern and every time we tried to push the system, we had problems," Youngs explains. "One day we had a rail pull out of the ceiling. And, we had a drip cooler that didn't get cold enough to handle higher volumes. We even ran out of water. It was just costly to bring the old plant up to speed." But the crowning blow, and what shut the plant and Rancher's Choice down, was a fire in the kill floor area on May 27, 1997. Since then, the group has been in a reorganization mode and hopes to recapitalize and reopen sometime this summer. Regardless of the problems, Youngs is optimistic and convinced kosher is a profitable niche market. But, he advises, "You've got to communicate with members. I think they'll forgive start-up mistakes if they always know what's going on." For more information on Rancher's Choice, contact Chris Youngs at 719/589-4475. The seeds to making an alliance functional and grow is to learn from others' mistakes. For example, Ernie Davis, agricultural economist at Texas A&M University, says to be successful you need: * Commitment from producers * Trusted leadership * Financial strength to stay in the market for at least two years, and * Enough volume to be able to capitalize on more than a single product. "The attraction of alliances is getting a premium for your cattle," says Davis. "So, make sure you get your genetics where you have higher quality, premium cattle." The Power Of Supply - "Supply is far more powerful than capitalization in alliances," says Jim Strain, who in the mid-80s joined Mel Potter and others to form the now defunct Better Beef Marketing (BBM). "If you can get your arms around enough supply, you can start doing things." Strain says BBM's roadmap was fashioned after the successful cranberry cooperative started by Mel Potter's father. Their cooperative, like many today, included producing beef product from conception to consumer. Part of the plan was to align with a packer. "We weren't interested in bricks and mortar," Strain says. "There was plenty of processing capacity around when we were doing this. Since we could get custom processing for about $18 a head at the time, we just wanted to strategically align ourselves with somebody." After spending a year trying to persuade cattlemen to do business differently, BBM and Strain, who runs a yearling operation in southwest South Dakota, gave up. "We were under the assumption that when we got the thing fully conceptualized and put together, we'd go back to the producers we'd originally contacted to join up," Strain recalls. "But, they didn't. So, we were left high and dry." Strain is convinced the industry needs to become vertically integrated, but has advice to those leading the pack. 1. Identify and analyze what's wrong with your current marketing situation, then devise a plan with solutions. 2. Hire corporate-style professionals and give one guy the clout. 3. Keep cowboys out of management. "The only thing cattlemen should do is be on a board of directors," Strain advises. "No one can get the slightest advantage or it starts to come apart because of resentment." As of the June 1, 1997, deadline, well-known Northern Plains Premium Beef (NPPB) alliance fell short of garnering the 250,000 share minimum ($100/share) required by it's equity offering. The enthusiastic Mandan, ND, cooperative started with plans to build a packing plant somewhere in the Northern Great Plains to process 300,000 head of members' finished cattle annually. Beef from the venture would be sold to upscale retailers, including grocery chains and restaurants. Even though the cooperative received $11 million in commitments from nearly 1,100 producers for 113,000 equity shares, it wasn't enough to meet the minimums of the security offering. So, plans have been on hold until recently. They're now jump-starting the process and are again pursuing a new equity drive and looking to build a plant with a 140,000 head/year capacity. So, what went wrong with the NPPB venture? Dean Meyer, first chairman of the board, says three things caused NPPB to come up short: 1. Last winter's severe weather. "It caused producers, especially in March and April, to spend money on feed rather than commit to more NPPB shares," Meyer says. 2. Making the commitment to support a value-added systems approach through a fully integrated, producer-owned cooperative was too big a step for producers to take at that time, he says. 3. Producers wanted to know where they were going to finish cattle and where the cattle would be processed. "Until we knew where the packing plant was going to be built, we didn't know where cattle were going to be fed," Meyer explains. In the new equity drive, cost per share will be reduced from $100 to approximately $60, Meyer points out. That, along with specifics on where a new plant will be located, is pumping new life into the NPPB plan. "There's still a lot of interest and we plan to move forward," Meyer says. For more information on NPPB, call John Lee Njos, new CEO, at 701/663-1116. The tail wagging the dog, is how Tom Hogan characterizes beef alliances. The operational efficiency and financial management consultant has no disagreement with the intent of alliances - to address the quality and consistency shortcomings of beef products and a weakening profitability situation for cattlemen. But, Hogan sees alliances as akin to just another single trait selection fad, much like the rush in the 1970s that resulted in cows of inefficient frame size. "The bottom line is that there is 10 times more money laying out there for producers through improved feed conversion than there ever will be with carcass premiums," Hogan believes. "The concept of concentrating on quality and consistency is great but it can't be our single focus. Marketing is just one part of a strategic plan. There's not enough money in it to disregard all the other factors in management." Hogan says few cattle producers really have a grasp on their costs of production. Without that, it's easy for a producer to lose his shirt to rising production costs while chasing a marketing premium. Hogan recommends that producers first find out the carcass quality of their cattle. "Retain a set of cattle, run them through to the rail and see how they do," Hogan suggests. "Once you've figured out where you are and where you want to be, pencil out what it will cost you to get there. For instance, how much will it cost you to move from a low Choice Yield Grade 3 to a high Choice Yield Grade 2? Is it worth it?" Hogan is convinced a well-informed producer can do just as well as an alliance in marketing cattle if there's a total business management approach in the operation. "The key is to avoid discounts. If that means a rancher has to participate in an alliance to learn how to do it, then join one. But in chasing a premium, don't lose sight of all the other efficiencies. That premium won't cover what you lose," Hogan says. "Whether marketing through an alliance or outside of one, you're still a price taker and the only way you can be profitable is for production costs to be lower than your receipts," Hogan says. Source URL: http://www.beefmagazine.com/mag/beef_why_alliances_fail#comment-0

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/3059

Published on Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (http://www.c2es.org) Agriculture's Role In Addressing Climate Change Download the PDF [1]IntroductionHuman activities are increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. Evidence is growing that higher global temperatures, higher sea levels, and increased climatic variability, including changes in precipitation patterns and magnitudes, will result. These changes will affect agriculture by making some crop and animal production operations difficult or infeasible in their current locations. Slowing the rate of increase of atmospheric GHG concentrations will require efforts in every sector of the economy. Agriculture can make important contributions to these efforts, and can benefit by doing so. Agricultural practices that reduce or offset GHG emissions can increase farmer income, improve soil productivity and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat.Agriculture contributes approximately 7 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions, with nitrous oxide (N2O) accounting for 66 percent and methane (CH4) 34 percent of agricultural emissions.1 In addition to reducing these emissions, agriculture has opportunities to assist in offsetting emissions from other sectors. The agricultural sector can:Store carbon in soils and plants;Produce fuels and energy from biomass and animal waste to replace fossil fuels; andReduce CH4 and N2O emissions from livestock operations and agricultural lands.This paper describes how the U.S. agricultural sector could take advantage of these opportunities.2 Figure 1 Source: U.S. EPA. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-1999.Note: Emissions from electricity produced by industries but sold to the grid are included in the “Industrial” category. Emissions due to other industrial, residential and commercial use of electricity are included under “Electric Utilities.” Excludes emissions from U.S. territories. 1CO2E means carbon dioxide equivalents. Opportunities for U.S. AgricultureStorage of Carbon in Plants and Agricultural Soils. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores the carbon in plant materials and soils. U.S. cropland soils currently sequester 20 million metric tons of carbon per year (MMTC/yr), and have an estimated biophysical potential to sequester 60-150 MMTC/yr more; grazing lands could sequester up to another 50 MMTC/yr.3 To put this in context, 60-200 MMTC is about 12–40 percent of the reduction that would be needed to return expected 2010 U.S. GHG emissions to their 1990 level.Carbon sequestration can be accomplished through the following measures: Soils have natural carbon-carrying capacities, and it may be difficult or impossible to increase their carbon content beyond these limits. Most soil carbon gains from conservation tillage are achieved within approximately 20 years, and the carbon stored can be released later—for example, if farmers revert to traditional farming practices. Reversion to traditional practices will result in most of the carbon being released back into the atmosphere within a few years. However, temporary storage of carbon may offer significant benefits by reducing the rate of increase of atmospheric CO2 until more permanent solutions are found.Production of Fuels and Electricity. Fossil fuel combustion is the major source of U.S. GHG emissions. The agricultural sector can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels in several ways. Agricultural lands can be used as sites for generation of electricity via wind power, reducing the need to generate electricity from fossil fuels. In addition, use of plant materials and animal waste as an energy source can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Plant materials can be used either to generate electricity or to produce transportation fuels. Unlike the release of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion, CO2 released during combustion of plant materials and animal wastes is counterbalanced by the CO2 that plants remove from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. However, the overall net GHG benefits of ethanol are uncertain due to GHG emissions from the farming, transportation, and conversion methods currently used in the U.S.Where large amounts of animal wastes are available in a concentrated location, as in large confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), CH4 can be captured and used to generate electricity. The most significant constraints to utilization of animal wastes for power generation are: the rates offered by utilities to medium-scale independent power producers; lack of access to capital; lack of appropriate farm-scale technologies; lack of standardized connection requirements; and lack of “net metering” requirements.4Options for Biofuels and Bioenergy — i.e., use of plant materials and animals wastes to produce energy — include:Reducing CH4 and N2O Emissions from Agricultural Lands and Livestock Operations. As shown in Figure 2, N2O from agriculture soils constitutes the bulk of agricultural GHG emissions. Agricultural lands contribute to N2O emissions through the breakdown of nitrogen fertilizers, manure decomposition in soils, and releases from legumes. Emissions can be reduced by increasing efficiency of fertilizer use, including more precise fertilizer placement and timing, immediate incorporation of fertilizers into soils, and improved matching of manure application rates to crop utilization rates. Efficient fertilizer management will also improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff into waters.Figure 2Source: U.S. EPA. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-1999.Whereas most N2O emissions come from cropland, over 95 percent of CH4 emissions are due to livestock,5 both from the digestion process and from manure. Digestive processes of beef cattle account for 40 percent of these emissions. Further reduction of these emissions through more efficient feed rations is somewhat limited given the large feed efficiency gains over the last 20 years. However, digestive process CH4 emissions can be further reduced through improvements in grazing-plant quality. Improved herd management — particularly improved nutrition and increasing the percent of cows producing calves — can reduce CH4 emissions per unit of beef produced. It is estimated that widespread adoption of these measures could reduce CH4 emissions from beef cattle by 20 percent.6Manure management options to reduce CH4 emissions include:Tradeoffs and Complementarities. Agricultural practices may affect more than one greenhouse gas as well as other environmental goods and services. Consequently, optimizing the net GHG or environmental effects of an agricultural practice requires a comprehensive evaluation of a complex set of environmental interactions. For example, while irrigation can increase soil carbon, the increased CO2 emissions due to energy used in pumping and the increased N2O emissions due to increased fertilizer use may negate much of the gain. U.S. Policy Options – The Farm BillReducing net U.S. GHG emissions through changes in agricultural practices and land uses will require new agricultural policies. It is useful to classify such policies as those that could be adopted as part of the conservation title of the Farm Bill and those that go beyond the Farm Bill.The Farm Bill. At present, there are a large number of narrowly focused conservation programs. Responsibility for implementing these programs is divided between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Services Agency (FSA), both agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The large number of programs and the disparities in eligibility requirements are major barriers to farmer participation. Major conservation programs and the environmental benefits they now encourage are shown below:1- Implemented by the FSA 2 -Implemented by the NRCS CRP: Conservation Reserve Program; CREP: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program; WHIP: Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program; FPP: Farmland Protection Program; EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentive Program; SWP: Small Watershed Program; CC: Conservation Compliance; CTA: Conservation Technical Assistance.Participation in environmental programs such as the CRP, WRP, and EQIP has been voluntary. These programs provide payments to farmers for taking environmentally friendly actions. The Conservation Compliance program required farmers who opted to receive government subsidies to control erosion and protect wetlands. In recent years, however, the trend has been to make fewer demands on farmers, and eligibility for crop insurance payments has been delinked from wetland (Swampbuster) and erosion control (Sodbuster) provisions.Effectiveness of present programs in addressing environmental goals is also hampered by the restricted geographic spread (see Figure 3), limited sizes and types of farm operations participating, and limited funding. Thus conservation programs could be more effective if they were more fully funded, simplified, broadened, and harmonized.Figure 3Source: Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, 2001.Note: Ratio shown is the percent of total commodity payments received by a state divided by the state’s share of total U.S. value of agricultural production.New Approaches. Reform of farm programs is under consideration for a variety of reasons, including international trade rules that constrain production subsidies. Guaranteed commodity prices and crop insurance subsidies encourage more acreage under cultivation than would occur without the programs. Reforming these subsidies might be one of the most cost-effective means of reducing net GHG emissions from agriculture and providing other soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat benefits.A number of proposed new conservation programs are intended to provide payments for a wide range of conservation practices and environmental services, including soil, water quality, wildlife habitat, and GHG benefits across a wider variety of land use and management categories. These programs would offer higher payments as more conservation practices are adopted or services provided.Important program design considerations include:Whether all who use a practice or only new adopters can participate;Potential loss of environmental benefits – e.g., buffer strips reverting to cropland; andBenefits being offset by other changes – e.g., conservation tillage offset by additional lands brought into production, or increased pesticide use that may accompany no-till.S ome have formally expressed concern that “good actors” (i.e., those who adopted practices before program implementation) should not be excluded from program benefits. Including all who use an eligible practice addresses this concern, avoids problems of early adopters of desired practices reverting to detrimental ones in order to become eligible to participate, and would be easier to implement as it eliminates the need to differentiate between current adopters and farmers who adopt because of the program.Research has shown that targeting programs to induce adoption of conservation tillage could cut program costs by more than 50 percent depending on the scale of the program. Approximately 36 percent of U.S. cropland was under some form of conservation tillage last year, and the effect of policies that encourage adoption of conservation tillage should be measured relative to this baseline adoption rate. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of many practices vary widely depending on soils, topology, climate, and location. Consequently, linking program criteria to the level of environmental benefits could help maximize environmental gains.Programs that encourage environmentally friendly practices may be easier to implement if they do not require measurement, verification, or monitoring of specific environmental benefits. However, a policy that does include measuring, monitoring, and verification might generate more real environmental benefits, encourage innovation in measurement methods, and facilitate GHG emissions trading. Short of measuring specific GHG reductions, regional, practice-based benchmarks or baselines can be used. The approach of offering an incentive for adopting a practice could be coupled with additional incentives if measurement, monitoring, and verification are undertaken.Pilot Programs. A pilot program would be a relatively low-cost way to demonstrate the feasibility of encouraging a large proportion of farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices. Pilot projects in a range of geographic areas, cropping and animal husbandry systems, and farm sizes could be selected to provide critical information on how many, and what types of, farmers will adopt practices at various subsidy levels, and whether demonstration sites, technical assistance, or other outreach efforts are effective. Pilot programs could also serve to test methods for measurement, monitoring, and verification. Beyond the Farm BillEmissions Trading. Emissions trading has the potential to bring income into the agricultural sector from external sources. Electricity generators and other industries with relatively high marginal GHG emission reduction costs are already experimenting with purchasing GHG reductions from farmers who increase soil carbon or reduce animal waste emissions. Emissions trading could increase total income flowing into agriculture and decrease the need for government subsidies.Emissions trading can be a cost-effective way to meet a national emission goal. The key to keeping costs low is to include in the market all potential sources of emission reductions, particularly those that can achieve reductions at low costs. Most evidence points to agriculture as being a low-cost provider of GHG reductions. The costs of sequestering soil carbon and reducing agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions are likely low relative to the costs of emission reductions from fossil fuel combustion.Emissions trading would increase the need for more elaborate baseline information and measurement, monitoring, and verification systems because buyers of GHG reductions need to document, and be confident, that the reductions have taken place. Although there is substantial U.S. experience in point source emissions trading, there is very limited experience with trading programs that allow trades to take place between point and non-point source emitters, and most agricultural emission reduction options are non-point. In addition, in an emissions trading program that includes the agricultural sector, contracts would have to be designed: (a) to address possible post-contract losses in the case of stored carbon; and (b) to prevent current users of climate-friendly practices from abandoning these practices in a quest for reductions to sell. Trading arrangements limited to GHG reductions may be less effective than trading approaches that also include other environmental benefits such as water quality improvements.Biofuels and Bioenergy Legislation. Policies that encourage biofuel and bioenergy research and use could improve their competitive position, provide environmental co-benefits, and enable these fuels to play a significant role in GHG mitigation. For example, to improve the net GHG benefits of ethanol, technological advances are needed in feedstock production and conversion processes. Biofuel use can be encouraged by equalizing the price of biofuels and fossil fuels. The current market for ethanol exists only because a gallon of ethanol is taxed at a lower rate than a gallon of gasoline at the federal level and in some states.Increased use of fuels and energy from biomass could also be accomplished through new laws. For example, Minnesota mandates that only ethanol blends be sold instead of pure gasoline and is considering a similar mandate for biodiesel. In the Midwest, Environmental Protection Agency summer air pollution reduction mandates are achieved through use of ethanol. Vermont has explicitly included farming operations in its net metering rules, thus removing a key barrier to the use of biomass for generation of electricity. A number of states have established renewable portfolio standards, under which a set fraction of electricity must be generated using renewable resources, including biomass.Water Quality Initiatives. Initiatives designed to meet water quality goals can induce changes in agricultural practices that also contribute to GHG reduction goals. For example, water quality can be improved by practices that increase carbon storage and reduce CH4 and N2O emissions. Such practices include conservation tillage, use of buffer strips, conversion of cropland into grass or forestland, efficient use of fertilizers, and improved management of animal wastes.Benefits and Costs to U.S. AgricultureDepending upon the form of the policy implemented, U.S. agricultural producers stand to gain financially from programs that effectively promote GHG reductions. For many farmers, climate-friendly practices and land use make good financial sense, independent of policies to promote them. Providing more and better information might lead more of these farmers to adopt such practices. Other farmers find that climate-friendly practices do not make financial sense for them, and would only increase their use of climate-friendly practices if financial inducements were available. These farmers would adopt new practices if the payments were large enough to cover all costs associated with switching practices, including:Direct costs. These include the cost of new equipment, lower crop yields, or loss in profits caused by crop-switching.Indirect costs. For example, experience indicates that six years may be needed to successfully switch from conventional tillage to no-till, a period during which farmers may experience increased risks and workloads.Even though agriculture may be a low-cost provider of GHG emission reductions, a full cost analysis needs to include the costs of monitoring and verifying those reductions, regardless of who bears those costs. ConclusionsAgriculture could play a significant role in addressing climate change. In doing so, agriculture may be able to tap additional revenue sources. Farmers will likely reap economic benefits, emitters could reduce their GHG reduction costs, and the public could receive greater environmental benefits from farm payments. The magnitude of environmental benefits will depend on what policy is adopted, the care with which trade-offs inherent in agricultural practice changes are weighed, and how the policy is implemented.Download the PDF [1] Endnotes1 Source: U.S. EPA. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-1999. Historically, agricultural practices caused losses of soil carbon resulting in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As of 1990 U.S. agricultural soils are estimated to be either losing or gaining small amounts of carbon (between a loss of 2 million metric tons carbon (MMTC)/yr to a gain of 10 MMTC/yr).Return To Brief2 This Brief describes major reduction opportunities. Other more limited and emerging opportunities will be examined in future Pew reports.Return To Brief3 This potential is a result of soils’ capacity to regain the carbon lost due to previous management practices. Sources: Bruce, J.P., et al. Carbon Sequestration in Soils. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 54:382-389. Lal, R., et al. Managing U.S. Cropland to Sequester Carbon in Soil. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 54:374-381. Sperow, M, et al. Potential Soil C Sequestration on U.S. Agricultural Soils. Unpublished Paper.Return To Brief4 At least 18 states now allow customers with their own electric generating systems (such as rooftop solar photovoltaic panels) to sell unused electricity back to their local electric utility. To accomplish this, these states have established “net metering” to measure electricity sent into the power grid from customers as well as electricity drawn from the grid.Return To Brief5 Rice production contributes approximately 6% to U.S. agricultural CH4 emissions. Improved water, residue and fertilizer management offer opportunities to reduce these emissions, as do changes in types or mixes of rice grown and fertilizers used.Return To Brief6 Source: U.S. EPA. Methane Emissions 1990-2020: Inventories, Projections and Opportunities for Reductions. EPA 430-R-99-013, September 1999.Return To Brief Energy & Technology Source URL: http://www.c2es.org/publications/agricultures-role-addressing-climate-change Links:[1] http://www.c2es.org/docUploads/policy_inbrief_ag.pdf

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/3231

Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures | Earth Policy Institute Earth Policy Institute Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures Chapter 8. Reversing China’s Harvest Decline: Turning Abroad for Grain Each of the grains that together account for 96 percent of China’s production—wheat, rice, and corn—is suffering a decline. Even with an improved wheat harvest in 2004, production still fell short of consumption by 12 million tons, an amount equal to the entire wheat harvest of Argentina. When the country’s wheat stocks are depleted within the next year or so, the entire shortfall will have to be covered from imports. In some ways, the rice deficit is even more serious. Trying to cover an annual rice shortfall of 10 million tons in a world where annual rice exports total only 26 million tons could create chaos in the world rice economy. And with a corn shortfall of 12 million tons and stocks already largely depleted, China may soon be importing corn as well. 38 Before the 70-million-ton drop in China’s grain production from 1998 to 2003, the country was producing a modest exportable surplus of 5–10 million tons a year. (See Figure 8–3.) Now this has changed. By 2003, grain production had fallen 56 million tons below consumption. With the harvest upturn in 2004, the shortfall improved but still stood at 35 million tons. 39 China has been covering its grain shortfall in recent years by drawing down its stocks. After peaking at 326 million tons in 1999, China’s carryover stocks of grain plummeted to 102 million tons in 2004. (See Figure 8–4.) At this level, stocks amount to little more than pipeline supplies and cannot be drawn down much farther. This means that within another year or two shortfalls will have to be covered entirely by importing grain. 40 The decline in the grain harvest from 1998 to 2003 alarmed China’s leaders. So did the rise in grain prices beginning in the fall of 2003. The year-to-year rise of nearly 30 percent in grain prices between 2003 and 2004 forced the government to draw down its shrinking stocks of grain even faster in an effort to stabilize food prices. 41 In late 2003 and early 2004, Chinese wheat-buying delegations purchased 8 million tons of wheat in Australia, the United States, and Canada. Within two years China went from being essentially self-sufficient to being the world’s leading wheat importer. In March China made small purchases of rice from Thailand and Viet Nam for immediate import, suggesting that the internal rice situation, at least in some localities, was also beginning to tighten. In late August 2004, Beijing sought to buy 500,000 tons of rice from Hanoi, but was told that, given the export restrictions designed to ensure domestic rice price stability, Viet Nam could not deliver any rice until early 2005. 42 Concerned with falling production and the threat of politically destabilizing rises in food prices, the government announced an emergency appropriation in March 2004—increasing its agricultural budget by 20 percent or roughly $3.6 billion. The additional funds were to be used to raise support prices for wheat and rice, the principal food staples, and to improve irrigation infrastructure. For the State Council to approve such an increase outside the normal budgeting process indicates the government’s mounting concern about food security. Nearly all the leaders in Beijing today are survivors of the great famine of 1959–61, when 30 million Chinese starved to death. For them, food security is not an abstraction. 43 On March 29, 2004, the government announced that the support price for the early rice crop would be raised by 21 percent. This got farmers’ attention, as Beijing hoped it would, leading them to plant nearly 2 million additional hectares of rice—a gain of 7 percent from 2003. China’s rice harvest rose from 112 million tons in 2003 to an estimated 126 million tons in 2004. This 14-million-ton gain was the result of both stronger incentives and a recovery from last year’s weather-depressed yields. Overall, grain production was up 21 million tons in 2004. The much smaller gains for wheat and corn were, as with rice, due to a combination of better weather and stronger prices. 44 While stronger prices can temporarily reverse the decline in China’s grain production, they do not eliminate the forces that are shrinking China’s grainland area and thus its harvest. Unless Beijing can quickly adopt policies to protect its cropland, continued shrinkage of the grain harvest and mounting dependence on imported grain may be inevitable. A sense of how quickly China can turn to the world market can be seen with soybeans. As recently as 1997, the nation was essentially self-sufficient in soybeans. (See Figure 8–5.) In 2004, it imported 22 million tons—dwarfing the 5 million tons imported by Japan, formerly the world’s leading soybean importer. The Chinese economy is so large and so dynamic that its import needs can shake the entire world. Its soaring soybean needs, combined with a sub-par harvest in the United States in 2003, led to a temporary doubling of world soybean prices during the early months of 2004. 45 Over the longer term, China’s grain imports are likely to climb to levels never before seen. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan today each import roughly 70 percent of their total grain supply. If China were to do the same, it would be importing 280 million tons per year. This exceeds current world grain imports by all countries of just over 200 million tons. This is obviously not going to happen, but what sort of adjustments will prevent China from following the path of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan? What sort of economic stresses will develop in the world as China willingly or unwillingly is pushed in the same direction as the earlier Japan syndrome countries? What sort of stresses will develop within China if the world cannot supply the vast imports it needs? 46

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/3232

- 71: Melting Mountain Glaciers Will Shrink Grain Harvests in China and India | EPI “Lester Brown tells us how to build a more just world and save the planet...in a practical, straightforward way. We should all heed his advice.” –Former President Bill Clinton Melting Mountain Glaciers Will Shrink Grain Harvests in China and India Lester R. Brown The world is now facing a climate-driven shrinkage of river-based irrigation water supplies. Mountain glaciers in the Himalayas and on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau are melting and could soon deprive the major rivers of India and China of the ice melt needed to sustain them during the dry season. In the Ganges, the Yellow, and the Yangtze river basins, where irrigated agriculture depends heavily on rivers, this loss of dry-season flow will shrink harvests.The world has never faced such a predictably massive threat to food production as that posed by the melting mountain glaciers of Asia. China and India are the world’s leading producers of both wheat and rice—humanity’s food staples. China’s wheat harvest is nearly double that of the United States, which ranks third after India. With rice, these two countries are far and away the leading producers, together accounting for over half of the world harvest. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that Himalayan glaciers are receding rapidly and that many could melt entirely by 2035. If the giant Gangotri Glacier that supplies 70 percent of the Ganges flow during the dry season disappears, the Ganges could become a seasonal river, flowing during the rainy season but not during the summer dry season when irrigation water needs are greatest. Yao Tandong, a leading Chinese glaciologist, reports that the glaciers on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau in western China are now melting at an accelerating rate. He believes that two thirds of these glaciers could be gone by 2060, greatly reducing the dry-season flow of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. Like the Ganges, the Yellow River, which flows through the arid northern part of China, could become seasonal. If this melting of glaciers continues, Yao says, “[it] will eventually lead to an ecological catastrophe.” Even as India and China face these future disruptions in river flows, overpumping is depleting the underground water resources that both countries also use for irrigation. For example, water tables are falling everywhere under the North China Plain, the country’s principal grain-producing region. When an aquifer is depleted, the rate of pumping is necessarily reduced to the rate of recharge. In India, water tables are falling and wells are going dry in almost every state.On top of this already grim shrinkage of underground water resources, losing the river water used for irrigation could lead to politically unmanageable food shortages. The Ganges River, for example, which is the largest source of surface water irrigation in India, is a leading source of water for the 407 million people living in the Gangetic Basin. In China, both the Yellow and Yangtze rivers depend heavily on ice melt for their dry-season flow. The Yellow River basin is home to 147 million people whose fate is closely tied to the river because of low rainfall in the basin. The Yangtze is China’s leading source of surface irrigation water, helping to produce half or more of China’s 130-million-ton rice harvest. It also meets many of the other water needs of the watershed’s 368 million people. (See data.)The population in either the Yangtze or Gangetic river basin is larger than that of any country other than China or India. And the ongoing shrinkage of underground water supplies and the prospective shrinkage of river water supplies are occurring against a startling demographic backdrop: by 2050 India is projected to add 490 million people and China 80 million.In a world where grain prices have recently climbed to record highs, with no relief in sight, any disruption of the wheat or rice harvests due to water shortages in these two leading grain producers will greatly affect not only people living there but consumers everywhere. In both of these countries, food prices will likely rise and grain consumption per person can be expected to fall. In India, where just over 40 percent of all children under five years of age are underweight and undernourished, hunger will intensify and child mortality will likely climb. For China, a country already struggling to contain food price inflation, there may well be spreading social unrest as food supplies tighten. Food security in China is a highly sensitive issue. Anyone in China who is 50 years of age or older is a survivor of the Great Famine of 1959–61, when, according to official figures, 30 million Chinese starved to death. This is also why Beijing has worked so hard in recent decades to try and maintain grain self-sufficiency. As food shortages unfold, China will try to hold down domestic food prices by using its massive dollar holdings to import grain, most of it from the United States, the world’s leading grain exporter. Even now, China, which a decade or so ago was essentially self-sufficient in soybeans, is importing 70 percent of its supply, helping drive world soybean prices to an all-time high. As irrigation water supplies shrink, Chinese consumers will be competing with Americans for the U.S. grain harvest. India, too, may try to import large quantities of grain, although it may lack the economic resources to do so, especially if grain prices keep climbing. Many Indians will be forced to tighten their belts further, including those who have no notches left.The glaciologists have given us a clear sense of how fast glaciers are shrinking. The challenge now is to translate their findings into national energy policies designed to save the glaciers. At issue is not just the future of mountain glaciers, but the future of world grain harvests. The alternative to this civilization-threatening scenario is to abandon business-as-usual energy policies and move to cut carbon emissions 80 percent—not by 2050 as many political leaders suggest, because that will be too late, but by 2020, as outlined in Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. The first step is to ban new coal-fired power plants, a move that is fast gaining momentum in the United States. Ironically, the two countries that are planning to build most of the new coal-fired power plants, China and India, are precisely the ones whose food security is most massively threatened by the carbon emitted from burning coal. It is now in their interest to try and save their mountain glaciers by shifting energy investment from coal-fired power plants into energy efficiency and into wind farms, solar thermal power plants, and geothermal power plants. China, for example, can double its current electrical generating capacity from wind alone. We know from studying earlier civilizations that declined and collapsed that it was often shrinking harvests that were responsible. For the Sumerians, it was rising salt concentrations in the soil that lowered wheat and barley yields and brought down this remarkable early civilization. For the Mayans, it was soil erosion following deforestation that undermined their agriculture and set the stage for their demise. For our twenty-first century civilization, it is rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and the associated rise in temperature that threatens future harvests. At issue is whether we can mobilize to lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations before higher temperatures melt the mountain glaciers that feed the major rivers of Asia and elsewhere, and before shrinking harvests lead to an unraveling of our civilization. The good news is that we have the energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to dramatically reduce CO2 concentrations if we choose to do so. Major Asian River Basins Vulnerable to Glacial Melt (XLS) Top Ten Producers of Corn, Wheat, Rice, and Total Grains, 2007 (XLS) Snow and Ice Melt Around the World Affecting Food and Water Security (XLS) Lester R. Brown, Chapters 3, 11, and 12 in Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008). Lester R. Brown, Outgrowing the Earth (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005). Lester R. Brown, “U.S. Moving Toward Ban on New Coal-Fired Power Plants,” Eco-Economy Update, 14 February 2008. Lester R. Brown, “Why Ethanol Production Will Drive World Food Prices Even Higher in 2008,” Eco-Economy Update, 24 January 2008. Lester R. Brown, “World Grain Stocks Fall to 57 Days of Consumption: Grain Prices Starting to Rise,” Eco-Economy Indicator, 15 June 2006. Janet Larsen, “Disappearing Lakes, Shrinking Seas,” Eco-Economy Update, 7 April 2005. Lester R. Brown, “China’s Shrinking Grain Harvest,” Eco-Economy Update, 10 March 2004. Lester R. Brown, “Wakeup Call on the Food Front,” Eco-Economy Update, 16 December 2003. Frances C. Moore, “Ice Melt Accelerates Around the World,” Eco-Economy Indicator, 4 February 2008. Elizabeth Mygatt, “World’s Water Resources Face Mounting Pressure,” Eco-Economy Indicator, 26 July 2006. C. M. Wong et al., World’s Top Ten Rivers at Risk (Gland, Switzerland: WWF, March 2007). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group 2 (Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007). U. N. Environment Programme, Global Outlook for Ice and Snow (Nairobi, Kenya: 2007). International Water Management Institute United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization USDA Production Supply and Distribution World Glacier Monitoring Service

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/3906

Will the required spray nozzles for auxin crops work for peanuts? Nov 15, 2016 Myths and facts about US hemp farming today Nov 09, 2016 Demand growing for grafted tomato and cucurbit plants Nov 15, 2016 What to know about XtendiMax stipulations, recommendations for cotton Nov 16, 2016 Crops>Peanuts Fewer tobacco growers seen in Georgia for 2005 Paul Hollis | May 04, 2005 More acres in the hands of fewer growers. That pretty much describes the Georgia tobacco production situation for 2005, according to J. Michael Moore, University of Georgia Extension tobacco specialist. While the state's agricultural statistics service is predicting a relatively small drop in Georgia tobacco acres this year — from 23,500 to 19,000 — Moore says only about half of the approximately 1,000 growers who planted tobacco in 2004 will plant again this year. And, he adds, the predicted acres for 2005 is questionable. "The numbers are very fuzzy," he says. "There's no required reporting anywhere of contracted pounds. The only information you can get is word-of-mouth, and I'm not sure how much stock to put into that. It's a guess." This will be a transitional year for Georgia tobacco producers, says Moore. This past fall, the federal government ended the tobacco quota program that began in the 1930s. The program helped farmers receive consistent prices and guaranteed a steady supply for U.S. tobacco companies. Tobacco companies are scheduled to pay growers about $10 billion in compensation over the next 10 years in the form of a quota buyout. The buyout and uncertain future have prompted many Georgia growers to exit tobacco production, says Moore. "There's also a lot of uncertainty and concern because we're now faced with late decisions on contracts, resulting in the late seeding of beds and delayed orders for greenhouse plants. All of this meant that our plant situation was tight to begin with. Now, we've had 12 inches of rain in a two-week period, and only a few growers have been able to get into their fields," said Moore in mid-April. Transplanting is running behind, says Moore, certainly behind the April 7 cutoff date for reducing the incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus in tobacco. At a time when more than half of Georgia's crop usually has been planted, only 5 percent had been planted, he says. The planting window normally is March 20 to April 20. Those farmers who still grow tobacco now contract their crop directly with the tobacco companies, says Moore, and many are disgruntled with this year's offerings. "Companies didn't offer the contracts until late, and growers were not pleased, especially with the Reynolds and Universal contracts. They were very low. Also, the Reynolds contract requires dropping one-third of the leaves on the bottom part of the plant onto the ground, and not harvesting them. This reduces yields by about 20 percent and reduces the overall value of the crop by about 15 percent, according to North Carolina data," he says. The average price for tobacco last year was $1.85 per pound while contracts this year are about 35 to 40 cents less, he says. This is near the break-even level for many growers. Growers do expect to receive buyout checks by the end of September, says Moore. But in the meantime, there's no ready capital to pay operating expenses. "We have a good number of growers who have retired, and some who have turned their operations over to family members. There doesn't appear to be another crop that's directly replacing tobacco. Some growers are in limbo, and they're not sure what they’ll be doing." Some growers have said that they'll sit out this year and possibly grow tobacco again next year, but Moore doesn't think that's likely. "I believe once a grower has sat out for a year, he probably won't come back. Many growers have sold barns and other equipment needed for producing tobacco." But it's still too early, he says, to count out Georgia tobacco growers. Once the U.S. tobacco industry settles from this transition year, the companies may want a more stable supply that's closer to home, and they'll increase their contracts with U.S. farmers, says Moore. e-mail: [email protected]

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/4100

USA Experts Say World Will Feel Record Texas Drought August 16, 2011 8:00 PM Greg Flakus A dead fish lays near sailboats left high and dry at Benbrook Lake in Benbrook, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011. A report issued Wednesday by the Texas Agrilife Extension Service, an agency of the southwestern state, indicates that this year's drought in Texas is among the worst on record and that agricultural production has fallen because of it. That is bad news for consumers around the world.More than 90 percent of the state is feeling severe or extreme effects of the drought. The costs have broken previous records, according to economist David Anderson, who spoke to VOA via Skype from his office at the Texas Agrilife Extension Service at Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University economist David Anderson “The effect of the drought so far has been an estimated $5.2 billion through August 1 and that includes both crop losses and livestock losses to date. That eclipses the old drought record of $4.1 billion in 2006. So we are more than $1 billion ahead of the old record," he said.Anderson says about $2 billion of the losses have been in livestock. Many ranchers and farmers have sold their cattle herds because water is scarce in some areas and because hay production in the state has fallen so low that they are forced to buy expensive hay from out of state to feed their cattle.David Anderson says reduced herds caused by this drought will affect beef supplies worldwide for some time to come. “We are a large exporter in terms of beef around the world. Texas is the largest beef producing state [in the United States]. We have the biggest cattle herd of any state in the United States, so one of the effects in the future is that beef is going to be more expensive," he said.Texas does not produce a significant amount of the corn grown in the United States, but the 30 percent drop in production here will have an impact on the international market, where Anderson says demand is strong.Texas is also a wheat-producing state. And Anderson says the concern now is whether rain will arrive in time to save next year's crop. “A lot of the wheat that is grown in Texas is planted in the fall, and we are really getting close to the time when we need to have rainfall and moisture in the ground to at least be able to plan and then plant the wheat crop that will be harvested next year," he said.Drought is not new to Texas. The Lone Star state has suffered through many of them - the longest drought being the dry period that started in 1949 and ended in 1957. Droughts in more recent years have not lasted as long, but they have been frequent enough to disrupt agricultural production and drive some producers out of business. But David Anderson says most people engaged in agriculture in this weather-challenged state know the risks and try to deal with them. “It really is a very uncertain climate and uncertain environment. And I think farmers and ranchers understand that and they manage through that. While we do have droughts that happen, you get a good year that gets you through the bad years, essentially," he said.Normally, this is the time of year when people living near the Gulf of Mexico coast worry about tropical storms and hurricanes. But this year, parched Texans are hoping one will come soon and bring much needed rain. Texas Suffers Worst Drought Year on Record

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/4108

Howard Buffett Uses Money & Science to Take on Hunger Posted by WB on 24 July 2013, 7:18 pm When Howard Buffett finds himself behind the will of a farm tractor he acts like a 58-year-old, gray-haired kid. He even went on to describe the tractor’s GPS system as “very cool.” “I’m driving hands-free,” said Howard Buffett, son of billionaire business leader Warren Buffett. He went on to mention that the tractor has been set to automatically plan 16 perfect rows of seeds, “so it makes everything more efficient. And it’s going to give you a better crop in the end.” Howard owns a 1400 acre research farm in Southern Arizona, which is about an hour to the east of Tucson. He is hoping to efficiently use land better and produce better crops. He’s hoping to achieve this for poor sustenance farmers as well as the large corporate farmers too. His charitable foundation – Howard G. Buffett Foundation – has been working hard in an effort to reduce hunger throughout the entire world. When Howard was a child, he enjoyed playing in the dirt. It’s no prize that he grew up to be a farmer. When his father Warren Buffett gave him money for his foundation – in the amount of about $2 billion at this time – it wasn’t difficult for the younger Buffett son to figure out what he planned to do with the money. Howard tells us that it really doesn’t make sense when millions of small farmers around the globe have a difficult time feeding their families. It’s also ludicrous that millions of Americans struggle to eat nutritious meals each and every day. “You’ve got a global food problem,” he says. “You’ve got a food problem in the United States. You’ve got a food problem in Africa… In Asia. And so the truth is, the US is going to have to produce more, on not very many more acres, honestly. And so we’re going to have to do a better job.” This is the precise reason why Buffett has this research firm and to others that are just like it. One is in South Africa and the other is in Illinois. It’s surprising that Howard Buffett is such a hands-on, down-to-earth guy. He is a rich philanthropist after all, so it’s kind of unexpected. The research farm tests many different things, including: planting techniques, irrigation and soil content. They are also working on making land prone to droughts more productive. When they succeed, they will find ways to get the information to other struggling farmers all across the world, including Africa. Buffett and company are also testing to oxen – named Earl and Ike – in order to find out which farm implements they will be able to carry. They also want to find out how long they can carry them. This should help the poor farmers efficiently use their animals. Howard Buffett has also received many awards. He’s even received an award from the United Nations World Food Program. This is in recognition of the work that his foundation does on a global scale. In recent years, he has turned his attention toward solving the domestic hunger crisis. In Buffett’s opinion, it doesn’t make sense to ignore what’s going on right in front of your eyes. Even know it isn’t as obvious as other countries, Buffett reminds us that hunger in the United States does exist. Last year, Howard’s foundation teamed up with a network of United States food banks called Feeding America. They set up a program called Invest an Acre. This program encourages local farmers to donate at least one acre worth of crops – or more if possible – to the local food banks. Buffett also has plans in the works to allow farmers to use land for free, and this is in the experimentation phase. But they have to donate half of their crop to a food bank. Buffett grew 60,000 pounds of pinto beans last year for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, which is based in Tucson. The proprietor of the food bank, Bill Carnegie, mentioned that Buffett showed up one day out of nowhere and asked what he could do to help. That’s when Carnegie mentioned that protein rich pinto beans were very important and a staple for his clients. “He probably saved us somewhere around $100,000 on this one contribution. So we’re just very happy,” says Carnegie. He also says that he’s quite happy with Buffett’s holistic approach to hunger issues. Buffett understands that it’s a lot more complicated than getting lots of food and then giving it to those who are in need. He understands that it’s about making people self-reliant over the long run. Carnegie mentions that the economy might be recovering somewhat, but the people coming to his door are growing in numbers. Buffett mentions that it doesn’t have to be this way. “Eliminating hunger in America is doable, because we have the resources to do it,” said Buffett. Buffett also recalled visiting a school in Decatur, Illinois, his hometown, where roughly 92% of the students receive reduced price meals or they get them for free. Ironically, the school is located very close to the largest corn plant in the world, and it produces hundreds of thousands of bushels of corn each and every day. “The trains go out of town past kids that don’t get to eat every day,” says Buffett. Buffett also mentions how he’ll never forget about a couple that he met while visiting a food bank in Fresno, California – an unemployed accountant and her husband who was in out of work aerospace mechanic. “They said… ‘The worst part is when we go out, we wait for it to get dark and dig through dumpsters and see what we can find,’” recalls Buffett. “And I’m thinking, you know, this is America, you know, the American dream. Well, this is not the American dream.” It’s certainly not the American dream that his wealthy family grew up with. Buffett understands that he has been given a tremendous gift. That’s why he is attempting to do something that will have a lasting impact on the world. He understands that most people aren’t that lucky. Filed under Charity, Howard Buffett | Tagged Africa, Asia, berkshire hathaway, Bill Carnegie, California, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Decatur, Feeding America, Fresno, howard buffett, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Illinois, Invest an Acre, irrigation, pinto beans, planting techniques, soil content, United Nations World Food Program, United States, warren buffett | Comment « Buffett Attends Opening of Carmel Geico Service Center Did Munger Create a Mini Berkshire at the Daily Journal? »

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/5300

53-year-old Dies in Tricycle Tractor Overturn while Transporting Round Bale KY FACE #98KY049 Date: 15 October 1998 Summary A 53-year-old full-time farmer (the victim) was crushed to death when the tractor he was operating overturned. At 1:45 pm, the victim was moving a large round bale of hay with a hay spike mounted on the front of a tractor. The tractor was not equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS) or a seatbelt. The farmer, who was sharecropping, was moving rolled hay from a field to a wagon in preparation for transportation to his farm. Hydraulics were used to lift the approximately 1500-pound spiked bale, and the farmer began driving toward the wagon. He proceeded along a tobacco field road, which was bordered on the left by a tobacco field and on the right by a three-acre grass covered sinkhole. (See figure 1.) The field road was approximately 12 feet wide and went along the upper rim of the sinkhole at a slope of nearly 25 degrees downward into the sinkhole. The tractor overturned 180 degrees, resting on the left wheel and pinning the victim against the ground. A farmer in a neighboring field witnessed the event and immediately came to assist the victim. Unable to assist, he went for help. The victim was pronounced dead by the coroner at the scene. In order to prevent similar incidents, it is recommended that: tractors be retrofitted with rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seatbelts; tractor operators evaluate field roads and determine a safe travel route prior to use of such roads; and, tractor operators consider using rear-mounted attachments to transport round bales. INTRODUCTION On July 17, 1998, a farmer was killed in a tractor overturn. On July 20, the deputy coroner notified the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center of the incident and a site investigation was scheduled. On July 27, a FACE investigator, along with a nurse from the Community Partners for Healthy Farming (CPHF) Project and the deputy coroner, traveled to the scene. Interviews were conducted with the deputy coroner, the landowner's son, and the tractor owner's son, who was an eyewitness to the overturn. Photos taken by the deputy coroner were reviewed. During the course of the investigation a copy of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) report was obtained. The tractor and scene were photographed. An equipment manufacturer's safety representative and an agricultural engineer were consulted. The victim in this case had been a full-time farmer for ten years but had farmed part-time all his life. He had previously been employed at a tobacco warehouse. No prior farm injuries had been reported. The victim was taking medication for high blood pressure at the time of the incident but was otherwise in good health. INVESTIGATION At about 7:00 am on July 17, 1998, the victim borrowed a 460 Farmall International tricycle tractor from a neighbor to move large round hay bales from another neighbor's property to his own. This was the second cutting this year. He had planned to move three of the large round bales to his property. The witness reported that the victim's usual custom was to drive along the upper perimeter of the sinkhole to transport the bales to a wagon, and then drive a tractor and wagon on the public roadway to his farm. (See figure 1.) The side of the sinkhole was bordered by a tobacco patch and was the route he chose to take on the day of the incident. His normal route, to go around the sinkhole, was about three times as long as the direct route he chose the day of the incident. As he drove the tractor on the upper rim of the sinkhole (25-degree slope), the tractor overturned to the right, causing the left wheel to come to rest on the victim's back, compressing his chest and pinning him between the rear tire and the ground. The witness, who was in a neighboring field, went to the victim, checked for vital signs and then summoned help by calling 911. EMS received the call at 1:58 pm and arrived at 2:11. The rescue squad and sheriff were also dispatched to the scene. A hydraulic jack was first used to try to lift the tractor off the victim, but it was unsuccessful. Air bags were then used to successfully lift and support the tractor so the victim could be removed. The coroner pronounced the victim dead at 2:20 pm as a result of asphyxia. The tractor, a Farmall International tricycle gasoline powered tractor (42 hp PTO), manufactured between 1958 and 1963, was not equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS) or a seatbelt. The tractor was equipped with a PTO guard. Both rear tires were fluid-filled with calcium chloride, and each had two 150-pound wheel weights. The tractor's brakes and clutch were in good working condition. Wheels were of non-solid cast iron, approximately 7/8-inch thick, with eight projections from the center of each tire's rim. A front end loader was attached to the unit. It projected along the sides of the tractor and extended out in the front where a hay fork was mounted. Distance between the rear tires was 75 inches. Distance between the rear and front tires was 90 inches. Rear tires measured 58 inches in diameter. The victim had borrowed this tractor and used it many times in the past for similar work. The current owner of the tractor had owned it for about five years. Overall the tractor was in good condition for one 35-40 years old. The site of the incident was a grass-covered 8-acre hayfield that bordered a tobacco field. The victim was transporting a moist round bale weighing approximately 1500 pounds along the upper ridge of the sinkhole next to the tobacco field. Slope of the land at the point of overturn was about 25 degrees. Reportedly the right rear tire went into a slight depression in the ground, causing the tractor to overturn. The witness reported that the victim did not have the bale higher than necessary to allow free clearance from the ground. Due to the overturn the tractor seat was damaged and the muffler was broken off. The rear rim of the right tire was broken along four of the projections. The front end loader attached to the tractor was not damaged. The steering wheel was broken. The right rear cast wheel was broken. It is not known if the wheel broke and caused the overturn or if the overturn caused the wheel to break. Cause of Death The victim died of compression asphyxia due to multiple injuries sustained in a tractor overturn. No autopsy was done. Recommendations/Discussion Recommendation #1: Tractor owners and operators should contact their county extension agent, local equipment dealer or equipment manufacturer to see if rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seatbelts are available for their tractors. Discussion #1: The tractor in this incident, manufactured between 1958 and 1963, was not equipped with a ROPS or a seatbelt, which protect the operator in the event of an overturn. ROPS first became available as optional equipment on farm tractors in 1971. Since 1976 employers have been required to provide ROPS and safety belts for all farms with 11 or more employees. Since 1985, all new tractors sold in the US have been equipped with ROPS and safety belts. The cost for a ROPS for a 460 International Farmall is about $1,225 plus shipping and installation. In this case a ROPS could have been installed on the tractor but it would have been necessary to remove the front end loader first because each attachment uses the same mounting point on the axle housing. A custom-fit ROPS could be manufactured, tested and mounted for about $5,500. The estimated value of the tractor is $2,000. Since 1994, 55 Kentucky farmers have died as a result of tractor overturns. Only one of those farmers who died had a ROPS on his farm tractor. He died because he was not wearing a seatbelt and fell and was crushed. Seatbelts must be used with ROPS-equipped tractors to hold the operators within a zone of protection. Seatbelts should not be used with tractors which are not ROPS-equipped. The tractor involved in this incident weighed 5,263 pounds. Even if rescue equipment is readily available at the scene, getting the victim out from under the tractor can be difficult and time consuming. Asphyxia caused by the weight of the tractor on the victim's chest - which does not allow the victim to take in air - is one of the leading causes of death in tractor overturns. Recommendation #2: Operators should evaluate field roads and determine a safe travel route prior to use of such roads. Discussion #2: In this case the path chosen by the victim was a shorter distance than the more level path. For an unknown reason, the victim decided to drive the tractor along the tobacco patch to the wagon. Operators should consider all hazards, such as the slope of the land and depressions in the road, when operating equipment. Recommendation #3: Operators should consider using rear-mounted attachments to transport round bales. Discussion # 3: Bales can be transported more safely by tractors equipped with rear-mounted attachments. The likelihood of tractor overturns sideways or backward is reduced because bales are carried in a lower position than when hauled with front end loaders. Tricycle wheels, excessive weight, and trailing equipment all contribute to tractor instability and can cause the tractor's center of gravity to shift, leading to an overturn. REFERENCES Standard Number 1928.51, Subpart C, US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA CD-ROM (OSHA A94-2), February 1994. Unpublished FACE data 1994-1997. Offical Guide, Tractors and Farm Equipment. North American Equipment Dealers Association. Fall 1994. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Farm Tractor-Related Fatalities--Kentucky, 1994." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 44:26; July 7, 1995. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Fatalities Associated With Large Round Bales- Minnesota, 1994-1996." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 47:02; January 23, 1998. To contact Kentucky State FACE program personnel regarding State-based FACE reports, please use information listed on the Contact Sheet on the NIOSH FACE web site Please contact In-house FACE program personnel regarding In-house FACE reports and to gain assistance when State-FACE program personnel cannot be reached. Back to Kentucky FACE reports Back to NIOSH FACE Web Get Email Updates

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/5403

As transition occurs in farm bills, good records will be important Hembree Brandon 1 [2] | Mar 08, 2013 In the transition from the old farm bill, under which agriculture is temporarily operating through an extension, to the new farm bill, which Congress may/perhaps/possibly finally get around to passing sometime this year, Mike Sullivan has some advice: Keep good records. “We don’t know what the future holds in terms of new farm legislation, but whatever happens, it will be to your advantage to maintain detailed records,” he said at the annual Northeast Mississippi Producer Advisory Council meeting. “We don’t know what kind of variations there will be between the old legislation and the new,” says Sullivan, who is executive director of the Farm Services Agency for the state of Mississippi. “But if some of them are made retroactive, it’s to your benefit to have the records you need to verify what you’ve done and what you need to report.” Under the extension of the 2008 farm bill, “many of those programs are still in effect. A decision will be made in March on whether to continue the extension or take other action. We’re taking signups now for direct, countercyclical, and ACRE programs, and you can participate just as you have in the past. “Marketing assistance loans are also continued; most have been made for the 2012 crop, but we’ll be taking applications for the 2013 crop. Many of the programs that we’ve been offering in the livestock area — livestock indemnity program, livestock forage program, emergency livestock assistance program, and others — are authorized and extended.” Some of the livestock disaster/assistance programs are not currently funded, Sullivan notes, “but I encourage you to keep good records so, if the time comes and these programs are offered, you’ll be able to document your losses.” It has just been announced, he says, that the Conservation Reserve Program will be offered again, with signups starting May 20. “This has been a great program over the years. We expect to have 65,000 acres of contracts expiring in Mississippi this year, but current high row crop prices may dampen interest in CRP.” During the transition period between farm bills, Sullivan says, producers should be alert to announcements about various programs. “We’re going to do the best we can to keep you informed about what’s available as you’re making plans for the year. “But, many of our services have been affected by budget cuts and cost-cutting measures. For example, we’re no longer able to publish our monthly newsletter that has been mailed to Mississippi farmers. I’d advise you to pay attention to the media for information about these programs. “We are also making information available through e-mails and text messages to cell phones and other devices. You can also apply or sign up for many of our programs on our website. This saves us a lot of money, and can save you time and travel. And of course, you’re always welcome to visit your FSA office for the information you need and for help with any of our programs. “We have taken steps to streamline our operations and become more cost-efficient,” Sullivan says. “With that in mind, please bear with us. We’ll be moving from an expired farm bill situation to a new farm bill, and there will be some adapting necessary during this transition period. “Right now, FSA is under a hiring freeze; we can’t fill positions that are vacant. We have hard-working, dedicated people, who understand your needs and will help you in any way they can. We want our producers to have every opportunity to participate in these programs.” “We also have an excellent cross-section of farmers on our state FSA committee,” Sullivan says. “And there are representatives from the agribusiness sectors, ranging from cattle to catfish to produce — all are people who understand agriculture and where the producer’s coming from. “Agriculture is still the biggest business in Mississippi by far, and what you do in your communities has a very direct effect on our state’s economy and the health of our rural communities.” Source URL: http://www.deltafarmpress.com/blog/transition-occurs-farm-bills-good-records-will-be-important?group_id=37656

农业

2016-50/2593/en_head.json.gz/6474

Produced in-house at the Faculty of Forestry by Susan B. Watts, Editor and Jamie Myers, Designer. Biofuels and bioenergy – challenges and opportunities. Measuring public forest preferences. Possible forest futures: addressing the complexities of multi-value ecosystem management. Sustainability, biodiversity, and western governance. Forestry remote sensing: the view from above. BC Forum on Forest Economics & Policy. North American Forest Ecology Workshop 2007. Local Landscape Ecosystem Management Simulator (LLEMS) FORCEE Forest canopy Spectro-radiometer Laser mapping Land Tenure & Forest Management in British Columbia 36394-Branchlines_v17_no2_Sept2006.pdf [ 1.07MB ] Metadata ranch ines Volume 17 No. 2 September, 2006 Biofuels and bioenergy – challenges and opportunities l b Over the last year or two, there has been a huge surge of interest in biofuels and other forms of bioenergy. Although oil prices have fallen somewhat over the last month or so, they remain relatively high, influencing everything from personal to national budgets. It is certain that uncertainty will continue regarding the future of oil prices, due to the seemingly intractable conflicts in the Middle East oil-rich countries and the vulnerability of other critical oil producing regions to extreme weather events. Governments in Europe, North America and Asia have embraced biofuels and bioenergy to in part address social and economic concerns over global energy supplies. For example, Sweden has a national target of being ‘fossil-fuels free’ by 2020, with bioenergy (including the import of wood pellets from BC) playing a key role in attaining this target. Similarly, roadmaps developed in the US have assessed that country’s potential for biomass growth and biofuel production, and found it may be possible to offset the one billion dollars a day the US currently spends on imported oil. Over the past few years, UBC has been fortunate in obtaining federal and provincial support to establish a world class Clean Energy Centre based out of the Faculty of Applied Science, while our own Faculty has received about $2.5 million to establish a Process Development Unit (PDU) to assess the potential of wood-based biofuels and chemicals. As well as carrying out an active research program and training graduate students in this area, our group within the Faculty act as the Task Leaders for the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) network, coordinating the technical and policy issues influencing the global commercialization of liquid biofuels from biomass. For information, please check the faculty website www. forestry.ubc.ca, or our IEA website at www.task39.org. BRANCH LINES  PAGE 2 BRANCH LINES  PAGE 3 Biofuels and bioenergy – challenges and opportunities (cont.) In August 2006, the Faculty hosted more than 130 experts from around the world to discuss bioenergy development. Senior folks from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa each brought their own unique perspectives to the table and helped define the technical and political challenges and significant opportunities that the current and future biofuels and bioenergy sectors will face. One clear outcome of the meeting was that there are significant opportunities that new biofuel and bioenergy technologies can provide, in terms of social, economic, and environmental returns. The ongoing Mountain pine beetle outbreak, projected to cumulatively impact almost 1 billion m3 of lodgepole pine in the province of British Columbia by 2013, served to provide a focus for the meeting. An outbreak of this size is unprecedented in recorded history. There is an accumulating surplus of standing deadwood in our forests, which increases the danger of catastrophic fires and reduces the merchantable volume of the working forest. While we will try to recover as much of the beetle-killed wood as possible in the short term for structural applications, we know that wood impacted by MPB loses its value as timber over time, and so wood that has been standing dead for extended periods cannot be processed into lumber, pulp or other advanced wood products. In the longer term, development of bioenergy applications may provide us with a cost-effective product that justifies harvesting and replanting activities. In this way, the development of bioenergy could greatly enhance the regeneration of our forests for future use. As keynote speaker for the conference, Dr. Avrim Lazar of the Forest Products Association of Canada highlighted the interest that the forest industry has in bioenergy options, and convincingly showed how the forest industry is already one of Canada’s greatest contributors to lowering our nation’s production of greenhouse gases. For the global forest industry, moving away from fossil fuels is an economic necessity, as volatility associated with fossil fuels has resulted in high energy costs for the industry in recent years. There is a need to extract additional values from our forest resource, and a need to accept ecosystem realities in forest industry practices. Biofuels and bioenergy, which are inherently carbon-neutral and work within the carbon cycle, represent a new model of business which all types of industry could follow. A wide range of options exist for bioenergy production from wood. Bioenergy is essentially the generation of heat from combustion, which can be captured in the form of steam or gas and used to power turbines for electricity production. Biofuels include alcohols such as ethanol as well as methyl esters such as biodiesel. Biofuels can be blended with gasoline or diesel fuels, and are compatible with existing internal combustion engines and fuel distribution systems, and as such offer an immediate alternative to fossil-based fuels. While foods such as starch may be used for biofuel production, lignocellulosics like wood, although challenging to process, represent an important opportunity. There are significant amounts of lignocellulosic biomass available around the world, and conversion of this material to biofuels could significantly reduce the amount of fossil-derived fuel required. Our Faculty is carrying out research which addresses some of the key challenges associated with increased biofuels and bioenergy consumption. Some of these challenges are technical and require investment in research, development and demonstration (RD&D). Moreover, a number of different technological platforms for biofuel production exist, and each should be explored to compare their effectiveness and their ability to produce value-added coproducts. In all cases, the use of wood for biofuel production should be linked to bioenergy and bioproduct generation, creating a ‘biorefinery’ with multiple outputs. The biorefinery concept provides maximum economic and environmental returns by efficiently utilizing all components of the wood. Some of the major challenges will be political, rather than technical. In the short term it will be necessary to increase the financial incentive for using electricity or fuels derived from biomass. In Canada, the cost of electrical power is low enough that bioenergy generation facilities have difficulty in competing. Policies might also be applied to encourage the development of bioenergy production in existing forestry and agricultural processing facilities, such as an accelerated capital-cost write-off schedule. One recent development is the emergence of mandates for biofuel use as seen in Europe, where 5.75% of fuels must be renewable by 2012, as well as in the United States (10% by 2012) and Canada (5% by 2010). The size of the biofuel and bioenergy opportunity in Canada is huge, and biorefinery technologies can and will bring about major changes to the sustainable energy future for our nation. Biomass systems and technologies have potential applications not only in the energy sector, but also in buildings, transport, construction, etc. They have the potential to add long-term, sustainable jobs in rural, urban, and aboriginal communities. To implement these systems, we need trained individuals whose skills cross traditional boundaries and who can understand the technical, political, and ecological ramifications of these technologies. At the Faculty of Forestry, we are dedicated to training individuals who have the skillsets and knowledge necessary to contribute to this sector of the economy. The potential is there; what is needed now is continued collaboration to create technical platforms for effective and sustainable use of bioenergy, and a strong political rationale for putting these platforms to work. For more information contact Dr. Jack Saddler 604- 822-3542 ([email protected] )or Dr. Warren Mabee 604-822-2434 ([email protected].) Thomas Maness is leading a Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Network funded initiative to determine how forest stakeholders’ perceptions and preferences change when they learn more about the challenges involved in balancing tradeoffs. He is joined on this project by Drs. Sheppard, Kozak, and Harshaw as co-investigators, along with a large interdisciplinary team comprised of researchers from BC, Alberta and Ontario. In making decisions about how forests are managed, the managers are forced to make tradeoffs. These tradeoffs are often made in by considering how stakeholders value different characteristics of the forest. But past research has shown that stakeholders’ preferences and values about the forest can change as they learn more about the complexities of forest management. Interacting with the public and developing plans that satisfy their wants and needs is perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing forest managers today. This project will create an interactive planning model that incorporates social, economic, and ecological values. The model will be used by the public to explore how decisions based on their preferences affect the outcomes of a forest plan. Researchers will then study how and why the public makes tradeoffs to create an acceptable plan. The results will be used to develop better planning methods involving the public. The first step in the project is identifying suitable criteria and indicators for the planning model. To this end the researcher team is organizing a workshop at UBC in November to gather experts to discuss and select the criteria and indicators that will frame the model. Next, a user-friendly information kiosk will be developed to present some common forest management issues. This kiosk will be deployed at a number of public locations in Alberta and British Columbia and used to meet the team’s three objectives: To examine people’s trade-offs of forest values over time and space in the context of increased uncertainty; To examine the opportunity costs among ecological, social & economic values which people are typically willing to accept; and To identify how people’s preferences change with improved information on SFM plans. The research team will also be gauging the effectiveness of novel methods of information presentation designed to make the communication of complex spatial and temporal dynamics more useful and meaningful to managers, local stakeholders and community representatives. This will be accomplished using interactive visualization-based interfaces tied to the planning model. The eventual outcome from this project will be tools and extension materials that resource managers and local stakeholders, public advisory groups and community representatives can use in the development of local forest resource management strategies. It is hoped that this approach will boost public confidence in forest planning models and the strategies derived from them. For further information contact Dr. Thomass Maness at 604-822-2150 or [email protected]. • • • Measuring public forest preferencesBRANCH LINES  PAGE 4 BRANCH LINES  PAGE 5 competition, and climate change implications for ecosystem processes. The model has been validated in several forest types and has been used for a wide range of applications including: projections of temporal trends in stand attributes associated with multiple forest values (in support of certification), analyses of forest carbon management, analyses of effects of alternative mountain pine beetle salvage methods on long-term stand dynamics and development, and in developing forest ecosystem reclamation strategies for Alberta’s oil sands region. The growing popularity of complex cutblocks (e.g variable retention systems) and the need for multi- value tradeoff analysis of these systems, for which we lack rotation-length experience, led to the development of a new model: Local Landscape Ecosystem Management Simulator (LLEMS). The spatial resolution of LLEMS is 10x10m. Thanks to a clustering algorithm, LLEMS can address areas of 2000-4000 ha while retaining all of the stand- level capabilities of FORECAST. To facilitate the development of spatial management scenarios and to communicate output from LLEMS we developed an interactive, 3-dimensional visualization management interface with support from Dr. Stephen Sheppard and Duncan Cavens in UBC’s Centre for Advanced Landscape Planning. With the interface, users can create different variable retention harvest scenarios, examine them from different perspectives, and then simulate the long- term growth of the forest after treatment (Fig. 2). The model also provides output describing the spatial and temporal distribution of ecosystem attributes (Fig. 3). Interest in complex stand management (multi species, multi age stands; uniform, multi-entry, partial harvesting systems) led to a further extension of FORECAST into a spatial, individual tree, stand model: FORCEE. FORCEE includes a detailed representation of crown competition for light and root competition for belowground resources. While not yet complete, FORCEE appears to be a promising heuristic tool for exploring the spatial interactions among different tree species in complex stands including boreal mixedwoods, agroforestry systems, and uneven-aged silviculture systems. Data from long term boreal and sub-boreal mixedwood 2. 3. studies and from Canadian and international agroforestry research will provide data for testing model performance. Planned future developments include continued testing of our models against long-term field data, continued development of software capabilities to address user’s needs, and the application of the models in the exploration of policy, practice in forestry and agroforestry, and examination of ecological theory. For more information contact Dr. Hamish Kimmins at 604-822-3549 or [email protected]. A decade ago, Branchlines reported on 20 years of ecosystem management modeling in the Faculty of Forestry. Here we report on progress over the past decade on ecosystem management simulation models (EMSM) developed under the Canada Research Chair in forest ecosystem modeling. In response to increasing societal pressures, forest managers have moved away from a resource extraction paradigm towards an ecosystem management paradigm designed to meet multiple resource objectives including the maintenance of ecosystem processes and sustaining economic production. Many new silviculture systems and landscape management strategies have been developed and put into practice in response to this paradigm shift. However, since we lack long-tem experience of the response of forest resources to such practices, and to the consequences of anthropogenically accelerated climate change, decisions in forestry today should be based on a combination of past forest management experience and an understanding of key ecosystem processes. Forest ecosystems are characterized by function, structure, complexity, and patterns of change. While traditional experience-based forecasting systems will always be useful in forestry for short-term tactical decision making, strategic planning and any planning for which we lack appropriate experience requires decision-support tools that explicitly address these four ecosystem attributes. A new generation of ecosystem management decision-support systems at multiple spatial scales is required in an environment of sustainability, certification and stewardship. These new tools should build on existing experience-based tools by adding our understanding of ecosystem processes. Decision-support systems for the management of ecosystems should function at the ecosystem level, not at the population or biotic community level. Our non-spatial, stand-level, EMSM FORECAST has been improved to provide output for a wide range of variables and associated indices to address the needs of multi-objective forest management. These include: a) economic outputs related to wood value such as piece-size distributions, crown ratios, and merchantable volume; b) stand structure outputs and indices related to wildlife habitat quality and biodiversity such as snags, coarse woody debris, minor vegetation cover and large live trees; c) ecosystem outputs such as carbon storage and sequestration rates, and measures of long-term ecosystem productivity (Fig. 1). Other ongoing improvements include the representation of shifts in carbon allocation to above and below-ground biomass components under varying light conditions, representation of water balance and moisture 1. Possible forest futures: Addressing the complexities of multi-value ecosystem management Fig. 1 Stand-level simulation results from FORECAST showing merchantable volume, ecosystem C storage, and large snags for a natural mixed aspen-spruce stand following a stand replacing fire. Images of the stand are shown for three time periods A) year 30, B) year 70, and C) year 130. Fig. 2 An example of the ability of the visual forest management interface in LLEMS to comunicate a dispersed retention harvest with 80% removal. Fig. 4 Demonstration of output from the spatially explicit, individual tree model FORCEE. Both light levels and litter distribution on the forest floor are shown. Fig. 3 Output display for the forest growth module in LLEMS showing the spatial pattern of carbon sequestration rates within the landscape unit. The graphical display on the lower right shows total carbon sequestration rates within the landscape unit for each of the two simulation years run in this example.BRANCH LINES  PAGE 6 BRANCH LINES  PAGE 7 Environmental sustainability is not in our best interests. Not for those of us in the relatively wealthy western nations, that is. We are the world’s most rapacious consumers of the world’s natural resources on a per capita basis. We consume not only our own resources; we rely on others’ resources as well. There is still a net flow of resources from the less developed nations to western nations and we are largely responsible directly or indirectly for the massive overharvesting of the oceanic fisheries, the world’s commons. And by depleting renewable resources faster than ecosystems can replenish them, we are consuming future generations’ resources too. In short, we enjoy our wealthy, consumptive lifestyles at the expense of others. Is this a problem? Not for us, not in the short term at least. But it is for those in less developed countries, and it will be a problem for future generations if they are forced to contend with a planet that is less capable of providing natural resources. This takes us to the heart of the issue: humans are fully dependent in the long term on the ability of the natural environment to produce a continuous, and continuously changing, supply of biological resources in particular. What is less apparent is that biodiversity is a necessary precondition for the long-term supply of biological resources. Comprehending the full meaning and value of biodiversity has been elusive until recently. Even among conservation biologists, some still perceive biodiversity as, roughly, the sum of the bits and pieces in nature (e.g., genes, species, and ecosystems), and its value as the sum of the useful bits and pieces either now or in the future. But this conception refers to the value of biological resources and what are known as ‘ecosystem services’ (e.g., water storage, waste assimilation, carbon sequestration, local climate regulation). It does not refer to the value of biodiversity itself. Among the world’s 5 to 30 million species only a few hundred are currently useful to humans directly, and in the future perhaps a few thousand additional species might be useful someday. Many more are indirectly useful, especially for providing ecosystem services. Even if we were to go wild with our estimates and say that few hundred thousand species might be directly or indirectly useful at some time in the future, we cannot account for the utility of the vast majority of the world’s species. But thinking about biodiversity in an economic sense is misplaced from the start. Biodiversity is not simply the sum of nature’s bits and pieces, nor can we value it in these terms. Instead, biodiversity is a concept at a higher logical plane. Biodiversity is an emergent property of the biosphere; it is an environmental condition (Wood Biodiversity and Democracy 2000). More importantly, it is an essential environmental condition for humanity because it is necessary for the maintenance of biological resources in the long term. Biodiversity provides the evolutionary conditions required to keep humans well stocked with biological resources ad infinitum. Put differently, this means that biodiversity is the source of biological resources upon which humans depend (Wood Environmental Values 1997). Sustainability, biodiversity, and western governance The conservation of the world’s biodiversity, therefore, is a measure of sustainability. International and national agreements attest to this assertion. Are we conserving it? Not by a long shot. Mostly by way of altering, fragmenting, or destroying species’ habitats for short-term economic gain, humans are now precipitating the sixth major mass extinction event. At five times deep in the geological past, and for largely unknown reasons, most of the world’s species suddenly went extinct. After each such event, it took evolution tens of millions of years to repopulate the Earth with species. Humans are now poised to exert an equivalent effect on the planet’s biota. Western nations are a large part of the problem for a host of reasons. Here are three. First, as mentioned, we are the world’s largest per capita consumers, and mass consumption is one of the drivers of biodiversity loss, not just in other parts of the world, but here at home. As a case in point, the British Columbia provincial government has scientifically listed more than 1300 species at risk of extinction in the province, but is willing to legally protect only about 5% of them. The reason is straightforward: the opportunity costs – mostly in the form of reducing timber extraction in forest-dependent species’ habitats – are considered too high (Wood and Flahr Canadian Public Policy 2004). Second, western, liberal democratic governance, despite all its advantages for the freedom of individuals, has one large failing for sustainability: it caters to the short term preferences of the electorate. In a forthcoming article, we argue that citizens in liberal democracies authorize our governments to promote our best interests, but we almost never authorize our governments to act in the interests of those in other countries or in the interests of future generations (Wood and Waterman, in review). We prefer mass consumption, even at the expense of others. This is the antithesis of sustainability (Wood Environmental Ethics 2004). Finally, by example and by other means, we encourage non-western nations to emulate us. They see the short- term advantages – opportunities for similarly consumptive lifestyles – but not the long-term disadvantages, including the depletion of one of the world’s life-support systems: biodiversity. But of course, those of us in the western world rarely see those long-term disadvantages either. The overall conclusion is clear: a failure to protect biodiversity is a failure to protect humanity in the long term, and this is precisely where Western governance is at odds with sustainability; it is not in our best interests to do so. Seeking ways to circumvent this impasse is the subject of current research. Constitutional limits on the discretionary powers of governments, for the sake of future generations, are entirely consistent with central tenets of Western governance (Wood Biodiversity and Democracy 2000 and Wood Environmental Ethics 2004). Alternatively, empowering citizen groups to debate contentious policy issues in a consensus-building format, a process known as ‘deliberative democracy’, may prove more socially and politically feasible. For full references, please contact Dr. Paul Wood at 604-822-0951 or [email protected]. BRANCH LINES  PAGE 8 BRANCH LINES  PAGE 9 Forestry remote sensing: The view from above To manage forests sustainabily, under changing climate and disturbance regimes, we need improved spatial estimates of forest growth. Progress can be made by linking satellite imagery, improved soil maps and spatial climate surfaces within physiological forest growth models. Coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii spp. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) occurs over a wide range of environmental conditions on Vancouver Island, BC. Although ecological zones have been drawn, no formal spatial analysis of environmental limitations on tree growth has been carried out. Such an exercise is desirable to identify areas that may warrant intensive management and to evaluate the impacts of predicted climate changes. Graduate student Sam Coggins, in the Integrated Remote Sensing Studio (IRSS) at UBC, in collaboration with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) is applying a physiologically based forest growth model, 3-PG (Physiological Principles Predicting Growth) to interpret and map current limitations to Douglas-fir growth at 100 m cell resolution across Vancouver Island. We first calibrated the model to reproduce the regional productivity estimates reported in yield table growth curves. Our analyses indicated that slope exposure is important with southwest slopes of 300 receiving 40% more incident radiation than similarly inclined northeast slopes. When combined with other environmental differences associated with aspect, the 3-PG model predicted 60% more growth on southwest than on northeast exposures. Model simulations support our field observations that drought is rare in the wetter zones but common on the eastern side of the Island at lower elevations and on more exposed slopes. The biochemical composition of foliage is strongly related to the rate of photosynthesis and depends on species and the environmental conditions impacting an individual plant. While some biochemical foliage properties change slowly, others can change quickly as a result of plant responses to rapidly changing environmental conditions. An example of a fast biochemical response is the photo- protection mechanism plants use to control their rates of photosynthesis and to protect themselves against excessive light energy. The advent of new sensors, more sensitive to narrow wavebands, offers new possibilities to isolate and identify single biochemical components using canopy reflectance measurements. However, the use of satellite or aerial data for detailed studies on biochemical processes is still restricted. One possibility for detailed observation of canopy reflectance over an entire vegetation growing season is to use automated near surface remote sensing to systematically scan the canopy surface. As part of an NSERC / FLUXNET-CANADA program, graduate student Thomas Hilker has mounted a spectro-radiometer instrument on a 50 m tower at Campbell River, BC. This instrument will measure canopy reflectance every 15 Growth potential using physiology coupled with satellite imagery An automated tower spectroradiometer to measure diurnal and seasonal changes in canopy condition min over a one year period allowing us to measure the entire surroundings in a 360º view around the tower. The results will help us to understand the relationship between canopy spectral reflectance and forest productivity for the assessment of forest carbon budgets. Our ultimate aim is to have a detailed understanding of the relationship between changes in photosynthetic efficiency and spectral responses. Spatial variation in the 3-PG temperature modifier for January for a 100 year old stand for Vancouver Island. Lighter shades of blue and white indicate more restriction to growth due to temperature. View from the top of the FLUXNET-Canada Campbell River tower with the automated spectro-radiometer measuring canopy reflectance every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Schematic view of the Campbell River forest canopy as measured using airbourne LIDAR and the view of the spectro- radiometer. Spatial variation in the 3-PG soil water modifier for September for a 100 year old stand for Vancouver Island. Blue indicates areas with no summer drought, red indicates areas with significant summer drought. Spatial variation in the 3-PG vapour pressure deficit modifier for July for a 100 year old stand for Vancouver Island. Yellow shades indicate more restriction to growth due to VPD. Simple flow diagram of the 3PG Model. BRANCH LINES  PAGE 10 BRANCH LINES  PAGE 11 The labour intensiveness of field based methods can make variations in vertical and horizontal forest structure very difficult to quantify. However, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, as described on the previous page, can be used with minimum effort to measure foliage height and to estimate several stand and canopy structure attributes. One such LiDAR project is focusing on Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii spp. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] and western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.] stands located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. These stands represent different structural stages of stand development. We are measuring tree height, crown dimensions, cover, and vertical foliage distributions in the field and relating these measurements to patterns of LiDAR responses. Our results indicate that measured stand attributes, such as mean stand height and basal area, are highly correlated with LiDAR estimates. Significant relationships were also found between the LiDAR data and the field estimated vertical foliage profiles. Our work demonstrates that LiDAR observations can provide quantitative information on stand and tree height, as well as information on foliage profiles. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that LiDAR results can be used to model detailed descriptions of canopy structure. Remote Sensing is taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels at UBC. For more information on courses, the Integrated Remote Sensing Studio (IRSS) and other remote sensing projects visit www.forestry.ubc.ca\irss or contact: Dr. Nicholas Coops Canada Research Chair in Remote Sensing Department of Forest Resources Management 604-822-6452 or [email protected]. Forestry remote sensing: The view from above (cont.) Application of LiDAR to accurately map the forest floor Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is an active remote sensing technology that uses an airborne laser to measure ground morphology and canopy structure simultaneously with sub-metre accuracy. The instrument sends laser pulses to the ground and records the length to time taken for each pulse to return to the sensor. This dense coverage of laser pulses results in the forest being scanned at approximately 1 pulse every metre. By exampling the distribution of laser pulses we can establish which pulses intersect the forest canopy and which ones are returned from the forest floor. As a result, both canopy surface and ground surface models can be developed. Information about the forest floor is critical for a range of applications including slope analysis for forest operations, landslide risk assessment and surficial mapping and hydrology. Information on forest structure includes very accurate estimates of tree height, canopy cover as well as growth stage and volume. In collaboration with BC Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Forest Science Program (FSP) M.Sc. student Chris Bater, is investigating the capacity of LiDAR technology to accurately map terrain below dense forest canopies at Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. Our work helps us to better understand the accuracy and ability of this technology to generate digital elevation models across a range of forest structural types. Bald Earth digital elevation model of Clayoquot Sound, derived from the LiDAR pulses which reached the ground, through the forest canopy. Schematic diagram showing how an airborne LiDAR system works. A laser pulse is sent from the aircraft to the ground and the beams are returned from either the ground surface or the forest canopy. Each LiDAR pulse is approximately 15 cm in diameter and is horizontally spaced at less than 1 m apart over the entire landscape. Distribution of LiDAR pulses over a highly stocked, even aged, stand, dominated by Douglas-fir. The distribution of LiDAR hits provides information on open gaps above the canopy (blue), foliage which intercepts the bulk of available light (dark green), lower, often shadowed, components of the stand (light green) and open gap beneath the canopy (red). Distribution of LiDAR pulses in a mature Douglas-fir stand. In this case the stand is taller (as seen by the y-axes) with a dense canopy. There is general horizontal arrangement of canopy, especially at the upper level indicating optimum structure for light interception. Distribution of LiDAR pulses in an over mature Douglas-fir stand. Again the stand is taller than the young forest, however at these later structural stages, a larger portion of the stand is gap (red) with filled volume approximately 40% of the total canopy and the closed volume or gap increases to a maximum. Laser mapping of forest canopy structure Newsletter Production Branch Lines is published by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia three times each year. ISSN 1181-9936. www.forestry.ubc.ca Editor: Susan B. Watts, Ph.D., R.P.F. [email protected] In-house graphic design and layout: Jamie Myers [email protected] Questions concerning the newsletter or requests for mailing list updates, deletions or additions should be directed to Dr. Susan Watts, Newsletter Editor at: Faculty of Forestry, Dean’s Office University of British Columbia Forest Sciences Centre 2005 – 2424 Main Mall Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 BC Forum on Forest Economics & Policy On November 1, 2006, the BC Forum on Forest Economics and Policy will host a one day symposium on Land Tenure & Forest Management in British Columbia. The symposium will inform decision makers and stakeholders of the opportunities and potential costs and benefits of alternative tenure arrangements in BC. According to Thomas Maness, symposium chair, “the current tenure system has created an industry structure with a dependence on high harvest levels and a focus on being high volume, low cost producers in commodity products. However, forest sector conditions have changed substantially in the last 30 years. BC is no longer a global cost leader as timber quality and piece size decrease over time, environmental costs, once nonexistent, continue to rise, and labor rates cannot compete with those of developing countries. At the same time, the public has become more aware that our public forestlands are more than simply an economic asset. They represent vital ecosystems that should provide a flow of a variety of timber and non-timber goods and services well into the future.” Clearly the conditions that created the need for the tenure system have changed, and the system itself is no longer meeting its original stated objectives: “competitive advantages in world markets”, “maximum continuity of employment in all phases of the industry” and “stable, settled and prosperous communities”. The choices of how we manage this asset will have serious impacts on both current and future generations, and there is widespread public concern about the development of these management policies. This symposium will convene forest sector leaders to look at a new sustainable development strategy that once again ties forests to our inherent values, to the communities where we live, and to a diverse and globally competitive forest sector. Several Faculty of Forestry members including Drs. Hamish Kimmins, Ron Trosper and David Haley will be presenting papers that identify the ecological, social and economic issues that must be considered when designing a new forest land management system. The symposium will engage participants and our panel of experts in a healthy dialogue and obtain feedback and measure support from the public and stakeholders for ideas for changing the tenure system as well as determine the research questions and information required to facilitate policy changes that advance new opportunities. For more information, or to register for the event, please visit www.bc-forum.org or call 604-822-5570. North American Forest Ecology Workshop 2007 The Faculty of Forestry at UBC will be hosting the 6th North American Forest Ecology Workshop in June 2007. The theme of the 2007 meeting is “From Science to Stewardship: knowing, understanding and applying”. The objective will be to examine the three major components of our science: knowing (experience-based, descriptive, inductive), understanding (deductive, experimental, reductionist, hypothesis-testing), and prediction (based on synthesis of knowledge and understanding up to the temporal, spatial and complexity scales of contemporary issues and questions). What is the role of these three components in the ecological underpinnings of forestry, where are the gaps that need to be filled, and how well does this science serve the profession of forestry? What are the barriers to the practical application of forest ecology to help achieve an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable use and conservation of forests? Dr. Hamish Kimmins, workshop chair, is looking forward to working with the Faculty in hosting an audience of forestry researchers and practitioners from Canada, the US and Mexico. For more information, visit the NAFEW website at www.nafew2007.org. from Science to Sustainability knowing, understanding and applying

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/7872

Nut growers band together to fight theft Thieves are targeting almond growers around Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon. ROSE ALBANO/Bulletin file photo/ ESCALON — The soaring value of California’s nut crops is attracting a new breed of thieves who have been making off with the pricey commodities by the truckload, recalling images of cattle rustlers of bygone days.This harvest season in the Central Valley, thieves cut through a fence and hauled off $400,000 in walnuts. An additional $100,000 in almonds was stolen by a driver with a fake license. And $100,000 in pistachios was taken by a big rig driver who left a farm without filling out any paperwork.Investigators suspect low-level organized crime may have a hand in cases, while some pilfered nuts are ending up in Los Angeles for resale at farmers markets or disappear into the black market.Domestic demand for specialty foods and an expanding Asian market for them have prompted a nut orchard boom in the state’s agricultural heartland. Such heists have become so common that an industry taskforce recently formed to devise ways to thwart thieves.“The Wild West is alive and well in certain aspects,” said Danielle Oliver of the California Farm Bureau. “There’s always someone out there trying to make a quick dollar on somebody else’s hard work.”Amid the nut boom, farmers have torn out vineyards and other crops to plant nut trees to keep up with demand. Real estate firms, retirement funds and insurance companies have taken note by adding almonds, walnut and pistachio land to diversify their portfolios.As the nation’s top nut producer, the state grows more almonds and pistachios than any other country. Only China produces more walnuts, which have nearly tripled in price in the last five years to about $2 a pound, according to the California Walnut Board.The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that through 2012 the state’s almond crop was valued at $5 billion per year, pistachios were over $1 billion and walnuts were over $1.5 billion.“Right now, everybody wants to be a nut grower because it’s kind of like the gold rush of the 1850s,” said Ripon almond farmer Kevin Fondse of Fondse Brothers Inc. “Everybody wants the gold.”That frenzy has spawned crime. In a brazen heist in October, thieves made off with 140,000 pounds of processed walnuts from GoldRiver Orchards. The thief cut through wooden fence posts in the dead of night, hooked up a truck to three gondola trailers brimming with nuts and drove off.In another incident, unemployed trucker Francisco Javier Lopez Martinez told investigators he couldn’t pass up a job paying $180, despite his suspicions. He was hired in October by a man who gave him a fraudulent driver’s license and told him to pick up 43,000 pounds of almonds at Sunnygem, a processing plant.A transportation broker tipped sheriff’s deputies that something seemed amiss. They arrested Martinez, who told them he was supposed to drive the load to a specified address in Los Angeles, park it and walk away.The trucking firm that hired him turned out to be a fake. The company’s logo was merely taped onto the side of the truck, and it had stolen license plates. Martinez pleaded guilty in December to commercial burglary and possession of fake identification. He was sentenced to 350 days in jail and three years of probation.Authorities say this type of industrial identity theft, known as a “fictitious pickup,” is becoming more sophisticated. It often involves con artists providing fabricated insurance documents and U.S. Department of Transportation numbers for trucks.The driver presents the paperwork to the unsuspecting nut processor.A walnut farmer suspected he had fallen victim to such a crime in March after a $250,000 load left his yard, so he called Detectives Pat McNelis and Matt Calkins at the Butte County sheriff’s department. The detectives traced phone records to Los Angeles, where police there served search warrants and seized evidence. The investigation continues, detectives said.“In our case, there’s multiple levels of people that were involved in a complex crime,” Calkins said. “This is an organized criminal enterprise. It’s not one or two people acting on their own.”The California Highway Patrol investigates cargo thefts, but doesn’t tally nut thefts separately. The CHP hasn’t established a link between such thefts and any specific criminal organization, spokeswoman Erin Komatsubara said.Growers and nut processors say they have been so hard hit in the past year that a coalition of nut associations formed a taskforce in October to seek the advice of law enforcement and to create an eight-step checklist for growers and nut processors.The list includes fingerprinting drivers, taking their photos and calling the broker to confirm that the paperwork is legitimate. Such common-sense steps can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in vanishing cargo, said Carl Eidsath, a task force member representing the California Walnut Board.Too often, Eidsath said, the theft isn’t detected until it’s too late. “The only reason they knew something wasn’t right was when the load didn’t show up at the customer,” he said. “That’s days and days later.”Taking additional safeguards, almond grower Michael Fondse, the fourth generation at Fondse Brothers Inc. behind his father, Kevin Fondse, said he planted a row of redwood trees along the road to create a visual barrier, hiding his orchards from would-be thieves, and he installed cameras at the processing plant.“We’ve installed a lot of lights,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 deterrent, keeping everything bright.”

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/7887

Quote of the Day - They were evidently small men, all wind and quibbles, flinging out their chuffy grain to us with far less interest than a farm-wife feels as she scatters corn to her fowls. - D.H. Lawrence Tightly Regulated Crop Dusters Fly Into Fog Of Regulation Having lived on a farm for a bit, I've seen crop dusters and gotten to know the pilots who fly them. It's a dangerous business. Not only are the pilots are bulletproof, flying and cavorting sometimes just feet from the ground, but so are the planes, which used to held together with bubble gum and baling twine, but are now highly specialized machines. They take off low, fly even lower and then dodge fences and trees at the end of the fields. It's like watching a carefully choreographed ballet, especially when the crop dusters fly in tandem, laying down pesticides on the field. The work they perform is essential for a successful harvest, and frequently one of the best ways to dust a crop. Otherwise, you've got to own a fancy piece of equipment, understand how to mix and apply the chemicals and take a lot more time. Crop dusting is comparatively quick and dirty.It's the dirty part, however, that can get you into trouble as a pilot, especially on a slightly windy day. Take Patterson Flying Service, for example, who got fined $5,000 after "enveloping" Elena Ruiz in a fog of pesticides. Here's how the case reads, according to the Daily Journal summary: Patterson applied "Dimethoate that drifted onto Elena Ruiz's property. Based on Ruiz's testimony, her medical records, and laboratory analyses of tree leaves in her backyard, the drift from Patterson's aerial application was substantial. Ruiz heard the plane and was enveloped by fog from a crop duster. She suffered all the symptoms of one exposed to pesticides. Doctors treated her with atropine, listed on the Dimethoate label as an antidote to the pesticide. Laboratory results from the leaf samples also showed a substantial pesticide residue six days after Patterson's application." At that point, again according to the Daily Journal (slightly paraphrased), "the County Agricultural Commissioner fined Patterson $5,000 for failing to follow the label directions to prevent off-site movement of the pesticide, causing a health hazard. Patterson appealed the fine to the Department of Pesticide Regulation Director, who upheld the penalty. The trial court denied relief, despite Patterson's arguments that substantial evidence did not support the commissioner's findings.""California Food and Agriculture Code section 12973 prohibits any use of pesticide in conflict with directions in the registered label. Dimethoate's label proscribed application of the product in a way that would contact workers or other persons, either directly, or "through drift." There was substantial evidence to support the commissioner's finding of substantial drift from the target site onto Ruiz's property and person. Because this conflicted with the proscription in Dimethoate's labeling, Patterson was properly fined," and the Court properly affirmed the Commissioner's fine.No more flying under the radar. Posted by J. Craig Williams on Monday, March 31, 2008 at 01:12

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/7997

Action Report June-July 2009 How National Wildlife Federation Is Making a Difference 06-01-2009 NWF Staff Ensuring that Biofuels Deliver With their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat global warming and create economic opportunities for rural communities, biofuels can be an important part of the energy mix of the future. But growing crops for biofuels can trigger negative impacts as well, such as deforestation, loss of land for food production and pollution of soil and water resources. How can consumers ensure that these fuels are friends, not foes? “They must be produced under social and environmental safeguards,” answers Barbara Bramble, NWF’s senior advisor for international affairs and steering board chair of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB). To that end, NWF helped to launch the RSB global initiative in spring 2007, with the goal of creating international standards for sustainable biofuels production and processing. Major companies, environmental groups and activists for worker rights have all taken part in drafting and debating the measures. Once completed later this year, these standards will provide a basis for independent experts to assess and certify biofuels operations. “The Inter-American Development Bank has agreed to use the RSB standards in its own decisions on which biofuels projects to fund,” says Bramble. In addition, RSB is in discussions with several governments interested in incorporating some form of these standards into their own formal regulations. To learn more, visit RSB’s BioenergyWiki, an online forum hosted by NWF: www.bioenergywiki.net. National Spotlight on Climate Action Engaging America’s campus leaders in the fight against global warming is central to the mission of NWF’s Campus Ecology® program, which uses e-newsletters, local programs and online seminars and guides to reach students and staff (see www.campusecology.org). In recent months, the campus team also has helped produce a number of national events, including: National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions: More than 800 colleges, universities, faith organizations and civic groups—an estimated 250,000 people—took part in this February 5 education event, which was designed to foster solutions-driven dialogue. One of the teach-in sponsors, NWF also coproduced the kickoff broadcast, Solutions for the First 100 Days. To view it, visit www.nationalteachin.org/launchwebcast.php. Power Shift 2009: More than 12,000 young people descended on Washington, D.C., in late February for four days of “lobbying, learning, inspiration, empowerment and, most importantly, holding our elected officials accountable for rebuilding our economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policy,” says Lisa Madry, NWF’s director of campus outreach. To learn more, see www.powershift09.org. Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming: For the past three years, NWF has honored students and faculty on campuses across the country who are engaging in positive, practical solutions to global warming. “Their successes are celebrated in a webcast that is used throughout the year as an education and organizing tool,” says Jen Fournelle, organizer of the Chill Out competition. For details about the 2009 winners, which were announced in April, go to www.campuschillout.org. Kids’ Magazines Capture Gold Ranger Rick®and Your Big Backyard are “the best,” says the Parents’ Choice Foundation. Earlier this spring the Maryland-based nonprofit honored each of the NWF children’s magazines with its prestigious Gold Award. Since 1978, the Foundation has been searching out and recommending quality media and toy products that help kids grow. See www.nwf.org/magazines. Shoe Company Walks the Talk During 2009, KEEN will make a donation to NWF for each pair of its toddler or infant Coronado shoes sold in the United States. Available in three bright colors, the eco-friendly Coronado features natural canvas, recycled aluminum eyelets and a recycled polyurethane and cork footbed. Each design showcases a different endangered animal. “This is a fun way for children to become aware of conservation and to know that their shoes helped protect wildlife,” says Kelly Wallrich, KEEN’s director of development and design. Visit www.keenfootwear.com. Great Green Workplace NWF recently received a 2009 EcoLeadership Award from the nonprofit Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE). The award honors “visionary employers who are paving the way for environmentally sustainable workplaces,” says AWE’s Liz Sobrino. An independent review panel of academics and business professionals evaluated NWF according to several best practices: energy efficiency, waste minimization, water conservation, pollution prevention and environmentally conscious travel. Leveraging Farm Bill Dollars Each year the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes more than $4 billion available to help farmers and ranchers put conservation systems in place on their lands. To provide members of its affiliates and other conservationists with the tools to help leverage these funds, NWF hosted a conference in March. “Our aim was to show participants innovative ways that USDA conservation program dollars are being used at the state level to implement State Wildlife Action Plans, restore fish and wildlife habitat and combat climate change,” says Duane Hovorka, NWF’s Farm Bill outreach coordinator and organizer of the event. Breakout sessions gave attendees the opportunity to discuss how the examples could be used in their state. Dave White, chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), gave the keynote speech. “His dramatic before and after pictures showed what conservation programs can do to improve the landscape,” says Hovorka. “White also emphasized a new NRCS focus on climate change.” NWF plans to teach others how to use these programs to address climate change and preserve habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife on America’s private lands. Repower, Refuel and Rebuild Mobilizing around President Obama’s first 100 days in office—and a mission to “Repower, Refuel and Rebuild America”—NWF and other environmental groups hosted some 75 town hall meetings across the country earlier this year. The forums brought together community members and elected officials to discuss how investment in clean energy technologies can reduce global warming pollution and create employment opportunities. Tours of green businesses, held in conjunction with the town halls, showcased efforts that are already transforming regional economies. NWF President Larry Schweiger participated in a forum in his home state of Pennsylvania, and he also called on Congress. On March 25, he testified before a House subcommittee on the urgent need for comprehensive climate and energy legislation. “If designed and implemented correctly,” he told lawmakers, “such legislation can provide the financial resources needed to invest in new clean energy solutions, create millions of new jobs, protect the public from rising energy prices and safeguard America’s natural resources from the impacts of global warming.” For news about NWF’s latest efforts, visit www.nwf.org/climateaction. It Pays to PlayNWF has partnered with the nonprofit group KaBOOM!—a fellow proponent of outdoor play—to find 100,000 playspaces in 100 days. You can earn money for NWF’s conservation and education programs by helping out! For every valid community playspace added to the Federation’s team page by June 30, one dollar will be donated to NWF. To join the cause, visit www.kaboom.org New Guide for Eco-Travelers While on vacation at Maryland’s Assateague Island National Seashore a few years ago, Pamela Brodowsky encountered a herd of wild ponies. “I was awed by their beauty,” says the Pennsylvania author. The experience inspired her to team up with NWF to create a tip-filled guide for eco-conscious travelers. The result is the newly released Destination Wildlife (Pedigree Books), which features more than 200 locations in the United States and abroad that offer unique opportunities to view wild animals. “The book pays particular attention to those sites that promote the least environmental impact while providing a thrilling educational and emotional experience,” says Brodowsky. In fact, many of sites described were established to help threatened species, through either reintroduction or habitat restoration efforts. Brodowsky says she hopes the book will draw attention to the challenges facing wildlife worldwide “and encourage people to contribute by word and deed to the many conservation efforts already under way.” To learn more, visit www.shopnwf.org. Family Tradition of Gardening Lives On As a child growing up in California’s Sonoma County, Pamela Bendich spent countless hours outside with her family—hunting, fishing, boating, camping and, especially, gardening. “We always had a family garden, and then I had my own starting when I was about 9 or 10,” says Bendich. That love of the outdoors and gardening has lasted for decades. These days Bendich, who splits her time between Berkeley, California, and Kirkland, Washington, spends a good part of each spring and summer planting and maintaining a garden with her grandchildren. The retired record company executive introduced Seattle-based Kalindi, 7, and Tilden, 5, to gardening three years ago on a visit to that city’s Japanese Garden. Since then, the family has grown dozens of different plants ranging from flowers to edibles such as cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes and herbs. Bendich sits down with the children in late winter to start plotting out their garden. Once spring arrives, she takes them to a nursery and lets them pick out their crops for the approaching growing season. Bendich delights in seeing her grandchildren develop a respect for the Earth and its creatures; she has witnessed Tilden carrying earthworms from other parts of the yard to his garden plot. Growing food and flowers, she says, “is a very different experience from going to the grocery store. They watch, with great expectation, the growth of their garden. And they learn patience in the garden. Plants, unlike computer games, are not immediate.” Bendich is a prime example of an NWF member who has for years supported the organization’s mission through her own activities, as well as by providing regular financial support to the Federation’s conservation work. “Pam invests so much love into nurturing her grandchildren’s interest and appreciation of the outdoors,” says NWF Director of Development Christopher Harvey. “She’s the embodiment of NWF’s focus on reconnecting children with nature.” NWF Supporters: A Circle of Friends Named for NWF’s first president, the J. N. “Ding” Darling Circle is made up of supporters who each provide an annual tax-deductible gift of $1,000 or more to help the Federation confront threats to wildlife. In exchange, circle members receive regular updates on the organization’s work, advance invitations to upcoming events and numerous other benefits. To learn more, including how you can become a member, call 1-800-332-4949 or visit www.nwf.org/darlingcircle.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/8492

Farmers market boasts off-season success by: Kurt Schultheis The Sarasota Farmers Market is doing so well in the midst of the heat and humidity this summer that some vendors are boasting of days rivaling their very best in season. Chris Keesecker, owner of Java Dog and an 18-year market vendor, said he has seen a huge increase in traffic this summer. “Two years ago, summers were stagnant and vendors were stressed,” Keesecker said. “This summer, revenues are up and vendors are happy.” Keesecker attributes the market’s off-season accomplishment to the board of directors’ newfound commitment to a year-round program. “The overall marketing effort and look of the market have helped to keep our numbers up even in one of the hottest summers we have had in a long time,” said Keesecker, who also credited new, popular events the board has created, such as the recent seafood festival, for improved customer interest this time of year. Sarasota Farmers Market Manager Phil Pagano said Keesecker and other vendors are telling him they are doing double the business they did last summer. “Some of the days in the summer have rivaled some of my vendors’ best days in season,” Pagano said. Last summer, the market had 60 vendors; this summer, it has more than 75 each Saturday. That’s only 10 fewer vendors than the market has during season. Like Keesecker, Pagano attributes the summer boon to a two-year effort by the board to focus on a year-round farmers market. Another positive factor, he said, had been the board’s ability to convince vendors not to pack it up once season was over and the daytime highs began rising. “Years ago, vendors gave up or never had faith in the summer at all,” Pagano said. “They never believed people would show up. We believed they would.” And show up, they have. While the number of vendors has doubled, Pagano believes the number of locals visiting the market this summer has doubled as well. “Just because you live in Florida, it doesn’t mean the locals don’t want to get out of the house,” Pagano said. “It’s not excruciating hot in the morning, and that’s how we’re drawing them to the market.” This summer, the market added new shaded areas as well as more tables and chairs, to help visitors beat the heat from the sun as it makes its ascent in the sky. Pagano pointed to yet one more factor that is making a difference. “The fact that we are open while other markets close (like the St. Petersburg and Bradenton markets) is also a plus.” Additionally, the Sarasota market offers only a year-round space rate. The annual fee is $1,500 for the average 10-foot-by-10-foot space. “The year-round rate option allows us to plan an annual budget and allocate dollars for the market’s advertising,” Pagano said. The market’s advertising budget, which Pagano declined to disclose, is now split 50-50 between the traditional season and the summer season, unlike in past years, when all the market’s efforts went toward the four months of season. Pagano has also been promoting the market through its website, social media such as Facebook and an e-newsletter that has attracted 3,200 subscribers and live streaming in high-definition each Saturday via sarasotafarmersmarket.org. “If you can supply a family-oriented atmosphere in a great downtown,” Pagano said, “it’s a major draw no matter what time of year it is.” Homes on Siesta Key and Casey Key rank in the top 10 PHOTO GALLERY: First day back at ODA

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/9084

Mitzi Perdue Member, Board of Trustees Science Writer, Philanthropist Mitzi Perdue is a past president of American Agri-Women, the nation’s oldest and largest American farm women’s organization, a former Commissioner of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and has served on the Defense Advisory Committee for Women in the Service and the Madison Council Steering Committee of the Library of Congress. She is the author of more than 1600 newspaper and magazine articles on food, agriculture, the environment, and philanthropy, and was a syndicated columnist for 22 years, first for California’s Capitol News and later for the Scripps Howard News Service. Mrs. Perdue also produced and hosted more than 400 half hour interview shows and for two years was a broadcaster on the Coast to Coast Radio Network. She is currently corresponding editor for GEN: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News and writes the MP Post blog for the Academy of Women’s Health. She’s a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Women’s Day Magazine Women Who Inspire Us Award, and the President’s Award from the Maryland State Medical Society, for Bettering the Health Care of Maryland Citizens. She serves on the board directors of the Perdue Foundation. Mrs. Perdue is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in government, and she holds a Master’s degree from George Washington University.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/9393

Comments, Questions, Story Ideas? Top Five Myths Of Genetically Modified Seeds, Busted By Daniel Charles Oct 18, 2012 TweetShareGoogle+Email Central Illinois corn and soybean farmer Gary Niemeyer readies his genetically modified seed corn for spring planting at his farm near Auburn, Ill. Seth Perlman Originally published on October 18, 2012 3:49 pm Having just stepped into the shouting match over patents on genetically engineered crops, there are a few small things that I, too, would like to get off my chest. I say small things. I'm not talking about today's big hot issues: Whether genetically modified organisms — GMOs — should be labeled, or cause cancer in rats, or might improve the lives of poor farmers in Africa; none of that. This is about something simple: Seeds of GMOs. Various myths have grown up around these seeds. Like most myths, they are inspired by reality. But they've wandered off into the world of fiction. Myth 1: Seeds from GMOs are sterile. No, they'll germinate and grow just like any other plant. This idea presumably has its roots in a real genetic modification (dubbed the Terminator Gene by anti-biotech activists) that can make a plant produce sterile seeds. Monsanto owns the patent on this technique, but has promised not to use it. Now, biotech companies — and Monsanto in particular — do seem to wish that this idea were true. They do their best to keep farmers from replanting the offspring from GMOs. But they do this because, in fact, those seeds will multiply. Myth 2: Monsanto will sue you for growing their patented GMOs if traces of those GMOs entered your fields through wind-blown pollen. This is the idea that I see most often. A group of organic farmers, in fact, recently sued Monsanto, asserting that GMOs might contaminate their crops and then Monsanto might accuse them of patent infringement. The farmers couldn't cite a single instance in which this had happened, though, and the judge dismissed the case. The idea, however, is inspired by a real-world event. Back in 1999, Monsanto sued a Canadian canola farmer, Percy Schmeiser, for growing the company's Roundup-tolerant canola without paying any royalty or "technology fee." Schmeiser had never bought seeds from Monsanto, so those canola plants clearly came from somewhere else. But where? Canola pollen can move for miles, carried by insects or the wind. Schmeiser testified that this must have been the cause, or GMO canola might have blown into his field from a passing truck. Monsanto said that this was implausible, because their tests showed that about 95 percent of Schmeiser's canola contained Monsanto's Roundup resistance gene, and it's impossible to get such high levels through stray pollen or scattered seeds. However, there's lots of confusion about these tests. Other samples, tested by other people, showed lower concentrations of Roundup resistance — but still over 50 percent of the crop. Schmeiser had an explanation. As an experiment, he'd actually sprayed Roundup on about three acres of the field that was closest to a neighbor's Roundup Ready canola. Many plants survived the spraying, showing that they contained Monsanto's resistance gene — and when Schmeiser's hired hand harvested the field, months later, he kept seed from that part of the field and used it for planting the next year. This convinced the judge that Schmeiser intentionally planted Roundup Ready canola. Schmeiser appealed. The Canadian Supreme Court ruled that Schmeiser had violated Monsanto's patent, but had obtained no benefit by doing so, so he didn't owe Monsanto any money. (For more details on all this, you can read the judge's decision. Schmeiser's site contains other documents.) So why is this a myth? It's certainly true that Monsanto has been going after farmers whom the company suspects of using GMO seeds without paying royalties. And there are plenty of cases — including Schmeiser's — in which the company has overreached, engaged in raw intimidation, and made accusations that turned out not to be backed up by evidence. But as far as I can tell, Monsanto has never sued anybody over trace amounts of GMOs that were introduced into fields simply through cross-pollination. (The company asserts, in fact, that it will pay to remove any of its GMOs from fields where they don't belong.) If you know of any case where this actually happened, please let me know. Myth 3: Any contamination with GMOs makes organic food non-organic. The organic rules prohibit the "use" of genetic modification in organic agriculture. But if pollen blows from genetically modified corn into your organic cornfield and pollinates a few kernels, you aren't "using" it — at least according to the USDA's interpretation of those rules. In fact, a lot of the organic corn that's fed to organically raised chickens or pigs, does contain some level of GMOs. That said, organic producers typically do try to minimize the presence of GMOs, because their customers don't want them. It's usually not too hard to keep contamination to a very low level. But there are crops — specifically canola and corn — in which it's extremely difficult to eliminate it entirely. Myth 4: Before Monsanto got in the way, farmers typically saved their seeds and re-used them. By the time Monsanto got into the seed business, most farmers in the U.S. and Europe were already relying on seed that they bought every year from older seed companies. This is especially true of corn farmers, who've been growing almost exclusively commercial hybrids for more than half a century. (If you re-plant seeds from hybrids, you get a mixture of inferior varieties.) But even soybean and cotton farmers who don't grow hybrids were moving in that direction. This shift started with the rise of commercial seed companies, not the advent of genetic engineering. But Monsanto and GMOs certainly accelerated the trend drastically. Myth 5: Most seeds these days are genetically modified. Actually, surprisingly few are. Here's the full list of food crops for which you can find GMO varieties: Corn, soybeans, cotton (for oil), canola (also a source of oil), squash, and papaya. You could also include sugar beets, which aren't eaten directly, but refined into sugar. There's also GMO alfalfa, but that goes to feed animals, not for sprouts that people eat. That leaves quite a lot of your garden untouched. GMO versions of tomatoes, potatoes, and rice have been created and approved by government regulators, but they aren't commercially available.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. UPR Partners

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/9529

What’s more sustainable: Grain-fed or grass-fed beef? Dec 08, 2016 Year-end tax planning tips for ranchers Nov 02, 2016 Weekly Cattle Market Wrap-Up | Feeder cattle, slaughter cows come to town Dec 08, 2016 Would you eat meat grown in a petri dish? Dec 05, 2016 Beef brought to you by Mule Deer Foundation and Progressive Agriculture Foundation® Collaborate to Educate Youth Cooperative effort will promote safe and ethical outdoor practices, wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship among young individuals BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 19, 2011 — The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) announce their collaboration to educated youth about safe and ethical practices in rural settings, wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. MDF is a leading organization ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. PAF is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. “Through a joint effort with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, our dedicated member volunteers hope to educate young individuals about becoming safe, ethical stewards of the environment who also take an active role in conservation, hunting and shooting sports,” explains Miles Moretti, Mule Deer Foundation president and CEO. “Our members are safe, ethical and caring hunters and conservationists who value everything that the rural lifestyle embraces, including mentoring young people when it comes to safe, healthy outdoor activities.” Both Foundations echo the belief that today’s youth are one of the country’s greatest resources, making the need to educate them about safety and sound ethics all the more important. MDF’s youth education program, M.U.L.E.Y (Mindful, Understanding, Legal and Ethical Youth), currently runs a parallel course with the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program. Under the joint effort, the organizations will work together to enhance the reach and awareness of each program among existing and prospective members, volunteers and sponsors. Per the collaborative effort, MDF will provide space at its 2012 Big Western Hunting and Conservation Expo to educate youth about ATV, firearm and knife safety. A trained Safety Day volunteer will provide educational instruction and demonstration. “This collaborative relationship will afford us the opportunity to generate awareness about the Mule Deer Foundation, while growing the reach of the Safety Day program in the western United States,” explains Randy Bernhardt, chief administrative officer and executive director of development for PAF. “The Mule Deer Foundation shares principles that closely mirror those of the Safety Day program. It made perfect sense to join forces and work together, and we look forward to further developing our relationship.” Safety Days are fun, hands-on one-day events that take place throughout North America. Through education and training, children learn about safety and health lessons that can keep them and those around them safer and healthier on a farm or ranch, and at home. The program explores more than 30 topics, for which PAF provides curriculum and coordinator training. Since the program was founded in 1995, it has grown to become the largest rural safety and health educational program for youth in North America. The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)(3). MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting black-tailed and mule deer habitat resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations. It is also dedicated to encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management; promoting public education and scientific research related to deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation. The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America and a program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide education and training to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities. In 2008, PAF was awarded the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal, demonstrating its commitment to accountability and ethical practices. Safety Day applications are due each July 15 for Safety Days that will be conducted the following calendar year.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/9714

Nolen Canon's thoughts on farm policy Elton Robinson | Jun 06, 2001 The future of the U.S. Rice Producers Association “To have a unified, producer organization from all the rice producing states. We want an organization of producers that speak from the farm level. It’s not that we won’t recognize the mills or their importance. But in many cases, their politics are different from our politics and a lot of times producers don’t realize that oft times, the best interests of a rice mill is not the best interests of a rice producer.” On farmers’ propensity to overproduce. “The only thing a farmer can do is grow as much as he can as cheaply as he can. You might design some ag policy around that, but when you get down to the individual level, that’s all he can do, because he has absolutely no control over the price. “The flip side of over-production is under-production. Under-production would make us rely on other countries for food and if there was severe under-production, they’d feed their own and worry about us later. This country is totally unprepared and totally unfamiliar with food shortages. It’s always there and there’s always plenty of it.” Sanctions and embargoes “Sanctions are very frustrating for the American farmer. It seems like we are at times pawns of the State Department. It’s almost like they trump us at every turn. But I think they’re somewhat misguided about what they’re trying to accomplish. One of the cornerstones of Freedom to Farm was that the government would do everything it could to open up trade for the American farmer. I’m disappointed in a lot of the efforts it’s made to do that. “We can understand not trading under the enemy nation status, if a government becomes a military threat. But when every other country in the world is trading with a country 90 miles away from us, it seems odd that we stand alone in trying to form some agenda that’s not realistic.” Free trade “It’s a constant struggle and fight. We have to press for more administration and adherence to the trading rules in the WTO and compliance. There are many trade distorting practices that are somewhat hidden. Some countries subsidize fertilizer so it can be sold cheaply to producers. These have to be investigated and fully understood.” Research “We need to be very deliberate in our research efforts. Our greatest advantages is our understanding and use of technology and modern farming methods and productivity. We are unquestioned world leader in productivity. The only way we can maintain that is through continued research and the use of all the technologies available to us.” Genetically enhanced crops “There is a lot of anxiety and misplaced fears about GMOs. We are at the tip of iceberg with it. If we let sound science replace hysteria, then there are many wonderful opportunities through GMOs for farmers and consumers. Profitability “Everybody should be making as efficient a crop as possible. There’s only a certain amount of hunkering down you can do. You can cut your personal lifestyle back to a degree, but as far as your farming operation, you can only skinny so much. It takes a certain amount of capital and investment to produce. “The outlook on commodity prices for the short term is not good. And that’s one reason why the rice industry is trying to implement this counter cyclical approach. “ The role of government. That farmers need subsidies because other countries are being subsidized, “is only part of it. Stabilization is a very under-appreciated word. Having a stable agriculture is absolutely to the benefit of the American consumer. We don’t need wild swings in prices or be dependent upon foreign countries. I was concerned when they removed that word from the name of the government agency (when the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service became the Farm Service Agency).” Source URL: http://www.deltafarmpress.com/nolen-canons-thoughts-farm-policy

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/10409

No-till, technology taking production to next level Ron Smith 1 [1] | Jun 05, 2008 Tony Kodesh and his friend Gerald Boyer recall a conversation they had 12 years ago. They remember the talk taking place in the wee hours of the morning, during a short break in a long day's fieldwork. “I am tired of working land,” Kodesh recalls saying. That fall he bought his first no-till drill to put in a wheat crop. He added a few more reduced-tillage implements and for more than ten years has been 100 percent no-till. He's raising wheat, corn and soybeans in Noble County, Okla., one whole county and a part of another one south of the Kansas state line. No-till is not the only change he's made in the past decade to improve efficiency. He's incorporating technology, including global positioning system units, better varieties and hybrids, along with a sound rotation program, to squeeze as much production as he can out of every resource he invests in his crops. Asked if 2008 was not a good year to be no-till, considering the high price of diesel, Kodesh said: “Every year is a good year for no-till.” To prove his point, he pulled his multi-tool from his pocket and dug behind the corn planter. “The ground looks dry on top,” he said. But he pulled up a clod of dirt from about two inches deep, crushed the moist soil in his hand and remarked that corn seed would have ample moisture to germinate. He pointed to depressions in another clod. “Worm holes,” he said. “They make the soil act like a sponge.” His no-till soils have been soaking up and retaining moisture for ten years now and he says the practice makes sense when both prices and inputs soar or when the reverse is true. “When crop prices were lower so were input costs. It's all relative, but no-till improves the soil.” It also improved yields on his clay soils. One cornfield he's been farming for just a few years has already improved to about 90 bushels per acre. He said no-till makes a big difference in drought years. Take 2006, for instance. “That was about as dry year as I ever saw,” he said. “We started off with a full soil profile, but we didn't get much rain after that.” Most of the corn in the area was ruined. “A lot of farmers in the area lost their corn crop,” Kodesh said. “But ours hung on. Variety selection and no-till made a difference.” He said yields averaged only about 40 bushels per acre that year, not up to usual standards, but in a year when most fields had withered away, 40 bushels was decent. He plants wheat behind corn in the fall and typically doublecrops soybeans behind the wheat and comes back with corn the following spring. He may graze some wheat and plant soybeans in the residue. He likes the rotation and devotes about one-third of his planted acreage each year to each of the three crops. “I may plant a little more corn than usual this year. We didn't get as much wheat planted as we usually do.” He said wheat was once his main crop but corn and soybeans have come on the past few years. “Corn and beans work well for us.” Most of his soybeans follow wheat harvest but he'll plant a few full-season beans this spring, depending on how much corn acreage he could plant before the insurance deadline. “It's been a wet spring, so in late May we switch to soybeans.” That rotation has paid off well for Kodesh. He gets good residue from each of the crops to make no-till effective and to put organic matter back into the soil. The system also makes weed control a bit easier. “We have different control options in each crop.” Corn and soybean varieties are all Roundup Ready, but he doesn't rely solely on Roundup for weed control. “I use Roundup mostly as a backup in corn,” he said. “I always apply a pre-emergence herbicide. I have seen no resistant weeds, but I want to keep Roundup as an effective tool. Glyphosate is a wonderful product and I want to make sure it's around for a long time. Crop rotation helps and so does the pre-emergence herbicide. I get the escapes with Roundup.” He's used Degree Extra for the last few years. “It's done a great job and I save one or two Roundup applications because of it.” He relies on Roundup in soybeans. “I typically use just Roundup, but I plant late enough to avoid early weed problems.” He sprays Roundup and 2, 4-D after wheat harvest and usually manages to keep soybeans clean with just one in-season Roundup application. He said the combination of products and rotation has allowed him to eliminate a potentially bad weed problem. “We don't have field bindweed anymore,” he said. He walked into a wheat field that looked about as weed-free as a well-tended golf green. “This field used to be covered in field bindweed,” he said. Kodesh said global positioning system technology is also improving efficiency. “We traded a sprayer for one with an automatic boom shutoff,” he said. “Now we're using about 6 percent less chemical. This is one change I really like.” Tony' son Scott said GPS also helps with controlled traffic patterns in no-till production. “We're using auto-steer, auto-shutoff and mapping systems,” Kodesh said. “It's all very efficient.” He said a glyphosate shortage this spring, and higher prices, make the auto-shutoff even more valuable. “I'm also using a little more pre-emergence herbicide this year.” He says cutting back on inputs, for the most part, is false economy. “We can't skimp on weed control or fertility,” he said. But he is adjusting how he applies fertilizer to corn and maybe saving a little money in the process. “I applied some fertilizer pre-plant and put down the rest in-season,” he said. “That may allow me to use a little less without sacrificing yield. The fertilizer I apply will be fully used and not leached out before the plant needs it. I may reduce nitrogen rate by 15 percent by applying part during the growing season instead of putting it all down before planting.” He also tweaked plant populations a bit this year to stretch seed dollars. “I'm also looking at different day-length hybrids.” He said Bt corn decreases in-season pest control costs and is one reason he maintains high quality with no aflatoxin. He's had corn research plots on his farm since 2002 to help identify the best hybrids for the area. “We plant experimental varieties with Monsanto.” Part of the effort is designed to find drought tolerance and hybrids with lower nitrogen demand. “We expect to see drought tolerant corn in three years and nitrogen efficient hybrids in five years. Nitrogen efficient hybrids will produce the same yield with 40 percent less nitrogen.” That reduction will mean significant savings with high fertilizer prices. He's not skimping on wheat management this year either. “I plant 90 percent of my wheat acreage for certified seed,” he said. That means a commitment to exceptional weed control and disease management. “I always spray fungicides to control disease. I've used Tilt since it came out in the 1980s. It pays in this area because we typically have high humidity and wet conditions in the spring. Fungal diseases can be bad.” Powdery mildew and leaf rust are the top targets. “I've never seen a year when a Tilt application didn't pay for itself. Sometimes it provides a significant advantage. This year, with the current price of wheat, it takes fewer bushels to pay. But it is costing more to apply this year.” He said a 2-bushel yield advantage will pay for a fungicide application. “A 20-year average advantage with a fungicide is 7 to 8 bushels per acre. Some years we get a 15-bushel increase; some years we get a lot less.” But a fungicide application is always a good tool, he said. He said the area has some Hessian fly infestations. “They were heavy in 2006. We have a new variety from Oklahoma State University, Duster, that's resistant to Hessian fly. It looks good and should do well in this area.” Kodesh is growing Duster for seed this year. He sells about 50,000 bushels of wheat seed he grows each year and also is a seed rep for Monsanto corn and soybeans. He sells enough corn and soybean seed for about 20,000 acres each every year. He uses a bulk system to manage soybean seed. “That's easier than having to use bags,” he said. “I also use seed tenders for my customers to improve efficiency, which helps increase market share.” Kodesh may still work a lot of long hours, pushing to beat planting deadlines and to get fungicides or herbicides out on time. But he's taken steps over the past decade to eliminate some of the aggravation and some of the cost inherent in conventional tillage systems. Adopting technology, such as GPS and better varieties and relying on old stand-bys such as crop rotation, push crop management efficiency even further. And he likely gets a little less tired from working land. Source URL: http://www.southwestfarmpress.com/no-till-technology-taking-production-next-level

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/11972

More seasonal workers from overseas head to Mid-South farms Nov 28, 2016 Where do new Arkansas dicamba regulations stand? Nov 28, 2016 Growers considering switch from flood to furrow in Mid-South rice Dec 02, 2016 Hessian flies emerging: 6 things to know before spraying wheat Dec 07, 2016 2003-04 disaster relief approved for farmers Forrest Laws Farm Press Editorial | Oct 22, 2004 Congress approved $14.4 billion in disaster relief for farmers and others who suffered losses from this year's hurricanes and for farmers hurt by drought, floods or natural disasters in 2003 or 2004. But the manner in which it was approved and funded created rancor that is sure to spill over onto the campaign trail, especially in races like that between Reps. Charles Stenholm and Randy Neugebauer, who are running for the same congressional seat in the High Plains of Texas. The legislation, which was attached to the annual military construction bill, sends $11.5 billion in aid to businesses, farms, individuals and government installations damaged by hurricanes and storms in Florida and other East Coast states. It also provides $2.9 billion for farmers hurt by droughts, floods and other weather-related problems in other areas. The initial disaster package submitted by the Bush administration to Congress would have helped only farmers in Florida who were hit by the four hurricanes that swept through the state in late August and September. A number of congressmen, including Stenholm and Neugebauer and Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., and Sens. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., worked to include farmers who suffered losses from other natural disasters. “Without the leadership of these members and their willingness to step up to the plate, assistance would have been provided only for victims of hurricanes and not producers impacted by other equally devastating disasters,” National Farmers Union President Dave Frederickson said. But NFU and other farm group leaders said they were concerned that Congress decided to fund the agriculture disaster assistance by capping the Conservation Security Program in the 2002 farm bill. Stenholm, who introduced legislation expanding the assistance program, blamed the House leadership for the move to take money from the farm bill to pay for the disaster package. “I was disappointed that the leadership of the House failed to yield to the majority will and to do what is fair and in the best interests of U.S. farmers and ranchers,” said Stenholm, who had 34 co-sponsors for the legislation, including Neugebauer and 16 other Republicans. “The House failed to use the bipartisan legislative process that worked so well when (former Texas congressman) Larry Combest led the Agriculture Committee in the development of the 2002 farm bill, and it did so for political considerations. As a result, the House has opened the farm bill when it didn't have to.” Neugebauer, who offered the amendment to pay for the $2.9 billion in disaster relief by reinstating spending limits on the Conservation Security Program, said he felt the strategy was the only way to obtain disaster relief this year. “I saw a need to help our farmers in a way that is fiscally responsible and does not touch the farm bill,” he said. “I came to Washington to find solutions, and this much-needed disaster relief is a solution that will be a welcome sight for west Texas farmers.” As in a disaster bill passed in 2003, farmers must have lost at least 35 percent of their crops to drought, flood or other natural disaster either in 2003 or 2004. Benefits will be in addition to proceeds from federal crop insurance claims. Funding will be provided through the Crop Disaster Program, Quality Loss Program and Livestock Assistance Program. Growers cannot collect more than 95 percent of what they would have earned from an average crop on the payments, which are expected to begin reaching farmers by the end of the year.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/12666

Oh Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree Tree crop not touched by recent droughts, record heat The persistent drought and abnormally dry conditions plaguing Southeastern North Carolina for much of the past two years had virtually no effect on the Cape Fear region's Christmas tree crop, as most of the trees for sale in and around Wilmington were shipped from the western reaches of the state."Local production of Christmas trees is not a very booming business in this part of the state," said Al Hight, director of the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension. "There's just no money in it. There are some tree farms in Onslow County, but I'm not aware of them in New Hanover or Pender, though there may be some. Overall, it's a pretty small thing."That's at least partly due to the preference among consumers for Frasier fir trees. The firs, with a strong pine fragrance, short needles and thick, sturdy branches, are ideally suited for holding ornaments and strands of lights. But the trees are difficult to grow in climates where temperatures climb past the low 80s, according to Waightstill Avery, head of Plumtree-based Trinity Tree Company, which cultivates several hundred acres of Frasier firs."When the temperature gets above about 85 degrees, a Frasier fir just shuts down. It'll die," said Avery, who supplies trees to a dozen Wilmington-area stores, including Carolina Farmin'. "If we get temperatures above 85, which sometimes we do up here in the mountains, you'll see the growth just quit. They can't be grown down there where the temperature stays that high in the summer."Likewise, dry weather – which can also impact firs – is typically less of a concern in the mountains. While New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties have labored under abnormally dry or full-blown drought conditions for much of the past several years, western counties, including Avery, have enjoyed relatively regular precipitation, according to data from the state Drought Management Advisory Council."We haven't had to deal much with drought in the mountains," Avery said. "We've been fortunate to have quite a bit of rain."From planting, Frasier firs take between 12 and 14 years to mature enough to be harvested and used as Christmas trees. In that time, tree company staff members will touch each tree around 120 times."They're slow-growing. It's not like cedar or the other pine trees that can grow on the coast," Avery said. "Frasiers take five years for the seed to get big enough to go into the field, and it's another seven years in the field before we can cut them. It's roughly a year for every foot of growth from there, so if your tree is 14 feet tall, it's around 20 years old."At Carolina Farmin', Frasier firs range in size from 5 to 12 feet, with prices starting at $28. The store's first shipment from Avery contained 75 trees; the second had 125. Most if not all of the firs will be sold by Christmas, according to Bobby Harris, the store's director of operations."They do very well here," Harris said. "People love the Frasiers."Which is the highlight of the tree business, according to Avery."That's the fun part, is being able to send the tree out and knowing it's going to someone's home, and that they'll get to enjoy Christmas for two to three weeks – maybe even longer," he said. "It's a good tree."Kate Elizabeth Queram: 343-2217On Twitter: @kate_goes_bleu

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/13801

Modification of the paste properties of maize and teff starches using stearic acid D'Silva, Tanya Veronica Starch is used in many food applications as thickeners, texturisers and fat substitutes. Native starches, although useful, have low stability to conditions such as high shear, extreme pH and high temperatures encountered during food processing. Starches are modified to make them more suitable for processing conditions. The modification of starch by the use of a naturally occurring compound (for example stearic acid) may produce desirable properties and also removes the risk of a chemical residue in the starch. Starch can be from several grain sources. Teff grain is highly underutilized and underresearched. The work conducted in this project investigates the pasting properties, gelling tendencies, clarity and flow properties (using a rheometer) of teff starch pastes treated with stearic acid, in comparison to maize starch pastes. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) were also used to investigate the possible impact of stearic acid on the structure of the starch granules and pastes. Starch suspensions containing stearic acid (0.25% - 4%) were pasted in a Rapid Visco Analyser using a short pasting cycle of approx. 30 min (held for 5 min at 91°C). Maize starch (treatments) showed a reduced peak viscosity within the holding period, while teff starch (treatments) did not. Teff starch showed increasing viscosity without reaching a peak during the holding time. The pasting cycles were then extended (holding time extended to 2 hr) to investigate the pasting behaviour of teff starch. The extended pasting cycle resulted in a reduced first viscosity peak for maize starch with added stearic acid. Teff starch with added stearic acid showed a large increase in viscosity without the formation of the first viscosity peak. However, both starches displayed a second pasting peak. The addition of stearic acid resulted in an increase in the viscosity of the second pasting peak from about 175 Rapid Visco Units (RVU) to 228 RVU for maize starch, and from 113 RVU to 250 RVU for teff starch. The final viscosity of maize starch increased from 186 RVU to 227 RVU, while that of teff starch increased from 194 RVU to 261 RVU. The second viscosity peak was not observed with waxy maize starch (approx. 97% amylopectin). This suggests that amylose-stearic acid complexation might have been responsible for the formation of this peak. Complexation Index (CI) values increased as the concentration of stearic acid was increased. This further suggests that some interaction between amylose and stearic acid had taken place. The pastes of maize and teff starches modified with stearic acid were more opaque and showed reduced gelling compared to their non-modified counterparts. Maize and teff starches and their stearic acid-treated counterparts followed the Power-Law Model and were shear thinning (n < 1). However, teff starch pastes (control and treatment) seemed to be less shear thinning than their maize starch paste counterparts. An increase in consistency, k, after the extended pasting cycle was used (compared to the short pasting cycle) for the treated starches, reflects the increased viscosities obtained during extended pasting. XRD further suggested that amylose-lipid complexes may have been present in the starch pastes (after extended pasting) due to the occurrence of the 4.4 Å and 12 Å peaks (characteristic of V-type starches). CLSM showed that stearic acid diffused into maize starch granules but not into teff starch granules. This was probably due to the pores of the surfaces of maize starch granules which may have facilitated the diffusion process. In contrast, teff starch granules do not have pores on their surfaces. This structural difference may be attributed for the pasting differences between teff and maize starches. The effects of stearic acid on the pasting (effect on first and second peaks and final viscosity), and functional properties (reduced gelling and increased opacity of pastes) of maize and teff starches have been attributed to the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. These high viscosity and low gelling starches may be extremely useful as fat replacers. Teff starch has the added benefit of its small starch granules which may add to its ability mimic the mouthfeel of fat globules. Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. Theses and Dissertations (Food Science)

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/15240

Media & pressPress releases Branding & Publishing guides HomeMedia & pressPress releases Researchers Outline Food Security-Climate Change Road Map in Science Existing policies do not sufficiently encourage sustainable approaches to agriculture, or prepare the global agriculture sector for climate change. Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)(view original) Release dateWednesday, January 18, 2012 Modest advances for agriculture in Durban signal need for scientific input WASHINGTON (19 JANUARY) — While last month’s climate negotiations in Durban made incremental progress toward helping farmers adapt to climate change and reduce agriculture’s climate footprint, a group of international agriculture experts, writing in the January 20 issue of Science magazine, urges scientists to lay the groundwork for more decisive action on global food security in environmental negotiations in 2012. “Agriculture worldwide is being impacted by climate change and in less than 15 years global population will rise by one billion people,” said Sir John Beddington, lead author of the article ‘What Next for Agriculture After Durban?’ “Policy makers and scientists need to work together, quickly, to chart a course toward a sustainable global food system.” “Many agricultural practices show promise for lowering risks to food production and greenhouse gas emissions while protecting forests and other natural resources at the same time,” said Prof Tekalign Mamo of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, who spoke at several official events at the Durban gathering. “But existing policies do not sufficiently encourage these sustainable approaches or prepare the global agriculture sector for climate change.” Beddington and his co-authors noted that the run-up to the December 2011 meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) featured a strong political push to launch a new work program on agricultural climate change adaptation and mitigation under the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). For example, a group of African Agriculture Ministers presented a call for action on climate-smart agriculture in September, as did scientists from 38 countries through their Wageningen Statement in October. In Durban, many public figures called for action on agriculture including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, South African President Jacob Zuma, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi. Over 500 people joined in the third Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) meeting where Beddington presented key actions for avoiding a future in which weather extremes produce a succession of food crises. However, integration of agriculture in the climate change negotiating process has moved at a slow pace while climate change and the other forces affecting food security, chiefly rapid population growth, are occurring much faster. “Back in 2009 in Copenhagen, we already had draft negotiating text for agriculture,” explained Dr Mohammed Asaduzzaman, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, who serves on his country’s delegation to the UNFCCC. “It’s time for us to take up a SBSTA work program so negotiating parties can weigh the risks and benefits of different policy and financing choices.” Agreements in Durban did open the door to agriculture. Future negotiations will consider “sectoral actions” on climate change, which could include those related to the agriculture sector. Also, a March 5 deadline has been set for submission of evidence to SBSTA which will “exchange views on agriculture.” As a major driver of deforestation, agriculture is likely to be discussed as details of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are negotiated. Beddington and his colleagues called these a “welcome first step,” however they view it as far short of what is needed. They call on scientists to assume a more prominent role in supporting global and national political processes to ensure talks in 2012 are informed by clear data on how climate change imperils food security and what can be done to avoid catastrophe. In outlining opportunities for scientists to assist UNFCCC negotiations, the authors point to seven policy recommendations issued in November 2011 by the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change. Many of the authors serve on the Commission which Beddington chairs. “Scientists have a responsibility to show decision makers what we mean by ‘climate-smart agriculture’ and ‘sustainable intensification,’ and how these strategies are crucial to the success of any global climate change adaptation and mitigation effort,” said Dr Adrián Fernández Bremauntz, Advisor on Sustainability at the Metropolitan University in Mexico, and a member of the Commission. “There are clearly major opportunities this year for scientists to provide the evidence required to rapidly generate new investments and policies that will ensure agriculture can adapt to the impact of climate change—and in ways that mitigate production of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Prof Bob Scholes of South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, who delivered a keynote address at Forest Day in Durban where links between forestry and agriculture were highlighted. "Scientists can build on the Durban agreements for REDD+ to clearly describe adaptation and mitigation strategies that span agriculture and forestry and improve food security and livelihoods." “The window of opportunity to avert a humanitarian, environmental and climate crisis is rapidly closing and we need better information and tools for managing tradeoffs in how we grow our food and use our resources,” said Prof Molly Jahn of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Urgent action is needed, within and outside of the UNFCCC, to address the threat of climate change to agriculture and food security.” Jahn will share this analysis at a symposium on climate change and food security at the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment in Washington today. Earlier this week, she also headlined at the launch of two new global research initiatives for improved production of maize and wheat led by the CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers. Jahn and other authors of the Science article see a need for more “integrated research” focused on sustainable agricultural practices that are appropriate for “different regions, farming systems, and landscapes,” particularly in low income countries where climate change is expected to pose the greatest challenge. The goal, the authors said, is to achieve a “safe operating space” where farmers can produce enough food to meet global needs while adapting to various climatic stresses and also minimizing the environmental impact of food production. The Science article points to several other opportunities for the research community to provide insights that could direct more attention and resources to the critical link between climate change and food production. For example, scientists can help with identifying robust opportunities for investing in agricultural adaptation and mitigation with financing now available through the Adaptation Fund of the Kyoto Protocol, the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism and the Green Climate Fund, which has earmarked US$100 billion for developing countries. They can also assist with inclusion of agriculture in national action plans for climate change adaptation and mitigation that are being developed under the auspices of the UNFCCC. Overall, the authors believe scientists must help improve the overall “understanding of agricultural practices that will deliver multiple benefits” in areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, global food security, and REDD. Read more: Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Summary for policy makers from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change J. Beddington et al. 2012. What Next for Agriculture After Durban? Science VOL 335, 20 January 2012. DOI: 10.1126/science.1217941 (subscription required) CCAFS is a collaboration among

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/15861

Appetite for organic food spurs debate in India By Nachammai Raman, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor / MADRAS, INDIA In a seven-acre plot of farmland south of the city, T. Mohan hunches over to weed the soil he recently planted with sesame. He just harvested his paddy crop, which - as it has for the past 30 years - had a good yield.In three decades, Mr. Mohan has gone from a struggling paddy farmer to a prosperous one - using methods that are now discouraged by proponents of organic farming. More than 30 years ago, India eagerly embraced the genetically engineered high-yielding seed stock, chemical pesticides, and fertilizers of the Green Revolution to combat frequent famines. Dams and irrigation projects were built, enabling farmers to plant two or more crops a year without being dependent on the vagaries of the monsoon. The Green Revolution was so successful in India that it ramped up food grain production from 797 pounds per acre of cultivated land in 1967, when it began, to 1,697 pounds per acre in 2000. [Editor's note: The original version gave incorrect units of measurement for grain production.]Now some of these gains that allowed India to feed itself are being challenged by the increasing European and American demand for organic food, from pesticide-free cashews to cold-pressed coconut oil.The spread of organic farming in India is beginning to pit concerns about the supply of food for the masses against what are widely considered the environmentally unsustainable practices of the Green Revolution."The Green Revolution definitely had benefits but also many unwanted side effects that are becoming more apparent," says Gunter Pauli, founder-director of the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives, based in Tokyo.In India, organic farming received a boost at the start of the new millennium when the income potential of organic exports was realized. According to Dr. P. Bhattacharya of the National Center of Organic Farming, in Ghaziabad, India represents one tenth of the world's organic cultivation.It may be more ecologically sound, but feeding India's bulging population of more than 1 billion people with organic crops alone has some experts worried about the increased risk of famine. "That's a major problem. That has to be solved," says G. Vaidyanathan, manager of Enfield Agrobase, which pioneered organic farming in the state of Tamil Nadu more than a decade ago. Much of its organic cultivation eventually goes to the lucrative export market.Experts estimate that 50 percent of India's organic crop is exported, while just 1 percent of the Indian population consumes organically grown food. "Affordability is a criterion because the prices are 20-25 percent more," says Vaidyanathan.Mawite, who goes by one name only, runs an organic cashew farm a two-and-a-half hour drive south of Madras, in Auroville. According to her, organically grown food costs more because of the labor-intensive farming it requires."They spray inorganic cashew plantations twice a year and that's it. We have to prune, compost ... the soil base has to be good," says Mawite.Dr. K. Mani, professor of production economics at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore, says Indian farmers, anxious about yields and demand, are unlikely to embrace organic production. Demand for organic food isn't high, he explains, because "price comes first and quality next" for the bulk of consumers here."We buy what costs less," says T. Daniel, who earns $37 per month working as a security guard in an apartment building not far from Enfield Agrobase's organic retail outlet. His extended family of eight consumes three to four pounds of rice each day. His mother buys the maximum rations from the subsidized public distribution system, where rice costs 70 percent less than in regular stores."It would be difficult for us otherwise," he says. The cheapest organic rice, meanwhile, costs nearly five times more than the conventional rice sold in markets.Ashok Khosla, director of Development Alternatives in New Delhi, says organic prices are steeper because sellers are pitching to a different clientele who are willing to pay."The price has nothing to do with cost of production," he says.He insists that in India, organic production generally costs less than modern farming because it requires fewer investments in equipment and chemicals.He doesn't see organic and modern farming as incompatible. "Organic pest control by itself is probably not workable. Judicious use of chemicals may sometimes be required."Mr. Khosla suggests that organic farming's intense labor requirement may be a positive attribute. "What's wrong with labor intensive? Wouldn't you rather have people working on farms than migrating to city slums in search of work?"Khosla decried trying to produce crops that are not naturally suited to particular regions. Tanjavur, for example, is a water-scarce region that is used to grow rice, which is a water-intensive crop.He suggests instead growing a nutritious variety of millet, called bhajra - which is more suitable to Tanjavur's natural conditions - and importing rice from water-rich areas. "Of course, you've got to do the [economic] calculations."Pauli, of the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives, goes a step further. "There is a need to do more with what the earth already produces, instead of trying to force the earth to produce more." Organic farming continues to rise across the globe Making strides in women farmers' income in India A rice revolution? Most Viewed

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/16306

Deep-water well impact still needs study Potato industry seeking end to moratorium on deep-water irrigation systems Posted: Feb 14, 2014 9:12 AM AT Last Updated: Feb 14, 2014 9:22 AM AT The potato industry would like to see a moratorium on deep-water irrigation systems lifted. (CBC) Related Stories Ex-chief of staff working on irrigation moratorium P.E.I. Environment Minister Janice Sherry told the legislature's standing committee on agriculture Thursday there is still research that needs to be done on deep-water irrigation wells. The Island's potato industry is looking for a 2001 moratorium to be lifted, and the committee is holding hearings on the request. The committee room was full for Environment Minister Janice Sherry's testimony. (CBC) The hearing room was full of spectators for Sherry's testimony. The minister tried to calm any fears. "The moratorium will not be removed unless and until we're absolutely certain that more irrigation wells will not affect the quality or quantity of our drinking water resources," she said. "Environment is not on one side of the fence and agriculture on the other. I think that it's a discussion that needs to happen, a well rounded discussion needs to happen." There is still research to be done on how new wells might affect the quantity of groundwater available, its quality, and the affect on various aquatic environments, said Sherry. Should the moratorium on deep-water irrigation wells be lifted? The Environment Department doesn't know how many new wells the industry is looking to dig, or how much water it would want to use, but provincial environment director Jim Young pointed out digging a new well is not something that would be undertaken lightly. "They're talking in the neighbourhood of $300,000 for an irrigation operation," he said. "It's not a quick decision for any industry member." Progressive Conservatives on the committee expressed concern with the involvement of Chris LeClair, former chief of staff to Premier Robert Ghiz, who has been lobbying MLAs on the issue. Sherry said that had nothing to do with her department. "Cavendish Farms, I guess, actually, hired them as a lobbyist for educating people in regards to high capacity wells," she said. "It's a private business arrangement." The Progressive Conservatives describe the issue as one of the most controversial they've come up against, and said they want to know what the science says about the wells and groundwater supplies. For mobile device users: Should the moratorium on deep-water irrigation wells be lifted? Report Typo or Error

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/17112

American farmers confront 'big data' revolution By ROXANA HEGEMAN, The Associated Press WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Farmers from across the nation gathered in Washington this month for what has become an annual trek to seek action on the most important matters in American agriculture, such as immigration reform and water regulations. But this time, a new, more shadowy issue also emerged: growing unease about how the largest seed companies are gathering vast amount of data from sensors on tractors, combines and other farm equipment. The increasingly common sensors measure soil conditions, seeding rates, crop yields and many other variables, allowing companies to provide farmers with customized guidance on how to get the most out of their fields. The involvement of the American Farm Bureau, the nation's largest and most prominent farming organization, illustrates how agriculture is cautiously entering a new era in which raw planting data holds both the promise of higher yields and the peril that the information could be hacked or exploited by corporations or government agencies. Seed companies want to harness the data to help farmers grow more food with the same amount of land, and the industry's biggest brands have offered assurances that all information will be closely guarded. But farmers are serving notice in Washington that the federal government might need to become involved in yet another debate over electronic security and privacy. Some members of Congress from rural states such as Kansas were already aware of the concerns, although the issue is new to many urban lawmakers. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a Kansas Republican who grew up on a dairy farm, said agriculture must achieve technological advances to keep up with population growth, which is expected to require 60 percent more food by 2050. But she has heard farmers' concerns about data collection. “Information and data utilization is the way of the future,” Jenkins said in an emailed statement. “And just as our federal government struggles with privacy concerns through records at the NSA and various health records, so too must we maintain appropriate privacy protection of individuals from corporate entitles.” The Farm Bureau isn't sure what it needs from Washington, or whether action is even warranted yet. But farmers want their elected officials to be aware of how the industry is changing. This year's trip to Washington was primarily “an educational effort” to make sure members of Congress know about the data collecting and understand “the implications of the issue for our farmers and ranchers,” Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and president of the Kansas Farm Bureau. “We may need to come back at some time in the future and talk to them about legislation.” Farmers worry that a hedge fund or large company with access to “real-time” yield data from hundreds of combines at harvest time might be able to use that information to speculate in commodities markets long before the government issues crop-production estimates. Others are concerned that GPS-linked farm data could be obtained by the Environmental Protection Agency, antagonistic environmental groups or, in the Farm Bureau's words, “an overall-clad Edward Snowden,” a reference to the former National Security Agency analyst who disclosed intelligence-gathering operations. “It is not like we don't all trust them,” Mark Nelson, director of commodities for the Kansas Farm Bureau, said of agribusiness companies. The new data-collection systems deliver “a lot of good things” to producers. “But as an organization we are looking at, `What is the big picture?”' The Farm Bureau Federation put together a “privacy expectation guide” to educate its members and recently drafted a policy asserting that data should remain the farmer's property. The bureau also opposes allowing any federal agency to serve as a clearinghouse for proprietary or aggregated data collected by private companies. Agribusiness giant Monsanto and other corporations have tried to allay fears by reassuring farmers their data is secure and will not be used beyond providing services farmers request. This season, growers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota can even buy for the first time a Monsanto “prescription” that offers a precise seeding recipe tailored to their soil type, disease history and pests. The St. Louis-based company, which has dominated the bioengineered seed business for more than a decade, expects to expand its prescription services to other states. It calls the advancements the “Green Data Revolution” _ a play off the so-called Green Revolution of the 20th century in which mechanical, chemical and biological advancements drove unprecedented increases in food production. Monsanto expects the use of ag data to offer comparable improvements in the next few years. It bought Precision Planting, a high-tech farm equipment maker, in 2012, followed last October by the purchase of the Climate Corporation, a data-analytics firm that provides weather-related farm services and crop insurance and is handling Monsanto's fledgling data-related services. The Green Data Revolution will help farmers make more profit per acre, said Dave Friedberg, chief executive officer of The Climate Corporation. The average farmer, he says, won't have to be “tech savvy.” “Tech will just become integral to the work that they do ... in the same way that more than 100 years ago, we adopted machine-based farming equipment as the standard in the industry,” Friedberg said. Companies are also pushing an Open Ag Data Alliance, which would set uniform data standards and allow systems built by different manufacturers to talk to one another. Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere has partnered with DuPont Pioneer to tout what it calls “Decision Services,” a system in which farmers upload data onto servers that respond by sending seed and fertilizer prescriptions directly to Deere tractors in the field. Other companies offer services that let farmers connect a tablet computer to the seed monitor in the cab and download the information. Farm groups are conflicted about what role, if any, government should have in regulating data-gathering practices. “We don't believe ultimately there is a legislative fix for this,” said Terry Holdren, chief executive officer and general counsel for the Kansas Farm Bureau. “It is a contractual model for folks who have technology and folks who want technology.” Nick Guetterman, who farms roughly 10,000 acres of corn and wheat with his father and three brothers in eastern Kansas, already uses GPS technology and has been considering sending all his data to a specialized service. But he still has reservations about what a seed company or an equipment manufacturer will do with it. “I have not found it on my farm beneficial enough to pay them to analyze my data,” Guetterman said. “I either analyze it myself or do nothing with it.”

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/18327

Nation Census Troops at Risk Lotteries The Jefferson County Crop Mob is a group of urban volunteers lending a hand to small-scale farmers in Missouri.) Crop mobs sprout up on farms Posted | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Print | Enlarge By Tim A. Parker for USA TODAY Derek Bryant and Jamie Drake shovel compost in the rain on their first crop mob in Wentzville, Mo. It's an offshoot of the eat-local movement as urbanites grow more interested in the origins of their food. By Judy Keen, USA TODAY The mob descended on Chris Wimmer's farm on a rainy Saturday bearing pitchforks and shovels. They went to work quickly, relocating a compost pile, digging weeds and hauling fencing. The Jefferson County Crop Mob, a group of mostly urban volunteers, spends one Saturday a month sweating for small-scale farmers such as Wimmer. In return, they learn about the food they consume and tips about organic and sustainable farming. "It's like farming 101," says Derek Bryant, 38. He and Jamie Drake, 34, tackled the compost heap, shoveling the muck into new storage bins. He works for a commercial construction company and she's an interior designer, but their dream is to turn land that's been in his family for seven generations into a sustainable farm. The first U.S. crop mob was formed in North Carolina in 2008, and now there are more than 30. "It's going to explode," predicts Kirsten Santucci, organizer of a crop mob in Washington, D.C., that's in its first season and has about 200 members. The idea is a logical offshoot of the local-food movement, which emphasizes consumption of food grown near where you live, she says. Organizers use social media such as Facebook to enlist members and publicize gatherings. Wimmer, 51, who grows vegetables and raises goats and hogs on his 10-acre farm, was thrilled that strangers were willing to do chores for a day. "To find there's a bunch of people who want to help on a farm is amazing," he says. "People have been really working. … I'm overwhelmed with their support." Perfect for small-scale work Crop mob members often compare what they do to old-fashioned barn-raisings, where neighbors gather on a farm for a day to build a barn. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, a professor of agricultural history and rural studies at Iowa State University, says it's more like agricultural tourism. "People stay in a bed and breakfast … and take part in the business of a farm for a weekend and pay for the experience," she says. She says crop mobs wouldn't fit in on large farms where dangerous heavy equipment is used. "Most farmers don't need large groups of unskilled laborers," Riney-Kehrberg says. "This only makes sense in places where you're talking about small-scale, low-tech work." That's the point of crop mobs: to help small farmers who really need the extra hands, says Erik Froelich, owner of a 40-acre vegetable farm in Harmony, N.C., and a member of the Piedmont Crop Mob. The mob will gather at his farm Saturday to transplant tomatoes and build greenhouses. Besides the satisfaction of working hard for an appreciative host, Froelich says, participants also feel more connected to their food, the earth and each other. "It meets a philosophical need and a community need we feel has been lost," he says. "It's an antidote to food alienation," says Rachel Schattman, a basil and garlic farmer and a member of Vermont's Green Mountain Crop Mob. It was formed three months ago and has 125 members. "Everybody who goes is interested in working hard, and it's satisfying at the end of the day when you're tired." Get to learn a lot The Jefferson County Crop Mob has 283 members on Facebook, but about 10 showed up at Wimmer's farm amid a day-long downpour. They worked non-stop for several hours and prepared an unused garden for planting — a task that Wimmer says would have taken him all summer. "Everyone's so cheerful in the rain," Wimmer says. "I really didn't know what to expect." He served burgers and brats to the volunteers at the end of the day. Pat Quigley, 33, organizer of the Jefferson County mob, is an unemployed cabinetmaker who hopes to start his own farm. He quizzed Wimmer about his growing techniques. "I'm a sponge," Quigley says. He can't wait to buy land "and do something that's right for me and my family and the environment." Photographer Katie Redell, 30, brought her kids, ages 10 and 6, to Wimmer's farm. "It is hard work, but there's something very satisfying about that," she says. "You get to learn a lot and just enjoy being outdoors." There are deeper purposes, too, says Kelly Childs, 39, a co-leader of Slow Food St. Louis, which promotes alternatives to fast food. Crop mobs support small farmers, help change attitudes about food and prove the power of social media to organize people, she says. Bryant and Drake want to learn to do what Wimmer does. "It's a good opportunity to get around to other people's farms and learn some things," Bryant says. "We also just like the work."

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/18410

American Shipper - Home > News > USDA helps release ag shipments overseas close USDA helps release ag shipments overseas Thursday, August 02, 2012 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it has with assistance from federal, international and industry partners successfully released 209 shipments of American products valued at more than $39 million in 2012. The goods had been detained at foreign ports of entry pending resolution of various animal and plant health questions. APHIS also said it helped open or maintain more than $51 million in overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. "APHIS works diligently every day to help ensure overseas markets for our country's agricultural products," said Rebecca Blue, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, in a statement. "In the past six months, APHIS has negotiated to reopen the Chinese market for U.S. log exports in a six-month pilot program, facilitated the first export of 1,400 cattle to Angola, helped California producers ship their stone fruit to important markets in Mexico, and arranged for the release of six shipments of cherries and $1.5 million of cotton held at Chinese ports." When American shipments are detained at overseas ports of entry, APHIS and other USDA officials negotiate with international officials to resolve the issue. APHIS' technical staff certify that U.S. animal and plant products are free of pests and diseases and meet the entry requirements set by other countries. In negotiations to protect, expand, and open new trade markets, APHIS advocates on behalf of U.S. agricultural industries to ensure a free flow of American agricultural products in international markets. In addition, APHIS recently launched a new Website with trade-related information. The agency said the site will help exporters find information about its services, including trade information and regulations. It also serves as a "hub" for APHIS updates, with links to trade-related feeds from the agency's Newsroom, Twitter, and the USDA blog.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/19121

National Hog Farmer Digital Edition ... Improving weight gain for transitioning pigs Nov 30, 2016 Economics of Lysine Webinar Nov 30, 2016 Added fat in pig diets may affect digestibility of nutrients Nov 30, 2016 National Hog Farmer brought to you by Aiming for a $4 Billion Target: Alltech Realigns Leadership Team [Lexington, KY] – In its quest to reach $4 billion in revenue, global animal health and nutrition company Alltech is realigning its directorship to take strategic advantage of emerging opportunities. Dr. Mark Lyons has been named vice president of corporate affairs and Geoff Frank has been appointed to manager of North American sales. “Alltech has experienced a remarkable growth in the past couple of years,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “The opportunities are ripe and abundant, and consequently I’ve asked several key members of our directorship to assume new areas of focus. We are moving away from ‘business as usual’ to the business of the future Alltech, an Alltech that sees $4 billion as a viable achievement within the next few years.” Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and German, Dr. Mark Lyons will be concentrating on key international accounts and industry groups as well as core company initiatives. Under his leadership as director of North America, Alltech expanded its presence in all agricultural sectors with the opening of new offices. Dr. Mark Lyons had previously served as director of international projects, overseeing projects and operations at Alltech’s solid state fermentation plant in Serdan, Mexico, and its flagship yeast production facility in São Pedro, Brazil. Alltech’s new sales manager of North America, Geoff Frank, has more than 40 years of experience in agriculture and livestock businesses. Frank began working with Alltech in 1992 as chairman of Alltech’s distribution in South Africa, his native country. Since that time, he has held a number of directorship roles including that of CEO of Improcrop, an agronomy subsidiary of Alltech. Considered one of the world’s top ten animal health companies, Alltech continues to grow at 20% or more each year, and now employs 2,650 team members in 128 countries.

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/19293

French classify ancient vines as national treasure Tue Jun 26, 2012 | 8:36am EDT By Marcel Michelson | PARIS PARIS A wine plague spread by lice destroyed vines in France in the 19th century but a small area in the Pyrenees, which contains plants up to 200 years old, was spared and is being classified as a national heritage monument.Like other national treasures such as the Palace of Versailles and Notre Dame cathedral, the vines in the Ardour valley will be protected.They contain the ancient DNA of local grape varieties. Some grapes are still being used with grapes from younger generation vines to make Saint-Mont wine."It is an exceptional plot," said Olivier Bourdet-Pees, director of the Plaimont wine making firm. "The vines go back 200 years. They were planted in 1800 and 1810. There are 29 different grape varieties of which seven were unknown," he said.The vine disaster forced many vintners from regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy to seek grafts, or entire vines, from as far away as America.The vines of Bordeaux were ravaged by the phylloxera outbreak from 1865, a decade after the famous classification of great wines in 1855, and had to be replanted with imported grafts on remaining stems.In Burgundy, vintners pulled up their old French vines and replanted them with American pinot noir until they discovered that grafting was the best method. SAFEGUARDING A NATIONAL HERITAGE Scientists have been researching the plants and the grapes as part of a mission to safeguard the national heritage. On June 1, the local heritage and sites commission of the Midi Pyrenees region included the vines on the list of national historical monuments."This plot of 40 acres contains very old and non-grafted stocks and offers a remarkable example of biodiversity and of genetic heritage: 600 vines in 12 rows, some 20 different varieties of which seven have not previously been recorded," the regional authorities said in a statement.The plot also showed traces of ancient methods of agriculture, with double rows of vines planted in squares. Although the production is too small for a special wine, the vegetal material can be used to make younger vines. For eight generations the plot has been in the hands of the family of vintner Jean-Pascal Pedebernade. About 20 years ago, scientists started to study the vines. It took them until 2008 to completely map the genetic make-up of the plants in a study that helped sway the commission in its decision.The sandy soil plot lies near the village of Sarragchies near Saint-Mont in the Gers, in southwest France. The vines are planted wide apart, which may explain why it resisted the attacks by the phylloxera aphids that traveled to Europe from their original habitat in the United States.Saint-Mont has its own AOC wine denomination. It is a sturdy wine like the Madiran, which is also produced by the vintners associated in the Plaimont cooperative group. Its headquarters is in the former Benedictine monastery whose monks planted vines around the year 1050 in the Middle Ages. The group also makes the sweet golden Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh and the Cotes de Gascogne wines.The Saint-Mont AOC area has 46 villages and uses the Tanat, Pinenc, Cabernet France and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for red and rose wines as well as Gros Manseng, Arrufiac and Petit Courbu for the whites. While the cabernets are widely used elsewhere, the other grape varieties are typical for the region. Its producers are proud of the biodiversity of the area, which is helpful in the ultra competitive market for inexpensive wines.Production is about 8 million bottles, half in red, 30 percent in whites and the rest in rosé. Two-thirds of the production is consumed in France with exports mainly to other European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and China. They sell in the range of seven to 14 euro per bottle ($8.77 to $17.54).Other parcels of vines have also resisted phylloxera.The Bollinger champagne firm has two walled pre-phylloxera vineyards, which it uses in its rare Vieilles Vignes Francaises. The 2000 vintage sold for 600 euro ($751.76) a bottle.Other old plots include Romorantin in the centre of France, where Henry and Jean-Sebastien Marionnet claim to own a vineyard planted in 1850. The oldest vines they use for their La Pucelle de Romorantin are 160 years old, mixed with grapes from younger vines grown from the sprouts of the old vines from 2007.The Stara Trta vines at Maribor in Slovenia are reputed to be more than 400 years old, while the oldest in France, in the city of Reims, are believed to be at least 344 years old.(Editing by Patricia Reaney)

农业

2016-50/2597/en_head.json.gz/20212

Farmhouse Pavia, the best farmhouses in Pavia Expand All Province Bergamo Brescia Como Mantova Pavia Sondrio Varese Farmhouse LombardyFarmhouse Borgo Priolo Discover Pavia Guide to vacation Pavia The Lombardy province of Pavia has over seventy thousand inhabitants. Its history is closely connected with its proximity to the Ticino river: Ticinum was the name of Pavia when it was the ancient capital of the Lombard kingdom. One of the monuments not to be missed for its beauty and history is the Basilica of San Michele. The Basilica of San Michele was the scene of the coronation of the Carolingian kings Berengar II, Adalberto II and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Pavia Cathedral is surmounted by an imposing dome, the third largest in Italy. The famous Certosa monastery was built in the second half of the fourteenth century, during the rule of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. Pavia is an historical university city. The University of Pavia is among the most prestigious in Italy. The University of Pavia was founded by Emperor Lothario in 825. One of the oldest in Europe, its university professors have included Ugo Foscolo, Alessandro Volta and other distinguished figures of this calibre. The province of Pavia is mainly devoted to agriculture, producing wine, rice and cereals. The Oltrepò Pavese wine is familiar to lovers of Bacchus. Indeed, the Oltrepò Pavese area is rightly described as "shaped like a cluster of grapes". Oltrepò Pavese consists of plains, hills and mountains. Wine production flourishes, especially in the hillside area that rises to 300m above sea level. The Lomellina area is known for its castles and many ancient traditions. The Lomellina is a particularly wet zone, which has encouraged the cultivation of rice, a crop of great importance to the area. Historically the Lomellina has been heavily contested by the large cities bordering it. Farmhouses Lombardy

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/19232

Defined by critics, big ag restarts conversation MARY CLARE JALONICKAssociated Press OKAWVILLE, Ill. — Add one more item to the list of chores that Larry Hasheider has to do on his 1,700-acre farm: defending his business to the American public.There's a lot of conversation about traditional agriculture recently, and much of it is critical. Think genetically modified crops, overuse of hormones and antibiotics, inhumane treatment of animals and over-processed foods.This explosion of talk about food — some based on fact, some based on fiction — has already transformed the marketplace. Slow to respond and often defensive, farmers and others in agribusiness have for several years let critics define the public debate and influence consumers. Now, the industry is trying to push farmers and businesses to fight back, connecting with those consumers through social media and outreach that many in agriculture have traditionally shunned."We as farmers now have another role in addition to being farmers," Hasheider says as he takes a break from harvesting his corn crop. "It's something you have to evolve into."In addition to corn, Hasheider grows soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on the farm nestled in the heart of Illinois corn country. He cares for 130 dairy cows, 500 beef cattle and 30,000 hogs. And now, he's giving tours of his farm, something he says he never would have done 20 years ago."We didn't think anyone would be interested in what we were doing," he says.Like a lot of other farmers, Hasheider was wrong.Take the issue of genetically modified foods. There has been little scientific evidence to prove that foods grown from engineered seeds are less safe than their conventional counterparts, but consumer concerns and fears — many perpetuated through social media and the Internet — have forced the issue. A campaign to require labeling of modified ingredients on food packages has steadily gained attention, and some retailers have vowed not to sell them at all.Makers of the engineered seeds and the farmers and retailers who use them stayed largely silent, even as critics put forth a simple, persuasive argument: Consumers have a right to know if they are eating genetically modified foods.Modified seeds are now used to grow almost all of the nation's corn and soybean crops, most of which are turned into animal feed.The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a well-known critic of food companies and artificial and unhealthy ingredients in foods, has not opposed genetically modified foods, on the basis that there's no evidence they are harmful.Still, director Michael Jacobson says, the issue has taken on a life of its own to the general public.Companies like Monsanto Corp. "try to argue back with facts, but emotions often trump facts," Jacobson says. "They are faced with a situation where critics have an emotional argument, a fear of the unknown."Perhaps no one understands this dynamic better than Robert Fraley, who was one of the first scientists to genetically modify seeds and now is executive vice president and chief technology officer of Monsanto. He says the company was late to the public relations game as critics worked to vilify it, even holding marches on city streets to protest Monsanto by name.Fraley says he has spent "more than a few nights" thinking about the company's image problem. He says Monsanto always thought of itself as the first step in the chain and has traditionally dealt more with farmers than consumers.About a year ago, in an attempt to dispel some of the criticism, the company started addressing critics directly and answering questions through social media and consumer outreach. The company is also reaching out to nutritionists and doctors, people whom consumers may consult. Fraley is personally tweeting — and, like Hasheider, he says it's something he never would have thought about doing just a few years ago."We were just absent in that dialogue, and therefore a lot of the urban legends just got amplified without any kind of logical balance or rebuttal," Fraley says of the criticism.At a recent conference of meat producers, David Wescott, director of digital strategy at APCO Worldwide, told ranchers they needed to do a better job connecting with — and listening to — mothers, who often communicate on social media about food and make many of the household purchasing decisions."It's a heck of a lot more convincing when a mom says something than when a brand does," says Wescott, who says he has worked with several major farm and agriculture companies to help them reach out to consumers, especially moms.Other farm groups, like Illinois Farm Families, are inviting moms to tour the fields. Tim Maiers of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says the group has found that consumers generally trust farmers, but they have a lot of questions about farming methods.One of the moms, Amy Hansmann, says that though she remains concerned about the amount of processed foods and chemicals in the food supply, her experiences touring conventional farms with Illinois Farm Families changed her thinking. She was particularly amazed by the big farmers' use of technology and attempts to be sustainable.Hansmann says that before the tour, her perception from the media was that these big farmers were "evil capitalists" who focused only on their businesses and not on the care of the land or animals."What I found couldn't be further from the truth," she says.Chris Chinn, a blogger and a fifth generation farmer and mom from Clarence, Mo., is trying to reach out to others like Hansmann, too. Chinn, 38, carves 20 minutes or more out of her schedule every day to get on Twitter, comment on online articles and update her blog. Her internet service can be spotty in rural Clarence, but she sometimes types out entire blog posts on her smartphone and tries to respond to every Tweet that is directed to her — some of them nasty."We've been late to the game, and we realized that if we don't start sharing, people are going to start forming opinions about you," says Chinn, who is working with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, formed by more than 80 farm groups to try to improve agriculture's message.Chinn says she started using social media because of animal rights campaigns that have aimed to eliminate gestation crates that she and other hog farmers use for pregnant sows. Hog farmers say the crates are important to keep the pigs and their piglets safe; animal rights groups say they are inhumane and have pushed state legislatures to get rid of them.Chinn says her smaller farm could go under if she was forced to get rid of the crates, because she and her husband wouldn't be able to get a loan for new equipment. She believes that if people knew more about these operations, they would understand.Some critics say that dialogue isn't going to be enough, arguing that the companies will have to make some real concessions in addition to defending what they do if they are going to win over consumers. They point to Monsanto's expensive campaigns against mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods in California and Washington State. The company won both fights.Fighting the mandatory labels has "made it look like big ag has more to hide," says Gary Hirshberg, a co-founder of the organic yogurt company Stonyfield Farm. He has worked in the past few years on the labeling campaign. Hirshberg and other critics have argued that Monsanto and retailers should just accept the labels and move on.Some farmers have decided that responding to consumer preference is the smartest route for their businesses. Nestled in low hills along the Missouri River just west of St. Louis, John Ridder has a 1,500 acre farm and a herd of 200 cattle. His wife, Heidi, recently created a Facebook profile for their cattle ranch, and the two have worked with the Missouri Beef Industry Council to reach out to consumers.They say they are shocked by some of the misperceptions about agriculture on the Internet, like the assumption that most cattle operations are so-called "factory farms."At the same time, they realize they are somewhat powerless in the conversation.John says he stopped using growth hormones in his cattle because consumers don't want them. "We don't do it because we don't want to have to explain how we do it," he says.Many farmers are taking that a step further and taking advantage of the consumer trends — labeling foods as natural or local."It's the first time any of us have seen anything like this," says Ken Colombini of the National Corn Growers Association. "The more that kind of demand builds, the more we're going to have to change what we're doing." © Copyright 2006-2016 GateHouse Media, LLC. Some rights reserved • GateHouse Gjlifestyles

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/19432

Mahindra rolls out new tractors in Nepal on: June 17, 2016In: BUSINESS Print Email Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), a part of the $17.2 billion Mahindra Group & Agni Group on Wednesday announced the launch of the new Mahindra ARJUN NOVO -605 DI – in Nepal – the most technologically advanced and stylishly designed new generation tractor, based on a whole new platform. The new platform would be offered in range from 55-75 HP & right now the product offered falls in 60 HP category, according to a press release issued here by the company. The new ARJUN NOVO 605 DI, is in line with Mahindra’s vision of becoming the pioneer in providing technology driven farming solutions to farmers across the country, it claimed, adding that with new benchmarks in technology, comfort and ergonomics, the latest offering from the Mahindra stable, is all set to change farming practices and improve efficiency and quality of output, leading to Farm Tech Prosperity. Speaking at the launch, Vice President, Head of International Operations – South Asia, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, said,, “Mahindra is the global leader in tractors by volumes. With the launch of the new Mahindra ARJUN NOVO 605 DI, we have deployed technology innovation to set new benchmarks, thereby reinventing ourselves to stay ahead.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/19762

Study Cites Illegal Means, Threats To Farmers In Company’s Bid To Control China’s Forests Year-long study suggests local Chinese officials and 'green' paper company flouted farmers' rights in plan for 120,000-hectare plantation A new study released today in Washington, DC and Beijing suggests that one of the world's largest and "greenest" paper companies, in concert with local officials and other middlemen, used illegal means to gain control over thousands of hectares of Chinese forestlands, with a goal of acquiring 120 thousand hectares for a eucalyptus plantation in the Guangxi Autonomous Region of southern China. The authors say their research shows that the middlemen, acting on behalf of Finnish paper and pulp manufacturer Stora Enso, often violated existing laws, and at times used physical threats on farmers who balked at signing over their rights"”in essence, undermining the Chinese central government's recent measures to strengthen farmers' rights to the nation's forest lands. The study of the land-acquisition practices of the Helsinki-based company, conducted between December 2009 and June 2010 by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Seattle-based Rural Development Institute (RDI), is based on interviews with Chinese farmers, community officials and company representatives in the Guangxi Autonomous Region, and a comprehensive review of Chinese laws and central decrees on rural forestland. The authors note that risks of abuse of land rights have increased exponentially, as demand grows worldwide for agricultural and forest land, and as new monies become available under global climate change agreements aimed at protecting forests. "Unfortunately, we now know that the people who inhabit and depend on forestlands"”whether in China or other vulnerable nations"”cannot count solely on a company's reputation for corporate social responsibility," said Andy White, Coordinator of RRI. Threat to China's unprecedented transfer of land to rural peoples In the last decade, the Chinese government has made great strides in advancing rural development and forest restoration by quietly carrying out a nationwide forestland reform designed to strengthen the land rights of communities and households. This reform allows households to transfer their land rights to others, including outside investors, as long as the process is voluntary and no one involved has a conflict-of-interest. Arguably the largest in modern history, the recent reforms by the Government of the People's Republic of China cover more than 100 million hectares of forest land and affect 400 million people. "It is unconscionable that these important and historic measures, which were designed to give farmers secure rights to their forest lands, have been so abused," said Li Ping, study co-author, and attorney for RDI. The experience of the farmers of Hepu County in the Guangxi Autonomous Region, as recorded in the study, suggests that booming global demand for agriculture, forest products and bio-energy may well endanger the success of the Chinese government's unprecedented and revolutionary forest land reforms. "This is a wakeup call," said Ujjwal Pradhan, Regional Coordinator of the Southeast Asia Program of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). "Companies and their investors need to proactively investigate land rights and ongoing land-related conflicts. They cannot assume that local rights and interests are being protected, or that the laws are being followed, just because local governments are involved. Standards of corporate social responsibility need to be strengthened when it comes to land." The study notes that, with a few exceptions, almost all the land acquired by Stora Enso in Hepu was collectively owned. However, Ping said, some of the land already had been allocated to individual households, and that was prior to the acquisitions by Stora Enso. He added that the law also prohibits transfers of collective land that has not yet been allocated to individual households. China's 2002 rural land law requires that once an individual farmer household obtains the right to use collectively-owned land, all subsequent transfer contracts must be signed by a representative of that household. But most of the farmers interviewed in the affected communities said they had not been consulted about the transactions that transferred forestlands to Stora Enso. "And many of those who agreed to a transfer of land felt pressured to do so by local political leaders"”in some cases under duress and in response to threats of physical violence," Ping said. Marcus Colchester, Director of the Forest Peoples Programme noted that Stora Enso has a better reputation than most paper companies, and has received awards repeatedly for ethical business practices. "To avoid the destruction of natural forests, Stora Enso insists on establishing plantations before starting up local manufacturing operations and strives to uphold better social and environmental standards than most," Colchester said. "Yet their approach in this case is very disappointing, particularly as these problems were identified in early 2006." Stora Enso slow to respond to news of irregularities Colchester noted that Stora Enso had hosted an international meeting in April of that year where RDI and RRI staff informed Stora Enso management of the legal irregularities in their land acquisitions. In September 2006, researchers with RRI and RDI conducted a field study of the plantations in Hepu County, and reported that the company had not yet changed its purchasing practices. The new study was commissioned in 2009, when farmers' protests against the Stora Enso land acquisitions in Hepu ended in violence. Ping said he and his fellow researchers had sought to interview Stora officials for the new study, but, aside from one short conversation with a manager in late December 2009, they were unable to obtain further information from the company. According to documents reviewed by the authors, Stora Enso intends eventually to acquire a total of 1.8 million mu (120 thousand hectares) of land in five counties in Guangxi. The company also plans to develop a pulp, paper, and board mill in southern Guangxi, investing a total in the region of &eur;1.8 billion, which includes the land. Stora Enso began the plantation operation in the region in 2002, according to the Stora Enso official interviewed briefly by the authors. The official told the authors that by the end of 2009, Stora Enso had gained control over 22 thousand hectares of forestland in Hepu County, the site of the violent conflicts in 2009 and the focus of this study. Reliance on local government, rather than local market for land purchases The Stora Enso official reported that in Hepu County, 70% of the transactions were conducted through the local government company"”created for the sole purpose of acquiring land for Stora Enso"”and 20% through multiple middlemen. The remaining 10% of the transactions were carried out directly between Stora Enso and the administrative entities of local collectives. The study particularly criticizes Stora Enso's agreement to use a local government company to acquire the land, because Chinese laws require rural land transfers be conducted between the individual transferring the land and the purchaser through a negotiation that is free of duress. "To acquire land legally and in a socially-responsibly fashion, Stora Enso should have negotiated with farmers and collectives, and paid a market rent determined under the 'willing-buyer-willing-seller' approach," said Ping. "Local officials had promised high targets for land acquisition in order to lure Stora Enso's investment to the region, so the company should have foreseen that coercion might be used to help them acquire the land they needed." Farmers depend on forestlands for livelihood Hepu, the county that is now home to many of Stora Enso's eucalyptus plantations, is an agricultural region where over 97% of its forestland is collectively owned and nearly 80% of its population relies primarily on the land for its livelihood. Forestland, especially wasteland that has been planted and developed into forests by farmers, plays an instrumental role in supplementing the income of local farming communities. In conducting their research, the authors visited ten villages where farmers reported that they depended on forestlands to supplement their incomes, as arable landholdings range from one to 1.3 mu per person, "which is barely able to produce sufficient food for daily consumption," according to the study. "The new study suggests that all investors should ensure that local people have given their free, prior and informed consent before land transactions can be considered legitimate," said Colchester. "We urge immediate remedial actions by Stora Enso to address these irregularities." According to central government guidelines governing forest land transactions, all irregular land acquisitions require corrective measures by the purchaser. RRI and RDI shared the final report with Stora Enso officials in mid-September 2010 and Stora Enso noted that they had begun to address the problem with a team of lawyers in order to inventory the cases of improper purchasing. However, local farmers interviewed by Ping in late September alleged that no corrective measures had yet been undertaken. "China is not alone in confronting inappropriate land grabs," White said. "This is a global trend that was documented recently in a World Bank report. But the solution the World Bank recommends"”that we rely on corporate social responsibility to ensure good behavior"”is grossly inadequate. "The purpose of this study is to help confront this risk and convert growing investment rates into locally-sound enterprises that help lift rural people out of poverty. And in China, where the central government is taking strong steps to strengthen the rights of poor rural farmers, we need to encourage local governments and investors to make sure the rights they acquire have been freely and legally given." --- Burness Communications

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/19862

Texas pecan producers expected more from 2016 crop Dec 01, 2016 Merchandising wheat requires time and effort Nov 29, 2016 Surviving farm accidents: A call to action Nov 30, 2016 Prevented Planting Program gets updates from USDA Nov 29, 2016 Livestock USDA releases user agreement for textile assistance program Forrest Laws 1 | Dec 16, 2008 U.S. textile manufacturers can begin signing up for the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program that Congress included in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 to help stabilize the textile industry. Under the EAA program, the secretary of agriculture can provide assistance to textile manufacturers that invest an equivalent amount of funds in capital improvements by acquiring, constructing, installing modernizing, developing, converting or expanding land, plant, buildings, equipment, facilities or machinery. The 2008 farm bill provides payments based on the amount of cotton consumed by the textile manufacturer after Aug. 1, 2008. The manufacturer must sign a user agreement to be eligible for the funding. Officials with the National Cotton Council and the National Council of Textile Organizations said they were grateful to USDA for implementing the program in a timely manner that was consistent with the way Congress meant for it to operate. “U.S. growers appreciate the importance of the U.S. domestic textile industry and are hopeful this program will help the industry improve its competitive position in the textile and apparel marketplace, said NCC Chairman Larry McClendon of Marianna, Ark. U.S. textile mills consumed as much as 11 million bales of cotton annually, almost all of them from U.S. cotton producers, until the early part of this decade. USDA recently forecast that U.S. mill consumption could drop to 4 million bales in the 2008-09 marketing year (August-July). NCTO Chairman Anderson Warlick said the timely release of funds under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program is critical given the financial challenges faced by U.S. textile manufacturers dealing with uncertain credit markets, a sluggish economy and continued erosion of U.S. markets by subsidized textile and apparel imports “These funds can be an important component of our continued efforts to modernize our facilities and maintain competitiveness” said Warlick, who is also a member of the NCC’s board of directors from Gastonia, N.C. Warlick noted that participants would need to carefully review the applicable regulations and guidelines before they sign the User Agreement and apply for assistance, which took effect Aug. 1. The User Agreement is at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=coop&topic=landing. McClendon stated that given the intense competition in the worldwide textile and apparel market, it was appropriate for the United States to help U.S. textile firms take steps to enhance their efficiency and improve their competitiveness. “U.S. cotton producers worked with Congress to ensure this program would be budget neutral, even to the point of agreeing to a slight reduction in their own benefits in the 2008 farm bill,” he said. The House Agriculture Committee agreed to the program as part of a 10-point plan aimed at helping revive the U.S. cotton industry, but had to agree to budget offsets in USDA’s cotton programs after the Bush administration insisted on spending reductions in the 2008 farm bill. “NCC and NCTO leaders look forward to working with USDA to ensure that the program achieves its objectives and that participants fully comply with all provisions of the regulations and User Agreement,” said Warlick. email: [email protected]

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/19863

Texas pecan producers expected more from 2016 crop Dec 01, 2016 Merchandising wheat requires time and effort Nov 29, 2016 Surviving farm accidents: A call to action Nov 30, 2016 Prevented Planting Program gets updates from USDA Nov 29, 2016 Regulatory>Legislative Water release to Mexico strikes angry response from Texas officials Texans unhappy over water release to Mexico. The IBWC granted the request and a release from the New Mexico reservoir is expected to take place in early April. Decision to deliver water to Mexico under the current circumstances cited as inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Convention. Logan Hawkes | Apr 05, 2012 World leaders, diplomats and even scientists have been warning us for years that the next Great War will be over water and not oil, a resounding sentiment echoing across the U.S. /Mexico border this week as disgruntled farmers, politicians and community leaders from both sides worry about where the water will come from to grow their crops this year. Harsh words have already started to fly over a recently announced International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) plan to release water from the Rio Grande River to Mexico this month, earlier in the year than usual, a move Texas and New Mexico irrigation districts say will cause serious loss of water to evaporation at a time when U.S. farmers are going to need every inch they can find following last year’s drought. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Commissioner Carlos Rubinstein and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples are the latest to join the ranks of those opposed to the release of water from Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico that will send millions of gallons of water across the U.S. border into Northern Mexico where drought stricken farmers say they desperately need the resource to recover from last year’s mega drought. In a joint letter from Staples and Rubinstein to IBWC Commissioner Edward Drusina last week, they urged that authorities “act immediately to rescind the decision to release the water because it will result in significant harm to American farmers and ranchers and [will be a] waste of water during this time of drought.” The Mexican branch of the IBWC had made formal request earlier this month for the early release of water, a provision they say is authorized by a 1944 treaty between the two countries that outlines how water in the watersheds of both countries is shared. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), headed by Drusina, is an official dual government agency under the control of the U.S. State Department and is the U.S. component of the two-nation International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), which applies the boundary and water treaties of the United States and Mexico and settles differences. The Commission was formed as a result of the Treaty of 1944, established for the utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande and to determine how that water would be shared in the international segment of the Rio Grande from Fort Quitman, Texas, to the Gulf of Mexico. This treaty also authorized the two countries to construct operate and maintain dams on the main channel of the Rio Grande. The Convention of May 21, 1906, provided for the distribution between the United States and Mexico of the waters of the Rio Grande above Fort Quitman, Texas, for the 89-mile international boundary reach of the Rio Grande through the El Paso-Juárez Valley. This Convention allotted to Mexico 60,000 acre-feet annually of the waters of the Rio Grande to be delivered in accordance with a monthly schedule at the headgate to Mexico's Acequia Madre just above Juárez, Chihuahua. To facilitate such deliveries, the United States constructed, at its expense, the Elephant Butte Dam in its territory. The Convention includes a provision that says in case of extraordinary drought or serious accident to the irrigation system in the United States, the amount of water delivered to the Mexican Canal shall be diminished in the same proportion as the water delivered to lands under the irrigation system in the United States downstream of Elephant Butte Dam. History of the Water Treaties The Treaty of 1944 provided the water of the Rio Grande an allocation of all of the waters reaching the main channel of the Rio Grande from the San Juan and Alamo Rivers, including the return flows from the lands irrigated from those two rivers, and two-thirds of the flow in the main channel of the Rio Grande from the measured Conchos, San Diego, San Rodrigo, Escondido and Salado Rivers, and the Las Vacas Arroyo—subject to certain provisions—and one-half of all other flows occurring in the main channel of the Rio Grande downstream from Fort Quitman. The Treaty allots to the United States all of the waters reaching the main channel of the Rio Grande from the Pecos and Devils Rivers, Goodenough Spring and Alamito, Terlingua, San Felipe and Pinto Creeks, and one-third of the flow reaching the main channel of the river from the six named measured tributaries from Mexico and provides that this third shall not be less, as an average amount in cycles of five consecutive years, than 350,000 acre-feet annually, plus one-half of all other flows occurring in the main channel of the Rio Grande downstream from Fort Quitman. Two subsequent treaties followed—the Chamizal Convention of August 29, 1963, resolved the nearly 100-year-old boundary problem at El Paso, Texas-/Juárez, Chihuahua, caused by flooding that redirected a section of the river; and the Treaty of November 23, 1970, resolved all pending boundary differences and provided for maintaining the Rio Grande and the Colorado River as the international boundary. A dispute between Mexico and U.S. Southwestern States Water issues once again surfaced between framers on both sides of the Texas/Mexico border. Texans argued that Mexico owes the United States about 450 billion gallons of water under the terms of a 1944 treaty to share the waters of the Rio Grande, and that since 1992 Mexico has fallen behind on its required deliveries. Texas farmers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, who depend on water from the river to irrigate crops, have been hit hard by Mexico’s water debt. Parched fields and dusty irrigation ditches caught the attention of state officials. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at the time, Texas Gov. Rick Perry outlined a plan for Mexico to provide enough water to meet Texas’ immediate water needs, as well as cooperative efforts to prevent future deficits. In April that year Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs and Valley growers met with State Department officials to present evidence from satellite imagery that Mexico had enough water to meet its commitments. In February, Attorney General John Cornyn announced the creation of an in-house task force to investigate legal and diplomatic avenues to resolve the dispute and to secure water for users in the Valley. What resulted was an agreement between then-U.S. President George Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox. Water stored in Mexican reservoirs not named in the 1944 treaty were utilized to repay a portion of this water debt, a move that enraged Mexican agriculture producers who threatened to take the issue to the Mexican Supreme Court. They argued that by taking this water illegally, the Mexican government had seriously degraded their ability to continue farming in the region in order to repay water they believed was not owed to the U.S. government. Trouble in the 21st Century Last year’s troubling drought, the worst in Texas and North Mexico’s history, again has caused troubles to brew on both sides of the border. Mexican farmers, desperate to irrigate crops in the warm spring of 2012, made formal request to receive their water allotment from Elephant Butte Reservoir in April, at least a month ahead of the normal schedule. But Texas and New Mexico farmers and ranchers say such an early release will cause farmers to lose valuable water during peak need in a drought year. If Mexico gets its water far in advance of the U.S. districts, who are not ready to receive their share of the reservoir water, a lot of water will be lost to seepage and evaporation, causing additional water shortages for U.S. farmers. In spite of the early release date, the IBWC granted the request and a release from the New Mexico reservoir is expected to take place in early April. That decision has been met with opposition in Austin where Rubinstein and Staples are speaking out about the move and have petitioned the IBWC to reverse its decision. “In the wake of the worst one-year drought in Texas history, we are asking this federal commission, run by an appointee of President Obama, to act immediately to rescind this devastating decision,” Commissioner Staples said. ”Sending water to Mexico at a time when Texas reserves are extremely vulnerable further jeopardizes our water resources and jobs here at home.” As Texas struggles with nearly $8 billion in agricultural losses attributed to the drought, Staples says Texas citizens continue to face severe water shortages and restrictions, and he is calling the IBWC order to release water early to Mexico “contrary to the welfare of U.S. citizens” and one that “disrupts the strategic plans Texas and New Mexico water users have put in place to address drought; wastes water; and sets a dangerous precedent of catering to Mexico’s demands for water.” “As I expressed to IBWC Commissioner Drusina in the halls of the Texas Capitol, his decision focused only on the interests of Mexico,” said TCEQ Commissioner Carlos Rubinstein in a press release this week. “What he should have done is negotiate with Mexico, keeping American irrigators foremost in mind to ensure that their interests were protected under the terms of the 1906 Convention.” In their letter to Drusina, Rubinstein and Staples say: “We are also concerned about the decision making process that seems to be used for the delivery of water for Mexico. It appears that your decision to deliver water to Mexico under the current circumstances is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Convention, and results in the protection of Mexico’s citizens at the expense of U.S. citizens, namely those who rely on Rio Grande Project water.” The Texans say they are greatly concerned that last year’s drought has caused Texas farmers and ranchers to lose access to their water, and the IBWC’s move is a choice to “forego negotiations with Mexico and meet their call for water, to the detriment of the water resources and the interest of your constituency, the American irrigators.” “We are gravely concerned that the 1906 Convention is being implemented in a way that discriminates against U.S. water users [and] respectfully urge you to resolve these issues in a manner that restores the confidence of Texas water users in the U.S. Section of the IBWC,” the letter states.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/20897

Scientists take a new look at an ancient crop May 24, 2013 by Marcia Wood Olives of various shapes, sizes, and colors. ARS scientists are helping to discover the secrets of a crop that is a lot more than just delicious. Once the oil is extracted, even the byproducts, or leftovers, have significant potential value to consumers. Credit: University of California-Davis Olive Center Though the price makes you wince, you might just buy that bottle of your favorite olive oil anyway. Perhaps it's exactly what you want for the salad dressing you're making tonight and for your special stir-fry on the weekend. But are you really getting what you paid for? A bottle proclaiming that it is olive oil might actually include another, less-expensive vegetable oil derived from, for example, safflower or canola. Mislabeling is of concern not just to shoppers, retailers, and chefs, but also to America's olive growers, olive oil processors, and more—especially those newly entering the U.S. olive oil market. California, which already produces the bulk of the nation's olives, is experiencing a resurgence of interest in producing more of this popular vegetable oil, even in the face of significant international competition: Today, about 98 percent of all olive oil consumed in the United States is imported. Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service's Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California, are contributing research findings that may strengthen the domestic olive oil industry. Talwinder Kahlon and Ken (Jiann-Tsyh) Lin, for instance, have developed analytical methods that can be used to assure the authenticity of olive oil. Rebecca Milczarek is investigating opportunities for making better use of the olive-milling byproducts that are left once the plump fruit, or "drupe," has been processed to extract its oil. Mendel Friedman and colleagues have shown the effectiveness of olive powder for a perhaps surprising task: keeping hamburger patties safe to eat. PCR test helps detect undisclosed oils The assay that chemist Talwinder Kahlon and coinvestigators developed relies on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology to compare olive DNA to that of two other kinds of plants—canola and sunflower. Oil from these plants is sometimes mixed with olive oil. The test focuses on key regions of two genes, matK and psbA-trnH, that occur widely throughout nature—including in olive, canola, sunflower, safflower, and other everyday sources of edible vegetable oil. A protocol developed by chemist Ken Lin helps to simplify the use of ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) to determine whether an olive oil sample contains oil other than that extracted from olives. Credit: De Wood The research team has shown that the DNA sequence of specific regions of these two genes provides a reliable basis of comparison and can be used to quickly detect the presence of the non-olive oils in an "olive oil" sample. The assay can identify the three oils at concentrations of 5 percent or higher. The test requires only about one-fifth teaspoon of an oil sample. And, from start to finish, including various sample-preparation steps, the test takes only about 2 to 2-1/2 hours to conduct. What's more, it is comparatively inexpensive and requires only the equipment and supplies that most DNA labs already have on hand. With further work, the procedure could perhaps be used to identify other vegetable oils, such as avocado, hazelnut, soybean, or walnut, that are sometimes added to incorrectly labeled olive oil. The idea of using PCR technology to detect specific plant DNA in olive oil is not new. But Kahlon and colleagues say their approach offers several improvements over other PCR-based assays. For one thing, their process relies on analyzing plastid DNA. The double layer of membranes in which this DNA is encased may protect it from damage that might otherwise skew test results, Kahlon says. Another advantage: The olive, sunflower, and canola "DNA barcodes" that the team developed—to serve as the basis for comparing these plants' DNA—are based on not just a single olive tree or a particular sunflower or canola plant. Instead, each barcode is a broadly representative composite, referred to as "consensus DNA." The olive barcodes, for example, are representative of olive DNA from commercially grown olives and bottled olive oil, as well as from olive DNA sequences posted at an international online database maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Kahlon and coinvestigators Shashi Kumar, formerly at Albany and now with the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India; and Sanika Chaudhary, formerly at the University of California-San Francisco, documented their research in a 2011 article in the scientific journal Food Chemistry and are seeking a patent for the assay. Triglycerides' components: A key to authenticating olive oil Olive oil is made up of triglycerides—molecules composed of three fats (technically, fatty acids). These fatty acids are the focus of another approach to detecting oils in olive oil that might not be listed on the label. Each of the three fatty acids in a triglyceride is attached to what scientists describe as a "glycerol backbone," explains chemist Ken Lin. The bonds occur along the backbone at specific positions. For every type of triglyceride, the three fatty acids bond to glycerol in specific patterns. The technology that Lin uses, ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry), enables scientists to glean details about variations in specific triglycerides of interest, referred to as "regioisomers." From that, the scientists can develop ratios of regioisomers that can be used to determine whether the sample contains any oil other than that extracted from olives. The value of ESI-MS for analyzing plant fatty acids and animal fats has been recognized since at least 1994. But Lin's ESI-MS protocol helps make this application simpler. Lin developed the protocol for use in his research with castor, a plant that produces an inedible, top-quality industrial oil. Olive oil came into the picture only tangentially: About 6 years ago, Lin chose it as a model for testing the assay. Lin has described the ESI-MS assay in scientific articles that appeared in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2008, the Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) in 2012, and in a 2010 addition to the AOCS Lipid Library, a reference maintained online for use by researchers worldwide. Learning more about milling leftovers Right now, most olive milling leftovers—skins, pulp, and pits—typically have only low-value uses. The two-phase process commonly used in the United States for olive milling produces these leftovers, referred to as "pomace." This wet, heavy goulash ranges in color from green to brown to black to purple, depending upon how ripe the olives were when they were harvested. Pomace has an aroma somewhat like that of olive tapenade—a flavorful spread made of finely chopped or pureed olives, anchovies, capers, garlic, and olive oil. "Mills produce about 38 pounds of pomace for every gallon of olive oil produced, so they are always facing the problem of what to do with it," says agricultural engineer Rebecca Milczarek. "Some olive mill operators pay to have the pomace shipped to sites where it dries outdoors for a number of weeks, and then it's sold as a cattle-feed ingredient." If used in hamburger patties, olive powder has potential to suppress the foodborne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to retard the formation of heterocyclic amines that can form during cooking. Credit: Stephen Ausmus Milczarek says one key to creating innovative, environmentally friendly, higher value uses for olive pomace is to develop techniques that millers can use to quickly and affordably dry it on-site. Drying significantly reduces the weight of the pomace, making it cheaper and easier to ship. Small mills could ship their dried pomace to a centralized processing plant where, for instance, additional oil, or compounds for use in new foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or other products, might be extracted. "Most small mills can't afford to buy their own extraction equipment," notes Milczarek, who began working with California olive growers and olive oil processors in 2010. Olive oil is made up of triglycerides—molecules composed of three fats (technically, fatty acids). These fatty acids are the focus of another approach to detecting oils in olive oil that might not be listed on the label. Olive powder for safer burgers? The potential of olive powder to keep foods safe to eat is getting a fresh look from Albany chemist Mendel Friedman and colleagues at the University of Arizona-Tucson. An olive processing coproduct, olive powder was one of about two dozen plant extracts, spices, and herbs that the team evaluated for their potential to combat Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to retard formation of heterocyclic amines during cooking of hamburger patties. E. coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of food sickness in the United States and is blamed for more than 73,000 cases of illness annually. In recent years, many E. coli outbreaks have been traced back to ground beef and have led to the introduction of stringent new food safety rules designed to reduce the occurrence of this microbe, and six of its relatives, in meats, poultry, and other foods. Heterocyclic amines are of concern because they can inadvertently be formed when beef patties are cooked to the doneness recommended for helping kill unwanted microbes, such as E. coli. The two amines monitored in the burger experiment, MeIQx and PhIP, are on the National Toxicology Program's roster of possible carcinogens. For the study, high levels of E. coli O157:H7, along with the plant extract, spice, or herb of interest, were added to the ground beef patties. The patties were then cooked on a griddle until the meat's internal temperature reached 114°F, then flipped and cooked another 5 minutes until the internal temperature reached the recommended 160°F. The amine data showed that olive powder reduced MeIQx by about 80 percent and PhIP by 84 percent. Overall, olive powder was the most effective of the plant extracts (olive, apple, and onion powders) that were tested. Friedman notes that followup studies are needed to pinpoint the compounds in olive powder that are responsible for these effects and to determine whether the amount added in the experiments alters the burgers' taste. The ability of olive extracts to kill foodborne pathogens has been reported in earlier studies conducted at Albany, Tucson, and elsewhere. However, the E. coli and amines study, reported in a 2012 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, may be the first to show olive powder's performance in concurrently suppressing three targets of concern—two major amines and a pervasive E. coli. "Olives! Scientists Take a New Look at an Ancient Crop" was published in the May/June 2013 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. Explore further: Olive oil assays may help assure authenticity Journal reference: Food Chemistry Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Agricultural Research Olive oil assays may help assure authenticity Olive oil makes you feel full Work groups at Technische Universität München (TUM) under Prof. Peter Schieberle and at the University of Vienna under Prof. Veronika Somoza studied four different edible fats and oils: Lard, butterfat, rapeseed oil and ... Explaining how extra virgin olive oil protects against Alzheimer's disease The mystery of exactly how consumption of extra virgin olive oil helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may lie in one component of olive oil that helps shuttle the abnormal AD proteins out of the brain, scientists ... A taste for olive oil could provide insight into its anti-inflammatory properties (Medical Xpress)—Deakin University researchers are investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of virgin olive oil to see if it as the potential to protect against the inflammation involved in muscle wasting conditions ... Study suggests raising the bar for olive oil quality control Almost all of the samples in a recent authenticity and quality review of olive oils sold to restaurants and food-service establishments passed common federal chemistry tests but often failed to meet sensory standards, and ... Using olive oil in your diet may prevent a stroke A new study suggests that consuming olive oil may help prevent a stroke in older people. The research is published in the June 15, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/21272

In Search of the Perfect Loaf Organic, Inc. ChewsWise Blog Is American agriculture really efficient? Last week, I attended the Sustainable Foods Institute, hosted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As in the past, the session-packed affair of panels and keynotes did not disappoint, even though the outlook -- for fisheries, for food production, for humanity in general -- was pretty sobering. Among the speakers was Jonathan Foley, a professor of ecology and director of the Institute of the Environment at the University of Minnesota. He gave a big picture view, noting that agriculture is not only the single biggest factor in global warming but obviously crucial to feeding a growing world. If there was one surprising takeaway, it was that the highly efficient machine of American agriculture -- and modern agriculture in general -- doesn't measure up to the hype. As Foley stated, "yields from the Green Revolution have stagnated and what we're doing isn't sustainable anyway." This discussion of how to feed the world often begins and ends with the question of whether we're maximizing crop production per acre of land -- something American farmers do quite well. But what yield doesn't tell us is whether that land could be used even more efficiently to produce more calories of food. Foley pointed out that crops such as corn and soybeans which are then fed to livestock -- or cars -- amount to a grossly inefficient use of land resources. "The elephant in the room is the cow," was the way he put it. Measured this way, it takes 32 pounds of corn to produce a pound of fillet mignon -- a 3% conversion rate of the calories in feed. (He specified that he was talking about muscle meat, not the leftover parts of the animal that are rendered.) What happens to the other 97% of the calories? It is wasted by this grossly inefficient calorie producer -- the cow. Only 15% of the the Midwest's grains are consumed by humans. "We throw away five-sixths of what we grow," he said. This isn't a rap on farmers, for they are doing precisely what the market or government signals them to do and are quite good at it. The question Folely was raising was whether the entire aparatus is the best way to produce calories for growing populations on a finate amount of land. Now, I have, on occassion, enjoyed a good steak, but if was clear from his presentation that if the world feasted on steak, as growing numbers of people are doing, there would not be much of a world left. (He also noted that this equation would be different for a cow raised on pasture, since forage grasses cannot be directly consumed by humans. The measurements were less dire for dairy, eggs and poultry which are more efficient at converting feed to calories.) While farmers and researchers focus on improving yield, the entire equation is actually stacked against the efficient use of land because the process in the end is so wasteful. He noted that 10 percent of the world's cropland is in GMOs and yet even those yields have stagnated. And since these crops grow animal feed (corn and soybeans) and fiber (cotton), "they're not feeding the world's poor," he said. Water is another wasted resource, with the differences in efficiency between Israel and India differing by 100-fold. Recall that highly efficient modern drip irrigation was developed in Israel because water is such a scarce resource. Foley also noted that organic farming still represented a minute fraction of agricultural production, and suggested a middle way in which organic methods would be used but augmented by targeted use of chemical inputs, not unlike taking medicine when you're sick. The better path is to stay healthy, only relying on medicine when needed. He likened the modern model of agriculture to a constant IV drip, an apt metaphore considering the use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics in animal feed. "I want organic to be the default farming method if we can pull it off," he said, but he noted that no one has a monopoly on the discussion. Useful solutions will have to come from both conventional and organic methods (which I've seen in the adaptation of organic methods by conventional farmers because they can be cheap and effective). The bigger issue, though, is that forests are being razed to grow crops, especially in Brazil and Indonesia. This burning of forests is by far the greatest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that agriculture emits -- and agriculture alone accounts for 30-40% of greenhouse gasses. Transport of food doesn't even come close. If this land is then used to grow soybeans, as it is in Brazil, these dramatic emissions are created in order to feed this inefficient livestock machine, which is another potent contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. So what might be a better use of land? "Potatoes," said Charles Mann, the author of 1491 and its sequel, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created (I highly recommend both books) in another talk. Not only do potatoes produce more food calories per acre than wheat and corn, but unlike most of the corn crop, potatoes are also eaten by humans. That made me wonder whether diets could change enough to alter the current food paradigm. In the following slides, in which Mann laid out the globalization of food trade 400 years ago, it was clear they already had. Potatoes originating in Peru were the direct cause of Europe's early 19th century population boom, the Irish potato famine notwithstanding. The sweet potato even reached China, where it is now widely eaten. Staple diets, in other words, can and do change. If Foley, though, was implicitly pointing to a more vegetarian diet, he did not explain how we would get there. That he gave us only two decades to fix the current dire state also left me scratching my head about how such rapid change could be achieved. I doubt whether people with the money will forgo a steak for a potato (they tend to want both), unless there is a dramatic reworking of incentives. But it was clear from Foley's talk that those sorts of cultural changes -- rather than simple agricultural science aimed at boosting yield -- will need to be part of the equation. "The choice is between the world we've had and the world that should be," he said. But he left open the question of how we will actually get there. - Samuel Fromartz Subscribe to ChewsWise by Email In Media, Organic, Sustainable ← Baking baguettes - the Afar articleIf all tuna was caught this way, maybe there would still be tuna left in the sea → Musing on Food, Farming and Bread In Search of the Perfect Loaf: A Home Baker's Odyssey By Samuel Fromartz TOP BREAD RECIPE award winning baguette, baguette recipe, baguette traditional, best baguette recipe, French bread, Fromartz baguette Samuel Fromartz Baguette Traditional - Fromartz Recipe Making baguettes by hand was one of the biggest challenges I faced as a home baker. I tried recipes for several years and then gave up, convinced a baguette couldn't be made at home. But after about a decade of baking, I returned to the iconic loaf and came up with an award-winning recipe. May 11, 2009 Ethanol (2) FERN (4) Farm Bill (8) Wal-Mart (10) Humane (13) Food Safety (15) Farms (61) If you have questions on the recipes or bread making techniques, I welcome them, but please put them in a comment on a blog post or on my Facebook page.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/21460

PEschborn, August 2000 By Ilse Köhler-Rollefson Domestic animal diversity in developing countries is embedded in traditional farming and pastoral communities who manage their livestock according to their indigenous knowledge (IK) and in tune with local ecological constraints. Especially in marginal environments, local livestock breeds are crucial for sustaining rural livelihoods by producing a wide range of products while requiring relatively low levels of input with regard to fodder, management and health care. Thus their maintenance is ecologically more sustainable and they entail a lower work load for women in comparison with improved breeds. However, economic forces of globalization as well as political backing for crossbreeding with exotic breeds, among other factors, have already resulted in the disappearance of a large number of these breeds and many more are threatened. Maintenance of the remaining livestock genetic diversity as mandated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) requires a wide range of general policy changes as well as specific initiatives. Activities that can be carried out within the framework of technical cooperation include, at grassroots level, support for research into IK and NGO capacity building and, at the national level, a reorientation from crossbreeding with exotic breeds to the development of local breeds by selection, the training of relevant agencies in participatory techniques, consideration of local livestock in land use and regional development planning, as well as the creation of a positive marketing environment. At an international level, a scrutiny of subsidies and support for crossbreeding is called for and intellectual property protection must be extended to farming and pastoral societies that have created unique breeds. The complete version of this document is available in PDF format (17 pp; 211 Kb) at this link: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/nonfao/LEAD/X6103e/x6103e00.pdf

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/22111

Follow @thecattlesite News & Analysis Features Markets & Reports Sustainability Knowledge Centre Directory Events Our Shop NewsNew Development Programme Launched by HK Scan26 September 2013 FINLAND - Finland's economic crisis has forced a major meat processor, HKScan to lower its outlook for the coming year due to lower demand for meat. HKScan lowers its outlook for 2013 According to the new guidance, HKScan Corporation CEO, Hannu Kottonen, reports that the comparable Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) for 2013, excluding non-recurring items, will fall short of last year. In the previous outlook, EBIT was estimated to improve from 2012. The outlook has deteriorated mainly due to longer-than-foreseen export challenges and continuing low price levels in export sales. In addition, consumption of lower-priced meat products has increased significantly relative to products made of higher-grade meat on all home markets, especially in Finland. HKScan will publish its interim report for January-September 2013 on 6 November 2013. A new development programme launched In April 2012, HKScan launched a development programme to run until the end of 2013 covering all its operations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltics. The programme aimed to achieve an annual profit improvement exceeding €20 million as well as a significant reduction in capital employed. Both targets will be exceeded by the end of the year. HKScan has launched a new Group-wide development programme that will run until the end of 2014, targeting an annual profit improvement exceeding €20 million and a reduction of over €50 million in net debt. The main objectives of the launched development programme are to continue building a unified Group, efficient utilisation of Group synergies, and a demand-driven management of operations. In addition, the programme involves structural changes in business to improve profitability. Brand work to be started As part of its brand strategy, HKScan is launching a Group-wide project to utilise its top-performing local product- and packaging innovations as well as recipes in a more efficient way. The Group will also increase cross-border utilisation of production capacity. Sales will additionally be sought through innovative branded products and concepts. HKScan’s new Group-level marketing organisation, founded in August 2013, will be responsible for the project. TheCattleSite News Desk Economics, Processing, General Share This

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/22215

By April Pojman from Fresh Cup Magazine In recent years, sustainability has become a hot topic in the specialty coffee industry. But as discussions about organic and fair-trade coffee have been intensified, it has become increasingly clear that the lesser-known "third leg" of the coffee sustainability stool—shade—is wobbling and in need of repair. While the organic movement has become practically mainstream and fair-trade coffee has enjoyed unprecedented growth since 1999, shade coffee has lagged behind. According to Daniele Giovannucci's 2001 Sustainable Coffee Survey of the North American Specialty Coffee Industry, 98.7 percent of businesses contacted were aware of organic coffee, and 82.5 percent knew about fair trade, but only 76.4 percent were familiar with shade-grown coffee. Moreover, only three percent of specialty coffee drinkers reported having purchased shade coffee. Why the lack of awareness? Despite shade-grown coffee's biological value and potential as a conversation-oriented marketing tool, it has been plagued by confusion, criticism, and slow acceptance. Clearly, there's plenty to learn about shade coffee, its position in the sustainable coffee arena and its enormous marketing potential for unique specialty coffees. Shedding Light on Shade Traditionally, coffee grows in the "understory" beneath the forest canopy, as part of a larger ecosystem. Different layers of vegetation provide food and shelter for animals and insects, soil replenishment through leaf litter, microclimate stabilization, and protection from soil erosion and water run-off. Under natural conditions, coffee is one of the most environmentally benign and ecologically stable cash crops in the world. But not all shade is equal. There is a broad variety of shade coffee systems, ranging from monocultures—a single species shade tree—to highly diverse polycultures with many species. The greater the number and type of shade tree, the greater the biodiversity of plant and animal species in a given area. Although an undisturbed area is always preferable for conservation purposes, extensive and reliable scientific studies have shown that shaded coffee plantations can serve as important migration corridors or alternative habitats for native and migratory animals. In return, shade trees provide many benefits to coffee farmers, including less need for chemical inputs, and production of wood, food, and medicinal products that diversify the family economy. At the same time, shade trees provide what re known as "ecosystem services." These are natural environmental functions—such as air purification, nutrient recycling and soil formation—that are very difficult and costly to achieve without the help of natural processes. According to a 1997 Nature article entitled "The Value of the World's Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital," ecosystem services are estimated to be worth some $33.3 trillion. The article goes on to compare that figure to the total combined gross national product of all of the world's economies—only $18 trillion. Some argue that farmers should be paid shade premiums based on this idea. To Certify or Not to Certify? Shade-grown coffee has enjoyed the spotlight only sporadically in certain parts of the United States. One of the main reasons is that shade lacks a worldwide champion like the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) or Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO), both of which have created widely accepted and enforceable definitions and standards for their certification systems. Some critics contend that the term "shade" itself is a misnomer that prevents its widespread acceptance and that the concept should be re-branded as "habitat-friendly" or "ecosystem-friendly" to convey the benefits it provides. Others take the opposite tack, arguing that the shade concept should refer to the problems it addresses, such as deforestation. The U.S. has two separate shade certification systems intended to ensure that Latin American shade-grown coffee is produced under a set of scientific guidelines. One is Eco-OK program development by the Rainforest Alliance and a network of Latin America environmental organizations, and the other is the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) criteria. Both systems' standards require a minimum of 40 percent shade coverage, as well as specified tree heights and numbers of non-deciduous native tree species. Eco-OK is a stand-alone certification that covers many aspects of farming. It requires a minimum of 12 species of native trees and at least 70 trees per hectare (one hectare equals 2.47 acres). It also includes regulations regarding agrochemical use, water resource, soil and waste management, hunting, working conditions, and community relations. Within the next year, Eco-OK auditors will begin to certify for organic and fair-trade criteria as well. SMBC guidelines focus exclusively on shade. In September 2000, SMBC began a series of workshops to standardize the definition of shade and to align itself with organic certifiers so that a single technician can inspect for shade and organic standards in one visit. Currently, all SMBC-certified farms must also have organic certification. Francisco Mena, a general manager of the Lomas Al Rio coffee farm, recently went through this new certification process, making Lomas Al Rio the first SMBC-certified farm in Costa Rica. He explains that an organic inspector visiting his farm had completed one of the SMBC workshops, so during his inspection for organic, he recommended that he also inspect for SMBC standards. Mena approved his idea, and the total cost for certification was around $320. The trend toward integrating certification systems is occurring in other areas as well. For example, FLO criteria for bananas already includes some environmental standards. And the Eco-OK's Sustainable Agriculture Network is working with FLO, IFOAM, and Social Accountability International to develop a "Social Accountability in Agriculture" program. These initiatives are important, because many farmers find the preparation, transition to compliance, and certification difficult and costly. For example, farmers seeking Eco-OK certification must pay for the technicians to perform site visits and evaluations ($7.50 per hectare), and they must cover the technicians' travel-related expenses ($100-$150 per day plus travel expenses, depending on where the nearest inspector is located). Achieving and maintaining more than one certification is simply beyond the economic capacity of most producers. For this reason, a "super seal" concept that combines organic, shade and fair-trade criteria is gaining support among importers, roasters, and retailers. In the Sustainable Coffee Survey, nearly two-thirds of the specialty coffee industry supported a "super seal" as a simpler way of communicating sustainability in the marketplace. Still, there are many other areas of confusion and contention regarding shade in the coffee industry. In the Sustainable Coffee Survey report, nearly 45 percent of the companies claiming to carry shade-grown coffee did not even know who their shade-certifying agency was. Many importers, roasters and retailers add to the confusion by selling "verified shade" coffee, which comes from plantations that have not been certified by Eco-OK or SMBC but have been visited by someone—often an importer—who, without scientific guidelines, checks to make sure shade trees are present on the farms. Most people seem to agree that certified-shade is the clearest way to convey the concept in the marketplace and provide a transparent method of ensuring validity of shade claims. Shade From Below There are four broad elements of shade certification that the industry agrees upon: > Certification should not increase the financial burden on farmers. > Producers who go through the certification process should get a premium price. > Certification criteria should be developed with input from farmers. > Certification should be based on valid scientific data to ensure that shade increase biodiversity. Because of the lack of coordination surrounding shade coffee, most of these points have not been implemented, and they are actually the source of many farmers' complaints about shade certification. For example, many producers are interested in being certified, but they cannot afford it. "When we wanted to get certified, the price of coffee had already gone down, so it wasn't very attractive for the producers," says Lorena Calvo, a conservation biologist studying coffee farms in Guatemala. "[Farmers] have to pay for the certification, make the changes on the farm and then look for a market for their coffee." Farmers also often feel that if they cannot get a higher price for shade-certified coffee, the time and expense involved in the certification process cannot be justified. Asked what the benefits of certification are for farmers, Francisco Mena answers, "We don't know yet. I expect someone [might be willing to pay an] additional premium. We're all making and effort for the good of the whole, but we need motivation." "A lot of certified coffee ends up in the market at conventional prices," acknowledges Christopher Bacon, a doctoral student in environmental studies at the University of California-Santa Cruz who works with coffee cooperatives in Nicaragua. "We've been discussing with growers their decision to become certified, because there is a risk that they won't realize price premium. They need to consider other positive impacts of shade production, such as reducing costs or improving working conditions." For many coffee producers, there simply isn't enough demand for shade coffee. "Our idea is to start certifying just a few producers, because the market seems small," says Nicolas Eberhart, marketing coordinator for the PROCAP coffee cooperative in Ecuador." Only one importer has inquired up to now. [We will] begin with the producers who already have organic certification. The only problem is the shade seals—there is so much confusion about them in Ecuador." In fact, according to the Sustainable Coffee Survey, of the 6.6 million pounds of coffee that were shade-certified globally in 200-2001, only 2.1 million pounds were sold as such. Importers agree that shade certification doesn't often bring farmers premium prices, but it may help their coffee sell more quickly. All other factors being equal, roasters are more likely to purchase certified-shade coffee over an equivalent uncertified coffee. A Shady Future In order to gain wider appeal, shade-grown coffee needs a unified front to champion a biodiversity- and farmer-friendly definition of shade and to coordinate compliance and education around that definition. This is hardly a quick fix, but it's the only way that shade will gain more respect and popularity. In May 2001, five non-profit organizations that work on coffee conservation issues (Conservation International, Consumer's Choice Council, Rainforest Alliance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and the Summit Foundation) took a step toward creating a unified front by releasing a document entitled "Conservation Principles for Coffee Production." The principles were designed to provide common ground for conservation groups to work with other environmental movements and coffee businesses. They can also help importers and roasters develop sourcing guidelines and assist banks and foundations in deciding which coffee development projects to fund and how to evaluate them. There also remains a need for a widespread educational campaign to establish a single definition of "shade." Many growers still don't know what the shade standards are or how to get certified. As a result, some retailers are carrying coffee with "shade-grown" claims that cannot be verified. More importantly, even with all of the debate in the industry over shade-grown coffee, most consumers don't even know that it exists or what it means. The concept of shade-grown coffee can be difficult to explain on a supermarket shelf to consumers who lack prior knowledge about how coffee is produced and what a difference shade can make. There are hopeful signs, however. A 1999 survey by the Hartman Group indicates that 86 percent of American consumers believe that there is a connection between the health of the environment and their own well-being. And a March 2002 survey by the Songbird Foundation shows that 75 percent of Seattle-area coffee drinkers are likely to switch to shade-grown coffee if they understand the implications. Based on their experiences, 83 percent of those who have purchased sustainably produced coffee say they would buy it again. Clearly, the coffee industry's move toward sustainability will not be complete until the shade "leg" of the stool in securely affixed. What's Brewin' | Virtual Gallery | Feature Articles | Archives

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/22330

New! Climate Smart Agriculture In this section, you may find new materials that have been published on the topic of ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ since the date of the event. We continually select major new publications and articles that add up to the policy points discussed in the briefing. Farmers should drive climate-proofing, report finds scidev.net, 28/10/2015 According to the new Montpellier Panel report ‘The Farms of Change: African Smallholders Responding to an Uncertain Climate Future’, African smallholder farmers should be given financial, technical and political support to help climate-proof their food production. It also recognises that while Africa does have a significant amount of bottom-up community led initiatives, farmers still need more financial resources and support. Smallholder farmers can adapt to climate challenges through scaling –up existing initiatives and improving research to better target the inter-linked challenges of food insecurity. Ramadjita Tabo, one of the study’s authors and head of the West and Central African hub of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Niamey, Niger said, “Change will come from the bottom up as local people take action for themselves”. With rising temperatures, by up to six degrees and shrinking crop yields, extreme weather is expected to impact between 2 and 7 % of the continent’s GDP , according to UN FAO research. Report: Climate-Smart landscape in Africa eldis, 24-09-2015 This report documents and analyses the current and future perspectives of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for five major sectors in West Africa. It explores the specific features of the scientific, institutional, policy and funding CSA landscape, providing relevant information that could guide the definition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Framework for CSA Intervention, Funding, Monitoring and Evaluation. The sectors covered are crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry/agroforestry, and water. For each sector, a particular emphasis is given to the current status, the climate projections and likely socio- economic and environmental impacts expected, the bottlenecks to action and suggested next steps for adaptation and mitigation. Ensuring Transparency & Accountability in the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture in COP21 iddri.org, 15-07-2015 This policy brief explores whether the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GASCA/the Alliance0 could be a credible candidate for the Lima Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) and identifies recommends three areas where progress may be made: (i) GACSA can be a platform to share knowledge and experience in relation to climate induced changes in food systems;(ii) in order to fulfil such a role, the policy brief suggests that GACSA should be endowed with accountability mechanisms e.g. monitoring system; (iii) The Alliance should therefore also respond to concerns by civil society organisations. – New publication: Climate change and agriculture quae.com, 2015 In March 2015, over 700 individuals including 600 researchers and 150 stakeholders and policy makers from 75 countries and 5 continents gathered together to discuss the role of Climate-Smart Agriculture to address food security and the environment. The main recommendations include: I) Agriculture in the future must address the challenges of sustainable food systems and landscapes; II) Researchers and practitioners must engage to build evidence and design the trajectories for multiple transformative transitions of climate-smart agriculture; III) The future relies upon policy, institutional and financing decisions. – CAFS Reports on Advances in Climate-Smart Agriculture ccafs.cgiar.org, 07 May 2015 The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) has published its 2014 annual report, titled ‘Climate-smart agriculture: Acting locally, informing globally,’ on advancing the concept and practice of climate-smart agriculture in farmers’ fields and global initiatives, as well as through collaboration with farmers, civil society, governments and researchers. The report consists of five main sections on: impact through policies and partnerships; capacity to deliver impact; breakthrough science and innovation; communications for development; and gender and social inequality. – Agricultural biotechnology for climate change mitigation and adaptation ICTSD, 13 April 2015 Can biotechnology help respond to and deal with climate change and other agricultural development issues? Climate implications for agriculture are clear, direct, and significant. Likewise agriculture has important implications for global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Fossil fuel for farm inputs and equipment, animal agriculture, land clearing and preparation are significant contributors to GHG emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that farming is responsible for over a quarter of total global greenhouse gas emissions. By contrast, the share of farming in global gross domestic product (GDP) is about four percent, indicating that agriculture is highly GHG intensive. Important interlinkages between agriculture and climate have broadened the policy agenda for both. The climate change agenda includes farming as simultaneously vulnerable to climate change, a worrying source of GHG emissions, and – through adjustment in production practices – a potentially potent source of mitigation. What role can innovative agricultural practices and technologies play in GHG mitigation and adaptation to climate change? What policy and institutional changes would encourage the innovation and diffusion of these practices and technologies to developing countries? We address these questions in a research paperand subsequent article published in science journal Food Policy in 2012 on which this article is based. – Policy Support Guidelines for the Promotion of Sustainable Production Intensification and Ecosystem Services. FAO, 2013 Global food demand is steadily growing, due to increasing world population (currently ~1.1 percent per year and decreasing towards zero), and changes of food habits due to urbanization and per capita economic growth. With current dominant production systems it is proving difficult to increase agricultural production sustainably to meet demand, and this in a sustainable way. Additional challenges are posed in some regions with a limited agricultural potential, due to climatic conditions. – CCAFS Explores Climate Change Financing Opportunities for Smallholders IISD, 24 January 2014 Recognizing the constraints faced by smallholder farmers to invest in long-term sustainable land use practices, the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Program (CCAFS) has announced a working paper on financing sustainable agriculture and mitigation. – From Assessment to Implementation: Approaches for Adaptation Options Analysis Eldis Communities, January 2013 As adaptation to climate change takes a central role in development policy and practice, a great deal of attention has been placed on documenting vulnerability and risk of impacts. However, there is limited experience in linking these vulnerability assessments to the identification and selection of options for climate change adaptation activities. This paper presents principles that should be at the center of adaptation options analysis, along with tools that will introduce rigor into the selection process. – Methods for Economic Analysis of Climate change Adaptation Interventions This paper describes best practices for how and when to carry out economic evaluations of proposed climate change adaptation activities, which focus primarily on cost-benefit analysis (CBA). It is organized around the steps in estimating first the benefits of adaptation and then the costs involved. Because the benefits of adaptation are generally expressed in terms of prevented harm, we begin with the complex steps involved in estimating the harm caused by climate change, and then discuss how these estimates are integrated into a CBA and compared with costs. – Stakeholder Participation in Climate Change Adaptation Planning Stakeholder participation increasingly is a key element in modern public administration and decision-making. While a number of authors have highlighted the importance of participation in decisions for climate change adaptation (hereafter “adaptation”), practical guidance on how to integrate stakeholder participation into new and emerging practices is still lacking. This paper attempts to outline considerations for fully integrating participation into adaptation decision making processes. It aims to assist developing country officials, project developers, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission staff, and other development practitioners who might need to design participation processes for adaptation initiatives. – Climate Change Programme in Eastern and Southern Africa Strengthens Capacity, Builds Resilience IISD, 4 February 2014 The COMESA-EAC-SADC (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community, and the South African Development Community) Tripartite Programme Management Units of the Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa met to finalize its 2014 work plans and budgets and review progress for the last half of 2013. – Pacific forges ahead on joint disaster-climate strategy United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 21 January 2014 United Nations agencies have joined together to contribute towards the development a new Strategy for Disaster and Climate Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP). As a core partner of the Technical Working Group for the new Strategy along with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) hosted and engaged expert representatives from UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and UN Women amongst others, to join in an interactive engagement workshop on 20 January 2014. – Climate-induced migration creates perils, possibilities Irin News, 20 January 2014 For Pacific islands like Palau, Tuvalu and Kiribati, the implications of climate change are clear – and devastating. Already, these governments have begun to plan for a future in which entire populations have to relocate as their islands vanish under the rising sea. But climate change also threatens ways of life in subtler ways, leaving families around the world to work out for themselves how to cope. – FAO Compiles Experiences on Adaptation in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors The Food and Agriculture Organization, January 2014 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has assembled descriptions of 26 current or recent fisheries and aquaculture programmes that have addressed climate change adaptation in developing countries. The report, titled ‘Climate Change Adaptation in Fisheries and Aquaculture,’ provides an overview of pathways through which climate change impacts fisheries and food security, placing these in context with the range of risks facing global marine and freshwater fisheries. – Monitoring Climate-Smart Agriculture’s Triple Wins: The Power of Knowledge Sharing World Bank, 8 January 2014 An innovative carbon accounting methodology – Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM) – was approved by the Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS) and validated in Kenya. SALM allows smallholder farmers in developing countries to benefit directly from the carbon market. Here’s how a new e-learning course is helping share this knowledge across all the regions. The World Bank Institute’s Climate Change Practice (WBICC) and the World Bank’s Bio Carbon Fund (BioCF) jointly developed an e-learning course on Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM): Soil Carbon Accounting and Monitoring. – Managing the boom and bust: Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in the Sahel International Institute for Environment and Development, November 2013 In contrast to the usual depictions of the Sahel as condemned to irreversible land degradation and frequent food crises, this paper from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) presents the region as one of considerable opportunity. By focusing on the potential of the Sahel’s dryland ecosystem and existing crop and livestock production methods, the paper reveals a region of abundant resources that have been leveraged to create thriving local and national economies. The paper seeks to highlight the region’s inherent resilience and reshape the discourse around development interventions. – Climate change and adaptation: the case of Nigerian agriculture Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), May 2013 The paper offers an economic assessment of climate change impacts on the four major crop families characterizing Nigerian agriculture, covering more than 80 per cent of agricultural value added. (…) Climate change turns to be unambiguously negative for Nigeria in the medium term with production losses, increase in crop prices, higher food dependency on foreign imports and GDP losses in all the simulations after 2025. In a second part of the paper a cost effectiveness analysis of adaptation in Nigeria agriculture is conducted. Adaptation practices considered are a mix of cheaper ‘soft measures’ and more costly ‘hard’ irrigation expansion. The main result is that cost effectiveness of the whole package crucially depends on the possibility to implement adaptation exploiting low cost opportunities. In this case all climate change damages can be offset with a bene?t cost ration larger than one in all the climate regimes. Expensive irrigation expansion should however be applied on a much more limited acreage compared with soft measures. If adaptation costs are those of the high end estimates, full adaptation ceases to be cost/effective. This points out the need of a careful planning and implementation of adaptation, irrespectively on the type, looking for measures apt to control its unit cost. – 5 Areas for Action to Set the Green Climate Fund on an Ambitious Path Insights WRI, 6 October 2013 Expectations are running high as the Board of the Green Climate Fund prepares for its fifth meeting in Paris this week. As the scale of the global climate change challenge becomes increasingly apparent, the GCF is expected to play a pivotal role in moving money quickly and smartly to help countries transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways. – Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience World Bank, June 2013 In the report Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience, launched in June 2013, scientists look at the likely impacts on three vulnerable regions if the world continues on its current trajectory and warms by 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times by mid-century and continues to become 4°C warmer by 2100. – ‘Grassroots action’ in livestock feeding to help curb global climate change CGIAR, 1 March 2012 In a series of papers to be presented next week, scientists in the Livestock and Fish research program offer new evidence that a potent chemical mechanism operating in the roots of a tropical grass used for livestock feed has enormous potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Referred to as “biological nitrification inhibition” or BNI, the mechanism markedly reduces the conversion of nitrogen applied to soil as fertilizer into nitrous oxide, according to papers prepared for the 22nd International Grasslands Congress. Nitrous oxide is the most powerful and aggressive greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 300 times that of carbon dioxide. “Nitrous oxide makes up about 38 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, which accounts for almost a third of total emissions worldwide,” said Michael Peters, who leads research on forages at the Colombia-based International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), a member of the CGIAR Consortium. “BNI offers what could be agriculture’s best bet for keeping global climate change within manageable limits.” Scientists at CIAT and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) have researched BNI collaboratively for the last 15 years. – DFID, ACU and AAS Launch Climate Impacts Research Capacity Building Programme in Africa African Academy of Sciences (AAS), 11 September 2013 The Department for International Development (DFID) has approved a 5-year climate impact research capacity building programme for sub-Saharan Africa called “Climate Impacts Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement (CIRCLE)”. CIRCLE will cost £4.85 million and will strengthen institutional research in addition to providing 100 research fellowships from 2013 – 2018. The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) will be implementing this project. – Developing a methodology to evaluate climate-services for farmers CCAFS/CGIAR, 15 August 2013 A workshop held in May aimed to create a monitoring and evaluation methodology related to climate-information services for small-scale farmers. This blog showcases some of the meeting highlights and presents the finalized Workshop report. – Caribbean region needs a tsunami warning centre Scidev.net, 29 August 2013 Caribbean countries urgently need a regional tsunami warning centre to protect their densely populated coastlines, according to an article in Science today. – ICARDA Annual Report Stresses Innovations on Climate Resilience ICARDA, 29 August 2013 The 2012 Annual Report of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) notes that despite significant challenges due to the on-going conflict in Syria, the Center has made significant achievements in translating research into action and policy impact, highlighting its leadership in the high-level international conference on Food Security in the Dry Lands, as well as enhanced partnerships with Canada and South Asia. – CCCCC Launches Online Climate Risk Management Tool for the Caribbean Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), 19 July 2013 The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) launched an online tool for assisting Caribbean decision makers in assessing climate risks as part of their efforts to build climate resilience into their development policies, plans, programmes and projects. – WMO, IFRC to Collaborate on Reducing Risks of Climate-related Hazards The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 3rd July 2013 Responding to concerns over the increasing frequency, severity and cost of disasters related to extreme weather and climate events, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen their collaboration on reducing the risks of climate-related hazards. – IISD, IDS Present a User-Oriented Analysis of Climate Knowledge Brokering Platforms The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), July 2013 The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Climate & Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) have released a paper that examines the current state of alignment between climate knowledge brokering (CKB) platforms and the information-seeking and knowledge-sharing behavior of users of online climate change information. The paper, titled ‘Understanding needs, meeting demands: A user-oriented analysis of online knowledge brokering platforms for climate change and development,’ authored by Anne Hammill, Blane Harvey and Daniella Echeverria, reviews the case for knowledge brokering and how brokering activities are put into practice online for climate change and development. – GEF Approves US$33 Million Grants for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa African Development Bank Group, 2nd July 2013 The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council recently approved several grants for promoting adaptation to climate change in Cameroon, Djibouti, Kenya, Angola and Madagascar. These grants will be channelled through the African Development Bank (AfDB). The grants to be implemented by the AfDB will come from different funds. The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) will provide funding for the Rural Livelihoods’ Adaptation to Climate Change Program in Djibouti and Kenya, with the objective of contributing to developing strategies for pastoralists’ resilience to climate change. – What Climate Change Means for Africa, Asia and the Coastal Poor The World Bank, June 19, 2013 The World Bank has released a report, titled ‘Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience,’ which looks at the likely impacts of present day, 2°C and 4°C warming on agricultural production, water resources, coastal ecosystems and cities across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. The report illustrates the range of impacts that much of the developing world is already experiencing, and would be further exposed to, and it indicates how these risks and disruptions could be felt differently in other parts of the world. It reaffirms the 2012 assessment of the International Energy Agency (IEA) that in the absence of further mitigation action there is a 40% chance of warming exceeding 4°C by 2100 and a 10% chance of it exceeding 5°C in the same period. – Climate-Smart Agriculture Sourcebook This collaborative publication aims to further elaborate the concept of climate-smart agriculture and demonstrate its potential, as well as limitations. It aims to help decision makers at a number of levels to understand the different options that are available for planning, policies and investments and the practices that are suitable for making different agricultural sectors, landscapes and food systems more climate-smart. The Sourcebook is developed by FAO in collaboration with many partner agencies and individual contributors. – New report reveals how climate change will hit West Africa CGIAR, CCAFS, 8th April 2013 In a joint effort, International Food Policy and Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), have developed the West African Agriculture and Climate Change monographs. It is the first of three monographs on climate change and agriculture, featuring West, Central, and Eastern Africa. The monographs result from a research project headed by IFPRI Senior Researcher Gerald Nelson. – Climate-Smart Agriculture in Africa: e-discussion summary report IPC-IG (a partnership between the Government of Brazil and the UN Development Programme – UNDP), 26 March 2013 During a month-long e-discussion on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and the role of South-South cooperation in agricultural development in Africa, the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) invited participants to share real-life examples to strengthen the evidence base on climate-smart agriculture, particularly in the context of Brazil-Africa agricultural cooperation. The discussion took place from 10 February-4 March 2013. IPC-IG is a partnership between the Government of Brazil and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). – Book: West African agriculture and climate change: a comprehensive analysis Eldis, 2013 This book examines the food security threats facing 11 west African countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo — and explores how climate change will increase the efforts needed to achieve sustainable food security throughout the region. – Could China and its fellow Brics nations lead the way on climate change? The Guardian, 28 January 2013 Brics nations have the means and motivation to create a climate agency that could act and research instead of just arguing. The stalemate in the latest round of climate negotiations, held in Doha, Qatar, last month, makes it clear that a fresh approach is needed if the world is to avert climate catastrophe. One part of the solution should be a new global climate agency, founded, financed and led by a coalition of the big emerging market countries. – Davos 2013: new vision for agriculture is old news for farmers The media spotlight is on the role of smallholder farmers in poverty reduction and food security, but what they need is action on land rights and support to stand up to powerful partners – Advancing the climate negotiations FIELD, 15 January 2013 A new paper by Joy Hyvarinen considers opportunities for advancing the climate negotiations and related issues. This includes the expert dialogue on the 2013-2015 review, ministerial events, loss and damage, and equity. – In Caribbean, Climate-Smart Agriculture Bolsters Farm Production AlertNet, 14 January 2013 A new initiative is catching on in the Caribbean that aims to increase and sustain agricultural productivity by incorporating information about weather and climate into the farming process, all under the umbrella of climate-smart agriculture. –AfDB supports initiatives for climate resilience AfDB, 13th August 2013 Three countries in the Sahel and West Africa will receive grants to fund activities in the sectors of water and agriculture, in support of climate change adaptation. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has mobilised over USD 70 million through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). A grant of USD 7.2 million will go to Benin to support the country’s flood control efforts and the development of climate-resistant agricultural infrastructure in the Ouémé Valley. Mauritania will receive USD 6.3 million to improve investment in the water sector and to implement resilience activities in the pastoral and forestry sectors in the southern part of the country. As for Sierra Leone, a grant of USD 4 million dedicated to water and sanitation infrastructure will support people’s resilience to climate change. While African countries contribute little to greenhouse gas emissions, the AfDB noted that they are the most affected by climatic changes that threaten livelihoods and natural assets. –Farmers struggle to adopt climate-smart methods FAO, 14th August 2013 Preliminary results from a project aimed at helping Malawi, Vietnam and Zambia make the transition to a “climate-smart” approach to agriculture show that some farmers are struggling to adopt the new methods, while others are finding ways to cope well with climate-change problems like late rains. – Giving climate smart negotiators a stronger voice Climate & Development Knowledge Network, 21th August 2013 The poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries have the most to lose from climate change, but they typically lack the resources and expertise to fully represent their interests in international climate negotiations. There is a need to level the playing field with those who have a stronger voice. Raising the capacity of international climate negotiators to represent their own concerns during the UNFCCC and related negotiations is possible, with the right kind of support. A new Working Paper by Stuart Jefford and Dan Hamza-Goodacre sets out the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)’s initial thinking on how climate change negotiators from the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries can be supported to have effective, influential voices. It presents a range of examples drawn from the literature and CDKN’s experience to date. – World Bank: Climate change will hit poorest hardest World Bank, 20 November 2012 All nations will suffer the effects of a warmer world, but the world’s poorest countries will suffer most from food shortages, rising sea levels, cyclones and drought, the World Bank’s new report on climate change says. – Plant perennials to save Africa’s soils Nature, September 2012 An interesting article on climate smartagriculture published in NATURE journal, one of the most prestigious journals globally. It is based on a development work on climate smart agriculture in Malawi (christened evergreen agriculture).

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/23179

House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee Passes FY2013 Funding Bill On Wednesday, June 6, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2013 agriculture appropriations bill. The spending bill covers the majority of the functions of USDA as well as the Food and Drug Administration. In late April, we happily reported that the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2013 agriculture appropriations bill included small increases in funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program. That bill also maintained full funding for many farm bill conservation programs and abstained from including limitations on USDA’s ability to implement the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Act (GIPSA) rule. Unfortunately, the House Subcommittee bill passed yesterday takes multiple steps in the wrong direction. If it were to become law, the bill would reverse many of the important advances made in the Senate bill. Whereas the Senate bill endorsed the Obama Administration’s proposal to fund for the first time the Sustainable Agriculture Federal-State Matching Grant Program as a new component of SARE, the House Subcommittee bill reduces overall SARE spending to $18.8 million from $19.2 million in FY 2012 and does not provide any money for the federal-state match component. Congress authorized the match component along with the rest of SARE back in 1990, but to date it has never received an appropriation. Grants through the program have greater and longer-lasting impacts when they are a part of a larger, sustained effort coordinated and leveraged by a center, institute, program, or other longer-term investment by a university or other organization. We therefore urge House and Senate appropriators to resolve their differences and provide long-overdue support for the federal-state matching component of the SARE program. While the Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed the Administration’s proposal to increase spending for the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program by $1 million to $15 million, the House Subcommittee slashed VAPG funding by nearly 30 percent. VAPG funding has already been cut by 31 percent since 2010. This latest cut would mean that, in just four years, appropriators cut more than 50 percent of the funding for one of USDA’s most effective rural development tools. VAPG grants encourage the kind of entrepreneurship in agriculture that enables farms and communities to survive economically. At its core, the cut contained in the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee’s bill represents a lack of concern for rural community revitalization and a disdain for farmer-led economic development. Farm Bill “CHIMPS” While the Senate agriculture appropriations bill steered clear of making “Changes in Mandatory Program Spending” (CHIMPS) to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), the House Subcommittee bill cuts CSP by $75 million, FRPP by $50 million, WRP by about $300 million, and GRP by about $12 million. (Note — It is not clear whether savings from cuts to WRP and GRP should actually be counted as a reduction in spending in reality, as USDA has not yet determined whether it will sign up new acres within these two programs in FY 2013, but the appropriations bill nonetheless will claim credit for savings regardless.) Like the Senate bill, the House bill cuts funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by $350 million (20 percent relative to the farm bill) and funding for the NRCS portion of the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program by $2.5 million (50 percent relative to the farm bill). Where the Senate bill cut $12 million, or 14 percent, from the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the House bill would cut $40 million, or 47 percent. The Senate Agriculture Committee has reported its version of the new 2012 Farm Bill to the floor of the Senate, with floor action slated for next week. That bill already is planning to reduce conservation spending by over $6 billion in the coming decade. The House Agriculture Committee is likely to mark up the new 2012 Farm Bill later this month and rumor has it that the House farm bill cut to conservation will be somewhat larger than the Senate proposal. In light of these huge farm bill cuts, we strongly oppose additional cuts through” changes to mandatory program spending” (i.e., rewriting the farm bill in the appropriations bill). Legislative Riders to Boost Corporate Power Perhaps most concerning is the House Subcommittee’s treatment of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Act (GIPSA) rule. USDA did implement certain elements of this livestock and poultry fair competition and contract reform rule lat year; however, a combination of pressure from the meatpacking industry and restrictions included in the FY 2012 appropriations bill led the agency to back off from implementing the remaining portions of the rule. The restrictions included in the FY 2012 bill were bad enough. However, the FY 2013 House Subcommittee bill takes it even further. Like the FY 2012 appropriations bill, the FY 2013 House bill would continue restriction on funding for USDA to develop or issue the regulatory measures that did not make it into the GIPSA Final Regulation issued in December 2011. These include restrictions on tournament systems as the basis for determining compensation for poultry growers; clarification by regulation that a the finding of competitive injury is not necessary for farmers and ranchers to prevail in cases where a violation of the Act has been found; definitions for unfair, unjustly discriminatory and deceptive practices or devices; criteria to determine if undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages given to a selected producers; and a requirement that sample copies of poultry and swine production contracts be submitted to GIPSA companies that enter into contracts with farmers. Also like the FY 2012 bill, the House Subcommittee bill would bar regulations that combined exceeds $100 million annual cost to the economy. Unlike the FY 2012 appropriations bill, the FY 2013 House bill would take the unprecedented step of forcing USDA to rescind most components of the Final Regulation that it issued in December 2011. These include protections for hog and poultry contract growers who expect the terms of a contract to be met, protections for growers who raise breeding and laying hens for the broiler sector, and criteria under which USDA Secretary may determine that a poultry integrator violated the Packers & Stockyards Act by failing to give a poultry grower at least 90 days notice that the poultry integrator was going to suspend delivery of birds to the grower. These limitations would leave only two elements of the Final Rule intact for USDA to implement in FY 2013. If a grower is responsible for a breach of contract, the integrator will be required to provide the grower with written notice that specifies an adequate amount of time to correct the breach. Companies will also still be required to give growers the option to opt of arbitration clauses in production contracts. NSAC vehemently opposes these limitations to full implementation of the GIPSA rule. The anti-competition language included in the House appropriations bill is a perversion of the contract between appropriators and those who they represent. We depend on appropriators to provide annual funding for discretionary programs, not to legislate in an appropriations bill and not to undue farm bill legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. If our legislators want to see even lower approval ratings for Congress and want to see more poultry and livestock producers forced out of business by abuse of corporate power, then they are on the right track. But everyone who cares about fairness for American farmers and ranchers should fight these legislative riders and preserve the GIPSA market fairness rule as the appropriations process progresses. In addition to the GIPSA language, the House bill also includes a legislative rider intended to force USDA to deregulate GMO crops even in the case of a court ruling invalidating or vacating such a deregulation. The rider requires that, if a deregulation is voided by the courts, USDA must grant a waiver — what the language calls “temporary deregulation” — to any producer who requests such deregulation. According to the Center for Food Safety, “The provision appears to be a gross violation of the separation of powers and would therefore be unconstitutional. The judicial review process is an essential element of U.S law and serves as a vital check on any Federal Agency decision that may negatively impact human health, the environment or livelihoods.” NSAC urges the Senate to reject these blatant abuses of the legislative process and affronts to fair play, law enforcement, and the principle of judicial review. Other Spending Levels Beyond NSAC’s top appropriations priorities, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee also: includes a bump up for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, a quasi-competitive research, education and extension grants program, from $264 million currently to $276.5 million. The Senate bill provides $298 million, a 13 percent increase. like the Senate bill, keeps direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loan funds constant at FY 12 levels; NSAC has requested an increase for direct farm ownership loans targeted to beginning farmers and ranchers; allows $3 million in remaining 2008 Farm Bill funding for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to be spent in 2013; we had advocated for additional discretionary funding but none was granted; includes decreases for a variety of other programs we follow closely including ATTRA ($2.205 million from $2.25 million), NRCS Conservation Operations including Technical Assistance ($812 million from $828.2 million), State Mediation Grants ($3.7 million from $3.8 million), Rural Business Enterprise Grants Program ($20 million from $24.3 million) and others. level-funds the Organic Transitions Research program, National Organic Program, and the Office of Advocacy and Outreach. For more details, see the NSAC Appropriations Chart on our website, which is now up-to-date with House Subcommittee action. For general details on the bill refer to the Subcommittee’s summary. The House Appropriations Committee has not yet set a timeline for when it will consider the FY 2013 agriculture appropriations bill, but we will monitor the process and keep readers informed as we learn more. Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Competition & Anti-trust, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Organic, Research, Education & Extension, Rural Development Comments are closed.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/23240

New rural model may aim too high | Ha Noi is a pioneer of a national programme to build a new rural model. Ha Noi Farmers Union chairman Trinh The Khiet spoke to the Nong thon Ngay nay (Countryside Today) newspaper about barriers farmers face. The program has been around for two years in some pilot communes. Are there many positive changes in those communes? Thuy Huong (in Chuong My District) is one of the pilot communes in the campaign to build a new rural area in Ha Noi. In the first two years, I could say the commune "got a face lift," particularly in production, and the building of public utilities and roads. In 2008, the Government chose 11 communes nation-wide to participate in a national pilot programme to build new rural areas. About 70 per cent of the Vietnamese population earns their living from agriculture, accounting for 20 per cent of the annual gross domestic products and 30 per cent of the export turnover. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung once said building a new rural model was an urgent mission and a strategic policy for the sustainable development of Viet Nam. — VNS Thuy Huong is an agricultural commune. In the past, local farmers lived off their vegetables sold in Ha Noi. Now they have switched to horticulture – a promising and lucrative trade for them. New production models were introduced to farmers in the commune. Households growing flowers formed horticultural enterprises with farmers contributing their land. At present, in addition to Chuong My, there are three more districts – Thanh Tri, Dan Phuong and Soc Son, all engaged in building a new rural model. By now I can say that the initial successes have been recorded, including improved infrastructure, new farming production models and higher income. A case in point is in Song Phuong Commune, Dan Phuong District with many households volunteering to donate their land to widen the inter-communal roads. Does the city want to expand the programme to more districts? Under the Ha Noi Party Committee's Resolution, from now until 2015, 160 communes out of 401 will build a new rural model. And by 2030, all communes in Ha Noi will have won the title of a "new rural model". To achieve this target, the city's Farmers Union has made the communication campaign a top priority amongst the 19 criteria to build a new rural model and help people understand that the programme is for their own benefit. City authorities will pull investment resources to invest in public utility projects, production planning, population planning, electricity, roads, schools and others in order to create a synchronous development model. However, with limited funding, they will have to make a list of prioritised projects. How will capital be allocated to make it the most efficient? Of course, the budget will not be allocated equally among all communes. A total of VND 32 trillion (US$1.56 billion) has been set aside to invest in the program to build a new rural model in Ha Noi from now until 2015. But it does not mean that the sum will be distributed to all 401 communes in the city. It will only be spent in pilot communes. Budget allocation is based on the real situations and levels of contribution of each commune. Many localities have complained that some of the 19 criteria in the building of a new rural model are not suitable. What about Ha Noi? One criterion – after two years implementing the programme – is that the income of the people in that commune must double. This criterion is not easy to reach, even for Ha Noi. We have asked the Government to re-consider it. During the implementation process, what should the farmers do to exercise their rights and obligations? As I have mentioned above, we – the Ha Noi Farmers Union have increased our communication to raise awareness of the programme and its benefits, create a better socio-economic situation and better living conditions, both physically and spiritually. Once they thoroughly understand the benefits of the programme, they will volunteer to take part and encourage others to follow suit. — VNS Your say: How to beat rubbish on the streets (December, 09 2016) App-based motorbike taxi service or traditional xe ôm? (December, 09 2016) Investing in a region, world without hunger (December, 08 2016) Industry 4.0 and what it means for VN (December, 06 2016) Much tighter controls on antibiotic use needed (December, 05 2016) Việt Nam Studies an evolving discipline (December, 03 2016)

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/23588

Decrease Food Waste and Give Yourself a ‘Raise’ Up until recent times, the weekly ritual of planning meals played itself out in homes across the country. Meals were painstakingly thought out. By Robert Giblin Up until recent times, the weekly ritual of planning meals played itself out in homes across the country. Meals were painstakingly thought out. Moms clipped coupons from the Thursday night paper and carefully planned the weekly grocery shopping trip. At meal time, everyone at the table was expected to be a member of the “clean plate club.” Even the family dog might happily to do its part, cleaning up table scraps. Leftovers were packed as lunches or eaten at other meals later in the week. Little went to waste. Lifestyles have changed dramatically and so has the amount of food waste we generate. Numerous experts have proclaimed the need to double the world’s food supply in the next 40 years to meet a growing population and changing dietary demands. However, because of food waste, doubling the food supply actually will require tripling production from fewer resources.According to a report issued in January by the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers, “Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not,” up to half of all food produced goes to waste. Waste occurs at all levels of the food chain, from production, to harvesting, transportation, processing, retailing and restaurants and by consumers. The UK report echoes studies previously released by other organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Various sources show that a lot of food is produced but never consumed in North America and Oceana—nearly 40 percent of grain products, half or more of seafood, fruits and vegetables, and one-fifth of meats and milk. The good news is that because of ever-improving farming practices, very little of that loss is in farming and production in the U.S.—just 2 percent of grains, 11 percent of seafood, 20 percent of fruits and vegetables, 3 percent of meat and 3 percent of milk. Higher losses in fruit and vegetable production are due to retail, restaurant and consumer expectations of perfection; nutritious, safe and “tasty but ugly” produce never leaves the field. The consumer side is another story: 27 percent of grain products, 33 percent of seafood, 28 percent of fruits and vegetables, 12 percent of meat and 17 percent of milk go to waste in the U.S. The UK report says that as the development level and per capita income of a country increases, the food loss problem generally moves further up the chain, toward consumers. Thus, the U.S. is among the most efficient and least wasteful in farming and production, but the most wasteful at the consumer end.Further, close to 20 percent of the U.S. food supply is lost in households, restaurants and foodservice. In restaurants, portion sizes have increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Yet, on average, diners leave 17 percent of meals uneaten and half of all leftovers are not taken home.At home, U.S. families throw out one-quarter of the food they buy. Yet every day, about one in six people—50 million people—in the U.S. are “food insecure.” Reducing food losses by just 15 percent could feed half of them.Fortunately, small changes can yield big payoffs. Analysts estimate that reducing food waste can help the average family of four find an extra $1,350 to $2,275 annually. That’s a nice bonus in tough economic times. For consumers, reducing waste does not mean major dietary changes, guilt or doing without. It starts with little steps: meal planning, small reductions in portion sizes, taking home and eating restaurant leftovers, accepting slightly imperfect produce and storing and cooking with an eye toward reducing waste.Reducing waste in the food system is a continuous improvement process, involving cooperation and efforts at all levels. It also requires education, but not from a formalized program. It may be as simple as asking mom or grandma, “How did you used to do this?”Robert Giblin is an occasional contributor to the Focus on Agriculture series for American Farm Bureau Federation. He writes, speaks and consults about agricultural and food industry issues, policies and trends.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/24152

Driscoll announces organizational changes by | February 01, 2011 WATSONVILLE, CA -- Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. has announced changes in the company organization to better serve its global customers, growers and marketing partners. The changes were effective Jan. 31. "Our mission is to continually delight berry consumers through alignment with our customers and our berry growers," J. Miles Reiter, Driscoll's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a Feb. 1 press release. "Over the last 25 years, we have seen Driscoll's grow and develop into a multi-faceted leader of the North American fresh berry industry, with expanding capabilities in other parts of the world. This new company structure will help us build a foundation for the next 25 years of continued growth in this exciting industry." He added, "As we move into the future, we will have a broader global reach and must be well coordinated to pursue our core mission across a wide range of geographies and cultural traditions. The company structure we are announcing today will position Driscoll's to better meet this challenge." Foremost among the changes is the formation of a new regionally aligned organization within Driscoll. Kevin Murphy has been promoted to president of Driscoll's of the Americas. He has been elevated from his current position as senior vice president of supply and operations. "Kevin has demonstrated the skills, focus and leadership required to take our business in the Americas to the levels called for in the strategic plan," Mr. Reiter said in the release. All of Driscoll's North American (U.S. and Mexico) operations as well as marketing will be brought into the new Driscoll's of the America's business unit. Responsibility for South American (Chile and Argentina) operations will be transitioned later in 2011. Driscoll's of the Americas will be joining the recently expanded Driscoll's of Europe and Driscoll's Australia business units. Driscoll's of Europe and Driscoll's Australia will continue to operate under the direction of Soren Bjorn, senior vice president of international business. Driscoll's executive team will remain unchanged and includes: Mr. Reiter as CEO and chairman; Sean Martin as chief financial officer; Steve Stein as vice president of human resources; Kelley Bell as director of community and environmental initiatives; Mr. Bjorn as SVP of international business & global technologies; Mr. Murphy as president of the Americas; and Michael Hollister as SVP Market Group, the Americas. This team will lead the development of Driscoll's strategic direction while creating corporate capabilities and resource allocation guidelines that serve the global enterprise. "By focusing on developing a corporate wide capability, Driscoll's will not only better serve the operations that are currently established in 18 countries and five continents but also position itself to integrate any further business units or geographic extensions quickly and effectively," Mr. Reiter said in the release. Videos

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/24224

Place an Ad Opinion | Commentary It’s natural Farmers and gardeners are ready to get going after a long, cold winter, rounded off by a long, cold month of April. Mid-April is ordinarily a target date for planting seed for early vegetables, such as peas and spinach, though many gardeners might have been persuaded to wait a little longer for warmer weather and warmer soil.That Vermonters maintain a deep connection to the rituals of spring — the preparation of soil, the planting of crops — is one reason for the widespread interest in the bill passed by the Vermont House last week requiring the labeling of food made from genetically modified organisms. Agriculture is a process that ties people intimately with nature — whether they are growing a few tomato plants in their back yard or acres of feed corn for their dairy herd. Commercial exploitation of the stuff of nature and tampering with genetic material seem like a worrisome violation of a cherished relationship between man and the world.Requiring labels on food products is not going to end the use of GMOs or the power of Monsanto. It is likely that GMO labels will become so common that they are hardly noticed. Moreover, some GMO crops may over the long run prove useful, helping to enhance productivity to meet an expanding need in era when agriculture comes under new strains.But the anti-GMO movement comes as revival of interest in what might be called traditional agriculture is reshaping the state. For generations dairy has been king in Vermont, and it is still king in terms of economic impact. But among young people looking for entry into a life on the land, dairy is not necessarily the easiest way to get started. It is capital-intensive and subject to the demands of commodity agriculture in which large-scale production becomes necessary to survive.As young farmers look for other ways to make a living on the land, they are revitalizing the agricultural sector in Vermont. Vegetable and fruit crops are increasingly grown locally, and the proliferation of farmers’ markets and other outlets are making local crops more readily available. Dairy of a different sort is having an impact, making Vermont a center for fine cheese made from the milk of cows, goats and sheep. This is economic development that is real and is bringing new life to small towns where growers are active participants in the life of their communities. Where there is a niche, people are trying to fill it. Thus, as Vermont has become home to numerous small micro-breweries, some growers are experimenting with whether it is possible to introduce the growing of hops in the state.Enterprise of this sort — respectful of the land, unwilling to scale up too rapidly and too extensively, happy to focus on quality and local markets — is antithetical to the sort of agriculture that looks to new, patented seeds and the regimen of chemicals that go with them. It is becoming more widely understood that reliance on chemicals to kill pests or curb disease also kills the biological life of the soil, which is the basis of everything. Vermont farmers, growing on a small scale for local markets, are naturally wary of these industrial processes. Labels on packages are not going to dent Monsanto’s profits too deeply. But Vermonters are cheering the GMO bill as a statement. It’s a statement that says: OK, you’re out there growing GMO corn and other crops, and that’s a particular thing that we’re not especially interested in. Good luck in developing crops that can help bring down food prices and make food more readily available in impoverished nations, but as for us, we are doing well the natural way.Grocers and food producers don’t like the hassle of having to deal with labels. Nobody likes hassle. But people learn to deal with hassle, as grocers have learned to deal with the recycling of bottles and food producers have adapted to other labeling requirements. European nations are surviving their own GMO labeling requirements, which reflect concerns similar to those felt by Vermonters. They have set down — not a red line — but a green line, allowing them to distinguish what was made from GMOs and what was not. It is easy to conclude that something is not harmful, until the harm is evident. Tinkering with the genetic makeup of species has the potential of touching off unpredictable ecological effects. And not nearly as much research has gone into an examination of those potential effects as has gone into the profit-making potential of modified seed.As spring takes hold, Vermonters become part of the natural process, and many will celebrate the Legislature’s statement about protecting what is natural.

农业

2016-50/3787/en_head.json.gz/24526

Donate Search this site: Who we areExecutive Director El Salvador: The benefits of collective action Members of IZALCALU cleaning and sorting beans. Copyright: WFP. When natural disaster struck in 2005, Jose Manuel started the IZALCALU cooperative together with other farmers who were also displaced by the volcano eruption. Six years later, disaster struck again, but thanks to their collective action, Jose and the fellow IZALCALU members are now strong enough to weather shocks. Ten years ago, the lack of credit, poor agricultural techniques, and prohibitively expensive inputs forced Jose Manuel and his family to stop farming. Instead, he was hired by private haciendas, but his salary could not cover his family’s needs, especially for food. “I barely made enough money to eat daily, and my wife had to sell matches and candles in the village. We had to ask local authorities to give us books for our children to go to school. Those were really tough years,” he recalls. From hacienda worker to founding member However, the situation for the 40-year-old, his wife and five children took a turn for the better in 2005, but only after another stroke of fate: displaced after the eruption of the volcano Ilamatepeque, Jose and other internally displaced people joined forces and founded the “IZALCALU Agricultural Association”. In 2009, IZALCALU became one of the 18 smallholder farmers’ organisations across El Salvador participating in P4P. A revolving fund managed by the farmers’ organisation enabled the farmers to access credit for the first time: IZALCALU gave Jose Manuel a credit of US$ 950 to purchase agricultural inputs. Thanks to the credit, his maize yields in 2011 rose from 1,600 to 5,400 kg and his bean yields from 130 to 590 kg. He also managed to increase the size of the land he cultivates from less than half a hectare to more than 1 hectare. The creation of the revolving fund was part of P4P’s institutional strengthening strategy for the farmers organisations, as well as training in agricultural production, food quality, post-harvest handling, cost analysis, organization management and gender. All these trainings and capacity building initiatives have been initiated in close partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Ministry of Agriculture and other partners. WFP also worked with IZALCALU to build a 680-ton warehouse for their produce, and has enabled them to mechanize their bean sorting, cleaning and polishing. Surviving a tropical depression, rains and flooding In mid-October 2011, torrential rains and flooding in El Salvador hit farmers just a few days before the harvest season. Many farmers lost up to 30% of their maize and 60% of their beans in the fields. But thanks to the new techniques the farmers participating in P4P had already learned, and the use of tools and supplies provided as an emergency response by CENTA (National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology) in partnership with WFP, Jose Manuel and his fellow farmers were able to save their crops. Increasing yields and paying back loans Today, Jose Manuel can ensure enough food for his family and sell the surplus. Of the 5,400 kg of maize harvested in 2011, Jose Manuel sold 2,700 kg to his association for US$ 1,080 – enough to repay his loans. IZALCALU later sold the aggregated maize to CARITAS Sonsonate, a local NGO. Jose kept 1,800 kg (valued at US$720) for his family’s needs and later sold the remaining 900 kg –valued at US$360—again to IZALCALU. He also sold 270 kg of beans to the farmers’ association at US$540 and kept the remaining 320 kg as food reserve. In average, the IZALCALU farmers were able to increase their maize yields from 3.2 to 4.0 tons per hectar, and from 0.7 to 1.0 tons per hectar for beans, thanks to P4P. “IZALCALU will become a great company” All these achievements inspire Jose Manuel to continue working as a farmer and aim to double the land under cultivation for the next planting season, with the support of IZALCALU. “I’m sure that in the next 15 years, IZALCALU will become a great and well-known company. We are overcoming the problems we had with the rains, we are learning, sharing knowledge and experiences. I know that someday all of us will have a good year,” he said. Thanks for reading this story. Please tell others about it. Hunger can be eliminated in our lifetimes This requires comprehensive efforts to ensure that every man, woman and child enjoy their Right to Adequate Food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are sustainable and resilient.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/662

Late May U.S. weather change to benefit wheat, corn - by Drew Lerner Search for similar articles by keyword: [Corn], [Wheat] KANSAS CITY — Weather pattern changes in the United States during the last week of May promise to bring relief to literally months of moisture and temperature stress that has managed to whittle the size of this year’s high quality hard red winter wheat down considerably. The last week of May will bring on some much needed rain in the central and southern Plains, and whether the rain event is a fluke or not there is likely to be a short-term improvement to small grains produced in the central Plains. Much of the anticipated rain event in the central and southern Plains will come too late to save this year’s crop entirely. Most of the wheat in Texas and Oklahoma already has advanced too far to bolster yields, but that is not the case in Kansas, Nebraska or Colorado. An improvement in crop quality is still possible in the southern U.S. Plains while yield and quality may be improved in the central Plains. Mid-May weather in the central and eastern United States was dominated by unseasonably cold temperatures and occasional rain in the Midwest, lower Mississippi River Basin and southeastern states. The rainfall was significant, but not any more so than that which occurs during many spring seasons. Many producers complained about the wet conditions, but it was not really the fault of the rain as much as it was the fault of temperatures. A very old repeating cycle in the atmosphere has been responsible for the past eight months of colder-than-usual weather. The pattern was expected to lose dominance in the spring of 2014, but it obviously did not. The pattern brought record setting cold to the Plains, Midwest and eastern states during the middle part of May, adding to the problems of hard red winter wheat as well as raising issues with the planting and establishment of spring and summer crops from the northern Plains into the Midwest. Cold weather has an impact In hard red winter wheat country, the cold weather had a significant impact, but it was not the first time temperatures turned cold in the Plains. Drought had reached such intensity that desert like characteristics developed in the central and southern Plains. In the desert, relative humidity is so low that temperatures often would rise and fall 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit on some days. That kind of a diurnal temperature pattern in the Plains has not occurred, but huge temperature swings did occur from one day to the next. Extreme highs in the 90s to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit occurred on a few occasions during mid-May and just a few days later, after a strong cold front moved through the region, temperatures bottomed out below freezing. That is how some of the wheat crop was damaged. Damage was reported in late April and during mid-May as this kind of scenario played out across the drought stricken central and southern Plains. Similar surges of cold weather occurred last winter that brought bitter cold temperatures into hard red winter wheat country without much snow on the ground, resulting in some winterkill conditions. More recently the cold occurred while crops were approaching and entering reproduction, which also damaged some of the production potentials. Finally, in the last week of May there will be a notable switch in weather patterns. The change was expected to bring 10 days of much warmer temperatures and a change in weather patterns so that the water-logged Midwest and lower Mississippi River Basin get a chance to dry out while crop areas in the central and southern Plains get some badly needed rain. No weather pattern of potential change could have more meaning than that advertised for the central and southern Plains. Most of the southern Plains reported less than half of normal rainfall during the first five months of 2014, and drought has prevailed in many areas since 2010. Some areas have reported dryness dating back even further in time. Warmer temperatures ahead? Changes in weather across North America in late May will bring much warmer temperatures to most of the U.S. Plains, Midwest and southeastern states as well as Canada’s Prairies — which also have been quite cold in recent weeks. In addition to those changes, rain will vary significantly across the central and southern Plains with sufficient amounts to offer short-term relief from persistent dryness. The change will bolster topsoil moisture, but for how long? Drought events that have prevailed as long as this one has will not go away overnight. It will take repetitive rain events over multiple months to restore soil moisture to normal and that will not be an easy task with summer approaching quickly. Rainfall during the typical summer season is not great enough to counter evaporation, and that suggests the rain that falls in late May will be welcome and should bring on some short-term relief from drought, but with temperatures getting to the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit on a more frequent basis in coming weeks most of the moisture will be lost to evaporation. The hope is that enough rain will fall in late May to lift topsoil moisture in support of better wheat reproductive and filling conditions. The crop cannot fully recover its production potential because of the lateness of the season, but some improved yield potential may occur in Kansas, northern Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska. It will be imperative that follow up rain occurs sooner rather than later since the crop only has so many weeks left before the harvest. Hot, dry, weather that evolves in the last days of this month or in June could still reduce some of the potential benefit that will come from the late May rain event. In the meantime, the same changing weather pattern in the Great Plains also will have influence on other crop areas in the United States and Canada that will be beneficial to many crops. The largest change will be warmer temperatures that will stimulate fast drying rates in the water-logged areas. The heat also will induce a notable rise in soil temperatures and stimulate faster summer crop development rates after inducing accelerated emergence. Rainfall will be reduced across a part of North America in the last days of May, giving some areas a chance to advance more quickly with fieldwork that is long overdue to be completed. Spring and summer crop planting is well behind average in the northern U.S. Plains, upper Midwest and in both Canada’s Prairies and Ontario’s corn and soybean country. The late May weather pattern change will present “opportunity” to accelerate fieldwork. However, the most important fact about all of the improved weather is that the changes advertised are going to be temporary. The odds are favoring a return to wetter and cooler weather in June, raising more challenges in getting this year’s soybeans and corn planting in the Midwest and the same for canola, wheat, barley, corn, soybeans and other crops in Canada.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/1788

It's in the Bag To Categorize Content About Us Western Horseman: Yesterday and Today By Randy Witte Western Horseman magazine began in 1936, which makes it one of the oldest horse magazines in the world. To glance back at the magazine's history is to survey much of the history of the horse industry in North America, because Western Horseman was there to champion the formation of breed associations and registries, research and record horse history, and publish accounts of the care, breeding, and use of horses through the decades. When the first issue was printed and distributed in January 1936, interest in horses was waning in the United States. Founding Editor and Publisher Paul Albert knew it all too well as he watched horses being displaced by automobiles and tractors, and promptly dispatched to the slaughterhouses. Paul later wrote of that era: "Horses were worth practically nothing and thousands were being slaughtered each year for dog food, the dog having replaced the horse in public affection and the machine having discarded the horse in transportation and power." He created The Western Horseman as a voice for the horse, to show people that horses were still useful in a variety of ways on farms and ranches, and that they could have a bright future as recreational animals. The magazine's motto was, "For the Admirer of the Western Stock Horse." Paul, his wife, Worth, and a secretary and friend named Dorothy Smith made up the magazine staff. They worked "within the lighted circle of the kerosene lamp," Worth later wrote, in the Albert's' ranch house. Their ranch was located in the rolling hills near Lafayette, Calif., about 20 miles from San Francisco. There Paul and Worth ran a small herd of cattle, bred Arabian horses and did their best to keep western riding alive. They operated a "one-day dude ranch" on weekends, hosting visitors who paid 75 cents for an hour's horseback ride. By the time that first issue of The Western Horseman appeared, Paul had quit his job as a traveling salesman for heavy equipment to devote full time to the ranch and to publishing the magazine. Worth recalled that "finances were nil. But with the idea and a stubborn determination, scraping here and pinching there, we finally managed $200 to edit and print our first issue." That first issue of the magazine sold for 30 cents per copy, with subscriptions listed at $1 per year. Included was news on horse shows and rodeos, technical advice, and the first in a series of well-researched articles written by Paul and titled "The Romance of the American Stock Horse." Bob Denhardt was an early contributor to the magazine, and served years later as its editor, after he had been instrumental in the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association. He was a student at the University of California at Berkeley when The Western Horseman was launched, and came to the Albert's' ranch looking for a place to ride. In the January 1937 issue, author F.D. Haines wrote about the remnants of a breed of horse called the Palouse, a name which some had corrupted into Appaloosa, he explained. There weren't many Appaloosas left, he wrote, and urged those who had them to "register and establish the type before it is too late." The Appaloosa Horse Club was organized in 1938. Paul wrote an editorial in that same 1937 issue urging preservation of the Western horse. Remember, this was prior to the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association (in 1940), and even the name Quarter Horse was not affixed to a particular type of horse. "A West without cow horses would be a disappointment to everyone," he wrote. "It would pay us to well consider this thought. Some (people) stand calmly by, never lifting a hand to save our gallant friend and greatest attraction, the Western horse. The pages of The Western Horseman are dedicated to this work. It is a good work and an unselfish one." In the fifth anniversary issue, Paul noted that with the aid of publicity from The Western Horseman, four new horse organizations had formed: the Palomino Horse Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club, the Albino Horse Club and the American Quarter Horse Association. Paul was only 40 when he died of cancer, and his magazine was only seven, but he lived long enough to see his efforts on behalf of the Western horse begin to pay off. W.K. Albert replaced P.T. Albert on the masthead of the January-February 1943 issue, and Worth remained editor for the next four issues of the magazine. The Western Horseman was sold to John Ben Snow in the summer of 1943, and moved to the Speidel headquarters in Reno, Nevada. This came about because John Ben was an avid horseman throughout his life, and a top executive at Speidel, a chain of newspapers spanning the country. The Speidel staff put the magazine out until John Ben decided to move it to Colorado Springs in 1948. He lived in town, had a horse and cattle ranch north of the Springs, and felt he could best take the magazine under his wing and help it grow if it was close by. He arranged for construction of the magazine's office on the north side of town in 1949. The two-story structure is patterned after the well-known Palace of the Governors in the old town square in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a familiar Colorado Springs edifice in its own right. The magazine has continued to grow and evolve through the years. The Western Horseman became simply Western Horseman in later years. Logo type, layout and design also have changed whenever the staff felt there was a reason for it, and circulation has expanded to nearly 200,000 subscribers and newsstand buyers. What hasn't changed through the years, however, is the magazine's philosophy. Through 12 editors and four changes in ownership, Western Horseman has remained dedicated to horses and the people who use them, primarily in the West. After John Ben Snow's death in 1973 at age 89, the magazine became employee-owned, and stayed that way until 2001, when the Western Horseman board of directors and employees voted unanimously to sell to Morris Communications. Morris owns several newspapers throughout the country, as did Speidel (which later was acquired by Gannett). But Morris also has a variety of magazines, including a handful of horse publications. The Western Horseman staff felt that Morris Communications, headed by W.S. "Billy" Morris III, a dedicated horseman himself, was an ideal company to carry on the philosophy and tradition of Western Horseman in the 21st century. Western Horseman has been the leader in its category through the years partly because the people who have worked for the magazine also have been involved in the horse industry, with interests ranging from horse shows and rodeo, ranching, trail riding, polo and cutting. No other horse publication carries such a wide variety of topics, which include equine health care, training, breeding, competition, packing and trail riding, ranching, horse and human personality features and historical articles. Western Horseman has stayed true to its roots, and readers of the publication in 1936 - those who are still with us, typically feel "at home" with the magazine today. Contemporary readers who run across those early issues find them fascinating. Email*

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/4164

Program #SHIV010. Recorded in Atlanta, GA Just a few years ago, Globalization was being hailed as the cure all for the world's economic problems. There were cascades of platitudes about "level playing fields" and "a rising tide lifts all boats." Prosperity for all was on the horizon. It hasn't quite worked out that way. But it's no surprise. The rich North has used so-called free trade agreements to further pauperize the South. The principle mechanism is massive subsidies to corporate agribusinesses who then dump their grains in Third World countries at below market prices. Farmers in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Mexico, and elsewhere can't compete and face ruin. On another front the big multinationals are trying to patent seed stocks forcing farmers to buy new seeds from them. People in the Global South are organizing to defend their rights.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/4428

Department Of Agriculture Works To Stop Harmful Beetles By Jessica Murri Aug 20, 2012 TweetShareGoogle+Email Japanese Beetles feed on over 300 species of plants, causing severe damage to the leaves. / Department of Agriculture Little torpedo-like bug traps have recently popped up around downtown Boise. They're designed to catch Japanese beetles. Here’s why the Department of Agriculture has declared war on the insects. “Roses, blackberries, fruit trees, I’ve seen them feed on dogwoods and apple trees, and a number of ornamentals” Mike Cooper, with the Idaho Department of Agriculture, lists off all the things Japanese beetles destroy. In fact, the beetles feed on over 300 plants. The dime-sized bugs are common back East, but Idaho declared them an invasive insect ten years ago, and tries to keep them out. Cooper surveys the Boise area every year, usually catching one or two. He’s trapped over two dozen in the last three weeks. “That’s cause for concern to catch that many in that small of an area,” Cooper says. Cooper says they likely came from infested nursery plants shipped from other parts of the country. Now strange-looking traps hang from stop signs in North Boise and around Julia Davis Park. They look like miniature missiles with a green canister on the bottom, and bright yellow fins above it. Cooper says there are almost 50 traps per square mile in the downtown area, and he’ll set out more if needed. He’s trying to figure out the exact location of the beetles. Once the beetles are found, they’re not hard to get rid of. Mild store-bought insecticides do the trick. Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio Tags: Japanese BeetlesIdaho Department Of AgricultureTweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2016 Boise State Public Radio

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/5315

More seasonal workers from overseas head to Mid-South farms Nov 28, 2016 Where do new Arkansas dicamba regulations stand? Nov 28, 2016 Growers considering switch from flood to furrow in Mid-South rice Dec 02, 2016 Hessian flies emerging: 6 things to know before spraying wheat Dec 07, 2016 Producer says at Beltwide... Doreen Muzzi | Jan 19, 2001 Cotton seed breeding must improve It will take an immediate renewed public breeding effort to attack the problem of stagnant cotton yields and decreasing fiber quality, cotton producer Jack Hamilton of Lake Providence, La., told growers attending the 2001 Beltwide Cotton Production Conference. According to Hamilton, the U.S. upland cotton yield average has varied between about 500 and 700 pounds per harvested acre over the last 20 years. The low during this period was 580 pounds per acre in 1983 and the high was 780 pounds in 1994. "Clearly a significant problem exists with current cotton yields," he says. "In recent years, yields have become increasingly variable and highly unstable. In addition to stagnant and volatile yields, the quality has deteriorated as well. This is a double whammy for producers who are struggling to stay afloat financially before they receive the discounted prices, without realizing any offsetting yield increases." The two qualities of cotton that have shown the most decline and are causing the most problems for producers and textile mills, Hamilton says, are micronaire and staple length. Over the last 10 years, the average micronaire of U.S. cotton has both fluctuated from year to year, and continued to steadily increase. "The implication for producers is that a larger portion of production is now falling in the higher micronaire range and is either receiving no premium or is being discounted for being too high," Hamilton says. A similar but opposite trend is occurring for staple length, which has been stagnant to lower over a 10-year period. The last three years are of the most concern, Hamilton says, because the trend has been sharply lower. "This has really impacted producers and is hitting our pocketbooks because there is a significant price discount for short staple cotton." "The area I am from in northeast Louisiana has also seen short staple lengths over the last few years. In the 22 crop years since 1979, there have been only five years in Louisiana where the percentage of our crop with a staple length below 1-1/16 inches has exceeded the double digits," he says. "These years were 1980, 1991, and the last three years - 1998, 1999 and 2000. In fact, in the last two years over 36 percent of our crop have had a staple length below 1-1/16 inches. The average for the other 17 years was 2.2 percent of the crop with a staple length below 1-1/16 inches." Although weather information for these years tends to indicate rainfall and temperature had a great effect on staple length, it's obvious varieties also played a big part, Hamilton says. "The first and foremost reason for cotton yield and quality problems is a definite lapse in cotton breeding efforts. Where, in the past, cotton variety work was often done by private companies in the public interest, it is now primarily in the hands of major chemical companies. Their main interest of course is to sell chemicals, not to develop outstanding cotton varieties." Another reason for the downtrend in quality and yield, according to Hamilton, is producers' request for shorter-season cotton varieties. Producers have asked breeders to develop shorter-season cotton in order to decrease both input costs and the chance of detrimental weather. However, he says, today's cotton varieties tend to be more determinant and less able to overcome weather extremes during a compressed growing season. The third factor, Hamilton says, is the inability of genetic engineers to translocate genes into the popular varieties. "These engineers translocate the genes into Coker varieties and then backcross into the more popular varieties, but some of the plant material may remain and this could be causing part of our problem." The answer to the double-edged problem of yield and quality, he says, is to immediately regenerate the public breeding program. "Many of our land grant colleges and universities have cotton breeders in their research and Extension departments. Additionally, the Agricultural Research Service with USDA has always had cotton breeders on staff. We feel that this breeding work is not being coordinated among the different researchers and the results are not reaching the commercial cotton farms in this country.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/5697

Bringin’ home the bacon Twins trying to sell 4-H pigs to raise funds for college education Calla 4-H member Michaela Pauley is pictured bottle-feeding two-week-old Abby, one of six pigs they raised for the 2013 San Joaquin County Fair. Only one of the pigs was sold at auction at the fair... Albano Risso [email protected] LATHROP – Six adorable pigs went to market. One big pig made the grade and was picked up at auction. The other pigs failed to hit the scale mark and screamed “whee, whee, whee” all the way home.The market in this slight re-telling of the well-known nursery rhyme is the recently concluded San Joaquin County Fair. The animals in this case are the Calla 4-H swine projects of Lathrop sisters Michaela and Melinda Pauley. The teen-age twins have literally grown up with Calla 4-H, the oldest 4-H club in California. And every year for the last nine years, they have raised swine as market animals for the club which they brought to the fair.For eight straight years, the 19-year-olds limited themselves to two pigs each year which they always sold at auction at the fair. Whatever money they generated from all that effort went into their college fund.This year, they raised six market pigs for the livestock exhibit. As it turns out, five of the six did not make weight and were brought back home.“(The) minimum weight for market pigs at the fair is 215 pounds. They came in about 5 to 10 pounds short. They now weigh approximately 230 pounds (each),” explained Theresa Pauley, the girls’ mother.Since the sisters were unable to sell the five animals in the auction at the county fair, they are now doing the marketing themselves with the help of their family via flyers and even a posting on ebay. They are asking $400 for each animal, which is “less than $2 per pound,” Theresa said.Two of the pigs are barrows, and two are gilts. A barrow is a castrated male pig. A gilt is a female pig that has never been pregnant.“They are all Hampshire cross and Duroc cross and were born the last week of December. To raise an average pig, this year’s cost was approximately $525 which includes food, worming meds, and the animal itself,” a hopeful Theresa explained.Anybody interested in purchasing any or all of the pigs may call (209) 814-3781 or visit http://ebay.us/28545918.‘What is not to love about 4-H?’The sisters who grew up in Lathrop have been “interested in all types of animals for their entire 19 years,” their proud mother said.In addition to the two pigs that they raised each year for the fair, they have had cats, fish, hamsters, finch, a cockatiel, a goat – which was trained like a dog – and a horse.“4-H has led the girls in the direction of their future careers,” Theresa said, talking about the importance the club has played in the life of her daughters.“What is not to love about 4-H? It is not just a club; it is a family. There are not many organizations like 4-H anymore,” she added, singing the praises of an organization that has shaped the lives of thousands of youths in nearly a century.“4-H is run completely by volunteers – parents, grandparents, extended family members, and just people from the community who want to help. They have projects such as swine, steer, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, as well as arts and crafts, sewing, archery, shooting sports, gardening. If a member likes a project that we are not offering, it is as simple as finding a volunteer to lead the project and pass the background and fingerprint-check and attend a short training session. Each project has at least one junior or teen leader as well to be mentored and eventually be able to run project meetings. We are taught to be great leaders. You get to meet a whole bunch of really nice people, and youth members often return as adult leaders. There are some three-generation families in Calla 4-H, grandparents and parents as leaders and youth member.”The Pauley girls have participated in several 4-H projects, but swine is their favorite.“Swine are considered one of the top 5 most intelligent animals in the world, right up there with elephants and dolphins,” Theresa pointed out.One Calla 4-H member, in fact, even taught his pig to “sit for the reward of a marshmallow,” she said.Raising swine, though, is not that easy as Theresa explained. To begin with, a member has to purchase “a quality hog” which she then raises for at least three months during which she also has to prepare the animal to participate in the Market and Showmanship event at the county fair.Her daughters put in a lot of sweat equity into the project. Every day during the fair, the girls went they once and sometimes twice a day to clean the pen, making sure it’s “clean of all feces,” and to make sure the animals have plenty of fresh water and food. During those visits, they also take time to work with the animals, training them showmanship pointers that will help them win awards.Michaela and Melinda did something different this year in their swine project. First of all, they raised three times the number they usually take to the fair. They also brought the pigs home when they were just two weeks old, so the sisters had to bottle-feed the animals for several weeks before switching them to regular pig food, and moving to the farm under heat lamps. Once the pigs were large enough and the temperatures warmed up, the lamps were removed and the plastic sheet on the outside was removed and replaced with shade cloth.By the time the fair arrived, the animals were consuming 400 pounds of food a week – that’s $120 a week just to feed them. They also spent about $30 to worm the pigs twice during this time to make sure the buyer will be getting a healthy animal, Theresa explained.“Pigs also get sunburned easily. They must be kept shaded and cool at all time. They do not have a cooling system like humans. They only sweat on the tip of their snout and the bottoms of their feet. We even had to keep fans on them at the fair. At home, a nice mud puddle usually does the trick,” she added as she enumerated all the work that went into the raising and showing of the animals.Melinda, who goes by the moniker Mindy, is in the process of going to school to become a registered veterinary technician. Sister Michaela is currently pursuing a career teaching young children. Both attended Lathrop Elementary School and graduated from Lathrop High. In fact, they were members of the first freshman class of the newly opened – and Lathrop’s first ever – high school west of Interstate 5.At Lathrop Elementary, the Pauley twins were active in the school choir and performed in many concerts. They were also members of their 8th-grade graduation committee that planned activities and helped raise money for the activities.At Lathrop High, the sisters had the distinction of becoming the only two out of six students that were in choir for the eight terms. Besides 4-H, they belonged to FFA. They were also active in sports. They played varsity tennis for three years, and Michaela played freshman basketball. Mindy was advertising director for the high school yearbook for two years, and Michaela did the same thing for a year.The two sisters also took part in four Relay for Life events – three in Lathrop and one in Manteca.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/7434

Industry Farm bill makes progress, but somewhat questionable progress By Stu Ellis, FarmGate blog July 12, 2013 | 8:44 am EDT By a vote of 216 to 208—and without any Democratic votes—the House of Representatives approved a stripped down version of the Farm Bill Thursday. The legislation eliminated all of the funding and programs for food and nutrition, such as school lunches, daycare food subsidies, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food for the indigent and infirm. The House leadership said food aid programs, which their conservative members want substantially cut, would be addressed at another time. However, the House plans to meet with the Senate to work out differences between the House agriculture policy and the Senate Farm and Food bill as soon as possible. When the House recessed yesterday there were only 12 legislative days left before the August Recess, and only 21 total legislative days left before the September 30 expiration of current farm and food policy. The challenge will be for House and Senate conference committee to merge their two differing plans into something that will pass both Houses. "Today was an important step toward enacting a five-year farm bill this year that gives our farmers and ranchers certainty, provides regulatory relief to small businesses across the country, significantly reduces spending, and makes common-sense, market-oriented reforms to agricultural policy. I look forward to continuing conversations with my House colleagues and starting conversations with my Senate colleagues on a path forward that ultimately gets a farm bill to the President's desk in the coming months," said Chairman Frank Lucas. The legislation which passed the House, H.R. 2642 has 608 pages and does not contain any food and nutrition programs, and also removes 1938 and 1949 permanent agricultural laws as the basis for farm programs. Those supply management programs, which offered parity prices to farmers should a new Farm Bill not be approved, were typically pre-empted when new legislation is passed. The legislation would be matched with the Senate’s Farm Bill for a conference committee to work out the differences. However, Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow said the partial Farm Bill was “extremely flawed,” “not a real Farm Bill,” and “an insult to rural America.” However, she said she will go to the conference committee meeting with the bi-partisan bill approved in the Senate. Retiring Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa said, “The House-passed farm bill, without nutrition title, will only make it easier for tea party to get rid of support for farmers over time.” The House action that approved farm legislation with the bare minimum majority did not include votes from 12 Republican members who wanted more cuts in farm programs, and were part of 62 Republicans who voted against the legislation in June during a failed attempt to pass it. Earlier, the House leadership determined that 218 votes would not be needed because of several absences of House members Thursday. There were no Democrats who voted for the bill because of the total elimination of food and nutrition programs. Prior to the vote, many Democrats expressed concerns about the absence of funding, and said it would hurt rural Americans who benefit from food stamps, just as do urban residents. Initially, Congressman Frank Lucas, chair of the House Agriculture Committee was opposed to the strategy of the Republican House leadership, but relented, indicating there would be little chance of anything else passing the House. Farm organizations had been quite supportive of the nutrition programs being included, and the American Farm Bureau remained opposed to the Republican leadership strategy, as did the National Farmers Union. However, the National Corn Growers at the last minute agreed to support the change. NCGA Chairman of the Board Garry Niemeyer said his group saw it as the only way to get new farm legislation, but expressed concerns about the way the stripped down bill was presented to the House just before the vote was taken. Source: FarmGate blog farm billfarmingcorn beltstu ellis About the Author: Stu Ellis, FarmGate blog

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/7514

New Thinking About Drinking Doreen Muzzi | Mar 01, 2007 Convinced that cotton producers could further improve their yields by minimizing drought stress, Midsouth researchers are developing a high-tech way for growers to better monitor their cotton plants' thirst. The system, initially developed by plant physiologist Gretchen Sassenrath in collaboration with agricultural engineer Lyle Pringle, uses thermal sensors to measure the temperature of the crop canopy at that location. Because there has not been a particularly good way for cotton growers to determine when to start irrigating, Sassenrath saw the need to more precisely quantify drought stress in cotton. “We are looking at water use in cotton and are trying to detect that point when a cotton crop begins to be stressed and irrigation needs to begin,” she says. In Sassenrath's high-tech water sensing system, thermal sensors are attached to a boom, which is then mounted onto a six-wheeled utility vehicle. By adjusting the boom height with a hydraulic cylinder, the sensors can get close enough to the cotton plant to register the exact temperature of an individual leaf or of a one square meter area of a plant's canopy. “We can now tell when an individual leaf or an individual plant is going into stress, but it is much more difficult to scale up and determine when an entire crop is under stress and is in need of irrigation,” says Sassenrath. In theory, the system works well. In arid areas of the country, substantial differences often exist between air temperatures and plant temperatures. Because of that difference, the cotton plant is cooler than the air temperature due to the effects of transpiration. However, Sassenrath's locationat the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, MS, has somewhat hampered her success using canopy temperature to determine the cotton plant's need for water. Like Midsouth cotton growers, Midsouth researchers must con-tend with long periods of high humidity combined with frequent cloud cover. “With high humidity, the cotton plant cannot cool itself below the dew point. At the dew point you have 100% humidity and because no more water can evaporate, the plant can't cool itself,” Sassenrath explains. “Also, when the cotton plant begins fruiting at the end of June or the first part of July the canopy is not yet closed, resulting in an increase in our temperature readings due to soil reflection. “That first onset of water stress usually happens before canopy closure, and by the time we can clearly see that the crop is under stress, it may be too late to initiate irrigation,” she says. “We are seeing some success with this system, but we are not yet there.” While stumbling blocks to the high-tech system still exist for Midsouth cotton producers, Sassenrath is confident she and her fellow researchers will soon find a better way for cotton growers to determine when they should initiate irrigation. Research agricultural engineer Steven Thomson, also located at Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center, is conducting a concurrent study using an aircraft-mounted thermal imaging camera to visually show the differences in canopy temperature over whole fields. His research, too, is somewhat hampered by soil reflectivity and intermittent cloud cover. “Soil signatures are much different than the surrounding crop. Before full canopy, the much warmer soil influences the temperatures you obtain from the image,” Thomson says. The same issues are also there regarding limited canopy cooling by evaporation in periods of high humidity. “So far, it has been difficult to use images for irrigation scheduling, although irrigated vs. non-irrigated fields have shown pronounced differences in canopy temperature. It is quite easy to see differences on a spatial basis,” he says. “To improve the ability of this system to register differences in canopy temperature from day to day, we now collect weather data the instant the airplane flies over the field. Images can then be compensated for varying wind and solar radiation between days.” Other potential solutions involve the use of broad-range remote sensing and soil sensors. “We have seen some good correlations between soil temperature and yield. The problems we still need to solve relate to early-season soil reflectance before canopy closure, high humidity, and frequent cloud cover. We need to determine what time of day offers optimum solar heating and less humidity to better determine crop temperature,” Sassenrath says. “The frustration we have with making remote images is the variable sky conditions with frequent, intermittent cloud cover. The clouds interfere directly with capturing the remote images, and also alter the reflectance from the sun, contributing scattered light from the clouds,” she says. High Mexican Tortilla Prices Rising tortilla prices in Mexico are due to a supply issue in that country — not increased U.S. ethanol production or U.S. corn prices. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) report that lower corn production in Mexico and the lack of import licenses have caused white corn shortages there. “While there has been much in the media on this issue, no one in Mexico is pointing fingers at the U.S.,” says Chris Corry, USGC senior director of international operations. “They recognize that this is a supply issue coupled with a political situation in Mexico.”

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/7540

Challenges of feeding the world Farm output expands slowly even as population growth and changing diets By Laurent Belsie, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor — Wanted: the next "green revolution."World hunger persists, despite three years of bin-bursting harvests. Nearly 1 in 7 people still lacks enough to eat. And the challenge of feeding their children in the next 30 years looks as difficult as it did in the 1960s.Then, new crops and practices multiplied Asian harvests, albeit with environmental side effects. Now experts are looking for another revolution that will keep pace with growing population and richer diets. "The future is insecure," says Raymond Hopkins, a food-policy expert at Swarthmore College. After solving easier challenges of the 1960s, "We've gotten down to a more intractable set of problems." To be sure, some global food experts see solutions on the horizon, using such means as biotechnology, freer trade in farm goods, topsoil-preserving "conservation tillage," and easing armed conflict in areas such as Africa. And population growth, they note, will eventually peak, perhaps as soon as 2030. But the challenge remains stark:Yield per acre is not improving at anywhere near the rate of the 1960s. Population continues growing, while changing diets will require more food per person. And mankind has struggled to alleviate man-made hunger caused by inefficient government and civil war."For the first time, human-induced disasters such as civil strife and economic crises have more effect on food shortages than nature-induced crises," Hartwig de Haen, assistant director general of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, said last year.The FAO estimates that 790 million people in the developing world lack enough to eat. That actually represents a decline of 40 million people since the beginning of the 1990s. But the progress is incredibly slow.At the World Food Summit four years ago, leaders pledged to lower the number of hungry people to around 400 million by 2015. But if current trends persist, the FAO says "there is no hope of meeting that goal."Poor children face the same glacier-like improvement. By 2020, some 135 million children under age five will be malnourished, predicts the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington. That would represent only a 15 percent drop from 1995.The picture is sobering but not bleak. By any yardstick, the world enters 2000 with a population better fed and less hungry (in percentage terms) than in 1900.Some countries, such as India, considered ripe for disaster because of food shortages in the 1960s, have made a dramatic turnaround."The places that are behind are discouraging," says Robert Herdt, vice president for program administration at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York. But "the right things can come together."The success in Asia and elsewhere has made food more affordable while boosting farmer incomes.In fact, the world produces enough to sustain itself. It just can't grow it or transport it to the right places."There's no shortage of food," says Terry Francl, senior economist of the American Farm Bureau Federation in Park Ridge, Ill. "It's more a reflection of the political and economic systems under which these people live."Take North Korea. Floods and drought have increased an economic crisis brought on by the collapse of its communist trading partners. As a result, corn yields are down 56 percent, the FAO estimates, and the dietary energy supply has fallen 21 percent.But Cambodia is on the upswing after decades of war. In 1996, its farmers cultivated 69 percent more land than in 1980. Their yields shot up 64 percent. And despite a rapidly growing population, the average dietary energy supply has shot up 21 percent.Regions reflect similar uneven progress. Although Asia contains two-thirds of the world's hungry people, most countries on the continent are moving to reduce hunger. But in sub-Saharan Africa, most countries appear headed the other direction. The FAO says 22 of its 38 nations saw hunger rise between 1980 and 1996."In general, we just don't see the takeoff yet in sub-Saharan Africa," says Mark Rosegrant of the International Food Policy Research Institute.There are several reasons. For one thing, the hybrid varieties that launched Asia's green revolution in the 1960s and '70s have not thrived generally in Africa. The continent's tougher soils and climate pose a big challenge to farmers. And markets haven't stabilized.Civil conflict, in places such as the Congo, Angola, and Somalia, remains the biggest obstacle to alleviating hunger. In southern Sudan, withholding of food aid has been used as a weapon of war."We're going to have to more than double food output before we reach zero population growth," predicts Luther Tweeten, an agricultural economist at Ohio State University in Columbus. "That's a real challenge."Long-term trends don't look good. Farmers eke out a little more yield from their crops every year (an average of 1.6 percent more in 1996, for example). That rate is roughly half the average yield increase in the 1960s.That's why some researchers urge that the developing world move to genetically modified crops, which are increasingly controversial in the developed world. Without the promised production boost from biotechnology, Mr. Tweeten suspects, real food prices will rise.(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society What will it take to feed the world in 2050? Confounding expectations, global hunger is down (+video) Readers Respond Readers write: Feeding the world, more than biotechnology

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/8093

Farming thrives in southeastern Mass., but consumers aren't buying local Ariel WittenbergThe Standard-Times When it comes to produce, consumers in southeastern Massachusetts are not buying local, even as the amount of farm land in the region increases, according to a food system assessment recently released by the Southeastern Massachusetts Food Security Network. Together, Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk counties have more than 1,700 farms encompassing more than 108,000 acres of farmland. But while the number of customers buying directly from farms is increasing, residents only spend $5.02 per person per year on food purchased directly at farm stands or farmers markets. The reasons are unclear, said Sarah Kelley, who helped produce the report by analyzing census data. “My guess, and it’s just a guess, is that it’s a convenience factor,” Kelley said. “People have to make an effort to make a habit to buy local and go to the farmers markets.” From 2007 to 2012, the number of residents buying directly from farmers actually increased by 64 percent, according to the assessment. But residents are still getting an overwhelming share of their food from sources other than local farms. In fact, of the $157 million in market value produced by farms in the three counties, only 5.5 percent of that comes from sales to local residents. “Buying local is growing; it just is a really small fraction of the total agricultural growth of the region,” Kelley said. “If you break it down and look at what people are actually spending on, local food is a very small percentage of food spending.” The lack of local consumers is something Silverbrook Farm owner Andrew Pollack said he struggles with at his Dartmouth farmstand. He said that there are very few “vibrant” farmers markets in the SouthCoast, and that he instead brings his produce to farmers markets in Boston and Cape Cod where he said buying directly from farmers is more popular. “It’s very hard to sell produce in the local area,” Pollack said. “When we go to these other places, they always ask ‘Why are you here? Can’t you sell in your own community?’ But it’s like we can’t sell anything down here even though agriculture is really thriving.” Pollack said he thinks shoppers need to be more conscious of where their food is coming from. If they were, he said he believes residents would rather support their neighbors instead of workers in other countries. “When you see at a farmers market that the price is 50 cents extra, people don’t realize that’s money that goes toward paying their neighbor a reasonable, sustainable wage,” he said. If buying local produce has anything to do with convenience, then that’s a boon for Almeida’s Vegetable Patch in Swansea. Almeida’s has no problem drawing customers to its widely shopped location on Route 6. In fact, the parking lot is often packed with vehicles. Inside, shoppers fill their baskets with native sweet corn, radishes, tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits. Joe Cordeiro, a sort of do-it-all employee of Almeida’s for the past 26 years, said business is good. “We’re out picking corn every day at 5:30 in the morning. We pick squash every day and tomatoes,” Cordeiro said. “We have a lot of new (customers), a lot of young people.” Part of the draw may be the location, the fact that Almeida’s is open daily until 6 p.m., or it may be something else. “My husband is a corn junkie,” said customer Louise Renaud of Fall River. “Once the season hits, I’m here every week. Once the native stuff is out, you can’t beat it.” Susan Murray, who owns Apponagansett Farm with her husband, Anthony Wood, said sales at the Dartmouth and New Bedford farmers markets are an important part of her farm’s income. While she said she believes the markets she goes to “have been popular and are pretty busy,” she said that her farm could not survive without additional income from selling products wholesale. “If we were trying to do all farmers markets, we would have trouble,” she said. “We’re doing just fine because we have a diversified customer base.” Ann Richard, who runs the Fairhaven farmers market, said she believes it takes time for shoppers to “get into the routine” of buying local rather than from supermarkets. Now in its seventh year, the Fairhaven market is “very vibrant,” she said, but it wasn’t always that way. “I think it did take a while for people to say ‘OK, I won’t get my eggs at the grocery store, I want to know the farmer and know the person and the chickens providing my food,’” she said. Herald News Staff Reporter Deborah Allard contributed to this report.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/9543

Rooibos Tea Gets Its Own Sensory Wheel, Just Like Wine And Coffee By editor Oct 25, 2012 TweetShareGoogle+Email Rooibos tea leaves Wian Hattingh / Wian Hattingh Originally published on October 25, 2012 3:32 pm Little rooibos, the humble red tea buttressing the "decaf" side of the after-dinner menu, must be growing up: First, featured in a Starbucks latte. Now, important enough to need its own gourmet lexicon. This smoky, sweet tea has been working its way into specialty beverages and personal care products on the basis of both flavor and health claims — it's high in antioxidants and naturally caffeine-free. In the U.S., organic rooibos imports are booming with a seven-fold increase in the last decade. That's according to the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which has a central stake in the rooibos trade. The country is home to all 450 or so commercial rooibos growers in the world, owing to the peculiarities of climate and soil in the region (rooibos likes it a bit on the harsh side, apparently). Keen to keep a leash on the quality standards of what gets to be called "rooibos," the South African government has commissioned a group of scientists and professional tasters to paint a sensory portrait of the plant's characteristic flavor. But defining a flavor like rooibos is not as easy as it sounds. "It's not rose; it's not geranium," said Nina Muller of Stellenbosch University in South Africa, who conducted the rooibos sensory analysis. "There's an herbal floral note which is particular to rooibos." She organized a panel of experienced tasters to swirl, sniff and sip their way through dozens of batches of rooibos tea over the course of several months. Comparing to a "control" flavor—a blend of several medium-grade rooibos batches—the tasting panel came up with words to describe the tastes and aromas they encountered in 69 different samples. This lexicon of rooibos sensuality was then discussed, pared, and rechecked for consistency. Now the researchers have come out with the first version of a sensory wheel, published in the journal Food Research International. So what's a tea drinker to look for in a good cup of rooibos? Primarily "honey," "woody," "spicy," and "caramel." Tasting "hay," "seaweed," or "mustiness" is not so good—or at least, from the industry perspective, should be avoided. South Africa's Rooibos, Ltd, the primary distributor of rooibos in the world, is already incorporating the rooibos sensory wheel into its quality control processes, according to Colette Cronje, their quality control manager. The researchers hope that at the end of their three-year sensory and molecular analysis, they will not only be able to describe the perfect cup of rooibos, they'll be able to tell you where it comes from and how it was processed. Rooibos goes through several processing steps, including a kind of composting fermentation process that turns it from its raw green color to the familiar fiery red and orange. Then it is dried for a certain length of time on "rooibos courts" in the sun before being sorted and packaged. All of these geographic and agricultural nuances may leave their marks on the tea's flavor and aromas, but before now, there was no standard flavor to use as a ruler. Tea from one valley in particular is thought among growers to be a strong source of the coveted caramel flavor in some rooibos teas. "We think at this moment that the caramel note is maybe terroir, that you get in wine," said Muller, "but we're not sure yet." Sensory wheels have come into use for specialty food industries since the creation of the famous wine aroma wheel in the early 80s. "They're a great marketing tool," says Ann Noble, creator of the wine wheel, "they help turn wine or olive oils into a commodity to be valued, and explain why some are more expensive than others." With its sensory lexicon firming up, the South African government would be delighted to see rooibos go the way of wine or olive oil: so look for a tasting party coming soon to a Whole Foods near you.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2016 WRKF

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/9680

WENONAH HAUTER Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food & Farming in America Berkeley City College AuditoriumBerkeley, CA Advance tickets are no longer available, but tickets will be available at the door. KPFA Radio 94.1 FM, Food and Water Watch, and The International Forum on Globalization presentWENONAH HAUTERFoodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food & Farming in AmericaHosted by Claire Cummings$12 advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com :: 800-838-3006 or Pegasus Books (3 locations), Marcus Books, Mrs. Dalloway's, Moe's Books, Walden Pond, DIESEL, A Bookstore, and Modern Times ($15 door) Information: www.kpfa.org/events KPFA benefit"Wenonah Hauter knows where the bodies are buried beneath the amber waves of grain. This is a terrific primer on the corporate control of food in the U.S., and the actions of those who fight back. By turns heartbreaking, infuriating and inspiring, Foodopoly is required reading for anyone who wants to understand both the challenge of reclaiming our food system, and the urgency for doing so." Raj Patel, Stuffed and Served: The Hidden Battle for the World Food SystemWenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, is one of the nation's leading healthy food advocates. She has worked extensively on food, water, energy, and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also an accomplished organizer who served from 1997 to 2005 as Director of Public Citizen, Energy and Environment Program. Prior to that she was environmental policy director for Citizen Action, and a senior organizer at the Union of Concerned Scientists. She runs an organic farm in Virginia that provides healthy vegetables to more than 500 families in the Washington, D.C. area. She contends that the local food movement is not enough to solve America's food crisis and the ensuing public health debacle it has created. In Foodopoly she aims at the real villain: the massive consolidation and corporate control of food production, currently preventing farmers from raising healthy crops, and limits the choices people can make"This may be the most important book on the politics of food ever written in the U.S. "Maude Barlow, author of Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Fight for the Right to Water."A schocking and powerful reminder of the distance between our image of the family farmer, and the corporate agribusiness reality. Make sure you read it before dinner."Bill McKibben Claire Cummings is an author, journalist, and lawyer. Her book, Uncertain Peril, won an American Book Award. She has over three decades of experience in agriculture, including four years in the Office of General Counsel for the USDA, farming in California and in Vietnam, where she had an organic farm in the Mekong Delta and advised the Ministry of Agriculture. She has written advisories for Farm Aid, The National Family Farm Coalition, and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers as well as a media guide on agricultural biotechnology. Claire produced and hosted a popular weekly public radio show on food and farming in Northern California for six years, including a news segment called "Eater's Digest" and reported regularly for KQED television. Claire has served on the board and as general counsel for many environmental groups, including The Elmwood Institute, Food First, and Earth Island Institute. LocationBerkeley City College Auditorium (View)

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/9734

E-Z Acres makes stream-friendly farming look, well, easy Michael McMahon walked between two adjacent fields of tall, swaying corn in Homer, New York, to point out an invisible boundary running through his family farm. Water to the north of that boundary, he explained, eventually flows into Skaneateles Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. But any rain or snow falling to the south ends up in Factory Brook, which flows into the Tioughnioga River, then the Chenango River, the Susquehanna River, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. Farm owner Michael McMahon stands at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, at right, on E-Z Acres Farm in Homer, N.Y. “All in all I think your environment is not only the water and the air and your natural resources,” McMahon said. “I think your environment is also your community and I think you’ve got to be cognizant of your community’s needs and wishes so that you can live in peaceful harmony with them.” About 30 percent of McMahon’s E-Z Acres Farm, which Michael McMahon owns with his brother Peter McMahon, feeds into the water supply of the city of Syracuse. The larger southern section rests above the groundwater aquifer that is the only water supply for the village of Homer, which abuts the southern end of the farm and is home to 25,000 people. As their business has grown, the McMahons’ awareness of their farm’s potential impact on their neighbors has led them to be fervent stewards and engage their community—for the benefit of both local streams and faraway bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay. “The end of our tillable land is only about 200 yards from the big municipal well (in Homer),” McMahon said. “It’s extremely productive ground, but at the same time you could be really doing some damage if you weren’t conscious of it.” E-Z Acres began with McMahon’s father in 1957, a dairy operation with 160 acres and just eight heifers. Now, their 2,500 acres stretch across much of the valley above Homer in Cortland County. Workers harvest a field of alfalfa at E-Z Acres Farm, which stretches across much of a valley in Cortland County and sits above an aquifer that is the only source of drinking water for the 25,000 residents of the village of Homer. “The 1400 head that are on the place today all come from those eight heifers,” McMahon said. “We never purchased any animals.” McMahon says that early advice from his father made it easier to adopt nutrient management practices when the dairy consolidated four separate facilities into one large operation about 20 years ago. “Even back, as far back as the 60s, we were taught from our dad that you get manure on all the fields, you don’t just concentrate on where it’s easiest and quickest,” McMahon said. “So it was easy for us to transition to a CAFO [concentrated animal feeding operation] where we have all those plans there in the blue notebooks that tell us exactly what field, what time of the year, how many gallons, all of that.” In 1997, after the consolidation, the McMahons decided to start testing water for nitrates and phosphorus quarterly at five different sites in the valley. “Nobody ever told us we had to do this,” McMahon said. “But, we just wanted to know if our agronomic practices were in line, that we weren’t going to see spikes in nitrates in well water.” The tests are also useful for easing worried minds of residents in Homer, and where foul smells wafting from farm fields sometimes cause worries about water quality. “You’ll get concerns and typically it’s odor-initiated, when we’re spreading manure,” McMahon said. Dozens of acres of willow wattles, or shrubs, planted by children from local 4-H clubs line Factory Brook, which flows through E-Z Acres Farm before connecting with the Tioughnioga River and ultimately the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. McMahon said E-Z Acres has grown by purchasing neighboring farms as they have come for sale over the past several decades, and their management practices have extended to these lands. For example, he observed that every farm they bought had its own dump—something his father never believed a farm should have. E-Z Acres subsequently cleared all those dumps. About five miles of a stream called Factory Brook runs through E-Z Acres, and McMahon said that they have made a concentrated effort to protect what is nearest their cropland, which he estimated at about three and a half to four miles. They have let the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) establish riparian buffers on both sides of Factory Brook by bringing children from 4-H clubs to plant willow wattles, or shrubs. They have also granted public access through DEC for a section of Factory Brook. “In many cases the farms that we purchased, you know people were cropping right up to the edge, you know, spreading their manure and stuff like that,” McMahon said. “Where we do farm near the stream, we keep that land in permanent grass as opposed to turning the soil over and putting in a row crop,” McMahon said. McMahon credited his home state as becoming a leader in the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts by first addressing local watershed issues, which meant that his farm already had many practices in place by the time the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in 2010. Dairy cattle feed inside a barn at E-Z Acres Farm. The McMahon family started voluntarily testing well water when it consolidated four separate facilities into one concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO, roughly twenty years ago. Binders containing past and present nutrient management plans fill shelves inside an office at E-Z Acres Farm. McMahon says his family’s stewardship ethic dates back 50 years. “And maybe I’m just biased because I’m in New York, but we got involved in the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program in New York way back in the 80s when they first thought of it.” McMahon said. “We cleaned up dumps. We looked at chemical storage. We did a lot of things way back before it was ever thought to be mandated. And that was all part of New York State’s own program, and not just for the sake of the Chesapeake but for the sake of all watersheds. And we felt at the time I mean we knew that we sat over an aquifer and that we were kind of responsible for keeping the water clean for all these people who either have private or public water supplies derived from this.” McMahon says they are motivated by trying to “stay ahead of that curve” and “be good neighbors.” For their efforts, the McMahons were awarded the 2015 Agricultural Environmental Management Award by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. E-Z Acres hosts open houses regularly, and every June they welcome all of the fifth grade students in the county—about 400 for each of two days. “So, that’s a ball,” McMahon said. “In many cases it’s the one and only chance a lot of those kids will have to ever see where milk comes from. So we think it’s a good idea to embrace the community, engage the community and be part of it.” Text, Photos and Video by Will Parson To view more photos, visit the Chesapeake Bay Program's Flickr page About Will Parson - Will is the Multimedia Specialist for the Chesapeake Bay Program. A native of Bakersfield, California, he acquired an interest in photojournalism while studying ecology and evolution at University of California, San Diego. He pursued stories about water and culture as a graduate student at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, and as an intern at several newspapers in New England before landing in Maryland. Keywords: nitrogen, nutrients, New York, agriculture, Phosphorus, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Nov $34 million in investments will improve water, wastewater infrastructure in rural watershed communities Four rural communities in the Chesapeake Bay region will receive more than $34 million in financial assistance to improve their water and wastewater infrastructure, thanks to loans and grants provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Water & Environmental Programs. The Moorefield Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in Moorefield, West Virginia, was made possible by a private-public partnership. USDA funding will help support wastewater infrastructure in rural communities similar to Moorefield. Earlier this week, the USDA announced it will invest $331 million to support 85 infrastructure projects across 39 states and American Samoa. The agency’s Water & Environmental Programs provide financing to support drinking water and waste disposal systems in rural communities of 10,000 or fewer residents. More than $34 million of these investments will go to communities in the Bay watershed, supporting a biosolids treatment facility in Talbot County, Maryland; water and sewer system improvements in Wayne County, Pennsylvania; sewer repair and replacement in Caroline County, Virginia; and a sewer system improvement project in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Of the 85 projects, 21 of them—including the project in Caroline County, Virginia—are located in StrikeForce areas. Launched in 2010, StrikeForce is the USDA’s initiative to address persistent poverty in rural areas across the United States. Keywords: wastewater, water, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), wastewater treatment Nov Photo of the Week: Resident geese may ruffle locals’ feathers Canada geese fly along the Mattaponi River in Walkerton, Virginia. The characteristic honking and “V”-shaped flying pattern of Canada geese are distinctive sounds and sights of autumn in the Chesapeake region. As part of the Atlantic Flyway—one of the major bird migration routes in the United States—the Chesapeake Bay is an important stopover for migrating geese. But these migratory birds are not the only type of Canada geese found in the area. While many flocks leave the area in early spring to return to their northern breeding grounds, countless others remain year-round. “Resident” geese, as they’re known, may appear nearly identical to their migratory relatives, but they actually make up a distinct population. Most resident geese originated from flocks that were brought to the Chesapeake region in the early 1900s, through government stocking programs and for use as live decoys. These non-migratory geese are typically larger, begin breeding at a younger age and produce more eggs than their migratory counterparts. And because they tend to live in urban and suburban areas—like lawns, parks and golf courses—resident geese are less likely to be exposed to hunting, meaning they live longer as well. In the Bay region and beyond, populations of resident Canada geese have grown exponentially since the mid-20th century, bringing with them a variety of environmental problems: from threatening the health of waterways and humans with their droppings to overgrazing on aquatic vegetation that might otherwise sustain migratory birds on their long journeys. Both resident and migratory Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but experts have worked to identify ways to reduce the damage caused by resident geese. The National Park Service, for example, sought public comments last year on its plan to use border collies to chase away Canada geese on the National Mall. Learn more about Canada geese and the environmental effects of resident geese. Image by Will Parson About Stephanie Smith - Stephanie is the Web Content Manager at the Chesapeake Bay Program. A native of the Midwest, she received her Bachelor’s in Professional Writing from Purdue University and Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan. Stephanie’s lifelong love of nature motivates her to explore solutions to environmental problems and teach others what they can do to help. Keywords: birds, photography, migratory, photo of the week Nov County-by-county land use data available for review by local governments Chesapeake Bay Program partners are welcoming the review of new high-resolution land use data for all 206 counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The data will inform the partnership’s next generation of models used to estimate nutrient and sediment loads and to credit efforts to reduce those pollutants from draining into the nation’s largest estuary. The high-resolution mapping of land use—such as residential areas, agricultural lands, streamside forests, parking lots and roads—is a critical component of the Bay Program’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model, used to inform restoration activities and support local, state and regional decision making across the region. The latest version of this model, Phase 6, is currently under development and review. To continually improve our understanding of the landscape, Bay Program partners have been working to incorporate the most accurate land use information available into this updated version. Over the past two years, the Bay Program worked with local government partners in all the Chesapeake Bay watershed counties and major municipalities to ask for access to local land cover, land use, parcel and zoning data. Thanks to the commitment from our local partners, local land data were collected from over 80 percent of local jurisdictions. In parallel, Bay Program partners funded the development of new high-resolution data on land cover—such as impervious surfaces, tree cover and water—for the entire watershed. This unprecedented work, carried out by the Chesapeake Conservancy, the University of Vermont and World View Solutions, mapped out land cover across more than 80,000 square miles at a one-square-meter resolution. This land cover data was then combined with the information provided by numerous local governments to produce a detailed land use dataset for each county. To ensure that local land use and parcel data has been correctly interpreted, Bay Program partners are seeking input on these final land use datasets. While open to all interested parties, this review process is especially intended for local governments to participate. As datasets for each county become ready for review during the last week of October and the first week of November, they are being made available on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Phase 6 Land Use Review Application website. Reviewers will have four weeks to review once a dataset has been posted, but fatal flaw comments are due two weeks after data are made available. Once the data have been reviewed and finalized, the high resolution land cover and land use datasets will be made available free-of-charge to local governments and the public. In addition, Bay Program partners will be making available extensive data on past land cover and land use (from 1984 to 2013), as well as comprehensive geographic coverages of federal lands, sewer service areas, regulated stormwater areas and combined sewer overflow areas, all mapped at similar local scales within each county. The current review is part of the Bay Program’s larger and long-term commitment to regular updated mapping of Chesapeake Bay watershed counties’ high resolution land cover and land use data to be repeated on a periodic basis. Local government representatives are encouraged to stay engaged in future efforts to continually improve data accuracy. All these future high resolution land cover and land use data sets will continue to be made available to local governments and the public free-of-charge. Local governments will be able to use the full suite of high resolution land cover and land use data for their own purposes in making better, more well-informed decisions on where to carry out stream restoration projects, plant stream side forests, place easements and permanently conserve lands, as well as to inform comprehensive plans and future zoning and development decisions. For additional information on the land use data and how to provide feedback, a pre-recorded webinar is available online. Questions and requests for further information can be directed to Lindsey Gordon at [email protected] and (410) 295-1380. Keywords: Chesapeake Bay Program, land cover, watershed model, local government, land use « Older Entries Newer Entries »

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/10018

Limes get pricey for Cinco de Mayo Fri May 2nd, 2014 3:50pmBusiness Bloomberg News The most expensive ingredient in the margaritas here at Adobo Grill isn’t the tequila. It’s the lime. Costs for the fruit more than tripled in the past two months, squeezing profit margins before the biggest U.S. margarita bash of the year, Cinco de Mayo, according to George Ortiz, who helped start Abodo 14 years ago. “We fresh-squeeze lime juice every day,” said Ortiz, 50. “We use it for table-side guacamole, fresh squeezed limes right there. We use it for ceviches. It’s a huge expense.” Lime prices are surging as some growers in Mexico, which supplies about 97 percent of the fruit in the U.S., banded together to set prices after a crop disease ravaged trees. Americans spend about $2.9 billion annually on margaritas, which account for about 14 percent of the country’s cocktail sales, according to Technomic, a Chicago-based research firm tracking the food industry. “Cinco De Mayo is by far considered the biggest day for margarita sales in the U.S.,” said David Henkes, a vice president at Technomic. “It will disproportionately impact higher-end restaurants and those that tend to make from-scratch margaritas. You may also see restaurants and bars promote other more profitable cocktails if lime prices stay high.” Retail-lime prices climbed to 56 cents per fruit as of April 4, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News unit. One lime yields about 1 ounce of juice. By comparison, a 750-milliliter bottle of Zapopan Reposado Tequila is listed at a regular cost of $12.99 at online beverage-retailer BevMo. That’s about 51 cents an ounce. Ortiz said he spends about $23 on a bottle, while the equivalent amount of lime juice costs him $40. Prices for limes are up 81 percent from a year earlier and more than double the cost in mid-January, the USDA data show. Members of Mexico’s Citrus Growers Association of Apatzingan Valley limited supply to guarantee a minimum price for producers, Leonardo Santibanez, an association member and coordinator of its trade events, said in March. The group has been able to push up prices after crop disease in the neighboring state of Colima crimped production, making Apatzingan the main grower. Excess rainfall also hampered output. The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service does not track Mexico lime production separately from overall citrus output. The Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates the Mexican victory over the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla and has become a celebration in the U.S. of Mexican food, culture and, of course, drinks. Dos Caminos, which operates six restaurants, including four in New York, one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and one in Atlantic City, New Jersey, uses as many as 40 cases of limes per week. After prices climbed to about $100 a case from about $35 at the beginning of the year, costs jumped by $10,000 a month, Jaclyn Schwartz, a New York-based marketing specialist at the chain which is owned by BR Guest Hospitality Group, said in an April 23 e-mail. “We are hoping that enough people walk in through the door to help us make up for the squeeze in margins,” Elias Mandilaras, a manager at the Dos Caminos midtown Manhattan location, said April 23. Last year, the six restaurants served 12,000 margaritas during the weekend of Cinco De Mayo. Limes are also used in some food recipes and in guacamole. Limes may not impact all U.S. bars celebrating Cinco de Mayo because only about 30 percent of the margaritas served nationwide are made “from scratch,” using fresh citrus juice, Henkes of Technomic said. Most of the drinks are made with a “ready-to-use” mix, he said. Most mixes don’t contain fruit juice. In Mexico, lime costs dropped 25 percent in early April after soaring 41 percent in March and 68 percent in February, according to government data. The country’s consumer protection agency filed a complaint with the attorney general’s office last month against growers in Michoacan state for allegedly fixing prices and driving up inflation, said Lorena Martinez, who heads the agency. For Ortiz at Adobo Grill, expenses have stayed high, rising to about $120 a box now, from $30 in February, he said April 24. The bar uses 20 boxes a week, with each containing about 110 limes, or enough to make 2,000 margaritas. About 80 percent of the drinks served are garnished with lime. Mark Malbone, a manager at Chavela’s in Brooklyn, said the restaurant decided this week to start garnishing drinks with lemon wedges instead of limes. Last year, the restaurant served 400 margaritas during Cinco de Mayo weekend, and they will continue to make the drinks with fresh lime juice, Malbone said April 30. “Limes have become a cause of big concern, and we are losing 5 percent of our earnings because of higher prices,” said Malbone, who has been in the restaurant industry for 20 years. “We are hoping enough people flock in this weekend, and that the days of exorbitant lime prices end very soon.”

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/10606

Follow @thecattlesite News & Analysis Features Markets & Reports Sustainability Knowledge Centre Directory Events Our Shop News CME: Celebrations For Long Serving USDA Chairman 23 October 2014 US - Many members of the market analyst community joined together Monday to honor long time USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chairman Dr Jerry Bange’s devoted service to US agriculture, writes Steve Meyer and Len Steiner.Jim Robb, Chairman of the Livestock Marketing Information Center and President of the Foundation for Livestock and Grain Marketing made the presentation at USDA’s annual Data User’s Meeting in Chicago. USDA Chief Economist Dr Joe Glauber assisted Robb and offered a nice tribute for Dr Bange. Many readers have no idea who Jerry Bange is but have used information provided by his team for many, many years. As Chairman of the World Ag Outlook Board (WOAB), Dr Bange oversaw the works of a team of analysts that included economists and meteorologists whose primary job was to provide the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA. In a previous press release, Chief Economist Glauber said “USDA has benefited enormously from Bange’s distinguished leadership as chair of the World Board.” And we say “Amen!” to those words. Glauber reinforced those words on Monday by pointing out several times that it was still not too late for Jerry to come back to the position he held for 20 years. Dr Bange, as has always been his way, politely declined. Dr Bange joined the US Department of Agriculture in 1971 as an agricultural marketing specialist for the Agricultural Research Service. In 1975, he transferred to the Foreign Agricultural Service as an agricultural economist where, in 1981, he became Director of the Foreign Production Estimates Division and, in January 1983, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Administrator for International Agricultural Statistics. In October 1983, he transferred to the World Agricultural Outlook Board where he served as Deputy Chairperson until March 1994 at which time he was promoted to Board Chairperson. Dr Bange has received numerous awards including the Department's Superior Service Award and is a two time recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive. He majored in agricultural economics at the University of Maryland where he earned a B.S. in 1966, M.S. in 1969, and Ph.D in 1975. Dr Bange also served as Program Chairperson for USDA's largest annual meeting, the Agricultural Outlook Forum, which has been hosted by USDA since 1923. Taking part in today's Forum are eminent leaders in agriculture. Among the renowned speakers every year are farmers, ranchers, economists, professors, statisticians, consultants, industry leaders, and government policymakers. The role of the Forum is to provide leadership by bringing together the agricultural community to discuss policy, science, rural development and the economic outlook for the coming year. The Forum puts the spotlight on the latest scientific research; new products; the changing dynamics of rural America; as well as global aspects of trade, health issues, and the economy. We know well that the WAOB staff think highly of Dr Bange and his commitment to providing accurate, unbiased data, market analysis and information has benefited us all. To our knowledge, there was never a whiff of impropriety regarding WAOB information and publications under Dr Bange’s watch. He is held in very high regard by virtually everyone in agriculture. Dr Bange’s special interest in China helped USDA and the industry better understand the data limitations and developments of that country’ dynamic agriculture and food sector. His work to forge times between USDA and Government of China laid a foundation of cooperation that will benefit both countries in the future. Finally, think for a moment about the changes that technology has wrought since 1994 in the way USDA conducts its business. Dr Bange played a major role in the shift from paper reports to faxed reports to the electronic delivery which we now take for granted and depend upon so completely. We at The Daily Livestock Report thank Dr Jerry Bange for his 31 years of devoted service to USDA and to US agriculture and especially appreciate his clear, steady leadership of the World Agricutural Outlook Board since 1994. Congratulations, Jerry, on a job well done and best wishes for a productive and enjoyable retirement! We will miss you. TheCattleSite News Desk Policy and Regulatory, General Share This

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/10731

UC helps farmers reduce fungicide use in SJV When just a fraction of San Joaquin Valley grape farmers use a new UC Powdery Mildew Risk Assessment Index (RAI), they can cut fungicide applications on their vineyards by 1 million pounds per year, according to industry reports. The dramatic reduction in fungicide sprays and the resultant decrease in pesticide drift and air pollution impacts are prime examples of the benefits available to farmers by employing science-based pest management techniques. This particular integrated pest management (IPM) tool addresses powdery mildew, the No. 1 disease of grapes. The most common fungicide used to control the disease is sulfur, but many other fungicides are commercially available. Typically, growers apply fungicides on a calendar schedule, usually beginning within two to three weeks after "budbreak," the moment when green shoots begin growing after the vine has been dormant for the winter, and then every 7, 10, 14 or 21 days, depending on the product. However, UC Cooperative Extension research has shown that powdery mildew is only a problem under very specific weather conditions. "After budbreak, you must have three days in a row during each of which the temperature is between 70 and 85 degrees for at least six continuous hours," said Stephen Vasquez, the Fresno County UC Cooperative Extension viticulture farm advisor. "This year we had two days of optimal weather, then on the third day, there was a cloud cover and the high temperature was below 70, so the RAI did not ‘kick off’ and growers didn’t need to spray." Weather watch Keeping track of the weather proved to be a deterrent for busy farmers, so Vasquez and Madera County UCCE viticulture farm advisor George Leavitt began to do it for them. Vasquez maintains a network of nine weather stations in Fresno and Madera counties. The weather stations monitor the temperature, then a computer program developed by UC IPM calculates a score from 0 to 100 for each day for each site and posts it on the UC IPM Web site daily. (The index may be found on the UC IPM Web site at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/.) Farmers check the index online to know immediately whether the conditions are optimal for powdery mildew growth. If they are not, growers can keep their spray rigs parked. Leavitt and Vasquez have held classes each spring for three years to teach growers biology and control of powdery mildew, laws regarding the use of fungicides, and how to use the RAI model. "The point I make," Leavitt said, "is that they’re going to feel uncomfortable using the program the first year. I understand how the growers feel. I was uncomfortable the first year. If they are uneasy, I tell them to pick up their telephone and call us. That’s what the farm advisors are here for." Raisin growers The Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California, a cooperative that represents roughly one-third of raisin producers in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kern and Kings counties, has been supportive of UC’s grape powdery mildew risk index. "This is the third year we have provided seminars for our growers devoted to controlling powdery mildew with UC’s system," said Sun-Maid technical services representative Joe Kretsch. "It’s a proven, scientific way to maximize fungicide efficiency. The whole idea is to get growers to apply fungicide based upon what the disease pressure is, rather than just going by a calendar." An industry estimate determined if 25 percent of raisin growers used the UC model in 2003, and if those growers opted for sulfur treatments, then up to 1 million pounds of sulfur would not have been applied to treat powdery mildew during that season. "The majority of our growers are quite pleased," Kretsch said. "The more they use it, the more comfortable they become." Vasquez said an individual farmer growing 40 acres of grapes can save as much as $667 by eliminating a single fungicide application. (Fungicide application on 40 acres ranges from $128 to $667, depending on the product used.) In 2003, many growers eliminated three applications early in the season and in 2004 most cut two. "This spring, as of April 1, most vineyards already have at least four inches of growth, but growers shouldn’t be applying anything for powdery mildew," Vasquez said, "The RAI has not yet kicked off, but I suspect that it will after this last series of storms passes. Growers should have their sprayers ready for action." Growers monitor The index is also used in other parts of the state. However, in some of the smaller valleys with widely varying terrain, such as in Lake County, the farm advisors' recommendation is for growers to monitor the weather themselves in their own vineyards to determine the optimal times for fungicide application. Sun-Maid, the Raisin Bargaining Association and the San Joaquin Valley Viticulture Technical Group support the program by paying for the Fresno and Madera county weather stations to be recalibrated each year. Source URL: http://www.westernfarmpress.com/uc-helps-farmers-reduce-fungicide-use-sjv

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/10800

Home Gender & Climate Change Small Grant Awards CCAFS supports female scientists and female farmers fighting against climate change. Photo: N.Palmer(view original) FlagshipsGender and Social Inclusion CCAFS helped fund female scientists doing research in program priority areas There has been limited understanding of how men and women adapt to climate variability and change to maintain food security in agricultural systems. In 2011-2012, funding was awarded to female scientists doing research on CCAFS priorities. Awarded scientists were provided partial supervision from CGIAR centres to write a paper on gender and climate change and the award will help improve research capacity of awarded scientist. This effort helped to demonstrate and contribute to understanding the linkages between climate change and gender more specifically, while developing policy-relevant findings on climate change, agriculture, and food security more generally. The objective was to build research capacity of women scientists in partner institutions and increase their representation in agricultural research. Meet the Small Grant Awards recipients Annuciate Nakiganda Research topic: Enhancing the Adaptive Capacity of Men and Women Livestock Farmers to the Effects of climate change in Uganda. Download technical report In Uganda, there has been an increase of 1.3 degrees C in mean annual temperatures since 1960 and a decrease of annual rainfall by 3.4mm per month on average. Inadequate feed was identified as a major constraint to livestock production and this is exerbated by climate change. This has led to food insecurity. Climate change affects men and women differently, and hence, there is a need to do gender analysis on climate change interventions. The study aims at determining different effects of climate change on livestock production by women and men and identify gender sensitive adaptation strategies. The study will involve inception meeting, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, seasonal calendar, disaster trend analysis, production trends, coping strategy matrix, gender role analysis and baseline survey. Then on-farm trials of livestock technologies will follow. Project results will be disseminated through farmer exchange visits, field days, radio talk shows, news papers, conferences, workshops and journal. Annunciate is a Research Officer at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute in Uganda. Email: aknakiganda [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk Read more about Annuciate Nakiganda's ongoing research on our blog. Gulsan Ara Parvin Research Topic: Role of Microfinance Institutions to Enhance Food Security in the Climate Change Context: Gender based analysis of rural poor community of Bangladesh. Download technical report This study aims to examine the impact of climate change on the food security of rural poor women and what Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are doing to enhance their food security in climate change context. It investigates the changes in women’s daily labor and life style to ensure household food security in the climate change context. Further, by empirical study among rural poor women and MFIs in coastal areas of Bangladesh, it identifies the role of Microfinance Institutions to address the changes in the lives of rural poor women and to ensure their food security. Along with these, this study inspects the problems, constraints and expectations related to present forms of Microfinance Institutions to enhance food security of rural poor women. This is expected that this study would contribute to explore a new and expected model of Microfinance Institution to enhance food security of rural poor women in the climate change context. Gulsan has a background in urban engineering but she has also worked on poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, climate change and disaster management, and participatory community planning. Gulsan is the chief researcher of Pathikrit, a Social and Human Development Non-Government Organization in Khulna, Bangladesh. Email: niruurp [at] yahoo [dot] com Read more about Gulsan Ara Parvin's ongoing research on our blog. Nani Raut Research Topic: Role of Gender on Agricultural Intensification and its Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Implications for Policy. Download technical report The majority of the Nepalese hill farmers have chosen crop intensification as an alternative approach for livelihood. It is crucial that role of gender in the intensification process be assessed considering that women in Nepal in more vulnerable position than men to changing climate ecosystem. The trend of excessive use of chemical fertilizers brought about by the intensification process has already made the soil acidic, which is a matter of concern for future production and food security. The increasing number of crops per year and increasing use of chemical fertilizers could lead to increase in green house gas emission (nitrous oxide and methane). Thus study will mainly focus on two aspects: a) assessing the gender role on agricultural intensification process which includes assessment on major involvement of men and women on different agricultural activities, and b) to analyze the effects of agricultural intensification on fluxes of nitrous oxide and methane which will be mainly the incubation study in the lab. Nani is an expert in watershed management and rural water supply. Nani is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate at the department of International Environment and Development Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. She is affiliated with Kathmandu University in Nepal in the Department of Environment Science and Engineering. Email: nani [dot] raut [at] umb [dot] no Read more about Nani Raut's ongoing research on our blog. Arame Tall Research Topic: Reducing the Vulnerability of Women Rural Producers to Rising Hydro- Meteorological Disasters in Senegal: Are There Gender-specific Climate Information Needs? Download technical report The past decade (1995-2005) has been characterized by increasing climate variability and more frequent extremes all over Africa. This study aims to reduce the gender-specific vulnerability of women rural producers in these communities. The research will examine whether there are gender-specific needs for climate information in communities at risk of flooding, drought and other hydro-meteorological disasters, and whether women’s specific vulnerability to these hazards could be mediated through an increased use of salient, timely and legible climate information. The results of this study will be critical for the climate research and development practice communities. The research will focus on three community case studies in Senegal, and target women stakeholders including farmers, cattle-herders and fisherwomen. The fieldwork will investigate whether there are indeed gender-specific vulnerabilities to hydro-meteorological disasters and whether climate information matters in the context of primary sector production by women. If climate information is ascertained as a useful vulnerability-reducing strategy, the researcher will work with the women stakeholders to jointly design agro-meteorological advices that could meet women's specific information needs, with an aim to supporting better informed decision-making by women producers and more resilient livelihoods. Arame has expertise community vulnerability to hydro-meteorological hazards and scientist-stakeholder dialogues as a means to increase the usability of climate/weather services for communities at risk from climate change. Arame is currently a fourth year Ph.D student at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) where she pursues her research on the policy implications of climate change for Africa. She is affiliated with the National Meteorological Agency of Senegal. Email: arametall [at] gmail [dot] com Read more about Arame Tall's ongoing research on our blog. Some Laeticia Research Topic: Analysis of gender barriers in the design and implementation of climate change related policy for agriculture and food security in Burkina Faso Download technical report While it is recognized that women play an important role in agriculture, and food security at the household level, gender issues have been so far neglected in the climate change debate, both in the rural and urban areas. In Burkina Faso, women contribute to agricultural production and food security, while having in general limited access to livelihood resources. Addressing the equitable access to climate-proof technologies for men and women will improve the impacts of adaptation initiatives. This project aims is to promote gender perspectives into the current adaptation national policy and practices for agriculture and food security. It will provide evidence-based knowledge to policy makers to legally mainstream gender into climate change, agriculture and food security policy. This will be achieved through research activities including the review of gaps and barriers, field data collection and analysis, the development of technical guidelines and the contextualization of legal framework. Some's expertise is in legal and human rights in relation to development and conservation. Some is working at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) In Burkina Faso and provides legal expertise on development and conservation issues. Email: somedioyel [at] gmail [dot] com Read more about Some Laeticia's ongoing research in Burkina Faso on our blog. Note: This project has terminated Key Links Read all the latest blogs on our gender grant recipients here CCAFS is a collaboration among

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/11276

Events Woe Of The Corn: America’s No. 1 Crop Threatened By Drought By Jeff Ray Filed Under: Climate Prediction Center, Corn Belt, Midwestern United States, Peter Meyer, United States, United States Department of Agriculture Rain falls on drought-damaged corn on July 17, 2012 near Somerville, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation’s fourth largest corn producer in 2011. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – America is the world’s largest corn producer, growing a staggering 40 percent of the world’s supply. It is also No. 1 cash crop in the United States, taking in about $76 billion last year. As goes corn so goes many products and prices; take Texas beef, for example. Raised on pasture grass, the steers and heifers are shipped to feedlots to gain the extra 300 to 400 pounds of profit from eating corn. In fact, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures show 80 percent of American corn goes to livestock feed. It goes to beef, poultry, pork and fish not only in the United States but around the world, especially in China. When the price of corn goes up so does the price of meat. The market show this; the largest producers of chicken (Tyson) saw it’s stock price go down over the last two weeks (more expensive corn means less profit). Another product of corn is the 10 percent of ethanol in your gas tank. One 56 pound bushel of corn produces about 2.8 gallons of the fuel additive, the USDA says. The corn’s protein is left behind in the process and still goes to livestock feed. About 40 percent of the U.S. crop is diverted to ethanol production and the fuel additive is currently trading at an eight month high. Meanwhile corn is trading at an all-time high now that it appears there is going to be much less of it this year. The corn crop in America is currently in the middle of a potential drought catastrophe. Below, look at last week’s drought update. I’ve drawn in blue what is considered the heart of the Corn Belt where 50 percent of the crop is grown. You can see that every bit of it is under some kind of drought stress: The latest drought update is coming out Thursday and many of those in the commodity business have already hedged their bets that things are getting worse. Here is a quote from this Bloomberg News article: “The drought of 2012 will be one for the records,” said Peter Meyer, the senior director for agricultural commodities at PIRA Energy Group in New York, who forecasts a drop in output to 11 billion bushels if the hot, dry spell lasts another three weeks. And it looks like the drought will continue for at least three weeks. Triple digit highs are again forecast today for large swaths of the corn growing region. The six to 10 day outlook puts the odds of higher than normal daytime highs dead center over the region: This matches up well with the outlook for the month issued by the Climate Prediction Center at the end of June: The price of a bushel of corn is currently $7.50, significantly higher than the $5 that was forecast at the start of the growing season. The reason for the $5 forecast was that American farmers planted 96.4 million acres of corn –– equivalent to about two-and-a-half Iowas, if you could plant every square foot of the state –– the highest since 1937. The USDA forecast at the start of the year this years’ crop to reach a record 14.7 billion bushels. But 60% of the corn-producing lands (including the highest yielding plots) are in some kind of drought stress. Count on higher gas and food prices because of it. This makes the third year in a row that the U.S. corn crop has come in under forecast, something that is almost unprecedented in the modern farming era of better genetics and equipment. Last year it was flooding (ironically) in a large part of the corn belt combined with the drought in the southern plains, including, of course, the historical drought in Texas despite the fact that the state is a very small corn-producer. Back in 2010 the problem was, again, flooding in the Midwest. This year they pray for rain, and that it arrives soon. Jeff RayfacebookFollow Jeff joined CBS 11 and TXA 21 in December 2010. He came to North Texas from Nashville, where he spent the past 11 years, most recently as the morning meteorologist at WKRN-TV. His career has also taken him to Kansas City, Mo., where he was the seni...More from Jeff RayComments

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/11504

EBLEX urges producers to get involved in better returns The EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (BRP) is asking 3,000 English beef producers to help shape the content and delivery of the project over the next two years. During April, a cross section of producers will receive a detailed questionnaire from the University of Reading. The aim of the survey is to influence the continued development of the Beef BRP to ensure that it meets the needs of English beef farmers. It will also serve as a benchmark against which to measure the success of the programme in the future. At the end of the project there will be a second survey to see how attitudes and practices have changed. Netta de la Cour, EBLEX beef BRP project manager, said: "The strength of the beef BRP is that it is designed and driven by the industry. "We have a steering group drawn from all parts of the English beef industry, and by asking 3,000 beef farmers to help by completing this survey we are hoping to get a real front-line feel for what they want." The cross section of English beef producers will receive one of three surveys, each focusing on different areas of the Beef BRP. The survey on feeding and nutrition asks farmers about their current practices and attitudes to assessing the nutritional value of their feed and adjusting rations according to feed content and the development stage of individual animals. The survey on selection asks farmers how much they think about a target market for their beef, whether they weigh and handle cattle to assess readiness for sale and to what extent they refer to the MLC carcase classification scale (EUROP grid) to select animals. Finally the breeding and fertility survey focuses on the use of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) among beef farmers, asking whether they use them when choosing a bull and believe that they can lead to better returns. It also asks about checking fertility, maintaining herd health plans and sources of advice when buying a bull. All three surveys ask questions about benchmarking, budgeting and cost analysis. "The Beef Better Returns Programme encourages producers to learn new ways of working to help them cut costs, eliminate waste, and improve their bottom line," de la Cour said. "If 10% of producers moved from average to top third performance, this could provide a potential return to the industry of around £25m," she added.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/11600

Long-sought flower-inducing molecule found August 13, 2005 Researchers at the Umeå Plant Science Centre at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden, report about a breakthrough in our understanding of how plants control their flowering. In an article published in the international journal Science, Thursday 11th, they show how a small molecule that is formed in the plant leaves is transported to the shoot tips where it induces the formation of flowers. This knowledge can lead to the development of new tools that can be used to control the timing of plant flowering, something that is of central importance in both agriculture and forestry. We are all familiar with the fact that different plants flower at different times of the year. Daffodils in spring, roses in summer and other plants in fall. It is absolutely vital for the plant survival to flower at exactly the right time to secure that it can pollinate, or be pollinated, by other plants of the same species. How then does the plant know when to flower? Intense Florigen hunt In the 30s scientists found out that plants can tell whether they are growing in spring, summer or fall by measuring the length of the day. One could also show that plants use their leaves to sense the length of the day. By grafting leaves from plants that had been induced to flower on non-induced plants one could show that the induced leaves produce a substance that is transported to the shoot tips where it induces the formation of flowers. In the 30s a Russian scientist called this mysterious substance 'Florigen'. During the following 70 years scientists have been involved in an intense hunt trying to find out the true nature of Florigen which has been described as something of a Holy Grail for plant physiology. The reason is that the nature of Florigen is central for our understanding of how plant flowering is controlled. All attempts to identify a single substance carrying the properties of Florigen have failed, until now. Messenger molecule A research group led by Professor Ove Nilsson at the Umeå Plant Science Centre at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has now identified a messenger molecule that fulfills all the classical properties of Florigen. A gene called FT produces the messenger molecule. This gene is active in leaves and its activity is controlled by the length of the day. When the gene is activated, a messenger molecule is produced that is transported to the shoot tips where it very efficiently induces the gene programs that control the formation of flowers. These groundbreaking results are published online on Aug 12 in the international journal Science. Together with other data published at the same time, it shows convincingly that the messenger molecule produced by FT either is florigen, or an important component of florigen. The researchers have used the small plant model species Arabidopsis in their research. But the group of Ove Nilsson has also other data showing that these results can be directly applied to other species, such as poplar trees. Ove Nilsson says: "With the help of this knowledge plant breeders will get a new tool to control and adopt the flowering of plants, something that has been of great importance for agriculture but that can also lead to the development of efficient tree breeding for forestry." The persons that have been active in this study are: Tao Huang, Henrik Böhlenius, Sven Eriksson and François Parcy. The Swedish Foundation has funded the research for Strategic Research. Source: The Swedish Research Council Explore further: Gene editing yields tomatoes that flower and ripen weeks earlier Gene editing yields tomatoes that flower and ripen weeks earlier Using a simple and powerful genetic method to tweak genes native to two popular varieties of tomato plants, a team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has devised a rapid method to make them flower and produce ripe fruit ... Plant gene replacement results in the world's only blue rose Australian and Japanese researchers have demonstrated the application of RNAi technology for gene replacement in plants, developing the world's only blue rose. Research identifies protein that signals flowering in squash plants [B]This research provides some of the most solid evidence to date that FT protein acts as a florigenic signal[/B] The length of the day relative to night, or photoperiod, is a strong determining factor for the induction ... Genetic discovery points the way to much bigger yields in tomato, other flowering food plants Every gardener knows the look of a ripe tomato. That bright red color, that warm earthy smell, and the sweet juicy flavor are hard to resist. But commercial tomato plants have a very different look from the backyard garden ... Genetic key discovered to dramatically increase yields and improve taste of hybrid tomato plants Spectacularly increased yields and improved taste have been achieved with hybrid tomato plants by researchers at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University and the Cold Spring ... How a little plant became a model for pioneering research In recent decades, research into a diminutive plant, Arabidopsis thalania, which goes through daily life as a common weed, has generated a tremendous amount of knowledge. Much of the research on Arabidopsis, which has meanwhile ...

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/13005

Management [1] Finite water supply is key to feeding planet In many parts of the world, water scarcity is increasing and rates of growth in agricultural production have been slowing. FAO | Mar 23, 2012 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that producing enough food to feed the world's rapidly growing population will require the international community to ensure the sustainable use of the world's "most critical finite resource," water. "Unless we increase our capacity to use water wisely in agriculture, we will fail to end hunger and we will open the door to a range of other ills, including drought, famine and political instability," warned Ban in a statement [2]read at the start of World Water Day 2012 ceremonies taking place at FAO. In many parts of the world, water scarcity is increasing and rates of growth in agricultural production have been slowing, he noted. At the same time, climate change is exacerbating risk and unpredictability for farmers, "especially for poor farmers in low-income countries who are the most vulnerable and the least able to adapt," he said. Guaranteeing sustainable food and water security for all will require transferring appropriate water technologies, empowering small food producers and conserving essential ecosystem services, the UN chief said. He also called for policies that promote water rights for all, stronger regulatory capacity and gender equality. "Water will play a central role in creating the future we want," concluded Ban. "At the upcoming Rio+20 Earth Summit, the international community will need to connect the dots between water security and food and nutrition security in the context of a green economy." Each March 22, the UN-Water partnership of 28 different UN organizations celebrates World Water Day as a way to focus public attention on various water-related issues and the need to sustainably manage freshwater resources.
FAO is the lead UN agency for observances of the Day this year, which has the theme "Water and food security". The UN Food and Agriculture agency is holding a day-long series of talks and discussions by international water experts at its Rome headquarters. (Watch the event live online here [3]). Water for the future During his own remarks [4], FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said: "Twenty years ago, the first Rio Earth Summit highlighted the vital importance of sound water management in building a sustainable, food-secure future for the planet. While many countries have made great strides in improving their management of water resources since, much more needs to be done.
We must meet the agricultural demand in a way that conserves water and other natural resources, ranging from the sustainable intensification of agriculture capable of producing the food the world needs while using water more intelligently to changing the way we eat, reducing losses, waste and promoting healthier diets,," he added. Doing so will require investments in people, infrastructure, education and awareness building, and finding incentives for small farmers to adopt best practices and strengthening their capacity to improve their productivity, according to Graziano da Silva.
Boosting farmers' resilience against climate change, improving water governance, and establishing institutions to improve national and regional water management are also priority areas, he said. Food and water waste FAO estimates that 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted each year. A 50 percent reduction of food losses and waste at the global level would save 1 350 km3 of water annually, according to FAO. By way of comparison, the mean annual rainfall in Spain is 350 km3, the storage capacity of Lake Nasser in Egypt and Sudan is nearly 85 km3, and the water that passes the city of Bonn on the Rhine River in the span of a year adds up to around 60 km3. Agriculture and water security interconnected Today some 1.6 billion people live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity and by 2025 two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions.
One primary reason for this is the necessary use of water for food production. The average human drinks 2 to 4 litres of water every day, but it takes 2 000 to 5 000 liters of water to produce one person's daily food. Indeed, agriculture is responsible for 70 percent of all freshwater and groundwater withdrawals worldwide.
Yet the reason for this large water footprint is clear: irrigating, farmers can produce more food. Irrigated agriculture accounts for only 20 percent of the Earth's cultivated land area, but produces 540 percent of its food. Source URL: http://www.westernfarmpress.com/management/finite-water-supply-key-feeding-planet

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/14235

Brock Online Notes WTO Rules against Cotton Subsidies In a decision that should have far reaching implications for the U.S. farm program and global free trade talks, the World Trade Organization on Thursday handed the U.S. a final defeat in the case brought by Brazil against U.S. cotton subsidies. The World Trade Organization's Appellate Body upheld core findings delivered last year by a WTO dispute panel, which ruled that U.S. subsidies to cotton farmers exceeded WTO ceilings and that some U.S. export credits amounted to illegal export subsidies. The U.S. defeat could result in similar cases being brought against the U.S. and the European Union for other commodities including fruit, rice, cattle and milk. Brazil has already won a ruling against EU sugar export subsidies, which is under appeal and Brazilian soybean producers are working on a possible complaint. The ruling won’t mean immediate changes to the U.S. cotton program. Thursday’s decision leaves the U.S. 15 months to bring its cotton subsidies in line with the WTO findings or face retaliatory trade measures. But it may be impossible to win congressional approval of needed reforms unless they are part of an overall world trade deal. As a result, it could be years before any real subsidy changes occur. Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn said the decision "points to the urgent need to push forward in the Doha Development negotiations." Editors note: Richard Brock, The Corn and Soybean Digest's Marketing Editor, is president of Brock Associates, a farm market advisory firm, and publisher of The Brock Report. To see more market perspectives, visit Brock's Web site at www.brockreport.com [2]. Source URL: http://www.cornandsoybeandigest.com/brock-online-notes-139

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/14464

Creating an Online Community By Darhiana Mateo A few years ago, Ecke Ranch saw a need to reach out to growers in a new way. The launch of their "On Board" Tech Help Bulletin Board during the 2004 poinsettia season began as an "experiment" but has since evolved into a vital resource and community builder for growers across the country. The online forum provides a "fast and accurate" venue for growers to ask questions about their annuals, poinsettias and now geranium crops; exchange information, ideas and frustrations; and, in a way, help one another stay afloat in a tough economy. In spite of some initial hesitancy by growers unfamiliar with the technology, the bulletin board has become very popular, often drawing 1,000 page hits a day. "We've got a new generation of growers out there," says Rebecca Siemonsma, technical and sales services manager at Ecke Ranch. "For a while, a lot of [people] didn't grow up with computers the way that growers that are in greenhouses now have. They expect that kind of service." A Happy Medium The launch of the bulletin board, focusing only on annuals and poinsettias in the beginning, reflected the company's desire to take a new direction, says Siemonsma. Besides wanting to provide an easy-to-use tool for growers to share information, the company saw the launch as a step toward "a new era with technology." Originally, the idea was to shift all of their technical support online; all questions would be posted and answered on the bulletin board instead of over the phone like in the past. However, Ecke Ranch ultimately opted for a hybrid approach: "We found that there is still a group of growers that doesn't have access to e-mail or Internet, or just prefers to talk to a live person," she says. "We really found a happy medium now, but the bulletin board is our primary means of technical support." Ecke has long been known for the technical and product support they provide customers, says Paul Ecke III of Ecke Ranch. But a changing world — and industry — requires that companies come up with new ways to better meet the needs of customers. "We know the world is changing and our customers expect more. Providing this live online service sets a new standard," he says. Group Mentality Nowadays, the Tech Help Bulletin Board has earned the trust and loyalty of growers. Ecke Ranch takes pride in making the tool as easy to use as possible. From the comfort of their homes, during their lunch break or at 3 a.m., growers can log on to the website and post any questions about topics such as culture, growth regulation, pest control, variety selection and crop scheduling, and can usually receive an answer within 24 hours. And the tech help staff isn't the only one providing solutions: Industry experts such as Jim Barrett of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., frequently share their knowledge, and other growers weigh in with what's worked — or hasn't worked — in their greenhouses. As Ecke Ranch President Andy Higgins notes, "the various technical forums give us the opportunity to learn from each other. We see posts from internal staff as well as external, and together the best solution is found. Often, there is no 'one' or 'right' answer." But by working together, Higgins says, "we can find the best answer for a problem." This type of teamwork approach to tackling problems helps create a sense of community among growers, Siemonsma says. "Everyone's in the same boat, trying to maximize profits, increase margins and reduce costs. Everyone's in the same business," she says. "They feel comfortable sharing ideas." A Success Story It took some time for the online bulletin board to catch on, says Siemonsma. But after the first few months, usage soared and doesn't look to be peaking any time soon. Besides asking questions, growers are logging on in increasing numbers to take advantage of other features, including the ability to post pictures and even create impromptu polls. "We see our usage continue to go up every year," she says. "The first season, it definitely took some time for people to get on board, but once it did, it has been a success story for us." In fact, the first two forums did so well that Ecke Ranch launched a third forum for geraniums in early March. The new forum follows the same model as the other two and appears to be taking off well. Hotspots of Information With a company name that has become synonymous with poinsettias over the past 80 years, it's no wonder that the poinsettia forum has established itself as an authoritative source of information and a hotspot for grower exchanges. The annual forum, while still successful, doesn't draw the same quantity of hits as the poinsettia forum. This has a lot to do with the nature of the two crops, explains Siemonsma. "It's [the annuals season], a busy time for growers. It's hard for them to stop and take time to get the information they need. The turnover is so quick that sometimes there's no room to even make adjustments." Because poinsettias are a long crop, with the season starting in July and plants often not going out the door until December, growers have a little more flexibility to do research and search for solutions to their crop challenges. One big perk the bulletin board offers is that it "overcomes the time barrier," says Siemonsma. "They can get on the bulletin board at 3 a.m. and get questions answered if they need to. They don't have to wait for someone to come into the office." With increasingly demanding work schedules, "customers appreciate us for helping them solve problems when it's convenient for them," says Roger Kehoe, key accounts sales manager at Ecke Ranch. Keeping it Simple While there's a rising number of young growers who are as comfortable online as they are in their greenhouses, there's still a significant group that's a bit wary of technology and has a preference for good, old-fashioned technical support. To appeal to this group, Ecke Ranch strives to make the bulletin board as headache-free as possible. "It's got to be user friendly for those we're trying to convert to that form of technical support," says Siemonsma. "I've talked to a lot of growers that were at first real resistant — they don't know too much about computers, don't like that stuff, etc. And a lot of those people tried it and were really happy with how easy to use it was." Technology should be easy; actually, that's the whole point, echoes Paul Ecke III. "I have always been a proponent of using technology as a tool to make things easier, not harder," he says. "The more online tools we can provide, the more success our customers will have." Redefining Technical Support In our industry, as in most, technology is changing the way we do business. It's also changing the way, and the speed, in which we find solutions to help growers produce high-quality crops. And in cases like the loyal Ecke Ranch bulletin board users, technology is helping foster a sense of community among growers with a common goal: continued success doing what they love. With plans to possibly add a new potted plants forum down the line, along with some webinars and podcasts, Ecke Ranch is helping redefine — and drive — what technical support will look like in the future. To visit the Tech Help Bulletin Board, go to www.eckeranchtech help.com. Darhiana Mateo Darhiana Mateo is associate editor of GPN. She can be reached at [email protected] or (847) 391-1013. Plant Pathogens Help Fight Weeds Intraguild Predation: Disruption of Biological Control? 2015: Year of the Coleus! Selecting Propagation Media For Rooted Liners Viola ‘Starry Night’ AHMA Cancels 2005 Hardware Show What is 2+2?*PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/15657

print Belfer Center Home > Publications > Books and Book Chapters > Books > The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa Email Print The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa Book, Oxford University Press Ordering Information for this publication OVERVIEWAfrican agriculture is currently at a crossroads, at which persistent food shortages are compounded by threats from climate change. But, as this book argues, Africa faces three major opportunities that can transform its agriculture into a force for economic growth: advances in science and technology; the creation of regional markets; and the emergence of a new crop of entrepreneurial leaders dedicated to the continent's economic improvement. Filled with case studies from within Africa and success stories from developing nations around the world, The New Harvest outlines the policies and institutional changes necessary to promote agricultural innovation across the African continent. Incorporating research from academia, government, civil society, and private industry, the book suggests multiple ways that individual African countries can work together at the regional level to develop local knowledge and resources, harness technological innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, increase agricultural output, create markets, and improve infrastructure.The New Harvest is a product of the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Integrates research and policy ideas from an international panel of some of the most influential thinkers on agricultural development Presents enactable policy ideas for advancing agriculture throughout Africa, at the national and regional levels Includes a wealth of case study material from Green Revolution and educational initiatives in India, China, and throughout Latin America Praise for The New Harvest "Calestous Juma draws on a rich harvest of research to write a convincing analysis of the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sectors of Africa. Hopefully, it will be widely read by scholars and policy analysts across Africa as well as outside. It is a great book."—Elinor Ostrom, Professor of Political Science, Indiana University, and 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences "Calestous Juma has once again produced a book that will be an important reference for scholars, researchers and practitioners in their search for ways to break the persistent conundrum that is Africa's failure to properly exploit its huge agricultural potential. The book reveals his exceptional ability to express ideas that will be relevant to the emerging trends in Africa's agricultural and political economy."—Monty Jones, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, and 2004 World Food Prize Laureate "This book presents a timely analysis of the importance of infrastructure in improving Africa's agriculture. Leaders at national and state levels will benefit immensely from its evidence-based recommendations."—Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria "This book is a forceful reminder of the important role that African women play in agriculture on the continent.is critical that they are provided with equal educational opportunity as a starting pointbuilding a new economic future for the continent."—Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia "New technologies, especially biotechnology, provide African countries with additional tools for improving the welfare of farmers. I commend this book for the emphasis it places on the critical role that technological innovation plays in agriculture. The study is a timely handbook for those seeking new ways of harnessing new technologies for development, including poor farmers, many of whom are women."—Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso "The New Harvest the importance of global learning in Africa's agricultural development. It offers new ideas for international cooperation on sustainable agriculture in the tropics. It will pave the way for improved collaboration between Africa and South America."—Laura Chincilla, President of Costa Rica Read "Africa Can Feed Itself in a Generation"—A policy brief based on The New Harvest—online: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/20685 It has come to my attention that some sections of The New Harvest contain inadvertent errors of attribution. I take full responsibility for the errors and sincerely apologize to the original authors as well as my readers. I am contacting the original sources of the relevant information. I am also revising the book to rectify the errors. — Calestous Juma For Academic Citation:Juma, Calestous. The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, January 2011. Document Length: 296 pp. MOST POPULARSUBSCRIBE Thucydides Trap Project "Africa: From Crisis to Opportunity Through Clean Technology"By Calestous Juma and Cindy Shiner "Climate Change a Stumbling Block to Africa's Economies"By Calestous Juma "Get Biotechnology on the Agenda for Africa"By Calestous Juma Starved for Science: How Biotechnology is Being Kept Out of AfricaBy Robert Paarlberg

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/17567

Posts Tagged ‘diease’ Herbicide: The Gift That Keeps On Giving I’ve finally started reading a book by Timothy Lee Scott, Invasive Plant Medicine: The Ecological and Healing Abilities of Invasives (click on the image to go to the website) and it has provided further support and confirmation for a lot of the things I’ve been writing here as well as further provocative fuel for thought while I go about my business with conservationists and gardeners. I’ve just finished the chapters titled ‘Invasive Herbicidal Impacts’ and ‘The Economics of Weeds’. A passage in the latter confirms my earlier contention that ‘Biocidal poisons used to further the Green Revolution in the mid 20th century came directly from the re-tooled factories of World War Two’: Nazi Germany pioneered chemical engineering for combating plants, pests, and people by developing highly poisonous organophosphate compounds used in agricultural pesticides and as chemical warfare nerve gases. In America after the two World Wars were over, there was a movement to find use for the millions of pounds of wasted ammunition and explosives that remained. Factories that once manufactured war machinery were waiting to be filled, soldiers needed jobs, and there were plenty of raw materials to use. The first widely used herbicides and pesticides were nothing but leftover weapons of war. Nitrogen- and phosphorous-based compounds accumulated in massive, stockpiled amounts during wartime, which then led to the practice of discarding them on agricultural fields as a synthetic fertilizer throughout America and, eventually, the world. DuPont was the largest manufacturer of gunpowder during WWI and now is the parent company of the world’s largest seed company, Pioneer HiBred, and Monsanto saw a one-hundred-fold increase in profits by supplying chemicals to produce highly reactive explosives such as TNT. Dow Chemical and Monsanto have been the leading manufacturers of herbicides for decades, reaping huge profits from Agent Orange’s campaign against the Vietnamese jungles and with the Roundup family of herbicides for every dangerous [sic] plant imaginable. (pp.76-7, citing this article by Brian Tokar) …while the story of ‘Agent Orange and the Rainbow Herbicides’ in the former is pretty horrific: (source: Wikipedia) The use of herbicides for warfare was first brought to our attention in the Vietnam War, when rainbow herbicides were sprayed across territories to reveal hideouts, destroy agriculture, and poison the enemy. The barrels containing these agents that Dow Chemical Company and Monsanto, among others, manufactured had a coloured stripe painted on them to identify the contents: Agent Orange, Agent Green, Agent Pink, Agent White, and Agent Purple The most common was Agent Orange, an equal blend of two phenoxy herbicides (2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T). Between 1961 and 1971, about forty-six thousand tonnes of it was sprayed at intensified rates over 3.5 million acres of southern Vietnamese forests and cropland. Not only were ecosystems completely ravaged by this mass poisoning effort, but also millions of civilians and allied troops were caught in the crossfire. The toxin dioxin used in all of these poisons has been reported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to cause a wide variety of illnesses that affect various bodily systems and is still present in our [sic] environment at high concentrations. Some known ailments that are compensated under VA benefits include type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, respitory cancers, multiple myeloma, Hodgkins disease, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, chloracne, porphyries cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida in the children of veterans. Since 1984, Dow Chemical Company has lost various class-action lawsuits regarding these poisonings of American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and South Korean veterans in Vietnam. All have won health care compensation for the unforseen hazards of their service. (p.69, citing this allmilitary forum post) Of course the generations of Vietnamese victims have had no such luck, with lawsuits against Dow Chemical and Monsanto and subsequent appeals getting thrown out various US courts between 2004 and 2009. To get a deeper sense of this atrocity, read the Wikipedia article and associated links or, if you’ve got a strong stomach, type ‘agent orange effects’ into an image search engine. I subscribe to the notion articulated by Hireesh Chandra of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Gandhi Medical College, who said, referring to the Bhopal disaster, that individuals or institutions “shouldn’t be permitted to make poison for which there is no antidote” (quoted in Jensen, Culture of Make Believe, p.285) It seems Agent Orange is still poisoning people in Japan, where: The U.S. Marine Corps buried a massive stockpile of Agent Orange at the Futenma air station in Okinawa, possibly poisoning the base’s former head of maintenance and potentially contaminating nearby residents and the ground beneath the base, The Japan Times recently learned from interviews with U.S. veterans. The barrels were apparently abandoned in Okinawa at the end of the Vietnam War — when the U.S. government banned the dioxin-laden defoliant for health reasons — and were buried at the installation in the city of Ginowan after the Pentagon ignored requests to safely dispose of them, according to the veterans who served at the installation in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1972, the U.S. removed its stockpiles of Agent Orange from South Vietnam to Johnston Island in the North Pacific where, after a five-year debate over how to dispose of them safely, they were eventually incinerated at sea in 1977. Scientists researching the dangers of Agent Orange in South Vietnam have discovered that because its highly poisonous dioxin is not dissolved by rainwater, it can remain in the soil, poisoning people for decades. In southern Vietnam today, there are more than 20 dioxin hot spots at sites used by the U.S. military to store Agent Orange. Where is the accountability for these motherfuckers? How can they get away with this? What incentive do they have to not commit the same crimes in the future? I don’t expect an answer to these questions anytime soon. In the meantime I have my work cut out trying to persuade my bosses of the insanity of torching gardens, driveways and even bodies of water with Glyphosate (Monsanto’s patented chemical in Roundup) to kill the plants they or their clients, in their definitely less-than-infinite wisdom, have decided don’t belong. Tags:agent orange, bhopal, biocide, defoliants, diease, dupont, herbicide, monsanto, roundup, vietnam Posted in Disturbed Politics | 10 Comments » Tim Bonner: Ignorant, unjust – and bad for the environment About Unscholarly reactions to The Parable of the Tares The Commute Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/18732

More seasonal workers from overseas head to Mid-South farms Nov 28, 2016 Where do new Arkansas dicamba regulations stand? Nov 28, 2016 Growers considering switch from flood to furrow in Mid-South rice Dec 02, 2016 Hessian flies emerging: 6 things to know before spraying wheat Dec 07, 2016 History resides in old commissary Eva Ann Dorris | Jul 09, 2004 The Owen family name is common around Tunica County, Miss. Generations of them have farmed, run businesses, been doctors, politicians, ministers and community and civic leaders. Sterling Owen III can tell you about some who fought in the Civil War and some who remained neutral. And, like all families, there are probably a few black sheep somewhere along the way. However, Sterling can do more than tell you about the family history; he can show you a good bit of it. He and his son, Sterling Owen IV, maintain their farm's business headquarters at the Evansville community in the family's old commissary, which was built in the 1880s by Sterling III's great-grandfather, Dr. Richard W. Owen. “It was built when the railroad came through sometime between 1884 and 1890,” says Sterling. “He was a medical doctor, who came here from Tennessee after the Civil War to live with his uncle who was a Methodist minister at the time.” The building served several roles through the years: it was a commissary, a U.S. Post Office and finally a general store. The farm offices, however, have always occupied the rooms in the back. “I have been told the Mississippi River flooded in 1883 leaving the county seat at Austin landlocked. A vote was taken among the people in Tunica County to determine the new county seat. The vote was between Evansville, Tunica and Dundee. Tunica won the election, but that lets you know Evansville was a thriving community,” says Sterling. The Evansville General Store closed to customers in the mid 1980s, but the building has been in continuous use since it was built. The building has walls between 18 inches and 2 feet thick with heavy coats of plaster over the bricks. The plaster has cracked and fallen away in many parts. The front of the building has two entrances. One-half of the building is used only for storage, but the other half has a large open area full of memorabilia from its days as a general store, including the sliding ladder along the wall used to reach items on the top shelves; old Coke crates; bottles; chairs; and the single-bulb lights that dangle from the ceiling. On the original shelves, which run along the wall from floor to ceiling on both sides of the building, can be found a mixture of new and old. Books of all topics are mixed with old ledgers and other business records. Old lamps, baskets and bottles are interspersed with items Sterling and his wife, Cherie, have collected. At one point, Sterling played in a band called the Turnrow Cowboys, but they are now inactive except for the occasional impromptu sessions held at the store. Acoustical panels and amplifiers are in one corner with old, rough wood benches and a variety of lawn chairs, old stools and cane-backed chairs arranged in a semi-circle for the people who drop by to either sing or play an instrument. “The offices of Owen Farms are in the back of the building. Two of the offices are original to the building and one was added off to the side years later to bolster a wall that was shifting,” says Sterling. Cherie took an interest in tracing the history of the building and the men and women who have worked in and been associated with it. She's managed to find and frame photos of most of the Owen men and women who at one time managed the land and those photos hang on the wall. The exception to her wall of honor is Dr. R. W. Owen. Other large framed maps show sketches of fields from decades ago and one even has a rough layout of the Evansville community. “We've been approached about getting the store on the National Registry, but we have not yet looked into what steps are necessary to do that,” says Cherie. For now, Sterling enjoys talking one-on-one with people who appreciate the history of the building and the area, and they allow some small groups to use the building for social gatherings. “I have a lot of memories here,” he says. “As a boy, I'd ride my horse up here and get meat and cheese or a handful of cookies out of the big cookie jar,” he says. “Back then, general stores were everywhere. Today, we have to go four or five miles to buy a cold drink.” Eva Ann Dorris is an ag journalist from Pontotoc, Miss. She can be reached at 662-419-9176 or [email protected].

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/19146

Debate over promoting real Christmas trees gets more time The nation's Christmas tree growers are abuzz over proposals to tax themselves so they can compete better against artificial trees. The not entirely jolly debate is now stretching out. WASHINGTON — The nation's Christmas tree growers are abuzz over proposals to tax themselves so they can compete better against artificial trees. The not entirely jolly debate is now stretching out. In response to requests from a North Carolina lawmaker, Republican U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, and some of the state's growers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the public comment period over creating a fund to promote real trees through March 9. Hundreds of growers already have taken sides on the proposal for a Christmas tree promotion order, similar to so-called "check-off" programs established for many fruits and vegetables. The programs use assessments to pay for ads and research. "We need to turn around the loss of market share to the artificial, petroleum-based trees that are almost totally imported, and instead help and support the local growers in the USA that grow real trees," declared Samuel Minturn, the executive director of the California Christmas Tree Association. Based in the small Merced County community of Hilmar-Irwin, the California association is one of many tree grower organizations that have submitted written views to the Agriculture Department. More than 640 public comments have been logged so far, some rudimentary and some impassioned. "The 'check-off' program, I believe, is a desperately needed program for the survival of the 'real' Christmas tree," declared Dale Hudler, the owner of a tree farm in West Jefferson, N.C. "We are under grave attack for market share from the artificial tree industry." Artificial tree sales nearly doubled to 17.4 million annually from 2003 to 2007. Fresh-tree sales, meanwhile, fell from 37 million in 1991 to 31 million in 2007, according to the USDA. Representatives of the artificial tree industry, rallied under the name American Christmas Tree Association, retort that their product shouldn't be attacked. "Some of our members have expressed their concern that the funds might be used in a negative manner and may be used to impugn alternatives to live Christmas trees," said Jami Warner of the American Christmas Tree Association. Based in West Hollywood, Calif., the association declares its purpose in Internal Revenue Service filings to be providing the public with information about the "personal health impact and product longevity" of Christmas trees. The association's website warns about topics such as fire risk and allergic reactions caused by live trees. If it's approved, the new promotion program would raise an estimated $2 million a year to help offset the march of the artificial trees. Growers would pay 15 cents per tree, though farms that grow fewer than 500 trees at a time would be exempt. "Our industry needs to put the money behind the message if we are to successfully compete with the artificial trees," said Bill Hoffman, the owner of the 30-acre Beechwold Farms in Newland, N.C. But first, program supporters must secure an Agriculture Department go-ahead and then win an industry referendum. The outcome isn't guaranteed, as skepticism exists even among growers. "I do not want another group of people doing my thinking for me, and promising to solve my problems if only I will turn over some of the money I earned to them," said Dan Hanauer Jr., a West Point graduate who grows Christmas trees in Shawano, Wis. The debate fleshed out in the public comments will continue another two weeks. MORE FROM MCCLATCHY Follow the latest legal affairs news at McClatchy's Suits & Sentences Christmas tree growers seek federal nod for common ad campaign California farmers get millions for overseas promotions California kiwifruit growers to vote on federal marketing effort

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/19495

A record 2012 U.S. peanut crop had the industry worried about a huge carryover that would depress prices. But, say peanut organization officials, strong demand — particularly unexpected demand from China — has helped brighten the picture considerably. “What’s exciting is that, in a year when we need to sell more peanuts than we ever have before, the Chinese have come into the U.S. market and are buying quantities of peanuts that I would’ve never imagined in my lifetime,” says Bob Parker, the new president and chief executive officer of the National Peanut Board. “Part of this is being driven by supply issues that occurred as a result of crop problems in India, reducing their ability to export to China. And we’re hoping the U.S. will be able to retain part of the huge Chinese marke for peanutst,” he said at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association at Hattiesburg. “We have a record crop from 2012 — a very high quality crop — and this unexpected demand from China will help us find a market for a lot of these excellent U.S. peanuts.” Parker says he’s “excited about this opportunity to serve the National Peanut Board and America’s peanut farmers. As I look at our plan of work for 2013, it becomes apparent that our overriding mission needs to be centered around improving grower economics — selling more peanuts so growers can get more money, and focusing on production research so they can become more efficient, make higher yields, and reduce input costs. “These are the factors we’re going to look at with each program we embark on.” Malcolm Broome, executive director of the Mississippi grower organization, says last year’s crop across the U.S. “was the best in our industry’s history. “Mississippi had a 4,400 pound yield average, which is outstanding. We’d been leading the industry in yields since we became a member of the national peanut organization, but Georgia edged us into the No. 2 position in 2012 with a 4,550 pound average. “We had ideal growing season weather in Mississippi, and a widely-planted new variety, GA06, yielded really well.” The 2011 crop shortage as a result of Texas’ extreme drought resulted in a nationwide shortage that pushed up 2012 contract prices — as much as $1,0000 per acre — and resulted in widespread acreage increases across the peanut belt. “We got a bumper crop on more acres, which resulted in a surplus of peanuts, and that will affect the industry in the months ahead.” But, Broome says, “China’s purchases have certainly been welcome to help reduce that surplus. “We would normally would expect to have some peanut contracts on offer by this time in the year, but at this point there are none. We know our growers will be facing a lower price for 2013 peanuts, but hopefully there will be a price that will offer them a profit potential — particularly in situations of peanuts versus dryland corn or maybe even dryland soybeans and cotton. “There’s no doubt Mississippi acreage will be down from last year, but this may be an opportunity for those who don’t have irrigation to rotate out of peanuts. We’re we’ll have a decent crop year, and there are plenty of peanuts to carry us through the year.” One benefit of the large supply, Broome says, is that “consumers ought to be seeing cheaper prices for peanut butter and other peanut products in the supermarkets. “We’re still excited that peanut production will stay in Mississippi and we look for it to continue to grow in the years ahead. We had around 48,000 acres last year, but our average acreage is only around 20,000, and I would think we will certainly be above that.” Historically high yields RECORD PEANUT YIELDS were posted by Mississippi growers in 2012. Marshall Lamb, research leader for the USDA/ARS National Peanut Laboratory at Dawson, Ga., says the peanut market this year “is drastically different from last year. In 2012, we were under-supplied because of the drought-shortened 2011 crop and we needed a significant increase in acreage and production. “We did increase acreage somewhat in 2012, but the big increase in production was a result of historically high yields — just over 4,100 pounds — which gave us an unprecedented production total of almost 3.2 million farmer stock tons. “China has helped alleviate the surplus, but we will need a reduction in acres in 2013 to get supply back in balance with demand.” With fewer peanut acres needed this year, some growers will use the cutbacks as an opportunity for rotation to non-legume crops. Don Self, Mississippi’s delegate to the National Peanut Board and a producer in Monroe County, Miss., says “If we don’t have a contract by March, we’ll cut way back on our peanuts to probably less than a third of last year’s acreage. That’s pretty much in line with what Dr. Marshall Lamb has said, that 35 percent would be a good number for growers to back off on acres. “Everyone I’ve talked to feels things aren’t really favorable for a very good contract price this year, so this may be a good opportunity for us to back off and plant more some alternate crops — corn, cotton, or grain sorghum — and that’s what we’re planning to do at this point.” “We planted our entire acreage in peanuts last year. That was somewhat against my rule of thumb of adhering to a strict one-third rotation program, but for that kind of price we felt we could make a one-year exception.” Self says peanut yields on his farm last year varied widely. “Because of late season leafspot, we wound up averaging about 4,200 pounds. We had some fields that picked over 6,000 pounds, while others that were devastated by the leaf spot had really low yields. The rains we got during the season were very helpful, though and we were really pleased with our yields.” Joe Morgan, president of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, who farms with his son Joe Jr. just south of Hattiesburg, says “With both cotton and peanut prices expected to be down this year due to surpluses, we’re planning to plant 750 acres of corn – the most we’ve had in a long time, and about all the land we have under center pivots. “We’ll drop back from the near 1,250 acres of peanuts we had last year to about 800 acres this time. Even when peanut prices are down, with good yields they still have a good profit potential. “At this point,” Morgan says, “our plans for cotton are up in the air. We’ll just have to see how things go as we get a bit farther into the season. It could be that we’ll try double-cropping some of our wheat ground with cotton, or maybe we’ll plant some milo.” The Morgans were winner of the top award in the association’s yield contest in the 800 acres and above category, with a 5,600 pound average for 2012. “We’ve had consistently high yields the last three years, thanks to good weather and better-performing varieties,” Morgan says. “We planted 895 acres in 2010, with a 5,086 pound average, 835 acres in 2011, with a 5,077 pound average, and 1,244 acres in 2012, which produced our highest average ever.” Source URL: http://www.southwestfarmpress.com/peanuts/surprise-purchases-china-help-ease-pressure-huge-us-peanut-crop

农业

2016-50/3788/en_head.json.gz/20619

Wednesday, 30 September 2009 18:53 Working to bring back the American chestnut By Julie Ball • Correspondent As a boy, Gene Gibson remembers his parents heading to some of Western North Carolina’s high mountain ridges in search of chestnuts. By that time — the early 1930s — most of the trees at the lower elevations were dead, killed by a devastating chestnut blight that all but wiped out the species. “Most of the chestnut trees down here had already died, but there were still some in the higher ridges that were still producing,” said Gibson, who lives in Jackson County. For southern Appalachian families, the American chestnut was an important part of life. Not only did it produce food for livestock and timber for homes, but the chestnuts from these massive trees could be used to barter or to sell. Now a modern-day effort to bring back the tree is taking an important step forward. The U.S. Forest Service, American Chestnut Foundation and officials from the University of Tennessee recently announced the planting of 500 blight-resistant trees on U.S. Forest Service land in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The planting took place last winter, and the trees have thrived over the past year, according to forestry officials. “Today really is a historic event,” said Bryan Burhans, president of The American Chestnut Foundation, which has been working for more than 25 years to develop a blight-resistant tree. The foundation has been breeding the blight-resistant Chinese chestnut with the American chestnut, resulting in a mix that is genetically 94 percent American chestnut and 6 percent Chinese chestnut. The cross will hopefully provide just enough DNA from the Chinese chestnut to stave off the blight, yet still boasts the signature characteristics of the American chestnut, such as the prized nuts and high quality wood. Roger Williams, director of forest management for the U.S. Forest Service Southern Region, called the test planting another step toward re-introducing this “keystone species” to its native range decades after it was wiped out. Forest experiment The chestnut seedlings planted last year have grown an average of 10 inches already. Stacy Clark, research forester for the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station, described them as “healthy” and “free from blight,” but it will take several more years to determine if they are blight resistant. Clark said the blight normally doesn’t show up until the trees are five to 10 years old. “We are hopeful the test plantings conducted last winter will be successful,” said Barbara Crane, regional geneticist for the U.S. Forest Service Southern Region. The 500 blight-resistant trees were among a total of 1,200 trees planted at three locations on national forest land. The other 700 trees included pure American chestnut trees, pure Chinese chestnut trees and various generations of trees that are a mixture of the two species. The seedlings grew for a year in a nursery before they were planted as part of this effort. “These first test plantings are true scientific experiments,” Clark said. Officials will monitor the growth and determine whether they can survive and what kind of management might be needed. “Also, it’s important to determine how these trees will grow in a real-world setting,” Clark said. The Forest Service and University of Tennessee planted the trees on Forest Service land under a memorandum of understanding with The American Chestnut Foundation. The agencies are not saying exactly where the trees are planted to protect them from possible theft. “The trees we planted are approximately 4- to 6-feet tall. They came from nuts that were collected over two years ago,” Clark said. Plans call for another 500 blight-resistant trees to be planted in 2010 on national forest land. The American Chestnut Foundation is also working to develop a plan for future restoration of the trees. The American Chestnut Foundation recevied a $1 million contribution last year from the Stanback family, known as champions of conservation in Western North Carolina for their large contributions to preserve tracts of land. Loss of the chestnut The loss of the American chestnut tree was a “disaster,” according to Gibson, who lives in Jackson County. Chestnuts made up 25 percent of the hardwood forests in the eastern U.S. The massive trees grew alongside oaks, but they produced more mast and also produced food more consistently. Burhans said a mature oak would produce 1,000 acorns on average — but a mature American chestnut tree produced 6,000 chestnuts on average. The chestnuts were an important source of food in the forest, but they also provided a crop that could be sold by people living in the southern Appalachian region. Gene Gibson’s son, Bill Gibson, who serves as executive director of the Southwestern Commission, said his grandmother was born in Haywood County and later lived in Jackson County. She told stories of heading to high mountain coves during the fall to collect chestnuts. The family would bring along buckets, washtubs, and any other containers they could find. They’d also bring along livestock to fatten them up on the chestnuts. “They (the family) would go back there, and they’d stay a long time, maybe a week or more,” Bill Gibson said. The family would roast the chestnuts on site, then haul them home to use during the winter. Timber from the American chestnut was also used heavily in the mountains. And Western North Carolina is full of stories about the size of the trees. In some cases, it took several people holding hands to reach around the massive trunks. The trees contributed to the overall health of the ecosystem and were a valuable source of food for wildlife, according to Williams. But in the first half of the 20th century, the trees began dying, hit by a fungus that would become known as the chestnut blight. By the early 1950s, the American chestnut had virtually disappeared, even at the high elevations. Sprouts from the old root systems can still be found in mountain forests, and one goal of The American Chestnut Foundation is to collect pollen from those native trees for use in the breeding process. The foundation developed the blight-resistant trees using backcross-breeding over a number of years. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Archived Outdoors american chestnut Cataloochee Ranch announces tours of experimental American chestnut orchard Cataloochee Ranch commemorates the chestnut tree Cataloochee group raises more than $10,000 for chestnut restoration projects Cataloochee Ranch plants seed for mighty tree to thrive once more « The Naturalist's Corner The Naturalist's Corner »

农业