Article by: Amelia Hoffbauer
Gardening is a great way to stay fit and active in your golden years, and the best part? Reaping the tasty benefits of what you sow. And with a few adjustments and modifications, gardening can be an easy and enjoyable task for seniors.
Enjoying the environment is one perk of digging in the dirt. Studies on home and community gardening point to even more positives, including a reduced risk of dementia, and a happier life. Gardening raises serotonin, a chemical in the brain that puts people in a good mood. It also lowers stress-producing cortisol levels.
Tips on Easy Gardening
As we get older, not everyone is cut out for heavy digging, pulling weeds, and lugging around hoses or large watering cans. A low-maintenance garden reduces the amount of work and makes the garden more “senior-friendly.”
1. Mulched beds, paved pathways, lush groundcovers, and hardy shrubbery add elegance to the yard, and don’t require a lot of upkeep.
2. Set out chairs or benches under shady trees or on nearby patios to take a rest.
3. Bright colors are always easy to spot. Paint gardening tool handles or wrap them in colored tape to make them easy to find when dropped.
4. Raised garden beds are easier to weed and harvest. Stack landscaping timber edging to reduce straining and bending — this is especially helpful if you have back or joint pain.
5. Design vertical gardens with trellises, bamboo stakes, arbors, and tomato cages that encourage vines and other plants to grow upward. Growing upward instead of to the side makes plants much easier to prune and harvest.
6. Avoid hanging baskets. Sure, they’re pretty, but they need constant watering and fertilizing. These containers can be hard to reach … except, of course, when you bump into them.
7. Plant flowers and vegetables in foamy containers that use lightweight soil mediums. This reduces the weight of each container. Place the single pots on casters, so you can move them around easily.
8. Choose native flowers and shrubs that grow naturally in Oklahoma. Coreopsis, salvia, and phlox are only a few brightly-colored blooms that attract birds and butterflies. Oklahoma’s hot climate helps grasses thrive — little bluestem and prairie dropseed do very well. Sumac is a hardy shrub that sprouts colorful red flowers.
When it comes to indoor greenery, the more the better, especially for those who cannot get outside much.
Mini gardens in pots on a windowsill are enjoyable, too. Indoor hydroponic gardens use water and liquid fertilizer to grow herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Hydroponic systems come in various sizes, small enough for tabletops and large enough for the corner of any size room. All you have to do is a little pinching and pruning to keep these plants growing nicely until their stages are complete.
Get to Gardening!
You will definitely stay active with all the bending, squatting, stretching, and weed pulling it takes to maintain a flower or veggie patch. But the best tip to make it easy? Choose the plants that make you happy.
Amelia Hoffbauer has been growing her own fruits and vegetables for more than 60 years, and at 84, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her real passion is for her prize rose bushes which have won her six blue ribbons at her county fair.


The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) is an institution that was established in 2007 as a collaborative effort between University of Ghana, Legon and Cornell University, under the leadership of Prof. Eric Danquah.
It was initiated as a solution to Africa’s hungry and malnourished population, which is fueled by Africa’s rapidly growing population, as well as the persistent low agricultural productivity in the region.
What does WACCI do?
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement trains plant breeders across Africa, in order to improve the indigenous crops grown in the region. In line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, WACCI’s aim is to eliminate extreme hunger and achieve food security in Africa. WACCI currently runs two academic programmes: a 4-year PhD in Plant Breeding and a 2-year MPhil in Seed Science and Technology (SST).
Progressively, the centre has enrolled more than 120 PhD students and about 60 MPhil students from different African countries across the globe. In addition to the 3 high yielding and climate resilient maize varieties released by the centre, the centre’s graduates have also released over 60 varieties.
How is the institution funded?
Since its establishment in 2007, WACCI has, and continues to rely on donor funds. From the year 2007 to 2017, the centre was mainly sponsored by the Alliance for a Green Revolution of Africa (AGRA) under the charity of Bill and Melinda Gates. WACCI has been able to secure partnerships with over 40 world renowned educational institutes, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private companies. Some major sponsoring partners include the World Bank, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Cornell University, USA, among others. The centre has its arms wide opened for more collaborating partnerships.
National Service Opportunities at the centre
Each year, the institution recruits national service persons and equips them with employable skills needed in the job market. Criteria for the selection of NSPs is based on a good GPA, computer literacy, a passion for excellence, ability to solve practical problems with initiative and drive, among others.
For the 2021/2022 service period, the institution welcomed Mr. Francis Appiah Koranteng, Ms. Abigail Komedza, Ms. Emmanuella Nyamekye Aggrey, Ms. Ruth Gladstone and Mr. Samuel Anim-Opare to serve as national service persons. Both Mr. Appiah Koranteng and Ms. Komedza are Field Research Assistants to the Centre. Ms. Aggrey is the Executive Assistant to the Director. The Resource Mobilization Consultant and Assistant to the Finance Officer roles are occupied by Ms. Gladstone and Mr. Anim-Opare respectively.
The WACCI community is one that empowers its members to strive for excellence. It is a privilege to be a member of such community.


Great Tips to Finding the Best Sod Suppliers
Landscaping is always a great idea as it makes your home look attractive. As a home owner for your home to be attractive you need to buy sod that will make your lawn appealing. However, before you buy sod you need to make sure you have chosen the right supplier. Sods are of different types and therefore settling for the best sod supplier you can be guaranteed of buying the best sod. So how do you tell this is the best supplier to buy your sod from? Here are some few pointers that can be of great help when choosing a sod supplier. Check out the sod depot Tampa for more info.
First and foremost you need to consider the reputation of the sod depot. Reputation is key when it comes to buying quality sod for your lawn. This is because you need sod that will adapt well in your environment once it is transferred. As a client therefore it is best you go for a reputable sod supplier and you are confident of getting the best sod. For a sod supplier to be reputable they must be delivering and selling quality sod to their clients. As a home owner for you to buy the best sod it is important you find a reputable supplier.
On to the second tip you need to check reviews of the sod supplier. Before you choose a sod supplier you need to make sure you have gone through tones of reviews. Going through tones of reviews will allow you to get insights on whether the sod supplier can be relied to supply the best sod or not. Go for a sod supplier with positive reviews from clients and you are definite you will get the best sod for your lawn. Click here to buy sod Tampa now!
Thirdly, you need to find sod suppliers that offer other services. Installing and transporting sod can be very challenging because sod is very delicate. As home owner therefore you need a sod supplier who offers delivery and installation services so that your sod can be delivered and installed well. Choosing sod suppliers that offer these services you can be certain that everything will run smoothly and perfectly and you will be stress free.
The above pointer are just bust a few pointer that you need to consider when choosing a sod supplier. Taking all these pointers to account you can be rest assured you will choose best sod supplier.
To read more about this, check out http://www.huffpost.com/entry/artificial-turf-drought-california_n_7523132.


A Guide to Follow When Looking For the Best Plant Nursery
In your garden, you may consider planting trees and plants. Therefore you should ensure that you choose a plant nursery that you will use. The best thing is to search for the right provider that you will use for your trees. This will ensure that you get the right plants that will be pleasing to you. Thus, you need to start your search for the best plant nursery that you will use for you to the best. The following are the important things you should look at to help you in searching for the ideal plant nursery.
The first thing to consider when looking for the best plant nursery is the quality of the plants. It is vital that you select the plant that will be more pleasing and attractive. This will indicate that the plant will be of good quality. Therefore make sure that you select bathe plant that is of high quality.
The next thing to consider when looking for the best plant nursery is the variety of plant. It is best that you have the plant nursery that will offer you a variety of the plants. This means that you will have more options for you to choose from.
Check at your budget to help you in searching for the ideal plant nursery. When buying the plant, you will have set a budget that you are willing to use. The budget is what will determine what you will purchase. It is important that you check at the price of the plant you want from different plant nurseries. You should ensure that you coinsurer the quality of the plant. The best plant nursery should have high-quality plants at affordable prices. Thus find the plant nursery that will lie within your budget.
You need to do thorough research before you make your selection of the plant nursery. The internet will provide you with the information you need concerning the plant nursery. You need to read reviews from different customers. Check at what other customers will have said from their experience with the plant nursery. The people will have recommended the best plant. You should confirm that the plant nursery has provided honest reviews. The reviews will help you learn about the quality of plants in the plant nursery. This makes it easy for you to determine the plant nursery that will give you the best. You can as well talk to other people for the recommendations of the ideal n plant nursery they have used in the past.
The nest thing should be checking at the type of services provided by the plant nursery. You want to be sure that you find the ideal plant nursery that will give you the best services. Check at the variety of services that the plant nursery offers. The ideal plant nursery should be able to offer a variety of services. You also need to research about the customer care services of the plant nursery. Choose the plant nursery with excellent customer care services.


By Wanja Mungai
Kenyan farmers are opting for organic plantation inputs to improve the quality and safety of their products while also taking care of the environment. Many are now beginning in order to use biofertilizer, which is made from organic waste.
CGTN met Steven Kariuki Muthui who uses biofertilizer to boost his crop yields instead of conventional chemical fertilizer. The 33 year-old from Nakuru, in Kenya’s Rift Valley, prides himself as a certified natural farmer.
“It means cultivating organic food without external inputs which are harmful to the soil to the environment to animals and plants, ” Steven Kariuki, Organic Farmer.
Kariuki adds that biofertilizers help in ensuring food safety as well as mitigating against climate change. While chemical fertilizer releases greenhouse gases into the air, bio fertilizer does the opposite. It traps gases like carbon dioxide in the soil.
“Carbon is meant to be retained within the soil as opposed to being released in the air, that is what causes the issues of climate change. So , the particular essence is to retain as much as possible the carbon in the soil, ” says Kariuki.
This organic farmer discovered biography fertilizers after he met Mildred Day, a manufacturer of the eco-friendly input. Day time works with a group associated with women inside making the best out regarding Nakuru county’s waste organic matter.
At her compost sites, typically the organic matter takes months to fully process. The process entails layering involving different types of waste, from animal, farm and residential organic waste.
It is also fortified with nutrients to help make a rich mix.
“At the county market we have 2000 Traders and by collecting that will waste we are able to create clean environment for them to trade and also intercepting of which waste through being taken to this landfill we prevent methane emissions, ” submits Mildred Day, Founder, Griincom.
Day says her fertilizers are weather smart.
She says that most of often the Farmers use rain fed agriculture plus because connected with climate switch effects there is less rainfall than normal. This means there is certainly declining productivity throughout the farms, but when organic fertilizers are used, it has high water retention. This helps in crop cultivation, environment change notwithstanding.
More farmers are adopting climate smart agriculture to cushion against droughts, floods and rising temperatures.
Whilst not many farmers understand the contribution of their practice in order to climate modification experts believe there is a need to get all of them enlightened so they may adopt local climate smart methods.
“Agricultural sector in Africa is your largest emitter of greenhouse gases. It is furthermore a sector that provides income for about 60 percent with the population so it’s not something the fact that you can just ban. So it will be very important that we find methods that will not deteriorate the surroundings further but provide enough food for everyone, ” states Anja Berretta, Head of Programme, Energy Security & Climate Change Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.


When travelling through Australia, I am staggered at the amount of Glyphosate used by farmers and local governments. Monsanto touts Glyphosate as a safe herbicide and in the scheme of dangerous chemicals; I believe it is relatively safe. However, it’s the quantity of Glyphosate used throughout Australia that is concerning. Farmers are now using Glyphosate just before harvesting as a desiccant to ripen grain crops more uniformly and this toxicity is passed directly to grain fed animals and humans. This American article explores the possible effects of Glyphosate contamination in wheat crops.
In Australia, I see thousands and thousands of acres of un-naturally dried crops and pasture. I see local government spraying Glyphosate on the edges of streams and around children’s playgrounds. Australia is too cunning to release statistics relating to amounts of glyphosate used, but In Argentina an estimated 200 million litres of glyphosate is used in soybean production alone each year. This is environmental madness on a global scale and The Key explains how this madness permeates society.
Fortunately, many people in Australia are trying to rectify this madness.


There are no standards regarding the qualitative and quantitative composition of genuine essential oils. The composition of essential oil changes continuously during a plant’s life cycle, varies between different parts of the plant and even between different populations of identical species. In addition, a number of other factors such as climate, habitat, agricultural, environment and technology may affect the quality of essential oils.
In the article, we will discuss the following factors in addition to chemotype.
Before we further discuss in brief some major factors that affect the quality of essential oils, it is important to understand the difference that may arise due to chemotypes. A chemotype is a chemically distinct entity of a plant. Chemotypes belong to the same genus and species but they have different chemical compositions. Chemotypes are often defined by the most abundant chemical produced by that individual. Only a few plants have developed chemotypes. Some examples are:
It is therefore important not only to know the botanical name of the plant from which oil has been extracted but also its main constituents.
A region’s soil and climatic conditions can produce variations in the proportions of esters, alcohols, and other basic constituents of the oil and thus can affect the aroma, color and overall quality of essential oils.
Climate plays a vital role in the yield and quality of essential oils. Factors like temperature, sunshine, frequency, and magnitude of precipitation, wind all can affect the production of essential oil in the plant. For example, as per studies, high temperatures coupled with high humidity may lead to a higher yield of essential oils. This is due to the fact that such conditions are favorable for the growth of microorganisms/insects/parasites and thus plant increase the production of essential oil to fight against them.
Condition of soil, specifically its pH, significantly affects the quality of essential oils. A high pH affects the solubility of certain elements like iron, zinc, copper, and manganese in the soil and thus the quality of essential oil.
Both conditions, either excess of water or lack of water, can affect the quality and yield of essential oils. Lack of water leads to restriction of growth of the plant which in turn affects the yield and quality of oils. Similarly, excess of water may lead to damage to the plant due to fungal growth.
The composition of essential oil present in a plant changes in case plants are under attack from insects or microorganisms. The change in essential oil compositions acts as a warning signal to other plants and defense against the impending attack.
Essential oil is found in many different parts of the plant like leaves, herb, fruit, wood, root and so on. Each part of a plant yields an essential oil of a somewhat different composition. And because of this, essential oils are characterized by the part of the plant used for extraction.
Plants that yield several different oils, each extracted from different parts, include Clove (bud/leaf ), Cypress (twig/cone), Juniper (berry/twig), Laurel (leaf/berry), Coriander (seed/leaf ), Cinnamon (bark/leaf ), Angelica (root/seed), Pimenta (berry/ leaf ) and Lovage (root/herb).
For example, Cinnamon bark oil with its high level of cinnamaldehyde possesses a typically fine, powdery sweet-woody aroma. Cinnamon leaf oil, in contrast, includes a fresh-pungent, clove-like note with its extremely high levels of eugenol.
Some of the agricultural practices that affect the quality of essential oils are as follow:
Distillation is one of the most important factors in assuring the quality of the essential oil. Using high-temperature steam at a high vapor pressure, as well as in some cases introducing solvent chemicals to speed up the process, results in oil of considerably lower quality than if a more ideal, lower steam temperature and pressure were used.
However, only a handful of producer adopts such techniques because the largest consumer of essential oils, flavoring industry, standardized the essential oils.
While buying essential oils, it is informative to know that there are a number of factors that may affect the composition and quality of essential oils. There are no exact standards of qualitative and quantitative compositions of genuine essential oils. While buying, please ask your seller about the origin, species name, and composition of the oil.
Kurt Schnaubelt. “The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy
Peter Holmes. “Aromatica, A Clinical Guide To Essential Oil Therapeutics
Gerhard Buchbauer, K. HusnuCan Baser. “Essential Oils Science, Technology and Applications


BEA's Green Thumbs Junior Garden Club is registered with the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (click on picture for link to FFGC website) and supported by the Bartow Garden Club. Students meet several times each year on Wednesdays after school from 2:45 - 3:30 p.m., to help with maintenance and projects in the outdoor classroom. Students in grades 2 - 5 may come without a parent and younger students are welcome but must have a parent with them. All parents of participating students are welcome to join their child in any Junior Garden Club activity. Check with the monthly school calendar for the schedule and note that no club activities are held on any early release day.
Two members of the junior garden club harvest hydroponic cabbage. The largest cabbage was a whopping 9 lbs.! Some cabbages were grown from seed and some donated by Bonnie Plant Farms.
Students participated in the Blooming Arts Festival after a parent volunteer from FIPR (Florida Institute of Phosphate Research) and the garden club met with students to learn about floral design and arrangment.
BEA students in the junior garden club help maintain the garden by providing some of the care that is needed such as removing or planting plants, propagation, pulling weeds, cleaning the pond, composting and watering plants. Students also learn about life cycles of plants and animals, habitats, hydroponics, good bugs/bad bugs and many other topics related to gardening. Please see the monthly BEA calendar for the schedule. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate with your school age child in second - fifth grades.
The Bartow Garden Club sponsored two of our students at the week long environmental nature camp at Wekiwa Springs State Park. Camp Wekiva is sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and is open to 3rd - 8th graders. The two students receiving the $200 campership awards for 2014 are Sara G. and Sam L.. Sam has been awarded a 2nd year campership award so a BIG Congratulations to Sam!
One of our former 5th graders, Hannah K., attended this year for her 2nd summer and Hannah's mom, Kate, volunteered for her second year in the Nature Program for third graders. What great families and students we have at BEA!
Many, many thanks to the all the ladies and supporters of the Bartow Garden Club for the student campership award for 2014 and 2015.
Contact Mrs. Hughes at firstname.lastname@example.org


A Green Approach to Vineyards Grinding
At Image Tree Service, Inc., we’re highly adept at grinding up vines and turning them into mulch for vineyards throughout northern California’s wine country, both effectively, efficiently and affordably. The mulch is 100% recyclable and some of our vineyard customers will later convert it into compost that can be recycled back into their vineyards.
The mulch that is produced by the grinding can be used for ground cover while retaining moisture. It’s a win-win for you, your vineyard and your community, because you’re not creating the air pollution associated with burning the vines. It’s a green solution and that’s why we’re happy to provide Vineyards Grinding services to our clients with vineyards.


The Real Perks of Buying and Eating from Local Farmers' Markets | Health
Fresh, healthy food is easier to get than ever as more and more farmers’ markets are popping up across the region. Cheryl Harris of The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine is registered dietitian and nutritionist. She’s a big fan of local farmers’ markets, and today she bought some fresh peaches, rosemary, and lemongrass from a popular market in Fairfax County.
“A lot of things at the market, the farmers picked this morning. You also have a much more extensive variety,” said Harris at the McLean Farmers’ Market.
As a gardener herself, Harris enjoys being able to ask the farmers questions about how things were grown. She sees the customer service at local farmers’ markets as a major perk of buying locally. Aside from the freshness and supporting local farmers, Harris believes the taste of the produce is incomparable.
"I can't wait to get into those peaches," said Harris.
What's in season right now? Harris explained that everything is really in bloom this time of year, so you can't go wrong. Don't miss the fresh peaches, berries, tomatoes, corn, and melon.
Here are the top benefits shared by Harris:
* Fresh produce and meat. Most fruits and vegetables are picked that day. Look for vendors selling grass-fed meats or free-range poultry and eggs.
* Support for local farmers.
* Few or fewer pesticides on fruits and vegetables. A plum shipped from Chile required lots of pesticides to keep it looking lovely even after traveling thousands of miles!
* Better taste! There's nothing as delicious as biting into a freshly picked tomato, peach or apple!
* Unbeatable customer service. The "manufacturer" is usually right in front of you -- so if you have questions about how something was made or grown -- you can simply ask!


Brassica oleracea or B. oleracea var. cabbage capita, variety tuba, variety var or sabauda acephala) is a member of the mustard family Brassicaceae and the genus Brassica. B. oleracea cultivars include broccoli, collard greens, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and sprouting broccoli, among other cruciferous vegetables (also known as cole crops).
These created from the wild cabbage B. oleracea var. oleracea, also known as field cabbage or colewort. This original species evolved over thousands of years into the species we see today as a result of selection resulting in cultivars with distinct characteristics, such as thick stems with flower buds for broccoli, large heads for cabbage, and large leaves for kale.
The Latin word for “having a head” is the origin of the varietal name capitata.
In the past, the term “cabbage” was used to refer to a variety of B. oleracea species, including those with heads that were either missing or loose. Brassica rapa, a species that is related to it and often referred to as Chinese, napa, or celery cabbage, has many of the same uses. It is also used as a common name for several species that are not related. These include the cabbage tree, also known as cabbage bark, which belongs to the genus Andira, and the cabbage palms, which come from a number of different palm genera and include Mauritia, Roystonea oleracea, Acrocomia, and Euterpe oenocarpus, among others.


In order to accelerate the resolution of the serious problem of post-production losses of agricultural products in China and comprehensively implement the subsidy policy for agricultural products' preliminary processing facilities, the "Notice on the Implementation of the Primary Processing of Agricultural Products in 2014" issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance has been officially released recently. Among them, the subsidy standard for drying facilities is 30%, which will greatly promote the application and expansion of heat pump drying, and will also further promote the development of the air energy heat pump industry.
In recent years, as the demand for agricultural and sideline products in China has become more and more clear, the role of dryer equipment in the industry has also become greater. As a new and energy-saving new technology, air energy can largely solve the problems of low traditional drying efficiency and high drying cost. Taking Tongyi Air Energy's high-temperature heat pump dryer as an example, it has the advantages of energy saving, emission reduction, safety and environmental protection, good drying effect, high efficiency and energy saving, low operating costs, labor cost savings and wide range of use, etc. .
At present, air energy heat pump drying is gradually applied in many industries. Tongyi Air Energy is a leading brand in the air energy industry. Its high-temperature heat pump dryer has been widely used in tobacco drying, fruit and vegetable drying, medicinal material drying, seafood drying, wax product drying, betel nut drying, etc. , Praised by the majority of users. Under the dual favorable effects of policy tilt and changes in citizens' consumption concepts, air-energy heat pump dryers will usher in an unprecedented opportunity for development, which will not only benefit consumers, but also play a significant role in energy conservation and emission reduction. The driving role.


Fluvanna has a wide variety of agribusinesses for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you relax with a glass of Virginia wine at our award-winning wineries, pick fruit straight from the source at an orchard, or stock up on seasonal produce at our farm stands and farmer’s markets, there are so many ways to enjoy the local flavors of Fluvanna. Besides food and wine, visitors can also enjoy a memorable walk with furry friends at Fluvanna’s very own alpaca farm.
Fruit Hill Orchard
Locally grown apples, peaches, tomatoes, melons, and veggies. Stop by for a few apples, or plan on spending the afternoon picking in their orchards, playing corn hole on the lawn, learning in the apple museum, or picnicking.
Crossing Brook Farmstand
A second generation family produce farm specializing in spring greenhouse plants, vegetables, PYO: strawberries, blackberries, flowers, and pumpkins! A stand at the farm offers delicious seasonal produce, plants and flowers to the public.
Cunningham Creek Winery
Cunningham Creek Winery is a family owned and operated boutique winery specializing in small lot, finely crafted French varietals and blends. The winery is part of the Monticello Wine Trail.
Sacred Acres Farm
Meet friendly alpacas and learn about their history and behavior. Experience the joy of hand-feeding the delightful animals and feel their velvety noses in your palm. Take an alpaca for a walk—you will find them very gentle, and you will have a chance to explore the wooded areas of the farm accompanied by these sweet and docile animals.
Hardware Hills Vineyard
A family owned and operated boutique vineyard and winery located in historic Scottsville, Virginia, on the sloping hills along the Hardware River. Hardware Hills Vineyard is committed to producing consistent and well-balanced wines using old-world techniques.
The winery offers reds, whites, rose and sparkling wines.
Totes McGoats Body Soaps offer locally made soap, lotion, bath bombs, body butter, lip balm, deodorant, face lotion, and dog shampoo. No water is used to make the soap, only fresh goats milk from a local small herd.
Salt and Pepper Farm
Salt and Pepper Farm is a local, pasture based farm that believes happy, healthy animals make tastier food. Their pigs and chickens are raised on pasture with plenty of space, water, and sunshine to grow and thrive. Salt and Pepper Farm also raises bees who are free to explore the area and local wildflowers, creating delicious raw honey.
Hidden Springs Family Farm
Hidden Springs Family Farm is a veteran-owned, local farm with a passion for sustainability. Pesticide and herbicide free, the farm is known for its wide variety of vegetables, as well as pasture-raised livestock and beekeeping. The owners also create delicious food products, such as jellies, relishes, and jams.
Female owned and operated, Local Eats has been specializing in locally-made food products, with vegan options and farm-to-table dishes, since 2017. Known especially for its wide selection of meats, cheeses, vegetables and wine, Local Eats is the place to go to sample all the flavors of Fluvanna.
Garden Keepers of Virginia
Garden Keepers of Virginia is a landscape design business that sells stunning plants and trees. Open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., you can take a bit of the natural beauty of Fluvanna home with you with their colorful chrysanthemums, vibrant blanket flowers, and dogwood and Japanese maple trees.
Chevy Chase Farm
Chevy Chase Farm is more than a family business: it’s a destination. On the 360 acre farm, which produces grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, chickens, and pork products, you’ll find charming, boutique cottages available for rent. To make your stay even better, the farm also has a retreat center available for booking, walking trails, a grab-and-go store, and a garden center.


In this publication
Search this Site and the Web
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Herdsmen: Dilemma of a nomadic lot
~Nigerian Tribune. Friday, July 1, 2016.
Herdsmen, let us appreciate, are perhaps humanity’s earliest known tourists. They must be taught however that there is a culture of settlement, and learn to seek accommodation with settled hosts wherever encountered. —Wole Soyinka
There was a quiet despondency in his gaze. It was long, frail. His words were few and far-between, revealing a depressing nostalgia. Tanko Ali, 45, had a most memorable childhood. He was raised in Kwambai, Bauchi State. He knew no other life than that of a herdsman. He intoned that, as a boy, he would move the cattle to graze from a “mere shouting distance” from his village. But his narrative took an aching trajectory when he lamented that the grazing lands were no longer there, only long stretches of grassless plains, imposed by a rapidly growing desertification. With no pasture, Tanko resorts to grazing even outside the immediate boundaries of Nigeria.
“We know no other life than the life that we share with our animals; when they are fat, our joy knows no bound. Again, when they are ill, we have no reason to be happy. When I was a boy, the grass that surrounds our village used to be tall as human beings. There was enough and even surplus for our cattle. But it is no longer the same—no grass, no water. We lose our cattle to hunger and thirst,” he said, dispelling a hurting sigh.
Tanko’s dismal narrative is not a personal tragedy as it is shared by a huge chunk of cattle rearers who had plied their craft through the years in the northern part of Nigeria. This unnerving challenge is due to the growing advancement of the desert into areas and plains that had one time or the other being fertile for grazing cattle and farming.
Today, a large part of Nigeria’s North has been taken over by desertification due to the area’s Sahelian and arid topography. With the years of such painful realisation, the herdsmen, with a pressing duty to affirm the survival of their cattle, have continuously pushed their way down south in search of water and vegetation for their cattle. The fight for space and the limited arable land resources have left trails of sadness and tears in the wake of herdsmen/farmers’ conflict.
Desertification, grazing lands and El Nino
Musa Ibrahim, in his 30s, is another herdsman from Borno State, who traces the problem of search for grazing lands to an occurrence that dates back to many years.
According to him, “Unlike what we had when growing up when the grass was lush and plentiful, and water was not a problem, things are changing. I just hope people would understand. We have no choice but to find better pasture for the cows. In fact, it is not new to find herdsmen venturing far from home, as far as the South and the West because the problem with the desert dates back to over 30 years ago. We have not only lost homes, but farmlands and even means of livelihood.”
Ibrahim probably refers to the Great Drought in the Sahel region which took place between 1968 and 1973 and which had far-reaching negative effects on parts of northern Nigeria. The situation affecting Nigeria’s northern region as stated by Ibrahim above is typical of the El Nino occurrence in Southern and Eastern Africa, which is reflective of drought and rising temperature levels, with the World Food Programme warning that “More than 40 million rural and 9 million poor urban people are at risk due to the impacts of El Nino’s related drought and erratic rainfall.”
In fact, Ngozi Thelma Mohammed, in her study entitled “Desertification in Northern Nigeria: Causes and Implications for National Food Security,” published in the Peak Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities in March 2015 reveals that “Desertification is one of the most glaring of environmental hazards and the phenomenon has affected some states in the northern part of Nigeria, but the impact has been more glaring since the famine of 1971-1973 in this part of the country. By location, Northern Nigeria is situated in the semi arid areas with average annual rainfall or less than 600 mm bordering on the Sahara desert which is considered as the hottest and longest desert in the world. The soil in this area face a lot of threat ranging from deforestation for domestic fuel, overgrazing by livestock and agricultural practices that fail to conserve soils such pollution from the improper use of agricultural pesticides, herbicides and chemical spills from both liquid and solid fertilizers.
“Generally, desertification affects eleven (11) northern states of Nigeria referred to as the frontline states, these include: Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi and Gombe. These states are agricultural producing areas and are affected by desert encroachment that is fast moving southwards. Desertification is attributed to loss of the lands biological productivity in arid, semi arid and dry sub humid areas. The impact is significant in developing countries especially Africa which is the most affected because its economy is predominantly agrarian, rain fed and fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather.”
She further posits that “Most conflicts in Northern Nigeria are environmentally based, a large number of which is overgrazing, farmland and water. The conflicts are mainly between farmers and cattle herdsmen. The struggle for the remaining farm land has degenerated to communal clashes and also, when cattle herdsmen move downwards in search of grazing land for their cattle, they encroach on people’s farms and this usually leads to crisis. The conflict between the Agatu people and Fulani’s in Benue State, Biroms and Hausas in Plateau are good examples. A lot of these conflicts go on in Nigeria, some with large scale killing and property destruction.”
Lake Chad: Africa’s vanishing basin
Once spread across the far west of Chad and Nigeria’s northeast, the Lake Chad basin provided 90 per cent of the area’s water supply. Remarkably, it used to be Africa’s largest water reservoir. It is said to cover about 26,000 square kilometres, bigger than Israel or Kuwait, about the size of the US state of Maryland.
Painfully, things are different now. Those who live around the lake’s shoreline are strangely terrified by the speed with which the lake is vanishing. By 2001, the lake was said to cover less than one-fifth of the area. Abbas Mohammed, a climatologist at the University of Maiduguri, claims that it may even be worse now.
Vegetation and water which characterised the spread of the Lake Chad basin and provided for the needs of both farmers and herdsmen have diminished significantly. Today, the Lake Chad basin reflects despair and death. In its estimation, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) described the situation as an “ecological catastrophe.” It claimed that the lake could disappear this century.
In his remarks, the FAO Director of Land and Water, Parviz Koohafkan, stated that “the Lake Chad basin is one of the most important agricultural heritage sites in the world, providing a lifeline to nearly 30 million people in four countries – Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.”
With such uncomfortable recognition and ripple effects seen in job losses and the constant threat to human and animal existence, there is an expected migration en masse by herdsmen, thereby placing much pressure on the sparse land distribution down South of Nigeria.
Yet, it does not displace the fact that through the years, herdsmen have tended their cattle through many terrains of the southern corridor, albeit with very scanty herds.
Herdsmen and farmers don’t share same concept of space —Prof. Obono, sociologist
In his submission, Professor Oka Obono of the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, stated that “Conflicts occur between pastoralists and farmers because they do not share the same concept of space. The nomadic pastoralists have been using territories and spaces over long generations and have mentally appropriated them. And then suddenly one day, they may arrive in such appropriated territories and be confronted with new obstacles that prevent them from continuing their traditional modes of life.
“The southward migration of the Fulani attracts hostile reactions from host (usually farming) southern communities. The response of Nigerian pastoralists has been to maintain a sedentary base on the outskirts of communities, which can be swiftly dismantled to take advantage of grazing opportunities elsewhere or to avert attacks.
“Grazing lands are threatened by desertification and other environmental forces, intensified by climate change. The regular pastoralist response has been to migrate. Migration presents challenges that undermine the very reason for moving encounters with sedentary communities that may be hostile to cattle that destroy crops or compromise biodiversity.”
We have never had it this bad —Farmers
Since the renewed clashes between herdsmen and farmers, the devastation has been total. States like Benue, Enugu, Imo, Taraba, Adamawa, and others have been largely hit. A rather disturbing twist was witnessed when the herdsmen had bloody clashes with farmers in some parts of the South West. Quite prominent in the fight against the deadly clashes between farmers and herdsmen was the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, after residents were killed by herdsmen. The governor placed a ban on cattle rearing in the state by herdsmen.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Adeniyi Olubi, a farmer, bemoaned his lot. “We used to have just damages to our crops and farmlands in the past. What is disturbing to us is the murderous dimension that it has taken. Many of us nurse fear about visiting our farms. Nobody wants to die. Our farms are destroyed; our women are raped when they go to farm and we are targets. It is affecting us so much. The Federal Government should do something drastic about this.”
Sharing a similar temperament, John Gbemileke, another farmer, told Nigerian Tribune that providing grazing reserves was unwelcome. “We are farmers. South West is known for farming and education. Why can’t the Federal Government do something about this? It is wrong to convert our farms to grazing reserves. We have lost a lot since this madness started. Our people must be protected. We must be protected. Why can’t their governments provide grazing reserves for them in the North? We will not take this anymore. It is affecting our farm produce and means of livelihood,” he said.
We are developing appropriate husbandry, feeding methods —Agric Minister
Speaking on the challenges thrown up by these realities, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Olukayode Oyeleye, stated that “Nigeria has an estimated 15 million cattle, 34 million goats and 22 million sheep that need to be fed daily. Compare these statistics with Nigeria’s population of about 170 million and think of how many cows, sheep or goat per person. Considering the short duration of rainy season in most parts of the savannah regions of the middle belt and north of Nigeria where animal rearing is done mostly the traditional way, Nigeria has been glossing over some threats and opportunities. One of the threats to the existing system is that of climate. Uncontrolled grazing by animals is capable of exposing fragile land to erosion and land degradation. This is in addition to the well-known crisis and conflicts that have become associated with incursions of roaming animals into crop farms, leading to human fatalities. If there were enough grasses on the vast landscape, these conflicts would have been non-existent.
“The economics of nomadic animal production have been poorly documented. These are both causes and consequences of poor organisation of the sub-sector. The current status of dairy production in Nigeria shows that 85 per cent of cattle in Nigeria are managed by 12 million indigenous pastoralists who are essentially constantly on the move. The volume of milk produced by a cow in a single year averages just about 200kg in most areas. Compare this with the European cows producing an average of 6,500 kg per cow. Yet, milk production is not growing fast enough to satisfy Nigeria’s expanding milk appetite. Even the milk yield of traditional breeds of cows in Nigeria can be improved with better feeding. To meet the needs of Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million and an annual milk demand of roughly 1.5 billion litres, but less than five per cent of its milk produced locally, requires a new approach.
“Nigeria spends more than $200 million on milk imports from abroad every year. This makes no sense. Importation may bridge supply gap in the short term, but it is not sustainable in the long run. We need to develop appropriate husbandry and feeding methods that will boost our dairy production and supply chain, create business opportunities and reduce our dependence on importation.”
Many have repeatedly asked of the Northern governors’ involvement in addressing the challenge posed by this.
We have earmarked 30,000 hectares of land for grazing —Sokoto govt
Speaking on the Sokoto State’s government initiative in tackling the menace, the Media Adviser to the governor, Imam Imam, stated that “We are working with the Federal Government in addressing this challenge. As we speak, we have earmarked about 30,000 hectares of land where we expect to plant the grass that the Ministry of Agriculture is importing. We cut out the land from some local government areas in the state. We are expecting the grass from the Federal Government. It is expected to meet the nutritive demands of the herds and also their hide. We also want to improve their leather.
“As a state, we are working with some Chinese entrepreneurs and Argentine investors to see how best we can improve on the quality of the cattle in Sokoto. At the moment, we have contacts with the heads of the herdsmen. We are keying them into the wider plan to see how we can modernise the whole essence of cattle-rearing.
“As a state, we met a N2 billion agreement with some investors from Argentina on dairy farming. We met this on ground and we intend to follow through. We have expanded the negotiation with them. We want to use some Argentine technology to improve on the yield.”
Following similar lane as the Sokoto State government, Senator Abdul-aziz Nyako, representing Adamawa central senatorial district, is constructing water earth dams to address water shortage during dry season which often springs up clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
Joining in the campaign at stemming the challenge, FrieslandCampina WAMCO is partnering with the Federal Government on an ongoing multibillion naira dairy developments and expansion programme, including its work with over 2,500 local dairy farmers.
The objective is to raise raw milk quality and safety, increase farm productivity and support farmers in getting a market for their milk.
Managing Director/CEO, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Rahul Colaco said: “On our part, we are committed to raising dairy farming to a higher level in Nigeria and making small scale entrepreneurs to have pride in agriculture. Through our dairy development programme, we develop local farmers in three ways: through practical knowledge transfer by local FrieslandCampina dairy development officers; expert training on feeding, breeding, hygiene, disease control and milk payment, and financing of local infrastructure such as milk collection centres, boreholes, and milk collection trucks.”
Ranched cattle produce better milk, meat —Vet. doctor
In his submission, Tope Odunsi, a veterinary doctor, University of Ibadan stated that “the benefits of ranching are immense. There are countries in the world today like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the United States of America who have embraced ranching on a large scale. This has had multiplier benefits for their countries’ economies. Ranching helps to deploy the best of modern technology for animal husbandry.
“I must also say that ranching improves the milk quality gotten from the herd and even the quality of meat. Many people do not understand that cattle that are made to roam long distances do not produce the best of milk and meat. We must embrace ranching. It is inevitable.”
While the arguments go back and forth, the issues are in themselves germane. Drastic and more modern approach should be encouraged to harness the inherent benefits in animal husbandry and to quieten the tide of violence between herdsmen and farmers.
THE IGBO RANT
BIBLICAL TRADITIONS OF NDI IGBO BEFORE THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO AFRICA* IGBO 101.
THE IGBO TRIBE AND ITS FEAR OF EXTINCTION
The Igbo: We die for causes, not for personalities
Written by Emeka Maduewesi
~on fb. 28th September, 2016.
The Igbo will never die for anyone. We will not even riot for anyone. But the Igbo will die for any cause they believe in because the Igbo have a true sense of justice and a determination to obtain it.
The Igbo will not riot because one of their own lost an election. Operation Wetie was the Western response to a massively rigged 1965 election. The Yoruba doused fellow Yorubas in petrol and burnt them alife. Properties were burnt with occupants. The Igbo will never do this.
In 1983, the Yoruba went on a rampage again over the massive rigging by NPN. Lifes were lost and properties destroyed. The riots were over personalities.
Contrast that with Anambra State where Chief Emeka Ojukwu was rigged out by his own NPN, who also rigged out Chief Jim Nwobodo. The Igbo did not protest because the goat's head is still in the goat's bag.
In the North, ba muso was the battle cry when Sultan Dasuki was imposed on the Sokoto Caliphate. The riot and protest lasted for days and crippled economic activities.
The Igbo will riot over issues and causes. The Aba Women Riot was over Tax. The Enugu coal mine riot was about conditions of service. The Ekumeku Uprising was over British colonialization.
Those of "Ekumeku" ancestry - Umu Eze Chima and Umu Nri - were at the forefront of the struggles for Nigerian independence, with people like Dr. A A Nwafor Orizu and Chief Osita Agwuna serving prison terms. Any struggles the parents could not conclude is continued by the children by other means.
The Biafran war was a response to the genocide. The war in fact was brought upon us. The battlefield was Eastern Region. The war ended in 1970 but the issues and causes were not resolved. That is where we are today.
The Igbo will also jointly rise to fight evil in their midst. They did it in Onitsha in the 1980's, Owerri in the 90's, and with Bakkassi in the 2000.
The Igbo will not die for any man. But the Igbo will stand by any man who symbolizes their cause and their pursuit of justice. Even if the man dies, the struggle continues, and like the Ekumeku warriors, the children will pick up the baton from their parents.
This is the Igbo I know, the Igbo I am, and the Igbo we are. This is my story. Feel free to tell yours.
RT. HON. DR. NNAMDI AZIKIWE TO DR. CHUBA OKADIGBO (1981)
Biafra Videos: Explosive secret about Biafra...
Topics: Mindset of the enemy. Yoruba were in world's best universities when Usman dan fodio was still learning to ride a horse Th...


Coconuts are arguably one of mankind’s oldest source of food, as well as several other raw materials. Judging by the fast growing visibility of coconut-based products in natural products stores and mainstream retail, coconuts are also hot. In addition to many brands of virgin coconut oil (VCO), one finds coconut milk and butter, coconut flakes, coconut water and many products made with such coconut ingredients. Some suppliers and enthusiastic “reseachers” attribute miraculous health benefits to coconut foods, while the “health establishment” still considers the high percentage of saturated fatty acids in coconut oil a detriment to blood cholesterol levels and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This confuses consumers.
AboutCoconut.org was created by an affiliation of providers of organic coconut products in the U.S. and Europe. We are dedicated to the sustainable and socially responsible farming and use of the coconut palm. This website is designed as clearinghouse of science-based information on coconuts and their products, notably VCO. Its main goal is to give consumers, physicians and the trade factual and actionable information that allows them to understand the nutritional attributes and health effects of VCO and other coconut products and to make them a delicious delicious and healthy part of their diet.


June 2010 was warm and very wet. In fact, it was the second wettest June on record, surpassing June 1973 with its 10.03 inches for that mark. June 10, 2010 is the wettest June day ever. Compared with June 2009, the month was 1.5 deg. Warmer, and 10.16 inches wetter. Year-to-date rainfall 6.83 inches greater in 2010 than in 2009. The thirty-day outlook had called for below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
The week May 30-June 5 saw temperatures about 5 degrees above normal, and precipitation about one-third normal. Storm systems early and late in the week brought the rainfall. These managed to puncture the persistent upper air high pressure ridge which was responsible along with dry soils and vegetation for the very warm temperatures. The second system, which crossed on the 2nd and 3rd, brought heavy rains of between one and three inches between Palestine and Lufkin. Otherwise, rainfall was spotty and amounts variable between none and two inches. The week's average temperature was 81.7 deg., which was 0.8 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Rainfall was 0.29 inch. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 8.3 deg. Warmer, and 0.16 inch drier.
The week June 6-12 saw temperatures about 3 degrees above normal, and rainfall about 1000 percent of normal. Torrential rains struck the area on June 9 and 10 as a slow-moving tropical low pressure system crossed from southwest to northeast. Between 9.0 and 12.0 inches of rain fell from western Smith County westward through parts of Anderson, Henderson, Van ?Zandt, and into Kaufman Counties. The 7.38 inches of rain which fell in Tyler on June 10 was the wettest June day on record, and the fourth wettest single day since records began in 1896. The mid-week rainfall brought Tyler's year-to-date precipitation total to normal. Isolated showers fell on the 8th ahead of the system, with warm and dry weather beginning and ending the week. The week's average temperature was 81.7 deg., identical with the previous week. Rainfall was 9.66 inches. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 1.5 deg. Warmer, and 8.72 inches wetter.
The week June 13-19 saw temperatures about 5 degrees above normal, and no rainfall. There were isolated showers to the southeast of Tyler during mid-week afternoons from the sea-breeze front, but rain reached to only about 30 miles south of Tyler on the 16th. Upper air high pressure was responsible for the warm and mostly dry weather. Tyler's temperatures were held down by green vegetation and moist soils from the rains of the previous week. The week's average temperature was 84.9 deg., which was 3.2 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 0.4 deg. Warmer, and there was no rainfall in 2009.
The week June 20-26 saw temperatures about 4 degrees above normal, and rainfall about 75 percent of normal. Upper air high pressure controlled the area's weather for much of the week. However, an easterly wave crossed on the 24th, bringing widespread rainfall to the southern two-thirds of the region. The week's average temperature was 84.6, and rainfall was 0.55 inch. The week was 0.3 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2009, the week was 2.3 deg. Cooler, and there was no rainfall in 2009.
The final four days of the month began warm and dry, but numerous showers affected the region after the 28th. These were the result of a dissipating frontal boundary, and the effects of Hurricane Alex over the Gulf of Mexico.
The reporting period for temperatures and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. The reporting period for precipitation is for the twenty-four hours ending at noon GMT--6 a.m. CST and 7 a.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.
Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.
MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS
June 2010, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:


Our garden has exploded.
This is what it looked like a month ago:
The sheer abundance of this little garden is astounding. We were hoping that some of the plants would survive, since the soil was poor and we didn't know what we were doing. We weren't expecting monstrous plants that would produce more than we could possibly hope to eat. Case in point: we ended up tossing the last batch of arugula as we were getting quite sick of it, having used it in most of our meals for the past month.


You’ve heard it a million times: the ag-tech / drone community loves to discuss forecasts that indicate world population is going to double in the next 50 years, and in that period farmers must double their output in order to meet demand.
Before we start to wave the increasing demand flag too aggressively, maybe we should take a glance at the current state of agricultural economics. The charts are bloody. In fact, last year U.S. corn stockpiles were the highest they’ve been since 1988! And this week agriculture.com reported that commodity traders reduced bets on higher soybean prices to a six-month low.
The American farmer is facing an uphill battle right now — it is a difficult job to juggle high inputs in the face of very low commodity prices. All of this is starting to make me curious: how will low farm sector profitability impact drone innovations on the farm?
Recently I was speaking with a mentor that works with Gayland Ward Seed who has sold agricultural inputs all over the world for the past 40-50 years, and he explained:
“I’ve never seen the broader agricultural economy as depressed as it is right now. At any given moment in the past you might have seen beef having a hard time but dairy might be doing well, or cotton prices might be rocking along while soybeans are down down. Right now it seems like we’re observing a perfect storm of unfortunate agricultural dynamics that are driving net farm incomes to the lowest level we’ve seen in the better part of a decade.”
To corroborate the perspective above with good hard data, below is a macroeconomic statement from the USDA:
“Farm sector profitability is forecast to decline for the third straight year. Net cash farm income for 2016 is forecast at $94.1 billion, down 13.3 percent from the 2015 estimate. Net farm income is forecast to be $71.5 billion in 2016, down 11.5 percent. If realized, 2016 net farm income would be the lowest since 2009.
Cash receipts are forecast to fall $25.7 billion (6.8 percent) in 2016, led by an $18.7-billion (9.8 percent) drop in animal/animal product receipts and a $7.1-billion (3.7 percent) decline in crop receipts. Nearly all major animal specialties—including dairy, meat animals, and poultry/eggs— are forecast to have lower receipts, as are feed crops and vegetables/melons, down $3.2 billion (5.5 percent) and $1.5 billion (7.5 percent), respectively.”
Sooooo that sucks, but now the good news: perhaps UAS innovation / adoption will be insulated from low commodity prices for two reasons 1) the types of crops grown in California and 2) university research. Obviously many technological innovations are happening in California, and California agriculture is largely based on specialty crops (fruits, veggies, nuts, etc). Although specialty crops only represent about 40% of national agricultural output, they are generally very high gross dollar per acre crops relative to corn, sorghum and soybeans. Dealing with such high gross values per acre will enable specialty crop producers to innovate and adopt more consistently throughout downturns.
Market conditions may cause the corn grower in the Texas panhandle to pump the brakes on spending, but the lettuce producer in Salinas Valley can continue buying computer vision enabled field robots from companies like Blue River Technology. Another piece of silver lining is the fact that universities generally carry minimal exposure to low corn prices. We have schools all over the country (namely Purdue, Texas A&M and Auburn) researching and developing all sorts of applications for drones on the farm.
It is important that innovators in San Fran closely collaborate with progressive ag producers working in fields to guide development of new solutions. Otherwise this can start to look like a solution looking for a problem. If we do this right, true farm adoption will continue to increase and innovation will forge ahead regardless of commodity prices.


Six Sets of Pellet Mills for Italian Customer
E.P sold six sets of pellet mills to Italian client.
Wood briquette production line in Uzbekistan
In the wood briquetting line, there are many different machines included, such as a hammer crusher, a wood briquette machine, a stove, a drying machine and a distribution box.
500-700 tons/h briquette extruding Project in Uzbekistan
You can use our equipment to turn cotton stalks into high-density biomass briquettes
Export a pellet machine to Azerbaijan
In addition to the pellet machine, Yusif also bought five different molds whose diameters vary from 2.5mm-8mm.
Waste Hay Briquetting Project in Romania
How to make use of waste hay? Using E.P briquette machines to turn it into biomass briquettes.


My garden is suffering.
I have tried so hard to learn to garden here in the unforgiving Florida climate. I know it seems like Florida is a lush land of green vegetation and abundant produce. And it is, to a certain extent.
Maybe it's that way if you're a farmer and you use chemicals and stuff. I don't know. But for the backyard gardener, it isn't easy, and that seems to be the concensus on every gardening-in-Florida web forum I've visited in my desperation.
Orange trees? No problem. Guava trees and loquats? They thrive (unless you get a freeze). But tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and lettuce? Ha!
You have to plant them at juuust the right time or else. And sometimes, you can plant them at juuust the right time and it doesn't matter because you will have unseasonably warm and humid weather that will kill them anyway.
Last year, it was pretty much a flop for me. I mean, I grew some sweet potatoes with a moderate amount of success, but I got a handful of tomatoes and one tiny bell pepper and that's pretty much it.
This year, my tomatoes have done better. The plants are bigger and for a while, it looked like I had it figured out. But the weather has been so warm. About a month ago, we started finding tomato fruitworms. Now, they were easy to find and control because they were all on leaves that had been nibbled out. The kids and I picked them off by hand and, ahem, disposed of them.
Once those started to seem under control, we started to find flea beetles - or some other tiny, unidentifiable bug. I also attempted to control those by picking them off by hand. They were too small and too numerous and they jumped. In addition to those tiny guys, we were hit with leaf-footed bugs. So, I did what I didn't think I ever wanted to do - I bought pesticide.
I have wanted to garden frugally and chemical-free if I can. It seems like lots of people do it - why can't I? But alas. I was failing. So I bought an organic pest and disease control option - neem oil. I was also hoping this would bring the early blight that was attacking my tomatoes under control.
We did our first spray last week and I had high hopes. Couple that with some plant food and the fact that my non-upside-down tomatoes are planted deeply in almost pure compost, and I thought we'd be sitting pretty soon. There has been new, green growth and a new crop of blossoms.
But yesterday. Ohhhh, yesterday.
I found a new, ginormous hatching of fruitworms. They are tiny and they are everywhere. And, I found this guy:
My focus was a little off, so you may not be able to tell, but he's a tomato hornworm. That is very bad news. And I found a few more friends of his. We went ahead and applied another round of neem oil, but this is the last straw.
I want tomatoes, dadgummit!
Several people have laughed at me for trying to grow tomatoes without chemicals here in central Florida and I think, after all, they may be right.
I need to do a little more research on just what I want to use. Everybody recommends Sevin dust, but I know it kills bees and I like my neighbor's bees a lot. So. We'll see what I can find.
My squash are in hanging baskets and are thriving. So far, they haven't been infested with vine borers or squash bugs like they were last year, but I found this beetle on one yesterday.
But the good news is that I'm getting a couple of cucumbers.
I guess I put them out early enough to avoid pests on this particular plant and they're hanging in baskets too.
I put my sweet potato slips out this past weekend and they are thriving. That seems to be the one thing I can grow with relative ease. Then again, sweet potatoes are pretty hard to mess up.
All that said, my garden is growing much better than it was last year and I have high hopes (still!) that this fall's garden will be even better.
One day, I will grow tomatoes. Tons of them. They will be delicious.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some worms to squish.


SCREENED TOPSOIL DELIVERY
Delivery of Screened Topsoil for North Jersey, Rockland County, and Orange County
Our affordable premium blended organic topsoil screened to 3/8 size is what sets us apart from our competition. Our soil is processed to meet proper PH levels for planting and turf establishment for all landscaping needs. We’re happy to provide Soil Analysis data on our products upon request.
Top soil is the upper layer of soil, typically no deeper than five to ten inches from visible ground. It is mainly composed of organic matter, water, and mineral particles. This layer of soil contains the highest amount of organic substances and it is where most biological soil activity takes place.
Topsoil is the layer of choice for landscapers. This is because plant life typically sets its roots in topsoil since that is where a high abundance of vital nutrients can be accessed. It makes it easier for plants, bushes, and trees to acclimate to their environment. Topsoil can also hold a lot of water which means it can be packed more densely where needed. We’re the landscaper’s choice in North Jersey because we do the job right.
AGS Materials & Supply has been delivering top notch topsoil to landscapers, builders, contractors, businesses, and homeowners in Bergen County, Passaic County, Rockland County and the surrounding areas for over two decades now.
Contact us today for a free estimate, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We understand that everyone’s schedule is different, everyone’s needs are unique, and so we work around the clock to ensure that we accommodate your unique requirements.


USDA Kansas City, MO Weekly Feed 12/04 14:10
St. Joseph, MO Tue, Dec 04, 2018 USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News
Kansas City Weekly Feedstuff Review
Truck bids per ton unless otherwise stated.
Feedstuff prices were mostly steady to higher for the week. Demand good,
supplies due to limited production. Winter conditions across the Plains and
lending support to ingredients.
Soybean Meal, 48 percent traded 7.60-9.80 higher from 298.70-304.70 per ton.
Hulls traded steady at 135.00 per ton. Soybean Hulls Pelleted traded steady to
higher from 150.00-170.00 per ton. 41 Percent Cotton Seed Meal traded steady
higher from 275.00-280.00 per ton. Corn Gluten Feed Pellets traded steady from
195.00 per ton. Corn Gluten Meal 60 Percent traded not available per ton.
Interior Millfeeds Rail traded 5.00-15.00 higher from 105.00-125.00 per ton;
5.00-10.00 higher from 150.00-165.00 per ton. Hominy Feed (FOB KC Northwest)
not available per ton; Truck was not available per ton. Meat and Bone Meal was
at 250.00 per ton. Feather Meal was steady from 410.00-430.00 per ton. Yellow
was 0.25 higher at 18.75 per ton. Alfalfa Meal was steady to 5.00 lower from
275.00 per ton; Sun-Cured 15 percent was steady from 252.00-262.00 per ton;
Center, NE Pellets 17 pct was steady to 5.00 lower from 215.00-240.00 per ton.
Basis Change Price
Soybean Meal 48 Percent FOB -16F to -10F n/a-unch 298.70-304.70 UP
Soybean Hulls-Bulk FOB 135.00
Soybean Hull Pellets-Bulk FOB 150.00-170.00
Cottonseed Meal 41 Percent DEL 275.00-280.00 UP
Corn Gluten Feed Pellets 21 Percent DEL 180.00-195.00
Corn Gluten Meal 60 Percent N/A N/A
Millfeeds (Wheat Bran and MiddlingKS Int Rail FOB 105.00-125.00 UP
KS Int Truck FOB 150.00-165.00 UP
Hominy Feed (FOB KC Northwest) Rail N/A N/A
Truck N/A N/A
Meat and Bone Meal, 50 Pct
(FOB US Central) FOB 250.00
Feather Meal DEL 410.00-430.00
Yellow grease (cents per lb) FOB 18.75 UP
Dehy Alfalfa Meal 236.00-275.00 DN
Sun-Cured Pellets 15 Percent 252.00-262.00
Alfalfa Center, NE:
Dehy Pellets 17 Percent 215.00-240.00 DN
Meal N/A N/A
Hay FOB storage N/A N/A
(Soybean Meal bids are based off the January Chicago Soybean Meal Futures)
SOURCE: USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News Service, St, Joseph, MO
Baldemar Ortiz, Market Reporter (816)676-7000
For more Feedstuff Market News:
Get your local Cash Bids emailed to you each morning from DTN – click here
to sign up for DTN Snapshot.


Goleta Farmers Market
Fresh fruits, veggies, and more. Rain or shine.
Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Event is ongoing: Indefinitely
Where: Camino Real Marketplace, 7004 Marketplace Dr. , Goleta
Cost: Not available
Age limit: Not available
Description: Our Association of 130 grower members, owned and operated by the members and its board of directors, is committed to helping promote local family farmers, and protecting the environment by sustaining and restoring surrounding greenbelt areas.
Each week the farmers in the marketplace display a colorful bounty of agricultural products grown right in our backyard. Seasonal diversity is available year round rain or shine. Music and entertainment enliven the markets while creating a positive ambiance.
Event posted Nov. 29, 2006
Last updated Oct. 31, 2013


Become a member
A limited number of plots are available at each garden. At times of high demand priority will be given to applicants who live closest to the garden, have been on the waitlist the longest, have limited garden space and/or low-income earners.
Fill out the Expression of Interest form and send to email@example.com
or post to Hume City Council, PO Box 119, Dallas, VIC, 3047, addressed to C/O Community Gardens Program, Community Strengthening Department.
Important information and forms
Expression of Interest form
Rights and responsibilities for garden users
Community Gardens User Agreement
Community Gardens COVIDSafe Plan
Council supports the planning, development, and management of four community gardens. We support the long-term success of community gardens by:
Providing information and advice
Council provides information, connections, knowledge, and resources to help the community develop, operate, and get involved.
Fostering skills building
Council supports training to build the skills, knowledge and networks of community garden groups and volunteers through a variety of programs and initiatives including the EnviroChamps program and community garden open days.
Council assists with the connection of interested and community members, community groups and businesses with community gardens to activate the spaces.
Supporting funding opportunities
Council shares information on funding and fundraising opportunities to support the sustainability of each of the Community Gardens.
Promoting a safe and inclusive environment
Council facilitates an active and inclusive environment for all. We support diversity within the gardens, by promoting the gardens through multiple communication channels. The community gardens accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.


Tsetse & Tryps
Controlling tsetse with insecticide-treated cattle
Will treating cattle with insecticide protect my cattle from tsetse?
Are insecticide-treated cattle better than targets?
Which insecticide should I use?
How long will the insecticide last?
Do I need to treat all my cattle?
Will treating my cattle with insecticide poison them or me?
Will treating cattle with insecticide control other pests
How do I know that the insecticide is working?
Do I need to treat the whole animal with insecticide?


Don’t peek at the answer until you’ve given this a good try! Then, scroll down a bit and the truth will be revealed to you.
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan
A closeup of a computer chip? Plastic art? Well, this is a satellite image of real crop circles — those farmed in the prairie in southwestern Kansas. The most common crops in this region—Finney County—are corn, wheat, and sorghum. Each of these crops was at a different point of development when the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) captured this image on June 24, 2001, accounting for the varying shades of green and yellow. Healthy, growing crops are green. Corn would be growing into leafy stalks by late June. Sorghum, which resembles corn, grows more slowly and would be much smaller and therefore, possibly paler. Wheat is a brilliant gold as harvest occurs in June.


Hi from the friendly International Agriculture team of Vision College!
It is an honour to be able to offer this course teaching students from overseas about dairy farming in New Zealand. Here at the Hamilton campus, we offer a Certificate in Primary Industries Level 2, where students will gain experience in fencing, riding motorcycles, driving tractors and of course milking cows along side a bunch of other vital farm work skills!
To give the students a great experience studying here at Vision College we provide them with brand new gumboots, overalls, and wet weather gear along with farm skills so they can look the part and stay safe while they complete their training in our campus paddock and out on farms during their 3-week placement and farm visits. We have multiple practice farms based throughout the Waikato where they get to work hands on with cattle and be a part of the team helping the farmers with their day-to-day work!
We have successfully completed our first 12-week course where all the students have secured employment all over New Zealand in dairy farming positions, which is awesome! We are overjoyed to have our second class start this April so we can give them the skills and opportunities to succeed in dairy farming in New Zealand.
If you have any questions or want to know more about our international Ag program, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.org or give us a call on (07) 853 0777


By having your perennials planted in just the right places, you can ensure they will stay strong and thrive. This will ensure your landscape remains lush and vibrant season after season. Here are some other important considerations to keeping your fall perennials healthy with proper landscaping in Amherst, NH.
Planting in Fall
Believe it or not, the fall is one of the best times to plant many varieties of perennials. If you have freshly planted fall perennials, be sure to have them watered consistently, allowing the water to reach deep to the roots. Make sure the soil is loose and moist and does not dry out. Keep this routine going until the first freeze. This is one of the most important steps to preparing perennials in fall for winter.
You can have a thick layer of mulch placed around your perennials; this is especially true for new plantings. This will assist in keeping the soil moist and block grass, weeds, and other plants from disturbing its roots. What’s more, a solid layer of mulch prepares the perennials for the fall frost and winter freezes that can damage root systems. If you would prefer to avoid spreading mulch, peat moss is another option that works great for this situation.
Separating Out Perennials
Fall is a great time to conquer and divide those perennial clusters. It is a good idea every few years to split up the perennials to prevent them from overcrowding themselves and dying off. This can be accomplished by digging up a big enough perimeter that you are encompassing the entire root system. First, cut back the perennial and leave just enough plant above the soil surface to hold the plant together and give you something to hold onto. After the plant has been removed, it will be time to cut the plant up and re-plant only as much as you desire.
Protecting Your Plants
If your perennials are in pots, fall is a good time to determine if placing them into the ground before the winter season is among the best course of action. Some perennials can withstand the hard freezes and will even keep some foliage on them, which can be aesthetically pleasing during the winter season. However, many perennials should be replanted into the ground to prevent them from freezing. In most circumstances, the pots are not large enough to hold enough soil to protect the roots of potted perennials. In this instance it may be the optimal choice to go ahead and plant them to keep them healthy. If replanting them is not an option, then consider moving them to a location where you can control the temperature and prevent the deep freezes from reaching the roots.
Keeping Landscaping in Tip-top Shape
Fall may be time for a pruning and careful evaluation of the state of your landscaping. This may involve removing all dead foliage and blooms by trimming them back. This will help prevent them from seeding and spreading during the late fall and winter seasons. Dead leaves and blooms are also unsightly and take away from the beauty of your landscape design. Also, do not forget about removing the dead debris that has fallen to the ground. Allowing dead foliage to remain will only support insect intrusion and disease. A pile up of dead foliage can also prevent the roots from getting the nourishment they need to survive.


When gardening, you strive to provide everything your plant needs such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. However, some gardeners overlook one crucial component – companionship.
Companion Plants for Vegetable Gardens can help plants thrive, increasing yield and are especially important if you are an organic gardener.
Most gardeners learn from trial and error what works best and if you pay attention to Mother Nature you will find that certain plants compliment each other and actually help one another survive.
If you are looking to delve into companion planting in more detail, the Foodscape Revolution, by Brie Arthur is a great reference book.
Benefits of Companion Plants in the Vegetable Garden
There are many benefits to using companion plants in your garden scheme. Let’s examine a few leading reasons to pick the perfect partner plants for your veggies.
Provide Shelter for more fragile plants
If you plant larger plants beside smaller plants they will provide a natural shelter for the smaller, more fragile plants.
The larger plant affords wind protection and also absorbs excessive sunlight which can dry out the soil around your vegetables.
Provide a Natural Trellis for Support
Many vegetables function as physical support to other plants.
You can plant pole beans beside corn and the corn will function as a natural trellis for the beans.
There is no reason to invest in supports plus the companionship between the corn and pole beans not only form a beautiful symbiotic relationship (bean plants add nitrogen to the soil which benefits the corn) but the companion plants look natural together and create a harmonious relationship.
Sunflowers are also another wonderful choice to provide support in the garden, as well as, feeding the birds and providing bouquets of sunflowers for fall.
Increase Beneficial Insects and Pollinators
Companion plants such as flowers planted beside vegetables will attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.
All plants benefit when there are ample pollinators available.
Companion Planting can Improve Soil Nutrients
Many vegetable plants such as the legume family have the ability to draw nitrogen naturally from the atmosphere and then return it to the soil. All of the plants planted around legumes receive help from the added nutrients in the soil.
Provide Protection and Decoy Plants
Certain plants emit odors that mask the odor of desirable vegetable plants. Basically, they act as a decoy to harmful insects that want to eat your vegetable garden.
Avoid Bullies when Companion Planting
Not all plants make ideal companions. In fact, some act as bullies by growing too rapidly and crowding out the plants around them. They will start to hog all of the water, sunlight, and nutrients.
In addition, many even exude toxins that can effectively kill competitive plants or retard their growth. One of the most common examples of a bully is the Black Walnut tree which produces a toxin known as hydroquinone which seeps into the soil and hinders the growth of any other plant life around the tree.
Top Companion Plants for your Vegetable Garden
Let’s examine a few top companion plants that you should definitely consider adding to your garden.
Tomato Companion Plant
Who doesn’t enjoy juicy, red tomatoes?
If you plant basil alongside tomato plants then you can enjoy the lovely herb and the tomatoes in salsas, spaghetti sauce, and other dishes. In addition, basil helps repel flies and mosquitoes from the garden. Other friendly plants to cultivate alongside your tomatoes include marigolds which repel garden pets and harmful nematodes.
You might also want to consider adding a few of the following tomato companion plants:
Avoid planting beets, fennel, rosemary, dill, peas, cabbage, or corn with your tomatoes. Corn often suffers from corn earworm which will afflict the tomatoes too. The other plants have also been known to spread disease and pests to tomatoes so it’s best not to plant them nearby.
Planting alliums such as chives and garlic will repel harmful predatory insects that can eat your strawberries. Caraway attracts wasps which will protect your strawberries by killing harmful pests that can eat your berries. Also, it’s been found that planting spinach and lettuce alongside strawberries appears to enhance the plant’s productivity substantially.
Avoid planting eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, or peppers near your strawberries because the strawberries can actually inhibit their growth.
Companion Plant Chart
Below is a handy companion plant chart that will help you decide what companion plants to plant alongside your favorite veggies:


Taking the time to invest in your lawn can make the difference between having a good yard for children and a yard filled with weeds. The following tips from http://discoverziehler.com/lawn-care-services-beavercreek-ohio/ will keep you informed in having a yard you can enjoy looking at from your porch with pride.
The right type of soil is the key to success, just like eating the right kinds of food is right for your body; your lawn needs the proper nutrients and minerals to survive. Start with performing a soil test to see what it is deficient in so that you can start applying the right type of soil. This will help you increase the quality of grass.
It is also important to make sure you are watering your lawn regularly. Water will help get those nutrients and minerals to your grass. Manual watering can be quite tedious and requires having the time to do so. However, many homeowners have found that they can install irrigation systems that automatically water so that they can save time and money over time.
Because grass continues to grow all the time, it needs to be cut to remain healthy. If you do not, the grass will start to thin. A simple way to keep it to a proper length is to plan on mowing your lawn on a regular schedule, like once a week. This helps the grass grow and more blades to pop up.
If you are deciding to plant new and exotic type of grass in your home, it is essential to know how it can adapt to your local climate. If you pick a grass type not suited for your area, it will not grow that well, and it will be noticeable to your guests and neighbours. Grass meant for hotter regions will become dormant in the winter months. You can always speak with professional about finding the right kind of grass that will survive in your area.
It is also essential to control weed growth in your lawn. When starting out, you can use herbicides in the soil to kill off plants before you start sowing the grass seeds. For lawns that already exist, weeds with broader leaves will be easier to remove with pure herbicides, while ones with narrow leaves will require specific equipment to remove manually.
Expert lawn care professionals suggest that homeowners do top-dressing at least once a year to keep the yard healthy for longer. This process is merely applying a tiny layer of a soil-fertiliser mixture to encourage more grass to grow so that it can be thicker and greener. This is also a great way to take care of a patchy yard and fix any yard erosion.
If you feel your lawn needs to be rejuvenated, you can perform what is called top-dressing, where you spread a thin level of soil on top of your lawn to attract more roots to form. More sources can lead to a stronger yard and will yield thicker grass. You will notice the difference visually as it will be able to handle harsh climates.


As a conclusion to the Applied Ecology and Sustainable Systems unit on agriculture and soils, science students took a trip to the Conserve School garden to do some learning by doing. The students worked together to plant 200 tulip, hyacinth, and grape hyacinth bulbs each class period. These three species were selected by Conserve School’s Science Teacher Andy Milbauer and Stewardship Coordinator Jean Haack because they are an excellent food source for bees in the spring. When the snow finally disappears from campus, these flowers will not only provide habitat for our resident bees, but be a pleasant sight for those of us eagerly welcoming warmer weather.
To prepare the garden beds for planting, students dug up and turned over existing soil and vegetation. They then shoveled holes about half as deep as their hands, placed the bulbs pointed side up in the soil, and re-covered the holes they had made. More soil layers were added over the garden bed and students stomped, danced, and jumped on top to compact them. This compaction will deter squirrels from digging up the bulbs and prevent the bulbs from rotting in air pockets. Although the CS5 students will not be here to see the results of their planting, they worked diligently to get the job done. In just one class period, they were able to expand Conserve School’s garden, add to the diversity of species on campus, and plant flowers for future semesters to enjoy.
- Graduate Fellow Maria Kopecky


Chemical changes in stored grains by Carol M. Jaeger Download PDF EPUB FB2
Physical Properties of Cereal Grains. Moisture and Its Measurement. Biochemical, Functional, and Nutritive Changes During Storage. Chemical changes in stored grains book Development of Storage Techniques.
Whole Grain Storage. Drying Cereal Grains. Aeration and Stored Grain Management. Alternative Storage Practices. Microflora. Mycotoxins. Rodents. Insects: Identification, Damage, and Detection.
Changes in quality of wheat during 18 years storage Functional and end-use properties of various commodities stored in a low oxygen atmosphere Preservation of chemical parameters in cereal Chemical changes in stored grains book stored in nitrogen Changes in the rheological characteristics and baking quality of wheat at different moisture contents stored under nitrogenFormat: Ebook.
Qualitative changes in storage of grain legumes Uric Acid and Aflatoxin A study of rural families conducted in Andhra Pradesh had revealed that after nine months of storage, the percentage weight loss was to for pigeon-pea, green gram, and black gram, but only per cent in chick-pea (Pushpamma and Chittemma Rao ).
Storage of Cereal Grains and Their Products contains an abundance of scientific and technical information on storage of grains and grain products, ranging from physical structures and facilities to microbiological and chemical changes that occur in grain.
It includes about 1, literature citations. The greater quantities of grain now commonly stored in bulk for two to five years have certainly in- creased all of the hazards that accompany storage, including those caused by fungi.
Realization that fungi are involved in many of the deteriorative processes in bulk stored grains also is relatively new. Effect of initial water activity on chemical reaction in heated ground wheat The Maillard reaction is known to be affected by the prevailing water activity in terms of the rate of re- action and also the products formed (Eichner & Ciner-Dorcik, ).
In wheat, the initial water content of the stored grain increases from about 14% to around. Food grains during storage undergo certain physical, chemical and biological changes due to the presence of enzymes and bio-chemicals itself and the enzymes produced by the insects, pests and microbes or due to some other factors.
These changes may deteriorate the quality of the grains. • Most markets want grain free from insects and some want freedom from chemical residues, so check with potential buyers before you treat with chemicals.
• Clean grain handling and storage equipment and dispose of or treat old infested grain. • Aeration cooling reduces insect activity, but may have to be used with other methods in summer.
The kinds of changes that take place are highly specific to the mineral and the environmental conditions. Some minerals, like quartz, are virtually unaffected by chemical weathering, while others, like feldspar, are easily altered. In general, the degree of chemical weathering is greatest in warm and wet climates, and least in cold and dry.
A chemical change might also result in the formation of a precipitate, such as the appearance of a cloudy material when dissolved substances are mixed. Rotting, burning, cooking, and rusting are all further types of chemical changes because they produce substances that are entirely new chemical compounds.
For example, burned wood becomes ash. This unique book is written specifically for those in grain operations and addresses the full range of topics related to maintaining the quality of grain stored on the commercial scale.
It demonstrates how science-based information can be incorporated into grain storage operations to increase efficiency and decrease the risk of grain s: 2.
Stored grain aeration requires the provision an air-exhaust ventilator associated with an adequate storage bin design. Aerating of grain silos can be done by either pressurized aeration (positive pressure) or suction aeration (negative pressure).
Grain bins devoted to aeration have to be equipped with perforated ducting on the floor through which air is blown into (or sucked through) the grain. Defra’s Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is responsible for all chemicals approved for agricultural use in grain Health and Safety Executive deals with chemical use in domestic and food storage areas.
Table 1 lists current PSD approvals; these may change as new chemicals are marketed and older chemicals withdrawn.
Some grain. This unique book is written specifically for those in grain operations and addresses the full range of topics related to maintaining the quality of grain stored on the commercial scale. It demonstrates how science-based information can be incorporated into grain storage operations to increase efficiency and decrease the risk of grain deterioration.
Stored grain is an information hub that equips growers with the skills and knowledge to enable best management practices of on-farm grain storage. • Primary source of stored energy in cereal grains • % weight of grain75% weight of grain • Used in several food and industrial applications Starch Physical Structure • Found in form of granule in cereal grains • Granules are formed inside plastids • In wheat, rye, barley, sorghum inside a plastid there is a single starch granule.
CiteScore: ℹ CiteScore: CiteScore measures the average citations received per peer-reviewed document published in this title. CiteScore values are based on citation counts in a range of four years (e.g. ) to peer-reviewed documents (articles, reviews, conference papers, data papers and book chapters) published in the same four calendar years, divided by the number of.
Grain must be stored below 12% moisture content. Even grain loaded into an unsealed store must have less than 12% moisture content as moisture can still migrate and condense in the upper layers and there will be some venting of moisture to the atmosphere.
This area of the grain. Strict cleaning procedures need to be carried out before storing grains. Also, care needs to be taken to check if grains have been dried completely in sunlight and then in shade.
It also should be checked for pests using fumigation. Importance Of Food Storage. It is necessary to store food, listed below are a few points highlighting the same.
Chemical changes. During cooking of grains, the following chemical changes takes place; in this scenario, I will focus on cooking rice; During the first five minutes of cooking rice, present alpha-amylases and beta-amylases are deactivated. There is loss of solids into cooking water, which also contributes to changes in weight of grains after.
The most important goals of post-harvest handling are keeping the product cool, to avoid moisture loss and slow down undesirable chemical changes, and avoiding physical damage such as bruising, to delay spoilage.
Sanitation is also an important factor, to reduce the possibility of pathogens that could be carried by fresh produce, for example, as residue from contaminated washing water. Grain storage studies. The influence of various temperatures, humidities and oxygen concentrations on mold growth and biochemical changes in stored.
Search the world's most comprehensive index of full-text books. My library. Storage of Food Grains. The food grains obtained by harvesting the crops are dried in the sunshine before storing to reduce their moisture is necessary to prevent them from spoilage.
The higher moisture content in food grains promotes the growth of fungus and moulds on the stored grains which damages them. Managing stored grains requires the use of various techniques to ensure that the quality of the grain entering the storage facility does not deteriorate over time.
Relatively few insecticides are currently labeled for use in or on stored grain; however, insecticides are only one option in an arsenal of strategies used to protect our stored. Chemical energy is the energy stored within chemicals, which makes its energy inside atoms and molecules.
Most often, it's considered the energy of chemical bonds, but the term also includes energy stored in the electron arrangement of atoms and ions. 8 Protection of stored grains and pulses 2 Storage pests The three major storage pests are fungi, insects and rodents. They are very different and described in this chapter.
Fungi Fungus in stored grain is the most difficult enemy to be recognized, for you cannot see it as easily as the two other major pests: insects and rats. Grain bin inspection provides important information on the general condition, temperature, moisture and pest activity of stored grain. Inspections allow early detection of problems and enable corrective action to be taken before damage becomes severe See: "Aeration, Inspection and Sampling of Grain in Storage Bins," Extension publication AEN The present book entitled "Pests of Stored Grains and Their Management" incorporates recent information on insect and other pests of stored grains and grain products covering global scenario.
Each covers wider aspects of related work like needs and requirement of storage by the farmers, 3/5(1).
Protecting Stored Grain to Maximize Quality New book delves into the world of pest control. Stored grain, as with other durable stored commodities and their value-added products, are at their highest quality just after harvest or manufacturing, and are at risk of decreased quality during storage from the depredations of insects, molds, vertebrate pests and physical damage.
Annatto (/ ə ˈ n æ t oʊ / or / ə ˈ n ɑː t oʊ /) is an orange-red condiment and food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), native to tropical regions from Mexico to Brazil.
It is often used to impart a yellow or orange color to foods, but sometimes also for its flavor and aroma. Its scent is described as "slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg" and flavor.
It is of great important to safeguard the grains. After all, the farmer’s sustenance rests on it. There are a number of methods for storage of grains that the farmer then has to use.
Having said that, let’s try to understand the myriad methods of storage of grains. In fact, as seen widely, these are methods of storage of grains in India too.Click Get Books and find your favorite books in the online library. Create free account to access unlimited books, fast download and ads free!
We cannot guarantee that Alcohol Produced From Material Other Than Cereal Grains book is in the library. READ as many books as you like (Personal use).


After 25 years in business, we continue to be amazed with Indiana weather. 2012 was the most damaging drought since 1988. Record heat and dry weather damaged all lawns, but to quote one of our customers, "it could have been worse and what your guys put on really helped my lawn bounce back when the rains returned." I agree it helped, but we still have a lot of work to do.
I view lawn care recovery from the drought a lot like farming. Farmers know that they do not plant a crop in the spring and harvest it in the fall and just expect good yields. NO, they manage the crop all year long. Often times they will have to apply more products of different methods in a given season to get the desired results (i.e. change fertility, insect/disease/weed control, etc.) Your lawn is no different. We view your lawn as a high value crop and to get the results we want, we have to manage (treat) it all season long. More managemnet (treatments) produces more results, it is just that simple. We have a plan!
We have reviewed you lawn care program and have made a recommended program to speed the lawn recovery process and improve overall health. This proven process has worked thousands of times, we know because we have doing it for 25 years. There is no guessing... just results, guaranteed. Let us show you how.