Focus on water efficiency and crown rot at BCG expo - Stock & Land

Focus on water efficiency and crown rot at BCG expo - Stock & Land

Shared via AddThis

Only connect? Mobile phones in rural Africa

Only connect? Mobile phones in rural Africa [video]

Posted: 02 Sep 2008 03:02 AM CDT

IAALD Management reports on its activities to members

IAALD Management reports on its activities to members

Redefine concept of commercial agriculture (22 Jan, 2008)

Redefine concept of commercial agriculture:Ramaswamy
Economic Times - Gurgaon,Haryana,India
22 Jan, 2008, 2005 hrs IST, PTI COIMBATORE: The concept of commercial agriculture, needs to be redefined in the light of recent developments in the sector, ...

Botswana poultry farmersin SD to learn from locals

Botswana poultry farmers in SD to learn from locals

DELEGATES from different smallholder poultry farmers' associations in Botswana are in the country to learn from their local counterparts' ...

Demand strong, but record-high costs hammer poultry producers

Demand strong, but record-high costs hammer poultry producers
Demand for poultry products remains strong, but high production costs continue to put a strain on producers' pocketbooks. John Anderson, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said production costs have soared to historic levels because of high feed prices and climbing diesel fuel prices. "The biggest factor facing poultry and other livestock industries is record-high feed prices. We have never been in a feed-price situation as difficult as this," Anderson said.

New Dairy Beef Publication Available

New Dairy Beef Publication Available

Related ATTRA Publication: Dairy Beef

Sales of cull animals make up about 5% of a dairy income today, but a University of Idaho beef specialist says that figure could double by managing livestock for beef as well as milk. To help dairymen capture more potential profits from beef products, UI Extension has released a 16-page training guide, Idaho Dairy Beef Quality Assurance, in Spanish and English. The publication will be available through Cooperative Extension's national DAIReXNET Web site.

Large Farm Adapts to Organic Techniques

Large Farm Adapts to Organic Techniques
A study appearing in the July 2008 issue of Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment documents how one large grower made the transition to organic production, says a story on Mongabay.com. Study author Sean Smukler of UC Davis tracked a Salinas Valley farmer's efforts to convert 215 acres of vegetable fields to organic production over three years. While small-scale organic producers typically grow small plots of each crop and use local or on-farm organic fertilizer sources, larger growers rely on different approaches. The grower in the study evolved a system using mid-size plots, a factory-made organic fish fertilizer, and plantings designed to attract beneficial insects, as well as crop rotations and hoeing.

New Study Finds Consumers Will Pay More for Local Foods

New Study Finds Consumers Will Pay More for Local Foods
New research suggests that the average supermarket shopper is willing to pay a premium price for locally produced foods. The study also showed that shoppers at farm markets are willing to pay almost twice as much extra as retail grocery shoppers for the same locally produced foods. Both kinds of shoppers also will pay more for guaranteed fresh produce and tend to favor buying food produced by small farms over what they perceive as corporate operations, according to the study. The study, conducted by Ohio State University researchers, is published in the May issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

Food Summit to Convene

Food Summit to Convene
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is convening a High-Level Conference on World Food Security June 3-5 in Rome. The objective of this conference is to assist countries and the international community in finding sustainable solutions by identifying the policies, strategies and programs required to safeguard world food security. Heads of State and Government and ministers will discuss the current global food situation with soaring food prices, how climate change affects agriculture, and how agriculture can contribute to reduce climate change.

Vermont to Allow Hemp Production

Vermont to Allow Hemp Production
Vermont farmers might have a new chance to diversify their operations. Governor Jim Douglas allowed a bill that permits farms to plant crops of industrial hemp to become law without his signature. Federal law prohibits cultivation of hemp because it comes from the same plant that marijuana does. But lawmakers believe there eventually will be a change in federal policy. Advocates say hemp can be used to make a variety of products, from cosmetics to food to clothing. So legislators overwhelmingly adopted a law that directs the Agriculture Agency to be ready when there is a change. USAgNet reports the Agriculture Agency will be required to draw up rules for hemp cultivation so farmers could be licensed as soon as federal law changes. North Dakota is the only other state that has done the same thing.

Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund

Image via WikipediaFarmers Advocating for Organics Fund

The Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO) fund provides a way for the organic farmers of CROPP Cooperative to identify and support key issues facing the organic marketplace and organic agriculture. The FAFO Farmer Committee accepts proposals from organizations seeking funding for particular projects or programs dedicated to furthering organic education, organic farming or product research, and advocating for organic standards or policies. FAFO is open to funding both small and large scale projects with a suggested budgetary guideline being $5,000 - $50,000 per year. In addition, FAFO has established a Small Grant Fund for individuals and organizations seeking grants that amount to less than $5,000. Small grant proposals will be reviewed monthly. There are two funding rounds in 2008, with proposal deadlines of June 1 and October

Online Courses Offered for Organic Agriculture Certificate

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeOnline Courses Offered for Organic Agriculture Certificate

Beginning / New Farmers

Half of all current farmers in the U.S. are likely to retire in the next decade. Enlisting and supporting new farmers is essential to the future of family farms, the farm economy and healthy rural communities.

List of Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center. Detailed list of farming alternatives - crops, livestock, value-added enterprises, agritourism - currently utilized by U.S. farmers. Links to Extension and other farmer-friendly sources that help evaluate and start non-conventional farming enterprises are included.

Evaluating a Rural Enterprise. Marketing and Business Guide National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Summarizes selected enterprise planning guides about business, financial and marketing plans. Suggests helpful books, periodicals, Web sites and organizations.

Informational Toolkit for Beginning Farmers Iowa State University. Cooperative Extension Service. Value Added Agriculture Program. General information about farm leases and farm management, new farmer loan programs, beginning farmer training programs, mentoring programs for beginning farmers and more specific information about developing agricultural business and marketing plans. Predominantly from Iowa, but additional resources from the upper Midwestern U.S. and Canada also included.

Growing New Farmers New England Small Farm Institute. Programs, services and resources for new farmers in the 12 Northeast states and beyond. Includes: directory of programs and services for new farmers, reports about new farmers and their service needs, tools and resources for new farmers and for working with new farmers and programs/projects for new farmers.

Beginning Farm Center Iowa State University. Cooperative Extension Service. Iowa resources for new farmers looking for support, land, training and contacts.

National Farm Transition Network National Farm Transition Network. The network supports programs that foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Site includes information and state contacts for "Land Link" programs – programs that match retiring farmers/land with new farmers seeking land and support.

USDA Service Center Agencies Online Services United States Department of Agriculture. USDA service agency contacts, tools and eforms for farmers from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development. Specific services include loans and mortgages, payment options, real estate sales and Farm Bill tools.

Livestock dominates agric sector

SEROWE - Livestock production is reported to be dominating the agricultural sector though pastoral farming was in the past bedeviled by frequent droughts and diseases.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Dr Motshudi Raborokgwe, said the livestock sub-sector contributed about 80 per cent of the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product.

He said at the Sandveld Ranchers Association farmers’ field day at Xarojena ranch over the weekend that Botswana was likely to remain heavily dependent on livestock production as a source of food, income, employment and as an investment opportunity.

He mentioned the beef sector’s strong linkages with the BMC, which is entrusted with export monopoly, adding the commission was faced with challenges that include the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), the European Union requirements (EU) on beef sale, the age of the plant and low throughput.

BMC has the capacity to slaughter 1 200 cattle a day but he said it only managed 650, which is 54 per cent capacity utilisation, with the same cost of slaughtering 1 200 cattle. He blamed the situation on some factors, erratic arrival of cattle.

Another challenge, according to Dr Raborokgwe, was that of low weights.

“Animals are received in very poor conditions and our markets prefer cuts from animals that weigh more than 200kg,” he said.

He however said the national herd was valued at more than P2 billion. Though BMC is a business competing internationally, it is unable to recruit the best personnel in the market because of salary constraints.

“We are not able to compete with the mines and the private sector in Botswana because BMC pays government salaries leading to accountants, engineers and computer specialists departing for the mines,” he said. “We have to be prepared for competition and move from a protected industry to open competition.”

Dr Raborokgwe said citing other obstacles outside the BMC such as low productivity of the national herd, difficulties for farmers to get permits to sell to the commission and rampant FMD outbreaks. He complained about poor physical infrastructure that supports the beef industry.

“The capital costs to start livestock farming are very high, especially when utilities like water, telecommunication and electricity are not supplied,” he added.

Dr Raborokgwe termed selling to the BMC a hassle because a farmer has to coordinate transport, go through the veterinary officers and the police before accessing the commission.

“Consumers who buy our beef are worried about the welfare and environmental issues”, saying the commission has to meet their demands before they buy beef.

He however explained that the BMC had managed to increase cattle prices and had quota and duty free access to the EU market.

Yemeni-Swiss cooperation in agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation has distributed 1700 tons of wheat seed to farmers this season, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mansur ...