bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Red Clover in United Kingdom Pastures
Authors: Frame John
Published: July 2017

There is growing interest in extensive environment-friendly systems of animal production from pastures whose nitrogen economy relies upon biological sources rather than fertilizer. With their undoubted production potential and suitability for silage, red clover swards should have an important role to play. Lack of sward longevity and unpredictability of production have militated against their use in the past although the review indicates that many of the agronomic limitations to their successful exploitation have been overcome. The main problem lies in how livestock farmers can integrate red clover swards into their farming systems to best advantage. The time is ripe for a reappraisal of red clover's role before the decline in its use and associated research consign it to the museum.
Animal Hygiene and Husbandry in Relation to Food Hygiene
Authors: Johnston A. M.
Published: July 2017

Production of food on the farm and purchasing and eating requirements of the public have all changed dramatically during the last few decades. The trend towards intensification, in response to the need to produce food as cheaply as possible, has led to criticism of the farming industry. Concern by the public was highlighted by the food scares of recent years. This article takes an overview of animal health and husbandry, why disease occurs, and how it can be and is reduced.
Role of Extension in Protecting Food Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Gahukar R. T.
Published: July 2017

Plant protection plays an important role in the production of food crops in the sub-Saharan region of Africa where the crops are grown under several cropping systems but yields are quite low. This is attributed to institutional, technological, socio-economic and political factors. Droughts and attack by insects, plant diseases, weeds and birds are common. In order to make plant protection more efficient and farm-oriented, the constraints and possible improvements to present extension programmes are briefly described. Extension-related administration and training are also considered.
Agroforestry – Does it Pay?
Authors: Thomas T.H.
Published: July 2017

Agroforestry systems are rapidly being adopted in many countries of the world. In New Zealand, temperate agroforestry systems have been found to be preferable to agriculture or forestry, given specific circumstances such as good site conditions for forestry, favourable price scenarios and location close to the market. Assessments in the UK based on simulation models suggest similar conclusions. The development of agroforestry technologies in New Zealand was a market-led phenomenon designed to produce clear knot-free timber for the finishing timber market. This approach could be implemented in the southwestern maritime fringe of Europe, where tree growth rates are relatively high. There is however a role for governments to play in taking a much more long-term and imaginative view of agroforestry, and not merely seeing it as a means of reducing short-term agricultural surpluses.
National Sanitary Programmes for Cattle with Special Reference to Virus Diseases
Authors: Straub O. C.
Published: July 2017

The German Federal Republic presently conducts three sanitary programmes:

– Prophylactic measures against FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) and emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an outbreak,

– A federal eradication programme against bovine leukosis based on serology. Seropositive cattle are removed from the herd, with the owner's consent.

– A voluntary programme designed to reduce the number of BHVI (bovine rhinotracheitis) seropositive herds. This is a federal programme adapted for individual conditions in the various states.

The other virus diseases of cattle are, for the moment, unsuitable candidates for national sanitary programmes.
Water Management
Authors: Carr M. K. V. , Leeds-Harrison P. B. , Carter R. C.
Published: July 2017

The unreality of imposing engineering solutions on water management problems without taking into account the social consequences of such action, the ease of operation and maintenance and the expected environmental impact is at last recognized. A favourable cost-benefit analysis on its own is no longer enough to convince a funding agency, the client or the general public that the solution proposed is the correct one. Sustainability has become the new watchword, and rightly so.
The Role of Viruses in Enteric Disease of Farm Animals
Authors: Bridger J. C.
Published: July 2017

It is generally accepted that viruses are a frequent cause of diarrhoea in animals and man. They do not inevitably cause disease, however; most of the enteropathogenic viruses are ubiquitous and subclinical infections are common. This article examines reasons for disease outbreaks and the problem of accurate diagnosis. Evidence is presented that subclinical infections can be beneficial as they stimulate protective immunity in the young. Two unexpected observations are given which serve as a reminder that we should remain open-minded in spite of recent advances. The conclusions drawn are that the causes of enteric disease are often complex and that there is still some way to go before we fully understand why outbreaks occur when they do.
Is it Possible to Detect Irradiated Food?
Authors: Stevenson M. Hilary
Published: July 2017

Although irradiation can be carefully controlled it is generally accepted that the development of methods for the detection of irradiated food would address consumers' concerns and might help to enforce labelling regulations. This article describes the systematic evaluation of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy for the qualitative and quantitative detection of irradiation in food containing bone and outlines its application to various other foods. It describes a method based on 2-dodecyl cyclobutanone as a potential marker for irradiated food containing fat and concludes with remarks on luminescence techniques and a method based on the formation-of hydrocarbons
How Best Can We Use Biodiversity in Agroecosystems?
Authors: Altieri Miguel A.
Published: July 2017

Agriculture affects biodiversity by replacing nature's diversity with a smaller number of cultivated plants and domesticated animals. Agricultural systems are often artificial ecosystems of genetic uniformity or monoculture. Due to their artificial nature, these systems require constant human intervention, extensive external inputs and use of non-renewable resources. In marginal rural agricultural communities, how can agricultural productivity be increased while altering the trend towards monoculture methods in favour of low-input, conservation-regenerating farming methods? The natural enemy hypothesis supports pest reduction in systems with greater biodiversity. Studies in California over the last twenty years have shown biodiversity to be a key factor in insect pest management. Strategies utilizing alternate hosts and cover cropping have significantly enhanced natural enemy populations. Biodiverse multiple cropping, intercropping, agroforestry and shifting cultivation systems are still practised in traditional farms in Latin America. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America are studying these systems and incorporating this biodiverse approach in their work with rural agricultural communities. Efforts in Mexico, Peru, Honduras and the Dominican Republic are described.
Factors Causing Variation in Glucosinolates in Oilseed Rape
Authors: Milford G. F. J. , Evans E. J.
Published: July 2017

It is now well established that considerable variation occurs between locations and seasons in seed glucosinolate concentrations even in the newer double-low varieties entering the national lists. Agronomic trials have demonstrated that little of the variation is attributable to the practices used to grow the crop. Our research has shown that concentrations of glucosinolates increase during seed growth, and that the final concentrations tend to be proportional to seed size and to be lower in crops in which the ratio of sulphur to seed number is small. It is known that drought at particular stages of growth increases glucosinolate concentrations and that the duration of seed growth depends on environmental conditions and varies between years. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not fully understood and variations in seed glucosinolates cannot confidently be predicted.
Humane Slaughter
Authors: Gregory N. G.
Published: July 2017

This paper is concerned with the best ways of using captive bolt and electrical stunning. It gives practical recommendations on how to apply and assess the effectiveness of captive bolt stunning in cattle and electrical stunning in sheep, pigs, calves and poultry. Some of the carcass quality problems associated with particular stunning methods are outlined, along with ways of reducing their severity.
Air Pollution and Agriculture
Authors: Ashmore M.R.
Published: July 2017

Until the middle of this century, air pollution was primarily a problem of urban and industrial regions. In the last three decades, changes in the dispersal of pollutants and increases in motor vehicle emissions have led to greater pollutant impacts in more remote rural areas. On a national scale in North America and western Europe, current losses of agricultural production due to air pollutants are small relative to other factors, but local impacts on sensitive crops may be substantial. Current international trends suggest that now, and in the future, the greatest concern should be over impacts on agriculture in newly industrialized and developing countries, rather than in those countries where most research effort is currently concentrated.
Residues of Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in Food
Authors: Watson David
Published: July 2017

Using agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides and veterinary drugs, can lead to residues in the food supply. This has been a prominent issue in the media over the last few years, causing some concern amongst interested consumers. Consumer safety is protected in the UK and some other countries by controls on the availability and usage of pesticides and veterinary drugs, and by the surveillance of food and related materials for residues of these and other agricultural chemicals. These processes must provide effective consumer ‘protection so that a safe supply of food is available. The presence of residual chemicals in food must not represent an unacceptable risk to the consumer.
Small Scale Irrigation in Angola: Potential and Promise
Authors: Serrano Vitor M.B.L. , Carter Richard C.
Published: July 2017

Traditional water management and irrigation techniques in Africa have frequently been ignored in irrigation statistics—and therefore in planning considerations too. Many countries (Such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya) have significant areas under traditional irrigation methods, areas which often far outweight those under government-established irrigation systems. This is the case in Angola. There is hope at present that the country may be emerging from its long civil war. If so, then the opportunities to learn from the experience of other African countries and to develop enlightened irrigation development policies should be grasped.
Constraints on Sustainable Growth in Agricultural Production: Into the 21st Century
Authors: Ruttan Vernon W.
Published: July 2017

In this paper I summarize the conclusions from a series of three consultations that I have organized with leading agricultural, environmental and health scientists, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, to explore the constraints on sustainable growth in agricultural production (Ruttan, 1989, 1990a, b). I explore a number of agricultural, resource, environmental and health concerns that will condition the capacity of the agricultural sector to respond to the demands that population and income growth will place on the sector, particularly in the developing countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa. Before doing so however, I would like to place these concerns about the implications of natural resource availability and environmental change within a broader historical context.
Sustainable Agriculture-a Valid Alternative
Authors: O'connell Paul F.
Published: July 2017

The concepts of sustainable agriculture have been much debated in recent years. The emphasis in this paper is on alternative farming practices that optimize on-farm techniques to control pests and satisfy nutrient requirements; and that address broader ecological and societal goals. This contribution focuses on the economic findings and barriers to adopting sustainable farming practices in the USA. These issues are of major concern to policymakers, agribusiness and producers. Shifts are occuring in American agriculture, but major adjustments in farming practices will not occur until farm policy is changed and economic, environmental, and social goals are fully incorporated into the accounting framework.
Upsurgence of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gen. in the Cotton Ecosystem in India
Authors: Sundaramurthy V. T.
Published: July 2017

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is widely distributed over tropical and subtropical regions and is found on over 500 species of plants. An upsurge of this insect species has been noticed in recent years in the cotton system in India resulting in a heavy loss of seed cotton and reduced spinnability of cotton fibres.

Onset of drought and related ecological changes, including man's intervention, were the prime causes for the upsurge of whitefly in the cotton system. Prolonged drought suppressed the growth of host plants in the ecosystem, favouring immigration of whitefly from non-agricultural systems to agricultural production areas. Further, an abundance of virus-infected host plant species, the existence of favourable temperatures, shortening of the life cycle, elimination of natural enemies and increased fecundity due to availability of life-supporting chemicals in host plants following frequent application of insecticides enhanced the population upsurge of whitefly in the cotton system in India.
The Siberian Agroindustrial Complex: Problems and Opportunities
Authors: Ruvinsky A. , Nezavitin A. , Ruvinskaya L.
Published: July 2017

The Siberian agreement has been set up to unite the efforts of the 17 regions of Siberia in achieving economic growth and improving the living standards of the population. Its major challenge is that of feeding the people. The poor quality of the land, the inhospitable climate and the traditional methods of husbandry result in low yields of arable crops and animal products. The problem is aggravated by inadequate facilities for food processing and storage. However, advances in agricultural technology in the form of plant and animal improvement by breeding programmes and increased availability of fertilizers and other agrochemicals, coupled with better management, should ensure a brighter future for this area.
Mapping Genes in Apple: the Future for Molecular-Aided Breeding
Authors: King Graham J.
Published: July 2017

Many of the factors affecting the production and quality of apples are genetically determined. This paper describes how progress being made in identifying these genetic components will help to develop the European apple crop by integrating the demand for high quality and disease resistant varieties with advanced breeding methods.
The Political and Strategic Significance of Water
Authors: Anderson Ewan W.
Published: July 2017

Water has always been regarded as of political and even of strategic importance, particularly in the more arid parts of the world. From the earliest civilizations in the Fertile Crescent to the modern state, water security has been considered a national issue. Over 40% of the world's population lives in shared drainage basins, and therefore questions of equity with regard to potable water supplies, irrigation, power distribution, flood control, navigation, fishing and, possibly, leisure pursuits, are bound to arise. As in many parts of the world, but especially the Middle East and the drier areas of Africa, populations burgeon, these questions will assume even greater prominence. International law in the context of trans-boundary issues is still largely in the development stage. Recently, with the changing world order, the concept of resource geopolitics, involving potential problems of access and denial, has been re-examined. In this context, like petroleum and certain minerals, water is designated strategic. As is apparent in the current Middle East Peace Talks, water issues can be a vital component in global diplomacy.
The Urban Water Cycle, including Wastewater Use in Agriculture
Authors: Pescod M.B. (Warren)
Published: July 2017

Urban wastewater is an exploitable water resource in water-short countries and its controlled use in agriculture will make contributions to water conservation and food production. Health risks must be understood and appropriate control measures must be introduced into effluent use schemes. Recent guidelines from the World Health and Food and Agriculture Organizations of the UN now provide authoritative advice on health control and agricultural issues. Among the measures which can be considered are wastewater treatment, restricted crop selection, careful choice of irrigation method, adoption of appropriate farm management practices, human exposure control and promotion of hygiene. The approach adopted must be consistent with local socio-cultural, environmental and institutional factors and thoroughly planned as an integrated programme of wastewater disposal and food production.
Perspective on Irrigation Management and Salinity
Authors: Suarez Donald
Published: July 2017

Arid and semiarid areas face increasing demands on their limited water supplies. In many regions agriculture utilizes the bulk of the available fresh water, often exceeding the sustainable water yield and relying on utilization of subsurface reserves. Increased water demands by urban users will require greater water use efficiency by the agricultural sector as well as use of urban waste waters and under-utilized brackish waters. To date advances have been made in irrigation management, but genetic research has not altered the basic water requirements of plants.
Flood Action Plan – Bangladesh
Authors: Dempster J. I. M. , Brammer H.
Published: July 2017

Situated on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, with a monsoonal climate and at the mercy of tropical cyclones that sweep up from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has had no alternative but to live and cope with floods. However, it took the two major floods of 1987 and 1988 to mobilize the Government and the donor community into making a major effort to look for a permanent solution to Bangladesh's chronic flood problem. This paper describes the planning and development of the Flood Action Plan that resulted.
Aquaculture and Sustainability through Integrated Resources Management
Authors: Lightfoot Clive , Bimbao Mary Ann P. , Dalsgaard Jens Peter T. , Pullin Roger S.V.
Published: July 2017

Aquaculture in developing countries can improve the sustainability of small-scale farms provided that it is fully integrated with other enterprises and household activities so as to allow farm families and communities to manage their natural resources effectively. This requires the consideration of pond management and fish husbandry as means to a variety of ends (water storage, soil conservation and fertility, integrated pest management, etc.), not just production of fish. This paper discusses the evolution of this broad Integrated Resources Management (IRM) approach, principally with reference to the Inland Aquatic Resources Systems Program of ICLARM, and gives some examples of relevant activities in tropical developing countries, research methods and future challenges.
European Community Research Programmes in Support of Aquaculture
Authors: Cruz Flor
Published: July 2017

The European Community (EC) has played a significant role in the development of the aquaculture industry during recent years. With the objective of stimulating the economic development of the less favoured coastal and rural areas, the EC has provided financial support to the aquaculture industry and to research activities in this field. Two specific research programmes that include aquaculture are being implemented by the EC at present. They are the FAR (Fisheries and Aquaculture Research) and the AAIR (Agriculture and Agro-Industry, including Fisheries Research) programmes. Both aim to promote the cooperation and coordination of research between Member States, providing financial support to research projects dealing with the following areas: rearing techniques; disease problems; genetics; interactions between aquaculture and the environment. In addition, these programmes support the organization of workshops, seminars, conferences etc., and bursaries for the exchange of scientists and students. It is too early to evaluate the contribution of these programmes to the development of the aquaculture industry. However, the FAR programme has succeeded in creating and improving links in the Community. Coordination is expected to be reinforced in the new research programme, which is now under preparation. This paper describes the current activities, priorities and future opportunities of the Community research programmes in the field of aquaculture.
The Influence of Particle Size on the Agronomic Effectiveness of Agricultural Liming Materials
Authors: Withers Paul J.A.
Published: July 2017

Periodic liming to maintain soil pH (the measure of acidity or alkalinity) is essential to achieve and sustain high crop yields on non-calcareous soils. Liming materials must meet certain specifications regarding their ability to neutralize soil acidity if they are to be sold within the EC. At present, the effectiveness of liming materials is assessed by analysis of their chemical reactivity or Neutralizing Value (NV). However, EC legislation is likely soon to require that methods of analysis also take into account the physical properties of liming materials: particle size, mineralogy and hardness are all physical factors that can Influence reactivity. In particular, particle size can have a substantial effect on lime reactivity in the short term. The significance of particle size as a factor in the overall effectiveness with which agricultural liming materials neutralize soil acidity is reappraised below.
Trees in Alley Cropping: Competitors or Soil Improvers?
Authors: Haggar Jeremy P.
Published: July 2017

Agroforestry has a high potential to sustain agricultural production in the humid tropics. One specific type of agroforestry, alley cropping, has received much attention as a means of producing staple food crops within an agroforestry system. There is now substantial evidence that alley cropping maintains soil fertility above levels found in pure annual cropping systems. Nevertheless, competition between the trees and crops can significantly reduce yields by the crop. A model is presented of how the balance between the improved soil fertility in alley cropping and competition from the trees determines the final crop performance. Better understanding of the factors that determine crop yield will enable improved design and management of alley cropping systems, and may allow alley cropping to become a more reliable means of improving crop production.
The Role of Animals in Spreading Farmers’ Risks: a New Paradigm for Animal Science
Authors: Ørskov E. R. , Viglizzo E. F.
Published: July 2017

The complex interactions between people, domestic animals and the environment have led to animals being assigned different roles in different regions of the world, in pastoral, semipastoral and commercial farming societies. These roles depend on the value system of the society and on its attitude to risks. There are many sources of risk in animal production systems, including environmental risks, wars, civil unrest and the economic risks associated with high inputs, and these will be perceived differently according to the society: high inputs, for instance, tend to decrease risk in intensive farming, but increase it in pastoral systems. While monetary returns are the driving force in a free-market economy, biological survival and established cultural tradition may define the essential values of a peasant community. In view of these differences an alternative research paradigm, relevant to the needs of traditional production systems and based on risk-spreading criteria, is presented here for consideration by animal scientists.
Small Ruminants: Potential Value and Contribution to Sustainable Development
Authors: Devendra C.
Published: July 2017

Small ruminants — that is, sheep and goats — have an important contribution to make to sustainable development. A high proportion of the world's sheep and goat populations are found in Africa and Asia, mainly on mixed farms under rainfed systems, and they are significant assets for poor people. They provide meat, milk, fibre and skins and act as a buffer against environmental fluctuations, reducing risks for the farmer. Current levels of productivity are low, and for meat the gap between output and demand is widening. Improvements in the productivity of small ruminants and in their contribution to development will depend on increased efficiency in the use of goats and sheep, integrated use of natural resources, targetting of the poor, wider use of improved technologies at the farm level, and greater attention to ecosystem and ecoregional development.
Cassava Processing in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Implications for Expanding Cassava Production
Authors: Nweke Felix Izu
Published: July 2017

Cassava makes an important contribution to improving food security and rural incomes in sub-Saharan Africa, as it is tolerant of drought and poor soil and its cultivation does not require much labour. However, the fresh roots are bulky and perishable and need to be processed before they can be marketed; processing also removes the cyanogens which make many varieties poisonous in their raw form. Cassava roots are turned into granules, flours, pastes and chips, with a wide range of flavours and appearances for different areas and markets. Many different processing techniques are used, some of which make intensive use of fuelwood while others require a plentiful water supply. These requirements, as well as the need for a good transport and marketing infrastructure, limit the expansion of cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa, but technical solutions are being found.
Fertilizer Use in Vegetable Production in Nigeria
Authors: Olasantan F. O.
Published: July 2017

Nigeria is an agricultural country, most of the vegetable needs of its people being provided by small farmers who seldom use high-input technology. Over the last 20 years, there has been an encouraging upward trend in inorganic fertilizer consumption, but it is very difficult to estimate how much of this chemical fertilizer is used for vegetable production. There is a need for information which could be used to monitor national trends in fertilizer use on vegetables so that the government can predict future needs and advise manufacturing industry and farmers accordingly. Although increases in the yield and mineral content of vegetables through the use of chemical fertilizers have been recorded, several problems still preclude their use. Possible ways to overcome the problem and benefit vegetable growers are discussed.
Information Technology in Agricultural Enterprises
Authors: Parsons David
Published: July 2017

The use of computers in agriculture has been growing, though slowly compared to that in many other industries. Use for routine accounts and record keeping has now been accepted on many farms, and some farmers are looking for new products to help them in decisionmaking. Several have recently been developed, and many more are being developed, though they are not yet on the market. This paper surveys some recent developments, using examples from Silsoe Research Institute and elsewhere, and highlights some current research themes that are likely to find their way into products in the future.
Precision Farming: An Introduction
Authors: Blackmore Simon
Published: July 2017

Traditional arable management practice has tended to manage fields uniformly and has tended to ignore the inherent spatial variability found on most farms. This has been exacerbated by the increase of field size due to pressures from mechanization. Precision farming is a management practice that has been made possible by the advent of suitable information technologies, and it provides a framework within which arable managers can more accurately understand and control what happens on their farms.
Pig Meat Quality as Affected by Genetics and Production Systems
Authors: Ellis M. , Mckeith F.K.
Published: July 2017

The efficiency of pig production has increased considerably in recent years, but the improvement of meat quality has only recently begun to receive attention. Closer links between the producers and marketers of pigs are now resulting in a clearer understanding of the factors that lead to meat of high quality. Here, some of the major on-farm influences on meat quality are described, focussing on meat colour, water-holding capacity and eating quality.
The Transmission of Disease via Foods of Animal Origin
Authors: Van Logtestijn J.G. , Urlings H.A.P.
Published: July 2017

Foods of animal origin have always posed some risk to human health when they have not been processed properly, but the incidence of food-borne diseases has been increasing recently due to changes in animal production methods, food processing technology, increased international trade and travel, and human immune deficiencies. In addition new diseases are arising, both variations on the old ones and novel threats such as BSE. These diseases are surveyed here, with an accent on preventive measures.
Future Prospects for Cassava Root Yield in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Nweke Felix I. , Spencer Dunstan S.C.
Published: July 2017

Primary data collected over a wide area in Africa show that average cassava root yield is not declining as the population increases because the land is being cultivated more intensively in response to demographic pressures. Although fallow periods are becoming shorter, organic manuring, improved market infrastructures and the use of purchased inputs such as labour compensate for this. The yields of improved cassava varieties in Nigeria show that technology can be relied upon to raise production in future, provided that the conditions necessary for the widespread adoption of Improved varieties prevail in most African countries.
Soil Fertility Maintenance and Food Crop Production in Semi-Arid West Africa: Is Reliance on Manure a Sustainable Strategy?
Authors: Williams T.O. , Powell J.M. , Fernández-Rivera S.
Published: July 2017

Animal manure is of vital importance in maintaining soil fertility in semiarid west Africa due to the low level of use of inorganic fertilizer. Using data from Niger however, it is shown that insufficient animals are available to provide the manure needed to sustain crop yields on a long-term basis. The limitations posed by animal numbers and feed availability imply that with the increasing intensity of land use in Niger and other countries In the region, manure alone will not provide the key to attaining sustainable yield levels. External Inputs in the form of inorganic fertilizers are needed. However, the gap between present fertilizer use and the required level is wide. To ensure the availability and increased use of fertilizers at the farm level, appropriate public policies are needed to ease the constraints that have inhibited the widespread use of fertilizers in semiarid west Africa.
Fragile East African Highlands: a Development Vision for Smallholder Farmers in the Ethiopian Highlands
Authors: Saleem M. A. Mohamed
Published: July 2017

For societies that depend on agriculture, the process of meeting current or future welfare demands should not continue without regard to the potential long-term dangers of land resource over-use. With an increasing human and animal population in the Ethiopian highlands development efforts so far have been hasty and disjointed, and have sidetracked issues of production base security and conservation. As a result, large-scale degradation has ensued, and if the trend continues the agricultural future of the country is threatened. Cohesive land-use practices are needed in order to manage the fragile Ethiopian highland resource environment properly and to support growing human demands.
The Economic Impact of BSE on the UK Beef Industry
Authors: Ashworth Stuart W. , Mainland David D.
Published: July 2017

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease of cattle first identified in the UK in 1986. Although no conclusive proof has been presented for or against a link between BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a similar disease which occurs in the human population, or of the transmission of BSE to people by consuming beef from BSE-infected cattle, the link has nevertheless been created in consumers’ minds (Consumers’ Association, 1990). Considerable press coverage and the adoption of the provocative title of mad cow disease’ at the time when the disease was first identified raised the profile of the problem among British consumers and also consumers in countries importing British beef. In the short term public perception and the actions of some governments in restricting imports of British beef created a major economic impact on the UK beef industry. Some nine years on the BSE problem still exists and although it does not have as high a profile in people's minds the legacy of public perceptions and consumer demands in the UK and elsewhere still influence the market for British beef. This paper reviews the economic consequences for the industry of this animal health problem.
Biocoating of Seeds with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Improve Plant Establishment
Authors: Schippers B. , Scheffer R. J. , Lugtenberg B. J. J. , Weisbeek P. J.
Published: July 2017

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have the potential to contribute significantly to the development of sustainable agricultural systems. Our understanding at the molecular level of the interactions between these microorganisms, the plant and the environment is growing rapidly, facilitating the development of microbial products. However, their development is hampered by the legislative restrictions on their use and consequently high costs. This is especially true because biocontrol agents are often specific to crops, pathogens and soil types. Nevertheless, promising new products for the improvement of plant establishment and plant growth, such as ‘BioCoat ’ for radish seeds, have entered the market.
Ethics, Morality and Crop Biotechnology. 2. Extrinsic Concerns About Consequences
Authors: Straughan Roger
Published: July 2017

This paper looks at extrinsic concerns about biotechnology. These extrinsic concerns are more open to debate than intrinsic concerns, as they invite discussion about what the most likely consequences really are and suggestions about how they might be avoided or modified. In practice, however, they appear to be expressed as vehemently and dogmatically as the intrinsic variety, and so stand in equal need of detached ethical appraisal. These extrinsic concerns include issues such as the balance between risks and benefits, the ethics of patenting life-forms and the likely socioeconomic impact of biotechnology.
Trends in Food Crop Yields under Demographic Pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Case of Cassava in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Enete Anselm A. , Nweke Felix I. , Okorji Eugene C.
Published: July 2017

Research in 1973 attributed large cassava root yield differences among three villages in southeast Nigeria to equally large population density differences. In 1993, the Nigerian national team of the Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa (COSCA) went back to the three villages to see whether population growth had led to yield declines. They found that the wide gap in yields between the high and low population density villages was maintained, apparently due to differences in soil type, fallow periods, cassava plant densities and harvest dates. Cassava root yield had doubled in the high population density area, increased but not doubled in the medium population density area and declined in the low population density area. The differences in the yield trends among the three villages were due to the use of improved cassava varieties in the high population density area.
A Spatial Analysis of Household Grain Purchases in Zimbabwe's Liberalized Marketing System
Authors: Vaze Prabhat , Kudhlande Samuel , Wright Jim , Gundry Stephen
Published: July 2017

In Zimbabwe, it was popularly believed that the rural areas were in grain surplus or at least self-sufficient. Therefore, after Independence, a subsidized and controlled public marketing system was developed to move all rural surpluses to urban households. This system, however, could not channel surpluses cheaply to deficit rural areas and therefore adversely affected rural food security. Recently, the Zimbabwean grain markets have been liberalized. More direct channels for rural consumers to access surplus production through the market have emerged which can potentially cut the marketing costs. These channels were studied in a food deficit area, Buhera District, and they are presented using a geographical information system (GIS) to demonstrate the spatial patterns in food purchases. The fieldwork took place during the first drought since liberalization and offers insights into the changing dynamics of this rural market at a time of food security stress.
Integrated Pest Management — How to do It?
Authors: Ausher Reuben
Published: July 2017

Protection of crop and ornamental plants from noxious organisms — insects, nematodes, mites, pathogens and weeds — is indispensable to modern agriculture. Despite intensive control efforts, about 50% of the world's crops are lost to these organisms, at an estimated annual cost of about 400 billion dollars. Ever since the advent of synthetic pesticides in the 1940s, modern crop protection has been largely based on chemical control. Pesticide expenditures are about 20% of total farming input costs, although this figure varies substantially according to crop and region. Mounting environmental concerns and pest control failures have made It increasingly clear that the use of toxic pesticides In agriculture should be drastically reduced all over the world.
Adoption of Improved Livestock Management Innovations in Nigeria: The Benue State Experience
Authors: Obinne C. P. O.
Published: July 2017

Livestock farming in Africa Is limited by many factors, Including health, nutrition and reproductive performance. A study was carried out in Nigeria to identify the factors influencing the adoption of Improved livestock management practices. Some 980 farmers who kept livestock on a small scale were interviewed In Benue State, an area often described as the ‘food basket’ of Nigeria. Many of the farmers had no formal education, derived little income from livestock, and showed a limited degree of social participation and extension contact. The last three variables were significantly related to the adoption of improved livestock management practices. A sustained farmer education programme is vital, but there is a real need for extension agents to work with groups of farmers.
Soil Management for Conservation and Sustainable Rice Production in an Irrigated Area of Eastern Nigeria
Authors: Asadu Charles L.A.
Published: July 2017

An comparison of soilmanagement techniques In the different irrigation zones of Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) In eastern Nigeria showed that heavy use of machinery led to Increases In bulk density and decreases In field water Infiltration rate. The relative proportion of clay In the irrigated fields Increased as a result of Irrigation, suggesting that mobilized clay from uncemented main and distribution canals Is carried and deposited In the rice fields. Both Irrigation and the use of machinery have had substantial negative effects on soli nutrient levels, and there is a danger of this process continuing. Soli management for sustainable production in the area should centre on applying organic matter in combination with inorganic fertilizers, monitoring the soli properties on yearly basis before the cropping season for fertilizer and lime recommendations, and varying the depth of tillage to Increase or maintain the effective soli depth.
Retting — a Key Process in the Production of High Value Fibre from Flax
Authors: Easson D. Lindsay , Molloy Roisin
Published: July 2017

In recent years Increasing attention has been paid to the possibility of Introducing a larger area of industrial crops into agriculture in Western Europe. Flax growing played an important role In agriculture in the past, but re-introducing it today will depend not just upon finding markets which are higher volume and more stable than high street fashions, but also upon re-learning key processes In the handling of the crop. Foremost amongst these is retting. Traditional retting methods remain as much an art as a science, but biotechnology and biochemistry are increasingly being used to open new possibilities which could allow flax to be retted under a wider range of climates and fibre to be extracted cleanly for an increasingly diverse range of valuable markets.
Food Crop Yields and Soil Properties under Population Pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Case of Cassava in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Asadu Charles L. A. , Enete Anselm A.
Published: July 2017

Cassava root yields in three villages in southeastern Nigeria with marked differences in population pressure were related to soil properties using various models. The soils of the low population village, being formed from a different parent material, were more fertile than those of the medium and high population villages and cassava root yields were significantly higher in this village. The specific soil properties which appeared to promote cassava yields included pH and contents of Mn, silt and sand. Absolute values of exchangeable Mg, Ca, acidity and effective cation exchange capacity, although not significantly correlated with root yield, were also most favourable in the low population village. Thus inherent differences in soil properties rather than population pressure may be the major factors contributing to variations in cassava root yields in these villages.
The Role of Public and Private Tractor Hiring Units in Agricultural Mechanization: a Case Study from Adamawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Umar Bobboi
Published: July 2017

Mechanization of farm operations plays a vital role in increasing food production. Government agencies as well as private individuals and groups have acquired farm machinery in an attempt to meet farmers’ demands. But are these demands being met? If not, why not? Do farmers prefer the service-oriented public agricultural mechanization agencies to the profit-oriented private tractor hiring units? This article attempts to answer these questions and proffer some suggestions, taking Adamawa State, Nigeria, as a case study.
Integrated Farming in the Netherlands: Flirtation or Solid Change?
Authors: Proost Jet , Matteson Patricia
Published: July 2017

Like many other areas of intensive agriculture in Europe, the Netherlands is struggling with environmental pollution caused by overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. The Dutch government has been investing in the development and implementation of integrated farming systems (IFS) since 1979, with a view to a national conversion to sustainable agriculture. Although IFS ideas are becoming more widely accepted in the farming community, they have only been implemented on a small scale so far. This article describes those developments and discusses marketing, extension, and policy initiatives that might motivate more Dutch farmers to adopt IFS.
Outlook on the Feeding of Poultry
Authors: Blair Robert , Hossain Sazzad M.
Published: July 2017

The future feeding of poultry is considered under two scenarios: one relating to developed regions where the feed supply is secure, and the other relating to some developing regions where it is less certain. No major changes are anticipated in regions with an ample supply of conventional feed ingredients, but significant changes are likely in regions which are attempting to expand their poultry industries with an inadequate indigenous supply of conventional feedstuffs. They will have to rely on strategies to improve protein utilization, such as supplementation with amino acids or the use of proteases, or strategies to improve energy utilization, such as the use of enzymes or unconventional feed sources. In developing countries, meanwhile, likely developments include the emergence of a feed manufacturing infrastructure to support the various sectors of the poultry industry and the more widespread adoption of integrated plant/poultry/soil production systems that emphasize economic efficiency and sustainability.
Computing Maize Crop Coefficients in the Port Harcourt area, Nigeria, using a Class a Pan Evaporimeter
Authors: Ayotamuno J.M. , Akor A.J. , Teme S.C. , Essiet E.W.U. , Isirimah N.O. , Idike F.I.
Published: July 2017

Farmers in hot tropical climates know the importance of irrigation, but for irrigation to be used effectively the water requirement of the crop must be known. This is computed as the product of the potential evapotranspiration (PET) and the crop coefficient (Kc). While the PET can easily be obtained through various methods, including pan evaporimeters, the Kc in the Port Harcourt area for maize and other crops was not known. The main objective of this research, therefore, was to obtain maize crop coefficients at different stages of growth using non-weighing water table lysimeters and a class A pan. The estimated mean maize evapotranspiration (ET) values for the establishment, vegetative, pollination, and grain-filling stages were 29,98,84 and 98 mm, respectively. Values ranging from 0.18 to 1.08 were calculated for the mean crop coefficients for 10-day periods.
Modeling and simulation of networks using CSIM
Authors: Edwards G. , Sankar R.
Published: July 2017

In performance analysis of communication networks, simulation modeling is often used because it provides a convenient and reliable tool for such studies. In this paper, the authors present the use of a discrete-event simulation language- CSIM-to model the local networks by providing various simulation case studies. A description of CSIM is provided along with fragments of the code for simulating several token ring network models, as examples.
A Method for Estimating the Distance Equivalence of International Boundaries
Authors: Smith Stephen L. J.
Published: July 2017

International boundaries in effect “add” distance to the actual distance a potential vacationer must travel. This article describes a method for estimating the distance equivalence of an international boundary and presents results from a selected application of this method.
The James Bay H.E.P. Complex
Authors: Hamley W.
Published: July 2017

Québec is a major producer of hydro-electricity in North America. In 1971 a massive undertaking was announced to add to this output by tapping the power of the rivers in the James Bay area of the province. There were to be five complexes—La Grande I, La Grande II, NBR, Baleine and Caniapiscau which, when completed in the 1990s, would add nearly 40 000 MW to installed capacity. Work is just reaching completion on La Grande I, the largest of the complexes, but in 1982 it was decided not to proceed with the other four, at least for the immediate future. Such a situation has arisen largely as a consequence of a very volatile period in the energy market coinciding with economic recession which has been very severe in Quebec. It is suggested that part of the solution to the province's problems could come about by utilizing James Bay H.E.P to stimulate local electricity intensive industries as well as earning income through electricity exports. However present uncertainties make planning decisions very difficult and the halting of construction, despite there being no problems of funding currently, seems a correct policy under prevailing conditions. It could be that the James Bay developments are the right scheme at the wrong time.