title: Analysis of environmental and economic efficiency using a farm population micro-simulation model

authors: Ramilan, Thiagarajah

subjects: Data Envelopment Analysis

abstract: New Zealand's success in raising agricultural productivity has been accompanied by higher input use, leading to adverse effects on the environment. Until recently, analysis of farm performance has tended to ignore such negative externalities. The current emphasis on environmental issues has led dairy farmers to target improvements in both environmental performance and productivity. Therefore, measuring the environmental performance of farms and integrating this information into farm productivity calculations should assist in making informed policy decisions which promote sustainable development. However, this is a challenging process since conventional environmental efficiency measures are usually based on simple input and output flows but nitrogen discharge is a complex process affected by climate, pasture composition, cow physiology and geophysical variability. Furthermore, the outdoor pastoral nature of New Zealand farming means that it is difficult to control input and output flows, particularly of nitrogen. We present a novel approach to measure the environmental and economic efficiency of farms, using the Overseer nutrient budget model and spatially micro-simulated virtual population data. The empirical analysis is based on dairy farms in the Karapiro catchment, where nitrogen discharge from dairy farming is a major source of nonpoint pollution.

text: Analysis of environmental and economic efficiency using a farm population micro-simulation model New Zealand's success in raising agricultural productivity has been accompanied by higher input use, leading to adverse effects on the environment. Until recently, analysis of farm performance has tended to ignore such negative externalities. The current emphasis on environmental issues has led dairy farmers to target improvements in both environmental performance and productivity. Therefore, measuring the environmental performance of farms and integrating this information into farm productivity calculations should assist in making informed policy decisions which promote sustainable development. However, this is a challenging process since conventional environmental efficiency measures are usually based on simple input and output flows but nitrogen discharge is a complex process affected by climate, pasture composition, cow physiology and geophysical variability. Furthermore, the outdoor pastoral nature of New Zealand farming means that it is difficult to control input and output flows, particularly of nitrogen. We present a novel approach to measure the environmental and economic efficiency of farms, using the Overseer nutrient budget model and spatially micro-simulated virtual population data. The empirical analysis is based on dairy farms in the Karapiro catchment, where nitrogen discharge from dairy farming is a major source of nonpoint pollution.

year: 2011

title: An issue of terminology: What is digital learning anyway? [Editorial]

authors: Forbes, Dianne Leslie

abstract: Although  invited  to  guest  edit  a  section/issue  on  digital  technologies,  I  selected  the  term  ‘digital learning’  to  drive  this  special  issue  as  I  hope  these  two  words  capture  the  application  of  digital technologies  to  pedagogical  processes  and  learner  experiences.  One  of  many  possibilities,  the  choice of  terminology  is  in  reaction  to  my  perception  that  terms  like ‘elearning’ and ‘technology  enhanced learning’are  dying  a  natural  death.  For  some,  elearning  is  associated  with  compliance,  while  any mention  of  ‘technology’  without  ‘digital’  as  a  qualifier  can  be  confusing  in  a  context  where technology is intervention by design (Ministry of Education, 2007)

text: An issue of terminology: What is digital learning anyway? [Editorial] Although  invited  to  guest  edit  a  section/issue  on  digital  technologies,  I  selected  the  term  ‘digital learning’  to  drive  this  special  issue  as  I  hope  these  two  words  capture  the  application  of  digital technologies  to  pedagogical  processes  and  learner  experiences.  One  of  many  possibilities,  the  choice of  terminology  is  in  reaction  to  my  perception  that  terms  like ‘elearning’ and ‘technology  enhanced learning’are  dying  a  natural  death.  For  some,  elearning  is  associated  with  compliance,  while  any mention  of  ‘technology’  without  ‘digital’  as  a  qualifier  can  be  confusing  in  a  context  where technology is intervention by design (Ministry of Education, 2007)

year: 2018

title: Review: Memoirs of Active Service

authors: Cheesman, Sue

subjects: Maaka Pepene

abstract: Ka maumahara tonu tatou ki a ratou - we will remember them…poignant last words…   bidding farewell to a generation of veterans moving on...leaving fragments  of memories and diaries for children/grandchildren to honour, celebrate and remember …black costumes billow, fold, swirl and wrap the dancers bodies…wide sweeping arm movements…jumps and turns…slides on all fours - provides the vehicle for five accomplished dancers to fill the space with fluidity and lyricism in this very moving finale, a lament set to Albinoni’s adagio - maybe old soldiers never die.

text: Review: Memoirs of Active Service Ka maumahara tonu tatou ki a ratou - we will remember them…poignant last words…   bidding farewell to a generation of veterans moving on...leaving fragments  of memories and diaries for children/grandchildren to honour, celebrate and remember …black costumes billow, fold, swirl and wrap the dancers bodies…wide sweeping arm movements…jumps and turns…slides on all fours - provides the vehicle for five accomplished dancers to fill the space with fluidity and lyricism in this very moving finale, a lament set to Albinoni’s adagio - maybe old soldiers never die.

year: 2007