"Fine" or "flavour" beans, the top-quality varieties used in gourmet products because of their superior taste, account for only 5% of the world's cocoa production, but demand is increasing.
Much like wine, chocolate reflects the flavours of the region where cocoa beans are grown, and how they are dried and fermented.
Over the last decade, as the demand for more flavourful cocoa has risen, Ecuador has emerged as the pre-eminent exporter of fine beans.
It is a favourite destination for globetrotting chocolatiers in search of the best, and cocoa production has also become a sustainable source of income for Ecuador's farmers.
"Farmers didn't use to pay much attention to cocoa," says Ignacio Estupinan, a 66-year-old farmer who is known in the area as Don Nacho.
"Now everybody knows how valuable cocoa is. It's the best business we have," he adds.
Scholars believe cocoa plants first grew in the Amazon basin, possibly in the area that now corresponds to Venezuela, another large cocoa exporter.
Ecuador's native cocoa beans are known as "Nacional" or "Arriba", a name believed to derive from the location of its discovery. Arriba means "up river" and many cocoa plantations were located along the Guayas river, which flows towards the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city.


Planters are a great way to bring versatility to your garden. From fruit and vegetables to herbs and flowers the possibilities are endless. At O’Meara Garden Furniture we have a wide range of planters to suit all of your gardening needs. We use the best quality timber to hand make products that will stand the test of time and can be reused from season to season. Check out our full range and remember, if you don’t find what you are looking for we can also custom make planters to your own specific measurements.


Help support the farmers that grow your favorite tea.
What is a tea artisan or true tea master? Usually these people have been trained since childhood how to grow, harvest and process tea. These skills have often time been passed down for generations in their family. It is an ancient skill that is fast disappearing unless you support the small family farms of skilled tea artisans. Each tea artisan has their own specialty, their own unique culture and story. We work closely with various tea artisans that produce some of the finest teas available.


Golf Course Irrigation
Without consistent and reliable delivery of water, golf courses will not attract regular or satisfied patrons. CIE works with irrigation manufacturers to integrate control systems that link single or multiple pumps to irrigation grids throughout the entire golf course. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) regulate water pressure, adhere to programmed set-points, and monitor flow to ensure that efficient demand for water is achieved. CIE has over 30 years of experience in providing the expertise required to help manage irrigation systems.


Olympic CITRUS Packing Guide
QUALITY SCORING SYSTEM
FRUIT INSPECTIONS The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) regarding fruit inspections upon arrival can be requested via your contact person in Olympic Fruit.
EXTRA CLASS I TOLERANCE: 2.5%
The sample is free of any major defects, has less than 2.5% minor defects and is hard to firm. The fruit has an excellent coloration for the variety and is uniform in shape and calibration. The fruit is above Olympic Fruit CLASS I color plates and requirements.
NORMAL CLASS I TOLERANCE: 7.5%
The sample is free of any major defects, has less than 7.5% minor defects and is hard to firm. The fruit has a good coloration for the variety and a good shape and calibration. The fruit does comply with Olympic Fruit CLASS I color plates and requirements.
BORDERLINE CLASS I TOLERANCE: 7.6% - 10.0%
The sample has combined minor and/or major defects between 7.6% and 10.0%. The fruit is hard to firm, has fairly uneven coloration and shape. The fruit is on the border of the allowance for CLASS I fruit.
PAGE 8 | Citrus Packing Guide 2023 © | OLYMPIC FRUIT
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The birth and growth of modern science in plant breeding over the years was seen as a ‘savior’ in solving various agricultural production problems. Farmers sang the chorus ‘it is a new variety’ as breeders embarked on hybridization.
Millions and millions of farmers abandoned their local ones hoping to improve their livelihood.This blossomed and there was massive plant genetic erosion for local varieties. The tendency entrapped farmers due to implications of Plant Breeders Rights (PBRs).
Their freedom to share and exchange saved seeds was limited. The practice was an old practice in Kenyan farming communities. This is clearly denoted in an African proverb ‘Mbegu ndiu managwo’ meaning that no one can deny another a seed.
In addition, farmers saving seeds are required by Kenyan seed laws to pay royalties to the breeders. The value is a given percentage of the total revenue at the farm gate level. This directly increases the cost of production and offers a second payment to the breeder; cost of seeds and royalty.
Seed Savers Network identified an information gap in farming communities and awakened the spirit of farmers managed seed systems. The concept of seed and food sovereignty continue to transverse the country through farmers outreach programme. From field experiences, farmers feel at a great loss where some local seeds are no longer traceable in their communities.
Increased awareness on their rights has led to emergence of farmers’ champions who have played a significant role in empowering other farmers. This year, their vibrancy in training other farmers on their rights, importance of crop diversity, through songs and drama have been instrumental in sharing information in their regions.
The integration of demonstration plots for training farmers on farm saved seeds has changed their perception on its production. The essence of maintaining soil health for increased production has been an area of focus during the training. This has sparked a new practice of using locally available farm inputs to enhance productivity for their soils. Initially, farmers ignored incorporating manure in to their soils.
‘And the way we throw it away because we don’t need it in our homesteads,’ Jane from Njeru Self Help Group narrated during a training session. Farmers in the area are known to have large flocks of sheep and usually dispose the manure to a neighboring forest where businessmen collect it for distribution to Kiambu at Ksh.22, 000 per lorry.
The lucky ones sold it at ksh.3, 000 which was used to buy fertilizer. The group after training in the demonstration plot provided by one of their members like other groups has adopted seed saving and integrated organic soil fertility management in their farms.
Indeed, not all that glitters is gold. The introduction of hybrids led to mono-culture. This creates homogeneity in agricultural fields affecting crop diversity. As witnessed in the past, mono-culture exposes farmers to a high risk due crop failure attributed to adverse environmental conditions.
In Kenya for instance, the effect of climate change, outbreak of diseases (Maize lethal Necrosis) and Pests (Fall Army Worm) have been the darkest times to farming communities. Farmers experienced heavy losses leaving them with less/no food to provide to their families. This is especially in maize which is a major staple food.
In midst of these challenges were farmers part of Seed Savers Network. The outcomes of their efforts in diversifying their crops were promising as they had food for their families. Special traits in disease and pest resistant inherent to their local varieties was an incentive to save more and diverse seeds.The wave of change continue to blow to more farmers as the beneficiaries share the good news.
The debate on the high nutritional value of local food over the years seems to grow stronger and stronger. Voice from medical experts, nutritionists, media and researchers add more weight on this matter. Food consumption behavior is
gradually changing in favor of local and organically grown food. The demand although growing slowly shows a foreseeable future in increased production of local crop crops. This means farmers will require local seeds for planting which will only be supplied through the farmers managed seed system. As a network, we continue to build capacity of farmers in seed saving to enhance realization of our mission of strengthening communities’ seed systems for improved seed access and enhanced food sovereignty. This is critical in matching the expected demand with production.
The introduction of Open Source Seed System in Kenya by Hivos ushers a new dawn in the seed sector in Kenya. The concept advocates for seeds to remain common goods, free and available for use to everyone without restrictions. Great news! what a joy that the chain of plant breeder rights entangling farmers freedom on seed saving, exchange and sharing will in the future be a story of the past.
Seed Savers Network has been working closely with Hivos through the Open Source Seed System initiative. We continue to diffuse the idea to farmers, government agents, researchers, Like-minded CSOs and NGOs.This has been done through various platforms; Exhibitions at KARLO Njoro during World Food Day, media (radio and Facebook) and stakeholders meeting held at our hall.
Currently, the network is working with farmers in documentation of underutilized local crops in Nakuru County. This tries to develop a reference for local varieties as well as document its associated traditional knowledge. So far, farmers have been trained on various aspects of the work and remains determined in identifying custodians for various local varieties in their regions.
The output of this endeavor is to promote utilization of the local crops as seed or food under confines of open source seed system. More farmers will access diverse seeds freely and engage in production to meet the created demand due to increased information on the nutritional composition of local food items. The tendency will have a multiplier effect on the number of farmers saving seeds as they try to tap the emerging agribusiness opportunity.
The emergence of community seed banks in villages has ushered a new era of strengthening communities’ seed system. These acts as seed access points for other farmers in the village where custodian farmers store their seeds. On average each serves 200 farmers. The training on seed production and treatment is done by Seed Savers
Extension Officers who undertakes farmers Outreach Programmes in farming areas.
The model used for the seed bank is that a seed bank member volunteer space for the members to store their individual seeds.The seed bank ensures security for the seeds. Farmers during difficult times in the past used to consume the seeds which exposed them further to food insecurity as they lacked the seeds for planting on onset of rain. The seed banks also ensures accessibility to diverse local seeds amongst the members and by other community members.
So far Seed Savers has established 40 seed banks. The operations of the seed banks involves seed; multiplication, collection and recording, processing and fairs. During seed fairs farmers from different seed banks come together to showcase their work, share seeds and also train other farmers in the area.
This has enhanced spread of the concept to many farmers where in some cases farmers champions have established community seeds in their villages on their own. The tendency brings aspect of sustainability on farmers managed seed system work as farmers take the lead role.
The current spirit by Kenyan Government through the Ministry of agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in developing a policy for composite flours is another area. Of late senior government officials have been consistent in adding millet and sorghum to current maize flours. This will promote consumption of these crops thus trickling down the effect to farmers for more production.
Currently farmers obtain seeds from their farm saved seeds or sharing from other farmers.The dominance of maize in manufacturing had weakened the production and consumption of these two crops. This was also disincentive for producers and forced to embark on subsistence production.
However, the proposed approach by the Kenyan government moving into the future will amplify the farmers managed seed system in supplying the seeds to match the increasing demand for sorghum and millet in the country.
Lastly, Seed Savers Network remains strategic and focused to tap and sensitize farmers on the opportunities. To strengthen the farmers managed seeds system, the organization has developed modules targeting farmers’
champions and staff from like-minded organizations. This will build their capacity and prepare them as drivers of change in their communities.
The module is designed to offer theoretical and practical exposure necessary in seed production, processing and storage (in community seed banks). Participants after the training will be guided by the organization to diffuse their skills back to their community. This will ensure seed savings occurs in various regions independently and in sporadic manner at grassroots level which is a pre-requisite for a seed movement.
Initially, the efforts of strengthening farmers managed seed system was hampered by existence of knowledge gap on its components. The current approach by seed savers through the module will contribute in bridging the gap by streamlining and building capacity of the mentioned actors.


An Online Gardening workshop to get you hands-on in Gardening and develop a deeper understanding of Soil and Plants.
Getting started with gardening can be a deterrent for a few. And that is what we are trying to leave behind as we help you uncover the basics in gardening and what you need to do minimally to motivate you to just get started.
A two-hour session on Gardening basics, understanding soil and plants, we cover these topics in this power-packed session!
Q & A session included in the last 15 minutes.
1. BASICS OF SOIL, SUN, AND WATERING Make sure you have a strong foundation to start your green cover!
2. 10 INDOOR PLANTS/ AIR PURIFIERS to grow and maintain, identify, understand, we will show and teach how to propagate and increase your garden naturally at home (Demo included)
3. 10 HERBAL VARIETIES to grow, consume learn its uses, medicinal/ herbal varieties have wonderful qualities about them, we make you love them and consume regularly
4. MICROGREENS how to, potting mix and care. The easiest plants to grow that adds that kick of energy and nutrients to your body (Demo included)
5. NATURAL HOME REMEDIES – We have some useful tips to control pests, make sure you write these handy tips down.
6. EASY GREENS Growing them easily at home for everyday consumption.
7. SOIL BOOSTERS All natural, all easy, found at home and the kitchen, we get you to create a LIVING soil full of microorganisms and nutrients your plants will love!
About the Trainer:
Kavya Chandra runs A Green Venture has been Gardening for 7 years now, runs a community garden where she grows over 10 kinds of herbs and vegetables, works with Natural and Organic farmers holding educational workshops, nature walks in Bangalore, Nature & Outdoor activities in the city and grows a wide range of plants from Indoor to herbs, edible greens, and flowers at home. She believes that all homes should keep edible and medicinal gardens and have Nature in their life every day.
Age group: 12 years and above
Day & Date: Saturday, 3rd April
Time: 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm (IST)
Fees: Rs 800 per person (Inclusive of GST and convenience charges)
Venue: Online class on Zoom
This workshop will primarily be a demo session. All you need is a Notebook & Pen.
Note: You will be added to a WhatsApp group a day prior to the workshop for ease of communication with the steps to join in.
About Bloom and Grow:
Bloom & Grow facilitates artist-led virtual and offline workshops for individuals and for corporates across the world.
To stay updated with the upcoming sessions, join WhatsApp group with the link https://chat.whatsapp.com/FLjH1Wy9xsWHuy7wiEJgw9


Pakistan is a place with an extreme climate that can go from scorching hot to cold pounding rains throughout the year. The hottest temperature on the continent of Asia and the fourth highest temperature in the world was recorded in Pakistan at 128.3 F. It also deals with cyclones and tornados with the onset of the monsoon season from April to July. However, the most devastating climate related event may be the flooding in Pakistan.
In 1950 flooding killed 2,910 people. In 1992 flooding killed 1,834. In 1993 flooding killed 3,084. Then in 2010 flooding hit and killed 1,781 people.
Besides the terrible loss of life homes, businesses, and crops are destroyed by these floods. The Sindh region, which is called the “breadbasket” of the country due to its fertile soil, was hit by flooding in 2011 and 1.7 million acres of arable land was destroyed. This destruction of farmland hurts not only the farmer who has his crops destroyed, but also the people that depend on the crops for food. After living through this flooding for years one Pakistani farmer has figured out a way to safeguard his livelihood from flooding.
Abdul Qadir Sha is a farmer in the Sindh region who traditionally grows cotton on his 14-acre plot of land. His crops were devastated in the 2010 and 2011 flooding leaving him with a net loss of 4 million rupees or $44,000 US. Fortunately for Qadir Sha he had planted mango, date and neem trees a few years earlier throughout his cotton crop and along an irrigation canal using a practice called agroforestry, and they had survived through the flooding. Although he had a huge loss on the cotton side of his farming he made up for it by selling the fruit from these tree’s saying they, “provided enough money to let me repair damaged water channels, buy cotton seed, farm tools and pesticides, and other inputs for cultivating my farmland again this year”. The trees had saved his livelihood.
Once this happened Qadir Sha realized that these trees were a great safety net for the years that flooding destroys his cotton plants, and now he’s letting others know it can help them too. He’s told his story and convinced a number of farmers in his area to plant trees along their crops as a safeguard against the flooding. Now Qadir Sha has 90 mango trees, 20 date palms and 25 neem trees that provide him with an income whether there is flooding or not.
Besides the benefit of income and sustenance trees help the environment. When trees are planted they help to lower soil erosion and reduce water evaporation, but there are other benefits too. Trees help to lower carbon emissions and combat climate change, they also help the fertility of the soil by giving birds and livestock a place to hang out which leads to their waste being dropped onto the soil.
The government of Pakistan has some ideas about how to use agroforestry too. Like much of the world deforestation affects Pakistan through urbanization, the timber trade, construction and large scale agricultural development. Pakistan wants to raise its forest cover from 2% to 6% by 2015 and they think that agroforestry may be part of making this goal happen. While as of writing this I cannot find any indication that agroforestry is being used on at a large scale hopefully the practice will spread through Pakistan and help them meet their 2015 goal.
I always find it really cool when someone does something small like planting trees around their crops for one reason (in this case to make money) and almost accidently it turns into something big that can help a lot of people. I guess that’s how a lot of discoveries are made; by accident. In this case farmers that adopt this method will no longer have to worry about floods destroying their crops or about not being able to provide for their family, and I think that peace of mind is probably priceless. And as an added benefit the trees are helping the environment. A win-win! Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment and let me know what you thought.


50 Years Ago
From the Herald and Democrat in 1968
Firing the best golf of the year, the JBU Golf Team swept the first annual Ozark College golf tournament at Joplin, Mo. "When every man on the squad improves anywhere from 10 to 25 percent during the course of the season, you know it has to be a thrilling and exciting climax to pull off a victory in the first tournament the team has ever entered," exclaimed Coach Parker.
Members of the team were Larry Alexander, John Young, Duane Brandsgaard, Stewart Springfield and John Herman. Brandsgaard did not participate in the Ozark Tournament as it was a four-man team tourney.
30 Years Ago
From the Herald-Democrat in 1988
Once Benton County was known as the home of the Big Red Apple.
Between 1890 and 1910, this county produced more apples than any other county in the United States, and Siloam Springs and vicinity did its part to contribute to the record crops.
In 1895, over 30,000 bushels of apples were shipped out of Siloam Springs and in 1904, 187 railroad cars left the local depot loaded with the fruit. And, in addition to apples shipped out by rail, many bushels were processed at local evaporators, vinegar plants and cider plants. At one time the world's largest apple cider vinegar plant was located in Siloam Springs. The plant burned in 1916.
The Era of the Big Red Apple began to come to a close in the 1920s when disease invaded many of the orchards. The depression of the 1930s saw many orchards abandoned; there were few markets for produce, prices were low and funds were not available for sprays and other production costs. But, the Siloam Springs Museum's new exhibit served as a reminder of the time when apple and other fruit production was a mainstay of the local economy and Benton County was known across the country as the home of The Big Red Apple.
10 years Ago
From the Herald-Leader in 2008
Grace Nast, 13, of Siloam Springs, received third prize in the February 2008 Cricket League photography competition of Cricket magazine.
Each entrant was asked to submit a magazine cover photo. Nast's photo, "Waiting for Spring," appeared in the May/June 2008 issue.Community on 05/16/2018
Print Headline: JBU golf team wins first tournament


Piece Count: 504 unique shapes (if 500 is good, 504 is better!)
Finished Size: 42.0 x 59.4 cm (16.5 x 23.4")
Perfect For: Weekend at the cottage
Recommended Pairings: Mimosa or a Rose Hip Tea
The Steele, Briggs Seed Company was founded in 1873 by Richard Steele and Sylvester Briggs. The company’s success was partially due to the fact that it developed seeds specifically for the Canadian climate and short growing season. While other seed companies based in the U.S. were plentiful, it was critical to find seeds that were proven to grow in the colder, shorter season in Canada. The mail-order seed catalogues published each year were beautiful, eye-catching works of art that were eagerly sought after. Plant on!
Reproduced in vivid wide-gamut colour, and mounted on genuine Eska board.
The Occurrence. Made in Haliburton, Ontario!


Cherry Grove Farm History
In 1987, three brothers inherited 400+ acres of undeveloped farm land in the Lawrenceville/Princeton area. Their ancestors had farmed the area before the revolutionary war, and this particular parcel had been in the family since 1902.
Originally, the land at Cherry Grove was farmed for row crops and then, at some point, converted into a traditional dairy farm where black and white Holstein cows were fed on a mixture of grain and hay. Over the years, the dairy operation was leased to various farmers and the land suffered under more and more intensive industrial farming techniques.
Land preservation and locally grown food are family passions, so the Hamill brothers put their heads together and decided to create something special — something that would give back to their community while keeping the land healthy and undeveloped for generations to come. The Hamills, with their children, planned to regenerate the land by embracing sustainable farming, using old fashioned, pastoral techniques as a guide. The focus would be artisanal farmstead cheese and everything done on the farm would support the making of a quality, handcrafted product.
Today, at Cherry Grove Farm, the farm grazes roughly 120 cows (a mix of Jersey, Friesian, Milking Short Horn, Red Ayreshire, Holstein and Dutch Belted cows) on about 240 acres of certified organic pasture. The cows are milked twice a day, and their milk flows into our creamery to produce award-winning farmstead cheeses.
Visit the Farm
They understand the importance of knowing exactly where our food comes from, so Cherry Grove Farm is open to the public. Their cheese is made on the farm from their own cows’ milk. The meats produced on the farm are processed without nitrates or preservatives so you can expect a clean, quality product. Neighbors and customers are encouraged to visit year-round, to enjoy the pastoral setting, participate in tours and classes, and develop a relationship with the source of their food.
At their on-site Farm Store, they sell their own farmstead cheeses, whey-fed pork, grass-fed lamb, grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chickens and eggs , as well as a plethora of local- and artisan-made goods.
Also at the Farm Store, you will find preserves and mustards, organic popcorn and gluten free snacks, handmade soaps and shea butters, cheese tools, handmade cheeseboards, alpaca socks, woven aprons, beeswax candles and handspun wools.
They are proud to carry products made with quality ingredients, crafted by people they know and respect. Finding new products that complement their cheeses and meats is great fun (such hard work!), and they are always looking for referrals.
Visit the farm critters, watch their cheese makers making cheese, observe the evening milking (sometime between 3 and 4pm), and taste their award-winning farmstead cheeses.
The Farm Store is open 10-5 daily.
Cherry Grove Farm
Lawrenceville Road (Rt. 206 N.)
Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648
Store: (609) 219-0053
Office: (609) 895-1502


Farm equipment sales typically follow farm commodity prices. When farmers can sell their crop at a higher price, naturally they have more money to upgrade their equipment to become more efficient. It’s simple economics.
But what happens when the companies manufacturing new, cutting-edge tractors, planters and harvesters can’t build farm equipment because a global pandemic shakes up manufacturing supply chains? What happens when there’s a shortage of rubber for tires, steel for frames and axles, and tiny microchips that control performance? That’s a different level of economics that farm equipment manufacturers, farm equipment dealers and farmers themselves are all trying to understand.
Demand side: Pent-up demand for farm equipment from farmers
With prices for corn, soybeans, wheat and other commodity crops remaining stagnant over the past six years, farmers have been hesitant to make big purchases like new tractors, planters and combines. Instead, many have opted to extend the use of their older equipment. But with commodity prices coming back stronger than expected over the past year, farmers are now in a better financial position, allowing them to update their equipment. In fact, according to reports by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM):
- Tractor sales are up almost 26% through May of 2021.
- Combines sales are up 13% compared to the same time period in 2020.
- Sales over the past year have been above the five-year average, indicating farmers are now acting on pent-up demand for equipment.
Internationally, ag equipment unit sales are expected to continue rising around the globe through at least 2023. After growing 5% internationally from 2019 to 2020, most regions of the world are expected to continue seeing growth. For example, increases in tractor sales in the first five months of 2021 compared to 2020 are up in the following countries:
- Canada (Up 52%)
- Germany (Up 34%)
- United Kingdom (Up 21%)
Farm equipment sales could be even stronger were it not for struggles manufacturers are facing in keeping up with production. Many are still playing catchup due to COVID-related factory closings and production slowdowns due to labor shortages. But possibly the biggest unresolved problem for equipment manufacturers is disrupted worldwide supply chains that are making it hard to acquire the components needed to build the equipment.
Supply side: Supply chain disruptions that slow manufacturing
Most farm equipment requires hundreds of component parts made of steel, rubber, glass, plastic, electronics, lubricants and more. The average tractor itself is made up of more than 1,700 different components. Over the past few decades, manufacturers, looking to improve cash flow and be more efficient with their resources, have moved toward a just-in-time delivery of raw materials and component parts from their suppliers. This works great as long as manufacturing supply chains are predictable. But if even one part of the supply chain fails, manufacturers aren’t able to deliver product.
COVID-19 has been the biggest catalyst to supply chain breakdowns for farm equipment manufacturers over the past 18 months. Factories that supply raw materials and components have had to shut down or curtail production significantly because of government interventions and a labor force that has juggled temporary layoffs, illness and family needs. Steel, which makes up approximately 70% of farm equipment, saw a decline to 50% production capacity early in the pandemic according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Less steel leads to less capacity to build farm equipment.
More recently, decreased production and increased competition for microprocessor chips from other industries —including the auto industry, video games and electronics suppliers — have impacted farm equipment. As farmers have adapted to precision technology and telematics — the computers that help them operate — their equipment has become more reliant on electronics. In a recent poll by Farm Equipment Magazine, 88% of respondents expressed concern that the lack of chips would cause farm equipment inventory challenges. To add to the concern, Intel’s CEO was quoted as saying he expects it might take 6 to 9 months to boost production of the chips and that the current shortage could extend for a couple years.
Rubber, used in tires and belts, is also seeing supplies tighten as a result of a variety of issues, including production challenges in Asia where most of the raw material is produced, a lack of shipping containers globally and this spring’s bottleneck in the Suez Canal. China’s efforts to stockpile rubber in anticipation of a shortage has also caused disruptions that will likely extend into the short term.
Factory fires and hurricane Laura caused large petrochemical facilities in Texas and Louisiana — some of the world’s biggest producers of petroleum-based plastic inputs — to reduce production. The abnormally hard winter freeze across Texas also shut down electric utilities for weeks, causing a shortage of raw materials used by companies that produce plastic parts for farm equipment. As a result, normalized production levels for plastic parts and components could take months.
What equipment dealers and farmers should consider
With farm equipment facing a shortage due to parts scarcity that could extend for months and possibly more than a year, farmers and farm equipment dealers are starting to make changes that will help them into the future.
“I think the best dealers are thinking in advance rather than waiting to make the sale,” said Ken Whitelaw, global head of Program Management, Food and Agriculture at DLL. “They’re managing the relationship. It’s not just a transaction anymore. Dealers are changing their mindset and thinking about the needs of their customers further into the future and how they can continue to be involved along the way.”
In many cases, dealers now are working with customers who won’t see the equipment they want for six months or longer. Dealers are looking for creative ways to facilitate a deal — including taking advantage of early-order programs offered by manufacturers and working on creative trade and financing options.
“We’re finding ourselves helping dealers and farmers book deals before the equipment is delivered,” said Whitelaw. “It helps the farmer with peace of mind that their equipment is on order with a delivery date, and it helps the dealer because it gives them the opportunity to sell their customer’s trade sooner than they normally would.”
Taking a new look at technology
From a farm equipment dealer standpoint, the past year has seen the use of technology accelerate both facilitating sales and developing customer relationships.
“We literally had customers buying tractors from dealers that were physically closed due to local government mandates,” said Whitelaw. “Everything went online. Farmers could download their contracts with dealers and dealers could do a socially distanced delivery. Dealers learned that technology could make it easier and more convenient for the customer.”
Technology and the drive to build customer relationships has also opened the eyes of dealers looking to provide a deeper level of service.
“I think the technology thing is really key. If I’m running a dealership, I’m now asking myself, ‘How do I position myself to service my customers?’ — whether I’m the seller of the equipment or not,” said Thomas Casey, vice president of Asset Management, Food and Agriculture at DLL. “It’s one thing to sell the asset, but can they play a bigger part from a service standpoint? How can they stay connected to the equipment and the customer and be a service provider on the technology side? I think the current environment has just opened people’s eyes to embracing technology.”
In the future, that might mean helping customers consider options that are not as common in today’s farm equipment market, but it may also evolve in the near future. With dealers lacking farm equipment inventory today, manufacturers are likely to encourage dealers to do a better job of stocking equipment as production levels improve and not rely as much on being able to order from factory stock and have it delivered in a week. Additional inventory on dealer lots may also create different revenue streams.
“There’s never been much rental and rental fleet activity in the ag industry,” said Casey. “I think maybe it will be a reactionary thing, but I see that as a bigger opportunity for additional revenue for dealers and possibly manufacturers.”
With the jury still out on how long it will take for supply chains to get back to normal across the globe, the impact of the disruptions over the past year have brought light to opportunities for ag equipment dealers and manufacturers. Which of these opportunities will stick around over the long term is yet to be seen.
“One of the advantages of being a global company is we have a footprint across more than 30 countries,” said Whitelaw. “In times like these, where things are unpredictable and changing, having that global perspective can be an advantage. Seeing how supply chains are working. Seeing how dealers and manufacturers are adjusting in different countries. Those are insights we can bring to our customers, along with solutions to support them, that can put our customers at an advantage.”


You know us for our quality feed, but we’re also an excellent source for the industry’s best farm hardware and equipment. That’s why CPC has teamed with the nation’s leading manufactures. CPC proudly offers our customers a full line of products from the following:
Additionally, we offer a variety of CPC-branded products to meet the needs of any farming operation, regardless of type or size. We strive to be a competitive, quality source for the staples you search for. Contact us for product and pricing inquiries.
The following offers a glimpse of what we have available:
High Tensile Wire
Cattle Hay Rings
Horse Hay Rings
Rubbermaid® Water Tanks
Personalized Lettered Gates


The EU FLEGT Facility has published a story describing how farmers in Thailand are starting to reap the benefits from international timber trade talks between Thailand and the European Union.
Until recently, forest laws put limitations on farmers around the harvesting and transportation of certain tree species. Organisations such as the Private Forest Plantation Cooperative Limited – a cooperative of tree growing farmers and private land owners – used the trade talks to push for amendments to forest laws to improve the situation for farmers.
In 2019, the Thai Government changed regulations regarding the use of trees on private land. Farmers can now legally harvest all trees on their land and get additional income from them without burdensome paperwork and/or field inspections.


About our Company
Our family has been on roofs installing skylights for over 25 years! Our team takes great pride in workmanship and customer service. Skylight Professionals are committed to delivering exceptional value and quality in every facet of our operations. We are grateful to each and every one of our hundreds of satisfied clients, with whom we have had the distinct pleasure of working with over the years. We know about eco-friendly lighting solutions!
Skylight Pros are committed to being "green" wherever possible. We recycle all our re-usable skylights and domes to Grow Calgary. This location makes greenhouses to grow vegetables for Calgary’s homeless and we’ve been told it’s enabled them to grow and supply hundreds of pounds of tomatoes each year!
Fully managed from consultation to the finished project
Our work stands the test of time
Motivated, highly-trained experts committed to their work


Master Gardener Classes 2019
Would you like to become a N.C. Cooperative Extension Master Gardener?
Cleveland County Extension will offer classes in 2019.
The Extension Master Gardener program is an educational program designed to enhance public education in consumer horticulture. It provides educational assistance to the citizens of the county concerning lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees, and ornamentals through the utilization of a trained and supervised volunteer staff.
Under the guidance and support of Extension agents, selected residents of a county enter a specially designed training program in horticulture. Participants in the program must complete the training program, pass an examination, and volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year (20 hours in subsequent years) through the local Cooperative Extension Center.
The Extension Master Gardener program allows the local Extension to extend education to an ever increasing gardening audience. It also provides the local center with a highly visible way to meet the public demand for information and to develop a strong clientele support group.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension increasingly utilizes trained Master Gardener volunteers to meet the constant demand for consumer horticulture information by the citizens of our state. Seventy three counties offer the Extension Master Gardener program. Many of our county programs are relatively new. There are currently over 3,000 active Master Gardener volunteers.
If you would like to become an Extension Master Gardener, you will need to fill out, print and return the 2019 Master Gardener Application to:
Extension Master Gardener
130 S. Post Road, Suite 1
Shelby, NC 28152
If you have any questions, please give Julie Flowers a call @704-482-4365 or
2019 Class Dates:
August – 20, 22, 27, 29
September – 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26
Each class will run from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost is $55.00


Kendall County master gardener Steve Wolf shows Josephine Breyne of Yorkville how to test germination of seeds Saturday, Feb. 2 in Yorkville. The event allowed community members to share vegetable and flower seeds in the third annual Seed Swap by the University of Illinois Extension in Kendall County.
Gunnar McKinley of Elburn asks the master gardener and master naturalist volunteers a question about native seeds, such as milkweed. During the seed exchange event, master gardeners answered questions and demonstrated a seed-starting system. To learn more about University of Illinois Extension in Kendall County, visit go.illinois.edu/extensiondkk.


- Certification/Grading: FT, Organic
- Roast: Medium
- Tasting Profile: Salted caramel, silky sweet, citrus
- Grower: Cooperativa Agricola de Servicisios Norandino
- Variety: Caturra, Bourpon, Catuai, Pache, & Catimor
- Region: Piura, Amazonas, Peru
- Altitude: 1100-1700 M
- Soil Type: Clay Minerals
- Process: Gully washed and dried in the sun.
25% of all profits from this coffee are donated to causes that help support low-income coffee growers and alleviate child poverty
A fresh bag of coffee will be delivered every 14 days.


The leaves are falling and many trees are bare, but, that doesn’t mean the trees are inactive. Most deciduous trees are devoting energy to root systems at this time. They are investing in roots for winter storage as well as in expanding the root network to exploit opportunities for nutrient and water uptake.
Since the trees are still growing, albeit underground and unseen, we can still make positive contributions to their health condition to make them more tolerant of freezing winter conditions and better prepared to begin above ground growth in the spring.
Watering is probably the most critical care option for trees overwintering in Minnesota. Soil moisture allows for continuing root growth and storage, and nutrient and water uptake. In addition, well watered root systems are better able to handle the many winter stresses including root desiccation.
For evergreen trees and shrubs (spruce, pine, arborvitae etc.) watering in the fall is very important (Figure 1). Since these trees retain their foliage throughout the winter, they are much more prone to issues with winter desiccation. Conifers going into winter with a dry root system will experience more issues with winter injury, including salt damage leading to needle drop and even death of terminal branches. Keeping irrigation on or watering up until the ground becomes frozen will help these plants hydrated through the winter (Figure 2). Heavy snowfall helps protect the roots of trees from desiccation. With snow on the ground, winter injury is more related to structural damage due to weight of snow.
Amending soils in the fall with prescriptive organic matter will also help root systems by creating more pore space for water and nutrient holding (Figure 3). The soil microorganisms that feed on the organic matter are literally soil builders. They will remain active until the ground is frozen and during that time they will naturally till the soil and reduce the bulk density of heavy clay soils. In sandy soils, the organic matter will help hold water and nutrients in the profile where the tree and shrub roots can access it this fall and into next spring.
Fall is also a great time to treat for insect scale problems on trees (Figure 4). Horticultural oils applied to branches and twigs in the fall will suffocate most overwintering scales. There is no risk of foliar damage on deciduous trees, because the foliage is gone. These treatments can however remove the bluish sheen from evergreen plants with blue characters such as Colorado blue spruce, concolor fir and some junipers.
In the winter, deer, rabbits and voles can cause significant damage to stem and trunk tissue on trees and shrubs. Putting metal window screening around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs or those with a history of damage will prevent rabbits and voles from getting to the delicate trunk tissues. The metal screens should be at least four feet tall and should be between 1-1/2 to two inches away from the bark of the tree. This prevents rabbits and voles from reaching over or sticking their noses through the wire to nibble. Metal screening should also be buried at least two inches into the soil to prevent burrowing beneath the screen. Chicken wire and other large gap screens are not effective at preventing access to the bark tissue.
Voles especially need cover from predators. They can become a problem if snow banks go up and over the wire mesh and the voles can tunnel through the snow to get to the bark. They also like the cover of mulch. Having mulch piled up against the trunk of trees is not a good idea in general, but with voles it provides a sanctuary from predators so they can feed on trees unabated. Pulling mulch away from the trunks of trees with about a foot of open clearance between the trunk and the mulch is enough to make voles feel uncomfortable.
Paper-based tree wraps, paints and sprays tend to not be as effective as the wire mesh physical barriers for rabbits and voles. Of course no one makes a screen large enough to prevent deer damage.
Deer do prefer saplings and young trees with big tasty buds. Often they will even reach their neck over fences to rip off the succulent tissues. The key with deer repellents is that by using them you make the plant less attractive than other plants in the vicinity. Thus, even plants treated with repellents can be fed upon if the deer are very hungry or if there aren’t any better feeding options for them in the area (Figure 5).
Most deer repellents contain putrescent egg solids as their primary ingredient. Think stinky sulfur egg smell. The best repellents are those that stay on the bark tissues even after a rain or snow event. Unfortunately, even those repellents will wear off over the winter. Repeated treatments are needed when and if the temperature rises above freezing throughout the winter to keep the trees stinky. An alternative that has shown some success is the use of capsaicin tablets that are formulated to be dissolved in the soil and taken up from the roots of trees into the tissue that is fed upon by deer. These tablets however require an active xylem stream within the tree to get the capsaicin where it will be effective. That’s probably not going to happen this late in the season, but planning early for to apply them in September of next year is certainly an option.
Dr. John Lloyd, Ph.D. of Plant Health Doctors, LLC contributes to the Ostvig Tree Care website blog. He is also available through Ostvig Tree Care to answer questions on tree care and plant health issues. Feel free to send any questions you may have about this blog or any other tree issues to firstname.lastname@example.org.


In March I had the opportunity to attend the Good Food Festival in Chicago.
The Good Food Festival was created for food lovers concerned about the future of our food supply.
“The purpose of the Good Food Festival & Conference is to link some of the best local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems. FamilyFarmed.org now works with many of the nation’s largest buyers of local food including Whole Foods Market, Sysco, Compass Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Goodness Greeness, and others to connect them with local food sources.”
My kids, my mom and I attended the Exhibit part of the Festival on Saturday, March 17, 2012 and we walked away from it looking forward to next year.
There were so many great organic food products, organic product growers and all sorts of local food resources and information. There were product samples, demonstrations and many booths allowed you to purchase the products you were sampling, which was great for me because not only did I get to try something before I bought it, where I live these types of products aren’t as readily available as they are in the city. Hopefully that will change soon!
The event was held at UIC (The University of Illinois at Chicago), which is where I spent 5 years studying Architecture and obtained my Bachelor’s degree. It was great to go back and visit the campus and learn more about my passion for clean and organic eating.
It was sponsored by Chipotle, my favorite restaurant in the entire world and the exhibit floor was filled with great local and semi-local companies all there sharing a common passion for transforming the way we eat.
As I mentioned earlier, there were product samples, demonstrations and they made sure that the kids had a great time too. Purple Asparagus sponsored a children’s area where they learned about composting (and Abby fell in love with worms), planted tomato seeds and made puppets.
I can’t even begin to describe the great food I came home with!
My mom and I both are looking forward to next year.
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With the assistance of the CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors, genetic data in a plant will be modified to make the latter extra sturdy to pests, illnesses, or excessive weather conditions. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Know-how (KIT) have now developed this technique additional to remove the entire DNA of particular cell sorts and, thus, forestall their formation throughout plant growth. This can even assist scientists higher perceive growth mechanisms in crops. The findings are introduced in Nature Communications.
By the use of molecular scissors, the DNA — the provider of genetic data — will be modified in crops. Up to now, the CRISPR/Cas technique co-developed in crops by Professor Holger Puchta, molecular biologist at KIT’s Botanical Institute has already been used to particularly insert, alternate or mix genes. The objective is to extend the plant’s resistance to illnesses and environmental impacts. CRISPR (stands for Clustered Often Interspaced Brief Palindromic Repeats)/Cas are molecular scissors that may particularly acknowledge and minimize DNA sequences. “We’ve got studied molecular scissors for plant use for 30 years now. At first, we utilized them to switch particular person genes. Two years in the past, we had been the primary worldwide to restructure full chromosomes,” Puchta says. For his analysis, the pioneer of genome enhancing twice acquired the Superior Grant of the European Analysis Council (ERC). “We had been capable of optimize this technique. With CRISPR-Kill, now we have reached now a wholly new stage of growth: We will remove sure plant cell sorts and forestall the formation of particular plant organs.”
Eliminating Secondary Roots and Petals with CRISPR-Kill
The experiments carried out by the scientists targeting secondary roots and petals of the mannequin plant thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana). “These are classical examples in biology. Right here, we all know the genetic program and the cell sorts which can be essential for the formation of those plant organs,” the molecular biologist explains. After the elimination of those cells, CRISPR-Kill crops now not fashioned any petals or secondary roots, whereas the management crops exhibited regular progress.
Opposite to different strategies that remove cells with cytotoxins or laser radiation, CRISPR-Kill induces a number of cuts within the genome. A genome consists of a sure variety of chromosomes, on which the person genes are organized in mounted order. “Up to now, CRISPR/Cas has aimed for precisely one location and has minimize a few times to switch a gene or chromosome,” Puchta says. “Now, now we have reprogrammed our molecular scissors. They now not deal with the genomic DNA solely as soon as, however intention within the respective cell kind for a sequence that’s encountered usually within the genome and that’s important for the survival of the cell. On this method, many cuts are induced on the similar time — too many for the cell to restore them. The cell will die.”
Higher Understanding Improvement Processes in Vegetation
The work of the KIT researchers will be categorised as elementary analysis. “By learning what occurs when a sure cell kind is eradicated, we study extra in regards to the growth processes in crops. How does the plant react? How versatile is the plant throughout growth? Can we take away components of crops that aren’t essential in agriculture, as an illustration?,” Puchta provides. In the long run, meals manufacturing and pharmaceutical functions would possibly revenue from this expertise when the plant is prevented from forming cells that produce toxins, as an illustration. Furthermore, the expertise may be utilized in multi-cellular organisms for the precise modification of tissues.
Supplies offered by Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). Notice: Content material could also be edited for type and size.


Grass and Wildflower seed in bulk
We carry a wide range of native grass and wildflower seed in bulk and aim to have most of the seeds listed below available throughout the year. If you do not see the species you are looking for, please contact us as we may be able to order it for you.
During the planting season (late fall to early winter) we try to keep all seed on hand to fulfill your order as quickly as possible, but as with our plants, we highly recommend that you call us first to check on availability before you make a trip out to the nursery. All prices are market prices and are subject to change without notice.
To ensure that the seed you buy is appropriate for your location, all seed orders are custom made and can take some time to put together. Please try to give us at least 48 hours notice if you need a seed order put together. This way, we can save you time by having everything ready when you arrive. When you contact us to place an order or to discuss a custom mix, it would help us greatly if you have answers to the following questions:
- What is the size of the area you want to sow? (in square feet or acres)
- Where is the site you are sowing?
- What kind of soil do you have? e.g. sandy, clay, dry, moist, etc.
- Is the area in full sun or partial shade?
- Will the area have supplemental irrigation or just winter rains?
All seed orders are put together at our Moss Landing nursery. If you order seed it needs to be prepaid (Due to the amount of cancellations in the past).
We also sell our wildflower seed in pre-measured presentation packets. These cost $4.00 (tax included) each and are an ideal size for sowing smaller areas. They also make great gifts and stocking stuffers!


When a Friends member heard that honey bee hives were coming to Crooked River State Park in coastal St Marys, she suggested to Park Ranger, Tracy Worsham, that a one-acre mowed field be converted into a meadow of local native wildflowers and grasses. The new habitat would provide nectar, pollen, native seeds, forage and shelter to honeybees, native bees, bumblebees, wasps, flies, butterflies, birds, gopher tortoises, and other wildlife that live in the park. Her idea was well received. Thus began a collaboration between Friends of Crooked River State Park, where both Elizabeth King and Gail Farley are members, and the park.
The park called it the "Pollinator Restoration Project." Friends of CRSP were given the responsibility to plan and implement the project. Gail Farley volunteered to lead the effort. Step one was to stop mowing the one-acre field so that existing vegetation could grow up. By Fall 2019, little bluestem grass, Schizachyrium scoparium, had emerged as the dominant flora. Shortleaf blazing star, Liatris tenuifolia, appeared and grew in in drifts. The best surprise was clumps of wiregrass, Aristida stricta, that surfaced once mowing stopped. We collected seeds of little bluestem and Liatris. Gopher tortoise burrows and wiregrass clumps were tagged so they would not get bush hogged.
We decided to tackle just one-third of the site in 2019. Once the site was bush hogged, volunteers removed as much of the existing vegetation as possible. Our goal was a cleared site that would offer the best native seed to soil contact. While not ideal, we chose to have the park use their tractor to disc and harrow the site. Our volunteers then spent many hours manually raking and removing plant debris from the sandy soil. The hills and valleys created by the tractor's work had to be smoothed to a flat soil surface. Before seeding, a mulched trail was created to weave its way through the site. We then seeded the bed with more than three dozen species of local ecotype native wildflowers and grasses, most being purchased from Florida Wildflowers Growers Association. We didn't have the luxury of collecting desirable seeds earlier. The bed was then rolled to press the seed into the soil. Finally, we spread a thin layer of longleaf pine straw to help keep seeds and moisture in place. With the seeds put to bed, we then walked away and hoped for the best. We knew that many of the seeds required rain and cold temperatures to germinate. And some seeds take 2-3 years for the seed coat to wear down enough for roots to grow. The site is not irrigated, relying exclusively on natural rain. When we say, "Hope it rains soon," we mean it! Plans for 2020 include removing nonnative species from another one-third of the area through solarization this summer, then during State Parks Day, rake out the area and prepare for seeding. We will need volunteers! Please join us on Saturday, September 26, for Your State Parks Day at the Pollinator Restoration Area.


The term biomass refers to organic matter which can be used as fuel or for industrial production. For example, plant matter such as dead trees/ branches, yard clippings and wood chips can be used to generate electricity. Biomass can also include plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat and biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic substances such as coal or petroleum. Biomass production is a growing industry fuelled by current interests in sustainable fuel sources.
Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil). The particular plant used is usually not important to the end products, but it does affect processing of the raw material. Other sources for biomass fuel can include forestry residue, farm waste, slaughterhouse and fishery waste, and organic municipal solid waste.


THE ENDURO - PLUS LINE IS CISCO'S OWN BRAND OF FORAGE PRODUCTS
Enduro-Plus consists of only the best forage varieties available. All varieties in the Enduro-Plus product line have been developed and tested for forage quality, yield, and persistence. These products have been designed to give you higher relative feed values, which translates into more milk per acre, more beef per acre, or more energy for horses.
We sell Enduro-Plus products only through trained seed dealers. We know forage producers want quality products from people who can keep them up-to-date with the newest and best information available. That’s why we work closely with our dealers to keep them trained on the best forages available. You can be assured every Enduro-Plus dealer has the knowledge to help you be more profitable.


By 2050, global agricultural production will need to increase by 70 percent to feed a population that will grow from seven billion to nine billion.
New Zealand is emerging as a leading provider of agricultural technology solutions, including for countries that increasingly need to feed growing populations, and we are actively looking for opportunities to share our expertise.
New Zealand’s geographic and isolated location has seen farmers maximise production by converting grass and other forages to dairy and meat through efficient and productive pasture management.
Over a century of excellence in food production and agriculture has provided the base for New Zealand’s highly competitive and efficient primary production systems. New Zealand’s expertise in pasture-based production has made it the world leader in efficient and low cost conversion of pasture to protein, and the systems that surround it — from food safety to processing and logistics.
New Zealand’s pastoral farming system enjoys significantly lower capital and operating costs than other farm systems, and there are considerable opportunities to modify and adapt this to other climates and geographic locations. New Zealand farming systems and agri-business has been adapted in a range of countries including Brazil, China and Saudi Arabia.
New Zealand agri-business solutions, from herd improvement, software, pasture mapping and management, to farm automation equipment, can be easily integrated on-farm to maximise increases in productivity and profitability - a key focus for New Zealand farmers, and a discipline that can be adopted internationally. Recent services provided to international customers have included veterinary training, meat-processing regulation, the development of an innovative measurement tool for sap flow in trees, and introducing genetics into an animal-management system.


Are you searching for just the right property to meet your needs? Ward Fenton and his team can assist you in finding Montana and South Dakota properties that are just what you are looking for. Ward’s extensive background in farming and ranching, his knowledge of the region, and his expertise in managing livestock and crops ensures he can locate a property that will work for you.
Do you want to know the value of your property? Ward will put together a full packet of information about your property, compare it to other similar properties, and determine the market value.
Ranch Management and Consulting
Ward has managed ranches, farms, bull tests, and feedlots all over the region including the Northwest United States. His areas of expertise include cattle and horse breeding programs, farming and irrigation, feeding cattle, and developing agricultural operations. He brings his nearly 70 years of experience to the table when consulting with clients.


LSD is an Indica-dominant cross between Skunk #1 and an Afghani landrace from Amsterdam-based Barney’s Farm. The strain was named by seed bank breeders for its powerful, cerebral, psychotropic high. Winner of 3rd Indica at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2008, LSD is a hardy, mold- and disease-resistant plant that grows well in both indoor and outdoor environments. The seed bank reports the strain offers high yields of potent buds during a 60-65 day flowering period. Users can expect a musky, earthy, floral scent, and a citrusy chestnut aroma. Feminized seeds are available from Barney’s Farm.


Round drip irrigation pipes are produced and marketed in different models and sizes. These equipment are generally produced in diameters of 16 and 20 mm and thicknesses of 0.9 to 1.2 mm. The drippers are mounted on the pipe, the distance of which starts from 15 cm and reaches up to 100 cm. The output flow of these drippers is produced between 2 liters and 4 liters per hour. 20 mm Round Drip Irrigation Pipes are available in rolls of 300 meters.
Features of round drip irrigation pipes:
- Suitable for products that need equal water
- Suitable for irrigation of large areas with low rainfall
- Relatively high resistance to chemical reactions
- easy washing
- Places to add drippers online
- Better weed control


Government’s P5,000 assistance consuelo de bobo — farmers’ group
MANILA, Philippines — The government’s offer of a one-time P5,000 cash assistance to the country’s farmers is of little worth, as the rice industry’s liberalization has cost them way more than that, a farmers’ group said over the weekend.
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), one of the largest non-government organizations of rural workers in the Philippines, slammed the recent decision of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to no longer impose safeguard measures, at least for the meantime, even as farmers continue to suffer from low palay prices.
“The P5,000 is only about one-fifth of what farmers have lost this season due to the drop in palay prices, so it’s just like consuelo de bobo for them,” FFF national manager Raul Montemayor told The STAR.
“I foresee problems in how they identify beneficiaries, because not all rice farmers can be accommodated, and the negative reaction from farmers who also suffered but are not qualified to receive the money just because they have larger landholdings,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar last week said the Cabinet has decided to not tap safeguard measures amid alleged inflationary effects.
Instead, the government will give a one-time cash assistance of P5,000 each to farmers tilling one hectare and below.
“It does not solve the problem and does not address the root cause as to why palay prices are dropping, which is the surge of cheap imported rice, and for which the only legal way to arrest the surge is to impose safeguard duties,” Montemayor said.
The group has also expressed disappointment with Dar for not deciding on his own, allowing other members of the Cabinet to decide what will happen to local farmers.
“He opted to toss the problem to the EDC (Economic Development Cluster) and then the Cabinet, without taking a stand as DA secretary, which the law requires him to do,” Montemayor said.
“It appears now that DA policy is being controlled by the economic managers, and he (Dar) has no choice but to follow them,” he added.
At the very least, the group urged Dar to divulge the results of their investigation on the need for safeguard duties, and not just say they terminated the investigation without any result.
FFF also disputed the government’s claim that imposing safeguard duties may be inflationary given that large volumes of rice have already been imported at cheap prices and at the regular tariff.
“The government just has to find a way to get this rice out into the market at a reasonable price. It is unfair that farmers will continue suffering without the safeguards just because government cannot control how imports are sold in the market,” Montemayor said.
The planned cash assistance will be taken from the excess tariffs being collected under the Rice Tariffication Law. The government has so far collected P11 billion since the law took effect in March.
The Bureau of Customs earlier said revenues from the opening up of the rice market will likely yield P15 billion this year, exceeding the P10 billion target under the law.
The tariff collection from rice importation will be allocated for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which will be used for programs to boost the productivity and global competitiveness of local farmers.
The excess from the P10 billion will likewise be for the farmers, especially those affected by the drop in palay prices.
The DA recently terminated the study on imposing safeguard measures, pending consultation with the country’s economic team.
Under the rules of the World Trade Organization and the Safeguard Measures Act, the government can impose general safeguard duties on imports of rice on top of regular tariffs if imports are found to have caused, or threaten to cause, injury to rice farmers.


North London isn’t especially known for its wines but Forty Hall Vineyard is changing that perception. Forty Hall is a new social enterprise managed by award-winning wine maker Will Davenport and some local volunteers on 10 acres of organic vineyards in Enfield. Established in 2009, they produce still and sparkling wines farmed using biodynamic practices and are the first vineyard of this scale in London since the middle ages. The project has also been engaged with improving the health and wellbeing of the local community through ecotherapy.
The London Sparkling Brut is made with the traditional méthode champenoise from organically grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes from their vineyard. It is delicate and light with hints of lemon and ripe apples with a depth highlighting London’s unique terroir.
London Sparkling Brut, 2015
Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay


Duhok Agricultural Company
The farm is in operation since 1982.
Initially commissioned by Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH, Germany as a Layer Farm.
DAC farm consists of:
- Battery Cages, feeding system, silos, drinking system, egg collection conveyors from Kutlusan Poultry Equipment-Turkey in 20 sheds
- Feed mill from Yemtar, Turkey and
- New egg store.
- The existing farm consist of 15 farms, feed mill, hatchery, one egg store, veterinary complex, water pumping station, etc.
- Every farm/ complex is approximately 1-2 km away from each other.
- There is an abundant supply of sweet water from nearby Mosul Dam built on the Tigris River. It is pumped to a Tank and then supplied to all farms.
- Every farm has a power supply from the country’s electricity grid, has in house power sub-station, and is also backed up by Generators.
- Every complex has an approx. 200m2 office.
- All farms are protected by wire mesh security fencing and manned by security personnel.
|Total Number of Farms||15 Farms|
|Total number of sheds in all the 15 farms||130 Sheds
Each shed measuring 130 x 12.5 meters
|Feed Mill complex||ONE|
|Veterinary / Laboratory complex||ONE|
Layer Farming Status
- Total number of Chickens (Layer) currently in the farm: 550,000 Chickens
- Current daily egg production: 470,000 Eggs equivalent to 1,300 Cartons


I resent slugs mightily, especially right now after looking at the primroses I planted earlier and seeing nasty, brown, rotting streaks over the blossoms that I know have been caused by those slimy menaces. They have been the one thing that have kept my vegetable (and flower) garden from being totally organic. I don't use anything but compost for fertilizer--no chemicals. I mulch. But no matter what organic method I have tried, those slugs keep coming, sliming their way to my flowers and veggies, laughing their silent but no doubt mocking slimy laugh as they consume the beauty and abundance I have TRIED to produce.
Diatomaceous earth--no go, not in the very wet Pacific Northwest. It's basically ineffective after it rains, and slugs proliferate in the wet. Beer--somehow, I seem to have the only tea-totaling slugs on earth. The dear hubby has nixed putting geese in our yard, which I have to agree with, because I don't like having to avoid stepping over goose poop in our yard (yeah, I know, it's natural fertilizer, but geese are also often mean. Also, we have a cat--a big, affectionate, but weenie cat that would no doubt be terrorized by such a bird).
Salt--no. There is a reason why ancient Assyrians "salted the earth" after conquering their enemies. Salt was their form of making the fields of the conquered people unable to produce crops. We have enough slugs here that using salt all the time to get rid of them would render my goal of producing luscious veggies near impossible.
So I have ended up using Cory's Slug and Snail Death. Part of the reason is that it is very effective. The other is that there is something honest and upfront about what the product does: no hiding it, no prettifying the goal of the product. It deals death to slugs and snails, period. I appreciate honesty like that.
However, I still want an organic garden. I don't like the idea of nasty chemicals seeping into what I eat, look at, and smell. I want to be able to pick the veggies, give them a good rinse under the faucet, and eat, right then and there.
I am persistent, so I keep looking. And today, much to my delight, I found the perfect Pacific Northwest solution: coffee!
Here's where I found it: http://www.plantea.com/slug-baits-coffee.htm
It seems that caffeine is toxic to snails. However, as every avid gardener knows, coffee grounds are great to add to compost. So, using coffee and coffee grounds will repel slugs while at the same time helping your garden soil become richly productive. Is that great or what? The special obsession of the Seattle area--coffee in all its wondrous forms--gets rid of the bane of Pacific Northwest existence: slugs.
I haven't tried it yet, but I certainly will. It will mean cutting open used Senseo pods, but I'm fine with that.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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2 weeks ago


Family owned and operated, Tupu’anga Coffee is an ethical trade product made up of 100% Arabica beans. It is grown, harvested and produced in Tonga, and provides sustainability to families and communities living there. The profits of the business are reinvested in to the delivery of AW programmes, providing mentoring to around 400 children and their families each year.
Tupu’anga coffee is 100% organically grown, handpicked and roasted in the Kingdom of Tonga.We work together with local farmers and harvest the coffee cherries, which are then processed in our factory to make an aromatic Arabican roast. The Arabica beans provide a unique taste with very distinctive mild flavours presenting a soft acidity and a good body.
A community development approach is central to how Tupu’anga coffee operates. The purchase of our products provide a livelihood to Tongan farmers and their families, and allow us to support community development projects right throughout the Pacific.
|Phone:||+676 770 1743 or +676 26 174|
|Address:||Tupu'anga Factory Private Bag 3, Kolofo'ou Umusi, Ma'ufanga Tongatapu|


Our vineyard was established in the Spring of 2013.
Wine is our passion and we take care of the whole wine making process ourselves, from planting the grapevines till corking the bottles. In 2016 we finalised procedures necessary for legalising the vineyard in Poland and we also secured the liquor license as well as the varietal wine certificate. We’ve also recently joined The Lesser Poland Wine Trail, initiative focused on supporting the recovery of wine making tradition in our region. We offer a wide range of attractions: wine tasting, classical and jazz music live. Once a year in August we organise an international music festival - Vitis Music Sfera Festival, the only such event during which musicians from different countries perform on the hill of the vineyard.
The vineyard is currently 1 ha. in area, but we are planning to expand it in the following years. The spot is perfect for planting and harvesting grapevines – we are not the only vineyard in the vicinity, our closest neighbour is Winnica Uroczysko. We hope that you will enjoy the wines from Dunajec Valley and that in years to come the hills of Janowice will be covered in grapevines.


Farming insurance company Cornish Mutual is celebrating its 120th anniversary
Wednesday 18th October, 2023
Farming insurance company Cornish Mutual is celebrating its 120th anniversary.
Founded by Cornish tenant farmers in 1903, the company provides services to farming and rural properties and businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
Cornish Mutual, which has offices in Newham Road, is owned and run for the benefit of its members. The company prides itself on putting the South West’s farmers and the rural communities at the heart of its services.
Managing director Peter Beaumont said: “Cornish Mutual was founded by farmers and farming is still very much our heartland.
“We have direct relationships with our members and really care about their success. We want to make things better, not just send out cheques when something goes wrong.”
Through its annual risk survey of farmers, Cornish Mutual has identified additional tools to help farm businesses build profitability and resilience, increase natural resources and protect their people.
Aiming to address areas causing most concern, Cornish Mutual is building partnerships with specialists in farm safety, rural crime and soil health as well as developing its Future Farming Programme of industry insights and case studies to inform and inspire.
Most recently, its new fortnightly Farming Focus podcast, featuring industry experts and farming professionals, is bringing its listeners the latest on what really matters to farmers.
Peter said: “Our wider services help members manage risk and find a way through an increasingly challenging climate
“We are strengthening our commitment to agriculture so we can continue to serve the industry we care so passionately about for at least another 120 years.”


Bosque Villiage Organic Farm Retreat
Bosque Villiage Organic Farm\/Retreat based near Morelia in Michoacan state (central Mexico). Volunteer in organic and permaculture farming, reforestation, renewable energy and sustainable living, there are also opportunities for creative and artistic activities. Good option for 'off the grid' living in a rural setting. Volunteers must be bilingual (English/Spanish) and commit to a minimum of 6 months. The Bosque also offers a short-term eco-experience program for visitors interested in learning about permaculture.


Grow Your Own Catnip
Published February 19, 2019
Most cats go crazy for catnip. Why? Catnip contains nepetalactone, which stimulates sensory neurons and causes them to act strangely by rolling around, vocalizing, and rubbing themselves on the plant. The effects are harmless and only last for a short time. Some cats do not respond to catnip−the response is genetic−an estimated 20% of cats are not affected. Young kittens do not respond to catnip until they reach sexual maturity.
“Catnip is a known favorite, natural treat for cats, which many cat lovers grow in their garden, says Joan Casanova, spokeswoman for Bonnie Plants, “It’s also a member of the mint family and can be used to prepare an herbal tea that is said to possibly relieve minor headaches.”
Follow these simple steps, courtesy of Bonnie Plants, to grow your own catnip:
- Set out plants after the last frost of the season.
- Space them at least 18 inches apart.
- For best results, use premium garden soil and potting mix.
- Keep plants full by pinching the growing stems and buds as they grow.
- The flowers will form seeds that sprout, you can plant those when they mature and create new plants.


The yellow apples were discovered in an orchard in Ohio in the early 21st century and were selected for their unusual coloring, crisp texture, and sweet, mild flavor.
The apples are sometimes nicknamed Yellow Galas.
Blondee® apples were discovered as a spontaneous mutation of gala apples in an orchard in Portsmouth, Ohio. The sport apples were noticed by McLaughlin Orchard owners Tom & Bob McLaughlin sometime around the year 2000. They were selected for their unusual coloring as they had a pale-yellow appearance, while their parent variety, the gala apple, was traditionally bright red.
Blondee® apples have had their greatest success among u-pick orchards throughout the “Apple Belt” of Michigan. Also known as Michigan’s “Fruit Belt,” the region is comprised of a narrow stretch of land along the western state border that has a temperate climate due to Lake Michigan moderating weather extremes. The Fruit Belt also receives enough rainfall to maintain the region’s fertile soil composition, and over time, the state has developed this area into a site for agrotourism, where visitors can tour farms, purchase fruit, and participate in food-themed events. The region was given this nickname in the late 1800s, and throughout the 1900s, several billboards were promoting the famous belt, and farm stands were established along the roadways to sell fruit to passing motorists.
In the present day, Blondee® apples are grown in many of the orchards throughout the Fruit Belt, and the variety is favored for its long ripening period. Blondee® apples can remain on the tree for at least 2 to 3 weeks and are the only yellow variety to ripen during the early season, creating a pleasant visual contrast on the apple trees. Many of the u-pick orchards have commented that visitors select Blondee® apples for their unique appearance, and the apples have become the second most popular u-pick apple, just behind honeycrisp.


The well pump draws water from a well, even a very deep one, and increases the pressure. It is suitable for various uses: it is mainly used to irrigate gardens or vegetable plots, even large ones. Well pumps can also be used to draw off accumulated rainwater, but this is not their main purpose.
The submersible electric pump pushes water from a well of varying depth, and can handle a higher or lower water flow rate depending on the model.
Depending on the model, water can be pumped from a well with the water almost at the surface, or from a deep well (such as boreholes).
It is also possible to pump water up to more than 300 metres. Various models are available depending on the characteristics of the well, the desired flow rate, and the water use.
The well pump can be placed either inside the cavity or immersed in the water.
Attention must be paid to the diameter of the well, which of course, must be larger than that of the pump. Conventionally, submersible pumps are classified by the width of the well in inches. So 4" pumps are not really 4", but are suitable for fitting into a 4" well.


Hurry, Sale Ends Soon
The ultimate garden accessory, this auger attaches to most handheld drills and lifts dirt to create cylindrical, even holes for bulbs, seedlings, bedding plants and more, making gardening jobs faster and easier.
- Solid steel 80 × 600mm auger
- Fits 10mm and 13mm drill chucks
- Compatible with most power drills
- Fast and efficient cylindrical digging
- Suitable for all soil types
- Ideal for bulbs, tulips, iris, seedlings and more
- Makes large plant jobs fast and easy
- Cold rolled steel blade and bar
- Ideal for professional use
Dig deep and get planting with the Certa 80 × 600mm Auger Planter Hole Digger Drill Bit that fits onto a handheld drill and effortlessly lifts dirt in the garden.
Built from a solid steel bar and blade, this robust auger drills into any soil type with ease and requires minimal effort to operate, with a circular blade that allows soil to escape in a steady, controlled manner.
This versatile tool is ideal for professional and home use, digging holes ideal for bulbs, grass plugs, vegetable plugs, small potted plants, seedlings, bedding plants and so much more, reaching depths up to 600mm with ease.


Global Soil Education for Regenerative Farming
SUPPORT NATIVE FARMERS
SUPPORT THE CHILDREN
Soil Resources Initiative is a charitable and educational organization that teaches regenerative agriculture techniques which provides many benefits to improve human and animal health while also creating stable, prosperous communities.
We train farmers in intensive biological soil building methods that suit local conditions. The regenerative farming approach we teach increases soil fertility which in return:
Increases crop production and yield
Enhances the nutrient content of food crops
Reduces irrigation needs by increasing drought tolerance
Increases pest resistance
Farmers are trained how to increase soil moisture, organic matter and fertility without the use of chemicals
Soil Resources Initiative operates exclusively on donations!
We have done our farmer training program in Senegal and Mozambique for almost 10 years now and are currently raising funds to bring this amazing program to Madagascar!
To learn more about why we chose Madagascar and our goals for it, check out our blog!
We are a 501-c3 organization, so all donations are tax deductible
You may donate funds directly to Soil Resources Initiative or volunteer to help raise money.
You may also volunteer your time and skills on one of our trips. Contact us for more information.


A lawn is one of the most important parts of your home. When anyone visits your home, the lawn is the first thing everyone notices. Therefore, having a healthy, cleaned, and properly paved lawn is essential to have. You will always find it challenging to take care of the lawn independently.
For proper maintenance and beautification of it, you should hire quality lawn care services in NJ. These services come up with a lot of advantages, some of which are given below:
- Quality work: The lawn care services team consists of highly trained professionals with the proper experience to take care of your lawn. They use advanced methods, tools, and technology that you don’t have. They also do routine check-ups of the lawn, and they make sure that your lawn looks the most appealing in the neighborhood.
- Time-saving: Imagine how much time it will take if you take care of the lawn on your own. On the other hand, if you hire a professional lawn care service, then they can do it for you in a short interval of time. These services become essential when you need your lawn well maintained urgently.
- Cost-efficient: If you consider the advanced technology, tools, chemical, and fertilizers involved in servicing the lawn, you will find that lawn care services are cost-effective.
- Makes your home more valuable: When you get quality lawn care service in NJ, experts work for the beautification and health of your lawn. Such lawn care gives you a nice lawn, which directly increases the value of your home. If you want to sell your home, you should hire a lawn care service.
- Maintain soil quality: The chemicals and fertilizers they use help maintain the lawn’s soil quality, which helps provide a lush green lawn.
- Landscaping services: Landscaping is an essential part of your outdoor area, like lawns. It is something that you can’t do yourself. Lawn care services provide landscaping work like installation of drainage systems, walks and blocks creation, paving installation, lighting work, etc.
- Expertise: Professionals at lawn care services have proper knowledge about their work. They know what is needed at which time. Their expertise can help you to maintain the lawn that requires special attention and care.
- Provides peace of mind: As we already mentioned, hiring a lawn care service saves your time. It directly provides peace of mind. Experts solely do all the work. You don’t need to worry about anything and can entirely rely on them for the desired results.
The Last line
Lawn care services play a vital role in maintaining your lawn. They are way better than handling the lawn care work DIY, and their expertise, knowledge, and the use of advanced tools give you a lush-green and well-maintained lawn, saving you time and effort. Hence, you should definitely give a try to professional lawn care services, having a team of highly trained lawn care experts who have served hundreds of clients so far successfully. You can check their previous work before hiring for your lawn care and maintenance.


Viña Cartín Winery
Part of the Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin, the current winery produces three labels (Viña Cartín, Ruta 49 and Terras de Lantaño), with grapes coming from over 16 hectares, divided in 6 different vineyards (owned by the winery) in the districts of Lantaño, Meis, Vilanova de Arousa and Vilagarcía de Arousa. The variety of the lots in terms of location, altitude, distance to the sea and climate conditions (sandy loam soils, with more or less clay content and depth), gives each wine its different nuances and complexity. Each lot is cultivated separately, depending on the traditional production schemes to later proceed with coupage, which will give way to the different wines.
From 9:30 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 19:00. Group visits (with prior reservation) from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday thru Sunday.


Autumn Has Arrived!
If you've been around this blog for any length of time or read any of the interviews I did around the release time of FATAL FREEZE, you're no stranger to this Fun Fact: I don't like cold weather! But what I do like is cool weather, specifically the kind that comes at the beginning of Fall.
Cooler weather means long-sleeved shirts, pumpkin everything, and... apples! Late summer / early Fall means our apple tree is ready for harvest. I'm still getting used to having an apple tree in our front yard -- in fact, we didn't even know it was an apple tree until two years ago, when we thought the little green apples that started appearing were crab apples.
Turns out they're not -- they're Macs! Last year I trimmed the tree and we had a small yield, and this year the summer was very dry, so I didn't think we'd get a whole lot. The fruit looked quite small until only a few weeks before summer ended... but then we got some heavy rainfall, a few warm days, and voila! The apples matured and we had a decent harvest after all!
I picked two baskets of apples, one is in the picture above. There's a second basket in the fridge right now, but the one above turned into slow cooker apple cider two nights ago. Delicious!
There were also a lot of dropped apples, which I assume happened because of the dry weather. But apparently that didn't matter to a neighbor, who knocked on our door yesterday and asked if she could take some of the dropped apples to make a pie. She took quite a few of them (I don't envy her work in cutting out the bugs & bruises!), so I suspect she'll have more than enough for a tasty pie. It makes me happy to know the dropped fruit didn't go to waste!
And I should also mention... the squirrels are enjoying the dropped apples too. They keep dragging apples onto our porch, having a nice snack, and then leaving the rest of the apple for the ants (or for another squirrel to eat later). Yay for multiple people & critters benefiting from our fruit tree!
What grew in your yard this year? Did you plant a garden or have you ever tried growing fruit?


Urban Harvest Farmers Market Encourages Homegrown Cooking
Houston’s Urban Harvest Farmers Market offers locally-produced vegetables, fruits and farm products every Saturday and Sunday morning at three Houston area locations, all year long. The market helps to sustain local family farms, promote health and wellness and boost the Houston economy.
In addition, the market features an exceptional program known as the Gardeners' Corner, which allows school groups, community gardeners and backyard gardeners to sell their produce and learn the basics of market gardening.
Their Community Gardens Program provides classes and information on how to start a community garden and provides ongoing support for a network of more than 100 community and school gardens and urban farms. Support includes gardening advice, volunteer recruitment, Web pages in their Web Directory of Gardens, networking events, an annual awards ceremony, and free gardening classes.
Visit the Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Saturday at Eastside on Richmond from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or on Sundays at the Highland Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Discovery Green Park from 12 to 4 p.m. For more information on their produce and programs, visit their website at UrbanHarvest.org.


Operation costs are one of the most impactful things on your bottom line. If you're trying to reduce costs without sacrificing the quality of your equipment and materials, Crop Packaging Specialists can help. We provide wholesale farm supplies in Wichita, KS and Shelby, MT, so our customers can maximize profits. By getting products like polypropylene baler twine wholesale, you can compete with large agricultural operations.
Contact us now if you need polypropylene baler twine.
When you need supplies for your operation, we have you covered. Our wholesale farm supplies include:
- Sisal twine
- Baling wire
- Baler twine
- Bale net wrap
- Stretch agricultural film
Are you looking for wholesale farm supplies to help preserve your silage bales? We offer Sunfilm® RT-100 to tightly seal your bales for up to 12 months. Sunfilm® RT-100 is popular among farmers because it:
Allows you to maintain a higher level of nutrition in your silage
Offer greater ultraviolet protection with denser reflectivity
Provides exceptional strength, memory and tack migration
Has a high-density water-resistant core
Helps eliminate wasteful caramelizing that normally occurs with black wraps
See what makes Sunfilm® RT-100 the preferred silage plastic wrap for farmers in Wichita, KS, Shelby, MT and worldwide. Call 800-848-9062 to place your order for wholesale farm supplies from Crop Packaging Specialists today.


We are delighted to announce that Carrickfergus Central Primary School has won the Best School Gardening Project 2018 in the Mid and East Antrim in Bloom competition. A big well done to last year’s Eco-council and all of our pupils, parents and grandparents who helped us. Thank you to Carrickfergus Vineyard who made raised planters and a greenhouse for us and Gary at Inver Garden Centre who helped us to plant flowers and shrubs in our school gardens. Our Eco-School Green Flag is looking well at the front of our school! Well done everyone!!


The Tower Grove Farmers' Market is an organization founded to pursue the following goals:
To give growers and producers of Missouri and Illinois agricultural commodities and other farm-related products alternative marketing opportunities.
To promote the sale of Missouri and Illinois-grown farm products.
To improve the variety, freshness, taste and nutritional value of produce available in the St. Louis area.
To make healthy, regionally produced foods accessible to lower-income residents.
To provide an educational forum for consumers to learn the uses and benefits of quality, locally grown or prepared food products.
To enhance the quality of life in the St. Louis area by providing a community activity which fosters social gathering and interaction.
Sustainable agriculture and urban education are of key interest to us:
In the U.S., our food travels an average of 1300 miles to get to our tables. This long-distance transport burns large amounts of fossil fuels, pollutes our air and our waters, and clogs our highways, waterways, airways and even our city streets with large food distribution transport vehicles. Local food systems offer an energy-efficient, sustainable, and less polluting alternative.
Regional farmland preserves open space and beautiful natural landscapes in the St. Louis region and helps to control suburban sprawl and commercial development in surrounding areas, thereby contributing to a vastly improved environment for St. Louis region citizens.
Farmers markets and local food systems build community ties and encourage civic life, offering urban residents a ‘small-town experience’ of buying produce directly from farmers, feeling connected to the land where their food is grown, and exercising consumer choice about how their food is grown.
Pesticides being used by large-scale conventional agriculture have toxic and polluting effects on the food, water, and air in our communities.
Sustainable agriculture addresses issues that concern urban residents; the preservation of open space, the survival of endangered species, the treatment of farm animals, the nutritional quality of the food they eat, the purity of our waterways, and biodiversity of plant and animal life. Building links with farmers offers urban residents a way to use their food dollars to directly support those practices that are most in keeping with their values and their ethical, political, and social concerns.


INDIA: Leading fresh fruit importer IG International has entered into an association with Mr Apple, a major global apple exporter from New Zealand, to launch DIVA, a premium variety of apples into the Indian subcontinent.
Deliciously sweet and crunchy, the DIVA apple variant is naturally bright red in colour and high in flavour. DIVA apples are only available for a limited season, from April to August. One of the best apples cultivated in New Zealand, the DIVA variant is handled with great care and picked from the orchards at the right moment, so that its pure taste, crispness and aroma are passed on to the customers.
Tarun Arora, Director – IG International Pvt. Ltd, said, “Apples are highly sought-after in India for their abundant health benefits and juicy and crunchy wonders. The introduction of premium and fresh DIVA apples will help us meet the growing demand of exotic fruits in India, and at the same time resonates well with the Indian consumers who have developed distinct tastes and preferences for fruits. We are happy to include one more variety of exotic apples on our list through our association wi ..


Union Bank Director tasks on improving groundnut production
By Laz IBEABUCHI
LAGOS-The Executive Director, Corporate, Investment Banking, and Treasury of Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, Mr. Philip Ikeazor has called for the collaboration of Nigerian farmers and International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in the use of watershed irrigation technique in the production of groundnuts for export.
He made this call recently in India at the Governing Board Meeting of ICRISAT where he has been its member in the last six years. Mr. Ikeazor will complete his tenure of the international agency in July this year.
Speaking on the future of Agriculture in Nigeria, Ikeazor said:” last six years with ICRISAT has nurtured my belief that agriculture is one of the most potent ways to alleviate poverty and create significant income streams for the poor people of the semi-arid tropics”.
He believes that the giant strides and impact made by ICRISAT’s research work on the peasant farmers in India and East Africa and some parts of West Africa would work in Nigeria. Ikeazor is particularly keen on transferring the watershed irrigation technique piloted in India and the recent Groundnut Revolution in Malawi, which had seen a thriving export of improved groundnut to the United Kingdom.
Recalling how Nigeria was once the world’s leading groundnut exporters in the 1960s with the crop accounting for about 70% of the country’s total export earnings, Ikeazor stressed that by working with farmers to grow improved varieties of groundnuts with more resistant to disease, export market demands, and better aflatoxin management to prevent contamination, Nigerian farmers would significantly boost groundnut production and sales. He added that this would create employment and yield significant income for peasant farmers especially in the Northern and the South Western part of the country.
He expressed optimism that with ICRISAT’s reopening of its research office in Kano, Nigeria needs to support the existing bilateral agreement in order to reinstate the country’s former groundnut pyramids.
Ikeazor will be handing over his board membership to Oluwande Muoyo, a chartered accountant, professional banker and currently the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Ogun State.


Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hard and soft wheat berries?
Everlasting Harvest carries three main types of wheat berries; hard red, hard white, and soft white.
Let's focus on hard vs. soft first. Hard wheat has more gluten than soft wheat, which provides the elasticity needed for yeast bread to rise. So, hard wheat is better for yeast recipes, and soft wheat should only be used in baking powder recipes.
As for the color, hard red wheat has a nuttier whole wheat bread flavor than hard white wheat. Hard white wheat tastes like whole wheat but isn't as nutty. Soft white wheat has the least amount of whole wheat flavor.
Here is a simple cheat sheet. These are not rules, only suggestions:
Hard Red Wheat
Hard White Wheat
Soft White Wheat