What is a Drip Irrigation System?
Drip irrigation is an underground irrigation system that delivers water directly to the root zone of plants or crops, providing a controlled and efficient method of watering.
Key Points About Drip Irrigation Systems:
- Water Delivery: In a drip irrigation system, water is distributed through a network of pipes or tubing with small emitters or drippers spaced along the lines. The emitters release water in a slow, steady, and localized manner, allowing it to drip directly onto the soil surface near the plant roots.
- Water Conservation: Drip irrigation is known for its water-saving capabilities. By delivering water directly to the root zone, it minimizes evaporation, runoff, and overspray, resulting in significant water conservation compared to traditional sprinkler systems. Drip irrigation can reduce water usage by 30-50% or more, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable irrigation option.
- Precise Watering: Drip irrigation provides precise control over water application. Each emitter or dripper releases a specific amount of water per unit of time, allowing for precise and uniform watering across the entire irrigation system. This precision ensures that plants receive the right amount of water, minimizing under-watering or over-watering issues.
- Reduced Weed Growth: Drip irrigation targets the root zone of plants, delivering water directly to their base. By avoiding wetting the entire soil surface, drip irrigation helps suppress weed growth. This is because weed seeds require moisture for germination, and by keeping the soil surface dry, weed growth is inhibited.
- Improved Plant Health: Drip irrigation promotes healthier plants by supplying water directly to the roots where it is needed most. By maintaining consistent soil moisture levels, plants can efficiently take up water and nutrients, leading to better growth, stronger root development, and improved overall plant health.
- Reduced Disease and Pest Problems: Drip irrigation minimizes leaf wetting, which can reduce the risk of diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. By keeping the foliage dry, the chances of fungal diseases spreading are reduced. Additionally, the localized watering provided by drip irrigation can minimize conditions that attract certain pests.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Drip irrigation systems are versatile and adaptable to different landscapes, crops, or plant types. They can be designed to accommodate various soil types, slopes, and plant spacing. Drip irrigation can be used in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, vineyards, or even for potted plants and container gardening.
- Automation and Control: Drip irrigation systems can be automated and controlled using timers, sensors, or soil moisture monitoring devices. This allows for precise scheduling and optimization of irrigation cycles based on factors such as plant water requirements, weather conditions, or soil moisture levels. Automation ensures efficient water management and can help reduce labor and maintenance requirements.
- Fertilizer and Nutrient Application: Some drip irrigation systems can also incorporate fertigation, which is the simultaneous application of water and fertilizers through the irrigation system. Fertigation allows for precise and controlled application of nutrients directly to the root zone, enhancing plant nutrition and reducing the need for separate fertilizer applications.
- Cost Savings: While the initial installation cost of a drip irrigation system may be higher than traditional irrigation methods, it can result in long-term cost savings. Water savings, reduced labor, lower energy requirements, and improved plant health can contribute to overall cost efficiency and return on investment.
Drip irrigation systems have gained popularity due to their efficiency, water conservation benefits, and ability to improve plant health. They offer a sustainable irrigation solution suitable for various applications, providing precise and targeted water delivery while minimizing water waste.
Additional Details About Drip Irrigation Systems:
- System Components: A drip irrigation system consists of several components, including the main water source or supply, a filter to remove debris, pressure regulators to maintain consistent water pressure, distribution tubing or pipes, emitters or drippers to release water, fittings to connect the tubing and emitters, and optional valves and controllers for automation and control.
- Emitter Types: Drip irrigation systems utilize different types of emitters or drippers to release water. Common emitter types include inline drippers, which are integrated into the distribution tubing, and individual emitters that can be installed directly onto the tubing at specific intervals. Emitters can vary in flow rates, allowing for customized water delivery based on the plant’s water requirements.
- Distribution Methods: Drip irrigation systems can employ different distribution methods depending on the application and desired water distribution pattern. These methods include inline tubing, where the emitters are evenly spaced along the tubing’s length, and micro-sprinklers or micro-sprayers, which release water in a small spray pattern. The choice of distribution method depends on factors such as plant spacing, soil type, and water needs.
- Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI): Subsurface drip irrigation is a specialized form of drip irrigation where the distribution tubing is buried below the soil surface. This method is particularly beneficial for row crops, orchards, and landscapes where a discreet or hidden irrigation system is desired. SDI minimizes water evaporation and provides more uniform water distribution.
- Soil Moisture Monitoring: Soil moisture monitoring is an important aspect of drip irrigation systems. Various sensors and monitoring devices are available to measure soil moisture levels, allowing for precise irrigation scheduling. These devices can provide real-time data on soil moisture conditions, enabling irrigation to be triggered only when necessary, based on the plant’s water needs.
- System Design and Layout: Drip irrigation systems require careful planning and design to ensure optimal water distribution and efficiency. Factors such as plant water requirements, soil type, slope, and spacing must be considered when determining the layout of the distribution tubing, emitter spacing, and flow rates. Proper system design helps ensure uniform water distribution and prevents over- or under-watering.
- Maintenance and Operation: Regular maintenance is essential for the proper functioning of drip irrigation systems. This includes periodic inspection and cleaning of filters to prevent clogging, checking for damaged or clogged emitters, and ensuring proper water pressure and system operation. Routine maintenance helps maintain system efficiency, prolongs the life of components, and ensures consistent water delivery.
- Crop Suitability: Drip irrigation is suitable for a wide range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants. It can be adapted to different crop spacing and can accommodate irregularly shaped planting areas. Drip irrigation is particularly beneficial for plants with shallow roots or those that are sensitive to over-watering or foliar diseases.
- Environmental Benefits: Drip irrigation systems offer several environmental benefits. They minimize water waste by delivering water directly to the root zone, reducing runoff and evaporation. By conserving water resources, drip irrigation contributes to water conservation efforts, particularly in areas with limited water availability. It also helps prevent soil erosion and nutrient leaching, as water is applied at a controlled rate.
- Customization and Scalability: Drip irrigation systems can be customized and scaled to fit different landscapes or agricultural operations. They can be expanded or modified as needed to accommodate changes in planting areas, crop types, or water requirements. Drip irrigation allows for flexibility in irrigation management and can be tailored to specific site conditions and plant needs.
Drip irrigation systems offer a highly efficient and precise method of delivering water to plants while minimizing water waste. With proper design, installation, and maintenance, they can provide significant water savings, improved plant health, and environmental benefits. Drip irrigation systems are adaptable to various applications and can be customized to meet specific crop and landscape requirements. They offer a sustainable and effective solution for irrigation, promoting efficient water use and supporting healthy plant growth.


|Type||Black Mustard Seeds|
|Shelf Life||2 Years|
|Packaging Type||Jute Bag, Plastic Bag|
|Packaging Size||15-20kg, 20-25kg|
Black Mustard Seeds are the small round seeds of various mustard plants. The seeds are usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. Mustard seeds may be colored from yellowish white to black. They are important spices in many regional foods. The seeds can come from three different plants: black mustard (Brassica nigra), brown Indian mustard (B. juncea), and white mustard.


UN Secretary-General will be in Turkey this Thursday.
Russia and Ukraine will sign the agreement on the export of cereals on Friday, according to a Turkish government source, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
The announcement comes a day after Turkey’s president said he wanted a written deal later this week.
“The signing ceremony of the grain shipment agreement, which will be attended by [Turkish] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, will be signed tomorrow at 4:30 pm [2:30 pm in Lisbon] at the Dolmabahçe Palace, with the participation of Ukraine and Russia”, notes the text.
The agreement was expected this week
“An agreement began to emerge last week during talks in Istanbul last week. Now, we want this agreement to be in writing,” reads a statement issued by the official’s office on Wednesday, quoted by Jazeera. “Hopefully it will be ready in the next few days,” said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In addition to the statements made by the Turkish leader, the Kremlin also showed on Wednesday some willingness to sign the agreement.
“Yesterday [Tuesday] we sent a signal to the (UN) Secretary General saying, here it is, this is your initiative, let’s make a decision on the Ukrainians, then on the Russians,” said the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had already made a similar request.
“We will facilitate the export of Ukrainian cereals, but on the basis of the lifting of all restrictions related to air deliveries for the export of Russian cereals,” said the Russian head of state, on a same-day visit to Tehran, Iran.
Guterres on his way to Turkey
The secretary-general of the United Nations, who is also involved in the negotiations, is traveling to Turkey this Thursday, according to a spokesman for the organization.
The information was given before the signing of the agreement was known, but the spokesman said that Guterres “travels to Istanbul as part of his efforts to ensure full global access to Ukrainian food and Russian food and fertilizer.” The official excluded, on the other hand, that a future agreement could include any relief from international sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.
Farhan Haq stressed that “this is not an agreement between two parties, Russia and Ukraine, it is an agreement for the whole world”, since “hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of human lives could be saved” if the agreement is signed it’s applied.
The representative did not specify how long it would take to transport Ukrainian grain held in Black Sea ports via negotiated routes, but stressed that the UN and “other parties” are working to ensure that this is done “as soon as possible”.
Earlier this week, the Turkish president had talked about the possibility of the parties involved – Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations – reaching an agreement in the coming days, which happened.
Istanbul hosted last week a meeting of military experts from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey and UN representatives to try to unblock the export of Russian and Ukrainian grain held back due to the war in Ukraine and to avoid a global food crisis.
Together, according to the British magazine The Economist, Ukraine and Russia supply 28% of the world’s wheat, 29% of barley, 15% of corn, and 75% of sunflower oil.
Russian grain and fertilizer exports have been affected by Western sanctions on Russian logistics and financial chains.
Russia is a key fertilizer exporter. In 2021, the country was the world’s leading exporter of nitrogen fertilizers and the second largest supplier of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers.


DIY Underground Greenhouse: The Walipini “Warm Place” From The Bolivian Highlands
The Walipini (underground or pit greenhouse) in this pdf is designed specifically for the area of La Paz, Bolivia. However, the principles explained make it possible to build the Walipini in a wide variety of geographic and climatic conditions.
The word ‟Walipini” comes from the Aymara Indian language and means ‟place of warmth”. The Walipini utilizes Nature’s resources to provide a warm, stable, well-lit environment for year-round vegetable production. Locating the growing area 6’- 8’ underground and capturing and storing daytime solar radiation are the most important principles in building a successful Walipini.
Download plans: DIY Underground Greenhouse: The Walipini From Bolivia


Two billion cups of coffee are drank daily around the world, and it has become a part of our daily life, culture and expression. A cup of coffee facilitates communication, allows us to share moments with friends, colleagues and even strangers. For many of us, coffee is our morning partner, the one that gives us the much needed strength to start the day, or even go the extra mile at night when we strive to stay sharp and focused. However, very few of us have really ever seen where the coffee journey begins.
Guatemala is known for producing one of the world’s best coffees. What makes its coffee so special is Guatemala’s high altitudes, rich soils and over 300 different micro climates.
Still, what Mathieu Hutin really discovered during the years he spent in Guatemala, was revealing: what trully makes Guatemalan coffee so special is the dedication, energy and passion its people put into growing and harvesting their beans.
Guatemala is a country of strong contrasts and extreme diversity in many aspects, including socially and culturally. This beautiful diversity made it difficult for Mathieu to find a common story to describe Guatemala, until he discovered the coffee community and their story.
Coffee is grown in almost all the regions of Guatemala. It is part of everyday life for millions; some travel hundreds of kilometers with their families over the course of the harvest season, others inherit and transmit their knowledge and passion from one generation to another. Today Guatemala has over 125,000 coffee producers. These producers spend the entire year looking after their coffee plants, to sell every single bean at the end of the harvest season. For many, coffee is the main -if not the only source of income. Unlike us, they will never enjoy the taste of their coffee, nor will they ever experience the vast diversity of Guatemalan coffee.
Through his work, Mathieu celebrates and show his respect to the hard manual work behind the various stages of growing coffee. His photography highlights the beauty of human diversity and resilience in a world that pushes us into becoming ever more homogeneous and identical, forcing us to lose or identity.


From the High Prairie South Peace News
Local agricultural societies and rural utilities will get continued funding and support from the provincial government. This news comes from Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen.
“With a difficult harvest, farmers can at least bank on a government that supports them,” said Dreeshen in a Nov. 7 news release. “The Alberta government is committed to funding important rural initiatives.”
Core annual funding for agricultural societies is being maintained at $11.5 million. Ag societies operate more than 700 facilities across the province, including hockey and curling rinks, community halls and facilities that serve rodeos, fairs, farmers markets, 4-H clubs, ag and safety education.
In the release, the ministry says engagements with farmers will take place over the winter, “to determine their research priorities and then programs will be built to support them.”


This Green Fences’ 48 x 48 in. raised garden bed is perfect for those looking to add a pot which doesn’t take up too much space in their gardens. Made from chemical-free rot- and insect-resistant cedar wood, it is just what you need to provide a durable and healthy environment for your plants and vegetables. This raised garden is quite easy to set up and requires no tools whatsoever with the side boards sliding into the corner posts to form a secure garden frame. The corner posts have decorative tops which can be easily installed using a screwdriver. Stacking them will make them ever taller (12-16 in.) if it’s a deeper garden box you are looking for.
Grab it here: Greenes Fence 48-Inch x 48-Inch Cedar Raised Garden Bed


Premium Clyde Valley Cherries
Our history, our family, our quality. Shared with you.
Welcome to 3 Kings Cherries
Proudly growing and exporting New Zealand's most delicious cherries.
100 Years in the making...
In the heart of Central Otago lies the Clyde Valley. The Paulin family have been farming cherries in the Clyde Valley for the past 100 years. Steeped in rich gold mining and fruit production history, this region produces the best cherries in the world.
The Paulin family has been growing in Central Otago for more than 100 years. Always in sight of the Cromwell Gorge, and always in sight of the '3 Kings' rock formation.
3 Kings Cherries Growers have more than 100 years of growing heritage and expertise
With the best of seasons come the best of cherries
Each season our growers and pack house review the best of the best of our cherries to assess whether they qualify for our premium reserve range. These are incredibly special and very rare!


Banana brand nets bunch of awards
Ceinconsa SA, growers of BanaBay bananas, the new brand launched earlier this year, have netted an impressive two places in the hotly contested ‘Banana King’ competition, which is held each year in Ecuador – a country recognised worldwide for producing premium quality bananas.
Competing with over 30 established plantations for five winning positions, BanaBay premium bananas were judged on both size and quality. After a thorough examination of each plantation’s entry, the judges announced the winners, including both third and fourth position for BanaBay producers Ceinconsa.
Plantation director Danilo Serrano was extremely pleased with the result, “We were up against plantations widely known as the best in Ecuador, so the pressure was really on,” he said. “We’re extremely happy to have achieved both third and fourth place – out of five positions on the podium, our BanaBay bananas were on two! It was great to have the quality of our fruit recognized in this way by the industry.”
Since BanaBay bananas were introduced into the UK just nine months ago, the new brand has gone from strength to strength, with a million BanaBay bananas transported a week, not only supplying the UK, but also being importing into Ireland, The Netherlands, Egypt and, most recently, New Zealand.
Managing Director Mark O’Sullivan believes the brand’s success is due to the premium quality of the produce, but also the direct sourcing opportunity created by the company’s 50% Ecuadorian and 50% UK ownership, which means customers enjoy the benefits of shorter, more flexible supply chains and can have confidence in reliability of supply.
“Our success in this Ecuadorian competition confirms what we already know – our bananas are top quality,” he says. “Feedback from the marketplace confirms people love both the look and the taste of our bananas – and clearly the judges agreed!”
BanaBay bananas are grown on extensive, ethically managed plantations, harvested and shipped all over the world. The growers have built a reputation for quality over the last thirty years; currently they hold GlobalGAP certification and shortly will be FairTrade and Organic Fair Trade accredited.


note: FIESTA is not currently available in the following states - Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, North Dakota.
FIESTA is a new Iron-based selective bio-herbicide with low toxicity that controls weeds, moss & algae on commercial and residential lawns, golf courses, parks, rights of way, schools and playgrounds.
FIESTA is a selective broadleaf bio-herbicide that works quickly, even in cool weather and is rainfast in 3 hours.
This effective organic weed killer's mode of action is to cause iron toxicity (oxidative damage) at the cellular level. Fiesta is quickly absorbed by the leaf tissue and transported down to the root. Toxicity of the contacted leaf tissue cells also occurs turning the leaves black or brown.
Broadleaf weeds (dicots) absorb more iron than grasses (monocots) which provides the mechanism of selectivity. For this reason, adequate coverage is important.
FIESTA controls and suppresses weeds such as:
Mix 1 part FIESTA with 24 parts water (5 oz. To 1 gallon)
Broadcast Treatment: Apply the mixed solution at a rate of 2.5-10 gallons/1000 ft2. Uniform coverage is important.
Spot Treatment: Thoroughly spray weeds to point of runoff using any standard hand-held or backpack sprayer. Use a coarse nozzle setting to reduce drift.
Repeat treatment in 3 to 4 weeks for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How quickly can I expect to see the results of an application of FIESTA to the weeds?A. FIESTA works quickly. You can expect to see dying weeds within a few hours of application. Treated weeds, moss or algae will turn brown or black. Occasionally grass leaf blades can darken after treatment, however the grass will recover within a few days to weeks.
Q. When are the best times to apply FIESTA to turf weeds?A. Best results are obtained when applied in the Spring or Fall when environmental conditions are cool and there is ample moisture. Apply FIESTA on days when daytime temperature will not exceed 85deg F. And rainfall is not expected within 3 hours of application.
Q. Are there any applications that FIESTA is not recommended for use?A. Yes, FIESTA should not be applied to bentgrass or dichondra.


To keep the lawn looking perfectly, you have to mow the grass periodically. For this task, you should use a great and efficient push lawn mower that can provide with the best results while offering comfort in use. On bestlawnmowers.reviews, we found some very helpful reviews of the best-rated lawn mowers, which helped us narrow down our options to three of the best units. For even more models to choose from, the Bestlawnmowers.reviews comparison is at your service with detailed reviews of various lawn mowers from various categories . If you want to find out which are the most efficient push mowers that you can use for your lawn, read the following lines. No matter the model that you choose, you will surely end up with a quality machine that will last you for years.
The Husqvarna HU725AWD push gas lawn mower can be yours for the price of $450. The all-wheel drive of this model makes it efficient even when it’s faced with handling a hilly terrain. It’s ideal for large lawns. The cutting swath of the HU725AWD measures 22 inches. It uses a 160cc 4 HP Honda GCV160 motor to offer great power. The cutting deck is durable due to the fact that it’s made from steel. The cutting methods provided by this model are collect, mulch, and side ejection. The collection bag can handle 2.2 cubic feet of grass. The cutting height can be adjusted between 1.25 inches and 3.42 inches. It comes with 5 height increments that you can choose from. It features a soft grip for comfort in use. The front wheel measures 8 inches and the rear wheel measures 12 inches. It weighs only 66 pounds, which makes it easily maneuverable. Also, it comes with a useful 3-year warranty.
Cub Cadet SC 500 HW
The Cub Cadet SC 500 HW push gas lawn mower can be purchased for the price of $430. It’s one of the most mobile lawn mowers on the market due to the adjustable self-propulsion drive. It can perfectly handle large lawns that are filled with obstacles. It uses a 159cc Cub Cadet OHV motor to provide with amazing power. It has a 21-inch cutting deck. The cutting height can be adjusted by choosing one of the 6 positions that the model offers and that range between 1.25 inches and 3.75 inches. It weighs approximately 90 pounds. It comes with a 3-year warranty. It offers the useful deck wash feature due to its SmartJet high-pressure deck washing system. In addition, it offers 3 cutting options that include bag, mulch, and side discharge.
Honda HRX 217VKA
For the price of $600 you can ride behind the Honda HRX 217VKA gas lawn mower the next time you have to mow your lawn. This amazing model uses a powerful Honda GCV190 motor to operate. It provides with a generous cutting width of 21 inches. The material from which the desk is made is NeXite. The mowing height ranges between 3/4 inches and 4 inches and it offers 7000 mowing height adjustments. It can reach the maximum speed of 3.6 MPH. It uses 9-inch plastic wheels. It comes with a standard bag that has the capacity of 2500 bushels. It backed up by an impressive 5-year warranty. Also, it weighs around 90 pounds.


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September 21, 2019, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ American Legion (behind Bristol Seafood Grill)
The Creve Coeur Farmer’s Market kicks off its sixth summer season in May. Shop the market for a variety of fresh, regionally produced fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, flowers, plants and art. Products may vary each week, so look to future newsletters and the Farmer’s Market Facebook page, www.facebook.com/crevecoeurmarket or www.crevecoeurmo.gov/market for updated information.
***Community Plant Swap - September 21 ***
Bring a plant from your own yard to the Community Plant Swap and trade it in for something different! Please be sure to not bring any invasive plants. A list of invasive plants is available at www.crevecoeurmo.gov/landscapeguide.


Welcome to Michigan Urban Greens
We specialize in healthy, nutritious Microgreens and Wheatgrass. All our products are grown using organic methods and are never sprayed with any kind of pesticide or chemicals. If you would like to receive microgreens on a weekly basis, you can sign up for a Delivery Subscription. There is no additional cost to sign up! If you are new to microgreens check out our best-selling Sunshine Sampler!
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are the tender immature seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs. They have two developed embryonic leaves called cotyledon leaves. When the cotyledon leaves have fully developed, and the first true leaves have emerged, usually between 7 to 14 days, these immature seedlings become microgreens and are harvested. They measure between 1 to 3 inches in height, pea shoots usually grow to be 8 inches tall. Microgreens are small, but come in a variety of strong flavors, bright colors, and crunchy tastes, and are packed with nutrients.
There are hundreds of options for microgreens. Almost any vegetable or herb you can eat can be enjoyed as a microgreen. Our farm grows Sunflower, Broccoli, Radish, Zesty or Mild mixes, and Sweet Pea.
Microgreens are packed with nutrients
In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, it was discovered that microgreens contained between 4 to 40 times more nutrients by weight than their fully grown counterparts. In addition, broccoli, kale, and red cabbage Microgreens, shows remarkably high concentrations of sulforaphane, scientifically shown to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.


With a lengthy history that is second to few other products, the growth, spread and use of tobacco throughout the world has been a major factor in trade since its first being observed by Europeans in the Americas. As was the case among the native tribes, the tobacco plant was soon used in a broad range of applications from patent medicines that claimed miraculous cures for virtually any ailment to the more familiar methods of ingestion including chewing, inhalation as snuff and in smoking. Both in Europe and America the methods of
taking tobacco that were reserved for society’s aristocrats quickly became often a source of ridicule. Even then, many thought tobacco, like the potato, to be the work of the devil.
However used, the earlier tobaccos all sprang from American stock. Initially, there was one variety that was grown by the North American Indians that was the first to be transported to England and Portugal and another that was grown by those from Mexico to South America that was taken to Spain and France. Later, John Rolfe used the second variety from the seed juul pods dubai obtained from the larger leaved “Spanish” variety to serve as the foundation for Virginia tobacco growing.
Since that time the spread of tobacco’s influence and ease of propagation drove the development of many varieties around the world, each suited to unique climates and the local preferences for curing, processing and ingestion. As tobacco crossed the Atlantic from the Americas and was popularized in Spain, England and France, its spread reached to Germany, Russia and then the Baltic countries as each region and nationality introduced their own preferences as well as requirements for cultivation such as those driven by the climate, the local soil characteristics and terrain.
Today, most tobaccos may be categorized as either Virginia, Burley, or Turkish, but all have roots tracing back to the original Nicoteana Tabacam of Mexico and South America. In fact, the world’s most popular tobacco which is generally known as Virginia Bright Leaf was the result of an accident in curing during 1839 White Burley of today didn’t arrive on the scene until 1864.
While tobacco was introduced into Turkey and Poland around 1585, its use was sufficient to result in torture and execution throughout Russia, Turkey, Persia, India and the east. Though cigarettes were making themselves known in Europe by 1915, it was not until the Crimean War in 1856 that Turkish, English, French and Italian soldiers took the popular Turkish tobacco cigarettes home with them.
In truth, the name “Turkish” tobacco is something of a misnomer as many of the seed stocks of Turkish Tobacco actually originated in towns in Greece. However, the name was popularized as referring to those countries that were within the Ottoman Turkish empire, many of which were long a part of the Soviet Union. Today, much of the region is referred to as Balkan.
By any name, Turkish tobaccos have long been regarded as among the world’s finest, adding a richness, spice, and smoothness that, when properly blended, transports a great Virginia into a blend in the realm of the sublime. Sadly, the great Turkish/Balkan tobaccos had virtually disappeared in the western world, leaving mediocre, lesser grades and varieties that for decades left smokers associating Turkish blends with tobaccos that were hot, heavy, harsh, pungent and loaded with nicotine, all attributes of an inferior product.


In an interview with Pat Dooris of KGW-TV, DEQ Director Leah Feldon described an immediate ban on winter land application of industrial wastewater by the Port of Morrow as a “lose-lose” proposition. Feldon said resulting plant closures would have a significant economic impact with no significant effect on safe drinking water in the Lower Umatilla Basin.
Feldon said she is looking for “win-win” solutions that result in safe drinking water, as well as upgrade the Port’s wastewater treatment system to control nitrate levels in reused water for irrigation and larger lagoon storage capacity to avoid winter land application.
During the interview, Feldon reiterated the Port is only a small contributor to the Basin’s longstanding water quality issues. Feldon also said the Port for the last two years has limited winter land application of wastewater to “low risk” irrigation circles. Winter land application of Port wastewater will be banned in 2026.
Winter irrigation with wastewater is problematic, she explained, because crops don’t absorb as much nitrogen as they do during the growing season.
Port wastewater treatment improvements will cost around $500 million. Anaerobic digesters are already completed. Construction on secondary water treatment and storage lagoons will start this summer.
You can watch the entire Feldon interview at https://youtu.be/nqfLvF7yCc8?list=PLP1SbsVYy04xMBTwAu1zlzZ233qnmS8aG


In season for Autumn
As the urge for warm soups, laksas and comfort food hits, our winter recipe collection will be featuring Baby Brussels sprouts, Vine Sweet Minicaps®, Treviso™ radicchio, Broccolini®, Figs and Blueberries.
Figs are among the oldest, sweetest and tastiest of fruits. Delicate La Bella Figura® figs have a deep purple outer skin and pink, soft, satiny flesh dotted with crunchy seeds.
Calypso® Mangoes have a firmer flesh and juicier cheek that is perfectly suited to use in salads, grilled on the barbecue, even cooked lightly on the stove or in the oven. This versatility means you can include that mango flavour you love in your favourite recipes.
Baby Brussels sprouts
Baby Brussels sprouts have been specially bred for their size and shape and are about half the size of their regular cousins. Up to 50 sprouts at a time grow around stalks reaching up to a metre. Once each sprout reaches 25mm in diameter, the stalks are harvested.


Joseph Norton Academy Wooden Spoon Farm Opens in Yorkshire
SATURDAY April 1st saw the opening of the Joseph Norton Academy Wooden Spoon Farm, in Scissett, Huddersfield.
Wooden Spoon Yorkshire Committee attended the opening of this fantastic project and the opening was also attended by parents, teachers and representatives of Kirklees Council. Wooden Spoon Yorkshire Region chairman Stuart Watson cut the ribbon to declare the project open, following which the farm manager gave a tour of the superb new facilities.
With the backing of Wooden Spoon Yorkshire the school has taken a run down garden area and transformed it into a mini farm.
A refurbished polytunnel and raised beds give the pupils the chance to grow their own food. Alongside this, the pigmy goats, chickens and rabbits help them enjoy the wonderful experience of animal husbandry. A pig enclosure has also been built, but a yew tree and its poisonous leaves need to be removed before pigs can be brought onto the farm.
The school is the areas only special school catering for pupils with complex social, emotional and mental health difficulties. As the head explained, the farm helps the pupils develop a sense of responsibility and empathy, improves their confidence and their ability to build relationships and work together. All in all an inspiring project for all involved.
Stuart Watson commended this as a project that Wooden Spoon members can be proud of for many years to come as it makes a big difference to the education and well-being of the pupils at the school.


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


The Biggest Little Farm chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature’s conflicts, the Chester’s unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination. Featuring breath taking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, The Biggest Little Farm provides us all a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.
Dir: John Chester – USA – 2018 – 91 mins – Cert: PG – in English
Before the screening we will have a delicious harvest farm foods ‘pop-up’ shop in the QFT foyer where you can purchase fresh foods to enjoy during the screening.
- Ticket price: GENERAL ADMISSION - £5.00 + £0.50 Booking fee = £5.50/CONCESSIONS - £4.00 + £0.40 Booking fee = £4.40
When & Where
- From:Oct 6, 2019,02:00 PM
- To:Oct 6, 2019,03:30 PM
Queens Film Theatre
20 University Square, BT7 1PA, belfast.


All the air ndash cathodes
The genus Methanosaeta represented the more predominant acetoclastic methanogen than the genus Methanosarcina in the 10th-round culture, possibly due to the concentration of acetate as the substrate. The MI-773 (SAR405838) Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina become predominant at acetate concentrations of below 100–150 mg COD/L, corresponding to 1.7–2.5 mM, and above 250–500 mg COD/L, corresponding to 4.2–8.4 mM, respectively ( De Vrieze et al., 2012). In this study, the period of exposure to the latter high concentrations of acetate changed during the cultivation as follows: above 7.4 mM between 2 and 17 days during the 20-day cultivation period in the first round of cultivation ( Fig. 2a); above 4.5 mM for all of the 12-day cultivation period in the third round of cultivation ( Fig. 2b), and temporary exposure to above 17 mM at 8 and 16 h in the 10th round of cultivation ( Fig. 2c). These results indicate that the period of exposure to high concentrations of acetate became shortened. The shortened period of exposure to high concentrations of acetate may facilitate the cultivation of an acetoclastic methanogenic community with Methanosaeta as the predominant genus.


14 Jan. 2017 - Iran, Italy set up joint venture to grow agricultural products
The Italian company Nature SRL and the Iranian company UPRO have set up a joint venture under the name UPRO NATURE. The goal of the joint venture is to grow products that comply with the quality standards of European target markets. It aims to meet these standards by combining Iranian resources with Italian modern technology.
| 13:53 - 14/01/2017||More >>|


Calcium peroxide or calcium dioxide is the inorganic compound with the formula CaO2. It is the peroxide (O22−) salt of Ca2+. Commercial samples can be yellowish, but the pure compound is white. It is almost insoluble in water.
Structure and stability
It is mainly used as an oxidant to enhance the extraction of precious metals from their ores. In its second main application, it is used as a food additive under the E number E930 it is used as flour bleaching agent and improving agent.
In agriculture it is used in the presowing treatments of rice seed. Also, calcium peroxide has found use in the aquaculture to oxygenate and disinfect water. In the ecological restoration industry it is used in the treatment of soils. Calcium peroxide is used in a similar manner to magnesium peroxide for environmental restoration programs. It is used to restore soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum by the process of enhanced in-situ bioremediation.


Into The Wild
From the sun-drenched hills of Southern California, heading north to the remote regions of British Columbia, and across the wild sea to the warmth of Sri Lanka - we have searched the globe seeking the natural world’s most unadulterated and sustainable ingredients, selecting those with abundant, time-tested benefits for both hair and scalp health.
We intentionally source ingredients grown with sustainable farming practices. We choose to formulate with plants and minerals that have been used by cultures throughout time for their healing and beneficial qualities for scalp and hair health. We do not use rare or trendy ingredients, and avoid contributing to over harvesting and unsustainable farming practices.
Each botanical is carefully harvested, consciously produced, and meticulously preserved from the moment it leaves the earth to the time it lands in Captain Blankenship’s bottles.
Consciously Sourced Ingredients
Every ingredient we select is grown and extracted from locations where they thrive, using methods that consider the earth, and its people, first. Hover to learn more.


Courtney Agencies Ltd. provides a weekly industry news update to its clients.
Please click here to receive this update by email.
August 14, 2018
The EU is the largest global exporter and importer of agri-food products
With an agri-food trade value of 255 billion in 2017, the European Union (EU) remains the largest global exporter and importer of agri-food products.
EU exports of agri-food products reached 138 billion in 2017, representing an annual increase of 5.1%. With imports at a value of 117 billion, the EU has a net trade surplus of 21 billion in its agri-food trade.
The EU exports a wide range of products from all parts of the value chain, from commodities and other primary products, processed agricultural products (such as cheese and wine) to highly processed food industry products. The EU's flagship products leading exports are wine and spirits, infant food, food preparations, chocolate and pig meat.
Regarding imports, the EU is in essence sourcing three main types of products from non-EU countries: products that are not (or only to a small extent) produced in the EU itself due to natural conditions (such as tropical fruits, coffee, etc.), products that are mostly used for animal feed and products that are used as ingredient in further processing.
The top five world agri-food importers are, in order: The European Union, the United States, China, Japan and Canada.
The top five world agri-food exporters are: The European Union, the United States, Brazil, China and Canada.
|Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.|


The effective and reliable supplier of high value dry products and ingredients in Mexico and the world. We provide safe and high-quality products to the food, food service and retail industries, supported by an integrated and sustainable value chain.
Create a lasting relationship with our stakeholders through the transformation and distribution of dry products and ingredients, incorporating the value chain in an integrated and sustainable management with social impact.
To be leaders in the supply of dry products and ingredients of high value for their quality, safety, traceability and sustainability for the food industry, foodservice and retail in Mexico and the world.
Sense of relevance
We are part of Grupo Arancia, a company that has been in the business of agriculture, ingredients for the food industry, food service, logistics and biotechnology for more than 95 years
Comercializadora Santo Tomás began operations in 1986, with the ideals and the drive of an entrepreneur who decided to bring chili peppers and spices from India. To supply an important company in Jalisco that gave him his trust.
During the first years, Santo Tomás faced enormous challenges to ensure that its operations met industry standards and thanks to the persistence of its founder, the company was gaining a place among the main chili and spice marketers in the country.
With the arrival of the new millennium, different opportunities were opened to increase the product portfolio and the second generation also joined, who very soon learned about the business and incorporated their ideas and projects in different areas to accelerate growth.
The decision to transform from a family business to an institutional company was the key to broadening the scope to different geographies.
By 2007, the company already operated in 25 countries, supplying more than 50 industrial clients in Mexico and with greater logistical capacity.
Comercializadora Santo Tomás adheres to the Global Compact and is committed to complying with its principles.
In the process of SQF certification


The farm at Dunmoylan has been in the McDonnell family since the early 1800’s. Dunmoylan, which refers to the townland on which the farm is situated, is Irish gaelic for “Land of the Fort” or the “Fort of Maolin.” Farming at Dunmoylan had very humble beginnings, starting off with only a handful of milking cows, a horse and cart to deliver dairy to the creamery, and a hearth fire to prepare food in a thatched stone dwelling house that would have been attached to the cow shed. Richard and his brother, David are the 7th generation of McDonnells to be the honorable custodians of this land.
Today, Dunmoylan is a modern grass-fed dairy and free-range poultry farm with a focus on sustainability and renewable energy. The farm is split into two sections that work together in forming a self-renewing circle of agriculture: the traditional farmyard which is managed by my husband and consists of the dairy and poultry sectors; and the other half, run by David, which handles wind power, anaerobic digestion, and the development of other renewable energy projects.
We have adopted the traditional intergenerational approach to Irish farm living. There are three homes that are part of the farm at large. The “home” farmhouse which is inhabited by my father-in-law, Michael and would have been where the original 18c dwelling house was located. Our little homestead, adjacent to the farmyard, which is named Dunmoylan Grove, with “Grove” symbolizing a row of very old Ash trees that line the hedge on the northern side of our house. And, David’s home across the road which was the original Presbytery built in 1872 for the local parish priests. David is married to Rosanne, who hails from a local O’Connor farming family. They have three lovely children.
In the farmyard, Richard milks Holstein Freisian dairy cows which are on grass from spring until early winter. Grassland management is a huge responsibility for him with a number of fields to juggle at a time. In the spring, maize and oregano is planted for an autumn harvest. The maize, herb and grass silage makes up the winter feeding diet for the cows, but only when the weather proves too harsh to be outdoors.
Richard also raises free-range poultry, which was proudly implemented on the farm in the 60’s by my late mother-in-law, Peggy. The chickens are fed a uniquely developed diet which encourages them to forage for food on the lush green pastures outdoors while also having barn shelter.
There is a small, rather overgrown, orchard on the home farmyard which was originally planted in the 1940’s for the purpose of supplying an Irish cidery, and has since been cut back to a scale that provides just enough for our families with a bounty of apples, pears, plums, gooseberries and currants each summer and autumn.
My father-in-law is also a beekeeper. He has three buzzing hives in a wooded area near the Shannon River that keeps us in honey all year round. In time, the beekeeping duties will be passed on to Richard or perhaps Geoffrey if he is brave enough!
Dunmoylan Grove is my “farmette.” This is where we grow many of our vegetables, some fruit, and raise small amounts of pastured livestock for meat. It’s where I make wholesome magic with the milk from the home farm and press orchard apples and pears into juice. We are currently developing this homesteading farmette concept to include more growing space and a center for mindful cooking and learning.
While the farm and its working practices have been updated over time, my husband’s family remains very much a traditional Irish farming family with regard to the beliefs and etiquette systems that are observed within the family as well as the local community. Raw milk in the tea, big roast dinners at lunchtime each day, quaint country suppers, inviting the Wren Boys to entertain our family with traditional Irish music and dance in the farm kitchen on St. Stephen’s Day, the blessing of the farm on May Eve, a fresh shamrock on a lapel for St. Patrick’s Day, a protective cross made of reeds for St. Brigid’s Day, a penny for luck on a sale of land or cattle, and unwavering support of small local businesses. Here in the Irish countryside, there is a such a strong appreciation for tradition and sense of community that it can sometimes feel like we’ve stepped back in time.


Core prompt：Olive oil imports are up 31 percent in Japan, 24 percent in China, 15 percent in Canada, 14 percent in Brazil,
Olive oil imports are up 31 percent in Japan, 24 percent in China, 15 percent in Canada, 14 percent in Brazil, and 9 percent in Australia and Russia, for the first four months of the 2012/13 crop year, according to the latest data from the International Olive Council (IOC).
In its March newsletter, the IOC also said that compared to the same period in 2011/12, imports had risen 3 percent in the United States (U.S.) – a market which enjoyed growth of 9 percent last season and is the world’s biggest olive oil consumer after Italy and Spain.
In January, the U.S. imported 24,570 tons, while China took an unseasonably high 6,360 tons, Brazil 5,500 tons and Japan 4,253 tons.
Imports up 66 percent into E.U.
Meanwhile, the drop in European Union (E.U.) production this season is obliging its member states to buy outside the E.U., the IOC said.
Imports of olive oil into the E.U. for last October-December were up two-thirds on the same period a year before.Tunisia accounted for about 73 percent of the nearly 29,000 tons of imports – most of it virgin grade – into the E.U. in that quarter, and Morocco nearly a fifth. Italy took most of the Tunisian imports and Spain most of the Moroccan oil.
E.U. trading trends
In a section on E.U. trading trends, the IOC said leading world player Spain exported about 956,400 tons in 2011/12, of which 70 percent was sold within the E.U., Italy alone bought nearly 405,000 tons from Spain.
Italy, on the other hand, sells nearly two-thirds of its olive oil beyond the E.U., mainly to the U.S.
The newsletter also shows intra-E.U. exports (olive oil sold to one E.U. country from another) totaled nearly 988,800 tons in 2011/12 but separate IOC figures put the total declared for intra-EU imports at about 1.07 million tons – a discrepancy of more than 81,000 tons.
In its February newsletter, the IOC expressed concern about the growing gap in these figures – which already stood at 24,033 tons for the first two months of the current season – and said it would need to be tracked.
Olive oil prices
Ex-mill prices for extra virgin olive oil now lie at €2.97/kg in Spain, up 70 percent on a year ago.
In the last week of March they stood at €3.21/kg in Italy and €2.04/kg in Greece.
The difference between the price of refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil currently lies at about €0.27/kg in Spain and €0.39/kg in Italy, the IOC said.
Table olive imports in the first four months of the 2012/13 crop year (October 2012–January 2013) rose 24 percent in Canada, 11 percent in Australia, 10 percent in Russia, and 6 percent in Brazil.
Though they fell by 1 percent in the U.S., it remains the biggest non-E.U. buyer and has this season been importing an average of more than 10,000 tons of table olives a month.
(From: Olive Oil Times)


Heating Greenhouses with Radiant Heat
Energy Efficient, Infrared Heating for the Healthiest, Highest Quality Plants
Greenhouses Require Gentle, Even Heat – Just Like the Sun
To produce the healthiest, highest quality plants, greenhouses require gentle, consistent heat. Because the heat from our infrared tube heaters simulates the sun’s warmth, it promotes healthy plant growth by improving soil conditions. At the same time, moisture is eliminated from plants’ surfaces reducing the potential for disease. In addition, our heaters are energy efficient by heating plants, soil, benches and other objects, not the air, letting you focus on growing.
Reduce Heat Loss in Your Greenhouse
Growers rely on knowing the air temperatures in their greenhouses, as nearly all crop recommendations are based on the air temperature required for the best growth. By reducing stratification and producing a consistent heat, you are creating the best environment for your plants.
“We’re seeing phenomenal results with these heaters, even when it drops down to 25 °F out.”Ron – Devi Cannabis, California
Watch How Devi Cannabis Improved Production with Infrared Heaters
Recommended Greenhouse Infrared Heaters
Unitary Infrared Heaters Versus Burners-in-Series Radiant Heaters in Greenhouses
Unitary heaters such as the VANTAGE CTH2V consist of a single burner located at one end of the heat exchanger tube. They offer design flexibility with straight U-tube, or L-shaped configurations for greenhouses big or small.
Burners-in-series infrared heating systems, CORAYVAC are most suitable for greenhouses requiring energy efficient heating. Because multiple burners allow for even heating, they can be custom engineered to fit any facility.
Greenhouse Heating Resources
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Our mushroom production is organic certified. We use the finest available organic raw materials from our own organic farm and from local farms in the Bekaa Valley, and import the spawn for the various strains we spawn from Europe’s leading providers. We currently produce organic specialty mushrooms like Oyster mushrooms, Red-Wine Cap or King Stropharia mushrooms, Shiitake and others.
Our Specialty mushrooms have renowned health benefits which have been appreciated in various cultures. Oyster mushrooms for example have been enjoyed in Asian cultures for thousands or years. They are Gluten Free, low on calories, fat free and very low on Sodium. They are rich in nutrients as they are high in protein and fiber, and contain significant levels of zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin C, Folic acid, and Vitamins B1 & B2. They have medicinal properties and are antioxidents and anti-cancer. Oyster mushroom varieties under production include the Florida variation, summer & winter Oyster mushrooms, as well as the Golden Oyster mushrooms, featuring in the photo above.


Alter Eco Heirloom Quinoa, Organic, Black 12 oz
Organic. USDA Organic. Certified Organic by QAI. Certified Gluten-free. A good source of protein & fiber. An excellent source of folate & phosphorus. Organically grown. Fairly traded. Hand-cultivated . Heirloom variety taste the difference. Bright, festive supergrain of the andes. Revered by ancient Incas as chisaya mama (chee-sa-waya ma-ma) or mother grain, this heirloom nutrition source is fluffier, nuttier and without the bitterness so common to lesser grades. Just one spoonful, and you'll see why it should be the only quinoa that graces your plate. Nourishing foodie, farmer and field. 100% traceable ingredients. 112 villages building a prosperous future. 5,600 llamas for healthy soils. We believe in the power of food. Eating heirloom, organic, and non-GMO keeps families healthy and strong. Fair and direct trade sustains farmers and ecosystems. And delivering food with zero waste and carbon insetting will mean a brighter future for us all. Learn more at www.alterecofoods.com. www.alterfoods.com. For more cooking tips and recipes, visit us at www.alterecofoods.com/recipes. Certified B Corporation. Fair Trade: Fair for life. Carbon Neutral Product: Agriculture that restores ecosystem. Country of Origin: Bolivia.


5th ANNUAL 100% JAMAICAN BLUE MOUNTAIN
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is known throughout the world as one of the most delicious and sought-after of all coffees. If you are already a Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee lover you already know this coffee is out of the world. If you have never tasted Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee you are in for a delicious surprise. The only place this coffee is grown is along The Blue Mountains on the island of Jamaica between Kingston to the south and Port Maria to the north. This coffee is grown at over 7000 feet above sea level, in the highest mountains of the Caribbean. This is one of the highest grown coffees in the world. At over 7000 feet above sea level you are going to find the climate cool with perpetual mist and ample rainfall. It is the mist that gives the mountains a bluish appearance and that is why they are called the Jamaican Blue Mountains.
***ROASTED AND SHIPPED ONLY BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26th -- DECEMBER 30th***
<<<WHOLE BEAN ONLY>>>


Rkatsiteli, a white-grape variety, is grown mainly in the Kakheti region but it is also present in other regions of Georgia and elsewhere. In Kakheti, it reaches full ripening from mid-September and up to the beginning of October. For the production of top quality wines its yield per hectare should not exceed seven or eight tonnes. In Georgia, Rkatsiteli is used for making both classic (European) and typical Kakhetian, amphora (Kvevri) fermented Vins de Table, Vins de Pays and AOC’s. Rkatsiteli wine is often blended with Kakhetian Mtsvane. Rkatsiteli also produces a large range of white wines, from fortified to ice-wines. Principal micro-zones include Kardenakhi, Tibaani, Tsinandali, Gurjaani, Napareuli. We make a number of wines from the Rkatsiteli grape - among them are white Rkatsiteli, Tsinandali, Gurjaani, Vazisubani, Sachino, Alaznis Veli, and Tbilisi. Rkatsiteli is also used in red Alazani Veli, Sachino, Tbilisi, and Pirosmani.
Kakhetian Mtsvane (Kakhetian Green)
This is a Georgian white-grape variety from the Kakheti region which reaches full ripening from the second half of September. Average yield per hectare is 5-8 tons. Yields for Kakhetian Mtsvane must be limited in order to maintain quality. It is used for making both, classic (European) and typical Kakhetian, amphora (qvevri) fermented Vins de Table, Vins de Pays and AOC’s. Principal micro-zones: Manavi, Tsinandali, Akhmeta. Our AOC Tsinandali and Tsinandali Special Reserve are made from Kakhetian Mtsvane sort mixed with Rkatsiteli.
This is a Georgian red grape variety grown in Kakheti and other regions of Georgia, and it can also be found outside Georgia. Saperavi reaches full ripening started from the second half of September, with the harvest-time lasting up to the end of October. Saperavi’s average yield per hectare amounts to 8-10 tons. Wines produced from Saperavi (Vins de Tables as well as AOC’s) are suitable for extended aging and it is also used for producing naturally sweet wines and rosé. Principal micro-zones: Mukuzani, Akhasheni, Khashmi, Kindzmarauli, Napareuli, Khvareli, Kondoli. The Saperavi grape sort is used extensively by Tbilvino for such brands as Saperavi, Mukuzani, Napareuli, Kindzmarauli, Akhasheni, Alazani Valley, Sachino, Pirosmani and Tbilisi, plus the premium Saperavi and Mukuzani Special Reserves.
A Georgian aboriginal white-grape variety widely present in Imereti region. In terms of cultivation it comes second after the Rkatsiteli variety. Outside of Imereti, it can also be found in Racha-Lechkhumi, Guria, Mingrelia, Adjara, and Abkhazia. A late ripening variety, Tsolikouri reaches its full maturity by late October. Its average productivity per-hectare amounts to 7-9 tonnes and it is particularly well-suited for premium white dry, sparkling and naturally sweet wines. Principal micro-zones: Baghdati and Zestaphoni regions; village Tvishi. We harvest Tsolikouri only in Tvishi micro-zone and use it for white semi-sweet Tvishi brand.
A red grape variety mainly grown in the Racha region. Like all varieties in Racha it is a late ripener and reaches full maturity by late October. Its average productivity per-hectare amounts to 5-6 tons. Blended with the Mujuretuli grape variety wine material in Racha’s Khvanchkhara micro-zone, it contributes to naturally semi-sweet Khvanchkhara. We use Aleksandrouli only for making of premium Khvanchkara brand.
A Georgian red grape variety most widespread in Mingrelia. It reaches its best expression in Martvili and Senaki districts and can also be found in Lechkhumi. It is a late ripening variety and reaches full maturity in mid-November. Ojaleshi’s harvesting period often ends either in late November or early December. Its average productivity per-hectare amounts to 5-6 tons. Ojaleshi contributes to quality naturally sweet and dry red wines. We use Ojaleshi harvested in Lechkhumi for making the semi-sweet Ojaleshi.
A Georgian red grape variety grown mainly in the Racha-Lechkhumi region. It is a medium-late ripening variety and reaches full maturity by mid-October. Its average productivity per-hectare amounts to 6-8 tons. Blended with Aleksandrouli, Mujuretuli is mainly used for delicious Khvanchkhara brand.


TODAY at 6:47 P.M., I completed a 240-page draft manuscript for a book about apples, which I began in earnest one week shy of a year ago. The book is due to be out by late summer. It looks at horticulture, history, culinary uses, food safety, pests and disease, and the race to develop the next Super Apple.
In addition to the text, the book features beautiful orchard photographs by Bar Weeks and me, and a photographic index of more than 120 apple varieties grown in the United States.
It is hard to describe what I am feeling. Giddy, dazed, and exhausted come to mind. There is plenty of work to be done in order to publish this, but completing the manuscript is a major milestone, without which the remaining steps are moot!


Ripe white peach and other stone fruit dominate the nose with nuances of spice and sweet melon. Hints of biscotti and honey add to the complexity and palate weight with crisp and zesty acidity ensuring balance.
Vines are drip-irrigated to ensure optimal ripening and trained on the 5-wire Perold trellis system. Planted in soils consisting of weathered granite on clay, the vines are situated on south facing slopes. The nearby Atlantic Ocean (False Bay) has an additional cooling effect on the vineyards during the ripening season.
SERVING & FOOD PAIRING
Enjoy at 10-12°C with Seared Scallops, crispy bacon, salsa, gremolata & rocket.


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Nestled in the hills of Southern Indiana, the town of Brownstown comes alive to celebrate the illustrious Jackson County Watermelon with some of the hottest artists in country music.
Around the country its just another weekend. In Jackson County it's watermelon season and it's time to Rock the Rind.
The juicy watermelons grown in the sandy fields of Jackson County are worth the trip, alone, but it doesn't stop there.
Grab some grub from one of the many vendors lining Sugar Street and pair it with a watermelon shakeup or cold beverage and enjoy the show!
Join us on the square for a weekend full of live music, great food, and tons of events!
From the - Watermelon Patch - a family friendly area jam packed with kid activities, to seed spitting, the watermelon steal, and more. The Jackson County Watermelon Festival is home to
ALL THINGS WATERMELON!


By Hannah Brennan & Burcu Kilic
Click here to access a PDF Version of this article
On October 16, 2014, a new draft of the intellectual property chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was leaked. The TPP is a free trade agreement currently being negotiated in secret between the governments of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam. The intellectual property chapter released in October contains a plant-related intellectual property provision proposed by the United States and Japan that could pose a serious threat to food security within the lower-income parties to the TPP. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) on plants endow plant breeders and seed manufacturers with varying degrees of control over the propagating materials (seeds, tissue cultures, cuttings) and sometimes harvested materials (fruits, foliage, flowers) of any new plant variety they create.
The newly released chapter reveals that the TPP will require signatories to make patents on plants or plant-related inventions available as well as accede to the 1991 version of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (1991 UPOV). Currently, most nations, including the majority of parties negotiating the TPP, set their own plant protection policies without interference from international authorities. Most nations have not acceded to the 1991 UPOV, and only a handful offer patents on plants or plant-related inventions. If implemented, the new provisions of the TPP would force many of the negotiating parties—in particular, the less wealthy states—to dramatically alter their domestic laws. For example, the new TPP language will prohibit farmers from saving and exchanging many varieties of seeds—a practice vital to the livelihood and welfare of traditional farming communities—and most likely increase multinational control of the farming industry in TPP nations. This short piece examines the TPP’s new plant-related language and its implications for the human right to food within TPP signatory nations.
II. The TPP’s Provision on Plant-Related Intellectual Property
Article QQ.E.1 of the TPP’s chapter on intellectual property outlines the scope of patentability under the agreement. The United States and Japan have proposed a provision reading: “each Party shall make patents available for inventions for plants and animals.” Alternatively, Japan and the United States propose the language: “[c]onsistent with paragraph 1, each Party confirms that it makes available patents for plant-related inventions,” with a footnote explaining that “[f]or greater certainty, no Party shall be required to make patents available for plant varieties that are protectable in that Party under the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants  (UPOV Convention).” The other parties to the TPP oppose this language and instead propose that plants be listed among the materials a party may exclude from patentability, i.e., among the list of materials for which the parties do not have to offer patent protection. Furthermore, article QQ.A.8.1(c) provides that all parties to the TPP must accede to the 1991 UPOV. Therefore, under the proposals from the U.S. and Japan, the TPP would force the negotiating parties to either make patents on plants available in addition to protecting plant varieties under the 1991 UPOV or make patents available for plant-related inventions in addition to protecting plant varieties under the 1991 UPOV. Currently, six of the twelve TPP signatories have not acceded to the 1991 UPOV, and only three parties make plant patents available, as the table below demonstrates.
III. Patents on Plant-Related Inventions
A patent grants its holder the right to exclude all others from manufacturing, using, or selling the product on which the patent was granted. A plant patent can be described as a patent on a plant as a whole, whereas a patent on a plant-related invention would be a patent on a particular aspect or feature of a plant, such one of its genes. Some patent systems allow individuals to obtain patents on both plants and features of those plants. For example, the seed manufacturer Monsanto inserted an herbicide-resistant gene into the genome of a soybean plant, enabling that soybean plant to resist a certain type of herbicide. Monsanto was able to obtain patent protection on both the herbicide-resistant gene and the soybean plant into which it was inserted in United States, which offers patent protection on plants and plant-related inventions. The patent on the plant excludes others from the use and sale of the pesticide-resistant plant; the patent on the gene (the plant-related invention) excludes others from the use and sale of any organism containing that gene.
IV. 1991 UPOV
The International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) requires its signatories to provide plant variety protection to breeders for the creation or discovery of any plant that is novel, distinct, homogenous, and stable. Under this agreement, breeders and multinational seed manufactures can obtain exclusive rights over the propagating materials of plants they create, whether these plants were bred through traditional cross-breeding techniques (more common among farmers in the developing world) or genetic engineering. The 1991 UPOV also specifies that certain discovered plant varieties qualify for protection. These exclusive rights are known as breeders’ rights.
Once a breeder or seed manufacturer has obtained plant variety protection on a plant, the 1991 UPOV allows this rights holder to exclude all others from producing or reproducing the protected plant, offering that plant for sale, and exporting or importing the plant. Importantly, these exclusive rights apply not only to the plant’s propagating materials, but also to its harvested materials in certain circumstances. This provision enables breeders to gain greater control over trade in processed foods, ornamentals, and other high-value commodities. Finally, the 1991 UPOV permits member states to obtain both a breeders’ right and a patent on a particular variety of plant.
Nevertheless, the 1991 UPOV does provide for two important exceptions to the exclusive rights granted to breeders and seed manufacturers. First, Article 15(1)(ii) requires member states to allow breeders to use and experiment with protected plant varieties for the purpose of creating and marketing new varieties. This provision preserves farmers’ ability to create new beneficial crops, therein maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. Second, Article 15(1)(i) allows farmers to plant the seeds of protected plant varieties on their land for noncommercial purposes without the breeders’ prior authorization. However, this privilege does not permit farmers to sell or exchange seeds with other farmers for propagating purposes. Therefore, this privilege only protects a farmer’s right to use protected plants as food source for himself and his family; it does not enable a farmer to sell or trade a protected variety to others.
These two exceptions render the 1991 UPOV significantly less restrictive than patent protection, which does not permit exceptions for experimentation or personal consumption. Therefore, the TPP’s real significance with respect to plants lies in its new requirement of patent protection on plants or plant-related inventions.
V. Implications of Heightened Plant-Related Intellectual Property Rights for the Protection of the Human Right to Food
Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights protect the right to food. Article 11 further provides that all people have the right “[t]o improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making full use of technical and scientific knowledge, . . . by developing or reforming agrarian systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources.” Therefore, critically, this covenant not only guarantees the right to food, but also to methods of food production.
Worldwide, at least 1.5 billion individuals depend on small-scale farming for their livelihoods. For such farmers, saving, selling, and exchanging seed in informal markets is pervasive and essential to the viability of their farming practices. Often accounting for 98% of seed supply in developing nations, informal seed-trading systems enable farmers to access a stock of different plant genes. These supplies of seed varieties are crucial to the improvement and conservation of traditional varieties that are well adapted to local environments. Accordingly, these informal seed supply systems play “a fundamental role in ensuring household food security.”
Implementation of the 1991 UPOV and/or plant patents (no matter if they are on plants or plant-related inventions) will enable breeders and multinational seed manufacturers to remove many previously unprotected varieties of plants from the public domain and bar exchange of these varieties on informal seed markets, greatly impacting the breadth of seeds available in these markets. Because plant patents as well as 1991 UPOV prevent farmers from selling and exchanging protected seeds, such IPR provisions prevent farmers from cultivating and selling improved crops that have been granted protection. As a recent report found, “[f]rom a human rights perspective, restrictions on the use, exchange and sale of protected seeds could adversely affect the right to food, as seeds might become either more costly or harder to access. These restrictions could also affect other human rights, by reducing the amount of household income which is available for food, healthcare or education.” The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food further warned that “[t]he oligopolistic structure of [the breeders’] market may result in poor farmers being deprived of access to seeds[,] productive resources essential for their livelihoods, and it could raise the price of food, thus making food less affordable for the poorest.” Accordingly, the U.S. and Japan’s plant-related intellectual property provision could threaten the right to food in Pacific-rim nations through the disruption it would cause to informal seed markets and traditional farming practices.
The typical response to this criticism of plant-related intellectual property rights is that farmers are not required to purchase protected seed varieties just because they are available. As the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has explained, however, this contention “presupposes that farmers have real alternatives to acquiring their seed from the commercial system.” Unfortunately, “the coexistence between farmers’ seed systems — operating at local or community levels between farmers, and mostly informal — and commercial seed systems is sometimes problematic. . . . Farmers often receive commercial varieties as part of a package that includes credit (often vouchers), seed, fertilizer and pesticide. In many cases, acceptance of such packages is the only way farmers can access credit in rural areas. They need to accept the whole package in order to do so.” Thus, governmental involvement in seed and fertilizer distribution complicates the seed supply system such that avoidance of commercial seed varieties is often infeasible.
Increased intellectual property protection of plant varieties may also skew incentives in the seed industry in ways that reduce genetic diversity among plants, causing harm to developing nations. Plant variety protection does not encourage breeding related to minor crops with small markets “because the likelihood of good returns on breeders’ research investment is small even with the legal protection provided by [plant variety protection].” Instead, intellectual property rights on plant varieties create incentives for breeding major crops with significant commercial potential. This trend is already visible: very little research has been directed towards developing new varieties of foods important in the developing world, such as tropical maize, sorghum, millet, banana, cassava, groundnut, oilseed, potato or sweet potato. Accordingly, implementation of the 1991 UPOV and a system of plant patents in TPP nations may further reorient crop development towards the needs of farmers in rich countries at the expense of farmers in developing countries.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has decried the increasing pressure on low- and middle-income countries to adopt national legislation that increases intellectual property protection on plants. More specifically, he has criticized free trade agreements that require the introduction of patent protection for plants or legislation implementing the 1991 UPOV. A recent report from a network of NGOs, including the Third World Network and the Berne Declaration, echoed this criticism, noting that governments in industrialized nations regularly pressure developing countries into introducing stringent intellectual property protection for plants.
The TPP’s current provision on plant intellectual property rights is not only an example of that mounting pressure, but also, in and of itself, would serve to augment it. In requiring parties to implement the 1991 UPOV Agreement and make plant patents available, the TPP further normalizes the pressure on developing nations to jeopardize farmers’ rights and food security in favor of unclear gains in biotechnical research and development. Ascension to the 1991 UPOV will force many TPP parties to trade away the food security of their populations for the benefit of breeders—primarily large multinational corporations.
 Hannah Brennan is a Legal Fellow in Public Citizen’s Global Access to Medicines Program. Burcu Kilic is Legal Counsel to Public Citizen’s Global Access to Medicines Program.
 Secret TPP Treaty: Intellectual Property Chapter Working Document for all 12 Nations with Negotiating Positions, WikiLeaks (Oct. 16, 2014), http://wikileaks.org/tpp-ip2/tpp-ip2-chapter.pdf [hereinafter Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) – IP Chapter].
 Under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), member nations are permitted to “provide for the protection of plant varieties either by patents or by an effective sui generis system or by any combination thereof.” Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights art. 27.3(b), Apr. 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1C, 108 Stat. 4809, 1869 U.N.T.S. 299, http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/27-trips.pdf [hereinafter Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights]. Furthermore, some of the parties to the TPP have already signed free trade agreements with the United States (Australia, Canada, Chile, Korea, Mexico, Peru, and Singapore). However, these agreements allow the parties more flexibility with respect to plant-related patents.
 Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) – IP Chapter, supra note 2, art. QQ.E.1.
 Id. art. QQ.E.1.3.
 Id. art. QQ.E.1.3 n.55.
 Id. art. QQ.E.1.4(b).
 This table originally appeared in Burcu Kilic, Hannah Brennan, and Peter Maybarduk, 40 Yale J. Int’l L. Online 34 (2015), available at http://www.yjil.org/docs/pub/o-40-killic.pdf.
 Members and Observers, World Trade Org., http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm (last visited Sept. 30, 2014).
 Members of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, Int’l Union for Protection New Variants Plants (June 10, 2014), http://www.upov.int/export/sites/upov/members/en/pdf/pub423.pdf.
 However, Brunei will join the UPOV by 2015. Intellectual Property Office of Brunei Darussalam, Intellectual Property Regime, Brunei-Patents, http://www.brunei-patents.com.bn/index.php/about-us/ip-regime (last visited Sept. 30, 2014).
 Brunei’s current patent law neither explicitly includes nor excludes plants from its provision on patentable subject matter. See Brunei Darussalam Patent Order 2011, Part III, World Intell. Prop. Org. (Oct. 17, 2011), http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/bn/bn027en.pdf.
 See Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser,  1 S.C.R. 902 (Can.) (explaining that patents on plant genes and cells are valid but patents on plants are not); Harvard Coll. v. Canada, (Commissioner of Patents), 2002 S.C.C. 76, 5, 7 (“Since patenting higher life forms would involve a radical departure from the traditional patent regime, and since the patentability of such life forms is a highly contentious matter that raises a number of extremely complex issues, clear and unequivocal legislation is required for higher life forms to be patentable. The current Act does not clearly indicate that higher life forms are patentable.”).
 The Andean Pact countries, which include Peru, have chosen not to grant patents on plants. Decision 486: Common Intellectual Property Regime, art. 20 (Sept. 14, 2000), available at http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/can/can012en.pdf.
 What is a Patent?, Intell. Prop. Off. of Sing., http://www.ipos.gov.sg/AboutIP/TypesofIPWhatisIntellectualProperty/Whatisapatent.aspx (last updated Dec. 12, 2013).
 Vietnam Intellectual Property Law 50/2005, Art. 59(5); see also Nguyen Nguyet Dzung, Vietnam Patent Law Substantive Law Provisions and Existing Uncertainties, 6 Chi.-Kent J. Intell. Prop. 138, 142 (2007).
 U.S. Patent No. 5,633,435.
 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, art. 5(1), Mar. 19, 1991, http://www.upov.int/en/publications/conventions/1991/act1991.htm [hereinafter UPOV 1991].
 Id. art. 1(iv).
 Id. art. 14(1)(a).
 Id. art. 14(2).
 Laurence R. Helfer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Intellectual property rights in plant varieties International legal regimes and policy options for national governments 26 (2004), available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-y5714e.pdf.
 UPOV 1991, supra note 19, arts. 15(1)(ii), 14(5)(a).
 Id. arts. 15(1)(i).
 Jayashree Watal, Intellectual Property Rights in the WTO and Developing Countries 141 (2000).
 G.A. Res. 2200A art. 11, U.N. GAOR 3d Comm., 21st Sess., Supp. No. 16, at 48, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966) [hereinafter ICESCR].
 Universal Declaration of Human Rights art. 25, G.A. Res. 217A, U.N. Doc. A/810 (1948).
 ICESCR, supra note 27, art. 11.
 Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Report on Seed Policies and The Right to Food, General Assembly, ¶ 24, U.N. Doc. A/64/170 (July 23, 2009) (by Olivier De Schutter), available at http://www.srfood.org/images/stories/pdf/officialreports/20091021_report-ga64_seed-policies-and-the-right-to-food_en.pdf [Hereinafter De Schutter, Report on Seed Policies].
 Berne Declaration, Owning Seeds, Accessing Food: A Human Rights Impact Assessment of UPOV 1991 Based on Case Studies in Kenya, Peru, and the Philippines 7, 24 (2014), available at https://www.evb.ch/fileadmin/files/documents/Saatgut/2014_07_10_Owning_Seed_-_Accessing_Food_report_def.pdf [hereinafter Berne Declaration].
 Claudio Chiarolla, The Right to Food and Intellectual Property for Plant Genetic Resources, in Research Handbook on Human Rights and Intellectual Property 13 (Edward Elgar ed., 2014); see Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 7.
 See Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 7 (“There is an important interaction between the formal and informal sectors whereby seeds from the formal sector are integrated into the informal sector by seed saving, exchange and sale of farm-saved seeds. Small-scale farmers also use “improved” varieties, which in some cases are protected by plant breeders’ rights.”).
 Chiarolla, The Right to Food, supra note 33, at 13; see Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 7.
 See Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 7, 14; Geoff Tansey, The Future Control of Food 41 (2008).
 Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 7.
 De Schutter, Report on Seed Policies, supra note 30, at ¶ 27; see also Berne Declaration, supra note 30, at 7 (“In the case of protected varieties, seed costs drive production expenses further up. From a human rights perspective, higher production costs pose a risk for cash-strapped farmers as they affect the stability of their household budget and compete with other essential household expenditures, including for food.”).
 De Schutter, Report on Seed Policies, supra note 30, at ¶ 36.
 Id. at ¶ 24 (“[T]he expansion of surfaces cultivated with commercial seeds accelerates crop diversity erosion, as an increasing number of farmers grow the same crops, using the same, ‘improved’ varieties on their fields.”); Tansey, supra note 36, at 41; S. Ragavan, To Sow or Not to Sow: Dilemmas in Creating New Rights in Food, in Agricultural and Biotechnology and Intellectual Property: Seeds of Change 318, 323-24 (J. Kesan ed., 2007).
 Tansey, supra note 36, at 41.
 See id.; De Schutter, Report on Seed Policies, supra note 29, at ¶ 34.
 De Schutter, Report on Seed Policies, supra note 29, at ¶ 34.
 Id., at ¶ 40 (“This convention prohibits the commercialization of varieties which are essentially derived from a PVP-protected variety (article 14 (5)), and farmers are now prohibited from exchanging or selling seeds saved from the harvest of protected varieties (article 15). In order to circumvent these limitations, developing countries where the function of traditional, farmers’ seed systems is most important both for the prevention of genetic erosion and for the livelihoods of farming communities should design sui generis forms of protection of plant varieties which allow these systems to flourish, even if this means adopting non-UPOV compliant legislation.”).
 Id., at ¶ 18.
 Berne Declaration, supra note 31, at 46.
 Harbir Singh, Plant Variety Protection and Food Security: Lessons for Developing Countries, 12 J. Intell. Prop. L. 391, 396 (2007) (“Data on the North American seed market revealed that in case of hybrid corn and soybean, top five companies account for 69% and 51% share, respectively. In case of cottonseed, Monsanto alone controls 84% of the market on account of its purchase of Delta and Pine Land.”).
[…] fuentes que ya hemos difundido en nuestro face: Impacto en Semillas/ Universidad de Harvard: http://harvardhrj.com/2015/04/freeing-trade-at-the-expense-of-local-crop-markets-a-look-at-the-trans… Impacto en medicinas / Medicos sin Fronteras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvCJ4ZUBZE4 Impacto […]
[…] de los derechos vulnerados serían el de la soberanía alimentaria. Según investigadores de la Universidad de Harvard, el TPP obligaría a los países menos ricos a adecuarse al cien porciento al convenio […]


Reading about the 'fire-y' methods of ecosystemic control employed by the native Americans in North America reminded me of a similar, interesting example; that of the use of fire by farmers in India and their ensuing social/business interactions with goat-herding nomads.
My family comes from a small village in the Konkan area of coastal western India, and we traditionally have a growing season of 4 months coinciding with the monsoon. Paddy is the staple crop. After the rice is harvested in September, the land is allowed to lie fallow till April-May. However, right after the crop is harvested, the fields are burned in controlled fires to clear any remains of the rice stalks on the ground or any weeds that might have lodged themselves in the field. The ash is later used as a natural fertilizer. However, as in the case of North American Indians, the farmers in the Konkan are aware that a profusion of (in this case, unwanted) grasses and shrubs begin to shoot up soon after the fires. The farmers deal with this by making a 'contract' with the dhangars, a nomadic tribe of goat- and sheep-herders. The farmers allow the dhangars to live and trespass on their fields and lands, in return for which the goats and sheep of the tribe graze on the succulent new grasses. This means that the unwanted weeds and grasses are controlled without any expense to the farmer, while the dhangars are able to perpetuate their herds. It is a win-win situation for everyone.


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If your rabbit is acting abnormally and you have concerns please take them to a vet immediately.
Rabbits are among the so-called “folivores” and are therefore leaf eaters. Their main food is the green parts of plants, such as buds and leaf tips. But Lagomorpha are also allowed to eat vegetables and fruit now and then. Find out in our article whether you should also feed your rabbit tomatoes!
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family and contain the poisonous substance solanine. However, this substance is mainly contained in the unripe fruits and the green parts of the plant. Ripe fruits usually do not pose a threat to rabbits, which is why they can be fed.
To determine if the tomatoes are already ripe, look out for the following characteristics:
The response to this query is yes. Tomatoes can be eaten by rabbits, but they should not be their primary source of nourishment. But because they enjoy this fruit so much, it is a great way to add variety to your pet’s meal as a treat.
It’s vital to understand that we can only supply the tomato, not other plant components like leaves, blossoms, or stems. This is primarily owing to the presence of solanine in the greens, which is toxic to rabbits. This is usually not a problem if the rabbit simply consumes a few tomato leaves.
Tomatoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from the traditional round and bright red to lengthy tomatoes and the renowned cherry tomatoes, which are a popular element in gourmet dishes. Because of their size, the latter is suitable for animals such as rabbits, hence the question of whether rabbits can eat cherry tomatoes is frequently asked.
The answer is once again affirmative. The tomato, regardless of its size, is unaffected by the rabbit as long as it is ripe, neat, raw, and without leaves.
Tomatoes are helpful to rabbits not only because they can consume them without becoming poisoned, but also because they provide a variety of benefits. It’s high in vitamin A, C, and antioxidants. Furthermore, tomatoes contain many carotenoids and B vitamins.
Choline is present in tomato pulp, a substance that lowers cholesterol and improves immunity. It is easy to grow, simple, and inexpensive treats.
However, only mature red tomatoes provide all of these advantages. Is it possible for rabbits to eat green tomatoes? In this instance, it’s best not to provide green tomatoes or stalks to the rabbits because they’re toxic and can cause symptoms of allergy or poisoning.
Rabbits should feed food that is high in fiber but low in sugar and fat. Tomatoes have a lot of fiber, but they also have a lot of sugar and acid. Accordingly, only feed the red fruits as a treat in between meals. In general, it can be said that rodents can consume a maximum of one or two tomato slices per day.
Under no circumstances should they be fed tomatoes too often, otherwise they can get digestive problems.
Now that you’re aware that rabbits cannot eat green tomatoes but only red ones, let’s look at how to incorporate them into their diet. The procedure is quite straightforward; simply choose a tomato that is quite red and thoroughly wash it.
If you do choose to feed your bunny tomatoes, keep the amount to a minimum. Tomatoes should be considered a small treat rather than a true source of energy.
Ensure the tomatoes are sliced into rabbit-sized portions. Even though rabbits are adept chewers, you don’t want to put in danger of choke.
Is it safe for rabbits to eat tomato peel? Certainly, it may consume the tomato skin without danger. It is not necessary to peel or remove the peel, you just have to remember that it is an occasional ingredient in the diet. It is suggested that you offer some items no more than a couple of times a week.
Tomatoes can be fed to rabbits, but it’s crucial to keep an eye on how they react to such a treat. Rabbits’ digestive systems can be affected if they eat it in some situations. An adult rabbit should only be given 300 g a day, and only in the morning.
Seeds, particularly tomato seeds, should never be eaten by rabbits. They’re also harmful to your health. Before you feed your rabbit, you should take the seeds out.
Giving a tomato to baby bunnies is not a good idea. It’s best to start including it in the rabbit’s diet when he or she is three months old. Even after reaching this age, a rabbit should be given tomatoes in modest amounts while being monitored for reactions.
Tomatoes are commonly provided to rabbits as part of a diversified diet. The most significant component of a rabbit’s diet is hay. Tomatoes should never account for more than a modest amount of your rabbit’s diet, even though fruits and vegetables can aid.
It’s not just the high acid and sugar content of tomatoes that can be troublesome for rabbits. Because the high water content can also lead to health problems in rodents. If rabbits eat too many tomatoes, it can affect the firmness of the feces. Because very often the animals suffer from the so-called “mud droppings”, extremely soft droppings.
Interestingly, this does not always happen with eating a lot of tomatoes. Because mud excrement is linked to a shift in feed, as well as low feed quality and parasites. If the rodent eats tomatoes and produces muddy excrement or diarrhea, you should stop feeding them. It’s also a good idea to follow the steps below:


Tasty and spectacular rice!Exotic red organic rice looks and tastes delicious.
The gorgeous rice of the indigenous variety, Khao Deng, grown in the north-east of Thailand, has a gentle flavour. It can be used as normal rice on its own or as a substitute for regular rice in recipes.
Use: Cook gently under a lid for about 40-50 minutes, 1 part rice/ 2 parts water.
The products are manufactured at Foodin's own factory, which is carbon neutral.


AGCO is a leading manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts throughout the world. It provides farming technologies in addition to farm equipment. Although it is an American publicly held company, most of the equipment it makes and sells is not to the North American agricultural market. The company was organized in 1990 by an investment group formed by management to acquire the successor business of Allis-Chalmers. In 1994 the company purchased Massy Ferguson including 24 percent of the Indian Massey Ferguson licensee TAFE and some part of Landini, which it held until 2000.
AGCO offers a full range of agricultural equipment including tractors, combines, self-propelled sprayers, hay tools, forage equipment, tillage, implements, grain storage and protein production systems. Its products are marketed via many brand names including Challenger®, Fendt ®, GSI ®, Massey Ferguson ® and Valtra ®. AGCO distributes most of its products through a combination of independent dealers and distributors (1,300 in North America, 3,100 globally) in 140 countries. In addition, AGCO provides retail financing through its retail finance joint ventures with Rabobank.


Thursday, August 23rd
Reservations Required at Osborne Nature Center
Osborne’s Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls will be touring Forest Hill Farm for the August 23rd destination. This year’s theme is “Northeast Iowa Grows It Better.” O.W.L.S. are traveling around Northeast Iowa to find unique farms and businesses who are growing locally.
Forest Hill Farm raises certified organic, grass-fed beef and lamb along with pastured pigs and poultry. Keith and Glenda Plozay began their adventure in 1991 on a very small scale with just three acres. A couple years later they bought another ten acres and slowly grew their dream into an 85 acre farm. Raising heritage hogs, certified red angus cattle and most recently bees to pollinate the pastures, garden and fruit trees show that conservation is a high priority. To learn more about the animals they raise and their passion for the environment visit their website at foresthillfarmiowa.com
Make reservations by calling (563) 245-1516 or visit the Osborne Nature Center. Please meet at Osborne Park at 10:30. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
The Osborne Center is located on Highway 13, ten miles north of Strawberry Point or five miles south of Elkader. The center is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday-Saturday, and Sunday noon to 4:00pm. Please call 563-245-1516 for more information or visit www.claytoncountyconservation.org.


Absolute Land Auction 160.00 +/- acres of productive cropland and pasture in Knox County, Nebraska
160 +/- acres of productive farm ground and productive pasture. Good corn and bean base acres and yield. Spring 2021 possession.
Legal Description: The Northeast Quarter (NE1/4) in Section Thirteen (13), Township Twenty-nine (29), Range Four (4) West; in Knox County, Nebraska containing 160.00 +/- tax acres.


Why is PDT low on eggs?
As fall sets in for the season, hens start to prepare their bodies for the winter. Much of their energy starts to be used for the production of stronger feathers to keep them warm. Another reason for the slow down in a hens egg production is a reduction in the amount of daylight hours. Hens need at least 12-14 hours of daylight to lay at their full potential.
Our great egg producers are keeping us as stocked as they can!