Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Agricultural Science Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 4801 - 4830 of 14771

Full-Text Articles in Agricultural Science

Sustainable Grazing On Saline Land In Western Australia - Multidisciplinary Research Linking Producers And Scientists, Hayley C. Norman, D. G. Masters, M. G. Wilmot, A. J. Rintoul, R. Silberstein, E. Lefroy, T. York Aug 2023

Sustainable Grazing On Saline Land In Western Australia - Multidisciplinary Research Linking Producers And Scientists, Hayley C. Norman, D. G. Masters, M. G. Wilmot, A. J. Rintoul, R. Silberstein, E. Lefroy, T. York

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dryland salinity is one of the most critical environmental issues challenging Western Australian farmers. Currently 10% of the cropping zone (1.8 million ha) is salt-affected and this is predicted to increase dramatically in the next 50 years (NLWRA, 2001). Animals grazing saline pasture systems represent the most likely large-scale opportunity for economic return from saline land in the short to medium term. To date, few farmers have invested in large-scale revegetation of saline land as the economic return from grazing has not been perceived to cover costs. Furthermore other benefits of saltland pasture systems, such as biodiversity, water use and …

Go to article

Energy Use And Energy Use Efficiency Of Specialised Dairy Farms In Flanders, Marijke Meul, Frank Nevens, I. Verbruggen, D. Reheul Aug 2023

Energy Use And Energy Use Efficiency Of Specialised Dairy Farms In Flanders, Marijke Meul, Frank Nevens, I. Verbruggen, D. Reheul

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Our highly mechanised agriculture largely depends on ever declining stocks of fossil energy and hence contributes to global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, energy use (efficiency) is an important aspect of eco-efficient and sustainable agricultural production systems. In this study, we estimated direct and indirect energy use on a representative set of specialised dairy farms in Flanders (334 farm datasets in 1989-1990 and 147 farm datasets in 2000-2001) and we calculated their energy use efficiency. We studied the observed evolution between 1989-1990 and 2000-2001.

Go to article

Agroecosystem Performances Of Livestock Farms In A Mountain Area Of Sicily, L. Stringi, G. Alfieri, G. Amato, A. S. Frenda, D. Giambalvo, P. Iudicello Aug 2023

Agroecosystem Performances Of Livestock Farms In A Mountain Area Of Sicily, L. Stringi, G. Alfieri, G. Amato, A. S. Frenda, D. Giambalvo, P. Iudicello

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agroecosystem performance indicators (APIs) represent instruments for studying agroecosystem performance via an input/output approach and a knowledge base, with the aim of improving the sustainability level of the farm's activity (Tellarini & Caporali, 2000). This research used APIs to evaluate the influence of stocking rate on the performance (in terms of energy) of farms in a mountainous area of northern Sicily, Italy.

Go to article

Low Input Techniques For Firebreak Covering: Agronomic Aspects, S. Caredda, Antonello Franca, F. Sanna, G. Seddaiu Aug 2023

Low Input Techniques For Firebreak Covering: Agronomic Aspects, S. Caredda, Antonello Franca, F. Sanna, G. Seddaiu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Sardinia, wild fire prevention is traditionally "passive" , based on mechanical removal of vegetation and upper soil layers. This has a dramatic negative effect on plant diversity and soil erosion. This experiment concerns "active" prevention of wildfires, based on green covering and grazing of firebreaks. The objective was the establishment of a persistent green cover, to be grazed by animals to reduce fuel accumulation.

Go to article

Cost Efficiency Of Agri-Environmental Schemes - Model Calculations In Central Europe For Grassland Extensification, H. Bergmann Aug 2023

Cost Efficiency Of Agri-Environmental Schemes - Model Calculations In Central Europe For Grassland Extensification, H. Bergmann

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of grassland in less favoured areas is important for the protection of agro-biodiversity. However, under existing market conditions the use of low yielding grasslands is not efficient economically. For this reason the European Union is paying specific support to make extensive grasslands economically more attractive. The objective of this study was to analyse whether the existing agri-environmental scheme was the cheapest way to protect extensive grasslands.

Go to article

Phytosociological And Economical Properties Of Some Water-Meadows Of Nemunas, Lithuania, L. Baležentienė, E. Venskutonienė Aug 2023

Phytosociological And Economical Properties Of Some Water-Meadows Of Nemunas, Lithuania, L. Baležentienė, E. Venskutonienė

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The water meadows of Nemunas in Lithuania have a high biological diversity as well as economic value. This paper describes the syntaxonomic type of meadow communities, plant species diversity of some water meadows of Nemunas, estimating the productivity of these grasslands in the summers of 2002 and 2003 and the optimal method of management.

Go to article

Role Of Grasslands And Grassland Management For Biogeochemical Cycles And Biodiversity. Setting Up Long-Term Manipulation Experiments In France, G. Lemaire, Jean-François Soussana, J. C. Emile, A. Chabbi, F. Louault, P. Loiseau, Bertrand Dumont, X. Charrier Aug 2023

Role Of Grasslands And Grassland Management For Biogeochemical Cycles And Biodiversity. Setting Up Long-Term Manipulation Experiments In France, G. Lemaire, Jean-François Soussana, J. C. Emile, A. Chabbi, F. Louault, P. Loiseau, Bertrand Dumont, X. Charrier

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Land use for grassland is recognised to have some beneficial effects for biodiversity and the environment: (i) regulation of the water cycle and protection of soils against erosion, (ii) accumulation of organic matter in soil and sequestration of atmospheric C, (iii) regulation of the N cycle and attenuation of the risk for N leaching, (iv) recycling of nutrients and improvement of soil quality, (v) improvement of biodiversity of vegetation, soil microbes and micro- and meso-fauna. All these effects depend upon the management of the grassland: cutting vs. grazing, stocking density, level of N inputs. Management decisions often result from short- …

Go to article

Safe: A Framework For Assessing Sustainability Levels In Agricultural Systems, X. Sauvenier, C. Bielders, V. Brouckaert, V. Garcia, M. Hermy, E. Mathijs, B. Muys, J. Valckx, N. Van Cauwenbergh, M. Vanclooster, E. Wauters, A. Peeters Aug 2023

Safe: A Framework For Assessing Sustainability Levels In Agricultural Systems, X. Sauvenier, C. Bielders, V. Brouckaert, V. Garcia, M. Hermy, E. Mathijs, B. Muys, J. Valckx, N. Van Cauwenbergh, M. Vanclooster, E. Wauters, A. Peeters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Evaluating the sustainability of agricultural systems is a major challenge for scientists, policy makers and farmers. Numerous sets of indicators have recently been designed, both at national and international levels. However, most of these initiatives focus only on environmental aspects of sustainability, indicators are often selected arbitrarily and usually do not fit in a consistent, comprehensive and universally applicable framework. This paper presents an original framework for integrating the information contained by indicators into a single quantitative measure of agricultural sustainability in order to facilitate comparison and diagnosis.

Go to article

Ecosystem Management In Pasture Communities: Tools From Restoration Ecology, S. C. Goslee, M. A. Sanderson Aug 2023

Ecosystem Management In Pasture Communities: Tools From Restoration Ecology, S. C. Goslee, M. A. Sanderson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture systems have the potential to improve both economic and environmental sustainability in agricultural communities worldwide. To achieve maximum benefits, pasture plant communities must be tailored to the climate, the site type and the goals of the producer. Little is known about how to accomplish this, beyond very broad recommendations. We approached the problem by adapting a three-step conceptual framework from restoration ecology for use in managed pasture communities of the northeastern United States. The three steps, inventory, assessment and remediation, were designed for managers interested in restoring degraded native ecosystems, but can be applied equally well in managed ecosystems.

Go to article

Effects Of Tree And Tillage Systems On The Productivity Of The Herbaceous Stratum In Silvopastoral Systems In The Southwest Of Córdoba, Argentina, O. Plevich, C. Saroff, C. Cholaky, T. Pereyra, O. Barotto, H. Pagliaricci Aug 2023

Effects Of Tree And Tillage Systems On The Productivity Of The Herbaceous Stratum In Silvopastoral Systems In The Southwest Of Córdoba, Argentina, O. Plevich, C. Saroff, C. Cholaky, T. Pereyra, O. Barotto, H. Pagliaricci

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the southwest of Córdoba, Argentina, there are lands with severe water erosion, due to the interaction of rolling pampas, high intensity precipitation, loam soil, and farming systems based on annual crops (Cantero et al., 1998). In an attempt to mitigate the erosive processes, a silvopastoral system was established in which winter forage was combined with trees. To improve the physical condition of the soil, two tillage systems were implemented. The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of trees and tillage systems on the production of forage.

Go to article

Effect Of Tree Species And Density On Pasture Production In Galicia, Spain, A. Rigueiro-Rodríguez, E. Fernández-Núñez, M. R. Mosquera-Losada Aug 2023

Effect Of Tree Species And Density On Pasture Production In Galicia, Spain, A. Rigueiro-Rodríguez, E. Fernández-Núñez, M. R. Mosquera-Losada

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Galicia produces 50% of the forest products of Spain. Livestock production earns 62% of the income of the agrarian sector in Galicia. Afforestation has been very important in the last decade to such an extent that the area of forest and woodlands now covers 62% of Galicia. It is necessary to increase the rate of return on investments in planted forests in order to avoid rural depopulation through improvement of rural development and welfare. This paper reports on the effect of combining pastures with trees.

Go to article

Evolution And Ageing Of Brachiaria Brizantha Pasture Component In A Silvopastoral System, M. Rakocevic, F. C. De Oliveira, J. Ribaski, O. J. Lavoranti Aug 2023

Evolution And Ageing Of Brachiaria Brizantha Pasture Component In A Silvopastoral System, M. Rakocevic, F. C. De Oliveira, J. Ribaski, O. J. Lavoranti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main causes of the decline of Brachiaria pasture in the tropics are lack of maintenance, fertilisation and excessively high animal stocking rates (Boddey et al., 2004). Brachiaria brizantha has two predominant morphological forms: 1) relatively high stems with grouped tillers at a high position constructed from short leaves (bunch type); 2) low stems with long leaves, which in time evolve into the first type (Kanno et al., 1999). The concept of Brachiaria management involves animals entering to commence grazing when the pasture is 50-60cm high and being removed at 25-30cm, leaving a regrowth period of at least …

Go to article

The Influence Of Tree Thinning And Tree Species On The Dry Matter Yield Of Grasses Of A Bush Encroached Semi-Arid Savanna In South Africa, G. N. Smit Aug 2023

The Influence Of Tree Thinning And Tree Species On The Dry Matter Yield Of Grasses Of A Bush Encroached Semi-Arid Savanna In South Africa, G. N. Smit

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Acacia erubescens-Combetum apiculatum dominated savanna of South Africa is water-limited and an increase in woody plant abundance suppresses the grasses. This is the major reason why thinning or total clearing of all woody plants is often considered by landowners. The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of intensity of tree thinning and tree species on grass yields in a semi-arid South African savanna.

Go to article

Productivity Of A Leucaena Leucocephala-Cynodon Nlemfuensis Silvopastoral System With Sheep In Yucatan, Mexico, J. G. Escobedo-Mex, L. Ramirez-Aviles Aug 2023

Productivity Of A Leucaena Leucocephala-Cynodon Nlemfuensis Silvopastoral System With Sheep In Yucatan, Mexico, J. G. Escobedo-Mex, L. Ramirez-Aviles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Animal production in the tropics of Mexico is based on grazed grasslands of low productivity; this type of production system has reduced the areas of natural vegetation and damaged the ecology (erosion of flora, fauna and soil). Silvopastoral technologies may improve the welfare and economic conditions of the rural population and, consequently, preserve their natural resources. The current work was designed to assess the introduction of Leucaena leucocephala in a silvopastoral system with Cynodon nlemfuensis (star grass) grazed by sheep.

Go to article

Agroforestry Systems In Cuba: Some Aspects Of Animal Production, J. Iglesias, L. Simón, L. Lamela, I. Hernández, M. Milera, T. Sánchez Aug 2023

Agroforestry Systems In Cuba: Some Aspects Of Animal Production, J. Iglesias, L. Simón, L. Lamela, I. Hernández, M. Milera, T. Sánchez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The silvopastoral systems, that nowadays constitute scientific achievements of the Grasses and Forages Research Station "Indio Hatuey ", have been developed from the results of investigations that were carried out since the 1980s, to improve the productivity of natural pastures through the introduction of valuable herbaceous species and tree legumes. Those investigations also determined the essential elements of pasture management such as the optimal stocking rates for low input systems and suitable methods of grazing to obtain sustainability of grasslands.

Go to article

Optimising Forage Production On Degraded Lands In The Dry Tropics Through Silvopastoral Systems, P. S. Pathak Aug 2023

Optimising Forage Production On Degraded Lands In The Dry Tropics Through Silvopastoral Systems, P. S. Pathak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In India, 187 M ha out of a total area of 328 M ha face the problem of land degradation, mostly due to water and wind erosion. The problems are aggravated by poor land cover and increasing pressure of human and livestock populations. There is over-exploitation of the scarce resources of forage and firewood. Several techniques, including watershed based silvopastoral land use have been proposed (Patil & Pathak, 1977). Tree, grass and legume based systems have been tried after land treatment to reduce runoff and soil loss while meeting the forage needs of the livestock and firewood for cooking in …

Go to article

The Valuation Of Service Of Recreation Function Of Dalinor National Natural Reserve, G. Qiao, H. Wang, G. Han, M. Zhao Aug 2023

The Valuation Of Service Of Recreation Function Of Dalinor National Natural Reserve, G. Qiao, H. Wang, G. Han, M. Zhao

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dalinor National Natural Reserve is located in the west of Keshketeng Banner of Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR). It covers a total area of 119,413.35 ha, and is in drought or semi-drought continental climatic zone. DNNR is a comprehensive natural reserve made up of different ecosystems including lakes, prairies, wetlands, and forests. Dalinor Lake in DNNR is regarded as the paradise of birds, covering an area of 238 km2 between sandy lands and grasslands. DNNR was established in 1987 as a provincial natural reserve and was upgraded to a National Natural Reserve by the State Council of …

Go to article

Significance Of Grasslands In Protected Forest Areas, C. M. Mishra, A. Kumar, B. C. Tiwari, S. L. Singh Aug 2023

Significance Of Grasslands In Protected Forest Areas, C. M. Mishra, A. Kumar, B. C. Tiwari, S. L. Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper describes case studies of grassland formation in the protected forest areas of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This state has a total forest/tree cover of 8.84%, whereas the protected forest areas comprise only 2.54%.The protected areas constitute, one national park, eleven wildlife sanctuaries and thirteen bird sanctuaries.

Go to article

Effect Of Cutting Management On The Forage Production And Quality Of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus Acutifolius A. Gray), Travis W. Witt, Brian K. Northup, Timothy G. Porch, Santos Barrera, Carlos A. Urrea Aug 2023

Effect Of Cutting Management On The Forage Production And Quality Of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus Acutifolius A. Gray), Travis W. Witt, Brian K. Northup, Timothy G. Porch, Santos Barrera, Carlos A. Urrea

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is an underutilized drought tolerant annual legume, originating from the Sonoran Desert, that may be a beneficial forage/hay for beef cattle in the Southern Great Plains of the US (SGP). The SGP has erratic rainfall and periods of intermittent drought exacerbated by high summer temperatures. In 2020 and 2021, a split-plot design was used to evaluate 13 genotypes of tepary bean and a forage soybean (control) at El Reno, OK, USA to compare production of plant biomass and forage nutritive value parameters under seven harvest regimes. Genotypes were used as the main plot …

Go to article

Isolation And Culture Of Epichloё For Reinfection Of Endophyte-Free Southeastern Wildrye (Elymus Glabriflorus), Bryna Joann Haile Aug 2023

Isolation And Culture Of Epichloё For Reinfection Of Endophyte-Free Southeastern Wildrye (Elymus Glabriflorus), Bryna Joann Haile

Theses and Dissertations

Mutualistic relationships between endophytic fungi and grasses have shown to improve the hardiness of the host. This relationship is common in grasses, including North American native grasses that are important in both forage and grassland ecosystems. Elymus species, such as Canada wildrye (CWR), commonly host the endophytic fungi, Epichloё, while southeastern wildrye (SEWR) may not. In this study, seed of CWR and seed and leaves from local SEWR were assessed for endophyte infection. Infection status was confirmed via histological analysis of seed squashes and leaf peels. Presence/absence of endophyte was determined by scanning for mycelia within seed and between leaf …

Go to article

Integrity Of Indigenous Knowledge Systems In Natural Resource Management: The Case Of The Arid And Semi-Arid Baringo Herders Of Kenya, P. M. Makenzi, Abdillahi A. Aboud Aug 2023

Integrity Of Indigenous Knowledge Systems In Natural Resource Management: The Case Of The Arid And Semi-Arid Baringo Herders Of Kenya, P. M. Makenzi, Abdillahi A. Aboud

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ineffective management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), resulting in resource depletion, rapid loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation, is of great concern globally. The Baringo herders in the ASALs of Kenya have been branded as perpetrators of this vice, with the blame placed particularly on their traditional livestock management, utilising indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). These IKS involve livestock mobility and maximisation, and have been regarded as being outdated and inefficient in meeting the challenges and demands for environmental conservation and sustainable management of the natural resources. A common reaction of the government has been to advocate …

Go to article

The Role Of The Phare Programme And The Danish-Lithuanian Project On The Development Of The Grassland Production And Of Dairy-Beef Cattle Husbandry, V. Vrotniakiene, Jonas Jatkauskas Aug 2023

The Role Of The Phare Programme And The Danish-Lithuanian Project On The Development Of The Grassland Production And Of Dairy-Beef Cattle Husbandry, V. Vrotniakiene, Jonas Jatkauskas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Animal production is one of the priorities for economic development in Lithuania. Dairy-beef cattle husbandry has remained an important branch of animal production under the conditions of agricultural reform. Favorable agroclimatic conditions for grass cultivation, old traditions of agricultural production and the ability to train farmers in new techniques creates good conditions for the development of dairy-beef cattle husbandry. It is most appropriate to use cattle types suitable for grass feeding with low inputs of concentrates. This paper reports on two development projects that sought to increase animal production through grassland improvement and the production of high-quality silage.

Go to article

Farmer Field Schools In Expanding Cultivation To Newly Reclaimed Land In Ismailia In Egypt, Oiva Niemeläinen, M. Komulainen, Y. Ahmed, M. El-Sayes, A. El-Adwy Aug 2023

Farmer Field Schools In Expanding Cultivation To Newly Reclaimed Land In Ismailia In Egypt, Oiva Niemeläinen, M. Komulainen, Y. Ahmed, M. El-Sayes, A. El-Adwy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of irrigation systems is expanding in Egypt to facilitate cultivation on sandy areas that were previously desert. Many of the farmers starting on the new areas are undergraduates and others with no background in farming. Much support is required when they start farming. In addition, farmers moving to the new lands from the Nile Delta meet completely new challenges because the poor and infertile sandy soils require different management from the clay soils at the Delta. Ismailia Agricultural Research Station (IARS) of the Agricultural Research Center of Egypt focuses on research on how to cultivate the newly reclaimed …

Go to article

Forage Development In The Nepal Mid-Hills: New Perspectives, A. D. Robertson Aug 2023

Forage Development In The Nepal Mid-Hills: New Perspectives, A. D. Robertson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nepali hill farming communities are typically poor and remote, and are currently severely affected by conflict. The challenge is to define simple approaches which can generate results within this context. Livestock are central to livelihoods and to the sustainability of farming, with rain-fed agriculture dependent on inputs of manure-based compost. Stall feeding has increased dramatically with the adoption of community forestry and general preclusion of grazing. A broad landscape approach to forage development is increasingly being adopted, with concurrent on-farm interventions, such as intercropping and back-yard forage, and off-farm interventions, such as landslide stabilisation with forages, development of forest understory, …

Go to article

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Fodder Production Techniques By Milk Producers In Dhankuta District, Eastern Nepal, C. P. Ferris, R. Nelson Aug 2023

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Fodder Production Techniques By Milk Producers In Dhankuta District, Eastern Nepal, C. P. Ferris, R. Nelson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Many districts are food-deficient in Nepal. Increased milk consumption could improve human health and nutrition, while milk sales can provide families with a valuable source of income. However, milk production in Nepal is low, mainly because of the poor nutritional status of livestock, which can be attributed in part to a fodder deficit. However there is potential to increase fodder production, and some innovative fodder production techniques have been tried and proven locally. These include planting of fodder trees, fodder grasses and fodder crops. As the level of adoption of these techniques is variable, a survey was undertaken to quantify …

Go to article

A Situation Analysis Of Ley Pasture Utilisation In The Western Downs And Maranoa Regions Of S Queensland, Australia, K. J. Sibson, L. Bahnisch, R. Routley, K. Taylor Aug 2023

A Situation Analysis Of Ley Pasture Utilisation In The Western Downs And Maranoa Regions Of S Queensland, Australia, K. J. Sibson, L. Bahnisch, R. Routley, K. Taylor

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have shown that the uptake of ley pasture systems in S Queensland's grain growing region has been slow when compared with mixed farming systems in S Australia. This is despite their demonstrated benefits to subsequent crops, livestock production and the environment. A survey was conducted that aimed to determine the level of utilisation of ley pastures in the Western Downs and Maranoa regions of S Queensland, and the possible constraints to their adoption, and benefits arising from their use. The survey also aimed to determine the commonly used pasture species, the reasons for their use and their contribution …

Go to article

A Situation Analysis Of Ley Pasture Utilisation In The Western Downs And Maranoa Regions Of S Queensland, Australia, K. J. Sibson, L. Bahnisch, R. Routley, K. Taylor Aug 2023

A Situation Analysis Of Ley Pasture Utilisation In The Western Downs And Maranoa Regions Of S Queensland, Australia, K. J. Sibson, L. Bahnisch, R. Routley, K. Taylor

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have shown that the uptake of ley pasture systems in S Queensland's grain growing region has been slow when compared with mixed farming systems in S Australia. This is despite their demonstrated benefits to subsequent crops, livestock production and the environment. A survey was conducted that aimed to determine the level of utilisation of ley pastures in the Western Downs and Maranoa regions of S Queensland, and the possible constraints to their adoption, and benefits arising from their use. The survey also aimed to determine the commonly used pasture species, the reasons for their use and their contribution …

Go to article

Rotational Grazing Demonstration With Beef Cattle On Conservation Reserve Land In Adams County, Iowa, Usa, S. K. Barnhart, B. Peterson, C. O. Nelson, R. Bredahl, J. Klein, R. Sprague Aug 2023

Rotational Grazing Demonstration With Beef Cattle On Conservation Reserve Land In Adams County, Iowa, Usa, S. K. Barnhart, B. Peterson, C. O. Nelson, R. Bredahl, J. Klein, R. Sprague

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The United States Dept. of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers who will enroll erosive, marginally productive cropland for a 10 to 15 year period. In return, participants are provided annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish and maintain long- term, resource-conserving vegetative cover to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Since the inception of the CRP, policymakers, conservationists, farmers, and rural residents have been concerned about the likely fate of program land after the contracts expire. Most of the existing research, whether it relies on …

Go to article

Sustaining Grass-Legume Pastures For Cow-Calf Herds: A Case Study, John L. Caddel, D. D. Redfearn, R. L. Woods Aug 2023

Sustaining Grass-Legume Pastures For Cow-Calf Herds: A Case Study, John L. Caddel, D. D. Redfearn, R. L. Woods

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An on-going pasture demonstration study has been used since 1988 to demonstrate methods to improve pasture production for small beef cow-calf herds. Many cattle enterprises are not economically viable because poor management decisions lead to excessive stocking rate, ineffective fertilisation programmes etc., leading to a dependence on hay purchases. The initial objective, continued until 2001, was to maintain one cow- calf pair per ha without purchasing forage or grain produced off farm. More recently, reducing the dependence on harvested forage has been added as an objective.

Go to article

A Forage Area Of Expertise Team: The Michigan Approach To Applied Research And Extension, Richard Leep, D. H. Min Aug 2023

A Forage Area Of Expertise Team: The Michigan Approach To Applied Research And Extension, Richard Leep, D. H. Min

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Cooperative Extension Service have traditionally contributed to the economic, social, human, and environmental capital of the United States. Despite this, both institutions have experienced declining federal budget support and increasing competition for resources (Hamm 1997; Hood & Schutjer 1990; Knutson & Outlaw 1994; Paarlberg 1992). Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, implemented self-directed area of expertise (AOE) teams as its major educational development and delivery model. AOE teams grew out of experiences with previous temporary research/Extension teams and quick response professional groups operating within traditional line responsibilities for research …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last