Potential And Constraints For Animal Feed As An Objective Of Poor Farmers In Participatory Research With Multipurpose Forage Crops In Central-America,
2023
University of Hohenheim, Germany
Potential And Constraints For Animal Feed As An Objective Of Poor Farmers In Participatory Research With Multipurpose Forage Crops In Central-America, R. Van Der Hoek, M. Peters, V. Hoffmann
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Multipurpose forage crops can play an important role in improving the environmental and socio- economic sustainability of smallholder production systems in fragile environments. However, since the forage technology development framework has not been sufficiently applicable for poor farmers, adoption of especially legumes has been generally low (Peters et al., 2001). In a participatory research effort with smallholder farmers in Honduras focused at forage based technologies, food security turned out to be the main selection criterion whereas animal feed was secondary. Since animal feed related activities (farmer-led forage seed systems, production of dry season feed) have been identified as promising …
Improvement Of Grassland Through Community Participation In The Middle Awashvalley Of Ethiopia,
2023
Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia
Improvement Of Grassland Through Community Participation In The Middle Awashvalley Of Ethiopia, Ebro Abule, Tesfa Getachew, A. Gezahegn, A. Nigatu, B. Shimeles
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The natural resources of the grassland in the middle Awash valley of Ethiopia are subjected to competing claims: development to generate revenue for the state, conservation of wildlife and wilderness areas, as well as use for local production. The combination of climatic conditions causing drought and the over use of the natural resource can be cited as the primary cause of grassland deterioration in the area. Since the problems of the grasslands are complex and multi-dimensional, they are not amenable to quick and easy fixes. Hence, if sustainable progress is to be achieved, the responsibility for change must be in …
Linking Research To Development In Pastoral Communities Of Northern Kenya: Recent Experiences And Key Findings In Participatory Research Approaches,
2023
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya
Linking Research To Development In Pastoral Communities Of Northern Kenya: Recent Experiences And Key Findings In Participatory Research Approaches, G. A. Keya, M. Ngutu, A. Adongo, A. O. Adongo, I. Tura
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Over 50% of Kenya's land mass is arid. The mainstay of the local economies of these areas is nomadic pastoralism. Arable agriculture is limited to the few oases and mountain zones. Due to the harsh climate, there are few alternative livelihood options available to the local communities of mostly herders. Efforts to improve agricultural productivity have often been hampered by low adoption of available technologies. This low adoption is linked to many factors, notably the non-involvement of the stakeholders in the research process and the weak linkage between research and extension. To address these shortcomings, new approaches were tested with …
Priority Tree Fodder Species In The Maasai Silvopastoral System Of Kajiado District, Kenya,
2023
The Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya
Priority Tree Fodder Species In The Maasai Silvopastoral System Of Kajiado District, Kenya, Evelyne Kiptot
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
In an effort to improve pastoral land management systems, donor agencies have spent millions of dollars over the last two decades on research and development programmes. However, most of these programmes have been unsuccessful. The reasons for the failure are increasingly clear. Current thinking argues that more attention needs to be given to local knowledge systems and rural people's participation in development planning and implementation. The involvement of local communities in the research process is critical and has been shown by Ego (2001) to lead to the design of appropriate interventions. The main objective of this study was to elicit …
Participatory Plant Breeding In Uruguay,
2023
The University of Western Australia, Australia
Participatory Plant Breeding In Uruguay, D. Real, G. A. Ferreira, D. F. Risso, C. Mas
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The introduction of forage legumes into the native pastures of Uruguay is considered an environmentally safe method with which to increase the level of production through the addition of biologically fixed nitrogen. An integrated plant breeding programme was initiated at INIA (National Agricultural Research Institute), Uruguay, with the aim of developing forage legumes able to persist and produce in co-existence with the native (grass dominant) vegetation under cattle and sheep grazing. The programme was conducted in parallel with rhizobial strain selection. During 1998 to 2001 at Glencoe Research Station (32o 01'32"S lat; 57o 00o 39"W long), 326 …
Statistical Precision Of A Replicated Farm Grazing Trial Versus Replicated Paddock Trials,
2023
USDA-ARS
Statistical Precision Of A Replicated Farm Grazing Trial Versus Replicated Paddock Trials, K. P. Vogel, L. E. Moser, D. E. Bauer
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The experimental unit for animal average daily gain (ADG) and gain/ha in grazing trials is the paddock. Grazing trials on research stations often are conducted using small paddocks because animal and land costs restrict the number of treatments, replicates, and animals per paddock. Land and animal restrictions can be reduced by conducting trials on farms using animals provided by cooperating farmers. Farmers typically want only a single replicate on their farms and as result, virtually all on-farm trials in the USA and elsewhere have been un-replicated demonstration trials from which estimates of experimental error cannot be obtained. Farms can be …
Using Adult Learning Principles To Plan Participatory Action Research For Incorporating Ley Pastures In Sustainable Mixed Farming Systems,
2023
CSIRO, Australia
Using Adult Learning Principles To Plan Participatory Action Research For Incorporating Ley Pastures In Sustainable Mixed Farming Systems, Cristine Hall
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
In the northern grain growing region of Australia, the use of ley pastures (tropical legumes and grasses) can increase soil fertility and restore soil structure on degraded cropping land. This is seen by some researchers as a viable component of a sustainable mixed farming system incorporating crops, pastures and livestock. It has been recognized that the expertise of multiple sources can contribute to successful participatory action research (PAR) (Kemmis & McTaggart 1988) so a workshop was organized as the 'Plan' phase of a research project action learning cycle (ALC) to determine best management principles of incorporating ley pastures in sustainable …
Evaluation Of Narrow-Row Forage Maize In Field-Scale Studies,
2023
Cornell University
Evaluation Of Narrow-Row Forage Maize In Field-Scale Studies, W. J. Cox, J. H. Cherney, D. J. R. Cherney
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Some dairy producers in the northeastern USA adopted narrow row (0.38 m) maize forage production in the mid-1990s because of its 5% dry matter (DM) yield advantage (Cox & Cherney, 1998). These dairy producers, however, continued to plant forage maize at high plant densities (125,000 plants/ha) under high N fertility (225 kg N/ha), despite research that indicated that forage maize had optimum DM yields and forage quality when planted at the recommended 100,000 plants/ha under 175 kg/ha of N fertility (Cox & Cherney, 2001). We evaluated forage maize at 0.38 and 0.76 m (conventional) row spacing under recommended vs. high …
Assessment And Improvement Of The Efficiency Of Nitrogen Use On Commercial Dairy Farms,
2023
SAC Dairy Research Centre, UK
Assessment And Improvement Of The Efficiency Of Nitrogen Use On Commercial Dairy Farms, D. J. Roberts, K. A. Leach, J. Goldie
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Dairy farming systems have a low efficiency of converting nitrogen (N) into milk protein, due to the many transfers which occur in the production process. Losses of N from the system can be detrimental to the environment and represent wasted inputs. At SAC, in a systems research project, management changes achieved increases in nitrogen efficiency (milk N output/ N inputs) (NE) from 23 to 34% in a grass-clover based system (GC), and 13 to 21% in a purchased fertiliser based system (GN) (Leach & Roberts, 2002). Nitrogen surplus (NS = N inputs - N output in sold produce) was reduced …
On-Farm Participatory Research Is An Essential Step Towards Achieving Successful Adoption Of Innovation: ‘Lifetime Wool’ A Case Study,
2023
Department of Agriculture & Food, Australia
On-Farm Participatory Research Is An Essential Step Towards Achieving Successful Adoption Of Innovation: ‘Lifetime Wool’ A Case Study, Chris Oldham, P. Barber, M. Curnow, S. Giles, D. Gordon, A. Thompson
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
'Lifetime Wool' project (LTW) is a national project that is developing new nutritional guidelines for the management of ewe flocks across Australia funded by farmers through Australian Wool Innovation (AWI EC298; 2001-2008). A large replicated plot-scale experiment was used to define the dose-response of current production (wool and reproduction from the ewe) and future production (survival, growth and wool from progeny over their lifetime) to a range of levels of ewe nutrition (Thompson & Oldham, 2004). However, farmers and research workers have long realised that the difference between the results obtained on experimental plots and those obtained by farmers is …
The Contribution Of Participation To The Grassland Research Of The Louis Bolk Institute,
2023
Louis Bolk Institute, The Netherlands
The Contribution Of Participation To The Grassland Research Of The Louis Bolk Institute, J. De Wit, T. Baars, N. Van Eekeren
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Participatory research methods are well described, but the contribution of participation to the R&D process often remains unreported. In this paper some benefits of participatory on-farm research (OFR) carried out by the Louis Bolk Institute (LBI) are highlighted.
Farmer-Driven Research For Developing Models Of Successful Low Input Dairy Farms Of Small To Medium Size In The American Midwest,
2023
University of Minnesota - Morris
Farmer-Driven Research For Developing Models Of Successful Low Input Dairy Farms Of Small To Medium Size In The American Midwest, D. G. Johnson, M. V. Rudstrom, R. Imdieke, E. Ballinger, G. J. Cuomo
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The dairy industry in the upper Midwest continues to evolve with a drastic reduction in the number of dairy farms with less than 100 cows that utilise tie-stall housing. Many of the farms that do remain are at a critical point where facilities require renovation or replacement that is not economic. Rural communities have fewer residents engaged in agriculture to participate in the local economy and the rural landscape includes many farm sites that are abandoned. Low input dairies are an alternative system developed by farmers as a grass-roots movement. Low input farms may include grazing, outdoor housing throughout the …
Management Of Gastro-Intestinal Parasite Pressure, Under Grazing In Organic Farms: Development Of A Decision Support System Through The Mobilisation Of A Participative Research Process,
2023
CRA-W, Belgium
Management Of Gastro-Intestinal Parasite Pressure, Under Grazing In Organic Farms: Development Of A Decision Support System Through The Mobilisation Of A Participative Research Process, D. Jamar, Virginie Decruyenaere, Y. Seutin, D. Stilmant, L. Perriaux, P. Stassart
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Under grazing, gastro-intestinal parasite management remains a major problem in ruminant production systems, more especially in systems respecting organic farming rules following their obligations (1) to perform grazing as soon as pedo-climatic conditions are adapted and (2) to use anti-parasitic products only in a curative way. Surprisingly, this problem has not been highlighted by the different stakeholders in the food chain from cattle meat production to consumption. This could arise from the lack of a clear and pertinent norm or infestation threshold that would allow differentiation between preventive and curative treatments. Such a norm would indicate to the breeder whether …
Organic Herbage Seed Production In Wales - Working With Farmers To Develop The Technology,
2023
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, UK
Organic Herbage Seed Production In Wales - Working With Farmers To Develop The Technology, H. Mccalman, A. M. Marshall
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The National Assembly Government of Wales is providing incentives for organic farming through its agri -environment schemes and has set a target of 10% by 2010. The organic systems in Wales are grassland based, including some with crop rotations and grass-clover leys. Reseeding currently relies on 60% conventional seed, but this derogation to the organic standard of 100% will be removed by August 2005. Conventional methods of seed production are not acceptable under organic standards. Following farmer discussion group meetings highlighting the difficulty of sourcing and the cost of organic seed, a feasibility project to tackle some of the practical …
Farmer Adoption; Ten Years Of Productive Pasture Systems In Southern Australia,
2023
Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Farmer Adoption; Ten Years Of Productive Pasture Systems In Southern Australia, Geoffrey Saul, H. L. Quinn, J. T. Trompf
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
n Southern Australian sheep and beef farmers have been slow to adopt technology related to grazing management and pasture utilisation despite clear evidence of a strong link between utilisation (stock per ha) and profitability. Between 1971-95, the average stocking rate on farms was 10-12 dry sheep equivalent per hectare (dse/ha) (Anon 2004). Results from the Hamilton Long-term Phosphate Experiment (Cayley et al., 2002) show higher pasture production, herbage digestibility, stocking rates and profitability as phosphorus fertiliser applications increase. In 1993, the Grassland Productivity Program (GPP) started in the winter rainfall areas of southern Australia (Trompf & Sale 2000), initiated …
Participatory Development Of A Forage Grass Cultivar,
2023
USDA–ARS
Participatory Development Of A Forage Grass Cultivar, Michael D. Casler, P. G. Pitts, P. C. Bilkey, C. A. Rose-Fricker
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Perennial forage grasses exist in both nature and agriculture as a highly heterogeneous mixture of genotypes. Extreme environments, fluctuating environments, and severe managements can impose selection pressures that will result in loss of unadapted genotypes. Mortality of unadapted genotypes leads to dominance of fewer highly adapted genotypes which may be useful as superior germplasm in other similar environments.
Livestock Producers And Researchers - A Case Study Of An Effective Partnership,
2023
University of New England, Australia
Livestock Producers And Researchers - A Case Study Of An Effective Partnership, R. D. B. Whalley, I. H. Simpson, W. K. Mason
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
The Sustainable Grazing Systems Programme (SGS) ran from 1996-2002 with 11 regional producer committees (Regional Producer Network - Simpson et al., 2003) and 6 research sites (National Experiment Andrew & Lodge, 2003) distributed throughout the high rainfall zone of temperate Australia. Each regional committee had a core of producers, with invited scientists and extension practitioners and a paid facilitator. The chair was always a producer and rotated annually. Each regional committee conducted a number of paddock-sized demonstrations of improved grazing management practices on a number of farms within the themes; grazing management and weeds, high input systems, innovative grazing …
Adoption Of Participatory Rural Appraisal: A Case Study From China,
2023
Massey University, New Zealand
Adoption Of Participatory Rural Appraisal: A Case Study From China, A. Chu, A. D. Meister, P. Guo, J. Reid, B. Nowak, S. Morris, John Hodgson, P. N. P. Matthews, P. Gregg, K. Cai, J. Xie, X. Y. Li
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
There are many models of technology transfer. They vary from the linear "scientist-extension worker-farmers" model to the integrative "natural resource management" model (Jiggins, 1993). International experience has shown that for small holding farmers in developing countries a farmer driven model based on participatory approaches (the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Model) is more effective and efficient.
On-Farm Research To Improve The Measure Of Variability Of Forage Production Across The Landscape For Evaluating Economic Risk In Forage-Based Enterprises,
2023
West Virginia University
On-Farm Research To Improve The Measure Of Variability Of Forage Production Across The Landscape For Evaluating Economic Risk In Forage-Based Enterprises, Ed B. Rayburn
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Experiment station trials provide forage crop mean yields and standard deviations (SD) useful in evaluating risk in forage production (Rayburn, 2003). However, in the northeast USA many of these sites are on valley soils atypical of hill-farms in the Appalachian Mountains. This study used on-farm and experiment station research to evaluate the variability of forage yield across a range of soils. This information was used in stochastic budgets to evaluate the economic risks in forage production on soils differing in yield potential.
Leygrain: A Participatory Action-Learning Model For Ley Pastures In Cropping Systems,
2023
PO Box 102, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
Leygrain: A Participatory Action-Learning Model For Ley Pastures In Cropping Systems, D. L. Lloyd, B. Johnson, S. M. O'Brien
IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)
Since the 1930s, crop/pasture rotation systems have been used in the wheat-sheep belt of temperate southern Australia to maintain the productivity and environmental sustainability of farming systems (Puckridge & French, 1983). Yet, in the northern grain belt of Australia, there is limited adoption of ley pastures, owing to inherently fertile and well-structured vertisol soils. However, soil fertility decline now costs the grain industry about $450 m per year. Legume-based leys are an option for improving soil OM and N and providing other benefits to cropping and livestock production systems (Lloyd et al., 1991). Despite strong one-on-one extension processes since …
