Women are said to be the future of agriculture as more and more men move away to find jobs in cities. Yet rural women have pitiful land rights and unequal access to water and technology. For the International Day of Rural Women, Salamatu Garba tells SciDev.Net how the Women Farmers Advancement Network is helping rural women in northern Nigeria to become less dependent on outside help.
Beef Farmer Spring 2017 `Trace elements are key to growth rates`
Iodine has a direct impact on growth rates as it is incorporated into the thyroid hormones which control metabolism, promoting efficient live weight gain. Annie Williams, Animal Scientist with Agrimin says that many beef units fall short on achieving optimum growth rates because animals do not receive adequate levels of trace elements at grass.She says that with increased feed costs, many producers will be looking to get increased production from forage and that unless shortfalls in trace element supply from...
Farmers and Ranchers Ready for Action in 2017
If ever there was a time for farmers and ranchers across America to get outside our fencerows, 2017 is it. Many of agriculture’s major policy issues are in the headlines every day. It’s time to engage. We are encouraged by the quick attention Congress and the administration are giving to issues like regulatory reform and federal land management. Farmers breathed a collective sigh of relief with President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the Waters of the U.S. rule and with congressional...
What makes farmers try new practices?
Change is never easy. But when it comes to adopting new agricultural practices, some farmers are easier to convince than others. A group of researchers at the University of Illinois wanted to know which farmers are most likely to adopt multifunctional perennial cropping systems -- trees, shrubs, or grasses that simultaneously benefit the environment and generate high-value products that can be harvested for a profit. "We surveyed farmers in the Upper Sangamon River Watershed in Illinois to learn their attitudes...
Are Conventional Farmers Becoming Interested in Organic Practices?
Despite the fact that farming is one of the most important human activities that brings food to our tables, it contributes significantly to global pollution. Unsustainable farm practices result in the loss of biodiversity, climate changes, erosion, and the pollution of soil and water. However, when managed in a sustainable way, farming can be a source of solutions for future demands. Organic farming, as a sustainable farming practice, started like a vision of pioneers. There are now 2.3 million certified farmers...
5 Reasons to Keep Suppliers & Buyers in the Loop
Organizations love to make design changes to their products on a regular basis. Any firm producing a product, be it the Tesla Model S or McDonald’s French fries, strives to introduce incremental improvements to add new features, reduce costs, comply with the latest regulations, and remain competitive. Sometimes these changes have an impact on suppliers. Tesla just released its Version 8 software that introduces over 200+ enhancements for the Model S Autopilot technology. Some of these changes will have...