scholarly journals Impacts of windbreak shelter on crop and livestock production

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Baker ◽  
M. T. Moroni ◽  
D. S. Mendham ◽  
R. Smith ◽  
M. A. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Livestock Productivity ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Livestock Systems

Agroforestry (the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes) has been promoted, in Australia and elsewhere, as a way to increase farm productivity by providing a wide range of benefits. Despite this, adoption of agroforestry in Australian agricultural systems remains low. To implement agroforestry, farmers must be convinced the benefits of including trees outweigh the costs. This review evaluates the available quantitative data on shelter benefits with emphasis on Australian conditions, identifies key research gaps and determines if there is sufficient knowledge to make accurate predictions about impacts on farm productivity. Availability of quantitative data on windbreak shelter benefits was examined in five key areas; water use and evaporation, crop/pasture production, livestock mortality, livestock productivity and the capacity to model impacts of windbreaks on crop/livestock systems. Good quantitative data exists for many areas, particularly for changes in environmental conditions following tree establishment, however there were many gaps in key areas. Importantly, the ability to predict crop growth under spatially and temporally variable environmental conditions and the impact of windbreaks on livestock productivity is not yet able to be meaningfully quantified. Thus modelling the profitability of windbreaks is difficult and existing models require additional quantitative data to validate and improve them.

Does the Contract Type Matter? Impact of Marketing and Production Contracts on Cashew Farmers’ Farm Performance in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Dubbert ◽  
Awudu Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Spot Markets ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Production Contracts ◽  
Marketing Contracts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity

Abstract Many studies show that participation in contract farming has positive impacts on farm productivity and incomes. Most of the literature, however, does not take into account that contracts vary in their specifications, making empirical evidence scarce on the diverse impacts of different types of contracts. In this study, we investigate the driving forces of participation in marketing and production contracts, relative to spot markets. We also study the extent to which different contract types add additional benefits to smallholder farmers, using recent survey data of 389 cashew farmers in Ghana. To account for selection bias arising from observed and unobserved factors, we apply a multinomial endogenous switching regression method and implement a counterfactual analysis. The empirical results demonstrate that farmers who participate in production contracts obtain significantly higher cashew yields, cashew net revenues, and are more food secure compared to spot market farmers. We also find substantial heterogeneity in the impact of marketing and production contracts across scale of operation. Small sized farms that participate in production contracts tend to benefit the most. Marketing contracts, however, do not appear to benefit cashew farmers.

ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS DURING NATURAL DISASTER: THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

2002 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 475-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHARLES KELLY
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Disaster Victims ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact

The linkages between disaster and environmental damage are recognized as important to predicting, preventing and mitigating the impact of disasters. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures are well developed for non-ndisaster situations. However, they are conceptually and operationally inappropriate for use in disaster conditions, particularly in the first 120 days after the disaster has begun. The paper provides a conceptual overview of the requirements for an environmental impact assessment procedure appropriate for disaster conditions. These requirements are captured in guidelines for a Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (REA) for use in disasters. The REA guides the collection and assessment of a wide range of factors which can indicate: (1) the negative impacts of a disaster on the environment, (2) the impacts of environmental conditions on the magnitude of a disaster and, (3) the positive or negative impacts of relief efforts on environmental conditions. The REA also provides a foundation for recovery program EIAs, thus improving the overall post disaster recovery process. The REA is designed primarily for relief cadres, but is also expected to be usable as an assessment tool with disaster victims. The paper discusses the field testing of the REA under actual disaster conditions.

scholarly journals Ozone damage, detoxification and the role of isoprenoids – new impetus for integrated models

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supriya Tiwari ◽  
Rüdiger Grote ◽  
Galina Churkina ◽  
Tim Butler
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Damage Scenarios ◽  
Biochemical Processes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Defence Responses ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
The Impact

High concentrations of ozone (O3) can have significant impacts on the health and productivity of agricultural and forest ecosystems, leading to significant economic losses. In order to estimate this impact under a wide range of environmental conditions, the mechanisms of O3 impacts on physiological and biochemical processes have been intensively investigated. This includes the impact on stomatal conductance, the formation of reactive oxygen species and their effects on enzymes and membranes, as well as several induced and constitutive defence responses. This review summarises these processes, discusses their importance for O3 damage scenarios and assesses to which degree this knowledge is currently used in ecosystem models which are applied for impact analyses. We found that even in highly sophisticated models, feedbacks affecting regulation, detoxification capacity and vulnerability are generally not considered. This implies that O3 inflicted alterations in carbon and water balances cannot be sufficiently well described to cover immediate plant responses under changing environmental conditions. Therefore, we suggest conceptual models that link the depicted feedbacks to available process-based descriptions of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and isoprenoid formation, particularly the linkage to isoprenoid models opens up new options for describing biosphere-atmosphere interactions.

The impact of land renting-in on farm productivity: evidence from maize production in China

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongwei Qiu ◽  
Qinying He ◽  
S.T. Boris Choy ◽  
Yifei Li ◽  
Biliang Luo
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
The Government ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Land Size ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of renting in land on farm productivity, and the impacts of rented-in land size and transaction partner type on farm productivity.Design/methodology/approachData from the 2015 China Household Finance Survey are analyzed using an extended regression model and the two-stage least squares method.FindingsFarm households that rent in land are likely to achieve higher farm productivity, and ignoring endogeneity underestimates the positive effect of land renting-in. Further evidence indicates that rented-in land size has an insignificant impact on farm productivity, and that there is no difference in farm productivity between lessees renting-in land from acquaintances and those renting-in land from non-acquaintances. These results may be caused by the higher degree of marketization of land rentals between acquaintances in China. With increasing competition in agricultural factor markets, in theory, rented-in land size should not affect farm productivity.Practical implicationsOverall, the analysis suggests that renting in land improves farm productivity, which supports the land transfer policies that have been rolled out in recent decades in China. However, our finding that rented land size does not affect farm productivity, consistent with the results in the literature, implies that the Chinese government should no longer subsidize or prefer large farms with low productivity. More attention should be paid to small lessees and market-oriented land rentals between acquaintances. Promoting the marketization of land transfers inside acquaintance networks could realize the potential of the land market, especially if land transfers decrease.Originality/valueThis study identifies the effects of renting in land, rented-in land size and type of rental transaction partner on farm productivity using nationally representative data. The findings imply that the government should pay more attention to the marketization of land rentals between acquaintances. Although existing studies regard land rental between acquaintances as informal and of low efficiency, the recent evidence shows that China's land markets are changing, and policy makers should adjust their policies accordingly.

Mechanization services, farm productivity and institutional innovation in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Qing ◽  
Moyu Chen ◽  
Yu Sheng ◽  
Jikun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Capital Labor Ratio ◽  
Empirical Perspective ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of mechanization services on farm productivity in Northern China from an empirical perspective, with the aim to identify the underlying market and institutional barriers. Design/methodology/approach The authors apply the regression method with the control of village fixed effects to examining the relationship between capital–labor ratio, mechanization service ratio and farm productivity, using the panel data collected in 2013 and 2015 by CCAP. Findings Mechanization services improve farm productivity through substituting labor, but it may generate a less positive impact on farms who do not have self-owned capital equipment. Originality/value It is the first study to investigate how mechanization services affect farm productivity for grain producers in Northern China.

On-Farm Productivity of Relay-Cropped Mucuna and Lablab in Smallholder Crop-Livestock Systems in Northwestern Kenya

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Nyambati ◽  
L. E. Sollenberger ◽  
C. K. Hiebsch ◽  
S. C. Rono
Keyword(s):  
Farm Productivity ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Livestock Systems

Climate change and adaptation on selected crops in Southern Philippines

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Durio Zibethinus ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Estimation

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the vulnerability of the farmer-respondents in Southern Philippines, specifically Region XI and XII, to climate change. Design/methodology/approach – This study conducted an empirical analysis of the impact of climate change on maize (Zea mays), banana (Musa sapientum) and durian (Durio zibethinus) production. Furthermore, it estimated the determinants of adaptation to climate change and its corresponding effect on farm productivity. The analysis used primary data from 541 farmer-respondents producing maize, banana and durian in the 6 provinces and 18 municipalities of the sample areas. Findings – Based on the probit estimate results, farmers adaptation decisions were influenced by information about future climate change conditions, social capital, access to formal extension and farmer-to-farmer extension. The author found from the stochastic frontier estimation in the production function that climate change adaptations exerted a significant impact on farm productivity. It helped in coping with the adverse effects and risk of climate change while increasing agricultural productivities of the farmer-respondents. Originality/value – This research paper will be an addition to the body of knowledge on the socioeconomic aspects on the climate change and adaptation on the production of maize, banana and durian in the case of a developing country like Southern Philippines. This will bring more insights into the adaptation strategies that are crucial to cope with climatic variability and change.

scholarly journals Current Status for Controlling the Overlooked Caprine Fasciolosis

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1819
Author(s):  
Gemma Zerna ◽  
Terry W. Spithill ◽  
Travis Beddoe
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Fasciola Hepatica ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Potential Control ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
Liver Flukes ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Globally Distributed

The disease fasciolosis is caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, which infect a wide range of mammals and production livestock, including goats. These flatworm parasites are globally distributed and predicted to cost the livestock industry a now conservative USD 3 billion per year in treatment and lowered on-farm productivity. Infection poses a risk to animal welfare and results in lowered fertility rates and reduced production yields of meat, milk and wool. This zoonotic disease is estimated to infect over 600 million animals and up to 2.4 million humans. Current and future control is threatened with the global emergence of flukes resistant to anthelmintics. Drug resistance calls for immediate on-farm parasite management to ensure treatments are effective and re-infection rates are kept low, while a sustainable long-term control method, such as a vaccine, is being developed. Despite the recent expansion of the goat industry, particularly in developing countries, there are limited studies on goat-focused vaccine control studies and the effectiveness of drug treatments. There is a requirement to collate caprine-specific fasciolosis knowledge. This review will present the current status of liver fluke caprine infections and potential control methods for application in goat farming.

The impact of hedges maturation on soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural landscapes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Biffi ◽  
Pippa j Chapman ◽  
Richard P Grayson ◽  
Guy Ziv
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
The Impact

<p>Hedgerows can provide a wide range of regulatory ecosystem services within improved grassland landscapes, such as soil function improvement, soil erosion reduction, biodiversity, water quality, and flood prevention and mitigation. Because of their beneficial effects, farmers are incentivised to retain their hedgerows and the planting of hedges has been encouraged in agri-environment schemes in Europe. Today, hedgerow planting it is one of the most popular practices adopted in the Countryside and Environmental Stewardships in England. The role of hedgerows in climate change mitigation has been increasingly recognized over the past decade, however, while other services have been more widely studies, less is known about hedges soil organic carbon (SOC) storage capacity. The Resilient Dairy Landscapes project aims at identifying strategies to reconcile dairy systems productivity and environment in the face of climate change, and with the Committee on Climate Change calling for a 30% - 40% increase in hedgerow length by 2050 in the UK, it is important to determine the role of hedgerows in meeting Net Zero targets. In this study, we estimate the extent of SOC stock beneath hedges and how it may vary with depth, hedge management and age, as well as how it may compare to SOC stock in adjacent agricultural fields. Thus, we measured SOC under 2-4 years old, 10 years old, 37 years old, and 40+ years old hedgerows at 10 cm intervals up to 50 cm of depth under 32 hedges located on dairy farms in Cumbria, UK. We found that the time since planting and the depth of samples play a crucial role in the amount of SOC stock stored underneath hedgerows when accounting for differences in soil type. Our results contribute measurable outcomes towards the estimate of targets for Net Zero 2050 and the extent of ecosystem services provision by hedgerow planting in agricultural landscapes.  </p>

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