Annual Agriculture Research Articles

Occupational pesticide exposure surveillance for agriculture in Canada

ObjectivesAs part of a National Carcinogen Surveillance Project (CAREX Canada), the objective is to conduct surveillance on occupational exposure to agricultural pesticides classified as “possible” carcinogens by the International Agency...

Global interannual variability in terrestrial ecosystems: sources and spatial distribution using MODIS-derived vegetation indices, social and biophysical factors

Variations in global vegetation activity were measured at a global scale, from 2000 to 2006, based on the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) extracted from the 1km resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data. Interannual variations in phenology and/or in annual integrated vegetation index are mapped using change metrics. The relationships between interannual variability and climate, ecosystem disturbances and land use are also examined. Around 14% of the study area experienced high interannual variability in land surface attributes over the six years. The ecosystems most subjected to large fluctuations in surface conditions were the boreal ecosystems, temperate ecozones, and subtropical and tropical steppes. These changes were largely related to rainfall variability and were associated with mean annual rainfall, agriculture, fire regimes and population density. Large population concentrations were mostly found in more stable ecozones. Rainfall and natural fire regimes explained more than half of the land surface variability in Australia. An additional global analysis on trends in vegetation activity also shows that around 4.5% of the vegetated surface of the Earth, excluding deserts and frequently cloudy regions, experienced a continuous decrease in vegetation activity over the six years. This represents more than twice the area experiencing a greening trend over this time period and concerns mostly tropical, subtropical and temperate forest ecozones. The total change in vegetation activity at a global scale and per year amounted to –2% of the annual integrated EVI aggregated across all ecosystems of the study area, on average for the years 2001–2006.

Vegetation Buffer Strips Design Using an Optimization Approach for Non-Point Source Pollutant Control of an Agricultural Watershed

Management of agriculture-induced water quality problems requires an integrated approach involving selection of the most suitable and economical Best Management Practices (BMP). Vegetation Buffer Strips (VBS), one of the commonly used off-field structural BMPs, when designed and placed correctly, can significantly improve the water quality. However, VBS takes up agricultural land used for crop production and the implementation/maintenance costs are of concern. Currently, the standards for design of VBS (location and width) are normally set on field study basis, and they do not involve science-based approach to guarantee their efficiency under regional variations, geological and economical conditions. The present study proposes a new approach which integrates computational modeling of watershed processes, fluvial processes and modern heuristic optimization techniques to design a cost effective VBSs in a watershed. The watershed model AnnAGNPS (Annual AGricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Model) and channel network model CCHE1D (Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering One(1) Dimensional Model) are linked together to simulate the sediment/pollutant transport processes. Based on the computational results, a multi-objective function is set up, which aims to minimize soil losses, nutrient concentrations as well as total costs associated with installation and maintenance of VBS, while the production profits from agriculture production are being maximized. The solution procedure involves the use of iterative Tabu Search (TS) algorithm to flip VBS design parameters (switching from one alternative to another). The search for the optimal solution follows an iterative procedure. An illustrative case study of USDA’s Goodwin Creek experimental watershed located in Northern Mississippi is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed approach. The results show that the optimized design of VBS using an integrated approach at the watershed level can provide efficient and cost-effective conservation of the environmental quality by taking into account productivity and profitability.

Farm Household Well-Being: Comparing Consumption- and Income-Based Measures

Household economic well-being can be gauged by the financial resources (income/wealth) available to the household or by the standard of living enjoyed by household members (consumption). Based on responses to USDA’s annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), a joint effort by the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, ERS has long published estimates of farm household income and wealth. This report presents, for the first time, estimates of consumption-based measures of well-being for farm households based on new questions in ARMS. The consumption measure provides a different perspective from income or wealth on farm households’ well-being relative to that of all U.S. households.

A Methodology to Estimate the Future Extent of Dryland Salinity in the Southwest of Western Australia

In the southwestern agricultural region of Western Australia, the clearing of the original perennial vegetation for annual vegetation-based dryland agriculture has lead to rising saline groundwater levels. This has had effects such as reduced productivity of agricultural land, death of native vegetation, reduced stream water quality and infrastructure damage. These effects have been observed at many locations within the 18 million ha of cleared land. This has lead to efforts to quantify, in a spatially explicit way, the historical and likely future extent of the area affected, with the view to informing management decisions. This study was conducted to determine whether the likely future extent of the area affected by dryland salinity could be estimated by means of developing spatially explicit maps for use in management and planning. We derived catchment-related variables from digital elevation models and perennial vegetation presence/absence maps. We then used these variables to predict the salinity hazard extent by applying a combination of decision tree classification and morphological image processing algorithms. Sufficient objective data such as groundwater depth, its rate of rise, and its concentration of dissolved salts were generally not available, so we used regional expert opinion (derived from the limited existing studies on salinity hazard extent) as training and validation data. We obtained an 87% agreement in the salinity hazard extent estimated by this method compared with the validation data, and conclude that the maps are sufficient for planning. We estimate that the salinity hazard extent is 29.7% of the agricultural land.

Geoprocessamento e o modelo shift-share na análise das transformações do uso da terra em municípios da Bacia hidrográfica do rio Mogi-Guaçu (SP), 1979 a 2001

Esta pesquisa teve como foco de estudo detectar as transformações no uso da terra em municípios componentes da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Mogi-Guaçu (SP) entre 1979 e 2001. Ela foi dividida em três etapas. A primeira teve como objetivo a elaboração de um banco de dados de atributos com os resultados da aplicação do modelo Shift-Share sobre dados estatísticos coletados nos Anuários de Produção Agrícola Municipal – IBGE. A segunda etapa consistiu na elaboração de um banco de dados espaciais com a análise multitemporal do uso da terra para seis municípios componentes do CBH-Mogi (Barrinha, Dumont, Jaboticabal, Pitangueiras, Santa Lúcia e Sertãozinho) por meio de imagens de satélite LANDSAT 2–MSS de 1981; LANDSAT 5-TM de 1990 e LANDSAT 7-ETM+ de 2001. Na terceira etapa foram realizadas a integração e comparação das duas metodologias de análise da mudança do uso da terra e da produção agrícola, sendo que os resultados evidenciaram que elas são complementares. Na área de estudo pôde-se notar que a expansão da produção agrícola ocorreu principalmente pela substituição dos cultivos agrícolas menos rentáveis pela cana-de-açúcar e também pelo uso mais intensivo da terra, conseqüência do avanço tecnológico no processo produtivo e de políticas governamentais.
 
 Abstract 
 
 GEOPROCESSING AND SHIFT-SHARE MODEL APPLIED FOR ANALYSIS OF THE LAND COVER TRANSFORMATIONS IN MOGI GUAÇU’S DRAINAGE BASIN BETWEEN 1979 AND 2001
 
 This research had identified the main factors which influenced the changes of the land use in the localities along of the Mogi Guaçu’s drainage basin between 1979 and 2001. This area is located in a strategic geographical region and has an important role for agricultural production the sugar cane at the state, national and international levels. Our study have followed three steps, the first one elaborated a database with the results of the Shift-Share model applied to the statistic data, collected from the Annual Agricultural Production Report in Municipal Scale, by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The second step have consisted in elaborating a Spatial Database with the multitemporal analysis of the land use in agricultural areas of five localities inside the drainage basin studied (Barrinha, Dumont, Jaboticabal, Pitangueiras, Santa Lúcia and Sertãozinho using satellite images of LANDSAT 2-MSS (1981); LANDSAT 5-TM (1990) and LANDSAT 7-ETM+ (2001). The integration and comparison of the results was the third step of this research, making possible the analysis of land use changes and agricultural production for the studied drainage basin. The results had evidenced that the Shift-share model and geoprocessing are complementary. In the study area the expansion of agricultural production occurred mainly by the substitution of smaller fields of non-profitable agricultural crops by a large sugarcane cultivated area and also, by more intensive agricultural use of the land.

Sidebar: Long-term care is an important consideration in financial planning for later life

Sidebar: Long-term care is an important consideration in financial planning for later life

Soil morphology, depth and grapevine root frequency influence microbial communities in a Pinot noir vineyard

The composition of microbial communities responds to soil resource availability, and has been shown to vary with increasing depth in the soil profile. Soil microorganisms partly rely on root-derived carbon (C) for growth and activity. Roots in woody perennial systems like vineyards have a deeper vertical distribution than grasslands and annual agriculture. Thus, we hypothesized that vineyard soil microbial communities along a vertical soil profile would differ from those observed in grassland and annual agricultural systems. In a Pinot noir vineyard, soil pits were excavated to ca. 1.6–2.5m, and microbial community composition in ‘bulk’ (i.e., no roots) and ‘root’ (i.e., roots present) soil was described by phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids (PLFA). Utilization of soil taxonomy aided in understanding relationships between soil microbial communities, soil resources and other physical and chemical characteristics. Soil microbial communities in the Ap horizon were similar to each other, but greater variation in microbial communities was observed among the lower horizons. Soil resources (i.e., total PLFA, or labile C, soil C and nitrogen, and exchangeable potassium) were enriched in the surface horizons and significantly explained the distribution of soil microbial communities with depth. Soil chemical properties represented the secondary gradient explaining the differentiation between microbial communities in the B-horizons from the C-horizons. Relative abundance of Gram-positive bacteria and actinomycetes did not vary with depth, but were enriched in ‘root’ vs. ‘bulk’ soils. Fungal biomarkers increased with increasing depth in ‘root’ soils, differing from previous studies in grasslands and annual agricultural systems. This was dependent on the deep distribution of roots in the vineyard soil profile, suggesting that the distinct pattern in PLFA biomarkers may have been strongly affected by C derived from the grapevine roots. Gram-negative bacteria did not increase in concert with fungal abundance, suggesting that acidic pHs in lower soil horizons may have discouraged their growth. These results emphasize the importance of considering soil morphology and associated soil characteristics when investigating effects of depth and roots on soil microorganisms, and suggest that vineyard management practices and deep grapevine root distribution combine to cultivate a unique microbial community in these soil profiles.

A Study of Water Resource Supply and Demand Forecast in Xian City

During the last two decades, Yellow River Basin witnessed serious water resource shortage, which has become serious constraint on economic development and caused various negative impacts on ecological system. In this study, water resource supply and demand are analyzed for Xian City which is located at Wei River Valley, the tributary of Yellow River. Then the Water-Resource Forecast Model based on the socio-economic database assesses the annual agriculture, industry and domestic water demand scenarios from 2000 to 2050.

Rapporteur Report

SUMMARY This paper is a report of the mental health breakout session held at the Third Annual NIOSH Agricultural Health and Safety Conference in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 24-26, 1996. The following presentations were made: Theresa Reis from Eastern Washington University, Farm Stressors Related to Farm Injury; Robert Scarth from The University of Iowa, Depression and Risk Factors Among Iowa Farmers; and Ann Stromquist from The University of Iowa, Keokuk County Rural Health Study: Depression and Factors Associated with Depression Among Farm, Rural Nonfarm, and Town Residents

Effects of Habitat, Temperature, and Sugar Availability on Longevity of Eriborus terebrans (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Eriborus terebrans (Gravenhorst) is the primary parasitoid of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Michigan. Previous studies demonstrated that early in the growing season, E. terebrans adults are more abundant, and parasitize a greater proportion of O. nubilalis larvae, near wooded edges of cornfields. We hypothesized that E. terebrans requires a source of sugar and a moderate microclimate available in the woodlot, but not in the cornfield. Growth chamber and greenhouse experiments demonstrated that longevity of E. terebrans that are provided sugar was greater than those provided only water, or neither; and wasp longevity was greater at 25 than 35°c. In field experiments, wasps were caged in cornfields, woodlots, wooded fencerows, and herbaceous vegetation, early and late in the season. Longevity of E. terebrans adults was greater in woodlots than early season cornfields. Wasps lived longer in all habitats late in the season than early in the season. In all habitats, wasp longevity was enhanced by sugar. These and previous studies indicate that E. terebrans needs habitats adjacent to cornfields for sources of sugar and a moderate microclimate unavailable in early season corn. In annual agriculture, perennial habitats adjacent to crop fields may be necessary to provide the structure, stability, and resources needed for the successful conservation of natural enemies and effective biological control.

Review: Seventy-Five Years of Service: Cooperative Extension in Iowa, by Dorothy Schwieder and Seventy-Fifth Farm Show: A History of Pennsylvania's Annual Agricultural Exposition, by Dan Cupper

Book Review| October 01 1994 Review: Seventy-Five Years of Service: Cooperative Extension in Iowa, by Dorothy Schwieder and Seventy-Fifth Farm Show: A History of Pennsylvania's Annual Agricultural Exposition, by Dan Cupper Seventy-Five Years of Service: Cooperative Extension in IowaDorothy SchwiederSeventy-Fifth Farm Show: A History of Pennsylvania's Annual Agricultural ExpositionDan Cupper Steven Phillips Steven Phillips Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar The Public Historian (1994) 16 (4): 90–92. https://doi.org/10.2307/3378019 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Steven Phillips; Review: Seventy-Five Years of Service: Cooperative Extension in Iowa, by Dorothy Schwieder and Seventy-Fifth Farm Show: A History of Pennsylvania's Annual Agricultural Exposition, by Dan Cupper. The Public Historian 1 October 1994; 16 (4): 90–92. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/3378019 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Public Historian Search This content is only available via PDF. Copyright 1994 Regents of the University of California and the National Council on Public History Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

1st, 2nd, 3rd Annual Agricultural History of Ontario Seminar Proceedings 1976, 1977, 1978

1st, 2nd, 3rd Annual Agricultural History of Ontario Seminar Proceedings 1976, 1977, 1978

The ecological role of ants in two Mexican agroecosystems.

The development of the ant communities and their foraging dynamics were studied in two annual agroecosystems of the Mexican tropical lowlands: a "forest milpa" of corn, beans, and squash made by cutting and buring 40-year-old forest, and a "field milpa" of corn, beans, and squash made by plowing 1-year-old second growth. The ant community was sampled using tuna fish baits 26, 52, 110 and 353 days after planting. Although immediately after planting the same number of ant species occurred in each milpa type, thereafter the ant faunas diverged. The field milpa became completely dominated by the native fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, while the number of ant species in the forest milpa gradually increased over time, reaching eight species 110 days after planting and 14 species by 353 days. Initially S. geminata dominated the ant fauna in the forest milpa (occurring on 90% of the baits), but by 353 days planting it was found on only 26% of the occupied baits. Ant foraging efficiency, as measured by proportion of tuna baits occupied and the removal rates of dead Drosophila fly baits, was much higher (by a factor of 2 to 3) in the field than the forest milpa. This was caused by the extremely high density of S. geminata colonies in the field milpa. The simple Solenopsis-dominated community of the field milpa may be much more effective in biological control than the more diverse community of the forest milpa. Although S. geminata has potential negative impacts in annual agroecosystems (it stings, eats corn seeds, and guards homopterams), its overall impact appears to be beneficial. As forested areas of the lowland wet tropics are increasingly cut and converted to annual agriculture, the primary ant inhabitant of these highly disturbed environments, S. geminata, will necessarily play a much more significant ecological role in agroecosystems.