Farm Level Research Articles

Variability of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Relation to Economic and Ecological Indicators from Cattle Farms

Agricultural production, including animal husbandry, is associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which have a negative impact on the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine methane and nitrous oxide emissions at the level of individual farms and to identify differences in emissions by type of production. Analyses were conducted using data from the FADN agricultural accounting system, covering the farms in Poland engaged in dairy production and the breeding of other grazing livestock for the period from 2012 to 2021. The relationships and trends of the indicators during the study period were also analyzed. The statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and economic performance. In the case of dairy farms, the emissions averaged 137.09 kg·ha−1 of methane and 94.05 kg·ha−1 of nitrous oxide, which were found to increase as the net-added value and farm income increased. The results of the presented research highlight the existence of a link between economic goals and GHG emissions, which is an important contribution to the development of mitigation strategies in livestock production.

Development and Standardization of an Adaptation Index to Assess the Climate Resilient Practices by Paddy Growers

India is prominently recognized as the foremost producer of paddy, cultivating this crop over 47.83 million hectares and generating 135.75 million tonnes of paddy, thus playing a substantial role in the worldwide paddy output. However, there is an anticipated decline in paddy production yields due to the projected effects of climate change, estimated to range from 10% to 30% by 2030. In recent times, adaptation to climate change has become a major concern to farmers, policy makers and researchers. Climate resilient rice production practices need to be enhanced at the farm level in order to aid rural residents in improving their household food security. Against this backdrop, the proposed research seeks to fill this crucial knowledge gap by developing and constructing adaptation index tailored specifically for paddy growers in India. Through a literature review and discussions with experts, we have identified indicators and sub-indicators using the indicator approach method. These indicators will help us understand how paddy growers are adapting to climate change and implementing climate resilient practices. The relevancy rating score was obtained from 30 experts in the concerned area. Based on the relevancy score, 8 indicators and 23 sub-indicators of 0.80 and above were considered for inclusion in the adaptation index. To compute the index values for each of the identified indicators, their relative importance in the adaptation practices was worked out by assignment of index values to indicators through Principal component analysis (PCA) based on the high factor loadings exceeded 0.5 of sub-indicators were considered and the findings revealed that disease and management had highest index value of 3.461, followed by methods of paddy establishment (2.195), crop rejuvenation techniques (2.10), altered planting dates (2.049), water saving and management techniques (1.987), nursery management (1.562), paddy varieties (1.342) and spacing (1.214).

Predominance of the Blastocystis subtype ST5 among free-living sympatric rodents within pig farms in China suggests a novel transmission route from farms

Blastocystis is a parasitic protist that can infect humans and various domestic and wild animals. However, there is limited research on the prevalence of this parasite among rodents, particularly those living in pig farm settings. Therefore, to investigate the occurrence, molecular characterization, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis among rodents within pig farm environments, we conducted an investigation of 227 rodents and shrews from 34 pig farms located in Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces of China using nested PCR of the SSU rRNA gene of Blastocystis. The potential transmission and public health implications were also assessed from a One Health perspective. Blastocystis was detected in 86 (37.9%) fecal samples. The highest infection rate was observed among Ruttus norvegicus (73.7%, 42/58), followed by Ruttus tanezumi (30.1%, 41/136), and Mus musculus (12.0%, 3/25). However, it was not detected among individuals with Apodemus agrarius (n = 1) and Crocidura shantungensis (n = 7). Five known zoonotic Blastocystis subtypes (ST1–ST5) were identified, with ST4 (51.2%, 44/86) and ST5 (40.7%, 35/86) being the predominant ones, followed by ST1 (3.5%, 3/86), ST3 (3.5%, 3/86), and ST2 (1.2%, 1/86). ST4 was prevalent among R. norvegicus (83.3%, 35/42), while ST5 dominated R. tanezumi (70.7%, 29/41). Furthermore, ST5 exhibited the widest distribution at pig farm level, accounting for 65.0% (13/20) of Blastocystis-positive pig farms. This investigation presents the first documented Blastocystis infection in R. tanezumi and M. musculus, highlighting the predominant presence of the zoonotic ST5 subtype in rodents for the first time. The results demonstrate that sympatric rodents can serve as natural reservoirs for Blastocystis and play a role in its transmission. These findings provide information on the dynamics of rodent transmission and emphasize the potential public health threat posed by zoonotic Blastocystis subtypes spillover from pig farms.

Cropping decisions under water stress: Evidence from Cauvery Delta Region, India

AbstractCropping decisions under resource constraints such as water stress have a significant influence on the livelihoods of farm households. Using survey data from 152 farm households in three villages of the paddy producing zone in the Cauvery Delta Region in India, we examine the factors that determine selection of paddy varieties and cotton. Our findings show that the marketability of specific paddy varieties, given inadequate public procurement, and groundwater use, driven by reduced surface water flows, influence crop choice. Farmers have modified their sowing practices and cropping patterns as a response to water stress and market signals. We conclude that to develop effective interventions to improve farm‐based livelihoods, it is important to look not just at climatic drivers of crop choice and farm level adjustments but the multiple stressors at different scales.

Does carinata, an oilseed crop for sustainable aviation fuel, improve the eco-efficiency of crop rotations in South Georgia, United States?

In 2019, the aviation sector emitted about five percent of the total energy-related carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions in the United States. The replacement of conventional aviation fuel with drop-in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from various biomass-based feedstocks is vital to reduce the overall CO2e emissions of the aviation sector. The SAF derived from Brassica carinata (carinata), an oilseed winter crop, could help the aviation sector mitigate CO2e emissions. Therefore, it is vital to develop a framework for assessing the eco-effectiveness of carinata in crop rotations by combining economic and environmental benefits. We identified 292 crop rotations (over a four-year rotation period with and without carinata) in South Georgia, a major agricultural region of the United States. We conducted a comprehensive life cycle assessment to determine the total carbon emissions of selected crop rotations. We combined the carbon emissions and profitability information using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the eco-efficiency score of each crop rotation. The results indicate that crop rotations with carinata emit less CO2e than crop rotations without it, especially when carinata replaces winter wheat. Carinata's profitability (net present value of $2996/acre) is highest in a “corn-corn-soybean” rotation at a contract price of $441 per metric ton. Finally, “cotton-carinata-cotton-fallow-soybean-fallow-cotton-carinata” is the most eco-efficient rotation at the same contract price. Overall, carinata increases eco-efficiency at the farm level and, thereby, has the potential to promote the bioeconomy in South Georgia and beyond.

Harnessing market based mechanisms to improve water quality: Water quality trading policies in the river Alde, UK

Nitrogen fertiliser in agriculture continues to be one of the largest contributors to water pollution driven by the global food demand. Consequently, policies designed to tackle nitrogen pollution tend to be focused on the farm level. Applying mitigation measures requires knowledge, local labour and financial investment to achieve desired goals. Influencing farming activity comes with challenges as policies result in economic losses. We propose Water Quality Trading (WQT) to minimize the cost of controlling water pollution and develop it for policy recommendations in the River Alde catchment in Suffolk. We apply WQT to three scenarios named Reference Pollution Target, Livestock Target Plan and Variation of Farming. Our findings demonstrate that WQT can reduce farmers nitrogen load by 8%, 7% and 18% respectively from the baseline of 6 mg/L. The scenario simulations show a net revenue increase of 6%, 5% and 18% respectively. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the WQT approach in reducing water pollution, promoting sustainable agriculture and meeting water management goals.

HUBUNGAN MODAL SOSIAL DENGAN KEBERLANJUTAN USAHATANI JAGUNG KUNING DI DESA PARIGI KECAMATAN PARIGI KABUPATEN MUNA

Social factors are an important component in the maize farming process that can affect its sustainability. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the application of farmers' social capital and the sustainability of yellow corn farming in Parigi Village, Parigi Sub-district, Muna Regency. The study population consisted of 40 yellow corn farmers in Parigi Village. The sample consisted of 40 farmers and was determined using the census method, which involves taking the entire population into account. The text is grammatically correct and free from errors. Research data were collected through survey techniques, interviews, and documentation via research instruments in the form of questionnaires. No changes in content were made. The research process followed a quantitative approach. The language used throughout the text is clear, objective, and value-neutral, with a formal register and precise word choice. Data analysis was conducted using the class interval formula and Rank Spearman correlation. The text adheres to conventional structure and formatting features, including consistent citation and footnote style. The social capital implementation in Parigi Village is categorized as high. This indicates that farmers have generally implemented the indicators of social capital well, including trust, social norms, and social networks. All of these indicators are also in the high category. The sustainability level of yellow corn farming in Parigi Village is high, indicating that farmers are knowledgeable about and continue to receive information on sustainable farming practices that can support their livelihoods. Social capital has a significant positive relationship with the sustainability of yellow corn farming, meaning that higher social capital among farmers leads to better farming sustainability in Parigi Village. Therefore, social capital should be a crucial factor to consider and apply in all development activities carried out for farmers. Social capital is a system that has been developed by farming communities since ancient times and is still able to support farmers in maintaining the sustainability of farming in the face of existing challenges.

Current problems and prospects of poultry industry: innovative vector

Poultry farming in Kazakhstan is one of the most progressive and dynamically developing areas of agriculture, which is profitable and quickly pays off. The goal is to study the economic indicators of poultry farming industry, develop directions for its development, and analyze government support measures. Methods – statistical analysis, comparison and generalization, observation with subsequent conclusions. Results - the authors show the state of poultry farms, identify problems and factors that negatively affect the growth of production volumes, and consider issues of subsidizing producers. It is noted that poultry production, including chickens and eggs, has increased, which is important to meet the growing demand for these food products. Efforts are being made to develop the domestic poultry sector through various initiatives, including investment in infrastructure, improvement of technological processes, and government assistance. These measures are aimed at reducing dependence on imported poultry meat and increasing self-sufficiency in poultry products. Vaccination programs are being implemented and biosafety protocols and monitoring systems are being improved. The republic's poultry farmers are introducing modern production methods and technologies to optimize labor efficiency and productivity. This is, first of all, the use of innovations in genetics, integrated diets, and more advanced housing and management systems. Conclusions - based on the experience of developed countries, it is proposed to raise the level of poultry farming in Kazakhstan through investment in research and development, introduction of advanced technologies, efficient production methods, wide access to markets and compliance with high quality standards. However, achieving results in poultry farming depends on specific geographical, economic and cultural factors. The stable development and expansion of poultry farming sector provides a number of undeniable advantages: a new level of small and mediumsized businesses; additional jobs; providing the population of the republic with high-quality products of domestic production; a real opportunity to refuse similar imported products; quite a large flow of investment.

Perceptions and experiences of an intervention to improve diets of women and young children in Ghana

BackgroundEfficacious integrated intervention strategies to address the drivers of malnutrition at multiple levels are hardly implemented at scale, although opportunities for cross-sectoral action exist. In 2020, the Improved Feeding Practices (IFP) Project was implemented in Ghana to improve the dietary diversity and well-being of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and children >2 years.ObjectiveThis paper reports the perceptions and experiences of project beneficiaries and the lessons learned from the IFP project.MethodsUsing a socio-ecological framework, data from the IFP project documents (n=8) and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including local government officers, and direct and indirect beneficiaries (n=61), were triangulated to construct an evidence-based overview of the implementation of the complementary strategies of the IFP project. The interviews explored respondents' knowledge, experiences of the project activities, and perceptions of how the project affected their lives. The data were analysed and synthesized thematically using ATLAS.ti.ResultsThe IFP project envisaged an impact pathway through promoting community- or home-based nutrient-rich crop production and poultry to enhance diet quality, child care and feeding practices. Multi-sectoral partners facilitated training and service delivery at community, farm, facility, and household levels. Beneficiaries reported an overall positive experience of participating in the project, including enhanced dietary knowledge, capacity to produce and use eggs and orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), earned revenues, and access to nutritious foods. Caregivers reported that the IFP project contributed to enhancing children’s diet quality, reduced disease incidence, and improved child growth. Community-level program implementers experienced capacity strengthening. The dry season, increased poultry feed input prices, diseases (such as fowl pox, Newcastle and smallpox), and poultry deaths, limited the scale of benefits. Key implementation lessons include leveraging local resources to produce poultry feed at home, crossbreeding local and commercial poultry, and enhancing disease management, leading to improved potential for project sustainability.ConclusionsOverall, the communities reported a positive experience of an integrated nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) intervention, leading to improved diets of households, women of reproductive age, and young children >2 years. These strategies can be adapted for use in other to improve women's and children's dietary diversity in similar settings, giving due consideration to lessons learned.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of mastitis causing bacteria isolated from dairy goats in Mukurweini Sub-County, Nyeri County, Kenya.

Ruminant mastitis continues to be a cause of economic losses in the dairy industry and remains a major public health hazard globally. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Mukurweini Sub-County of Nyeri County, Kenya, to investigate the prevalence of bacteria causing mastitis, risk factors associated with goat mastitis and the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the goat milk. Farm level data on risk factors for mastitis was obtained from 56 farmers using a semi structured questionnaire. A total of 189 goat milk samples were collected. The goat's udder was observed for signs of clinical mastitis and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) used to test the milk for sub-clinical mastitis. All samples were then cultured for morphological identification of bacteria and strain typing by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI)-Time of Flight (ToF) technique. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia vulneris to eight commonly used antibiotics was done by the disc diffusion method and validated by determining the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (mecA and blaTEM) using polymerase chain reaction method. The prevalence of clinical mastitis was 1.1% (2/189) while that of sub-clinical mastitis was 84.7% (160/189). Higher (p<0.05) prevalence of mastitis was observed in goats whose houses were cleaned fortnightly and in cases where farmers used same towel to dry different does' udders during the milking process. Thirteen different bacterial species were isolated from the milk samples and identified by MALDI-ToF, and these included S. aureus (22.0%), CoNS (20.3%), E. coli (18.1%), Pseudomonas spp. (14.3%), Enterobacter spp. (10.4%), K. oxytoca (6.0%), E. vulneris (1.7%), P. vulgaris (1.7%), Raoutella ornithinolytica (1.7%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (1.1%), Pantoea agglomerans (1.1%), Serratia marcescens (1.1%) and Cedeceas spp. (0.6%). One hundred pathogenic bacterial isolates were randomly selected and tested for antibiotic sensitivity to eight antibiotics out of which S. aureus were 97.5% resistant to Oxacillin and 100% sensitive to Ciprofloxacin. The CoNSs were 100% resistant to Oxacillin and 100% sensitive to Ciprofloxacin. E. coli were 93.9% resistant to Oxacillin, 69.7% sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and 87.9% sensitive to both Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid and Meropenem. The antimicrobial resistant genes detected in S. aureus and E. coli were mecA [66.7%, 0%], and blaTEM [20% and 78.3%], respectively. In conclusion, the study showed that most of the does were affected by subclinical mastitis with the main causative bacteria being Staphylococci spp. and coliforms. Farmers need to be trained on improved control of mastitis by adoption of good milking practices and use of CMT kit for early detection of mastitis. Occurrence of multidrug resistance by key mastitis causing pathogens was shown to be prevalent and therefore there is need for development of intervention strategies.

Economic impact of peste des petits ruminants on small ruminant production in Senegal: Gender considerations within a system dynamics modelling approach

CONTEXTPeste des petits ruminants (PPR) remains a persistent challenge for small ruminant production in Senegal, leading to economic losses for livestock keepers. Gender dynamics and socio-cultural factors influence production decisions at the household level. Despite its relevance, economic impact models of PPR have not incorporated gender dynamics. OBJECTIVEThis paper seeks to redress this gap by disaggregating the farm-level impacts of PPR based on the gender of the household head and implementers of routine and management activities in small ruminant production at the household level. METHODSTo quantify the gendered economic impacts of PPR, a system dynamics model was developed with four modules: integrated production-epidemiology, economics and profitability, disease control, and marketing. The model was parameterised based on survey data from 747 households in 49 agro-pastoral and pastoral villages in Senegal and augmented by secondary data. The model was validated (structurally and behaviourally) and simulated for 30 years with a weekly timestep. A set of disease scenarios were run for ten different farm household typologies based on the gender of the household head and household members who perform production management activities (like purchasing, selling, gifting, and vaccinating animals) and routine activities (like feeding, cleaning pens, and caring for sick animals). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSModel results estimated annual reductions in farm profitability of 51% to 61% with a hypothetical 25% incidence rate of PPR, corresponding to an average of $1051 to $1246 USD lost per household per year. In the two most impacted household typologies, management activities were performed by either men only or women only, and in the three least impacted household typologies, management activities were shared by men and women. The least impacted household typology with the highest gross margins without PPR ($2429 USD per year) and the lowest percentage of loss (51%) was female-headed households with men and women doing management tasks and primarily women or girls doing routine activities. SIGNIFICANCESHouseholds with both women and men engaged in management activities were less impacted by PPR, highlighting the crucial role of women's agency in management decisions taken in small ruminant production at the farm level. The findings further provide the empirical grounding for considering gender dynamics in interventions to control PPR and other livestock diseases in small ruminant production systems.

Sustainability of Agricultural Practices in Various Agro-Ecological Zones of Bhutan

Bhutan’s agriculture sector has consistently advocated sustainable agricultural practices, yet it grapples with a range of interconnected challenges. These challenges encompass limited arable land, labour shortages, human-wildlife conflicts, and inadequate irrigation facilities, outbreaks of pests and diseases, and impacts of climate change. Therefore, this study assessed the sustainability of agricultural practices at the farm level across three agro-ecological zones: dry subtropical, cool temperate, and alpine. A total of 392 households were selected through simple random sampling for face-to-face interviews. The data collection, analysis, and reporting adhered to the guidelines of Sustainable Development Goals Indicator 2.4.1. The study focused on three dimensions of sustainability, comprising eight themes and eight sub-indicators for agriculture sustainability. The sustainability status was visualized using traffic light approach: green for desirable, yellow for acceptable and red for unsustainable. Results showed social dimensions across the study areas were in a desirable status. The environmental dimension exhibited desirable status in alpine zone. However, around 60% of agricultural land in dry subtropical and 77% in cool temperate zones have acceptable fertilizer management, while about 38% and 23% respectively fall into unsustainable category. Similarly, only about 73% of agricultural areas in the cool temperate zone are in acceptable status in pesticide management, and 23% under unsustainable status. Furthermore, the economic dimension across agro-ecological zones displayed unsustainable status in farm output value with 30% of farms in cool temperate, 78% in dry subtropical, and 74% in alpine zones. Strategic interventions are imperative in addressing economic and environmental dimensions to promote resilient and sustainable agricultural practices in Bhutan and analogous regions. Findings underscore the importance of identifying that similar impacts could potentially extend to other dry subtropical regions worldwide.

Understanding the Perspectives of Small-Scale Arable Crop Farmers on Soil Management Practices in Uhen L.G.A, Edo State

This study provides insights into the perceptions of small-scale arable crop farmers in Uhen L.G.A regarding soil management practices. A total of 50 questionnaires were administered to randomly selected farmers and the questionnaires covered various aspects, including demographics, farming and soil fertility management practices, awareness of organic agriculture, soil health, and soil fertility, as well as acceptance, viability, and sustainability of organic inputs. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents were male, with a range of ages and educational backgrounds, mostly attaining secondary education with varying levels of farming and agricultural experience. Regarding farming and soil fertility management practices, respondents reported adopting practices such as tillage, mound/heaps/ridges, bush burning, mulching, and mixed cropping. Organic fertilization was more commonly used than inorganic fertilization, with reasons cited including availability, low cost, crop response, and long-term effects. Farmers recognized the importance of organic residue and soil organisms for soil health. However, there was limited awareness of organic agriculture among the respondents, and their knowledge of soil organisms and their contributions to soil health was moderate. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and knowledge of organic agriculture and the potential benefits of organic inputs for soil health and fertility.

Risk analysis and cacao pod survivorship curves to improve yield forecasting methods

Cocoa attainable yields are affected by a complex of pests and diseases in a particular agro-environment. Estimation of yield loss is critical for agronomic and economic decision-making at the farm level. For over 15 months, we monitored 1100 pods from six cocoa clones (PMCT-58, CC-137, CATIE-R1 CATIE-R4, ICS-95, and CCN-51) to assess the incidence of pests and diseases and to elucidate their survival behavior. Cocoa clones grow in a 12-year timber-based cocoa agroforestry plot (1330 cocoa plants ha-1, 100 shade trees ha-1, and 65% shade cover), in La Montaña, Turrialba, Costa Rica. Between 6-12 trees and 120-140 pods per clone of four size classes (very small – 2.5-7 cm, small – 7.1-14 cm, medium – 14.1-21 cm, and large – ≥21 cm) were tagged and measured fortnightly. Pods were selected at two vertical strata along the tree trunk (below and above 1.5 m) and grouped into three generations (rainy, transition, and dry). Competitive risk and survival analysis were performed per clone, generation, pod size class, and pod position along the tree trunk. Overall, pods reached maturity at the age of 155-165 days and were exposed to several hazards that disrupted their development. The Cox model that better described the cumulative risk during pod development included two covariables with substantial explicative power, generation, and clones. Regardless of clone and pod generation, a combination of diseases/pests accounted for about 45% to 65% of yield losses. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that pod survival was similar between generations but differed among clones within generations. Pods from CATIE-R1, CATIE-R4 and CC-137 clones showed greater survival rates than those of ICS-95, CCN-51 and PMCT-58 clones. The position of the pod along the tree trunk did not influence pod survival rates. We combined pod counting and pod survival rates calculated in this study and contrasted our yield estimations against a widely used prediction method proposed by a certification body. Overall, yield estimated using the UTZ method applied to 90-day-old pods of CATIE-R1 clone consistently overestimated yield predictions in the range of 27-45%. We proposed the combination of pod counting and pod index with a set of clone-specific discount factors; the survival rates, to reliably forecast on-farm cacao yields over time.

An innovative approach for analysing and evaluating enteric diseases in poultry farm

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by pathogens, host-pathogen interactions and biochemical pathways are present everywhere such as in blood, breath, faeces, sweat, skin, urine, and vaginal fluids. Their qualitative and quantitative composition is influenced by pathophysiological responses to infections, toxins, or endogenous metabolic pathway perturbations. In poultry, VOCs analysis has been explored to evaluate air quality in sheds, but they have never been monitored to determine if birds were affected by enteric diseases. The enteric disorders represent one of the most important groups of diseases that affect poultry and cause illness, mortality, and economic losses. For this reason, monitoring the health status of broilers and the early detection of any health problem is of great importance in intensive farming, especially nowadays that antibiotics are banned. Precision Livestock Farming, through the combination of cheap technologies and specific algorithms, can provide valuable information for farmers starting from the huge amount of data collected in real time at farm level. This study was aimed to the application of a PLF diagnostic tool, sensible to the variation of volatile organic compounds, to promptly recognize enteric problems recognize enteric problems (as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis) in intensive farming, supporting veterinarians and enabling specific treatments in case of disease.

Model Adaptation and Validation for Estimating Methane and Ammonia Emissions from Fattening Pig Houses: Effect of Manure Management System.

This paper describes a model for the prediction of methane and ammonia emissions from fattening pig houses. This model was validated with continuous and discrete measurements using a reference method from two manure management systems (MMS): long storage (LS) in deep pits and short storage (SS) by daily flushing of a shallow pit with sloped walls and partial manure dilution. The average calculated methane and ammonia emissions corresponded well with the measured values. Based on the calculated and measured results, the average calculated CH4 emission (18.5 and 4.3 kg yr-1 per pig place) was in between the means from the continuous data from sensors (15.9 and 5.6 kg yr-1 per pig place) and the means from the discrete measurements using the reference method (22.0 and 3.1 kg yr-1 per pig place) for the LS and SS systems, respectively. The average calculated NH3 emission (2.6 and 1.4 kg yr-1 per pig place) corresponded well with the continuous data (2.6 and 1.2 kg yr-1 per pig place) and the discrete measurements using the reference method (2.7 and 1.0 kg yr-1 per pig place) from LS and SS, respectively. This model was able to predict the reduction potential for methane and ammonia emissions by the application of mitigation options. Furthermore, this model can be utilized as a predictive tool, enabling timely actions to be taken based on the emission prediction. The upgraded model with robust calculation rules, extensive validations, and a simplified interface can be a useful tool to assess the current situation and the impact of mitigation measures at the farm level.

Synergic effects of vegetation structure and food supply underlie higher abundance of a farmland specialist bird in organic than in conventional arable fields

Organic farming is considered beneficial for farmland biodiversity. However, it is often unclear what specific factors are underlying the biodiversity benefits of this farming practice. The positive effects may be driven by factors acting at the field level represented by, for instance, the absence of pesticides, or by the factors acting at the level of entire farms represented by a higher diversity of crops and intercrops types, and higher share of semi-natural landscape elements. Distinguishing between these two groups of factors is difficult because they are confounded in heterogeneous landscapes consisting of small arable fields. However, their separation is crucial to understand the origins of organic farming effectiveness. The landscape in those Central and Eastern European countries that have undergone collectivization, such as Slovakia, Czechia or Lithuania, consists of large fields cultivated under either conventional or organic regime. These circumstances are suitable to assess the sole influence of in-field factors providing potential biodiversity benefits of organic farming. For this purpose, we selected a study area in the lowlands of the south-western Slovakia, where conventional and organic fields were situated in close proximity. Such a spatial arrangement was suitable to examine the possible influence of farming practice (i.e. organic vs. conventional) itself, minimising the influence of landscape elements. We focused on a single cereal crop, winter wheat, cultivated on both organic and conventional fields. Here, we counted the breeding abundance of the Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), a farmland specialist bird closely associated with arable fields providing both breeding and feeding habitat for this species, which may be considered as a farmland biodiversity indicator. Skylark counts were higher in organic than in conventional wheat fields throughout the season. This difference was statistically related to a higher abundance of invertebrates in samples collected in organic fields than in conventional fields. However, Skylark counts were also related to sparser crop cover in organic fields, especially at the end of the season. Sparser crop cover may improve nesting conditions and facilitate foraging. Our results indicate that organic farming may have a positive impact even at the field-level. The benefits for the Skylark, and possibly for the other farmland organisms, can be provided by the joint effects of the absence of pesticides and a suitable vegetation structure. Organic farming can thus be a suitable agri-environmental measure within the Common Agricultural Policy even in intensively used landscapes dominated by large fields.

Nutrient quantification of livestock slurry and digestate using a low-cost handheld NIR spectrometer and multi-biomass calibration models

Real-time analysis during slurry field application can potentially ensure higher efficiency in crop fertilisation and reduce related environmental problems. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) can predict quickly and adequately the nutrient content of the slurry but the devices are still costly. In this study, a low-cost portable device has been tested to predict total solids, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total ammonia nitrogen, and phosphorus contents in cattle and pig slurries and digestate. Multivariate calibration models were developed for different biomass types (multi-biomass) by comparing support vector machine (SVM) and partial least square (PLS) regressions. The developed SVM and PLS models showed satisfactory and similar results, with performance to deviation ratio (RPD) values ranging between 2.22 and 2.80. The use of the handheld device with the obtained models also meets the requirements of a certification protocol for commercial NIR sensors and therefore can ensure a better slurry management at farm level.

Comprehensive identification, localization, and validation of innovation measurement indices at the farm level in Iran

IntroductionInnovation is a fundamental component of agricultural infrastructure, fostering the sector’s development and productivity. Innovation indices tailored to the farm level are benchmarks for assessing innovation within this agricultural context. Therefore, this study aims to discover, localize, and validate comprehensive innovation measurement indices at the farm level. A distinguishing feature of this research is its endeavor to discover and validate a comprehensive tool for measuring innovation at the farm level. Notably, there has been no prior research on discovering comprehensive innovation indices at the farm level, marking a novel aspect of this study.Method and resultsThe current research is applied in terms of its purpose and falls into the category of mixed research (quantitative and qualitative), as well as exploratory and descriptive research. This study has been conducted in three stages: The first phase involved reviewing existing literature and extracting indices for measuring innovation. In the second phase, a tool was designed specifically to gauge innovation at the farm level. The third phase entailed face and content validation of the identified indices. This validation process was conducted quantitatively and qualitatively through surveys of subject-matter experts in Iran, and by calculating the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI).To measure innovation at the farm level, 90 items across 7 dimensions (education, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs, and innovative outputs) were extracted, localized, and developed. According to the results, dimensions such as innovative outputs (product innovation, process innovation, and marketing innovation), education (farmers’ education status in technology and innovation), and infrastructure (familiarity, access, and application of Information and Communication Technology [ICT]) demonstrated high credibility based on CVR and CVI scores.ConclusionThe utilization of innovation assessment indices can help mitigate the challenges associated with evaluating innovation status on farms, thereby enhancing their condition and increasing farmers’ profitability. Accurate and reliable data on innovation status empower farmers in market competition and improve economic performance. Attention to innovation and the use of assessment tools can facilitate the attraction of new investors to the agricultural industry. Furthermore, improving agricultural processes through innovative technologies can contribute to the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of environmental pollution.

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Bacillus cereus Group Bacteria Isolated from the Dairy Farm Environment and Raw Milk in Tunisia.

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are well-known opportunistic foodborne pathogens. In this study, the prevalence, hemolytic activity, antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence factor genes, genetic diversity by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping, and adhesion potential were investigated in isolates from a Tunisian dairy farm environment and raw milk. A total of 200 samples, including bedding, feces, feed, liquid manure, and raw bovine milk, were examined. Based on PCR test targeting sspE gene, 59 isolates were detected. The prevalence of B. cereus group isolates in bedding, feces, liquid manure, feed, and raw milk was 48%, 37.8%, 20%, 17.1%, and 12.5%, respectively. Out of the tested strains, 81.4% showed β-hemolytic on blood agar plates. An antimicrobial resistance test against 11 antibiotics showed that more than 50% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and novobiocin, while a high sensitivity to other antibiotics tested was observed in most isolates. The distribution of enterotoxigenic genes showed that 8.5% and 67.8% of isolates carried hblABCD and nheABC, respectively. In addition, the detection rate of cytotoxin K (cytk), enterotoxin T (bceT), and ces genes was 72.9%, 64.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting genotype analysis allowed discriminating 40 different profiles. The adhesion potential of B. cereus group on stainless steel showed that all isolates were able to adhere at various levels, from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 5.1 ± 0.1 log colony-forming unit (CFU)/cm2 for vegetative cells and from 2.6 ± 0.4 to 5.7 ± 0.3 log CFU/cm2 for spores. An important finding of the study is useful for updating the knowledge of the contamination status of B. cereus group in Tunisia, at the dairy farm level.