Farm Management Research Research Articles

Influence of hand trimming and bunch feeding of nutrient on yield and yield attributes of banana cv. Grand Naine

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Instructional Farm, ACH, and Soil and Water Management Research Unit Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to assess the effect of hand trimming and bunch feeding on yield and yield attributes parameters of banana cv. Grand Naine. The investigation comprised of ten treatments and each treatment was repeated thrice in CRD. The treatments viz. Control (T1), KNO3 1% without trimming (T2), KNO3 2% without trimming (T3), SOP 1.5% without trimming (T4), SOP 2.0% without trimming (T5), KNO3 1% with trimming of one apical hand (T6), KNO3 2.0% with trimming of one apical hand (T7), SOP 1.5% with trimming of one apical hand (T8), SOP 2.0% with trimming of one apical hand (T9) and 300g cowdung slurry + 10g SOP +20g ammonium sulphate (T10) were imposed on banana plants of cultivar ‘Grand Naine’. Banana bunch feeding with 300g cow dung slurry + 10g SOP + 20g ammonium sulphate recorded the maximum bunch weight, fruit yield, weight of 3rd hand, finger length, finger girth and finger weight in the pooled study.

Contributor biographies

Contributor biographies

Dynamic changes in fecal bacterial microbiota of dairy cattle across the production line

BackgroundMicrobiota play important roles in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of dairy cattle as the communities are responsible for host health, growth, and production performance. However, a systematic characterization and comparison of microbial communities in the GIT of cattle housed in different management units on a modern dairy farm are still lacking. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to evaluate the fecal bacterial communities of 90 dairy cattle housed in 12 distinctly defined management units on a modern dairy farm.ResultsWe found that cattle from management units 5, 6, 8, and 9 had similar bacterial communities while the other units showed varying levels of differences. Hutch calves had a dramatically different bacterial community than adult cattle, with at least 10 genera exclusively detected in their samples but not in non-neonatal cattle. Moreover, we compared fecal bacteria of cattle from every pair of the management units and detailed the number and relative abundance of the significantly differential genera. Lastly, we identified 181 pairs of strongly correlated taxa in the community, showing possible synergistic or antagonistic relationships.ConclusionsThis study assesses the fecal microbiota of cattle from 12 distinctly defined management units along the production line on a California dairy farm. The results highlight the similarities and differences of fecal microbiota between cattle from each pair of the management units. Especially, the data indicate that the newborn calves host very different gut bacterial communities than non-neonatal cattle, while non-neonatal cattle adopt one of the two distinct types of gut bacterial communities with subtle differences among the management units. The gut microbial communities of dairy cattle change dramatically in bacterial abundances at different taxonomic levels along the production line. The findings provide a reference for research and practice in modern dairy farm management.

LA-DeepLab V3+: A Novel Counting Network for Pigs

Accurate identification and intelligent counting of pig herds can effectively improve the level of fine management of pig farms. A semantic segmentation and counting network was proposed in this study to improve the segmentation accuracy and counting efficiency of pigs in complex image segmentation. In this study, we built our own datasets of pigs under different scenarios, and set three levels of number detection difficulty—namely, lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. First, an image segmentation model of a small sample of pigs was established based on the DeepLab V3+ deep learning method to reduce the training cost and obtain initial features. Second, a lightweight attention mechanism was introduced, and attention modules based on rows and columns can accelerate the efficiency of feature calculation and reduce the problem of excessive parameters and feature redundancy caused by network depth. Third, a recursive cascade method was used to optimize the fusion of high- and low-frequency features for mining potential semantic information. Finally, the improved model was integrated to build a graphical platform for the accurate counting of pigs. Compared with FCNNs, U-Net, SegNet, and DenseNet methods, the DeepLab V3+ experimental results show that the values of the comprehensive evaluation indices P, R, AP, F1-score, and MIoU of LA-DeepLab V3+ (single tag) are higher than those of other semantic segmentation models, at 86.04%, 75.06%, 78.67%, 0.8, and 76.31%, respectively. The P, AP, and MIoU values of LA-DeepLab V3+ (multiple tags) are also higher than those of other models, at 88.36%, 76.75%, and 74.62%, respectively. The segmentation accuracy of pig images with simple backgrounds reaches 99%. The pressure test of the counting network can calculate the number of pigs with a maximum of 50, which meets the requirements of free-range breeding in standard piggeries. The model has strong generalization ability in pig herd detection under different scenarios, which can serve as a reference for intelligent pig farm management and animal life research.

Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: farm management

From the beginning Agricultural economics in the Antipodes has encompassed farm management in various guises, from the farm economics of firms to the farm management economics of a firm to farm management research. Theoretical advances in the inter‐disciplinary task of farm management analysis, built on economics as the core discipline, make a sound foundation for farm management to be enriched by related disciplinary areas, which will further enhance analytical and problem‐solving capacities. Nowadays though, as in the past, the potential outstrips the application, meaning farmer advice, policy analysis and research investment evaluation are much the poorer.

Comparison of three NDVI time-series fitting methods in crop phenology detection in Northeast China

Phenological changes of cropland are the pivotal basis for farm management, agricultural production, and climate change research. Over the past decades, a range of methods have been used to extract phenological events based on satellite derived continuous vegetation index time series, however, large uncertainties still exist. In this study, three smoothing methods were compared to reduce the potential uncertainty and to quantify crop green-up dates over Northeast China. The results indicated that the crop spring onset dates estimated by three methods show variance in the dates, but with similar spatial pattern. In 60% of the study area, the standard deviation (SD) of the estimated starting date from different method is less than 10 days, while 39.5% of total pixels have SDs between 10days and 30 days. Through comparative analysis against the observation phenological data, we concluded that Asymmetric Gaussians produced the most approximative results of all, followed by Double Logistic algorithm, and Savizky-Glolay algorithm performed worst. The starting dates of crops occur mostly between May and June in this region. The Savitzky-Golay has the earliest estimates, while the Asymmetric Gaussians and Double logistic fitting method show similar and later estimates, which are more consistent with the observed data.

Introduction: Farmer’s adaptation to environmental changes

This introduction summarizes some of the key research findings from the articles included in this special issue of The Review in Agriculture and Environment Studies. These articles were drawn from an INRA-funded workshop held in Montpellier in September 2012 entitled Adaptation Practices and Adoption of New Technologies. The workshop focused on current research in agricultural economics and farm management that extends beyond the study of productivity. Specifically, research in this area now also aims to provide a better understanding of farmers’ ability and willingness to respond to new environmental challenges. In particular, these challenges pertain to adaptation to the changing climatic context and recent developments in environmental policies. The selected articles address the issue of farmers’ adaptation to environmental changes in light of their individual preferences. In brief, their findings indicate that taking heterogeneity into account is indeed crucial when analysing or promoting new adaptation strategies.

Learning from the historical failure of farm management models to aid management practice. Part 1. The rise and demise of theoretical models of farm economics

A potential source of lessons for agricultural modellers aspiring to influence farm decision making is the historical experience of agricultural economists in the field, variously termed ‘Farm Management Research’ or ‘Farm Management’. Although the histories of Farm Management in the USA and in Australia differ significantly, in both cases the field was originally characterised by pragmatic on-farm research by agricultural scientists and later taken over by agricultural economists committed to theory-based economic analysis to enable rational planning and decision making. But in both countries, it became painfully evident to reflective participants that model-based Farm Management was not proving relevant to practical managers of farms. An insightful few went further to conclude not just that theoretical models of practice had not been relevant but that they could not be relevant, and since the late 1970s, the field has been in crisis. In this series of 2 papers, we seek insights that might explain this extraordinary ‘market’ failure of models that generate theoretical best practice as a basis for intervention. As an ‘experiment’, the history of Farm Management is enriched by the discontinuity between 2 ‘eras’ characterised by 2 contrasting intervention approaches, an ‘early’ interactive and pragmatic era and a ‘late’ academic and theoretical era. In this first paper, after a brief history of the early pragmatic era and the ‘take-over’ by economic theorists, we analyse the ‘crisis of relevance’ that led to demise, relying heavily on the remarkable intellectual journey of John Dillon, the first Professor of Farm Management in Australia who turned from being elder economic theoretician to pioneer philosopher of pragmatic Farming Systems Research. The significant turn to Farming Systems Research by disillusioned Farm Management economists in the 1980s was preceded by a turn to another systems approach 2 decades earlier, that of agricultural systems modelling. Learning from the autecology of these significant systems efforts to influence the management of farms is the aim of the second paper in this series.

The development of information system in farm management research

The development of information system in farm management research

Sustaining Our Relevance: Issues and Challenges for Farm Management Research

Sustaining Our Relevance: Issues and Challenges for Farm Management Research

Using Systems Engineering and Reductionist Approaches to Design Integrated Farm Management Research Programs

Systems research is needed to more effectively use information generated through reductionist approaches. One example is the need to develop integrated farm management systems that can be envisioned as a collection of agricultural management strategies that incorporate concerns of farmers, farm suppliers, environmentalists, the local community, consumers, and the general public. Our objective was to use systems engineering methods to design an integrated farm management systems research program that could ultimately develop integrated farm management plans. Systematic steps included: (i) defining the problem, (ii) identifying all factors potentially affected by any solution, (iii) developing concepts for solving the problem, and (iv) evaluating four feasible concepts by quantifying tradeoffs associated with each solution [...]

On-farm Experiments as a Diagnostic Method: Constraints to Nitrogen Fertilizer Use on Sorghum in Semi-arid Tropical India

SUMMARYOn-farm diagnostic experiments were used to study constraints to nitrogen fertilizer use, define recommendation domains, and test fertilizer management techniques for two sorghum cropping systems in semi-arid tropical India. In the post-rainy season sorghum cropping system, nitrogen fertilizer use remains negligible because crop response is poor when sorghum is planted after the end of the monsoon, as is traditional. An earlier planting date would introduce high risks. In the dependable rainfall region, nitrogen fertilizer use on hybrid sorghum could be enhanced by tailoring recommendations to broad farmer-designated soil groups, and by educational programmes on the use of complex fertilizers. Additional research on fertilizer efficiencies on shallow Vertisols is needed. Diagnostic experiments proved a useful, relatively rapid and low cost method of research when complemented by farm management and on-station research data.

In search of excellence on the farm: An example of case research

Case research is presented as an alternative method of farm management research. Results from traditional farm management research are discussed, and then case research is defined and case research methods are outlined. Strengths and limitations of the two research methods are compared. Recommendations based upon results from four case studies of excellent Ontario hog farms are presented as an example of case research.

Irrigation and Potential Diversification Benefits in Humid Climates

AbstractIncome variability and means for managing risk continue to receive much attention in farm management research. In this paper, irrigation is presented as a risk-management strategy that offers potential diversification benefits. Potential diversification opportunities largely result from a wider range of enterprise production activities. A portfolio analysis of dryland and irrigated farm scenarios indicates that income stabilizing and diversification effects of irrigation substantially modify the risk-return position of a typical farm in northeast Louisiana. Safety-first considerations along with Target MOT AD programming procedures also are used to evaluate the impact of irrigation on the farm's financial performance.

FARM MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE STATE OF THE ART

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to evaluate the present situation of farm management (FM) in South Africa in its professional context. The evolution of FM in the USA, the UK and Australia has been used as the norm to evaluate the progress of FM teaching and research in South Africa. In order to review the development of FM in South Africa over the past 60 years, the period has been divided into three phases. The outstanding feature of FM in Phase I (1925—1950) was its multidisciplinary nature in contrast with the dominating role of production economics in FM in Phase II (1950—1970). The last 15 years (Phase III) in the evolution of FM is typified by the greater role played by management science in FM. As in the USA, the UK and Australia, it can be said that FM is regarded basically as FM economics (narrower approach) in South Africa today, but attempts are being made to integrate the various disciplines. As far as FM teaching is concerned, the integration is accomplished in two alternative ways. In contrast to the case in the USA, FM research was given the highest priority than other fields of agricultural economics during Phase III. The progress made in FM in SA over the past 15 years was satisfactory on the whole. However, the progress was far from ideal, because there were no strong international leaders in FM during this period. FM will remain a key field of agricultural economics in future, but it can be expected that the relative importance of FM will decline as it did in the USA.

Twenty five years (1955–1980) of farm management research in Greece (by the use of records and accounts)

Twenty five years (1955–1980) of farm management research in Greece (by the use of records and accounts)

An Analysis of Farmers' Perceptions of Benefits Received from Farming

Farmers' perceptions of benefits they receive from farming affect their decision making. In decision model development, it is important to have insight into these benefits. This study tests the relative importance of farmers' benefit values through use of discriminant analysis. Benefits received were economic and non-economic. It appears that farmers have threshold security levels. Discriminant analysis indicated that farmer respondents place similar values on many of the benefits. Effective categorization of farmers was not achieved using such factors as debt load, profitability measures, acres, tenancy, age, and their benefit response values. Firm level decision making research by agricultural economists has generally assumed primary goals of either profit maximization or cost minimization. As early as the 1930s, farm management research was characterized as aiding farm managers

Analyzing Hog Production Strategies with a Simulation Model

AbstractSimulation modelling has attracted considerable farm management research interest in recent years, yet the on‐farm use of simulation models has been limited. A simulation model for hog production has been developed as part of an information system which may assist hog farm managers both in choosing between competing management strategies and also in implementing any chosen plan. The process involved in selecting the most suitable management strategy is illustrated using data from several hog units. The incorporation of the model into an information system ensures that the model is accessible to farm managers and their advisers.

The Entry-Growth-Exit Processes in Agriculture

The recent emphasis in farm management research has centered on issues of financial management and firm growth. Consequently, a number of studies have identified and evaluated alternative production, financial and marketing strategies that result in growth or expansion of the farm firm. These studies have explicitly or implicitly assumed that the firm is a viable economic unit and the ownership structure will not change during the growth process. Thus, the life cycle of the firm has been severed from the typical life cycle of the enterpreneur, and the financial, economic and human problems of entry and exit of farm entrepreneurs into and out of the agricultural production sector have not been confronted. The following discussion will briefly review the characteristics of the life cycle of the family firm and indicate why entry-exit problems are particularly acute in the agricultural production sector. Then, specific micro and macro issues that merit empirical investigation, including the firm and industry implications of coordination (or the lack thereof) of the entry and exit processes, will be identified and discussed.

RISK EVALUATION IN FARM PLANNING* A STATISTICAL APPROACH

Economic planning implies decision‐making based on the comparison of alternative courses of action, viewed against a background (in the real world at any rate) of uncertainty and imperfect knowledge. Successful planning is thus heavily dependent on the reliability of prediction which lea & inevitably to the domain of probability theory and its application to planning models. In spite of the considerable attention given to the application of mathematical models in farm management research work in recent times(1) to(9) and (15) there is stilla paucity of applied work with respect to evaluating the nature of risk associated with planning projects at the individual farm level. In addition, very little published data is available on either a regional or production‐type basis that gives a clear understanding of the nature of probability distributions for planning variables. This paper formulates a simple model which can be used in practical planning exercises and also demonstrates that with a new generation of statistically‐processed planning data the application of the classical concepts of probability to routine economic planning is both practicable and worthwhile.