Search results for "Farming"
showing 10 items of 302 documents
Finnish dairy farmers’ perceptions of justice in the transition to carbon-neutral farming
2022
Highlights • Finnish dairy farmers' perceptions of issues with carbon neutrality were examined. • Concerns include farming profitability, farmer blaming, and use of peatlands. • Public policy guidance is needed for carbon-neutral, sustainable agriculture. Environmental and political debate concerning the role of agriculture in sustainability has long been on the agenda. However, owing to climate change, an analysis of the transition to a low-carbon society must also be considered from the perspective of justice. Dairy farming, in particular, faces pressure in this context, when contemplating changing consumer behaviors and reduction in the carbon footprint of dairy products. Accordingly, ma…
The impact of variable hatching rates on parasite control: a model of an aquatic ectoparasite in a Finnish fish farm
2006
Summary 1 Many parasites of medical and veterinary importance infect via free-living stages that undergo a period of development in the environment before seeking a host. Frequently, considerable variation is observed in the development rates of these stages, such that some individuals may be considered to occupy distinct subpopulations, similar to a plant's seed bank. Under certain conditions, these subpopulations may act as a reservoir for the parasite, buffering it from the impact of management strategies and reducing control success. 2 We assessed the impact of intraspecific variation in development rates on parasite control by developing a population dynamic model of the ectoparasite A…
Aeromonas salmonicida in Finland: pathological problems associated with atypical and typical strains
1991
. Aeromonas salmonicida was studied at fish farms producing salmonid smolts in northern and central Finland from 1982 onwards. Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida has been causing epizootics in salmon, Salmo salar L., and trout, S. trutta L., at two coastal farms in northern Finland sinee 1986, involving 1–29% mortality in the fish-rearing units affceted. The disease causes more serious losses of sea trout yearlings and brood fish than of salmon. The achromogenic atypical A. salmonicida proved to be the most common bacterial disease in brown and sea trout at one farm in northern Finland throughout the period, causing constant heavy losses, mainly of fingerlings, especially in 1982–1986…
What makes a citrus farmer go 'organic'? Empirical evidence from Spanish citrus farming
2012
Organic farming is increasing its share of total world food output and receiving grow-ing support from policymakers concerned with agricultural sustainability issues. This paper studies the characteristics of citrus farmers in the Spanish region of Valencia that affect their probability of becoming organic farmers. A fair understanding of these characteristics may help policymakers improve the design of agricultural policies aimed at supporting organic citrus practices. As regards the methodology, a probit model is estimated with information from a sample of conventional and organic citrus farmers obtained from a survey designed for a larger research project aimed at analysing Valencian cit…
Measuring technical efficiency of Greek red suckler cow breed's farms in Central Macedonia region using a data envelopment analysis model
2022
This study aims to estimate the technical efficiency (TE) of a randomly selected sample of red Greek suckler cow breed farms in the area of Central Macedonia and identify the most technically efficient characteristics of cow-calf operations. Moreover, this work wants to verify the impact of local and European policies in support of the sector on the estimated efficiency. The research investigates the technical efficiency of 64 suckler cow farms by using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. Findings reveal that the most efficient farms were larger, with higher gross revenue, and higher cost of fixed capital than non-efficient farms. In addition, the cost of variable capital, which dir…
Susceptibility of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to vibriosis due to Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 (serovar E)
2002
The present study documents the susceptibility of Nile tilapia to the experimental vibriosis caused by Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 (serovar E) using a reference strain (Spanish Collection of Type Cultures, CECT 4604) selected for its high degree of virulence for eels. The biotype 1 of this species is one of the usual organisms involved in epizootics occurred in tilapia. After intraperitoneal injection, the selected strain developed a haemorrhagic septicaemia similar to eel vibriosis with a LD50 four log units lower than that exhibited by the type strain of the species, which belongs to the biotype 1. The results obtained in waterborne and intubation challenges indicated that water and feed …
Conservation value of forest plantations for bird communities in western Kenya
2008
Tree plantations of native and exotic species are frequently used to compensate for forest loss in the tropics. However, these plantations may support lower species diversity and different communities than natural forest. We therefore investigated bird communities in stands of natural forest, different types of tree plantations and secondary forest in Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. We compared birds differing in habitat specialisation, i.e. forest specialists, generalists, and visitors. We recorded significant differences in mean species richness and number of individuals among the different forest types. Stands of natural forest and plantations of indigenous tree species comprised more sp…
High seedling recruitment of indigenous tree species in forest plantations in Kakamega Forest, western Kenya
2009
Tree plantations are often used to compensate for the destruction and conversion of natural forests in the tropics. An important question is whether these plantations allow for the regeneration of indigenous tree species and are expected to transform into more natural forests in the future. To evaluate the potential of differently managed forest types for seedling recruitment of indigenous tree species we studied structural characteristics as well as tree and seedling communities in stands of natural forest, different types of tree plantations and secondary forest in Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. Forest types differed considerably in structural characteristics and tree composition with st…
The impact of corporate social responsibility initiative on sustainable livelihood capitals of cocoa farmers in Ghana : a case study of cocoa livelih…
2015
The Cocoa Livelihood Programme (CLP), an initiative of corporate organizations in collaboration with the World Cocoa Foundation (WFC) in line with their corporate social responsibility (CSR), was introduced in Ghana by Solidaridad West Africa in the year 2009. This CSR initiative is to promote sustainable livelihoods of cocoa farmers. Qualitative research method of approach was used to examine the impact of the CLP on the livelihoods of participating cocoa farmers in the Ahafo Ano South District using the five capitals of the Sustainable Livelihood (SL) Framework. Two research questions were answered using thematic coding and analysis. The findings show that the cocoa livelihood programme (…
Tillage Versus No-Tillage. Soil Properties and Hydrology in an Organic Persimmon Farm in Eastern Iberian Peninsula
2020
There is an urgent need to implement environmentally friendly agriculture management practices to achieve the Sustainable Goals for Development (SDGs) of the United Nations by 2030. Mediterranean agriculture is characterized by intense and millennia-old tillage management and as a consequence degraded soil. No-Tillage has been widely examined as a solution for soil degradation but No-Tillage relies more on the application of herbicides that reduce plant cover, which in turn enhances soil erosion. However, No-Tillage with weed cover should be researched to promote organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Therefore, we compare Tillage against No-Tillage using weed cover as an alternative …