How to grow lettuce, tomatoes with LED LIGHTS.

How to grow lettuce, tomatoes with LED LIGHTS. LED lighting technology is being used by more and more growers because of benefits that include faster growth, more flowering and improved coloration. Learn how LEDs can improve growth of lettuce, leafy greens, herbs and high-wire tomatoes and cucumbers. In this webinar, you’ll learn: 1)The benefits of adding supplemental light to your edible crop growing area. 2)Factors to consider when comparing LED to high-pressure sodium. 3)The effect of LED blue and red spectrum on crop growth. Watch

Free webinar to get you started with LED lighting.

Free webinar to get you started with LED lighting.With the 2018 growing season fast approaching, now is a good time to set up a small trial of LED lighting. If you’re not sure how or why to go about a trial, join us for this webinar to hear how other growers have initiated their first trial with LEDs and what they learned in the process. In this webinar, you’ll learn: 1) The importance of comparative lighting scenarios—how to track and measure.2)How LED lighting may impact crop inputs and other operational factors.3)Why LED lighting isn’t “one size fits all”. 4)Results from growers that have conducted trials under Philips LED. Register

Agribusiness: Tapping into the leadership skills and talents of farming women.

        Tapping into the leadership skills and  talents of farming women.

Women involved in farm business have an extraordinary set of skills – from organizing workflows in complex, ever-changing environments and managing diverse teams to budgeting, cost control and financial forecasting. 

The success of many farms strongly depends on the women who are doing the books, coordinating farm administration and contributing to strategic management decisions.

 In fact, farm business women have many of the skills and capabilities needed in wider leadership roles in industry and the community. 

 A new project coordinated by Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) and Growcom aims to tap into the talents and capabilities of farming women – and encourage them to strengthen their confidence as business leaders and bring their skills, ideas and passion to other places.

      Tapping into the leadership skills and  talents of farming women.

Developments in application technology for soil fumigation.

Developments in application technology for soil fumigation.Soil fumigants can be used to control plant pests pre-sowing or pre-planting. They aim to reduce very significantly the populations of nematodes (microscopic worms), soil-borne fungi and weeds whose development can cause major yield reduction or even the destruction of the crop. The application of these substances aims to provide a uniform treatment on a volume of soil in which these pests damage the crop. Very careful attention must be paid to the details of how the fumigation is done in order to guarantee excellent control of the targeted organisms and complete safety for workers and other persons close to the treated area, whilst also limiting the impact the product could have on our environment. Developments in application technology for soil fumigation.

Happy cows make more nutritious milk .

Happy cows make more nutritious milk. Daily infusions with a chemical commonly associated with feelings of happiness were shown to increase calcium levels in the blood of Holstein cows and the milk of Jersey cows that had just given birth. The results, published in the Journal of Endocrinology, could lead to a better understanding of how to improve the health of dairy cows, and keep the milk flowing. Demand is high for milk rich in calcium: there is more calcium in the human body than any other mineral, and in the West dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are primary sources of calcium. But this demand can take its toll on milk-producing cows: roughly 5-10% of the North American dairy cow population suffers from hypocalcaemia -- in which calcium levels are low. The risk of this disease is particularly high immediately before and after cows give birth.Happy cows make more nutritious milk .

Oregano may reduce methane in cow burps.

Oregano may reduce methane in cow burps.A new research project aims to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by up to 25 per cent. This benefits not only the environment, but also arable farmers and milk producers, and it uses one key ingredient: oregano. It may sound pretty harmless, but methane emissions from cows are a large problem for the climate. When ruminants digest their feed, methane is formed as a natural by-product of the microbial process in the rumen, and since methane is a 25 times more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, there is a need to devise methods to reduce such emissions from cattle. Methane production can be reduced by, for example, adding fat or nitrate to the feed or by increasing the starch content and improve the feed quality. But for organic dairy farmers, these remedies are either not permissible or are already being used. There is therefore a need for other solutions. In a new research project, researchers from Aarhus University in cooperation with Organic Denmark and a number of commercial partners will be examining whether the addition of organic oregano to cattle feed can reduce the production of methane in the rumen and thus emissions of methane gas. Oregano may reduce methane in cow burps

'Organic' milk is poorer in iodine than conventional milk.

'Organic' milk is poorer in iodine than conventional milk.Milk from organic farms has a lower concentration of elements like zinc, iodine and selenium than milk produced by conventional farming methods. The discrepancy is due to the absence of mineral substances in the diets of the cows reared. According to researchers, animals on organic farms should have their diets supplemented with natural sources of iodine such as seaweed, because it is a very important element for children and pregnant women. The concentration of nutrients in animal food products is linked to the diets of the animals reared. Conventional production methods provide mineral diet supplements, while in organic farming animals depend on the mineral content in soil, which may not be sufficient. 'Organic' milk is poorer in iodine than conventional milk.