How to use wasps and gall midges for aphid control.

How to use wasps and gall midges for aphid control. Parasitic wasps and gall midges are the cornerstone of a reliable aphid control strategy,as preventive or curative. This is very important for cucumber and gherkin growers to prevent losses. Biological control of aphids rests mostly on the introduction of parasitic wasps and gall midges. The female insects look actively for aphid hot spots to lay their eggs. When these eggs hatch, the larvae devour the helpless aphids.The parasitic wasps are always introduced as pupae. These need to be put on damp, shady spots between the crops to guarantee the best result. The parasitic gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza is a strong complementary weapon against aphids. In contrast to the parasitic wasps, the gall midge isn’t very choosy regarding its diet. “Its progeny eats literally every aphid species. more

How to use coconut coir (coco peat) to control weeds.

Coconut coir also known as “coco peat” stands alone as a quality substrate with unique properties. Its made from coconut husk in the heart of coconut country in Tamil Nadu India and Sri Lanka, coco peat is organic in nature, sustainable and renewable. Growing with coir is an eco-friendly choice that roots love, healthy roots mean healthy plants, no matter what you’re growing. The agriculture and horticulture industries have recognized that coir could be the perfect growing media, as it possesses the qualities that most plants demand: 1)Drainage. 2) Moisture Retention. 3) Aeration. 4) Neutral pH. Coconut coir is essential in hydroponics, the qualities that make it perfect for that application translate to containers of all sizes, gardens, raised bed gardens,microgreens, floriculture and more. The other advantage of growing with coir is that it keeps weeds away; Tom March,a farmer explains how to use them successfully on the farm. Tom does not want to bathe his crops with herbicides so on his 150 acre March Farm in Bethlehem Ct, he’s beaten weeds by laying weed barrier and growing his crops in grow bags. While it’s not uncommon to see grow bags used in a greenhouse setting, Tom likes the way he can control his growing environment both inside and out, with grow bags filled with coco coir peat growing media. Grow bags with coco coir peat help farmers control their crops in several ways. There is no need to till or mix soils, the coir is sterile in the bag which means no soil viruses, no fungus, and no undesirable insects. The crop is also elevated from the ground which reduces the encroachment of crawling insects. March Farms learned that weeds and the undesirable insects they may attract are no longer a factor. The overall operation is cleaner too. more

Dubai shops allow you to pay with cucumbers!

Dubai shops allow you to pay with cucumbers! On May 17, a collection of 35 Dubai restaurants and lounges will accept a cucumber as form of payment in exchange for a selected mixed beverage. According to their Facebook page, DXB Cucumber Day's aim is to transform “the humble green fruit into exchangeable monetary units." You don't have to pay money. You literally have to hand over a cucumber to your server. It is, however, limited to one cucumber per person. Benefits of cucumber are Check list of participating restaurants see

How the pet food industry is addressing pet dental health.

Dental diseases affects 76 % of dogs and 68 % of cats, with the primary risk factors such as increasing age and small breed size, playing directly into today’s pet-owning landscape as pets are living longer than ever, and small breed ownership is on the rise. Regular dental examinations and cleanings are the primary steps in preventing various dental ailments such as inflammation, tartar, gingivitis, periodontal disease,. Pet food manufacturers are exploring the use of treats, dental chews, water additives and specially formulated pet foods to ensure pet dental health. According to Banfield Pet Hospital’s “State of Pet Health Report 2016,” there has been a 23.3 % rise in the prevalence of dental disease in dogs since 2006, with steady growth each year . There has also been a 23.1% rise in the prevalence of dental disease in cats in the last 10 years, as well as an increase in other painful dental conditions (68.8 percent increase in stomatitis, 1,587 percent increase in tooth reabsorption). There are unexpected health complications associated with dental disease, periodontal disease has been associated with an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, especially in cats. According to research, if periodontal disease were eliminated, there could be up to 15,000 fewer cases of chronic kidney disease in cats in the US. According to reports, the pet care industry has opened an estimated market of 1 billion dollars by 2050, the 2015 Packaged Facts report “Pet Oral Care Products and Services in the US”, roughly 84 % of all pet oral care products are dental chews and treats, providing a significant opportunity for treat manufacturers or those dealing in specialty products to expand their products. According to Packaged Facts, only 20 % of dog owners and 11 % of cat owners brush their pets’ teeth, consumers are clearly looking to treats and similar products to help their pets maintain dental health outside of the veterinarian’s office.Consumers focused on their pets’ dental health are looking for a combination of functionality and nutrition in their dental treats and chews. They want to know that the treats are proven to help prevent dental issues, but they also want those treats to fit in with their dog or cat’s current diet. There are various products available see

Pet food analysis shows chicken is the preferred flavor.

GfK data on sales of dry food, wet food and treats for both dogs and cats revealed the most popular flavors across eight key countries in the global pet food market based on the value sold. In the United Stated, chicken is the most popular flavor that owners are buying for dogs and cats across all three categories. In a country that spent $24 billion in the pet food market in 2015, that accounts for a significant amount of money. In nearly all other countries, chicken also was the most popular for dry dog food and dry cat food. Spain’s pets get greater variety, with beef and fish flavors rivaling chicken for wet food and treats. France’s cats also receive variety equal to that in Spain in the wet food and treats bought for them, although chicken continues to dominate when owners select their cats’ dry food and their dogs’ wet and dry food. The Czech Republic, Greece and China stand out in preferring beef flavor above all others for their dogs’ wet food. more

Emerging plant based pet food proteins.

Plant-based proteins are becoming increasingly important sustainable pet food protein sources and as earth’s human and pet populations grow, so too does the demand for protein. Plant-based proteins have been used in human and animal nutrition for several years,these include soybeans, peas, lupin beans, potatoes, wheat and corn. A wide range of other sources are just now starting to become popular and widely available. The new plant protein sources are described as emerging plant-based proteins which are ingredients that are less used on the market but are slowly being adopted, or still largely in the evaluation stage. The emerging plant based proteins include fava beans, chickpeas, lentils, marrowfat peas, beans and rapeseed. When considering upcoming plant-based protein in pet food, it’s important to consider the sustainability of the product in the long term, beyond environmental sustainability as a pet food manufacturer must be able to assure a continued availability of the product as it rises in importance in the food supply. The competition from human demands reduces the supply available for pet food and animal feed this must be considered before production. The competition from human demands and livestock feed is obvious with soy press cake, potato proteins, grass and beet leaves, and brewer’s spent grains which are all byproducts but are now used as plant-based proteins. The latest upcoming group that are useful in the pet food industry as that meet these sustainability criteria are quinoa, duckweed, sunflower seeds, green leaves and microalgae. Seaweeds have been explored for livestock; read Pet food protein from duckweed carries a higher amino acid concentration than other plant proteins and is comparable to animal proteins including fishmeal in terms of protein content. Cultivated duckweed can provide more than 20 metric tons of yield on a single hectare of land – 5 tons of which are protein – in a year. Soy yields only 3 tons. The disadvantage of duckweed is that it cannot be grown year round in cooler climates. more

Democratic republic of Congo ; taxi driver is 2nd person to die in Ebola outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that Congo was experiencing an outbreak of Ebola in the Bas-Uele province more than 800 miles from the capital city of Kinshasa. The case count has climbed from nine suspected patients to 20, with three suspected deaths. According to WHO spokesperson , two of the deaths have been confirmed by laboratory testing. The first and possible index case as a man aged 39 years who died upon arriving at a health care facility. The second death was a taxi driver who drove the initial patient to the health care facility. There is no known cause of the Ebola outbreak has been identified yet, but WHO said a field investigation and contact tracing of the suspected patients was underway.