#What is Agriculture Insurance Market

[dhirajmarketresearch]

[botanyshitposts]

Opinion on the US's Cogs damn obsession with corn?

don't know what you're talking about specifically but my understanding of US agricultural policy in general is that being a farmer in capitalism sucks and has since colonization and for a long time the US government tried to make it suck less with subsidies which sometimes work (because people get paid predictably regardless of demand and its less like gambling with crops) but sometimes go over really badly (because then too many people grow it and the price per bushel goes down and then government has too much corn) and then a couple times they got rid of all the subsides and related regulations and that REALLY didnt work (because then the price just crashed hard and with nothing to compensate them a bunch of farmers, many of whom were in debt for other farming-related reasons, couldnt get paid and actually had to foreclose their farms, which accelerated the long-standing trend of farms getting foreclosed on and then being bought out by bigger farms that then ended up running INSANE multi million dollar operations, sometimes even on farms in other states where the owners do not live, in communities they do not contribute to) and they had to backpedal on it and then eventually they just started on the current system where you simply pass a farm bill every 10-12 years instead of yearly or biyearly and that way you simply dont have to think about it, and then when it is election time you go stand by a cornfield for a while for tv. it does not fix the huge enormous farms buying out smaller farms problem or any of the complicated related problems but it DOES put it off for longer which is more important.

sometimes also you (USAID for instance) can give the too-much-corn you have from farm subsidies to a foreign country as a 'gift' and say youre just being a helpful little guy, but in the process of doing so undercut the local farmers in that country because they cant compete with free stuff but that's cool because then the foreign country can't really survive as well without US agricultural aid and you can manipulate them to do imperialism better AND you have more demand for the corn which might raise the price per bushel in the US. also sometimes the corn is fed to livestock en masse because the meat is worth more and sometimes its made into gas or high fructose corn syrup, and sometimes the price is so low per bushel that the insurance on the field is worth more than the actual corn.

but. i CANNOT stress enough that the most important thing about corn is that you can stand next to it on tv and if you cant do that, maybe you can stand next to a guy who is around it a lot and say you are helping him.

in my relatively uneducated opinion the most epic way to solve this complex multi-century interdisciplinary push and pull of supply and demand would be to just pay farmers a salary through the state since youre already paying out massive state subsidies for crops you dont need anyway and the farmers are performing a vital service and that way you can guarantee people a consistent salary AND control how much of each thing gets planted so you dont have a massive stockpile at all times AND you reward individual people instead of paying out large amounts of money to whatever massive operation sells the most corn by virtue of being big, but if you dont want to do that then the second best thing is to just pass another mediocre farm bill whos inflexible 10-ish year lifespan makes it impossible for it to respond well to changes in market demand and that way you can just put off making tough decisions and instead stand next to a guy and a cornfield on tv again. which as we have covered is the most important part of american agriculture

[thedansemacabres]

Introduction To Supporting Sustainable Agriculture For Witches and Pagans

[ID: An image of yellow grain stocks, soon to be harvested. The several stocks reach towards a blurred open sky, focusing the camera on he grains themselves. The leaves of the grains are green and the cereals are exposed].

PAGANISM AND WITCHCRAFT ARE MOVEMENTS WITHIN A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CAPITALIST SOCIETY. As the world becomes more aware of the importance of sustainability, so does the duty of humanity to uphold the idea of the steward, stemming from various indigenous worldviews, in the modern era. I make this small introduction as a viticulturist working towards organic and environmentally friendly grape production. I also do work on a food farm, as a second job—a regenerative farm, so I suppose that is my qualifications. Sustainable—or rather regenerative agriculture—grows in recognition. And as paganism and witchcraft continue to blossom, learning and supporting sustainability is naturally a path for us to take. I will say that this is influenced by I living in the USA, however, there are thousands of groups across the world for sustainable agriculture, of which tend to be easy to research.

So let us unite in caring for the world together, and here is an introduction to supporting sustainable/regenerative agriculture. 

A QUICK BRIEF ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 

Sustainable agriculture, in truth, is a movement to practise agriculture as it has been done for thousands of years—this time, with more innovation from science and microbiology especially. The legal definition in the USA of sustainable agriculture is: 

The term ”sustainable agriculture” (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:

A more common man’s definition would be farming in a way that provides society’s food and textile needs without overuse of natural resources, artificial supplements and pest controls, without compromising the future generation’s needs and ability to produce resources. The agriculture industry has one of the largest and most detrimental impacts on the environment, and sustainable agriculture is the alternative movement to it. 

Sustainable agriculture also has the perk of being physically better for you—the nutrient quality of crops in the USA has dropped by 47%, and the majority of our food goes to waste. Imagine if it was composted and reused? Or even better—we buy only what we need. We as pagans and witches can help change this. 

BUYING ORGANIC (IT REALLY WORKS)

The first step is buying organic. While cliche, it does work: organic operations have certain rules to abide by, which excludes environmentally dangerous chemicals—many of which, such as DDT, which causes ecological genocide and death to people. Organic operations have to use natural ways of fertilising, such as compost, which to many of us—such as myself—revere the cycle of life, rot, and death. Organic standards do vary depending on the country, but the key idea is farming without artificial fertilisers, using organic seeds, supplementing with animal manure, fertility managed through management practices, etc. 

However, organic does have its flaws. Certified organic costs many, of which many small farmers cannot afford. The nutrient quality of organic food, while tending to be better, is still poor compared to regeneratively grown crops. Furthermore, the process to become certified organic is often gruelling—you can practise completely organically, but if you are not certified, it is not organic. Which, while a quality control insurance, is both a bonus and a hurdle. 

JOINING A CSA

Moving from organic is joining a CSA (“Community supported agriculture”). The USDA defines far better than I could: 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), one type of direct marketing, consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

By purchasing a farm share, you receive food from the farm for the agreed upon production year. I personally enjoy CSAs for the relational aspect—choosing a CSA is about having a relationship, not only with the farmer(s), but also the land you receive food from. I volunteer for my CSA and sometimes I get extra cash from it—partaking in the act of caring for the land. Joining a CSA also means taking your precious capital away from the larger food industry and directly supporting growers—and CSAs typically practise sustainable and/or regenerative agriculture. 

CSAs are also found all over the world and many can deliver their products to food deserts and other areas with limited agricultural access. I volunteer from time to time for a food bank that does exactly that with the produce I helped grow on the vegetable farm I work for. 

FARM MARKETS AND STALLS 

Another way of personally connecting to sustainable agriculture is entering the realm of the farm stall. The farmer’s market is one of my personal favourite experiences—people buzzing about searching for ingredients, smiles as farmers sell crops and products such as honey or baked goods, etc. The personal connection stretches into the earth, and into the past it buries—as I purchase my apples from the stall, I cannot help but see a thousand lives unfold. People have been doing this for thousands of years and here I stand, doing it all over again. 

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Farmers’ markets are dependent on your local area, yet in most you can still develop personal community connections. Paganism often stresses community as an ideal and a state of life. And witchcraft often stresses a connection to the soil. What better place, then, is purchasing the products from the locals who commune with the land? 

VOLUNTEERING 

If you are able to, I absolutely recommend volunteering. I have worked with aquaponic systems, food banks, farms, cider-making companies, soil conservation groups, etc. There is so much opportunity—and perhaps employment—in these fields. The knowledge I have gained has been wonderful. As one example, I learned that fertilisers reduce carbon sequestration as plants absorb carbon to help with nutrient intake. If they have all their nutrients ready, they do not need to work to obtain carbon to help absorb it. This does not even get into the symbiotic relationship fungi have with roots, or the world of hyphae. Volunteering provides community and connection. Actions and words change the world, and the world grows ever better with help—including how much or how little you may provide. It also makes a wonderful devotional activity. 

RESOURCING FOOD AND COOKING 

Buying from farmers is not always easy, however. Produce often has to be processed, requiring labour and work with some crops such as carrots. Other times, it is a hard effort to cook and many of us—such as myself—often have very limited energy. There are solutions to this, thankfully:

Many farmers can and will process foods. Some even do canning, which can be good to stock up on food and lessen the energy inputs. 

Value-added products: farms also try to avoid waste, and these products often become dried snacks if fruit, frozen, etc. 

Asking farmers if they would be open to accommodating this. Chances are, they would! The farmer I purchase my CSA share from certainly does. 

Going to farmers markets instead of buying a CSA, aligning with your energy levels. 

And if any of your purchased goods are going unused, you can always freeze them. 

DEMETER, CERES, VEIA, ETC: THE FORGOTTEN AGRICULTURE GODS

Agricultural gods are often neglected. Even gods presiding over agriculture often do not have those aspects venerated—Dionysos is a god of viticulture and Apollon a god of cattle. While I myself love Dionysos as a party and wine god, the core of him remains firmly in the vineyards and fields, branching into the expanses of the wild. I find him far more in the curling vines as I prune them than in the simple delights of the wine I ferment. Even more obscure gods, such as Veia, the Etruscan goddess of agriculture, are seldom known.

Persephone receives the worst of this: I enjoy her too as a dread queen, and people do acknowledge her as Kore, but she is far more popular as the queen of the underworld instead of the dear daughter of Demeter. I do understand this, though—I did not feel the might of Demeter and Persephone until I began to move soil with my own hands. A complete difference to the ancient world, where the Eleusinian mysteries appealed to thousands. Times change, and while some things should be left to the past, our link to these gods have been severed. After all, how many of us reading know where our food comes from? I did not until I began to purchase from the land I grew to know personally. The grocery store has become a land of tearing us from the land, instead of the food hub it should be.

Yet, while paganism forgets agriculture gods, they have not forgotten us. The new world of farming is more conductive and welcoming than ever. I find that while older, bigoted people exist, the majority of new farmers tend to be LGBT+. My own boss is trans and aro, and I myself am transgender and gay. The other young farmers I know are some flavour of LGBT+, or mixed/poc. There’s a growing movement for Black farmers, elaborated in a lovely text called We Are Each Other’s Harvest. 

Indigenous farming is also growing and I absolutely recommend buying from indigenous farmers. At this point, I consider Demeter to be a patron of LGBT+ people in this regard—she gives an escape to farmers such as myself. Bigotry is far from my mind under her tender care, as divine Helios shines above and Okeanos’ daughters bring fresh water to the crops. Paganism is also more commonly accepted—I find that farmers find out that I am pagan and tell me to do rituals for their crops instead of reacting poorly. Or they’re pagan themselves; a farmer I know turned out to be Wiccan and uses the wheel of the year to keep track of production. 

Incorporating these divinities—or concepts surrounding them—into our crafts and altars is the spiritual step towards better agriculture. Holy Demeter continues to guide me, even before I knew it. 

WANT CHANGE? DO IT YOURSELF! 

If you want change in the world, you have to act. And if you wish for better agriculture, there is always the chance to do it yourself. Sustainable agriculture is often far more accessible than people think: like witchcraft and divination, it is a practice. Homesteading is often appealing to many of us, including myself, and there are plenty of resources to begin. There are even grants to help one improve their home to be more sustainable, i.e. solar panels. Gardening is another, smaller option. Many of us find that plants we grow and nourish are far more potentant in craft, and more receptive to magical workings. 

Caring for plants is fundamental to our natures and there are a thousand ways to delve into it. I personally have joined conservation groups, my local soil conservation group, work with the NRCs in the USA, and more. The path to fully reconnecting to nature and agriculture is personal—united in a common cause to fight for this beautiful world. To immerse yourself in sustainable agriculture, I honestly recommend researching and finding your own path. Mine lies in soil and rot, grapevines and fruit trees. Others do vegetables and cereal grains, or perhaps join unions and legislators. Everyone has a share in the beauty of life, our lives stemming from the land’s gentle sprouts. 

Questions and or help may be given through my ask box on tumblr—if there is a way I can help, let me know. My knowledge is invaluable I believe, as I continue to learn and grow in the grey-clothed arms of Demeter, Dionysos, and Kore. 

FURTHER READING:

Baszile, N. (2021). We are each other’s harvest. HarperCollins.

Hatley, J. (2016). Robin Wall Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Environmental Philosophy, 13(1), 143–145. https://doi.org/10.5840/envirophil201613137

Regenerative Agriculture 101. (2021, November 29). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101#what-is

And in truth, far more than I could count. 

References

Community Supported Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/community-supported-agriculture

Navazio, J. (2012). The Organic seed Grower: A Farmer’s Guide to Vegetable Seed Production. Chelsea Green Publishing.

Plaster, E. (2008). Soil Science and Management. Cengage Learning.

Sheaffer, C. C., & Moncada, K. M. (2012). Introduction to agronomy: food, crops, and environment. Cengage Learning.

Sheldrake, M. (2020). Entangled life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Random House.

Sustainable Agriculture | National Agricultural Library. (n.d.). https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/sustainable-agriculture

[centrally-unplanned]

Gonna make this a quick one since I just don’t have the spoons for a really big effort post: Pre-CCP 20th Century China Did Not Have Feudal or Slave-like Land Tenancy Systems

Obviously what counts as “slave-like” is going to be subjective, but I think it's common, for *ahem* reasons, for people to believe that in the 1930’s Chinese agriculture was dominated by massive-scale, absentee landlords who held the large majority of peasant workers in a virtual chokehold and dictated all terms of labor.

That is not how Chinese land ownership & agricultural systems worked. I am going to pull from Chinese Agriculture in the 1930s: Investigations into John Lossing Buck’s Rediscovered ‘Land Utilization in China’ Microdata, which is some of the best ground-level data you can get on how land use functioned, in practice, in China during the "Nanjing Decade" before WW2 ruins all data collection. It looks at a series of north-central provinces, which gives you the money table of this:

On average, 4/5ths of Chinese peasants owned land, and primarily farmed land that they owned. Tenancy was, by huge margins, the minority practice. I really don’t need to say more than this, but I'm going to because there is a deeper point I want to make. And it's fair to say that while this is representative of Northern China, Southern China did have higher tenancy rates - not crazy higher, but higher.

So let's look at those part-owner farmers; sounds bad right? Like they own part of their land, but it's not enough? Well, sometimes, but sometimes not:

A huge class (about ~1/3rd) of those part-owners were farming too much land, not too little; they were enterprising households renting land to expand their businesses. They would often engage in diversified production, like cash crops on the rented land and staple crops on their owned land. Many of them would actually leave some of their owned land fallow, because it wasn’t worth the time to farm!

Meanwhile the small part-owners and the landless tenant farmers would rent out land to earn a living…sometimes. Because that wasn’t the only way to make a living - trades existed. From our data, if you are a small part-owner, you got a substantial chunk of your income from non-farm labor; if you owned no land you got the majority of your income from non-farm labor:

(Notice how that includes child labor by default, welcome to pre-modernism!)

So the amount of people actually doing full-tenancy agriculture for a living is…pretty small, less than 10% for sure. But what did it look like for those who do? The tenancy rates can be pretty steep - 50/50 splits were very common. But that is deceiving actually; this would be called “share rent”, but other systems, such as cash rents, bulk crop rents, long-term leases with combined payment structures, etc, also existed and were plentiful - and most of those had lower rent rates. However, share rent did two things; one, it hedged against risk; in the case of a crop failure you weren't out anything as the tenant, a form of insurance. And two, it implied reciprocal obligations - the land owner was providing the seed, normally the tools as well, and other inputs like fertilizer.

Whether someone chose one type of tenancy agreement or the other was based on balancing their own labor availability, other wage opportunities, the type of crop being grown, and so on. From the data we have, negotiations were common around these types of agreements; a lot of land that was share rent one year would be cash rent another, because the tenants and market conditions shifted to encourage one or the other form.

I’m doing a little trick here, by throwing all these things at you. Remember the point at the top? “Was this system like slavery?” What defines slavery? To me, its a lack of options - that is the bedrock of a slave system. Labor that you are compelled by law to do, with no claim on the output of that work. And as I hit you with eight tiers of land ownership and tenancy agreements and multi-source household incomes, as you see that the median person renting out land to a tenant farmer was himself a farmer as a profession and by no means some noble in the city, what I hope becomes apparent is that the Chinese agricultural system was a fully liquid market based on choice and expected returns. By no means am I saying that it was a nice way to live; it was an awful way to live. But nowhere in this system was state coercion the bedrock of the labor system. China’s agricultural system was in fact one of the most free, commercial, and contract-based systems on the planet in the pre-modern era, that was a big source of why China as a society was so wealthy. It was a massive, moving market of opportunities for wages, loans, land ownership, tenancy agreements, haggled contracts, everyone trying in their own way to make the living that they could.

It's a system that left many poor, and to be clear injustices, robberies, corruption, oh for sure were legion. Particularly during the Warlord Era mass armies might just sweep in and confiscate all your hard currency and fresh crops. But, even ignoring that the whole ‘poverty’ thing is 90% tech level and there was no amount of redistribution that was going to improve that very much, what is more important is that the pre-modern world was *not* equally bad in all places. The American South was also pretty poor, but richer than China in the 19th century. And being a slave in the American South was WAY worse than being a peasant in China during times of peace - because Confederate society built systems to remove choice, to short-circuit the ebb and flow of the open system to enshrine their elite ‘permanently’ at the top. If you lived in feudal Russia it was a good deal worse, with huge amounts of your yearly labor compelled by the state onto estates held by those who owned them unimpeachably by virtue of their birthright (though you were a good deal richer just due to basic agriculture productivity & population density, bit of a tradeoff there).

If you simply throw around the word “slavery” to describe every pre-modern agricultural system because it was poor and shitty, that back-doors a massive amount of apologia for past social systems that were actively worse than the benchmarks of the time. Which is something the CCP did; their diagnosis of China’s problem for the rural poor of needing massive land redistribution was wrong! It was just wrong, it was not the issue they were having. It was not why rural China was often poor and miserable. It could help, sure, I myself would support some compensated land redistribution in the post-war era as a welfare idea for a fiscally-strapped state. But that was gonna do 1% of the heavy lifting here in making the rural poor's lives better. And I don’t think we should continue to the job of spreading the CCP's propaganda for them.

There ya go @chiefaccelerator, who alas I was not permitted to compel via state force into writing this for me, you Qing Dynasty lazy peasant.

[rjzimmerman]

Food as You Know It Is About to Change. (New York Times Op-Ed)

From the vantage of the American supermarket aisle, the modern food system looks like a kind of miracle. Everything has been carefully cultivated for taste and convenience — even those foods billed as organic or heirloom — and produce regarded as exotic luxuries just a few generations ago now seems more like staples, available on demand: avocados, mangoes, out-of-season blueberries imported from Uruguay.

But the supermarket is also increasingly a diorama of the fragility of a system — disrupted in recent years by the pandemic, conflict and, increasingly, climate change. What comes next? Almost certainly, more disruptions and more hazards, enough to remake the whole future of food.

The world as a whole is already facing what the Cornell agricultural economist Chris Barrett calls a “food polycrisis.” Over the past decade, he says, what had long been reliable global patterns of year-on-year improvements in hunger first stalled and then reversed. Rates of undernourishment have grown 21 percent since 2017. Agricultural yields are still growing, but not as quickly as they used to and not as quickly as demand is booming. Obesity has continued to rise, and the average micronutrient content of dozens of popular vegetables has continued to fall. The food system is contributing to the growing burden of diabetes and heart disease and to new spillovers of infectious diseases from animals to humans as well.

And then there are prices. Worldwide, wholesale food prices, adjusted for inflation, have grown about 50 percent since 1999, and those prices have also grown considerably more volatile, making not just markets but the whole agricultural Rube Goldberg network less reliable. Overall, American grocery prices have grown by almost 21 percent since President Biden took office, a phenomenon central to the widespread perception that the cost of living has exploded on his watch. Between 2020 and 2023, the wholesale price of olive oil tripled; the price of cocoa delivered to American ports jumped by even more in less than two years. The economist Isabella Weber has proposed maintaining the food equivalent of a strategic petroleum reserve, to buffer against shortages and ease inevitable bursts of market chaos.

Price spikes are like seismographs for the food system, registering much larger drama elsewhere — and sometimes suggesting more tectonic changes underway as well. More than three-quarters of the population of Africa, which has already surpassed one billion, cannot today afford a healthy diet; this is where most of our global population growth is expected to happen this century, and there has been little agricultural productivity growth there for 20 years. Over the same time period, there hasn’t been much growth in the United States either.

Though American agriculture as a whole produces massive profits, Mr. Barrett says, most of the country’s farms actually lose money, and around the world, food scarcity is driving record levels of human displacement and migration. According to the World Food Program, 282 million people in 59 countries went hungry last year, 24 million more than the previous year. And already, Mr. Barrett says, building from research by his Cornell colleague Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, the effects of climate change have reduced the growth of overall global agricultural productivity by between 30 and 35 percent. The climate threats to come loom even larger.

It can be tempting, in an age of apocalyptic imagination, to picture the most dire future climate scenarios: not just yield declines but mass crop failures, not just price spikes but food shortages, not just worsening hunger but mass famine. In a much hotter world, those will indeed become likelier, particularly if agricultural innovation fails to keep pace with climate change; over a 30-year time horizon, the insurer Lloyd’s recently estimated a 50 percent chance of what it called a “major” global food shock.

But disruption is only half the story and perhaps much less than that. Adaptation and innovation will transform the global food supply, too. At least to some degree, crops such as avocados or cocoa, which now regularly appear on lists of climate-endangered foodstuffs, will be replaced or redesigned. Diets will shift, and with them the farmland currently producing staple crops — corn, wheat, soy, rice. The pressure on the present food system is not a sign that it will necessarily fail, only that it must change. Even if that progress does come to pass, securing a stable and bountiful future for food on a much warmer planet, what will it all actually look like?

[zvaigzdelasas]

Romanian farmers block border crossing with Ukraine, Kyiv says - Reuters

Farmers and hauliers have been blocking highways and slowing traffic with convoys of tractors and trucks in protest against the high cost of diesel, insurance rates, European Union measures to protect the environment and pressures on the domestic market from imported Ukrainian agricultural goods.

The protesters want a moratorium on loan repayments, faster subsidy payments and separate lines at border crossings and the Black Sea port of Constanta for EU lorries and trucks from outside the bloc, including Ukraine.[...]

Until a deal was reached this week, Polish hauliers had also been blockading some Ukrainian border crossings in protest at what they said was unfair competition from their Ukrainian counterparts. The protests pressed demands that the EU reinstate a system in which Ukrainian companies need permits to operate in the bloc and the same for European truckers entering Ukraine.

18 Jan 24

[stephensmithuk]

The Five Orange Pips

ACD likes a shipwreck, doesn't he?

I will leave discussions about the Ku Klux Klan to those with more knowledge on the subject.

A mendicant is someone who generally takes a vow of poverty and relies on charity to survive - such as a wandering preacher. In Christianity, this was often done in deliberate imitation of the Apostles, who were told to rely on others (and by extension God) for their needs. Mendicants having a luxurious club would be a tad hypocritical.

We have two barques referenced here. To repeat my comment from "The Gloria Scott": a bark - or barque - is a type of sailing ship with three or more masts - the first two masts have square sails, the one at the back had them aligned with the hull. They were fast ships that needed a relatively small crew.

The UK's position on the Gulf Stream may keep the place from getting very cold in winter, but it also leaves us open to big storms.

Pince-nez glasses were very popular in this time period.

The area around Horsham does indeed have pretty clay-ey soil that's good for growing crops.

Horsham is a market and commuter town 31 miles from London.

Cheating at cards was apparently the worst thing a gentleman could do. In Ian Fleming's novels, two of the villains are immediately clearly wrong-uns as they're rich guys who feel the need to cheat.

Being "sent to Coventry" is a British expression for being ostracised. Joseph appears to have sent himself to the West Midlands town.

Pondicherry, now called Puducherry, was in fact a French enclave on the south-eastern coast of India and was not in fact transferred to Indian control until 1954.

"London E." was one of the postal divisions of the city at the time - it remains as the E postcode area, split into 22 districts, including two specially for Natwest and News International. Yep, Murdoch has his own postcode.

PC Cook is rather off his normal beat. H Division covered Whitechapel and had, a few years prior to this story coming out, failed to catch Jack the Ripper.

The Embankment here refers to the Victoria Embankment, a road and pedestrian avenue built by the river as part of a land reclamation project earlier in the century. It had the side effect of permanently ending any hope of Frost Fairs - the river now flows too fast to freeze.

I believe this story takes place pretty much entirely in Baker Street.

Lloyd's refers to Lloyd's of London, a very long running maritime insurance marketplace, who also underwrite a bunch of other insurance policies, including film stars' legs. They keep comprehensive records of ship movements for this purposes.

Gravesend is a town in Kent near what is now the M25 and would be a good place to spot a ship before the Thames Estuary widens out - beyond that, you might easily miss a ship in poor visibility from the few communities beyond it.

The transatlantic telegraph cables were firmly in operation by this point. Their successor cables form the backbone of the modern Internet.

Mail was generally transported on the fastest ships i.e. the ocean liners; so you'd be talking around a week to cross the Atlantic at this point. A sailing ship would be looking at three times as long.

Sliced bread - i.e. bread that came pre-sliced when you bought it - was not a thing until 1928.

Please note that those who wish to post orange pips to the United States today will require a permit from the US Department of Agriculture.

[stevishabitat]

Soil: The Secret Weapon in the Fight Against Climate Change - EcoWatch

www.ecowatch.com

Soil: The Secret Weapon in the Fight Against Climate Change

EcoWatch

7 - 8 minutes

By Claire O’Connor

Agriculture is on the front lines of climate change. Whether it’s the a seven-year drought drying up fields in California, the devastating Midwest flooding in 2019, or hurricane after hurricane hitting the Eastern Shore, agriculture and rural communities are already feeling the effects of a changing climate. Scientists expect climate change to make these extreme weather events both more frequent and more intense in coming years.

Agriculture is also an important — in fact a necessary — partner in fighting climate change. The science is clear: We cannot stay beneath the most dangerous climate thresholds without sequestering a significant amount of carbon in our soils.

Agricultural soils have the potential to sequester, relatively inexpensively, 250 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gasses annually — equivalent to the annual emissions of 64 coal fired power plants, according to National Academy of Sciences.

But we can’t get there without engaging farmers, turning a source of emissions into a carbon sink. Here are just a few of the ways the Natural Resources Defense Council works to encourage climate-friendly farming:

Creating New Incentives for Cover Crops: Cover crops are planted in between growing seasons with the specific purpose of building soil health. Despite their multiple agronomic and environmental benefits, adoption is low — only about 7% of U.S. farmland uses cover crops. NRDC is working to scale up cover cropping through innovative incentives delivered through the largest federal farm subsidy: crop insurance. We’ve worked with partners in Iowa and Illinois to launch programs that give farmers who use cover crops /acre off of their crop insurance bill. And partners in Minnesota and Wisconsin are exploring similar options. While we’re delighted at the benefit this program has for farmers in those individual states, we’re even more excited about the potential to scale this program to the 350 million acres that utilize subsidized crop insurance nationwide. A recent study suggests that cover crops sequester an average of .79 tons of carbon per acre annually, making cover crops one of the pillars of climate-friendly farming systems.

Supporting Carbon as a New “Agricultural Product”: Championed by Senator Ron Wyden, the 2018 Farm Bill created a new program, the Soil Health Demonstration Trial, that encourages farmers to adopt practices that improve their soil health, and tracks and measures the outcomes. NRDC worked alongside our partners at E2 and a number of commodity groups, farmer organizations, and agribusinesses to secure passage of this provision. The Demonstration Trial will create a new, reliable income stream — farmers will get paid for the carbon they sequester regardless of how their crops turn out, and it builds the data needed for confidence in any future carbon markets. USDA recently announced the first round of awards under this new program, totaling over million in investments to improve soil health. Senator Cory Booker has since drafted legislation that would increase funding for the program nearly 10-fold to 0 million annually; Representative Deb Haaland released a companion bill in the House.

Scaling up Regenerative Agriculture: Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that looks to work with nature to rebuild the overall health of the system. Regenerative farmers use a variety of tactics, including reduced chemical inputs, diverse crop and livestock rotations, incorporating compost into their systems, and agroforestry, among others. Our team is in the midst of interviewing regenerative farmers and ranchers to learn more about what’s working for them and what challenges they’ve faced in their shift to a regenerative approach. We’re planning to analyze our interview results and combine them with a literature review to identify what role NRDC could potentially play in helping to scale up regenerative farming and ranching systems. We’ll also be sharing quotes and photos from our interviews on social media every Friday starting in January, so stay tuned for some inspiring farm footage!

Supporting Organic Farmers: Organic agriculture by design reduces greenhouse gas emissions, sequesters carbon in the soil, does not rely on energy-intensive chemical inputs, and builds resiliency within our food system. Practices integrated into organic production will become increasingly more important in the face of a changing climate. NRDC supports organic farmers through policy initiatives like the Organic Farm-to-School program that was introduced in the California legislature last year. In the coming year, we’ll continue to work to support organic farmers in California.

Reducing Food Waste: Food waste generates nearly 3% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and NRDC is working hard to reduce that number, and improve soil health in the process. Some of our policy proposals include securing passage of date labelling legislation to eliminate confusion about whether food is still good to eat, working with cities to reduce waste and increase rescue of surplus food, and supporting efforts at all levels to increase composting of food scraps. Adding compost to soils improves their ability to sequester carbon, store nutrients, and retain water. Composting food scraps also helps to “close the loop” on organic matter and nutrients by returning them to the agricultural production cycle, rather than sending that organic material to landfills, where it generates methane (a powerful climate pollutant).

Climate-friendly farming also offers a host of important co-benefits. For example, when farmers use complex crop rotations to break weed, pest, and disease cycles, they can reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals they need to use. When they use practices like cover crops, no-till, and adding compost to protect and restore the soil, they reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers that emit greenhouse gasses. And when farmers can reinvest the oppressive amount of money they had been previously spending on expensive, synthetic inputs into the additional labor required to carbon farm, they bring new jobs to economically-depressed rural areas.

Farmers understand better than many of us the harsh realities of climate change, regardless of their opinions about what’s causing those changes. And tight margins and trade wars make the potential of new value streams particularly attractive for farmers right now. By working alongside the farmers and farmworkers who tend the land, we can bring new allies into the fight against climate change, restore the health of our soil, and create a healthy, equitable, and resilient food system.

[beguines]

Mainstream economics treats the market as an institution providing individuals with opportunities; a view corresponding to what Wood and Brenner refer to as the commercialisation model of the historical origins of capitalism. According to this narrative, the emergence of capitalism appears as "a maturation of age-old commercial practices (together with technical advances) and their liberation from political and cultural constraints", as Wood puts it. Supposedly, if only people are allowed to exchange freely, a market economy will automatically arise. This is the view Marx resolutely breaks with in the sections on the "so-called primitive accumulation" in Capital. Here Marx demonstrates—against "the tender annals of political economy, [where] the idyllic reigns from time immemorial"—that "in actual history, it is a notorious fact that conquest, enslavement, robbery, murder, briefly, violence [Gewalt], play the greatest part". This violence was necessary in order to deprive peasants of the possibility to reproduce themselves outside of the market. In other words, market dependence had to be created, since peasants generally did what they could to avoid relying too much on the market. Rather than producing exclusively for the market, they preferred to produce for subsistence.

Producing for the market required specialisation in order to remain competitive, and because of the unpredictable nature of agricultural production, amongst other factors, specialisation meant vulnerability. As Brenner explains: "[g]iven the uncertainty of the harvest and the unacceptable cost of 'business failure'— namely the possibility of starvation—peasants could not afford to adopt maximising exchange value via specialization as their rule of reproduction and adopted instead the rule of 'safety first' or 'produce for subsistence'". Producing exclusively for the market also conflicted with the dominant family structures in the early modern period, where large families were necessary in order to "secure insurance against illness and old age in a society in which there was no institution upon which they could rely outside the family". Peasants thus had good reasons to resist becoming market dependent, and this was exactly what they did. Even the dispossession of peasants was not enough, however, to secure a steady flow of exploitable labour-power into the market. Instead of selling their ability to work, the propertyless were, in Marx's words, "more inclined to become vagabonds and robbers and beggars'. "In the 16th and 17th centuries, the hatred of wage-labor was", as Silvia Federici explains, "so intense that many proletarians preferred to risk the gallows". The state therefore had to step in and introduce draconian punishment of beggars, vagabonds and others who refused to work. Here is Marx's summary: "Thus were the agricultural folk first forcibly expropriated from the soil, driven from their homes, turned into vagabonds, and then whipped, branded and tortured by grotesquely terroristic laws accepting the discipline necessary for the system of wage-labour". It was not only those needed for wage labour who were violently forced to adapt to capitalist production, however. A "true war against women" also had to be undertaken in order to force them to accept the capitalist separation of the production of commodities and reproduction of labour-power, a separation in which women were assigned to the domestic sphere and the "double dependence" upon capital through the male wage.

The historical analysis of the origin of capitalism demonstrates that the latter was not a result of the voluntary acts of individuals. Capitalism did not emerge because human nature was finally allowed to unfold its "propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another", as Adam Smith put it, but rather because some people violently forced other people to become dependent on markets. The analysis of the reproduction of capitalism demonstrates, as we will see, that once capitalism has been established, it systematically prevents individuals from opting out of it.

Søren Mau, Mute Compulsion: A Theory of the Economic Power of Capital

[onusjott]

The District...

Cyberpunk Dungeon23 Megacity.

For Dungeon23 I will be adding one specific location to this region every day, although I will post updates weekly. The map above shows the urban areas, with darker gray being more densely populated, and the freeways (solid red), major roads (dashed red), metro (yellow), and the light rails (Red and blue). A transit free map is at the bottom of the post. So let me Introduce...

Commercial District 3

In the year 2247 the United States has long undergone a balkanization called the 'Divorce.' This divorce followed nearly thirty years of civil conflict that stopped short of open warfare but still left thousands dead or injured in attacks and sabotage across the nation. The Western Conference, made up of the former states California, Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado, has created seven megacities, called Commercial Districts, to serve as administrative and financial clusters. The Conference, being led largely by neoliberals with a handful of pet socdems, gave private capital a large amount of input when crafting these cities causing them to be largely unregulated hubs of finance capital and precariat workers. Each city is independent of the others, only paying a small amount of tax to the Conference in order to fund the minimal state apparatus. Otherwise, it is left to the market to decide the cities fate. Commercial District 3 is built over the ruins of what was once the San Francisco Bay area, although due to global warming little of the manmade landmarks of the former region remain. CD3 was founded in 2134 in the initial wave of Districts. It was initially a hub of agriculture and fishing but quickly attracted insurance syndicates and the largest banking clans. Now with a population of approximately seventy-eight million it is the largest and most influential of the districts.

CD3 has the most extensive public transit system in the Conference allowing a rapid shift in human capital from one industry to another. Many workers live entirely on temp and gig work, using the metro, light rails, or autocabs (if brave enough.) Impoverished people live in the dry or temperate grasslands in the outskirts of the district and largely work in the various agrofactories or vertifarms. The desert to the south is full of transients and squatters and is widely considered a no-go zone for the local cops. The heart of the district is the major urban areas, with a density approaching the legendary Kowloon Walled City in some places and the economic output to match. Uncountable lives rush in and around these concrete labyrinths so densely built that banks can 'lose' entire skyscrapers in a spreadsheet error. These were the purpose of the district, a machine to constantly churn out an army of surplus labor and endless GDP...

[hakesbros]

Home Bureau Of Land Administration

At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content material on our site on a nightly foundation. We search to guarantee that all of the information introduced on the location relating to new homes and new home communities is present and correct. However, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. It is your duty to independently confirm the knowledge on the location.

Depending in your down cost and mortgage kind, you could additionally should pay private mortgage insurance as a half of your monthly mortgage payment. Many people start by figuring out what they'll afford as a month-to-month fee. A frequent place to begin is to calculate 25% of your gross month-to-month revenue to help decide a manageable month-to-month mortgage fee. Today’s mortgage and refinance charges See fee and APR data for well-liked loan sorts.

Here is a fast overview of what the brand new construction market currently appears like in Las Cruces. If you're looking to sell your personal home within the High Range area, our itemizing agents can help you get the most effective worth. Buy the proper homes for sale in las cruces new mexico home on the right worth close to High Range with a local Redfin actual property agent. Lovely customized home with spacious rooms, kiva hearth, beams and corbels. Upgraded cabinetry & appliances, custom window coverings, low E vinyl clad windows & GE smart wiring.

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In a typical actual property market, the vendor would obtain approximately 96% of the asking price after a cut price. Today, the consumers of Las Cruces are gaining a mean of 98% of their asking worth, and this pattern would increase. Redfin is redefining actual property and the house shopping for course of in High Range with industry-leading technology, full-service brokers, and lower fees that provide a greater worth for Redfin buyers and sellers. Here you will new homes las cruces discover all the homes for sale in Las Cruces NM. We offer all the newest listings, correct data, and up-to-date property details all through the Las Cruces area. Searching cheap houses for sale in Las Cruces, NM has by no means been easier on PropertyShark! Second, homeowners may be tempted to turn out to be landlords, wrote Taylor Marr, deputy chief economist for Redfin, in the true property brokerage’s 2023 forecast.

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You’ll find the city is small enough that you often run into people you know at your favourite grocery retailer or cafe. What’s extra is the superb homes for sale las cruces, rich culture in the neighborhood. Art, historic websites, agriculture, and multicultural cuisine are woven into the material of the Las Cruces neighborhood.

Las Cruces operates the RoadRUNNER transit, a small however efficient system and a good way to get round city. The fleet consists of fourteen 35 foot wheelchair accessible buses that run throughout city for a dollar a ride. There are 9 routes total, nevertheless it doesn't run on Sundays, so proudly owning a car, even if you've invested in a bus move, isn't a bad thought. Once you get to the Eastside or Main Street, Las Cruces could be surprisingly walkable, but getting there can be a pain if you don't have a set of wheels, as a end result of spread-out nature of Las Cruces. Some individuals bicycle from neighborhood to neighborhood, however spreading over greater than 70 square miles, that may be a bit impractical if you should make a longer journey. As of December 2022, the typical house rent in Las Cruces, NM is $554 for a studio, $850 for one bedroom, $767 for 2 bedrooms, and $1,004 for three bedrooms.

When folks keep their homes off the market, they reduce the availability of homes for sale. If demand stays the identical, home prices will resist falling. These constructing are by far the most effective homes for sale in las cruces nm I’ve seen and experienced with yet. Going to Covington sellers they've greatest customer service and make clients really feel as like they are shut household.

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[divyarajput7]

Types of Home Loans: What You Need to Know Before You Borrow

Home loans are essential financial tools for individuals seeking to purchase or renovate a property. These loans come in various forms, each tailored to meet different needs, financial situations, and preferences. Understanding the different types of home loans can help prospective homeowners make informed decisions when selecting the right loan for their circumstances. Below is a detailed explanation of the most common types of home loans available in the market.

1. Conventional Home Loans

Conventional home loans are the most common type of mortgage used by homeowners. Unlike FHA or VA loans, these loans are not backed or insured by the federal government. Conventional loans can either be conforming or non-conforming:

Conforming Loans: These loans meet the standards set by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including limits on the loan amount, borrower creditworthiness, and debt-to-income ratio.

Non-Conforming Loans: These loans do not meet the GSE criteria, typically because the loan amount exceeds the conforming limit or the borrower has a higher risk profile.

Key Features:

Requires a good credit score (typically 620 or higher)

Down payments may range from 3% to 20%

Interest rates may be fixed or adjustable

2. FHA Loans (Federal Housing Administration Loans)

FHA loans are government-backed loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration, making them a popular choice for first-time homebuyers or those with lower credit scores. The FHA provides lenders with insurance in case the borrower defaults on the loan, which lowers the risk for lenders and allows them to offer more favorable terms.

Key Features:

Lower down payment requirements, often as low as 3.5%

Flexible credit score requirements (typically 580 or higher)

Mortgage insurance is required for the life of the loan if the down payment is less than 20%

Available for primary residences only

3. VA Loans (Veterans Affairs Loans)

VA loans are home loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, specifically for veterans, active-duty military members, and their families. These loans offer several benefits, such as the possibility of zero down payment, competitive interest rates, and no requirement for private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Key Features:

No down payment is required (in most cases)

No private mortgage insurance (PMI) required

Competitive interest rates

Available to veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible spouses

4. USDA Loans (United States Department of Agriculture Loans)

USDA loans are government-backed loans offered to homebuyers in rural and suburban areas who meet certain income eligibility requirements. The USDA aims to encourage development in less populated regions by offering low-interest loans with no down payment.

Key Features:

No down payment required

Income limits apply, which vary based on location and household size

Competitive interest rates

Available for homes in rural and suburban areas as defined by the USDA

5. Jumbo Loans

Jumbo loans are non-conforming loans that exceed the maximum loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They are used to finance high-value homes and typically have stricter credit requirements and higher interest rates due to the larger loan amounts and higher perceived risk.

Key Features:

Loan amounts above the conforming loan limit (varies by location)

Higher credit score requirements (usually 700 or higher)

Larger down payment requirements (typically 20% or more)

Higher interest rates compared to conforming loans

6. Fixed-Rate Mortgages

A fixed-rate mortgage is a loan in which the interest rate remains the same throughout the life of the loan. This type of loan is popular for borrowers who prefer the stability of knowing their monthly payments will not change.

Key Features:

The interest rate remains constant for the entire term of the loan (typically 15, 20, or 30 years)

Predictable monthly payments

Ideal for long-term homeowners

May have higher initial interest rates compared to adjustable-rate loans

7. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs)

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that can fluctuate over time, typically after an initial fixed-rate period. This means that monthly payments can change based on changes in interest rates, which can be beneficial if rates drop but pose a risk if rates rise.

Key Features:

Initial fixed-rate period (usually 3, 5, 7, or 10 years) followed by an adjustable period

After the initial period, rates can increase or decrease based on market conditions

Lower initial rates compared to fixed-rate loans

Monthly payments may increase over time

8. Interest-Only Loans

An interest-only mortgage allows the borrower to pay only the interest on the loan for a set period, typically 5-10 years. During this period, the principal balance does not decrease. After the interest-only period ends, the borrower must begin repaying both the principal and the interest, often leading to significantly higher monthly payments.

Key Features:

Initial period where only interest is paid (no reduction in loan principal)

Lower monthly payments during the interest-only period

Higher payments once the principal repayment starts

Risk of owing more than the home is worth if property values decrease

9. Balloon Mortgages

A balloon mortgage involves a large lump sum payment (the "balloon") at the end of the loan term, which is much higher than the regular monthly payments. Balloon loans often have shorter terms (5 to 7 years) and can be appealing for borrowers who plan to sell or refinance before the balloon payment is due.

Key Features:

Fixed payments for the loan term with a large lump-sum payment at the end

Shorter loan terms (typically 5 to 7 years)

Interest rates can be lower initially, but the large final payment can be a financial burden.

10. Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC)

A home equity loan allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their home, typically for purposes like home renovations, debt consolidation, or major expenses. It is usually structured as a second mortgage. Similarly, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) works like a credit card, allowing borrowers to draw on the equity as needed up to a limit.

Key Features:

Home equity loans offer a lump sum payment with fixed terms

HELOCs offer flexible access to funds with a variable interest rate

Both types of loans use the home as collateral, so there is a risk of foreclosure if the borrower defaults

11. Renovation Loans (FHA 203(k) Loan)

Renovation loans, such as the FHA 203(k) loan, allow homebuyers or homeowners to finance both the purchase or refinance of a property and the costs of its renovation or repair. These loans can be a good option for buyers interested in fixer-upper homes.

Key Features:

Financing for both the home purchase and renovation costs

Available for both buying a new home or refinancing an existing one

Must meet certain eligibility requirements for renovations

Can be used for structural and non-structural repairs

12. Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage is a loan available to homeowners over the age of 62 that allows them to convert part of their home’s equity into loan proceeds. The loan does not need to be repaid until the homeowner moves, sells the property, or passes away.

Key Features:

Available only to seniors (62 years or older)

No monthly payments are required; the loan is repaid when the homeowner moves or dies.

The loan amount is based on the home’s value, the borrower’s age, and interest rates

Typically used to supplement retirement income.

Conclusion

Choosing the right home loan is a crucial decision in the home-buying process, and each type of loan has its advantages and trade-offs. Understanding your financial situation, your long-term plans, and the specific loan terms will help you make an informed choice. Consulting with a mortgage broker or financial advisor can further guide you in selecting the home loan that best suits your needs.

[aralintheobsessive]

And why does America grow so much fucking corn? Well, several reasons, but dominant among them: Subsidised revenue insurance programs! "In 1949, government payments made up 1.4% of total net farm income — a measure of profit — while in 2000 government payments made up 45.8% of such profits. In 2019, farms received $22.6 billion in government payments, representing 20.4% of $111.1 billion in profits."

Bad year? Bad market? Get paid anyway. Grow corn! Why go to all the risk and expense of diversifying your operation to try and grow crops there's an actual market demand for when you could instead go all-in on corn and soybeans? Now so many farmers have gone down this route that if the government reduces those subsidies, it would devastate entire regions. In today's agricultural industry of broadacre cropping, most farming is done by massive, expensive, highly specialized machinery. You can't just pivot, because you're in debt on giant machines that really only work on corn. So the government isn't going to cut the subsidies. So more farmers are going to go all-in on the safe bet that is corn. It's a horrible self-perpetuating cycle.

(Source for quote and image: https://usafacts.org/articles/federal-farm-subsidies-what-data-says/)

I will write this thought about Veganism and Classism in the USA in another post so as to not derail the other thread:

There are comments in the notes that say meat is only cheaper than plant based foods because of subsidies artificially lowering the price of meat in the United States. This is...part of the story but not all of it.

For my animal agriculture lab we went to a butcher shop and watched the butcher cut up a pig into various cuts of meat. I have had to study quite a bit about the meat industry in that class. This has been the first time I fully realized how strongly the meat on a single animal is divided up by socioeconomic class.

Like yes, meat cumulatively takes more natural resources to create and thus should be more expensive, but once that animal is cut apart, it is divided up between rich and poor based on how good to eat the parts are. I was really shocked at watching this process and seeing just how clean and crisp an indicator of class this is.

Specifically, the types of meat I'm most familiar with are traditionally "waste" parts left over once the desirable parts are gone. For example, beef brisket is the dangly, floppy bit on the front of a cow's neck. Pork spareribs are the part of the ribcage that's barely got anything on it.

And that stuff is a tier above the "meat" that is most of what poor people eat: sausage, hot dogs, bologna, other heavily processed meat products that are essentially made up of all the scraps from the carcass that can't go into the "cuts" of meat. Where my mom comes from in North Carolina, you can buy "livermush" which is a processed meat product made up of a mixture of liver and a bunch of random body parts ground up and congealed together. There's also "head cheese" (made of parts of the pig's head) and pickled pigs' feet and chitlin's (that's made of intestines iirc) and cracklin's (basically crispy fried pig skin) and probably a bunch of stuff i'm forgetting. A lot of traditional Southern cooking uses basically scraps of animal ingredients to stretch across multiple meals, like putting pork fat in beans or saving bacon grease for gravy or the like.

So another dysfunctional thing about our food system, is that instead of people of each socioeconomic class eating a certain number of animals, every individual animal is basically divided up along class lines, with the poorest people eating the scraps no one else will eat (oftentimes heavily processed in a way that makes it incredibly unhealthy).

Even the 70% lean ground beef is made by injecting extra leftover fat back into the ground-up meat because the extra fat is undesirable on the "better" cuts. (Gross!)

I've made, or eaten, many a recipe where the only thing that makes it non-vegan is the chicken broth. Chicken broth, just leftover chicken bones and cartilage rendered and boiled down in water? How much is that "driving demand" for meat, when it's basically a byproduct?

That class really made me twist my brain around about the idea of abstaining from animal products as a way to deprive the industry of profits. Nobody eats "X number of cows, pigs, chickens in a lifetime" because depending on the socioeconomic class, they're eating different parts of the animal, splitting it with someone richer or poorer than they are. If a bunch of people who only ate processed meats anyway abstained, that wouldn't equal "saving" X number of animals, it would just mean the scraps and byproducts from a bunch of people's steaks or pork chops would have something different happen to them.

The other major relevant conclusion I got from that class, was that animal agriculture is so dominant because of monoculture. People think it's animal agriculture vs. plant agriculture (or plants used for human consumption vs. using them to feed livestock), but from capitalism's point of view, feeding animals corn is just another way to use corn to generate profits.

People think we could feed the world by using the grain fed to animals to feed humans, but...the grain fed to animals, is not actually a viable diet for the human population, because it's literally just corn and soybean. Like animal agriculture is used to give some semblance of variety to the consumer's diet in a system that is almost totally dominated by like 3 monocrops.

Do y'all have any idea how much of the American diet is just corn?!?! Corn starch, corn syrup, corn this, corn that, processed into the appearance of variety. And chickens and pigs are just another way to process corn. That's basically why we have them, because they can eat our corn. It's a total disaster.

And it's even worse because almost all the USA's plant foods that aren't the giant industrial monocrops maintained by pesticides and machines, are harvested and cared for by undocumented migrant workers that get abused and mistreated and can't say anything because their boss will tattle on them to ICE.

[renatoferreiradasilva]

Chainlink: Building the Infrastructure of the New Digital Economy

In the digital transformation of the global economy, Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network, plays a crucial role. While Bitcoin and NFTs dominate the headlines, Chainlink connects the blockchain to the real world, allowing smart contracts to securely access external data. Businesses, investors, and governments need to understand the impact of this technology on the digital ecosystem.

Connecting the Blockchain to the Real World

Blockchain promises decentralization and transparency but faces a fundamental challenge: accessing external data without compromising its security. Chainlink is one of the most widely adopted solutions to address this issue, acting as a bridge between the physical world and smart contracts, which are self-executing programs on a blockchain.

For example, a smart contract can automate agricultural insurance payments based on weather data. By using a decentralized model, Chainlink reduces the risks associated with single or manipulable data sources. However, it is important to acknowledge that no technology completely eliminates vulnerabilities, as data quality depends on the sources used.

Transforming DeFi and Other Sectors

The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector is one of the main beneficiaries of Chainlink. Reliability in the delivery of external data is essential to create robust financial products and mitigate risks, especially during periods of high volatility in the cryptocurrency market.

Beyond DeFi, Chainlink finds applications in sectors such as logistics and insurance. In goods tracking, oracles can monitor location and transportation conditions in real-time, promoting greater transparency in the supply chain. In the insurance sector, IoT sensors provide data to automate payments, streamlining processes and reducing costs.

Competitiveness and Limitations

Although Chainlink is a leader in the decentralized oracle market, it faces competition from other projects, such as Band Protocol and API3, which offer alternative approaches. Chainlink’s advantage lies in its widespread adoption and the continuous development of advanced functionalities.

Still, challenges persist. Integrating Chainlink with external systems requires reliable data sources, and network security depends on the robustness of its infrastructure and community commitment.

Innovation and Interoperability

With the launch of features such as staking and hybrid oracles, which combine on-chain and off-chain data, Chainlink seeks to increase the security and scalability of its network.

Another differentiator is its interoperability, connecting blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. This feature facilitates the development of more integrated decentralized solutions but requires collaboration between networks and ongoing infrastructure support.

Challenges and Risks

While Chainlink represents a significant advancement, the cryptocurrency market, including the LINK token, remains highly volatile. Additionally, Chainlink’s growth depends on the expanded use of smart contracts and blockchain adoption in traditional markets.

Emerging regulations in various jurisdictions may also impact the future of oracle technology, requiring adjustments to meet compliance requirements.

Conclusion

Chainlink is helping to shape the future of the digital economy, connecting the blockchain to the real world and expanding the boundaries of what smart contracts can accomplish. However, its impact depends on factors such as continuous innovation, collaboration between networks, and overcoming technical and regulatory challenges. For investors, businesses, and governments, Chainlink offers an opportunity to explore the infrastructure of a new digital age, but with due caution in the face of risks and uncertainties.

Assessment Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

What is the main role of Chainlink in the blockchain ecosystem? a) Create new cryptocurrencies b) Securely connect the blockchain to external data c) Automate financial transactions d) Solve scalability problems on the blockchain

An example of using Chainlink in smart contracts is: a) Payment processing between central banks b) Access control to blockchain systems c) Automation of insurance based on weather data d) Issuance of artistic NFTs

Which sector is highlighted as one of the main beneficiaries of Chainlink? a) Artificial intelligence b) Digital education c) Decentralized finance (DeFi) d) Online advertising

One of the challenges faced by Chainlink is: a) The inability to integrate with other blockchains b) The need for reliable data sources c) Low demand for smart contracts d) Lack of interest from governments and regulators

What distinguishes Chainlink in the decentralized oracle market? a) Its exclusivity in the use of Ethereum b) Interoperability between multiple blockchains c) The total elimination of security vulnerabilities d) The absence of competitors in the sector

Essay Questions

Explain how Chainlink contributes to the expansion of smart contracts in different economic sectors. Tip: Address examples such as agricultural insurance, logistics, and DeFi, highlighting the importance of reliable data.

Discuss the main challenges faced by Chainlink in its integration with the real world and in the decentralized oracle market. Tip: Consider issues such as reliable data sources, market competition, and the impact of regulations.

Ethereum Donations

If you found this article valuable and would like to support my work, feel free to send Ethereum donations to the address below:

Ethereum Address: 0xA897Fac14574f97505125D2a82c3c9Da195c32dF

Thank you for your support!

[investchannels]

Trading Commodities on IQ Option: The Ultimate Guide

Commodity trading is about turning everyday essentials—oil, gold, agricultural products—into investment opportunities. Prices in this market fluctuate due to global events, supply-demand trends, and economic shifts. Here’s a comprehensive look at trading commodities and understanding the factors that drive their prices.

 What Are Commodities?

Commodities are fundamental resources that power the world. From the fuel in vehicles to the wheat in bread and the gold in jewelry, these assets can be traded like stocks or currencies. Trading commodities involves predicting price shifts—accurate predictions can lead to profits.

What Are Commodity CFDs?

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) let you trade the price changes of a commodity without buying or storing it physically. IQ Option’s platform enables you to go long or short on commodities, so you can profit whether prices rise or fall. You’re speculating on the price movement, bypassing direct exchanges like CME or NYMEX.

Types of Commodities

- Metals: Gold, silver, copper, and platinum are popular. Gold, long valued as a “safe haven,” has growing demand from tech sectors for rare elements essential to electronics.

- Energy: Oil, natural gas, and gasoline dominate the energy sector. With declining oil reserves and renewable energy advances, energy markets are deeply linked to global economic changes.

- Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, wheat, and coffee are essential agricultural commodities. As populations grow and arable land remains limited, demand for these resources could drive prices higher.

Trading Commodities on IQ Option

IQ Option offers a diverse range of commodities like oil and precious metals. Additionally, weekend trading on gold options and gold/silver pairs through OTC lets you trade after-hours. To check specific trading hours, click the “Info” tab for each asset’s conditions and market insights.

Factors That Drive Commodity Prices

To trade effectively, knowing what impacts commodity prices is key.

- Costs: Transport, storage, and insurance can impact pricing.

- Currency Fluctuations: Commodities are typically priced in U.S. dollars. When the dollar falls, commodities become more affordable for other currencies, increasing demand.

- Geopolitical Instability: Conflicts or sanctions that disrupt supply lines can lead to price hikes.

- Economic Trends: Growing economies demand more raw materials, while recessions lower demand.

- Government Policies: Tariffs, subsidies, and regulations shape commodity prices by affecting supply and demand.

- Inflation & Interest Rates: Commodities often hedge against inflation, and higher inflation usually leads to higher prices.

- Speculation: Trader speculation can move prices before supply-demand shifts occur.

- Tech Advances: Innovations can reduce extraction or production costs or create new demand, such as lithium in EV batteries.

- Weather Events: Natural disasters can heavily affect agricultural and energy commodities.

Tools for Commodity Trading on IQ Option

Mastering commodity trading on IQ Option starts with effective market analysis, both technical and fundamental.

1. Technical Indicators

   IQ Option’s over 100 indicators aid in analyzing price movements. Key ones include Moving Averages, RSI, and MACD. The Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is particularly useful:

   - Bullish Trend: When the CCI rises from 0 towards 100, it’s typically an uptrend.

   - Bearish Trend: When the CCI drops from 0 toward -100, it indicates a downtrend.

   - Action: Confirm trends by waiting for 3–4 candles after a breakout before trading.

2. Newsfeed

Stay on top of global events through the IQ Option newsfeed. Economic reports like U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls, CPI, and oil inventory data can heavily influence commodity prices.

3. Price Alerts

 Set price alerts on IQ Option to get notified when prices reach your target, so you don’t need to constantly monitor charts.

Best Commodities for Trading

Choosing the right commodity depends on the market and your strategy. Gold and oil are favored for their high liquidity and volatility, while agricultural products like corn and soybeans can yield returns during peak seasons. Metals like silver and copper are increasingly attractive due to tech-driven demand.

Conclusion

Trading commodities on IQ Option is about understanding price drivers and utilizing the right tools for strategic decisions. Whether you’re speculating on oil, tracking tech metals, or forecasting agricultural trends, IQ Option provides the platform and resources to help you succeed in the commodities market.

Learn more on: https://www.investchannels.com/how-to-trade-commodities-on-iq-option-a-complete-guide/

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Why an MBA in Agribusiness Management Could Be Your Best Career Move

Understanding Agribusiness management

Agribusiness management is the coming together of business principles and agricultural technological know-how. It entails coping with the manufacturing, advertising, and distribution of agricultural products while considering financial, social, and environmental elements. This multifaceted subject encompasses the whole thing from farm management and supply chain logistics to insurance assessment and marketing techniques. As the agricultural panorama shifts closer to sustainable practices, experts with specialised knowledge in agribusiness are essential for implementing innovative solutions.

We all know that in today’s world, agriculture is more than just farming, it’s a dynamic, evolving industry at the heart of global economies. With the rising demand for food, sustainable practices, and innovation in production and supply chains, agribusiness has become a critical field. If you’re considering a career that merges business and agriculture, an MBA in Agriculture Business Management could be your next big step.

Agribusiness management goes beyond managing farms or growing crops. It’s about understanding how the entire agricultural system works, right from the production and processing of food to its marketing, distribution, and retail. You learn how to manage these operations efficiently, balancing profitability with sustainability. 

In simple terms, agribusiness professionals are the people behind the scenes who make sure that what we grow on the land reaches our plates in the best, most efficient way possible. They work with everything from global supply chains to local markets, all while considering environmental impacts and sustainability goals. 

Why an MBA in Agribusiness?

If you’re passionate about agriculture but want to make a bigger impact than just working on the ground, this MBA can be a game-changer. Here’s why:

1. Diverse Career Paths: An MBA in Agri Business Management opens the door to many exciting roles. You could be managing large agribusiness corporations, consulting on sustainable farming practices, or working in marketing and finance within the sector. The scope is broad, with roles in supply chain management, policy development, and even agricultural technology startups.

2. Critical Industry Knowledge: You’ll gain a deep understanding of the entire agriculture value chain. From learning how to make farms more productive to finding efficient ways to market and distribute products, the knowledge you gain will be practical and applicable across various sectors. Moreover, the focus on sustainability ensures you're equipped to handle future challenges like climate change and resource shortages.

3. Problem-Solving Focus: The programme teaches you to think critically and solve complex problems. Whether it's finding ways to reduce waste in the food supply chain or helping a local farmer access global markets, the skills you develop will prepare you for real-world challenges.

4. Global Impact: As global food demand rises, professionals with an understanding of agriculture and business are crucial in making sure we meet this need sustainably. With this MBA, you could be at the forefront of creating solutions for food security, helping farmers adopt eco-friendly practices, or even influencing agricultural policies.

How Education Shapes Agribusiness Leaders

Education is key in turning passion for agriculture into real-world impact. An MBA in Agribusiness not only gives you the technical skills needed to thrive but also the leadership and business acumen to influence positive change in the industry. Whether your goal is to drive sustainability efforts or lead large agricultural enterprises, having a solid educational foundation will help you navigate the complexities of the field.

Why SIIB Is the Right Choice for Your Agribusiness MBA

If you’re looking for a place to pursue this path, Symbiosis college Pune MBA should be on your radar. Here’s why:

SIIB offers a comprehensive MBA in Agribusiness Management that blends core business principles with agricultural expertise. The curriculum is designed to give you hands-on experience through projects, case studies, and industry internships. You’ll not only learn the technical aspects but also how to apply them in real-world scenarios, making you job-ready from day one.

The faculty at SIIB are industry experts and seasoned academics who bring real-world insights into the classroom. Also, the college has strong connections with top agribusiness firms, meaning your networking opportunities are endless. Whether it’s guest lectures, workshops, or internships, you’ll be exposed to the latest trends and challenges in agribusiness.

And let’s not forget the vibrant campus life. At SIIB, you’re part of a community that’s passionate about learning and growth. From clubs and events to collaborative projects, you’ll be immersed in an environment that nurtures both personal and professional development.

Ready to Take the Next Step? An MBA in Agribusiness Management from SIIB can set you on a path to a rewarding career where you make a difference. Whether you’re driven by sustainability, innovation, or simply a passion for agriculture, SIIB offers the perfect platform to grow. For more details, visit their official website and see how you can make a lasting impact in the world of agribusiness.