#agricultural research

[farmerstrend]

Inside KALRO’s Mkulima Shops: The Impact of KALRO’s Certified Seed Distribution

Discover KALRO’s Mkulima Shops across Kenya, offering certified seeds, climate-smart seedlings, and agricultural resources to boost farm productivity and sustainability. Mkulima Shops by KALRO provide farmers with affordable access to clean planting materials, certified seeds, and expert knowledge for improved crop yields and climate resilience. Boost your farm’s output with certified seeds from…

[nepalniceties]

PM Dahal Announces Climate-Friendly Technology to Boost Paddy Production on National Paddy Day

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal emphasized the adoption of climate-friendly technologies to enhance paddy cultivation during his address at the 21st National Paddy Day celebration. The event, held in Ratnagar, saw the Prime Minister underscore the government’s commitment to research and development in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Key Highlights: Climate-Friendly Technology:…

[bestagriculture]

Money on the Vine: Growing Agricultural Revenue in New Directions

In this article, we will explore the potential for cultivating diverse streams of income within the agricultural sector, steering away from conventional practices and embracing pioneering ventures. The concept of ‘money on the vine’ takes on a new significance in light of the shifting consumer preferences and market demands, prompting farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to explore unconventional paths to profitability. From agro-tourism and value-added products to agritech and sustainable practices, the opportunities for diversifying income are vast and promising.

As the world of Best agriculture . continues to undergo significant changes, the traditional methods of generating revenue are being reimagined. This evolution has given rise to innovative approaches that intersect agriculture and commerce, opening up new avenues for revenue growth. (https://bestagriculture.org/2023/11/15/money-on-the-vine-growing-agricultural-revenue-in-new-directions/ ) In…

[ireton]

The 4 Big Meat Packers In America Are Making A Move To Bankrupt Small Farms In America Starting In August

“This is a way that they're gonna be trying to force us out”

“The big 4 packers are killing the American cattle industry right now. Projected by August, each cattle rancher that is selling their animal is gonna be making $30 less per 100 pounds on that market ready animal.

- The American cattle rancher makes about 30% of every dollar earned on that animal - With this gonna be set in place, this is gonna take us down into the twenties.

This is gonna be a real scary place for the American cattle rancher. ‌ ‌If they can't make a profit or make a living off of what they're selling, their ranches are gonna be put up for sale.

This is a way that they're gonna be trying to force us out.

- And not only that, the corrupt thing is they're gonna be marking everything up $30 to every 100 pounds that they're making in return.

So with that being said, guys, we need to get back to buying local, supporting our local people. And as always, buy American and buy local.”

[lost-estradiographer]

I

know that voting for the status quo sucks.

To say it "sucks" massively understates the exact amount of suffering that exists under the status quo, an amount that I acknowledge I am too privileged to ever fully grasp.

I cannot magically provide some viable third-party candidate just barely a month before the election. I cannot solve Israel/Palestine Conflict that has haunted the world for over 70 years. I am a 29-year old transgender woman working her way through her own mental illnesses, trauma, and an undergraduate degree. I was never going to be the one to solve anything here.

All I can tell you is that regardless of whether you vote or not, there will be a presidential election. It's going to be a shitshow, regardless. Whether you vote or not, there will be a different president in January. Voting for the status quo may not be directly in your interests.

We had four years of Trump and we are still trying to unfuck ourselves from that. The beginning of my antagonistic relationship with the government was protesting in the streets of DC under his administration. I've fled from the Metro PD. I've put on a change of clothes and slipped out the back door of a gay sports bar.

Fucking vote.

Fucking vote.

Fucking vote.

Honestly, I

I don't want to see this voter apathy shit anymore.

People are going to keep dying under any president. Any president can, and probably wil, be morally culpable for the deaths of innocent people, both in the country and abroad. Carter might be the last president we had that wasn't overtly a war criminal and we still had foreign civilians killed by U.S. military involvement under the Carter admin.

I'm torn between asking you to block me, or asking you to message me, if you're taking the route of voter apathy. I'll tell you right away, here and now, that I probably don't have a solution to whatever problem is keeping you from voting for Harris. I can't even solve my own problems right, tbh. The government isn't really here for me, either.

But there isn't going to be some sort of miraculous revolution that results in The Ending Where Everyone Lives. If there's a revolution, then supply chains will falter and children and the infirm will die of preventable diseases and infections and complications in hospitals that would have otherwise been able to easily deal with such things. That's what happens in a revolution. I'm after the long-term idea where Humanity as a species lives. I'm after the route where we don't have an ending, we keep going.

Fucking vote, because exactly one of the two leading presidential candidates believes climate change is real, and it is the single greatest threat to all life on earth. We have spent the past 250 years, not just playing God with the environment, but actively creating an ecological niche in which future generations of humanity must continue to play God with the environment, dragging it back to a healthy place drop by drop, inch by inch, a degree at a time.

Or, I mean, don't vote. Either way, we'll all die at some point. Perhaps some of us will be lucky enough to die standing by our principles.

Those lucky few will become soil one day, just like I will.

I am begging you on my hands and knees to fucking vote, though, because our options are The Status Quo vs. Worse. That's

That's it.

There is no door number three right now. Our system, our flawed and broken and imbalanced and unjust system, does not accommodate for a third door. Whether you vote or not, you will be dragged through either Door 1 or Door 2 with all of humanity, as we whirl through the cosmos upon our tiny little speck of dust. The only other legitimate option is to allow oneself to become trampled; to become soil early. I don't say legitimate to give this option legitimacy, but to make clear that again, there is no door three. Door three is a casket. A one-way bed.

I didn't vote in 2016, and I'm hoping that you'll vote for the status quo this time, because that's the route that gives me the best odds of having a long and healthy life to regret my failure through inaction.

Just please

Fucking vote.

Or again, if you're taking the apathy route, probably just save me the time of blocking you, because you're not going to magically pull a viable third-party candidate out of your pocket less than six weeks before the election.

[sunnylolli]

Of course Alfred is loud and walks with all his weight in his heels, have you seen how fucking massive the USA is?? Only 48% of the entire country has people living in it.

The US has space for him, stepping foot in Europe would probably be the equivalent of setting foot into a sandbox.

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[leebrontide]

Anyone wanna tell me about grain silos? I have just a couple questions that should be easy for anyone who works with them but will otherwise be a pain in the ass for me to research. It's for a book thing.

[melveres]

I’m so invested in wizard101 and its denizens that it has got me researching actual irl science and engineering so i could depict magic better

[happigreens]

Fair Trade

By going beyond accreditation practices, consumers and companies can reach those at the bottom of the global social production ladder. Nonetheless, these efforts require purchasers to take personal responsibility for their impact, rather than relying solely on certifications. Simply by being more thoughtful and ethical in our sourcing practices, we have a huge opportunity to create brighter futures for all people and their families throughout the supply chain.

https://borgenproject.org/fair-trade-product-markets/

Despite many well-intentioned consumer attitudes, fair trade product markets frequently feature marketing strategies that conjure up imperialistic images [...]

[...] In products marked as fair trade, the certification might only apply to the product’s raw materials, rather than the full process of production. [...] A 2014 study theorizes that these practices are somewhat effective, “although on a comparatively modest scale relative to the size of national economies"

Social Media conversations about Fair Trade Practices:

[From user seriousxdelirium] - Like almost all other labels for coffee, it's absolutely useless. It only applies to growers large enough to afford the fees, and is not regulated well enough to make meaningful impact on the industry. If you really care about this sort of thing, do some research and develop an understanding of what you think a fair price is for farmers, and ask roasters what they paid for that coffee. Most good roasters are willing to be transparent about that sort of thing, and even publish transparency reports where you get a breakdown of the entire transaction.

From user Ramakrishna Surathu:

[...] Here are some reasons why fair trade may not always be as fair as it seems [...]

1. Market Access and Power Imbalances: Fair trade initiatives often focus on small-scale producers in developing countries, who may face challenges in accessing global markets and negotiating fair prices. Power imbalances within supply chains, influenced by factors such as geography, politics, and market dynamics, can limit the ability of producers to fully benefit from fair trade practices.

2. Certification Costs and Barriers: Obtaining fair trade certification can be costly and time-consuming for producers, particularly small-scale farmers and artisans with limited resources. Certification fees, auditing expenses, and compliance with standards may pose financial barriers and administrative burdens, leading some producers to forego certification altogether.

3. Limited Impact on Poverty Alleviation: While fair trade aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, its impact may be limited by systemic barriers and structural inequalities. Addressing poverty requires broader social, economic, and political interventions beyond the scope of fair trade alone, such as access to education, healthcare, land rights, and infrastructure.

4. Market Volatility and Price Instability: Fair trade prices are often based on predetermined minimums, which may not fully reflect fluctuations in global market prices. Producers may be exposed to market volatility and fluctuations in demand, which can impact their income and livelihoods, particularly in commodity markets subject to price instability.

5. Complexity of Supply Chains: Fair trade supply chains can be complex and challenging to navigate, especially in regions with limited infrastructure and logistical challenges. Ensuring compliance with fair trade standards, maintaining transparency, and traceability throughout the supply chain can require significant investment in monitoring and management systems.

[...] Some manufacturers also use tricks. For example, some products do not explain exactly which part of a product was produced fairly. Another trick is to increase the percentage of "fair" ingredients by subtracting out the water content. The credibility is of course "fair watered".

[...] The statement here should not be that fair trade is useless, but one should always question things or understand them better and not just be blindly guided by seals in the purchase decision. Since this works so well, manufacturers like to use such seals or make one up themselves.

[...] rather than cutting out the middle man, and offering farmers a more direct compensation for their work, Fair Trade still facilitates a level of bureaucracy that supports an uneven distribution of revenue.

[...] The price point that separates Fair Trade produce from the rest of the market is often significant enough that lower-income households cannot afford to budget for it. This means that Fair Trade cannot reach mass markets in a way that would really effect wide-scale change, and instead serves as a token gesture to alleviate the guilt of middle-class consumers.

[...] [premium pricing coffee] is a worthy move if the coffee is of a high quality, but if it is not of sufficient quality to merit this price tag, then it risks turning consumers away from Fair Trade produce, and further impeding its reach to mass markets [...]

Fair Trade is a concept worth embracing, but first it must prioritize effective and transparent processes of production and distribution. What Fair Trade aims to achieve is admirable, but what it could potentially achieve is far greater [...]

[fairandfatalasfair]

I should honestly probably just block the deer population map / rat population map post, because every time I see it I end up scrolling through the notes, which every single time consist of equal parts:

people from Aotearoa and Australia pointing out that they do too have deer, they're just invasive and a huge problem

people from Alberta confirming that yes, Alberta really is rat free (in the sense of having no endemic breeding rat population.)

people not from Alberta acting like this is wildly implausible when four seconds on google could confirm it and/or crying about how mean it is, as though rats aren't the second most damaging invasive species worldwide, having driven literally thousands of native species to extinction.

I don't mind the first two groups, but the third I have to restrain myself from picking arguments with.

[farmerstrend]

Hands-On Learning at Field Days: The Importance of Field Days in Modern Agriculture

In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, staying ahead requires more than just hard work and dedication; it demands continuous learning and adaptation. One of the most effective ways for farmers to achieve this is by attending field days. These events, often organized by agricultural extension services, universities, industry groups, or farming cooperatives, serve as crucial touchpoints…

[bestagriculture]

Big Business Investments in Crop and Soil Management for Profit

In the realm of agriculture, big businesses are increasingly recognizing the pivotal role of strategic investments in crop and soil management for driving profitability and sustainability. The convergence of cutting-edge technology and traditional farming practices has paved the way for innovative solutions that not only enhance crop yields but also safeguard the environment. This article delves into the burgeoning trend of large-scale enterprises directing their resources towards advanced crop and soil management techniques, reflecting a paradigm shift in the industry. As agribusiness giants embrace data-driven insights and precision agriculture, the impact on productivity and profitability becomes increasingly pronounced. Examining the driving forces behind these investments and their potential ripple effects on the agricultural landscape promises valuable insights for stakeholders across the board. By exploring the intricate interplay between technology, economic factors, and sustainable practices, we aim to shed light on how these developments are reshaping the future of agriculture and business alike.

In the realm of agriculture, big businesses are increasingly recognizing the pivotal role of strategic investments in crop and soil management for driving profitability and sustainability. The convergence of cutting-edge technology and traditional farming practices has paved the way for innovative solutions that not only enhance crop yields but also safeguard the environment. This article delves…

[ireton]

[iwouldliketoeatrandy]

Fun fact: did you know the US government has been awarding Automattic Inc. millions of dollars since 2021 which will run until December of 2024? Specifically, the presidential office has been funding tumblr.

Automattic Inc. bought tumblr in 2019.

Do you know who else funded Automattic Inc. in 2019 some $70,000? The US Department of Defense.