Agriculture Bird News | Agriculture XPRT

The effects of agricultural land use change on farmland birds in Sweden

The effects of changing agricultural practices on farmland birds are explored in a recently published study from Sweden. Overall abundance of 16 common species declined by 23% between 1994 and 2004, which may be partly caused by changes in land use, such as an increase in the amount of wheat cropland. However, effects vary between species, and some species increased or stayed stable in number. ...

May 8, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Irrigation threatening steppe birds in Mediterranean wetlands

Intensive irrigation of agricultural land in a Mediterranean water basin is altering the habitats of associated wetlands and changing the balance of the bird population living there, according to a recent study. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon is located in the Southeast of Spain. Inland there are an associated series of wetlands of ecological interest, protected by the Natura 2000 Network1. The ...

Jan. 21, 2010

By Science for Environment Policy - European Commission DG Environment News Alert Service

Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity

Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...

Oct. 10, 2013

By European Commission, Environment DG

Traditional farming methods in India protect birds

Under the right conditions, traditional agricultural practices can support significant biodiversity in farmed areas over the long term. A new study shows that arecanut plantations combined with forest areas support bird life. The researchers studied bird communities in arecanut plantations found in southwest India to assess whether biodiversity could be sustained in an agriculturally developed ...

Jan. 23, 2009

By European Commission, Environment DG

Broiler Bird Weights Keep Lid on Production

Broiler hatchery data, released weekly by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), reflects optimism, running 3 percent above a year ago in the number of eggs set for the last several weeks. Chicks placed are also above a year ago, and year-to-date are up 1.5 percent. Figure 1 shows 2017 compared to 2016 in the number of eggs set and chicks placed. Poultry slaughter has ...

May 31, 2017

By American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)

Fieragricola 2012 Early Bird Discount Offer

Cultivating an International Spirit FIERAGRICOLA is the only major event in Italy ensuring a complete offering of technologies and products in sectors such as agricultural engineering, animal farming, agro-supplies, renewable energy and services for agriculture. The event achieves high media impact and anticipates the needs of the sector by presenting innovative themes and content, ...

Jul. 7, 2011

By Veronafiere

New hope for migratory grassland birds of South America

The rich grasslands in South America, home to one of the world's most valuable ecosystems is fast disappearing and migratory grassland birds, which play an important role by dispersing seeds and controlling insects, are also rapidly declining in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In order to reverse this trend, the Convention on Migratory Species of the United Nations Environment ...

Dec. 15, 2010

By United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity

Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...

Oct. 10, 2013

By European Commission, Environment DG

Poor soil quality may reduce farmland bird population

Researchers have investigated the relationship between soil quality and the decline of yellow wagtail birds on arable farmland in the UK. The results suggest that reduced soil penetrability in particular affects the numbers and distribution of the species. Modern, intensive-farming methods can lead to changes in habitats with a loss in biodiversity, including farmland bird species. Degradation ...

Apr. 23, 2009

By European Commission, Environment DG

Ohio cancels Poultry Shows at Fairs amid Bird Flu Outbreak

All poultry shows at the Ohio State Fair and county fairs across the state have been canceled this year because of the threat of a deadly bird flu virus, the state's agriculture department announced Tuesday. The virus that has led to the deaths of more than 44 million chickens and turkeys in the Midwest hasn't been found so far in Ohio, but state officials said banning all poultry shows is a ...

Jun. 2, 2015

By Associated Press

Bird flu outbreak spreads to 3 more Midwest turkey farms

A bird flu outbreak that has puzzled scientists spread to three more Midwest turkey farms, bringing the number of farms infected to 23 and raising the death toll to more than 1.2 million birds killed by the disease or by authorities scrambling to contain it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on Saturday that the H5N2 strain of avian influenza was found among 38,000 birds at a ...

Apr. 11, 2015

By Associated Press

Birds could provide a simple means of identifying high nature value farmland

New research from central Italy shows that high nature value farmland in the region can be accurately identified by the presence of just four bird species. Once such groups of species have been identified for different regions, they can provide a quick and inexpensive tool for assessing the ecological value of farmland, the researchers say. Agriculture is a major land use across Europe and ...

Mar. 27, 2014

By European Commission, Environment DG

Most chicken, turkey farms affected by bird flu can restock

Most commercial chicken and turkey farms that were infected by the bird flu have been cleared to restock, agriculture officials said Friday, but scientists still will keep a close eye on migrating birds and test thousands to see if the virus is present. No new cases have been reported since June 17 when the last Iowa farm said chickens were ...

Nov. 6, 2015

By Associated Press

Bird flu takes biggest toll yet as virus hits chicken farms

Poultry producers and scientists have been hoping warmer weather would knock down a virulent strain of bird flu that has hammered the Midwest, but the virus recently took its biggest toll yet, hitting a farm in Iowa that held nearly 10 percent of the state's egg-laying chickens. Here are some questions and answers about the outbreak: WHAT'S THE LATEST? The U.S. Department of ...

Apr. 20, 2015

By Associated Press

Bird flu found in a top Minnesota turkey producing county

An outbreak of a deadly bird flu strain spread to one of the top poultry producing counties of the nation's top turkey producing state of Minnesota, government officials confirmed on Saturday, raising fears that the that the highly contagious disease could seriously damage the industry. The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza has infected a third turkey farm in the state, this time a ...

Mar. 28, 2015

By Associated Press

Common European birds have declined more rapidly than rarer species

The number of birds in Europe has fallen by more than 420 million between 1980 and 2009, new research has found. The study, which examined 144 bird species across 25 countries, found that 90% of the lost numbers were accounted for by common species, such as house sparrows (Passer domesticus). The decline was steepest in the first half of the study (1980–1994), followed by a period of ...

Jan. 29, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Small birds save big money for Costa Rica`s farmers

Research in Costa Rica shows that wild birds significantly reduce damage by a devastating coffee pest, the coffee berry borer beetle, contributing to huge savings to local farms and providing incentive to protect wildlife habitat, Nature News reported ...

Sep. 6, 2013

By SciDev.Net

New bird flu strain has poultry farmers scrambling

Animal health experts and poultry growers are scrambling to determine how a dangerous new strain of bird flu infected poultry flocks in four states - and to stop it from spreading. Avian influenza is common in wild migratory waterfowl but doesn't usually harm them. But the H5N2 strain is deadly when it spreads to commercial poultry. It can wipe out a flock of tens of thousands of birds in a few ...

Mar. 14, 2015

By Associated Press

II World Congress on the Use of Biostimulants in Agriculture

II World Congress on the Use of Biostimulants in Agriculture, Florence, Italy, 16-19 November 2015. Do not miss the early bird registration deadline. Hundreds of delegates from more than 300 organizations and companies from 49 countries have already registered! Deadline Early bird registration: 30th July 2015. Call for abstracts is now closed - Over 250 Abstract submissions have been received. ...

Jun. 12, 2015

By The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)

EPA nixes pumping Mississsippi wetlands dry for agriculture

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is threatening to veto a $220 million Army Corps of Engineers flood-control project in the Mississippi Delta known as Yazoo Pump that environmentalists have long opposed for its adverse impact on wildlife and wetlands. The world's largest hydraulic pumping plant would be used to drain wetlands to open the land up to agriculture. In 2000, the EPA concluded ...

Feb. 5, 2008

By Environment News Service (ENS)

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