Pruning Practice News | Agriculture XPRT

Research prunes 60 per cent off energy use

Prune Industry Advisory Committee Chair Malcolm Taylor said reducing the cost of the dehydration process was of major interest. "We were very interested in working with HAL and CSIRO to improve the cost efficiency of dehydration as it is a major proportion of total production costs," Mr Taylor said. "Through this research, we expect companies will see major savings in energy, money and green ...

Jul. 13, 2010

By CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Tree topping increases safety risks and expense, say tree care experts

“Topping,” “hat-racking” and “de-horning” – all names for a non-standard pruning procedure that severely cuts back large trees to a predetermined size – has long been considered an easy and inexpensive way to manage the size and improve the safety of mature trees. Researchers, however, are cautioning that topping can increase safety risks and result in greater expense for the consumer . . . not ...

Mar. 26, 2008

By American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

U.S. EPA Honors Dixon Ridge Farms as Sustainable Agricultural Champion

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld today recognized Dixon Ridge Farms in a Winters, Calif. environmental award ceremony. The Pacific Southwest Region’s 2012 Sustainable Agricultural Champion Award was presented to the organic walnut farm’s founder, Russ Lester. “EPA applauds Dixon Ridge Farms for its many sustainable ...

Oct. 3, 2012

By US EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

No-tillage management of olive groves can improve soil structure while maintaining yield

Non-conservative tillage techniques, such as milling and harrowing, are the most common way to manage soil in Mediterranean olive orchards. A new study confirms the value of alternative methods based on the use of spontaneous cover crops which can significantly improve soil structure and reduce erosion whilst maintaining yields. The olive tree is one of the most widespread crops in the ...

Nov. 12, 2015

By European Commission, Environment DG

Intercropping `boosts maize yields by 50 per cent`

Growing leguminous trees on maize farms — a form of agroforestry — can boost and stabilise maize yields, a 12-year study in Malawi and Zambia has found. The researchers behind the study, from the Kenya-based World Agroforestry Centre ...

Nov. 2, 2012

By SciDev.Net

Biodiesel Business Academy demonstrates Jojoba Gains in Desert Land Farming

Jojoba farming gains have been made in the fight against desertification, demonstrating that the dry lands can grow beyond crisis, suffering and insecurity towards a prosperous, secure future through innovations by land users aided by policy reforms and applied science and development. Jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis), is a medicinal and oil-yielding, multi-purpose species of the family ...

Mar. 26, 2013

By Advanced Biofuel Center

Bioasphalt with lignin in Zeeland

Bioasphalt for roads in Zeeland, a Dutch province, is being developed by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research, the Asfalt Kennis Centrum (Asphalt Knowledge Centre, AKC) and the company H4A from Sluiskil (NL). Zeeland Seaports is a project partner with interest in potential applications for the asphalt. Lignin from plants in asphalt Fossil bitumen – the ...

Nov. 28, 2014

By Wageningen University and Research Centre

AUS$28.5m Govt funding for soil carbon projects

The Rudd Government has announced more than AUS$28.5 million in funding to support 137 local and community groups with environmental and sustainable farming projects under Caring for our Country. Environment Minister, Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, said grants of between AUS$80,000 and AUS$400,000 would assist catchment management bodies, farmer ...

Nov. 20, 2008

By Australian Government

Jatropha can revive degraded land, says study

Large-scale cultivation of Jatropha – known as a potential source of biofuel – can improve the soil quality of degraded lands and address climate change, says a new study. Jatropha curcas seeds yield ...

Oct. 1, 2012

By SciDev.Net

Indonesia has chocolate on its mind: help for Cocoa smallholder farmers

International cooperation includes Swisscontact, the World Cocoa Foundation, Armajaro Trading Ltd (UK), and Mars Incorporated (US). 21-month US$6.8 million pilot program trains 12,500 farmers directly. Goal: Increase productivity by 50%. 75% of cocoa beans will meet the Indonesian national standard versus 25% currently. Indonesia is the world's third largest cocoa producer. Cocoa ...

Aug. 4, 2010

By CSRwire - Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire

6th Annual Global Jatrophaworld Training Programme Final Agenda Released

The Biodiesel Business Academy, the training portal of Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel (CJP) , announced that the main agenda for the 6th Annual Global Jatrophaworld Training Programme has been finalized, unveiling that the CJP’s scientists/ experts will be discussing the latest advances in nonfood Biodiesel commercialization, research and finance at the industry’s only ...

Jul. 11, 2013

By Advanced Biofuel Center

Cargill gives first sustainable premiums to increase Cocoa farmer incomes

Cargill's Cocoa & Chocolate business has handed over the first UTZ CERTIFIED premiums to two farmer cooperatives in Cote d'Ivoire. The two farmer cooperatives - Co-operative Agricole de Fiedifoue and Coopaga - received over U.S. $400,000 (200,000,000 CFA) for deliveries of UTZ CERTIFIED sustainable cocoa beans since the beginning of October 2009. The premiums will be shared amongst the ...

May 10, 2010

By CSRwire - Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire

MOMAX3 Moringa Perennial Cultivar success enhances Global Moringa Potential

Advanced Biofuel Center has launched the commercial planting programme for its new MOMAX3 Moringa variety, which has already drawn strong interest from potential growers because it has a number of advantages over the other existing varieties, said Advanced Biofuel Center chief executive Dp Maharshi in a statement today. Advanced Biofuel Center(ABC) has unveiled the Moringa oil ...

Jul. 13, 2017

By Advanced Biofuel Center

Reality check for `miracle` biofuel crop

The hardy jatropha tree as a biofuel source may not be the panacea for smallholders that some have claimed, say Miyuki Iiyama and James Onchieku. It sounds too good to be true: a biofuel crop that grows on semi-arid lands and degraded soils, replaces fossil fuels in developing countries and brings huge injections of cash to poor smallholders. That is what some are claiming for Jatropha curcas, ...

Oct. 27, 2010

By SciDev.Net

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