On farm storage, storage losses and the effects of loss reduction in China

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to estimate on-farm maize storage losses and to empirically analyse the main determinants of maize storage losses in China.Design/methodology/approachBased on a nationwide survey of 1,196 households in 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, the authors estimated on-farm maize storage losses and used a fractional logit model to analyse the main determinants of maize storage losses in China.FindingsThe results showed that, first, 1.78% of maize was lost during the storage stage in China and that storage loss experienced by smallholders varied across regions. Second, the empirical analysis showed that storage quantities have significant and negative effects on storage losses and that an economy of scale in household storage may exist; the percentage of maize stored for consumption and feed has significant and positive effects on storage losses, which may be related to market requirements and management activities. Third, compared to traditional facilities, silos and warehouses cause lower storage losses, while spraying chemicals and re-drying maize in the storage stage incur higher losses, possibly because to save costs, smallholders conduct loss-reduction activities only when they suffer serious losses, and when taking measures, farmers may sort grains, which also increases losses. Fourth, harvesting maize when it matures is significantly associated with lower storage losses.Research limitations/implicationsTo reduce storage losses, first, farmers' awareness of food saving and loss reduction must be increased. This could be achieved through agricultural training and education regarding food-saving practices. Second, the government could provide subsidies or low-interest credits to encourage farmers to use advanced facilities and promote land transfers to realize economies of scale. Finally, the government should accelerate the construction of smart agriculture systems and the timely monitoring of crop growth to suggest farmers to harvest at the appropriate time.Originality/valueReducing post-harvest loss (PHL) has become an important means of increasing the food supply and reducing resources use in China. This study provides a complete introduction to household maize storage losses and can therefore help characterize the current state of PHL in China, which is of vital importance to food security and food policy.

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Adding value to food chain information: using data on pig welfare and antimicrobial use on-farm to predict meat inspection outcomes

Porcine Health Management ◽

10.1186/s40813-021-00234-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Joana Pessoa ◽

Conor McAloon ◽

Maria Rodrigues da Costa ◽

Edgar García Manzanilla ◽

Tomas Norton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Chain ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Meat Inspection ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Gradient Boosting ◽

Loss Reduction ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Farm Animal Welfare ◽

Antimicrobial Treatments ◽

On Farm

Abstract Background Using Food Chain Information data to objectively identify high-risk animals entering abattoirs can represent an important step forward towards improving on-farm animal welfare. We aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of classification models, using Gradient Boosting Machine algorithms that utilise accurate longitudinal on-farm data on pig health and welfare to predict condemnations, pluck lesions and low cold carcass weight at slaughter. Results The accuracy of the models was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC). The AUC for the prediction models for pneumonia, dorsocaudal pleurisy, cranial pleurisy, pericarditis, partial and total condemnations, and low cold carcass weight varied from 0.54 for pneumonia and 0.67 for low cold carcass weight. For dorsocaudal pleurisy, ear lesions assessed on pigs aged 12 weeks and antimicrobial treatments (AMT) were the most important prediction variables. Similarly, the most important variable for the prediction of cranial pleurisy was the number of AMT. In the case of pericarditis, ear lesions assessed both at week 12 and 14 were the most important variables and accounted for 33% of the Bernoulli loss reduction. For predicting partial and total condemnations, the presence of hernias on week 18 and lameness on week 12 accounted for 27% and 14% of the Bernoulli loss reduction, respectively. Finally, AMT (37%) and ear lesions assessed on week 12 (15%) were the most important variables for predicting pigs with low cold carcass weight. Conclusions The findings from our study show that on farm assessments of animal-based welfare outcomes and information on antimicrobial treatments have a modest predictive power in relation to the different meat inspection outcomes assessed. New research following the same group of pigs longitudinally from a larger number of farms supplying different slaughterhouses is required to confirm that on farm assessments can add value to Food Chain Information reports.

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On-farm udder health monitoring

Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe G Großtiere / Nutztiere ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1624622 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 39 (02) ◽

pp. 95-100

Author(s):

J. C. van Veersen ◽

O. Sampimon ◽

R. G. Olde Riekerink ◽

T. J. G. Lam

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Health Management ◽

Action Plan ◽

Real Life ◽

Health Data ◽

Control Points ◽

Udder Health ◽

Critical Control Points ◽

On Farm ◽

Clinical Problems

SummaryIn this article an on-farm monitoring approach on udder health is presented. Monitoring of udder health consists of regular collection and analysis of data and of the regular evaluation of management practices. The ultimate goal is to manage critical control points in udder health management, such as hygiene, body condition, teat ends and treatments, in such a way that results (udder health parameters) are always optimal. Mastitis, however, is a multifactorial disease, and in real life it is not possible to fully prevent all mastitis problems. Therefore udder health data are also monitored with the goal to pick up deviations before they lead to (clinical) problems. By quantifying udder health data and management, a farm is approached as a business, with much attention for efficiency, thought over processes, clear agreements and goals, and including evaluation of processes and results. The whole approach starts with setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, followed by an action plan to realize these goals.

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2012–2016 On-Farm Evaluation of Fungicide Programs for Peanut Disease Control in Hamilton County, Florida

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-pp334-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Keith W. Wynn ◽

Nicholas S. Dufault ◽

Rebecca L. Barocco

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathology ◽

Disease Control ◽

Leaf Spot ◽

Fungal Disease ◽

White Mold ◽

Stem Rot ◽

Late Leaf Spot ◽

Fact Sheet ◽

On Farm ◽

Hamilton County

This ten-page fact sheet includes a summary of various fungicide spray programs for fungal disease control of early leaf spot, late leaf spot, and white mold/stem rot of peanut in 2012-2016 on-farm trials in Hamilton County. Written by K.W. Wynn, N.S. Dufault, and R.L. Barocco and published by the Plant Pathology Department.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp334

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Florida Agritourism Building and Fire Codes

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-wc349-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mary Beth Henry ◽

Kathryn A Stofer

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Education ◽

Local Governments ◽

Regulatory Authority ◽

Building Codes ◽

Bona Fide ◽

Agricultural Operations ◽

On Farm ◽

Fire Codes

Agritourism marries Florida’s two largest industries, tourism and agriculture, to provide an on-farm recreational experience for consumers. Although Florida trails many other states in the number of agritourism operations, the number of Florida farms offering recreational experiences more than doubled from 2007 to 2012. This new 4-page document describes building codes relevant to Florida agritourism operations. Written by Mary Beth Henry and Kathryn A. Stofer, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc349 A companion document, Florida’s Agritourism Laws, EDIS publication AEC623, Florida’s Agritourism Laws, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc285, discusses Florida Statutes related to definitions, liability protections, and limits to regulatory authority of local governments over bona fide agricultural operations engaged in agritourism.

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ON-FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR NORTHLAND

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1986.47.1762 ◽

1986 ◽

pp. 27-32

Author(s):

J.S. Clark

Keyword(s):

Joint Ventures ◽

Low Fertility ◽

High Fertility ◽

Financial Returns ◽

Farm Forestry ◽

Hill Country ◽

Financial Position ◽

On Farm

Agroforests and woodlots offer Northland hill country farmers investment and diversification opportunities. Agroforests have less effect on the "whole farm" financial position than woodlots, especially where a progressive planting regime is adopted and where no further borrowing is required. Establishment and tending costs for agro-forests are lower, and returns come much sooner. The proven opportunity for continued grazing under trees established in this manner, apart from a short post-planting period, further enhances the agroforesty option. Even where there is reluctance on a farmer's part to plant trees on high fertility land, the expected financial returns from agroforests on low and medium fertility land will increase the overall long-term profitability and flexibility of the whole farming operation. Woodlots may be more appropriate on low fertility areas where weed reversion is likely. Joint ventures may be worth considering where farm finances are a limited factor. Keywords: On-farm forestry development, Northland hill country, agroforestry, woodlots, diversification, joint ventures, progressive planting regimes, grazing availability.

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Addressing on-farm management to enhance pasture productivity and persistence

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2013.75.2914 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 241-244

Author(s):

W.N. Reynolds

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Pasture Management ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Operating Profit ◽

The North ◽

The Cost ◽

On Farm ◽

Attention To Detail

Following the 2007/08 drought, we experienced poor pasture production and persistence on our dairy farm in north Waikato, leading to decreased milksolids production and a greater reliance on bought-in feed. It is estimated that the cost of this to our farming operation was about $1300 per hectare per year in lost operating profit. While climate and black beetle were factors, they did not explain everything, and other factors were also involved. In the last 3 years we have changed our management strategies to better withstand dry summers, the catalyst for which was becoming the DairyNZ Pasture Improvement Focus Farm for the north Waikato. The major changes we made were to reduce stocking rate, actively manage pastures in summer to reduce over-grazing, and pay more attention to detail in our pasture renewal programme. To date the result has been a reduced need for pasture renewal, a lift in whole farm performance and increased profitability. Keywords: Focus farm, over-grazing, pasture management, pasture persistence, profitability

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Building rural capability through collaboration of Maori farm businesses

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2011.73.2844 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 9-12

Author(s):

T.D. White ◽

G.W. Sheath

Keyword(s):

Success Factors ◽

Leadership Communication ◽

Learning Groups ◽

Critical Success ◽

Network Building ◽

Capability Building ◽

Group Projects ◽

Reinforced Learning ◽

On Farm ◽

Group Trust

Focused group projects engaging owners and managers of Maori farm businesses were initiated on the East Coast of New Zealand. The objective was to improve productivity and profitability on-farm through enhanced capability building and collaboration. Five group projects were evaluated. Critical success factors of learning groups were identified. Leadership, communication, organisation and commitment were required from project participants and facilitators. Collaborative and interactive processes built the knowledge and confidence of farm managers. Building trust was critical. Participation of mentor farmers reinforced learning in the group. Social network building was also important. We conclude that interactive group projects are a powerful way of building confidence of farm managers to communicate issues and make clearer, more strategically aligned decisions and actions. Collaborative farm initiatives foster ownership of issues, develop farmer support networks and ultimately the confidence to change. Keywords: experiential learning, farmer group, trust.

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