Economic and yield comparisons of different crop and crop-pasture production systems.

Over the past 15 years the adoption rate of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in southern South Africa has increased at a fast rate, although the adoption of the three pillars of CA was to varying degrees. The adoption of CA happened in the absence of any policy support framework directed to CA. The market drove the adaptation rate with a handful of local producers being the first to adopt no-till (NT) strategies. Long-term field experiments demonstrate that the effects of crop rotation include increased yields from the main wheat crop so that two-thirds of the present total wheat production may be achieved with only half the cropped area under the main crop, and gross margins are better - and dramatically better - with integration of cropping and livestock. This chapter presents an overview of the benefits to yield and economic sustainability of including alternative cash and pasture crops into CA farming systems in the winter rainfall region of southern South Africa.

Etude Comparative De La Rentabilité Des Systèmes De Pompage Solaire Et Thermique Sur Le Périmètre Irrigué De Soumarana Au Niger

Le Niger dispose d’important potentiel de terre irrigable et plusieurs formes d’irrigation ont été développées notamment la petite irrigation, afin de réduire la dépendance de la production vis-à-vis des aléas climatiques. L’objectif de ce travail est de justifier le besoin de vulgariser la technologie des équipements de pompage solaire. Pour cela une enquête technicoéconomique a été conduite auprès d’un échantillon de 80 exploitants choisis de manière aléatoire sur le périmètre irrigué de Soumarana, à raison de 40 irrigants utilisant des systèmes de pompage thermique et 40 des systèmes de pompage photovoltaïque. Les cultures de carotte et d’oignon, étant les principales spéculations, ont été retenues pour conduire l’étude afin de comparer les performances de systèmes de pompage en place. Il ressort de l’analyse des résultats que le système de pompage solaire dégage des marges brutes nettement supérieure à celles du système de pompage thermique avec des différences de l’ordre de 402 148 FCFA/ha et 342 812 FCFA/ha respectivement pour la culture de carotte et celle de l’oignon. De même, le coût du pompage du mètre cube d’eau en système de pompage solaire est nettement inférieur à celui du système de pompage thermique avec respectivement 57,27 FCFA/m3 et 80,75 FCFA/m3. Ces résultats indiquent une meilleure performance du système de pompage solaire comparativement au système thermique. Niger Republic has significant potential for irrigable land and several forms of irrigation have been developed, including small-scale irrigation, in order to reduce the dependence of production on climatic hazards. The objective of this study is to justify the need to popularize solar pumping equipment technology. To this purpose, a techno-economic survey was conducted among a sample of 80 farmers chosen randomly in the Soumarana irrigated area, at the rate of 40 farmers under fuel powered pumping system and 40 under photovoltaic pumping system. Carrot and onion crops, being the main speculations, were selected to conduct the study to compare both pumping systems performances. The analysis of the results shows that the solar pumping system has higher gross margins than the fuel powered pumping system with differences of the order of 402 148 FCFA/ha and 342 812 FCFA/ha respectively for carrot and onion crops. Similarly, the cost of pumping per cubic meter in the solar pumping system was clearly lower than that of the fuel powered pumping system with respectively 57.27 FCFA/m3 and 80.75 FCFA/m3. These results indicate a better performance of the solar pumping system compared to the fuel powered ones

The economic of production of vegetable crops grown in northern Omdurman, Khartoum State Sudan

The economic of production of vegetable crops grown in northern Omdurman, Khartoum State Sudan This study was carried out to estimate the profitability in terms of gross margins ol'the main vegetable crops grown in the area. Sampled farmers were randomly selected through a field survey during 2006/2007 agricultural season, and the collected data was subjected to descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis, in addition to the estimation of the benefit cost ratio. The results revealed that the vegetable crops under investigation arc profitable to farmers. Tomato crop scored the highest gross margin, followed by onion and lastly potato crop. Agricultural operation was the highest cost item for onion and tomato crops, while the agricultural inputs recorded the highest item for potato crop

Verrucous carcinoma arising from actinic keratosis: a case report

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a rare subtype of squamous cell carcinoma that commonly occurs in the oral cavity. However, VC of the facial skin is relatively rare. We report a case of a 91-year-old woman with VC of the facial skin in the left zygoma area. She was diagnosed with actinic keratosis (4 × 3 cm) of the same site approximately 12 years previously, but declined further treatment. The mass was excised with a minimum of 0.4 cm from gross margins with the result of free from tumor of all margins by frozen section, allowing for primary closure after skin undermining. Basal resection was performed in the preplatysmal plane. The diagnosis of VC was confirmed by histopathological examination. Postoperatively, the wound healed without incident and with no signs of facial nerve injury. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of VC of facial skin arising from actinic keratosis.

Comparative analysis of the profitability of rice production systems in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study describes the socioeconomic characteristics of rice farmers, identifies the production system used by the farmers, compares the profitability of rice production systems, identifies the factors influencing the choice of production systems among the farmers as well as the constraints to rice production systems. A three-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 120 rice farmers on whom a set structured questionnaire was administered. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression model. Results show that 48.3%, 35% and 16.7% of the farmers cultivate rice using the upland, lowland and the combined production systems respectively. The findings also reveal variability in yield, profit and income across the rice production systems. The gross margins for lowland, upland and combined rice production systems were N65,735.73, N67,900.89 and N78,015.57 per hectare respectively. The factors that influenced the choice of upland production system relative to combined production system were age, household size, farming years and extension visits while the factors that influenced the choice for combined rice production system relative to lowland rice production system was income. Inadequate finance to purchase inputs, problem of pests and diseases, and unfavorable climatic conditions are the constraints faced by rice farmers in the upland, lowland and combined production systems. The combined production systems had the highest return per hectare. Therefore, the study recommends that farmers should be encouraged to choose the combined rice production system for optimum profitability of rice production.

Weed Management and Economics in Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton

Increasing populations of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth [Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Wats.] have increased weed management costs for Texas High Plains cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)] producers. The introduction of dicamba-tolerant cotton varieties and registration of dicamba formulations for postemergence use, combined with residual herbicides, can effectively control Palmer amaranth. Field studies were conducted in 2018 and 2019 near Lubbock, TX, USA to evaluate Palmer amaranth control and economics of weed management in dicamba-, glufosinate-, glyphosate-, and conventional cotton systems. The most consistent season-long Palmer amaranth control was achieved with the dicamba-tolerant system in both years. In 2018, greatest lint yields were achieved with dicamba-tolerant system when compared to the conventional and glufosinate-tolerant systems. In 2018, greatest gross margin above weed management costs were achieved with the dicamba-tolerant and glyphosate-tolerant systems. Greatest lint yield was achieved with the dicamba-tolerant and conventional systems in 2019 and greatest gross margins were achieved with the dicamba-tolerant system. Total variable costs were similar across all systems, with greater seed/technology and herbicide costs in dicamba-tolerant and glufosinate-tolerant systems, compared to higher tillage and hand hoeing costs in glyphosate-tolerant and conventional systems.

Resistance Breeding Increases Winter Wheat Gross Margins–An Economic Assessment for Germany

Improved wheat varieties have ameliorated our food production. Intensive cropping systems, as in Germany, achieve very high grain yields and thus contribute greatly to global food security. As diseases, especially fungal pathogens, pose major threats in winter wheat production, disease management is crucial to uphold high production levels and to avoid economic losses. Yet, the economic value of breeding varieties with increased resistance to fungal pathogens has not been analyzed with comprehensive data. Our analysis fills this gap by quantifying the economic effects of 50 years of resistance breeding for winter wheat production in Germany. Based on field trials and agronomic production data, we analyze how resistances have influenced the economic profitability of the crops. Thereby, we can isolate the pure breeding-induced effects of increased resistance to fungal pathogens, which cause leaf and stripe rust, powdery mildew, and Fusarium head blight. We calculated the gross margins of 176 varieties according to nitrogen and fungicide applications in field trials. Regression models show that resistance breeding had a strong positive and statistically significant effect on the gross margins of the varieties. In comparison, the specific meta-environment of the season had a larger effect, while the effect of high nitrogen as well as fungicide treatments was lower. The gross margin increased over time along with higher resistances. Simultaneously, the difference in gross margins between the fungicide-treated and untreated variants decreased, indicating an increased contribution of resistances to yield stability. Resistances have increased gross margins greatly, as the health levels of varieties remain high without the need for fungicide applications and thus production costs can be saved. We conclude that resistance breeding has increased the economic profitability and sustainability of crop production due to a reduction in the costs for fungicides. In fields of farmers, these positive effects of resistance breeding can be fully realized by an optimal variety choice and a variety- and situation-specific disease management. Such an agronomic practice would not only further improve winter wheat gross margins but also mitigate some of the pressures on agricultural productions, such as reduced disease management options and adverse climate change impacts.

Effects of insecticides and cultivars on panicle-feeding insect pest infestations and grain yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in northern Ghana

Background Panicle-feeding insects are a challenge in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivation but most farmers do not protect the crop. Here, the effects of pest management in different sorghum cultivars on grain yields and the financial returns after protecting the crop from panicle-feeding insects was studied. Results There were significant insecticide treatments × cultivars/genotypes interaction effects for Stenodiplosis sorghicola, Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Nezara viridula, Dysdercus fasciantus and Riptortus dentipes. Generally, pest infestations were higher in the untreated control compared to K-Optimal- or NSO-treated sorghum. Infestations were also higher in compact-headed cultivars (Dorado and Kapaala) compared to those with open heads (CSSOR 08-V01 and CSSOR 10-V07). Damage was approximately 1.7-fold higher in the untreated controls than in NSO or K-Optimal. Grain yields were about 14% higher in NSO or K-Optimal treated sorghum than in controls. Gross margins were between 16- and 35-fold higher in protected sorghum compared to the untreated ones. Conclusion These findings suggest that an effective integrated pest management strategy for sorghum farmers must comprise cultivars that do not have compact heads, and the use of about two sprays of NSO or a synthetic pyrethroid when high numbers of panicle-feeding insects are observed during the growing season. Judicious use of insecticides and the “right” cultivar will improve the profitability of sorghum farmers with gross marginal returns that are at least 15-fold higher than that obtained by farmers who adopt only good agronomic practices without insecticide sprays.

Effect of feeding buttermilk coated diets on growth, carcass characteristics and production cost of crossbred chicken

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and production costs associated with feeding crossbred indigenous chicken on traditional buttermilk coated diets were evaluated. Three batches of day-old Indigenous x Kuroiler crossbred chicks were raised on a commercial diet for one month. At one month, chicken in each of the three batches were weighed and randomly divided into 3 equal groups. Each group comprised of 20 birds. Chicken in each group were either fed coated (dry buttermilk coated maize-bran), combined (buttermilk coated maize bran + commercial diet) or a commercial (control) diet. Average final live weight and feed intake were similar across the three dietary treatments (P>0.05). Feed to gain ratio significantly varied (P<0.05) across dietary treatments with buttermilk coated diets having the highest feed to gain ratio (7.27) compared to combined (4.38) and commercial (3.88) diets. Coated and combined diets yielded similar dressing percentage of 60.2 and 62 compared to 65% obtained with commercial diets. Carcass and organ yield was similar (P>0.05) across dietary treatments. On a 5 point hedonic scale, chicken meat produced using coated diets was more acceptable (2.0), compared to combined (2.1) and commercial (3.1) diets (P<0.05). The highest gross margins accrued from feeding combined and commercial diets. Over-all, results provide evidence of the potential of the combined diet to attain similar growth performance, carcass yield and gross margins as the commercial diet at lower cost. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2021. 50 (1):57-63

Estimating the Productivity and Profitability of Rice and Pepper on Fields of the Irrigation Company Upper Region (ICOUR) in Ghana

This study evaluates the Estimating the Productivity and Profitability of Rice and Pepper on the Project fields of the Irrigation Company Upper Region (ICOUR) in Ghana. Gross margin analysis was employed to estimate farm level profits at the two sites. Then, paired t-test (mean-comparison test) was applied to compare the productivity and profitability of rice and pepper farms at the two irrigation sites. Farm level data was collected from 113 (ie. 77 from Tono and 36 from Vea) crop farmers for the study. The finding shows that 0.53ha rice field and 0.34ha pepper field would yield averagely 1.6tons and 1.4tons of paddy rice and fresh pepper, respectively. This gives gross margins (profits) of Ghȼ1,041.06 and Ghȼ10,316.75 per hectare from the rice and pepper fields, respectively. The average productivity from the rice and pepper fields were 3.088Mt ha-1 and 4.286Mt ha-1, respectively. The study concludes that it is more productive and profitable to produce rice and pepper at Tono as compared to the Vea irrigation site. The gross margin was, however, higher on pepper fields as compared to the rice fields at both irrigation sites. The study recommends that crop farmers in the study areas should invest more on the production of pepper at both irrigation areas. Also, there is the need for the farmers to adopt yield-boosting practices such as the use of improved seeds, adopt good soil fertility management practices, efficient irrigation water delivery system and mechanisation services for optimum yields and higher income.