Agriculture and agribusiness Books

Book SynopsisDiscover how raising your own meat goats can be a fun and profitable endeavor. Offering plenty of tips for creating an economically viable operation and identifying niche markets for your products, Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats shows you how to care for a thriving and productive herd full of healthy and happy animals.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPhysiology of Molluscs: A Collection of Selected Reviews is an informative two-volume sent that brings together some of the most important recent and unique developments in molluscan physiology.Volume One focuses on shell structure, mineralization, the dynamics of calcium transport, shell drilling, byssus proteins, locomotion, and reproduction. Volume Two includes reviews on the neural mechanisms of learning, reproductive behavior, responses to environmental stress and hormones, and neurotransmitters. With the rapid development of cutting-edge proteomic, molecular biological, and cellular imaging techniques, our understanding of molluscan physiology, specifically in the areas of neurobiology, reproductive biology, and shell formation, has increased exponentially over the last several years. With contributions from some of the world's leading experts in the field of molluscan physiology, this valuable two-volume set fills this void and wil

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the course of 10 years, photographer Rocco Rorandelli, travelled to India, China, Indonesia, USA, Germany, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Slovenia and Italy to document the impact of the tobacco industry on health, the economy and the environment. In Bitter Leaves, the resulting photographs are presented alongside texts by scientist Dr Judith MacKay, collectively examining the complexity of this global industry and the influence of corporate mechanisms and power

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author here examines eighteen farming communities of Tanga Region, Tanzania, an area of rural poverty with a long history of drought, floods, food shortages, famine, and social and economic disruption to understand what the farmers there know about their environment and which historical and economic factors play into the lack of food security.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of the most advanced and authoritative agricultural-economic research in the face of increasing water scarcity. Agriculture has been critical in the development of the American economy. Except in parts of the western United States, water access has not been a critical constraint on agricultural productivity, but with climate change, this may no longer be the case. This volume highlights new research on the interconnections between American agriculture, water resources, and climate change. It examines climatic and geologic factors that affect the agricultural sector and highlights historical and contemporary farmer responses to varying conditions and water availability. It identifies the potential effects of climate change on water supplies, access, agricultural practices, and profitability, and analyzes technological, agronomic, management, and institutional adjustments. Adaptations such as new crops, production practices, irrigation technologies, water conveyance infrastructure, fertilizer application, and increased use of groundwater can generate both social benefits and social costs, which may be internalized with various institutional innovations. Drawing on both historical and present experiences, this volume provides valuable insights into the economics of water supply in American agriculture as climate change unfolds.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Gary D. Libecap and Ariel Dinar 1. The Economics of Climatic Adaptation: Agricultural Drainage in the United States Eric C. Edwards and Walter N. Thurman 2. Estimating the Effect of Easements on Agricultural Production Nicole Karwowski 3. The Cost-Effectiveness of Irrigation Canal Lining and Piping in the Western United States R. Aaron Hrozencik, Nicholas A. Potter, and Steven Wallander 4. Center Pivot Irrigation Systems as a Form of Drought Risk Mitigation in Humid Regions Daniel Cooley and Steven M. Smith 5. Perceived Water Scarcity and Irrigation Technology Adoption Joey Blumberg, Christopher Goemans, and Dale Manning 6. Climate, Drought Exposure, and Technology Adoption: An Application to Drought-Tolerant Corn in the United States Jonathan McFadden, David Smith, and Steven Wallander 7. Cover Crops, Drought, Yield, and Risk: An Analysis of US Soybean Production Fengxia Dong 8. Climate Change and Downstream Water Quality in Agricultural Production: The Case of Nutrient Runoff to the Gulf of Mexico Levan Elbakidze, Yuelu Xu, Philip W. Gassman, Jeffrey G. Arnold, and Haw Yen 9. Nutrient Pollution and US Agriculture: Causal Effects, Integrated Assessment, and Implications of Climate Change Konstantinos Metaxoglou and Aaron Smith 10. The Political Economy of Groundwater Management: Descriptive Evidence from California Ellen M. Bruno, Nick Hagerty, and Arthur R. Wardle 11. Estimating the Demand for In Situ Groundwater for Climate Resilience: The Case of the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer in Arkansas Kent F. Kovacs and Shelby Rider Author Index Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe Secret Financial Life of Food is of benefit to anyone who is involved in the food industry, including growers, processors, consumers, and even professionals in the culinary arts. It also has appeal for those of us who buy and sell commodity futures, helping us gain a better understanding of how the markets have evolved. -- Alan Bush, senior financial futures analyst, Archer Financial Services, Inc. Interesting, thought-provoking book for food aficionados. Booklist Those who are interested in the history of the "food" commodity markets will find many treats in Newman's book. -- Brenda Jubin Seeking Alpha a refreshing and much-needed look from a different perspective: food as commodity. -- James Norton Washington PostTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Buy Breakfast 1. How Does Commodities Trading Work? 2. The Spice Route 3. The Commodity That Built a Nation: Corn Futures 4. Great Grains 5. Butter-and-Egg Men 6. The Mochaccino Market: Coffee, Sugar, and Cocoa 7. Cattle Call 8. This Little Piggy Made a Market: The Rise and Fall of Pork Bellies 9. When Money Grows on Trees: Produce Futures 10. Super Soybeans 11. The Future of Food Futures? Contracts to Consider Epilogue Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrawing on a decade of fieldwork in Italy and France as well as interviews with critics and data analysis, this book provides an unprecedented sociological account of the dynamics of wine markets. It shows how the concepts of genre and collective identity explain producers’ choices, whether they are selling traditional or nonconventional wines.Trade ReviewUsing rich case studies of wine regions, Wine Markets demonstrates how collective identities emerge among producers. With its interesting mixture of detailed field data, historical knowledge, interesting anecdotes, and sociological ideas, I see this becoming a classic in economic sociology. -- Jerker Denrell, Warwick Business SchoolA rich descriptive analysis of the emergence and evolution of new genres of wine in various regions across Italy and France... the book not only offers an engaging foray into the modern history of European wine but also provides significant theoretical insights to several research areas in both organization theory and strategy. * Administrative Science Quarterly *At the end of the day, Wine Markets is a creditable culmination of a decade and a half of what was, I imagine, a delicious and rewarding research program. * Social Forces *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Genres and Market Identities2. Barolo and Barbaresco3.The Barolo Wars4. Mobilization of Collective Market Identities5. Genre Spanning, Ambiguity, and Valuation6. Brunello di Montalcino7. Tradition, Modernity, and the Scandal8. Alsace9. Biodynamic and Organic Winemaking10. Why Biodynamics? Category Signals and Audience Response11. Community Structure, Social Movements, and Market Identities12. CodaAppendix: Data SourcesNotesBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis study examines agricultural restructuring and its effect upon various African societies. It documents how contract production links farmers, agribusiness and the state; and reveals that contract farming represents a distinctive form in which African growers join in national and world markets.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFocuses on critical thinking and effective action for the future of our global agrifood system, based on an understanding of the system's historical roots. This book offers an analysis of the assumptions underlying different perspectives on problems related to food and agriculture around the world and a discussion of alternative solutions.Trade Review"Cleveland's new book is essential reading for all who are interested in change, since understanding how we got into this mess is important for identifying ways to get out of it." -- Charles R. Clement Economic Botany "A welcome addition to the literature on agriculture and food systems and will give to all readers a chance to critically consider the importance of continuously asking questions, examining our empirical and value assumptions, and choosing robust indicators that can accurately reflect our goals for the agrifood system." Agriculture and Human ValuesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Preface: A Personal History Acknowledgments Introduction PART I Agrifood Systems History and Future 1. Eating Stardust: Population, Food, and Agriculture on Planet Earth 2. Agricultural Revolutions 3. Thinking Critically about Sustainable Agrifood Systems 4. Sustainable Agrifood Systems: Three Emphases PART II Moving toward Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Balancing Act 5. Managing Evolution: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology 6. Managing Agricultural Ecosystems: The Critical Role of Diversity 7. Managing People: The Common Property Option 8. The Big Solutions: Climate Change, Resource Cycles, and Diet 9. The Big Solutions: Localizing Agrifood Systems Appendix 1. Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols Appendix 2. Metric Units and Metric-English Unit Conversions Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFocuses on critical thinking and effective action for the future of our global agrifood system, based on an understanding of the system's historical roots. This book offers an analysis of the assumptions underlying different perspectives on problems related to food and agriculture around the world and a discussion of alternative solutions.Trade Review"Cleveland's new book is essential reading for all who are interested in change, since understanding how we got into this mess is important for identifying ways to get out of it." -- Charles R. Clement Economic Botany "A welcome addition to the literature on agriculture and food systems and will give to all readers a chance to critically consider the importance of continuously asking questions, examining our empirical and value assumptions, and choosing robust indicators that can accurately reflect our goals for the agrifood system." Agriculture and Human ValuesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Preface: A Personal History Acknowledgments Introduction PART I Agrifood Systems History and Future 1. Eating Stardust: Population, Food, and Agriculture on Planet Earth 2. Agricultural Revolutions 3. Thinking Critically about Sustainable Agrifood Systems 4. Sustainable Agrifood Systems: Three Emphases PART II Moving toward Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Balancing Act 5. Managing Evolution: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology 6. Managing Agricultural Ecosystems: The Critical Role of Diversity 7. Managing People: The Common Property Option 8. The Big Solutions: Climate Change, Resource Cycles, and Diet 9. The Big Solutions: Localizing Agrifood Systems Appendix 1. Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols Appendix 2. Metric Units and Metric-English Unit Conversions Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraces the economic and historical forces that gave rise to very distinctive regional approaches to creating wine. This book includes chapters on Europe's cheap commodity wine industry; the markets for sherry, port, claret, and champagne; and, the wine industries in California, Australia, and Argentina.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2012 OIV Award in History, International Organisation of Vine and Wine "[T]his book ... has a decidedly, and fittingly, scholarly tone... There are some fascinating historical facts, including the widespread nature of fraud in the wine business."--Lettie Teague, Wall Street Journal "Anyone interested in the economic history of wine and drink should read this book."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "[T]here can be no doubt that wine buffs whose interest in what they drink stretches rather further than the supermarket price and the colour of the stuff in the bottle (why read the label?) will find this book fascinating."--Books4Spain.com "In writing Creating Wine, James Simpson has done a great service to those who are interested in how a traditional industry inherited the modern, highly regulated, market structure we observe in places like France today. The book is important and carefully written. Anyone interested in wine or the interaction between markets and modern democratic states should buy it."--EH.Net Reviews "Given Simpson's excellent job in describing the evolution of the industry, this book should find a large audience."--Choice "This is a wonderful book for vine professionals, for wine professionals and for students of economic history alike, including for casual students."--Jacques Delacroix, Enterprise & Society "[This] is the first book to trace the economic and historical forces that gave rise to very distinctive regional approaches to creating wine."--World Book Industry "Creating Wine was a delight to read. Simpson has chosen to study a pivotal time in wine production, dictated not only by changing market structure but also various supply shocks and societal factors. While many of us may have some idea of the broad issues that existed in the market for wine around this time, Simpson has provided a thoroughly researched, comprehensive piece of work that will satisfy anyone from novice to expert."--Tim Davis, Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource "Creating Wine represents, perhaps, the single greatest achievement in advancing our understanding of the globalizing wine trade during its most formative decades (1840-1914)."--Kevin Goldberg, European History QuarterlyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi List of Tables xiii Acknowledgments xv Maps xvii Introduction xxxi Weights, Measures, and Currencies xxxix Acronyms and Abbreviations xli Part I: Technological and Organizational Change in Europe,1840-1914 1 Chapter 1: European Wine on the Eve of the Railways 3 What Is Wine? 3 Family Producers 7 The Production of Grapes prior to Phylloxera 11 Traditional Wine-Making Technologies 17 Markets, Institutions, and Wine Consumption 21 The Development of Fine Export Wines 24 Chapter 2: Phylloxera and the Development of Scientific Viti-Viniculture 30 The Growth in Wine Consumption in Producer Countries 31 Phylloxera and the Destruction of Europe's Vines 34 Phylloxera and the International Response in Spain and Italy 41 Wine Making, Economies of Scale and the Spread of Viticulture to Hot Climates 48 La Viticulture Industrielle and Vertical Integration: Wine Production in the Midi 53 Chapter 3: Surviving Success in the Midi: Growers, Merchants, and the State 58 Phylloxera and Wine Adulteration 59 Politics, Phylloxera, and the Vineyard during France's Third Republic 63 The Midi: From Shortage to Overproduction 65 From Informal to Formal Cooperation: La Cave Cooperative Vinicole 71 Part II: The Causes of Export Failure 77 Chapter 4: Selling to Reluctant Drinkers: The British Market and the International Wine Trade 81 The Political Economy of the Wine Trade in Britain prior to 1860 83 Gladstone and the Rise and Decline in Consumption in the Late Nineteenth Century 87 The Retail Market and Product Adulteration 92 Who Controls the Chain? Experiments at "Buyer-Led" Commodity Chains 98 Part III: Institutional Innovation: Regional Appellations 107 Chapter 5: Bordeaux 111 Claret, Trade, and the Organization of Production 112 The 1855 Classification and the Branding of Claret 115 Supply Volatility, Vine Disease, and the Decline in Reputation of Fine Claret 120 Response to Overproduction: A Regional Appellation 126 Chapter 6: Champagne 132 The Myth of Dom Perignon and the Development of Champagne 134 Economies of Scale, Brands, and Marketing 138 The Response to Phylloxera 141 Organization of a Regional Appellation 145 Chapter 7: Port 154 Port and the British Market 155 Product Development and the Demands of a Mass Market 159 Rent Seeking, Fraud, and Regional Appellations 164 Chapter 8: From Sherry to Spanish White 171 The Organization of Wine Production in Jerez 172 Sherry and the British Market 178 Product Innovation and Cost Control 183 Wine Quality and the Demand for a Regional Appellation 187 Part IV: The Great Divergence: The Growth of Industrial Wine Production in the New World 191 Chapter 9: Big Business and American Wine: The California Wine Association 195 Creating Vineyards and Wineries in a Labor-Scarce Economy 197 Production Instability and the Creation of the California Wine Association 204 The California Wine Association and the Market for California's Wines 209 Chapter 10: Australia: The Tyranny of Distance and Domestic Beer Drinkers 220 Learning Grape Growing and Wine Making 221 Organization of Wine Production 225 In Search of Markets 230 Chapter 11: Argentina: New World Producers and Old World Consumers 240 Establishing the Industry 242 Redefining the Industry 248 The Limits to Growth and the Return to Crisis 256 Conclusion 263 Old World Producers and Consumers 263 New World Producers and Consumers 267 The Wine Industry in the Twentieth Century 270 Appendix 1: Vineyards and Wineries 273 A.1. Area of Vines and Output per Winery in France, 1924 and 1934 274 A.2 Number of Growers and Area of Vines by County, California, 1891 276 A.3. Winery Size in the Midi and Algeria, 1903 278 Appendix 2: Wine Prices 279 A.4. Farm and Paris Wine Prices, July 1910 279 A.5. Price List, Berry Brothers, London, 1909 281 Glossary 291 Bibliography 293 Index 313

Read more less

Book SynopsisInspired by the mystique of a uniquely American tree, the pecan, John Gifford set out to explore the US pecan industry. What he discovered during his two-year immersion was a nut that's poised to become the next superfood and an industry that today finds itself in the most important juncture in its history.Trade ReviewIn Pecan America, John Gifford takes an outwardly simple Subject, the pecan, and reveals its historical richness, ecological significance, and cultural Complexity. Pecan America is a delightful and informative journey into a beloved but at times misunderstood American food, and readers will be glad they accompanied Gifford on the adventure." - Stephanie Anderson, author of One Size Fits None: A Farm Girl's Search for the Promise of Regenerative Agriculture"If the thought of ancient midland groves that cheat the reaper of modernity electrifies you, then you'll appreciate Gifford’s road trip into the heart of pecan country." - George Frazier, author of The Last Wild Places of Kansas: Journeys into Hidden Landscapes

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Octopus’s Garden continues to shape Southern Californians’ understanding of their past. In bringing together multiple storylines, Benjamin Jenkins provides a complex and fresh perspective on the impact of citrus agriculturalists and railroad companies in Southern Californian history.Trade Review"In Octopus’s Garden, Jenkins has fashioned a worthy contribution to the history of both railroads and agriculture. Many beautiful illustrations complement Jenkins’s thoroughly researched and well-written text, which details how railroads and citrus culture together contributed to the social and economic transformation of Southern California."—Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes, St. Louis Mercantile Library Endowed Professor of Transportation Studies, emeritus, University of Missouri-St. LouisTable of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Octopus’s Garden 1. Southern California Country: History of the Southland, 1769-1876 2. Steel, Steam, and Citrus: The Economic Transformation of Southern California, 1870-1887 3. The Boom and Beyond, 1887-1903 4. Gridiron Garden, 1903-1920 5. Fruits of Their Labors, 1920-1939 6. Quick Decline, 1940-1996 Conclusion: Remembering the Octopus’s Garden Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn inside look at the ways in which labour relations are constituted and contested in South African agriculture.Trade Review"This is an excellently executed study that demonstrates the power of this methodology to reveal deeper meanings behind day-to-day activity. While Addison's main focus is describing the labour regime on the plantation, the fieldwork reveals the critical roles of sexual economy and religion as sites of contestation and cultural expression." Allison Goebel, School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraces the culture of sharecropping - crucial to understanding life in the southern United States - from Emancipation to the twenty-first century. By reading dozens of works of literature in their historical context, David Davis demonstrates how sharecropping emerged, endured for a century, and continues to resonate in American culture.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraces the culture of sharecropping - crucial to understanding life in the southern United States - from Emancipation to the twenty-first century. By reading dozens of works of literature in their historical context, David Davis demonstrates how sharecropping emerged, endured for a century, and continues to resonate in American culture.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA reshaping of traditional understandings of Costa Rica and its national identity. The Saints of Progress chronicles the development of the Tarrazú Valley, a historically remote coffee-growing region. Carmen Kordick traces the development of this region from the early nineteenth century to the first decades of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewKordick makes a substantial contribution to the literature on Costa Rica and joins an ongoing discussion (especially among Costa Rican scholars) of the prevalent Costa Rican national myths by debunking the idea of the nation as a timelessly peaceful land of primarily white yeoman farmers."" - Julie A. Charlip, author of Cultivating Coffee: The Farmers of Carazo, Nicaragua, 1880–1930 and coauthor of Latin America: An Interpretive HistoryTable of Contents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Introduction. Tarrazú: A Place, a Coffee, and a People Chapter 1. Tarrazú’s Founding and Settlement Chapter 2. Coffee, Downward Mobility, and Political Power in Tarrazú Chapter 3. Maintaining the Order: Gender, Class, State Authority, and Violence Chapter 4. Revolt in Tarrazú Chapter 5. The Civil War and Its Consequences Chapter 6. Migration and Shifting Class, Racial, and National Identities Chapter 7. National Belonging and Exclusion beyond Costa Rica’s Borders Conclusion. Costa Rica’s Cold War Exceptionalism Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book on agricultural management and decision making differs from other texts which tend to describe production economics followed by the presentation of analytical approaches. Instead, the processes of agricultural production and their management are couched in terms of activity analysis, since this permits greater integration of theory with practical evaluations. Analytical tools developed in the book involve the construction of spreadsheet models, and readers are able to construct their own PC spreadsheets from the book's examples and case studies. Economic principles are presented that will assist in improving the design of agricultural processes and technologies, in guiding their appropriate combination in a business setting, and with the making of decisions through time and in recognition of noncertainty. Activity analysis models that allow the design and combination of agricultural activities to be optimized are also discussed. These include single versus multiple objective Table of Contents1: Activity analysis and the process of agricultural production 2: A spreadsheet framework for activity analysis 3: Economic principles for activity design 4: Evaluation of activity combinations 5: Determining the optimum combination of activities 6: Linear programming techniques for agricultural decision making 7: Intertemporal decision making 8: International activity analysis 9: Management and noncertainty 10: Probabilistic activity analysis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOrganic (ecological ) farming, with its emphasis on sustainable agro-ecosystem management and the use of locally-derived, renewable resources, offers potential solutions to some of the key problems faced by the agricultural sectors of industrialized countries. Many European governments now provide direct financial support for organic farming in recognition of its contribution to current policy objectives, including environmental protection, conservation of non-renewable resources, controlling over-production and the reorientation of agriculture towards areas of market demand. Drawing on studies from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, this book provides the first comprehensive international review of the economics of organic farming. The factual information and empirical data from the studies reported make this book a valuable resource for researchers. Policy analysts, professional advisors and students in agricultural economics, management and agri-enviroTable of ContentsPart 1: Organic farming concepts, history and research issues 1: Organic farming: sustainable agriculture in practice, N Lampkin 2: The development of the organic industry and market: an international perspective, W B Tate 3: Researching organic farming systems, N Lampkin 4: Organic farming and society: an economic perspective, D Bateman Part 2: Organic farming as a business 5: The physical and financial performance of organic farming systems in Britain, N H Lampkin 6: Economics of organic farming in Britain, N Lampkin 7: Economics of organic farming in Germany, S Padel and U Zerger 8: Economics of organic farming in Denmark, A Dubgaard 9: Economics of organic farming in Switzerland, I Mühlebach and J Müglebach 10: Economics of organic farming in Canada, J Henning 11: Economics of organic and low-input farming in the United States, M Anderson 12: Economics of organic farming in Australia, E Wynen 13: Farm level performance of organic farming systems: an overview, S Padel and N Lampkin Part 3: Converting to organic farming - the economics of the transitionprocess 14: Changes in physical and financial performance during conversion to organic farming: case studies of two English dairy farms, N Lampkin 15: Case studies of farms converting to organic agriculture in Germany, B Freyer, R Rantzau, H Vogtmann 16: Conversion to low-input farming systems in Pennsylvania, USA: an evaluation of the Rodale 17: Economics of conversion to organic farming: cross-sectional analysis of survey data in Germany, S Dabbert 18: Conversion to organic farming: an overview, S Padel and N Lampkin Part 4: Widespread conversion to organic farming: modelling the regionalimpacts 19: Comparative analysis of future development paths for agricultural production systems in Germany, U Zerger and H Bossel 20: Impacts of widespread conversion to organic agriculture in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, J Braun 21: Estimating the impact of widespread conversion to organic farming on land use and physical output in the United Kingdom, N Lampkin 22: Input-output modelling of organic farming and the rural economy of England and Wales, P Midmore 23: Modelling the impact of widespread conversion to organic farming: an overview, P Midmore and N Lampkin Part 5: Organic farming and agricultural policy 24: Policy issues and impacts of government assistance for conversion to organic farming: the Danish experience, A Dubgaard and H Holst 25: Agricultural policy and impacts of national and regional government assistance for conversion to organic farming in Switzerland, O Schmid 26: Financial assistance for conversion to organic farming in Germany under the European Community’s extensification programme, L Schulze Pals, J Braun, S Dabbert 27: Organic farming and agricultural policy in western Europe: an overview, N Lampkin and S Padel

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first edition of this book, published in 1991 with the title The Common Agricultural Policy and the World Economy, was well received as a timely analysis of this fast-moving but important subject. However, several major developments, such as general CAP reform, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), expansion of the European Union, and relationships with eastern Europe, have justified the need for a new edition. As a result, the book has been thoroughly updated, with some completely new chapters added and others replaced. It has also be rewritten with a greater emphasis on the needs of students for a well-integrated, comprehensive textbook.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Introduction, C Ritson Part 1: Understanding the CAP 1.1: The History and Development of the CAP, 1945-1990, A Fearne, Wye College, University of London, UK 1.2: The CAP Decision-making Process, A Swinbank, University of Reading, UK 1.3: Reform of the CAP: from Mansholt to MacSharry, L Hubbard, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and C Ritson 1.4: The New CAP, A Swinbank Part 2: Mechanisms and Analysis of the CAP 2.1: Europe’s Green Money, C Ritson and A Swinbank 2.2: Some Microeconomic Analysis of CAP Market Regimes, A Buckwell, Wye College, University of London, UK 2.3: Extensions and Political Analysis of the CAP, D Harvey 2.4: The CAP and Technological Change, A Oskam, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands and S Stefanau, Pennsylvania State University, USA Part 3: The CAP and the European Union 3.1: The CAP and the Farmer, M Keane and D Lucey, University College, Cork, Ireland 3.2: The CAP and the Consumer, C Ritson 3.3: The CAP and the Food Industry, S Harris, British Sugar plc and A Swinbank, University of Reading, UK 3.4: The CAP and the European Environment, M Whitby and P Lowe, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Part 4: The CAP and the World 4.1: The CAP and Central and Eastern Europe, S Tangermann, Gottingen, Germany and A Buckwell 4.2: The CAP and the Developing World, J Lingard and L Hubbard, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 4.3: The CAP and North America, T Josling, Stanford University, California, USA 4.4: The GATT, the WTO and the CAP, D Harvey Part 5: The CAP and the Future 5.1: The CAP in the 21st Century, D Harvey

Read more less

Book SynopsisBringing together the disciplines of agriculture, animal science, plant science and ecology, this book explores how mathematics can be used to understand and explain agricultural processes. It starts by providing a review of the mathematical models currently available to agriculturalists, and the philosophy behind, and objectives of, modeling. The book then applies these techniques to real-life problems faced by people managing crops and animals, including the influence of digestion on animal growth rates and levels of photosynthesis on crop yield.Table of Contents1: Role of mathematical models 2: Mathematical programming 3: Growth functions 4: Simple ecological models 5: Environment and weather 6: Crop models 7: Crop husbandry 8: Plant diseases and pests 9: Animal organs 10: Whole-animal models 11: Animal products 12: Animal husbandry 13: Animal diseases

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe purpose of this book is to integrate aspects of food product marketing with traditional agricultural marketing. This novel approach fills a gap in the current literature and reflects a growing trend to teach these subjects in an integrated way. The authors are leading authorities from the USA and Europe and the book has been developed from a very successful series of courses run for several years by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Zaragoza, Spain. These courses have been attended by postgraduates from a wide range of countries, so the book is likely to have worldwide appeal.Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: The global context of agro-food marketing, D I Padberg, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, USA 3: Food marketing and agricultural marketing: the scope of the subject of agro-food marketing, C Ritson, Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 4: Agricultural commodity analysis 5: Supply and demand of agricultural products, T Young and M Burton, School of Economic Studies, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK 6: Agricultural price analysis, H Carman, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of California, Davis, California, USA 7: International trade in agricultural products, H Ahrens, Landwirtschaftliche Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle- Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany 8: Commodity market modelling, Ph. Garcia and R M Leuthold, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA 9: Agricultural market organization and performance 10: Market structure and institutions, P L Farris, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, Indiana, USA 11: Marketing margins in food products, J Briz and I de Felipe, Unidad de Comercialización y Divulgación Agraria, Departamento de Economía y Ciencias Sociales Agrarias, ETS Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain 12: Marketing information and support systems, G Schiefer, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Bonn, Germany 13: Researching the food consumer 14: Consumer behaviour, R von Alvensleben, Lehrstuhl für Agrarmarketing, Institut für Agrarökonomie, Universität Kiel, Germany 15: Marketing research, L Gofton, Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 16: Multivariate analysis in marketing research, M Ness, Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 17: Food product marketing decisions 18: Product policy, M Altmann, Leudelange, Luxembourg 19: Pricing policy, G G Panigyrakis, Department of Business Administration, The Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, Greece 20: Advertising and promotions, R W Ward, Food and Resource Economics Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA 21: Distribution, M T G Meulenberg, Department of Marketing and Marketing Research, Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands 22: Marketing strategy and control 23: Control of marketing programme, O Maurer, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kiel, Germany 24: International marketing in the midst of competition and partnership, L M Albisu, Unidad de Economía y Sociología Agrarias, Servicio de Investigación Agraria (SIA-DGA), Zaragoza, Spain 25: Strategic marketing cases, D I Padberg, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book consists of selected and revised papers from a conference held in North Carolina that brought together rural geographers from Canada, UK and USA, plus one representative from New Zealand. The papers included in the book are those that focus on agricultural restructuring and sustainability. This subject is of considerable current interest at a time when rural areas in developed market economies are undergoing considerable change. The chapters in the book examine, at various spatial scales, the broad processes and structural changes that are common to all rural systems in developed countries. Different geographical contexts are used to illustrate the uneven development of these processes and the implications for sustainable agriculture and rural systems. Authors provide both literature reviews and original research. The book is aimed at not only rural geographers but also agricultural economists, rural sociologists and policy-makers concerned with rural studies.Table of ContentsSECTION I: Conceptualizing Agricultural Restructuring and Sustainability 1.1: Sustainable Development: A Critical Review of Rural Land-use Policy in the UK, R Munton 1.2: Sustainability, Spatial Hierarchies and Land-based Production, C Cocklin, G Blunden and W Moran 1.3: Greening and Globalizing: Agriculture in ‘the New Times’, G Robinson SECTION II: Family Farming and Farming Culture 2.1: Sustainable Technologies, Sustainable Farms: Farms, Households and Structural Change, R Roberts and G Hollander 2.2: Environmental Change and Farm Restructuring in Britain: The Impact of the Farm Family Life Cycle, C Potter 2.3: The Construction of Environmental Meanings Within ‘Farming Culture' in the UK: The Implications for Agri- environmental Research, C Morris and C Andrews 2.4: Community-level Worldviews and the Sustainability of Agriculture, J M Curry-Roper SECTION III: Diversification and Alternative Agriculture 3.1: Rural Re-regulation and Institutional Sustainability: A Case Study of Alternative Farming Systems in England, G Clark, I Bowler, A Crockett, B Ilbery and A Shaw 3.2: On and Off-farm Business Diversification by Farm Households in England, B Ilbery, M Healey and J Higginbottom 3.3: Great Plains Agroecologies: The Continuum from Conventional to Alternative Agriculture in Colorado, L A Duram SECTION IV: Agricultural Sustainability and Climate Change 4.1: Agricultural System Response to Environmental Stress, J Smithers and B Smit 4.2: Adaptability of Agriculture Systems to Global Climate Change: A Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada Pilot Study, M Brklacich, D McNabb, C Bryant and J Dumanski 4.3: Agricultural Response to Climate Change: A Preliminary Investigation of Farm-level Adaptation in Southern Alberta, Q Chiotti, T Johnston, B Smit and B Ebel SECTION V: Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Policy 5.1: Policy, Sustainability and Scale: The US Conservation Reserve Programme, D Nellis, L Harrington and J Sheeley 5.2: Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue: The Marriage of Agriculture and Conservation in England, N Evans 5.3: Farmer Reaction to Agrienvironmental Schemes: A Study of Participants in South-West England and the Implications for Research and Policy Development, A W Gilg and M R J Battershill 5.4: Achieving Sustainability in Rural Land Management Through Landowner Involvement in Stewardship Programmes, S Hilts SECTION VI: Sustainability and Restructuring the Agricultural System 6.1: Scale Change, Discontinuity and Polarization in Canadian Farm-based Rural Systems, M Troughton 6.2: Sustainability Issues in the Industrialization of Hog Production in the United States, O J Furuseth 6.3: Sustainable Agriculture and Its Social Geographic Context in Ontario, G Walker 6.4: Restructuring for Rural Sustainability: Overcoming Scale Conflicts and Cultural Biases, D Napton

Read more less

Book SynopsisPro poor' economic growth is widely recognised as an important means for reducing poverty in developing countries. With the majority of the world's poor living in rural areas, agricultural intensification, with higher land and labour productivity from increased integration in input and output markets, is one way to expand income and livelihood opportunities for rural people. This book uses a new institutional economics perspective to review the effects of market liberalisation on service provision to smallholder farmers. In many parts of the world, particularly in Sub-saharan Africa, the private sector has failed to fill the gaps left by the collapse of state supported input and credit supply systems. Using case studies from Ghana, Tanzania and Pakistan, the book investigates the difficulties facing the private sector in supplying inputs and credit and the conditions required for sustainable private sector investment to the benefit of rural people. The analysis has important lessons foTable of Contents1: A New Institutional Economics Perspective on Current Policy Debates, C Poulton, A Dorward, J Kydd, N Poole and L Smith 2: Cotton Production and Marketing in Northern Ghana: The Dynamics of Competition on a System Interlocking Transactions, C Poulton 3: The Cashew Sector in Southern Tanzania: Overcoming Problems of Input Supply, C Poulton 4: Cotton and Wheat Marketing and the Provision of Pre-harvest Services in Sindh Province, Pakistan, M Stockbridge, L Smith and H Ram Lohano 5: Conclusions: New Institutional Economics, Policy Debates and the Research Agenda, A Dorward, J Kydd and C Poulton

Read more less

Book SynopsisObtaining world food security and food self-reliance for the developing nations is a complex and difficult task, but with increased research and education, agricultural production in developing countries can be improved. Biotechnology applications, integrated into traditional systems, hold much promise in this respect. Realizing the positive impact of biotechnology will depend upon the ability of developing countries to access and generate technology which is suitable to their needs. However, government policies may not encourage investment in public sector agricultural research and the private sector is often underdeveloped. This book is the product of a conference, held in California in April 1997, under the auspices of the Agricultural Biotechnology for Sustainable Productivity (ABSP) project. It provides a broad overview of the latest research and applications and policy requirements for biotechnology in developing countries. The issues of food security, capacity building, intellecTable of Contents1: The Agricultural Biotechnology for Sustainable Productivity Project: a New Model in Collaborative Development, C Ives et al. 2: Needs and Potential Uses of Agricultural Biotechnology: Perspectives of Developing Countries 3: Addressing Agricultural Development in Egypt through Genetic Engineering, M Madkour 4: The Release of Transgenic Varieties in Centres of Origin: Effect on Biotechnology Research and Development Priorities in Developing Countries, A Alvarez-Morales 5: Current Status of Agricultural Biotechnology Research in Indonesia, A M Fagi and M Herman 6: Agricultural Needs in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Role of Biotechnology, C G Ndiritu and J S Wafula 7: The Application of Biotechnology to Food Security Crops 8: Development of Insect-resistant Maize and Its Potential Benefits to Developing Countries, P Robeff 9: The Application of Biotechnology to Potato, M Ghislain et al. 10: Development of Virus-resistant Sweetpotato, M Hinchee 11: The Application of Biotechnology to Rice, G S Khush and D S Brar 12: The Application of Biotechnology to Non-Traditional Crops 13: Current Advances in the Biotechnology of Banana, O Arias 14: The Application of Biotechnology to Date Palm, M Aaouine 15: The Use of Coat Protein Technology to Develop Virus-resistant Cucurbits, H Quemada 16: The Biotechnology of Oil Palm, S-C Cheah 17: Issues Surrounding the Development, Transfer, Adaptation, and Utilization of Agricultural Biotechnology for Emerging Nations 18: Making a Difference: Considering Beneficiaries and Sustainability while Undertaking Research in Biotechnology, J I Cohen 19: Rice Biotechnology Capacity Building in Asia, G H Toenniessen 20: International Biosafety Regulations: Benefits and Costs, R J Frederick 21: Cassava Biotechnology Research: Beyond the Toolbox, A M Thro 22: Fundación Perú: a Path to Capacity Building, F Cillóniz 23: Developing and Accessing Agricultural Biotechnologies: International, US and Developing Country Issues, Perspectives and Experiences 24: Transferring Agricultural Biotechnology: US Public/Private Sector Perspectives, F H Erbisch 25: International Intellectual Property and Genetic Resource Issues Affecting Agricultural Biotechnology, J H Barton 26: Developing Capacity and Accessing Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) for Sustainable Agriculture and Industrial Development in Zimbabwe, J M Gopo 27: The Technology Transfer System in Thailand, L Tanasugarn 28: Trade in Conventional and Biotechnology Agricultural Products, Q B Kubicek 29: Can Developing Countries Turn Biotech into Business? Moving Research Results into Products 30: Wild Biodiversity: the Last Frontier?, N Mateo 31: Developing an Agricultural Biotechnology Business: Perspective from the Front Lines, P G Marrone

Read more less

Book SynopsisResources for agricultural science are scarce across the world. Yet even as resources are shrinking, agricultural science has expanded its inquiry into many new areas - such as environmental preservation, food quality, and rural development - without forsaking its more traditional concerns. In a time of tight government budgets, research administrators are faced with the need to provide strong evidence that costs are justified by benefits. Science under Scarcity is an invaluable guide to the theory and methods necessary for evaluating research in agriculture and for setting priorities for resource allocation. Although economists have made significant progress in developing more sophisticated methods for research evaluation and priority setting, many research analysts and administrators do not have a working knowledge of those practices. Without the assistance of formal economic analysis it is particularly difficult to assess the social value of new technologies or to make informTable of Contents1: Institutional and Conceptual Framework 2: The Institutional, Scientific and Policy Contexts 3: Research Evaluation and Priority-Setting Research 4: Measuring the Effects of Agricultural Research 5: Econometric Measurement of the Effects of Research 6: Economic Surplus Methods 7: Evaluation and Priority Setting in Practice 8: Economic Surplus Measurement and Application 9: Mathematic Programming 10: Scoring and Other Shortcut Approaches 11: Overview and Assessment 12: Assessment and Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture has had a fundamental impact on agricultural policy worldwide. The new WTO agreements will cover agriculture,sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and trade in intellectual property rights. This book addresses the interface between the law of international agricultural trade, the emerging legal and economic order for agricultural trade under the auspices of the WTO, and its impact on agricultural policy reform both in the European Union and the USA. With contributions from leading authorities in the appropriate areas.Table of Contents1: The WTO, International Trade and Agricultural Policy Reform, C Rodgers and M Cardwell 2: The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture and Domestic Support, M R Grossman 3: The Politics of Agricultural Trade, W Grant, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK 4: Farm Subsidies and Agricultural Trade Policy: The Case of US Support Programs, D A Sumner, University of California, USA 5: Multifunctionality and Non Trade Concerns, M R Grossman 6: Multifunctionality of Agriculture: A European Community Perspective, M Cardwell 7: TRIPS and the Protection of Intellectual Property in Biotechnology in the United States, T A Feitshans, North Carolina State University, USA 8: TRIPS, Biotechnology and the Public Domain: What Role Will World Trade Law Play? J Linarelli, University of La Verne College of Law, Ontario, California, USA 9: Regulating GM Products in the EU: Risk, Precaution and International Trade, C Hilson, University of Reading, UK and D French, University of Sheffield, UK 10: International Trade in Genetically Altered Agricultural Products - Impact of the Biosafety Protocol, N W Thorson, University of Nebraska, USA 11: Environmental Policy and Reform of European Agriculture Law, C Rodgers 12: Reforming United States Environmental Regulations for Agriculture: Impediments and Opportunities, D Adelman, University of Arizona, USA

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first edition of this book, published in 1993, was very well received as providing a comprehensive review of the digestion and metabolism of ruminant animals. Since its publication, much new research has been conducted in the subject and knowledge has increased. This is incorporated in this second edition through the addition of five completely new chapters. These cover; the gas production technique in feed evaluation; calorimetry; the relationship between pasture characteristics and animal performance; feed processing; and the integration of data in feed evaluation systems. Other chapters have been fully expanded and updated as appropriate and Dr Dijkstra has also been enrolled as the lead editor. This book brings together quantitative approaches used in the study of mechanisms of ruminant digestion and metabolism.Table of Contents1: Introduction, J Dijkstra, J M Forbes and J France 2: Rate and Extent of Digestion, D R Mertens, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, USA 3: Digesta Flow, G J Faichney, Australia 4: In Vitro and In Situ Techniques for Estimating Digestibility, S López,University of Leon, Spain 5: Particle Dynamics, P M Kennedy, CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australia 6: Volatile Fatty Acid Production, J France and J Dijkstra 7: Nitrogen Transactions in Ruminants, J V Nolan, University of New England, Australia and R C Dobos, NSW Department Primary Industries, Australia 8: Rumen Micro-Organisms and their Interactions, M K Theodorou,BBSRC Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research, UK and J France 9: Microbial Energetics, J B Russell, Cornell University, USA and H J Strobel,University of Kentucky, USA 10: Rumen Function, A Bannink, Wageningen University, The Netherlands and S Tamminga, Wageningen University, The Netherlands 11: Glucose and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism, R P Brockman,St Peter's College, Canada 12: Metabolism of the Portal-Drained Viscera and Liver, D B Lindsay,University of Nottingham, UK and C K Reynolds, The Ohio State University, USA 13: Fat Metabolism and Turnover, D W Pethick, Murdoch University,Australia, G S Harper, CSIRO, Division of Livestock Industries,Australia and F R Dunshea, Murdoch University, Australia 14: Protein Metabolism and Turnover, D Attaix, D Rémond andI C Savary-Auzeloux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique,France 15: Interactions between Protein and Energy Metabolism, T C Wright,JA Maas and L P Milligan, University of Guelph, Canada 16: Calorimetry, R E Agnew and T Yan, Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, UK 17: Metabolic Regulation, R G Vernon, Hannah Research Institute, UK 18: Mineral Metabolism, E Kebreab, University of Guelph, Canada andD M S S Vitti, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Piracicaba,Brazil 19: Growth, G K Murdoch, E K Okine, W T Dixon, J D Nkrumah, University of Alberta, Canada, J A Basarab, Lacombe Research Centre, Canadaand R J Christopherson, University of Alberta, Canada 20: Pregnancy and Fetal Metabolism, AW Bell, Cornell University,Ithaca, USA, C L Ferrell, and H C Freetly, USDA-ARS, USA 21: Lactation: Statistical and Genetic Aspects of Simulating Lactation Data from Individual Cows Using a Dynamic, Mechanistic Model of Dairy Cow Metabolism, H A Johnson, T R Famula and R L Baldwin,University of California, USA 22: Mathematical Modelling of Wool Growth at the Cellular and Whole Animal Level, B N Nagorcka and M Freer, CSIRO Livestock Industries,Australia 23: Voluntary Feed Intake and Diet Selection, J M Forbes 24: Feed Processing: Effects on Nutrient Degradation and Digestibility,A F B Van der Poel, Wageningen University, The Netherlands,E Prestløkken, Agricultural University of Norway and J O Goelema,Pre-Mervo, The Netherlands 25: Animal Interactions with their Environment: Dairy Cows in Intensive Systems, T Mottram and N Prescott, Silsoe Research Institute, UK 26: Pasture Characteristics and Animal Performance, P Chilibroste,Estación Experimental M A Cassinoni, Uruguay, M Gibb, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Okehampton, UK and S Tamminga 27: Integration of Data in Feed Evaluation Systems, J P Cant,University of Guelph, Canada

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeginning as a small protest to the industrialization of agriculture in the 1920s, organic farming has become a significant force in agricultural policy, marketing, and research. No longer dismissed as unscientific and counterproductive, organic techniques are now taken seriously by farmers, consumers, scientists, food processors, marketers, and regulatory agencies in much of the world. Organic farming is both dynamic and forward-looking but is also rooted in tradition. It is these traditions that can provide valuable starting points in debates over how organic farming should meet new challenges such as globalization, the emergence of new production techniques, and growing concern over equity and social justice in agriculture. Complementing general discussions with case histories of important organic institutions in various countries, this comprehensive discussion is the first to explore the development of organic agriculture. This title is now also available in papTable of ContentsPart 1: Origins and Principles Chapter 1: What Explains the Rise of Organic Farming? Chapter 2: The Origins of Organic Farming Chapter 3: Organic Values Chapter 4: The Science of Organic Farming Chapter 5: The Evolution of Organic Practice Part 2: Policies and Markets Chapter 6: The Development of Governmental Support for Organic Farming in Europe Chapter 7: The Organic Market Chapter 8: Development of Standards for Organic Farming Part 3: Organizations and Institutions Chapter 9: IFOAM and the History of the International Organic Movement Chapter 10: The Soil Association Chapter 11: Ecological Farmers Association and the Success of Swedish Organic Agriculture Chapter 12: MAPO and the Argentinian Organic Movement Chapter 13: NASAA and Organic Agriculture in Australia Chapter 14: FiBL and Organic Research in Switzerland Chapter 15: The Organic Trade Association Part 4: Challenges Chapter 16: A Look toward the Future Part 1: Origins and Principles Chapter 1: What Explains the Rise of Organic Farming? Chapter 2: The Origins of Organic Farming Chapter 3: Organic Values Chapter 4: The Science of Organic Farming Chapter 5: The Evolution of Organic Practice Part 2: Policies and Markets Chapter 6: The Development of Governmental Support for Organic Farming in Europe Chapter 7: The Organic Market Chapter 8: Development of Standards for Organic Farming Part 3: Organizations and Institutions Chapter 9: IFOAM and the History of the International Organic Movement Chapter 10: The Soil Association Chapter 11: Ecological Farmers Association and the Success of Swedish Organic Agriculture Chapter 12: MAPO and the Argentinian Organic Movement Chapter 13: NASAA and Organic Agriculture in Australia Chapter 14: FiBL and Organic Research in Switzerland Chapter 15: The Organic Trade Association Part 4: Challenges Chapter 16: A Look toward the Future

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe conservation of genetic resources is vital to the maintenance of biodiversity and to the world's ability to feed its growing population. There are now more than a thousand genebanks worldwide involved in the ex situ (meaning away from the source) storage of particular classes of crops. Since the 1970s, the eleven genebanks maintained by the centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have become pivotal to the global conservation effort. However, key policy and management issues usually with economic dimensions have largely been overlooked.This provided the impetus for a series of detailed economic studies, led by IFPRI, in collaboration with five CGIAR centres: CIAT (based in Colombia), CIMMYT (Mexico), ICARDA (Syria), ICRISAT (India) and IRRI (Philippines). This book reports these studies and discusses their wider implications.Table of Contents1: Introduction, B Koo, P G Pardey, and B D Wright 2: The Economics of Genebank Costing, B Koo, P G Pardey, and B D Wright 3: CIMMYT Genebank, P G Pardey, B Koo, M Eric Van Dusen, University of California, Davis, USA, B Skovmand and S Taba, Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico, and B D Wright 4: ICARDA Genebank, B Koo, P G Pardey, J Valkoun, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria, and B D Wright 5: ICRISAT Genebank, B Koo, P G Pardey, N Kameswara Rao and P J Bramel, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India 6: IRRI Genebank, B Koo, P G Pardey, and M T Jackson, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Phillipines 7: CIAT Genebank, B Koo, P G Pardey, and D Debouck, Centro International de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Columbia 8: Policy and Management Implications, B Koo, P G Pardey, and B D Wright

Read more less

Book SynopsisThroughout Latin America, indigenous peoples are demanding that development must address local priorities, including ethnic identity. Simultaneously, sustainability scientists need to conduct place-based research on the interaction between environment and society that will have global relevance. This book reports on a 6 year interdisciplinary research project on natural resource management in Cotacachi, Ecuador, where scientists and indigenous groups learnt to seek common ground. The book discusses how local people and the environment have engaged each other over time to create contemporary Andean landscapes. It also explores human-environment interaction in relation to biodiversity, soils and water, and equitable development. This book will be of significant interest to sociologists, anthropologists, economists and sustainability scientists researching environment and agriculture in rural communities.Table of ContentsI: Foreword, A T Males, Municipio del Canton Cotacachi,Ecuador II: Acknowledgements PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1: Linking Sustainability Science, Community and Culture: AResearch Partnership in Cotacachi, Ecuador, R E Rhoades PART 2: TIME AND LANDSCAPE IN COTACACHI 2: Shaping an Andean Landscape: Processes AffectingTopography, Soils, and Hydrology in Cotacachi, F Zehetnerand W P Miller, University of Georgia, USA 3: Incursion, Fragmentation and Tradition: Historical Ecologyof Andean Cotacachi, A Shiloh Moates and B C Campbell,University of Georgia, USA 4: Four Decades of Land Use Change in the CotacachiAndes: 1963-2000, X Zapata Rios, SANREM-Andes Project,Ecuador, R E Rhoades, M C Segovia, SEK InternationalUniversity, Ecuador and F Zehetner 5: Climate Change in Cotacachi, R E Rhoades, X Zapata Riosand J Aragundy, SANREM-Andes Project, Ecuador 6: Traversing a Landscape of Memory, V D Nazarea,R Guitarra, UNORCAC, Cotacachi, Ecuador and R E Rhoades PART 3: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND USE 7: Biological Diversity in Cotacachi's Andean Forests,M Peñafiel, Alianza Jatun Sacha/CDC-Ecuador, Ecuador,M Tipan, Direccion Nacional de Recursos Naturales,Ecuador, L Nolivos and K Vásquez, Universidad Central delEcuador, Ecuador 8: Trees and Trade-Offs: Perceptions of Eucalyptus andNative Trees in Ecuadorian Highland Communities,A D Carse, University of North Carolina, USA 9: Living, Dwindling, Losing, Finding: Status and Changes inAgrobiodiversity of Cotacachi, K Skarbø, Bygda, Stranda,Norway 10: Women and Homegardens of Cotacachi, M Piniero,CATIE/NORAD, Guatemala 11: Good to Eat, Good to Think: Food, Culture, andBiodiversity in Cotacachi, J Camacho, University of Georgia,USA PART 4: SOILS, WATER, AND SUSTAINABILITY 12: Toward Sustainable Crop Production in Cotacachi: AnAssessment of the Soils' Nutrient Status, F Zehetner andW P Miller 13: Plant-Water Relations in an Andean Landscape: Modellingthe Effect of Irrigation on Upland Crop Production,F Zehetner, W P Miller and X Zapata Ríos 14: Water Quality and Human Needs in Cotacachi: the PichaviWatershed, J Aragundy and X Zapata Ríos 15: Local Resolution of Watershed Management Trade-Offs:The Case of Cotacachi, F Rodríguez with D Southgate, TheOhio State University, USA 16: Community-Based Water Monitoring in Cotacachi,S S Ruiz-Cordóva, B L Duncan, W Deutsch and N Gómez,Auburn University, USA PART 5: NEGOTIATING "DEVELOPMENT WITHIDENTITY" 17: Why is the Earth Tired? A Comparative Analysis ofAgricultural Change and Intervention in NorthernEcuador,B C Campbell 18: Circular Migration and Community Identity: TheirRelationship to the Land, G Flora, American Friends ServiceCommittee, USA 19: Social Capital and Advocacy Coalitions: Examples of Environment Issues from Ecuador, JL Flora, CB Flora,Iowa State University, USA, F Campana, M García Bravo,Heifer Project-Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador and E Fernández-Baza, Peru and Iowa State University, USA 20: Future Visioning for the Andes: Scientific Models andLocal Perspectives on Landuse Change, R E Rhoades andX Zapata Ríos 21: Sustainability Science in Indigenous Communities:Reconciling and Global Agendas, R E Rhoades

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamines the impact of liberalizing trade in staple food commodities.The author shows the way grain traders and households in five Tanzanian towns were affected by the Tanzanian government's decision to opt for liberalization in the trade of two staple food crops: rice and maize.Trade ReviewThis is the sort of informed and well-grounded study that makes an important contribution to what has happened in Africa and why. In doing so it provides an antidote to the portrayals of Tanzanian socialism and capitalism -- Joel Samoff * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORICAL STUDIES *This is an important book in the documenting of recent Tanzanian history. * DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW *Table of ContentsIntroduction - Post-Independence Egalitarian Goals & E conomic Crisis - Marketing Made Difficult: Food Supply Flu ctuations & Marketing Policy 1939-1973 - State Regulat ion of Staple Food Supply 1973-1988 - Traders' Journey fro m Black to Parallel to Open Markets - Traders & Urban Food Markets - Satisfying Urban Consumers - Trade-offs on Trade: Food Market Liberalization

Read more less

Book SynopsisImproving Irrigation in Asia is based on a longitudinal study over two decades on innovative intervention for sustained performance of irrigation systems. The work identifies key factors that can help explain the performance of interventions, and explicates lessons for resource management and the management of development assistance.Trade Review’A unique and significant longitudinal study of irrigation intervention in FMIS in Nepal that revives important debates on how irrigation management evolves and how this can be investigated. This concise and accessible book can inform and challenge agencies and donors to reflect on policies and researchers to argue further the study of collective action and political theory in irrigation management.’ -- Linden Vincent, Wageningen University, The Netherlands‘Improving Irrigation in Asia by Elinor Ostrom and colleagues is grounded in intimate detail on water management experience in Nepal while being informed by broadly-applicable concepts and behavioral theories. It greatly advances our understanding of management options and effects. As the water resources available for agriculture become more limited and unreliable, the efficiency and productivity with which irrigation water is used must be increased. While better technology can assist in this quest, the greatest potential gains lie in the social and organizational domains.’ -- Norman Uphoff, Cornell University’Governance of irrigation systems is complex, needing social, technical and financial actions that support farming. Few people have as much knowledge of self-governing irrigation systems as these authors, and few countries have as many of these systems as Nepal. Lessons from these small irrigation systems can be adapted to much larger units, and to other kinds of activity. External assistance on a modest scale could generate practical benefit, by encouraging self-reliance in communities.’ -- Charles Abernethy, International Irrigation Management Institute, Colombo (1987 - 94) and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (1996 - 99)Table of ContentsContents: Foreword by Gilbert Levine Preface by Robert Yoder 1. The Challenge of Achieving Successful Development Interventions 2. Effects of Different Modes of Assistance on the Performance of Farmer-managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal 3. Processes and Procedures of an Innovative Development Intervention Initiated in 1985 in the Middle Hills of Nepal 4. Evaluating an Innovative Development Intervention a Decade and a Half Later 5. Post-intervention Dynamics in 2008: Focusing on Two Success and Two Failure Cases 6. Synthesis and Conclusion References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAgriculture is becoming increasingly influenced by globalisation.The expert contributors cover themes including the physical basis of agriculture, the influence of trade policies, the nature of globalised agriculture, and resistance to globalisation in the form of attempts to foster sustainability and multifunctional agricultural systems.Trade Review‘Guy Robinson and Doris Carson have assembled a wonderfully comprehensive and timely book that both reveals and joins together the many and varied elements of diverse contemporary agriculture and food production systems. The book stands as a valuable scan of the diverse forces and processes of change in agriculture and also makes visible, through its various and well-chosen case analyses, the abiding and sometimes colliding roles of structure, agency, power and place in shaping farm and food futures.’ -- John Smithers, University of Guelph, Canada‘An excellent, timely and innovative contribution to the wide-ranging debates on the globalisation of agriculture. The book brings together a wide array of authors who approach agricultural globalisation issues from various angles spanning both the social and natural sciences, including key contributions on agriculture/environment issues, food security challenges, policy regimes, transnational corporations, and challenges of an increasingly globalised agriculture.’ -- Geoff A. Wilson, Plymouth University, UK‘It is clear that this handbook provides a wide and very rich overview of topics, themes, theoretical reflections and scholarly debates addressing recent transformations in global agriculture in its broadest terms. The volume excels due to a combi-nation of wide perspectives with multiple foci. In general, the chapters are clear and concise, illustrating the wealth and depth of this research area. That makes this vol-ume an excellent reference work and a sound point of departure for new research.' -- Comparativ – Zeitschrift für Globalgeschichte und vergleichende GesellschaftsforschungTable of ContentsContents: 1. The Globalisation of Agriculture: Introducing the Handbook Guy M. Robinson and Doris A. Carson PART I THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF AGRICULTURE 2. Agriculture and Environment: Fundamentals and Future Perspectives Ros Taylor and Jane Entwistle 3. Effects of Agricultural Activities on Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Organic versus Conventional Farming Tiziano Gomiero 4. Measuring and Managing the Global Agricultural Foot-print of Countries’ Consumption Stefan Bringezu, Helmut Schütz and Meghan O’Brien 5. Meeting the Food Security Challenge through Sustainable Intensification Noel Russell and Amani Omer PART II GLOBALISATION AND POLICY REGIMES 6. Agricultural Trade Wyn Grant 7. US Agricultural Policy and the Globalization of World Agriculture Bill Winders 8. Contributions of Trade Reforms to Agriculture’s Globalization Kym Anderson 9. Heroes, Villains and Victims: Agricultural Subsidies and Their Impacts on Food Security and Poverty Reduction Andrew Dorward and Jamie Morrison 10. Agricultural Production in China under Globalization Hualou Long, Yansui Liu and Tingting Li PART III GLOBALISATION AND TRANS-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS 11. Geographies and Histories of the Green Revolution: From Global Flows to Place-based Experiences Pratyusha Basu and James Klepek 12. Biotechnology and the Global Food Riots: Why Genetically Modified Foods Will Not End World Hunger Simon Nicholson 13. Private Agrifood Governance and the Challenges for Sustainability Agni Kalfagianni and Doris Fuchs 14. Trade-related Intellectual Property: Implications for the Global Seed Industry, Food Sovereignty and Farmers’ Rights Claire R. Parfitt and Daniel F. Robinson 15. The Financialization of Food and Farming Geoffrey Lawrence, Sarah Ruth Sippel and David Burch 16. All You Need is Export? Moroccan Farmers Juggling Global and Local Markets Sarah Ruth Sippel 17. Inequality Regimes in Food Processing Industries Lia Bryant 18. Global Companies and Local Community Relations: Power, Access and Partnership in Food Production and Rural Resource Development Roy E. Rickson, Kara E. Rickson, Peter Hoppe and David Burch PART IV CHALLENGES TO THE GLOBALISATION OF AGRICULTURE 19. Multifunctional Agricultural Transition: Essential for Local Diversity in a Globalised World Simon James Fielke 20. Recreating Diversity for Resilient and Adaptive Agricultural Systems Douglas K. Bardsley 21. The Changing Dynamics of Alternative Agri-food Networks: A European Perspective Brian Ilbery and Damian Maye 22. Building Sustainable Communities through Alternative Food Systems Alison Blay-Palmer and Irena Knezevic 23. The ‘White Revolution’ and Dual Dairy Economy Structures Bruce A. Scholten Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisHighlights the Ministry of Agriculture's drive to develop and test both local and imported extension models and share its experience with other African countries. This work analyzes the growth and evolution of agricultural extension from 1987 to 2004, as provided by public, private, and NGO sources in Mozambique.

Read more less

Book SynopsisElmer G. Powers and his family managed to survive the Depression, in part because Quietdale Farm is located on rich land in Boone County, Iowa. The problems he confronted—collapsing markets, drought, and sometimes misdirected governmental efforts—were felt by countless others, many of whom lost their farms. First published in 1976 and now revised and reissued with a new introduction by Katherine Jellison, Years of Struggle documents one farmer''s experiences during a period of national upheaval.Trade Review"An extraordinary piece of Americana."—Gilbert C. Fite, Pacific Northwest Quarterly "This diary of an ordinary farmer... is the next best thing to personal experience in creating a 'feel' for the period."—Lauren Soth, Agricultural History "The value of this book-and it is considerable-rests on its uniqueness."—Roy V. Scott, HistoryTable of ContentsTable of Contents Introduction: Katherine Jellison / Introduction: H. Roger Grant and L. Edward Purcell 1 Day by Day on the Farm: 1931–1932 2 Coming of the New Deal: 1933–1934 3 Owner-Operator: 1935 4 Drifts, Debts, and Drought: 1936 Epilogue Notes Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMembership of the IAAE is individual rather than organizational, and is motivated by a genuine wish to learn and achieve sustainable development through agricultural and rural progress in all regions. The theme of the 25th conference, Reshaping Agriculture''s Contribution to Society was chosen to embrace the broadest possible set of contemporary issues covering these concerns, with four specific sub themes (1) strategies for reducing poverty, (2) efficiency in food and farming systems, (3) food safety and security, and (4) environmental management.Table of ContentsPreface (Joachim von Braun). Introduction: The 25th conference and the association (David R. Colman and Nick Vink). Agricultural economics and distributional effects (Joachim von Braun). Causes of rural economic development (Bruce L. Gardner). Plenary 1. Rural poverty dynamics: development policy implications (Christopher B. Barrett). Six characters (and a few more) in search of an author: how to rescue rural development before it’s too late (Simon Maxwell). Achieving success in rural development: toward implementation of an integral approach (Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet). Plenary 2. Is there a future for small farms? (Peter B. R. Hazell). A revival of large farms in Eastern Europe – how important are institutions? (Ulrich Koester). Total factor productivity growth in agriculture: a Malmquist index analysis of 93 countries, 1980-2000 (Tim J. Coelli and D. S. Prasada Rao). Is small beautiful? Farm size, productivity, and poverty in Asian agriculture (Shenggen Fan and Connie Chan-Kang). Plenary 3. Will food safety jeopardize food security? (Jean Kinsey). Poverty amidst plenty: food insecurity in the United States (Michael LeBlanc, Betsey Kuhn, and James Blaylock). Food safety, the media, and the information market (Johan F. M. Swinnen, Jill McCluskey, and Nathalie Francken). Agricultural biotechnology: implications for food security (Vittorio Santeniello). Plenary 4. The poverty of sustainability: rescuing economics from platitudes (Daniel W. Bromley). Under-investing in public goods: evidence, causes, and consequences for agricultural development, equity, and the environment (Ramon Lopez). Resource degradation, low agricultural productivity, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa: pathways out of the spiral (Simeon Ehui and John Pender). Economic development and environmental management in the uplands of Southeast Asia: challenges for policy and institutional development (Agnes C. Rola and Ian Coxhead). IAAE Synopsis: Reshaping Agriculture’s contribution to society. Prabhu Pingali. Michael Petit. Alberto Valdes. Johann Kirsten. Conference Program. Name Index. Subject Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Billion Dollars a Day This text provides a good narrative on the economics of government intervention, the structure of the world food system and history of the WTO, and the provision of farm subsidies by developed economies, with a special focus on the U.S. and EU.P. Lynn Kennedy, Louisiana State UniversityThis extremely well-researched and documented book provides a comprehensive overview of the impact (both intentional and unintentional) that developed nations' agricultural policies can have on underdeveloped agricultural-based nations.Jay E. Noel, Cal Poly State University This text's discussion and explanation of subsidies is well developed in a historical and international context that is not found elsewhere. Conrad Lyford, Texas Tech University Peterson has done a nice job of taking complicated issues and explaining them in a manner that is understandable for students with limited background in policy,Trade Review"Peterson's analysis is historical and descriptive, but up-to-date and detailed enough to be very informative." Jean-Paul Chavas, University of Wisconsin "This text's discussion and explanation of subsidies is well developed in a historical and international context that is not found elsewhere." Conrad Lyford, Texas Tech University "This text provides a good narrative on the economics of government intervention, the structure of the world food system and history of the WTO, and the provision of farm subsidies by developed economies, with a special focus on the U.S. and EU." P. Lynn Kennedy, Crescent City Tigers Alumni Professor, Louisiana State University "Peterson has done a nice job of taking complicated issues and explaining them in a manner that is understandable for students with limited background in policy, development, and trade. This well-written text brings both a US and a world perspective to the timely and important topics of government farm policy and food prices." Rick Whitacre, Illinois State University "This extremely well-researched and -documented book provides a comprehensive overview of the impact (both intentional and unintentional) that developed nations' agricultural policies can have on under-developed agricultural based nations." Jay E. Noel, Cal Poly State University "The main strength of this book is that it takes a long-term view of how agricultural policies have developed over the years to bring us where we are today. This long-term perspective enables the reader to appreciate the many complex issues - economic and political - involved in policy formulation, and the resulting entrenchment of policies that on the surface seem illogical." Michael D. Hammig, Clemson University "I do a lot of international development work and have been involved with policy analysis and formulation in the U.S. and abroad. I like the approach of this book as it draws attention to the many disparities encompassed by agricultural policy on the world stage." Michael D. Hammig, Clemson UniversityTable of ContentsPreface viii List of Abbreviations xi Prologue xiv 1 Introduction: The Problem of Agricultural Subsidies 1 Benin 1 Western Agricultural Subsidies 7 Organization of the Book 13 2 The Economics of Government Intervention 15 Introduction 15 The Invisible Hand 17 Market Failures 21 Violations of the basic conditions: imperfect competition, information, and risk 22 Public goods and externalities 28 Income distribution, poverty, and inequality 33 Conclusion 34 Appendix 2.1: The Theory of the Invisible Hand 35 Appendix 2.2: The Prisoners’ Dilemma 41 3 The Structure of the World Food System 44 Introduction 44 Historical Perspectives 47 The World Food System 52 Agribusiness, Government, and Science 65 Conclusion 68 Appendix 3.1: Country and Commodity Classifications used in Statistical Tables 68 4 Global Institutions and the World Trade Organization 70 Introduction 70 The World Trade Organization 73 Agriculture in the WTO 76 Trade and Development 87 Appendix 4.1: Comparative Advantage 94 5 The Nature and Scope of Agricultural Subsidies in High-Income Countries 98 Introduction 98 Agricultural Policy Objectives and Tools 100 Agricultural Subsidies in OECD Countries 105 Effects of OECD Agricultural Subsidies 116 Conclusion 122 6 U.S. Agricultural Policy: How Not to Save the Family Farm 123 Introduction 123 Historical Overview of U.S. Farm Policy 126 The Impacts of U.S. Farm Subsidies 142 The Politics of U.S. Agricultural Policies 147 Appendix 6.1: ERS Farm Typology 150 7 Agricultural Policy in the European Union: Europe’s Sacred Cows 152 Introduction 152 Agricultural Policy in the European Union 157 The Impact of the Common Agricultural Policy 170 Appendix 7.1: Green Currencies and the Re-Nationalization of the CAP 177 8 Agricultural Policy on the Pacifi c Rim: Non-Trade Concerns versus Comparative Advantage 180 Introduction 180 Japan and Korea 183 Australia and New Zealand 193 Conclusion 202 9 Agricultural Policy in Developing Countries: Cheap Food 205 Introduction 205 The Developing World 207 Agricultural Policy in Developing Countries 214 The Impacts of Agricultural and Trade Policy Reforms 224 Conclusion 229 Appendix 9.1: Country Lists 231 10 Conclusion: Whither Agricultural Policy? 235 References 253 Index 279

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisUtilizing archives in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States, Timothy Lorek reveals how Colombians contributed to the rise of a global Green Revolution and how that international process in turn intersected with a complex and long-running rural conflict in Colombia.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCattle Beet Capital explores the economic, cultural, and environmental processes and contingencies that shaped the evolution of industrial agriculture in northern Colorado. Trade Review"At first glance, Colorado's eastern plains appear similar to the other plains that surround it, but Michael Weeks's book on the northeastern section of Colorado (the Colorado Piedmont) and the industries that developed there explains the complicated relationship between this region, the rest of the state, and to some extent the rest of the American West. That alone makes this work a tremendous contribution to Colorado history."—Jonathan Rees, H-Environment"[Cattle Beet Capital is] a valuable resource for readers interested in the agricultural and environmental history of the American West."—E. G. Harrington, Choice“This is an important story about the development of factory farming in the Colorado Piedmont in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. One key intervention that Weeks makes is placing the story of the Colorado Piedmont at the center of the history about the growth of irrigated agribusiness in the West. Cattle Beet Capital makes important contributions to environmental history, agricultural history, and business history as well.”—Bartow J. Elmore, author of Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism“[Weeks] has uncovered loads of fascinating new material, especially from archives, that makes this story interesting and revealing. Cattle Beet Capital offers a fresh and original story that should inspire others. This will make an important contribution to agricultural, environmental, and regional history.”—Deborah Fitzgerald, author of Every Farm a Factory: The Industrial Ideal in American AgricultureTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Cultivating a Regional Agroecology 2. Capitalism and Sustainable Farming 3. Beet Biology and the Nature of Labor 4. Piedmont Sugar and the State of Science 5. The Economics of Mechanization and Watershed Engineering 6. Building the Petrochemical Paradigm 7. Manufacturing Beef Perspective Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Visible Hands That Feed provides crucial insights into the rifts and regularities that are characteristic of today’s food systems. These insights attend to the widespread disquiet about the ethics and politics of food production and trade. While challenging utopian thinking, these findings give hope by elaborating on the promising nature of what falls between political and moral agendas. In The Visible Hands That Feed Ruzana Liburkina approaches the food sector against the backdrop of its pivotal role for social and ecological relations to trace the potentials and limitations for sustainable change from within. Drawing on the results of ethnographic fieldwork in Europe and South America, Liburkina conducts an in-depth exploration of the practices, visions, concerns, and relationships that unfold at the very locations where food is grown, processed, stored, and served. By scrutinizing two critical notions in relation to sustainability—responsibiTrade Review“An important, nuanced, and innovative take on the subject of agriculture and food. I appreciate the contrast between the small farmers in Germany who think that they are setting a moral example for the world on how to farm and the Uruguayan rice farmers who pity the European farmers who are so dependent on subsidies that they are a drain on their societies. This brilliantly captures how farmers think about their lives in contrast to other farmers.”—Leland Glenna, professor of rural sociology and science, technology, and society at Pennsylvania State University“Ruzana Liburkina provides very nice ethnographic accounts of the lived experiences of those inhabiting different locations along the food value chain. The stories told are compelling, from an empirical point of view, and moving. This book makes a clearly novel contribution.”—Michael Carolan, author of The Sociology of Food and Agriculture

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this groundbreaking volume, Juan Jose Baldrich traces the deep changes affecting Puerto Rican tobacco growers and manufacturers and their export markets from the Spanish colonization of the island to the present.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEd Blanchard was known to family and friends as a wild, reckless cowboy long before horsemen of the West recognized him as a noted maker of cowboy spurs. But his years spent herding snorty cattle and cinching his saddle on broncs taught him his trade as both a cowboy and a spur maker.Through Blanchard's experiences, the authors trace the changes of Western life, from horse to pickup truck, from hand-forged spurs to commercial manufacture. Ranch life, the cowboy life, and metalworking in the American West are interwoven through the book, as they were in the real life of Blanchard, who emerges from these pages as a humorous, down-home regional character readers will be glad to get to know.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen it comes to local food, it takes more than “knowing your farmer.” Brandi Janssen takes on some of the myths about how the local food system works and what it needs to thrive. Advocates claim that small biodiverse farms will fundamentally change farming, rural communities, and the American diet. For many, simply by knowing our farmers we become champions of a new way of eating that revolutionizes our economy and society. But that argument ignores the fact that if local food is to succeed, it requires many of the trappings of conventional food production, including processors, middle men, inspectors, and regulators.By listening to and working alongside people trying to build a local food system in Iowa, Janssen uncovers the complex realities of making it work. Although the state is better known for its vast fields of conventionally grown corn and soybeans, it has long boasted a robust network of small, diverse farms, community supported agriculture enterprises, and farmers’ markets. As she picks tomatoes, processes wheatgrass, and joins a parents’ committee trying to buy local lettuce for a school lunch, Janssen asks how Iowa’s small farmers and CSA owners deal with farmers’ market regulations, neighbors who spray pesticides on crops or lawns, and sanitary regulations on meat processing and milk production. How can they meet the needs of large buyers like school districts? Who does the hard work of planting, weeding, harvesting, and processing? Is local food production benefitting rural communities as much as advocates claim?In answering these questions, Janssen displays the pragmatism and level-headedness one would expect of the heartland, much like the farmers and processors profiled here. It’s doable, she states, but we’re going to have to do more than shop at our local farmers’ market to make it happen. This book is an ideal introduction to what local food means today and what it might be tomorrow.

Read more less