Agriculture and farming Books

Book SynopsisThis new book is a collection of research and review articles from authors involved in diverse aspects of cultivar research. This volume discusses the agronomic, biochemical and nutritional aspects of a wide range of plant cultivars, including aspects related to the use of genetic tools for the production of vaccines as well as new molecular techniques available for product traceability. Also reviewed is the comprehensive treatment of the physiological effects of foods and food components capable of promoting good health and preventing or alleviating disease. Moreover, this volume will be of great help to undergraduate and graduate level students in Genetics, Agriculture, Phytochemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Plant Physiology and Crop Development, and an excellent reference material for plant researchers.

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Book SynopsisFor over 55 years, the United States has played a leading role in global efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to enhance world food security through international food aid activities. The development and implementation of a U.S. global food security initiative, and commitments made by global leaders to support agricultural development, have increased Congress''s focus on U.S. international food aid programs. The primary objectives for foreign food aid include providing emergency and humanitarian assistance in response to natural or man-made disasters, and promoting agricultural development and food security. The United States provides food aid for emergency food relief and to support development projects. This book examines the programs, donors, and world food program controls in support of international food aid currently being enacted to deal with this global crisis.

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Book SynopsisThis book takes an incisive, political ecology perspective of the development of agriculture in the West African nation of Ghana (formerly the British colony of the Gold Coast), focusing on agricultural, socio-cultural, economic, political and environmental issues during the pre-colonial (pre-16th century), colonial and post colonial periods (after 1957, up until 1992, the start of the last Republic). This integrated approach for the study of agricultural development and environmental change is very relevant to the Ghanaian context. Here, complex historical, political and socio-cultural factors have been combined, within a fairly short period, to contribute to an environmental metamorphosis. A complicated mosaic of indeterminate vegetation climaxes, such as depleted and secondary forests, derived savannah and savannah woodland, has gradually replaced the primeval rain forest, deciduous forest and savannah. Problems include soil erosion and desertification risk. This, largely due to human agency, is explainable by examining the political and economic relations behind the resource exploitation methods devised by the different actors in the political, economic and social system.

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Book SynopsisRegional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) have taken on greater significance amidst an evolving international trading environment. Member countries in FTAs agree to eliminate trade barriers on all or most goods and services traded among them. Uncertainties associated with global negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda, along with other factors, have contributed to an upsurge in bilateral and regional trade agreements. This book examines the possible impacts on U.S. agricultural trade of two recently implemented FTAs in which the United States is not a partner; the FTAs between the ASEAN countries and China and between the ASEAN countries and Australia/New Zealand. Also discussed is the potential effects on U.S. agricultural exporters of pending bilateral TAs between the United States and Korea, Colombia, and Panama.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of research in the study of household food security in the United States and India. An estimated 85.1 percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2011, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.9 percent) were food insecure, meaning that the food intake of one or more household members was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. Comparatively, this book provides a quantitative assessment of food security using a large household-level expenditure survey conducted by the Government of India during 2004/2005. The analysis tests the impact of several key assumptions required to estimate actual calories consumed from the expenditure data.

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses the important question of how large a role bioproduction and renewable energy can play in achieving sustainable agricultural practices in the present system of agricultural production. Understanding bioproduction engineering and development can help improve the efficiency of sustainable agriculture and future renewable energy resources. With the aim of understanding this question, this book focuses on bioproduction and sustainability issues, covering sensors, agricultural decision making systems and the relationship between bioproduction and sustainable practices of agriculture. Topics discussed include information oriented technology that can be implemented to address the variability of bioproduction systems; sensors and control systems; precision agricultural technology; decision support systems in agriculture; renewable energy resources; and analytical hierarchy processes for agricultural management. This material will appeal to a wide range of readers and is designed as a resource for graduate and undergraduate students working in any area of agricultural engineering, crop sciences, or environmental science disciplines. The book also includes questions and sample model problems to allow readers to practice implementing the modelling tools.

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Book SynopsisAgriculture is one of the defining elements of a nation. This series consists of analyses on a variety of agricultural issues including (but not limited to) the developments, policies, programs, trade, trends and economics of agriculture. Topics will be seen from a U.S. perspective, but not to the exclusion of other countries particularly when the discussion has an international scope. Topics discussed in this issue include agricultural conversation programs; conservation compliance and U.S. farm policy; implications for the growth and financial health of U.S. agriculture; policy reform in the tobacco industry; hemp as an agricultural commodity; and table egg production and hen welfare.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the developments, issues and research outlook of global agriculture. Topics discussed include classifying and measuring agricultural support and identifying differences between the WTO and OECD systems; China''s volatile pork industry; long-term growth prospects for wheat production in Afghanistan; and economic policy and cotton production in Uzbekistan.

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Book SynopsisThe United States is the world''s leading import market for live animals. From 2005 through 2008 over 1 billion live animals were legally imported into the United States for agriculture, clinical research, education and exhibition, the aquarium and pet industries, and other uses. These imports have the potential to transmit zoonotic diseases; which are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans and can cause a substantial number of deaths. The spread of zoonotic diseases, as well as other diseases affecting only animals, can take a major economic toll on many industries. This book examines potential gaps in the statutory and regulatory framework governing live animal imports, that may allow the introduction and spread of zoonotic and animal diseases, the extent to which the various government oversight agencies collaborate to meet their responsibilities on this issue, and performance information that the responsible agencies have reported on live animal imports.

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Book SynopsisThe United States is the undisputed world leader in agricultural production today, but as we look out across the 21st century, agriculture faces a series of challenges: managing new pests, pathogens, and invasive plants; increasing the efficiency of water use; reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture; growing food in a changing climate; managing the production of bioenergy; producing safe and nutritious food; and assisting with global food security and maintaining abundant yields. Meeting these challenges requires a new commitment to research, innovation, and technology development in agriculture. This book examines the challenges of agricultural preparedness and the required public commitment to agricultural research, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence to address some of the greatest threats to U.S. long-term prosperity and security.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of select programs relating to federal agricultural assistance. Topics discussed include the status and issues concerning the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); technical assistance for agriculture conservation; emergency assistance for agricultural land rehabilitation; agricultural disaster assistance; the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP); and trade adjustment assistance for farmers.

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Book SynopsisDuring the past decades, the performance of the agricultural sector in Africa and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been distressing. Rapid annual population growth has led to declining per-capita food production and consumption levels and incomes have not risen fast enough to permit market imports to offset the decline. More alarming, the prognosis for the immediate future is quite bleak. The recent food crisis has again drawn attention to the African tragedy and exposed the fragility of sub-Saharan agricultural and economic progress. Though some of the effects are no longer visible, the food crisis is still a sword of Damocles hanging over Africa''s head. Africa has experienced food crisis in the past and there is no reason to believe that there will be no more food crisis in the future, for its root causes have not been addressed: technological progress and productivity growth. This book explores the missing links in the technology transfer segment of the innovation-diffusion-utilisation complex. The text also critically reviews the current state of knowledge and research, examines the main drivers of technology adoption in African agriculture, and explores the causes of success and failure in technology dissemination.

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Book SynopsisThis compilation examines agricultural research from across the globe and covers a broad spectrum of related topics. In this book, the authors discuss research including the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms in conditions of EU CAP implementation; perennial weeds and management in Argentinean crop systems; the anti-inflammatory effects of the waste components from soybeans; dry matter production, yield dynamics and chemical composition of perennial grass and forage legume mixtures at various seeding rate proportions; genetic variations of globulin composition in soybean seeds; different effects of garlic preparations; vegetable soybean (edamame) production; the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and foliar application of potassium (K) and mepiquat chloride (MC) on the yield of cotton; and rapid methods for improving the nutritional quality of hydroponic leafy vegetables before harvest.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors present current research in the study of the production, chemistry and sensory properties of cheese. Topics discussed include the technological and chemical characterization of PDO cheeses in Italy; the presence of biogenic amines in cheese; Spanish traditional cheese characteristics; sensorial analysis methodology for goats'' cheese made with clotting enzymes; processed cheese flavours and flavour compounds; the dietary and toxicological aspects of cheese; fortification strategies of cheese as a functional food; health issues, reduction and replacement of salt in cheese; cheese ripening and proteolysis; lipid fraction in cheese; engineering properties of Mexican chihuahua cheese; structure and texture determination of dairy products by using spectroscopic techniques coupled with chemometric tools; clostridium in late blowing defect of cheese; analysis of fatty acids in cheese by capillary electrophoresis; valorisation of whey in small and medium dairy industries; conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in cheese; assessment of natural levels of substances with preservative effects in dairy products; cheese microstructure; and the multifaceted function of cheese and its anticancer effect on human leukaemic cell growth in vitro.

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Book SynopsisRural communities across America are working to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life to residents, and build on assets such as traditional main streets, agricultural and working lands, and natural resources. The Partnership for Sustainable Communities, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), established a Rural Work Group to reinforce these initiatives and ensure that the four agencies'' spending, policies, and programs support rural communities'' efforts to be economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable. Strengthening federal support for rural communities by co-ordinating and aligning these programs is a key Partnership goal. In August 2010, the Partnership established a Rural Work Group comprised of staff from HUD, DOT, EPA, and USDA to guide its approach to rural sustainable communities. This book, which summarises the work group''s efforts, explores how the Partnership can contribute to more resilient economies, healthy environments, and quality of life in rural America. It also sets out a framework for the Partnership''s future work with rural communities.

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Book SynopsisThe Forest Service manages more than 158,000 miles of recreational trails offering hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, off-highway-vehicle drivers, and others access to national forests. To remain safe and usable, these trails need regular maintenance, such as removal of downed trees or bridge repairs. This book examines (1) the extent to which the Forest Service is meeting trail maintenance needs, and effects associated with any maintenance not done; (2) resources, including funding and labour, that the agency employs to maintain its trails; (3) factors, if any, complicating agency efforts to maintain its trails; and (4) options, if any, that could improve the agency''s trail maintenance efforts.

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Book SynopsisThis book is believed to be the the first collection of articles to summarize the most advanced information and studies of Brassicaceae, a special genus with vast species, which not only have tremendous human health beneficial compounds for dietary consumption, but also comprise the most metal hyperaccumulating species worldwide discovered to date with potential usage in phytoremediation of polluted soil, air and water. The seven carefully selected chapters are authored by renowned experts from across the globe and cover the diverse beneficial roles of brassica-derived compounds and their molecular mechanisms of chlorophyll degradation. It also includes the newly released Brasscas with great health benefits and high suitability for the fresh-cut and fifth range industries, the three-dimensional molecular structure prediction of the health-important BoSMT protein, and new discoveries on the molecular and physiology mechanisms of heavy metal hyper-accumation and tolerance species in Brassicaceae. This book can be a useful reference book for scientists, teachers, students and others who are interested in the health benefits of brassica vegetables or their potential application in phytoremediation.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the developments, issues and research outlook of global agriculture. Topics discussed in this compilation include the policy, technology, and efficiency of Brazilian agriculture; Southeast Asia''s rice surplus; and speciality crop access to U.S. markets and a case study of Indian mangoes.

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Book SynopsisGlobal demand for and consumption of olive oil has increased significantly since the 1990s. While the United States and other "New World" players, such as Australia, Argentina, and Chile, have emerged as both producers and consumers, countries in the European Union (EU) and North Africa still dominate global production, consumption, and trade. Almost 60 percent of global exports by volume were intra-EU trade flows during 2008-12. The largest bilateral trade flows during this period were Spanish exports of olive oil to Italy, where large multinational companies source oil from around the world, blend and bottle it, and then re-export the final product to third-country markets, including the United States. The benchmark for international standards for determining the grade of an olive oil are set by the International Olive Council. Findings suggest that the current standards for extra virgin olive oil are widely unenforced and allow a wide range of olive oil qualities to be marketed as extra virgin. Broad and unenforced standards can lead to adulterated and mislabelled product, weakening the competitiveness of high-quality U.S.-produced olive oil in the U.S. market. In addition, many U.S. consumers are unable to distinguish quality differences and, as a result, gravitate toward less costly oils, giving an advantage to large bottlers that sell low-cost imported product. This book describes and analyses the factors affecting competition between the United States and major olive oil producing countries. It provides: (a) an overview of global production, consumption, exports, and imports during 2008-12 and 2013 where available; (b) an analysis of the factors impacting consumption in the U.S. market; (c) profiles of the olive oil industries in the United States and other major producing countries; and (d) an examination of competition between firms and countries in both the global and U.S. market.

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Book SynopsisAgriculture is one of the defining elements of a nation. This series consists of analyses on a variety of agricultural issues including (but not limited to) the developments, policies, programs, trade, trends and economics of agriculture. Topics will be seen from a U.S. perspective, but not to the exclusion of other countries particularly when the discussion has an international scope. Topics discussed in this issue include the background, status, and issues related to selected environmental regulations or initiatives possibly affecting agriculture; agricultural export programs; bee health; the legal and administrative responses to deregulating genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beets; and the economic benefits to agriculture and rural communities by fixing our immigration system.

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Book SynopsisIn light of high farm incomes and constrained federal budgets, the cost of federal farm and conservation programs, about $15 billion annually from 2009 through 2012, has come under scrutiny. Under the 2008 Farm Bill, participants whose incomes exceed specific limits are ineligible for certain program payments. The USDA''s Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes income eligibility determinations for programs it administers and also for conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The FSA verifies that participants have incomes below the limits by reviewing either tax returns (with consent from participants) or statements from accountants or attorneys. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review FSA''s income verification practices. Another concern has been the distribution of benefits to ineligible participants, including potentially improper payments to deceased individuals, which, as the GAO and others have reported, may call into question whether these farm safety net programs are benefiting the agricultural sector as intended. This book examines the FSA''s (1) review of tax returns and (2) review of accountants'' and attorneys'' statements and (3) FSA''s and NRCS''s recovery of payments to participants who exceeded income limits and (4) the extent to which procedures are in place to prevent the FSA and NRCS from making potentially improper payments to deceased individuals.

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Book SynopsisBarley is one of the earliest crops to be domesticated and its cultivation since the beginning of the 21st century, provides new utilities for the nutrition and sustainable development. It is one of the largest source crops used in the production of fodder, alcoholic beverages, biofuels and healthful foods. This book focuses on several topics that include the organic breeding and cultivation of barley; the biological characteristics of spring barley varieties in the far east of Russia; the contribution of barley in the bovine methane production in feedlots; the barley husk; the grain and endosperm biophysical characteristics of barley malting; the vacuolar H+ -PPhase genes in barley; the application of barley in cereal technology; the abiotic stress response in barley and the emergent roles of microRNAs; the dynamics of oxidative processes and activation of antioxidant systems in barley leaves under drought condition of soil; and the isolation of high-yielding paraquat-resistant lines of hordeum vulgare CV fibre snow.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisThis book compiles research summaries from a number of different focuses in the important field of environment and agriculture.

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Book SynopsisBook & CD-ROM. This book explores the developments, issues and research outlook of global agriculture. Topics discussed in this compilation include cotton and hydropower in Central Asia; rising grain exports by the former Soviet Union region; and resources, policies, and agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Book SynopsisIncreasing dependence on foreign sources of crude oil, concerns over global climate change, and the desire to promote domestic rural economies have raised interest in renewable biofuels as an alternative to petroleum in the U.S. transportation sector. However, energy from renewable sources has historically been more expensive to produce and use than fossil-fuel-based energy. This book describes agriculture-based biofuels and the evolution of the U.S. biofuels sector with a focus on the role that federal policy has played in shaping its development. It highlights emerging issues that are critical to the biofuels sector and of relevance to Congress. This book also summarises the best available public data on the production, capacity, cost, market demand, and feedstock availability for the production of biomass-based diesel and jet fuel. It includes an overview of the current conversion processes and current state-of-development for the production of biomass-based jet and diesel fuel, as well as the key companies pursuing this effort.

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Book SynopsisOrganic farming is a system approach utilizing the natural cycles and biological interactions for crop production and protection. It aims at harmonizing with nature and a method of production without destroying the environment. Vermitechnology is one of the important components of organic farming. The earthworm (verm) is now known to be a good biological element for the recovery of vermifertilizer and vermin- protein for use in agro-ecosystems, aquaculture, poultry etc. Earthworm culture, popularly called vermiculture is being widely practicised in a big commercialized manner. Therefore, it is high time to enter into the vermitechnology as a part of the biotechnology programme. In India, some companies have adopted vermiculture, but by and large the general awareness remains limited, despite the fact that several non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions are trying hard to popularize vermitechnology. This book is an attempt to help those desirous of starting a vermicutlure and vermicompost industry. Based on this rationale, the Vermiculture Research Station in Aligarh, India embarked on an extensive programme of transferring vermitechnology to the farmers back in 2000 under the Lab to Land programme. The farmers were given specialized training through field demonstrations in vermitechnology, organizing special courses and setting-up their own field units in rural areas. It is heartening to note that female farmers have also come forward in this new venture and are now producing quality vermicompost to supplement their income.

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Book Synopsis"Food loss" represents the amount of edible food, post-harvest, that is available for human consumption but is not consumed for any reason; it includes cooking loss and natural shrinkage (eg: moisture loss); loss from mould, pests, or inadequate climate control; and plate waste. "Food waste" is a component of food loss and occurs when an edible item goes unconsumed, such as food discarded by retailers due to undesirable colour or blemishes and plate waste discarded by consumers. Food loss (particularly the food waste component) is becoming an increasingly important topic both domestically and internationally. Better estimates of the amount and value of food loss, including food waste, could help serve as quantitative baselines for policymakers and the food industry to set targets and develop initiatives, legislation, or policies to minimise food waste, conserve resources, and improve human nutrition. Reducing food loss would likely reduce food prices in the United States and the rest of the world, though the effects depend on the nature of supply, including import and export considerations. This book provides an estimated amount, value, and caloric value of post-harvest food losses at the retail and consumer level in the United States. It also discusses supermarket loss estimates for fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood and their use in the ERD loss-adjusted food availability data.

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Book SynopsisThis book describes many important principles of fertilizer management and the environmental pollution problems due to the indiscriminate soil fertilization rate. The long-term impacts of organic or mineral fertilizer use have implications on soil fertility, crop yields, water quality, climatic change, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Twelve chapters provide the state of the art of some important topics on subsistence agriculture, modern agronomy, and technological improvements which have sharply increased yields from cultivation, with a special emphasis on the sustainable management and environmental impact of commercial and nontraditional fertilizers. Without a doubt, this book is a valuable contribution to the agricultural sciences and it would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions, immeasurable acknowledgements, and recognized expertise from the authors.

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Book SynopsisThis compilation examines agricultural research from across the globe and covers a broad spectrum of related topics. In this book, the authors discuss research including cotton pests and the actual strategies for their management control; cotton production and climatic factors: studying this relationship by different applied statistical methods; screening to select natural substances for control of postharvest aflatoxigenic fungi in maize and peanut agroecosystems; peculiarities of photosynthesis of wheat genotypes contrast in grain yield and their use in breeding programs; cunila d. royen ex. l., glechon epl. and hesperozygis epl. (lamiaceae) in South America: an ethnobotanical and phytochemical review; bacterial endophytes inhabiting potato plants (solanum tuberosum l.); and a discussion on common scab disease in central Europe.

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Book SynopsisThis compilation examines agricultural research from across the globe and covers a broad spectrum of related topics. In this book, the authors discuss research including cheese whey as a source of active peptides; technological and chemical characterization of PDO cheeses of Italy; biotechnological conversion of whey into high-value products; apple pomace; trends in precision agriculture for sugarcane biorefineries competitiveness; and fruit-based functional beverages.

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Book SynopsisNitrate and nitrite are two ions largely diffused in the environment because they take part in the nitrogen cycle. Moreover, a great part of atmospheric nitrogen may be oxidized to nitrite and nitrate by microorganisms in plants, soil or water. The more stable form of oxidized nitrogen is nitrate ion, but, through microbial activity, it can be reduced to nitrite ion which is more chemically reactive. Nitrate and its salts are widely used, especially as inorganic fertilizers, and for many other purposes such as oxidizing agents, explosives, in the chemical industry and as food preservatives. This book discusses the agricultural uses, management practices and environmental effects of nitrogen fertilizers.

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Book SynopsisThe 2014 Farm Bill makes significant changes to the structure of U.S. dairy support programs, including the elimination of several major price and income support programs from the 2008 Farm Bill, the extension of several smaller dairy programs, and the addition of two new programs, the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program. This book describes the major dairy provisions contained in the 2014 Farm Bill as well as Congressional Budget Office cost projections of historical program outlays compared with outlays under the new dairy programs. The book also includes a discussion of potential issues related to the new dairy policies.

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Book SynopsisThis book is for those who are seriously engaged in the problems of tillage. Mechanical tillage plays a very important role in shaping the harvest on all soil types under normal weather conditions. The preparation of soil with specified properties (characteristics) depending on arable crops has always been a significant problem. The task of preparing soil can be solved by many types (sorts) of working bodies, tools and traction machines, and in the future by a direct effect on the soil of various types of radiation: thermal, acoustic, microwave, etc. Which technology should be chosen, which method of tillage soil will be used? The answer is always clear: the technologies, tools or machines that provide maximum efficiency will be applied. The most effective way to improve the use of soil, to apply the most effective technologies nowadays, to develop new tools and aggregates is economic and mathematical modelling.

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Book SynopsisAgriculture is one of the defining elements of a nation. This series consists of analyses on a variety of agricultural issues including (but not limited to) the developments, policies, programs, trade, trends and economics of agriculture. Topics will be seen from a U.S. perspective, but not to the exclusion of other countries particularly when the discussion has an international scope. Topics discussed in this issue include the United States'' farm income; agriculture in the World Trade Organization; agricultural disaster assistance; weather effects on expected corn and soybean yields; and air quality issues and animal agriculture.

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Book SynopsisSanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are the laws, rules, standards, and procedures that governments employ to protect humans, animals, and plants from diseases, pests, toxins, and other contaminants. Examples include meat and poultry processing standards to reduce pathogens, residue limits for pesticides in foods, and regulation of agricultural biotechnology. Technical barriers to trade (TBT) cover technical regulations, product standards, environmental regulations, and voluntary procedures relating to human health and animal welfare. Examples include trademarks and patents, labeling and packaging requirements, certification and inspection procedures, product specifications, and marketing of biotechnology. SPS and TBT measures both comprise a group of widely divergent standards and standards-based measures that countries use to regulate markets, protect their consumers, and preserve natural resources. This book describes formal challenges involving SPS/TBT that the United States has brought against some U.S. trading partners, which have resulted in trade disputes that have been, or continue to be, reviewed by the World Trade Organization (WTO). It also discusses the United States and European Union hormone and use of pathogen reduction treatment disputes; and the country-of-origin labeling for foods and the WTO trade dispute on meat labeling.

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Book SynopsisIn an increasingly interconnected and bioeconomic world, agriculture is one of the vital and extremely complex links; on one hand, it provides food for the world while, on the other hand, it brings considerable environmental degradation. The negative by-products of agriculture have come to the forefront in recent years. As a result, agricultural production has undergone considerable scrutiny resulting in strong consumer movements for sustainable agriculture. However, many countries cannot worry about the environmental aspects when they do not produce enough food to be secure because farmers cannot compete with the artificially low prices of food due to the subsidies from developed countries. However, this trend is unlikely to continue as farm operations in developed countries must increase the amount of inputs, such as fertilizer, to maintain their levels of production. Furthermore, agricultural subsidies are likely to end due to the national debts of many countries. Therefore, it becomes more and more accepted that, for a sustainable agriculture, rural regions and developing countries will have to use local, traditional knowledge. This would support economic development and food security, especially since consumers are increasing demand for sustainably grown food.

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Book SynopsisAn understanding of food demand and food trends across countries and the ability to predict potential shifts in demand for different food products is an invaluable tool for all individuals involved in the agricultural sector. In a 2003 report, International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns, ERS and collaborating economists estimated income and price elasticities of demand for broad consumption categoriessuch as food, clothing, education, and other goodsand for food categories such as cereals, meats, and dairy across 114 countries using 1996 International Comparison Program (ICP) data. These elasticities measure the degree to which consumption changes when prices or incomes change. This book provides an update on the International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns using the 2005 International Date Program Data; and discusses global drivers of agricultural demand and supply.

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Book SynopsisThe federal crop insurance program is considered by many farmers and policy makers as the centerpiece of the farm safety net. The program makes available subsidised insurance policies for about 130 commodities ranging from apples to wheat. These "multiple peril" policies help producers manage financial risks associated with crop yield or revenue losses. Insurable causes of losses include adverse weather (e.g., drought and flood), insects or disease outbreaks, and failure of irrigation water supply. The enacted 2014 farm bill enhances the federal crop insurance program by expanding its scope, covering a greater share of farm losses, and making a variety of other modifications that broaden policy coverage. This book describes in detail changes made to the program as part of the 2014 farm bill. It also discusses the agricultural disaster assistance.

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Book SynopsisThe Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides payments to agricultural producers to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production and install resource conserving practices for 10 or more years. CRP was first authorized in the Food Security Act of 1985 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture''s (USDA''s) Farm Service Agency (FSA) with technical support from other USDA agencies. This book discusses the issues and considerations of the CRP.

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