Conflict at the Rural/Urban Interface: Mushroom Farms and Composting in a Suburbanizing Environment

Major complaints, nuisance suits, and vandalism threaten the ability of farms in suburbanizing areas to survive as development occurs around them. This is a particular concern in one county in southeastern Pennsylvania, an area of rapid population growth but also the nation's most productive mushroom producing area. This study examines mushroom growers' indications that on-farm composting is a major source of complaints from nonfarming neighbors. The study found that the size of the farm and the number of homes nearby were significantly more important factors than composting in explaining which mushroom farms receive complaints.     

The effects of aquaculture on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) ranging in Shark Bay, Western Australia

The increasing presence of aquaculture in coastal waters calls for a better understanding of its environmental effects. Currently little information is available on the impact of shellfish farms on cetaceans. Here we compare long-term ranging patterns of adult female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp. in Shark Bay, Western Australia) before and during full-scale pearl oyster farming operations, to determine if they were displaced. When the exact location of the oyster farm was determined, the dolphins decreased their use of that area after the farm was in place. Tracks of adult female dolphin movement near the oyster farm were compared to tracks of dolphin movement near an ecologically similar area where no oyster farm existed. Tracks near the oyster farm were less likely to enter the oyster farm itself than tracks near an ecologically similar location. This suggests that shellfish aquaculture could have a large impact on small cetaceans. The analytical techniques discussed apply broadly to aquatic and terrestrial animals.     

Public Views on Family and Corporate Farms

ABSTRACT

Contemporary agricultural practices and the public's understanding of the same are not necessarily in synchrony. Beliefs about the economic contribution of agriculture, farming practices, and their impacts on the environment and community, and the motivations of farmers were explored via a mail survey of Illinois residents. Respondents were asked to consider farms by structure and describe what they perceive to be attributes or behaviors differentiating family or corporate farms. Respondents recognized the value of agriculture to the state. Overall, agriculture was ranked among the seven standard industry categories as that with the most important economic impact. However, this sector was ranked lower by residents in counties with or adjacent to population centers of a hundred thousand residents or more and by the non farm population. Although perceived distinctions between crop and livestock operations were not substantial, strong differences were perceived between corporate and family farms. Perceived factors differentiating the two farm types included ownership, operation size, business motivation, separation of management and labor, operator's concern for and participation with the local community and environment, heritage, source of labor, and locale of residence. Family farms were perceived in a much more favorable light than their corporate counterparts.     

Spatial association as an indicator of the potential for future interactions between wind energy developments and golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Scotland

Despite their environmental benefits in generating electricity without emission of ‘greenhouse’ gases, wind farms have attracted controversy with regard to their impacts on birds, especially golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos. Evidence from USA studies suggest eagle fatalities through collision with turbines may be the main potential impact whereas for breeding eagles in Scotland, displacement from wind farm areas (indirect habitat loss) may be the primary impact. In this study, we examined the co-occurrence potential for golden eagles and wind farms in Scotland by documenting the spatial association between wind farm proposals and breeding eagle territories and areas potentially suitable for non-breeding eagles. Although there were records for over 500 wind farm proposals at various stages of development, relatively few coincided with eagle territories (ca. 4% of territories had a proposal within 3 km of territory centre). Similarly, only 2% of habitat predicted to be suitable for non-breeding eagles overlapped with proposed or installed wind farm areas. Moreover, estimates of the potential for electricity generation from all wind farm proposals, with respect to government targets for renewable energy supplies, suggested most proposals were unlikely to be constructed. We conclude that in comparison with other constraints on Scotland’s golden eagles, notably persecution, wind farms should not represent a serious concern if best practice in planning their location and minimising their impact are maintained. Potential future regional pressures on breeding eagles from wind farms are highlighted, however, and uncertainty of impact with respect to displacement or collision fatalities requires continued scrutiny.     

Map of bird sensitivities to wind farms in Scotland: A tool to aid planning and conservation

Government targets for renewable energy have led to a huge increase in wind farm proposals. Because of its high wind resource, Scotland has more proposed wind farms than any other UK country. Scotland’s upland habitats support many birds of conservation concern, leading to potential conflict with wind farms.To help reduce this conflict, a map of bird sensitivities has been created to guide the location of onshore wind farms in Scotland, based on distributions of 16 bird species of conservation priority and statutory Special Protection Areas. The likely sensitivity of each species to wind farms was assessed from literature, based on foraging ranges, collision risk and sensitivity to disturbance. This information was used to buffer species’ locations to identify areas of ‘high’ or ‘medium’ sensitivity. Individual species maps were converted to 1-km square resolution, and a composite map for all species created by selecting the highest sensitivity rating for each square.The map indicates greater bird sensitivity in northwest Scotland, particularly the Highlands, Western and Northern Isles. Overall, 37% of Scotland is classified as ‘high’, 25% as ‘medium’ and 38% as ‘low/unknown’ sensitivity. The overlap of the mapped species with proposed and existing wind farm developments was assessed and species for which cumulative effects of multiple wind farms are of particular concern identified. Within a Scottish context, bean goose, red kite and hen harrier showed the greatest overlap. Applications and limitations of the approach are discussed.     

IT—Information Technology and the Human Interface: A Review of the Environmental Effects of Different Livestock Manure Storage Systems, and a Suggested Procedure for Assigning Environmental Ratings

There are concerns over a range of adverse environmental effects resulting from the storage of livestock manures on farms. The objectives of this study were to examine all the likely environmental effects of different storage methods, and to recommend which were the most desirable options.Literature reviews were undertaken to identify the likely environmental consequences of each commonly used storage method, in terms of water pollution risks, odour and ammonia emissions, greenhouse gas emissions and survival of microorganisms during storage. Planning and landscape aspects were considered and the most feasible options for abatement of ammonia emissions were identified. An ‘environmental rating’ for different storage systems was then devised, with the aim of obtaining a balance between water pollution, aerial emissions and other concerns.The environmental rating exercise favoured the more sophisticated and hence most expensive storage methods. No large differences emerged between ratings for slurry systems and solid systems when ease of adding ammonia control measures was excluded. For pigs, slurry systems appear to have a slight advantage, because of the greater ammonia emissions from the solid pig manure. The use of such a rating system could be developed further as more data become available. Whilst the method indicates the relative desirability of systems at a national scale it could be adapted to take account of local considerations or those of individual farm sites.     

Characterizing farming systems around Kakamega Forest,Western Kenya,for targeting soil fertility–enhancing technologies

Kakamega district in Western Kenya represents the smallholder farming systems typical for much of the densely populated humid highlands in East Africa. A specific feature, however, is the presence of a protected forest reserve (Kakamega Forest National Park), covering some 20% of the district area. Year‐round crop production with little use of external inputs is resulting in declining soil fertility and crop yields. Technologies to counteract fertility constraints are rarely implemented, as they do not consider system diversity or farm‐specific characteristics. We surmised that farm type–specific targeting of technology options to address soil fertility–related production constraints would reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the resources of the adjacent Kakamega rainforest reserve. Based on Kenyan national census data, we selected 168 farms in physical proximity of the Kakamega forest and characterized them regarding production system and soil attributes. Cluster and principal component analyses identified five distinct farm categories. Three representative farms from each cluster group were subsequently selected to establish labor‐use patterns, draw resource‐flow maps, and determine NPK balances. Small subsistence‐oriented farms were most common (> 50%), with maize yields of 0.9 t ha^–1 (Cluster 1). Most farmers relied on the forest to provide fire wood, animal feed, and medicinal plants. Mixed farms, combining subsistence maize with industrial crops, were differentiated by soil type, with tea being grown on Ferralsol (Cluster 3), and sugar cane being grown on Acrisol (cluster 4). The dependence on forest resources was limited to animal grazing and the collection of feed stuff (Cluster 3), or the extraction of medicinal plants (Cluster 4). Only few farms showed a high degree of market orientation of the food‐crop production. These comprised either small farms with high investments in fertilizer and maize yields close to 2 t ha^–1 (Cluster 2), or larger farms (1.6–3.9 ha) with low fertilizer but high hired‐labor use (Cluster 5). Their reliance on forest resources was generally low. Resource flows showed mainly patterns of nutrient export in subsistence farms, and more complex flow patterns, involving several farm compartments, in the diversified farms. Partial nutrient balances were strongly negative for N and K, irrespective of soil or farm type. Soil‐fertility characteristics reflected the nutrient balances with generally low C and N in all farms on Acrisol, and low P in farms not applying mineral fertilizers or farmyard manure. The proposed typology is expected to improve the targeting of technologies addressing soil fertility–related production constraints, and to reduce the pressure on forest resources. This is of particular importance in the case of small‐scale subsistence and mixed farms close to the forest margin.     

Farmland conversion and residential development in North Central Massachusetts

The conversion of farmland for residential development is a serious environmental concern which results in land degradation. The factors responsible for farmland conversion in Leominster, Massachusetts, were found using simultaneous discriminant analysis. The statistically significant factors determining farmland conversion were relief, distance from the city center and route 190, and farm size. These factors were employed to develop a model for farmland preservation. This model should be used by planning offices to identify the farms likely to be converted to non-farm activities to control urban sprawl. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Small-Scale Composting of Horse Manure Mixed with Wood Shavings

There is an increased interest in composting manure on small horse farms (1-5 horses). It is known that simple backyard, food waste composters do not efficiently reduce pathogens due to their small scale. However, it was not clear if small-scale manure composting on horse farms could ensure pathogen reduction during all seasons. Furthermore, because of potential human health concerns, the release of Aspergillus fumigatus on small horse farms was of interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate pathogen reduction in a simple shed composter and the release of Aspergillus fumigatus emissions from fall to spring under typical farm operational conditions. Horse manure mixed with wood shavings (bedding) was composted for 4-8 weeks in the fall, winter, early spring and late spring. Fecal streptococci and eggs of strongyles, which are a major recognized health concern for horses, were used as pathogen indicator organisms. Temperatures increased in all composting piles during all seasons, but tended to be higher in warmer weather. After 4 weeks, the fecal streptococci reduction was about 10- to 100-fold and, after 8 weeks, about 100- to 1000-fold. There was some effect of season on fecal streptococci levels, with the higher composting temperatures appearing to provide greater reductions. Strongyle eggs in this study were very low and were reduced over time. Levels of viable A. fumigatus spores during turning ranged from 12-2084 CFU m^?3, while background levels ranged between 6 - 300 CFU m^?3. Overall, this study indicates that composting horse manure mixed with wood shavings reduces pathogens. A. fumigatus levels are elevated during turning, but the levels are lower than those found at sewage sludge/municipal solid waste composting facilities or inside barns.     

Constraints to farmers managing dryland salinity in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia

There is an increasingly well‐founded understanding of the chief drivers and constraints to widespread adoption by Australian landholders to practices to manage dryland salinity. However, each specific situation depends on a range of biophysical, social and economic factors. Such is the case in this study that examines farmers' salinity management in the Wallatin‐O'Brien catchments in the low‐medium rainfall zone of the Western Australian wheatbelt. The study involved interviews with landholders and economic modelling of representative farms and salinity management options to gain an understanding of the farmers' adoption behaviour regarding salinity management. Most landholders interviewed saw dryland salinity as a second order farm management issue, due first to the relatively slow rate of expansion of saline land within the catchments and second, because the changes in land use required to prevent further loss of land to salinity were viewed as being uneconomic. The exception to this was the minority (<15 per cent) of farmers in the catchment that have most of the saline land and have experienced most of the recent increase, and for these farmers (primarily located in the valley floor) salinity is a pressing issue. The scale and pattern of isolated outbreaks on adjacent slopes means that salinity is merely a nuisance problem for farmers who only have this type of salinity. For all farmers, a disincentive to invest in salinity management was the landholders' lack of knowledge about the proper placement, needed scale of adoption and economic viability of salinity management options. Saltland pastures, surface water management and lucerne were viewed positively, with several desirable characteristics such as ease of trialling and complementarity to existing farm practices. By contrast, engineering options such as deep drainage, where considerable investment is involved and disposal of groundwater is problematic, were rated less favourably. Bioeconomic modelling of these salinity management options generated results that largely confirmed the merits of what landholders in the catchments currently do. The findings showed that there was little economic merit in wide‐scale adoption of these salinity management options in these catchments. However, the findings did highlight the need to match salinity management options to a farm's particular circumstance, if best use of the options is to be made by the different farms in the catchments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Arkansas Discovery Farms: documenting water quality benefits of on-farm conservation management and empowering farmers

Arkansas Discovery Farms (ADFs) are private farms that collaborate with on-farm research, verification, and demonstration of farming's impact on the environment. We have nine ADFs representing livestock (broiler poultry and pasture grazed beef and sheep) and row crop agriculture (corn, cotton, rice, soybean, and wheat), where we collect water use and water quality data as a function of conservation management, using autosamplers equipped with edge-of-field H-flumes or weir flow structures, which measure and collect surface runoff. On the poultry farms, we are monitoring nutrient and sediment runoff originating immediately near poultry houses due to concerns with spillage of litter during bird removal and house clean out, as well as dust from tunnel ventilation. On a nearby farm we are assessing the impact of rotational grazing on water quality, soil organic matter, and soil health metrics. On the row crop farms we are assessing the impacts of conservation tillage and cover crops on soybean–corn rotations and cotton on nutrient and sediment runoff and the benefits of water harvesting and reuse of water conservation and quality. The information in this paper while preliminary, demonstrates how a state-wide on-farm demonstration program operates. Elevated nutrient and sediment runoff from around poultry production areas are decreased three-fold by directing runoff into ponds or through grassed waterways. While conservation tillage and cover crops do decrease nutrient and sediment runoff, no significant difference between conventional and conservation operations is yet to be realized. Importantly, ADF empowers farmers to proactively address environmental concerns. This paper discusses the development, guidance, principals, and goals of ADF and contrasts this with other farm monitoring projects, where the sources of nutrient impairment are the subject of ongoing litigation. Monitoring in divisive and transparent situations presents unique challenges with data ownership and release of findings, which can hinder productive outcomes of such monitoring.     

Family Dairy Farms in Galicia (N.W. Spain): Classification by Some Family and Farm Factors Relevant to Quality of Life

A survey of 103 family dairy farms in Galicia (N.W. Spain) collected information on 94 variables (78 quantitative, 16 qualitative) belonging to seven groups dealing with the location of the farm, family structure, sources of income, production variables, characteristics of the farm house (‘housing quality’), characteristics of the complex comprising farm house and farm buildings (the ‘central area’), and the characteristics and proximity to the farm house of the routes used for transit of cattle, fodder, slurry, etc. Following elimination of redundant variables, principal components analysis identified four factors accounting for about 40% of the total variance: three dominated each by a single a priori group (house–farm separation, central area, and housing quality), and one (production capacity) that combined production and source-of-income variables. Using these factors, the farms studied were subjected to hierarchical clustering by means of the Ward aggregation strategy, and a typology was established accordingly. Finally, guidelines for the design and improvement of farm installations and housing on Galician family dairy farms are sketched.     

Assessment of Properties of a Harkey Soil under Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

Farming practices involving less intense chemical use are becoming popular in the United States primarily because of environmental concerns related to the use of chemicals in conventional farming systems. Physical and chemical soil properties were assessed on four farms, one conventional farm and three organic farms 3 (OF3), 6 (OF6), and 9 (OF9) years after certification. All farms were located in Doña Ana County of southern New Mexico, sited on Harkey soil (coarse silty, mixed, calcareous, thermic typic Torrifluvents). OF3, OF6, and OF9 were planted to cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.), chile (Capsicum annuum), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in 2006, respectively, and the conventional farm was planted to cotton. Core and bulk soil samples were collected from each farm at three different locations and three depths during September 2005, June 2006, and November 2006. Clay content was positively correlated with field capacity, wilting point, and available water capacity (AWC) and negatively correlated with transmission pore volume (VTP) and sand content at most depths. The one-way analysis of means of soil physical and chemical properties separately by depth showed that bulk density (ρ_b) was greater in November 2006 samples than in September 2005 and June 2006 samples in OF9 and was lowest in the conventional farm. In general, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), volume of storage pores, effective porosity, AWC, and VTP showed little variation and were not related to the amount of time under organic farming. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were greater in the organic farms, and EC values mostly increased with increasing amount of time under organic farming. The greatest EC (2.6 dS m^?1) in OF9 indicated that 9 years of manure application has raised soil salinity only slightly. Although no evidence on significant improvement of soil quality due to organic farming was observed, with regard to soil storage and transport properties and soil salinity, the organic farming system is sustainable for this region.     

Agroterrorism: a mixed methods study examining the attitudes and perceptions of Utah producers

Geographic disbursement, unsecured environments, and the concentration and commingling of agricultural products make agriculture a vulnerable target for a terrorist attack. To counter an act of agroterrorism, efforts are needed at the organism level, the farm level, the agricultural sector level, and the national level. Producers and the measures they take are essential in countering an attack at the farm level. However, producers may question the need for security measures, especially if they feel that their farm or ranch is an unlikely target. The attitudes and perceptions of Utah agricultural producers towards agroterrorism were examined in a mixed methods study using a QUAN-QUAL model. Twenty-five producers were purposefully selected to provide a cross-section of Utah agriculture. All participants filled out a questionnaire followed by a face-to-face interview in which they were asked to rate their level of concern about an act of agroterrorism at the farm, state, and national level. They were also asked about any security measures that they had taken and why, the identification of highly transmissible diseases, and their willingness to implement security measures. Producers were most concerned about an act of agroterrorism at the national level and least concerned about an act of agroterrorism occurring on their farm or ranch. Although many of the producers had implemented some security measures within the last year, most actions were in response to vandalism. More efforts are needed to educate Utah producers regarding highly transmissible diseases and their symptoms.     

The perception of farm safety and prevention issues among the Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

The purpose of this study was to explore farm safety and prevention issues within an Old Order Amish community. A qualitative ethnographic approach was used to explore perceptions of Amish adults as to the issues related to farm safety and prevention for their children. Access to this community was facilitated through two contact people who were well known in the community. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and recorded as field notes. Data analysis was done by looking for themes based on the questions asked about safety and prevention. From this analysis, four themes were found related to safety and prevention. They included education of the parents, education of the children, home and farm preventive measures, and enforcement of established rules. In addition, childhood readiness was found to be another important issue related to farm safety. Childhood readiness was found to have three themes, developmental appropriateness, parental control and supervision, and birth order of the child. Data from this study suggested that farm safety is a concern of the Old Order Amish in Lancaster County. Their perceptions of safety and prevention issues centered on the incidents that have occurred and are considered dangerous. It is important to look at the identified safety and prevention and childhood readiness themes to identify the most beneficial approaches for the Amish to promote safety on their farms.     

中国大田无人农场关键技术研究与建设实践

智慧农业是现代农业的发展方向，无人农场是实现智慧农业的重要途径。为了探索和推广无人农场在现代农业中的应用，华南农业大学对大田无人农场的关键技术进行了深入研究，包括无人农场作业环境、作业对象和作业机械装备信息的数字化感知技术；土地整治、耕整、种植、播种、田间管理和收获方案的智能化决策技术；农机自动导航和农机精准作业的精准化作业技术；农作物生长、农机运维和农场经营管理的智慧化管理技术。2020年在广东增城创建全球首个水稻无人农场，实现了五大功能，包括耕种管收生产环节全覆盖，机库田间转移作业全自动，自动避障异况停车保安全，作物生产过程实时全监控，智能决策精准作业全无人。取得了显著的经济、社会和生态效益，2021 年广东增城水稻无人农场种植的优质丝苗米十九香产量达到9934.35 kg/hm²，比当地的平均产量高32%；2023年湖南益阳千山红镇再生稻无人农场两季产量达到18625.5 kg/hm²，说明了人不下田也能种地，也能种好地。截至2023年11月，在国内15个省启动了 30 个无人农场的建设，包括水稻、小麦、玉米和花生4种作物，实践结果证明了无人农场和智慧农业发展的巨大潜力，为解决“谁来种地”和“如何种地”提供了重要途径。     

Agricultural Composting in the United States

In the United States, more farms are composting than municipalities, commercial/institutional establishments, and other private sector groups combined. To obtain an overview of agricultural composting in the United States, industry, government, and university representatives from the top 10 beef and dairy cattle, poultry, and swine producing states were contacted between January and April of 1995. These states represent at least 70 percent of the nation's production of these commodities (except for beef cattle at 52 percent). The representatives provided information about the number of farms composting, the materials composted, composting methods, how the compost is used, and motivating and impeding factors for farms to compost. In addition, information was gathered concerning composting crop residues. In this case, specific applications of crop residue composting were identified and individuals knowledgeable about the applications were contacted for background information.

Note the estimated numbers of composting operations presented here represent a best attempt to quantify the composting activity taking place on various types of farms. In many cases, the numbers are rough estimates, based on the assessments of the representatives contacted in each state. Also, they only include the composting operations in the top 10 producing states. A considerable amount of composting occurs outside of these states. Therefore, Tables 1 and 2 underestimate the number of farms that compost.     

Prominent barriers and motivators to installing ROPS: an analysis of survey responses from Pennsylvania and Vermont

Tractor overturns contribute significantly to the number of work-related deaths that occur every year on U.S. farms. Although the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries have the highest fatality rates of any industries, researchers predict that the elimination of tractor overturn fatalities could result in a noticeable reduction in the farm fatality rate. Rollover protection structures (ROPS) are 99% effective in preventing overturn fatalities. However, roughly 50% of U.S. tractors do not have a ROPS. In order to identify prominent barriers and motivators to installing ROPS, a phone survey was conducted with a random sample of farmers (n = 327) in Vermont and Pennsylvania, two states interested in developing ROPS installation programs. Results indicated that cost and perceived need were the most frequently highly rated barriers to ROPS installation in both states, while working near hills or ditches and concerns regarding liability were the most frequently highly rated motivators for installing ROPS. Additionally, older farmers identified limited use of a tractor as a highly rated barrier.     

京郊畜禽粪污氮磷含量特征及影响因素分析

中国规模化养殖废弃物中养分资源数量可观,但缺乏循环利用技术,处置不当易引发环境污染问题。该文通过问卷调研和粪污样品检测,对京郊典型养殖场粪便和废水中的总氮、总磷含量特点进行分析,同时追踪典型规模化猪场废水中总氮、总磷含量变化的影响因素及其季节性变化特征。结果表明:所调研的养殖场中,猪粪、牛粪的总氮质量分数平均值分别为29.1,17.8 g/kg,总磷质量分数平均值分别为15.1,6.8 g/kg,猪粪便的总氮、总磷含量变异程度大于牛粪;猪场和牛场中废水总氮、总磷质量分数的平均值分别为892,540和82.4,53.3 mg/L,猪场废水总氮、总磷含量变异程度明显大于牛场。规模化猪场粪便总氮、总磷含量受到饲料配方的影响较大;受饲料和圈舍用水量的影响,现行饲养工艺及粪污处理方式下粪便对废水中总氮、总磷含量的影响较小;万头以上的规模化猪场废水中总氮、总磷含量存在季节性差异,且随着废水存储时间的推移其无机磷比例增加。这些变化特征可对畜禽粪便和养殖废水的资源化再利用提供了有用的参考。