It is said that 'knowledge is the bedrock of existence'. As such, this blog serves to freely inform the general public about the importance of agriculture. The blog also serves to educate people on the different products that could be used on plants and animals to boost their growth and minimise loss and mortality.
These tricks make quick work of repairs when you can’t find the right tool.
USE A GREASE-FILLED SYRINGE TO PACK BEARINGS
When packing grease in wheel bearings, it’s hard to be sure if grease is getting inserted into all the cavities around the rollers or balls and between the outer and inner races. Rather than pack the bearings by hand, employ an old, grease-filled livestock syringe instead.
This allows you to insert the syringe’s needle between the rollers or balls and races, and to quickly pack the bearing, minimizing the mess while filling all cavities with lubricant.
FLEXIBLE SPARK PLUG EXTENSION GETS IN TIGHT SPACES
There are times when it’s hard to hand-start a spark plug in some engines, particularly when space is limited, as is often the case on many modern vehicles.
The solution is to create a flexible spark plug extension from an air hose or similar tubing with a ½-inch interior diameter. The porcelain top of the spark plug fits snug inside the hose and won’t drop out. Also, the hose is stiff enough to provide twisting torque. The hose can be cut to any length to suit a particular situation.
SUPER RUBBER BANDS KEEP THINGS TOGETHER
Are you always losing those straws on spray lubricant bottles? Or how about chuck keys or adjustment wrenches on power tools that go missing. Tired of having the rubber hose on your grease gun whip around leaving a trail of grease behind on toolboxes – or you?
The quick solution is to create these super rubber retaining bands from bicycle tubing. You can cut the tubing at various widths to suit the job – narrower for spray lubricant can straws and wider to hold the end of a flexible grease gun hose or drill chuck key.
HOW TO SEAT THE BEADS ON SMALL TIRES
If a tire on a small cart or wheelbarrow goes flat, the beads on the tire often lift away from the rim seat. The resulting gap allows too much air to escape, preventing the tire from being reinflated.
To push the bead against the rim seat, first apply bead seat sealer on the seat. Next, employ a ratchet strap to deflect the center of the tire. This causes the sides of the tire and, thus, its beads, to move outward against the rim.
SOYBEANS, CORN LOWER IN OVERNIGHT TRADING; USDA EXPECTED TO LOWER CARRYOUT ESTIMATES.
1. SOYBEANS, GRAINS LOWER OVERNIGHT ON POSITION SQUARING AHEAD OF WASDE
Soybeans and corn were lower in overnight trading ahead of today’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Futures have a bearish tone even as the USDA is expected to lower corn ending stocks by 20 million bushels, wheat inventories by 6 million bushels, and soybeans carryout by 10 million bushels, according to Allendale’s Paul Georgy.
Still, the agency is expected to raise its corn-production outlook for Brazil. Argentina’s corn and soybean crop projections are expected to be lowered from last month’s outlook, Georgy said.
Soybean futures for March delivery fell 5¼¢ to $10.53½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soy meal lost $2 to $339.20 a short ton, and soy oil declined 0.04¢ to 34.65¢ a pound.
Corn lost 1¼¢ to $3.69½ a bushel in Chicago.
Wheat futures for March delivery fell 2¢ to $4.30½ a bushel. Kansas City futures declined 2¼¢ to $4.39¾ a bushel.
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2. USDA LIKELY TO LOWER CORN STOCKS SLIGHTLY, SOYBEANS SEEN DROPPING
The Department of Agriculture in its monthly WASDE Report today is expected to lower its outlook for 2016-2017 ending stocks in corn only slightly while more drastically cutting its outlook for soybean inventories.
Corn carryout at the end of the marketing year on August 31 likely will be pegged at about 2.33 billion bushels, down from 2.36 billion last month, analysts said. U.S. soybean inventories will probably be estimated at 407 million bushels, well below the January estimate of 420 million due to strong demand from overseas buyers.
The USDA is expected to raise its outlook for Brazilian corn production by about 1 million metric tons to 87.5 million, analysts said. Soybean output in the country likely will be little changed at about 104 million tons.
Argentine corn output will total about 36 million metric tons, down from 36.5 million tons, while soybean production will probably be seen at about 55 million tons, down from 57 million in January.
The USDA’s estimate for global ending stockpiles of corn will likely be little changed at 221 million tons, while soybean inventories will probably be pegged at about 81 million tons, down from 82.3 million last month.
3. BITTER COLD FOLLOWS STORMS IN ILLINOIS, INDIANA, OHIO
Cold weather is following up a storm that slammed parts of the Midwest as it head off to the East Coast this morning.
In parts of Iowa and Illinois, temperatures are forecast to be as low as -10˚F., according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures are expected to be in the teens this morning in much of Indiana and southern Michigan, following yesterday’s storm. That will likely lead to slick roads this morning, especially on side streets and untreated surfaces, the NWS said. Wind chills are expected to be about 0˚F. today.
The extreme cold also is expected in parts of Ohio, where wind chills today and tonight are forecast to be as low as -10˚F., according to the NWS.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Adepeju Adebajo has urged youths to exploit opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.
Speaking at the second day of the Ogun State Youth Convention under the theme “Ogun Youths: Exploring New frontiers” noted that it was important for youths to begin to seek viable ventures in the agricultural sector to invest for the future.
According to Adebajo, “agriculture is the key to building wealth for generations to come. It is not just limited to crop farming, it’s about livestock, fishery, forestry so agriculture is very broad. It’s about everything from seeds to production to processing, marketing, packaging to distribution”.
She explained that agriculture was beyond food, highlighting other aspects, such as horticulture, landscaping, apiculture as well as the environment.
“When you talk about agriculture, you also talk about the environment and sustainability, the more trees you grow the less you are depleting the ozone layer, there’s plenty of money out there for people who are practicing agriculture in a sustainable manner, you differentiate yourself again. There are many people who are doing organic farming, who are keeping bees, selling organic honey; there are lots of opportunities in agriculture and in the agribusiness. So please don’t look at agriculture in the traditional way you thought of agriculture, it has moved on and there’s so much opportunities”.
Speaking further on the importance of agriculture, the commissioner expressed that agriculture had greater potential to provide employment more than other sectors as one involved in agribusiness automatically became an employer of labour.
“It is eleven times more effective in generating employment than other careers. So you become a farmer or you become somebody involved in agriculture, you automatically become an employer of labour”, she said.
Adebajo pointed that though funding was often seen as a challenge, there were various intervention programs such as the anchor borrowers scheme and youth empowerment initiatives designed to empower youths who want to invest in the agriculture sector. She also highlighted state projects such as the model farm in Owowo, where young people where trained in livestock and crop farming as well as the Eruwe fish cluster.
“We have a model farm in Owowo, it’s a model farm estate, there are 40 bungalows occupied by 40 graduate farmers, this is a youth empowerment initiative of the state and it’s aimed at unemployed young graduates of agricultural disciplines. Those farmers are very successful and they now have businesses in poultry and egg production, catfish farming and crop farming”, she stated.
She noted that there were also non-government intervention programmes for those interested in the agriculture business, adding that there were opportunities across the various value chains.
The commissioner however called on the youths to take advantage of these programmes and exploit opportunities in agriculture.
The federal government also yesterday set up a task force on food security to address the worrying incidence of rising cost of food items in the market.
The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this after the FEC meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, expressed concern that agricultural products do not get to the market, and when they do, they are sold at very exorbitant prices.
He said the committee is expected to report back to Council next week after which concrete actions would be taken to remedy the situation, adding that government is concerned about the rising price of food and is trying to do something to bring it down.
Mohammed said: “We considered several memos, and approvals were given and the major highlight is Council resolved to set up a task force on food security.
“Government is quite concerned about the rising cost of food items and the fact that, more often than not, even when these products are available, if they do reach the market, there are sold at very exorbitant prices.
“So, the government has set up task force on food security to ensure that an end is put to the wastages that occur, with tonnes and tonnes of produce in the farms rotting away or in the markets getting rotten. It’s an inter-ministerial committee made up of the ministers of agriculture, finance, water resources, transportation.
“The important thing is to look at what areas of intervention the government can make. The intervention can be in the area of subsidy in transportation; that is being worked out, but this goes to show that government is very much concerned about the rising cost of food price and we are responding to it.”
Members of the task force include the following ministers: Chief Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development), Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Dr. Okey Enelamah (Industry, Trade and Development), Mr Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Engr Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources), and Dr Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment)
The Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would also be part of the task force.
During the briefing, the minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, noted that two memoranda were approved in the Ministry of Transport, which include the procurement of two first class coaches – two for baggage and six for long distance economy class coaches, and for improvement of the Kaduna airport.
Anna McConnell meets groundbreaking female farmers in four different states: April Hemmes, a self-proclaimed big-time operator (BTO) of corn and soybeans in Hampton, Iowa; Cameo Van Horn who farms 863 acres of corn and soybeans near Danube, Minnesota; Debbie Lyons-Blythe who heads up a 500-head Angus cattle ranch in White City, Kansas; and Paula Karlock, a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer in Momence, Illinois.
“Water.” That was the first word that probably came to mind for many attending The Colusa Farm Show this week. While rainfall has been scarce across California in recent years, there’s been no shortage of it this winter.
Drought-busting heavy rains this week in fact made it hard to find parking in the swamped lots surrounding the Colusa fairgrounds. Parts of the show ground were a muddy mess. Some roads to town were closed due to flooding. The spillway for a nearby dam that holds precious water for the state and protects the Sacramento Valley from flooding had been damaged overnight.
“Water.” That was the quick reply from John Kimura, a Yuba City farmer, when asked about the top issue on his mind these days. He thought a minute, and added, “Water and regulations.” His brother, Gary, in fact, had just had a chat with the California Highway Patrol at their show booth about the state’s new regulations, including those for tie-downs on trucks and trailers.
Kimura Brothers
“Water is the big issue,” echoed Lisa Humphreys, manager of the Glenn County Farm Bureau.
She explained the state’s new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, another challenge for farmers.
Water is a big word in California these days for many reasons.
While there is plenty of water in northern California now, thirsty southern California is demanding more of the north state flows that are used for irrigating crops around Colusa — rice and orchards, mainly. Last year, due to the lingering drought, some farmers were unable to receive their usual surface water supplies. On top of everything else, the recent, heavy rains threaten to damage orchards as the trees come out of dormancy.
“GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL”
But water worries aside, farmers attending the Colusa show came mostly to look at equipment and socialize. Mud puddles and occasional heavy rain were no deterrent.
The Colusa Show, the largest ag show in northern California, and in its 52nd year, is called the “granddaddy of them all” on the West Coast. It’s a must-see for northern California farmers but draws attendees from out of state as well. Bill Coleman and Rick Rice, for example, had journeyed more than 400 miles from Oregon to eye the new machinery. Coleman, a filbert grower, was taking a close look at nut-harvesting equipment that allows a two-person operation.
The Colusa event is a showcase of an area that is a leader in the state’s rice, nut, and fruit production. Sunsweet Growers in nearby Yuba City is the world’s largest handler of dried fruits, including prunes, apricots, mangos, and more.
“There are a lot of positive things happening here,” said Farm Bureau’s Humphreys. Specific industries are doing well. Almond and walnut prices are strong, if not record high. And, hey, after the drought, it’s good to see it raining.”
AMONG THE TOPICS SURFACING AT THE SHOW THIS WEEK:
Solar has a sunny outlook.
“A few years ago, farmers didn’t want to be the first guy in line to buy solar equipment,” said Dean Swanson, a representative of Sunworks. The solar company has seen business nearly triple over the last three years. Solar adoption is helped by the fact that a 30% tax credit has been extended to 2019, Swanson said. For farmers and other businesses, the payback is three-and-a-half to four years. Solar panel prices, moreover, are at “rock bottom” right now. There are 1,200 solar panel manufacturers around the world, he said. “It’s a good time to buy. Anything with a meter on it can use solar.”
Help wanted!
Nationwide, there are two jobs available in agriculture for every new job seeker. In California, there are four jobs open, said Miranda Driver, CalAgJobs, an organization that works to connect farm businesses with employees. CalAgJobs deals mainly with plant science positions. But the need for skilled workers exists at all levels, she said. “Everyone who talks with us says they can’t find workers to pick peaches or work in the fields and orchards. Finding reliable labor has become very difficult,” Driver said. Thus, immigration policy is a “pretty intense subject” in rural California, she said. Farm Bureau is pushing the new administration not only to focus on border enforcement but also to help develop a legal agricultural workforce in the state.
Drones on the rise.
One of the more popular presentations at the show Tuesday was expected to be on the use of drones in California agriculture. Scott Gregory, a remote sensing expert at Ag One Solutions, discussed using drones for mapping and remote sensing. Interest is high, but many farmers still are waiting to see the practical applications pan out, said Jim Bianchin, Vertical Sciences, Inc., a company providing data collection via drones. Farmers are starting to use drones to identify problem areas in their fields, Bianchin said. They can also use the technology to create drainage plans or identify irrigation issues, he said.
John Ray, Thomas Manufacturing
Organic ag adoption.
More and more farmers are lining up to buy organic fertilizer these days, said Jeff Delaguerra, a representation of True Organic Products. The fertilizers, both powder and liquid, are made from meat and bone meals, as well as fish wastes. Some 13% of growers in the Central Valley now are organic, more than double the number of a few years ago, he said. “In the Central Valley, if you’re not organic, you’re sustainable,” he said. “Farmers are increasingly becoming environmentally conscious.”
Going nuts at harvest.
“This area is a great environment for the nut industry,” said John Ray of Thomas Manufacturing, which makes equipment for the nut and orchard industries. “The growers have really been successful in continuing to improve their yields.” The result: “We have to sell a lot more nuts,” says Jennifer Olmstead, marketing director of the California Walnut Board. For a look at what a walnut harvest looks like, visit: http://youtu.be/jEBQtIxi-Ik
Reports of Caterpillar invasion on African soil continue to dominate the media these past weeks, while scientists are still unraveling the discovery of the new caterpillar species, the Fall Army worm, the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development has confirmed the invasion of the African Army worm in 22 states of the country.
The African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) also called nutgrass armywormi s an African moth, capable of destroying entire crops in a matter of weeks.
The Assistant Director and Desk Officer, Maize Value Chain, Dr Adeleke Muftau, who informed newsmen about the outbreak, stated that this pest usually found in maize posed a threat to national food security and availability of maize in the country, adding that the affected states were spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.
He said the government would embark on training for selected farmers to control the menace.
“The ministry is planning to train farmers on how to control the menace. We have visited farms and we have seen the devastation that has occurred in those farms and for us to reduce or alleviate farmers suffering and losses, we need to train them” he expressed.
Speaking on reports from farmers on the resistance of the armyworms to available pesticides, Muftau said the problem was the method of application.
According to him, “the usual method of spraying chemicals is not effective because it was discovered that the armyworms usually bury themselves in the maize. The normal way of spraying does not touch the worms and that is why farmers are complaining that the chemicals are not effective. It is the method of application that is wrong.”
Muftau however assured farmers that the ministry was working with the International Institute for Agricultural Research to develop a resistant variety to the pests to ensure that the disease was adequately controlled this year.
Ogun State Governor, Ibikule Amosun has pledged to end the challenges of herdsmen and smugglers faced by farmers and agropreneurs in the state.
The governor who made this statement after the agriculture session of the Ogun state youth convention with the theme Ogun Youths: Exploring New Frontiers lamented the loss of potential investors due to the problems of herdsmen and smugglers in the state.
Reacting to the statement of one of the speakers on agriculture, Mosunmola Umoru, also an investor who had left because of the challenges, he avowed that he was aware of the problem and would do all that necessary to protect investors in the state.
Earlier, Umoru had advised the youths to be take advantage of their vigor and maximize opportunities in the agricultural sector. She informed them that there was abundance of resources but they were underutilized.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Fidel Farms, Bamidele Okunaiya noted that there was an urgent need for Nigerian youths to take advantage of the resources around them towards securing a future and promoting national development.
Meanwhile, the governor in a communique issued at the end of the two-day convention also enjoined the youths to embrace agriculture, adding that the state government will make land available to interested youth – farmers.
The Dangote Tomato Processing Factory, Kadawa, Kano State, has begun survey of tomato farms in six major tomato producing states to ascertain the level of availability of the commodity.
The company’s Managing Director, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on friday in Kano.
Kaita said the survey would be conducted in major tomato growing areas within the states which are: Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Plateau and Sokoto.
He said that the survey would enable the company to assess the availability of the commodity before resuming production in the next few weeks.
“We want to make sure that the commodity is readily available in these states before we resume production.
“We will require 40 trailers of tomato daily, hence our decision to embark on the survey of major tomato growing areas to know whether the farmers have started harvesting,” Abdulkarim said.
He disclosed that the company had engaged over 50 casual staff who would convey the fresh tomato inside the factory for processing.
He said no fewer than 30 students on Industrial Training (IT) had also been engaged by the company to assess the quality of the raw materials before processing.
NAN recalls that the company stopped production about nine months ago due to inadequate raw materials, following the outbreak of a pest which destroyed tomato farms in about five states, including Kano. (NAN).
