Farmers suffering the effects of drought and depression in the 1930s were looking for relief from what they felt were unfair prices for their crops, and reform of the entire agricultural and economic system of which they were the primary part. In the election campaign of 1932, they heard Franklin D. Roosevelt promise that if elected he would work for a program to help them. The vagueness of the president-to-be led a variety of farm groups to believe that he would support their leaders and programs, but some groups, such as the Farmers Union, were disappointed and their organizers criticized various aspects of the New Deal Agricultural Program. During the dire thirties, new farm groups were formed to voice their opposition to the program. The ideas of these groups were resisted by the Department of Agriculture, which fought back to stifle their opposition and largely won. This work is a history of seven organizations that opposed Roosevelts agricultural programs. They are the Missouri Farmers Association, the Farmers Union, the Farm Holiday Movement, the Farmers Independence Council, the National Farmers Process Tax Recovery Association, the Corn Belt Liberty League and the Farmers Guild.

Honey Bees: Estimating the Environmental Impact of Chemicals provides the reader with an up-to-date account of the different strategies currently in use or in development for assessing the ecotoxicity of xenobiotics against these social insects which play a key role in both ecology and agriculture. In addition to the classical acute laboratory test, semi-field cage tests and full field funnel tests, new tests based mainly on behavioural responses are for the first time clearly described. Information on the direct and indirect effects on honey bees of radionuclides, heavy metals, pesticides, semi-volatile organic compounds and genetically modified plants is also presented.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203218655

Potato is the most significant non-cereal crop. Much attention has been paid to this commercially important crop. The aim of this volume is to capture the recent advances made in improving potatoes using traditional breeding methods as well as genetic engineering technology. The book provides a critical appraisal of the state-of-the-art finding on this crop.

The world's food supply needs to rise significantly, yet both arable and water supplies per capita are decreasing. Not only are modern agricultural methods beyond the reach of those suffering the greatest food insecurity but they are also ecologically damaging, relying upon fossil energy and chemical inputs. This volume offers a collection of innovative and diverse approaches to agricultural development. Documented in 12 case studies, these approaches are reliant upon greater knowledge, skill and labour input, rather than larger capital expenditure. They are shown to increase yield substantially, sometimes doubling or tripling output. This volume presents the concepts and operational means for reorienting agricultural efforts towards these more environmentally friendly and socially desirable approaches in the developed as well as developing world.

This volume provides the origins and meanings of the names of genera and species of extant vascular plants, with the genera arranged alphabetically from M to Q.

A part of the continuing effort to provide innovative in situ remediation techniques, Remediation of Firing-Range Impact Berms presents the results of a soil washing and leaching project. The demonstration set as its primary objective providing reliable, detailed performance data to evaluate the feasibility and cost of implementing a full-scale system. Its secondary objective was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology in producing a 'clean' soil based on analytical results. The project included the following steps: Bench scale treatability studies of prospective soils Selection of a demonstration site Pilot plant equipment design, installation, and shakedown Execution of the demonstration at the selected DOD site Preparation of the Final Technical Report (FTR) and the Technology Evaluation Report (TER) The monograph discusses the results of the pilot plant study and includes the technical information necessary to reproduce the study full-scale. It recommends procedures for successful soil washing at small arms ranges. Remediation of Firing-Range Impact Berms will save you time and money when using in situ technology for soil remediation.

Volume 3 takes the subject of better land husbandry further. The book first points out the sort of things which have been, and are being used, but are failing to deliver what is required. It then explains the causes of erosion, the theory and practice of soil and water conservation, and practical and lasting ways to construct terraces, including such details as how to build different kinds of terrace walls. Nothing grows from the top down, as also with soil improvement. It explains in detail the way of achieving practical and sustainable soil and water conservation, practical ways in which farmers can themselves make and use practical and lasting ways to construct terraces, including such details as how to build different kinds of terrace walls.

Principles and Practices for Petroleum Contaminated Soils includes some of the best research and practical work done by top researchers in the field-both in industry and academia. It covers fundamental and advanced topics, such as analysis and site assessment, techniques (e.g., vacuum extraction, asphalt incorporation), and case studies. The book will interest anyone working with contaminated soils, ground water, and underground storage tanks. It will also be a valuable reference for regulatory personnel and environmental consultants at all levels.

Explore the benefits of and necessity for sustainable agriculture!Here is an easy-to-read, practical introduction to sustainable agriculture: what it means and why it is needed. It is the first book to synthesize the goals of sustainable agriculture into eight comprehensive steps. The Next Green Revolution presents a convincing critique of our current agricultural system and an introduction to an alternative system which gives more consideration to future generations. Interwoven through the book are Dr. Horne's reflections on social justice, quality of life, and how farmers and rural communities are inextricably linked.The Next Green Revolution draws on the unique perspective of Dr. James E. Horne, President of a leading nonprofit agriculture organization, the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture. It is inspired by his experience as a traditional agriculturalist and educator coming to grips with the failings of the conventional system and searching for an alternative. Writing in the first person, he describes growing up in a sharecropper family in Oklahoma, running his own ranch, and consulting with farmers as an agricultural economist. He shares what he learned as the Kerr Center experimented with new "sustainable" approaches to old problems on the Center's ranch/farm, and his experiences working with the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. With The Next Green Revolution, you will explore: the major problems of contemporary industrial agriculture definitions of sustainable agriculture the historical roots of sustainable agriculture the politics of sustainable agriculture sustainable agriculture practices changes needed to encourage a sustainable agriculture and the eight steps to sustainable agriculture, which address: soil health and erosion water quality and use organic waste management crop and livestock adaptation biodiversity environmentally benign pest management energy use farm diversification profitability The Next Green Revolution is a well-researched introduction to the field, written with a minimum of jargon.

Maintain viability with these techniques for proper seed storage Healthy, viable seeds are the foundation for sustainable crop production, while poorly kept seeds can result in low germination and crop loss. Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops suggests appropriate strategies to help farmers and breeders store seeds of all kinds. This unique compendium gathers information from a wealth of scientific research and presents it in an easy-to-use format. Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops begins with a section on seed morphology and physiology. In subsequent sections, detailed information is provided for storage of the seeds of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants from tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates.Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops provides specific details on the factors affecting seed viability, including: selecting and preparing seeds for storage conditions of air, light, temperature, and moisture methods of seed invigoration, including priming, magnetism, and growth regulators favorable conditions for germination eliminating problems such as insects and fungal infection This comprehensive volume is an essential reference for agronomists, students and educators, researchers, heritage seed collectors, and farmers. Richly illustrated with figures, tables, and photographs, Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops will help you obtain bountiful harvests, sustain growth, and preserve genetic diversity.

First Published in 1967. In The Landed Interest and the Supply of Food James Caird reconsidered the position ofBritish agriculture a generation after theappearance of his High Farming pamphlet andhis English Agriculture in 1850 and 1851. Much of this text was devoted to a reconsideration of the structure of landownership and farming, and the relations between landlord and tenant. This is the fifth edition.

The lives of more than a billion people depend on the answer This valuable book surveys the problems of the rice-wheat cropping system practiced on the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Introduced at the time of the Green Revolution, it transformed agriculture and produced thirty years of bumper crops. The Rice-Wheat Cropping System of South Asia: Efficient Production Management offers scientific analysis of the aftereffects of this intense cropping. The Rice-Wheat Cropping System of South Asia: Efficient Production Management focuses on the questions of soil depletion, pest infestation, and soil alkalinity as elements of declining productivity. Along with clear charts, maps, and graphs, it provides practical suggestions for improving and maintaining the productivity of this irreplaceable farmland. The Rice-Wheat Cropping System of South Asia looks at the problems that have arisen for both the rice and wheat phases, including: depletion of micronutrients degradation of major nutrients from unbalanced fertilization practices infestations of nematodes increasing soil alkalinity as a result of irrigationIt also suggests solutions for maintaining productivity, including: integrated pest management sustainable agriculture micronutrient fertilizersThis informative book and its companion volume, The Rice-Wheat Cropping System of South Asia: Trends, Constraints, Productivity and Policy, are essential planning tools for agronomists, policymakers, and agroeconomists. It is also a useful reference for anyone interested in the problems of famine and intensive cropping not only in South Asia but in the world.

This title was first published in 2003.The public sector plays a dominant international role in the provision of agricultural extension and services. This role has been the subject of much debate. Some argue for extension's privatization, claiming that a market driven system provides the most rational and efficient means of information delivery. Based on extensive empirical research from the Punjab (Pakistan), this volume examines the comparative effectiveness of public and private extension services from the perspective of farmers. It also focuses on information from extension agents about their respective organizations and work environments. In so doing, the book expands and elaborates on the practical considerations of privatization and information delivery. It then broadens out into a discussion of alternative means of extension delivery, focusing on participatory approaches, education theory and pluralism.

Lack of accidents does not necessarily mean safe operation. You may have been lucky. You may have had near misses, but fortune smiled and you had few accidents. Measuring accidents provides one segment of the safety picture, but it is a far cry from evaluating and creating overall safety. Rather than giving you accident statistics and the admonition "you need a program," Agricultural Safety shows you how to "do" safety. The book sets forth the steps you need to take to make safety a part of your everyday farming operation, such as:

- Identification of key safety activities that will lead to better control of losses
- Setting standards and guidelines for doing that work
- Measurement of the effectiveness of the work being done in accordance with the standards and guidelines
- Evaluating program progress based upon measurements taken
- Correcting deficiencies based on the evaluation(s)

The author covers topics such as machinery operation, maintenance and repair techniques, fire loss control techniques, the safe handling of agrochemicals, and techniques involving the handling of animals. He provides you with a step-by-step manual for the procurement, handling, and storage of agrochemicals and pesticides as well as a guide to personal protective equipment and reviews safety for "third parties" and the posting of property and public warnings.
To achieve safety, the work of safety must be done, measured for efficiency, evaluated in real-world terms, and corrective action taken, as needed, in a timely manner. Many books on safety provide a list of dos and don'ts. Agricultural Safety discusses the ways and means of managing and controlling accidental loss and shows you how to build safety into your operation.

There is an increasing realization among biophysical scientists that human behavior drastically impacts the degree to which sound agroecosystems are implemented. Written by an international team of experts assembled by a leading rural sociologist, Interactions Between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities shows how human behavior impacts agroecosystems both positively and negatively and provides an understanding of alternative ways of working with human communities to increase agroecosystem sustainability.

Through a general overview and a series of case studies, this text demonstrates how changes in the economy influence what local people can do to sustain agroecosystems. It also addresses specific community-based actions located in both temperate and tropical zones in Europe, North America, Asia, Central America, and Latin America that have resulted in more sustainable agroecosystems. With 30 diagrams and illustrations, this volume enables the reader to understand fully the impact of exogenous forces on agroecosystems.

This book deals with ways and means of managing food and water security in various agroclimatic environments through the integration of R & D, training, people participation, agronomic practices, economic instruments, and administrative policies. It includes contributions by global experts in the field, who elaborate on the governance of food security, the biophysical dimensions of more food per drop, as well as on the socioeconomic dimensions of food security. Subjects are presented grouped in three sections: 1. Biophysical Dimensions of Food Security; 2. Socioeconomic Dimensions of Food Security and 3. Governance of Food Security in Different Agroclimatic and Socioeconomic settings. Recommended reading for professionals, water and agricultural scientists, engineers, planners and policy makers in the field of food and water security.

This new reference presents the most recent information on new and potential food hydrocolloids originated from agricultural products, including o yellow mustard gum o flaxseed gum o cereals (wheat, barley, oat, and corn)o psyllium fenugreek o soybean. Polysaccharide Gums from Agricultural Products: Processing, Structures and Functionality addresses the basic chemistry, extracting processes, molecular structure, and, most importantly, the functional properties and potential applications of new polysaccharide gums.

Agroecologists from around the world share their experiences in the analysis and development of indicators of agricultural sustainability in Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical Strategies. The authors build on the resource-conserving aspects of traditional, local, and small-scale agriculture while at the same time drawing on modern ecological knowledge and methods. They define the relationship between agroecology and sustainable development.

Leading researchers present case studies that attempt to determine 1) if a particular agricultural practice, input, or management decision is sustainable, and 2) what is the ecological basis for the functioning of the chosen management strategy over the long term. They discuss common findings, define the future role of agroecology, and explore strategies for helping farmers make the transition to sustainable farming systems.

Preserving the productivity of agricultural land over the long term requires sustainable food production. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical Strategies covers topics that range from management practices specific to a particular region to more global efforts to develop sets of indicators of sustainability. It links social and ecological indicators of sustainability. From this foundation we can move towards the social and economic changes that promote sustainability in all sectors of the food system.

This volume seeks a better understanding of the issues and options involved in the generation and transfer of technology to poor small farmers. It is intended to provide a fresh opportunity to develop guidelines for the future design and implementation of rural development investment projects.

Medicinal Plants: Culture, Utilization and Phytopharmacology covers over 400 species. Each chapter gathers valuable information from a wide variety of sources, and supplies it to the user in convenient table format, arranged alphabetically by scientific name, followed by the common name. Data topics include: major constituents (active ingredients) and medicinal values of plants; toxicity or hazardous components; essential oils; value-added products and possible uses; cultivation and harvesting; diseases and insects found in medicinal plants. Three appendices (alphabetical listing of plants by common name, followed by the scientific name; essential oils and their derivation; active ingredients and their sources) provide handy cross-references to the Tables.

Large areas of crops are now grown under water-stressed conditions on non-irrigated and under limited irrigation in semi-arid and arid regions. In the future, this area of water-stressed crops will increase as a result of increasing competition from other water users, declining ground water levels, and the bringing into production of fragile lands that have low water-holding capacity, such as sandy desert soil. Consequently, strategies and practices to increase total yields and efficient water use must be improved. Following the introductory material and keynotes, this book is divided into four parts. Part I covers soil water management, Part II deals with model approaches to evaluate the soil-water-atmosphere interactions, Part III treats water saving techniques through soil conditioning, and Part IV discusses case studies of water management systems. "Water Saving Techniques for Plant Growth" thus represents a general account of interest and activities of the various scientific disciplines which are concerned in deseert encroachment as part of global change.

This volume highlights the state of research in plant genetics and breeding and gives the results and applications of biotechnology procedures with regard to achievements and perspectives of molecular biology and genetic engineering in the improvement of quantitative, qualitative and nutritional characters of crops, including their resistance to pests and diseases and their adaptation to different ecosystems. The book is divided into seven chapters. The first six are focused on the research aimed at improvement of resistance to fungi, bacteria, nematode, virus and insect, and improvement of quality. The latter was assigned two keynote lectures, respectively on agro-food quality and on quality of wood plants. Each chapter begins with a keynote paper. The seventh chapter includes the special lectures which opened and closed the Congress.

This book presents ecological principles and applications of managing biodiversity in agriculture to decrease pesticide use and produce safe food. Major topics include ecosystem services biological pest control, conservation agriculture, drought stress, and soil biodiversity, carbon and fertilisation.

The Living Land sets out a new 'stakeholder' vision for rural regeneration in Europe. It integrates three themes: sustainable agriculture, localised food systems and rural community development. All three offer ways of rebuilding natural and social capital, and a large 'sustainability dividend' is waiting to be released from current practices - creating more jobs, more wealth and better lives from less.

The Origins of Agriculture in Europe takes a look at current ideas in the light of a considerable mass of literature and archaeological evidence; examining the transition to agriculture through the comparison of social and economic developments across Europe.
In this volume, I.J.Thorpe manages to evaluate various alternative explanations in detailed examples, whilst also succeeding in addressing the broader theoretical questions which form the nucleus of contemporary debates. This clearly written and accessible text is an extremely valuable resource for students of European prehistory.