Termites home fumigation

 

What are Termites?

Termites are insects that are small and quite pale. Their bodies are soft, and there are many different kinds of termites. Different kinds of termites prefer different kinds of environments, that's why it's important to differentiate between them so that treatment could be effective and long-lasting. Many types of termites prefer to food on wood items, and they can be extremely destructive to any timber and trees.

What are the different kinds of termites?

There are forty-five various kinds of termites special in the United States. They fall into one of three categories. These are damp wood, subterranean, and dry wood. The termites that mostly affect Florida are the Formosan subterraneous termite, which is also known as the coptotermes formosanus. Other termites in Florida are the cone head termite and the desert termite. A clue that termites have been in one's home are discarded wings that are found near window areas or other entry sites. Ants do not shed their wings, but termites do, especially near spring's mating season for termites.

Why are Termintes Harmful?

Termites might sting, and they might bite as well. They do not carry disease, but they do cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions due to the dust that they leave behind. Ventilations systems and heating systems can aggravate the fecal dust of the termites and the nests of termites. Termites, as mentioned before, also cause a great deal of damage to wood structures and can lower the property value of a home and even cause portions to fall apart and crumble.

What is Termite Tenting?

Termite tenting I also known as fumigation. It is a treatment for dealing with the termites that are active and considered dry wood termites.

How does tenting, or fumigating, a home work?

This kind of fumigation is called tenting because a home is completely sealed off to allow the gas to poison the termites, as it fills all the nooks and crannies of the home. The insecticide used will kill off the termites and most of the other bugs that are living in the home. Tenting works for termites that dwell in the home and structures, but it's not effective for subterranean types of termites since tenting isn't efficient for underground usage. That subterranean termite type of fumigation includes the price of termite trenching, which increases the cost of the overall project. There is a tenting that involves high amounts of heat, instead of chemicals, to kill the termites...

Read more by clicking here

Fishing and Nigeria's 2020 Goals

By Peter O Osalor 

The image is a strikingly ironic symbol of the state of Nigerian fishing in general. The country enjoys more than 850 km of coastline, besides an enviable number of well-stocked rivers, inland lakes, lagoons and creeks. The topography, soil composition and rainfall patterns in this portion of sub-Saharan Africa support an abundance of aquatic life across freshwater, brackish and saltwater ecosystems. However, tilapias, catfish, carp and other freshwater species make up 80% of all cultivation in Nigeria, with commercial maritime trawling and deep-sea fishing remaining relatively under-exploited operations. Though credible data on the sector is extremely limited, media reports indicate the fishing business contributed $60 million to the national economy in 2008, or roughly 4% of total agricultural output. The sector currently accounts for 40% of the country's total animal protein intake and offers employment and livelihood to more than 3 million people, although its contribution to the economy is minimal. 

Estimated annual fish cultivation was pegged at 120,000 tonnes in the 1960s. The figure had halved by the beginning of the next decade and continues to fall; current domestic production hovering around just 400,000 tonnes. The sudden change in fortune came about with the oil boom of the 1970s, when the discovery of vast oil and natural gas reserves radically altered official priorities. Economic diversification was stalled as Abuja kept pumping back millions in oil profits into further exploration, to the neglect of all other sectors. Endemic poverty descended over large parts of rural Nigeria as traditional livelihoods began to wither away. The absence of inclusive growth flared ethnic tensions and provoked decades of civil war and recurring military takeovers towards the end of the last century. Despite its considerable foreign exchange earnings, human development indicators plummeted across the board as the Nigerian economy grew increasingly oil-dependent and unsustainable. 

National ambitions were renewed with the reinstatement of civilian rule in 1999, when Abuja embarked on an extensive programme of economic reform and restructuring. The government under former president O Obsanjo adopted a comprehensive roadmap premised on the objective of making Nigeria a significant player in regional and global affairs. Specifically, Obsanjo's Vision 2020 document mandates sector-wide initiatives to propel Nigeria into the top 20 global economies in a time-bound manner. The present dispensation under President UM Yar'Adua remains committed not just to achieving the 2020 objective, but also the UN Millennial Development goals of universal basic human rights. 

It is in this connection that the fishing sector presents unique opportunities as both a poverty alleviation strategy and a tool for rapid entrepreneurial growth. Present levels of fish cultivation satisfy only a fraction of local requirement, with exports having to fill in for almost 95% of annual demand. Nigeria is in fact the top importer of fish in the African continent, sourcing more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish annually from international markets. Unofficial estimates suggest less than 10% of the country's fish farming potential is currently being utilised, with as much as 60,000 hectares of unused land available for expanding the sector. The fact remains that Nigeria's vast natural resources and human capital can be leveraged to promote extensive fishing as a means of ensuring not only exports but also food security. In principle at least, the Nigerian fishing industry has a lot to look forward to.

Because of its extensive coastline and tropical climate, Nigeria has the potential to develop a diversified ecology for a range of commercially viable varieties of fish. The economic appeal behind fishing is tremendous, considering the secondary and tertiary enterprises it can generate. More efficient methods of inland cultivation and coastal trolling, executed in an export-oriented environment, can spur rapid growth of down-the-line industries. Fishing, by itself, has the potential of driving considerable enterprise development, transforming rural economies and generating direct and indirect employment opportunities in the process. Abuja's primary responsibility lies in providing opportunities for export of fish and fish products to international markets. Although viable data on the subject is lacking, the aggregate economic loss due to reduced local fish production is significant and needs focused policy initiatives to correct. 

The enterprise potential of this sector is made doubly significant by the nature of the business. Fishing relies heavily on small and middle scale ancillary industries like canning, net-making and boat building, while supporting an additional base of activities in storage, processing and marketing. The net scope for employment generation, business development and poverty eradication through these allied activities make fishing deeply relevant to Nigeria's quest for inclusive economic growth. 

Here are some of the most pressing arguments in favour of a rapid expansion of fishing activities:

I.    Aquaculture provides opportunities for optimal land use, allowing areas unsuitable for crops to be developed into economically productive ponds and fisheries. 
II.    Focussed expansion of artisanal and small-scale fishing can help turn around rural economies rapidly by generating jobs and sparking enterpreneruial activity. 
III.    In development-deprived areas and among rural communities, sustainable fish farming can help improve both nutritional and living standards.
IV.    Nigeria's highly diversified tropical ecology makes fishing in brackish and fresh waters almost a zero opportunity-cost endeavour with infinite growth potential. 

Early in 2008, the fishing industry in the coastal Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom was paralysed in a wave of extortion and boat capture unleashed by sea-borne pirates. The attacks forced trawlers to go on an indefinite strike, bringing the local economy to a standstill and causing terrible loss of revenue to the regional council. While this particular situation was eventually resolved, security remains just one of several momentous challenges restraining the expansion of Nigerian fishing: 

o    The absence of a sustainable and progressive fisheries policy represents a fundamental hurdle, with lax government regulation routinely forcing small-scale operations out of business. 
o    Population expansion in coastal areas is giving rise to over-fishing and unscientific practices, destroying marine ecosystems and threatening underwater environments. 
o    Organised fishing attracts high capital expenditure in Nigeria as most of the necessary equipment, boats, feed, technology and know-how has to be imported.
o    Infrastructure deficits severely hamper the storage, transport and marketing of fish in rural areas, making profitable urban markets unavailable to traditional fishing communities. 
o    Despite specific government efforts, commercial deep-sea fishing is out of reach for local entrepreneurs; the activity remains limited to the purview of foreign-owned companies. 

Although the sector continues to receive sporadic government nudging and funding, the impact of these measures has been considerably restricted thus far due to lack of insight and effective implementation. Special schemes to promote fishing in target communities have also failed because of a low awareness about profitability in the business. Turning around this mindset could well prove to be one of the deciding challenges facing the Nigerian fishing industry. The nation's history and unique circumstances will undoubtedly test its resolve to achieve formidable goals. Hopefully, the fervour of the Argungu fishermen and their quest for the biggest fish will provide some creative inspiration.

The Role Of Animals In Organic Farming

By Phongphichan Sukhonthanit 

Farm animals are an important an integrated part of most organic farms. They make valuable contributions to the productivity and sustainability of organic agricultural systems. In addition to this strong economic bond between humans and animals in organic farming, there also is a moral (and sometimes emotional) bond to animals as sentient and fellow beings on this planet. This imposes a responsibility on humans for the welfare of farm animals. However, the development of organic animal husbandry has been slower than the organic plant production. There are several reasons for this, historical and philosophical as well as the fact that research on animal production often is more expensive and difficult to carry out compared to crop research. However, organic animal research has increased considerably in several European countries lately and resulting from this, improved efficiency and productivity can be expected in organic animal production, as well as better animal welfare.

There is a big interest in organic farming in Europe, both among politicians, consumers and farmers. Organic agriculture is subsidized by the EU, and the Commission is currently working on an Action Plan for organic food and agriculture. Animals are an important part of most organic farms and research to develop better organic systems is now performed in many European countries. Thus we can expect organic animal production to increase during the years to come. At the same time there are challenges and dilemmas that the organic movement and organic farmers must face and solve to improve animal production and to maintain credibility and trust among consumers, for example in relation to animal welfare.

In organic farming, agriculture is often referred to as an agroecosystem. An agroecosystem is a community of plants and animal interaction with their physical and chemical environments that have been modified by people to produce feed, fibers and other products for human consumption and processing. The goal of organic farming is to design a quilt of agroecosystems within a landscape unit, each mimicking the structure and function of local, natural ecosystems, thus acquiring their resilience and sustainability. Ideally, the organic farmer manipulates the natural ecosystem to achieve sustainable production, using an understanding of ecological relationships while trying to minimize the use of external inputs and harm to the environment.

Although it is possible to create agroecosystems without farm animal, animal provide substantial advantages for system productivity and sustainability. For example, farm animal have an important role in processing biomass and recycling nutrients. Organic farming systems with herbivores are generally more productive than those without them. The animals can fill trophic niches that otherwise would not be utilized, for example marginal lands otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. However, in order to create sustainable agroecosystems, the animal component must meet certain requirements:-

1. The selection of species and breeds must be adapted to crop production suitable for the area, to available resources on the farm or in the region, and to local agro-climatic conditions.

2. The number of animals must be balanced in relation to the possible crop production and available resources.

3. Rearing systems must be designed to avoid harming the environment and to minimize the use of fossil energy.

Ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, have a particularly important role in agroecosystems since they process leguminous forage plants. These are the backbone of organic crop production because of their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. To obtain sufficient nitrogen in an organic crop rotation, about one-third of the crops should be legumes. In practice this means that organic animal production must be based on ruminants (and that these are fed like ruminants). In contrast, monogastric animal, such as pig and poultry, require high quality protein in their diets. These animals can be considered as competing with humans for food, at least to the extent they use protein sources suitable for direct human consumption. Thus, it is sometimes argued that monogastric animals should be considered marginal in organic farming, primarily to be fed on agricultural wastes. They also can contribute to the agroecosystem by producing useful services, such as biological weed or pest control.

Development approaches for organic animal production in developing countries has to be based on realistic and practical situations. First, one must recognize the limitation and complexities of export market for animal products, while there exists greater market opportunities for organic animal products locally, for instance indigenous chicken meat and eggs. Practical approaches for organic farming should be based on and developed from locally existing animal production systems which already have close resemblance to prescribed organic practices, such as those mentioned earlier for ruminant and indigenous chicken production. The local standards and guidelines for organic animal farming ought to be initially considered and developed from such existing animal husbandry practices. Further development of such standards will be a continuous process based on practical experiences gained from production, processing, and marketing of the resulted organic animal products.

The Success of the promotion of organic animal farming at national level will depend on many important factors including government policies and legislative supports, socio-economic infrastructure, farm training and extension as well as other technical supports.

Dairy farming and types of equipment used.

 

D

airy farming is a class of agriculture, where female
goats, cattle and other mammals are raised for their milk, which may be either
processed on-site or transported to a diary for processing and eventual retail
sale.

Types of equipment

The specific type of equipment required depends on
the size of the dairy operation, its location and the number cows milked.

o  
Small
dairy farm equipment required a stool and a bucket.

o  
Large
dairy farm equipment required milk parlors, which areas with livestock chutes arranged
in a circle. Note:
the building or farm area where milk is harvested from cow is often called a
milking parlor or parlor.

Workers on the farm
bring the cows into the area for milk and once the cows are in their pens,
workers attach automated milking devices to the cows’ udders to start the
milking process.

Other types of
equipment commonly found on dairy  farms
include automated scrapers and waste handling systems, milk chiller tanks,
watering equipment, tractors, feeders, buckets, milk containers, pasteurizers,
etc. depend on the size of the farm.

FARM TOOLS AND THEIR USES – PART II

T

hanks to everyone who has reader and comments on my
blog post, especially my first post on farm tools and to those that this is
just their first time of visiting or reading my post.

Farm tools are two independent words join together:
Farm & Tools.

Farm:
Are area of land, together with a house and buildings, used for growing crops
and/or keeping animals as a business or home use.

Tools:
Is a device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a
particular function.

For
better understanding

Now, what is a farm tool?

F

arm
tools are equipment that is used in the processes of land
preparation. These are mainly tools for trimming trees, weeds and shrubs,
cultivators, rakes and various hacksaws etc. Or read more by clicking here!

Farm tools and their uses and read more about some
other tools not mention here in my post on farm tools like:

Pick axe, Hand fork, Hand trowel, the sickle, the hammer,
the mallet, Secateurs, the shears, Watering can, Cutlass, the hoe, the spade. Click here

·       
Cutlass:
The
cutlass is one of the most common tools used by farmers. The cutlass has two
main parts which are a wooden handle and a blade used for cutting.

Uses

o  
The cutlass is used for pre-planting
activities such as the cutting down and clearing of grasses, bushes, and trees.

o  
It is used to plant the seeds of some
crops.

·       
Rake:
The rake is a farm tool which consists of a very long wooden handle with a
strong metal head attached to its base, with several prongs which are very important
to enable the rake perform its functions.

Uses

o  
To clean the ground and level the
topsoil.

o  
It is used to cover vegetable seeds
after broadcasting

·       
Shovel:
The shovel is similar to the spade but it has a slight difference. Its blade is
hollow and broad.

Uses

o  
With the help of shovel, one can quickly
remove and trash, dig, move and mix the soil.

·       
Grab-hoe:
This tool helps to brake hard top soil.

·       
Bolo:
This
tool is usually used to cut tall weeds and grasses or chopping branches of
trees.

·       
Pick-mattock:
It
is a handy tool to dig and break stones.

·       
Scythe:
The
scythe is a versatile hand-held tool for mowing cereals (including wheat) and
other herbaceous plants.

·       
Wheelbarrow:
It is used to remove the trash, haul fertilizers, manures, planting materials, and
other things.

·       
Sprayers:
This one is used for spraying insecticides.

·       
Sprinklers:
It is the tool for watering plants.

·       
Knife:
It
is a universal tool for cutting.

·       
Pruning
shears: It is a great tool to cut branches of trees and
bushes.

·       
Hand
cultivator: It is used for cultivating garden plot
and removing the weeds.

·       
Light
hoe:
it is used for leveling and loosening soil or digging the furrows for planting.

  Read more 

Basic Gardening Tools and Equipment You'll Need

    Before you start your home garden activities, it's a must to provide yourself with the needed tools and equipment in your nursery. These tools and equipment must be available all the time to make your gardening works easy and convenient.

You can work peacefully and efficiently if you have a complete tools and equipment in your nursery. You would not be worrying where to borrow because you have a complete sets of them always at hand when eventualities so arises.

You don't need big amount to start collecting your tools and equipment. You can visit some agriculture stores for garden tools and buy at bargain those that are not so costly, especially during yard sales. As a gardener, you've to follow this slogan " Use the Right Tool to the Right Job" to make your gardening work successful.

Some Basic Tools and Equipment

• Shovels - A round-ended shovel should be preferred for digging especially for planting trees and smaller shrubs.

• Garden Hoes - A garden hoe is useful for weeding and cultivating soil surfaces to allow for deeper plant root penetration of nutrients and water.

• Bow Rake -Provide a good heavy duty bow rake, which has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame or 'bow.' This tool is vital for leveling the soil to make it ready for planting, or for removing large clods of earth or rocks from the soil.

• Spading Forks - The spading fork is needed to open and improve the soil. It looks like a pitchfork but has a shorter handle and wider tines. It is used to dig down into hard soil and break up the ground.

• Dull Bolo - This tool is common in the Philippines, its uses is similar with a garden used for weeding and cultivation.

• Sharp Bolo - A sharp bolo is used to cut some grasses and small branches or generally for clearing operations prior to soil cultivation.

• Garden shears - Select a pair of garden shears that fits comfortably in your hand. Shears, sometimes called clippers, are used for pruning, shaping and removing foliage or branches.

• Garden Hose - Hose is necessary to water your garden. Depending on how much there is to water a sprinkler is also a good addition to the watering garden equipment list.

• Sprinkler Can - This is essential for watering your plants. Long nozzles allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances. Select a watering can that has a detachable spray head - this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.

• Hand Sprayer - Hand sprayer is useful for spraying some minor insect pests that are easily managed for minor insect attack in the garden.

• Spade - Similar to shovel, but it has a square end point used for digging and making a straight plots and beds.

• Carts and wheelbarrows - are necessary to transfer some gardening tools and equipment used in your garden works. Some other uses for carts and wheelbarrows are to collect and remove your full grown vegetables from your garden and carry dirt's and grass clippings away from the garden. • Garden Pruner - When you want to shape and cut back longer plants you will use the pruner garden tool. Pruners come in two styles. One is the bypass style and the other is the anvil. Pick up a couple of varieties to see which style is best for you. Pruners that have changeable blades and parts that are possible to sharpen will assist in extending the life of this piece of gardening equipment.

• Garden Trowel - A garden trowel is also used for weeding and cultivation. Select the one with a steel blade to make it last longer in use. There are different types of handles to choose from. You can either select the one with rubber handles that make them easier to grip while using them and there are some that are designed to relieve stress from your wrist during use.

There are still some equipment to be purchased in your gardening operations, but these tools and equipment mentioned are the basics you should purchase. If you have already your bigger capital, Roto-tiller or Tractor is also important in your garden. For the meantime, be satisfied with the basic garden tools and equipment identified, you can already start you garden operations. Happy gardening!

ORIGIN OF AGRICULTURE

      What Is AGRICULTURE?: Is the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the
soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide
food, wool, and other products. Agriculture is as old as a Man, Since the time GOD Created Heaven and Earth. "According to the FORGOTTEN BOOKS OF ADEN

1. ON the third day, God planted the garden in the east of the earth, on
the border of the world eastward, beyond which, towards the sun-rising,
one finds nothing but water, that encompasses the whole world, and
reaches unto the borders of heaven.

2.  And to the north of the garden there is a sea of wafer, clear and
pure to the taste, like unto nothing else; so that, through the
clearness thereof, one may"

" GENESIS CHAPTER 1 VS 24. Vs 29

 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals
according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and
all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good."..

²⁹ Then
God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole
earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours
for food. ³⁰ And
to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the
creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of
life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so."..

" GENESIS CHAPTER 3 VS 21

 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."

 With my understanding, Agriculture is as old as a man, even before Our father were created....

 In Time Of Our Forefather ADAM & EVE

Planting and rearing of animal has start since the time of our forefather, in the time of Cain and Abel.

Cain: Is a farmer the "growing of crops", while Able Is a farmer rearing of animal.

DEVELOPMENT:

Farming and rearing of animal develop in generation till DATE, in time of Noah, land of Egypt. Agriculture involving domestication of plants and animals was developed around 10,000 B.C. although earlier people began altering communities of flora and fauna for their own benefit through other means such as fire-stick farming prior to that.

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE WORLD 

Without agriculture, there is noting like life, because no one can do without food, cloth e.t.c. With agriculture we are able to provide shelter and living in good health. Crude oil is from Agricultural, Sugar cane, Maize, Rice, Wheat,Sugar beet, Soybeans, Potatoes, Cassava, Barley, Tomatoes, Vegetable Fiber, Eggs, Vegetables and melons, Cereals, Meat, Fruit, Pulses,Roots and Tubers, Vegetable oil... Agricultural is the father of life...

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 

How to Create A Fish Pond In Your Backyard

Water ponds are very trendy right now. In addition to creating a peaceful haven for your family, a backyard pond can also provide a viable habitat for butterflies, frogs, fish, and birds.

If done correctly, a backyard water pond can also help to create a focal point in your yard and may even help to increase interest in your home if you decide to sell.

Water ponds do not have to be large. In fact, the majority of water ponds are no bigger than 4 feet in length. Some people have built water ponds using containers and plant containers.

Using such materials are cost effective and make the entire process proceed very quickly. However, the results can be simply stunning.

Before you begin to build a backyard pond, you may want to do a little research online or even take a class at your local garden center. Here are some tips that you should consider before beginning your project.


Place your pond in an accessible place. Although you may be tempted to tuck the pond in a spot on the edge of your property, this means you won't be able to regularly enjoy the pond. Rather than do this, you may want to place your pond in a central location. You should be able to enjoy the view whether you are sitting on the deck of your pool, on your backyard swing, or on the patio visiting with friends.
Place the pond in a spot where it won't become overheated during the hot afternoon sun. This may mean placing part of the pond beneath a shaded area or planting small shrubs and trees around the pond for extra shade.
Slightly elevate the soil around the pond so that water runoff will not be a problem during storms. If you have extra rocks, you can also use them to place a border around your pond. Of course, it is important to place the pond far enough away from your home that rainwater runoff does not affect the foundation of your home.


Landscaping

Landscaping is very important and will provide an incentive for wildlife to visit your pond. A butterfly bush is easy to care for, yet will encourage butterflies, bees, and other types of wildlife to visit your back yard. A bird feeder will encourage birds to visit your pond as well.

In order to prevent your pond from becoming a mosquito breeding ground, it is important to circulate the water. If you have electricity in your yard, you can use an electric pump. If not, you can use a solar pump. Otherwise, you may want to put some fish in your pond. The fish will eat the mosquito larvae as well as the algae that may grow on the sides of your pond.

You can also plant some water plants in your pond. If you decide to do this, you should let the plants settle in for about a week before adding fish to the pond.

Then, all that is left to do, is to sit back and enjoy your backyard pond!..

Sodium Bicarbonate has is own advantage in fishing : Read Or download the PDF file on: Uses (and Misuses) of Sodium Bicarbonate in Aquaculture CLICK HERE

 

 

 

The True Scope of Agriculture

Agriculture has been the primary occupation of human beings, and that too a very important one. It provides a variety of products - crops - that are essential for humankind. Agriculture not only supports humans for their subsistence, but helps a large number of industries too.

Agriculture forms the raw material for numerous farm products based industries. The basic products, resulting from agricultural activities, are processed in big factories, before the final product is marketed. As such, agriculture generates employment, both for people working in the farming sector as well as those in the industrial, agriculture-based sector.

These days, agriculture has become an important commercial activity. A variety of crops are grown, which can be classified as -

oFood crops

oCommercial crops

oFiber crops

oBeverage crops.

Agriculture has benefited a great deal from the various advancements in the field of science and technology - with modern machines making the 'field' jobs much easier than ever before. All over the world, agriculture is managed efficiently with the help of modern farm equipment. In the US, farmers rely much more on technology than on manual labor.

Machines are used for all important farm operations like - tilling, sowing, harvesting, sorting of fruits, etc. Most farmers prefer employing those laborers who are skillful, and who can operate upon their tractors, combines and harvesters. In fact, farmers are also ever so ready to try out every new development in the variety of crops, pesticides, fertilizers and the like.

The importance of agriculture also lies in the fact that it supports the export sector also - most of the farmers in the United States produce largely for exports, as the soil produce is quite fertile, and coupled with modern technology, the returns are huge. Some of the major farm products are crops like - rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, jute, tea, coffee and rubber - which are produced in most parts of the world.

In countries that export surplus farm output, agriculture is all the more significant, and the agricultural production is fairly high. As the farmer gets a good profit, his financial position, especially in developed countries, is better than many other entrepreneurs. He is now able to purchase the latest machinery, use latest techniques of farming, buy new and improved hybrid varieties of seeds, and use the best fertilizers to increase productivity.

Nowadays, there are improvements in wholesale marketing as well as transportation of farm products. The use of refrigeration systems and efficient rail transport has made possible the safe delivery of perishable farm products like dairy products, vegetables, and fruits. With barely 4% of total population of United States engaged in agriculture, they have huge exportable surplus.

Agriculture is not just limited to crop cultivation, dairy farming has become an indispensable part of the agricultural process. Dairy farming is the practice of farming in which cattle are kept for milk and milk products. Oftentimes, poultry is also included. In fact, the scope of agriculture has widened, with interrelated sectors over-lapping one another; and in the present, each of these sectors is as important as any other!...

How to Protect Your Corn From Insects

So your corn is planted and seems to be thriving, but there are a few hurdles that need to be still surpassed and one of the pressing issues being what is the best way to protect the corn form insects?



The three primary pests that threaten to destroy your crop are animals, insects and diseases. Make sure you examine your corn plants at regular intervals for danger of infestation. Corn earworms are also pests that you need to watch out for and they usually have an affinity for sweet corn that they attack consistently every year.



Moths deposit eggs on the leaves near the ear that grow into tiny caterpillars. The worms tend to feed on the tip of the ear. Nothing can be controlled once the worm enters the inside of the protective husk covering and the damage is inflicted. However there are certain measures that can be undertaken to protect your corn plants:



First, to keep the earworms from entering the trip of the husk, you can wrap a rubber band around the tip of the ear or attach a clothespin after the corn silk appears. This method will go a long way in minimizing the damage.



Secondly, you can protect your corn plants by spraying an insecticide called BT or Bacilulus Thuringiensis that contains a particular bacterium which will affect and attack only the larvae of the corn invader. This chemical spray will ensure all pest and insects are destroyed and killed. When using chemical sprays, make sure you consult the store you bought it from to ensure that you use the right amount as to not poison the crop and keep it safe for human consumption.



Other insect pests such as cutworms, stalk borers and stink bugs can reduce the corn stands as well even if a soil insecticide is used while planting, these insects can kill the seedling corn plants through the 4-6 leaf stage. Special scouting procedures are undertaken to determine when these insects might appear. The seed corn maggot can also destroy the corn plant and in order to protect the germinating seeds and seedlings from this pest, a seed treatment must be applied. Sampling of the soil for wire worms and white grubs must be administered supplemented with random digging of the soil with a shovel.



While planting corn seeds, a seed insecticide must be sprayed that will provide moderate protection against infestations of black cutworms, by undertaking all the necessary measures to protect your corn from the attack of any insects will result in more corn yields with less loss due to feeding damage by insects. Once the insects have infected the ear of the corn, the damage has been done and at that junction there is no reverse route. Your corn is destroyed and cannot be picked for eating purposes. This leads to loss and low corn yields thus spoiling the harvest for that year. A collaborative effort with innovative solutions to keep insects at bay will protect your corn not only form insects but allow it to thrive as well.