Soil Organic Matter Storage in Irrigated Tsitsikamma Dairy Farms with Minimum Tilled Pasture Mixtures: Case Studies

Shallow groundwater quality on dairy farms with irrigated forage crops.

California's dairies are the largest confined animal industry in the state. A major portion of these dairies, which have an average herd size of nearly 1000 animal units, are located in low-relief valleys and basins. Large amounts of liquid manure are generated and stored in these dairies. In the semi-arid climate, liquid manure is frequently applied via flood or furrow irrigation to forage cro...

Changes in some soil properties due to tillage practices in rainfed hardsetting Al®sols and irrigated Vertisols of eastern Australia

Changes in soil physical and chemical properties were evaluated in several on-farm studies located in rainfed, hardsetting red Al®sols (Ferric Luvisols) and in irrigated, self-mulching Vertisols (Chromic Vertisols) of eastern Australia. The objective of the studies was to evaluate changes in soil physical and chemical properties with time under commercial farming situations where changes had be...

Forage, Phosphorus and Soil on Dairy Farms

Treatments Used on Organic Dairy Farms

INTRODUCTION Organic regulations in the US strictly regulate medications may be used on organic farms (USDA, 2011). While both Canadian and EU organic standards discourage the use of antibiotics or prohibited synthetic compounds, both standards contain provisions that allow limited usage of antibiotics (without loss of organic status of the animal) under strictly defined conditions and with ext...

Learning in Organic Farming – an Application on Finnish Dairy Farms

Organic farming technology may be relatively unknown to farmers at the time when they switch from conventional into organic farming. Therefore, experience gained over time and learning by doing may be important determinants in the efficiency of organic farming. It may also take time to reach the optimal nutrient stock of soil and optimal nutrient supply for arable crops under organic farming. T...