Efficiency in the use of resources stream-lined for expected conditions could lead to reduced system diversity and consequently endanger resilience. We tested the hypothesis of a trade-off between farm resource-use efficiency and land-use diversity. We applied stochastic frontier production models to assess the dependence of resource-use-efficiency on land-use diversity as illustrated by the Sh...

Economic weights have been estimated in two breeds (Latxa and Manchega) using economic and technical data collected in 41 Latxa and 12 Manchega dairy sheep flocks. The traits considered were fertility (lambing per year), prolificacy (number of lambs), milk yield (litres) and longevity (as productive life, in years). A linear function was used, relating these traits to the different costs in the...

The aim was to identify risk factors associated with Coxiella burnetii antibody positivity in bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 100 randomly selected Danish dairy cattle herds. Antibody levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. Before testing the herds, the farm managers were interviewed about hired labour, biosecurity, housing and herd health during the 12 months prior to ...

This manuscript reports results of our study to characterize the historical developments of agricultural practices in The Gambia and related health risks of farm workers. It surveys the various factors that shape production agriculture in the country and examines the degrees to which hand tools, animal traction, motorized traction and manual labour all contribute to the inherent hazards of farm...

Agriculture plays predominant role in Indian economy. More than two thirds people in rural areas are engaged in agriculture and its allied activities. Presently agriculture is treated as an industry; cost benefit analysis is required for benefits of farmers. Most of the farmers are not maintaining proper accounting record and not using statistical and financial tools to study profitability of t...

Farming is a complex occupation, comprising a spectrum of activities that range from small-scale hobby farms to large-scale corporate farms. The activities, and thus the occupational exposures, on a farm are dictated by the type and size of the farm, as well as cultivation practices [1]. The farmers themselves are also diverse, living and working on farms alone or with family members or employe...

Structural transformation is a process by which the relative contribution of nonagricultural sectors to the overall economy rises as agriculture’s share declines in relative terms. In absolute terms, however, agriculture continues to grow and contribute to overall economic growth. Agricultural productivity growth and increased farm incomes are prerequisites for structural transformation. Increa...

BACKGROUND At the request of the farming community, the local public health authority in a tuberculosis (TB) high-burdened area implemented a farm-based lay health worker (LHW) project focusing on TB control. This project achieved a significantly better (15%) treatment adherence rate among adult TB patients. Management was keen to expand the intervention, but non-randomised sampling methodology...

Sugarcane is an important industrial crop in South China, mainly grown in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yuennan and Fujian Provinces. State farms are important cane producers. They produce about one-tenth of the nation’s total cane. These sugar companies are integrated enterprises including farm and milling activities but, due to declining sugar prices, they are not particularly profitable. Under the “Re...

During recent years, there has been interest in once-a-day (OAD) milking. A comparison was made of OAD with twice-a-day (TAD) milking on a case study farm in northern Victoria. The comparison suggests that operating profit and internal rate of return are similar to TAD milking if the decrease in milk protein plus fat production, as a result of OAD milking, is less than 12 percent. Although a de...