After more than 100 years of studying corn, questions still exist about its growth and development. Corn ear abnormalities have been reported for over a century. To date, ear development issues reported in cornfields persist, reducing productivity and spurring research about the underlying causes.
Forest stand improvement is the selective removal or deadening of less desirable trees, shrubs, and vines in a forest stand to improve the stand’s species composition, age structure, condition, health, and growth. It is an important forest management practice to help woodland owners and forest managers achieve management objectives. Deadening is most often the method of choice when the removal of the less desirable trees, shrubs, and vines is not economically feasible. The most commonly used methods of deadening undesirable trees, shrubs, and vines are girdling, frilling, herbicide injection, basal herbicide spraying, and cut stump herbicide application.
Ever since the early settlement of the United States, woodlands have been used as pasture and range land. Even with low forage values, eastern forests were grazed until early farmers could clear enough land to plant crops for their livestock.
Selection of the proper cultivars to plant is a major step toward successful grape production. Before planting, commercial growers should give serious thought to the market outlet and the requirements of the processor or consumer who will purchase the crop. Cultivars that are in greatest demand or sell for the highest price also are often the most difficult to produce.
Slugs are a problem associated with conservation practices, such as reduced tillage, no-tillage, and the use of cover crops. Fields with reduced tillage and/or cover crops generally have cash crop and other plant residues on the soil surface. The advantages of these practices include reduced soil erosion, reduced labor requirements, increased soil moisture, and improved soil tilth.
Herbicides recommended for use in the vineyard are usually very safe if the user follows the product label directions. When slight injury does occur, yield and fruit quality are rarely jeopardized. Vine injury resulting from ordinary weed control operations can largely be prevented by following simple guidelines:
Bumble bees are managed for their pollination services in a variety of crop systems, including tomatoes, fruit trees, berries, and soybean (Abrol & Shankar, 2012; Feltham et al., 2014; Stanley et al., 2015; Suzuki et al., 2007). Most commercial bees are used in greenhouses, including for the growth of berries, squash, eggplant, and peppers (Abak et al., 1995; Shipp et al., 1994; Strange, 2015). However, around 95% are specifically used in tomato greenhouses (Velthuis & van Doorn, 2006).
A balance sheet is used to accurately reflect the assets, liabilities, and net worth of your farm. Let’s review how you can assess farm financial health using your current balance sheet.
Biodiversity—the variety of creatures living on earth—is under threat. Humans rely on plants, insects, birds, and countless other creatures for vital functions known as ecosystem services. These services include the creation of oxygen, nutrient cycling, decomposition, and the food, fiber, and fuel humans need to survive. In Ohio and across the globe, the loss of habitat is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.
