Focusing on a rural community in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, this research examines the Atlantic Canadian context for farm-to-school programs, gauging interest and attitudes and examining current barriers which prevent more locally grown food from being served in the school cafeteria. A major component of this research is a comparative case study using a successful American farm-to-school program in Hancock County, Maine. By way of comparative study, this research examines how stronger farm-school partnerships can be developed in Atlantic Canada. Results in Nova Scotia indicate financial and structural barriers, as well as a number of community assets, including a strong belief on the part of relevant stakeholders that farm-to-school programs have the potential to increase student health and foster economic well being for farmers. This paper puts forth recommendations and strategies for expanding farm-to-school programs in Nova Scotia based on results from the comparative case study.

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Considerable amounts of N can be lost from manure through NH$ sb3$ volatilization. Four laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from liquid hog manure (LHM). The organic amendments used in these studies were sugar, sawdust and paper products including filter paper (FP), paper bag (PB), newsprint (NP) and pulp sludge (PS). Generally, organic amendments had significant effects on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM and their effectiveness increased with increasing addition rates. Sugar addition of 3% or higher could eliminate the NH$ sb3$ loss, depending on LHM properties and incubation conditions. The effectiveness of sugar, especially lower rates, decrease with time. The unrecovered NH$ sb4$ loss increased and manure pH decreased with the increase in sugar rates, indicating that the reduction in NH$ sb3$ loss due to sugar addition may have been caused by N immobilization and pH reduction. Sawdust addition reduced the NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 20% compared to the control. The mixture of 5.5% sugar and 5% sawdust was more effective in reducing NH$ sb3$ loss than 5.5% sugar alone but, lower sugar rates were not similarly affected by sawdust addition. Addition of 5% FP, PB, NP and PS resulted in the decrease in NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 40, 47, 37 and 29% in comparison to the non-amended manure. The unrecovered NH$ sb4 sp+$ loss and the loss of added C increased with increasing C addition, indicating that N immobilization may be the cause of the decrease in NH$ sb3$ due to paper product additions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Ammonia (NH$ sb3$) volatilization from manure can represent a major process through which nitrogen (N) is lost from the soil-plant-animal system. Reductions in NH$ sb3$ volatilization have significance both in economic and ecological aspects. Calcium lignosulphonate (CaLS), an acidic, water-soluble organic waste product of the pulp and paper industry, is expected to reduce NH$ sb3$ volatilization from liquid hog (Sus scrofa dometicus) manure (LHM) and consequently increase fertilizer value of LHM. Reduction of NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM was studied using added CaLS at 0, 6% 12% and 18% CaLS (based on fresh LHM weight) during 21 d incubation. Cumulative losses of NH$ sb3$-N ranged between 0 to 46% of initial total N. Compared to untreated LHM, the 6% CaLS treatment control N loss for 7 d and promoted N loss thereafter, while 12% and 18% CaLS treatments effectively reduced N losses throughout the 21 d incubation period. The N availability and the effect of CaLS-LHM mixtures on ryegrass (Lolium multiform Lamb.) growth were assessed on two soils mapped as St. Amable (sandy loam) and Ste. Rosalie (clay loam) from eastern Canada. Calcium lignosulphonate showed adverse effect on ryegrass plant growth, while as an amendment it did not reduce the effectiveness of LHM-N for ryegrass dry matter yield (DMY) and chemical composition at application rate up to 12% of LHM for the sandy loam soil and 18% of LHM for the clay loam soil. These findings suggested that CaLS may be used as an amendment for controlling N losses from animal manures.

On-farm trials techniques have become an integral part of research aimed at improving agricultural production especially in subsistence farming. The poor performance of certain technologies on the farmers' fields known to have performed well on stations have been of concern. Traditionally, on-farm trials are meant to address such discrepancies. The main problems associated with on-farm trials in most developing countries are high variability and inappropriate application of statistical knowledge known to work on station to on-farm situation. Characterisation of various on-farm variability and orientation of existing statistical methods may lead to improved agricultural research. Characterization of the various forms of variability in on-farm trials was conducted. Based on these forms of variability, estimation procedures and their strength have been assessed. Special analytical tools for handling non-replicated experiments known to be common to on-farm trials are presented. The above stated procedures have been illustrated through a review of Uganda case. To understand on-farm variability require grouping of sources of variability into agronomic, animal and socioeconomic components. This led to a deeper understanding of levels of variability and appropriate estimation procedures. The mixed model, modified stability analysis and additive main effects and multiplicative interaction methods have been found to play a role in on-farm trials. Proper approach to on-farm trials and application of appropriate statistical tools will lead to efficient results that will subsequently enhance agricultural production especially under subsistence farming. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002. / Rockefeller Foundation and Makerere University.

Farmers in Western Canada are continually assessing where to invest their next dollar. In considering a farm expansion and the machinery assets they need to match their current farm size or a possible expansion. This study attempts to find the optimal farm size by creating a farm budget model that maximizes profit over a range of different farm sizes. As farm size increases there is more risk that inclement weather will lengthen the time needed for crop operations. Previous studies have shown that both seeding and harvest operations have optimum time windows in which they should occur for best yield results. The results of this research showed that net mean profit was maximized around a 9,000 acre grain farm. For farm sizes above 9,000 acres losses associated with lack of field operation time could not be compensated by cropping additional acres.

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Many factors influence the reproductive efficiency of thoroughbred mares. This thesisestimated two separate models for 13 farms in the 2004 breeding season. One model isestimated for pregnancy outcomes, the other is estimated for breeding intervals.Statistically significant variables include age of the mare, number of breedings, certainmedications, farm size, last date of breeding for the first model. Statistically significantvariables for the second model include age, status of mare, number of breedings, certainmedication, and farm size. The model has implication to achieve an optimal breedingschedule and associated management decisions

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