The field of land reform may involve greater opportunity for land ownership by the cultivator, consolidating small and uneconomic holdings, or the problem of bringing together the many small, widely dispersed plots belonging to the individual farmer so that he can operate efficiently. Although these problems often overlap, it is with the last mentioned phase, or land consolidation, that this study is primarily concerned. Land fragmentation is a condition that exists not only in the area studied, but in many other parts of the world; especially in areas which are referred to in recent terminology as "underdeveloped”, and in areas where the population pressures are great. In the area studied and in adjacent regions people have been aware of the seriousness of this problem for generations. Denmark, for instance, completed the work of consolidating farms and breaking up farm villages more than one hundred years ago. As is pointed out in this study, one region of Bavaria accomplished this task more than four hundred years ago. However, in the remainder of the State and in many other countries progress is painfully slow or does not exist. Yet in most countries, including our own, economic and political stability as well as social progress are closely related to the system of agriculture and the status of the farm population. In many parts of the world failure to recognize this fact and to make the necessary adjustments to overcome inherited evils in these institutional patterns have resulted in economic distress and political unrest. Land consolidation is not proposed as a panacea for all ills nor is it proposed that any one technique in toto can be advantageously applied to all places. On the other hand, the advantages of consolidation, where applicable, should be made available wherever possible to these who are now hindered by the handicaps and limitations forced on them by this heritage. Consolidation should be thought of as a basic part of an overall program of education and better farm management. The problems inherent in the type of agriculture dictated by conditions resulting from the field arrangement pictured in figure l are difficult to envisage, difficult to describe, and difficult to overcome. In the State of Bavaria, approximately 80 percent of all agricultural land (3.15 million hectares) is in more or less the degree of fragmentation indicated in the above picture. The area shown is representative of the typical rural village pattern in the northwestern part of the State. Some progress has been made toward consolidating these scattered holdings and thereby increasing food production, as well as operating efficiency; making possible a better life for the people of the community (figure 2). However the progress has been slow and costly and with present techniques and procedures it is estimated by officials that the job will not be completed in less than sixty-five years. In order to understand this problem more clearly, its implications and effects; as well as to evaluate current attempts at its solution, this study has been made. / Master of Science

Interviews with the Farm Game Cooperators in Game Conservation Districts II, V and VI disclosed that individual landowners were interested in improving habitats for farm game species. In order of preference of wildlife planting materials cooperators chose annual seeds, <u>L. bicolor</u> seeds, <u>L. bicolor</u> plants and <u>L. sericea</u>. (Pp.25-35) The data on cultural practices indicate that the Farm Game Program cooperators need to follow instructions of the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries for planting, fertilizing and cultivating wildlife materials in order to receive maximum benefits from the objectives of the Farm Game Program. (pp. 38-52) Cooperators considered the wildlife plantings of intrinsic value in that they were using the plantings for erosion control, food and cover for wildlife, field-woods borders and turn rows for farm machinery. (Pp. 55-56) It was observed that farm game species were utilizing wildlife food plantings established in 1950-51. The perennial plantings were immature yet in many instances they attracted quail, rabbits, turkey and deer. The data on food availability as determined by ground quadrant samples taken from wildlife food plantings on the three specific areas indicate that adequate food is be:ing produced on one-eighth acre plots, which have been maintained according to recommended cultural practices. A hundred percent increase was noted in quail populations on the Hawfield Game Demonstration Area during 1950. (Pp. 70-75) / Master of Science

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Hillslope hydrology represents a complex system with several interacting processes influencing the movement of water through the landscape. The Western Cape area of South Africa is expected to be impacted on by a change in climate and the importance of water management that will increase in the future. Climate, especially precipitation, is the driving factor behind the hydrological system and there are currently no predictions as to what the impact will be on the hydrological conditions. The main objective of the study is to understand the hydrological responses along a hillslope and secondly to determine the effect of climate change on the hydrology by using hydrological models. The studied system is situated on the Langgewens Experimental Farm, north of Malmesbury in the Swartland region of the Western Cape. Six sites in a range of vegetation, land use and expected soil types along a toposequence were investigated. All sites are rain fed areas with natural vegetation, seasonal or long-term shrubs. Through monitoring different components of the hydrological cycle, including rainfall, overland flow, infiltration, soil water content, base flow and water table depth at the different sites, the movement of water through the landscape can be defined. Hillslope hydrological processes at different positions on the hillslope were investigated. The baseline data obtained during this process was used in hydrological modelling for the different positions on the hillslope to determine the accuracy of model predictions. Expected future climatic conditions were emulated in this model to determine the possible effect of a change in climate on the hydrological system. The research confirmed the complex interaction between different processes within the hydrological system. At each point along the toposequence different components of the hydrological cycle contributed on a different scale to the hydrological system. Soil properties were the most significant factor influencing water movement through the landscape, directly impacting infiltration, overland flow, lateral water flow and deep percolation. This resulted in water table fluctuations through the seasons as the contribution of different components towards the hydrological cycle changed. By comparing soil water content measurements through the season with modelled water content levels, accurate hydrological models were created for different measuring points in the landscape. By using forecasted climate data of two different weather generators, accurate estimations of expected soil water content were possible. This indicated that droughts will occur on a regular basis in the future. This research made it possible to understand water movement through the landscape at hillslope level and contributed towards future water management plans by estimating future soil water content levels based on current predictions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Heuwelhang hidrologie omskryf die proses van water beweging deur die landskap en dit word deur verskeie prosesse beinvloed. Onder huidige toestande word verwag dat die Weskaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika warmer en droëer sal word in die toekoms as gevolg van klimaatsverandering. Dit sal die noodsaaklikheid van effektiewe waterbestuur verhoog in die toekoms. Klimaat, en in besonder reënval, is die dryfkrag agter die hidrologiese sisteem en huidiglik is daar geen aanduiding van wat die effek van klimaatsverandering op die hidrologiese sisteem gaan wees nie. Die eerste doel van die studie is om die heuwelhang se hidrologiese sisteem te ontleed en tweedens om die impak van klimaatsverandering op die hidrologiese sisteem te bepaal deur gebruik te maak van hidrologiese modelle. Die studie area is geleë op die Langgewens Proefplaas, noord van Malmesbury in die Swartland distrik van die Weskaap. Ses verskillende posisies is op die heuwelhang geselekteer op grond van posisie in die landskap, plantegroei, landgebruik en verwagte grondvorms. Al die studiepunte ontvang slegs water deur reën en die landgebruik wissel ten opsigte van natuurlike plantegroei, en eenjarige- of meerjarige gewasse wat gevestig is. Deur verskillende komponente van die hidrologiese sisteem te monitor, insluitend reënval, oppervlak afloop, infiltrasie, grond water inhoud, laterale water vloei en die diepte van die watertafel, kan die beweging van water deur die landskap gedefinieër word. Die data wat versamel is gedurende die proses word gebruik om die akkuraatheid van die hidrologiese modelle se resultate te bepaal. Tesame met vooruitgeskatte klimaatdata kan die modelle gebruik word om die impak van klimaatsverandering op grondwater toestande vas te stel. Die navorsing toon die komplekse interaksie tussen verskillende prosesse in die hidrologiese sisteem. By elke punt in die landskap dra verskillende komponente op verskillende skale by tot die hidrologiese sisteem. Grondeienskappe het die meeste invloed op die verskillende komponente van die hidrologiese sisteem en beïnvloed die infiltrasie, oppervlak afloop, laterale water vloei en diep dreinering. Soos die verskillende komponente se bydrae tot die hidrologiese sisteem verander, vind daar fluktuasies in die diepte van die water tafel plaas. Deur die vergelyking van gemete grondwaterinhoud teen hidrologiese model voorspelde grondwaterinhoude, is akkurate hidrologiese modelle opgestel vir verskillende punte in die landskap. Deur gebruik te maak van twee moontlike verwagte klimaat toestande, is gevind dat droogtes op ‘n roetine basis in die toekoms sal voorkom. Die navorsing maak dit moontlik om die beweging van water deur die landskap te verstaan en dra by tot die opstelling van toekomstige waterbestuur planne. Dit word moontlik gemaak deur die vooruitskatting van grondwater inhoude gebasseer op verwagte klimaatsveranderinge en huidige grondwater toestande. / Water Research Commission

No description available.

Tyrimo objektas – smulkūs pieno ūkiai. Tyrimo dalykas – struktūrinės paramos priemonės smulkiems pieno ūkiams. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti teikiamos struktūrinės paramos priemonių poveikį Lietuvos smulkių pieno ūkių plėtrai. Uždaviniai: 1)atskleisti struktūrinės paramos smulkiems ūkiams būtinumą; 2)išanalizuoti smulkių pieno ūkių paramos politikos veiksnius, priemones ir jų įgyvendinimo problemas; 3)naudojant atrinktų pieno ūkių apskaitos duomenis nustatyti, kokį poveikį suteikta struktūrinė parama daro šių ūkių plėtrai; 4)išsiaiškinti smulkių pieno ūkių gamintojų požiūrį į pasirinktos paramos priemonių įgyvendinimo rezultatus ir jų poveikį šių ūkių plėtrai. Tyrimo metodai: 1)nagrinėjant struktūrinės paramos smulkiems ūkiams būtinumą naudojami mokslinės ir teisinės literatūros analizės bei sintezės metodai; 2)smulkių pieno ūkių paramos politikos veiksniai, priemonės ir jų įgyvendinimo problemos analizuojamos naudojant palyginimo ir duomenų statistinės analizės (palyginamųjų dydžių, pokyčio tempų, struktūrinių dydžių) metodus; 3)vertinant struktūrinės paramos priemonių poveikį smulkių pieno ūkių ekonomikai naudojami statistinių duomenų grupavimo ir lyginimo metodai, statistinio modeliavimo bei grafinio vaizdavimo metodai; 4)detalesnei reiškinių analizei panaudotas ir analizuojamas duomenų rinkimas apklausos metodu; anketinė apklausa nukreipta į smulkių pieno ūkių gamintojų pasirinktos paramos priemonių ir jų poveikio šių ūkių plėtrai išsiaiškinimą. Tyrimo rezultatai: ·pirmoje... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research object – small dairy farms. Research subject – structural support for small dairy farms. Research aim – to assess the impact of structural support on the development of Lithuanian small dairy farms. Objectives: 1)to explore the need of structural support for small farms; 2)to analyze the small dairy farms support policies, measures and their implementation issues; 3)using the accounting data of sample dairy farms to determine the impact of structural support on the development of these farms; 4)questionnaire survey data help to clarify the small dairy farm producers approach to the implementation results of the selected support and their impact on the development of these farms. Research methods: 1)examination the need of structural support for small farms are using analysis and synthesis methods of scientific and legal literature; 2)small dairy farms support policies, measures and their implementation issues are analyzed using comparison and statistical analysis of data (comparable sizes, the pace of change, structural sizes) methods; 3)assessing the impact of structural support for small dairy farms economic are using batching of statistical data and comparing methods, statistical modeling and graphic imaging methods; 4)more detailed analysis of the phenomenon are using and analyzing data collection of the survey method; questionnaire survey focused to clarify the small dairy farms producers selected support measures and their impact on the development of these... [to full text]

In recent years the rural enterprise has become a key theme in small business research. Despite an extensive and increasingly sophisticated literature analysing rural firms, the research effort has largely excluded agnculture. This exclusion reflects a wider separation of agriculture and industry which is apparent not only in scholarship, but in the political, social and economic institutions which surround the farm sector. Although there have been persuasive arguments for a more multi-disciplinary approach to the analysis of rurality and calls for comparisons to be drawn between farms and other small businesses, few such attempts have been made and the analysis of rural business development remains charactensed by disciplinary polarity. This thesis seeks to redress this by analysing farms using conventional small business paradigms and methodologies. Three specific issues were examined: the extent to which farms conform to small business norms; the engagement of farms in additional business activities; and the differences between farms undertaking additional business activities and those maintaining monoactive approaches. The results reveal similarities between farms and other rural enterpnses and demonstrate the continued importance of farms as creators of employment and wealth in rural areas Importantly, farms are shown to have a hitherto, unrecognized role in accommodating and fostenng rural small firms in non-farm sectors. The study supports the view that multiple business ownership activities may have been under-reported in the small business research literature. Tins analysis suggests that additional business activities are best viewed as a continuum, from the diversification of existing assets to the establishment of independent and separately registered firms. Policy liberalization, demand side changes and shifts in the demographic profile of farm owners are expected to increase the number of faims engaging in additional business activities. These factors are also expected to increase the smulanties between farms and other rural enterprises. The thesis concludes that there are benefits to be gamed from the inclusion of the farm sector in small business analyses. The sector is dominated by family owned, small businesses that have largely survived the transition through generations. As such, the sector offers small business researchers a unique opportunity to analyse issues at the centre of small business debate Moreover, it is argued that a small business approach to the analysis of the farm sector offers a particularly relevant, but hitherto absent, insight into the future development of rural areas.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Game management has been defined as the art of making land produce sustained annual crops of wild game for recreational use (Leopold, 1939). Game is a product of the land; thus the successful practice of game management is dependent upon the manipulation of the land so as to meet most adequately the needs of any animal species. Natural habitats are constantly undergoing many changes in response to external influences. These changes are usually very slow but almost invariably take place in a series of integrating, but well defined steps when the pattern is unaltered by the activities of man. This sequence or plant changes has associated with it an animal population which is probably governed by floristic alterations. There are few quantitative data available on the relationship of these plant successional changes on the associated animal populations. Whereas the effect of plant succession on the animal population of a habitat is not susceptible to exact measurements, this effect probably may be measured in relative terms. In Virginia alone, an average of 50,000 acres of land has been abandoned each year for the past fifty years (United States Department of Commerce, Agricultural Census, 1950). In the state this represents approximately two and one half million acres of wildlife habitat which is in a state of dynamic change. Such abandoned areas may be among the more important wildlife producing areas 1n the state as the production of wildlife on such areas is not in conflict with agricultural or forestry interests and, therefore, may be given top priority in a game management program. On the 40,000 acres of the three state forests here in Virginia, large sums of money are spent annually on a wildlife management program and a majority of the activities under this program is devoted to the reclamation of abandoned areas or the holding of such areas at a stage of ecological succession so as to produce the maximum crop of wildlife. A similar wildlife management program is in effect on the approximately 1,500,000 acres in the two Virginia National Forests. In addition, there is a statewide farm game program sponsored by the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries and a majority of work under this program also is concerned With holding ecological succession at a stage where game supposedly is produced in reasonable quantities. Basic data on the influence of ecological succession on game populations are needed for these programs if they are to be carried out intelligently and effectively. It is the purpose of this project to attempt to supply such data. The primary objectives of the project were fourfold: (1) To follow the trend of natural plant succession in abandoned areas in Cumberland County, Virginia in the Piedmont Region of the state, (2) to determine the influence of natural plant succession on the cottontail rabbit and bobwhite quail on abandoned areas in Cumberland County, Virginia, (3) to determine those stages in ecological plant succession which are best suited to the requirements of the cottontail rabbit and the bobwhite quail, (4) to develop a basis for predicting the tenure of animal and plant species in areas in which natural succession is undisturbed. A study or this nature should indicate the type of habitat changes which might be normally expected on abandoned land and the associated shifts in animal populations which may be concurrent with these habitat changes. If these successional data are accurately analyzed, they may indicate in general what has happened, is happening, or may be expected to happen on much of the approximately two and one half million acres of abandoned land in Virginia. This study was largely concerned with the trend or plant changes on abandoned land rather than with the underlying causes for these changes. In addition to the primary objectives of the study, three secondary objectives were considered in this investigation in Cumberland County. These objectives were: (1) To determine rabbit utilization of land use types other than abandoned land by means of trapping, (2) to collect population data, age ratios, and call indices for the bobwhite quail and to attempt to relate these data to land use types, (3) to determine small manal utilization of land use types other than abandoned land by means of trapping. / Ph. D.

Vegetable research was conducted to support the diversification and development of small farms in East Central Virginia. Experiments at 12 sites were successfully conducted over a 2 year period to establish superior production practices for the area’s 2 major commercial vegetable crops, cherry tomato and bell pepper. For cherry tomato production, black plastic and straw mulches significantly increased total yield. Black plastic mulch also significantly increased early yield, but neither of the mulches were cost-effective. String-weave staking generally did not affect yield or net economic returns, and it reduced yield on sandy soils during droughty conditions. Irrigation had a positive, but non-significant impact on yield when tested during a growing season with normal amounts of rainfall. Nitrogen applications of 84 kg/ha were most cost-effective, with higher rates found beneficial for irrigated plantings on lighter soils. Plant populations of 13,450 plants/ha produced similar yield and net economic returns as populations of 17,930 plants/ha. <i>Castlette</i> and <i>Small Fry</i> were superior cultivars. For bell pepper production, steady but non-significant increases in yield and net economic returns were detected as nitrogen rates rose from 79 to 158 to 235 kg/ha. Black plastic mulch significantly increased yield and net economic returns, mostly due to moisture conservation benefits. A single-row pattern with an in-row spacing of 41 cm was the most cost-effective planting scheme. <i>Gator Belle</i>,<i> Keystone Resistant Giant #3</i>, and <i>Giant Ace</i> were superior cultivars. On-farm testing improved researchers’ understanding of farm family needs, accelerated the adoption of new technology, and identified deficiencies of technology which were masked at the field station. Field station research was valuable for screening risky treatments, but yields at the station were uncharacteristically high. Extension staff were valuable in the designing of research, but they selected a disproportionate amount of college-educated, medium- and large-scale farm operators as participants for on-farm testing. Paraprofessionals, female personnel, and social scientists were beneficial in strengthening linkages between project personnel and farm families. Marketing was a major obstacle. / Ph. D.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1957 M15 / Master of Science