Management practices on organic farms in Saskatchewan are largely unstudied, as are their effect on weed populations and soil quality. The objective of this study was to document what management practices are used on organic farms, classify those practices into management systems and determine if those management systems affect weed populations and soil properties. During the 2002 growing season 73 organic fields in the province of Saskatchewan were surveyed. Three components comprised the data set for each field: a management questionnaire, weed counts, and soil samples that were collected and analyzed for various soil properties. Classification of the management practices identified farming systems: the diverse cropping system, the diverse cropping system using green manure, the low diversity cropping system using summerfallow, and the moderately diverse cropping system using perennials in rotation. Ordination of weed data and the four systems was done with redundancy analysis. It determined that the farm management systems only accounted for 5% of the variation in the weed populations. The only system that affected the weed populations was the moderately diverse cropping system using perennials in rotation. Soil properties were compared among the different management systems. Soil properties were not different between the diverse cropping system using green manure, and the low diversity cropping system using summerfallow. The system that included perennials in rotation had significantly lower pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, phosphorous and potassium levels. The nutrient levels in all systems were low, underscoring the importance of nutrient additions to export farming systems.

Organic food is produced in a way that strives towards maintaining and improving natural resources. The welfare of both producers and consumers is central, also taking both animals and the environment into account. The Swedish government finds this important and in 2006 they made a resolution that the consumption of organic food should be stimulated. The goal was that 25 % of the municipalities’ consumption of food should be organic in 2010. The municipality of Ludvika reached the government's target in 2011 and is currently increasing their proportion of organic food by one new product every year.  Ludvika is a member of The National Association of Swedish Eco-municipalities and the town of Ludvika is also a Fairtrade city. These commitments have resulted in an increased focus on environmental and justice issues, where organic food is an important part. An analysis of Ludvika’s work with organic food was done throughout this thesis. The results were then compared to the leading municipality in the county, Borlänge, which is also the best in the nation. This was done to give a picture of how their work is done today and how it could evolve in the future. The municipality of Ludvika has a good diet policy and an ambitious theoretical basis for their climate policy. The membership of the The National Association of Swedish Eco-municipalities and the fact that Ludvika is a Fairtrade city is founded on certain commitments and strategies. The action taken in accordance with these strategies can be more clear and closer to the initial level of ambition. The importance of a holistic approach has been mentioned in this thesis. It has been suggested how the choice of organic food contribute to a better environment and health, relative to the use of taxes paid by the inhabitants. An important conclusion from the comparison with the leading municipality in organic foods is that it has not had to be more expensive to increase the share of organic food. Through good planning, innovation and an increased knowledge much can be done, even if a limited budget initially is perceived as a problem.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a sustentabilidade dos produtos orgÃnicos do MunicÃpio de Guaraciaba do Norte-Ce observando o caso da AssociaÃÃo para o Desenvolvimento da AgropecuÃria OrgÃnica (ADAO) Considerando a base teÃrica deste estudo foi usado o Modelo de Diamante de Porter para adaptar o desafio de mensurar o Ãndice de sustentabilidade O modelo teÃrico do Diamante de Porter avalia a sustentabilidade quanto ao seu aspecto qualitativo retratando a existÃncia de quatro determinantes fundamentais que estÃo interrelacionados entre si: CondiÃÃes de Fatores (D1) CondiÃÃes de Demanda (D2) IndÃstrias Correlatas e de Apoio (D3) e Estruturas EstratÃgias e Rivalidade Interna (D4) TambÃm fazem parte desse modelo mais dois outros determinantes auxiliares que possuem seus subfatores e estes sÃo caracterizados influenciando e podendo ser influenciados pelos determinantes fundamentais o Papel do Governo (D5) e o Acaso (D6) Cada um destes determinantes procura avaliar quantitativamente seus subfatores com indicadores de Van Duren et alli (1993) que variam de -2 (muito desfavorÃvel) a +2 (muito favorÃvel), com valores unitÃrios intermediÃrios que variam progressivamente como âdesfavorÃvelâ âneutroâ e âfavorÃvelâ Como ferramenta para coleta de dados utilizou-se uma Oficina Participativa utilizando uma tÃcnica chamada de Diagrama de Ishikawa conhecida tambÃm como âespinha de peixeâ que consiste na avaliaÃÃo geral do problema suas causas e raÃzes Os erros podem ser gerados sob falhas no processo de brainstorm uma etapa do Diagrama Esta Oficina foi realizada no Departamento de Economia AgrÃcola da Universidade Federal do Cearà em 30 de novembro de 2006 com todos os agentesâchaves da cadeia produtiva orgÃnica Dentre eles estiveram presentes o distribuidor de insumos produtores associados e gestÃo da ADAO e representando ÃrgÃos governamentais pesquisadores da Embrapa uma engenheira agrÃnoma do Banco do Nordeste (BNB) e um agente de Desenvolvimento SustentÃvel do Banco do Brasil (BB) De acordo com o resultado da Oficina a produÃÃo orgÃnica em Guaraciaba do Norte foi mensurada e obteve Ãndice igual a 0,694, encontrandoâse na faixa de âneutralidadeâ ou seja, entre 0 e +1 mostrando que nÃo sÃo sustentÃveis mas a participaÃÃo da ADAO à muito importante na cadeia produtiva orgÃnica Os resultados ainda apontaram tambÃm que as IndÃstrias Correlatas e de Apoio obtiveram o maior peso relativo mostrando que o setor de insumos à um elo da cadeia que necessita de apoio à assistÃncia tÃcnica privada e quanto ao aspecto governamental a certificaÃÃo por seu longo perÃodo e os custos foram entraves que contribuÃram para uma avaliaÃÃo âmuito desfavorÃvelâ Nas condiÃÃes de fatores o solo foi avaliado pelos agentes da cadeia como um subfator com melhor avaliaÃÃo tanto quantitativa como qualitativa devido ao seu tratamento biolÃgico Quanto Ãs estratÃgias utilizadas pela associaÃÃo o Sistema AMC integrou cada vez mais o consumidor e favoreceu à confiabilidade deste no consumo dos produtos da ADAO Assim conclui que de todos os determinantes analisados produtor e associado sÃo fortalecidos pelo Sistema AMC criado na prÃpria associaÃÃo à necessÃrio mais assistÃncia tÃcnica pÃblica e qualificada para trabalhar junto aos agricultores orgÃnicos de Guaraciaba do Norte / This work had live objetive analyse the sustentability of organic produtcts of Guaraciaba do Norte city, doperving the case of organic farming for Development Association. Considering the theoric basis of this academic work, was used âDiamante de Porterâ model, for adapting the challenge to measure the sustentability index. The theoric Model of âDiamante de Porterâ anayzes the sustentability considering its qualitative aspect, retracting the existence of four fundamental interconnected determinations: Factors conditions (D1), Demand conditions (D2), Correlated Industries and Support (D3) and Structures, strategies and Internal Rivalship (D4). This model also contains other two determined auxiliaries that have their elements and these are characterized influencing and leeing influenced by the fundamental determinations: The Government Responsibility (D5) and the Hazard (D6). Each one of these determinations tries to avaliate considering the quantity of their elements with indicators of Van Duren el alli (1993) that vary of -2 (much favourable) to +2 (much infavourable) with intermediate unitarian values that vary progressively live âinfavourableâ, âimpartialâ, and âfavourableâ. Like instrument for collecting informations was used Participative Workshop, using a techinic called âDiagrama de Ishikawaâ, also known as â jishboneâ, that means a general problem avaliation, its motives and origin. The mistakes can be produced under failures in the brainstorm process, a phase of the diagram. This Workshop took place in Agricultural Economy Department of Cearà Federal University at 30 november 2006, with all the âKeyâ agentsâ of the organic productive chain. Among them, were present the imput distributor, productors, associated people and ADAO management, and also representatives of government institutions, like EMBRAPA Researchers, an agricultural engineer of BANCO DO NORDESTE (BNB) and an agent of Supportable Development of Brazil Bank. According to the Workshopâs result, the organic production in Guaraciaba do Norte was measured and scored a rate of 0,694, being in the âneutralityâs groupâ. In the other words itâs between 0 and +1, showing that the cityâs organic productionâs sustainability can be affected by determinatings and underfactores analyzed by the Porterâs Diamond, besides some of these elements compromises the organic areaâs growth. The results also indicated that Correlated Industries and â of Supportâ, got the highest relative net, showing that the imput sector is a connection of the chain that needs support to private technical assistance and about gouverment aspect, the certification for its long period and the expenses were difficulties that contributed for a much â unfavourable avaliationâ. In the factores conditions, the soil was avaliated by chain agents as an element with a best avaliation so quantitative as qualitative, in the reason of biological treatment. About the strategies used by the association, the âAMC Systemâ integrated so much more the consumer and promoted his confidence in consuming ADAO produtcts. So we can conclude that among all of the determinations analyzed, productors and associated people are strengthened by âAMC Systemâ, created for the own association. Itâs necessary more public and qualified technical assistance for working with organic productors of Guaraciaba do Norte.

This thesis explores the details and profitability of two distinct operational strategies utilized by dairy operations as alternatives to expanding milk production. It features farms that have either transitioned to organic production or installed a farm-scale anaerobic digester, motivated in part by the opportunity for market specialization or income diversification to increase the viability of their dairy farm businesses. The first analysis examines the demographics and production characteristics impacting the profitability of organic dairy farmers in Vermont and Maine. This provides policymakers, educators, lenders, and suppliers with a profile of this sector that accounts for 23% of dairy farms in Vermont and 20% of dairy farms in Maine, annually shipping, on average, 787,600 lbs. milk per farm. The study was conducted through a longitudinal survey of 83 organic farmers in Vermont and Maine from 2004 to 2012. A multiple linear regression analysis of the sample demonstrated six significant variables that affect farm profitability measured by return on assets (ROA). Having at least 80% Holstein herd composition, increasing the daily pounds of grain fed to cows during the winter months, a primary farm operator having grown-up on dairy farm, and the use of feed mixing machinery all positively impacted ROA. Farm profitability was negatively affected on farms with a high rate of annual cow morbidity and also tended to decrease over the course of the survey as organic prices leveled. While the model developed here has some explanatory power (R2 = 0.387), variability in farm profitability is affected by complex economic pressures. The second analysis reports the predicted and actual annual maintenance figures collected from anaerobic digester systems in Vermont. Within Vermont, 16 farms operate methane-generating ADS. All of these farms have received some form of public funds and/or a voluntary consumer premium. The analysis compares costs by creating a ratio of actual maintenance, repair, oil, and labor costs over these same predicted costs. This ratio is used to assess whether the suggested industry operating cost estimator tends to over or under predict annual maintenance costs. The ratio was evaluated with a one-way Student's t-test (p = 0.046) finding that maintenance costs tend to be under-predicted compared to the actual costs. One-way ANOVA was used to determine a statistically significant effect of herd size (F = 6.453, p = 0.052), showing that the maintenance ratio varies significantly between groups, This analysis indicates that predicting annual maintenance, repairs, and labor costs as a function of 3.5% of total kWh production is an acceptable method for digesters on farms with more than 500 cows, but under predicts maintenance costs for smaller farms. For smaller farms, the actual costs were on average 2.5 times higher.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T22:02:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 26 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso / O objeto do trabalho desta dissertação foi compreender as relações de cooperação entre a Cooperagrepa e os cooperados do Condomínio Agrícola Boa Esperança, do município de Terra Nova do Norte. Nesse sentido, foram abordadas questões sobre o cooperativismo, redes sociais e questões institucionais da Cooperagrepa, além da abordagem histórica da ocupação da Amazônia (programas de colonização do centro norte do estado do Mato Grosso) e os aspectos teóricos conceituais que permeiam a agricultura orgânica. O estudo do cooperativismo, como movimento provocador de mudanças, foi de suma importância para a presente pesquisa, uma vez que determinou as condições para o entendimento dos fatores sociais e econômicos que intermediam as relações entre a Cooperagrepa e seus cooperados. A pesquisa empírica, por sua vez, identificou, de forma explícita, o conflito político-institucional entre o presidente da cooperativa e o líder dos cooperados do Condomínio Agrícola Boa Esperança. Esse fato foi significativo para elucidar a pr / The object of the work of this dissertation was to understand the relationship between the Cooperagrepa cooperative and the Agricultural Condominium Boa Esperança, from the municipality of Terra Nova do Norte. Accordingly, were discussed issues on cooperativism, social networks and institutional issues of Cooperagrepa, besides the historical approach of occupation from Amazon (programs of colonization of Centre North of the state of Mato Grosso) and the conceptual and theoretical aspects that permeate the organic agriculture. The study of cooperativism, as movement causer of changes, was of the utmost importance to this research, once it has determined the conditions for the understanding of social and economic factors that arbitrate Cooperagrepa relations and their members. The empirical research, identified explicitly the political-institutional conflict between the President of the cooperative and the leader of the cooperative members from the Condominium Boa Esperança. This fact was significant to elucida

To evaluate the strip tillage in organic bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production as an integrated system for sustainable vegetable cropping two-years of field trials were conducted in 2011 and 2012. The field trials were conducted to determine the viability of strip tillage in conventional and organic bell pepper production systems by comparing plant growth, water status, and fruit yield to plastic mulch grown plants application under different irrigation regimes. The two-year field data demonstrated that organic pepper with strip tillage application was a viable combination that produced comparable yield to conventional plastic mulch system and utilized water more economically. In 2011 and 2013, strip-tilled rows and plastic mulched rows were used to evaluate the impact of tillage on soil hydraulic conductivity and water internal drainage characteristics. Results indicated that strip-tilled plots had significantly higher in-row penetration resistance compared to the plastic mulch system at depths up to 20 cm, but no differences between the systems were found for layers below 25 cm. In addition, there were no differences in hydraulic conductivity between strip tillage and plastic mulch in both study years over a 30-day period. Also, significant main effects were found for soil layer and time scale on hydraulic conductivity in the first 24 hour of the study in 2013. During field trials in 2011 and 2012, plant tissues were sampled for endophytic bacteria isolation and identification. Differences in endophytic bacteria were obtained among different production combinations. In 2013, endophytic bacteria isolates from 2011 and 2012 trials were re-inoculated to bell pepper grown in greenhouse to assess plant growth. Two Pseudomonas sp. and one Bacillus thioparans strain were screened to evaluate their affects on plant growth under both drought and non-drought conditions. After growth comparisons, the three endophytic strains were used to subsequently study the impacts of endophyte inoculation on regulating plant drought-linked gene expressions in 2014 by conducting real-time PCR. Results demonstrated that plant drought-linked genes, which especially involved plant ethylene biosynthesis, were significantly down-regulated after inoculating the endophytic bacterial strains.

Organic corn (Zea mays L.) producers generally use intensive tillage for weed control. No-till methods reduce soil erosion, conserve water, maintain soil structure and reduce CO2 emissions. The objective of this study was test different cover crops, tillage systems, N sources and N rates for organic corn production. Two tillage systems (no-till and moldboard plow), two cover crops [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale)] and two organic N sources [Louisville Green (LG) and Nature Safe (NF)] at four N rates (45, 90, 135, 180 kg N ha-1) were evaluated during 2008 and 2009 at three sites. A roller crimper device was used for the no-till operations. A long term aerobic incubation was conducted. Hairy vetch improved yield, ear leaf N and grain N content compared with rye in all sites. Nature Safe increased ear leaf N more than LG in all three sites and yield in two out of three sites. Both sources stopped mineralizing at 28 days after application. Inorganic N production was about 50 kg N ha-1 for LG and 60 kg N ha-1 for NF. The combination moldboard plow and hairy vetch resulted in the highest yields at all experimental sites.

No início dos anos 70, emergiu a preocupação com a produção orgânica, mais respeitosa com o meio ambiente, procurando integrar o homem e a natureza, percebendo aquele como parte e dependente desta, além de possibilitar maiores retornos econômico-financeiros. Hoje, esse movimento está alinhado aos preceitos do desenvolvimento sustentável, principalmente, considerando-se o triple bottom line: dimensões social, econômica e ambiental. O desenvolvimento sustentável, por sua vez, é um tema que permeia o quotidiano do indivíduo, das organizações, da sociedade e da academia. O imbricamento das distintas dimensões e dos diferentes níveis, numa sociedade cada vez mais interativa, gera dilemas e paradoxos, que requer a necessidade de se fazer análises, numa lógica sistêmica e complexa. Quando se analisa uma cooperativa, na presente pesquisa, a COTRIMAIO, pela sua própria natureza econômico-social, a complexidade fica maior ainda. A cooperativa é vista como um sistema, assim como a sua cadeia orgânica de suprimentos na sua relação com seus cooperados. O objetivo da pesquisa é o de analisar como a cadeia da soja orgânica da COTRIMAIO, internaliza os preceitos do desenvolvimento sustentável, de forma complexa. Como método de estudo se utilizou da abordagem qualitativa, partindo-se de uma perspectiva descritiva. O método de procedimento foi o do estudo de caso, com foco na cooperativa e cooperados. Em seus resultados a pesquisa evidenciou: a pertinência do uso de uma visão complexa para representar o desenvolvimento sustentável em uma cooperativa e na sua cadeia de suprimentos de soja orgânica e com seus cooperados; a necessária utilização de dois triângulos, imbricados um no outro, com 6 dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável, o primeiro sendo o próprio triple bottom line (dimensões econômica, social e ambiental), e o segundo, composto pelas dimensões cultural, territorial e tecnológica. Por fim, a constatação de uma permanente dialógica, nas decisões atuais e para o futuro, dos agricultores familiares produtores de soja orgânica, em várias das dimensões examinadas, assim como no cruzamento entre elas, sendo a mais ameaçadora para o futuro do sistema orgânico de produção de soja: continuar a produzir de maneira orgânica, mesmo que isso seja mais lucrativo em relação à produção convencional, diante da possibilidade da incidência da ferrugem asiática da soja, sendo que até o momento, isso não aconteceu. / In the early 70s, emerged the care with organic production, more respectful with the environment, seeking to integrate man and nature, perceiving him as a part and dependent on it, besides allowing greater economic and financial returns. Today, this movement is aligned with the requirements of sustainable development, mainly, considering the triple bottom line: social, economic and environmental dimensions. Sustainable development is a theme that permeates the individuals' everyday, organizations, society and academy. The position of different sizes and different levels in a society more and more interactive creates dilemmas and paradoxes, which require the need to analyze, in a systemic and complex logical .When a cooperative is analyzed, in this research, COTRIMAIO, by its social-economic nature, the complexity is still greater. The cooperative is seen as a system, as well as the organic supply chain in relation to its members. The aim of this research is to examine how the organic soybean supply chain of COTRIMAIO internalizes the sustainable development precepts in a complex way. As a method of studying the qualitative approach was used, starting from a descriptive perspective. The procedure method was the case study, focusing on the cooperative and the member. In the results the research showed: the relevance of the use of a complex vision to represent the sustainable development in a cooperative and its supply range with its incorporates, the need of using two triangles, woven in one another, with 6 dimensions of sustainable development, the first being the own triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental dimensions ) and the second is composed by the cultural, territorial and technological dimensions, and finally the establishment of a permanent dialogue in current and future decisions, from the familiar farmers who produce organic soybeans, in many examined dimensions, as well as in the junction between them, being the most threatening for the future organic production of soybeans: to continue producing in an organic way, even if this is more profitable in relation to conventional production, in the presence of possibility of asian soybean rust happens, so far, it has not happened.

The diploma study is focused on the analysis of the structure of ecological farming production in South Bohemia. Within the area data was collected from agro and zoo production, to assess the structure and volume of agricultural production and basic benchmarking with bio farming offer on market. For analysis questionnaires were used, direct talks with producers and data from database of ÚZEI. Analysis of the structure of production of bio farming and other farms which shows dominance of permanent grass culture and a smaller part of arable soil. Here is mostly produced cereals and fodder plants. Zoo production is represented by the domination of beef raised without milk production. The comparison on offer from the specialized shops and supermarkets display non compliance of market offer with production.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:02:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 kopytowskifilho_j_dr_botfca.pdf: 937520 bytes, checksum: bde78fc1e3f141927ac7ed3d0c134a81 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / A. blazei tem sido comercializado como um produto natural, sem aplicação de agrotóxicos e livre de resíduos tóxicos. De outro modo, elevados teores de elementos metálicos com potencial tóxico tem sido detectados em basidiomas. Outrossim, além da possibilidade de causarem danos á saúde, acarretam grandes prejuízos na comercialização. Avaliou-se o efeito de três tipos de compostos (orgânico, e semi-sintético and sintético) sobre a produtividade e teores de elementos metálicos em basidiomas de A. blazei. O Experimento 1 conduzido em câmara climatizada, constou de seis tratamentos (15 repetições), dispostos inteiramento ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3x2, (três tipos de composto e duas linhagens de A. blazei). Avaliou-se a produtividade, a eficiência biológica, o massa média de basidiomas, os teores de Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb e Ni nos compostos e basidiomas e, o fator de acumulação no píleo e no estípete, em dois fluxos de colheita. Durante o processo de compostagem e de colonização, determinou-se o massa fresca e seca, teor de carbono, nitrogênio, pH densidade e umidade dos compostos. Constatou-se que os teores de elementos metálicos nos basidiomas não são proporcionais aos teores dos mesmos nos compostos cultivados, ocorre uma maior concentração destes no píleo em relação ao estípete e há variação em função do fluxo de colheita, a densidade e a umidade dos compostos ao final das Fases II e III, foram maiores nos compostos sintético e semi-sintético e as maiores produtividades de 7,24 e 7,09% para as linhagens ABL 99/30 e ABL 04/49, respectivamente, foram alcançadas quando cultivadas no composto orgânico certificado. Para o Experimento 2, 2 foram avaliados a produtividade e a massa média de basidiomas da linhagem... / A. blazei has been commercialized as a natural product, without use of pesticides and free from toxic waste. However, high contents of potencially toxic metallic elements in the basidiomata have usually been detected. Besides the health hazzard, they may cause great loss for comercialization. The effect of three different types of compost was evaluated (organic, semi-synthetic and synthetic) on the productivity and metallic elements contents in basidiomatas of A. blazei. The Experiment 1 was carried out in a climatized room, with six treatments (15 repetitions), arranged in a factorial scheme 3x2, (three differents types of compost and two strains of A. blazei). Productivity, biological efficiency, mean weight of basidiomatas, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Ni contents in the compost and basidiomata and the accumulation factor in the pilei and stalk, in two flushes were evaluated. During composting and colonization, fresh and dry weight, carbon and nitrogen contents, pH ,density and moisture of the compost were evaluated. No direct relationship between the metallic elements contents in the mushroom and in the compost was found. The concentration of metallic elements was greater in the pileus then in the stalk, varying during the flushes. Density and moisture of the compost Phase II and III, were greater in the synthetic and semi-synthetic composts. The greatest productivities, 7.24 and 7.09% for the strains ABL 99/30 and ABL 04/49, respectively, were reached when cultivated in organic compost. For the Experiment 2, productivity and medium weight of the basidiomatas of the strain ABL 04/44, cultivated in synthetic compost added or not with two diffrents types of supplement (soybean meal and Champ food®), in two cultivation phases (at spawning and before casing) were evaluated. There was a tendency for greater productivity on the supplemented compost ... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below)