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Using sensors & machine learning in an agricultural robot | Using sensors and machine learning in an agricultural robot Full text
2019
Jake Shaw-Sutton, senior robotic technician at the University of Plymouth, discusses the GummiArm, a machine-learning, robotic device that has been adapted to, and field-tested in, agricultural settings. The success of the GummiArm lies in its variable configuration, a multitude of sensors, and machine vision; it is also offered as open source and has possibilities as a human prostheses.
Show more [+] Less [-]Trends in agricultural mechanization in Brazil: an overview. Full text
2019
MANTOVANI, E. C. | GOMIDE, R. L. | NAAS, I. A.
An Economic Analysis of Agricultural Outlook in Korea Full text
2019
Lee, Yongsun
As agricultural product supply has exceeded its demand frequently in recent years while direct governmental policies for stabilization are confined in the WTO regime, the social interest is increasing in the agricultural outlook service in Korea. With the interest increased, questions are raised concerning the value of the agricultural outlook information and the financial effectiveness of the outlook service system itself. This study aims to investigate economic effects of the agricultural outlook service in Korea. Special emphases are put on stabilization effect, welfare effect, and learning effect of the agricultural outlook.
Show more [+] Less [-]Agricultural economics in an evolving land grant system Full text
2019
Reichelderfer, Katherine
Projections regarding public, political, and fiscalsupport for agriculture, and centralization of agriculturaleconomics research decision-making suggest downsizing andconsolidation of traditional agricultural economics researchinstitutions. The profession can survive and thrive under thesecircumstances only by demonstrating its uniqueness and utilizingexisting comparative advantage to broaden its constituent base.
Show more [+] Less [-]Agricultural Credit Flow in Bihar: An Economic Analysis Full text
2019
Singh, R.K.P. | Nasir, S.
Response to an Environmental Policy in the Agricultural Sector: An Interregional Analysis Full text
2019
Fuglestad, Paul | Meister, Anton D.
This report presents the results of a study undertaken to analyze these impacts assuming a public policy of environmental enhancement. The environmental restrictions on the use of surface water~ wet soil development, erosion~ and disposal of livestock wastes were analyzed.
Show more [+] Less [-]Implications of an agricultural mosaic in small mammal communities Full text
2019
Falcão Rodrigues, Marina | de Oliveira, Maria Adélia B. | Montes, Martín Alejandro
The ideas that larger fragments have greater species richness and abundance, when compared to smaller fragments and altered environments, and that assemblage composition is different, was tested in an agricultural mosaic using data on small mammals. To achieve this, we sampled ten forest fragments of different sizes, small and large, as well as five areas in a sugarcane matrix, through the capture-mark-recapture method. The study was conducted in a sugarcane plantation (Usina São José, Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brazil) from January to October 2016. There was a significant difference when comparing richness between small fragments (eight species) and the sugarcane matrix (four species). Abundance differed significantly between all areas, being influenced by fragment size and habitat type. We found that abundance was positively influenced by forested environments and, among them, larger fragments. The composition of assemblages in the forest fragments and the sugarcane matrix differed clearly for NMDS, MANOVA and SIMPER analyses. Between the habitats, assemblage parameters were also distinct. Lower abundance and richness were found in the sugarcane matrix, where the presence of rodents was associated with food availability and less competition; and higher abundance and richness was measured in forest fragments, where there was a strong association between marsupials and forest strata. The landscape configuration in an agricultural mosaic can compromise the level of interspecific interactions of small mammals, which negatively impacts the ecological processes of forested areas. In this case, the conservation of a matrix permeable to most species and the preservation of all fragments are necessary, since small and large fragments have different functions in the maintenance of species.
Show more [+] Less [-]Factors Influencing Anuran Wetland Occupancy in an Agricultural Landscape Full text
2019
Swanson, Jennifer E. | Pierce, Clay L. | Dinsmore, Stephen J. | Smalling, Kelly L. | Vandever, Mark W. | Stewart, Timothy W. | Muths, Erin
Habitat disturbance is an important cause of global amphibian declines, with especially strong effects in areas of high agricultural use. Determining the influence of site characteristics on amphibian presence and success is vital to developing effective conservation strategies. We used occupancy analysis to estimate presence of four anuran species at wetlands in northern Iowa as a function of eight environmental covariates hypothesized to affect occupancy: fish and salamander abundance, invertebrate density, aquatic vegetative cover, wetland area, atrazine concentration in water, surrounding agricultural land use, and an overall wetland health score (wetland condition index [WCI]). We surveyed 27 wetlands multiple times in 2015 and 2016. Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) and American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) were observed at 100% of the sites, Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) at 96%, and Gray Treefrogs (Hyla spp.) at 81%. Wetland site occupancy for all species in our study ranged from 0.23 (Hyla spp. tadpoles) to 0.95 (L. pipiens adults), indicating that agricultural wetlands can provide refuge or habitat for amphibians. Fish abundance, percentage of cropland cover within 500 m of the wetland, and salamander abundance were among the variables best supported by our models although their estimated effects were weak. Wetland area, atrazine concentration, vegetative cover, and WCI also influenced occupancy probability, but for only a small number of species and life stages. The direction of predicted effects varied by species and life stage. Despite only weak evidence that the environmental factors we measured influenced anuran occupancy, our results provide insights for managers seeking to understand how amphibians use landscapes modified by agriculture.
Show more [+] Less [-]An Analysis of Agricultural Concessions in FTA of EFTA Full text
2019
Eor, Myongkeun
EFTA(European Free Trade Agreement) firmly advocates open economic policies and established several FTAs with many other countries though it has relatively low agricultural competitiveness. In principle, EFTA excludes agricultural products from tariff concessions in the main text of FTA agreements. Only non-agricultural products are included in the main agreements. Concessions for the agricultural products are dealt with in the separate bilateral agricultural agreements between individual member countries and FTA partner. Concessions for processed agricultural products, however, are provided both in the main agreement and bilateral agricultural agreement. Switzerland and Norway representing EFTA have increased the magnitude of their agricultural concessions in recent FTA negotiations but their overall levels of concessions are still very low. In addition, some products have been excluded from the concessions because such products are so sensitive to domestic agriculture, food security and multifunctionality of agriculture. While the EFTA does allow concessions for agricultural products, the process is fairly unique and complicate. It employs various concession rates and specific tariffs as well as quantity restrictions. Furthermore, it allows price compensation system using external reference prices and standard recipes for processed agricultural products. Korea, having relatively low agricultural competitiveness like the EFTA, needs to establish FTA strategies referring to the EFTA's methods in order to successfully complete a number of FTA negotiations in the near future.
Show more [+] Less [-]Evaluating Agricultural Research and Productivity in an Era of Resource Scarcity: MEASURING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN U.S. AGRICULTURE Full text
2019
Ball, V
