Labor spurns Greens for Katter in Qld

LABOR is pinning its hopes of winning critical Coalition seats in regional Queensland on a preference deal with Bob Katter's party rather than with the Greens.

The gamble will cost the ALP ­support from the Greens in crucial seats elsewhere in the state, including in Brisbane, the most marginal ­Coalition seat in Queensland.
Elsewhere around the country, Labor will give the Greens its Senate preferences in return for the minor party putting Labor ahead of the Coalition in all but a handful of crucial seats.
The Greens will also preference Labor ahead of the Coalition in the ­Senate in what it says is a bid to prevent Opposition Leader Tony Abbott ­winning control of both houses.
In Queensland, Labor did a deal with Mr Katter in which the ALP would direct its Queensland Senate preferences towards Katter's Australian Party. In return, the KAP will put Labor first on its how-to-vote cards in the ­Coalition-held seats of Hinkler, Herbert and Flynn. It will also preference the ALP in Capricornia, where the incumbent Labor MP, Kirsten Livermore, is retiring.
One senior Labor source said the deal with the KAP in Queensland has "severely strained relations" between Labor and the Greens.
The Greens retaliated in Queensland by declining to preference Labor in the marginal Coalition seat of Brisbane, a must-win for the ALP if it is to have any chance of victory on September 7.
A JWS Research poll published in The Australian Financial Review on ­Saturday shows the Liberal MP for Brisbane, Teresa Gambaro, had a 4.1 percentage point two-party preferred lead over Labor rival Fiona McNamara.
Similarly, the Greens decided to issue a two-sided ticket in the Queensland seat of Longman, another marginal Coalition seat in Labor's sights.
The Greens will, however, preference Labor in the Coalition seat of Forde, where former Queensland premier Peter Beattie is seeking to unseat Liberal MP Bert van Manen.
The JWS poll shows Mr van Manen holding a commanding lead.

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In Peru, drones used for agriculture, archaeology

Drones are most often associated with assassinations in remote regions of Pakistan and Yemen but in Peru, unmanned aircraft are being used to monitor crops and study ancient ruins.
Forget Reapers and Predators - the drones used here are hand-held contraptions that look like they were assembled in a garage with gear from a hardware store. They are equipped with a microcomputer, a GPS tracker, a compass, cameras and an altimeter, and can be easily programmed by using Google Maps to fly autonomously and return to base with vital data.
“These aircraft are small in size, are equipped with high-precision video or photo cameras and go virtually unnoticed in the sky,” said Andres Flores, an electrical engineer in charge of the UAV program at Peru’s Catholic University.
Flores heads a multidisciplinary team brainstorming the best ways to use drones for civilian purposes. “Up to now we have managed to use them for agricultural purposes, where they gather information on the health of the plants, and in archaeology, to better understand the characteristics of each site and their extensions,” Flores said.
One UAV model built by Catholic University engineers is made with light balsa wood and carbon fibber. At a glance the devices look like souped-up hand-held glider.
One limitation is that these drones must fly below the clouds. If not their instruments, especially the cameras, could fail, said Aurelio Rodriguez, who is both an aerial model-maker and archaeologist.
Mapping Ancient Cities
Some of the earliest human settlements in the Americas are found in Peru. There are thousands of archaeological sites, many unexplored, dotting the Peruvian landscape, most of them pre-dating the Incas, a major civilization which was defeated by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.
Along the dry coastline, where the main construction material was adobe brick, whole societies flourished. After centuries of abandon some of these ancient cities have deteriorated to the point that they are hard to distinguish in the sandy, hilly region.
Archaeologist Luis Jaime Castillo is using drones to help map the 1,300 year-old Moche civilization around San Idelfonso and San Jose del Moro, two sites on the Peruvian coast north of Lima.
“We can convert the images that the drones provide into topographical and photogrammetry data to build three-dimensional models,” Castillo told AFP. “By using the pictures taken by drones we can see walls, patios, the fabric of the city.”
Separately, Hildo Loayza, a physicist with the Lima-based International Potato Center, is perfecting ways to apply drone technology to agriculture. “The drones allow us to resolve problems objectively, while people do it subjectively,” he told AFP.
“In agriculture drones allow us to observe a larger cultivation area and estimate the health of the plants and the growth of the crops. The cameras aboard the drones provide us with 500 pieces of high-technology data, while with the human eye one can barely collect ten,” Loayza said.
Precise, high-quality images allow experts to measure the amount of sunlight the plants are getting, and study plant problems like stress from heat, drought or lack of nutrients, he said.
Other potential civilian drone use, Flores said, includes closely observing areas of natural disasters or studying urban traffic patterns.
In the thick Amazon jungle, where access by ground is often extremely difficult, drones can be used to study wild animals. “Every time an animal goes by, it can snap a picture,” said Flores.
There are no laws in Peru regulating the civilian use of drones, which allows advocates to push for all kinds of projects. Their use in urban surveillance, however, could be seen as an invasion of privacy. While experts are still dreaming up new ways to use the aircraft, security officials do use drones for military and police intelligence purposes, especially in Peru’s rugged and remote valleys where coca - the source plant for cocaine - is grown.–AFP
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'Growth relatively low due to government's anti-agriculture policies': President's claim disputed

Bodies representing the farm community have disputed President Asif Ali Zardari's claim that government policies have resulted in higher agriculture growth maintaining that growth in agriculture sector has been relatively low due to anti agriculture policies of incumbent government.

The government has failed to achieve 3.4 percent growth target of agriculture sector during 2011-2012 because of less than estimated growth in major crops including wheat and cotton, the Farmer Associations stated to this correspondent. They said that production of some crops recorded an increase primarily due to favourable weather conditions and had nothing to do with government policies.

The government set the target of 25 million tons for wheat production for fiscal year 2011-2012 whereas wheat production was only 23.5 million tons for the period. Similarly, the rice target was fixed at 7.2 million tons for year 2011-2012 but the total production of rice could not exceed 6.4 million tons, stated agriculture experts while talking to Business Recorder.

Sarfraz Ahmad Khan, Vice President of Kisan Board Pakistan, said the government had missed the set target of agriculture growth rate of wheat, rice and cotton due to anti-agriculture policies. "The government has imposed GST on fertiliser, pesticides and other agriculture equipments, especially tractors which accounts for a considerable increase in the cost of fertilise and pesticides," he said.

He said that due to GST and prolonged gas loadshedding the price of urea increased from Rs 832 per bag to Rs 1,800 per bag and the price of DAP increased from Rs 2,300 to Rs 4,200. "The higher price of fertiliser and DAP resulted in 30 percent decrease in the use of fertilisers," he said.

He queried as to how agriculture output could increase in a country when the use of fertiliser decreases by 30 percent. Ibrahim Mughal, Chairman Agri-Forum Pakistan, concurred and said that due to poor and anti-agriculture policies of the government the country had missed the target of wheat and rice in 2011-2012. The agriculture growth for 2011-2012 was relatively not good and ranged between 2.4 to three percent given that in the past (2006-2007) it reached five percent, he said.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari needed to correct his agriculture figures and added that President's advisors had misguided him by sharing incorrect figures regarding agriculture growth. According to Economic Survey 2011-12, agriculture sector during 2011-2012 registered a growth of 3.13 percent against the set target of 3.4 percent. During 2011-12, the country missed agriculture growth target because of negative growth of wheat and minor cops.

Wheat registered a negative growth of 6.7 percent mainly due to 2.6 percent decline in area under cultivation and delayed sowing. Wheat was cultivated on an area of 8,666 thousands hectares in 2011-12, showing a decrease of 2.6 percent over last year's area of 8,901 thousands hectares. The production of 23.5 million tons is estimated during 2011-12. The Survey revealed that the major crops excluding wheat registered a growth of 3.18 percent. The major crops including cotton, sugarcane and rice witnessed growth in production of 18.6 percent, 4.9 percent and 27.7 percent respectively.

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Annual Agricultural Celebration puts focus on farmers By Marcia MorrisBy Marcia Morris Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/16/4236944/annual-agricultural-celebration.html#storylink=cpy

There was no red carpet or phalanx of photographers, but there was a buzz of celebration and excitement in the air as folks gathered for the eighth annual Agricultural Celebration on July 30. Instead of evening gowns and tuxedos, attendees wore T-shirts and dungarees to this event where farmers have the rare opportunity to socialize.

The celebration, coordinated by the Cabarrus County Agricultural Advisory Board and the local cooperative extension, brings together everyone registered with the county’s voluntary agricultural districts and others who support local agriculture.

To get the scoop on voluntary agricultural districts, I talked to Tommy Porter, chairman of the county’s Agricultural Advisory Board. He and his wife, Vicky, hosted the Agricultural Celebration at their cattle farm.

Tommy Porter explained that the ordinance creating voluntary agricultural districts was passed by county commissioners in 2005. It allows farmers to enroll their land, designating it for agricultural use. Farmers who enroll in the enhanced program agree that the land will not be developed for 10 years.

Farming’s influence helped by districts

Not only does the creation of voluntary agricultural districts promote pride and economic health in agriculture, it also sends a message about development.

When a piece of land is designated as a voluntary agricultural district, that information will show up in title searches. Porter says that anyone looking to buy or develop land adjacent to a voluntary agricultural district should know what to expect from their neighbors: slow-moving vehicles and animal smells, among other things that go along with farming.

Likewise, county government knows what to expect when land is placed in voluntary agricultural districts: It tells them that they don’t need to plan for development – sewer and water service, roads and schools – for that property.

But most importantly, says Porter, the voluntary agricultural district ordinance gives farmers a stronger voice than ever before. Politicians, he believes, are often far removed from agricultural life, and farmers joining together to promote their way of life impacts their influence in local government. Porter’s seen the difference voluntary agricultural districts have made, and he’s always encouraging more farmers to enroll, to turn up the volume on the voice of the agricultural community.

The agricultural celebration was a time to make that voice heard to elected officials in attendance, including a representative from U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson’s office.

Farmers’ biggest social event

But most of all, the gathering was a time to visit with friends and neighbors, and to enjoy a delicious meal.

Tommy Porter says that this is the big social event of the year for farmers, when they can take some time to relax and appreciate their rural way of life. He likens it to the old days when people would gather after a harvest to socialize and give thanks.

This year’s celebration included hamburgers and hot dogs, cobs of corn as long as your forearm, and homemade peach and blueberry ice cream, freshly cranked by tractor engine.

It may not have been fancy, but it was good … just like living in rural Cabarrus.
Marcia Morris is a freelance writer. Have a story idea for Marcia? Email her at EasternCabarrusWriter@gmail.com.



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Uganda: Agricultural Mechanisation Enhanced Farming in Uganda

Mechanised agriculture is the process of using agricultural machinery to simplify farming with the aim of increasing productivity. Though Uganda is endowed with fertile soils and favourable climate, the major factors that influence agriculture, the country continued to produce at a law scale.

Studies have shown that 99.4% smallholder farmers in Uganda use traditional, rudimentary and obsolete technologies and methodologies for post-harvest operations.

These are contributing factors to low farm output. To change this, the Government came up with agriculture mechanisation as a strategy of restructuring the sector.

Efforts were put in place, which has seen farmers change their ways of farming, mechanisation has become one of the key pillars of agricultural transformation and modernisation. The efforts directed into the occupation of cost-effective farm tools and the Government has tried to integrate majority Ugandans who represented over 70% of the country's labour force.

Benefits

Besides improving production efficiency, mechanisation encourages large-scale production and improves the quality of farm produce. Morris Rwakakamba, the special presidential assistant in charge of research and information, says a lot is needed to ensure that mechanisation is promoted at a large scale.

"The Government needs to strengthen the current mechanisation policy; commit funds for the farmers and private sector to acquire farm machinery and equipment," he says. Rwakakamba adds that there is also need to promote local manufacture of farm tools and equipment for post harvest handling and creating Government-managed central and regional workshops to provide technical back-stopping and critical maintenance services.

Government support

"The Government has tried to put all these in place. But since the system is new in Uganda, it takes time for the common people to adapt to it," Rwakakamba explains. Mechanised operations are largely limited to land preparation; 8% utilise draught animal power and 2% use tractors.

The Government has come up with many programmes that have helped farmers in Uganda improve their farming and National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) has been the lead. Farmers have been provided with equipment and quality seeds, which has helped them grow on large scale.

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Scenario planning in agriculture

Scenario planning is an important part of business strategic planning. In agriculture, scenario planning is even more important given the number of variables and the level of uncertainty associated with production. Within the field of agriculture, scenario planning is a part of strategic planning where the business imagines how different organizational decisions may be played out to show possible futures.

For scenario planning producers should focus on primary questions surrounding the industry. For example, “What will the state’s beef industry look like in the year 2025?” Then the question of “What might we need to do?” in this situation be considered. From these focal questions a list of possible scenarios can be created. Continuing with the example from above “If we are faced with an increase in the price of inputs, what could happen to the cost of weight gain?”, and “If consumers are to change their attitude and perception of point of production origin for beef, what changes in business practices (product traceability) must occur?”

After discussing possible futures, a diagram can be used where two uncertainties at two different levels can be compared with different future out comes (figure 1). The manager can look at different outcomes in terms of quadrants. In figure 1, the first quadrant (right top) is the preferred future, the second quadrant (left top) is the expected future, the third quadrant (left bottom) is the second alternative future, and the fourth quadrant (right bottom) is the least preferred or feared outcome.


Continuing with the example from above a visual depiction of four possible futures with varying, plausible, probable, and preferred outcomes can be created. Figure 2 is broken down into different quadrants. The first quadrant contains the preferred outcome or where the market is thriving and the state has a booming agriculture meat sector. The second quadrant contains the most likely outcome where fewer producers exist and beef becomes more of a novelty. The third quadrant contains a less likely alternative where the beef industry in the state operates the same way it has in the past, large producers continue increasing in size and scale, and meat suppliers operate in a commodity system. The fourth quadrant is the worst case scenario in which the majority of consumers purchase only ground beef with poultry and pork exceeding beef consumption, and many farms begin to disappear.

This example shows different possible outcomes for the state’s beef industry. Through the use of scenario framework development producers, managers, and suppliers of agriculture products can identify and evaluate potential, conceivable, and preferred futures. Once a preferred future is discovered, a framework for present day decision making can be used to guide the decision maker to the preferred outcome.

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Fourth Annual Wine & Agriculture Tour

Wine & Agriculture Tour 2013 will be hosted by the Umpqua Soil & Water Conservation District

This year’s tour includes:

Elkton Community Education Center native plant nursery and gardens tended by Elkton High School students and a visit the Fort Umpqua replica. Lunch with a variety of sandwiches, chips, cookies, and beverages.

Rick Shepherd’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program restoration project. Shepherd and CREP Technician Donna Fouts will describe components of a CREP project applied to a working ranch along Elk Creek where historical information has been used to restore the site. Also visit an oak restoration site, wetland meadow and pond.

Anindor Vineyards where Anindor’s viticulturist will show us around the vineyard, describe the art of growing grapes and making wine followed by wine tasting at the vineyard’s tasting room.



When: Saturday, August 17, 2013



Transportation: From Reedsport at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot behind the Reedsport Natural Foods Store. From Elkton at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot at the Elkton Community Education Center.



Cost: $25 per person which includes transportation and lunch.



RSVP Required: Please contact Umpqua Soil & Water no later than August 12th to reserve your space on the tour by calling (541) 662-1341, (541) 271-1647or
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