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Compost use for root crops, field vegetables, salads and fruit
05 09 2008 This 4-page fact sheet from Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) outlines the benefits, characteristics and application of organic matter composts conforming to BSI PAS100 (2002) suitable for use in vegetable and fruit production.
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Compost as a surface mulch
05 09 2008 This 74-page document from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is a series of slides presenting the benefits of using compost as a mulch for soil improvement. It describes compost uses, and gives baseline specifications for compost using BSI-PAS requirements, quality protocols, NVZ rules, value tables for types of organic matter composts, and effects of compost use on soil values.
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Using quality compost to benefit potato crops
05 09 2008 This document from Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) outlines the value of compost from organic matter in the growing of potatoes. It gives examples of compost nutrient content, application values and provides information on relevant field trials.
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Agriculture in the United Kingdom
04 09 2008 The annual reports on agriculture in the UK are published by DEFRA under the requirements of the Agriculture Act 1993. Each report follows a similar format, containing chapters on key events and legislation in the year, farming incomes and agriculture in the economy, structure of the industry, trade, prices, commodities, organic farming, accounts, productivity, subsidies, conservation, and the environment. Reports and accompanying tables and charts are available to download at this site for each year since 1997.
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Fishing focus
04 09 2008 A quarterly online publication from Defra and the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA), Fishing Focus aims to improve communications with stakeholders in the fishing industry, publishing news items, reviews of fishery and marine policy, and information on new fisheries projects. The current and past issues are accessible from this site.
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Technical applications of beekeeping
04 09 2008 An online technical manual from the Development Foundation of Turkey covering the fundamentals of beekeeping. The manual includes sections on queen bees, hives, spring and autumn care, honey and wax production.
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Forest law enforcement, governance and trade the European Union approach
04 09 2008 Published by the European Forest Institute as one of its Policy Briefs series, this publication introduces the European Union's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. The plan sets out different measures available to the EU in tackling illegal logging. The 12-page briefing explains the actions of the EU under FLEGT in relation to the devastating consequences of the world trade in illegally logged timber.
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Climate change impacts and adaptations (agriculture) : Research programme review
04 09 2008 The proceedings of a 2005 conference reviewing DEFRA's R&D programme on the impacts and adaptations to climate change in agriculture. The 104-page document presents a series of short research reviews on major topics related to UK agriculture's capacity to adapt to changing climate. Discussion headings include Summer Drought and Increased Winter Rainfall; Adaptations, Nutrient Pollution and Soils; Integrated assessment and knowledge transfer.
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Farming : Policy - Sustainable farming and food strategy
04 09 2008 These web pages from Defra outline UK government policy on partnership activties between government, consumers and the farming and food industries as part of its Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy (SFFS). The strategy aims to develop a profitable UK farming industry, while reducing the environmental footprint of food consumption domestically and overseas. The site contains relevant information on advisory bodies, government and industry initiatives, strategy documents and news items.
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Marine environment and fisheries
04 09 2008 The section of the Defra website concerned with the UK marine and aqautic environment presents resources on the sea fishing industry, freshwater fisheries, the marine environment and its management, relevant legislation and strategy documents, consultation papers and news items.
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Information and guide to plant genetic engineering
30 08 2008 'Information and Guide to Plant Genetic Engineering' is a report which describes GM technology, explains how it differs from plant breeding, what it is used for, the benefits of genetically engineered crop plants, ethical and environmental concerns, and outlines future developments in this area. Written by Michael Bevan of the John Innes Centre, Norwich. Made available on the Web by the Genetics Society.
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Virtual globes for participatory forestry in Scotland : an assessment of current attitude and future potential
30 08 2008 This PhD thesis by Thomas F. Christian was completed in 2007 and made available on the Web by the University of Edinburgh via their Edinburgh Research Archive. It explores the use of virtual globes, such as Google Earth and NASA World Wind in providing information to the wider public and the effect this has on participatory forestry in Scotland. It concludes that these tools could have limited applicability in participatory forestry if certain issues are not addressed, primarily the resolution and currency of ground imagery in this platform. The role of the government in these issues is discussed. The website provides a summary and bibliographic details, but readers need to register with Edinburgh Research Archive (free) to see the full text.
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Management of multi-scale forest resource data over time
30 08 2008 This PhD thesis was completed in 2007 by Jussi Rasinmäki and made available on the Web by the University of Helsinki. The aim of the study was to develop methods that would enable spatial and temporal scales to be introduced into the storage, processing, access and utilization of forest resource data, in order to support forest inventory methods in approaching single-tree resolution.. The methods developed are based on a conceptual view of a forest as a hierarchically nested collection of objects that can have a dynamically changing set of attributes. References are provided.
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Designing feeding programs for natural and organic pork production
30 08 2008 Produced and published online by the Communication and Educational Technology Services at the University of Minnesota Extension in 2002, this document on designing feeding programmes for natural and organic pig production contains information on: what ingredients are allowed in organic diets; challenges in feeding organically raised pigs and suggested diets. Information on forages in swine diets and pasture systems and a number of tables are also included. Some information has a US bias.
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Forest@
30 08 2008 This open access journal, published by the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, provides online access to scientific and technical articles (full text) from volume 1 (2004) to present, as well as editorials, news and announcements. The website is in Italian and English, and the articles are in Italian with English summaries.
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Croatian journal of forest engineering
30 08 2008 This journal presents papers in English about forest engineering topics relevant to Croatia and the rest of Europe. The full-text of all articles published since 2005 are freely available online. The journal is published biannually by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Zagreb.
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Forest-based industries in the EU-27
30 08 2008 The publication analyses the structure, performance and evolution of the forest based industries in the following sectors: Manufacturing of wood and wood products, pulp, paper and paper products, and printing and services related to printing. It includes a separate section focussed on the related activity of furniture manufacturing. Links are included to further information and sources of data.
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Milk and milk products in the European Union
30 08 2008 This 29 page document is published online by the European Commission and it examines the dairy sector and explains the role of the EUs Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in relation to milk production. Published in May 2006 it contains information on: products made from dairy cows milk; the EU dairy sector in figures; the dairy sector and the CAP; trade in the dairy sector; the EUs milk budget; EU enlargement and the dairy sector and future developments. Details on further information and relevant regulations is given.
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Environmental KTN
29 08 2008 The Environmental Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is a government funded website offering environmental professionals, researchers and academics access to a wide range of information, news items and reports on environmental pollution and control, waste management, and relevant technologies. The site lists and describes a series of Priority Technology Areas, giving overviews of issues involved, documentation, conferences and other events. Areas described include energy from waste, treatment technologies, carbon capture, and land remediation. The site also presents environmental innovation opportunities partnering commercial and funding organisations, academics, researchers and government bodies. Some parts of the site may require (free) registration for access.
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Gardeners world
28 08 2008 The website on gardening and related topics based on the BBC programmes. Comprehensive illustrated information is provided on ornamental plant and vegetable growing, garden design and maintenance projects, pest control, wildlife management and conservation. The site also gives acces to a range of video programmes, online forums and a newsletter.
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Garden banter
28 08 2008 GardenBanter is a web gateway to newsgroups on gardening and horticultural topics including permaculture and plant sciences; there is also a listing of newsgroups by world regions.
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Seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS)
28 08 2008 The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) is a short-term immigration category open to Romanian or Bulgarian nationals working in the UK on seasonal agricultural employment for up to six months. The website explains how farmers and growers can recruit foreign nationals through the scheme, and provides details of the approved SAWS operators who manage the process on behalf of the UK Border Agency. The site also contains news and information updates on migrant worker employment.
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Land to mouth
28 08 2008 This briefing paper from the University of Newcastle's Rural Economy and Land Use Programme (RELU) examines the pressures on land use and food production in the UK, drawing on the research outcomes from RELU's food chain projects. Land management for healthy food production, environmentally friendly consumption, and the impact of a healthy and environmental diet on innovation and business are all issues discussed in the paper.
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Assured produce crop specific protocol : beetroot
28 08 2008 A systematic approach to help growers to identify and manage the risksinvolved in crop production. 'This protocol is based on a typical crop production process. Using a flowchart approach, food safety, Health & Safety, environmental and quality hazards are identified. Appropriate controls may then be established to minimise risk.' Users are advised to read the Assured Produce Generic Crop Protocol Standards and the Assured Produce Generic Protocol Guidance Notes (referred to in this document as the Generic Standards and Generic Guidance Notes) before reading this crop specific protocol.
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Soil carbon
28 08 2008 This Australian website, from Soil Carbon (Australia) Pty Ltd., demonstrates how effective grazing management, pasture cropping and biologically beneficial farming practices can boost levels of organic matter in the soil, improve carbon sequestration and reduce global warming. An illustrated soil carbon case study is presented and a submission to the Australian Government Garnaut Climate Change Review is also available here.
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