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Technological advances have dramatically improved precision agriculture, and accurate crop classification is a key aspect of precision agriculture (PA). The flexibility and real-time nature of UAVs have led them to become an important tool for acquiring agricultural data and enabling precise crop classification. Currently, crop identification relies heavily on complex high-precision models that often struggle to provide real-time performance. Research on lightweight models specifically for crop classification is also limited. In this paper, we propose a crop classification method based on UAV visible-light images based on PP-LiteSeg, a lightweight model proposed by Baidu. To improve the accuracy, a pyramid pooling module is designed in this paper, which integrates adaptive mean pooling and CSPC (Convolutional Spatial Pyramid Pooling) techniques to handle high-resolution features. In addition, a sparse self-attention mechanism is employed to help the model pay more attention to locally important semantic regions in the image. The combination of adaptive average pooling and the sparse self-attention mechanism can better handle different levels of contextual information. To train the model, a new dataset based on UAV visible-light images including nine categories such as rice, soybean, red bean, wheat, corn, poplar, etc., with a time span of two years was created for accurate crop classification. The experimental results show that the improved model outperforms other models in terms of accuracy and prediction performance, with a MIoU (mean intersection ratio joint) of 94.79%, which is 2.79% better than the original model. Based on the UAV RGB images demonstrated in this paper, the improved model achieves a better balance between real-time performance and accuracy. In conclusion, the method effectively utilizes UAV RGB data and lightweight deep semantic segmentation models to provide valuable insights for crop classification and UAV field monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallographic examination and compositional study of slag inclusions on iron objects unearthed from Xuechi in Shaanxi, China, have revealed the smelting and manufacturing techniques employed at this Western Han dynasty sacrificial site. The results suggest two production systems among the samples: all knives, nails, and farming implements were made from cast iron that had been decarburised/malleablised through annealing or fining process. It is proposed that these samples were produced in designated state‐owned workshop. Two horse‐bit sets, on the other hand, were forged into shape using both bloomery iron and fined iron from various sources, with possible repairing and recycling involved in the manufacturing process. It is therefore argued that the horse bits found in the site came with the horse and had been produced separately from the other iron objects. Furthermore, this paper argues that although cast iron‐based production was the main method for large‐scale iron production, small‐scale bloomery iron smelting may have been practiced during the Western Han dynasty in certain regions as an alternate but economically viable method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a crucial step in food production, tillage and land preparation play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable crop production and improving the soil environment. However, accurate assessment of the load that agricultural machinery implements during the operation process has always been a vexing problem that needs urgent solutions. In this paper, an extrapolation and reconstruction framework for the time-domain load is constructed based on the probability-weighted moments (PWM) estimation and the peaks-over-threshold function, and the load spectrum is obtained for agriculture general power machinery. Firstly, the load acquisition system was developed, the traction resistance and output torque of the tractor were measured, and the collected load signals were preprocessed. Next, the mean excess function and PWM estimation are introduced to select the optimal threshold and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) fitting parameters and the extreme load distribution that exceeds the threshold range is fitted. The extreme points in the original data are replaced by generating new extreme points that follow the GPD distribution, and the extrapolation of the load spectrum is achieved. Finally, the real extrapolated load spectrum was validated based on statistical characteristics and rainflow counting analysis, and the correlation coefficient between the fitting data and the extreme load samples was greater than 0.99. It can retain the load sequence characteristics of the original load to a great extent, truly reflecting the load state during the operation of agricultural machinery. Meanwhile, the characteristics of the load spectrum can be accurately obtained, such as extreme, mean, and amplitude values, and the real load during deep loosening and rotary tillage are accurately described. The values provide more authentic and reliable data support for the subsequent selection of optimal operating parameters, reliability design of the power transmission system, and the life assessment of the agricultural implements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the effectiveness of integrating podcasts into learners' lessons to enhance agricultural literacy. Through quantitative methods, including surveys and pre-and post-tests, the study assessed the effectiveness of podcast integration in improving learners' cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of agri-crop production. The researcher selected two sections of grade 7 from a junior high school in the division of Tanuan City. The researcher used an experimental method to determine the effectiveness of podcast integration. The study revealed that the respondents perceived the integration of podcasting as a localized learning tool in terms of localized lessons, localized discussions, and localized interviews as highly appreciated because of the relatability and practicality of the lesson. On account of the student's perceptions regarding the utilization of podcast design in terms of length, pedagogical approach, style, and fit with other materials, they strongly agree on all the indicators that were interpreted as highly favorable. Moreover, the study reveals a statistically significant difference in the level of agricultural literacy among students before and after the utilization of podcasting as a localized learning tool in agri-crop production across the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor competency domains. The use of the localized podcast content significantly increased their scores based on the administered assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Department of Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Excellent colostrum management in dairy calves is paramount to their future health and productivity. Feeding colostrum in an extended manner is an emerging research area of interest which could provide health benefits to growing calves. Aim of the article: This article explains the potential benefits of extended colostrum (or transition milk feeding) to dairy calves and how to practically implement it on farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high tillage resistance of agricultural soil-engaging tools (TASTs) in farmland operations (e.g., tillage, sowing, crop management, and harvesting) increases fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions, which negatively affect the development of sustainable agriculture. Biomimetic methods are promising and effective technologies for reducing the TASTs and have been developed in the past few years. This review comprehensively summarizes the typical agricultural soil-engaging tools (ASETs) and their characteristics and presents existing biomimetic methods for decreasing TASTs. The introduction of TAST reduction was performed on aspects of tillage, sowing, crop management, and harvesting. The internal mechanisms and possible limitations of current biomimetic methods for various ASETs were investigated. The tillage resistance reduction rates of ASETs, as affected by various biomimetic methods, were quantitatively compared under different soil conditions with statistical analyses. Additionally, three future research directions were recommended in the review to further reduce TASTs and encourage the development of sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural tractors are an essential agricultural power source. Therefore, the scientific literature tests have described agricultural tractors' evolution over time and determined future trends. This paper uses bibliometric tools to assess the agricultural evolution of tractor testing from 1969 to 2022 to ascertain the publication's scientific perspective on operational, ergonomic, and energy performance. We searched for relevant research in the Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) databases. The data were processed in RStudio software version 4.4.1, and we used elaborated bibliometric maps to research evolution, major journals, studies, countries, and keywords. The first research mainly concerned the development of new wheelsets, more efficient engines, and fuel consumption prediction models. After the 2000s, environmental protocols contributed to increasing publications on biofuels and renewable energies. Recently, an intense process of robotization in autonomous vehicles has improved to allow the replacement of combustion engines. Ergonomics and safety have been less recurrent topics in recent years, indicating a stable level in the actual research. New machine control models involving artificial intelligence are currently applied to obtain test results without using the machine in the field. These virtual models reduce costs and optimize resources. The most common terms were "tractor" and "agricultural machinery". The terms "Electric tractor", "agricultural robots", and "Matlab" indicate solid trends for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over a long period of archaeological study of Novgorod, a rich collection of medieval antiquities was accumulated, which reflects all areas of activity of its inhabitants in the Middle Ages. In particular, household items are widely represented, among which a small group of agricultural implements stands out, which makes it possible to trace the history of the development of agricultural technology for the territory of Novgorod. The article provides a detailed description of the collection of agricultural implements, and the necessary research has been carried out to systematize them based on classifications developed by domestic archaeologists. The chronological framework of the work covers the period from the mid-10th to the 15th centuries, which is due to the peculiarities of the preservation of the cultural layer on the territory of Novgorod. Written, visual and ethnographic materials were also analyzed as part of this study.

Background: Farming is a stressful occupation, and a growing body of research shows that farm stressors are associated with poor mental health. To date, there are few methodologically sound surveys that assess farm stressors, and none have been validated for the Canadian context. Our study aimed to: (a) investigate the types of stressors experienced by farmers, (b) develop a farm stress assessment tool and test its factor structure and internal consistency, and (c) assess its criterion-related validity to self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and resilience among farmers. Methods: We developed a 20-item survey based on a review of the literature, examining existing farm stress surveys, and consulting 10 farmers and agricultural industry experts. Then, a convenience sample of farmers living in Alberta, Canada (Sample 1, N = 354) completed a questionnaire containing the 20-item farm stress survey and four validated measures that assessed depression, anxiety, burnout, and resilience. Sample 1 was used to assess the factor structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency, and criterion-validity of the survey. Next, a convenience sample of farmers living outside of Alberta (Sample 2, N = 138) was used to evaluate the factor structure of the survey using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: The results of the EFA revealed five underlying dimensions of farm stressors: Unexpected work disruptions, Agricultural hazards, Farm and financial planning, Isolation, and Regulations and public pressure. The subscales accounted for 61.6% of the variance, and the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) ranged from 0.66 to.75. Subscale correlations were below 0.44, indicating evidence of discriminant validity. Correlations between the five subscales and the four mental health outcome variables supported the criterion-related validity of the survey. The results of the CFA indicated that the data fit the model, and fit was further improved by correlating one pair of error terms. Conclusions: Preliminary analysis of our Farmer Stress Assessment Tool (FSAT) suggests it is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a range of stressors farmers face. Implications for policy and community-based mental health interventions that help farmers manage the enduring stressors of agriculture is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities of the global food system, underscoring the need for a sustainable transformation of the food system. With the advent of new digital technologies emerging as critical tools for achieving the agricultural shift, it is important to understand farmers' adoption decisions better. This study aims to systematically uncover and delineate the varied forms of experiences farmers have with new digital technologies and investigate how these experiences impact the organizational adoption decisions on the farm. In this study, twenty interviews with apple growers, wine makers, and intermediaries from a German region encompassing Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony–Anhalt were conducted and analyzed. Through the lens of the modified adaptive capacity wheel and alongside the interview data, five relevant types of experiences were identified. These types of experiences are closely related to farmers' adaptation motivation (AM) and adaptation belief (AB), potentially influencing their future decisions about the adoption of digital technologies. This study highlights the importance of creating meaningful experiences with technologies to strengthen farmers' AM and AB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical systems heuristics (CSH) is a framework that facilitates reflective practice in exploring and solving complex management problems. Several applications have demonstrated the utility of CSH for addressing problems concerning the environment and sustainability. As such, we apply CSH to explore perspectives on agroecological transition in Scotland. In interviews with 10 farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers, we demonstrate the utility of boundary critique as a practice for unpacking the judgements that underpin perspectives on Scottish farming. Moreover, we derive a series of practical insights and recommendations to progress agroecological transition in Scotland, including: support for a greater diversity of farming systems; action across the entire food system to avoid 'lock-ins'; improved tools to measure farming outcomes; and nuanced and precise conversations regarding the nature and purpose of agroecological farming. We hope that our accessible and transparent approach might encourage the uptake of CSH research among systems researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture has been the backbone of African economies, and agricultural development has the potential to drive overall economic growth. Considering the importance of agriculture in Africa, foreign aid donors have supported the sector to help push economic growth and reduce poverty. Studies indicate governance quality of a recipient country is an important factor for agricultural aid. Building upon this, the paper explores how bilateral donors provided agricultural aid to two African countries that have different institutional quality, Ghana and Uganda. The analysis of agricultural aid in those two countries was carried out with bilateral aidprofile data from 2011 to 2022. Despite the similar economic importance of agriculture in Ghana and Uganda, donors to Ghana invested the largest amount in agriculture among aid sectors, followed by health. On the other hand, donors to Uganda supported mainly health-relevant sectors with agriculture being ranked only fifth. Donors in both countries implemented agricultural aid mostly as project types. Yet, donors disbursed their aid funds through different aid channels. Donors to Ghana disbursed 48% of agricultural aid funds through the public sector institutions channel (or the state channel). By contrast, donors to Uganda disbursed only 24% of agricultural aid funds through the state channel, essentially bypassing Ugandan public agencies. They instead provided 76% of agricultural aid through the non-state channels such as non-governmental organizations, multilateral organizations, and private entities. Similar donor preferences of the aid disbursement channels were observed with total aid across all aid sectors. Overall, the donor aid profiles suggested donors provided Ghana with more flexible agricultural aid, while in Uganda they controlled agricultural aid more tightly. There could exist multiple underlying reasons for this, but the different level of institutional quality is highly likely one of the possible reasons. For foreign aid, governance quality is an important issue equally to both donors and recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to disclose the content of agrarian receipts and the mechanism for their application in the settlement system of Ukrainian agricultural producers as an alternative way to attract resources for doing business under martial law in Ukraine, as well as to make proposals for their accounting in order to avoid business risks. The state of lending to agricultural producers during martial law is analyzed and the importance of lending against agrarian receipts is substantiated. The experience of Brazil in the process of lending for the future harvest was assessed. The history of the introduction of agrarian receipts in Ukraine is characterized on the basis of borrowing the idea of Brazil. The essence of agrarian receipts is revealed and the legal framework for their circulation in Ukraine is investigated. The difference between agrarian receipts and other financial instruments (bill, forward contract, pledge) is determined. The problematic aspects of the introduction of agrarian receipts into circulation, which hinder the effectiveness of the use of this tool by agricultural enterprises in the process of attracting financial resources, are systematized. The business models of relationships between counterparties in the process of circulation of agrarian receipts are characterized. Theoretical and practical aspects of accounting for agrarian receipts have been studied and problematic aspects in the methodology for reflecting settlements by agrarian receipts in the system of accounting accounts have been identified. Organizational, methodological and practical recommendations are proposed aimed at improving the procedure for recording transactions with commodity agrarian receipts in the accounting system as an innovative way of financing agricultural producers at the domestic and international levels. This will make it possible to quickly collect data on the circulation of agrarian receipts and improve information support in making managerial decisions by various groups of Ukrainian and foreign stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yüzüncü Yil Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Van Yuzuncu Yil University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article examines the structure and mechanism of leasing operations. The factors influencing the spread and development of leasing are analyzed, and the balance of interests of the participants in the leasing agreement is reflected as fully as possible. The features of leasing financing in Ukrainian agricultural business are formulated. Financial leasing schemes in the activities of agricultural companies are considered. The possibilities of combining the leasing mechanism with other financial instruments to increase its efficiency have been studied. The prospects for the participation of leasing financing in the agricultural sector are substantiated. The main directions for increasing the efficiency of agricultural companies in leasing operations are formulated. Provisions are proposed for the use of leasing as an effective tool in agricultural business, taking into account the specifics of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Quinoa is an Andean grain that has gained global popularity due to its nutritional properties. The production area has expanded outside its Andean origins and the crop is now produced worldwide. However, new emerging pests cause serious problems in the crop and limit its production. This review discusses the status of the pests of quinoa in the world and the agricultural strategies implemented in the framework of integrated pest management (IPM). The literature regarding sampling methodologies for pest monitoring, determining economic threshold levels, cultural practices, and chemical and biological control is summarized, and a critical perspective on establishing IPM in quinoa is given. Since ancestral times, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has been cultivated in the Andean regions. Recently, this pseudocereal has received increasing international attention due to its beneficial properties, such as adaptation and resilience in the context of global change, and the nutritional value of the grains. As a result, its production areas have not only increased in the highlands of South America but have also expanded outside of its Andean origins, and the crop is currently produced worldwide. The key pests of quinoa in the Andean region are the gelechiid moths Eurysacca melanocampta and Eurysacca quinoae; in other parts of the world, new pest problems have recently been identified limiting quinoa production, including the gelechiid Scrobipalpa atripicella in North America and Europe and the agromyzid fly Amauromyza karli in North America. In this review, the status of quinoa pests in the world is presented, and different aspects of their integrated management are discussed, including sampling methodologies for pest monitoring, economic threshold levels, and various control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using change point analysis, we have examined price changes in wheat flour prices as provided by the Food and Agricultural Organization Tool in Angola, Mauritania, Egypt, Namibia, and South Africa. Change point analysis confirms that prices had been on an upward trajectory even before the war in Eastern Europe. The war caused domestic prices to remain high. African countries must find a way to be better prepared for the next supply shock of this variety and magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision livestock farming (PLF) tools are increasingly used in daily herd management to improve health, welfare, and overall production. While not intended to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farm, PLF tools can do so indirectly by improving overall efficiency, thereby reducing the emissions per unit of product. This work modelled the potential effects of commercially available PLF tools on whole enterprise and product emissions of two average Scottish dairy farm systems (an 8,000 L and 10,000 L herd) using the Agrecalc carbon footprinting tool. Scenarios modelled included an improvement in fertility and an improvement in fertility and yield from the introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, and an improvement in health from introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, with and without the use of management interventions. Use of a sensor intended to improve fertility had the largest reduction in total emissions (kg CO2e) of -1.42% for a 10,000 L farm, with management changes applied. The largest reduction in emissions from milk production (kg CO2e) of -2.31% was observed via fertility technology application in an 8,000 L farm, without management changes. The largest reduction in kg CO2e per kg fat and protein corrected milk of -6.72% was observed from an improvement in fertility and yield in a 10,000 L herd, with management changes. This study has highlighted the realistic opportunities available to dairy farmers in low and high input dairy systems to reduce their emissions through adoption of animal mounted PLF technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several industrial fields, environmental and operational data are acquired with numerous purposes, potentially generating a huge quantity of data containing valuable information for management actions. This work proposes a methodology for clustering time series based on the K-medoids algorithm using a convex combination of different time series correlation metrics, the COMB distance. The multidimensional scaling procedure is used to enhance the visualization of the clustering results, and a matrix plot display is proposed as an efficient visualization tool to interpret the COMB distance components. This is a general-purpose methodology that is intended to ease time series interpretation; however, due to the relevance of the field, this study explores the clustering of time series judiciously collected from data of a wind farm located on a complex terrain. Using the COMB distance for wind speed time bands, clustering exposes operational similarities and dissimilarities among neighboring turbines which are influenced by the turbines' relative positions and terrain features and regarding the direction of oncoming wind. In a significant number of cases, clustering does not coincide with the natural geographic grouping of the turbines. A novel representation of the contributing distances—the COMB distance matrix plot—provides a quick way to compare pairs of time bands (turbines) regarding various features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial black spot (BBS) of mango, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri pv. mangiferaeindicae, is an emerging disease affecting mango‐producing areas in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The disease spreads primarily through wind‐driven rain and farm implements, and its host range is limited, affecting mango, cashew, and pepper plants. BBS is characterized by dark, angular lesions with elevated borders on infected leaves and fruits in the lower and upper parts of the tree canopy. Infected plants display numerous tiny water‐soaked black lesions on leaves, fruits, and stems. Early symptoms on leaves include tiny, veined, water‐soaked patches with angular black dots and occasionally chlorotic spots. Managing BBS presents challenges, but various control measures have shown effectiveness in different regions. Integrated disease control measures, such as cultural methods and removing diseased plant parts, could further reduce BBS prevalence in the field. This paper reviews the detrimental effects associated with the disease, while also offering a concise overview of the existing body of research concerning BBS and its implications for mango cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture can be used to build soil carbon stocks, decrease agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increase agronomic resilience to climate pressures. The US recently declared its commitment to include the agricultural sector as part of an overall climate-mitigation strategy, and with this comes the need for robust, scientifically valid tools for agricultural GHG flux measurements and modeling. If agriculture is to contribute significantly to climate mitigation, practice adoption should be incentivized on as much land area as possible and mitigation benefits should be accurately quantified. Process-based models are parameterized on data from a limited number of long-term agricultural experiments, which may not fully reflect outcomes on working farms. Space-for-time substitution, paired studies, and long-term monitoring of SOC stocks and GHG emissions on commercial farms using a variety of climate-smart management systems can validate findings from long-term agricultural experiments and provide data for process-based model improvements. Here, we describe a project that worked collaboratively with commercial producers in the Midwest to directly measure and model the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of their farms at the field scale. We describe this study, and several unexpected challenges encountered, to facilitate further on-farm data collection and the creation of a secure database of on-farm SOC stock measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to achieve objectives through SWOT analysis and focus group discussion, identifying internal and external factors through the local decision-makers in Kurdistan Region, to explore the way to describe and analyze Kurdistan Rural information System Platform (KRISP). Problems with information in rural areas still exist in the Kurdistan region administration. The aim of this study is an attempt to develop a digital platform that will help rural communities realize their full potential and contribute to a resilient and successful digital future. The primary objectives of this project are how to design and implement an agricultural information system to collect rural data from various areas by various farmers and make it available online so that future users may eventually search for and obtain the essential data. The first category is concerned with knowledge sharing, information exchange, self-improvement, and self-improvement for grassroots extension practitioners. The study made use of qualitative data, with fixed questions. for the analysis. The achievement of primary data was also collected using a FGD's implemented in Sulaimani governorates. The period of data collection from different study areas starting from June 2023 to September 2023 and were used in this study to collect qualitative data from a variety of government sectors (decision-makers) from various organizations were included in group discussions and gatherings to address the issues highlighted in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural studies mainly rely on quantitative research approaches. Despite growing interest in and uptake of qualitative, participatory, and visual methods due to their perceived advantages in gathering in-depth information and empowering participants, visual–digital research methods have yet to be largely applied. In our study on adaptation strategies to climate change among smallholder farmers in Uganda we compared different data collection methods, including: semi-structured interviews with manual note-taking, participatory impact diagrams, and adapted photovoice and cellphilm methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working bodies of agricultural implements should minimize resistance to movement. The shape of a curved tooth, which is fixed between two cylindrical disks, has been considered in this paper. Several such sections on the shaft form a drum similar to a harrow roller or a needle harrow. When rolling, the tooth sinks into the soil, followed by its loosening. The task was to find such a shape of the tooth, which at the first stage of immersion in the soil would slide over it as much as possible with minimal deformation, and at the second stage would balance it and turn it over. The object of the study is a drum-type working body. The work of a straight tooth with its transformation into a curved tooth was analyzed. As a result of such an analysis and subsequent search, a rational shape of a drumtype tillage working body was obtained for the purpose of reducing resistance when it is buried in the soil. The involute of a circle turned out to be such a curve. A tooth in the form of an involute of a circle has a peculiarity: at the moment of contact of the tooth with the ground, the absolute velocity vector is directed perpendicular to it. The result is explained by the fact that as the disks roll, the tooth sinks into the soil, and the point of entry remains unchanged, and the tooth itself slides practically along itself, especially in the upper layers of the soil. In known working bodies, their curvilinear form was selected experimentally. The proposed shape of the working body was obtained analytically. To reduce the resistance of the teeth entering the soil, the ratio of the tillage depth to the radius of the drum is important. The immersion of the blade to the full depth should correspond to a 30° rotation of the drum. After diving to the maximum depth, it begins to weigh the soil to the surface or loosen it. The field of application of such a tooth shape can be the improvement of the working bodies of tillage implements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Murat Höyük is an important Bronze Age site located in eastern Turkey, in the province of Bingöl, 5km south of Solhan. Murat Höyük is located on the north bank of the Arsanias River in the Upper Euphrates valley. Due to the construction of the Aşağı Kaleköy Dam, the mound there was registered in 2018 and salvage excavations began in 2019. The main intention of the excavations was to study the Early Bronze and Iron Age periods, but some important discoveries on the top of the mound also drew attention to the later phases of occupation. Some architectural remains from these later phases have been brought to light and, additionally, locally produced pottery, together with some objects and tools related to agricultural production and some liturgical metal finds, such as processional crosses, have been recovered from the excavations. The finds give an idea of the nature of the later settlement. The aim of this article is to describe and interpret these architectural remains and small finds, which were found on the highest point of the mound and are most likely medieval in date (between the 9th and 12th centuries), and to attempt to evaluate the nature of the small settlement. This study also helps to understand the relationship between sites in the Euphrates basin during the medieval period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wieś & Rolnictwo is the property of Instytut Rozwoju Wsi & Rolnictwa, Polska Akademia Nauk and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The development of monitoring and early warning tools for environmental and agricultural applications is highly restricted in scarce climate data regions. In particular, precipitation data is a key input for several environmental monitoring tools on which decision-makers rely. However, precipitation records are collected by rain gauge stations, but these are frequently inhomogeneous and scarce in some regions of the world, especially in South America and Africa. In such cases, the use of alternative precipitation data sources is necessary to correctly assess its spatial and temporal variations. Therefore, we evaluate the possibility of using the ERA5 data with different automatic enhancement methods. Three adjustment approaches were evaluated in Northern Patagonia, which is an example of a scarce data area: (1) modifying the ERA5 daily data with three different regression models, one depending on lag and lead days, a distributed lag model, and a simple linear regression model, (2) detecting the lower time window of precipitation accumulation that can represent the observed precipitation variations, and (3) determining a window size and cut-off frequency of a low-pass filter to have data that represent well the low-frequency variation. The lag-distributed models improved the ERA5 data precipitation. A combination of approaches 1 and 2 showed the best performance for enhancing the ERA5 precipitation data, with a minimum of 6-day time window accumulation. However, this enhanced performance is not spatially homogeneous and it is poor in the northeastern region. This tool allows the use of data from ERA5 in sites where daily precipitation input data is scarce or inaccurate for different environmental and agricultural applications aimed at offering permanent and updated information, such as monitoring drought, flood, wildfire risk, or pest outbreaks. These applications are key to reducing ecosystem, production, and infrastructure loss in regions where climate data is a strong restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project combined systems engineers, farm safety researchers, work health and safety inspectorate and policymakers with the aim of designing a way in which to reduce fatal farm injury caused by run-overs and roll-overs by tractors and side-by-side vehicles. The team made comparisons between farm machinery and powered mobile plant that is used in the industrial manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, mining, and construction sectors. Current and emerging safety technologies and engineering solutions were collated. Safety standards, legislated engineering controls, retrofit designs, and known ways in which farmers' workaround safety features were considered. These elements were used as criteria to propose a way to resolve which safety technologies or engineering controls should be recommended for aftermarket retrofitting or incorporated at the original equipment manufacturer design stage. The concept of measuring safety effectiveness to prevent fatal farm injury emerged. This developed into a score sheet and a corresponding matrix to highlight engineering strength and industry acceptance. The project resulted in the conceptual design of the agricultural safety effectiveness score (ASES). The next phase is a multi-stakeholder validation process and a protocol for the scoring system. It requires a hypothesis to test the theory that when safety technologies and engineering solutions are mature in other industries or if they are associated with agricultural productivity gains, their adoption into the agricultural sector is more likely, which in turn will reduce the incidence of tractor and side-by-side run-overs and roll-overs on farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies / Çagdas Türkiye Tarihi Arastirmalari Dergisi is the property of Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context. Computer-based crop simulation models are important tools for agricultural research and management. APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator) is commonly used around the world but has not been widely validated in North America. Aims. The objective of this work was to evaluate the reliability of APSIM for simulating wheat production in California, with the aim of providing guidance for future field research aimed at model calibration and validation. Methods. Environmental and management data from state-wide wheat variety trials of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used to parameterise the APSIM-Wheat module (ver. 7.10 r4220). Simulated yield and protein data were compared with observed field trial results to test the reliability of APSIM simulations. Key results. The most reliable simulation of grain yield had a root-mean-square error of 1040 kg/ha and normalised root-mean-square error of 16% relative to actual field data. Preliminary calibration of the model for Californian wheat varieties did not improve simulation accuracy or precision. Conclusions. The accuracy or precision of the simulations was comparable to that of other tests of the APSIM-Wheat module in environments where it has not been previously calibrated but was considered too low to be reliable. The lack of reliability was due to the poor representation of local Californian wheat genotypes by existing APSIM cultivars, as well as possible lack of precision and accuracy of field data. Implications. APSIM could be a valuable tool for wheat research and management in California; however, further research is needed to generate suitable field data for model calibration and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new method for evaluating green growth in agriculture (GGA) based on a set of key performance indicators and a synthetic index. To this end, we used the zero unitarisation method. The objects of study were seven countries/groups of countries with the largest share in agricultural production in 2020. This paper attempts to answer the following questions: (1) Has there been any progress in fulfilling the assumptions of the green growth concept implemented in the agricultural sector of the examined countries? (2) Which countries do better, and which do worse in that respect? (3) What are the challenges respective countries need to face? In the analysed years, the mean GGA index increased from 0.3287 to 0.3342, which means that the overall level of 'greening' in agriculture grew insignificantly. Out of the seven analysed countries/regions, China did the best in handling the challenges of GGA, while India did the worst. The paper discusses the reasons for this state of affairs, simultaneously making recommendations for improving the existing situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, the concept of digitalization has gained increasing attention in the field of agriculture. The adoption of digital technologies such as sensors, drones, and precision farming tools has the potential to revolutionize how agricultural production is carried out, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. This study examines the current state of digitisation and the use of digital tools in agriculture among Hungarian farmers. The uptake of digitalisation has been slow, and more comprehensive policies and strategies are needed to improve progress. The study shows that while there are positive developments, such as the increasing use of precision technologies, there is still a lack of digital infrastructure and skills, as well as limited access to finance and information. The study concludes by making recommendations for policy makers, stakeholders and farmers to enhance the digitalisation of agriculture in Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The average annual income of farmers in India is well below the poverty line, primarily due to off-season agriculture and a lack of awareness about optimal farming techniques and crop management. This research paper presents an AI-based web application designed to address these challenges and improve farmers' financial and mental well-being. Our solution, comprised of a farming tools leverage system and a collaborative farming forum, empowers farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions and increase their income. The system leverages MongoDB, asynchronous calling, and Fast API for efficient data management and real-time interactions. AI/ML services assist with crop recommendations, crop disease detection, and price predictions. Load balancing ensures optimal performance, and Pusher JS enables real-time communication. Billing services and a dashboard provide income insights, while geographic data enhances machine learning recommendations. In conclusion, this research contributes to alleviating poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in India by providing a comprehensive solution to the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous wired data acquisition systems were developed in the past, for measurement of draft, which were often characterized by complexity and operational difficulty. Consequently, it is necessary to upgrade the exiting draft measurement technique of an agricultural implement. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop a microcontroller-based draft measurement system send the processed data to on-board stationary platform through wireless communication. This system includes (a) transmitting unit to transmit the measured draft value via Radio frequency based Xbee module, and (b) receiving and displaying unit to receive transmitted data from the transmitting unit and display it on LCD. Three load cells were attached to a three-point linkage dynamometer to sense the force exerted by the implements. The measured draft was wirelessly transmitted to the dashboard near to the tractor driver seat using Xbee technology. The draft measurement system was tested under actual field conditions. The results showed that the variations between the draft obtained from the developed draft measuring system and from the data logger were 6.5% and 7.16%, at 2.5 and 3.5 km/h, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the draft values obtained from the developed draft measuring system and the data logger. Observed data informed that the developed system was accurate, reliable and quick response in nature. The developed system can be implemented for the measurement of draft force for research and education purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the fundamental issues faced by Nigerian universities staff over the years, which has not only led to inefficiency, low morale, poverty of staff and incessant strike actions by labour unions, is the inability of university managements to provide robust and sustainable staff welfare packages, in spite of the knowledge and potentials that abound in the universities locally and internationally. This paper aims at providing workable insights, through the application of academic knowledge and other university potentials, which have the capacity to produce diverse material and food needs of university workers in order to improve their welfare, morale and productivity with high degree of sustainability. The paper relied on secondary data and utilized resource-based theory, including a model developed by the researchers for discussing main themes of the paper. The paper found among others, that universities in developing countries with emphasis on Nigeria, do not only have abundant human and natural resources, but are also custodians and creators of knowledge which has the capabilities to build, fabricate and engage farm implements in the production of agriculturally based goods as well as manage their natural resources, first, for the wellbeing of their staff and the society at large. Universities are therefore strongly admonished to engage in agricultural production of food and other material needs of workers by engaging the faculties of agriculture/agricultural engineering and entrepreneurship development centres to achieve this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective land titling often drags on for decades, while private land concessions and holdings do not face the same problem, creating 'leftovers' of land available for Indigenous peoples to attempt to collectively title. In two ethnographic case studies in Cambodia and Paraguay, we analyse community‐based Indigenous land titling by focusing on the on‐the‐ground dynamics of property relations, Indigenous livelihood shifts and ecological change. In both countries, large agricultural players implemented a staggering change in local landscapes through deforestation, configuring new realities that in turn feed into local environments and titling processes. Adapting their livelihoods to living in the leftovers, in Cambodia, the Indigenous Bunong shifted from rice to rubber as they navigated the slow titling process. In Paraguay, some Indigenous Guarani shifted from corn to cattle by renting out their collectively titled land. The case studies show that the liberal titling approach to secure Indigenous lands overestimates the ability of title to remove land from capitalist logics such as the push to rent or sell, while some spaces of autonomy are opened. We critique the liberal approaches to formalising title, where Indigenous struggles for their ways of life are funnelled into fighting for collective property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study lies in the need to investigate the dependence of the force applied to the spring tooth on its parameters, which is an important task due to the widespread use of spring teeth in agricultural implements, such as balers, reapers, rakes, etc. The purpose of the study is to establish an analytical description of the spring tooth deformation depending on the amount of applied force. For this purpose, the theory of bending rods from the resistance of materials was applied, without simplifying it, as is common in construction, where the deflection of a beam is small compared to its length. The calculation is based on the well-known dependence of the curvature of the elastic axis of the beam (tooth) on the applied moment and the stiffness of its cross-section. The study considers a cantilevered tooth, which at the point of pinching is a spring with several turns, followed by a smooth transition to a rectilinear shape. The tooth is divided into two parts along its length: curvilinear and rectilinear. Calculation of the deformation, i.e., finding the shape of the elastic axis after the action of the applied force, is carried out for both parts separately. The need for this approach is dictated by the fact that the curvature of the elastic axis of the tooth in the free state changes abruptly from the stable value of the curvilinear part to a zero value of the straight part. The main result of the study is to find the shape of the elastic axis of individual parts of the tooth under the action of the applied force and combine them into one whole. This helps to determine the amount of movement of the free end of the tooth depending on the amount of force applied to it. The application of the obtained data can help in the development of more efficient and productive agricultural tools, and increase their durability and efficiency when interacting with the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Paranaense de Desenvolvimento is the property of Revista Paranaense de Desenvolvimento and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digitalization of agriculture has been identified as panacea to the problem of food security to teeming population, although its uses for agricultural extension services is still evolving and challenging among extension professionals. This study examined the opportunities and challenges of using AI-based digital tools for agricultural extension services in Nigeria; the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of extension professionals and identified the effects of its usage on extension service delivery. An online questionnaire was used to gather primary data from 131 agricultural extension professionals drawn across the states in Nigeria. Frequency counts, percentages and means were used to analyse and summarize the data collected. The result reveals that majority (75.6%) were male with a mean age of 48.1±15.8 years. The respondents mostly identified provision for real-time insights into the farms and landscape (97.7%) and provision of reliable farm data (75.6%) as the major opportunities for AI-based Digital tools for agricultural extension service, while lengthy technology adoption Process (94.7%) and higher technical skills (70.2%) were the major challenges identified with the use of AI-based digital tools for agricultural extension services by the respondents. The study also reveals that respondents mostly indicated timely enhancement of communication (88.5%) and provision of an update on best practices globally (64.1%) as the key effects of AIbased digital for agricultural extension services. The study recommends that capacity building of extension professionals and farmers; involvement of farmers and other agriculture value chain stakeholders in the development of digital technologies; as well as provision of digital infrastructures and enablers which are germane for digitalization and utilisation of AI-based digital tools for agricultural extension service delivery in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bognár Katalin Boglárka dolgozta fel a Balatonőszöd-Temetői dűlőben előkerült, tíz darabból álló vaseszköz leletet. Szerintem azt nem a 13–14. században rejtették el, hanem a kora középkorban, feltehetően a 9. század folyamán. A középkori vaseszköz leletekről közölt térképét korrigálva bemutatom a Magyarország területén előkerült kora középkori, döntően 9. századi, az Árpád-kori – nagyrészt a tatárjáráshoz köthető – és a késő középkori, a török kor folyamán elásott vaseszköz leleteket. The assemblage of ten iron tools found at Balatonőszöd-Temetői dűlő was assessed and discussed by Katalin Boglárka Bognár. In my view, the assemblage was not hidden in the thirteenth–fourteenth centuries, but in the early Middle Ages, probably during the ninth century. Amending her map of the findspots of medieval iron tools and implements, I reviewed the early medieval iron tool finds in Hungary, mainly from the ninth century, the Árpádian Age – most of which can be linked to the Tatar invasion – and the late medieval ones, deposited during the Ottoman period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the search for sustainable and environmentally friendly agrochemicals from natural origin is steadily growing. Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees, well known for its diverse biological activities, has attracted the attention of scientists and farmers with its agrochemical potential in the last years. This review article aims to delve into the fascinating world of propolis and its utilization in agriculture. Here, we provide a brief overview of propolis: its chemical composition and the bioactive substances responsible for its biological properties. The effectiveness of propolis in controlling common pests and diseases that affect crops, suppressing postharvest illnesses of fruits and vegetables, stimulating plant defenses and increasing stress resistance, is reviewed. Discussion of the challenges and future perspectives related to the integration of propolis in agriculture is also one of our objectives, including chemical variability, standardization and regulatory considerations. We also focused on the latest research trends and technological advances that promise to unlock the full potential of propolis as a sustainable agricultural tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]