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Lameness in dairy cows is a clinical sign resulting from multiple diseases that affects animal welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of lameness prevalence estimations between farm managers and locomotion scoring conducted by trained observers, in confined and grazing dairy systems. The study was conducted on 18 dairy farms in Argentina. The locomotion of the lactating cows was scored by trained observers using a four-point visual scale from 0 to 3. Farm managers were interviewed about the number of lame cows in the herd. The consistency of lameness prevalence detected by the farm manager and the observers was assessed by computing the Lin’s concordance and correlation coefficient. The comparison of grazing systems versus confined systems on lameness prevalence was analyzed using a generalized mixed model, assuming a binomial distribution for the errors. On average, farm managers estimated a lower prevalence of lameness (p < 0.01) compared with the trained observers; 2.24% and 7.06%, respectively. Based on the estimations from trained observers, we could not detect differences (p = 0.19) in lameness prevalence between confined and grazing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) represents technologies with human‐like cognitive abilities to learn, perform, and make decisions. AI in precision agriculture (PA) enables farmers and farm managers to deploy highly targeted and precise farming practices based on site‐specific agroclimatic field measurements. The foundational and applied development of AI has matured considerably over the last 30 years. The time is now right to engage seriously with the ethics and responsible practice of AI for the well‐being of farmers and farm managers. In this paper, we identify and discuss both challenges and opportunities for improving farmers' trust in those providing AI solutions for PA. We highlight that farmers' trust can be moderated by how the benefits and risks of AI are perceived, shared, and distributed. We propose four recommendations for improving farmers' trust. First, AI developers should improve model transparency and explainability. Second, clear responsibility and accountability should be assigned to AI decisions. Third, concerns about the fairness of AI need to be overcome to improve human‐machine partnerships in agriculture. Finally, regulation and voluntary compliance of data ownership, privacy, and security are needed, if AI systems are to become accepted and used by farmers. Core Ideas: Model transparency and explainability can help foster trust between farmers and those providing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.Assigning clear responsibility and accountability to AI decisions can improve farmers' acceptance and use of these technologies.Development of fair and equitable AI can improve human‐machine partnerships in agriculture.Regulation or voluntary compliance with data ownership, privacy, and security is needed if AI systems are to be used by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprayers that are operated over long periods between the mandatory inspections (five years after purchase and at three years intervals thereafter) may be significantly used, and if not properly maintained they may pose high risk for the operators and the environment. The technical condition of the sprayer may be checked by the sprayer operator himself by way of self-inspection that can be performed using simple methods and tools available on the farm. Calibration of equipment is another obligation of the sprayer operator in order to guarantee that it is operated at appropriate working parameters ensuring effectiveness and safety of applications. In order to provide the sprayer users with a comprehensive guidance on self-inspection and calibration of sprayers, two sets of dedicated instruction materials, for knapsack sprayers and field crop sprayers were developed within the SPISE TWG activities. Each set consists of two items: (i) two-page quick guide including a checklist of the self-inspection and calibration instruction to be always at hand of any sprayer operator; (ii) indepth instruction manual covering and extending the same topics to upgrade competence of applicators, farm managers, advisors, trainers and supervisors. The materials cover all aspects and elements of mandatory inspection and adapt them to the in-farm conditions and capabilities. The manuals include additional information on standards, common faults and possible malfunctions, maintenance and risks to humans and environment. The materials have special meaning for knapsack sprayers, that may be exempted from the mandatory inspection, provided that operators are trained and informed on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment, and on the specific risks linked to that equipment. The proposed materials help meeting these requirements and may ensure that the in-farm self-inspection and calibration of knapsack sprayers is carried out properly. This may reduce the environmental and operator’s risk liked to these sprayers even if they are exempted from the mandatory inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the abundance of small-scale farms in the USA and their importance for both rural economic development and food availability, the extensive research on small business management and entrepreneurship has mostly neglected the agricultural context, leaving many of these farms' business challenges unexplored. The authors focus on informing a specific decision faced by small farm managers: selling directly to consumers (i.e. farmer's markets) versus selling through aggregators. By collecting historical data and a series of interviews with industry experts, the authors employ simulation methodology to offer a framework that advises how small-scale farmers can allocate their product across these two channels to increase revenue in a given season. The results, which are relevant for operations management, small business management and entrepreneurship literature, can help small-scale farmers improve their performance and compete against their larger counterparts. Design/methodology/approach: The authors rely on historical and interview data from key industry players (an aggregator and a small farm manager) to design a simulation analysis that determines which factors influence season-long farm revenue performance under varying strategies of channel allocation and commodity production. Findings: The model suggests that farm managers should plan to evenly split their production between the two distribution channels, but if an even split is not possible, they should plan to keep a larger percentage in the nonaggregator (farmers' market/direct) channel. Further, the authors find that farmers can benefit significantly from a strong aggregator channel customer base, which suggests that farmers should promote and advertise the aggregator channel even if they only use it for a limited amount of their product. Originality/value: The authors integrate small business management and operations management literature to study a widely understudied context and present practical implications for the performance of small-scale farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional farm managers use both work experience and higher education to develop skills necessary for the changing needs of modern agriculture. We asked professional farm managers their perspectives on the essential topics, skills, and competencies that should form the core of farm management education. Results suggest that, in addition to financial analysis and general economics, farm management education needs to focus on “soft skills” such as communication with clients and landowners, negotiations, and relationship management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commodity price variability is a major component of fluctuations in net farm income. Farm managers assume some of this price risk by choice when they store grain after harvest. This study estimates the realized returns from these post-harvest grain storage and marketing activities and shows that they are small on a risk-adjusted basis, particularly relative to the downside risk of negative returns. One explanation is that farm managers’ use of post-harvest forward contracting is limited so they are subject to considerable flat price risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to identify the resilience capabilities of farmers from the Western Pomerania region in response to emerging economic, social and environmental challenges. Design/methodology/approach: The research used literature studies and quantitative surveys. This study used a set of primary data obtained by direct survey using a structured survey questionnaire. The survey was conducted in 2022. This study focuses on the concept of thinking about resilience. Findings: The subjective assessment of resilience (past, current and future) as well as its components showed that farm managers are aware of the formation of this economic and organizational category. Resilience was most frequently associated by respondents with adaptive capacity and least frequently indicated a link with transformation. It should be considered as worrying that the same percentage of farmers stated that the farm is and will be resilient to external factors. This indicates that farmers do not treat the category of resilience as a process that changes over time. Methods/techniques for strengthening resilience as one of the three dimensions mainly include those relating to the payment of current liabilities (equating current financial resilience with liquidity), long-term financial resilience, provisioning and the use of insurance (mainly crop insurance). Research limitations/implications: The research adopted a purposive sampling method, which has its limitations. Originality/value: The research contributes to the long-standing discussion on identifying pathways to improve the ability of agricultural actors to survive and recover from shocks in the light of the growing challenges of today's world, and to develop strategies and policies for the resilience of agriculture and related systems in the context of economic, social, and environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study had 2 aims: first, to describe the intent of a learning process among farmers about cow-calf contact (CCC) systems using a so-called Stable School approach, where farmers advise farmers. The second aim was to identify the main themes that arose from the conversations held throughout the 21 meetings that focused on the topic of CCC. The meetings were hosted by 10 host farmers. In total, 32 farmers, farm managers, employees, and calf caregivers who collectively represented 16 farms participated. Characteristics of participating farms varied widely, including herd sizes, which ranged from 7 to 600 cows. At each of the 21 meetings, a written summary was recorded and uploaded to a common data storage site. Using an inductive approach, words, phrases, topics, and suggestions were coded into themes relevant to CCC systems and processes of learning and change. The longitudinal nature of this study allowed for the capturing of how farmers changed their views on how to care for the animals and the concept of keeping cows and calves together. A central theme was how they identified particular challenges associated with a CCC system, such as space requirements or pasture access, and then collectively identified potential solutions for implementing cow-calf contact on their farms, increasingly using experience from their own farms. In addition to raising questions regarding the practical aspects of implementing a CCC system, many participants also raised ethical questions, and many acknowledged their pleasure and joy in seeing the system work and the animals thriving (e.g., when calves were playing or seemed to learn very quickly from the cows). Steps that led to an increased understanding among farmers on this topic included developing a shared language, for instance, referring to the "sharing of milk with the calf" rather than the "loss of milk." Despite the diversity of farms represented by the participants, there was an overall acceptance that they were colleagues and thus were highly supportive of each other. Many participants viewed foster cow systems as a more feasible option for providing CCC than dam-rearing systems, but some also viewed the foster cow system as a stepping stone to their long-term goal of implementing a dam-rearing system. This study provided evidence that socially situated learning and communities of practice can facilitate learning by farmers interested in developing, implementing, and improving CCC systems in different dairy farming contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is undergoing a rapid agrarian transition from dispersed household farming to large-scale, mechanized, and commercialized agricultural production, while retaining collective rural land ownership. Reforms have encouraged transfers of rural land to new subjects of agriculture including agribusinesses, family farmers, and cooperatives, leading to capitalist dynamics in agriculture both from above and from below. Central-state pressure to scale up and modernize agriculture has led local governments to engage in creative experimentation with new institutional forms. This article investigates one such innovation, which has been widely lauded as an important model: the creation of an "agricultural co-management system" in Chongzhou City, Sichuan province, which combines land shareholding cooperatives (LSCs), the hiring of new professional farm managers for the LSCs, and state-provided agricultural services aimed at modernization. We demonstrate that the Chongzhou government's experimentation arose from political economic incentives to capitalize and modernize agriculture as well as the locally specific circumstances of the failure of a dragonhead enterprise. Examining the three components of the agricultural co-management system in depth, we argue that it has deepened rural differentiation through a process of state-led accumulation, and that the continued scaling up of LSCs in the context of a new modern agricultural functional zone threatens to further erode shareholder control. These LSCs, set within the agricultural co-management system, are a new subject of agriculture that combine elements of capitalization from above and below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since innovation is regarded as a source of a firm's development, productivity, and competitive advantage, the identification of the drivers of innovation activities is important for businesses and governments. Based on a case study of 35 emerging sugarcane growers in KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast, South Africa, this study employed the Nossal and Lim framework, which utilised the criteria and methodologies described in the Oslo Manual to measure the innovation activities of firms. The Ordered Probit Model (OPM) was utilised to estimate the factors impacting the innovation activities of the emerging sugarcane farmers. The study findings show that majority of farmers (57%) are highly innovative, with process innovation being the most popular type of innovation. Furthermore, the OPM results revealed that several socioeconomic, institutional, and farm level factors are statistically significant in explaining farmers' capacity for innovation. Therefore, it is essential for farm managers and policymakers to consider and incorporate these range of elements that have a positive link with innovation and are crucial for new farming ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In citrus cultivation, it is a difficult task for farmers to classify different pests correctly and make proper decisions to prevent citrus damage. This work proposes an efficient modified lightweight transfer learning model which combines the effectiveness and accuracy of citrus pest characterization with mobile terminal counting. Firstly, we utilized typical transfer learning feature extraction networks such as ResNet50, InceptionV3, VGG16, and MobileNetV3, and pre-trained the single-shot multibox detector (SSD) network to compare and analyze the classification accuracy and efficiency of each model. Then, to further reduce the amount of calculations needed, we miniaturized the prediction convolution kernel at the end of the model and added a residual block of a 1 × 1 convolution kernel to predict category scores and frame offsets. Finally, we transplanted the preferred lightweight SSD model into the mobile terminals developed by us to verify its usability. Compared to other transfer learning models, the modified MobileNetV3+RPBM can enable the SSD network to achieve accurate detection of Panonychus Citri Mcgregor and Aphids, with a mean average precision (mAP) up to 86.10% and the counting accuracy reaching 91.0% and 89.0%, respectively. In terms of speed, the mean latency of MobileNetV3+RPBM is as low as 185 ms. It was concluded that this novel and efficient modified MobileNetV3+RPBM+SSD model is effective at classifying citrus pests, and can be integrated into devices that are embedded for mobile rapid detection as well as for counting pests in citrus orchards. The work presented herein can help encourage farm managers to judge the degree of pest damage and make correct decisions regarding pesticide application in orchard management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous culture‐based diagnostics are available on the Australian and international markets for on‐farm detection of bacterial pathogens in milk. Use of such diagnostics may provide an opportunity to improve the prudent use of antimicrobials in udder health management. Farms are low‐resource settings in terms of diagnostic microbiology capacity. The World Health Organisation has identified criteria for the evaluation of diagnostic tests in low resource settings based on Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, User‐friendliness, being Rapid or Robust, Equipment‐free and being Deliverable (ASSURED). Here, we review how those criteria can be interpreted in the context of microbiological diagnosis of mastitis pathogens, and how on‐farm diagnostics that are currently available in Australia perform relative to ASSURED criteria. This evaluation identifies multiple trade‐offs, both with regard to scientific criteria and with regards to convenience criteria. More importantly, the purpose of testing may differ between farms, and test performance should be evaluated relative to its intended use. The ability of on‐farm mastitis diagnostics to inform mastitis treatment decision‐making in a timely and cost‐effective manner depends not just on test characteristics but also on farm‐specific pathogen prevalence, and on the farm enterprise's priorities and the farm manager's potential courses of action. With most assay evaluations to date conducted in professional laboratories, there is a surprising dearth of information on how well any of the diagnostic tests perform on‐farm and, indeed, of the on‐farm decision‐making processes that they aim to inform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuation of financial assistance for Romanian farmers and entrepreneurs from rural areas during the years 2021-2022, which will serve as the CAP's transitional years, has been regulated at the EU level. From the standpoint of financing the rural area in Romania, the current article intends to highlight the contribution of the National Rural Development Program's initiatives throughout this period. The measures that could be accessed during the transition period are synthetically presented. The support granted to the Romanian agricultural and non-agricultural sector will increase the degree of modernization of farms, their expansion and development, will support the installation of young farmers who start an agricultural activity for the first time as holding managers and the development of farms led by young people who were installed during previously, diversifying the valorization of agricultural production as well as supporting the implementation of actions within local development strategies. The National Programme of Rural Development (NRDP) budget for the transition period 2021-2022 was approximately 3.26 billion euro, and the funds must be spent by December 31, 2025 at the latest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide explorative insights on how farms which manage strong and successful growth affect farms in their neighbourhoods through spatial competition for land. The study is based on an exploratory analysis of repeated framed experiments within the business game FarmAgriPoliS (Appel & Balmann, Ecological Complexity, 40, 2019). In particular, we analyse the spatial influences of different behavioural clusters of farm managers. Our analysis finds that farms which manage strong growth substantially affect the development of farms in a spatial neighbourhood of some 10 km. Although the influence on the neighbourhood decreases with distance, the functional correlations of farm growth as well as exits are neither linear nor exponential, but eventually rather wave‐like. We further discuss the spatial interdependence of farms and the related overlaps of the predator–prey phenomenon with the phenomena of farms' path dependency and agricultural structural change. We conclude that along with farmers' strategies and their abilities, the characteristics of their neighbours and the distances between neighbouring farms also determine who is 'predator' and who is 'prey'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of a comprehensive information system and application model in the supply chain of agricultural products in Iran has caused this part of the country's economy to be ineffective despite its potential. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to investigate the barriers against the orchards production chains in Meshginshahr located at Ardabil province, Iran. To reach the aim of the study, the semi-structured interviews were used to collect research data from 16 interviews including farmers, faculties and managers in the field of farming production chains. Then we analyzed the data by applying the Strauss and Corbin method and the paradigm model through Max QDA software. Sampling was theoretical and was done using targeted and snowball methods. Based on that, 16 interviews were conducted with gardeners, university professors and managers in the field of barriers to the development of agricultural production chains. The open codes included 38 concepts and the core codes also included 44 major categories, which were finally identified into four groups of selective categories including barriers to i) product production; ii) input supply; iii) product distribution; and iv) customers. Based on the findings of the research on the risk of supply of input resources, the weakness of regulations and rules in supply of inputs, production information barriers, strategic production barriers, competition barriers in production, environmental risks, planning-management, financial-credit, technicaltechnical barriers, product distribution cost barriers, lack of regulations in the distribution system, and sales barriers; barriers related to the production sector are of the barriers to the development of production chains of agricultural products. Barriers related to the production sector are one of the barriers to the development of production chains of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiology of central nervous system (CNS) tumors is complex and involves many suspected risk factors. Scientific evidence remains insufficient, in particular in the agricultural field. The goal of our study was to investigate associations between agricultural activities and CNS tumors in the entire French farm manager workforce using data from the TRACTOR project. The TRACTOR project hold a large administrative health database covering the entire French agricultural workforce, over the period 2002‐2016, on the whole French metropolitan territory. Associations were estimated for 26 activities and CNS tumors using Cox proportional hazards model, with time to first CNS tumor insurance declaration as the underlying timescale, adjusting for sex, age and geographical area. There were 1017 cases among 1 036 069 farm managers, including 317 meningiomas and 479 gliomas. Associations varied with tumor types, sex and types of crop and animal farming. Analyses showed several increased risks of CNS tumors, in particular for animal farming. The main increases in risk were observed for meningioma in mixed dairy and cow farming (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09‐2.81) and glioma in pig farming (HR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.37‐3.80). Our study brings new insights on the association of a wide range of agricultural activities and CNS tumor and subtype‐specific risks in farm managers. Although these findings need to be corroborated in further studies and should be interpreted cautiously, they could have implications for enhancing CNS tumor surveillance in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multipurpose tree species are recognized as an important fodder source for livestock, but their potential remains untapped due to dearth of knowledge about their nutritive value. Therefore, 15 MPTs, i.e., Acacia catechu, Albizia chinensis, Bauhinia variegata, Celtis australis, Ficus roxburghii, Grewia optiva, Leucaena leucocephala, Melia composita, Morus serrata, Olea glandulifera, Ougienia oojeinensis, Pittosporum floribundum, Quercus glauca, Q. leucotrichophora and Salix tetrasperma were evaluated for nutritional characteristics, relative nutritive value index (RNVI), palatability index and farmers' preference on a seasonal basis in north-western Himalayas mid-hills. Most of the nutritive and mineral content decreased as leaves matured with the exception of ether extract, calcium, copper, organic matter and carbohydrate content, while cell-wall constituents and anti-nutritional contents increased. Overall, M. serrata had the highest RNVI in spring and summer, while G. optiva during autumn and winter. Similarly, L. leucocephala had the highest palatability (97.86%), while M. composita (38.47%) had the lowest one. Additionally, G. optiva was the most favored MPT for livestock among farmers, while M. composita was the least ones. The outcome of the study will help policy makers, planners and farm managers in establishing large scale plantations of highly nutritious and palatable species, like G. optiva, L. leucocephala, B. variegata, and M. serrata for year-round supply of green leaves and as a supplement to low-quality feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has historically circulated in wild pigs and in Ornithodoros ticks in parts of South Africa, the virus has spread among domestic pigs throughout the country since 2019. South Africa's compartment system has been used as a mainstay approach to protecting the swine industry in the face of ASF. However, in 2020, two compartments broke down with ASF. The objectives of this study are to investigate the drivers for ASF introduction into the compartments, to categorize compartments by risk of ASF introduction, and to make corresponding recommendations. The relevance of risk factors for ASF introduction for each compartment were investigated among veterinarians and farm managers. The analysis of risk factors weighted according to an expert elicitation were used to categorize compartments into risk levels. Results: Drivers of disease related to human behaviors and to domestic pig management are perceived by farm managers and veterinarians of the compartments to be critical for ASF introduction into compartments in South Africa. Twenty-four units were categorized as high risk, forty-seven as medium risk, and twenty-four as low risk. "Insufficient boot and clothing biosecurity by animal health personnel" was identified as a relevant risk factor in all high risk units. Other prominent risk factors were "insufficient boot and clothing biosecurity by external people," "underreporting of suspect ASF cases," "improper hunting/ culling of wild suids inside the compartment," "un-tested introductions into the herd," and "entry and contact with free-roaming pigs." The roles of wild pigs and competent vectors are considered minimal. There is a need for revision of the compartment standards and training of compartment personnel on the standards. The major gaps identified in the standards were absence of a monitoring programme to assess biosecurity implementation and suboptimal surveillance testing and audit strategies. Conclusions: The results of our study confirm that ASF is increasingly an anthropogenic problem. Updating the compartment standards and addressing gaps in the knowledge of compartment personnel on ASF are most critical. To enhance compliance with biosecurity measures and thus control the disease, close engagement with all stakeholders linked to the compartments is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the drivers of environmental sustainability practices using mango farm managers in Thailand. The purpose was to ascertain farmers' ability to conserve natural resources and protect the ecosystem. This was necessitated to raise environmental awareness, promote sustainable human development, and increase economic growth and quality of life. The study adopted a quantitative survey design with primary data collected from mango farm managers in four provinces in Thailand. Data were collected from a total of 383 respondents. The data was analyzed using CFA and SEM techniques employing SPSS v26 and AMOS v26. The findings showed that Organizational Culture and Employee Training significantly and positively influence Environmental Sustainability Practices in managing mango as a natural resource. Organizational Culture was also found to positively mediate the effect of information system adoption. The study concluded that management and employees in mango farms should be trained about the importance of environmental sustainability and encouraged to cultivate a culture grounded in the sustainability practices of mango as a natural resource. They should be taught how advancing and adopting sustainable practices by subsistence and commercial mango farmers in Thailand can enhance sustainable development, economic growth, and regional cooperation by checking materials and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Main bottleneck in facilitating integrated pest management (IPM) is the unavailability of reliable and immediate crop damage data. Without sufficient insect pest and plant disease information, farm managers are unable to make proper decisions to prevent crop damage. This work aims to present how an integrated system was able to drive farm managers towards sustainable and data‐driven IPM. RESULTS: A system called Intelligent and Integrated Pest and Disease Management (I2PDM) system was developed. Edge computing devices were developed to automatically detect and recognize major greenhouse insect pests such as thrips (Frankliniella intonsa, Thrips hawaiiensis, and Thrips tabaci), and whiteflies (Bemisia argentifolii and Trialeurodes vaporariorum), to name a few, and measure environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, and light intensity, and send data to a remote server. The system has been installed in greenhouses producing tomatoes and orchids for gathering long‐term spatiotemporal insect pest count and environmental data, for as long as 1368 days. The findings demonstrated that the proposed system supported the farm managers in performing IPM‐related tasks. Significant yearly reductions in insect pest count as high as 50.7% were observed on the farms. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that novel and efficient strategies can be achieved by using an intelligent IPM system, opening IPM to potential benefits that cannot be easily realized with a traditional IPM program. This is the first work that reports the development of an intelligent strategic model for IPM based on actual automatically collected long‐term data. The work presented herein can help in encouraging farm managers, researchers, experts, and industries to work together in implementing sustainable and data‐driven IPM. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roughly one-fifth of the global population is affected by poor visual acuity. Despite the fact that inhabitants of rural areas in low-income countries are most distressed by this, no prior research has studied the impact of poor visual acuity on the economic performance of farms. We conduct a standardized eye test with 288 farm managers in rural Cambodia and find that around 30 percent of our sample suffers from poor visual acuity in terms of nearsightedness (myopia). Our analyses indicate a statistically significant and economically meaningful association of poor visual acuity with economic farm performance. Our results show that gross margins for cropping activities per year could be, on average, around 630 USD higher if farm managers were able to correct for poor vision. Our results suggest that poor visual acuity impairs farm managers from tapping the full potential of their business, which in turn decreases their chance to break the vicious cycle of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of fruits and vegetables is expected to increase in the United Kingdom (UK) as a response to increasing consumers' demand, coupled with impacts of Brexit on the imports from the European Union (EU). Retailers and consumers are more aware of the environmental impact and provenance of food and are demanding to their suppliers to implement sustainable agricultural practices. Seven horticultural farmers and farm managers across the UK were interviewed to investigate the implementation of sustainable practices, and the motivations and enablers for adoption, as well as perceptions on sustainability and climate change. Factors influencing adoption mainly were efficiency and cost reduction, regulations, and market demand, even though, environmental, and social consciousness also played a role in adoption. There was little evidence that participation in knowledge networks or the perception of climate change and impacts, and of carbon footprint assessments influenced the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, but this finding deserves further investigation. Farmers' awareness of the importance of soil was clear and governments should encourage farmers' involvement in the monitoring of soil health, as a mean of engaging them in the wider discussion about the implementation of sustainable land management, including climate change adaptation and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the relationship and mutual interactions between farmer and land market transactions. This relationship is analyzed with the purpose to highlight the existing problems in order to define as clearly as possible the most fruitful alternative ways to benefit the farm as the basic unit of production in agriculture. The farmer is the central economic figure for the organization, operation, and administration of the farm. As such a figure, he must perform his duties in a timely manner and with the highest quality. These duties relate to his self-formation with the concepts of the agricultural market economy. The farmer's work also determines the progress of the farm in the entire range of problems that are evident towards development. Based on the SSBU indicators, compared to EU countries, we can say that our agricultural farms fall quite short. This evaluation is made based on the performance of farm managers. The study was carried out through surveys conducted in the area. By analyzing the surveys, we conclude that the characteristics of the farmer (age, level of education, background) affect the land market. Young, non-native farmers are more inclined to sell their land rather than to utilize it for agricultural production. In addition, direct contact between the two parties, the buyer, and the seller, involved in a land market transaction are more preferred than negotiations through a third party: realtor or sales office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obituary is about Emeritus Professor Anthony Kent Giles, who was born in Rochester, Kent, and had a successful career in agricultural economics. He studied Economics at Queen's University in Belfast and later became a lecturer at the University of Reading. He was recognized as an authoritative voice on farm management and received several awards for his contributions to the field. He was also involved in various professional organizations and mentored young economists. His work has left a valuable resource for future generations in the field of farm management economics. [Extracted from the article]

Generational renewal plays an important role in strengthening resilient agriculture at EU level. The low number of young people working in agriculture is, on the one hand, a major concern both in Romania and at EU level, but also the subject of political stimulus measures.The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes that occur at the level of agricultural structure according to the age group of farm managers in Romania between 2005 and 2016. Thus, the analysis carried out assesses the effects of agricultural policies aimed at generational renewal. Although a number of measures to stimulate the young people's entry into agriculture have been introduced in recent years, there is a significant decrease in this category between 2010 and 2016. The ratio between young farmers and farmers aged 65+ indicates that the agricultural community is aging. In order to highlight the significant potential that young farmers have in supporting the sustainable economy, economic growth and competitiveness, a number of key variables were analyzed in relation to the age group, such as: number of holdings, agricultural area, number of livestock farms, standard production (SO), but also the number of farms with self-consumption. The analysis shows that farms run by young farmers are much more profitable compared to older farmers, but the factors that encourage young people to remain in the agricultural sector as farms leaders it does not seem sufficient to enough maintain it in this sector [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative ethnographies, archival explorations, and visual media reframing reimagine how anthropologists might respond to the emergencies that shape our contemporary moment. Concurrently, Borea uses "trajectory" to refer to a series of conversations between herself, the anthropologist, and the artists whose work she tracks. In the research article I On Finishing i , authorship is shared between anthropologist Eimear Mc Loughlin and farm manager John Casey who contributes to the piece stories about and photographs of the animals on his Irish thoroughbred stud farm. [Extracted from the article]

The New Institutional Economics framework is incorporated and a practical approach for assessing the level and factors of governance efficiency of Bulgarian farms suggested. The evaluation is made on the basis of original micro-data collected by the managers of typical farms of different type and location. The "Nature of the problems in effective organization for major class farm transactions for securing needed factors of production and output marketing" is used as an indicator for the comparative efficiency and adaptability of individual farms. The study found that the governance efficiency of farms is at a Good level but 60% of all holdings are with a Low efficiency. Major factors for inferior governance efficiency of farms are unsatisfactory efficiency in supply of necessary labor, innovations and know-how, and funding. There is a huge variation in the level and factors of governance efficiency of farms with different juridical types and sizes as well as in the share of farms with different levels of efficiency in each group. A strong correlation is found between the level of governance efficiency of farms, and diverse critical internal and external market, technological, institutional, personal, etc. factors. There is a big discrepancy between the "new" assessment of Governance efficiency with dominating traditional approaches for farm efficiency assessments based on factors' productivity. There was an improvement in the overall governance efficiency of farms during 2016-2020 but the share of efficient farms significantly declined during the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This field observational study describes the seasonal pattern of small lungworm infections under different grazing managements from August 2018 to March 2019. Live weight, lungworm and gastrointestinal nematode infection, as well as pasture type grazed and snail density, were measured at 5 farm visits. Across all visits and mobs, about one quarter to one half of sheep were positive for small lungworm, although prevalence was as low as 0% and as high as 78%. The density of the intermediate host molluscs was greater than 1600 snails/m2 in irrigated perennial lucerne pasture when it was grazed ('Pasture A'), but was low (<300) in non‐irrigated perennial pasture ('Pasture B') and non‐irrigated forage crop ('Pasture C'). Overall, non‐infected lambs had a similar live weight compared with the small lungworm infected lambs (mean difference −0.6 kg; 95% CI −1.6 to 0.2; P = 0.1). The odds ratio of small lungworm infection associated with a twofold increase in worm egg count was 1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.7; P = 0.02). Rather than a distinct seasonal pattern of infection, we found that small lungworm can occur throughout the year, with prevalence most influenced by pasture type (irrigated vs dryland), grazing management and the population density of the intermediate hosts. Importantly, this study suggested that small lungworm infection did not reduce lamb live weights. It reinforced that to improve sheep productivity, well‐established determinants of production, such as correct grazing management to optimise pasture quality and strategies to reduce infections with gastrointestinal nematodes, should be the priority of farm managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate sustainable dairy farming, it is essential to assess and support the mental health of dairy farm workers, which is affected more than that of workers in other industries, as indicated by the relatively few studies to date. In addition, the limited investigations on mental health in dairy workers minimize the opportunities to suggest practical approaches of improvement of their mental health. Therefore, further data acquisition and analysis is required. In the present study, we undertook quantitative surveys on 17 management factors and administered a mental health questionnaire to 81 dairy farm managers (80 male, 1 female) in Hokkaido, northern Japan. The management factors were categorized into 3 groups: production input, production output, and facility indicator; mental health was evaluated based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Principal component analysis assigned the factors into 2 groups: intensiveness factors of dairy production systems (PC1: livestock care cost, fat- and protein-corrected milk, stocking density, medical consultation fee per unit time per animal unit, nonfamily wages, fertilizer and pesticide expenses, and net agricultural income ratio) and basic dairy management factors (PC2: net agricultural income ratio, quantity of concentrate feed, and milk quality variable). The depression symptoms of dairy farm managers were not significantly associated with PC1 and milking methods; however, they were significantly negatively associated with PC2, which integrated 3 management factors, including factors related to finances, feeding, and milk quality. According to the findings of the present study, the efforts needed for stable economic farm management, adequate feed supply, and milk quality maintenance may increase the depression levels of dairy farm managers and negatively affect their mental health. These findings could be the basis for future studies on the relationship between the mental health of farm managers and sustainable dairy farm management and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using gender-disaggregated data on land operations from India, this study demonstrates a relationship between seasonal or short-term migration for work and feminization of farm management. Using a nationally representative dataset covering 35,604 rural Indian households in 2013, the study identifies whether women are taking on the role of farm managers in households with short-term migrants. Results show that women are less likely than men to be decision makers on farms. This dynamic changes when there is short-term migration in the household, with a greater probability of women being decision makers on farms. These results are robust to concerns over omitted variables, endogeneity, and sample selection issues. The study highlights the importance of unpacking the feminization process to better understand the role of women as farm managers and the need for supporting this transition to ensure that women farmers realize their full potential. HIGHLIGHTS Short-term migration (STM) is integral to household livelihood strategy in rural India. Feminization of agricultural labor is distinct from the feminization of farm management. In households with STM, women are more likely to be engaged with farm decisions. Effect of STM is stronger for spouse of household head or unmarried daughters. Effect of STM is weaker when there are more adult men in the household. Individual-level data for time use, agricultural decisions, and migration are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of digital technologies in agriculture offers various benefits, such as site-specific application, better monitoring, and physical relief. The handling of these technologies requires a specific skill set. Therefore, the question arises of when and how farm managers learn about digital technologies. Aiming to analyse the current situation, the present research investigated the role that digital technologies play in vocational training for future farm managers. Taking the example of farm management information systems (FMIS), the present study also analysed various predictors of adoption, including the effect of training. To investigate these research questions, an online survey among teachers and students of the farm management vocational programme across Switzerland was conducted in the spring of 2021. In total, 150 individuals participated, 41 of whom were teachers. Participants answered questions about the learning content in the farm management programme and their perception of digital technologies in general. Students further reported whether they already had a farm they would be managing in the future and how they perceived FMIS. The results indicate that both teachers and students are convinced that digital technologies play an important role in agriculture and will gain more importance in the future. A substantial part of 43% of the students who participated indicated that they had learned neither about digital technologies during their basic agricultural training nor the subsequent farm management programme. In terms of FMIS, 51% of the student sample indicated that they had never heard about FMIS during their agricultural training. While having learned about FMIS was not a significant predictor for adoption, gender, perceived ease of use, and intention to use more digital technologies in the future significantly predicted the adoption of FMIS. The paper concludes that, to support the adoption of digital technologies and FMIS specifically, training for future farm managers should focus on how to operate an FMIS to increase the perceived ease of use of this technology. [Display omitted] • 57% of the students learned about digital technologies during vocational school. • 49% of the students learned about FMIS during vocational school. • Intention to use digital technologies is an important predictor for the TTMA. • Perceived ease of use of FMIS is an important predictor for the TTMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-farm income sources are important for livelihood sustenance, especially in the mountainous regions of developing countries. To implement effective policies to improve economic development, policymakers need insights at the grassroots level. Yet, there is a lack of empirical evidence in the context of Pakistan. This study examines the current situation and the factors influencing the decision by farmers to engage in other gainful activities (OGAs) such as farm diversification and off-farm work in the northern mountainous regions of Pakistan. The study is based on quantitative survey data obtained from 459 farm managers and qualitative data from 24 key informants from five different districts in Gilgit-Baltistan. Utilizing a logistic regression model, a statistical analysis is conducted on farmer and farm characteristics to investigate the probability of farm managers to engage in OGAs. The survey results show that around 71% of farm managers are engaged in OGAs (with 24% in farm diversification, 61% in offfarm work and 15% in both). The share of female farm managers is 51% in farm diversification while male farm managers dominate off-farm activities (69%). The most prevalent types of farm diversification are the processing of farm products and tourism-related farm work, while the main off-farm activities are setting up grocery stores outside the farm, having salaried jobs or engaging in other non-agricultural business. There are significant differences between farmers with and without OGAs particularly regarding farmer characteristics, agricultural income and some other variables. The logit model results show that farmer characteristics mainly determine off-farm work activities while farm (and other) characteristics mostly explain farm diversification. These findings suggest that OGAs primarily exist as livelihood strategies. Farm diversification is linked with the long-term sustenance of agricultural activities while off-farm work is predominantly driven by economic needs. Both types of OGAs require specific support policies while attention needs to be given not to threaten regional food supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, we propose a general mathematical model for analyzing yield data. The data analyzed in this paper come from a characteristic corn field in the upper midwestern United States. We derive expressions for statistical moments from the underlying stochastic model. Consequently, we illustrate how a particular feature variable contributes to the statistical moments (and in effect, the characteristic function) of the target variable (i.e., yield). We also analyze the data with neural network techniques and provide two methods of data analysis. This mathematical model and neural network-based data analysis allow for better understanding of the variability within the data set, which is useful to farm managers attempting to make current and future decisions using the yield data. Lenders and risk management consultants may benefit from the insights of this mathematical model and neural network-based data analysis regarding yield expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developing uncertainties, risks and crises related to the natural environment, technology, economic and political environment, as well as globalization, still pose a challenge to addressing risk management in the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The purpose of the article is to make an analysis of risk management in agricultural holdings and, on this basis, to identify generalized conclusions and suggestions for improving the process. Risk management often depends on the economic activities and internal attitudes of farm managers. The methodological framework of the study includes: 1) Theoretical review of risk management in the agricultural sector, identifying the sources of uncertainty and risk, the ability of farmers to use different risk management strategies, as well as the dependence of risk management on the perceptions of farmers and the measures taken by the government; 2) Methodological framework of the study of risk management in agricultural holdings; 3) Recommendations for improving the risk management process. The analyses in the article present the results of university project NI 16/2018 Integrated approach to risk management in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have been shown to derive from external and internal motivations of a company. Little attention has been given to motivations of managers in large farms and agroholdings to undertake CSR activities thanks to individual values and pressure from institutions. We therefore investigate the types of CSR activities conducted by 18 managers in large farms and agroholdings in Argentina. We underline their perception of social issues and their motivations to do CSR activities. The framework developed in this paper shows that given the lack of pressure from national-level formal and other informal institutions, individual values (informal institutions) and international institutions (certification schemes-formal institutions) carry more weight in managers' decision to do CSR activities. While some of these motivations have an instrumental background, they overlap with normative motivations that underlie the business activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]