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Milk quotas were introduced in the former European Economic Community in 1984 as a mechanism to prevent overproduction of milk because of support measures for the dairy sector. The quotas system was removed on 1 April 2015. In order to analyse the possible impact of this decision to remove the milk quotas system on dairy farms in Andalusia (Spain), a comparison was made of a time series of the data in the databases of the public administrations. The variables used were dairy production per cow and year, the number of cows per farm and dairy production per farm and year. The period 2010-2019 was considered, establishing two strata: 2010-2014 (period with milk quotas in force) and 2015-2019 (post quotas period). From 2010 to 2019, the number of dairy cattle farms in Andalusia decreased by 29.8 %, milk production increased by 25 % and the average farm size increased by 23 %. During the 2015-2019 period after withdrawal of milk quotas, milk production per cow and year, the number of cows per farm and milk production per farm and year increased significantly (P

Orchards often have low diversity of plant species, which limits the promotion of natural enemies to combat the important apple pests Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini) and Cydia pomonella (L.). We developed perennial, multifunctional flower strips with native plant species and trialed these in organic apple orchards in seven European countries. On average 73.7% of the sown plant species were established and plant diversity of flower strips was on average 43% higher than the spontaneous orchard vegetation. Intensive mulching of flower strips affected the plant community: species richness and ground cover by forbs and plants, which especially promote functional agrobiodiversity, decreased significantly. Visual assessments over two years revealed a higher number of natural enemies on plant parts, and specifically in D. plantaginea colonies, on trees in flower strip plots than on trees in control plots with standard orchard vegetation. Trees in the flower strip plots recorded a slower D. plantaginea population increase as compared with control plots, resulting in reduced fruit damage after the second fruit drop. Likewise, from 2016–2017, the number of preadult codling moths decreased more in the flower strip plots as compared to the control plots resulting in reduced fruit damage. Our study shows on a wide continental scale that the implementation of perennial flower strips in the alleyways between apple tree rows boosts natural enemies and reduces key apple pests and the associated fruit damage. This supports the role of functional agrobiodiversity as a way to potentially reduce insecticide use in orchards and thus further promote conservation of agrobiodiversity. The project “EcoOrchard” was provided by FP7 ERAnet, CORE Organic Plus and cofinanced by the European Commission.

Das Ziel des Projektes EcoOrchard ist die praxisnahe Entwicklung geeigneter Strategien und Maßnahmen zur Förderung der funktionellen Agro-Biodiversität im ökologischen Apfelanbau. An dem Projekt sind neun europäische Länder beteiligt und es wird im Rahmen des CoreOrganic Plus-Programmes bis Ende 2017 gefördert. 2015 wurden in sieben Ländern (Schweden, Dänemark, Belgien, Deutschland, Polen, Schweiz, Italien) auf ökologisch bewirtschafteten Obstbetrieben Freilandversuche zur Praxiseignung mehrjähriger, standortangepasster Blühstreifen in den Fahrgassen angelegt. Die verwendete Blühmischung enthielt über 25 verschiedene krautige Pflanzen, die mehrjährig und besonders mulchresistent sind. Die Auswahl der Pflanzen erfolgte auch bezüglich ihrer Nutzbarkeit als Nektar- und Pollenlieferanten für Nützlinge, wie z.B. Schwebfliegen und Parasitoide. Diese sollen in die Reihen gelockt und dort etabliert werden, um das Auftreten von Hauptschaderregern wie der Mehligen Apfelblattlaus (Dysaphis plantaginea) und des Apfelwicklers (Cydia pomonella) zu minimieren. Begleitend zu diesen Versuchen wird das Themenportal "EBIO-Network" (European Biodiversity Orchards Network) entwickelt. Es soll Informationen zur Bedeutung, Erhaltung und Schaffung funktioneller Biodiversität im Kernobstanbau und ist als interaktives Kommunikationsinstrument zwischen den Akteuren der europäischen Obstproduktion auf verschiedenen Ebenen (Praxis, Wissenschaft, Beratung) gedacht. Die website ist im internet-Angebot des Julius Kühn-Instituts zu finden (http://ebionetwork.julius-kuehn.de). Die Website enthält ein Registrierungs-Tool für diejenigen, die zu dieser Aktivität beitragen mögen und sich miteinander vernetzen wollen. Eine Literaturdatenbank bietet eine Übersicht über aktuelle Studien und Veröffentlichungen. Ein Veranstaltungskalender soll auf interessante Tagungen oder Workshops aufmerksam machen. Danksagung Das Projekt EcoOrchard wird im Rahmen des CORE Organic Plus Programmes (FP7 ERA net Projekt) finanziert. Die Finanzierung des nationalen Projektes wird durch das Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft im Rahmen des Bundesprogrammes Ökologischer Landbau und anderer Formen nachhaltiger Landwirtschaft (FKZ: 14OE005) ermöglicht.

This paper aims at offering an overview of the FLECOS2016 round table discussion on employability in the UK and at appraising the profile of the ELE professional in this country. A description of the situation of language learning in the UK and the general educational context is offered first, followed by a set of practical recommendations on job seeking and work expectations. We conclude with a personal evaluation of the impact that choosing a career in the UK may have.

Due to the widespread of mass-trapping systems for Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) control in organic olive cropping, an assessment of the impact on arthropods of the olive agroecosystem was undertaken for the OLIPE trap type. The sampling was carried out in "Los Pedroches" valley (Cordoba, southern Spain) in three different organic orchard sites. Six OLIPE traps baited with diammonium phosphate were collected from each site (18 in total) from July to November 2002 every 15 days on average. Additionally, in the latest sampling dates, half the traps were reinforced with pheromone to assess its impact on non-target arthropods. From an average of 43.0 catches per trap (cpt) of non-target arthropods during the whole sampling period, the highest number of captures corresponds to the Order Diptera (that represents a 68.5%), followed distantly by the family Formicidae (12.9%) and the Order Lepidoptera (10.4%). Besides the impact on ant populations, other beneficial groups were recorded such as parasitoids (Other Hymenoptera: 2.6%) and predators (Araneae: 1.0%; Neuroptera s.l.: 0.4%). Concerning the temporal distribution of catches, total captures peaked on July and had a slight increase at the beginning of autumn. No significant differences were observed between traps with and without pheromone. The results evidence that a considerable amount of non-specific captures could be prevented by improving the temporal planning of the mass-trapping system., Debido a la extensión del trampeo masivo como método de control para Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) en el cultivo ecológico del olivo, se llevó a cabo una evaluación del efecto de la trampa tipo OLIPE sobre los artrópodos del agroecosistema del olivar. El muestreo fue realizado en el valle de "Los Pedroches" (Córdoba, sur de España), en tres olivares ecológicos distintos. De cada olivar se recogieron 6 trampas OLIPE cebadas con fosfato diamónico (18 en total) desde julio a noviembre de 2002 con una periodicidad media de 15 días. Además, en las últimas fechas de muestreo, la mitad de las trampas fueron reforzadas mediante la adición de feromona para evaluar su impacto. De una media de 43,0 capturas por trampa (cpt) de artrópodos no objetivo a lo largo del periodo total de muestreo, la mayor parte de las capturas correspondieron al Orden Diptera (representando el 68,5%) seguidos por la familia Formicidae (12,9%) y el Orden Lepidoptera (10,4%). Aparte del impacto sobre la población de hormigas, se registraron capturas de otros grupos de beneficiosos tales como parasitoides, (Otros Hymenoptera: 2,6%) y depredadores (Araneae: 1,0%; Neuroptera s.l.: 0,4%). En cuanto a la distribución temporal, las capturas totales tuvieron un máximo en julio y un ligero incremento al comienzo de otoño. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre las capturas de trampas con feromona y sin ella. Los resultados indican que una mejora de la planificación temporal del sistema de trampeo masivo permitiría evitar una importante cantidad de capturas no específicas., This project was funded by the project 92162-1 contract number 85, Junta de Andalucía. Ministry of Education and Science of Spain provided a collaboration grant to O.S.

Results of a trial of nitrogen mineralization are presented in order to evaluate the mineralization of thermally dried sewage sludge applied to soil. A laboratory incubation was conducted during 52 weeks with three different soils (S1, S2, S3) and thermally dried sewage sludge applied in rates of 0, 15, 30 and 601 ha-1. The results showed that the cumulative nitrogen mineralized (N-NH4 + + N-NO3 - ) for S1 (acid) was 364.60 mg N kg-1 soil, 292.19 mg N kg-1 soil for S2 (basic) and 221.85 mg N kg-1 soil for S3 (sand). The response of each variable (N-NH4 + + N-NO3 -, N-NH4 +, N-NO3 -) and each soil (S1, S2, S3) ammended with different application rates was evaluated by regression analyses and the results showed differences between all soils and rates. For N-NO3 - the results showed differences between soils at the beginning of nitrification. These results are important because they allow to synchronize the application of sludge ammendments to the soils with the N-demand of the crops and thereby optimize productivity avoiding environmental pollution.

In order to evaluate the nutrients content to soil by the application of three different types of sewage sludge an experiment was carried out on rooted cv. Cornicabra olive Olea europaea L cuttings in a greenhouse with temperature and humidity controlled conditions. The substrate was sand plus a nutrient solution without nitrogen and plus different rates of three sewage sludge. PVC glasses of 0.25 l without drainage were used, they were filled with 250 g washed see sand of fine grain and different treatments of sewage sludge. The mixtures were homogenised. Three treatments were evaluated composted sewage sludge (LC), pruning residues + composted sewage sludge (RP+LC) and thermo-dehydrated sewage sludge (LDST). The rates studied were 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 t/ha. After three months of olive rooted cuttings cultivation, they were extracted of the substrate and we were made a physics-chemical analysis of dried and homogeneous substrate. The variables studied were percentage of total nitrogen (% NT), ammonium (MH4 +), nitrate (NO 3 -), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and organic matter (% MO). The response of each variable and each treatment with different rates were modelized by regression analyse, all the cases reflected significant responses (p

Previous tests designed to study the influence of both composted and non-composted sewage sludge on the germination of several crops established the convenience of complementing these with observations made during the emergence phase, in order to evaluate the effect of the sewage sludge on different growth parameters. An emergence test was conducted in pots under greenhouse conditions Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), lentil (Lens esculenta Moench), maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.), were the experimental species. The objective was to evaluate two treatments, composted and non-composted sewage sludge applied in rates 0, 40 and 80 t ha-1. The variables studied were the number of emerging seedlings (PE), stem length (LT), and root length (LR). The substrate used was a 50 % mixture of sand and peat with its respective type of sewage sludge and rate. Each crop responded differently in terms of PE, LT and LR. Regarding the tomato, the principal factors (type of sewage sludge and rate) and their interaction were significant in terms of PE, LT, and LR. As for rye-grass, the type and rate of sewage sludge only had a significant effect on LT; whereas with wheat, lentils, spinach, and maize, only the effect of rate was significant. Regarding rye-grass, spinach, and wheat the type of sewage sludge and the rate had a significant effect on the variable LR; but when studying the lentil, only the rate was significant. In conclusion, this experiment indicates that LT and LR are respectively the best variables to evaluate the influence of treatments with different types and rates of sewage sludge. In general, the 40 t ha-1 treatment rate with composted sewage sludge responded best to the three variables evaluated.