Voa Agriculture Report - Study Points to Risk in Common Method of Enriching Soil

fill in the blank with one suitable word

Corn

Quality

Some

They

This

University

a

animal

bad

carbon

changed

continuously

corn

fertilizer

from

have

hundred

in

is

it

its

often

organic

other

period

question

reductions

scientists

soil

soils

supply

than

the

their

too

twenty

used

world

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. For more half a century, many farmers worldwide have added nitrogen to their soil. They do this to increase the of organic carbon for the long-term health of the . But four scientists from the University of Illinois say much synthetic nitrogen may instead reduce the organic carbon. report their findings in the current Journal of Environmental . The team led by Saeed Khan studied soil taken the Morrow Plots. These experimental farm fields near the of Illinois have been used for more than one years. The researchers studied one area where corn is grown. They compared it with another area where corn planted in turn with oats and hay. Over a of more than fifty years, the area where only was grown got more chemical nitrogen fertilizer than the area. But production in the continuous corn area was percent lower compared to the other area. And the found that both areas had reduced levels of organic . The researchers also studied field reports from around the . They say they kept finding evidence of organic carbon for synthetically fertilized soils. Team member Richard Mulvaney says carbon is extremely important for healthy soil. For example, helps provide air for root growth and increases the ability to store water. Farmers traditionally made nitrogen with waste. They would also plant corn one season and crop like alfalfa the next season. But many farmers their growing methods when synthetic nitrogen became widely available the nineteen fifties. Before then, the chemical had been mostly for weapons production for the two world wars. production and profits rose. But the researchers say over-fertilization resulted because farmers underestimated the amount of nitrogen already the soil. Too much fertilization reduces profits and is for the environment. The scientists say they do not the importance of nitrogen fertilizers for crop production. What research shows, they say, is the importance of testing soil before adding them. Saeed Khan and Richard Mulvaney created what they call the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test. agriculture experts have praised it. Others, though, have questioned effectiveness. And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Farming Marginal Lands

fill in the blank with one suitable word

English

I'm

MP3

Most

This

Trees

a

and

by

crops

family

farmer

feed

grazing

have

improve

is

it

land

last

marginal

method

might

nitrogen

of

protect

rises

tell

the

their

to

too

trees

walnut

with

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. To call "marginal" means it is not very good. Farmers have own way to describe it. Marginal land is the to be planted under good conditions and the first be avoided when situations are bad. Low quality soil not the only reason why land could be considered . The land might be in an area where rainfall limited. Or it might be on a hillside that too sharply. Yet there are uses for marginal land. often it is used as grassland. Grasses provide excellent for grazing animals like cattle, sheep and goats. A might use native grasses or non-native seed. Either way, is important to establish good ground cover to avoid loss of soil through erosion. Forage crops like clover alfalfa could be planted. These members of the legume provide high protein food for grazing animals. They also the quality of the soil. Most plants use up . But legumes put nitrogen back into the soil. Forage also help limit erosion. But using marginal land for is not as simple as it might sound. There a risk of overgrazing. Cattle can damage forage crops eating down to the roots. Also, the animals crush soil with their weight. That can make the ground hard for growing. A way to reduce the damage to move animals from one field to another. This is known as rotational grazing. Agricultural experts say rotational is extremely important for marginal land. Another use for land is for tree crops. Studies have shown that white pine and loblolly pine are two kinds of that grow well on such land. They grow fast provide good quality wood. Another kind to consider is poplar. And there are slower-growing trees like the black that provide wood as well as a nut crop. help support the soil. They reduce the damaging effects wind and rain. And they can provide grazing animals shade from the sun. Marginal lands need care to them. Failing to take that care might only make bad situation worse. But good planning can turn a resource into a highly productive one. This VOA Special Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. Transcripts and files of our reports are at voaspecialenglishcom.. If you a question about agriculture, send it to specialvoanewscom@.. Please us your name and where you are from. We be able to answer your question on our program. Bob Doughty.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Growing a Big Pumpkin. A Really Big Pumpkin

fill in the blank with one suitable word

English	New	The	This	When	a	big	fair	files
goods	grew	is	last	lives	part	people	produced	pumpkin	pumpkins
really	scary	single	sixty	so	system	that	the	think	two	with	year's

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Joe Jutras in a small state, Rhode Island, but he thinks . This year he grew a pumpkin weighing seven hundred kilograms. His pumpkin broke the world record set in thousand six. Another Rhode Islander, Ron Wallace, grew last champion. That one weighed six hundred eighty-one kilograms. Huge like these can sell for ten thousand dollars. Some are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a seed. Sue Jutras explained to us how her husband his record pumpkin and a few smaller but still big ones. He started the seeds indoors in April. the third leaf appeared, he planted them outdoors under temporary shelter. He removed the shelter once the root began to push against it. He buried the vines the root system could continue to grow. He fed plant a mixture containing fish and seaweed. He worked his record-breaker twenty to thirty hours each week during main growing season in July and August. He needed forklift truck to carry it to the official weighing. competition took place a few weeks ago at a in Topsfield, Rhode Island. By the way, Joe Jutras not a farmer. He operates a woodworking business ---- is, when he is not taking care of his . When Americans, especially children, think of pumpkins, they usually of Halloween on October thirty-first-. Pumpkins are a traditional of the celebration. People like to cut funny or faces into pumpkins and put a candle inside. Fresh might end up as jack-o-lanterns at Halloween. But canned meat is popular in pies, breads and other baked , and pumpkin seeds are eaten as snacks. Five states more than one hundred million dollars worth of pumpkin year. The top producers by value were Ohio, Pennsylvania, York, Illinois and California. And thats the VOA Special Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. Transcripts and MP3 of our reports are at voaspecialenglishcom.. We leave you a song by John McCutcheon called "Pumpkin Man."

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - World Bank Urges More Farm Aid; Is Criticized on Own Africa Record

fill in the blank with one suitable word

Im

Independent

Special

This

World

Yet

agriculture

and

at

countries

criticism

economic

eighty-seven

farming

governments

in

increased

levels

live

meetings

more

of

one-third

percent

report

says

that

the

to

took

urged

was

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. The fall of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund just place in Washington. Earlier, the bank used its latest Development Report to call for more investment in agriculture developing countries. The World Bank says agriculture must be the center of development issues if international goals are be met. These goals are to cut extreme poverty hunger in half by two thousand fifteen. The report agricultural and rural areas have suffered from underinvestment over past twenty years. Seventy-five percent of the worlds poor in rural areas. But the bank says only four of official development assistance goes to agriculture in developing . Africa south of the Sahara depends on agriculture for growth. The World Bank says public spending there for is also just four percent of total government spending taxes are high. Recently the World Bank has faced of its assistance to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. That comes in a new report from the bank's own Evaluation Group. In the nineteen eighties and nineties African faced severe financial problems. As a result, the bank them to reduce their support for agriculture. The idea that market forces would push agricultural growth. But the says private business failed to replace government support for . The result? High fertilizer prices, reduced credit and lack improved seeds. The report compares agricultural performance between nineteen and two thousand one with levels in South Asia Latin America. Cereal production in South Asia, for example, while poverty levels decreased. But cereal production and poverty in southern Africa were unchanged. Cereal production was only the level of Latin America. In many sub-Saharan nations, than sixty percent of the people work in agriculture. slow agricultural growth combined with fast population growth means most countries are still trying to get enough food. Bank officials differed with some of the observations in report. But they say the bank is already investing in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. And that's the VOA English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. For links the report and the management response, go to voaspecialenglishcom.. Steve Ember.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - As Some Animal Diseases Spread, One May Be Near an End

fill in the blank with one suitable word

And

But

Global

It

Jerilyn

Organization

Rinderpest

The

This

and

animals

another

are

by

can

disease

eighteen

enough

forms

goods

hopeful

in

its

like

nations

need

northern

on

purposes

recent

reported

ruin

several

spread

started

the

thirty-four

two

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Rinderpest, foot-and-mouth and bluetongue disease are all animal viruses that can a farmer. An outbreak of one disease is bad . Britain has been dealing with foot-and-mouth ---- and now first cases of bluetongue. United Nations officials see the arrival of that virus in the United Kingdom as sign of a bigger problem. The Food and Agriculture says animal diseases once limited to warm, tropical climates on the rise around the world. It says countries to invest more to control them. It says things the globalization of trade, the movement of people and and probably also climate change may only further their . Bluetongue can kill sheep and cattle and other ruminant like goats and deer. It does not affect humans. virus is spread by small biting flies called midges. was first discovered in South Africa. It spread widely by the end of the nineteen nineties had crossed Mediterranean. Since last year, bluetongue has been found in countries in northern Europe. There are safe vaccines against of the southern virus, but not yet for the one. But there is better news about one of deadliest of all animal diseases: rinderpest. Some experts are that the world can be declared free of it two thousand ten. This is the goal of the Rinderpest Eradication Program. Vaccines have helped speed the progress. can lead to starvation in areas where people depend cattle and buffalo for food and work. In the hundreds, it killed eighty to ninety percent of cattle southern Africa. After another epidemic in the nineteen eighties, African nations combined their efforts to fight the disease. has also struck hard in central Asia, where it . There have still been some outbreaks in recent years. the World Organization for Animal Health has declared most in the world free of rinderpest. They have not a case for at least five years. Some other have declared themselves free of it for at least years. But they still need official recognition for trade . Other animals affected by rinderpest include yaks, sheep, goats some pigs. It can spread through the air. It also spread through water infected with waste from sick . Some animals die after just a day or two. that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Watson. Im Steve Ember.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Coyotes Eyeing the Sheep? Employ a Guard Llama

fill in the blank with one suitable word

Americans

East

However

I'm

Tammi

This

To

a

and

animals

any

as

coyote

desert

examples

female

from

how

interest

is

lot

many

no

not

noticed

of

or

sense

sheep

stomachs

that

the

these

they

what

with

young

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. (SOUND) When think of where coyotes live, they probably think of states in the Southwest like Arizona. But over time, wild dogs have spread all the way to the Coast. Some farmers have guards to protect their sheep coyotes. These guards are llamas. Llamas are South American usually raised in the United States for their fiber for show or as pets. But farmers and ranchers that llamas get along well with sheep. They also that over time, coyotes were killing fewer sheep. So chose llamas for guard duty. Llamas do not need training. Farmers usually place only one with a group sheep. Llamas are social animals. Two llamas together will pay attention to the sheep. A lone llama has choice. In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, farmer Leo has several hundred sheep. His dogs help him control protect the flock of sheep. But the dogs are always available. So he uses llamas. Whenever anything enters fields, they know about it. He says their natural , and willingness to face almost anything that comes near, enough to scare away a shy animal like a . Their size also helps. Llamas can weigh as much one hundred thirty-six kilograms. And they look something like small horse ---- a funny looking horse with a of fine, soft fur. Llamas are not vicious animals. , if they are not around people at a very age, they will not like to be touched. In ways a llama is just as defenseless as a . But llamas have a secret weapon. They spit. When get angry, they spit out the contents of their . The result looks and smells terrible. Llamas really know to make a statement. In fact, you can find of llama sounds on the Internet ---- just remember llama is spelled with two Ls, L-L-A-M-A----. If they a threat, they make an alarm sound. This is a male sounds like: (SOUND) And this is a alarm call. (SOUND) Llamas are New World camelids along alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Camelids are a family of that also include the camels and dromedaries of Africa Asia. And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. see a video report about llamas, go to voaspecialenglishcom.. Steve Ember.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Jatropha Plant Raises Hopes for Fuel and Poor Farmers

fill in the blank with one suitable word

But

Dutch

It

Some

This

Watson

a

are

as

biodiesel

described

disasters

eleven

food

getting

grows

higher

in

into

it

land

made

many

of

or

parts

renewable

says

southern

that

that's

the

thought

to

used

way

what

with

world's

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Biodiesel is from plant oils or animal fats. Producers of this fuel often use oils like soybean or palm oil. a wild plant called Jatropha curcas (--JAT-ruh-fuh KUR-kas-) is a lot of attention lately. Some people see it a better way to make biodiesel ---- and a to make a better life in some of the poorest countries. For example, the New York Times recently projects in Mali to supply electricity to rural villages generators that can use the fuel. The Portuguese are to have spread jatropha from Central America to other of the world centuries ago during their explorations. Jatropha all year. It does not need much water and can grow in poor soil where other crops fail. African farmers use it as borders for their crops. helps protect the soil and keeps animals away from crops like a fence. The seeds are poisonous, although many parts of West Africa the plant has been to make traditional medicines. The Royal Tropical Institute in Netherlands says Mali has more than twenty thousand kilometers jatropha. A company called Mali Biocarburant processes the nuts oil for fuel. The project is financed by the government and private investors. Internationally, there are concerns about food prices and reduced supply as food crops compete fuel crops. Such concerns are often raised about corn sugar cane grown for ethanol. Supporters of jatropha say does not compete with food crops for good agricultural or harm the environment. Still, South Africa's agriculture department it is being careful in studying jatropha. This is a spokeswoman told the Mail and Guardian newspaper: "Too lessons have been learned at high cost when plants promised to be solutions turned into environmental and social for South Africa." In June, two British companies formed joint effort to grow more jatropha in southeast Asia, Africa, central and south America and India. BP and producer D1 Oils say their new company could become worlds largest producer of the oil by two thousand . But while the future seems to hold promise, there no guarantees. Right now, some jatropha farmers are said be having problems finding buyers for the seeds. And the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn . I'm Jim Tedder.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Study Links Virus to Bee Disorder in US, but Questions Remain

fill in the blank with one suitable word

Australia

Israel

Lipkin

States

This

United

Wayne

affect

areas

bees

collapse

disorder

during

earlier

food

for

further

help

hive

honey

is

it

many

nectar

not

on

operations

organizing

published

report

reported

some

spring

the

them

times

was

where

written

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. American beekeeping have been hit hard by what scientists call colony disorder. Almost half of their worker bees have disappeared the past season. CCD... has also been reported in , Europe and South America. Bees fly away from the and never return. Sometimes they are found dead; other they are never found. Many crops and trees depend pollination by bees to help them grow. A new says a virus may be at least partly responsible the disorder in honey bee colonies in the United . This virus is called Israeli acute paralysis virus. It first identified in Israel in two thousand four. Ian at Columbia University in New York and a team the new findings in Science magazine. Doctor Lipkin says virus may not be the only cause. He says may work with other causes to produce the collapse . The team found the virus in colonies with the of a map of honey bee genes that was last year. They examined thirty colonies affected by the . They found evidence of the virus in twenty-five of , and in one healthy colony. The next step is testing of healthy hives. The researchers suggested that the States may have imported the disorder in bees from . They say the bees may carry the virus but be affected. The idea is that unlike many American , the ability of Australian bees to fight disease has been hurt by the varroa mite. This insect attacks bees, which could make the disorder more likely to a hive. Australian bee producers reject these suspicions. And researchers suspect that bee production in the United States down mainly because of the weather. Honey bees gather from flowers and trees. The sweet liquid gives them and material to make honey. But cold weather this in the Midwest reduced the flow of nectar in flowers. Many bees may have starved. Dry conditions in of the country could also be playing a part. Esaias is a NASA space agency scientist who keeps in his free time. He lives in central Maryland, he has found that flowers are blooming a month than they did in nineteen seventy. Wayne Esaias is a group of beekeepers to document nectar flow around country. And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, by Jerilyn Watson. Im Steve Ember.

SCORE:

 

Voa Agriculture Report - Fresh From the Store, or the Cow? The Debate Over Raw Milk

fill in the blank with one suitable word

California

Ember

Listeria

New

Public

Special

This

accuse

argue

as

can

cheeses

drinkers

everyone

for

get

had

has

higher

it

meaningful

or

raw

say

shares

something

state

states

that

the

these

to

warned

way

who

with

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Some milk like what they call "real milk," also known as milk. This is milk that has not been pasteurized homogenized. Homogenization is the mixing process that keeps all fat from rising to the top. Pasteurization kills bacteria heat. Ultra-pasteurized milk is quickly heated to an even temperature, which keeps it fresh in stores longer. In United States, health officials warn that drinking raw milk be dangerous and even deadly. But the popularity seems be growing. Raw milk is often used in specialty . Supporters say raw tastes better than pasteurized, though not can taste a difference. In all of the fifty but Michigan, people are permitted to buy raw milk animals. But only farms in twenty-eight states can sell for humans, under restrictions that differ from state to . People may also buy raw milk in stores in , Connecticut, Maine, New Mexico and South Carolina. Some people live where the sale of raw milk is banned it through a system of cow shares. People buy of a cow or a herd of cows. This , the milk belongs to them as owners. Other people raw milk through milk clubs or cooperatives. Some of clubs operate outside the law. One man in Maryland for years enjoyed thinking that he might be doing illegal by buying raw milk. He had no idea was legal there. In nineteen twenty-four the United States Health Service proposed rules against the interstate sale of milk. Today forty-six states have passed what is known the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. The exceptions are Pennsylvania, California, York and Maryland. Earlier this year, federal health officials another warning for the public about raw milk. They of the risks from bacteria including salmonella, E. coli, , campylobacter and brucella. The warning said there is no nutritional difference between pasteurized and raw milk, as supporters . And it said raw milk does not contain compounds naturally kill harmful bacteria, as some also say. Activists the government of a prejudice against raw milk. They that outbreaks of sickness from drinking it are not widespread as reports have suggested. And that's the VOA English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve .

SCORE: