Event Planning and Production :: Business Services
International Business and Trade Conferences

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Techniques for Managing Cover Crops
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:23:00 -0500
Read the magazine story to find out more. Rolling machines designed by ARS researchers may be the fastest way for farmers to prepare fields with cover crops for planting. Click the image for more information about it. Researchers roll out the rye to reign in weeds   Conservation tillage has immediate benefits   Lower CO2 loss in fall tillage Managing Cover Crops with Rolling and Crimping Techniques By Laura McGinnis September 3, 2008 Rolling hay, rye and other cover crops could be the fastest way for some farmers to prepare their fields for planting. That's thanks to rolling machines--developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists--that can quickly flatten mature, high-biomass cover crops such as rye. Each roller consists of a long cylinder adorned with a series of thick, blunt, steel crimping bars, each about one-quarter-inch thick. As a standard tractor pulls the roller over the field, pressure from the bars flattens and damages the cover crop without cutting or uprooting it. Within three weeks, the rolled cover crop dries out, forming a mat of dead biomass into which farmers can plant cash crops. Since 2001, ARS has been conducting research to find the best crimping roller design for conditions in the southeastern United States, and the benefits from this research are gaining recognition. ARS scientists Ted Kornecki and Randy Raper and their colleagues at the agency's National Soil Dynamics Laboratory (NSDL) in Auburn, Ala., compared three different roller designs. The first roller has a traditional design with long, straight, horizontal bars. The second has diagonal bars that curve around the roller. The third has a smooth drum attached to a crimping bar that mashes the rye as the machine moves forward. NSDL scientists, who developed the curved-bar and crimping roller designs, found that all three models killed enough rye--90 percent or more--to enable farmers to begin planting cash crops in the field within three weeks. The crimping-bar roller yielded the best results. The scientists also found that the curved-bar and the crimping rollers provided smoother rides than the traditional straight-bar roller. Future studies will help scientists maximize the efficiency and comfort of these machines. The one-pass process saves money, reduces soil erosion and runoff, helps control weeds, conserves water in the soil and decreases or eliminates the need for herbicides. Read more about the research in the September 2008 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ARS Researchers Search for Casuarina Biological Control Agents
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:48:00 -0500
Read the magazine story to find out more. Invasive Australian Pine, Casuarina equisetifolia. Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org. Foreign herbivores may be key to curbing invasive weeds   Alternate methods of whitefly control   Groundbreaking for new biological control lab ARS Researchers Search for Casuarina Biological Control Agents By Alfredo Flores September 2 , 2008 Australia's Outback and remote coastlines are home to insects that could be key biocontrols for a highly invasive weed threatening coastal areas of the United States, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators. ARS entomologist Greg Wheeler and his ARS and university colleagues are touring the Outback and Australia's coastal areas in search of biological control agents for the highly invasive Casuarina species commonly called Australian pine. This weed is infiltrating U.S. coastal areas, especially in south Florida, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Known for its rapid growth and dense coverage, Australian pine inhibits the growth of native plants. The Australian pine problem includes three Casuarina species--C. equisetifolia (referred to in Australia as “coastal she-oak”), C. glauca (“swamp she-oak,” and arguably as big or a bigger problem than C. equisetifolia) and C. cunninghamiana (“river she-oak”). In the past few years, the Australian members of the team--Matthew Purcell and Bradley Brown, researchers at the ARS Australian Biological Control Laboratory in Indooroopilly, Queensland, and Gary Taylor from the University of Adelaide, Australia--conducted five separate trips throughout Australia. Purcell, Brown, Taylor and John Gaskin, research leader of the ARS Pest Management Research Unit in Sidney, Mont., collectively comprise a Casuarina research team. Wheeler served as the lead scientist for the project, coordinating the funding, surveys and plant-DNA testing. From a bounty of some 300 wasps, weevils, stem-borers, sap-suckers, seed-eaters and more, the scientists have narrowed the field of potential control agents to about 12 candidates. Not only do these top candidates attack C. equisetifolia, but many also attack C. glauca and C. cunninghamiana. Among the top finds were the seed-feeding wasp Bootanelleus orientalis, which is host-specific to Australian pine, and the defoliator moth Zauclophora pelodes. These insects are still undergoing testing by Purcell and colleagues in Australia to determine their suitability for use as biological control agents in the United States. Insects that decrease Casuarina reproduction and spread are being given the most attention. Read more about the research in the September 2008 issue of Agricultural Research magazine. ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Diptera Database Developed
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:23:00 -0500
Mexican fruit flies are just one of the species in the order Diptera, one of the four largest groups of living organisms on Earth. Click the image for more information about it. Fruit fly diversity is in the details   Fruit fly study provides insight into bee immune system   Virulent hessian flies renew attack on U.S. wheat Database Documents Names for More Than 150,000 Diptera Species By Ann Perry August 29, 2008 Distinguishing between insect pests and partners starts with an ironclad identification. So Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist Chris Thompson headed up efforts to accurately identify and name almost 157,000 flies, gnats, maggots, midges, mosquitoes and related species in the order Diptera. Diptera is one of the four largest groups of living organisms on Earth, and its members are critical components in virtually all non-marine ecosystems. Carl Linnaeus, who devised the scientific classification system still in use today, compiled the first index of Diptera species names in 1758. But even though an average of 800 new Diptera names are proposed every year, the nomenclature has not been comprehensively updated since 1805. Thompson works at the ARS Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Washington, D.C. For this research, he partnered with Neal Evenhuis, an entomologist at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii; Thomas Pape, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark; and Adrian Pont, an entomologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, England. The group assembled the tenth edition of the Biosystematic Database of World Diptera (BDWD). This massive index contains nomenclature data for 156,599 living and extinct Diptera species in 154 families and 11,671 genera—around 10 percent of the known biodiversity in the world today. The BDWD, which is available at www.diptera.org, has two components. The Nomenclator allows users to check names, confirm species status, and obtain information about type, family classification and sources for all names in the collection. The Species database is being designed to answer queries about different species, including their distribution, biological associates and economic importance. The BDWD provides a framework for organizing and integrating current and future data that is accessible by researchers around the globe. Scientists can obtain a wealth of information that will help them fine-tune Diptera’s evolutionary tree and track the migration, increase and decline of economically-important Diptera species worldwide. The team presented their research at the 20th International Congress of Zoology in Paris, France, in August. ARS is a scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service Reports

Peanut Prices
Peanut prices received by farmers for all farmer stock peanuts averaged 20.1 cents per pound for the week ending October 4....

 

Subscribe to Agriculture_and_Forestry RSS feed

Ag-Grow Field Days - An annual field day held in July every year at Emerald in central Queensland. Lists dates, location, exhibitor and site details.

Ag-Quip - One of Australia's largest annual three day agricultural displays held every year in August near Gunnedah in North Western NSW. Includes directions, dates and contact details.

Agritech - An International agricultural exhibition held in Israel. Includes dates and location, details for exhibitors and visitors, travel and contact information.
Meta Description: [ The 16th international agricultural exhibition - Agriculture under limited water conditions ]

Agro Expo - An exhibition specializing in agriculture, agricultural machinery, livestock farming and food industry in Ukraine. Includes exhibitor application forms and terms.
Meta Description: [ The 19th International Exhibition-Fair for Agriculture, Agricultural Machinery, Stockbreeding, and Food Industry AGRO-2007 will take place from June 12 to 16 in Kiev, Ukraine. ]

Agro-Mashov - An exhibition of agricultural products held every year in Tel Aviv, Israel. Includes list of topics covered, exhibitor details, times, dates and location.

Agro-Trend Field Days - An annual three day agricultural expo held in May every year at Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia. Lists dates, location, site details and photo gallery.
Meta Description: [ Bundaberg's Annual field days held in May - featuring agricultural, horticultural and technology displays, crafts, wineries, live entertainment. ]

AlpacaMania - An annual show in Southern Oregon for breeders of huacaya and suri alpacas. Includes vendor and visitor information and results of previous events.
Meta Description: [ AlpacaMania 2007 is an AOBA Certified Alpaca Show by SOJAA in Central Point, Southern Oregon. ]

Australian National Field Days - Details of a large three day agricultural and horticultural expo held every year in October near Orange in central NSW, Australia.

Canadian Western Agribition - Agricultural exhibition and trade show which includes livestock sales, educational exhibits, agricultural technology and services. Held annually in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Meta Description: [ Canada's International Agricultural Marketplace ]

Central Wisconsin State Fair - Lists dates of events including a draft horse show, entertainment, ticket information and photographs from previous fairs.

Eima - International agricultural and gardening machinery manufacturers exhibition held on November 10-14 in the pavilions of Bologna’s Trade Fair Centre.
Meta Description: [ Eima, esposizione internazionale delle industrie di macchine per l’agricoltura e il giardinaggio. Fiera della meccanizzazione agricola a Bologna. Macchine agricole, movimento terra, trattori. ]

Elmore Field Days - An annual display of farming equipment and services held at Elmore in Central Victoria, Australia. Includes information for visitors and exhibitors.

Eyre Peninsula Field Days - A bi-annual exhibition displaying the latest farming technologies to rural landowners in South Australia. Includes dates and list of features and events.
Meta Description: [ Eyre Peninsula Field Days specialist in displaying the latest farming technologies ]

Farm Progress Trade Shows - Information from a company that manages farm demonstration shows. Includes links to sites with dates of forthcoming events in eastern and mid-western USA.
Meta Description: [ The Farm Progress Show is the largest outdoor farm show in the United States. ]

Fieragricola - Information about an annual exhibition dedicated to Agriculture at Verona in Italy. Includes an overview, events and initiatives, and an exhibitor's list. English/Italiano.
Meta Description: [ Fieragricola - Fiera internazionale biennale della meccanica, dei servizi e dei prodotti per l'agricoltura e la zootecnia ]

Forest Industries - International forestry exhibition and conference at Rotorua, New Zealand. By-annual event featuring in-forest demonstrations and trade sites from harvesting to finished wood product.
Meta Description: [ Forest Industries 2002 is an international forestry exhibition and conference to be held in Rotorua, New Zealand ]

Forestry on the Grow - Information for exhibitors and attendees to a regional forestry conference and equipment exposition held in April each year in Oklahoma, US. Includes registration, workshops, exhibitors and sponsor details.

Gamtoos Agri-expo - An agricultural expo held in November on Eastern Cape, South Africa. Includes map, history, news, program and contacts.
Meta Description: [ Gamtoos Agri-Festival is seen as a show case of the Eastern Cape. ]

Gippsland Field Days - Sponsors Farm World, a three day annual farm event held at Lardner Park in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia Includes dates, special features, location, background, booking details, and similar information about other sponsored shows.
Meta Description: [ The Gippsland Field Days is a voluntary committee drawn from businessmen in the Warragul area and is a non-profit organisation. Lardner Park is an 300 acre property located midway between Drouin and Warragul, about an hour's drive east of Melbourne. The Gippsland Field Days runs the major event F... ]

Henty Machinery Field Days - A major three day exhibition of agricultural machinery, aids and implements held in September every year in Southern NSW Australia.

Iowa Power Farming Show - An indoor trade show for farmers, featuring agriculture and farm equipment in Iowa, USA. Includes exhibitor list, floor plan, location and an on-line application form.

Murrumbidgee Farm Fair - Agricultural and machinery field day held annually on second Friday and Saturday in May, in the grounds of the Yanco Agricultural Institute at Yanco, NSW Australia.
Meta Description: [ An agricultural machinery field day held annually at Yanco Agricultural Institute in May. ]

National Australian Cotton Trade Show - Details of an annual trade event for the Australian cotton industry with 250 exhibitors and attracting 70 per cent of local growers.
Meta Description: [ National Australian Cotton Trade Show - A specialist trade show for the cotton industry. Over 200 indoor and outdoor exhibitors. Over 1700 growers, consultants and cotton farm staff attended in 2001. International visitors. Scheduled in field demonstrations on working cotton farm. Prime location ... ]

Nyngan Ag Expo - Rates, location and contact details for a broad-acre, dry land farming machinery field day held at Nyngan in Eastern Australia every August.

Pan Pacific Pork Expo - An Expo to promote Australia's clean and lean pork production industry. Includes an invitation, background, sponsors and links. Held in Brisbane, Queensland.
Meta Description: [ APL is a producer-owned company combining policy, research and development, marketing and export under one body in order to create a profitable and secure future for the Australian pork industry ]

Riverina Stud Merino Field Day - Report on an annual field day featuring many of the Riverina's premier Merino studs and industry representatives at Hay in South Western NSW, Australia.

500 Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair - An annual two day exhibition of agricultural events including logging displays, home crafts and animal displays in south central British Columbia.
Meta Description: [ rock creek and boundary fair, one of the last true country fairs ]

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Easter Show - An annual agricultural event held in Sydney to promote and display livestock, produce and rural merchandise. Contains dates, events, location and contacts.
Meta Description: [ April 7 - 20. The Royal Easter Show is a national icon that celebrates all things Australian from our bush heritage to the latest in entertainment. From the Australian outback to the charms of the bustling city, from the top-level competition to the latest in entertainment, the Show has an angle ... ]

Salon du Végétal - A trade show specifically for ornamental horticulture professionals held in Angers, France. [English/Francais]
Meta Description: [ Salon du Végétal :: Le salon professionnel ouvert à l'ensemble des acteurs du marché en horticulture ornementale ]

500 ShowGo - A report on up-coming and past trade shows and expos across the US. Covers a wide range of topics including agriculture and technology.

SIMA - Details of the bi-annual Paris International Agribusiness Show for agri-equipment, supplies and livestock. Includes information for exhibitors, visitors, and the press. English/Francais.

Small Farm Trade Show and Conferences - An annual three day small farm exhibition held in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Includes other related links, on-line resources and a calendar of events.
Meta Description: [ Small Farm Today: The Original How-to Alternative and Traditional Crops and Livestock, Direct Marketing, and Rural Living—Est. 1984 ]

Small Farming Victoria - A two day field event especially for small farms on 5th and 6th May at Lang Lang showgrounds, Victoria, Australia. Includes exhibitor and visitor information, location and costs.

Society of Ploughmen - A registered charity that organises the British National Ploughing Championships. Included details of features such as horse ploughing, steam engines, modern and vintage tractors, trade stands, demonstrations and crafts.
Meta Description: [ Organisers of the annual British National Ploughing Championships in a different part of Great Britain each year. The event includes modern tractor ploughing, vintage ploughing & machinery demonstrations, horse ploughing, steam engines, country crafts, trade stands and modern machinery demonstra... ]

South East Field Days - An two day event held annually in March at Lucindale, South Australia. Features a combination of agricultural, environmental, technological and general interest displays.
Meta Description: [ South East Annual Field Days held in Lucindale South Australia annually in March. Lucindale is a centrally located in the Limestone Coast, only 3 1/2 hours from Adelaide, a rural town with a dynamic community spirit. Its Field Days attracts more than 25,000 visitors annually. ]

Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition - An annual farm expo held at Moultrie, GA, USA that promotes education and implementation of the latest agricultural technology, research and equipment.
Meta Description: [ Sunbelt Ag Expo - North America’s Premier Farm Show ]

Tocal Field Days - An annual field day and rural exhibition held at the CB Alexander Agricultural College in the Hunter Valley Region of New South Wales.

Victam International - A Netherlands company that organizes feed industry trade fairs and conferences all over the world. Includes a list of past and coming events, news and exhibitor awards.
Meta Description: [ Victam International, The organisers of the leading and most important feed industry trade fairs and conferences all over the world. ]

Wandin Silvan Horticultural Farm Machinery Field Days - An annual event held in the Yarra Valley, 50kms east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Includes history, list of exhibitors, awards, sponsors and details of the region.
Meta Description: [ Wandin Silvan Field Days is a showcase for leading producers and manufacturers of agricultural and horticultural machinery, equipment, farming and industry practices. ]

WANTFA Spring Field Day - The Western Australian No-Till Farming Association field day held at Meckering 135kms east of Perth. Features a mix of trial sites, demonstrations, expert speakers and machinery.

Western Canada Farm Progress Show - An annual farm expo held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Features dryland farming technologies with hundreds of farm machinery and equipment exhibits.

Wimmera Machinery Field Days - A farm show covering all aspects of farming from administration and management to the latest in plant and equipment. Held every year in Western Victoria, Australia.
Meta Description: [ South Eastern Australia’s premier broadacre and agribusiness showcase Once a year opportunity to meet face to face with the largest number of agricultural producers from the Wimmera and Mallee regions and beyond at one place at one time Farmers can get a close up look at the latest pr... ]

International Poultry Expo