Easy Farming

Easy Farming

It seems that cabbage is in need of a revolution.
After its big 2012 loss to sweet corn in New York’s competition for state vegetable – a loss that greatly disappointed onion enthusiasts, as well – the vegetable has been struggling.

Back in 2012, the line of thinking was that sweet corn was worth more in value compared to onions – $20 million more to be exact. Yet, if it were truly a value-based decision, cabbage should not have lost. When you look at the numbers, cabbage surpassed sweet corn earnings substantially. 2012 findings put sweet corn earnings at $68 million and cabbage, at $106 million. What’s more, cabbage amassed the highest crop earnings in the state – a fact suggesting that cabbage was wrongfully jipped of its state vegetable title.
Though clearly leading the way in New York in terms of 2012 earnings, the crop isn’t winning as far as consumer popularity goes. Not then. Not now. Not anytime soon.

Introduction
Cauliflower belongs to the same plant family as cabbage, broccoli, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts. Consumption of cauliflower in the United States was approximately 1.5 pounds of fresh and .4 pounds of frozen per person (ERS, Yearbook 2014). Over the past 10 years, consumption has declined 17 percent.
Cauliflower is a highly nutritious vegetable, ranking among the top 10 foods in regards to ANDI score (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index), which measures vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient content in relation to caloric content. It is low in calories and an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber, as well as provides two core conventional antioxidants.
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Seeding
Good stands of radishes can be established by drilling 6–10 lb/ac or broadcasting at 8-12 lb/ac. When using a drill, seed should be placed ½–1 inch deep. When broadcasting, establishment is enhanced by culti-packing or light tillage. Aerial seeding has been successful using 10–16 lb/ac broadcast into standing corn and soybean canopies when soil surface moisture was favorable for germination for several days. It is important that the seedlings quickly have access to light so aerial seeding should not occur until the crop begins to senesce (~50% yellowing of lower leaves) and early harvest also improves growth. Mixing radish seed with other cover crop species (e.g., oats, annual ryegrass and/or crimson clover) can improve seed distribution and stand establishment and reduce total seed cost.

Canada's Dry Pea Industry
Dry peas (Pisum sativum) have the largest production volume of all special crops in Canada. There are several varieties of dry peas grown in Canada including yellow, green, maple, green marrowfat, and Austrian winter peas. The determination of which pea is produced is dependent upon whether the peas are destined for the feed or food market. The yellow pea is the most widely seeded and produced, with approximately 40 varieties registered in Canada, while the newest type, the green marrowfat, has two registered varieties.

A mushroom farming business can be mean big profits in just a few weeks. Plus, starting your own business growing oyster mushrooms for profit is fairly easy. In fact, here’s how to get started in just six easy steps.

1. Get your spawn and substrate
You’ll need a spawn to start the culture. You can produce your own spawn using a sterile culture, or you can buy ready-to-inoculate spawn, which are carried by suppliers. Producing your own can be cheaper in the long run, but the start-up costs can be high, so chances are buying the ready-to-inoculate spawn is the way to go for you.

You’ll also need to buy the substrate. Many growers use straw or wood chips. Straw is generally the preferred method. You want straw that can be chopped up into little pieces.
2. Prepare the substrate

Introduction

Overview
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are the fourth most important food crop in the world and the leading vegetable crop in the United States. Together, Idaho and Washington produce more than half of the annual supply, which totaled 463 million cwt in 2012, up 8 percent from the previous year, and was valued at $3.73 billion. The average price for all potatoes decreased in 2012, while yield per acre increased. (NASS 2013).

Nearly 60 percent of potato sales are to processors for French fries, chips, dehydrated potatoes and other potato products. The remainder goes to the fresh market, is fed to farm animals or re-used as seed tubers for growing the next season’s crop. (NASS 2013) April 2014... Potatoes

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• Canned Potatoes, Vegetables and Melons Outlook, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2009.

There is also a substantial wholesale market in the Mid-Atlantic based around the increasing demand for locally-produced foodstuffs and specialty-type potatoes.
Due to the wide diversity in types and high consumer consumption, potatoes are a good enterprise option for many growers. They can be marketed directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers markets, and through other local retail outlets. There is also a substantial wholesale market in the Mid-Atlantic region based on increasing demand for locally produced foodstuffs and specialty-type potatoes. Wholesale marketers will want to explore local and regional produce auctions, grocer local-buyer programs, and direct-to-restaurant sales. The diversity of potatoes is just beginning to be realized as more and improved specialty potatoes with different skin, flesh colors, and uses are being grown and marketed. The use of different colors adds to the visual appeal of potatoes on display and can attract attention at a retail outlet.

India is the world's second largest producer of Rice, Wheat and other cereals. The huge demand for cereals in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the export of Indian cereal products. In 2008, India had imposed ban on export of rice and wheat etc to meet domestic needs. Now, seeing the huge demand in the global market and country's surplus production, Country has lifted the ban, but only limited amount of export of the commodity are allowed. The allowed marginal quantity of exports cereals could not make any significant impact either on domestic prices or the storage conditions.

The important cereals are - wheat, paddy, sorghum, millet (Bajra), barley and maize etc. According to the final estimate for the year 2014-15 by ministry of agriculture of India, the production of major cereals like rice, maize and bajra stood at 105.48 million tonnes, 24.17 million tonnes and 9.18 million tonnes respectively,

Broccoli is a member of Cruciferae, the cabbage family. Its botanical name is Brassica oleracea cv.italica, the same as cauliflower. Broccoli is similar to cauliflower in its upright structure, leaf habit and head formation. Consumption and production has increased significantly over recent years and has gone from 7 700 tonnes in 1989/90 to 16 600 tonnes in 1992/93.

Broccoli is easer to grow and can withstand a wider range of conditions than cauliflower. It is cultivated in a similar way to cabbages. Broccoli is grown year round in Victoria but the period of highest quality varies depending on the production area.

Marketing trends
World wide, broccoli has created new interest as a vegetable. For example, in Australia product quality has improved out of sight and the result is a growing demand for broccoli on the domestic and export markets. There are three main reasons for this; new large central-heading varieties, modern marketing methods and consumer acceptance.

Cabbage is a cool-weather crop. Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seed outdoors when the soil can be worked in spring. Place transplants in the garden when they are 3 to 4 inches tall as early as 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. In mild-winter regions, start seed in late summer for a winter or spring harvest.

Field Selection
Peas grow well on most well-drained soil types. Fields containing rocks can be rolled before emergence, up to the 5-6 node stage of the peas. Field peas are sensitive to a number of herbicide residues.
Certain herbicides are residual in soil to varying degrees and under a range of field conditions. Examples include:
Group
atrazine (Atrazine) 5
clopyralid (Lontrel, Curtail) 4
flucarbazone (Everest) 2
metsulfuron methyl (Ally) 2
sulfosulfuron (Sundance) 2
To determine the factors affecting the persistence of each product and for specific recropping intervals, refer to the current Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Development Guide to Field Crop Protection.
Inoculation of Pulse Crops

Variety Information
• Seed Manitoba Variety Selection & Growers Guide

Seeding Field Pea
Treatments

Field Pea is able to produce reliable yields across a range of environments, soil types and time of seeding. Prices are also relatively stable, being sold domestically for animal feed and internationally for human and animal consumption. With new varieties and careful paddock selection, and management, field pea is a profitable break crop option which can provide a number of rotational benefits for subsequent wheat and oilseed crops.
Introduction
Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been an important grain legume crop for millennia, seeds showing domesticated characteristics dating from at least 7000 years ago have been found in archaeological sites in Turkey. The seed is used both as animal feed and for human consumption. It is closely related to the garden pea, whose immature pods and seeds are used throughout the world as green vegetables.

Further information

In everyday usage, a vegetable is any part of a plant that is consumed by humans as food as part of a savory meal. The term vegetableis somewhat arbitrary, and largely defined through culinary and cultural tradition. It normally excludes other food derived from plants such as fruits, nuts, and cereal grains, but includes seeds such as pulses. The original meaning of the word vegetable, still used in biology, was to describe all types of plant, as in the terms "vegetable kingdom" and "vegetable matter".

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) originates in southern Asia, but a large number of cultivars have been developed and are grown worldwide. It is a widely cultivated plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables.
There are three main varieties of cucumber:
• Slicing,
• Pickling, and
• Burpless.
Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged.
The cucumber is a herbaceous trailing annual capable of spreading in all directions. The root system is in the form of a tap root that penetrates de

Importance of Cucumber[i]
Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins - Cucumbers are 95 % water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminates toxins. Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. The skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 % of the daily-recommended allowance.