Farming

Why Ants are not Your Enemies

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A little mound of soil modeled into tiny pellets when you roam during your yard or garden and stumble across an anthill, it is frequently a gardener’s first instinct to ruin it. You kick and stomp before the little hill vanishes as well as the miniature ants scurry away. However, by this, you are really performing a disservice to your own garden. Tunneling ants turn over ground that is just as much as earthworms do, redistributing nutrients and aerating the soil. Ants are also portion of earth recycling team: gathering dead insects acting as scavengers and turning them into fertilizer for the land.

Rather than being viewed as pests, ants may be comprehended in horticulture as our partners. Among the significant and very readily observed functions is as seed dispersers. Seed dispersers run this same function with flowering plants all over the united states. This enterprise is really valuable that plants seem to get fixed the time of flowering and fruiting to benefit from high ant task in the entire year.

Another benefit of getting ants is protection. Ants are drawn to the nectar seen on sepals or the plant stem (not the nectar seen in blooms that pollinators us). The ants crawling all over peony buds that are sticky in early summer, for instance, shield them from enemies, as well as the ants are rewarded using a rich food source. This protective function is additionally rewarded by some plants by placing ants in constructions that are particular, as well as supplying them and carbohydrates.

Ant protection can also be valuable for a few of our most frequent insects. The caterpillars produce a substance called honeydew that is sweet to bring ant guardians. The ants “farm” the caterpillars, occasionally even taking them to the ant nests to entire growth. This interaction can add birds and more butterflies for your garden as they get attracted to the insect action that is greater.

A couple of garden ants are pain species. Native fire ants in bite and the South sting, making them disagreeable visitors. Red imported fire are overabundant since they’ve escaped predators and their natural rivals . Red imported fire damage crops, cause a decline -ant populations, as well as incapacitate machinery. Most ants, nevertheless, don’t have any negative impact in the slightest. If you see ants at you home please call www.antcontroltoronto.ca – Toronto Ant Control.

Mice Can Distory Your Farm – Use These Tips to Protect It

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For any farmer, the sight of mice is supposed to raise alarm; this is enough proof that his produce is in danger of being destroyed. Mice can destroy your farm in a way you never thought they would. To avoid the danger posed by them, use this tips to protect it.

Use of soft drinks, this comes as a surprise to many people. Soft drinks kill mice by taking advantage of the fact that they cannot burp. When the rodents drinks the liquid, they do not belch and thus they will have too much gases accumulate in their system thus, they die. This is done using a disposable dish where you add the drink and leave it overnight. You can be sure to see the animals dead in the morning.

Use of plaster powder and chocolate powder, mice are easily attracted to sweet things. By taking advantage of this, you simply mix the plaster powder and chocolate and place it where the mice often frequent. Also, ensure that water is close so that after they have swallowed the bait, they will take the water and they will be gone. This is because the plaster powder hardens inside the stomach thus killing them.

Use of pellet chemicals, this are poisonous substances that are fed to mice to kill them, one can get them in any agro vet. They are usually placed where the mice are usually seen like mice holes or even farm store. They should be kept away from humans as they kill any animal that swallows them.

Use of glue boards, this is ideal for small farms or even kitchen gardens. It entails using a stick substance to catch the mice and they soon die of hypothermia.

Use of cats, cats are natural predators of rats and mice, if the use of poison is not that effective, you can bring in a cat which is mature enough to catch mice. Although not all cats are good at catching mice, you can always borrow one from a neighbor or even hire.

The use of traps, this is one of the most widely used method to trap mice. There are several types of traps and the effectiveness of these traps will depend on their make or the one who set it. You can use either a zapper trap or a classic snap trap.

Use of mice repellants, for those who do not want the fracas brought about by killing the animals, disposing, or the carcass. Peppermint oil is a natural detergent that has a smell that is too intense for rodents.

Use of dried snake poo, snake is a natural predator of rodents. Therefore, they always keep a distance from any snake by sense of smell. You can visit any reptile center close by and ask them for some dried poo. Place it where the smell will be sensed from afar. This will help for some time before they get used to it.

The use of electronic, electromagnetic or sonic devices, this is a way of encouraging mice to shift to the next place. The sonic device produces a sound that is not appealing to the mice so they opt to shift to better places. However, this is only for a short duration as they soon get used to the noise.

The methods are quite good especially if your farm is not pretty infested by these creepy creatures. For those who have colonies in their farms and all that they are doing is counting loses, it is good that you call an expert for more assistance.

How To Protect Plants From Pests

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It can very frustrating when your garden produce is ready and before harvesting, something else finds it first and eats all your hard work. It’s important to keep your garden food and produce safe from pests and problems that may affect the quality and quantity of your harvest. Every garden is prone to pests and diseases – caterpillars, fungal infections, dogs, beetles, deer and the list is endless. Fortunately, you can protect your garden from these predators without spending a fortune or risking your life and that of your family.

Step1 – The first thing to consider when gardening is to ensure that your plants are healthy and strong. A plant that is grown with all the appropriate tools and requirements can withstand pests better than a weak growing plant. Aerate your soil and ensure it’s well fed with the right nutrients before planting your crops. Organic manure like green farmyard manure is a great matter that can help to boost the nutrients of the soil.

Step 2 – Most pests are transitory problems and before you decide to use that spray, you may want to protect your crops with a trap, a barrier or a mesh. There many mechanical methods in the market and you can also device your own method to keep off wildlife from your plants. It’s important to first consider the type of pests that attack certain plants before erecting a barrier – for example, you don’t’ need to use closely knit mesh over plants that need access to insects that pollinate because your crops may fail to bare fruits.

Step 3 – You might want to use slug barriers or beer traps to protect your plants against slugs and snails. You can find lots of tips on how to set slug and snail traps from different online experts.

Step 4 – When the pests have attacked and you have no alternative but to use pesticides, always ensure that you buy the appropriate pesticide for the right plant. For example, you can knock off sucking pests by using contact insecticides and the effects are immediate and don’t last for more than 2 hours. Always check the label to be sure that the pesticide can be used on your plant and still observe harvest intervals.

Other Control Measures

  1. Choose disease-resistant plants – Buy your seedlings from recommended sources and ensure that the plants are disease-resistant. Talk to reliable gardening centers and nursery experts. When planting, ensure that the plants are well spaced to avoid creating moisture that will help fungus to grow and spread fast. Avoid overhead watering and keep the leaves as dry as possible and don’t allow the leaves to contact the soil. Check for sick plants when making rounds, pluck them from the garden and burn them. Always rotate your crops each year to avoid disease causing organisms from multiplying.

 

  1. Insect Control – not all insects like ants can destroy your plants completely call ant control Toronto. Bees are particularly important for pollination. Some insects can destroy other insects like the lady beetle for example, can control aphids. Always avoid using powerful insecticides because they end up destroying good bugs. Check the chemical label and ensure its nontoxic and environmentally friendly.

What You Need to Know About Organic Farming

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Organic farming is an agricultural process involving improving soil quality. The process involves the use of crop rotation methods and application of green manure and compost. Organic farming is practiced in a very small part of farmlands in the world. However, as more people become aware of the benefits of organic farming, they embrace it. This awareness has resulted in an increase of organic farmers.

Modern organic farming techniques were introduced by British botanist Sir Albert Howard. He has given a detailed outline of his view of organic farming in his book “An Agricultural Testament”. Environmentalists were the first to embraced organic farming because of the effects of synthetic fertilizers on the surroundings. Other people have supported the idea largely because of their fear of consuming unsafe food.

Consumption of organic foods is on the rise. This increase is a direct result of people being aware of the safety of food they consume. It is important to make sure the food being sold to the people is genuinely organic. This is achievable by exercising stringent cultivation standards. In America, the USDA introduced a certification process in 2002 for enforcing adherence to the standards.

The problem of global warming could be eliminated if farmers switched to organic farming completely. Organic farming can help reduce the levels of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. This may not be possible since some of the farmers are still stuck to conventional methods of agriculture.

Many farmers are unwilling to make the switch to organic farming. One of the reasons for this is that organic farming requires one to adhere strictly to set standards. Another reason many people are not quick to embrace the farming methods is because of the lower productivity per acre. Productivity per acre of land is significantly lowered when practicing organic farming. This is not good news for farmers who want to make profits.

The cost of these organic foods is also high to the final consumer. Prices of organically produced foods exceed mainstream alternatives by up to 40 percent. Proponents of organic farming methods argue that people can find ways of buying the food at affordable prices. One can join Community Supported Agriculture organizations or shop from farmers markets. Consumers can also take advantage of sales and coupons.

In a move aimed at lowering consumer prices, large players in the organic food market seek products from other places. The materials may not be produced organically meaning the product will not meet expectations. These firms are no in breach of any USDA rules as that area is not regulated.

Organic farming has many benefits especially to the environment. However, many people who would like to embrace it have no idea how to go about it. The health of people has been affected by consuming foods laced with chemicals used in food production. All these problems are avoidable if more people know of the basics of organic farming. Even if it is not possible to completely switch to organic farming, it will be helpful if more farmers would practice it.

Benefits of Organic Farming

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Organic farming promotes biodiversity and also when employed it promotes ecological harmony. Organic farming has various benefits and this explains why it is highly embraced and opted for. Some of the benefits of organic farming include:

Health Benefits

The use of organic farming reduces the exposure of crops from pesticides and it increases the quality of the nutrients. Consumption of organic foods therefore keeps one healthy since it does not contribute to the production of toxins that are produced when chemical agriculture is employed. Pesticide poisoning is very dangerous as it increases chances of having particular cancers and may severely affect child development this is so because a child has body organs which are yet to be fully developed and can not therefore fully detoxify chemicals that are toxic to their body. Organic foods other than being free from chemicals they also do not contain artificial flavors and even preservatives that do increase a consumer’s expenditure.

Reduction in soil pollution

The use of chemicals in farming is absent in organic agriculture and therefore making organic agriculture or farming more beneficial to the soil as it reduces soil pollution that may have been caused by the toxic chemicals. The top soil is therefore not destroyed and it stays healthy producing crops and vegetables rich in micro-nutrients. The soil therefore becomes rich in micro nutrients and can be used over along period of time in growing crops. The uses of organic farming method like no-till organic involves cover cropping which not only increases nutrients but also prevents weeds as it involves mulching.

Safe ground water

Soil natural filters water and the use of chemicals in farming affects the ground water by polluting it. Organic agriculture on the other hand by being free from chemical usage prevents such pollution and also where the soil as been polluted, organic farming helps to correct such pollution.

Climate

The use of fossil fuels in the conventional farming has contributed to the climatic pollution. Such fossil fuels can be contained in the pesticides or fertilizers that are manufactured and can be directly applied in to the soil. The soil will therefore risk degradation consequently causing it to release carbon and also its capacity to hold water and fertility are greatly affected. The use of organic farming techniques has the effect of reducing climatic pollution since it reduces the use of fossil fuels. It then follows that there will be a decline in the impact on global warming thus making this form of agriculture to be pro-environment.

Better or sweet taste of food

It has also been found that that organic foods taste much better than the foods drawn from farms that conventional farming was applied. There are low nitrate contents in organic foods making things like fruits to taster sweeter while also having high amount of antioxidants.

Reduction in Production cost

Organic farming when used reduces one’s expenditures in farming. It reduces production cost by eliminating the use and purchase of fertilizers and pesticides. By reducing soil erosion it also increases crop yield.