1/2 of Europe are short of pollinators- honeybees

In more than half of European countries, there are not enough honeybees to pollinate crops, according to new research. The shortage is particularly acute in Britain which has only a quarter of the honeybees required. The number of honeybees in the UK and elsewhere has been in decline in recent years, with both pesticide use and disease being blamed for losses.

                           

The demand for insect pollination has grown 5 times as fast the number of honeybee colonies in Europe, according to new research conducted at the University of Reading. The research shows that famers are increasingly relying on wild pollinators, such bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies even though there are few safeguards to protect their numbers.

According to data collected from 2005 to 2010, more than 1/2 of European countries, including the U.K., Germany, France and Italy, did not have enough honeybees to pollinate crops. The U.K. was worst hit by the shortage and has only a fourth of the bees they require. The only country with a bigger deficit was Moldova, one of the poorest countries on the continent.

                                        

There will be a growing disconnection between agricultural and environmental policies across Europe. Farmers are encouraged to grow oil crops, yet there is not enough joined-up thinking about how to help the insects that will pollinate them.


Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net
         

China Director Zhao Vicky asking not to play fireworks during Lunar New Year in Beijing

Setting off fireworks to celebrate renewal and ward off evil spirits is a traditional part of the celebration that marks China's most important family holiday.


                    

Beijing appeals to reduce the smoky celebrations after air pollution rose to near catastrophic levels over recent weeks, 2014. China's capital saw almost twice the number of smoggy days as usual in January, with levels of small particle air pollution going off the charts at times. That prompted calls for restraint, along with a reduction in the number of licensed fireworks sellers and the amount of fireworks on sale.

• Highway fireworks explosion kills at least 9 in China
• Thick smog cloaks Beijing again
• Record Beijing air pollution forces warning from China officials to keep kids indoors

Beijing was largely helpless in the face of the January smog, while schools canceled outdoor activities, some factories closed and government cars were ordered off the streets. Scores of people, especially the young and elderly, were treated at hospitals for respiratory problems, elevated blood pressure and heart complaints.Last year's fireworks display created a thick haze that sent 2.5 microgram pollution levels as high as 1,500.

Chinese Director Zhao Vicki said: "Now the Lunar New Year Festival is coming, I begged everyone to buy or not to buy as little as fireworks, air conditions in China today is very bad. New Year fireworks will make it worse against a 1950s London, a very serious haze tragedy, which causing thousands of people died of air poisoning. Do you hope that China become so? Little things can eliminate Tyndall effect! “

In fact, the heavy regional haze in China's most important agricultural areas may be cutting food production there by as much as one-third. Covering a million square kilometers or more, the haze scatters and absorbs solar radiation, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching key rice and winter wheat crops. That decreases plant growth and food production.


Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net

Taiwan’s pesticide problem

Greenpeace recently announced the results of tests for pesticide residues made on a random sampling of 102 pieces of fruit purchased in traditional markets in Taiwan. These results showed that half of the sample — 51 pieces of fruit — tested positive for pesticide residues. Of these, 16 had levels considered excessive, 25 had residues from three to seven different kinds of pesticide, and four had tested positive for excessive amounts of highly toxic chemicals.

                            
Clearly this considerably high fail rate is substantially at odds with the government’s hopes of differentiating Taiwan’s agricultural products from the cheap imports flooding the domestic market, and not very helpful for its attempts to promote locally produced goods against that competition.

                                           
Food safety is something that concerns consumers the world over, and involves governments, producers, wholesalers and consumers, all of whom are responsible for maintaining it. Over the past several years, to increase the quality of agricultural produce and consumer confidence, Taiwan’s agricultural authorities have been actively subsidizing and promoting organic foods and the verification of the production cycle of different foods.
                                           
The problem requires the proper approach if we are to address the concerns that exist over the kinds of unwanted residues — agricultural pesticides, heavy metals and antibiotics — that are found on agricultural products being sold on the market, and to rebuild consumer confidence in domestic agricultural goods.

Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net

The latest hydroponics pattern- aeroponic fogging system

The fogging cultivation is the fog spray cultivation, also called the air cultivation, for the root system suspension in the fog spray environment as main characteristic. its root system generating, elongation ,and the growth all completes in the air.

                                

The root system leaves the mediums and the water, only growth in the nutrition fogging spray environment as a brand new cultural technique. Comparing with other methods of hydroponics, fogging system can grow quickly with less management and labors.

                                     

At present, the fog spray cultivation utilizes in the green growth more and more, scientific research in the production shown effective proof, this new cultivation pattern has been proofed its growth potential abilities extremely, no matter the green is the woody plants, the herb, the lianas all enable its growth to the biggest growth potential possibilities, without changing the gene of any situation, produce fast-growing high quality and high yields.

             

Farming Methods	Conventional	Greenhouse	Aeroponic
Washing Reuired	Yes	Yes	No
Market Freshness	>1 week old	Fresh – 3 days	Fresh
Shelf-life	1 week	2 – 3 weeks	3 – 4 weeks
Local	Difficult	Medium	Easy
Food Safety	Difficult	Medium	Easy
Seasonality	Seasonal	Extended season at a cost	Year round
Profitability
Growth Cycle	35 – 70 days	25 – 50 days	18 – 21 days
Yield & Quality Predictability	Low	Medium	High
Labor Conditions	Drudgerous	Hot & Humid	Room-like
Annual Yield / Sq. Ft.	0.4 lbs	6 lbs	30 lbs
Transportation Costs	High	Medium	Low
Weather Risk	High	Medium – Hight	None
Location	Very Limited	Limited	Any location
Impact
Urban Application	No	Limited to rooftops	Yes
Worker Skill Level	High	Medium	Low
Building Rehabilitation	No	No	Yes

                  

It enhanced the production benefit greatly, reduced the management, will be the most advanced cultivation pattern in the future agriculture. Free consulting available for your field at Chicfarm Skype: stark5680. We will make your ROI in a short period paid off by the high yields of your greens.


Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net
                             

Chicfarm Strawberry Growing Diary

 

 

From a healthy runner.

 

 

Start our strawberries from a virus free (or de-virus) runner, preferably with flower or buds visible, that has been clipped and rooted from a mature strawberry plant and kept in cold storage. Remove soil from your runner and put the roots in water for at least ten minutes. You must keep the roots moist while planting. Before using strawberry growing media- coir fiber, make sure it is moist.

 

 

 



●   Generally a system that keeps roots submerged is best for strawberries, like Chicfarm gro pot.

●   Temperature is actually more important than light for strawberries. Different strawberry varieties will have their preferred temperature range. Our nutrient solution should be at a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 for maximum strawberry growth.

●   Provide a blowing fan to simulate wind.The breeze caused by the fan will strengthen the stems of the plant, which makes the plant healthier in the long run. This also allows the plant to be sturdier, which decreases the chances of it snapping. A strong, resistant plant will provide better quality than one that has been sitting stagnant in dead air.

●   Media: the highest harvest yields and fruit weight were found to be using sphagnum peat and coconut fiber. Good crop management will include keeping any older, browned or discolored leaves and overripe berries cleaned out regularly. Ensure that the Strawberry crown stays dry.

 STRAWBERRY FAST FACTS

 

• pH range-  5.5-5.8 for best results

• Strawberries like low humidity
• 65-72°F / 18-22°C is best for fruiting
• 14 hours of daylight minimum
• Crop yield: up to 3lbs fruit per plant
 

 



 

                                                     

                                              2014.01.27 Red Strawberries Poping Out

 

 

 

Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net

 

Taiwan detects pesticide residue in imported Japanese products

TAIPEI – Taiwan health authorities said unsafe levels of pesticide residue has been detected in strawberries and green tea products imported from Japan.

                          

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday on its website that residue exceeding legal limits was detected in fresh strawberries imported from Fukuoka Prefecture in December, as well as in green tea leaves, green tea powder, green tea milk powder and red tea powder imported from Tokyo and Kyoto, Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures.

                          

Ministry authorities said all products would either be sent back to Japan or destroyed in Taiwan.

Health authorities in Taiwan have beefed up inspection efforts following a series of food safety scandals involving cooking oil, rice, soy sauce, milk and alcohol. A public poll conducted by a newspaper selected “FAKE” as the Chinese character that best summed up 2013.

Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net
                                           

Legal pot sale!

Yesterday, 2014-1-1 , before the 3D Cannabis Center opened at 8 a.m. MT, more than 100 people were waiting in snowfall and cold under gray skies to be the next buyers of recreational pot under a landmark law voters approved in 2012. The dispensary was one of a handful that opened to lines of waiting people on New Year's Day, with scores more expected statewide in coming months.

                                      
Azzariti was selected to be the first buyer at the 3D Cannabis Center because he was a Marine from 2000 to 2006 who now suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after two tours in Iraq. He can't obtain medical marijuana in Colorado because PTSD isn't a qualifying condition for that treatment.

                           

         Nutrient products are placed on shelves in the weGrow marijuana cultivation supply store in Washington, D.C.

Azzariti, 32, bought an eighth of an ounce of pot, plus chocolate truffles laced with marijuana. Those treats are called "edibles" at the store. The price: $59.50. The marijuana alleviates the anxiety and stress that come from PTSD, adding that he'll smoke the pot Wednesday evening.
                                         

Even three hours after the stores opened, one downtown Denver dispensary had a line of about 100 people outside the front door to the corner. The snow had stopped falling by then, and the gray skies were clearing to blue. While patrons -- young and the old, men and women -- waited patiently in line, the demographic at the downtown dispensary tilted more toward 20- and 30-somethings. When many buyers emerged from the store and nudged through the line, they raised their bags of newly purchased pot above their heads. People waiting on the sidewalk cheered them. Even though recreational weed is now legal, some purchasers declined to disclose their last names. Some motorists passing the pot shop honked and cheered the queue of buyers, who whooped in return.

Your Cheap And Quality Hydroponics System from Chicfarm http://www.chicfarm.net