AGRICULTURE REPORT - Goats Employed in Fight Against Kudzu in US South
VOASE0129_Agriculture Report
29 January 2007A Crop of Publications for FarmersA lot of information is available for free on the Internet.This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.Looking for some reading material about farming?One place to look is the science magazine of the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture. The descriptions of work by thedepartment's Agricultural Research Service can be complex. Butthe monthly magazine, called Agricultural Research, is generallyeasy to understand without having to be a scientist.Subjects in January included how researchers in the state ofMississippi have identified tens of thousands of genes in catfish.The American industry in farm-raised catfish is worth billions ofdollars. That includes processors, feed producers and other relatedindustries. Learning the secrets of the catfish genome could leadto increased quality and production.Paid subscriptions to Agricultural Research are available for printed copies. But an electronic version of the magazine is free of charge on the Internet. The easiest way to find the address is to do a search for the words "Agricultural Research magazine." Many universities in the United States have agricultural extension services that provide information and advice. The Extension Service at Oregon State University, for example, has a new publication for small farms. This is available online for free at .The Fruit Growers News is a monthly publication from the Great American Publishing Company of Sparta, Michigan. Growers get industry news along with advice and information from experts. Some of the articles can be read for free at .The Vegetable Growers News, a related publication at , also offers some of its material free on the Web.And so does a business magazine from Great American Publishing called Spudman, Voice of the Potato Industry. It deals with new products and methods and tells about research. The Web site is .For almost one hundred twenty-five years, Grit was a newspaper produced in Pennsylvania. Now Grit is a colorful magazine out of Kansas. It deals with many subjects, from how to care for baby goats to how to choose the right tractor to drive around the farm. These are just two of the stories in the current Grit. Some articles can be read free of charge at .。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Locusts in North Africa
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Locusts in North Africa By Mario RitterBroadcast: August 3, 2004This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. An invasion of locusts from Northwest Africa continues to affect several countries. The United Nations said the number of insects invading crop areas in Mali, Mauritania and Senegal increased in the past two weeks. Locusts have also entered Niger. And the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warned last week that locusts could reachBurkina Faso as well.But the F.A.O. said there were signs of improvement in other areas. Intensiveoperations to control the locusts began in Northwest Africa in February.The huge movement of locusts started in Algeria and Morocco. Young locusts beganto leave their native territory to search for new places to mate and lay eggs. Thismigration can cover hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. Winds can help the flying insects travel long distances. In July, some desert locusts from North Africa arrived on the Cape Verde Islands. The islands are five hundred kilometers from the coast of Africa.During migrations, locusts eat huge amounts of food. The Food and Agriculture Organization says locusts eat their own weight in food every day. One locust weighs only about two grams. But one ton of locusts can eat about as much food as two thousand five hundred people.Several countries have asked for aid to control the locusts. So far, there have been international promises of nine million dollars in emergency assistance. Officials from nine countries organized a meeting last week in Algiers to discuss ways to deal with the crisis.Algeria and Morocco have used chemical poisons. The two countries have treated more than one million five hundred thousand hectares. But good weather conditions have helped the spread of locusts to the south.Chemicals can be used to kill existing groups of insects. But most of these insecticides are very poisonous and should be kept away from places were farm animals may feed.By the middle of July, there was a decrease reported in the number of hectares treated in Morocco and Libya. The F.A.O. said this suggests that the situation should become calm in the area in the next few weeks.Experts say it is important to treat a locust outbreak quickly. After an outbreak, farmers can turn the soil in their fields in late autumn. This can help to destroy some locust eggs.This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Steve Ember.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version Crop damage in Mauritania.(Photo - FAO)。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - In Haiti, a Struggle to Get Crops in the Ground
AGRICULTURE REPORT - In Haiti, a Struggle to Get Crops in the Ground
Broadcast date: 4-13-2010 / Written by Jerilyn Watson
From /voanews/specialenglish/ This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Spring is the time when farmers in Haiti plant about sixty percent of their crops. But this spring is a struggle with disaster. The January twelfth earthquake flattened much of Haiti's capital and surrounding areas. It left more than two hundred thousand people dead and about a million homeless. International recovery plans include helping Haiti expand food production. But many farmers lost their tools in the quake. Landslides buried equipment. And now seasonal rains do not make the situation any easier. The rains continue through May and June. Many farmers need money for seeds and fertilizer. Sabine Wilke of the aid group CARE says many also lack the money to hire help to prepare the land. SABINE WILKE: "For the planting, they also need local labor. And since they do not have enough money to hire people, the work will simply not be done." The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says it has delivered tools and seeds to thousands of families in the earthquake area. The quake was centered near Port-au-Prince. An estimated six hundred thousand people left for the countryside. Experts say it will be difficult to feed them. Food prices are high, and many people fled the capital with only the clothes they were wearing. Gerald Murray at the University of Florida is an expert on Haiti. Professor Murray says many rural families have taken in relatives and friends who lost homes and jobs. "There may be enough to eat for a while," he says, "but before too long there may be hunger." Farming is about sixty percent of Haiti's economy. But most food comes from imports. Before the earthquake, the Haitian government and private groups were working to improve agriculture. Deforestation has traditionally been a major problem for farmers. Few trees remain to protect soil from floods, droughts and severe storms. In the sixteen hundreds Haiti's French colonizers cleared forests to plant sugar cane. In the nineteen fifties, forests were cut down for wood and other products.
VOA Special English Agriculture Report
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.Scientists have worked for twelve years to develop what they call Green Super Rice. They say several varieties should be available to farmers about two years from now in parts of Asia and Africa.The "green" in Green Super Rice means environmentally friendly. Researchers say it will produce at least as much grain as other rice plants but with fewer input s. "Super" means the rice is designed to better resist droughts, floods, salty water, insects and disease.The developers of Green Super Rice did not use geneticengineering. Instead, they mate d hundreds ofvarieties of rice. That way they avoided the costs aswell as the problems connected with gettingpermission to plant genetically engineered crops.The project involves the world's largest rice collection, the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. It also involves the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. And it includes farmers in eight countries in Asia and eight in Africa.Modern rice plants produce two to three times more grain than was possible before the nineteen sixties. But they also require large amounts of water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.In the sixties, the International Rice Research Institute developed "miracle rice" for Asia. Scientists created high-yielding crops that produced bigger harvests in what became known as the Green Revolution. It prevented widespread hunger.But critics say modern rice plants require too much water and too much use of chemicals that can hurt the environment. And farmers may be too poor to buy chemical fertilizers and pesticides.Anna McClung heads a rice-breeding center for the United States Agriculture Department. She says combining many different genes into one plant without genetic engineering requires a lot of plant breeding. Ms. McClung praises the researchers working on Green Super Rice.ANNA McCLUNG: "The magnitude of what they are doing is really quite unique and tremendous."Another rice researcher, Jan Leach at Colorado State University, says scientists can find valuable qualities hidden in the rice genome. A genome contain s all of the genetic information about an organism.JAN LEACH: "Many of the traits are present, but they are not turned on until you get them into the right genetic background, or sometimes in the right environment."Researchers on the Green Super Rice project continue to combine desirable traits into new varieties to help farmers produce more with less.And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. You can also watch captioned videos on YouTube at VOA Learning English. I'm Karen Leggett.。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Genetically Engineered Crops Increasing
AGRICULTURE REPORT – January 29, 2002: Genetically Engineered Crops IncreasingBy George GrowThis is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT. Increasing numbers of farmers are growing genetically engineered crops. A new report also says that the total land area where such crops are grown is increasing. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications reported the findings. The group supports the use of agricultural technology in developing countries. Genetic engineering is the technology of changing the genes of living things. Genes are parts of cells that control growth and development. A changed gene directs a plant or other organism to do things it normally does not do. For example, a plant may be genetically engineered to resist insects.There is plenty of conflicting information about genetically engineered crops. TheInternational Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications supports growingsuch crops in developing countries. So do the United Nations Development Program andother groups.However, critics of genetic engineering say the technology is a threat to human health andthe environment.The new report estimates that farmers grew genetically engineered crops on more thanfifty-two-million hectares of farmland last year. That represents an increase in land area ofnineteen percent compared to the year before. The report estimates that more than five-million farmers grew genetically engineered crops in thirteen countries last year. Four countries grew ninety -nine percent of all genetically engineered crops last year. The United States grew sixty-eight percent of the world total. Argentina grew twenty -two percent. Canada was next with six percent. China had three percent.The report says soybeans were the most common genetically engineered crop. They were grown on thirty-three-million hectares of farmland. Other common genetically engineered crops were corn, cotton and canola.In a separate development, scientists report that genetic material from genetically engineered plants can spread across great distances to native plants. The scientists say the genes were found in wild corn growing in the mountains of southern Mexico. The finding is most unusual because the Mexican government has banned the planting of genetically engineered corn since Nineteen-Ninety-Eight.This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version Soybeans。
2020高中英语 AGRICULTURE REPORT素材 4
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AGRICULTURE REPORT - World Food Prize WinnersScientists from China and Sierra Leone are the winners of this year's World Food Prize. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. led by Secretary of State Colin Powell last Monday. Chinese Professor Yuan Longping and Monty Jones will share the two-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar prize. Both men are being honored for work they did to improve rice production in developing countries. Two-thousand-four is the International Year of Rice.Professor Yuan is head of the National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center in Hunan, China. He received his share of the prize for work he did in the nineteen-seventies.Mister Yuan developed ways to genetically combine different kinds of rice to increase production. He discovered that combining two kinds of rice results in a better, more productive new rice. He established the hybrid rice seed industry in China. He also shared research and helped train scientists from more than twenty-five countries. For his efforts, Mister Yuan is called the "Father of Hybrid Rice."Monty Jones is being honored for his part in developing the "New Rice for Africa" or NERICA. He developed NERICA while he was head of the Upland Rice Breeding Program. At the time, the program was part of the West Africa Rice Development Agency in Ivory Coast.NERICA is a combination of Asian and traditional African kinds of rice. It resists insects and dry conditions and can produce up to fifty percent more rice. It also grows faster and contains more protein than rice native to West Africa. Mister Jones is now a top official of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa in Accra, Ghana.The two scientists will officially receive their prize on October fourteenth in Des Moines, Iowa.Norman BorlaugNorman Borlaug first developed the idea of a world food prize. He wanted to honor people who increased food production to help feed the growing world population.Mister Borlaug knows something about major prizes. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in nineteen-seventy. He received the award for his work to develop more productive agriculture. Iowa businessman John Ruan provides the money for the World Food Prize. He began his support in nineteen-ninety.1如有帮助欢迎下载支持。
农业英语作文题
农业英语作文题Here is an English essay on the topic of agriculture, with the text content exceeding 1000 words as requested:Agriculture plays a crucial role in the global economy and the well-being of human societies. It encompasses the cultivation of crops, the rearing of livestock, and the management of natural resources to provide food, fiber, and other essential products. As the world's population continues to grow, the importance of a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector has become increasingly paramount.One of the primary functions of agriculture is to ensure food security. By producing a diverse range of crops and livestock, farmers can meet the nutritional needs of communities, both locally and globally. This not only helps to alleviate hunger and malnutrition but also contributes to the overall health and well-being of the population. Agricultural practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and the integration of livestock can also help to improve soil fertility and promote biodiversity, ensuring the long-term viability of food production.In addition to providing food, agriculture is also a significantcontributor to the global economy. The production, processing, and distribution of agricultural goods generate employment opportunities and income for millions of people worldwide. This economic impact extends beyond the farming sector, as the demand for agricultural inputs, machinery, and transportation services also creates jobs in related industries. Furthermore, the export of agricultural commodities can be a valuable source of foreign exchange for many developing countries, helping to drive economic growth and development.One of the key challenges facing the agricultural sector is the need to balance increased food production with environmental sustainability. The intensification of agricultural practices, such as the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can have a detrimental impact on the natural environment, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, and a loss of biodiversity. To address these concerns, many farmers and agricultural organizations are exploring more sustainable farming practices, such as organic agriculture, integrated pest management, and precision farming techniques.Another significant challenge is the impact of climate change on agricultural systems. Changing weather patterns, including more frequent and severe droughts, floods, and temperature fluctuations, can disrupt crop yields and livestock production. This can have serious consequences for food security, particularly in regions thatare already vulnerable to food insecurity. Addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture will require a multi-faceted approach, including the development of drought-resistant crop varieties, the implementation of water-efficient irrigation systems, and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.Despite these challenges, the agricultural sector has also been at the forefront of technological innovation. Advancements in areas such as precision farming, biotechnology, and data analytics have the potential to enhance crop yields, improve resource efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of agricultural practices. For example, the use of GPS-guided tractors and drones can help farmers to optimize the application of fertilizers and pesticides, while the development of genetically modified crops can increase resistance to pests and diseases.The role of education and research in the agricultural sector cannot be overstated. Universities, research institutes, and extension services play a crucial role in developing new technologies, disseminating best practices, and training the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals. By investing in agricultural research and education, governments and policymakers can help to ensure that the agricultural sector remains responsive to the changing needs of society and the environment.In conclusion, the agricultural sector is a vital component of the global economy and a crucial contributor to human well-being. While the sector faces significant challenges, such as the need to balance increased food production with environmental sustainability and the impacts of climate change, it also holds tremendous potential for innovation and transformation. By embracing sustainable practices, leveraging technological advancements, and investing in education and research, the agricultural sector can continue to play a central role in feeding the world and promoting economic growth and development.。
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.
Scientists will be able to make better rice faster. They can now identify the genes that control what is good about African rice and combine those genes with Asian rice. The wild tomato also has some good qualities. Scientists found that it can grow insalty as well as very dry conditions, like the African rice. Bjorn Usadel of Germany’s RWTH Aachen University is one of the scientists who published the genetic maps of the two plants. The map identifies the genes that may be responsible for these qualities.“The tomatoes are green and potentially there’s something inside that’s just not healthy; but there’s also other interesting things inside.”The new map could also help improve the quality of tomatoes sold in food stores. Many people say these tomatoes do not taste very good. Mr. Usadel says researchers found differences in the genes of wild and farm-grown tomatoes that affect how they taste and smell.“So, even though the se wild tomatoes definitely don’t taste better, this population gives us actually an indication where the taste is coming from.”The scientist says there is another use for the map. He says it will permit scientiststo make sure that any new kinds of tomatoes developed from wild tomato do not carry any of its poisonous genes.And that's the VOA Learning English Agriculture Report. For more agriculture stories, go to our website, . I’m Caty Weaver.更多英语学习方法：企业英语培训/。
18.2.050410_2.Agriculture Report
1Oil Spill Puts Fisheries, Birds at Risk Along US Gulf CoastTuesday, May 04, 2010This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.American officials have suspended all fishing in parts of the Gulf of Mexico for at least ten days because of the huge oil spill. Therestrictions will give scientists time to study the effects on seafood in the gulf.Sunday's order extended from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana east to waters of Pensacola Bay in Florida. The affected waters include areas off the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama.Photo: APWorkers lay floating booms in an effort to contain the oil spill in the Gulf of MexicoOn April twentieth an oil drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon, exploded and sank about eighty kilometers from the Louisiana coast. BP is trying different ways to stop the leak from a damaged undersea well and control the spilled oil.The chief of British Petroleum blames failures by the rig's operator, Transocean of Switzerland. But BP says it will pay cleanup costs and all "legitimate claims" for losses and damages from the spill. BP is also hiring local fishing boats to help with the cleanup.Eighty percent of the seafood eaten by Americans is imported. But the fishing industry in Louisiana is responsible for about a third of all seafood caught in the United States.The fishing ban announced Sunday did not affect state waters west of the Mississippi River. Those waters represent seventy-seven percent of Louisiana's total seafood production. Ewell Smith from the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board says seafood from the unaffected area is safe to eat.Seafood is worth nearly two and a half billion dollars to the state. The spill comes shortly before the start of the fishing season for crab, shrimp and oysters. Louisiana is the nation's leading producer of shrimp, oysters, crabs, crawfish and alligators.Louisiana is also one of the world's largest producers of what some call "the most important fish you've never heard of": menhaden. Menhaden and its oil are used in animal feed and other products. Another important industry along the gulf is tourism. Coastal communities have been waiting and watching for days for oil to arrive on their shores.Bad weather has interfered with efforts to send out boats to clean up the oil and watch for the effects on wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. Bird populations are among those at risk of being poisoned by the oil. Bird rescue groups have set up stations. But they say finding injured birds in the huge spill and sending out boats to rescue them will be a difficult job.VOA Special English2And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson with Brian Wagner reporting from Louisiana. I'm Bob Doughty. 3。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Grafting
AGRICULTURE REPORT — GraftingBy Mario RitterBroadcast: August 12, 2003This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.We often think of agriculture as planting seeds and harvesting crops. But manycrops do not come from seeds. Many kinds of trees and plants are grown frompieces cut from existing trees and plants. This is called grafting.Farmers cut branches or young growths called buds from one plant and place themon a related kind of plant. The branch or bud that is grafted is called a scion [SY-uhn]. The plant that accepts the graft is called root stock.Over time, the parts from the two plants grow together. The grafted plant begins toproduce the leaves and fruit of the scion, not the root stock. A graft can be cut in several ways. For example, a cleft graft requires a scion with several buds on it. The bottom of the scion is cut in the shape of the letter V. A place is cut in the root stock to accept the scion. The scion is then securely placed into the cut on the root stock. A growth medium is put on the joint to keep it wet and help the growth.Grafting can join scions with desirable qualities to root stock that is strong and resists disease and insects.Smaller trees can be grafted with older scions. The American Environmental Protection Agency says grafting can reduce the need for poisons on crops. The E-P-A found that grafting stronger plants cost less than usingchemicals. Also, many poisons are dangerous to the environment and people.Agriculture could not exist as we know it without grafting. Many fruits and nuts have been improved this way. Some common fruit trees such as sweet cherries and McIntosh apples have to be grafted.Bing cherries, for example, are one of the most popular kinds of cherries. But a Bing cherry tree is not grownfrom seed. Branches that produce Bing cherries must be grafted onto root stock. All sweet cherries on the market are grown this way.And then there are seedless fruits like navel oranges and seedless watermelons. Have you ever wondered how farmers grow them? The answer is, through grafting.The grapefruit tree is another plant that depends on grafting to reproduce. Grapes, apples, pears and also flowers can be improved through grafting. In an age of high-technology agriculture, grafting is a low-technology method that remains extremely important.This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version (Photo - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)。
23.2.060810_2.Agriculture Report
1Farmers in East Africa Struggle Against Cassava DiseaseTuesday, June 08, 2010This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.About eight hundred million people in Africa, Asia and SouthAmerica eat cassava. The plant is a major source of food energy and a major food security crop. It can survive in poor soil and without much water . Also, the root can stay in the ground for as long as three years, so it can be harvested as needed.But in East Africa the plant is under attack. Cassava brown streak disease is a more destructive form of cassava mosaic. The mosaic has been active in East Africa for about one hundred years. It limits plant growth. But brown streak can destroy a crop. The virus wasidentified in Uganda in two thousand four and has spread fast inPhoto: APA woman collects cassava leaves in eastern Kenyaareas extending from Lake Victoria.So far, brown streak has not jumped to Nigeria, the world's largest producer of cassava. But it threatens more than thirty million tons a year of production in East Africa. In some areas of Uganda, rates of brown streak reached more than eighty-five percent in two thousand five and two thousand eight.Claude Fauquet is a scientist at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Saint Louis, Missouri. He says a few varieties of cassava can resist brown streak, but these are not the kinds Africans like. He is working to develop disease-resistant plants, but he says it will probably take five years.Loss of cassava crops could lead to hunger. And hunger can lead to migration and conflict. About fifty million dollars is coming from the Gates Foundation, the Monsanto Fund and the United States Agency for International Development. But Claude Fauquet says much more is needed to fight the disease.Brown streak can be hard to identify in the field. Irregular yellow spots may appear on lower leaves. But farmers sometimes do not find the disease until they cut open a cassava. If there is only a small amount of rot, the dead material can be cut away. But if the disease has progressed, the whole root is ruined.Scientists partly blame whiteflies for spreading the disease from plant to plant. Brown streak also spreads if farmers sell or give away cuttings of infected plants.Cassava has many food uses but the plant is not safe to eat unless it is specially prepared. It must be processed through methods like boiling, grinding or fermenting. A substance that can produce deadly levels of cyanide when eaten must be removed.And that’s the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I’m Karen Legget.VOA Special English2。
Agriculture Report
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.Some people like to start their dinner with a salad of lettuce or other leafy greens. Ancient Egyptians and Romans also liked to have lettuce with their evening meal. But they served it at the end.There are hundreds of kinds of head and leaf lettuces. The most popular ones include head lettuces such as iceberg, Boston, bibb and romaine.Experts say lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in your garden. The best time to plant the seeds is during cool weather. Advisers at the University of Illinois Extension say the best planting temperature is fifteen degrees Celsius.Lettuce seeds are small, so do not place them too deep in the ground. If you plant some seeds every week or two, you will have harvests ready to eat one after another.You can use a seed tray to start the seeds indoors. The container should be deep enough to hold at least three centimeters of soil.There should be about one centimeter of space between the soil and the top of the container. The container should have holes in the bottom so extra water can flow out.Drop the seeds over the surface and cover them lightly with soil. If the soil is not already a little wet, give it some water. But not too much -- you do not want to drown the seeds.Next, cover the seed tray with paper. Remove the paper when the seedlings have grown up far enough to touch it. You can transplant the seedlings into the garden when they are about two to three centimeters tall. Do this when the weather is not too hot and not too cold.Take out as much of the soil as you can with the seedlings. Plant them in the ground in a hole that is bigger than the lettuce roots. Keep the plants watered, but not too heavily.Harvest leaf lettuces when the leaves are big enough to eat. Pull the leaves from the outside of the planting so the inside leaves will keep growing.Or, you can cut off the whole plant. Leave about two or three centimeters above the ground so the plant will re-grow. Cut off head lettuces at groundlevel.Lettuce is best when served fresh. Store the remainder in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. It will last a few days and sometimes longer.And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. Transcripts and podcasts of our reports are at . And captioned videos are on YouTube at VOA Learning English. I'm Faith Lapidus.。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Treating Stress in Animals
AGRICULTURE REPORT – January 22, 2002: Treating Stress in AnimalsBy George GrowThis is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT. People often experience stress as a result of events in their lives. Stress is a physical condition that results from real or expected problems. People may experience stress when they lose a job or feel threatened. Common signs include increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and muscle tension.American agriculture experts say farm animals also may experience stress. Animals may experience stress after giving birth or for other reasons. They say stress may affect meat quality, milk production and the health of farm animals.Experts say stress in animals is more difficult to identify. Farmers can look for signssuch as lower than expected body weight and increased risk of disease.Ted Elsasser is a scientist at the United States Agricultural Research Service. He isstudying a possible sign of stress in animals. He says changed proteins callednitrated proteins may serve as an early warning system for the problem.Currently, farmers use antibiotics to treat stress in animals. However, repeated useof use antibiotics can lead to bacteria that resist the drugs. Mister Elsasser is studying another method. He found that Vitamin E may protect farm animals against theharmful effects of stress. In an experiment, he gave Vitamin E to six young cows. Then he injected the animals with a harmful substance taken from the cell walls of bacteria. This toxin causes the defense system of theanimals to react as if an infection were present. The scientist injected six other calves with only the toxin. Four other cows did not receive the toxin or the Vitamin E.Then Mister Elsasser studied the animals. All of the animals that received the toxin had lower levels of a natural growth substance in their liver and blood, compared with the untreated calves. However, the calves that were given Vitamin E and the toxin had higher levels of the growth factor than those that received only the toxin. The calves given vitamin E also recovered more quickly from the effects of the harmful substance.Mister Elsasser says using Vitamin E helps support growth rates and may prevent some infections. He says being able to prevent infections linked to stress could lead to lower medical costs and healthier farm animals.This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - All About the Birds and the Bees -- No, Just the Bees
AGRICULTURE REPORT - All About the Birds and the Bees -- No, Just the BeesBy Mario RitterBroadcast: Tuesday, December 20, 2005I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.Most people have heard the sound of bees among flowers. Bees live almost everywhere in the world -- except the arctic areas. Many kinds of agriculture depend on these small, social insects. Without bees, fruit and nut growers as well as many other farmers would not have a crop.There are more than twenty thousand kinds of bees. But onlyhoney bees make enough honey for people to use. Honey beesare highly organized social insects. They work together in a groupcalled a colony. Each colony lives in a hive. It contains one queenbee -- she lays all the eggs from which the members of the colonycome. Each colony has only a few hundred males, calleddrones. The majority of all bees in a colony are workers, which are all females.Bees even have a special stomach, called a honey stomach. It is used to store sweet fluid that the bees gather from flowers. Bees also have long hairs on their body and legs. These hairs capture pollen as bees go from flower to flower. Some of the pollen is taken back to the hive. Some, however, is passed to the next flower. This is how many plants are fertilized. Pollen is the reproductive material of plants. Many important agricultural crops depend on bees for fertilization.Inside their hives, bees store sweet fluid from flowers, called nectar, and also pollen. They may even gather nectar from some other kinds of insects. These kinds of nectar are also stored in the hive. Bees have organs that produce a fatty substance called wax. They use wax to build structures in the hive that hold eggs and store honey.Bees make honey through a process. They add liquid from their own mouths to the nectar they have stored in the hive. The liquid breaks down the nectar into simple sugars. As the honey is stored, it dries. It becomes thicker and darker.Honey can be very thin and light in color or dark and thick. How the honey looks depends on the kinds of flowers used by the bees. Most honey is the easily recognized goldencolor. Although bees are often thought of as honey-makers, they provide a surprisingnumber of products. Also, their greatest economic value is in fertilizing crops -- not in making honey.Next week, we will tell about important products provided by bees. We will also tell about problems in beekeeping.This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. Our reports are online at . I'm Steve Ember.。
农业英文作文模板高中
农业英文作文模板高中1. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, providing food and raw materials for industries. Without agriculture, we wouldn't be able to survive.2. Farmers work hard day in and day out to ensure that we have enough food to eat. They face many challenges, from unpredictable weather to pests and diseases that can destroy their crops.3. Sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly important as we strive to protect the environment and ensure that future generations will have enough resources to meet their needs.4. Technology plays a key role in modern agriculture, with farmers using drones, GPS systems, and other tools to increase efficiency and productivity on their farms.5. Organic farming is gaining popularity as consumersbecome more aware of the benefits of eating food that is free from harmful chemicals and pesticides.6. Agriculture is not just about growing crops; it also includes raising livestock and poultry. Animal husbandry is an important aspect of agriculture that provides us with meat, dairy products, and other essential items.7. Farmers markets are a great way for consumers to support local farmers and buy fresh, seasonal produce. It's important to support small-scale farmers and promote sustainable agriculture practices.8. In conclusion, agriculture is a vital industry that we all depend on for our survival. It's important to appreciate the hard work and dedication of farmers and support sustainable agriculture practices for the future.。
AGRICULTURE REPORT - US Farmers Face Big Winter Losses, With Two Months Still Left to Go
AGRICULTURE REPORT - US Farmers Face Big Winter Losses, With Two Months Still Left to GoBy Jerilyn Watson / Broadcast date: Tuesday, January 23, 2007This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.A lot of American farmers have had a rough early winter.In California, citrus growers are facing hundreds of millions of dollarsin losses from a freeze earlier this month. Oranges and lemons inCalifornia's main growing areas were not the only victims. The arcticcold front known as the Siberian Express also damaged other fruitand vegetable crops.Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated losses at one billiondollars. He declared an emergency in ten counties to provide stateassistance to those affected.The freeze could mean months without work for thousands of farm laborers, packing house workers and truck drivers. It will also mean higher food prices across the country.Much of the damage happened in the San Joaquin Valley, but it was spread around the state. Citrus growers in California store their fruit on the tree. Less than a third of this year's crop had been harvested when the freeze hit.Avocados, strawberries and blueberries were also hit hard. The strawberries were nearly ready for harvest, and only about five percent of the avocados had been picked. Some avocado growers said this was their worst winter in sixteen years. Spinach, lettuce and other greens were also affected.California is the nation's top agricultural state, and top grower of fresh citrus. Florida's big orange crop is used mostly for juice.Right now, other states are struggling with the effects of snow and ice storms in recent weeks. In some places, there was six meters of snow on the ground.Animal losses are still being counted in the Great Plains.The affected states include Colorado, Kansas, Missouri,In California, frozen orangesNebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Some states have beenapproved for emergency federal aid. Some ranchers still do not know where all their cattle have gone, or how many are dead. The Colorado Cattlemen's Association estimates that the final count in that state alone could be eight thousand to fifteen thousand. That would mean a loss of more than ten million dollars just in cattle.In some states, National Guard helicopters not only rescued people but also dropped hay to cattle trapped without food in the snow. Shortages of hay have pushed up prices, adding to economic losses.And even cattle that have been saved may not be out of danger. Many cows were pregnant, and many could lose their calves. Other cattle weakened by the conditions may not survive the winter.And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Faith Lapidus. In Colorado, farms and ranchesunder snow。
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Kudzu kills other plants as it spreads quickly
In the nineteen thirties, during the Great Depression, the government put people to work planting kudzu for soil protection. Between nineteen thirty-five and the nineteen fifties, the government even paid farmers to plant it. The kudzu also provided cattle feed. But kudzu kills other growth as it spreads. Finally, in the fifties, the Agriculture Department no longer suggested it as a cover crop. Then, in nineteen seventy, officials declared it a weed. Today it is known as "the plant that ate the South." Kudzu now covers an estimated three million hectares of land. Over time, much of whatever was nearby died. People are always looking for better ways to stop the invasive plant. Since last year, the public works department in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been using goats. This song by Randy Mitchell tells the story of the kudzu-eating goats: (MUSIC) It was the end of August in Tennessee's Chattanooga town
The weather had been hot and humid, summer was a hangin' 'round The vines had been growing long and steady all season long I knew it was time for me to write another kudzu song That stuff is growing everywhere even choking out a railroad bridge But now there's kudzu eating goats out on Missionary Ridge The tunnels got to where it was a danger to try to drive through They tried poison and herbicides and chopped it up where it grew But nothing seems to work very long and the city was at wits end They discovered that goats like kudzu and would eat all up and then The 3.4 acres would be clear and free of kudzu up to the tunnel's ledge Cause now there's kudzu eating goats out on Missionary Ridge Yet even kudzu has fans. Artisans form the twisting vines into baskets. Others use kudzu in food, clothing and herbal medicines. And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve Ember.
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Goats Employed in Fight Against Kudzu in US South
By Jerilyn Watson / Broadcast date: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 Source: /voanews/specialenglish/ This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Once upon a time, people in the southern United States enjoyed kudzu for its beauty. Kudzu is a climbing woody vine native to Asia. It produces big green leaves and sweetsmelling purple flowers. The Japanese brought it to the United States in eighteen seventy-six. It grew well in the warm, wet climate of the southeastern states. People planted kudzu around their homes to hide thi