This paper develops and estimates mixture models of crop price comovements using copula functions, which allow for departures from normality during extreme market circumstances. The models also account for unique time series patterns inherent in crop price data. The paper reaches two main conclusions. First, mixture models appear to provide an easy-to-estimate approach for capturing real-life c...

Genetically modified (GM) crops were first commercialized in Canada in 1995 and the 2014 crop represents the 20th year of successful production. Prior to the first commercialization of GM crops, Canada reviewed its existing science-based regulatory framework and adapted the existing framework to allow for risk assessments on the new technology to be undertaken in a timely and efficient manner. ...

The overall twinning rate was shown to increase from .6% in the first parity to 4.0% in the sixth parity, and a positive phenotypic trend for twinning rate was observed during the time period considered (1978 to 1995). The distribution of bulls according to the average percentage of multiple births of daughters in first and second parity showed that some bulls had an extremely low twinning freq...

Plant scientists have long recognized the need to develop crops that absorb and use nutrients more efficiently. Two approaches have been used to increase nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in crop plants. The first involves both traditional breeding and marker-assisted selection in an attempt to identify the genes involved. The second uses novel gene constructs designed to improve specific aspects o...

In this section I characterize the optimal choices of farmers. I discuss the optimal choices of farmers for a plot ω, conditional on allocating a positive fraction of plot ω to the production of crop k, (φi,k (ω) > 0), an event I denote ω ∈ Ωi,k. Then I move on to prove the three main Propositions in the paper. Using Assumptions #1 and #2, I first show how to calculate the fraction of land allo...

The disposal of organic wastes specially from urban origin is a very serious problem. The recycling through agriculture is certainly one of the best solutions but it means a thorough control of the composition and doses applied, as well as the response of the crops, in production and quality. In this paper we deal with compost of solid urban residues, sewage sludge, and cow manure as a known re...

The biochemical agent involved in adhesion to epithelial cells of chicken crop, by a specie-specific Lactobacillus salivarius strain, was isolated and characterized. Cells of L. salivarius A23 strain were able to autoaggregate in spent broth or in sterile bidistilled water and to adhere to chicken crop epithelium, as observed by optical and scanning electron microscope. The time required for ce...

To engineer plants with increased and durable disease resistance using transgenic technologies we must address two questions. First, what gene or genes do we want to express to improve disease resistance, and second, how are we going to express these genes so that crop yields are actually increased? Emerging technologies are providing us with a plethora of candidate genes that might lead to enh...