National survey data collected for 1997 in USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Study was used to derive implications and pose hypotheses about the impact on pesticide use, production practices, and producer costs of using genetically modified (GM) seed in soybean and cotton production. Results of the analysis suggest concurrence with scientific and industry claims about the environmental qu...

In many countries, farmer saved seed (FSS) competes directly with a highly regulated commercial industry that sells certified seed. Opponents to the use FSS argue it reduces royalty income for plant breeders and is inferior in quality, which farm profitability. We because farmers have knowledge about field history quality of seed, they can make profit enhancing decisions use, or not FSS. also s...

Seed analyzer is a mechatronic system for differentiating different types of seeds. It has enormous applications in agriculture industry. Although several seed analyzers are available in the market, still there is large scope for improvement because of their various disadvantages. Most of the analyzers are built using very simple image processing techniques and electronic principles. In this re...

Invasive insects present an ongoing challenge to the safety of U.S. agriculture. A current threat to the U.S. cotton industry is Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa), commonly known as the cotton seed bug. Populations are found throughout most of the world except for North America, and the southeastern U.S. is believed to provide a favorable environment for its establishment. A major component in e...

Alkaline protease producing microorganism Vibrio metschnikovii NG155, isolated from the soil samples of leather industry, having potential application in dehairing of animal skin was used in this study. To enhance the production of protease by this strain, various physical and nutritional factors were optimized using statistical methods like Plackett Burman and Response Surface Methodology. In ...

Adsorption of crystal violet (CV) in aqueous solution on commercial activated carbon (CAC) and activated carbon obtained from Syzygium cumini seed (SCSC) have been studied comparatively. The effect of various experimental parameters has been investigated using a batch adsorption technique to obtain information on treating effluents from the dye industry. The extent of dye removal increased with...

The alfalfa leafcutting bee (ALCB), Megachile rotundata F. (Megachildae), was accidentally introduced into the United States by the 1940s. Nest management of this Eurasian nonsocial pollinator transformed the alfalfa seed industry in North America, tripling seed production. The most common ALCB management practice is the loose cell system, in which cocooned bees are removed from nesting cavitie...

International seed trading provides a significant introductory pathway for weed seeds, and many globally established weeds originated as contaminants in agricultural lots. Management of these trade systems helps minimize losses is an important means preventing future biological incursions. Forage crop lots could be considered higher risk than arable vegetable crops, they have been found to perc...