Increasing the Timeliness of U.S. Annual I-O Accounts

The timeliness of the U.S. input-output (I-O) accounts is a major concern for policymakers and industry analysts, as well as academics. In response, the Bureau of Economic Analysis initiated research in 2001 to identify, develop and implement an estimating method for producing more timely and reliable annual I-O accounts than are currently available. The research included reviewing the frameworks and methods currently used by other statistical agencies and academic researchers, obtaining more timely industry source data, and developing enhanced methods and processes for the automated updating and balancing of annual I-O tables. The results of this research indicate that our new automated updating and balancing method can reduce time lag for producing the annual I-O accounts from three years to one year without reducing quality. Our method is based on an adjusted RAS process that simultaneously balances the I-O table in producers’ and purchasers’ prices; uses more exogenous data; and processes tables at the most detailed level.

Organic Spring Wheat Planting Date Trial

The local food movement has revived otherwise historical crops in Vermont including small-scale grains. As the demand for local organic wheat has risen over the last few years, University of Vermont Extension has been developing best agronomic practices for wheat production. In an organic system, weed management can be one of the biggest challenges. One strategy to manage weeds is to modify planting dates. Early planting dates can establish a crop prior to weed flushes, while a late-planted crop can avoid some weed species. Planting date can also have an overall impact on both grain yield and quality. Certain wheat varieties may respond better to earlier or later planting dates. At this time, there is minimal data to document optimum spring wheat planting dates for the Northeast. The objective of this project was to determine the effect of planting date on the yield and quality of multiple spring wheat varieties

Yield, pest density, and tomato flavor effects of companion planting in garden-scale studies incorporating tomato, basil, and Brussels sprout

Companion planting is a small-scale intercropping practice often associated with organic or biodynamic gardening. Two garden-scale studies tested popular companion planting claims by comparing garden beds devoted entirely to one of three or more test crops (monocultures) to all possible two-crop mixtures (dicultures) of the same species. A third study evaluated effects of planting density and crop ratio in three dicultures using a novel experimental design to create gradients in both factors. All studies incorporated basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), Brussels sprout (Brassica oleracea L.), and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.). A preliminary study also included snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) before Brussels sprout, and dicultures of tomato and Brussels sprout with a white clover (Trifolium repens L.) living mulch. Double blind taste tests over three years showed no consistent preference for tomatoes grown with companions over those grown in monoculture. An apparent inhibitory effect of companion planting on some pests of Brussels sprout (e.g. imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae L.; striped flea beetle, Phylollotreta striolata Fab.) in the first study was reversed in the second study when earlier planting of Brussels sprout allowed it to compete more effectively with its companions. Relative yield indices calculated for a range of densities (1.1 - 47.2 plants/square meter) and crop ratios indicated advantages (mean = 20%) to planting either tomato or Brussels sprout with basil companions, but no advantage to planting tomato and Brussels sprout together. The highest yields in tomato, basil, and Brussels sprout monocultures occurred at inter-plant spacings of 25, 25 and 40 cm respectively, suggesting advantages to high-density planting. Yield advantages to diculture were most pronounced at the highest densities tested, and in dicultures incorporating the highest proportions of basil. Canopy light absorption and soil moisture content were inversely correlated, and the use of light and water resources was correlated with plant density and biomass production. I conclude that garden-scale intercropping can offer advantages over monoculture, but these are not achieved simply by combining certain compatible companion species. Crop densty, ratio, and relative planting times all affect the way that companion species interact with one another and their environment

Effects of Stock Type and Planter Experience on the Time Required to Plant Loblolly Pine Seddlings

Inexperienced workers planted container-grown and bare-root seedlings of loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) on a rocky, upland site near Batesville, AR in a comparison of planting speed and survivability. Planting speed depended on the type of seedling planted and the amount of planting experience. Significantly less time was required to plant an acre with container-grown than bare-root seedlings. Experience increased the consistency and speed of planting for both seedling types

Flax Planting Date Trial

Early seeding of flax generally produces the best yields and quality. Moderate temperatures and sufficient soil moisture during flowering and seed development are important for high yield and quality, and these conditions are more likely to occur with early seeding. There is little risk of frost damage with flax. Newly emerged flax can withstand temperatures down to 27O F, while plants past the two leaf stage can withstand temperatures as low as 18O F. Flax has small leaves and is relatively short, which naturally makes it less competitive against weeds. Early planted flax will establish before the majority of summer weed species. This could potentially help reduce weed competition. This trial was initiated to determine optimum flax planting dates to maximize yields in the Northeast

Adapting lowland rice cultivation to climate change - thermal stress tolerance breeding in the Sahel region of West Africa

The Sahel region of West Africa is characterized by extreme diurnal and seasonal temperature variation subjecting the rice crop to thermal stress at different growth stages. The Africa Rice Center in collaboration with partners is aims to identify rice genotypes and associated traits for use in breeding varieties adapted to the Sahel climate. In one set of field trials established at Ndiaye, Senegal, 244 diverse rice genotypes, including four checks, were sown in February, March, April and July subjecting the rice plants to cold and heat stress at different growth stages. Daily minimum temperatures fell below 20 °C in the months of February and March whilst maximum temperatures regularly rose above 40 °C in April, May and June. The rice crop is thus subjected to cold stress in February and March and to heat stress in April to June. Across the planting dates, total biomass production was highest on average for the February planting date (293.8g/plant) followed by the April planting date (281.0g/plant) and lowest for the July planting date (215.4g/plant). However, spikelet sterility was highest for the April planting date on average relative to other planting dates and lowest for the July planting date. On average plantings in July were earliest (100 days from sowing to maturity) relative to other planting dates whilst plantings in February which corresponded to the sowing date for the dry season crop had the longest crop durations (137 days from sowing to maturity). With regards to crop duration across the planting dates, Chromrong a cold tolerant check from Nepal had the shortest duration across all dates whilst N22 the international heat tolerant check had the longest duration. IR64 an international irrigated lowland check variety and Sahel 108 a local check variety had crop durations generally intermediate between these two checks. Large genotypic variations detected in these traits will be exploited in selecting parents to develop new varieties better adapted to the seasonal Sahelian climate. (Texte intégral

Winter Canola Planting Date Trial

Because winter canola is a relatively new crop for the Northeastern United States, optimal planting dates for winter canola have not yet been established for this region. Therefore, the goal of this project was to determine the impact of planting date and variety selection on winter canola plant characteristics, as well as seed and oil yields. Winter canola is planted in late summer/early fall and harvested the following summer. Getting canola planted as early as possible is often recommended for Midwest producers, but growers in the Northeast struggle with timing canola seeding after harvesting another crop, as well as wet fall conditions for planting. While the data presented are only representative of one year, this information can be combined with other research to aid in making planting date decisions for canola in the Northeast

Flax Planting Date Trial

Early seeding of flax generally produces the best yields and quality. Moderate temperatures and sufficient soil moisture during flowering and seed development are important for high yield and quality, and these conditions are more likely to occur with early seeding. There is little risk of frost damage with flax. Newly emerged flax can withstand temperatures down to 27O F, while plants past the two leaf stage can withstand temperatures as low as 18O F. Early planted flax will also establish before the majority of summer weed species. This could potentially help reduce weed competition. This trial was initiated to determine optimum flax planting dates to maximize yields

Soybean Planting Date, 2007

The planting date for soybeans should be based on seedbed conditions and calendar date rather than soil temperature. The optimum time to plant soybeans in Iowa is the last week of April for the southern two thirds of Iowa and the first week of May for the northern one third of Iowa