Overview of the ImageCLEFphoto 2008 photographic retrieval task

ImageCLEFphoto 2008 is an ad-hoc photo retrieval task and part of the ImageCLEF evaluation campaign. This task provides both the resources and the framework necessary to perform comparative laboratory-style evaluation of visual information retrieval systems. In 2008, the evaluation task concentrated on promoting diversity within the top 20 results from a multilingual image collection. This new challenge attracted a record number of submissions: a total of 24 participating groups submitting 1,042 system runs. Some of the findings include that the choice of annotation language is almost negligible and the best runs are by combining concept and content-based retrieval methods

Transplanting Sweet Corn, a Case Study

Sweet corn is an important crop for many diversified vegetable farms. Transplanting sweet corn has the advantage of avoiding cold soil germination problems at the beginning of the growing season, enhancing stand establishment, allowing for earlier mechanical cultivation, and promoting earlier harvests that can help attract customers. This case study describes the details of transplanting techniques used by Jon Satz, of Wood\u27s Market Garden in Brandon, Vermont. Jon helped pioneer the use of transplanting for sweet corn. Some of his early knowledge about this technique was acquired through work funded by a Northeast SARE Farmer Grant in 2003

A Decision Tool for Values-Based Food Purchasing

Food purchases are investments that influence the characteristics of our food system. Price, convenience, and perception of an appropriate level of quality are drivers of food purchasing decisions. Other values related to economic, environmental and/or social sustainability are harder to support through food purchasing decisions due to lack of information and transparency in the food system. A broader, more specific, and more flexible approach is needed to help food purchasers, especially smaller retailers, organizations, and institutions, make buying decisions that align with their values. The Values-Based Food Purchasing Rubric presented here attempts to create a relatively simple and flexible assessment tool that can be easily used by businesses, organizations, and communities to inform their purchasing decisions for all types of food, including foods that cannot be produced locally (such as tropical products)

Sustainable Vegetable Production From Start-Up to Market

This 265-page book introduces the processes for moderate-scale vegetable production using ecological practices. Thirty-two grower profiles detail their experiences and provide enterprise budgets for a number of crops. Ninety illustrations show machinery, composting systems, greenhouses, irrigation equipment, insect monitoring traps, fencing and more. Chapters cover planning and managing a vegetable production business, soil fertility, crop rotation, cover crops, field preparation, seeds and transplants, harvest and postharvest handling, and season extension. Includes management strategies for insects, diseases, weeds, and nuisance wildlife. It contains 91 illustrations, 36 sidebars, 20 tables, and a glossary. Originally published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES) which was disbanded in 2011

Zone Tillage Trials on Commercial Vegetable Farms in Vermont

A dozen commercial vegetable farms across Vermont participated in on-farm zone-tillage (ZT) trials during 2010-2012. Many obstacles were encountered, from undersized tractors on farms, inadequate preparation of land for ZT, and excessive rain in spring 2011 that prevented use of ZT. Successes were also documented. Collectively these farm experiences yielded valuable insight into the equipment and practices necessary to effectively implement zone tillage on the relatively small-scale, organically-inclined farms that typify Vermont vegetable production

On-Farm Oilseed Production and Processing

The goal of this one-year project was to assess the potential production and processing of oil seed and sugar-containing crops for use as a renewable energy source on a scale that would support small groups of local farmers working together. This report summarizes what was learned in a short time about the agronomic, economic, and regulatory aspects of these crops and processes, and while there appears to be a lot of promise, many unresolved issues were identified, and much work remains to be done

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in Vermont

The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program has coordinators in every state, as described in the program’s authorizing legislation. In 1995, the Northeast SARE region asked each state coordinator to gather information from a variety of agricultural stakeholders in order to draft individual state plans for sustainable agriculture. The Vermont plan describes specific problems and opportunities facing the state’s agriculture, and lists specific strategic actions to address them

Renewable Energy Systems for Greenhouse Heating: Six Case Studies

This set of six case studies is based on interviews with greenhouse growers in Vermont and Massachusetts who installed renewable energy heating systems. They describe the equipment and installation of these systems, their pros and cons, lessons learned, and economic considerations. The systems include biodiesel production from waste vegetable oil for greenhouse heat, waste vegetable oil for heating greenhouses, waste wood chips for greenhouse heat, outdoor wood boiler for greenhouse and farmstead heat, wood gasification and hydronic heat for greenhouses and farmstead, and wood pellet furnace for small scale greenhouse heat

Managing Weeds on Organic Vegetable Farms: Case Studies

This series of three case studies captures the knowledge and practices of experienced commercial organic vegetable farmers in Connecticut and Vermont. Each case study provides background on the farm operation and their production practices, then describes how mechanical weed cultivation tools and cover crops are used as part of a whole-farm weed management strategy

Sorghum-Sudangrass, a Vigorous Cover Crop

This fact sheet for farmers summarizes the benefits of sorghum-Sudangrass as a cover crop, and provides guidance for optimizing its growth in the Northeast