U.S. Export and Domestic Feed Price Trends, 1994-2022

U.S. hay exports have been growing in importance in recent years with alfalfa hay representing most of this increase. Forage export prices have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s, and China has emerged as a major importer of alfalfa in the last decade. In general, real prices for alfalfa, other hay, corn, and soybeans have all trended higher over the 1994-2022 period. However, the spread between export and domestic prices has trended larger for other hay and alfalfa, while the spread for corn and soybeans has been flat. This result is believed to be related to the fact that hay is bulky to move and transport, such that it does not possess the same level of arbitrage between regions that grain transport enjoys. Essentially, all alfalfa and other hay exports originate from the seven most western states of our forty-eight contiguous states as well

Local Farmer’s Perspective on Actual and Perceived Cost of Sustainable Land Management and Its Economic Viability: A Case Study of Mali

The sustainable land management (SLM) is a vital parameter to efficiently manage the agricultural practices with more benefits. The economic viability of SLM explained the efficient cost/benefit analysis that was currently needed. This study recognizes the costs of SLM analyse the benefits and then equate both of them in order to provide its economic viability. The quantitative methods were developed with a questionnaire; data was collected from Malian people. The quantification of the data showed the considerable experience as well as the commitment of people in SLM after well knowing about its costs and benefits. Although the cost of farming practice was increased and collective of farming output was amplified more proportionally than farming cost. The overall rewards of increased income economic disparities, diversity, long-term returns, short-term returns and farm management as well the decreased farm workload effective proved incentives for farmers. The pragmatic evidences will help the government to make SLM into practice and act as a reference for future researchers. Keywords: Sustainable land management, economic viability, costs, productivity, benefits analysis DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/9-12-04 Publication date: December 31st 201

Sustainable Land Management in Mali: An Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Its Economic Viability

A study is conducted to investigate the economic viability of sustainable land management (SLM). All around the globe, the practice of sustainable land management is being executed for different purposes such as rehabilitating dry areas, minimizing the effect of degradation and also saving and maintaining the sustainability of natural resources. The purpose of this research paper is to identify the costs of SLM, to analyze the benefits of SLM and then to compare both of them with each other to recognize its economic viability. The quantitative method is used in this study and by the help of questionnaire, data is collected from the people of Mali. Then that data is quantified later on with research instruments. The results of the study are according to the research objectives of the study and has revealed that the sample is aware about the costs and benefits of the SLM. The implications of this study are that it helps the farmers to increase their profits and productivity and as well as has increased both the literature review and empirical evidence for the researchers and has also helped the government to put SLM into practice. Keywords: Sustainable land management, economic viability, costs, benefits, analysis DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-24-12 Publication date: December 31st 201

Economic Viability of Sustainable Land Management: Are Local Farmers Aware About the Costs and Benefits?

The sustainable land management (SLM) is the important parameter to efficiently manage the farm-related practices in order to get the maximum benefits. The economic viability of SLM elucidated the efficient cost/benefit analysis that was the dire need. All around the globe, the practice of sustainable land management is being executed for different purposes such as rehabilitating dry areas, minimizing the effect of degradation and also saving and maintaining the sustainability of natural resources. The purpose of this study is to identify the costs of SLM, to analyze the benefits of SLM and then to compare both of them with each other to recognize its economic viability. The quantitative methods are acquired with the help of a questionnaire; data is collected from the people of Mali. The quantification of the data revealed the considerable experience as well engagement of people in SLM by well knowing its costs and benefits to sake more profit. The rented land farmers were more enthusiastic in applying SLM than landowners. Although the cost of farming practice was increased aggregate of farming outputs increased more proportionally than farming cost. The overall advantages of increased income diversity, economic disparities, long-term returns, short-term returns and farm management as well the decrease in farm workload were found. The aggregate findings will help the farmers to increase their profits and productivity. The empirical evidence will also help the government to put SLM into practice and another researcher to further figure out the problems by keeping this study as a reference. Keywords: Sustainable land management, economic viability, costs, benefits, analysis DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-24-04 Publication date: December 31st 201

Effect of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and maize (Zea mays) litter on growth, development, mycorrhizal colonization and roots nodulation of Arachis hypogaea

In Senegal, farmers often cultivate groundnut in association with eucalyptus plantations to increase their incomes. However eucalyptus plantations produce large amounts of litter, which impact on groundnut has not been clearly elucidated yet. In order to investigate litter accumulation effect on growth, development, and groundnut root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia, a greenhouse experiment was performed. The effect of eucalyptus litter was compared to that maize litter effect at three litter amendments (0, 1 and 5%). Chemical analysis showed that eucalyptus litter differed essentially from maize litter by its high polyphenols content and lower pH. At high amendment (5%), root nodulation and mycorrhizal colonization were significantly reduced with eucalyptus litter whereas no significant differences were observed with maize litter. In addition, groundnut growth, number of flowers per plant, pods yield and leaf mineral contents (N and C) were significantly lower for plant grown in soil highly amended with eucalyptus litter. Plants showed deficiency of chlorophyll content in leaves and were less vigorous compared to treatments without amendment and those amended at 1% level. For all parameters measured, plants grown in soil lowly amended (1%) and plants grown in control treatment did not significantly differ.Key words: Litter, Eucalyptus, Arachis hypogaea, Mycorrhizal symbiosis, Rhizobia

Bis(2-benzamido­benzimidazolato-κ2 N 1,O)(N,N-dimethyl­formamide-κO)copper(II)

In the title compound, [Cu(C14H10N3O)2(C3H7NO)], the CuII atom is five-coordinated by two N,O-bidentate 2-benzamido­benzimidazolate anions and one O-coordinated dimethyl­formamide (DMF) mol­ecule, resulting in a distorted square-based pyramidal CuN2O3 geometry for the metal atom, with the DMF O atom at the apical site. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds result in chains of mol­ecules propagating along [100]

1,2-Bis(N′-benzoyl­thio­ureido)benzene

The title compound, C22H18N4O2S2, was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, solid-state IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic techniques. The crystal structure determination reveals that the twisting modes of the two side arms are different [C—N—C—O and C—N—C—N torsion angles = −1.2 (3) and 1.1 (3)°, respectively, in one arm and 24.1 (3) and −5.1 (3)°, respectively, in the other]. The crystal structure involves N—H⋯O and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds

Vector competence of Aedes vexans (Meigen), Culex poicilipes (Theobald) and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say from Senegal for West and East African lineages of Rift Valley fever virus

Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV; Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) is a mosquito–borne, zoonotic pathogen. In Senegal, RVFV was first isolated in 1974 from Aedes dalzieli (Theobald) and thereafter from Ae. fowleri (de Charmoy), Ae. ochraceus Theobald, Ae. vexans (Meigen), Culex poicilipes (Theobald), Mansonia africana (Theobald) and Ma. uniformis (Theobald). However, the vector competence of these local species has never been demonstrated making hypothetical the transmission cycle proposed for West Africa based on serological data and mosquito isolates. Methods Aedes vexans and Cx. poicilipes, two common mosquito species most frequently associated with RVFV in Senegal, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, the most common domestic species, were assessed after oral feeding with three RVFV strains of the West and East/central African lineages. Fully engorged mosquitoes (420 Ae. vexans, 563 Cx. quinquefasciatus and 380 Cx. poicilipes) were maintained at 27 ± 1 °C and 70–80 % relative humidity. The saliva, legs/wings and bodies were tested individually for the RVFV genome using real-time RT-PCR at 5, 10, 15 and 20 days post exposure (dpe) to estimate the infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. Genotypic characterisation of the 3 strains used were performed to identify factors underlying the different patterns of transmission. Results The infection rates varied between 30.0–85.0 % for Ae. vexans, 3.3–27 % for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 8.3–46.7 % for Cx. poicilipes, and the dissemination rates varied between 10.5–37 % for Ae. vexans, 9.5–28.6 % for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 3.0–40.9 % for Cx. poicilipes. However only the East African lineage was transmitted, with transmission rates varying between 13.3–33.3 % in Ae. vexans, 50 % in Cx. quinquefasciatus and 11.1 % in Cx. poicilipes. Culex mosquitoes were less susceptible to infection than Ae. vexans. Compared to other strains, amino acid variation in the NSs M segment proteins of the East African RVFV lineage human-derived strain SH172805, might explain the differences in transmission potential. Conclusion Our findings revealed that all the species tested were competent for RVFV with a significant more important role of Ae. vexans compared to Culex species and a highest potential of the East African lineage to be transmitted

Comparative Study of the West African Continental, Coastal, and Marine Atmospheric Profiles during the Summer of 2006

We used sounding data of the Multidisciplinary Analysis of the African Monsoon experience in summer 2006 at continental and coastal sites of West Africa, respectively, to analyze the vertical profiles of relative humidity, temperature, dew point, and speed and wind direction for the JJAS rainy period. The vertical gradient method is applied to the profiles of some thermodynamic parameters estimated from sounding data to do a comparative study of the structure and thermal properties, moisture, and static stability of the atmospheric boundary layer of inland, coastal, and marine sites to show consistent differences related to geographic factors. In vertical profiles of relative humidity, the intensity is higher in Dakar than in Niamey particularly in the core of the season. There are dry intrusions in the low levels at the beginning and end of the season in Dakar, which do not exist in Niamey. The mixing layer on the continent during the day can reach a height greater than 1100 m, and the inversion layer height can exceed 1700 m. Therefore, the maximum thickness of the boundary layer is observed on the continent during the day, while at night the marine boundary layer is the thickest. The diurnal evolution shows that the mixing layer thickness decreases during the night over the continent but increases at the coast and at sea. In the night at the continental site there is a division of the mixing layer with a consistent residual mixing layer. Continental boundary layer is more unstable during the day, while at night it is the marine boundary layer that is more unstable than the coastal and inland ones

Synthesis, physical studies and crystal structure determination of Y(III) and Er(III) complexes of 1-(pyridin-2-yl)-2-(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazine

Two isotype mononuclear yttrium(III) and erbium(III) complexes, {[Y(HL)(OAc)2(H2O)2]. (H2O)∙(NO3)} (1) and {[Er(HL) (OAc)2(H2O)2].(H2O)∙(NO3)} (2), where HL is the neutral Schiff base ligand 1-(pyridin-2-yl)-2-(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazine, and OAc is the acetate anion, have been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods and single crystal X-ray determination. Both complexes crystallizes in the triclinic space group Pī with unit cell dimensions for complex of Y(III) a = 7.909 (2) Å, b = 11.718 (4) Å, c = 12.497 (3) Å,    α = 78.907 (3)°, b = 73.840 (3)°, γ = 72.074 (3)°, V = 1051.26 (6) Å3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.051 and    wR2 = 0.112 and for complex of Er(III)a = 7.913 (1) Å, b = 11.719 (2) Å, c = 12.487 (2) Å,          α = 78.832 (1)°, α = 73.674 (1)°, γ = 72.012 (1)°, V = 1049.64 (3) Å3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.028, and   wR2 = 0.062. In both complexes, the coordination polyhedra around Ln(III) atoms are best described as a distorted tricapped trigonal prism. Antioxidant activities of the ligand and its Y(III) and Er(III) complexes are studied