Paris, 17 August 2009


EFITA newsletter / 423 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


I remember reading that you intend to stop editing the list… when will you send out your last mail and is there anyone who has volunteered to keep up this magnificent work?
Contact: Thomas NORRBY
E-mail: thomas.norrby(a)sol.slu.se


My answer (GW): I felt depressed. I continue to edit this newsletter for a while.


I hope you will find the energy to continue a bit work for efita
Contact: Jan KAMP
Mél : jan.kamp(a)wur.nl


Electronic submission of CAP subsidies' claims
I just wanted to say that it was nice to see you again in Wageningen in July and also to thank you for your answer about the French farmers' situation on submitting electronically their CAP subsidies forms. I was the one who asked about possible motivations that the government could give to farmers like early processing time. I guess the situation is the same in many countries and in Cyprus as well where I come from.
Contact: George ADAMIDES
E-mail: g.adamides(a)arinet.ari.gov.cy


My answer (GW): Thank you for your kind message. Do you remember the Dutch colleague who told us that in the Netherlands, farmers have to ask paper forms that are not sent systematically by post mail? In this context, the number of farmers using the Internet to submit their CAP subsidies' claims increased drastically.


Awards for best journalism and community communication projects on agricultural issues - deadline for submissions 1 sept. 2009
CTA (Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU) is holding a competition to find the most effective journalism and community communication projects in ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries on agriculture and agriculture-related rural development issues. The two top awards are 2,500 Euros, a two-week opportunity for study, training or research, and participation in CTA's Brussels conference on the role of media in agriculture and rural development in October 2009.
Please see full criteria and entry documents attached; also available on CTA website from August 11th. - http://www.cta.int
Panos London is managing this competition on behalf of CTA.
Deadline for submissions, COB 1 Sept 2009.


GIL 2010 convention
24 - 25 February 2010 - STUTTGART-HOHENHEIM
The German Association for Informatics in Agriculture, Forestry, and the Food Sector (GIL e.V.) is pleased to announce its 30th annual convention. More information and call for paper on this website.
See: http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/pflanzenbau
See: http://www.gil.de
Contact: Marlies MORGENSTERN
E-mail: marlies.morgenstern(a)landw.uni-halle.de


Agri-Trade Forum Newsletter
* Feeding the World While Safeguarding the Environment
* Good Agricultural Policy = Good Climate Change Policy
* Doha Round Completion Remains Vital
* Meet IPC's New Members
See: http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/index.html#newsletter


From Farmex Ltd
I believe I informed you some while ago about a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project that we are engaged in at present. This is to introduce wireless connectivity into our temperature regulation, alarm and monitoring systems for livestock production. We have been gathering near real-time data from 400 production sites and crop stores for several years and most recently have got 60+ pig production sites in the US permanently connected to the internet via satellite broadband access.
See: http://www.farmex.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=2&Itemid=3
I'm afraid we were unable to attend the conference at Wageningen last month but no doubt we'll keep our eyes on any future opportunities.
Contact: Hugh CRABTREE
E-mail: hugh(a)farmex.co.uk


Harvestlab Sensor: Improve the quality of your silage with anytime, anywhere, on-the-go testing from the HarvestLab™ Sensor
Protect your herd and your profit with accurate timely testing from the HarvestLab Sensor. It is the only solution that monitors your silage moisture levels during harvest and before you feed; knowing those levels can improve the quality of your feed, enhance herd production, cut costs, and ultimately net you more profit.

In the field, the HarvestLab Sensor provides on-the-go measurements. As crop flows through the spout, real-time moisture and yield information is shown on the GreenStar™ display inside the cab. This information allows you to more accurately adjust inoculant dosages according to dry matter value, cut length, and yield. The display also provides average and total readings for material throughput and crop yield per field, per acre or per trailer load.

The field isn't the only place where the HarvestLab Sensor adds value.

You can use the HarvestLab Sensor to create your own silage analysis laboratory at home by detaching the sensor from the forage harvester and connecting the HarvestLab Stationary Kit to your computer. In under 5 minutes, HarvestLab generates accurate readings for precise TMR every time you feed.

You can do a lot with instantaneous yield and moisture data from HarvestLab:

- Quickly identify if crop has reached optimal moisture to harvest
- Prevent downtime while waiting for moisture measurements via drying ovens
- Appropriately adjust length-of-cut and inoculant levels
- Optimize bunk density and fermentation for heightened silage/feed quality
- Regulate harvest rate based on the capacity of the storage facility
- Segment storage facilities based on moisture content
- Compare hybrid/variety productivity
- Enable crop traceability
- Acquire dry volumes
- Improve the health and profitability of your herd
Visit your John Deere GreenStar™ Certified dealer today and ask about the HarvestLab Sensor.
See: http://www.deere.com/en_US/ag/feature/2008/harvestlab.html


The Knowledge Access in Rural Inter-connected Areas Network (KariaNet)
KariaNet aims to enhance networking among IFAD-funded rural and agricultural development projects in the region in order to improve knowledge sharing and information/experience exchange through the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). It started in January 2005 and will last for three years. Five countries, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia, were identified and two projects per country were selected to be the founding core of the network.
www.karianet.org


Playing with words
Q. Why do grocery store check-out clerks have such a hard time deciding between paper or plastic?
R. Because baggers can't be choosers.

Explanation:
- A beggar is someone who begs for money in the street, etc.
- In America people who work at grocery check-outs are often called BAGGERS because the put items into BAGS for the customer.


Women and the parking places
Women are like the parking places: the best ones are occupied and the free ones are for handicapped persons.
Contact: Alexandru NAGHIU - University of agricultural sciences from Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
E-mail: alnaghiu(a)yahoo.com


A little boy says to his mother, "Mommy, how come I'm black and you're white?"
His mother replied, "Don't even go there! From what I can remember about that party, you're lucky: you don't bark!
Contact: Ole HANSEN
E-mail: oleh(a)farmscan.com


The Hierarchy of Power Semantics

In the beginning was the Plan and the Specification. And the Plan was without form and the Specification was void.

And darkness was on the face of the implementation team.

And they spake unto their leader, saying,

“It is a crock of shit and it stinks to high heaven.”



And it was the leader and it was the project head.

Now the leader spake unto the project head, saying,

“It is a crock of faeces and intolerably malodorous.”



And it was the project head and it was the department manager.

Now the project head spake unto his department manager, saying,

“it is a container of excrement and its effluvium is very strong.”



And it was the department manager and it was the product manager.

Now the department manager spake unto his project manager, saying,

“It is a vessel of fertilizer of overpowering strength.”



And it was the project manager and it was the centre manager.

Now the project manager spake unto his centre manager, saying,

“It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants and strong
it is.”



And it was the centre manager and it was the director.

Now the centre manager spake unto is director, saying,

“It promoteth growth and is very powerful.”



And it was the director and it was the vice-president.

Now the director spake unto his vice-president, saying,

“This powerful new product will promote the growth of the company.”



And the vice-president looked on the product and saw that it was good.

Contact : Laurence GUILLOSSON
Mél : laurence_guillosson(a)orange.fr


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