EFITA Newsletter / 725

Interesting papers
> A low-cost greenhouse monitoring system based on internet connectivity

> Tracing boundaries of weeds using digital images

Effidence robot following one people working in a French wineyard
See: https://youtu.be/cfo6f_WD-SM

Recent accessing results for "ICT in Agriculture: Perspectives of Technological Innovation"
Initially, in 2006, the e-Book was accessed 38,927 times with 18802 reviews. In 2015, the e-Book was accessed 666642 times with 127778 papers reviews and 445 full texts downloaded from most of the world’s countries.

ICT’s evolution, innovation and implementation in Agriculture is still surging ahead. With this in mind the e-Book’s ultimate goal was, and remains, to provide would-be developers, agents of change, policy makers and ICT end users with proven tips BEFORE they repeat past mistakes, misinterpret successful ideas and miss potential collaboration opportunities.

This EFITA e-Book will complete its first decade of free public access in 2016. The 2015 stats contend with some confidence that this e-Book effort was effective and remains useful.

See: http://departments.agri.huji.ac.il/economics/gelb-main.html
(sponsored by EFITA, The Samuel Neaman Institute for National Policy Research and the Hebrew University Center for Agricultural Economic Research).

Contact: Dr. Ehud GELB
E-mail: ehud.gelb(a)mail.huji.ac.il

Monsanto: New agriculture breakthroughs poised to support farmers, support demands of a growing population
(…)
Advancements in digital agriculture tools, including The Climate Corporation’s Climate FieldView DriveTM and Script Creator in Climate FieldView ProTM are now helping farmers increase their on-farm productivity.
(…)
See: http://news.monsanto.com/
press-release/products/new-agriculture-breakthroughs-poised-support-farmers-support-demands-growing-

Realistic environmental groups understand value of working with farmers by Jim Ruen
As crop producers come under increasing pressure over water quality and other environmental issues, conservation and environmental organizations can be valuable partners.
See: http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/
sustainable-agriculture/realistic-environmental-groups-understand-value-working-farmers

Guns, Anger and Nonsense in Oregon
The simple message Mr. Bundy and his band must hear is this: If everyone with a gripe against the government responded by threatening federal officials with weapons, America would no longer be a nation governed by the rule of law. Their grievances, like everyone else’s, can be addressed. But not before they put down the guns.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/
2016/01/07/opinion/guns-anger-and-nonsense-in-oregon.html

Microbes Added to Seeds Could Boost Crop Production
Researchers are testing more than 2,000 different microbial seed coatings on half a million test plots in the U.S.

The transient nature of the microbiome is one of the reasons Novozymes and Monsanto are currently field-testing microbes coated on seeds, rather than using other applications like sprays or root soaks. Hitting plants when they are germinating and sprouting, even if the effects are fleeting, could put them on track to be healthier as they grow. Although Schäfer would love to find a single blockbuster microbe, his scientists are also beginning to realize that bigger benefits may come from sets of microbes working together. With thousands of species in one gram of soil, the possible combinations are endless. Right now they are testing the species one by one, and they will wait until they have strong enough data on the singletons before testing combos.
Despite the challenges, Schäfer maintains microbes are poised to make a lasting impact on modern agriculture. Existing microbial products such as Novozymes’ Met52, a fungus that limits vine weevils, are already used on millions of acres; if seed coatings take off, that number could jump. The two firms think bio-ag products will be used on up to 500 million acres, or 50 percent of U.S. farmland, by 2025. “Companies like Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta and BASF are working on microbes because they believe [the technology] has the potential to reduce chemistry and allow us to live more sustainably,” Schäfer says.
See: http://www.scientificamerican.com/
article/microbes-added-to-seeds-could-boost-crop-production/

The World's Leading Magazines on High Tech Agriculture
Delivering you the most informative and comprehensive editorial coverage in 3 languages to every corner of the world.
See: http://www.newaginternational.com/index.php/advertising/magazine-advertising

A thought for today from the nice guys killed by crazy people one year ago in Paris

Sometimes laughter hurts, but humor and mockery are our only weapons. - Cabu (pen name of Jean Cabut), cartoonist and co-founder of Charlie Hebdo (1938-2015)

We do not have to agree (I don’t) with these very much provocative (and sometimes stupid) drawings but I think that they may help us to think about our world. For many French people of my generation Cabu and Wolinski were like old brothers.

Asses (very old joke)
Once upon a time, there was a King who wanted to go fishing. He called the royal weather forecaster and inquired as to the weather forecast for the next few hours. The weatherman assured him that there was no chance of rain in the coming days. So, the King went fishing with his wife, the Queen.

On the way, he met a farmer on his donkey. Upon seeing the King the farmer said, "Your Majesty, you should return to the palace at once because in just a short time I expect a huge amount of rain to fall in this area."

The King was polite and considerate, he replied, "I hold the palace meteorologist in high regard. He is an extensively educated and experienced professional. And besides, I pay him very high wages. He gave me a very different forecast. I trust him and I will continue on my way."

So he continued on his way. However, a short time later a torrential rain fell from the sky.

The King and Queen were totally soaked and their entourage chuckled upon seeing them in such a shameful condition. Furious, the King returned to the palace and gave the order to fire the weatherman at once! Then he summoned the farmer and offered him the prestigious and high paying role of royal forecaster.

The farmer said, "Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain my information from my donkey. If I see my donkey's ears drooping, it means with certainty that it will rain." So, the King hired the donkey.

And so began the practice of hiring asses to work in the government and occupy its highest and most influential positions.

This tradition continues to this day.

The distribution of this efita newsletter is sponsored by vitisphere.com
Please, contribute to the content of your efita newsletter, and advertise your events, new publications, new products and new project in this newsletter. Without your support, it will not survive!
Contact: Guy WAKSMAN
E-mail: guy.waksman(a)laposte.net

To read this newsletter on our web site
See: http://www.informatique-agricole.org/gazette/efita/efita_160118_725.htm

The archives of this newsletter
See: http://www.informatique-agricole.org/category/gazette-efita/

Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes... an Anatomy of Wit
Mick Harkin, ex Secretary of EFITA, who has kept us amused with his Friday Jokes over the years, has published a book on Amazon entitled "Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes... an Anatomy of Wit".
See: http://www.jokesquotesandanecdotes.com
Contact: Mick HARKIN
E-mail: mickjharkin(a)gmail.com

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