Corn Planting: How Deep Are You Planting Your Seed?

Common Planting Depths
Many factors are needed to be considered while planting a corn
crop. One of those factors is planting seed at the right depth. A
common principle of planting depth is to place a seed deep
enough in the soil to reach adequate moisture for germination
and emergence. The most common corn planting depth is 1.5 to
2 inches. The depth can be slightly increased if the soil is
abnormally dry and warm, however, it is not generally advised
to place seed deeper than three inches. Planting deeper than
normal results in slower emergence with the increased
likelihood of problems such as crust formation after rainfall
before the plant has emerged from the ground.

Shallow Planting: Things to consider

Modern cultivating equipment allow to have much better control

on planting depths and are equipped with better closing systems

than older machinery. This makes it appealing for growers to try

shallower planting depths. Corn fields planted at shallower

depth usually result in poor and uneven emergence which can

have potential negative effects on grain yield. Earlier planting

may be appropriate for shallower seed depth because the soil

warms-up faster on the surface. Surface residue can also play a

role in deciding the seeding depth. If the field has good residue

cover, the depth can be shallower than normal as the soil warms

up slower in high residue and no till systems. In any case

reducing seeding depth below 1.25 inches is not recommended.

Seeds that are planted shallower than recommended form nodal

roots that are very close to the surface and may not develop

proper root growth later in the season causing severe stress on

the growing plant.

THE HISTORY OF EARTH DAY

Each year, Earth Day—April 22—marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Earth Day Today

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. Earth Day 2000 used the power of the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a First Amendment Rally. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on global warming and clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to the narrative—cynicism versus activism. Despite these challenges, Earth Day prevailed and Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a relevant, powerful focal point. Earth Day Network brought 250,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, launched the world’s largest environmental service project—A Billion Acts of Green®–introduced a global tree planting initiative that has since grown into The Canopy Project, and engaged 22,000 partners in 192 countries in observing Earth Day.

Earth Day had reached into its current status as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes.

Today, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more chapters—struggles and victories—into the Earth Day book.


Stay tuned! 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of this milestone, Earth Day Network is preparing to announce an ambitious set of goals to shape the future we need.

WONDERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOY MILK

Soy milk, which is made from soaking, grinding and boiling soy beans with water, is a very nutritious drink. Soy is naturally high in essential fatty acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients provide energy and keep your body functioning at its optimum level. Below are the six most important health benefits you can acquire from drinking soy milk.
1. Improve Lipid Profile
The most important attribute of soy milk is its ability to improve your blood lipid profile. Unlike dairy milk, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, soy milk fat is mostly unsaturated with zero cholesterol. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in soy can inhibit the transport of cholesterol into your blood stream. Studies have shown that regular intake of soy can significantly lower you blood concentrations of triglyceride and low density lipoproteins (LDL) and raise the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL). This combined effect makes soy milk an ideal drink if you have high cholesterol or have a family history of coronary heart diseases.
2. Strengthen Blood Vessel Integrity
The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as the powerful phyto-antioxidants in soy can effectively protect your blood vessels from lesions and hemorrhage. These compounds bind to the blood vessel lining and defend your lining cells from free radical attacks and cholesterol deposits. The binding of these nutrients also improve the fluidity and flexibility of your blood vessels so that they are much more resilient to blood pressure changes.
3. Promote Weight Loss
Soy milk is naturally lower in sugar content than regular milk. Cow’s milk has about 12 grams of sugar per cup as opposed to only 7 grams in soy milk. This is why a cup of whole soy milk has only 80 calories, which is the equivalent of skim milk. In addition, the monounsaturated fatty acid in soy milk can inhibit your intestinal absorption of fat, which is another great advantage for weight loss. Drinking soy milk also gives you an extra dose of fiber, keeping your feeling fuller for longer time.
4. Prevent Prostate Cancer
Soy milk is a rich source of phytoestrogen, a unique plant hormone that can inhibit the production of testosterone in men. Reduced testosterone levels can significantly cut the risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men who eat a soy-rich diet are less likely  to develop prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer.
5. Prevent Postmenopausal Syndromes
During menopause, a woman’s natural production of estrogen drops to a minimum. The sudden reduction of estrogen creates a number of health problems for postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women have higher risks of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. They are also more vulnerable to depression, mood swings, insomnia and other psychological disorders. The phytoestrogen in soy is an effective estrogen replacement. Regular intake of soy is a great way to prevent and alleviate these postmenopausal syndromes.
6. Prevent Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is another age and hormone related disease. The phytoestrogen in soy can help accelerate calcium absorption by your body and prevent the loss of bone mass. For the maximum benefit, make sure to buy the soy milk that is fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D.
Source: Agronigeria

FREE SCHOOL MEALS MUST COME FROM OUR FARMS

The Federal Government has been urged to ensure that the supply of food for the proposed free school meals must be from Nigerian farms.

This call was made by the  Country Director, Synergos Nigeria, Mr. Adewale Ajadi in an exclusive chat with him in Lagos.

“I love the fact that government might eventually do these school meals but they should make sure the food that goes to schools are from our farms and are nutritionally sound. Let’s go to research institutes and get to know what these foods can provide and the value chain in terms of food then what do we do with the bye-products,” Ajadi noted.

He noted that this will ensure we make good use of the God-given resources embedded in our nation.

The free school meals was promised by the President Buhari-led administration for pupils of schools across the federation.

Agriculture & rural development

Agriculture and rural development are essential to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by half by 2016.
Three in four poor people in developing countries live on the countryside. Most of them depend directly or indirectly from agriculture to survive. Women play an important role in food production, in food processing and in the commercialisation of food. Agricultural development can make a difference in the lives of a billion of poor people, mainly of women, and can contribute to both economic growth and to poverty reduction and food security.
Climate change will have a far-reaching impact on agriculture and mainly hit the poor. There is an urgent need for measures to reduce the impact on crop yields. On the other hand, agriculture also has a huge potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the right agricultural practices are used.

Agric info.

Now is the time to invest in tomato if you live in Kano or it's environ, as a processing factory that can mop up 1200 metric tons per day just setup around you.
Do you know Ghana export tomatoes into Nigeria to make up for shortfall? Consider investment in tomato farming, it is profitableltivation can never be a lose, Pepper is planted & harvested in three months, giving you considerable profit in a short time.
Pepper is consumed by all Nigerian making it a best seller in the market; an investment in pepper farming will always be profitable with the right practices. The planting season for the year has started! You can optimize the earnings from your farm by planting vegetable like ewedu or spinach with maize.

Agric info...

Being a part of a farmers co-operative or association closest to you increases your chances on accessing agric funds. Join one closest to you. world bank is set to spend $500m on irrigation projects in Nigeria.
World bank is helping Lagos farmers to improve packaging and marketing of their farm produce. Ask your local association for more information