Pie Rouge des Plaines

The Pie Rouge des Plaines is a modern French breed of dairy cattle. It was created in about 1970 by cross-breeding the traditional Armorican cattle of Brittany, in north-western France, with red-pied cattle of the Dutch Meuse-Rhine-Yssel and German Deutsche Rotbunte breeds.
History.
The Pie Rouge des Plaines is a modern breed. In 1970, farmers raising the traditional red-pied Armorican cattle in the three western départements of Brittany – Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère and the Morbihan – took the decision to merge their breed with red-pied cattle of Germany and the Netherlands, through a programme of extensive cross-breeding with German Rotbunt and Dutch Meuse-Rhine-Yssel stock, to create a new dairy breed with good meat-producing qualities. A breeders' association, the Eleveurs de la Race Française Pie Rouge des Plaines, was formed, and a herd-book was opened for the new breed in 1970 or 1971. From 1982 an attempt was made to increase size and udder quality by introducing Red Holstein blood; however, the resulting stock was less successful for beef production.
The Pie Rouge des Plaines is concentrated mainly in Brittany, where about 80% of the total herd is found; it is also distributed in Normandy, and – to a lesser extent – in the Massif Central. The total population is estimated at about , with approximately cows registered in the herd-book. Frozen semen from some 150 bulls is available for artificial insemination.
The original Armorican breed has become rare: it was listed by the FAO as "critically endangered" in 2007. In 2005, the population was estimated at about 240 head, and in 2014 it was 263.
Characteristics.
The Pie Rouge des Plaines is red-pied, with short crescent-shaped horns. The skin, muzzle and mucosa are pale. Cows have good resistance to mastitis.
Use.
Pie Rouge des Plaines has good dairy aptitude. Milk yield is of the order of in a lactation of 329 days. The milk has 4.3% fat and 3.3% protein. Meat production also contributes to profitability.


John Ness

John Thomas Ness (20 August 1871 – 24 January 1947) was an Australian politician.
He was born at Young to shipbuilder Thomas Ness and Isabella, "née" Sellars. After attending public schools he was farming wheat at Temora from around 1894 to 1904. On 1 January 1898 he married Bertha Mary Ann Matuschka in New Zealand, with whom he would have four children. In 1904 he became a produce and fuel merchant, later establishing John Ness, Son & Co. From 1909 to 1934 he was president of the Dulwich Hill School of Arts, and he served from 1908 to 1922 on Marrickville Council (mayor 1915–17, 1918–19). In 1922, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a Nationalist member for Western Suburbs; with the reintroduction of single-member districts in 1927 he was elected to represent Dulwich Hill. Defeated in 1930, he was re-elected in 1932 as a United Australia Party candidate. Ness served until 1938; he died at Dulwich Hill in 1947.


Cuyo (Argentina)

Cuyo is the wine-producing, mountainous region of central-west Argentina. Historically it comprised the provinces of San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza. The modern New Cuyo includes both Cuyo proper and the province of La Rioja. New Cuyo is a political and economic macroregion, but culturally La Rioja is part of the North-West rather than of Cuyo.
Cuyo has some of the most popular tourist attractions in Argentina and the highest mountain massifs in the Andes, including Aconcagua itself, the highest peak outside Asia, and the Ischigualasto Provincial Park.
The soil is arid and reddish, crossed by few rivers. Most of the rivers are fed by the thawing of snow on the peaks, and their volume of water increases considerably in spring. The Desaguadero River is the main collector, receiving waters from the Bermejo, Vinchina and Salado before reaching the Colorado River.
Viticulture is one of the main activities of the area. The wine production of the region represents almost 80% of national production, and the wines are highly considered in the world. Olives, potatoes, tomatoes and some fruits are also cultivated, and there is production of sweets and preserved foodstuffs. Quarrying and oil exploitation are other important industries.
The cities and towns in the region are characterised by colonial low houses and churches, and narrow streets, contrasting in the principal cities with the modern parts. The Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, founded in 1939, is the most important within these provinces, and has its campus in Mendoza, but has faculties as far as Río Negro.
Cuyo province by GDP (nominal) and GDP per capita.
This article includes a list of Cuyo Province sorted by their Gross Domestic Product (nominal) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, divided by the average population for the same year.
The table below includes data for the year 2013 for the 23 provinces
Table of Cuyo provinces according to the .
Climate.
The region of Cuyo has an arid climate or a semi-arid climate with an average annual precipitation of about that is generally unreliable from year to year. The region, which encompasses a wide range of latitudes combined with altitudes ranging from 500 m to nearly 7,000 m means that it has a diverse range of different climates. In general, most of the region has a temperate climate with higher altitude valleys having a more milder climate. At the highest altitudes (over 4,000 m), icy conditions persist year round. The diurnal range is very large with very hot temperatures during the day followed by cold nights. Amongst all locations in Argentina, the region has the largest diurnal range in the country with areas in San Juan Province having a diurnal range exceeding . The Andes prevent rain–bearing clouds from the Pacific Ocean from coming in, while its latitude puts it in a band of the sub-tropical high pressure belt keeping this region dry. With very low humidity, abundant sunshine throughout the year, and a temperate climate, the region is suitable for wine production. Droughts are often frequent and prolonged. The Cuyo region is influenced by the subtropical, semi–permanent South Atlantic anticyclone to the east in the Atlantic, the semi-permanent South Pacific anticyclone to the west of the Andes, the development of a low pressure system ("Chaco low") over northern Argentina and westerlies in the southern parts of the region. Most of the precipitation falls during the summer, when hot temperatures and high insolation lead to the development of a low pressure system ("Chaco low") situated over northern Argentina that interacts with the South Atlantic anticyclone to generate a pressure gradient that brings moist easterly winds to the region, favouring precipitation, which mostly occurs in the form of convective thunderstorms. More than 85% of the annual rainfall occurs from October to March, which represents the warm season. In contrast, the winter months are dry due to these systems weakening, and the lower insolation that weakens the Chaco low over northern Argentina. Eastern and southeastern areas of the region receive more precipitation than the western areas since they receive more summer rainfall. As such, most of Mendoza province and San Juan province receive the lowest annual precipitation with mean summer precipitation averaging less than and in rare cases, no summer rainfall. Further eastwards in San Luis province, mean summer rainfall averages around and can exceed in some areas. Higher altitude locations receive precipitation in the form of snow during the winter months. In the Cuyo region, annual precipitation is highly variable from year to year and appears to follow a cycle between dry and wet years in periods of about 2, 4–5, 6–8, and 16–22 years. In wet years, easterly winds caused by the subtropical South Atlantic anticyclone are stronger, which causes more moisture towards this region while during the dry years, these winds are weaker.
Summers in the region are hot and generally very sunny, averaging as much as 10 hours per day. In contrast, winters are dry and cold and average around 7–8 hours of sunshine per day. Since this region has a wide range of altitudes, ranging from 500 m to nearly 7,000 m, temperatures can vary widely with altitude. In the lowlands of Mendoza province, which lie at an altitude of around 440 m to 530 m, mean annual temperatures range from in the northern parts to in the south. At higher altitude locations and in the western parts of Mendoza province, the mean annual temperatures range from in Cristo Redentor to with a larger difference in temperatures between winter and summer months. In San Juan Province, the mean annual temperature ranges from in the provincial capital to . In San Luis province, mean annual temperatures range from in Villa Reynolds to in the provincial capital. The Sierras Pampeanas, which cross into both San Juan province and San Luis province have a milder climate with mean annual temperatures ranging from . In all locations, at altitudes over 3,800 m, permafrost is present while icy conditions persist year round at altitudes over 4,000 m.
The Zonda, a Foehn wind characterized by warm, dry air can cause temperatures to exceed in some cases while in summer, temperatures can exceed such as in 2003. This wind often precedes following a cold front passage across Argentina and tends to occur when a low pressure system brings heavy rain to the Chilean side, and when an upper level trough allows the winds to pass over the Andes to descend downwards. As such, when a zonda wind event occurs, the temperature may raise as much as in a few hours with humidity approaching 0%. In contrast, cold waves are also common, owing to the Andes channeling cold air from the south, allowing cold fronts to frequently come during the winter months, causing cool to cold temperatures with temperatures that can fall below freezing. Temperatures can dip below at the higher altitudes.
Tourism.
As in other parts of Argentina, nature tourism is an important source of income. Amongst sites that receive a large number of visitors, the following are its main attractions:


Ol Doinyo Orok

The Ol Donyo Orok mountain (in maasai language), also called Namanga Hills, is situated in southern Kenya next to the Tanzanian border in the Namanga Division. The mountain has a stretched triangular shape, almost like an arrow pointing north. The short side faces the Tanzanian border (and one corner is actually crossing it). The highest peak is .
OlDonyo Orok Mountain Forest Reserve.
The OlDonyo Orok Mountain Forest Reserve is a government gazetted area, 117.84 square kilometres large. A large part of it consists of elevated cloud forest (above ). Being one of the few remaining patches in Kenya, it contains a large variety of plants, herbs and also several animal species not found in the surrounding semi-arid lowlands. In the mountain valleys there are natural water catchments created by the high altitude rains and the high humid climate. These provide the surrounding Maasai communities with water and pasture even during the dry seasons.
The mountain wildlife has been under a lot of stress due to poaching and traditional Maasai hunting, which has wiped out many of the large mammals and predators. But there are still a small population of leopards to be found. Other large animals include buffaloes (in rapidly decreasing number due to poaching), bushbucks, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, rock hyraxes, etc. There are also a large variety of migratory and endemic birds in the area. Very little research has been taken place on the mountain ecology and no scientific animal count has been made on the large animals. The bush savanna vegetation in the surrounding lowlands is also home to animals like giraffes, zebras, gazelles, eland antelopes, warthogs, ostriches, african wild dogs and hyenas, etc. Many of these migrate to the high hills during nighttime or settle there during droughts. Occasionally elephants from Amboseli National Park or Tanzania migrate to the area.
Since the gazettement in 1979 the mountain forest have been generally well preserved, illegal wood cutting, charcoal burning, honey collecting through fires have decreased through the efforts of the Kenyan local authorities and Kenya Wildlife Service, with the support of local environmental committees.
Tourism.
The mountain receives few tourists annually, even though it lies next to Namanga, the gateway to Tanzania and Amboseli National Park. The local community is therefore trying to market the area more for treking visitors.
A 1928 ascent of the mountain is described in Vivienne de Watteville's book "Speak to the Earth" (1935).


Louisa Downs Station

Louisa Downs, also commonly just referred to as "Louisa", is a large cattle station midway between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek in the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
Description.
Originally of about is size, the station encompasses a significant section of the south eastern end of the Wunaamin-Miliwundi Ranges and the southern boundary is on the northern end of the Great Sandy Desert.
In 1962 when the station was purchased by Karl Stein it was combined with the neighbouring station, Bohemia Downs, now known as Kupartiya, and also nearly 1,000,000 acres in size, and run as one enterprise with approximately 17,000 head of cattle.
The Margaret River enters the station on its eastern boundary near the junction of the Mary River, then running in a north westerly direction between the Lubbock and Kuniandi Ranges and entering the Mueller Ranges at "Me No Savy" in a wide gorge, the site of a potential irrigation dam.
The homestead is located on the banks of the Margaret River near Mount Frank.
A significant meteorite crater (astrobleme) known locally as Goat Paddock Pocket is located in the northern part of the station near the junction of the O'Donnell and Margaret River in an area known as "Bluebush."
The combined station has since been broken up into four stations and the original Louisa Downs has now been returned to its original traditional owners, the Cox family.
The Cox family.
The station is notable for its association with the Cox family who were early settlers in the region. William Cox aka Billy died at Louisa in 1944 and is buried in a grave just to the west of the homestead. Billy moved from Noonkanbah Station some time in the 1930s with his young son Fred.
Freddie lived almost his entire life there and died in 1991 and is buried next to his father.
Notable events.
During an influenza epidemic in the Kimberleys in 1934, 14 Aborigines died from the disease on Louisa out of the 129 fatalities overall.
Leslie Arthur Schubert, who purchased Louisa Downs along with the neighbouring Bohemia Downs in December 1966, was one of the pioneers of aerial mustering at Louisa in 1967 using Cessna 182 fixed wing aircraft and much smaller teams of Aboriginal stockmen.
Communications between the aircraft and the stockmen on the ground was very unreliable using 27 MHz citizens band "walkie talkie" radios. The radios often failed or were broken through rough use by the stockmen while on horseback. Hand written notes on strips of toilet paper were then dropped to the white overseers who accompanied these teams as the Aboriginal stockmen were largely illiterate.
The development of this method of mustering was very effective and the numbers of wild cattle that were able to be mustered rose dramatically. This enabled the culling of many of the lower quality wild bulls leading eventually to improved blood lines.
The Bluebush area was originally only accessible by horse or foot along the dry bed of the Margaret River and all supplies for the muster had to be taken in by pack horse. In 1968 Les Schubert surveyed a route through the ranges and along the bed of the Margaret River and constructed a rugged track into the area.
Shortly after, he cleared a short 300 metre Airstrip near the junction of the Margaret and O'Donnell Rivers at the appropriately named "Junction Yard" using a small front end loader and manual labour. This airstrip enabled station staff and stores to be flown in, in less than 20 minutes from the homestead instead of a gruelling 5 hour drive in a Landrover over rough station tracks.
Goat Paddock Pocket was used as a large holding yard for cattle during the annual muster in this area.
The Public Works Department set up a flow monitoring station on the Margaret River at the entrance of the gorge where it enters the Mueller Ranges, in 1966. Debate continues about the use of the Fitzroy as a water source for the South West of Western Australia.
In 2005, Department of Housing and Works received grants totalling 281,300 to build airstrips and improve facilities to Royal Flying Doctor Service standard at Louisa Downs and other places in the Kimberley as part of the Regional Airports Development Scheme funding provided by the Gallop government.
A helicopter crashed in a gorge near Margaret River at the station boundary in 2012. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed in the crash when the helicopter struck a rock face then plunged into the water below, it was then submerged.


Hewitt Bostock

Hewitt Bostock, (May 31, 1864 – April 28, 1930) was a Canadian publisher, businessman and politician.
He was born in Walton Heath, Epsom, England and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge graduating with honours in mathematics. Bostock then studied law and was called to the bar in 1888. Rather than begin a legal practice he toured North America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan before settling in British Columbia in 1893 In 1888 the Monte Creek Ranch (also known as the Ducks Ranch) he had purchased in 1888, taking up residence there in 1894. In addition to the ranch, he also operated a lumber company.
He founded the "Province" newspaper and then entered politics winning election to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal in the 1896 election, representing the riding of Yale—Cariboo for one term (until the 1900 election).
In 1904, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by the prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier. A decade later he became Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate. Bostock broke with the Laurier Liberals over the Conscription Crisis of 1917, and became a Liberal-Unionist, campaigning in favour of the Union government of Sir Robert Borden during the 1917 election.
Following World War I, Bostock reconciled with the Liberals and, in 1921, became Minister of Public Works in the Liberal government of William Lyon Mackenzie King. Several months later, in 1922, he became Speaker of the Senate of Canada and held the position until his death in 1930. In 1925, he served as a member of the Canadian delegation to the Assembly of the League of Nations.
There is a Mount Hewitt Bostock (2183 m or 7162 ft) named in his honour in the northern end of the Canadian Cascades, about 20 kilometres northeast of the Fraser Canyon town of Boston Bar, which is in what had been the riding of Yale—Cariboo where his political career began (today in Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon).
His eldest daughter Marian Noel Sherman was a physician in India and a prominent humanist in western Canada.


International Fertilizer Development Center

The International Fertilizer Development Center (known as IFDC) is a science-based public international organization working to alleviate global hunger by introducing improved agricultural practices and fertilizer technologies to farmers and by linking farmers to markets. Headquartered in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA, the organization has projects in over 25 countries.
History.
IFDC was established, in part, because by 1975, the Tennessee Valley Authority's National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC) began receiving an amount of international assistance calls that exceeded the capabilities of the Center's staff to fulfill both international demand and domestic programs. A year earlier at the Sixth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in his speech "The Challenge of Interdependence" urged the creation of an international fertilizer institute and promised U.S. contribution through facilities, technology and expertise. The result of Kissinger's urgency became the International Fertilizer Development Center, a non-profit organization incorporated under the state laws of Alabama, which began its service by answering the international calls once fielded to the NFDC.
In March 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter designated IFDC a public international organization "entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions, and immunities conferred by the International Organizations Immunities Act."
Funding.
IFDC receives funding from various bilateral and multilateral development agencies, private enterprises, foundations and an assortment of other organizations. Additionally, long-term revenue is given to the Center through long-term, donor-funded market development projects involving the transfer of policy and technology improvements to emerging economies.
President and CEO.
Albin Hubscher's work in international agricultural development has spanned both the public and private sectors. Most recently, Hubscher served as Interim Corporate Service Director for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He has also held roles as CFO – Director Of Finance for the CGIAR System Organization from 2015 to 2018 and as Deputy Director General for the Centro International de Agricultural Tropical (CIAT) from 2007 to 2015.
Within the private sector, Hubscher held positions at Ciba-Geigy Corporation and Novartis in Colombia, Switzerland, and the United States.
Hubscher earned a degree in industrial/processing engineering from . He has also completed several management and leadership training programs and workshops in the private and non-profit sectors, including from the Harvard Business School.
Divisions.
East and Southern Africa Division.
Active Countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
The East and South Africa Division (ESAFD) of IFDC handles areas where previous farming techniques are no longer adequate for the growing population they serve. ESAFD works to improve farmers’ access to quality seeds and fertilizers as well as markets to cover their costs. The effort also educates farmers in Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) to improve soil conditions.
North and West Africa Division.
Active Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
The North and West Africa Division (NWAFD) of IFDC covers an area of Africa of about 520 million people, more than half of whom are directly affected by its programs. These programs include demonstrations fields where farmers receive hands-on training and experience with new and specialized fertilizer, seed, crop protection and irrigation research. Through the use of voucher programs called “smart subsidies,” farmers can receive quality supplies in a timely manner and be supported at harvest time.
EurAsia Division.
Active Countries: Bangladesh, Myanmar
The EurAsia Division (EAD) of IFDC focuses on countries with little land suitable for farming where farmers’ yields steadily decrease over time due to crop quality and quantity. EAD hopes to reverse these issues by addressing specific financial, market, and agricultural needs. The division teaches farmers about Fertilizer Deep Placement (FDP), a method which has previously raised crop yields by 20 percent and decreased nitrogen losses by 40 percent.
Office of Programs.
The Office of Programs conducts research and development projects dedicated to improving fertilizer efficiency. It offers consultation to national governments as well as private sector organizations with regard to critical domains such as supply/demand and policy issues.
Research and development.
By 2050, 60 percent more food will need to be grown annually to keep up with a rapidly growing population. According to Vaclav Smil, man-made nitrogen fertilizers are keeping about 40% of the world's population alive. IFDC conducts research to identify the most efficient use of fertilizer raw materials and develops processes to use these materials in the sustainable and cost-effective manufacture of various fertilizer products. In Bangladesh, for example, IFDC introduced Urea Deep Placement (UDP) technology, an briquetted form of urea applied into the soil, which increases farmer incomes by an average of 20% and decreases nitrogen loss by up to 30%. Applied research also includes the development of more efficient cropping technologies, decision support tools and the agronomic evaluation of these products and processes to ensure their long-term viability in a free-market environment.
Fertilizer Deep Placement.
During the mid to late 1980s, IFDC began research in India on several fertilizer types, one being the IFDC-developed fertilizer deep placement (FDP) technology, which was shown at the time to decrease nitrogen losses by 9% on sorghum crops. In 1986, the Center introduced FDP in Bangladesh where IFDC has promoted the technology ever since. Farmers are now using the technology on 1.7 million acres in that country alone. In 2007, IFDC began a new FDP campaign, spreading the technology to sub-Saharan Africa.
FDP involves "briquetting" nitrogen fertilizer by compacting prilled fertilizer into 1-3 gram briquettes. The briquettes (either urea- or NPK-based) are then placed in a plant's root zone, as opposed to the traditional application method of broadcasting. Trials have shown that FDP and UDP (when only urea is used) can increase crop production up to 36 percent, reduce fertilizer use by up to 38 percent, and reduce nitrogen losses by up to 40 percent.
The technology, mainly promoted in lowland flooded rice, showed promising results in reducing nitrogen runoff, so in 2012, IFDC began research in Bangladesh to quantify GHG emissions produced from using FDP. Through the USAID-funded Accelerating Agricultural Productivity Improvement project, which integrated the U.S. government's Global Climate Change Initiative into its Feed the Future Initiative, research is currently underway.
Peak Phosphorus.
Phosphorus is a key component of fertilizer, along with nitrogen and potassium. Predicting the future event of peak phosphate in which production of phosphate rock begins to decline as resources dwindle, researchers estimated that world phosphorus supplies would be used up by 2030 if mined and processed at its present rates. Depletion of this material would be a major complication for the fertilizer production sector.
In 2010, IFDC geologist Steven Van Kauwenburgh estimated the world's supply of phosphate rock at 60 billion metric tons in the publication "World Phosphate Rock Reserves and Resources". By his estimates, global resources of phosphate rock suitable to produce phosphate rock concentrate, phosphoric acid, phosphate fertilizers and other phosphate-based products will be available for several hundred years. His estimation overshadowed previous estimates of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) by 44 billion tons. Upon review and intense scrutiny of the information in the report, the USGS revised its world phosphate rock reserve and resource numbers to more closely reflect those stated in the report.
Areas of Expertise.
Capacity Building.
IFDC trains farmers to participate effectively in a global market while facing challenges in their specific local communities. This training works both with farming techniques on a hands-on agricultural level and with commercial concepts on an agribusiness level.
Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (CASE).
CASE consolidates local stakeholders to encourage innovation and growth while also developing a commodity value chain and involving public and private entities. IFDC developed CASE in 2004 to further promote agricultural intensification and strengthen the integration of farmers and local entrepreneurs.
Decision Support Tools (DSTs).
DSTs help farmers apply agricultural research based on geography and markets by using crop modeling and analyses of soil, weather and market information to increase yields and profits. IFDC has aided in the development of several tools, including the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT).
Fertilizer Deep Placement (FDP).
FDP involves "briquetting" nitrogen fertilizer by compacting prilled fertilizer into 1-3 gram briquettes. The briquettes (either urea- or NPK-based) are then placed in a plant's root zone, as opposed to the traditional application method of broadcasting. Trials have shown that FDP and UDP (when only urea is used) can increase crop production up to 36 percent, reduce fertilizer use by up to 38 percent, and reduce nitrogen losses by up to 40 percent.
Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM).
ISFM adapts agricultural practices to specific areas and their respective conditions to maximize agricultural efficiency and productivity.
Market Development.
Market development efforts consist of developing output markets for farmers to sell their surplus produce, which can thus create an input market from which farmers can buy the necessary supplies such as seeds, fertilizers and crop protection products.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
PPPs accomplish tasks together that neither public sector institutions nor private sector organizations could accomplish individually.
Initiatives.
Africa Fertilizer Summit.
On June 9–13, 2006 heads of state and governments gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, for the Africa Fertilizer summit and called for the elimination of all taxes and tariffs on fertilizer in the historic “Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for an African Green Revolution”. Summit participants also agreed on 12 resolutions designed to increase fertilizer use five-fold in 10 years in the Abuja Declaration.
IFDC helped organize and to implement the Summit. Dr. Amit Roy, then president and CEO of IFDC, in a corporate report address on the Summit stated, “The obstacles to agricultural development in Africa are enormous and long-standing. Human, institutional and research capacity, as well as physical infrastructure, must be built to enable Africa to compete effectively. Policies should be changed to encourage business investment. Furthermore, as history has demonstrated, countries must take charge of their own futures if they are to build better futures for their children.”
The Summit was attended by 1,100 participants including five African heads of state, 15 ministers of agriculture, 17 members of the Summit's Eminent Persons Advisory Committee, and hundreds of leaders of international organizations, agricultural research centers and private sector companies. The Abuja Declaration was written at the conclusion of the Africa Fertilizer Summit on June 13, 2006, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Global Transdisciplinary Processes for Sustainable Phosphorus Management (Global TraPs).
The Global TraPs initiative brings together experts from a multitude of fields to build knowledge on how humans can make steps towards using phosphorus in a sustainable manner. The multi-stakeholder initiative is headed by Dr. Amit H. Roy, then IFDC president and CEO, and Dr. Roland W. Scholz, of Fraunhofer IWKS. More than 200 other partners worldwide participate in the project. Recently, Global TraPs published a Springer book titled "Sustainable Phosphorus Management: A Global Transdisciplinary Roadmap". The book discusses the economic scarcity of phosphorus and ways to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts of anthropogenic phosphorus flows at every stage of production, supply and use.
Virtual Fertilizer Research Center (VFRC).
The VFRC was an IFDC research initiative designed to create and disseminate the “next generation” of fertilizers. The initiative, through a virtual network, engaged universities, public and private research laboratories and the global fertilizer and agribusiness industries in the development of new fertilizers.
Past work focused on biological solutions to plant and human nutrition.


DeLille Cellars

DeLille Cellars is a winery in Woodinville, Washington, USA. The tasting room is located at 14300 NE 145th Street, Suite 101, Woodinville WA at Hollywood Station at the former Redhook Brewery. DeLille Cellars specializes in wines using the Bordeaux grape varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. In 2000, DeLille won "The New York Times" "Wine Today.com" "Winery of the Year" award. It is one of Washington state's premier cult wines.
The DeLille Cellars tasting room is located in the Hollywood District of Woodinville. DeLille Cellars moved (March 2019) all production and offices to the old Redhook brewery site in Woodinville, with a new tasting room set to open in Fall, 2019, at 14300 NE 145th St., Suite 101, Woodinville, WA 98072.
DeLille Cellars is in the "Top 100" Guides of Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast for both red and white wine (D2, Signature Syrah, Chaleur Blanc), as well as being honored as Wine Enthusiast Wine Star - Top Five American Wineries. DeLille Cellars was one of the first five wineries in Washington State to receive Robert Parker’s 5-star/Outstanding rating. DeLille Cellars was recently named a Top 100 Winery in the World for two consecutive years (2017, 2018) by Wine and Spirits Magazine.
In 2018, DeLille Cellars achieved the highest ever unmatched auction lot bid in the history of the Auction of Washington Wines.
History.
The winery was founded in 1992 by Jay Soloff, winemaker Chris Upchurch, and Charles and Greg Lill. For the few first years, Master of wine David Lake served as consulting enologist.
Winemaking.
Founding Winemaker and Founding Partner Chris Upchurch has led the winery with a passion for traditional winemaking methods that showcase the terroir of the state. Guiding the winery's operations, Director of Winemaking Jason Gorski has been key to the winery's growth and continued lineup of accolades since 2011.
Wines.
DeLille Cellars has a portfolio of over a dozen Bordeaux and Rhône style blends true to the terroir of Washington State.
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Chaleur Estate, D2, Harrison Hill, Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon and Chaleur Blanc are the Bordeaux style labels. Rhone-style blends include Signature Syrah, Rhône-styled Syrah, produced from grapes grown in Boushey Vineyard, Métier (a Châteauneuf-du-Pape style red, and Doyenne (a Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. DeLille Cellars also makes a Roussanne and a traditional Rosé.
The winery sources its grapes primarily in the Red Mountain AVA in Eastern Washington and utilizes 100% French oak barrels. The winery has an estate vineyard on Red Mountain, Grand Ciel Vineyard.
At the 2001 San Francisco International Wine Competition, DeLille Cellars won "Best in Show" in the Premium red blend category for its 1998 Yakima Valley D2.


Forests of the United States

It has been estimated that before European settlement, forests in the United States mainland, covered nearly . Since the mid-1600s, about of forest have been cleared, primarily for agriculture during the 19th century."
As of 2016, roughly 36.21% (about one-third of the U.S.) is forested. Excluding the U.S. territories, forested land in the U.S. covers roughly 818,814,000 acres (3,313,622 square kilometers). As of 2005, the United States ranked seventh in the rate of loss of its old growth forests.
Current coverage.
While total forest area has been relatively stable for the last 100 years, there have been significant regional shifts in the area and composition of the nation's forests. Reversion of marginal farmland in the east, large scale planting in the South, and fire suppression have contributed to increases in forest area. Urbanization, conversion to agriculture, reservoir construction, and natural disasters have been major factors contributing to loss of forests."
Eastern forests cover about and are predominantly broadleaf (74%), with the exception of extensive coniferous forests and plantations in the southern coastal region. These are largely in private ownership (83%). By contrast, about of western forests are predominantly coniferous (78%) and in public ownership (57%). Nearly ten million private individuals own about of forest and other wooded land. Most public forest land is held by four Federal agencies (United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service) as well as numerous state, county, and municipal government organizations."
Major uses of forests include timber production, recreation, hunting, fishing, watershed and fisheries protection, wildlife habitat and biodiversity protection, and gathering nontimber products such as berries, mushrooms, and medicinal plants."
There are boreal forests in Alaska. Forests in Hawaii and the U.S. territories are tropical.
The most heavily-forested regions of the U.S. are Maine, New Hampshire, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and West Virginia; the least heavily forested regions are North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
The U.S. had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.65/10, ranking it 67th globally out of 172 countries.
Environmental issues.
Invasive species.
Projects have been undertaken to remove invasive species from forests in the U.S.; for example, in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, rats were successfully eradicated in the tropical forest on Palmyra Atoll.


Michael Brennan (Fine Gael politician)

Michael Brennan (1884 – 6 October 1970) was an Irish politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for fifteen years for the Roscommon constituency.
A farmer, Brennan was first elected as an independent TD to the 5th Dáil at the June 1927 general election and returned to the 6th Dail at the September 1927 general election.
After losing his seat at the 1932 general election, Brennan joined Cumann na nGaedheal and was returned to the 8th Dáil at the 1933 general election. He was re-elected at the 1937 general election to the 9th Dáil and at the 1938 general election to the 10th Dáil. He lost his seat at the 1943 general election, and stood again unsuccessfully as a Fine Gael candidate at the 1944 general election.
He stood as an independent candidate at the 1948 general election, and for Fine Gael at the 1951 general election, but was unsuccessful on both occasions.


Alfred Atkinson (university president)

Alfred B. Atkinson (October 6, 1879 – May 16, 1958) was a Canadian American agronomist who served as the President of Montana State University from 1919 to 1937 and the University of Arizona from 1937 to 1947. He made a number of advances in farming methods, and developed the "Montana 36" wheat cultivar.
Life and career.
Alfred Atkinson was born on a farm near Seaforth, Ontario, in Canada on October 6, 1879. His parents were Joseph and Isabella A. (Burns) Atkinson, His paternal grandparents were James and Sarah (Cotton) Atkinson, who emigrated to Canada from Bradford, County of York (W.R.), United Kingdom.
He attended Ontario Agricultural College from 1899 to 1902, but left without earning a degree. He then enrolled at Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy in 1904. He obtained a position as an assistant agronomist at Iowa State's agricultural experiment station in 1902, and served there until 1904.
Atkinson was named an associate professor of agronomy at Montana State College (MSC) in 1904, and served there until 1906. He also served during this time as an agronomist with the MSC agricultural experiment station. He was promoted to professor of agronomy in 1906. During his time as an academic, he published numerous papers on dryland farming, nitrate formation, soil moisture control, soil science, and agricultural practice. He developed several new farming methods, and developed a new cultivar of wheat named "Montana 36".
Atkinson became a naturalized American citizen in 1911, and obtained a master of science degree from Cornell University in 1912.
During World War I, Congress enacted the Food and Fuel Control Act (also known as the "Lever Act") to promote food production for the war effort. The United States Food Administration was established to implement the act, and an administrator appointed in each state to oversee these efforts. Atkinson was appointed Food Administration administrator for the state of Montana, and traveled the state extensively giving speeches, promoting modern agricultural practices, and exhorting farmers and ranchers to produce more.
University presidencies.
Montana State College.
Atkinson was appointed President of Montana State College in 1919. He received his doctorate from Iowa State University in 1920.
Atkinson had the second-longest tenure as president (as of 2013) of any person at Montana State College, one which lasted 18 years (1919 to 1937). A firm believer in his predecessor's vision for the school, Atkinson worked hard to continue the rapid expansion of the campus. The iconic, domed Gymnasium Building (now Romney Gym) was built in 1922, replacing a dilapidated "drill hall" and giving the school's men's basketball team its first home court. The Heating Plant, Lewis Hall, and Roberts Hall followed in 1923. By the 1920s, the school was commonly referred to as Montana State College (MSC). Herrick Hall opened in 1926. The college was justifiably proud of its academic accomplishments, but its sports teams entered a golden age as well. In 1922, Atkinson hired George Ott Romney and Schubert Dyche as co-head coaches of the football and men's basketball teams. Between 1922 and 1928 (the year he departed Montana for Brigham Young University), Romney's football teams compiled a 28–20–1 record. This included the 1924 season in which his team went undefeated until the final game of the year. As co-head basketball coach, Romney's teams compiled a 144–31 record and invented the fast break. After Romney left, Schubert Dyche coached the "Golden Bobcats" team of 1928–29, which had a 36-2 record and won the national championship. In his seven years as basketball coach, Dyche's teams compiled a 110–93 record (this included the dismal 1932–33 and 1933–34 seasons), but won their conference championship twice. In 1930, the college built Gatton Field, a football field on what is now the site of the Marga Hosaeus Fitness Center. In one of President Atkinson's last accomplishments, the Dormitory Quadrangle (now Atkinson Quadrangle) was built.
The first three decades of the 20th century were rowdy ones on the college campus. Bozeman, Montana, had a large red-light district by 1900, alcohol was plentiful and cheap, and there was little in the way of organized entertainment such as theaters to occupy the student body. Like his two predecessors, President Atkinson sought to reduce what he believed were immoral student activities. Atkinson Quadrangle was built on the location of the "Bobcat Lair", a popular student drinking and dancing hangout, as part of this program.
The college suffered greatly during the Great Depression. The price of agricultural products (Montana's economic mainstay) soared during World War I, as European and Russian farms were devastated by military campaigns and American and European armies demanded food. For a few years after the war, these prices stayed high. But as European agriculture got back on its feet, an agricultural depression swamped the United States beginning about 1923. State tax revenues plunged, and fewer buildings were constructed on campus after 1923. The United States entered the Great Depression in 1929. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1933 to provide federal funding for public works construction as a means of economic stimulus. But President Atkinson was strongly opposed to Roosevelt's New Deal, and refused to accept PWA funds to expand the college. With the state unable to assist, Montana State College stagnated through the 1930s.
University of Arizona.
Atkinson served as president of the University of Arizona (UA) from 1937 to 1947. During his tenure, enrollment doubled and he greatly expanded the campus.
Atkinson wished to undertake a rapid expansion of UA much as he had at MSC. He was not successful at first. When he tried to demolish Old Main in 1938, alumni reaction was so negative that he was forced to cancel the plan. Campus growth was slow, with only Pima Hall and the James Douglas Memorial Building for Mines and Metallurgy (built with a private donation) constructed prior to World War II.
Enrollment, already low due to the Great Depression, dropped lower as young men enlisted or were drafted during World War II. The curriculum was significantly altered to emphasize vocational skills demanded by war production, and the United States Navy took over a number of campus buildings (including Old Main) and began training men and women for military service. One of the few scholastic changes which occurred during the war was the promotion of the School of Business and Public Administration into a college, and a change in governance that brought UA and the other two state universities under a single Board of Regents.
After the war, the G.I. Bill and the end of the war led to a rapid rise in enrollment. To handle the significant influx of new students, Atkinson approved the construction of 114 Quonset huts on campus. Intended to be temporary, the Quonset huts lasted until the mid-1980s.
Retirement and death.
After he retired, he served until 1955 as an advisor to the University of Arizona Board of Regents and to the State Colleges of Arizona.
Alfred Atkinson died in Tucson, Arizona, on May 16, 1958.
Legacy, other roles, and memberships.
Atkinson was active in a number of professional organizations. He served as the chair of the executive committee of the 5th Dry Farming Congress, and was a vice president of the Corn Association and the Plains Cooperative Extension Association. Atkinson was a member of the Council of Presidents of the Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (now known as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities), and served as its president from 1936 to 1937.
Atkinson also served on a number of nonprofessional capacities as well. He was Montana's representative on the Northwest Planning Board (a federal power and transportation infrastructure planning agency) in the 1930s, and served on the Arizona Interstate Water Commission from 1948 to 1955.
Atkinson was a Freemason, and a member of Phi Gamma Delta and Alpha Zeta. He was president of the Northern Pure Seed Company from 1906 to 1913, and consulted on farm crops with the Anaconda Copper Company.
Personal life.
Atkinson married Barbara Miller of Whitby, Montana, on June 13, 1906. They had no children.


Aggersvold

Aggersvold is a manor house and estate located just north of Jyderup, Holbæk Municipality, some 80 kilometres west of Copenhagen, Denmark. The current main building was built in 1833-35 for major-general Harald Rothe (1781-1848). It was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1944.
History.
Aggersvold traces its history back to the Middle Ages when its name was Navnet and it was located in the village of Marke.
In 1581, Frederik Lange and his wife Dorthe Christoffersdatter Lindenov moved the manor to its current location, renaming it Aggersvold after a village, Agerup, which had formerly been located at the site. Their son, Gunde Lange, sold the estate to admiral Henrik Vind in 1630. Vind, who had served in the Kalmar War (1611–13) and Kejserkrigen (1625-29), died just 39 years old in 1733. His widow, Margrethe Pedersdatter Laxmand, who inherited the estate, married Joachim von Bredow 1641. Their daughter, Marie Margrethe von Bredow, sold Aggersvold in 1691.
The new owner was Niels Benzon, a major landowner and president of work for the Danish Chancellery, who had been ennobled in 1780. After his death in 1708, Aggersvold was passed on to his son Jacob Benzon. Oeder Benzon, one of his brothers, acquired it in 1820 and a third brother, Lars Benzon, was the owner from 1733.
Lars Benzon sold Aggersvold to Herman Leopoldus in 1737. He was later ennobled under the name Løvenskiold. Løvenskjold's son, Severin Leopoldus Løvenskiold, sold it to Christian Lautrup in 1750.
In 1753, Aggersvold was acquired by Peder Juel. He expanded the estate with land that had until then belonged to four farms in the village of Høed. In 1760, he sold the estate to Laurits Switzer.
Christian Albrecht Lerche purchased Aggersvold in 1865. He did not live on the estate and the building gradually fell into disrepair while most of the tenant farms were sold to the tenant farmers. Lerche's widow sold it to Villars Knudsen Lunn . He expanded the forests significantly in around 1900.
In 1915, Aggersvold was sold to a consortium. The intention was to sell the land off in lots but these plans were not realized.
Thor Timm purchased Aggersvold in 1916. Some of the land was used for the creation of new smallholdings in the period between 1923 and 1942. He also established the farms Skyttehaven (1926) and Fruensfold (1930).
In 2021, Aggersvold was purchased by Jørgen Torrey Troelsfeldt via the property company De Forenede Ejendomsselskaber
Architecture.
The two-storey main building is built to a restrained Neoclassical design. The median risalit is decorated with pilasters and tipped by a triangular pediment. Monumental, Bornholmian sandstone staircases lead up to the main entrances on both sides of the building.
The farm buildings, a three-winged complex surrounding a central courtyard, is located to the north of the main building.
Today.
The estate covers a total area of 344 hectares of which 324 hectares are woodland and seven hectares are pastures.
The main building has been used as a venue for weddings, conferences and other events. The stables have room for 20 horses.


Charles Braithwaite

Charles Braithwaite (1850 – June 9, 1910) was a Manitoba politician and agrarian leader. From 1891 to 1897, he was the leader of the province's Patrons of Industry.
Braithwaite was born in Folston, England. A farmer's son with little formal education, he left England for Canada in the 1870s, initially living in Durham, Ontario but moving to Manitoba in 1881. After shifting between cities and jobs for a few years, he settled as a farmer in Portage la Prairie in 1883.
In 1891, Braithwaite joined the Farmers' Institute, an educational and lobbying group representing the concerns of farmers. He also joined a Patrons of Industry local in the spring of the same year. A powerful orator, Braithwaite was elected Grand President of the Manitoba Patrons at their first provincial convention in November, and held this position until January 1897.
The Patrons of Industry were originally an agrarian fraternal organization and discussion forum operating throughout the United States and Canada. In Ontario and Manitoba, they followed in the tradition of earlier agrarian groups by opposing the national policy of John A. Macdonald's Conservative government. Under the national policy, Manitoba farmers were required to pay high prices for equipment while receiving relatively low prices for their goods. Braithwaite was able to lead a populist movement in opposition to this policy, using the slogan "Manitoba for Manitobans" to promote his organization's goals.
During Braithwaite's first three years as Patron leader, the organization focused on agrarian cooperation via the Patrons Commercial Union. This union failed due to poor management, after its members refused to contribute enough materials to attract commercial interests.
The Manitoba Patrons turned to direct political action in 1894. Originally a Liberal, Braithwaite encouraged the party to run its own candidates in provincial and federal elections to protest existing political corruption. Braithwaite himself conducted a successful tour of the province to spread this message. By the end of the year, membership in the Manitoba Patrons had grown to about 5000, and the party had nominated candidates in all but two constituencies in anticipation of the next provincial election. In the summer of 1894, Patron candidate John Forsyth defeated Conservative leader John Andrew Davidson in a by-election for the Manitoba legislature. (Forsyth subsequently violated party policy by using a railway pass as a privilege of elected office, and was expelled from the Patrons in October 1895).
The Patrons were, however, a divided organization. Braithwaite frequently quarrelled with Henry Clay, the hardline editor of the Patrons newspaper whose intemperate comments often drove financial supporters away from the party. Clay was replaced as editor in early 1895, but other divisions subsequently surfaced. (Clay recalled the event differently - according to him, he was with the paper until the end when he signed the printing press over to the print-shop employees to pay their wages owing.)
In early 1895, Braithwaite travelled to Toronto to help create the platform of a national Patrons party, which advocated agrarian reform, prohibition and woman's suffrage. Soon after this, however, the Manitoba Patrons became divided by a local issue, the Manitoba Schools Question. Catholic Patrons became alienated from the party when it supported the government of Thomas Greenway in opposing denominational schools. The controversy also caused many Protestant farmers to rally around Greenway's Liberals, further marginalizing the Patrons. Only seven Patrons candidates contested the 1896 provincial election in Manitoba, and of these only two were elected. Braithwaite had already declared himself a candidate for federal office, and did not run provincially.
In the 1896 federal election, Braithwaite contested the riding of Macdonald on a platform of non-sectarian schools, electoral reform, agricultural interests, free trade, public utilities ownership, prohibition and universal suffrage. His campaign was marginalized by a close national race between the Conservatives and Liberals, and was dealt a further blow when Charles Tupper's Conservatives unveiled a platform that promoted many of the Patrons goals. Braithwaite finished third in his riding, and stepped down as Grand President in January 1897. The Patrons effectively ceased to exist as a viable political group in Manitoba after this time, although many of their policies would later resurface in the Progressive Party of Canada.
Braithwaite lost his farm to fire and did not have the funds to re-build as he had been operating a farm beyond his ability anyway. Braithwaite, who had led the party since 1891, stepped down as party leader in January 1897, and the party effectively ceased to exist after this time.
He accepted office as Manitoba's provincial weed inspector, serving from 1897 to 1901. He returned to his farm after this, and in 1904 moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia. He later became the first postmaster of the small community of Camp Slough, and died in 1910.


Brudavoll Farm

The Brudavoll Farm () is a museum in the municipality of Ørsta in the Sunnmøre region of Western Norway. The museum is an old farm that was purchased for museum purposes in 1958. The farm is located about from the center of Ørsta.
History.
The Brudavoll Farm has probably been inhabited since the 16th century. In the 17th century, the farm was struck by a landslide and the buildings were moved to a new location on the property. As far as is known, the farm was an isolated one. At that time, it was the farm with the largest open territory in Ørsta. In its configuration today, it is representative of an ordinary home in a rural fishing community in the 19th century. After the Ørsta Open Air Museum Society ("Ørsta bygdemuseumslag") was established in 1951, it purchased part of the Brudavoll Farm in 1958: the buildings on the old farm and a small part of the land. The rest of the property was taken over by a new owner.
The Ørsta Open Air Museum Society was the owner and operator of the Brudavoll Farm until 2004, when ownership was assumed by the Brudavoll Farm Foundation ("Stiftinga Brudavolltunet"). The Brudavoll Farm is part of the Sunnmøre Museum Foundation.
Buildings.
The museum structures at the Brudavoll Farm include:
In the middle of the farm there is a large flat rock that was used as a garden table and workplace. The garden at the farm was probably laid out in the 1830s.


Agrexco


Zeyaur Khan

Zeyaur R. Khan is a professor and the principal scientist at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). He has dedicated his 30-year career as an international agricultural scientist to advancing the science and practice of agriculture by studying and applying chemical ecology, behavior, plant-plant and insect-plant interactions to improve farm productivity to combat poverty and food insecurity in Africa. He is responsible for the discovery and wide scale implementation of a pro-poor scientific innovation for enhancing food security and environmental sustainability in Africa]. This was achieved through the biologically-based IPM technology called "Push-Pull", developed for small-holder cereal-livestock African farmers. Prof. Khan’s work is an example demonstrating that creativity and innovation in science can provide practical solutions for the real problems of thousands of small-holder poor farmers and promote their food security and sustainable livelihoods.


San Antonio Winery

The San Antonio Winery is a winery in the Lincoln Heights district in the city of Los Angeles It has operated since 1917 just east of downtown at 737 Lamar Street, south of North Main Street. The winery includes a wine shop, restaurant, and banquet hall.
The winery uses grapes from the Riboli family farm in Monterey, a smaller Napa Valley vineyard, and contracts with other Californian growers. Besides the bottling and distribution at the original winery site, they have an energy-efficient winemaking facility in Paso Robles and opened a tasting room there in 2016. San Antonio produces varietal, table wines, and dessert wines, both red and white.
Until fairly recently, San Antonio Winery was the only winery that operated within the city limits of Los Angeles. It had held this distinction since Prohibition.
History.
In 1917, Santo Cambianica, an Italian man from the northern Italy province of Lombardy, immigrated to Los Angeles and started the winery at its current location. Hoping for good luck, he dedicated the winery to Saint Anthony (in Italian: San Antonio) by naming it as such. When Prohibition was enacted in 1920, Cambianica asked for permission from the Catholic Church to continue operating his winery for communion wine. They also sold grapes to home wine makers. The winery has been declared as historical monument #42 in the city of Los Angeles.


Peter Sinclair Jr.

Peter Sinclair (13 November 1887 – 8 March 1938) was a Liberal party member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was born in Summerfield, Prince Edward Island and became a farmer.
The son of Peter Sinclair and Margaret MacMurdo, Sinclair was educated in Springfield and farmed near Charlottetown.
Sinclair was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1927 until his defeat in the 1931 election, at the 1st Queens riding.
He was first elected to Parliament at the Queen's riding in the 1935 general election. Sinclair died on 8 March 1938 before completing his term in the 18th Canadian Parliament.


Taiwanese tea

Taiwanese tea includes four main types: oolong tea, black tea, green tea and white tea. The earliest record of tea trees found in Taiwan is from 1717 in Shui Sha Lian (), present-day Yuchi and Puli, Nantou County. Some of the teas retain the island country's former name, Formosa.
Oolongs grown in Taiwan account for about 20% of world production.
History.
According to Lian Heng's "General History of Taiwan", in the late 18th century, Ke Chao () brought some tea trees from Fujian into Taiwan and planted them in Jieyukeng (), in the area of modern-day Ruifang District, New Taipei City. However, transaction records indicate that tea business in Muzha area started as early as late 18th century. These records indicate that tea has been sold in Taiwan for more than two centuries.
In 1855, Lin Fengchi () brought the Qingxin oolong () plants from the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian to Taiwan and planted them in Dongding Village (Lugu, Nantou County). This is said to be the origin of Tung-ting tea.
After the Treaty of Tientsin was ratified in 1860 and the port of Tamsui was opened for trade, Scottish entrepreneur John Dodd began working with tea merchants and farmers to promote Taiwanese tea, slowly developing it as an export item. Before long, tea ranked first among Taiwan's top three exports, ahead of sugar and camphor. The earliest teas exported during the Qing dynasty were oolong and baozhong tea, which began to be sold abroad in 1865 and 1881, respectively.
In 1867, Dodd started a tea company in Wanhua, Taipei and started to sell Taiwanese oolong tea to the world under the name "Formosa Oolong". Aware of British plans to develop a tea industry in India, he successfully sought profit in developing an alternative tea product on the island. Pouchong oolong was considered to be more flowery than Baihao oolong. Pouchong was exported under the name "Formosa Pouching". Other types of Taiwanese Oolongs include Dongding oolong (), white tip oolong (), and baochong oolong (). Oolong tea was practically synonymous with Taiwanese tea in the late 19th century, and competitors in Ceylon sought a US market advantage by publishing materials emphasizing the use of human foot trampling during its production. This was countered by the mechanization of tea processing, publicized at the St. Louis Exhibition.
China was subject to trade embargos during the 1950s and 1960s, and during this time Taiwanese tea growers and marketers focused on existing, well-known varieties. After the mainland's products became more widely available and the market for teas became more competitive, the Taiwanese tea industry changed its emphasis to producing special varieties of tea, especially of Oolong. The Government Tea Inspection Office grades teas into 18 categories ranging from standard to choice.
The government-supported Tea Research and Extension Station, established to promote Taiwanese tea in 1903, conducts research and experimentation.
Tea areas.
Major tea growing areas:
Oolong teas.
Taiwan's climate, along with the development of tea technology, has contributed to the production of high-quality teas. The best known ones include "Formosa Dongding oolong", "Formosa Alishan oolong", "Formosa Wenshan pouchong", "Formosa oriental beauty", "Formosa Shanlinxi oolong", and "Formosa jade oolong". According to the 1997 version of the Joy of Cooking, Taiwanese oolongs are considered to be some of the finest by tea connoisseurs. The US cooks Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins describe three Taiwanese oolongs as the "Champagne of tea". Their special quality may be due to unique growing conditions.
Oolong is harvested five times per year in Taiwan, between April and December. The July and August crops generally receive the highest grades.
Dongding Tea.
This tea, grown on Dongding (凍頂) mountain in Nantou County, was brought to Taiwan during the 19th century from the mainland's Wuyi Mountains. Its special qualities have been attributed to an almost continuous fog. Teas harvested in the spring are entered in a competition and the winners go for premium prices, fetching US$2,000 for a 600-gram package during the 1990s. Dongding oolong undergoes less fermentation than most oolongs. A 40-minute roasting over charcoal contributes to its flavor, which also has "nutty, caramel, and chestnut" elements.
Pouchong (or Baozhong) Tea.
Pouchong oolong, also called light oolong, is a lightly oxidized tea, twist shape, with floral notes, and usually not roasted, somewhere between green tea and what is usually considered oolong tea (), though often classified with the latter due to its lack of the sharper green tea flavours. "Pouchong" refers to its paper wrapping.
Oriental Beauty (Dongfang Meiren) Tea.
White tip oolong is very fruity in taste and got the name "Oriental Beauty" from Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s, thus "Formosa oolong" became popular in the western world for "oriental beauty" (). Along with Lishan oolong, it was one of the most costly exported Taiwanese teas during the 2000s. Its unique flavor originates in part from the inclusion of insect eggs and egg sacs during harvesting, contributing an element that has been described as "earthier and more robust" than Earl Grey tea. The acceptance of this flavor has led to tolerance of the presence of insects and organic growing practices for this tea.
Iron Goddess (Tie Guanyin) Tea.
This variety originated on the mainland, and is associated with a legend in which a tea grower found a unique tea plant near an iron statue of Kuan Yin. Taiwan Muzha Iron Goddess tea (), also known as Tie Guan Yin, is a traditional oolong. It is roasted and has a stronger taste and a roast nutty character; the tea liquid is reddish brown. Muzha Iron Goddess tea is different from Anxi Iron Goddess tea, which is not roasted and green in character.
High Mountain (Gao Shan) Teas.
Also called Alpine oolong, grown at altitudes of 1,000 meters or above.
Grown at altitudes above 2,200 meters, was the costliest Taiwanese tea during the 2000s, sometimes commanding prices of over $200 USD per 600 grams.
Grown at altitudes above 2,500 meters. Some people call it the king of Taiwan high mountain tea. Due to the limited production of this tea, the price per 500 grams is usually around $200 to $500 USD. Because of its popularity, there are unscrupulous businessmen selling fake/unqualified tea using Dayuling's brand name.
This is the most widely known general name for lightly oxidized oolong tea, much of it picked in winter and therefore termed “winter tea”. Among the oolongs grown on Ali Mountain, tea merchants tend to stress the special qualities of the gold lily () tea variety, which is the name of a cultivar developed in Taiwan in the 1980s. The oolong tea made with this cultivar has a particular milky flavor. However, in some regions, such as where Alishan zhulu tea is grown, the most prized are the ones made with the Qing Xin cultivar. Tea made with this cultivar has a floral and ripe-fruity aroma.
Osmanthus Oolong.
An oolong scented with osmanthus flowers, the tea is also packaged with some flowers added after the scenting process. This tea is roasted, with floral and warming notes.
Black tea.
Black Jade Taiwan Tea TTES #18 is a cultivar developed by the Taiwan Tea Research and Experiment Station during the 1990s. The now popular tea is a hybrid of "Camellia sinensis" v. assamica and a native variety ("Camellia sinensis forma formosensis"), and is said to have notes of honey, cinnamon, and mint. The tea's natural sweetness is a result of the fostered relationship with insects. The native Leafhopper (Jacobiasca formosana) spends its time throughout the growing season laying eggs and biting the tea plant, which causes the plant to produce two compounds, monoterpene diol and hotrienol. This defense mechanism, in addition to Leafhopper eggs, results in this Taiwanese Black tea's unique flavor.
Green tea.
Green tea, such as Dragon Well (Longjing) and Green Spiral (Biluochun), are grown in Sanxia District, New Taipei City.
Bubble tea.
Bubble tea originated in Taiwan during the 1980s and is now popular worldwide.
References.
18. ^ Heike Matthiesen: „Taiwanesischer Tee. Teesorten, ihre Anbaugebiete sowie die jüngere Entwicklung des Teemarktes.“ Berlin 2005, 1. Auflage August 2020, grin.com: (Ebook), (Buch).


Robert Richard Wilson

Robert Richard Wilson (29 May 1891 – 26 Apr 1969) was a farmer and politician in South Australia.
History.
Born at Ardrossan, South Australia, he was for many years a successful farmer, grazier and dairyman of Yeelanna, South Australia. He was President of the Yeelanna Mutual Improvement Society, and Secretary of the Agricultural Bureau. He was on the board of Urrbrae Agricultural High School and a State vice-president of the Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia.
He served in the Legislative Council for the Liberal and Country League from 14 May 1949 to 5 March 1965, after filling a vacancy left by the death of Albert Percy Blesing.
Family.
He married Hilda; they had one son and four daughters:
Sometime before May 1949 they moved to Stephen Terrace, Gilberton.


Lou Cunningham

Lucien Lawrence "Lou" Cunningham (4 June 1889 – 23 March 1948) was an Australian farmer and politician.
Early life.
Cunningham was born at Inverell, New South Wales, to a farmer, Eugene Cunningham, and his wife Mary, née Edgeworth, both born in Ireland. He was educated at Goonoowigall Public School and eventually ran the family farm. He became involved in the Australian Workers' Union.
Politics.
Cunningham was president of the local branches of the No Conscription League and the Australian Labor Party, and, having failed to enter the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1917 via the seat of Gough, he defeated Labor defector William Webster in 1919 to take the seat of Gwydir in the Australian House of Representatives. A Catholic, Cunningham was a staunch opponent of communism. He was promoted to the executive of the party, but lost Gwydir to Aubrey Abbott of the Country Party in 1925.
Cunningham again became a farmer and married Catherine Crosby at Coogee on 3 September 1927. He attempted to regain Gwydir in 1928 but failed, but the following year regained it, largely as a result of James Scullin's influence as Prime Minister. Cunningham was nominated as Deputy Speaker in 1931, but Charles McGrath refused to resign and the move failed. Unlike many colleagues, Cunningham remained loyal to the Labor Party through its many splits, and (being tall and around 108 kg) was nicknamed "the Goonoowigall Giant" and "Australia's biggest cabinet minister". He lost his seat at the Scullin Government's landslide loss in 1931 and, although he attempted to return as a candidate for East Sydney in 1932, he was defeated by a Lang Labor candidate.
Cunningham was a staunch opponent of Jack Lang and his party, and stood for the Legislative Assembly seat of Coogee after Lang's removal as leader. Surprisingly he won in 1941, partly due to his own political skills and partly due to the invigorated Labor under William McKell. Cunningham retained the seat until his death on 23 March 1948 of a coronary occlusion; he was survived by his wife and two sons.


Celulose Irani

Celulose Irani is a Brazilian pulp and paper company that was founded in 1941, by families of the State of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil.
At that time, in order to provide infrastructure for the company project, they also built a Village so the workers could live closer to the plant. It was settled in Campina da Alegria, a district within the City of Vargem Bonita, State of Santa Catarina - Brazil. Nowadays, the city holds approximately 1.300 inhabitants, most of them directly or indirectly related to IRANI.
In 1994, Habitasul Grupo took over and the company was restructured. Today, IRANI produces from seeds to wood, paper, packaging and furniture.
Divisions.
Currently, Irani have the following business divisions: Paper, Packaging, Resins and Forest Division, which are situated in the following locations: Vargem Bonita (State of Santa Catarina), Indaiatuba (State of São Paulo), Balneário Pinhal (State of Rio Grande do Sul) and São José do Norte (State of Rio Grande do Sul). The company offices are in Porto Alegre (State of Rio Grande do Sul) and in Joaçaba (State of Santa Catarina).
International Subsidiaries.
Recently, Celulose Irani launched a furniture brand for the North American Market, called Brastilo, besides bringing to the consumer the Brazilian design and quality, the brand, since its start, is using the concept of being Eco-Friendly.


Hall Hill Farm

Hall Hill Farm is a tourist attraction located in County Durham, near Tow Law, England.
History.
Ann Darlington is the current tourism manager at Hall Hill Farm. Her grandparents came to the farm in 1925, and now her brother David Gibson runs the working farm.
Hall Hill Farm opened to the public in 1981 after Ann and David's father, Jack Gibson, suggested allowing the public to see the farm's lambs, following an interest over that Easter period.
Site.
Hall Hill Farm covers , consisting of of grassland (for over a thousand sheep), of woodland, and the remainder for crops of wheat, barley and oil seed rape.
The animals available for the public to see include llamas, wallabies and Highland cattle. There are also more traditional creatures; chicks, lambs, pigs, donkeys, ponies and rabbits.


Wattles Mansion

The Wattles Estate, originally known as Jualita, is a historic house and park in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was built in 1907 by wealthy Omaha, Nebraska, banker Gurdon Wattles as a winter home. Next to the Wattles Mansion are Wattles Park and Wattles Gardens, now administered by the City of Los Angeles and open to the public.
The estate has been recognized as "the only remaining intact example of the once plentiful Hollywood estates from the period preceding the film industry, when Hollywood was primarily agricultural and was a wintering home for wealthy Easterners and Midwesterners." According to the City of Los Angeles, "'Jualita' is one of the few remaining landscapes reminiscent of another era and tradition, possessing a genuine integrity of setting, design, workmanship, and association."
History.
Noted local architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey designed the Mission Revival residence in 1907 with grounds featuring a Japanese garden, an Italian rose garden, a formal Spanish garden, a palm court, and orchards. It was one of Hollywood's first tourist attractions. Wattles was responsible for gradually transforming of agricultural land into orchards, thematic gardens and naturalistic landscapes based on his trips to Japan and Mexico.
Prior to permanent residence in Los Angeles, Wattles headed the streetcar company in Omaha. His strike-breaking efforts contributed to four days of violence in the city in 1909. The attempt to unionize failed and many of the strikers had to seek work elsewhere, but the incident damaged Wattles' social standing and worsened relations between the city's rich and the general citizenry. A jury's refusal in 1906 to convict career criminal Pat Crowe for the kidnapping of Omaha packing house scion Edward Cudahy was widely seen as an expression of contempt for the city's ruling elite. Several millionaires fled the city, including the Cudahy family. With his civic reputation damaged, Wattles himself began to spend more time in Los Angeles after the strike and permanently relocated in 1920.
After Wattles' death in 1932, his wife, Julia Vance Wattles, and his son continued to live on the property. Gurdon Wallace Wattles Jr. negotiated the sale of the residence to the City of Los Angeles in 1965. In March of that year, the City of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks Commission adopted Resolution 5135, designating the Wattles estate as an acquisition area, and purchased the property for $1,917,000 in June 1968.
Hollywood Heritage, a private nonprofit preservation organization, began restoration efforts in 1983, and the estate served as their headquarters until May 22, 2009, when control of the property reverted to the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Over the first decade, volunteers with the Hollywood Heritage organization removed several feet of mud from the garden, replanted landscaping, and repainted and refinished the interior woodwork. Through their dedicated efforts, the Wattles Mansion was returned to its original state.
In 1993, the Wattles Mansion was designated as City of Los Angeles Cultural Monument No. 579. In 2000, the J. Paul Getty Trust donated $75,000 toward a Preserve L.A. planning project designed to further the site's preservation.
Wattles Mansion.
The home is two stories with a full basement. The first-floor rooms include a paneled library, a formal dining room, a large living room with a picture window to the south gardens, two large bathrooms off the entrance hall, a servant's dining hall, and a kitchen and pantry. Five bedrooms and three baths are on the second floor.
Some of the original features in the Wattles Mansion include a black-and-white-checkerboard marble floor in the foyer, and intricately carved walnut bookcases and a hand-painted ceiling in the library. Hardwood moldings, white stucco walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and hardwood floors with Oriental carpets are found throughout the house. There is a terracotta tile terrace and a wide, sloping lawn. Brick landings on a wide stairway go down toward landscaped terraces on each side, with a Spanish balustraded patio overlooking of formal gardens.
Wattles Farm.
Once the avocado and fruit orchard of the Wattles Mansion, in 1975 a group of local residents converted a section of the then-neglected Wattles estate into a community garden. Today, this members-only organic garden is among the oldest community gardens in Los Angeles. It is run by a nonprofit organization called the Wattles Farm and Neighborhood Gardeners Inc. in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Wattles Park.
Some of the gardens surrounding Wattles Mansion have been designated as Wattles Park. Gurdon Wattles met the original head gardener during his world travels in 1910, and retained him for the next 20 years until his death in 1930. Gurdon's concept for the gardens was influenced by trips to Mexico and Japan; he bought a tea house, shrines and lanterns from Japan for use in the gardens. Four gardens were eventually developed, with the first corresponding to the architecture of the house, the second Italian, the third American, and the fourth Japanese.
Today, Wattles Park occupies approximately of a long narrow corridor of space that rises from Hollywood Boulevard. The lower park is in size and fronts on Hollywood Boulevard. The Wattles Mansion and formal garden area runs along the private roadway to the building. The early American garden area is directly behind the residence and was composed of rose and vegetable gardens. The Japanese teahouse along Curson Avenue was a gift to the City of Los Angeles from Nagoya, its sister city in Japan. The Japanese garden portion of the grounds was designed by Fugo, an influential landscape architect in Japan. All of the shrubs, plants, and vegetation were brought directly from Japan for the garden.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the park was popular among L.A.'s punk scene. In the 1980s and 1990s, crime at the park increased, with drug pushers and junkies using the tea house. Vandalism and a couple of fires ruined the tea house, which has since been off limits to all visitors, and only a small portion of the tea house is still standing. Heavy flooding overflowed the small lake and stream, drying them up forever. Some of the palm trees had to be cut down. The place became unkempt as a result of the cutbacks, making it difficult to maintain the gardens. Graffiti was reported on the white columns and the Japanese entrance, as well as the outdoor temple, and the roof of the temple was removed. The park now has a sign warning of rattlesnakes in the area. Benches were removed as well.
Wattles Park has become popular with dog walkers.
Eviction notice.
Hollywood Heritage was served an eviction notice in 2008 by the City of Los Angeles for failure to maintain the landmark and for throwing loud parties. Hollywood Heritage denied the allegations but ultimately agreed to vacate the mansion in May 2009.
Cultural references.
Author Lucky McKee used the park as a backdrop in the novel "May". The mansion was featured on the television series "The O.C." and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ("Reptile Boy"), in the movie "Troop Beverly Hills", and the sanatorium scenes in the film "Rain Man" were shot there as well. It was also featured in Jennifer Lopez's first film, "My Family". Wattles was also used extensively for the 1985 movie "Ghoulies" and for the Diana Ross music video "Eaten Alive". The park was used for many scenes in the 1983 film "The Lost Empire" directed by Jim Wynorski.


Barsky Forest

Barsky Forest () is a forest in the northwestern part of Ishimbaysky District of Bashkortostan (Russia). It covers an area of 14 km ² and is located approximately 20 km from Sterlitamak and 20 km from Ishimbay.
The principal tree species in Barsky Forest are oak and lime.


Mriya Agro Holding

Mriya Agro Holding was one of the largest agroindustrial companies in Ukraine founded in 1992. Mriya cultivated approximately 165,000 hectares of land in Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Rivne regions. The Agro Holding grew wheat, potatoes, rapeseed, corn, sunflower, soybeans, barley, and sorghum. In August 2014, the company failed to pay its creditors and announced a technical default. Starting February 2015, control over the company's assets was transferred to the creditors, primarily European and American investors who decided to preserve the Agro Holding and to appoint a new management team. New management consisted of General Director Simon Cherniavsky, CFO Ton Huls, and COO Victor Kuharchuk. In September 2018, Mriya was acquired by Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co.
History.
1992–1995: Early years.
Mriya was founded on April 17, 1992 by Ivan and Klavdiya Guta. The company began
as a farming research and production enterprise and received land from the
State Reserve Fund of Ternopil region. The total arable land amounted to 50
hectares.
In 1994, the company expands its land bank to 150 ha and begins cooperation
with American experts in order to acquire its first international experience in
agriculture.
In 1995, the company implements advanced potato cultivation technologies
and in the same year upgrades potato storage facilities located in Vasylkivtsi
village, Ternopil region. Eventually, all potato storage facilities are
equipped with temperature and humidity control systems as well as sorting
lines.
1996–1999: Implementation of advanced technologies.
Starting 1996, the company invests in modern agricultural equipment; in
1996 it makes first purchases of equipment produced by John Deere and Grimme.
In 1997-1998, Mriya expands its land bank to more than 1,000 ha. The company
pays special attention to developing infrastructure; the first silo with
capacity of 3,500 tons is built in Gusyatyn region.
In 1998-1999, Mriya launches partnership with Ukrayinska Mova company (later acquired by Kraft Foods) to supply potatoes for production of
potato chips. The company also signs an agreement with Slavuta Malt Plant (part
of Soufflet Group starting 2003) to supply high quality barley for malt
production.
2000–2006: Further development.
In 2001, the company launches its own school for agronomists to invest in
professional development of its employees and introduce experience exchange
with international experts. “Mriya” also creates its own equipment fleet
consisting of large vehicles produced by world's leading automotive companies.
In 2002-2006, the company destroys its management team with Andriy and
Mykola Guta, sons of the founders of “Mriya”. Construction of a second elevator
in Gusyatyn begins; the company's land bank grows to 10,000 ha. Long-term
partnership with Europe's leading agricultural consulting company Velcourt is
launched.
2007–2009: Infrastructure development.
In 2007, the company's land bank amounts to 91,000 ha.
In 2008, Mriya expands its land resources to 150,000 ha. Gusyatyn elevator's
capacity is further increased to 77,000 tons. The company conducts a private
placement of 20% of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
In 2009, Mriya completes the first stage of construction of an elevator
with a storage capacity of 60,000 tons. Seed production and treatment facility
with a production capacity of 300 tons per day is launched. Land bank is being expanded to 201,000 ha.
2010–2011: International cooperation and further infrastructure development.
In 2010, Mriya receives a credit loan from International Finance Corporation
(IFC). GPS monitoring of equipment is introduced. A large potato storage
complex is built.
In 2011, Mriya expands its land bank to 240,000 ha and issues $250
million of Eurobonds. Mriya also establishes the “Ukrainian Agrarian School”,
an education center aiming to teach agronomists.
2012-2013: Attracting capital from international markets, investing into production facilities, research, and supporting local communities.
In 2012, Mriya Agro Holding expands its land bank to 298,000 hectares,
its grain and oilseeds storage capacity to 820,000 tons, and its potato storage
capacity to 116,000 tons. The company also begins processing potato waste into
starch.
In 2013, the company issues $400 million worth of Eurobonds. Mechanic
School, Ukrainian Accounting School, and Agro MBA are established.
2014: Technical default.
In August 2014, Mriya announces a technical default. The company's debt amounted to US$1.3 billion.
Mykola Guta, the son of the founders and co-owners of Mriya Agro Holding, Ivan Guta and Klavdiya Guta was suspected of fraud by the Ukrainian authorities. In 2015 Interpol put him on its wanted list. On 5 November 2018 Mykola Guta was extradited from Switzerland to Ukraine.<ref name="unian.info/m/10328178-ex">Ex-CEO of Ukrainian agro holding reportedly extradited from Switzerland to Ukraine, UNIAN (7 November 2018)</ref>
2015: New management. Debt restructuring.
In January 2015, creditors of Mriya hold negotiations to select a new
management.
The creditors are represented by two committees, one of which represents
the interests of bondholders – around 50% of bonds to be repaid in 2016 and
2018 – and the other representing the interests of banks (who hold 60% of the
Group's total debt to banks). Both creditor committees, which account for the
bulk of “Mriya’s” debt arrears hire legal advisors (Cadwalader and Avellum
representing bondholders; Latham & Watkins and Arzinger representing banks)
as well as a consortium of financial advisors consisting of Rothschild, ICU and
FinPoint. The aforementioned committees were formed in response to the
Company's statement on August 1, 2014, which urged the creditors to unite.
The creditors select Simon Cherniavsky, former General Director of
HarvEast agro holding, as the new General Director; Ton Huls as the CFO; and
Viktor Kukharchuk as the COO.
In June 2015, Mriya Agro Holding manages to replenish its working capital
by securing a US$25 million credit line, which was opened by the current
creditors for 6 months. The funds will be directed to financing the harvest as
well as the fall sowing.
The company purchased disc harrows,
seeders, harvesters, trailers, and light vehicles for a total sum of US$2.5
million.
In May 2015, the company renewed cooperation with OTP
Leasing and returned the confiscated equipment worth US$2.8 million.
Business activities.
Key assets and activities of “Mriya” are connected to agricultural
production. The company has a vertically integrated structure, which allows it
to effectively manage the entire supply chain.
Land resource management.
Land resource management is focused on unlocking the full potential in
Ukrainian agribusiness and using all advantages of black soil in WesternUkraine.
Social Responsibility.
Mriya Agro Holding was a socially responsible company. It implemented a
number of public projects in areas of operation, upon consent and decision of
local communities.
In 2015, “Mriya’s” budget for social investment amounted to UAH 22 million.
To administer this social investment program, Mriya Agro Holding has created
a charity fund, which implements all social projects in medicine, education,
culture, public services, sports, rural infrastructure, assistance to religious
communities, and support of the ATO.
Name.
Name of the company, “Mriya” translates to English as "“Dream”"


Prairie Downs

Prairie Downs Station, often referred to as Prairie Downs, is a pastoral lease that operates as a cattle station.
It is located about south west of Newman and south east of Paraburdoo in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Prairie Downs occupies an area of and shares boundaries with Turee Creek Station, Bulloo Downs, Sylvania and Ethel Creek Stations as well as vacant crown land.
The property was owned by Albert Leake in 1932. Leake still owned the property when he died in 1947 at 82 years of age. The Department of Lands advertised the property in 1948 as being available for leasing.
An estimated 20,000 feral donkeys were roaming on Prairie Downs and neighbouring Bulloo Downs Stations in 1957.
In 1979 the property was running 877 cattle but is capable of carrying 2,590 cattle during a good season.


Forestry in New Zealand

Forestry in New Zealand has a history starting with European settlement in the 19th century and is now an industry worth seven percent of annual revenue. Much of the original native forest cover was burnt off and logged, however forests have been extensively planted, predominantly with fast-growing cultivars of the Monterey Pine. Wood chips, whole logs, lumber and paper products are exported from New Zealand.
Deforestation in New Zealand on public land attracted opposition with protests and environmental groups becoming very active until it ended in 2000. Logging of native forests now only occurs on private land if it is shown to be sustainable.
History.
Milling of New Zealand's extensive native forests was one of the earliest industries in the European settlement of the country. The long, straight hardwood from the kauri was ideal for ship masts and spars. As the new colony was established, timber was the most common building material, and vast areas of native forest were cleared. Rimu, tōtara, matai, and miro were the favoured timbers.
The Monterey pine ("Pinus radiata") was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s. It thrived in the conditions, reaching maturity in 28 years, much faster than in its native California. It was found to grow well in the infertile acidic soil of the volcanic plateau, where attempts for agriculture had failed. Thomas William Adams experimented with "P. radiata" and other trees in Canterbury from the 1870s, and promoted the early forestry industry. The Government initiated planting of exotic forests in 1899 at Whakarewarewa, near Rotorua. This was to address growing timber shortages as slow-growing native forests were exhausted.
In the 1930s, vast areas of land were planted in "Pinus radiata" by relief workers. The largest tract was the 188,000-hectare Kāingaroa forest, the largest plantation forest in the world. As the major forests matured, processing industries such as the Kinleith Mill at Tokoroa and the Tasman Mill at Kawerau were established.
Plantation forests.
Plantation forests of various sizes can now be found in all regions of New Zealand except Central Otago and Fiordland. In 2006 their total area was 1.8 million hectares, with 89% in "Pinus radiata" and 5% in Douglas fir ("Pseudotsuga menziesii") Log harvesting in 2006 was 18.8 million m3, down from 22.5 million m3 in 2003. This is projected to rise as high as 30 million m3 as newer forests mature. The value of all forestry exports (logs, chips, sawn timber, panels and paper products) for the year ended 31 March 2006 was $NZ 3.62 billion, rising to $NZ 5 billion in 2018. Australia accounts for just over 25% of export value, mostly paper products, followed by Japan, South Korea, China and the United States. In 2018, wood products were New Zealand's third-biggest export (dairy products and meat were the larger), and forestry accounted for approximately 3% of national GDP, directly employing 20,000 people. On the global stage, the New Zealand forestry industry is a relatively small contributor in terms of production, accounting for 1% of global wood supply for industrial purposes.
Woodchipping.
Softwood and hardwood wood chips are exported from New Zealand.


Tanumbirini

Tanumbirini Station is a pastoral lease on formerly what were Kotandji lands that operates as a cattle station in Northern Territory of Australia.
The property is situated approximately north of Elliott and west of Borroloola. The property abuts both the Bullwaddy Conservation Reserve and Amungee Mungee Station to the west. Tanumbirini also shares a boundary with Nutwood Downs to the west, Beetaloo Station to the south, Broadmere to the east and the Alawa Aboriginal Land Trust to the north. The Carpentaria Highway passes through the property.
It currently occupies an area of and is currently owned by the Thames Pastoral Company who acquired the property from Sterling Buntine in 2012 for 30 million. The sale of the station included approximately 28,000 head of cattle. Several watercourses flow through the property including Arnold River, Cox River, Tanumbirini Creek and Williams Creek.
The station was established prior to 1908 when it was owned by Mr. Coop.
In 2002 the property was acquired by Henry and Maria Townsend. The property had been suffering from overgrazing and the black soil plans were completely denuded of grass. At the time it was stocked with 10,000 cattle with an additional 2,000 to 3,000 feral cattle. The Townsends redeveloped the property and changed the management practices. They also managed to increase the stock on the property to 23,000 head of cattle before selling in 2007.
Sterling Buntine, who also owned Bedford Downs Station in Western Australia and Amburla Station in the Northern Territory acquired Tanumbirini in 2007 for an undisclosed sum. At the time it had an area of and was to be subdivided and auctioned before Buntine bought it.
Buntine sold the property in 2012 along with Forrest Hill Station to the Thames Pastoral Company for about 33 million.
In 2020 the property was acquired by Rallen Australia owned by the Ravazzotti and Langenhoven families from South Africa. It was bought along with nearby Forrest Hill Station for 70 million. The properties have a combined area of and are able to support approximately 40,000 head of cattle.
References.