By Donald Bosso

Agricultural pollution refers to the contaminants present in the environment as a result of agricultural practices. Most effects of agricultural pollution are felt in water environments and are caused by runoff from farms and barnyards such as ammonia, pesticides, fertilizers, oil toxins, and animal waste that make their way into bodies of water. Agricultural pollution also negatively affects the quality of air. Chemicals and byproducts from the agricultural industry are quite harmful to the natural environment and can pose a problem for humans as well. As the world's population continues to grow at a significant rate the demand for intense agriculture will remain high, and so combating agricultural pollution will be increasingly difficult. With this in mind, several alternatives to industrial agriculture, with its polluting tendencies, have been explored and are being utilized today.

Pesticides used to kill insects that feed on crops can cause much damage to the environment if used inappropriately. Excessive pesticides remain in the soil after sprayings and are washed away by rain that forces them to be absorbed into groundwater. Avoiding pesticide contamination is a tricky process only feasible through careful containment practices. The same problem exists with the use of fertilizers. Excrements produced by cattle and other barnyard animals also cause pollution. The methane released from cow flatulence is also a type of greenhouse gas making it partly responsible for global warming. Emissions from the use of fossil fuels by tractors and other farm equipment used in agriculture also contribute to air pollution. Fires, which are not uncommon on farms, can be very detrimental to the environment if fertilizer or waste products are being burnt. The problem of agricultural pollution is not simply felt in regions in farming regions. Contaminates in rivers can be carried all the way to the ocean and polluted air can be blown to other areas with denser populations.

Agricultural pollution poses numerous human health problems. Chemicals that make their way into groundwater can eventually end up in water sources that are used for drinking. Blue baby syndrome, a disease that causes death in infants, is often caused by contaminated water. Pesticides released into the air and emissions from farm equipment cause difficulty breathing and a host of respiratory problems. Fertilizers, manure, waste, and ammonia that are present in water release nitrogen that reduces the amount of oxygen present resulting in the death of fish and other marine animals.

While industrial agriculture is the most efficient way to produce large quantities of food, the pollution associated with it raises many environmental and health concerns. In light of this, there has been a shift to organic farming which uses more natural ways to raise crops and livestock and avoids the use of harmful chemicals. The use of alternative crops that require less fertilizer because they are adapted to the environment in which they are grown also help to reduce agricultural pollution. However, the demand for cheaper and higher quantities of food as world population steadily rises will make changes in farming methods less likely and more difficult.

By Gabriel J. Adams

Agriculture has always been a very integral part in American history. The first settlers to come over to America needed to become good farmers in order to survive. The agriculture industry has grown by leaps and bounds since that time, and now the agricultural job market can be very rewarding. Many of the new agricultural jobs available these days deal with the new types of technology that are required to produce the crops that America demands. The days of a family working their land by hand and producing a small amount of crops is over. Now many large plantations are run by huge corporations that capitalize on many of the new emerging technologies to harvest a larger amount of crops in a shorter period of time. If you would like to get one of these new types of jobs in the agricultural industry, then you will need to make sure that you stay on top of the new technologies available.

Many of these new jobs in the agricultural field have embraced these new technologies. Two of the new technologies that have created many new jobs in the agricultural industry are global positioning systems (GPS), and biotechnology. The GPS systems have really enhanced the ability for farmers to seed and harvest their crops in the best way possible. They can make sure that they position all of their crops exactly where they want them to be for them to be the most productive. The biotechnology field has really helped the agricultural industry, because many new innovations have allowed better and safer fertilizers to be used on crops. Biotechnology has also helped farmers to better understand what helps to make their crops better. Both of these new technologies are very interesting and offer many new opportunities. The agricultural industry still requires quite a bit of hard work to bring in a good crop, but now many people can take advantage of these improvements to make the industry a much better experience.

By Iqbal Hussain Hami

The agricultural field is coming up as a booming industry with numerous job opportunities. Agricultural being the back bone of many countries is a never ending field and will always have the need of people. There are many job opportunities in this field for a person such as farm manager, forest industry manager and in ranching, fishing, and science and inspection. Some of the jobs in agriculture are discussed below:

Farming
The work of a farmer mainly involves the plantation, growth and harvesting of a crop. In farming you have different fields to choose from such as farm, managers, crop dusters, farm workers, pest control chemists and as a farm equipment operator and repairer. Ranching is another sector of agriculture that deals with the raising of animals for producing meat, milk and wool. The jobs in ranches may include animal trainers, shearing or milking assistants, large animal veterinarians and breeding technicians.

Forestry
This filed in agriculture deals with the planting, caring and the cutting of the trees to get lumber and other products such as wood and timber. In forestry one can work as a forest industry manager, log movers, log graders, choke-setters and fallers. Finishing is another agricultural industry that brings large revenues to a government. Fishing as we know involves catching fishes for the human consumption. In this industry you can work as a fishing boat captain, fishermen, trap setters and fish cleaners. Working in the agricultural science and inspection department involves the research of new technologies and methods to reduce plant diseases, pest problems and ways to improve the fertility of the soil.

Some other jobs in agriculture include those of agricultural inspector, feed manufacturer, animal research specialist, hatchery manager and a greenhouse manager. An agricultural inspector ensures that the various agricultural companies and businesses comply with all the laws and regulations stated by the government. They make sure that the meat and the poultry products being supplied in the market are quality rich.

Further the work of an agricultural inspector can vary from inspection to supervision. Inspection would involve regular visits to the actual plant where the products such as vegetables and grains are being manufactured to get samples for quality assurance and testing. Supervision may involve keeping a check on the businesses to abide by the various laws.

An animal research specialist is one, who deals with all the activities related to animals such as their cleaning and feeding on a regular basis. Such a specialist also is responsible for the treatment to the wounds, at the time of breeding and ensuring the correct diet according to their needs. If you aspire to become an animal research specialist then one should have a strong science background. The different types of roles an animal research specialist can do are animal care assistant, animal control specialist and animal health research specialist.

By Joseph Devine

When it comes to on the job injuries, most people think of factory workers as the population most at risk. But, surprisingly, most factories have less injuries and fatalities than other industries. Factories are very closely monitored and very strict rules are put into place in order to protect employees from any type of injury. All the employees must go through a number of stringent safety courses as well.

The more industrialized the industry, in general, the more safety standards are put into place. There are a number of reasons for this. For one thing, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA keeps an extremely watchful eye on factories. They are also tightly unionized and have dozens of unions representing their employees at all times. Unions can help guarantee reasonable work hours, safe working conditions and very competitive wages.

The industries that actually experience the most injuries and fatalities of employees are the ones less closely regulated. One of these industries is agriculture. In fact, agriculture is one of the two most dangerous industries in the United States.

The Numbers

Every year in the United States, an estimated 710 agriculture employees dies while on the job. Other serious issues facing agriculture employees are the high number of permanent, non-fatal injuries. There are around three of these permanent injuries for every fatality.

These permanent injuries and fatalities are most common in the harvest months. The second most risky time is during the planting months.

Agriculture Machinery and Farm Structures

There are a number of reasons why the agriculture industry has such a high number of fatalities and injuries. But by far the most common cause of deaths are accidents caused by farm machinery. Tractor overturn is the single most common fatal agriculture accident. In addition to tractors, the dozens of large machines used for planting and harvesting are extremely dangerous.

These machines contain huge, sharp blades which can cause accidental amputation in less than a second. The safety features on these machines are often inferior in relation to their danger level. Many employees are also not properly schooled in the safety measures that must be taken in order to avoid injury.

In addition to farm machinery, farm structures can be quite dangerous. Indoor farm activities are typically done in confined spaces such as silos. Many agriculture products such as manure also produce toxic gases which can be fatal in small spaces.

By Helen Cox

The term agriculture refers to the production of food, fibre and other goods that we use in our everyday lives through the concept of farming and forestry. We rely on agriculture a lot more than we realise, which is why it is so important that the machinery and tools used in the trade are not only up-to-date but also in the best condition possible.

All of the equipment that is used in the agriculture trade needs to have reliable operation. This is especially true due to the dirty environments that surround aspects of agriculture. It is because of the need for reliability that agricultural equipment needs to be provided with the best and most suited parts such as bearings and chains. These are just two aspects that make up various agricultural machinery but they represent two of the most important parts that keep the machinery going.

Agricultural chains help a range of machinery do its job. Some of the prime examples of this machinery can be seen below:

o Combine Harvesters

o Vegetable Grading Conveyors

o Grain Elevators

o Round Balers

o Circular Bale Unrollers

o Back-Feed Hoppers

o Box Scrapers

o Fruit Packing Conveyors

When it comes to agricultural bearings, they can mainly be seen in aspects such as tractors, mowers, harvesters, cultivators, front loaders, trailers, baler pressers and silage cutters as well as hoes and ploughs. Both the bearings and chains that are used in various forms of agricultural machinery should be designed to meet the requirements of the agricultural industry, which includes extreme temperature changes and different loads and capacity. They should be low maintenance and they need to be sealed in order to prevent corrosion.

Without the correct bearings the machinery that is needed to make a success of the agricultural industry would fail to work. It is the work done by the bearing inside a machine that enables that machine to turn and twist in order to do its job. This emphasises the importance of bearings within the agricultural industry.

When it comes to agricultural chains, they are continually enhanced and modernised in order for them to meet the changing demands that are arising from the ongoing technical progress of agricultural machinery.

Agricultural chains are available in standard lengths or as ready-to-install kits for all makes and models of agricultural machines. They are one part of agricultural machinery that are highly versatile, meaning they can be supplied to exactly fit a specific customer's need.

As I have already mentioned agricultural machinery is highly exposed to the elements, which means that the chains, and of course the bearings that are used in them are also directly exposed to influences such as dust, dirt and cold as well as damp conditions so their reliability is constantly tested. So when you come to purchasing your agricultural chains and bearings you need to make sure that you do so off a reliable source that has industry knowledge and experience otherwise you could end up replacing them again before you know it.

By Atinuke Saletti

Due to a great climate and global positioning, Nigeria is one of most fortunate nations when it comes to agriculture. In this way, the Nigerians have plenty of agricultural resources to explore and even to export. By effectively managing the available agricultural resources, Nigeria is also able to improve its economic status by exporting.

Agricultural implications in Nigerian economic development
Whether we are thinking of the coastal mangrove, northern savannas, woodland savannas or rain forests - Nigeria has it all. Besides the petroleum industry, the agriculture industry is also an important resource for economic development and increase of GDP level. Having this in mind, during the last 20 years more than 40% of the GDP level was derived from the agricultural sector.

In the same time, agriculture is an important factor in Nigeria since it contributes to the rate of employment and creates new and reliable employment opportunities. Currently, more than 60% of labor force is concentrated in the agricultural sector. Similarly, farming is a very resourceful activity in Nigeria and only 33% of nation's land is under cultivation. In this way, the agricultural sector will also be one of the main fields of activity in the future.

Furthermore, the government also favors the development of cooperative societies with the purpose of encouraging the industrial agriculture because in Nigeria due to a diverse climate, it is possible the production of almost all agricultural products in the semi-tropical climate.

Agricultural sectors in Nigeria
Before the 1960's, agriculture was the main activity in Nigeria. However, once with the development of the oil exporting industry it became necessary the import of food. In order to maximize the agricultural outcomes, other agricultural areas were developed during the last decade.

In this way, the main agricultural sectors in Nigeria are the following:

- Food Crops
The crop production was the main agricultural activity in Nigeria for a long time and currently comprises of beans, rice, palm oil, yams, cocoa, groundnuts, melon and many other food crops that are favored due to the tropical and semi-tropical climate of this nation.

- Cash Crops
In this agricultural sector we may include the production of cotton, rubber, kolanut, gum Arabic, beniseed, palm kernels and many other such crops that can grow in this tropical climate.

- Forests
In the case of forests, the following forest tees are available in Nigeria: abora, teak, ebony, ekki, black afara, camwood, mahogany, Nigerian walnut. This agricultural sector is an important and resourceful one in Nigeria and it contributes to economic development in the area.

- Livestock
Starting with the 1970's, a total of 11 million cattle existed and since then on the Nigerian nation has successfully enlarged its livestock production out if which 90% was found in the northern states of the nation. Nowadays, almost all rural households raise their own poultry while chickens represent the predominant poultry in the area. Apart from chickens, in Nigeria there are other animals reared such as cattle, duck, pigs, turkey, sheep, goat, pigeon, donkey and guinea fowls.

- Fisheries
This agricultural sector is an important one for Nigeria and ever since the 1970's when the domestic production of fisheries has been reaching the level of 700.000 tones on a yearly basis. Currently, the fisheries produced within the borders of Nigeria include crabs, shrimps, spade, shark, grunters, cat fish, thread fin, shiny nose and many more.

To conclude, the Nigerian agriculture offers many opportunities to reach economic development on the long run and represents one of the main activities when it comes to export, as well as the petroleum industry. Nevertheless, Nigeria is applying the appropriate solutions in the case of agricultural resource and this gives this nation a competitive advantage as compared to other emerging markets.

By Macon Gravlee

Agriculture usually plays a vital role in the economy of every nation that exists. Not only for the reason that it tends to feed the entire population of a country but also in the respect that agriculture correlates and interacts with all the related industries of that country. A country is usually considered to be a social and politically stable nation if it possesses a very stable agricultural basis.

A stable agricultural industry ensures a country of food security. Food security is considered to be one of the primary requirements of any nation. No nation can effectively grow with a stable agricultural base while harboring a nation of "hungry people", as these hungry people can do nothing what-so-ever towards helping develop their country. Food security prevents starvation which has traditionally been considered one of the largest problems being experienced by the small developing nations. Most countries depend upon agricultural products and related industries for their major source of income. Even the newly developing countries will find that they depend upon and can benefit greatly from their agricultural industry.

Aside from the crops and animals that are produced by the farmers who make up a country agricultural sector the agricultural field represents the main source of employment within most countries. The larger farms usually find it necessary to hire additional hands in which to successfully cultivate the lands and to take care of the related farm animals. Most of these large farms have processing plants located in nearby facilities for finalizing their agricultural products and developing the by-products. It goes without saying that these sub-industries employ considerable man-power within their operations. Most of the modern farms and agriculture-related industries make good use of today's modern equipment as well as the principles of science and technology.

The use of technologies in farming is determines by the competence of the various farmers towards coping with these advancements relating to the technologies. The country's farmers who can utilize the modern technologies involved with farming can assure a good production of their products which benefits their country as a whole. Modern farming technologies would be useless if the farmers are not competent enough to use any of the technology that they have available to them.

Most of the older industrialized cites have begun their growth primarily through the development of agriculture. These cities have done well on an agriculture basis before they fully begun to embrace the industrialization process. Most of the principles currently in use within our modern businesses have their roots stemming from the principles of agriculture. Bulk manufacturing is one of the practices that have been patterned from the seasoned harvesting often found in the area of agricultural practices. This method has saved many ancient cities from destruction during times of plague and drought. During the ancient times the countries harvested crops which were not merely used for immediate consumption but were often harvested and stored for future use. The same thing is practiced within the modern business procedures to ensure its stability.

Agriculture is usually common in rural areas which have the most arable lands, however with the modern technologies involved in farming agricultural activities are totally possible even in the urban areas. These activities can be accomplished to sustain personal or family needs or even for commercial purposes.

By Paul Thomas

I remember my first stay in a gite de France and I will never forget it. Every time we switch on an electric appliance the lights would blow. The wiring would glow during the night which was perhaps our only form of heating. The beds were from the Victorian age, this is only a guess as they were only 1.50 meters long and my legs would hang out the bottom of the bed so the French mosquitoes could enjoy an English holiday maker. The shower was not much better, enough hot water for one person per day. Do not worry things have changed.

Now days gite de France is a well organized. All those offering gites have regular inspections by gite de France and have to comply to the regulations of gite de France. All gites are classified according to their location, comfort and amenities and on merit are awarded by an "ear de corn" ranging from one to four. What is a French Gite Holiday in a French Gites Like ? For those of us that have used gite de France or had a gite holiday in a French gites we immediately relate the word French gite to holiday accommodation which is exactly what it is. But it is strange that the word gite or French gites is not used in the English speaking part of the world except when referring to France. Even the English and other nationalities that have settled in France use the word French gite or gite to explain their holiday accommodation.

In France many forms of gite or gites exist such as: Gite Rural, Gite Chambre d'hotes, Gite d'enfants, Gite d'etape et gite de sejour and Gite accessible. gite rural Limousin. The word gite is also becoming popular with different regions of France for instant you have gite de Charente or Gite Rural Limousin last month alone there was 569 searches each day for the word gite rural Limousin. In our village they have started a website called Brossac Gites and there are over 300 gites upon it.

French Gite Holiday

A typical French gite holiday After you have made your booking, which can be done in advance by witting, by telephone or on the Internet you load up your car with all that you may need including your bed linen toweling and probably a lot more than you will ever use you head off for the voyage ahead car full of kids and thoughts of previous French gite holidays. After negotiating the auto routes, service stations and not forgetting the peage (Otherwise know as a donation to the auto route de France) Eventually you arrive to be welcomed by the gite owner. You are all prepared with your rusty knowledge of the French language only to find the owner is Belgium or English and speaks perfect English. This could be the case now days as many foreigner who have settled in

France run Gites or Gite holidays and do so very well. After you have unloaded the car made up the beds you may have time to rustle up something to eat before you can settle back and relax. The next morning it is up and off to the village to take on some bread and other French delicacies for breakfast (Remember they close at midday). You just have time to finish the last croissant and clear up the breakfast dishes before you are off to the supermarche to stock up and do not forget Lunch today. If you are like me you arrive at the supermarche just in time for Lunch closing and have to come back again at 3.00 o'clock. Well what ever you end up fighting your way round the supermarche eventually you check out Normally they have 5 cash desks but only one in operation because of staff holidays, I wonder if they are having a gite holiday in a gite rural Limousin or Charente.

Anyway it is back to the Gite for Lunch (That's if you made it before 12) and maybe just maybe you will have time for an excursion. The days normally pass this way it is a bit like being at home doing what you normally do but in a different place.having said all this I have had some great gite holidays and some awful ones as well but, I would recommend that you take one and then let me know or write an article and I will put it upon this page.

By George Unterberg

How serious are you in your search for jobs in agriculture?

Searching agriculture employer sites for jobs in agriculture can be a very tedious task.

The main reason is there are of thousands of agriculture employers located all across the United States and it would take you years to scan their job boards.

However, these employer job boards are very critical because most agriculture jobs posted on employer job boards are not posted anywhere else.

So searching these employer job boards must be part of your job search.

There are thousands of agriculture jobs posted all over the internet. Agriculture jobs are found on employer sites, job boards, recruiter sites and niche sites specifically focusing on the agriculture profession.

The job titles for the agriculture profession varies greatly based on experience and education level.

If you are looking for agriculture job openings such as department of agriculture jobs or want to start a new career in agriculture then this job site is for you.

This site will show you where to find the hidden agriculture jobs that exist all over the internet.

At any single point in time, there are thousands of agriculture jobs posted all over the internet. The secret is to know where to look and how to extract the agriculture jobs.

Use this site and link to all kinds of jobs in agriculture and agriculture related jobs. You can also find the highly sought after department of agricuture jobs.

The point is there are many agriculture job openings on the internet and now finding them is very easy.

Agriculture-Jobs-Online.com is a one stop guide for anything and everything related to finding agriculture jobs and agriculture resources such as links to agriculture recruiters and agriculture employers.

Recruiters in the agriculture profession fall into various categories such staffing, retained search, permanent placement, and temporary placement.

There are thousands of recruiters specializing in the agriculture field. The best way to quickly search their sites for agriculture jobs is to visit the Recruiter Links section of WorkTree.com

- Agriculture Credit Analyst

- Agriculture Associate Buyer

- Agriculture Manager

- SProduction Supervisor

- Food Processing

- Agriculture Clerk

- Senior Agriculture Analyst

- Audit Manager

- Agriculture Assistant

- Agriculture Supervisor

By Yongde Fang

As a very important role of world economy, China has made a tremendous achievement of utilizing foreign investment since the reform and opening up. China's agriculture began to utilize foreign investment in the end of 70's, when the reform and opening up just started. Agriculture is one of the earliest industries to utilize foreign investments. The new government has been paying unprecedented attention to agriculture due to its strategic position in the development of economy in China. Then Documents about agriculture has been issued again by the authorities in 2005. Solving the problems facing agriculture, rural areas and farmers has been the most important task for the government. Therefore, under the background that more and more attention has been paid to agriculture, it has both theoretical and practical significance to study how to expand, introduce and utilize foreign-investment effectively and efficiently to promote agricultural modernization, industrialization and internationalization.

This article is composed of four parts to discuss the central topic "Utilization of Foreign Investments in Agriculture of China".

1. The background, purpose, significance, content and methodology of this study are introduced and an overview of the past and current studies and researches is presented. Besides, the basic theories of agriculture utilizing foreign investments are summarized.

2. The characteristics of agriculture utilizing foreign investments in China are summarized according to its development, status quo and problems existing in the developing process. Moreover, the model of FDI's contribution to agriculture economic growth is set up to analyze relations between agricultural GDP and FDI in agriculture. Also, we sets up a multivariate regression model of FDI and its influence factors such as the level of agriculture economic development, human capital, the extent of agricultural internationalization and investment climate, etc. The quantitative analysis can provide the data support for government policy.

3. Through introducing the international experiences and lessons of agriculture utilizing investment in developed countries (America and Korea) and in developing countries (Thailand, India, Brazil and Indonesia), some inspirations have been drawn for investment utilization in our agriculture.

4. Based on the theoretical and empirical analysis of the status quo, problems and the influence factors of agriculture utilizing foreign investments, learning its international experiences and lessons, we comes up with some concluding remarks and policy suggestions as follows: agriculture in China should further strengthen the development and exploit market potential; improve agricultural investment climate and upgrade the superiority of introducing foreign capital; intensify high-quality foreign investments introduction and increase the utilizing efficiency; enhance the supervision and control of both domestic and foreign markets as well as establish and consummate rules and regulations.