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Slag keeps rabbits out of wheat fields
York, England (UPI) Dec 18, 2006 British scientists say they might have found a way to eliminate the problem of rabbits eating field crops: brush the fields with slag. Rabbits cause an estimated $225 million in damage to crops each year in Britain. Researcher David Cowen and colleagues at Britain's Central Science Laboratory near York say the application of slag to wheat growing in greenhouses has no effect on yield but causes the plants to incorporate the silica and express it as spiky structures on their leaves. The spikes deter rabbits by abrading their teeth and causing stomachaches. Since humans only eat the wheat grain, the repellent would only affect the rabbits. When the slag-treated plants were compared with normal plants, grazing damage fell by more than half. Slag -- or calcium silicate -- is a plentiful byproduct of blast furnaces and is inexpensive and environmentally friendly. It has been identified as an effective fertilizer in rice paddies and sugar cane fields. The research appears in Chemistry & Industry magazine. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology
Organic calf born in New Hampshire
Lee, N.H. (UPI) Dec 15, 2006 A bouncing, 42-pound organic calf was born at the University of New Hampshire's organic research farm, university officials said. The Jersey calf, born Dec. 12, is the first-born to mother May, a University of New Hampshire Jersey bred in Vermont. Farm officials said 46 cows are expected to give birth and begin producing organic milk within the next month. |
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