Remote realizing moisture model could aid maqui berry farmers

Global maqui berry farmers might get better decision-making help as unique features are created to North Alabama soil moisture modeling research being carried out by an atmospheric science doctorate student in the College of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

The models indicate just how much added moisture could be necessary for confirmed area versus historic data to attain various crop yields, plus they could help with making costly infrastructure opportunities by assisting to determine their economic stability.

"The key factor that I wish to stress is this fact isn't a predictive model, it's a decision-support model. It will help maqui berry farmers and authorities make choices according to historic weather designs," states doctorate student Vikalp Mishra. In places that water is an issue, irrigation infrastructure could be costly and also the model may help to find out its economic affordability.

Mishra was the main author of the paper together with his consultant and UAH connect professor of atmospheric science Dr. John Mecikalski, UAH Earth System Science Center principle investigator James Cruise, and scientists in the College of Maryland-College Park and also the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Hydrology and Remote Realizing Laboratory in Beltsville, Md.

The model uses satellite data to look for the quantity of soil moisture present after which estimations yields according to available moisture. Water is in the center of almost all farming choices. It affects the crop cultivar, the range of seed grown, the total amount and kind of fertilizer needed and the quantity of irrigation needed to make a given weight of grain.

Scientists start by using satellite derived evapotranspiration estimations at thermal infrared bands to deduce the quantity of moisture being happened by plants. Moisture data come from the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellites (GOES). GOES data are put in to the Atmosphere-Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) model, formerly produced by Dr. Mecikalski yet others. The ALEXI model computes the evapotranspiration rates. The soil moisture is proportional towards the evapotranspiration and also the number of canopy cover to ensure that the quantity of moisture within the soil to the rooting depth could be deduced.

"After we obtain that soil moisture estimation, then your next factor would be to classify the we acquired into surface values and root zone values," states Mishra. The quantity of vegetative cover influences individuals values. If there's more plant life, there's more transpiration, meaning moisture has been attracted in the soil within the root zone from the plants, he states. Less vegetative cover means the thought moisture is evaporating in a greater rate in the top layer of soil.

Plant life cover is believed while using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) scientific instrument released into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 aboard Terra (Eos 550d AM) as well as in 2002 aboard the Aqua (Eos 550d PM) satellites.

"Whether it's greater than 30 % vegetative cover, then it's mainly root zone moisture because of transpiration," Mishra states.

Having the ability to sense the strata of ground moisture to that particular depth is essential, Mishra states, because different crops have different root depths and distributions for optimal water uptake.

Next a soil moisture profile is developed using the principle of maximum entropy model (POME), which utilizes prior specific data over some trial odds to find out which is easily the most likely outcome. It makes sense input in to the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) program, a computer program program that comprises crop simulation models for more than 28 crops and it has been being used in excess of 3 decades around the globe. The model includes all inputs in to the crop, including weather, plant spacing, cultivar, fertilizer, soil type and fertility, yet others.

Mishra is applicable as numerous quantified inputs about crops and climate conditions easy to this model, except one: precipitation.

At this time, he inputs his soil moisture profiles and after that he is able to model yields in kilos per hectare depending on how much soil moisture can be obtained towards the crop. The model can offer daily estimations of grain weights in addition to water and fertilizer needs inside a growing period.

Mishra's North Alabama sensor research, completed in addition to USDA's Hydrology and Remote Realizing Laboratory, covered a ten-square-kilometer area that incorporated dry land-captive-raised crops depending on rain fall only, irrigated crops, different crop types, pasture and fallow land. The information were in comparison having a decade of USDA Farming Census yield data.

"What we should found was our soil moisture dimensions and believed crop yields were considerably comparable with county averaged National Farming Statistics Service yield data and ground-based precipitation-caused DSSAT results," Mishra states. His doctorate research is centered on attempting to target the section of measurement more carefully, reducing it from 100 square kilometers to at least one square kilometer, therefore the results could be more encouraging from the choices of person maqui berry farmers within an area.

The job can be especially valuable for maqui berry farmers and government authorities within the more arid nations around the globe, states collaborator Cruise, the key investigator from UAH's Earth System Science Center.

"The primary impetus ended up being to run this model in places that you do not have lots of precipitation to begin with,Inch Cruise states. "You'll be able to determine simply how much irrigation along with other inputs you might have to obtain a given result." However the ongoing try to target the regions of measurement could cause a web-based database that maqui berry farmers in Alabama and elsewhere can use to assist them to make choices to handle variability in annual rain fall, he states.

"You will find potentially a variety of gradients," Cruise states, "in which the area being measured might be cut down."

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Snow drought now targeting farmers

The dearth of snow that set back Colorado's ski areas this winter is now taking its toll on farmers, KUSA-TV reports.

It could cost farmers millions of dollars and translate to higher prices for consumers.

Snow runoff traditionally fills up the ditches and ponds that farmers tap to irrigate crops. Not this year. The "terrible year" for ski resorts is translating to a lack of surface water for farmers who say their options for water are limited.

"It's a huge issue. I consider water more valuable than gold," Weld County farmer Glen Fritzler tells KUSA. "We can't survive without it."

Fritzler says his only option is well water, which has not been plentiful since the 2002 drought. "We cannot operate our wells like we have in the past or like we need to to grow out produce," Fritzler says.

State Rep. Randy Fischer has sponsored a bill for a study to determine whether the use of well water by Weld County farmers would adversely affect others who depend on the supply. Fischer tells KUSA that if nothing is done with the bill during today's legislative session, it will likely die.

That means there won't be much hope for farmers. Fitzler says the cost of Colorado produce will likely go up and the cost to farmers could be in the millions.

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USDA, FDA Provide Aid to Farmers for Flood-Damaged Crops (ContributorNetwork)

The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration announced today that both departments will be offering assistance and resources to farmers who have been impacted by intense flooding as a result of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee.

The assistance will specifically target flood-damaged crops and will provide compensation to farmers who are unable to bring their crops to market due to this damage. Floodwaters are especially harmful to crops as they can be a health hazard to those who consume them. Floodwaters often bring contact with animal waste, sewage and other pathogens and contaminants.

Michael Scuse, acting under-secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, commented on the assistance announced by the USDA and FDA: "We are working closely with FDA to protect people and livestock from damaged crops, while not penalizing the farmer whose crops are affected. I want to assure insured farmers that they are covered under the federal crop insurance program for crops not harvested due to flood damage. America's farmers and rural communities are vitally important to our nation's economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow and out-compete the rest of the world."

FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael R. Taylor also spoke about the storm damages to farms on the East Coast and the available aid: "We empathize with the farmers who are dealing with the loss of crops due to recent flooding. We all share the goal of protecting the food supply. We are working directly with USDA on damage response and will consult with them on assistance for farmers following our guidance to keep damaged crops out of the food supply."

The USDA has also recently announced other types of aid for farmers and agriculture affected by the storms. According to the World Dairy Diary, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pledged aid for dairy farms hit hard by Irene and Lee and flooding afterward, especially since three of the top 10 dairy states were impacted. Vilsack has already pledged immediate aid of $15 million to New York dairy farms.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Irene hit the East Coast hard in late August and estimates show that the damage could cost insurers up to $5.5 billion. Delmarva Now reported Lee also caused a significant amount of destruction in the Northeast when it hit late last week. Lee caused large amounts of flooding, especially in Pennsylvania where there were evacuations after heavy rains.

The USDA is reminding farmers and ranchers to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Centers to report damages and losses and find further information on available aid.

Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.

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