Clinoptilolite Zeolite - Essential in Agriculture

Clinoptilolite Zeolite is an exceptionally beneficial substance in the use of agriculture and also for animal health. It has unique case properties that are well pragmatic to a amount of applications whereas it has a sizeable amount of pore space, strong resistance to highest temperatures and chemically neutral basic structures. Clinoptilolite Zeolite is commonly used as an additive in the feed of cattle, pigs, horses and chickens since it absorbs poison in the feed that has been created by moulds and microscopic parasites and has benefited food case in these animals. It easily absorbs ammonia and other poisonous gases from the air and water and works as an excellent filter for both health reasons and odour elimination.

Clinoptilolite Zeolite is also used to remove damaging toxins and it removes free radicals. Dissimilar to other classic antioxidants, it does not neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to stabilize them; rather its structure captures free radicals. Once they are trapped inside the cage, the inactivated free radical can then safely be eliminated from the animal ' s body. The mineral has shown to vastly improve the growth of animals when added to their diet. It also does wonders for the problem of pungent excrement, as the toxin binding abilities reduce smells or poisonous gases in the air. Clinoptilolite is a fully natural, inert and non toxic mineral that has shown to be very beneficial in animal health. It is an excellent dietary addition and has contributed to reducing emissions as the mineral absorbs odours from rotten grain and defecation.

Clinoptilolite is also an invaluable addition to the development of agriculture and it works as a perfect horticulture and soil amendment; aquaculture, aquaria, hatchery and pond filtration and drinking water, surface water, ground water and waste water treatment. It is also an excellent air filtration and pollution control medium and oil absorbing floor drying materials, industrial fillers and the removal of some organic compounds from oil field waters. It is frequently used as a municipal, industrial and private facility water treatment, concrete additive with pozzolanic properties that changes the density and heightens strength. It is not only an excellent odour eliminator but is a good flow and anti - caking agent in industrial and agricultural material handling processes. In agriculture, clinoptilolite is used as a soil treatment that provides a source of slowly released potassium. It can also be used as water moderators in which they absorb up to 55 % of their weight in water and slowly release the moisture when plants demand it. This is very helpful in preventing root rot and temperate drought cycles.

Climates Impact on Wineries and Vineyards

The Wine Innovation Cluster ( WIC ), a national resource for grape and wine research comprised of five extensive research and development organisations ( AWRI, CSIRO, SARDI, The University of Adelaide, and Provisor Pty LTd ), reports the significant offering of the Australian wine industry to the export, tourism and employment figures of the country. Wine Australia, a statutory authority of the Australian Government, supports the countrys $4billion wine sector, the worlds fourth largest exporter of wine by volume, just tardy Italy, France and Spain. Despite exporting to more than 100 countries, the Australian Bureau of Statistics ( ABS ) has experimental a alike downward trend in wine production and exports for the past three years.

WIC says, " Grape production, wine quality and importantly flavour or " style " are very dependent upon climate. There is a supreme impact of climate on wine style and flavour and this distinguishes wine from other agriculture products. " In December 2011, Leanne Webb, postdoctoral research fellow of the Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research at CSIRO, published an article on climate changes effect on wineries and vineyards.

How Climate Affects Wineries and Vineyards

Climate has a strong influence on the process of wine production; it determines the grape variety to be produced. Important decisions on viticulture are made in response to climate. When it comes to temperature or seasonal range, climate can be described as hot, warm, cool, marginal, continental, Mediterranean, etc. To help viticulturalists in vineyard management, they classify climate into three categories:

Macro - climate the climatic influence on a particular region ( regional scale ); the climate of the whole or sub region

Meso - climate the climatic influence on a particular site in a region ( site scale ); the climate of the locale or section of the vineyard

Micro - climate the climatic influence on the vine, around the leaves and frutis ( vine scale ); the climate surrounding the particular vine and its fruits

Aside from the above climate influence, other elements are also considered, such as:

Sunshine for colour and flavour development

Rainfall, Humidity and Evaporation for vine growth

Wind for vine drying and vine disease prevention

Due to the current unpredictable weather patterns and irregular climate changes, cultivating grapes into wines has become a challenging industry. But by implementing adaptive measures, the threat and impact of climate change on the quality of wine grapes can be reduced.

Trelawney Wines come from the cool Clare Valley region

To ensure you get deliciously tasting wines, Trelawney Wines offer the premium taste of South Australia wines genuine cool climate wines from the Clare Valley wine region. Wines from Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Riesling grapes grown on the familys acres of land are still handcrafted from vineyard to bottle to this day, continuing the familys winemaking tradition over the years.

Adopting modern facilities to produce the most organic and natural old - world wines, Trelawney Wines continue to keep the standards of their grapes and wines, reflective of the Clare Valley region. Their delicate handling of the grapes from cultivation to harvest to fermentation provides the delicious aroma and flavour their wines are known for.

Cutting Back On Sodium

How do you cut back on Sodium? Our dietitians all avail that we should all try to contract our salt intake by around a interrogation. Wittily finding out which foods are high in salt can life a long way to cutting your salt intake.

Sodium can come from natural sources or be supplementary to foods. Most foods in their natural state contain some sodium. However, the majority ( up to 75 percent ) of sodium that Americans consume comes from sodium added to processed foods by manufacturers. While some of this sodium is added to foods for safety reasons, the amount of salt added to processed foods is clearly above and beyond what is required for safety and function of the food supply. However most of the salt in our diet comes from the food that we eat, rather than from the salt we add to our food.

Concerns have been growing that consumption levels of salt are well above those needed for nutritional purposes and that this can lead to adverse effects on health, in particular cardiovascular disease. Consumers are increasingly looking to reduce their salt intake, making salt reduction a priority for food manufacturers. This is not straightforward, though, as salt plays an important role in food preservation, taste and process ability. Written by a team of international experts, Reducing salt in foods provides a unique review of current knowledge in this field. Research has looked at how crystal size and shape affect the perception of salt, including investigating flake salt or granular salt. The flake type has been reported to be more functional, in terms of protein solubilisation, binding and increasing pH.

Everyone needs some salt to function. Also known as sodium chloride, salt helps maintain the body ' s balance of fluids. Salt also functions in many foods as a preservative, by helping to prevent spoilage and keeping certain foods safe to eat. But nearly all Americans consume more salt than they need, according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines are published every five years by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Dairy Farms In Danger Of Labor Law Non - compliance

Share farming job comes with some alike of danger and dairy farming certainly is no exception. The agriculture industry ranks as one of the top industries for accidents and fatalities. In terms of injury prevention, OSHA ( the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ) has mandated safety guidelines that farmers must fair in order to be in compliance with Federal and state labor laws. One of the biggest challenges is documenting a safety intention. Season many dairy farms have precautionary safety measures, meetings and trainings in quarter, unless its written down, the government doesnt consider the business to be in compliance.

According to OSHA, member dairy farm that employs over eleven employees is subject to OSHA standards, oversight and inspections. Although OSHA isnt pushing the dairy industry for inspections, that doesnt niggard they wont in the future. OSHAs object is to create a safe work environment for all workers regardless of industry. Dairy farmers who are out of compliance with OSHA standards can be fined heavily from a few hundred up to tens of thousands of dollars.

OSHA can and will fine for any of the following violations:

Lack of injury and illness prevention program ( must be documented )

Lack of work injury reporting

Lack of fire extinguishers

Lack of communication about and / or process when dealing with toxic, hazardous or harmful materials

Lack of respiratory protection

Lack of proper face and eye protection

Lack of proper medical services or first aid

In addition, dairy farms must adhere to all Federal and State labor laws that apply within their industry. There are specific rules and regulations for agricultural minimum wage, as well as for migrant workforce. Labor law posters with such laws must be displayed where the farms workers can readily view them. A labor law poster for the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act ( MSPA ) must be displayed if the dairy farm employs migrant or seasonal workers. A federal labor law poster for with the Fair Labor Standards Act for Agricultural Workers must also be displayed. OSHA is looking to California and the regulations set forth on the California labor law poster for agricultural workers as a precedent for the rest of the country, considering that CA law mandates an injury and illness prevention plan ( IIPP ) as part of standard safety training. OSHA strives to make this plan federally mandated.

In the meantime, dairy farmers across the U. S. need to be increasingly cautious and take care to make sure that all labor law compliance is met and that all proper labor law posters are posted. This will help to ensure workforce safety, as well as peace of mind when it comes to possible surprise OSHA inspections.

College Tours in the Mid South

Since publishing an article about college tours of Southern universities and state colleges in Virginia I have fielded several inquiries about college tours for the Mid - south. In response, I recently developed an adventure designed for college bound high school juniors and seniors that focuses on colleges in Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. There are some sterling universities in each of these states. Students come from all over the United States and across the world to make it these well - published colleges.

A trip dean, repeatedly a teacher or guidance monitor, brings a company of high school juniors and seniors on this type of tour. The student category has a chance to tour the campus, see residence halls, classrooms and student centers and speak to other students about the experience of observation college there. In the evenings, students oftentimes have an break to explore the distance or city. This includes dining, shopping and entertainment near the university. Its important that college bound students have a better touch for the domicile they will live in for four years or more.

University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Established in 1912 as the West Tennessee Regular School, the University of Memphis is now affectionately known as U of M and is the flagship school in the Tennessee Board of Regents system. U of M enrolls about 22, 000 students and is situated in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. Academic programs range from African & African American Studies to Banking and Financial Services and Correctional Administration, Dance, Environmental Engineering and Technology Management Services. The campus is characterized by contemporary architecture, with the most recent building spurt occurring in the 1990s.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN

Situated in the Appalachian city of Knoxville, University of Tennessee is the flagship school of the state university system. In 2012 Forbes magazine cited University of Tennessee as one of " Americas Best Colleges. " The Princeton Review also listed UT as one of the " 150 Best Value Colleges. " UT is well known for the College of Arts and the Sciences and colleges of: Business, Engineering and Law. Approximately 25, 000 students are enrolled full - time at the University of Tennessee. The campus sits on a hill - offering a nice perspective of the Smoky Mountains and the City of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Named after the main benefactor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University was funded with an initial $1, 000, 000 donation in 1873. The university serves approximately 12, 000 full - time undergraduate and graduate students. Nearly 90 % of all undergraduate students live on campus, creating a fun, community atmosphere in a picturesque setting. Undergraduate tuition in 2011 / 2012 is $40, 000, reflecting the universitys private status. Vanderbilt is best known for the MBA program and the School of Medicine. Vanderbilts School of Medicine and business programs have employed five Nobel Laureates. U. S. News and World Report has ranked Vanderbilt University as 17th among the best national universities.

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama was founded in 1831 and is the states first public university, serving over 31, 000 students annually. It has been cited by Kiplingers annual list of colleges and universities as one of the top 100 schools that offers " great academics and affordable tuition. " UA has been ranked in the top 50 in U. S. News and World Reports annual college rankings for 10 years. In the last 9 years, over 40 new facilities have been added or upgraded, giving the campus a contemporary look and feel, while retaining the original buildings from the 19th Century. UA is known for the School of Law and Engineering and the debate and forensics programs have won 16 national debate championships. Tuscaloosa was formerly the capital of Alabama and is a city of approximately 90, 000 people with much to offer the college student who resides there.

Auburn University, Auburn AL

Founded in 1856 as an all male school, Auburn University is now co - ed. There are approximately 25, 000 students enrolled and 140 degree programs to choose from. The university is known for its agricultural studies, Teacher Education and Wildlife Sciences programs. The town of Auburn has a population of approximately 40, 000 people and is only 50 miles from Montgomery, Alabama and 115 miles from Atlanta, Georgia. Auburn is bike friendly and offers a wide variety of places to eat and things to do.

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, a bustling mid - sized Southern city of just under 300, 000 people. The university currently has 28, 000 students enrolled and is the flagship land - grant institution of Kentucky. Known for the college athletics football and basketball teams, the Wildcats, UKs colors are blue and white and the student body and community enthusiastically support their beloved teams. UKs most popular fields of study are: Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics and Agriculture. For in - state students, the tuition is still very affordable, at approximately $8, 000 for undergraduates for one academic year.

This is the suggested itinerary for the Mid South College Tour. Trip leaders can request variations of this tour, which can be easily modified. For example, when a student group visits University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, a trip leader may want to exercise the option to visit Alabama State University in Montgomery. Or, when groups visit Vanderbilt University in Nashville, they may also want to visit Fisk and Tennessee State Universities.

College tours are a great way to inspire college bound high school students to begin thinking about and planning where they want to obtain their degrees.

For more information about college tours across the U. S. visit: http: / / www. educationaltravelconsultants. com.

Community Supported Agriculture A WinWin Situation

This fall our family signed up with a local Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA ) farm. I am thrilled as this is something I have longed to do for some time.

In the last 20 years CSA ' s have become very popular. CSA ' s transfer an high way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food pronto from a farmer. Participating in CSA farming is self-explanatory: a farmer offers a certain figure of " shares " to the general public. Often, a " share " consists of a flotation size box of vegetables but other products may be included as well equivalent as fruits, eggs, milk, cheese, honey and / or maple syrup. Consumers who need to partake tidily purchase a share ( sometimes referred to as a " membership " or a " donation " ) and in return receive a box, bag or box of seasonal produce. While this practice itself is untroublesome, the impact has been monument us. Thousands of families have CSAs throughout the country. In many areas, there is a more of a demand than there are CSAs to fill it. Some CSAs are finding themselves resorting to waiting lists. It has been estimated that currently the United States alone is home to over 4, 000 CSA farms.

Advantages for Consumers

The advantages for consumers are scads!

Uber - fresh fruit and veggies packed full of rich vitamins and nutrients

Exposure to new vegetables, new products and new recipes

Farm visits

Spawn and adults alike suddenly preferring " their " farms products, akin veggies previously dark

Developing a relationship with your local farmer

Educational aspects reconnaissance food, growing and a working farm right to nomen a few points.

No need to have the space for a garden in order to enjoy fresh produce

No experience necessary

Quick-witted without fail where your food comes from

Teaching he kids were your food comes from and how to help produce it

Lower prices

A wide fluctuation of produce

The might to demand something extra or not to receive something wider

Extra produce to freeze and can, thereby redoing the grocery bill prone closest the season.

Advantages for Farmers

The advantages for farmers who choose to submission CSA shares are abundant.

Allowed to headquarters on marketing the food early in the year long before the long days in the field begin

Receive payment early in the season which allows for better planning and cash flow

Supporting local economies

Shared risk regarding each crop ' s yield

An opportunity to get to know the people who they feed

The joy of participating in sustainable farming / harvesting while still making a living

The ability to teach others about where their food comes from.

Variations

It is important to note that each farm is slightly different. Some farms utilize a " mix and match " or " market - style " CSA. Here, consumers would not simply be picking up a standard box each week; they instead load their own boxes with a certain amount of personal discretion. The farmer lays out baskets of each week ' s ripened vegetables. On some farms, the consumers are asked to take a prescribed amount and leave behaving what their families do not care for. Many times this extra produce is sold at farmers markets, roadside stands, or donated to local food banks. At other farms the members have a wider choice to opt for what pleases their family, often within specific limitations ( I. e. " one basket of raspberries per share, please " ). Furthermore, while some farmers sell shares for a whole year at a time, other ' s offers 10 week, or 25 week intervals. Some farmers require members to complete a certain number of " work " hours while others do not require this at all. Nearly all farmers offer farm pick up ( which in my opinion is the fun part of the CSA experience ), some also offer drop off / pick up locations and / or home delivery.

Remember that CSAs are not solely about vegetables. Many have options for shareholders to buy eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers, honey, maple syrup and other farm products as well as their vegetables. In some areas farmers are coming together to offer their products together. For example one CSA vegetable and honey farm may allow another chicken farmer to use their CSA as a drop off point thereby allowing CSA members to purchase chickens when they come to pick up their share. Other farms are streamlining their farm into one specific area only. Still other non - farming third parties are setting up CSA - like businesses, where they sell boxes of local food to their members only and are essentially middle men.

Shared Risk

One of the most important concepts of the CSA arraignment is the premise of shared risk. When CSAs first began this notion of " we ' re all in it together " was critical. If the season allowed for apples to be rampant, then the families began not only using the apples as fresh produce but also putting some up for winter; freezing for pies and crisps, juicing, and making homemade apple sauce. If a hail storm depleted all the tomatoes, well, those families could expect very little spaghetti that year. This concept remains. While farmers often have other avenues of marketing their produce through farmers markets, wholesale, and industrial accounts, many still require CSA members to sign a policy indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm is able to produce.

This feeling of shared risk interestingly creates a sense of community among members and between members and the farmer. Together, all the members and the hardworking farmers cheer on the green peppers and watch the onions anxiously. They are excited together, concerned together and triumphant together. Most CSA farmers report feeling a significant responsibility to their members. When specific crops are scant, they ensure that the CSA members have first dibs.

At times however, things do wrong. Hideously, horribly wrong. Sometimes it is understandable; a wretched divorce, sudden death or family tragedy. Othertimes, it may be a renegade, irresponsible farmer or a newbie over his head. With that said there are hundreds of farmers who take pride in their land and farm, you find joy in feeding the member families and who have a grand reputation. There are a few noteworthy tips to avoid any issues. When searching for your new CSA remember:

Ask around for recommendations.

Find an established, reputable CSA

Ensure that all produce being offered is actually from that farm. ( Occasionally, new farmers get odd, desperate ideas and bring in produce and " resell " ).

Check contract for hidden fees and to ensure you are comfortable with all fees.

Visit the farm and see for yourself how the produce is grown, how the animals are kept and the land is treated. Nothing else can be as rewarding or affirming.

Other critical tips for potential CSA members:

Do not expect all your produce to come from your CSA. While your share will be plenty of produce, it will not be enough. Most CSAs do not provide fruit, and those that do, do so in specific quantities. Furthermore, stables will still need to be bought. Inquire with your farmer before running out the market. Again.

If you are unfamiliar with eating seasonally, do some research! It will be shocking that the grocery store has tomatoes but yet they don ' t ripen until August! Who knew?

Always inquire about types of produce expected as well as quantities.

If you are planning on freezing and / or canning for winter, inquire with your farmer. Many times he / she will have a list of individuals seeking extra produce on top of their CSA order.

Always, always, always remember, refer to and obey all policies.

Always ask the farmer for references. If they have plenty of good reports, you are in safe hands.

Joining a CSA can be a rewarding, healthy choice for your family but also for the Earth as well. If you are concerned with Environmental issues, are a proponent for " going local ", are interested in becoming a " localvoire " or just don ' t have a green thumb yourself, check into joining a CSA - fresh, local, healthy produce without all the work!