With feed prices rising, dairies are looking for new feed options such as rice straw. The problem is rice straw can jam equipment and be hard to mix into other ration components. The key is to cut the straw to the right length at the cutter/baler stage

This open access book on straw management aims to provide a wide array of options for rice straw management that are potentially more sustainable, environmental, and profitable compared to current practice. The book is authored by expert researchers, engineers and innovators working on a range of straw management options with case studies from Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia. The book is written for engineers and researchers in order to provide them information on current good practice and the gaps and constraints that require further research and innovation. The book is also aimed at extension workers and farmers to help them decide on the best alternative straw management options in their area by presenting both the technological options as well as the value chains and business models required to make them work. The book will also be useful for policy makers, required by public opinion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, looking for research-based evidence to guide the policies they develop and implement.

Rice straw, under increased scrutiny when burned as agricultural waste, has new promise as a livestock feed.

ntegrated pest management (IPM) provides a long-term strategy for minimizing losses caused by pests, with as little cost to the grower and disruption of the environment as possible. Written by a collaboration of experts in the field, this detailed manual is designed to help growers apply IPM principles in managing their rice crops. What's Inside? Special sections on crop growth and development and general management practices offer vital background information on using IPM strategies. The chapter on “Managing Pests in Rice” provides a detailed chart of management considerations that will help you plan your IPM program and predict or prevent potential problems before they occur. Vibrant and colorful photographs and descriptions fill the pest sections (weeds, invertebrates, diseases, and vertebrates) to help identify pests and pest damage. An informative glossary is available for looking up definitions of unfamiliar terms. What's new in the 3rd Edition? New exotic pest discussionNew detecting, confirming, and managing herbicide resistance sections21 new photos added for diseases, weeds, and vertebratesColor illustrationsNew life cycle illustrations for each disease3 new diseases and 4 new weeds, including Bakanae, Rice Blast, and Red Rice

Discusses hay, hay crops and crop residues in a wide range of situations. This publication deals with the haymaking process, cultivation of hay crops and management of natural hay fields as well as the harvest and conservation of crop residues as animal feed. A series of case studies from Asia, Africa and Latin America illustrate how hay and crop residues can be integrated into production systems.

Natural Cattle Care encompasses every facet of farm management, from the mineral components of the soils cattle graze over, to issues of fencing, shelter and feed regimens. Coleby presents a comprehensive analysis of farming techniques that keep the health of the animal in mind. She brings a wealth of animal husbandry experiences to bear in this analysis of the serious problems of contemporary farming practices, focusing on how poor soils lead to mineral-deficient plants and ailing farm animals. Coleby provides system-level solutions and specific remedies for optimizing cattle health and productivity.