IS it possible to have a lush, verdant lawn that's environmentally green, too? Jennifer Sparling, for one, says yes -- and the organic lawn-care educator is hosting dozens of free workshops this summer through the Manitoba Eco-Network to get Winnipeggers on board. IS it possible to have a lush, verdant lawn that's environmentally green, too? Jennifer Sparling, for one, says yes -- and the organic lawn-care educator is hosting dozens of free workshops this summer through the Manitoba...

These insecticides kill the beneficial insects, such as the lady beetle, that feed on the mites and help to keep their numbers down. However, it can be helpful if your focus at about 3 inches is not too good. Infested leaves get white specks, turn yellowish brown, look dried up or brittle, feel like sandpaper underneath the leaves, and have reduced blooms or blooming stops altogether and the leaves can drop. Gardeners sometimes create a problem for themselves by over use or unnecessary use...

Because the certification fees can be costly, some farmers who practice organic methods -- but are not certified -- mark their products as "organically grown," said Joy Fanning, holistic consultant and educator for the Home Economist Market on South Boulevard. The term "certified organic" refers to produce that has been grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms or irradiation. Because the certification fees can be costly, some...

With a lead time of between three and five days in the event of flooding, Bell said there would be enough time to relocate the dairy industry and the swine industry. We want people to make sure they have their emergency plans in place, that they know where they re going to transport their animals and where they re going to move them to. In the meantime, dairy producers have been blitzed with information about risks they face and what they can do to mitigate losses. Bell pointed out the...

Ewing said he is concerned about a hay shortage this fall since so many farmers are putting their extra acres into corn or soybeans for the renewable fuels industry. Barnhart said that if the frosted stems were less than 10 inches tall at the time of frost it will take them longer to recover. Wayne County, Iowa producer Ted Ewing said that the first crop will be drastically reduced from normal, but he has a positive outlook for his hay crop for the rest of the year and in the future. A...

Other poisons include plants such as Kaneru and Niyangala, industrial chemicals, household chemicals such as disinfectants and cleaners, cosmetics and substances used for abuse. This is not surprising when one considers the fact that agriculture is the most important sector in Sri Lanka's economy, employing over half the labour force. It is essential to keep all drugs, pesticides and chemicals in locked cupboards or containers so that children cannot have access to them. Pesticides are the...