Exam 2 (section 4 and 5) Flashcards
- Describe four (4) renewable energy sources. In your answer include advantages and disadvantages for each.
-Hydroelectricity
- wind power
- wave and tidal energy – solar
- geothermal
- nuclear power
– biomass - anaerobic digestion.
Describe four (4) renewable energy sources. In your answer include advantages and disadvantages for each.
(Hydroelectricity and Wind Power)
Describe four (4) renewable energy sources. In your answer include advantages and disadvantages for each.
(Wave and tidal energy)
(Solar)
- Five (5) ways a farmer could improve tractor fuel efficiency when carrying out a particular task.
Reducing tillage to save fuel. Use min till instead of ploughing. Min till or direct drill generally uses less fuel than full tillage systems because the soil is tilled less intensely and less often. These tillage practices may also allow seedbed preparation, fertilizer application, and seeding in fewer passes. Such practices are also eligible for carbon credits.
Gearing up and throttling back. Increasing the gear and lowering the throttle speed can lead to fuel savings. Make sure not to overload the engine; excessive black smoke indicates overloading.
Optimizing wheel slippage. Some wheel slippage is needed to reduce excess wear on the tires. The optimal level is generally 10%, but the actual level depends on the type of tractor, the speed, and the implement being used.
Use correct tyre pressure. Properly ballasted tractors with recommended tire inflation rates can improve fuel consumption and increase tractor efficiency by creating the required amount of tire slippage for the specific tractor, implement, and field conditions.
Matching implement size to the tractor. Using a large tractor for light loads is inefficient because extra horsepower is used to move the larger tractor. Producers should consider using a smaller tractor if possible. On the other hand, using a smaller tractor to perform operations that require more horsepower can overload a smaller tractor, reducing its fuel consumption and efficiency.
Selecting the optimal engine and travel speeds.
Reduce Emissions. Use ad blue to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency
Learn how to get the most from sophisticated transmission systems such as CVT units or auto shifting power-shift units by consulting instruction material or dealer/demonstrator.
Always use the economy PTO speed option (540E or 750)
Only carry as much weight around the field as is necessary.
Be efficient in your work. Avoid all unnecessary driving
- Five (5) examples of energy conservation measures a farmer could use to reduce energy cost on Irish farms. (10m)
Milk cooling, water heating, vacuum pumps amount for the biggest proportion of energy use on dairy farms.
rainwater harvesting, electric fencer, water pumping, etc.
- Three (3) measures a dairy farmer can undertake to save energy. In your answer explain the actions a farmer must take and the benefits of the measures.
Milk cooling, water heating, vacuum pumps amount for the biggest proportion of energy use on dairy farms.
Explain in detail the term “energy audit” under the following headings. (8m or 10m depending on question) Page 103
Purpose
Benefits
How it can be conducted using examples -
Purpose – explain how it is a check completed on the energy consumption, uses, possible eliminations, reductions of energy etc. on a farm.
Benefits – talk about cost reductions, unwanted/unnecessary uses of energy, re-evaluation of pf production processes/costs on the farm
How it can be conducted using examples – auditor walking around, evaluate production processes, what’s needed what isn’t… apply changes if required to feeding, animal production, timers on water, low wattage lightbulbs, skylights etc. …. Completed on the whole farm, every enterprise
- Discuss the following alternative energy sources. (8m)
Biomass.
Anaerobic Digesters.
- Discuss three (3) of the following alternative energy sources. (12m)
Wind power - Water and tidal – Solar – Geothermal – Nuclear
Discuss in detail two (2) sources of high energy consumption in pig production and explain how to increase energy savings for each.
Explain these and have 4 points each on how these save energy for whichever 2 examples are given.
Heating the farrowing and first stage weaner houses
Ventilation systems and fans
Insulation of pig buildings
Feed delivery and mixing, power washing
Manure pumps to mix and agitate slurry tanks
- Discuss in detail three (3) measures a crop and grassland farmer can implement to increase energy savings on the farm.
Change cultivation systems
Machine type and setting
Avoid distant land rental
Select tractors carefully
Drive efficiently
Tyre choice
- Explain the term “Integrated Pest management” (IPM).
Give the definition of what it is, a sustainable approach to control pests through biological, cultural, physical methods which don’t eradicate pests and reduces the use of chemicals so they are only used as a last resort. – reduces risks to the environment and human health.
- Describe in detail five (5) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) actions a farmer could use to eradicate rushes on his/her farm. Include in your answer the weed(s), the approach and the method while stating what it does and the benefit.
Give the approach such as mechanical, method is topping, then explain what topping is and how it controls the rushes.. Make sure to make reference to rushes and list methods that actually control rushes, not something that controls another weed or pest…
- Describe in detail five (5) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) actions a farmer could use to eradicate rushes on his/her farm. Include in your answer the weed(s), the approach and the method while stating what it does and the benefit.
- Farmers must meet their Conditionality (Cross Compliance) obligations in respect of SMR’s and GAEC’s. Describe any five (5) of these GAEC’s as laid down by the Dept. of Agriculture.
GAEC 1 provides for the overall maintenance of the ratio of permanent grassland to
arable on a national basis and the preservation of carbon stocks.
GAEC 2 is concerned with protecting peatland and wetland, while GAEC 9 is concerned
with protecting environmentally sensitive grassland. Together, these two conditions
promote and maintain carbon sequestration in targeted areas with high carbon stocks.
GAEC 3 bans the burning of crop stubble and residues, except for plant health reasons,
while maintaining organic carbon and prevents the direct release of carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere.
GAEC 4 provides for buffer strips along water courses to prevent the flow of pollutants
from agricultural land to water.
GAEC 5 and GAEC 6 aims to prevent/minimise soil erosion and soil degradation, while
GAEC 7 provides for crop rotation in arable land in order to preserve soil organic matter
content.
GAEC 8 is concerned with maintaining non-productive features and areas in order to
improve on-farm biodiversity.
- Discuss in detail three (3) practices of IPM listed in the SUDS.
- The prevention and/or suppression of harmful organisms should be achieved or supported among
other options especially by:
— crop rotation,
— use of adequate cultivation techniques (e.g., stale seedbed technique, sowing dates and
densities, under-sowing, conservation tillage, pruning and direct sowing),
— use, where appropriate, of resistant/tolerant cultivars and standard/certified seed and planting
material,
— use of balanced fertilisation, liming and irrigation/drainage practices,
— preventing the spreading of harmful organisms by hygiene measures (e.g., by regular cleansing
of machinery and equipment),
— protection and enhancement of important beneficial organisms, e.g., by adequate plant
protection measures or the utilisation of ecological infrastructures inside and outside
production sites. - Harmful organisms must be monitored by adequate methods and tools, where available. Such
adequate tools should include observations in the field as well as scientifically sound warning,
forecasting and early diagnosis systems, where feasible, as well as the use of advice from
professionally qualified advisors. - Based on the results of the monitoring the professional user has to decide whether and when to
apply plant protection measures. Robust and scientifically sound threshold values are essential
components for decision making. For harmful organisms threshold levels defined for the region,
specific areas, crops and particular climatic conditions must be taken into account before treatments,
where feasible. - Sustainable biological, physical and other non-chemical methods must be preferred to chemical
methods if they provide satisfactory pest control. - The pesticides applied shall be as specific as possible for the target and shall have the least side
effects on human health, non-target organisms and the environment. - The professional user should keep the use of pesticides and other forms of intervention to levels
that are necessary, e.g., by reduced doses, reduced application frequency or partial applications,
considering that the level of risk in vegetation is acceptable and they do not increase the risk for
development of resistance in populations of harmful organisms. - Where the risk of resistance against a plant protection measure is known and where the level of
harmful organisms requires repeated application of pesticides to the crops, available anti-resistance
strategies should be applied to maintain the effectiveness of the products. This may include the use of
multiple pesticides with different modes of action. - Based on the records on the use of pesticides and on the monitoring of harmful organisms the
professional user should check the success of the applied plant protection measures.
- Explain the four (4) operating elements on a sprayer an inspector would evaluate when carrying out a sprayer test
PTO guards
Sprayer pump
Agitation
The tank for leakages
Gauges
Pipes and hoses
Filters
Spray booms
Nozzles
Pressure/flow rates
- A tillage farmer is trying to avoid aphid attacks and fungal diseases in their cereal crops, describe three (3) nonchemical methods to prevent these attacks from occurring.
The likes of:
o Weather conditions
o Biological control measures
o Disease resistant crops
o Or any other nonchemical methods you can find.
Use natural enemies
Natural enemies are organisms that kill or otherwise
reduce the numbers of another organism. Natural
enemies that limit pests are key components of many
integrated pest management programs, particularly in
protected crops. The most important natural enemies
of insect and mite pests include predators, parasites,
and pathogens. Examples of these are lady birds
which prey on many aphid species and parasitic
wasps which prey on whitefly.
Use crop fleeces
Crop fleeces can be multifunctional. They can
protect crops from frost and cold conditions.
They can serve to warm up the soil and
vegetation thus encouraging and enhancing
growth. Finally, depending on the type used,
they can prevent the entry of certain insect
pests. However, in some situations the use of
a fleece can serve to create a microclimate of
its own, which in turn can present issues
regarding the proliferation of pests under the
fleece or the occurrence of diseases often
more virulent than in open air. Another issue
around the use of fleeces, particularly for
longer more protracted periods, is the ability of
the grower to intervene with crop protection
measures if necessary.
Use micro-organism plant protection products
Plant protection products (PPP) can be made up of
synthetically or naturally occurring chemicals.
However, naturally occurring micro-organisms can be
included in PPP formulations. These microorganisms
can have a direct effect on the target pest or they can
act as a competitor to the existing pest. The general
perception is that such products are safer because
they are “naturally occurring”, however, each
individual
product
can vary significantly in
classification, as with chemical based PPPs.
- List and explain the four (4) types of training required under the Sustainable Use Directive.
Pesticide advisors
Pesticide distributors
Professional users/sprayer operators
Inspectors of pesticide application equipment
