Co-Founders Rob Burleigh and Francis Dodds share their knowledge and insights into agricultural science, publishing and the latest news at Burleigh Dodds
Burleigh Dodds Crops Round Up
25 February 2021
New Volume on Soilless Cultivation
We are delighted to announce that Advances in horticultural soilless culture, edited by Professor Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany is now published and available for purchase!
About the book:
This volume provides a comprehensive assessment of recent research in this important area, paying close attention to the advances in optimising substrates for soilless cultivation, as well as the developments in solid and liquid-medium container systems, fertigation systems, modelling and process control.
The collection includes case studies on horticultural crops such as tomatoes, strawberries and ornamentals.
Features contributions from over 30 international experts in controlled environment cultivation.
What Others Are Saying...
Professor Dimitris Savvas, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece:
“This book, written by well-qualified scientists and edited by an internationally-distinguished expert in greenhouse horticulture, provides a valuable update of the science and the current technologies applied in soilless culture”.
Professor Rui Machado, Universidade de Évora, Portugal:
"This book from an internationally-recognized editor and authors will be a standard reference book on soilless culture for practitioners, scientists and students. It will serve to trigger practices and innovations increasing sustainability and optimizing product quality in soilless cultivation.”
Editor Announcement
We're pleased to also announce that we have two new editors joining the Burleigh Dodds network!
Dr Michelle Fountain and Dr Tom Pope have agreed to edit our forthcoming collection: ‘Advances in monitoring of native and invasive insect crop pests‘.
Dr Michelle Fountain is Head of Pest and Pathogen Ecology at the world-famous NIAB-EMR (East Malling Research), UK and is co-editor of our 2019 publication, Integrated management of diseases and pests of tree fruit.
Dr Tom Pope is Reader in Entomology at Harper Adams University, one of the leading agricultural universities in the UK.
Happening Today!
Agri-TechE's Controlled Environment Agriculture - The Industry is Growing Up is taking place today and we are so excited to be involved as an exhibiting company at the event!
There has been some really great sessions today on:
• Vertical farming
• Controlled environment cultivation
• Plant breeding
• Agri-tech
Interested in controlled environment cultivation?
Check out our collection of titles that feature contributions from world-renowned experts on topics such as vertical farming, rooftop systems, aeroponics and soilless cultivation.
News
Modifying maize using CRISPR
AA team of researchers from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the University of Massachusetts have used the gene editing technique - CRISPR - to modify regions of the maize genome to stimulate stem cell growth. [Read more here].
Reducing cost of wheat production
The cost of wheat production can be reduced to $23-$46 per ton if the entirety of production is completed autonomously, claims new research from the Hands Free Autonomous Farming Project. The research favours the use of 'swarm robotics' - a technique in which smaller robots are purchased in bulk. [Read more here].
Understanding plant hormones
New research from the University of Nottingham, UK has assessed the role of plant roots in generating a hormone gradient. The study focussed on gibberellin - a plant growth promoting hormone that regulates developments through the plant's lifecycle. [Read more here].
TR4-resistant banana?
Professor James Dale of the University of Queensland, Australia has developed the first genetically modified banana that is resistant to TR4 (tropical race 4) or as it's more commonly known, Panama disease. Professor Dale has recently contributed a chapter to our title second volume on sustainable banana cultivation. [Read more here].
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Livestock Round Up
25 February 2021
New Volume on Dairy Welfare
We are delighted to announce that Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of dairy cattle, edited by Professor Marcia Endres, University of Minnesota, USA is now published and available for purchase!
Key Features
• Particularly strong focus on understanding dairy cattle behaviour as the foundation for improving welfare in such areas as cognition and learning, pain and stress as well as social behaviour
• Covers developments in more animal/outcome-based welfare indicators as well as advanced sensor, acoustic and video techniques for monitoring behaviour and welfare
• Comprehensive review of welfare issues across the value chain, from calves and heifers to culling
What Others are Saying...
"The various parts of this volume address effectively the different components required to understand the behaviour and improve the welfare of dairy cattle. The expertise of the contributing authors guarantees a significant contribution to this important area."
Professor Harry Blokhuis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Other New Titles on Animal Welfare...
Edited by
Emerita Professor Sandra Edwards, Newcastle University, UK
Book Description
This collection reviews genetic and developmental factors affecting pig behaviour and current welfare issues at different production stages, as well as specific issues such as tail biting and castration.
Edited by
Professor Christine Nicol, Royal Veterinary College - University of London, UK
Book Description
This book offers a comprehensive summary on the wealth of recent research completed on understanding chicken behaviour and discusses how best to use this rich body of knowledge to optimise welfare management of broilers and layers.
News
Ensuring welfare through an app?
A UK supermarket - Waitrose - have launched a mobile application that manages and improves the welfare of six different livestock species: laying hens, broilers, dairy cows, veal calves, ducks and pigs. The app is the first of its kind and will be utilised by trained welfare assessors when visiting farms that supply Waitrose with product. [Read more here].
Reducing antimicrobial usage
A new European Commission report has claimed that the use of antimicrobials by the European poultry industry can be reduced through smarter education programs and improved knowledge transfer capability. The report highlights the importance of ensuring that key knowledge on best practice is available to the end users - farmers and their staff. [Read more here].
Impact of late gestation hoof trimming?
New research from Aarhus University, Denmark shows that hoof trimming during the late gestation period in dairy cows can increase the risk of abortion. Hoof trimming can be extremely stressful for cows and pressure can build in its internal organs as a result of being suspended by straps. [Read more here].
Improving pig welfare
A recent study completed by a Danish researcher - Sanne Weinreich Christensen - has led to the development of three adjustments to improve the handling of sows at slaughterhouses. The three improvements are: solid fencing in the ramp, ensuring a visible path for the sows and a separate path for staff to minimise disturbance. [Read more here].
Open Access
If you're currently writing a chapter for any of our forthcoming publications, or would like to submit a chapter and are interested in the possibility of publishing it as Open Access (OA) please Contact Us to discuss the options available and the next steps.
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Crops Round Up
18 February 2021
Editor Announcement
We are delighted to announce Professor Sanford Eigenbrode and Dr Arash Rashed have agreed to edit our forthcoming collection: ‘Advances in understanding insect pests affecting wheat and other cereals‘.
Dr Sanford Eigenbrode is University Distinguished Professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho, USA.
Dr Arash Rashed is Associate Professor in Ecological Entomology in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho, USA.
Next Step Taken in Developing Biostimulants
Two major agricultural outfits have joined forces in a new partnership that will see the development and commercialisation of biostimulants.
Corteva Agriscience and Dadelos Agrosolutions, S.L. announced that this new agreement will further each companies' commitment to offering their farmers and customers the ability to use biological products for crop protection.
Corteva Agriscience most recently created a global Biologicals profile which focuses on developing biostimulants, biocontrol and pheromone products that are scientifically proven to work effectively alongside more tradiotnal crop protection solutions.
Key New Volume on Biostimulants
Edited by a team of world-renowned experts in biostimulant research:
• Youssef Rouphael, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
• Patrick du Jardin, University of Liège, Belgium
• Patrick Brown, University of California-Davis, USA
• Stefania De Pascale, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
• Giuseppe Colla, University of Tuscia, Italy
What Others Are Saying...
"It is good news that a distinguished editor team led by Professor Youssef Rouphael is putting together Biostimulants for sustainable crop production. The interest in biostimulants is constantly increasing, making a book on this topic, written by a team of internationally-renowned scientists, timely and very welcome."
Professor Dimitrios Savvas, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Out on the 23rd February!
Watch a quick video from Francis to learn more about this new title: Advances in horticultural soilless culture, edited by Professor Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany.
News
Tackling US farm nitrogen output
A team of researchers from the University of Vermont, US have recently published the results from a study which assessed the rate of nitrogen pollution from farms around the US. The researchers claim that the results detail '20 hotspots' for areas around the country that can be targeted to reduce nationwide nitrogen pollution. These '20 hotspots' are suggested to amount for up to 63% of the total surplus nitrogen balance in US croplands. [Read more here].
Reducing harmful mutations in sorghum
A new study - led by Professor Michael Gore, Cornell University, USA - has investigated whether early breeding efforts can lead to an increase in harmful mutations of a sorghum crop's genome. Results from the study show a rather surprising scenario. In sorghum crops, early breeding efforts can in fact reduce the potential for harmful mutations to develop. [Read more here].
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Livestock Round Up
18 February 2021
New Book on Pig Welfare
Key Features
• Emphasises advances in understanding pig behaviour as the foundation for understanding and improving welfare
• Comprehensive coverable of welfare issues across the value chain, covering breeding and gestation, farrowing and lactation, weaning, growing and finishing as well as transport, lairage and slaughter
• Particular focus on ways of assessing and reducing pain in such areas as tail docking and castration
Features insights from over 30 world-renowned experts on pig welfare and behaviour.
A Note From the Editor...
“The pig industry worldwide is engaged with the challenge of supplying affordable meat whilst continuing to protect and enhance the welfare of their animals. The international contributors to this book have provided a comprehensive review of the topical issues in pig welfare, dealing with both the practical applications and the underlying science. I hope that this will provide a source of both reference and general interest for all who are interested in pigs, including researchers, students and industry practitioners.”
Emerita Professor Sandra Edwards, Newcastle University, UK
Discover the other titles in our Pig collection...
News
High rate of bacteria resistant to Campylobacter discovered
A team of researchers from the Pelotas University, Brazil have discovered that around 82% of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) has increased resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent. The study also revealed that 46.4% of C. jejuni samples had multidrug resistance (resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials). [Read more here].
Reducing methane emissions in dairy cows
The livestock sector must develop alternative methods to reduce the rate of GHG emissions. A novel feed additive (Bovaer) - developed by Royal DSM - is the latest development to this cause. The feed additive was added as a supplement in the diet of 64 dairy cows and reduced the rate of methane emissions produced by the animals by up to 40%. [Read more here].
Is breeding for robustness in pigs the future?
In a recent article published by Pig Progress, Dr Jenelle Dunkelberger - US Geneticist at Topigs Norsvin - shares why she believes breeding for robustness is the way forwards in pig breeding. Breeding for robustness is a strategy used to improve the ability of a pig to maintain its performance even after being exposed to a pathogen. [Read more here].
New feed protein for finishing pigs?
A team of researchers from several research institutes in China have determined that Mulberry leaf powder as a sufficient and inexpensive source of protein for finishing pigs. The study trialled the use of Mulberry leaf powder as an alternative source of protein on 180 black pigs for 50 days. The researchers claim that the supplementation didn't impact pig growth performance, but did improve their oxidative stability. [Read more here].
Open Access
If you're currently writing a chapter for any of our forthcoming publications, or would like to submit a chapter and are interested in the possibility of publishing it as Open Access (OA) please Contact Us to discuss the options available and the next steps.
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Crops Round Up
11 February 2021
Celebrating female researchers worldwide!
Today is the United Nations' International Day of Women and Girls in Science and we can't think of a better reason to celebrate our wonderful female contributors from all around the world!
We're delighted to have worked with so many fantastic female researchers since our launch in 2015 and pledge to continue doing so in 2021 and thereafter!
See below for a look at the female researchers who have edited a BDS title!
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the new research and innovation framework developed by the EU which will run from 2021 - 2027.
The framework, which was launched last week (2nd February), will see an investment of €100 billion towards managing, improving and supporting European R&D.
Horizon Europe identifies six key challenges for research, including: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and the Environment, focussing on issues such as protecting biodiversity.
The programme also identifies five ‘Mission areas' including: Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation, focussing on improved ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all major sectors.
New Soil Health Titles in 2021
Edited by
Professor Wilfred Otten, Cranfield University, UK
Short Description
This volume begins with a review of advances in measuring soil biological activity. Parts 2 and 3 survey developments in measuring soil physical and chemical properties.
The collection concludes by reviewing soil health indicators and decision support systems for improving soil management.
Edited by
Professor William Horwath, University of California-Davis, USA
Short Description
This collection summarises current research on the effects of different management strategies on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils.
It assesses the viability of these management strategies, including zero tillage and intercropping, as a means for improving crop yield, ecosystem productivity and soil health in general.
News
Tackling coffee rust
Coffee rust is a devastating fungal disease that attacks coffee crops and causes its leaves to discolour and eventually drop. A team of researchers from Stockholm University, Sweden claim to have identified another fungus that is equipped to halt any outbreaks of the disease. There is a pressing need to develop natural solutions to controlling and treating this disease as opposed to applying pesticides. [Read more here].
Aphid-resistant soybeans?
Minnesota is the third ranked state for soybean production in the US, with the state accounting for just over $2.1 billion in exports in 2016 alone. Despite this success, growers have been dealt major blows with infestations of soybean aphids. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been attempting to develop aphid-resistant soybean crops since 2016 to try and offset the damage caused as a result. [Read more here].
Effects of varying weather conditions on herbicide use
A joint study completed by researchers at the University of Illinois and USDA-ARS has determined that fluctuating weather conditions can make it harder for farmers to tackle weeds. With weather patterns constantly changing, common pre-emergence herbicides are less effective as their application is either abandoned or applied at a later, less suitable time.
Increasing rice crop yields
A team of researchers from Nagoya University, Japan and Nanjing Agricultural University, China have developed a new novel approach that can enhance paddy field-grown rice yield by 30%, whilst using less fertilizer. The researchers achieved this through increasing the expression of the plasma membrane proton pump gene OSA1. This in turn allowed for an increased rate of nutrient uptake and stomatal opening. [Read more here].
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Livestock Round Up
11 February 2021
Celebrating female researchers worldwide!
Today is the United Nations' International Day of Women and Girls in Science and we can't think of a better reason to celebrate our wonderful female contributors from all around the world!
We're delighted to have worked with so many fantastic female researchers since our launch in 2015 and pledge to continue doing so in 2021 and thereafter!
See below for a look at the female researchers who have edited a BDS title!
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the new research and innovation framework developed by the EU which will run from 2021 - 2027.
The framework, which was launched last week (2nd February), will see an investment of €100 billion towards managing, improving and supporting European R&D.
Horizon Europe identifies six key challenges for research, including: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and the Environment, focussing on issues such as protecting biodiversity.
The programme also identifies five ‘Mission areas' including: Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation, focussing on improved ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all major sectors.
Discover our collection of chapters on GHG emissions
News
ASF hits Hong Kong
Earlier this week, Hong Kong authorities were notified of an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) on a pig farm in the Yuen Long area. As a result, over 240 pigs were culled, with additional reports suggesting that another 590 pigs were culled just a few days later. This is the first official case of ASF found on a Hong Kong farm. [Read more here].
Ensuring dairy cow comfort
A new article has highlighted the benefits of farmers using sand as a choice of bedding for their dairy cows. As well as being an inorganic material and thus limiting bacterial growth and presence of moisture, sand also allows for better air flow, ultimately keeping the cows cooler. Despite these benefits, sand can cause issues for soil health and fertility. [Read more here].
Enhancing poultry production
Recent research claims that low to middle income countries could benefit from the use of gene editing in poultry production. The study saw researchers implant sterile male and female chicken eggs with reproductive cells from donor birds, with the parent birds mating together to produce chicks of the donor breed.
Detecting SARA in dairy cows
Dijonis Savva - Animal Welfare Supervisor at Dodoni Dairy Group - has recently written an article aimed primarily at dairy farmers to share how to identify early signs of Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). SARA is arguably the most financially devastating disease in the dairy industry and is caused by a build-up of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the rumen. [Read more here].
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Crops Round Up
4 February 2021
Editor Announcement
We're delighted to announce in this week's newsletter that Dr Robert Sharwood has agreed to edit our forthcoming collection: ‘Understanding and improving crop photosynthesis’.
Dr Robert Sharwood is Senior Lecturer and Vice Chancellor’s Fellow in the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University, Australia.
Upcoming Conference
Agri-TechE are set to hold their next virtual event: Controlled Environment Agriculture - The Industry is Growing Up on Thursday 25th February @ 9:50am - 4:30pm (GMT).
The conference will discuss the rapid growth of the Controlled Environment Agriculture sector, including the significant investments made in vertical farming and the subsequent development of commercial-scale operations.
We're excited to be exhibiting at the event and hope to see some of our network there!
Explore our range of publications on CEA
News
Is photosynthesis the key to global food security?
Researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis believe that through improving photosynthesis, the rate of global food security can only increase. Professor Robert Frubank - Director at the centre - details the importance of the research in developing Australian cereal crop production. [Read more here].
Transforming food waste
A team of researchers from the University of California - Riverside, USA have established a new way to utilise food waste instead of letting it rot in landfills all over the world. The researchers claim that fermented food waste boosts the presence of bacteria, which in turn boosts overall plant growth and production. [Read more here].
How effective are biofungicides?
An increased number of new biofungicides are developed and introduced to the agricultural sector each year that claim to offer the same levels of protection against plant diseases that synthetic fungicides offer. A new article published by AgriLand explores the effectiveness of biofungicides and uses Lodus - a biofungicide developed by UPL - as an example. [Read more here].
Managing viruses in potatoes
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) have published an article that stresses the importance of testing for viruses in seed potatoes. The article begins by explaining the differences between persistent and non-persistent viruses and later details where improvements are still needed.
Open Access
If you're currently writing a chapter for any of our forthcoming publications, or would like to submit a chapter and are interested in the possibility of publishing it as Open Access (OA) please Contact Us to discuss the options available and the next steps.
Title Insights
Burleigh Dodds Livestock Round Up
4 February 2021
Editor Announcement
We're delighted to announce that Professor Massimiliano Petracci and Dr Mario Estévez have agreed to edit our forthcoming collection: ‘Improving poultry meat quality‘.
Dr Massimiliano Petracci is Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Bologna, Italy.
Dr Mario Estévez is a Researcher in the Department of Animal Production and Food Science at the University of Extremadura, Spain.
Find out more about our new editors here.
Welfare at the forefront for McDonald's Australia
Kylie Freeland - McDonald's Australia's Director of Supply Chain and Sustainability - has announced this week that from February onwards, the fast-food chain will only source RSPCA approved chickens for use throughout their restaurants.
The announcement comes four years after the Australian outlet committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs.
The nationwide commitment is a huge step in ensuring that the welfare of animals reared for human consumption is met and improved where necessary along the supply chain.
The Poultry Health & Welfare Collection
This collection features over 40 chapters that target the key concerns for poultry health and welfare, as well as the developments that have followed in response to dealing with these concerns.
Sign up for a 30-day Free Trial to our Poultry Health & Welfare Collection by 12th February 2021 to receive 20% off your purchase of ANY chapter collection.
New Titles in Animal Welfare
News
Managing mastitis in dairy cattle
Mastitis - an inflammatory disease of the udder - is arguably one of the biggest profit debilitating concerns for dairy farmers as it can 'create' low-quality milk that is either sold at a lower price, or thrown away. Dairy Global have published six tips for managing mastitis, of which include maintaining a clean and dry environment for the herd. [Read more here].
Tackling Campylobacter in chickens
A combined team of researchers from The Roslin Institute and Aviagen have identified specific elements in the genetic make-up of chickens that may be linked to the bird's resistance to Campylobacter. The data collected also shows that environmental and non-environmental genetic factors can also play an influential role in outbreaks of the disease. [Read more here].
Russia to introduce labelling for pigs
Russia's Deputy Minster for Agriculture - Maxim Uvaydov - has announced the the Russian Government is considering introducing compulsory labelling of all pigs and other livestock types across the country by 2022. There has been no further comment on whether the animals will be tagged, marked or labelled. [Read more here].
Which country has the lowest carbon footprint?
A new study produced by AgResearch has analysed the carbon footprint of 18 countries, which amounts to 55% of global milk production. New Zealand were crowned as the country with the lowest on-farm carbon footprint (-0.74), whereas Peru had the highest (-3.29). The study measured the carbon footprint by assessing the total GHG emissions per kg of product.
Open Access
If you're currently writing a chapter for any of our forthcoming publications, or would like to submit a chapter and are interested in the possibility of publishing it as Open Access (OA) please Contact Us to discuss the options available and the next steps.
Title Insights
NEWSLETTERS (click to expand)