Category Archives: Others

【News】 The first longicorn beetle in Japan confirmed in Aichi, damaging cherry and Japanese apricot trees (June 21, 2013)

The Aichi Agricultural Research Center reported by Thursday, June 20, that it confirmed inhabitation of Aromia bungii, a species of longicorn beetle which gives damage to cherry and ume (Japanese apricot) trees, in Ama district in the western part of Aichi Prefecture for the first time in Japan. The center is calling for catching and killing of the beetles if found, since no pesticide labels are approved to exterminate them. According to the center’s pest control division, an adult insect was captured in July 2012, and Nagoya Plant Protection Station has confirmed it as the longicorn beetle. 15 cherry and ume trees near the location where the insect was captured … Continue reading

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【News】 Funeral displays using foreign flowers are gaining popularity with the increase of personalized funerals (June 19, 2013)

  Flower shops and producers suggested new flower displays in line with changing funeral styles in a funeral business fair held in Pacifico Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Monday, June 17, and Tuesday, June 18. Participants at the fair held by Sogo Unicom, publisher of Monthly Funeral Business, said funeral displays are diversifyi ng, as more people are choosing new forms of send-offs for the deceased, such as holding private funerals or skipping funeral services. Besides traditional funeral flower arrangements using chrysanthemums, many exhibition booths showed altar displays and sympathy flower arrangements using foreign flowers such as roses and orchids. “Flower imports are increasing along with the rising demand for foreign … Continue reading

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【News】 Agricultural cooperative in Fukui begins production and sales of electricity using solar energy (June 14, 2013)

  JA Hanasaku Fukui, an agricultural cooperative in Awara, Fukui Prefecture, began selling electricity to Hokuriku Electric Power starting Tuesday, June 11, becoming the first agricultural cooperative in Fukui to sell electricity using solar power. In April, the cooperative installed 1,176 solar panels on a 930-square-meter area of the flat roof of its distribution center in Yamamuro, Awara. The cooperative introduced the system in line with the government’s feed-in tariff scheme for renewable energy, a law which requires utilities to purchase electricity generated from five renewable energy sources at a fixed price for a set length of time. The panels together have a generating capacity of 111 kilowatts, and can … Continue reading

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【Science for Kids】 Happy World Milk Day! – All the tidbits about milk cows – (June 1, 2013)

The World Milk Day was set on June 1 by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization to draw attention to the benefits of drinking milk and to the whole dairy industry. Let’s make this day an opportunity to learn about milk cows! Cow Quiz 1: How are black and white spotted markings of Holstein cattle laid out? Dr. Popoloo: The best-known dairy cattle breed in the world is Holstein with distinctive black and white color patterns. Did you know that there are rules to how the patterns are laid out on a cow’s body? Popolee: Don’t the patterns just pop up randomly? Dr. Popoloo: No, you can’t classify cows … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 The recovery of the rice market prices – overcoming of aftereffects and stabilizing the market are indispensable (April 10, 2013)

  The sales of rice harvested in fiscal 2012 are now in its final stage, without marking a decline in prices as some had feared. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ relative price for 60 kilograms of brown rice is at a level of around 16,500 yen, 1,300 yen up from last year. Compared with the nightmare of fiscal 2010, when rice prices plummeted to around 12,000 yen, this year’s prices are about 3,800 yen higher, which is about the same level as 10 years ago. Some buyers complain about the recent price increases, but the prices have only increased to the level a little higher than that before … Continue reading

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