Good for nature, good for you.

Chemical or biological substance designed to kill or retard the growth of pests that damage or interfere with the growth of crops, shrubs, tress, timber and other vegetation desired by humans. Practically all chemical pesticides, however, are poisons and pose long-term danger to the environment and humans through their persistence in nature and body tissue. Most of the pesticides are non-specific, and may kill life forms that are harmless or useful.

Pesticides used in and around the home may be in the form of sprays, liquids, sticks, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers. They include: Insecticides to control flying and crawling insects, as well as those used on people or pets to prevent bites (such as mosquito spray, flea and tick sprays and collars, etc. Termiticides to control termites Rodenticides, generally in the form of solid or liquid baits, for control and elimination of rats and mice Fungicides to kill mold and mildew Disinfectants, such as cleaners, sanitizers and even air fresheners to control or eliminate microbes. Herbicides used to kill weeds and other unwanted vegetation. Other products such as pool and spa chemicals, wood treatments and preservatives for decks, etc. can also be defined as pesticides.

It depends. In its overview, EPA quotes the "father of modern toxicology," stating, "The dose makes the poison. In other words, the amount of a substance a person is exposed to is as important as how toxic the chemical might be."

Pesticides are used to control various pests and disease carriers, such as mosquitoes, ticks, rats and mice. Pesticides are used in agriculture to control weeds, insect infestation and diseases. There are many different types of pesticides; each is meant to be effective against specific pests. Some examples include: Algaecides to kill and/or slowing the growth of algae. Antimicrobials to control germs and microbes such as bacteria and viruses. Disinfectants to control germs and microbes such as bacteria and viruses. Fungicides to control fungal problems like molds, mildew, and rust. Herbicides to kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted plants, also known as weeds. Insecticides to control insects. Insect Growth Regulators to disrupt the growth and reproduction of insects. Rodenticides to kills rodents like mice, rats, and gophers. Wood Preservatives to make wood resistant to insects, fungus and other pests.

Pesticides can be used safely by following the label directions. The text on the label reflects the results of the scientific evaluation that the product has undergone, and explains how to further reduce any potential risks to human health or the environment.

The rate of application indicated on the label is the lowest amount to use while ensuring it is effective. Essentially, using less will not have the intended result and using more will not offer better results.

If a pesticide must be used, carefully read and follow all label instructions. Before you purchase a pesticide, ensure that you have identified the pest correctly and explored other options for controlling the pest, such as physical barriers, removing the pest's access to food and water or using alternative products. Consult the Pest Notes series for more information on how to control common household pests.

The label specifies the correct use of the product so that risks to human health and the environment are minimized. The label is a legal document that must be followed. When using pesticides: make sure that the pesticide label specifies your intended use and lists the pest you wish to control follow all label directions comply with any additional local, regional or provincial government regulations for use and disposal of unused product or empty containers use any protective clothing, gloves or other equipment specified on the label store pesticides out of the reach of children and pets

When purchasing a pesticide, try to buy only as much as you need to avoid having leftover product to dispose. If you do need to store unused pesticides, ensure that they are placed in a secure location, out of the reach of children and pets. Never store pesticides in a container other than the original container and never re-use empty pesticide containers.

To dispose of pesticides, small quantities of unused products and empty containers may be wrapped in several layers of newspaper and disposed of in the household garbage. Never burn or pour pesticides down the drain.

You may also contact municipal officials for information on hazardous waste disposal facilities.

Homeowners and gardeners can systematically manage pests in their lawns and gardens using the techniques of proper pest management. This is a coordinated approach of preventing pest problems by monitoring the number and types of pests in or around your home and using pest control techniques that do not always resort to using a pesticide.

Health Canada has published a number of Pest Notes which provide information on approaches to control common home and garden pests that are consistent with proper pest management. For example, more information on maintaining a healthy lawn can be found at It's Your Health - Lawns.

A dairy farmer manages dairy cows and milking operations to ensure maximum milk production. Typical responsibilities include monitoring the health of the cows, administering medication, feeding, using milking equipment, managing the herd and managing waste. Some dairy farms process the milk on site, while others supply milk to dairy processing companies.

Dairying is an important source of subsidiary income to small/marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. The manure from animals provides a good source of organic matter for improving soil fertility and crop yields. The gober gas from the dung is used as fuel for domestic purposes as also for running engines for drawing water from well. The surplus fodder and agricultural by-products are gainfully utilised for feeding the animals. Almost all draught power for farm operations and transportation is supplied by bullocks. Since agriculture is mostly seasonal, there is a possibility of finding employment throughout the year for many persons through dairy farming. Thus, dairy also provides employment throughout the year. The main beneficiaries of dairy programmes are small/marginal farmers and landless labourers.

The total milk production in the country for the year 2001-02 was estimated at 84.6 million metric tonnes. At this production, the per capita availability was to be 226 grams per day against the minimum requirement of 250 grams per day as recommended by ICMR. Thus, there is a tremendous scope/potential for increasing the milk production. The population of breeding cows and buffaloes in milk over 3 years of age was 62.6 million and 42.4 million, respectively (1992 census). Central and State Governments are giving considerable financial assistance for creating infrastructure facilities for milk production. The nineth plan outlay on Animal Husbandry and Dairying was Rs. 2345 crores.

No, dairy farmers use water responsibly and judiciously. Many conservation technologies are in place so that as little water as possible is used. For example, water used to clean the milking parlor is reused to clean feed alleys and then to irrigate fields. Using manure to fertilize the soil has many advantages, including water conservation. Manure increases the water-holding capacity of soil by 20 percent, so less groundwater is needed to grow crops.

Solar energy is something that we have really been looking into in recent years, if for no other reason than to try and find a better way to deal with getting energy without hurting the environment. If you don’t know a lot about solar energy, it is basically energy that we get from the sun that we convert into energy that we can use, whether that energy is used for electricity or for heating/cooling.

Solar energy simply means energy that comes from the sun. Sun is a powerful source of energy. Without it, there would have been no life on the Earth. It is renewable, free, widely available and clean form of energy that is currently in use by many home and business owners for variety of purposes.

1. Renewable and Sustainable: Solar power is renewable and sustainable. Sun is going to shine till the end of this planet. It all depend on us how can we make best use of resources and use this free source of energy to power our homes and offices.

2. Power Remote Areas: This clean and renewable source of power has proved boon for people living in remote areas and not necessarily connected to national grid.

3. No Pollution: Solar energy is silent and produces no pollution at all. This is one of the big reason why it is favored by many people all around the world.

4. Surplus Electricity: The surplus electricity that is generated can be send back to the power grid and you can get rebate in your monthly electricity bill.

5. Reduce Electricity Bills: The electricity that is generated can be used to power fans, lights, charge mobiles and much more. It is free, renewable, can be produced on demand and also helps you to bring down your monthly electricity bill.

6. Low Maintenance: Solar panels when installed, require little or no maintenance. They require cleaning only few times a year.

7. Job Creation: The solar energy sector has open tremendous opportunities for people. Without doubt, it has slightly reduced the unemployment rate in a country.

1. Initial Investment: An initial investment is what is required if you need to harness energy from the sun. This cost can however pay itself in 10-15 years time frame depending on the amount of energy harnessed and the money saved in buying electricity from local grid.

2. Available During Daytime: Solar energy can only be harnessed during daytime. This simply means you can use this source of energy for half a day only.

3. Not Effective During Cloudy or Rainy Seasons: Cloudy and rainy seasons reduce the effectiveness of solar panels. This is the reason why solar energy is not successful in areas where it remains cloudy for most of the time of the year.

4. Large Setup Required: For a large business owner, a huge setup may be required to harness solar energy as its demand for energy may be more which may not get fulfilled by installing solar panels just at the rooftops.

Solar energy is important because the sun is a sustainable source of energy that can be used to power homes and businesses globally. Fossil fuels are finite, so it's important that alternative energy sources be embraced. As of 2014, it is widely believed that fossil fuels are causing global warming. Expensive Storage: The energy harnessed from the sun needs to be stored in the batteries to make it available for use later at home or office. The cost of these batteries may influence a buyer’s decision to go for solar power.

Solar energy is used in a number of ways, such as powering homes, businesses, cities and cars. Solar energy is gaining more popularity because people are becoming more and more aware of its advantages as the technology improves and the price of fossil fuels increases.

Solar energy can be the key to lowering production costs of any agricultural or horticultural operation. Dairy, poultry or sheep farming, growing grains or other crops — every type of farm, including vineyards, orchards and other specialized operations — involves many energy-intensive practices. Putting the sun to work makes sense as a practical solution to lowering farming energy use and expense.

Dozens of high-tech options are available today for using photovoltaic systems in agriculture and horticulture. Passive solar techniques, such as staging the crop rows and designing or updating buildings to take advantage of the sunlight, often come at little cost but offer the capacity to boost a farm’s productivity. PV panel systems can harness the sun’s energy to pump water for irrigating crops and powering farm machinery and equipment. Solar technologies can also be effectively used to provide light, heat and ventilation to the farmhouse and livestock buildings.

Solar technology offers farmers an opportunity to stabilize their energy costs. Some solar strategies involve an initial investment, but once those costs are recovered, fuel is free. This allows farmers to budget more effectively and to save money, as they can avoid the high (and unpredictable) expenses of municipal energy sources.

PV systems also require much less maintenance than other traditional farm energy sources — and they are quite efficient. Greenhouse nurseries, for example, enable year-round crop growth. Photovoltaic panels can also dry crops more quickly and evenly than other methods. Additionally, solar collectors can lower costs when they are used in dairy and livestock operations, as the sun’s energy can power water heaters and other necessary equipment.