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VOA慢速英语2014 AS IT IS 2014-04-06 Researchers Look for Non-Traditional Ways to Fight Weeds 研究人员寻找非传统的方式来消灭杂草

时间:2014-04-10 14:28:56

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AS IT IS 2014-04-06 Researchers Look for Non-Traditional Ways to Fight Weeds 研究人员寻找非传统的方式来消灭杂草

Hello and welcome to As It Is. I’m Jonathan Evans in Washington.

On our program today, we have two reports on agriculture. A new program in the state of Maryland is helping1 first-time farmers start their businesses. We will tell you more about the program later in the show. But first, our agriculture reporter Milagros Ardin tells about how researchers are finding new ways to fight weeds.

Researchers Look for Non-Traditional Ways to Fight Weeds

Too much use of an important chemical can fuel the spread of new weeds.  Some weeds are strong enough to resist weed-killing products, also known as herbicides.  But researchers are finding natural ways to deal with unwanted plants.

During the harvest at the United States Department of Agriculture’s research station, just north of Washington, DC, scientist Steven Mirsky walks through a field of dry corn in search of enemies.

The sight of some of those enemies causes him to cry out, “Look at the size of these pigweed plants right here.”   

The plants are more than two meters tall.  They have taken water, nutrients2 and light from nearby crops.  Pigweed can quickly get out of control.  Each plant can produce up to 500 thousand seeds.

Many farmers control pigweed and other problem plants by growing genetically3 modified crops.  Such crops do not react to the effects of a weed-killing product called Roundup.  Farmers can treat their fields with Roundup and kill the weeds.  But the chemical does not harm the crop.

Steven Mirsky, however, notes that some crops may be resisting the treatment.

“That system works and it works well.  But the repeated application ((use of herbicide)) has the potential to cause resistance.  We’re certainly seeing resistance on the rise throughout the country.”

He says cotton growers in the southeastern US have pigweed that resists Roundup. 

Steven Mirsky and others are studying another possibility: controlling weeds with plants instead of chemical products.  In autumn, they cover the ground with what farmers call a “cover crop”, like rye.  Through the spring, they let it grow until reaches a height of nearly two meters.  But they do not harvest it.  Instead, they roll it flat.

“We can kill this of crop without using any chemicals.  And we can get a nice, sweet suppressive mulch.”

He separates several centimeters of plant material to get to the cool earth.

“And by keeping the ground cooler, it also inhibits4 the germination5 of weeds.”

A machine cuts through the protective mat to plant the crop.  It grows through the summer. 

Steven Mirsky says rolling cover crops do more than just fight weeds.  The plants pushed down in the spring break up and become rich soil.  That means better harvests in the fall.

Farmers across the country like the idea.  Mr. Mirsky says it could greatly increase production of organic crops grown without the use of herbicides. 

He says the method will not work everywhere.  But where it succeeds, it offers farmers a new tool to crush an old enemy. 

And that’s the Agriculture Report from VOA Learning English.  I’m Milagros Ardin.

And I’m Jonathan Evans. You are listening to As It Is from VOA Learning English.

The United States is one of the world’s leading agricultural powers.  But few Americans are farmers.  Agriculture reporter Bob Doughty6 tells us how Maryland is helping new farmers.

Government Program in Maryland Helps New Farmers  

One recent study showed just two percent of the population with a job in agriculture.  Yet small farms seem to be appearing in many areas to meet a growing demand for locally produced food.The people operating these farms often have little or no experience in farming. 

Mark Mills once worked as a pastry7 chef.  He decided8 to leave his secure job and turn to farming.  He says his decision was based on two things: a strong interest in agriculture and his ignorance about what it takes to be a farmer.  Mark Mills was a history major in college.  All he knows about producing food comes from growing plants in his home garden and 26 years of working in restaurants. So why did he become a farmer?

“Well, it’s beautiful.  Why wouldn’t you want to come to work here? I’m my own boss.  But really, it’s my love of food.”

In recent years, many Americans have developed a taste for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.  The number of farmer's markets has increased over 50 percent in the past 10 years. 

Federal, state and local governments believe now is the time to create jobs and new businesses.  Mark Mills was one of four people accepted in the New Farmer Pilot Project in Montgomery County, Maryland.  Sarah Miller9 works with the local Department of Economic Development.  She says the program has worked better than many people expected.

“Boy, we didn’t even know how many we would get. We thought maybe one or two would be great. But I don’t think that we expected four.”

The project provides the new farmers with specialized10 business training, like marketing11 and business planning. 

“Well, they provided the connection with the landowner, so I could actually have the land to farm on, which is key… Then, certainly, they provided the financing for the deer fence and the irrigation, some basic things to get going.”

The program links the new farmer with an experienced one.  For Mark Mills, that person is Woody Woodroof.  He works at the Red Wiggler Farm in Maryland. 

“The big thing to work with him on now is season extension: helping him to do the things that will allow him to harvest crops deeper into the fall and early winter.”

Mr. Mills' first year in farming was successful.  He produced about 450 kilograms of turnips12, 90 kilograms of carrots, and 130 kilograms of green, leafy vegetables.  The hardest part was not growing the crops, he says.  The problem has been selling them.

Mr. Mills says his farm probably lost more money than it earned.  Luckily, his wife has a non-farm job and can provide financial support, at least for now. 

Experts say many new farmers need to support themselves with another source of income. 

 

I’m Bob Doughty. 


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1 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
2 nutrients 6a1e1ed248a3ac49744c39cc962fb607     
n.(食品或化学品)营养物,营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
  • Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 genetically Lgixo     
adv.遗传上
参考例句:
  • All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
  • Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物
4 inhibits 7fbb1ac5e38d9e83ed670404679a2310     
阻止,抑制( inhibit的第三人称单数 ); 使拘束,使尴尬
参考例句:
  • A small manufacturing sector inhibits growth in the economy. 制造业规模太小有碍经济增长。
  • His bad English inhibits him from speaking freely. 他英语学得不好,这使他不能表达自如。
5 germination e3b6166de2e0bafce0467a9f740b91e3     
n.萌芽,发生;萌发;生芽;催芽
参考例句:
  • At the onset of germination, the hypocotyl elongates rapidly by cell enlargement. 萌发开始时,下胚轴依靠细胞增大而迅速伸长。 来自辞典例句
  • Excessive moisture is unfavourable for soybean germination. 水分过多对于大豆萌发是不利的。 来自辞典例句
6 doughty Jk5zg     
adj.勇猛的,坚强的
参考例句:
  • Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质:脾气倔强,性格刚强。
  • The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。
7 pastry Q3ozx     
n.油酥面团,酥皮糕点
参考例句:
  • The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
  • The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。
8 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
9 miller ZD6xf     
n.磨坊主
参考例句:
  • Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
  • The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。
10 specialized Chuzwe     
adj.专门的,专业化的
参考例句:
  • There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
  • These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。
11 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
12 turnips 0a5b5892a51b9bd77b247285ad0b3f77     
芜青( turnip的名词复数 ); 芜菁块根; 芜菁甘蓝块根; 怀表
参考例句:
  • Well, I like turnips, tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers, onions and carrots. 噢,我喜欢大萝卜、西红柿、茄子、菜花、洋葱和胡萝卜。 来自魔法英语-口语突破(高中)
  • This is turnip soup, made from real turnips. 这是大头菜汤,用真正的大头菜做的。

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