Current Situation in the US
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States is experiencing its most severe drought in over 50 years. In this article we will explore some of the causes and the subsequent consequences that it has on agriculture.
This drought is caused by the convergence of several factors:
A� La Ni?�a pattern of cool water in the equatorial Pacific, which normally generates in parts of North America wetter climatic conditions, ended earlier this year.
A� During the winter, snow levels were below average, contributing to premature drying of the soil in the spring and early summer.
A� The first six months of the 2012 have been the warmest on record and high temperatures have remained to date.
The drought has developed and expanded more rapidly than those of previous years and has affected a higher percentage of the country (over 50% of the country and almost 80% of the agricultural land).
This drought has impacted Midwestern states and in particular the “Corn Belt” region where corn has been the dominant crop since 1850. Industry experts are anticipating a 20% decline in grain yield for 2012.
The decrease in yield and grain quality has directly affected the increase in prices in recent months where the price per bushel of corn has risen up to 20% and the soybean up to 17%, affecting among other things, the demand for U.S. exports.
The increase in grain prices impacts margins for livestock producers, which have been dealt a blow by the rising cost of feed prices, which has led many to cull their herds before they are fully grown. Rising costs have also impacted ethanol producers (more if you consider that about 40% of corn production in the United States is headed for the production of biofuel).
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for 2013 we can anticipate further price increases beef up 4% to 5%, dairy up 3.5% to 4.5%, poultry and eggs up to 3% to 4%, and pork up 2.5% to 3.5%.
The Wordwide Ripple Different Types Of Manufacturing Strategies Effect
The consequences of the US draught can have an opposite economic impact depending on the region.
While the US has been the first country to experience the impact of its own draught, Russia and Australia, both large grain importers, have been the first to feel the ripple effect at the cash register as poultry and dairy farmers are forced to absorb higher feed costs.
On the other hand, there is an opportunity for countries exporting corn and soybeans in South America, such as Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, where demand for exports has risen. This increase has positively impacted revenues earmarked for investment in agriculture and the expansion of social protection systems that cushion the effects of rising food prices on consumption of low-income households. Combined with the improvements in grain production from the previous year, some South American countries are benefiting.
Measures to tackle the crisis
Future weather patterns don’t look favorable, …
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A Brief Overview of Industrial Bridge Cranes
Industrial bridge cranes are material handling equipment used for lifting and moving heavy loads from one point to another. Industrial bridge cranes usually traverse a horizontal path and make use of a hoist and trolley to lift or lower objects.
The industrial bridge crane is often called an overhead crane or overhead traveling crane. It is also commonly referred to as a suspended crane and is composed of three major components: a bridge, a runway, and a hoist and trolley.
The bridge is a horizontal beam that is positioned along the path where goods and materials are to be transported. It bridges or connects the place where materials are located to the place where materials are to be deposited. The extremely useful piece of equipment can have one beam or two. The single beam variety are ideal for light or moderate material handling applications. The double beam variety are designed for loads weighing 10 tons or more.
The bridge can be adjusted horizontally along the runway. The runway beams are located on each end of the bridge crane. They are typically attached to the walls of the industrial facility. For heavy loads, it is best to connect the runways to a wall structure for maximum safety. For light applications the free-standing industrial models are available.
The hoist and trolley, along with the bridge and the runway, make up the equipment’s three main components. The hoist and trolley is a hook-and-line system Horizontal Restraint Of Trade that runs along the length of the material handling equipment. It is used for hoisting up objects and then dropping them at appointed destinations.
With the aid of this material handling equipment, loads can be easily transported back and forth between opposite sides of an industrial facility. The unit moves along the length of the facility while the hoist and trolley moves along the Industrial Engineer Inventions width of the facility. This equipment is vital in the material handling operations in various industries. They are commonly used in the steel and automobile industries where they are used to carry and transport steel and raw materials.
These all important pieces of machinery are also indispensable in the upkeep and maintenance of paper mills and other business facilities where require heavy supplies and equipment are frequently moved and relocated. Industrial businesses, especially those involved in the construction industry, can save on operating costs by purchasing their own bridge crane as opposed to renting the crane.…
A Brief Overview of Manufacturing Processes for Semiconductor Devices
Television, radio, cell phone and other electrical or electronics goods have semiconductor devices in them. The materials used in semiconductor Types Of Manufacturing Industries Pdf devices are capable of partially conducting electricity, unlike full conductors of electricity like aluminum, copper and steel.
A semiconductor falls somewhere between a conductor and an insulator. For this reason they are commonly used to make Integrated Circuits. A good example of a semiconductor material is silicon. This is the most commonly used material in the microelectronics industry for various reasons. One of the primary reasons is its low price and availability.
An integrated circuit has various tiny components like resistors, diodes and transistors. These tiny components can damage easily if a large amount of current passes through them. So, a silicon wafer or substrate is usually used as a base rather than a conductor. This type of wafer also gives a better consistency for current flow compared to a conductor after special treatment. An integrated circuit is usually made up of a wafer, resistors and other electronic chips. This type of circuitry board plays a vital role for the functioning of electrical or electronics devices.
When it comes to the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, there are some key processes. Deposition, patterning, removal and modification of properties for electrical purposes are the main ones. Deposition refers to transferring or coating another material onto the substrate. This could be performed using technologies like physical vapor deposition or PVC and chemical vapor deposition or CVD.
In the case of removal process, dry or wet etching methods can be used to remove material from the semiconductor substrate. Patterning is shaping or reshaping of the substrate. One of the common methods is lithography. One of the most common methods for electrical property modification is ion implantation. As its name implies, ions are implanted onto the substrate to change its physical properties.
Wafer testing is carried out to test if it meets the required criteria. When it comes to making a thin layer of substrate as in the case of a PCMCIA or a smart card, grinding is performed to reduce the thickness. Other key processes are die preparation and IC packaging. Die preparation involves mounting chips onto a substrate and die cutting.
For IC packaging, some of the main processes are integrated circuit bonding and encapsulation. For integrated circuit bonding, wire or thermosonic bonding can be used. Typical examples of IC encapsulation processes What Are Lean Manufacturing Concepts are plating and baking. Integrated circuit testing is critical to check the overall functions of microchips and substrate. It is the final testing of the whole device before packaging and shipment to a customer.
To summarize, semiconductor devices are used in all the current electrical or electronics products on the market. The manufacturing processes for these devices involves many steps. The major processes are wafer processing, die preparation and IC packaging. Integrated circuit testing is carried out to check the overall functions of all chips and substrate as final inspection before …
A Brief Outline On Fall Arrest Anchors
Fall arrest or lifeline roof anchors, are designed for the protection of personnel who perform exterior work on buildings or other structures. Work related falls and injuries can be prevented in the work place, with the use of the properly designed safety equipment, such as fall arrest anchors.
Roof mounted tie backs, or anchors, are a major component in the four step personal fall arrest system, or PFAS. All equipment used in theses systems must adhere to strict health and safety regulations for hazardous work environments. Roof mounted tie backs are required for all personnel who require rope skills to access their work areas.
As a physically demanding job, performed in a pressured environment, expert training is needed before employees may commence with work. Facilities are required to have established fall protection policies for Basic Industrial Safety Training Ppt those working in and around the work site. The proper use of fall prevention equipment needs to be shown to all staff members during hands on training, after the fall arrest systems have been installed.
Roof repairs, painting, and window washing services are all performed at some level of suspension, all of them requiring a comprehensive safety system to be in place. Single point anchors can negotiate corners and three way intersections, as well as absorbing loads within a PFAS. Roof mounted tie backs are primarily used for single point tie-offs and horizontal lifelines required for rope access. There is a choice between a temporary or permanent fixture designed to a fit flat or pitched roof, and will support the suspension of personnel and their equipment.
Suspended access equipment systems are recommended for all buildings three stories and higher, where windows and building facades are accessed from the roof. Window cleaning applications need specialized roof mounted tie backs that will be able to safely suspend employees, work cages and/or platforms.
Comprehensive safety systems need to account for external factors such as communication towers or antennae, and adverse weather conditions such as high winds, rain and ice. Other obstacles Business Inventories such as skylights and roof hatches pose serious safety challenges for personnel, and the correct roof mounted tie backs can be effective in preventing injury from falls.
Single point anchors can be beam, deck or surface mounted, bolted or welded into steel, concrete and many other surfaces. Custom designed roof mounted tie backs are proposed as part of a system that is different for each building or structure, depending on the conditions. The components are made from corrosive resistant materials such as stainless steel, aluminum and more, and are available in a variety of finishes.
Roof repair, installation, maintenance and window washing, are all remote access work areas. The suspension of personnel and equipment may pose many health and safety challenges for all employees involved. It is required by law for facilities to have health and safety systems in place for the protection of their personnel. The right equipment, designed and installed by professionals, can prevent falls and serious injury on …