text:
Gun Violence
Teacher Fellowships
New Grant Awards
Pay As You Earn
Tax Agreement
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Gun Violence
On December 19, five days after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama announced that Vice President Biden will lead a task force charged with identifying concrete proposals for reducing the country's epidemic of gun violence. "We know this is a complex issue that stirs deeply held passions and political divides," the President said at a press conference at the White House. "There's no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. We're going to need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun. We're going to need to look more closely at a culture that all too often glorifies guns and violence. And, any actions we must take must begin inside the home and inside our hearts. But, the fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing." Secretary Duncan is among the Cabinet officials serving on the task force, along with Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The President is demanding recommendations no later than this month. "This is not some Washington commission," he stated. "This is not something where folks are going to be studying the issue for six months and publishing a report that gets read and pushed aside. This is a team that has a very specific task, to pull together real reforms right now.... I urge the new Congress to hold votes on these measures [in 2013] in a timely manner." (Note: The President's initial statement on the shooting is here, and his remarks at the interfaith prayer vigil for the victims and their families is here.)
Secretary Duncan sent a message to all U.S. school districts, sharing some resources from the Department's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center, including helping youth and children recover from traumatic events and creating and updating school emergency management plans.
Also, after traveling to Newtown to talk privately with Sandy Hook educators and attend the wake for principal Dawn Hochsprung, the Secretary issued a video message expressing his deep gratitude to teachers school leaders, and staff for their "quiet heroism" since the shooting in responding to students' concerns and restoring a sense of safety and normalcy in the nation's schools. He also spoke about the importance of school safety at Neval Thomas Elementary School in Washington, D.C., at an event where he also announced the 17 winners of the 2012 Promise Neighborhoods grant competition (see below). And, he was interviewed by PBS correspondent Gwen Ifill for a special report on gun violence.
Teacher Fellowships
Applications are currently available for the Department's 2013-14 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship, offering highly motivated and innovative school teachers and instructional leaders the unique opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience to the national dialogue on education, and, in turn, facilitate discussions with educators across the country. Since 2008, this competitive program has enabled a total of 80 outstanding teachers to work with the agency. Once again, the fellowship includes two tracks. Up to six Washington Fellows will become full-time federal employees in Washington, D.C., participating in policy discussions and working on education programs, while up to six Classroom Fellows will work on a part-time basis from their home communities, primarily by sharing public information and facilitating conversation among educators at the state and local level. Fellows will be selected based on their record of leadership, impact on student achievement, communication skills, and insight from classroom experiences. Applications are due January 29 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and fellows will be named by early summer.
New Grant Awards
Before the end of the calendar year, the Department announced grants under two competitive programs.
On December 18, Secretary Duncan announced that all 20 of the highest-rated applicants in the 2012 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition secured their required private matching funds and became official grantees. Together, they will share more than $140 million in federal funding to expand innovative practices designed to accelerate student achievement and help prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers. The i3 program announced the 20 highest-rated applicantsselected from 727 applications and representing a cross-section of school districts, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizationsin November. Applicants had four weeks to secure private funds, either in cash or in-kind. Private donors are providing about $16 million to support this year's i3 projects. With the addition of the 2012 winners, the i3 program includes 92 grantees that are using nearly $1 billion in federal funding and $162 million in private funds to address persistent education challenges and scale-up effective solutions.
Then, on December 21, the Secretary announced 17 winners of a 2012 Promise Neighborhoods grant. Launched in 2010, Promise Neighborhoods is a community-focused program that funds local-led efforts to improve educational opportunities and supply comprehensive health, safety, and support services within high-poverty neighborhoods. This year's awards are split between 10 one-year planning grants, totaling more than $4.7 million, and seven five-year implementation grants, totaling nearly $30 million. (Among the winners are six implementation grantees that will build on previous work supported through 2010 or 2011 planning grants.) Remaining 2012 funds will go toward second-year funding for the five implementation grants awarded in 2011. To date, nearly $100 million in Promise Neighborhoods funding has been awarded to over 50 communities representing some 700 schools. To help leverage and sustain grant work, 1,000 national, state, and local organizations have signed-on to partner with a Promise Neighborhood site.
Pay As You Earn
A new federal student loan repayment plan went into effect late last month that could lower borrowers' monthly bills. The plan, known as "Pay as You Earn," caps monthly payments for many recent graduates at an amount that is affordable based on their income. This option follows through on President Obama's pledge to provide borrowers with relief on their payments and help them responsibly manage their debt.
The Pay as You Earn plan, which the President first announced in October 2011, caps payments for federal Direct Student Loans at 10% of discretionary income for eligible borrowers. The Department estimates as many as 1.6 million borrowers could reduce their monthly bills with this plan. The plan complements other repayment plans offered to help borrowers manage their debt, including Income-Based Repayment (IBR), which caps payments at 15% of borrowers' discretionary income. (Borrowers who are ineligible for Pay as You Earn may still qualify for IBR, which more than 1.3 million borrowers already use.)
While borrowers may pay more in interest in the long run, Pay as You Earn can provide relief on loan payments, especially in early years of repayment, and help ensure that borrowers avoid the consequences of defaulting on their student loans.
Tax Agreement
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (see fact sheet), passed by a bipartisan majority in the House and Senate and signed into law by the President this week, extends middle-class tax cuts and credits for working families. It also postpones sequestration for two monthsuntil March 1giving Congress more time to work on a plan to prevent automatic spending cuts. This postponement is fully paid for with $1 of revenue for every $1 of spending, with spending balanced between defense and domestic programs.
Odds and Ends
The Department is soliciting public comment on a new report, "Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World," which calls for smart uses of emerging data generated by the use of learning technologies. It presents educators, policymakers, and funders with an expanded view of evidence approaches and sources of data that can help them with decision-making.
In the most recent session of the Department's Student Voices Series, following a congressional hearing on discipline at which she testified, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Deb Delisle met with youth leaders from the Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE).
A Treasury Department report, prepared in conjunction with the Education Department, illustrates that investing in postsecondary education expands job opportunities, boosts America's competitiveness, and supports the kind of income mobility that is fundamental to a growing economy.
New studies from the Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) look at first-year undergraduate remedial coursetaking and trends in debt for bachelor degree recipients a year after graduation.
Last month, Secretary Sebelius announced more than $80 million in Affordable Care Act funding for 197 school-based health center programs. This funding will allow school-based health centers to serve an additional 384,000 students.
Quote to Note
"Since I've been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting.... And, in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the nation, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big citiesvictims who, much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And, to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. But, that can't be an excuse for inaction.... If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtownas well as communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before thatthen surely we have an obligation to try."
|President Barack Obama (12/16/12), speaking at the interfaith prayer vigil in Newtown, Connecticut
Upcoming Events
The Corporation for National and Community Service is asking Americans to appropriately honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy on January 21 by making the holiday a day ONversus a day off. King Day became a national day of service in 1994, when Congress passed legislation to give the holiday even greater significance. A dedicated web site enables organizers to register projects nationwide. (Note: January 21 is also Inauguration Day.)
Digital Learning Day (February 6) is a national celebration of teachers, shining a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms.
Approximately 30 free sessions are already scheduled for the Department's Green Strides Webinar Series through the fall.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental AffairsStacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, firstname.lastname@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, firstname.lastname@example.com
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
totally agree with you on the 'steel' front, as I said in my review of the Kona Haole you can't better the feel of a good steel frame. my winter commuter is based on a Regal Jester steel frameset costing £175 and its one of the most comfortable and surefooted bikes I've ever ridden
Charge bikes are arguably the coolest bike brand out of the UK at the minute offering an infectious mix of exciting design, excellent marketing and the West countries finest riders to boot. The Juicer Mid is the more affordable version in the Charge classic road portfolio. Coming in at a Cyclescheme-friendly £950 for 23lbs of steel with a Tiagra groupset it might be hard to see why this bike is so appealing, however as I found it was love at first ride. Actually it happened before I had finished setting it up.
There are many good reasons why racing bikes are not made in steel anymore. Numerating the problem of material selection for a light and stiff bicycle frame always yields one answer – carbon. However in some cases this method has some flaws. Maths doesn't do emotion. Nor does it understand the joys of tractor beaten, frost bitten roads on my favourite "tour of East Anglia's potato and turnip farms" (training whilst back at the folks place for Christmas). The last bike I rode was the Boardman Pro Carbon and while that is a fantastic machine I can honestly say what a treat it has been to ride a steel bike. I couldn't have had a bigger switch in bikes yet instantly the Juicer was a pleasure to ride and – based on the times of my usual routes – surprisingly quick despite the obvious weight penalty.
Handling is good and much more comfortable at slower speeds than more twitchy aggressive geometries, without losing stability whilst on the rivet. Out of the saddle the position on the hoods is comfortable and stable. Thanks to the combo of Charge's most excellent Knife saddle and a triple upfront you hardly ever have to get out of the saddle except for sprinting. The triple might not be super cool but personally having 133m elevation between my desk and my bed meant it came in handy on the commute.
The vibration dampening is excellent, as you would expect from steel. The springyness of the material really enlivens the ride and combined with a more traditional geometry it was a real pleasure to sit up and enjoy the view rather than my usual HRM based self destruction. It was so infectious I almost stopped for cake on a ride, I then realised having never done such before 1) I didn't know where I could find cake in the wilds of Suffolk and 2) I had no money, so I duly carried on my way cakeless.
The mudguards are a really solid fitting set and look great on the bike, they don't rattle or scrape or any of those bad mudguard related annoyances. They also work pretty well too, well enough that like a kid in wellies I rode through as many puddles as possible. My only gripe being the front is just a little too short meaning the water gets dumped on to your feet through the deepest puddles.
The main point that I want to stress about the quality of this bike is the selection of components and attention to details which are so often ignored. I have read a lot of people on popular forums slating the value for money of this bike, but hear me out. The groupset is a groupset. Sounds silly but you get a full set of Tiagra, which in my experience works a lot better than mixing a cheap cassette with a 105 rear mech and a crank from another manufacturer for the same price.
Yes compatibility in cycle drive train is good, but there is something that just works about using a full Tiagra set - it's designed as a unit. I would note that it took some getting used to switching back from SRAM to Shimano. The much quieter shift is sometimes missed and the up-shift lever is a little small in winter gloves, especially if you use a lobster style mitten. Other attentions to detail include the well selected FSA finishing kit, the compact drop means anyone could sit on the drops comfortably without 6 weeks of intensive yoga and pilates. The bar tape is a decent quality padded offering again from FSA. For many manufacturers bar tape is a cost saving exercise but it really makes a difference to how the bike feels straight out of the box, thanks Charge. Finally my favorite bit of attention to detail and why I fell so deeply in love with this bike before riding - the bottle cage bolts (sad I know). For once they are not ridiculously short to reduce the published weight of the bike, you can actually fit bottle cages and a pump simultaneously with the ease, praise the lord!
Shimanos R500 wheels are a great choice again. I am a firm believer in Shimanos cup and cone gospel and they have faultlessly spun without the need for readjustment of any kind. Plus they come with excellent QR's. Albeit not the lightest of wheels, but a dependable and very serviceable set nonetheless. Continental are usually my tyre of choice but a couple of flints caught these ones napping, leaving me to play my least favorite roadside game, the "Topeak hand shuffle". Whilst inflated the grip was good in most conditions, I wouldn't go as far to say confidence inspiring on the iciest of days but no 23C will ever be that. Personally for this style of bike a more relaxed 25C would be a better choice I think.
Tektro's brakes do let themselves down on occasions, especially in the wet. I would personally change the pad to a stiffer cartridge system, perhaps from the excellent Ashima range.
If you are looking for a dependable workhorse commuter or classic racer then the Juicer Mid is a great starting point, especially for the more style conscious. The Juicer combines classic materials and geometry with a selection of components that work together almost faultlessly. All things considered this delivers a bike that is a much better ride than the spec list initially suggests.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Charge Juicer
Size tested: 54cm
About the bike
State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.
Frame: Tange Prestige cromoly, traditional road geometry
Fork: Tange Prestige cromoly 700C road
Brakes: Tektro R538
Levers: Shimano Tiagra
Headset: FSA TH 857
Stem: FSA OS 190, 31.8mm alloy, black
Handle bar: FSA Vero compact, black
Grips: FSA padded bar tape
Shift Levers: Shimano Tiagra
Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra, triple, compact, braze on
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
Chain Wheel: Shimano Tiagra triple, 50, 39, 30T
Crankset: Shimano Tiagra triple, 50, 39, 30T
Cassette: Shimano HG 50, 11-25T
Pedal: N/A
BB: Shimano outboard bearing
Rims: Shimano R500 wheelset
Tyres: Continental, Ultra Race, 700 x 23C
Front Hub: Shimano R500 wheelset
Rear Hub: Shimano R500 wheelset
Saddle: Charge Knife, black, cromoly rail
Seatpost: FSA SL280, black, 27.2mm
Seat Clamp: Kalloy single bolt, black
Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?
The Juicer is designed as a modern take on an old steel racer. Coming with mudgaurds and a triple chainset makes it ideal for serious commuting and equally at home on a hard winters training or weekend ride with cafe stop.
Frame and fork
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?
High quality finish on the frame and fork. Excellently made and paint work is very tidy.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?
Classic ferrous bike here with a Tange Prestige tubeset
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?
A more traditional do-it-all geometery.
Riding the bike
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.
Steel is Real! The most comfortable ride of any bike I have rideen recently
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?
Remarkably stiff in the right places despite the added comfort. Forks are a little flexier than I am used to but the backend feels pretty tight.
How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?
Helped by Hollotech 2 style BB the Juicer does a good job of transferring the watts backward.
Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?
There is some toe overlap with the front mudgaurd, however I didn't ever see this when out on the bike only noticed it when stationary.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Livley
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?
Particularly happy with the bike on the drops. Thanks to the compactdrop bar the Juicer position is very achievable and sustainable getting your weight in all the right places for handling to be great. Nice and stable when on the hoods out of the saddle.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?
Charge's Knife saddle is an excellent slimmer version of Charge's MTB offering the Spoon. Top marks. Really suitable bartape for the bike - padded by FSA
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?
Tiagra is a solid setup and although not as refined as higher end groups does a great job at efficient transfer.
Heavy bike and heavyish wheels.
Not as fast as others but the feedback through the steel is great. GRIP IT AND RIP IT!
No problems here
Most comfortable at 15-19mph I reckon.
Easy enough to dice between traffic on the morning ratrace
Bar position is quite high so centre of gravity is against you hear. Most happy when on the drops
The triple cancels out the weight penalty. Everything achievable in the granny but dont expect to get there fast.
The drivetrain
Solid runner without the refinement of more expensive groupsets
Can't knock it. Ran fine for 6 weeks
Some penalty against 105/Rival but with a steel frame percentage gain is not so noticeable.
Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?
Everything works well together because its a complete groupset rather than a mix of several put together. Compatability is excellent and as a result the finished ride is much nicer. Tops!
Wheels and tyres
Solid runners and very serviceable. Not the lightests though
Wheels are super tough - tyres not so great. I would switch to a mid range set of folders and probably a 25C on this bike
Wheel weight is OK but wire bead tyres let it down
Again - good wheels not great tyres
Tell us some more about the wheels and tyres.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels or tyres? If so, what for?
Several punctures but grip was good throughout even in the recent icy weather.
Compact drop and padded bar tape - LUSH!
Solid Brand name at the price.
Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)
Mudgaurds are good, reliable and solid. A real asset to the bike. Just need to get a frame pump to match now!
Your summary
Did you enjoy riding the bike? Very much so, a pleasant change
Would you consider buying the bike? Yes Yes YES!
Would you recommend the bike to a friend? A classic bike for the traditionalist or style concious - anyone who is looking for something in that bracket
Anything further to say about the bike in conclusion?
See verdict above
About the tester
Age: 22 Height: 5\'10\" Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: Carrera My best bike is: Rotwild RCC 1.3 Topeak Ergon team
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, mtb,


text:
wizardy42 wrote:Erm...hello.
I'm not sure where to post this but this thread might be my best bet...
Is there anyone here who goes to Canterbury Uni and can tell me what the hub(s) is/are?
This is quite possibly an incredibly noob-like question, but I'm asking it anyway.
From what I can tell it's some kind of computer related system where you can exchange stuff?
Anyway if anyone knows...please enlighten me.
hey I'm at Canterbury Uni as well, can't say I've heard of the Hub
Not very helpful I know.
So apparently there is a HDD doing the rounds? I got a whole bunch of stuff I could put on for you guys assuming its USB connection (Just gave away my Desktop, down to my Laptop only shock horror!).


text:
Burnt Oak flower delivery, order flowers online from Flowers Xpress, we're a real local florist that actually delivers direct in Barnet - Greater London, we have many years experience in floristry designing and delivering our own stunning bouquets and arrangements 6 days a week by hand in our own delivery vans. Same day flower delivery in Burnt Oak please order by 1pm Monday to Sunday (3pm for postcodes NW2, NW6 or NW10), our bouquets can be ordered online or by telephone or you can visit our shop in person. Send flowers:-
Local flowers delivered by hand, by us, no postal flowers, order online or call us and speak to a real florist, by ordering flowers from us you cut out the middle man by ordering direct. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to delivering flowers to someone special in Burnt Oak just for you. Telephone during opening hours, order online or email us using our contact form anytime.
We also deliver our own bouquets and arrangements to these nearby locations in Canons Park, Colindale, Edgware, Highwood Hill, Holders Hill, Kingsbury, Little Stanmore, Mill Hill, Queensbury, West Hendon.
© Copyright - All Rights Reserved.
Flowers Xpress - 366A High Road, London, NW10 2EA - Tel: 0208 459 2828
Registered Company Number 5568974


text:
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Toyota Highlander Lease Questions
in Toyota
Hi everyone. Please use the following discussion to post any questions that you have about leasing a Toyota Highlander. Thanks.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums
I'm hoping you can suggest what my options are here. I posted a while ago about the lease I received - $365/mo, 12K/yr, 5yrs. The more I think about it, the more I regret that decision. We figured out my monthly lease for the 05 Highlander should have been (w/tax) - $340/mo, 12K, 3 yrs which means I will be paying about 10K over that for my error in judgment. (actually $900 extra the first three years and $8760 for the final two years). I realize that this is a no-win situation for me. I can afford to pay this but I am quite upset of how I let this happen. Is there a way to get out of the lease without losing a bundle so that I can get a decent lease or am I stuck with the lease for 5 years?0
Hey suvgal. Five years is an awfully long time to lease a vehicle for. I am sorry to say that it is usually fairly expensive to get out of leases well before their scheduled end dates. In order to do so, you need to purchase the vehicle that you are currently leasing from the bank that you are leasing it through. It often turns out that it costs more to do so than your vehicle is worth on the open market. Furthermore, many banks expect consumers who end their leases early to still make all, or at least the depreciation portion of their remaining lease payments. As you can see, this can get very expensive.
You can determine approximately how much it will cost you to get out of your current lease by comparing its purchase price to its value on the open market at this time. You should place a call to the bank that you are leasing your vehicle through to find out its exact price. Once you know exactly how much money it is going to cost you to buy your leased vehicle you need to compare it to its current value on the open market. You can find out approximately what your vehicle is worth by looking up its Edmunds.com True Market Value in the Used Vehicle Pricing section of this site. You also may want to stop by the following discussion: "Real-World Trade-In Values". One of our most knowledgeable community members, Terry, frequents that discussion and he is often kind enough to give community members who give him an accurate description of their vehicles with his opinion on their value. Don't forget to check to see if you are still on the hook for your remaining lease payments. The difference between your leased vehicle's current value and how much it will cost you to buy it plus any remaining lease payments that you are obligated to pay will equal the cost of getting out of your lease right now. You may find that you are better off waiting until you are closer to the scheduled end of your lease to get another new vehicle.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Thanks Car_man. I did call the bank and since I've only made 6 payments it would cost me nearly twice my monthly payment to purchase the car (through payments). When I figured that out, they were charging me about 22% APR (and this with an 800+ credit score rating). I know my buyouts (32K privately, 30K dealer). I will follow your advice and post to the other forum. I might wait until 3 years in but I remember the advice you gave me previously about five years. I won't ever make that mistake or a down payment again. Thanks again for all your help.0
You're very welcome suvgal. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
mevande Posts: 190Money magazine and many others share leasing is always a bad deal unless you are a business owner and can write off the expenses. Just my 2 cents:)0
sweetloudo Posts: 1We are looking at the HL and would like to know weather or not we should buy or lease. A dealer has told us we can buy an "06" 4cyl 2 wd for just under 24000 o.t.d. We normally keep cars for a long period of time and would like to have some of the features and benefits of a Limited edition. Do you know what Toyota is offering in terms of leasing now? We had not considered it until I came across this posting... Based on the financing I have in place we were ready to spend just under 400 per month over 72 months on this new purchase...
Thanks for any feedback.
benji123 Posts: 89Hi Car man,
I'd like to get the (1) residual, (2) lease money factor, and (3) estimated monthly payment (with $0 down) for the 2006 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD, with an MSRP of $34,500 and a selling price of $33,000. I'd like the numbers both for a 36 month, 12,000 miles/year lease and for a 48 month, 12,000 miles/year lease.
As of 1/8/06, the figures for a 36 mo. lease in Central NY, 15k/yr, Tier 1 TFS credit:
.0019 money factor (4.56%)
55% to 58% residual *(actual)
*Toyota's residual percentage does not conform to other manufacturers: Instead of a flat percentage for base plus options, Toyota calculates only the base price when figuring the residual. As a result, you're can't accurately compare the residual percentage to those of other manufacturere' percentages. The figures I used here are actual -- e.g., MSRP $31,829 = $17,557 residual (55.16%), and MSRP $29,492 = 17,107 residual (58%).
Happy hunting,
Hi Ben. Toyota's lease program often varies depending upon which one of its twelve regions one is in. Having said this, in most of the country right now Toyota Financial Services' buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36 month, 12,000 mile per year lease of a 2006 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD are .00190 and 60%, respectively. You definitely don't want to lease this car for 48 months because 36 is the longest term that its special money factors are available for.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
sanchai2 Posts: 1Hi Car_man.
What can you tell me about the residual, money factor, etc. for a 2006 Highlander AWD w/ 3rd row (not limited)in Denver, Colorado? 36 month, 12,000 mile.
Thanks so much.0
katrinka Posts: 1Toyota is offering 36 month lease special on a Highlander Hybrid for $359/mo. with a $2999 down payment. I don't want to leave a down payment and would like 15,000/mi.year. What information will I need to know before I speak with the dealer this weekend.0
What can you guys tell me about this offer: I am in the Chicago market:
2006 Highlander V6 4x4 LTD
this vehicle comes with the power moonroof, side curtain airbags, leather heated seats, third row, 6 disc cd changer, and appearance package (they are all pretty much equipped the same).
Your special internet price, including the available rebate, is $31,789. Toyota is building very few with navigation, but I believe it is roughly $1,800 more. I can double check if that is an option for you.
Thanks for your insight0
landdriver Posts: 607This seems like a very reasonable price, though I'm not sure what rebates may be in effect in your area (check edmunds.com new car pricing); you could get a couple more internet quotes from other dealerships to verify this is competitive.0
Has any one leased a car and used a third party vendor to write the lease?
If so can you recommend or warn against a company?
soylentgreen Posts: 62Carman (or whomever),
Got some numbers for a 4x2, no 3rd row, 4 cyl Highlander
- 1500 discount = 25,770
MF = .00200 (a little high for a 790 FICO?)
residual = 15,188
They're asking for 2K down and 419-429/month! :mad:
This is going to be for 36 months.
I axed about the $500 rebate and they said "just for you, we'll just take off $1500." I just hate it when they take you for a fool.
Anyway, just needing to know your prof opinion, maybe I'm missing something here.
The problem with third party leasing becomes apparent when you return the vehicle -- you'll get nickled and dimed for routine wear-and-tear.
The major automobile finance arms such as Toyota Financial Services exists primarily to finance the purchase and leasing of their vehicles. Unlike banks and leasing companies, which look to turn a profit at every corner, TFS wants to keep you happy if at all possible, and have you return as a repeat customer.
To me, it's a no-brainer: Lease with TFS, or be willing to empty your wallet when the lease term expires.0
I have a 03 Highlander LTd 2WD. My lease is up in Apri and I am looking at a new Highlander Ltd, Honda Pilot EX-L or Subaru 2.5XT Forester. I don't need 4WD, as I live in So. Cal. Which is going to give me the best lease deal, and what should it be? My current lease is around $420 with the taxes included. I would like to get the same, or under if possible.0
Hi sanchai2. If you were to lease a 2006 Toyota Highlander 4WD (Non-Limited) through Toyota Financial Services right now in its Denver region for 36 months with 12,000 miles per year, its buy rate lease money factor and residual value should be .00135 and 61%, respectively assuming that you qualify for its Tier 1+ credit tier.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Hi katrinka. You are being very smart in deciding not to make a down payment on this truck. It is always in consumers' best interest to put at little money down as possible when leasing. The two most important factors for you to focus on when you visit dealers are your truck's selling price and its money factor. I say that these are the most important numbers because these are the main two areas that your dealer can profit from on your deal. The selling prices of leased vehicles are negotiable, just as if you are paying cash for them. Make sure to negotiate as good a price as possible on your truck before having your dealer calculate your lease payment. As far as the money factor goes, in most of its regions, Toyota Financial Services' current buy rate lease money factor for leases of the 2006 Highlander Hybrid is .00190 for consumers who qualify for its tier 1+ credit tier. If your credit is in good shape, make sure that the dealer you are working with uses this factor to calculate your truck's lease payment.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Hi golic. This specific discussion is for consumers who have questions about leasing Toyota Highlanders. You will probably get much better feedback on the price that you were quoted for the truck that you are interested in by visiting the following discussion: "Toyota Highlander: Prices Paid & Buying Experience".
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Greetings soylentgreen. Toyota's lease money factors vary by region. I need you to tell me what state you are in in order for me to tell you if the factor that you were quoted is in line with Toyota Financial Services' buy rate lease money factor for this model right now. For now, I can tell you that Toyota Financial Services' money factors for the '06 Highlander are as high as .00190 in some regions.
I would have been annoyed by the whole "just for you" comment as well, but what are you going to do that's how some dealers just act. I'm sure that they fool a lot of people, too. A $1,500 discount really is not enough. A base 2006 Toyota Highlander has a spread of around $2,700 between its full MSRP and dealer invoice prices. I suspect that you will be able to negotiate at least another $750 off of this truck's selling price. You may want to stop by the following discussion to see how much other community members have paid for similar trucks lately: "Toyota Highlander: Prices Paid & Buying Experience".
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Hi suferman. All three of the trucks that you mentioned have special lease programs available on them right now. It is tough to say which one will be the least expensive to lease though without knowing the exact MSRPs and approximate selling prices for the models that you are interested in. If you provide me with this information, I'd be happy to estimate lease payments on all of them so that you can see which one is the best deal. I have to warn you though, their lease programs in April will be different than they are today. To get a completely accurate picture, you will have to check back with me during the month that you actually want to lease your new vehicle.
Smart Shopper / Prices Paid Forums0
Hey Car_man,
Was wondering if you could help answer a question...I'm an Massachusetts;
The lease calculator on Edmunds, how acurate is it to the Toyota lease system,or any other manufacturers system to calculate lease payments? here is my scenario;
30929 highlander purchase price of 28,500, 6K down. dealer is willing to make first payment and waive aquisition / security deposit. residiual is 17,6XXish (can't remember) and i was told the money factor is .0019. I have a quote of 230/ month but the calculator indicates a payment of 217/ month. i believe reg items are about 150.
i was also told the 750 rebate does not apply if we go with the lease, is this true...
Thanks for everything, this forum is great!!!
oh ya, do you know the residual and money factor for the Tacoma Sport 4 door 4X4 also?
Why are you putting the 6K down?0
6k is a trade in...actually more than that but were getting some cash back also. i've heard good and bad about money down. ultimately we wanted a certain payment for the 3 yrs. and the 6K gets us there...0
Well here is the reason it makes me cringe.
Lets say in three months or in the next year or so the unfortunate "total" of the car happens.
My guess is Toyota has gap insurance built into the lease. So your insurance company pays Toyota leasing for the value of the car and your GAP insurance covers any difference and guess what happens to You and your 6K down payment? *headtilt*
It disappears faster than the profits at Enron Gone, Poof. You stand as the ONLY one to loose on the deal.
I really think "buying" down the lease payment is a very poor economic decision in which you are bearing all the risk for the false comfort of a lower monthly payment.
You worked hard for your money, hang on to it. Stick that same 6K in a savings account and pull out the extra $167 each month to make the payment...YMMV0
briegel Posts: 139Or...use the trade-in money for multiple security deposits to reduce the money factor and therefore the lease payment. It won't reduce the payment as much as an equivalent down payment, but you will get the money back at lease-end and the ROI is better than any other "sure thing" investment available! Toyota/Lexus Financial Services does this with Lexus...ask if they do it with Toyota also.0
What is the money factor and residuals on a lease for the following cars (all 2006 - 2WD)?
Toyota RAV Ltd. V6 (leather/JBL/heated seats/moonroof)
Toyota Highlander Ltd. V6 (leather/JBL/heated seats/moonroof)
Honda Pilot EX-L
Any incentives on these models? I will lease by end of month.
womble Posts: 28hi - I really want the hybrid limited 4x2 but don't need the navigation system. Most seem to come with that standard. Should I try to get the deal I want and see if the dealer will throw in navigation for free or try and find it without? Also, what is the money factor and residual on this right now? I was quoted $1999 down and $500 per month (plus tax) on a $38,695 MSRP but I really don't want to pay more than $450 per month (plus tax). Anyone in CA leased a hybrid limited recently and got close to those numbers? Also, when will we find out about the new body type? I'm worried I will lease in June and the new car will be out 3 months later. thanks y'all.0
znelson32 Posts: 8I negotiated the following deal today:
2006 Highlander Limited (6938) V6 AWD w/3rd Row
Exterior: Black
Interior: Ivory Leather
Options: Leather Seat Package (LA)
Side Curtain Airbags (GY)
Extra Value Package (VV)
Heated Seats (HD)
I feel this is a good deal considering the MSRP is $35,675 so it's a $4,000 savings. Now the dealer is trying to recoup some of that cash by offering the following on the lease deal:
$1,500 down: $447/month
$3,000 down: $399/month
These quoted rates are direct from the toyota.com calculator because when I plug in the cap cost of $31,689 I get the same monthly rates. Now here is what concerns me:
The advertised lease specials are:
Base model with an MSRP of $25K for $259/month w/approx. $2000 cap cost reduction
Hybrid model with an MSRP of $33K for $369/month w/approx. $1000 cap cost reduction
Since my cap cost is $31K shouldn't my monthly payment be more like $329 and not $447? The dealer says this is based on a money factor of .00170 and didn't mention the residual value.
I find it hard to believe a 4x4 AWD Limited that costs $1000 less than the hybrid would cost $80 more per month to lease. I understand perhaps the hybrid has a higher residual value but it's $1K more and a Limited wouldn't be worth significantly less.
What's also troubling is that I was trying to replicate the advertised lease specials with the toyota.com calculator but the monthly payments are much higher than the advertised rates, which means it's not applying the special money factor. Since my dealer is using the same calculator, he must not be applying the special financing to my deal.
Furthermore, when I inquired about this I was told that the $259 lease special is based on model 6910 which is the base 4x2 model, even though the toyota site clearly says it's based on the 4x4 base model 6928. The dealer was trying to justify the lower payment by using a model with a lower MSRP, which I don't buy into. When I told him this was wrong he said "we'll there's alot of complex factors that make one lease different than another". True but I doubt 6928 on toyota.com is a typo.
To complicate all this, you can't replicate the advertised toyota.com lease specials because they don't disclose the money factor or residual values used. I called toyota financial and talked to someone in the lease dept. and even he said only the regional financing departments have any kind of info like that. So there is no way I can be sure that my dealer is applying the correct money factor and residual value to my lease and not trying to pad the deal.
I should note, this is in the Philadelphia market. The dealer's zipcode is: 17112
Please advise! Thanks in advance!0
This discussion has been closed.


text:
To Keep Your Job, Learn Something New
It's become conventional wisdom that many of today's workers will see their jobs replaced or transformed by ever-smarter machines. Who needs bus drivers and truckers when self-driving vehicles take over the road —and what happens to the thousands of body-shop workers who won't be needed to repair dents when the sensors in these new vehicles head off fender benders?
A recent paper from Oxford University suggested that 47% of U.S. jobs are at high risk of being computerized in the next few decades, with potentially frightening consequences for workers.
Such concerns have raised urgent questions about the skills individuals need to survive in the workforce of the future. Not only is technology displacing workers, as it has in every economic transformation, but it is changing so rapidly that workers and employers are finding themselves unable to keep up, a situation that creates the paradox of a skills gap amid high unemployment.


text:
Alusuisse Airex AG
The Airex exercise line of mats, balance and hydro-support products offers an attractive design for safe and stable environments, according to the manufacturer. The mats are constructed of light-weight material that has a flat, nonslip, well-cushioned surface that won't chafe or rub against the skin. The closed-cell structure reportedly makes products impervious to water and easy to keep clean. Circle Reader Service No. 101
Creative Health Products
Creative Health Products is a primary source for skinfold calipers. While the calipers vary considerably in appearance, size, materials, price, etc., most will produce reasonably accurate results if used properly. That's why Creative Health Products handles most brands and at discount prices. Of great importance in the use of any of the calipers is the technique used in measuring skinfolds. It is very important that the proper procedures be used.
Cybex International
Cybex Internation-al has introduced a new high performance treadmill, the Cybex 600T. The 600T treadmill features easy-to-use display, one-button start option, heart rate monitoring, motivating programs and Cybex's StableFlex system that absorbs shock and offers superior stability, states the company. Additional amenities include a magazine rack, bottle holder and personal-stereo tray. Circle Reader Service No. 103
Fitdigital.com is a one-stop, online shopping source for various fitness audio/video systems, equipment and accessories. The company offers wireless microphones, headsets, fitness sound systems, stationary cycling and aqua aerobic sound systems, music, pitch controldecks and club video systems. Fitdigital.com provides free lifetime technical support and relationships worldwide. Circle Reader Service No. 104
K&K Insurance Group
For insurance coverage that fits, K&K Health/Fitness Club Insurance offers health club operators strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance. Coverage is designed specifically for the health/fitness industry and can include property, casualty, medical professional and participants liability, ex-cess and umbrella coverage, and flexible deductible/self-insured programs. Circle Reader Service No. 105
Life Fitness
Life Fitness added a dual adjustable pulley system to its strength selectorized line. The new offering has two weight stacks of 190 pounds each and two adjustable pulleys that are similar to a cable cross-over, state company officials. It features two pulleys that can be moved from approximately 8 to 84 inches high in 4-inch increments. The item's resistance ratio can also be adjusted. Circle Reader Service No. 106
Tanita Corp. of America
The new TBF-300GS from Tanita features a 440-pound weight ca-pacity with both adult and athlete modes. The machine automatically prints fat mass, fat-free mass, fat percentage, total-body water, raw impedance, BMR and desirable ranges with up to nine copies. It includes a Goal Setter feature that calculates the amount of fat mass that should be lost or gained to achieve a preselected body-fat percentage. Circle Reader Service No. 107
Troy Barbell & Fitness
Troy's SupraBar and SupraBar Cable Sys-tem use the biomechanical process of supination to improve strength training benefits. By using movable and rotating grips, all of the SupraBar products isolate exertion to the targeted muscle group while relieving stress on tendons and joints. SupraBar is a free-weight bar designed to work with Olympic weights. The SupraBar Cable attachments hook onto standard cable systems. Circle Reader Service No. 108
True Fitness
The True Natural Trainer (TNT) 2000 treadmill from True Fitness is powered by arm and leg movements. Users can ad-just resistance on-the-fly to create their desired workout level, according to the company. The full-body engagement makes it possible to achieve a total-body workout in 30 minutes with this low-maintenance machine, and users can tone and condition all major muscle groups. Circle Reader Service No. 109


text:
See Me In The Shadows
In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big.
Champs wrote:Bloke strolling along a pier, when suddenly he sees a man sat holding an imaginary fishing rod and with both feet dangling in the water.
Curious the bloke asks the man, 'What you doing?'
'I'm fishing for c*nts' said the man.
The bloke smiled and joined him, took his socks & shoes off and placed both feet in the water and cast out his imaginary fishing line.
Smiling smugly to himself, the bloke then said to the man 'So, how many c*nts have you caught today, then?'
Without looking up the man said 'You're the third this morning'.
I was born with nothing and I've got most of it left...
Growing old disgracefully
Not even on the B list...
Not even on the B list...
In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
This morning I would like to be in Paris.
...sitting here, under a cosy blanket, in a little cafe in Rue St Dominique.
....peering in the window while sipping my coffee, umming and ahhing over what to have for breakfast.
I'll just finish this before I do the school lunches.
Happy Monday!


text:
You faggot-ass muh'fucker
Knock this nigga the fuck out, word to mother son
See y'all the kind of pussies had to pick up somethin
And y'all motherfuckers ain't stick up nuttin
So all you really doing's run around here frontin
But muh'fucker keep on stuntin
And homey you go NIGHT NIGHT, from the left and the right
And won't forget it for the rest of your life
After you go NIGHT NIGHT~! And I promise the same
For any lame who won't honor my aim, uhh
You go NIGHT NIGHT, from the left and the right
And won't forget it for the rest of your life
After you go NIGHT NIGHT~! And I promise the same
For any lame who won't honor my aim, uhh
Now ever since I went and brought the blend that got my pinky right
I've been makin niggas wanna box more than Winky Wright
Cause when I'm on the block and I overhear the sneaky types
Sayin "Fuck 'Quence cause that nigga probably think he nice"
But they gon' pay a price for they frontin and they sidetalk
When I'm catch 'em slippin like there's ice on the sidewalk
It ain't my fault, that I was blessed with a two-piece
While you was on the ave gettin pressed for your new piece
But word hit the streets I made it spin like the whirl
We called him "Million Dollar Baby" cause he hit like a girl
Here's a jewel like a pearl you should often remember
If it wasn't for rap I'd be on "Contender"
I know I'm kind of slender, here's advice for your mans
Cause like the shell game I'm kinda nice with my hands
And even with the grands and my name in bright lights
Don't think I'd ever hesitate to make you go night night
Now let me drop the science like Tom Cruise
On why I keep the eye on every time you see Cons' cruise
Cause I know niggas out here probably thinkin I'm on snooze
And if you thinkin THAT, then you niggas are all fools
Cause you should know the rules any time you discuss I
You probably better all just go get in some shuteye
Or you'll get a shut eye, cause I've been puttin heads to bed
And we be rollin 20 deep, when we head to bed
So get some good night rest, or a good light vest
Cause ain't no tellin when the hood might press
And it's like 'Quence, don't be sleepin like insomniacs
Cause ain't no tellin when they creepin in them Pontiacs
Sippin that Cognac, and askin where the party at
So they can shoot my car with the gat
And I can see 'em in my dreams like Game tryin to heat my frame
But watch what happen when that street light change


text:
Niger Population: 18,638,600NO VISITORS FROM HERE YET!
Back to Flag Counter Overview
|Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his term as president. In February 2010, military officers led a coup that deposed TANDJA and suspended the constitution. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 following the coup and reelected to a second term in early 2016. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A Tuareg rebellion emerged in 2007 and ended in 2009. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
Landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
|Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 5,834 km border countries (7): Algeria 951 km, Benin 277 km, Burkina Faso 622 km, Chad 1,196 km, Libya 342 km, Mali 838 km, Nigeria 1,608 km
|0 km (landlocked)
|Maritime claims:
|none (landlocked)
|desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
|predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 35.1% arable land 12.3%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 22.7% forest: 1%
other: 63.9% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|1,000 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|recurring droughts
|Current Environment Issues:
|overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
|^Back to Top
| noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
|Ethnic groups:
|Hausa 53.1%, Zarma/Songhai 21.2%, Tuareg 11%, Fulani (Peul) 6.5%, Kanuri 5.9%, Gurma 0.8%, Arab 0.4%, Tubu 0.4%, other/unavailable 0.9% (2006 est.)
|French (official), Hausa, Djerma
|Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
|18,638,600 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 49.31% (male 4,635,901/female 4,554,010)
15-24 years: 18.85% (male 1,734,887/female 1,777,896)
25-54 years: 25.94% (male 2,414,668/female 2,419,725)
55-64 years: 3.27% (male 316,655/female 293,570)
65 years and over: 2.64% (male 250,314/female 240,974) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 113%
youth dependency ratio: 107.5%
elderly dependency ratio: 5.5%
potential support ratio: 18.2% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 15.3 years
male: 15.2 years
female: 15.4 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|3.22% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|44.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 18.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 5.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|NIAMEY (capital) 1.09 million (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|18.1 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|553 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 82.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 87.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 55.5 years male: 54.3 years
female: 56.8 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|6.62 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|13.9% (2012)
|Health expenditures:
|5.8% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 48.6% of population
total: 58.2% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 51.4% of population
total: 41.8% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 37.9% of population
rural: 4.6% of population
total: 10.9% of population
urban: 62.1% of population
rural: 95.4% of population
total: 89.1% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|0.46% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|49,000 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|3,600 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|3.7% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|37.9% (2012)
|Education expenditures:
|6.7% of GDP (2014)
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 19.1%
male: 27.3%
female: 11% (2015 est.)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 5 years male: 6 years
female: 5 years (2012)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 2.3% male: 4.4%
female: 0.8% (2007 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
etymology: named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"
|Government type:
|semi-presidential republic
| name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
|7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
|3 August 1960 (from France)
|National holiday:
|Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
|several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010 (2016)
|Legal system:
|mixed legal system of civil law (based on French civil law), Islamic law, and customary law
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (since 7 April 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister Brigi RAFINI (since 7 April 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 February 2016 and 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly
election results: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president; percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%; percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8%
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (171 seats; 158 members directly elected from 8 multi-member constituencies in 7 regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation, 8 reserved for minorities elected in special single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 seats reserved for Nigeriens living abroad - l seat per continent - elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the number of National Assembly seats increased from 113 to 171 in the February 2016 legislative election
elections: last held on 21 February 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 44.1%, MODEN/FA-Lumana 14.7%, MNSD-Nassara 11.8%, MPR-Jamhuriya 7.1%, MNRD Hankuri-PSDN Alheri 3.5%, MPN-Kishin Kassa 2.9%, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 2.4%, RSD-Gaskiya 2.4%, CDS-Rahama 1.8%, CPR-Inganci 1.8%, RDP-Jama'a 1.8%, AMEN AMIN 3.0%, other 1.4%; seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 75, MODEN/FA-Lumana 25, MNSD-Nassara 20, MPR-Jamhuriya 12, MNRD Hankuri-PSDN Alheri 6, MPN-Kishin Kassa 5, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 4, RSD-Gaskiya 4, CDS-Rahama 3, CPR-Inganci 3, RDP-Jama'a 3, RDP-Jama'a 3, AMEN AMIN 3, other 8
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years; High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary; members serve 5-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN [Omar Hamidou TCHIANA] Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci [Kassoum MOCTAR] Democratic Alliance for Niger or ADN-Fusaha [Habi Mahamadou SALISSOU] Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Abdou LABO] National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Seini OUMAROU] Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moussa Moumouni DJERMAKOYE] Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana [Hama AMADOU] Nigerien Movement for Democratic Renewal or MNRD-Hankuri [Mahamane OUSMANE] Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU] Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa [Ibrahim YACOUBA] Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger or PSDN-Alheri Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya [Albade ABOUBA] Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID] Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Amadou CHEIFFOU] Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira [Mohamed BEN OMAR] Union for Democracy and the Republic-Tabbat or UDR-Tabbat [Amadou Boubacar CISSE] note: the SPLM and SPLM-DC are banned political parties
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|International organization participation:
|ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|National symbol(s):
|zebu; national colors: orange, white, green
|National anthem:
| name: "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerien)
lyrics/music: Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET
note: adopted 1961
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Hassana ALIDOU (since 23 February 2015)
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK (since 12 September 2014)
embassy: BP 11201, Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420
telephone: [227] 20-73-31-69 or [227] 20-72-39-41
|^Back to Top
Niger is a landlocked, sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes nearly 40% of GDP and provides livelihood for most of the population. The UN ranked Niger as the least developed country in the world in 2015 due to multiple factors such as food insecurity, lack of industry, high population growth, a weak educational sector, and few prospects for work outside of subsistence farming and herding. Since 2011 public debt has increased due to efforts to scale-up public investment, particularly that related to infrastructure. The government relies on foreign donor resources for a large portion of its fiscal budget. The economy in recent years has been hurt by terrorist activity and kidnappings near its uranium mines and by instability in Mali and in the Diffa region of the country; concerns about security have resulted in increased support from regional and international partners on defense. Low uranium prices, demographics, and security expenditures may continue to put pressure on the government's finances. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Although Niger has sizable reserves of oil, the profitability of these commodities has been called in to question due to the prolonged drop in oil prices. Food insecurity and drought remain perennial problems for Niger, and the government plans to invest a little more in the agriculture sector, most notably irrigation. Niger's three-year $131 million IMF Extended Credit Facility agreement for years 2012-15 was extended until the end of 2016, although formal private sector investment needed for economic diversification and growth remains a challenge, given the country's limited domestic markets, access to credit, and competitiveness.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $20.27 billion (2016 est.) $19.26 billion (2015 est.) $18.6 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $7.566 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|5.2% (2016 est.) 3.5% (2015 est.) 7.1% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,100 (2016 est.) $1,100 (2015 est.) $1,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|24.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 24.3% of GDP (2015 est.) 24.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 66.6%
government consumption: 15.5%
investment in fixed capital: 39.6%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 16.7%
imports of goods and services: -38.5% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 66.6%
government consumption: 15.5%
investment in fixed capital: 39.6%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 16.7%
imports of goods and services: -38.5% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
|uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
|Industrial production growth rate:
|4.8% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|6.5 million (2016 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)
|Unemployment rate:
|5.1% (2015 est.) 5.1% (2014 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|63% (1993 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2007)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|34 (2007) 50.5 (1995)
| revenues: $1.715 billion
expenditures: $2.25 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|22.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2016 est.) 1% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$1.35 billion (2016 est.) -$1.237 billion (2015 est.)
|$1.1 billion (2016 est.) $1.099 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
|Exports - partners:
|France 53.1%, Nigeria 20.3%, China 13.8% (2015)
|$1.916 billion (2016 est.) $1.888 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
|Imports - partners:
|France 12%, China 10.5%, Nigeria 9.5%, French Polynesia 9%, Togo 6.1%, Belgium 5.3%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, US 4.3% (2015)
|Debt - external:
|$2.729 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.611 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|Exchange rates:
|Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.7 (2016 est.) 591.45 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|600 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|1.2 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|3 million kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|700 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|100,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|20,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|150 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|18,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|14,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|6,193 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|2,417 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|900,000 Mt (2013 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 8.959 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern Niger
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains only about 50 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasing cellular subscribership base; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has only radio station with national coverage; about 30 private radio stations operate locally; as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast; (2007)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 401,000 percent of population: 2.2% (July 2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|30 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
|1 (2013)
| total 18,949 km
paved: 3,912 km
unpaved: 15,037 km (2010)
|300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2012)
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2012)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18 is the presumed legal minimum age for compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2012)
|Military expenditures:
|1.06% of GDP (2012) NA% (2011) 1.06% of GDP (2010)
|^Back to Top
|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the ICJ in 2010
|Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|refugees (country of origin): 105,491 (Nigeria); 60,813 (Mali) (2016) IDPs: 137,337 (unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2015)
|^Back to Top
Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
Spain, which took over the six-month rotating EU presidency on January 1, issued a statement in conjunction with its successors, Belgium and Hungary, affirming their intention to seek an agreement to invest in the development of low-carbon technologies and to identify actions that allow for low-carbon energy generation by 2050. Spain said it would also prioritise helping EU member states prepare their national renewable energy action plans (NREAPs) due for submission in June.
This month, the European Commission will publish its plan for this year, setting out clearly what and when action affecting the wind industry is to take place. However, much is already clear and the policy-making is likely to revolve around the improvement of the EU's energy structure, the midterm review of the EU budget and the 2050 energy policy vision.
New infrastructure
To enhance energy security and facilitate the full implementation of the recently agreed renewables directive and the single market for electricity and gas, the EU wants to replace the existing trans-European energy networks (Ten-E) with a new EU energy security and infrastructure instrument.
The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) says the instrument should help put in place the necessary financing for a pan-European grid enabling Europe to progress on a flexible, renewable-energy-friendly grid system. Later this year the commission will publish a blueprint for a North Sea offshore grid, agreeing a timetable of actions to interconnect national electricity grids in north-west Europe and plug in the numerous planned offshore wind and ocean energy projects.
Another boost to the development of offshore wind in Europe should be the planned high-level meeting during the Belgian EU presidency in the autumn to agree a strategic working plan on the future offshore supergrid in the North Sea that nine countries - Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK - signed up recently.
Research and development
Meanwhile, a discussion on the midterm review of the current EU spending programmes should offer the opportunity in 2010 for increasing financing for research and development and the deployment of renewable energy technologies.
Finally, the commission intends to propose a new energy policy for Europe in spring 2010, outlining a policy agenda for 2030 and a vision for 2050. This road map will set out actions to decarbonise the electricity supply, end oil dependence in the transport sector, improve the grid and develop positive energy buildings - which generate so much energy they make a net contribution to the grid. EREC says that it sees this as an important tool to make renewables the mainstream source of Europe's energy system.


text:
Pink Lemonade Blueberry Bush
Introduction Easy to Grow Unique Sweet Pink Blueberry! Great blueberry bush for container gardening Enjoy picking fresh blueberries right from you...View full details
Introduction Easy to Grow Unique Sweet Pink Blueberry! Great blueberry bush for container gardening Enjoy picking fresh blueberries right from you...View full details
Introduction You Can't Beat the Sweet Vanilla Flavor of this Amazing Thornless Raspberry! New thorn-less raspberry that is perfect for container g...View full details
Introduction Dwarf Blueberry with Stunning Foliage! Double Duty Plant - provides fruit and landscape interest Perfect blueberry bush for Container...View full details
Introduction Plump Delicious Fruit and an Attractive Landscape Shrub in One! Grow your own fruit! Self Pollinating - only 1 plant required Late se...View full details
Introduction Huge, All-Purpose Blueberries with a Dessert Quality Flavor Eat Healthy, Organic Blueberries right of the plant Enjoy Super Sweet Del...View full details
Introduction Tons of Huge Sweet Blueberries from an Award Winning Variety Heavy Producer Self-Pollinating - only 1 plant required Enjoy Healthy Or...View full details
Introduction Huge Juicy Berries and an Attractive Landscape Shrub in One! Grow your own fruit! Self Pollinating - only 1 plant required Mid season...View full details
Growing fruits & berries on your own is rewarding, exciting, and practical. You will save money and enjoy fresh and healthy snacks. You don't have to pay ridiculous prices for organic fruit if you grow your own! No more worries of GMOS, pesticides, or breaking the bank to avoid them!
Get the kids (or grandkids) in on it! Growing your own food is an ideal learning opportunity for your children. Create memories and start traditions that will carry on for generations. Get your family outside for harvesting and inside the kitchen for baking, cooking, and canning. Whether you are baking apple pies, making your own strawberry preserves or blueberry jelly, drying goji berries, or simply eating your homegrown figs fresh off the tree, growing fruit trees and berries is a fun and healthy way to bring family together.
If you don't have much space we carry dwarf fruit trees, small raspberry and blueberry bushes, and even a dwarf Meyer Lemon tree that can be grown inside your home!
An Apple a day keeps the doctor away! These nutritious treats are loaded with fiber, vitamin C and potassium. The versatile Fuji apple is sugary-sweet and crisp. You can even grow apples in the south with this small apple tree. The Dwarf Red Delicious apple tree offers a homegrown, organic apple that tastes truly delicious! No more mealy, tasteless apples for your family when you grow your own apple trees! Plant a Yellow Delicious apple tree for a variety that appeals to everyone. This sweet and juicy apple is the kid's favorite apple. The Golden Delicious is great for cooking and baking. Use the award-winning Honeycrisp apple for fresh eating, baking, and cooking. The Honeycrisp apple tree is self-pollinating so you only need one to get plenty of fruit for your family. This apple is ideal for long term storage. The perfect balance of sweet and tart, you will love the taste of the Honeycrisp apple. The self-fertile Granny Smith apple tree grows the best pie apples! Make endless, mouth-watering recipes with this tart apple. The firm Granny Smith apple lasts for months in storage. You only need 1 tree to get a bounty of fruit from the Gala apple tree. This sweet, slightly tart apple can be used for just about anything and is a favorite for fresh eating. This apple stores well.
Blackberries and Raspberries are rich in vitamin C and fiber as well as phytochemicals and flavonoids known to fight aging, cancer, and other diseases. The Natchez Blackberry is a variety that produces loads of plump berries. You will love watching your children easily pick these berries right out of the backyard! The Raspberry Shortcake Raspberry is a hardy plant that grows well in containers. This small shrub is pest and disease resistant and easy to grow. Sweet and tasty with a slight hint of vanilla, this berry is a dessert by itself!
Blueberries are packed with fiber and antioxidants. We carry several varieties so we are certain you can find one that suits your needs! Try the Georgia Gem if you are looking for a southern variety that doesn't need another plant for pollination. This variety offers plenty of delicious fruit on just one plant. The Pink Lemonade is a dwarf variety of blueberry that is pink in color and as yummy as it sounds! This self-fertile variety is cold-hardy and great for containers. The colorful Pink Lemonade Blueberry looks stunning in the landscape too! Rabbiteye blueberries, like Premier, Tifblue, Powderblue, Climax, and Brightwell perform best with cross-pollination so you want to choose more than 1 variety. These tasty berries will provide you with a huge crop that you can share! Rabbiteye Blueberries are heat and drought tolerant and pest resistant.
Figs are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This powerhouse fruit is a sweet treat, fresh or dried. Jazzy in jams, delicious in desserts, and amazing in appetizers, figs are healthy and versatile! Fig trees are hardy and surprisingly easy to grow! Fig trees grow up to 30 feet tall, but can be kept much smaller. They tolerate heavy pruning, grow well in pots, and are self-fertile. You can even grow fruit the very first year! The Brown Turkey Fig is a popular all around fig with a sweet and mild flavor. The Brown Turkey Fig tree is fast growing and a heavy producer. This variety is heat and drought tolerant. The Celeste Fig is a small tree only growing 5 to 10 feet tall and wide at maturity. It is ideal for small yards and containers. The fruit is the ranked high for its sugary-sweet taste. This dwarf tree is pest and disease resistant and heat tolerant. Almost anyone can grow Figs with the Chicago Hardy Fig tree! This heavy producer is heat, cold, and drought tolerant. The Chicago Hardy is a firm fig that is sweet and tasty.
The Goji Berry shrub is pest and disease resistant and low maintenance. Goji berries are full of antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. This superfood is well known for its long list of health benefits. Growing your own organic, fresh goji berries is great way to save money and treat your body right! Whether you dry goji fruit, eat them fresh. or make a tea or juice with them you will feel great knowing you are taking care of your health.
Meyer Lemons are naturally sweeter than other lemons. These tasty little gems make mouth-watering lemonade, preserves, sauces, and desserts. Our Improved Meyer Lemon trees are grafted so you will have flowers and may even have a few fruit with even the smallest plant in the first year! The dwarf Meyer Lemon tree is ideal for container growing indoors. As long as they get plenty of light, water, and fertilizer this citrus tree will fill your home with the lovely scent of blooms and fruit up to 4 times per year! Order a Meyer Lemon tree today and get ready for fresh, organic lemon juice from your very own homegrown Lemons!
Nutrient dense and flavorful, Pears are great for lunchboxes! Pack just one organic pear and your child will be on their way to a healthy day! America's favorite pear, the Bartlett is a firm, sweet, and aromatic pear that is great for canning, cooking, and fresh eating. Grow you own Bartlett Pear tree and never worry about pesticides and GMOs again.
Be sure to browse our
Join our mailing list for weekly specials and product tips.
Our family owned nursery takes great pride in the quality of each plant. Order online, and we will ship right to your door.
241 Mazeppa Rd Mooresville, NC 28115
Copyright © 2019 PlantingTree.com.


text:
AsianCamSex.com works best with the latest versions of the following browsers.
Click on one of the logos if you wish to install or upgrade.
Lost your password? Please click here.
For billing concerns :
Toll free Customer Service hotline: +1-800-370-2312
Direct Line for Customer Service: +1-661-621-9666
For Epoch billing concerns : https://epoch.com/billingsupport
Please visit


text:
Managing Pesticides to Protect Bees
Avoiding pesticide use is the best option for conserving pollinators. Most insecticides (and a handful of fungicides and herbicides) can kill bees directly or have sublethal effects that reduce the number of offspring a female bee can produce.
When pesticides must be used, actions that reduce their drift (off-target movement) and maintain buffer zones between sprayed areas and nearby natural habitat are critical. The resources on this page are intended to help reduce harm to pollinators wherever pesticides are being used.
Strategies for Reducing Harm to Pollinators From Pesticides
Careful timing of pesticide applications is the most basic consideration in reducing harm to bees. For example, wherever possible pesticides should not applied to blooming plants, or on plants where beneficial insects are active. Similarly, nighttime spraying, when bees are not foraging, is one way to reduce mortality. Low temperature periods also tend to be safer for spraying since most bees are not active. (However, keep in mind that the residual toxicity of many insecticides tends to last longer in cool temperatures. In addition, dewy nights may cause an insecticide to remain wet on the foliage and be more toxic to bees the following morning.)
Areas that must be sprayed with insecticides should also be kept free of flowering weeds prior to spraying because these weeds so that pollinators are not attracted into the area when spraying occurs. If possible, also avoid spraying recognizable bee nesting areas and butterfly host plants.
Finally, when applying insecticides, use the minimum recommended dose. Pesticides should never be applied at rates greater than those recommended by the manufacturer.
Managing Pesticide Drift
Pesticide drift (the off-target movement of chemicals into the environment) can continue to cause harm to bees and other wildlife more than a mile from where the original spraying occurs. Factors involved in pesticide drift include weather, application method, equipment settings, and spray formulation. Weather-related drift increases with temperature, wind velocity, convection air currents, and with temperature inversions. Low humidity and high temperatures promote drift through the evaporation of spray droplets and the reduction of particle size.
Even a light winds can contribute to pesticide drift. Wind-related drift can be minimized by spraying when wind speed is lowest (usually during early morning or evening hours). Pesticide labels will occasionally provide specific guidelines on acceptable wind velocities for applying a particular product.
Midday spraying tends to be less desirable because as the ground warms, rising air can lift the spray particles in vertical convection currents. These droplets may remain aloft for some time and may travel many miles.
Similarly, during temperature inversions spray droplets become trapped in a cool lower air mass and move laterally above the ground. Inversions often occur when cool night temperatures follow high day temperatures; they are often characterized by foggy conditions.
Optimal spray conditions for reducing drift occur when the air is slightly unstable with a very mild steady wind. Ideally, temperatures should be moderate and the air slightly humidity.
Spray application methods and equipment settings also strongly influence the potential for drift. Since small droplets are most likely to drift long distances, aerial applications and mist blowers should be avoided whenever possible. Standard boom sprayers should be operated at the lowest effective pressure and with the nozzles set as low as possible. Regardless of the chemical or type of application equipment used, sprayers should be properly calibrated to ensure that excess amounts of pesticide are not applied.
Organic Farming and Pesticides
It is important to note that even organic pesticides can harm pollinators. Pyrethrin, and spinosad, are both common pesticides in organic farming, and are broad-spectrum insect killers, destroying pest and beneficial species alike. Other organic-approved products are safer to use as long as they are not applied where pollinators are actively foraging or nesting. Less toxic pesticides include horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps.
Alternatives to Pesticides
Depending on the landscape, there are many things we can do to reduce or eliminate or limit pesticide use. A plant that is growing vigorously, with minimal stress, can avoid or outgrow many diseases and insect pests. Plant health starts with choosing species, and varieties appropriate to local conditions—and in the case of crop plants—with classical breeding for pest resistance.
It is also important to recognize and work with naturally occurring pest controls (beneficial insects that prey upon pests). A healthy and diverse landscape with sufficient natural habitat can support large numbers of native predators and/or parasites of insect pests. Pesticides may eliminate these beneficial insects where they are used, leading to chronic pest problems. Fortunately, many of the same strategies that protect pollinators will support these other native beneficial insects, further reducing the need for pest control.
For farms, maximizing crop diversity and practicing crop rotation to disrupt pest populations are some basic strategies to reduce pest problems. Planting resistant varieties is another option for some crops. More aggressive practices include the use of sticky traps, pheromone traps, and mating disruption pheromones for certain insects.
Preventing or Mitigating Potential Negative Impacts of Pesticides on Pollinators Using Integrated Pest Management and Other Conservation Practices
This technical note is designed to help conservation planners use the NRCS conservation planning process to prevent or mitigate pest management risks to pollinators and pollinator habitat. Read more …
Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?
A possible link between neonicotinoids and honey bee die-offs has led to controversy across the United States and Europe. Beekeepers and environmentalists have expressed growing concern about the impact of neonicotinoids, concern based on the fact that neonicotinoids are absorbed into plant tissue and can be present in pollen and nectar, making them toxic to pollinators. Read more …
How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides
Deciding which pesticide product to use can be a complex process. This detailed guide, produced jointly by the extension services of Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho, offers detailed guidance on how to select and apply insecticides. Extensive tables list the toxicity to bees of dozens of chemicals and how long after application they remain hazardous to bees in the field. To view PDF, click here.