Digital Commons Network^™

Determinants Of Performance In Smallholder Farmer Groups In Uganda, David Agole, Connie D. Baggett, John C. Ewing, Edgar P. Yoder, Margaret N. Mangheni

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The performance of farmer groups is critical for the success of the farmer-led Agricultural Extension approach currently used in Uganda. This study examines factors affecting performance of farmer groups accessing agricultural extension and advisory services from the National Agricultural Advisory Services in Eastern Uganda. The study collected data 200 members of 19 farmer groups in Eastern Uganda. Performance of farmer groups was the dependent variable, which was perceived to be influenced by individual members’ objectives, participation culture, power distance, structure of task, perceived equity, reward allocation and participation in group activities. Farmer group performance had a statistically significant positive relationship …

Perceived Government Control And Its Influence On Climate Change Knowledge And Perceptions: Applications For Effective Communication, Catherine E. Sanders, Kristin Gibson, Alexa J. Lamm

Journal of Applied Communications

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the global agricultural food system at the current moment. While scientists agree that anthropogenic climate change is a critical issue, many United States residents remain skeptical, presenting a significant communication challenge. Understanding the factors influencing public perceptions of climate change are essential to informing agricultural and environmental communication efforts if they are to be effective at mitigating its effects. Previous studies have identified political affiliation and ideology as key predictors for climate change perceptions; however, understanding more detailed components of political ideology and affiliation could strengthen the predictive capacity of these …

Show Me And What Will I Remember? Exploring Recall In Response To Nws Tornado Warning Graphics, Laura Morgan Fischer, Ginger Orton, Jeannette Sutton, Madison Wallace

Journal of Applied Communications

It is critical that organizations deliver timely, effective communication about potential risks and life-saving information. The National Weather Service (NWS) developed a suite of messages known as “experimental graphic products” to be automatically distributed through their local official Twitter accounts at the onset of fast-moving, severe weather events such as tornadoes. However, recent research has suggested messages need to be carefully constructed for audiences to place attention to the content, remember the content, and later act in response to the content. The purpose of this study is to explore what people recall of the NWS Twitter message. We used an …

Breastfeeding Goal Attainment And Likelihood Of Future Breastfeeding: A Test Of Self-Affirmation Theory, Mackenzie Dm Whipps

Health Behavior Research

Breastfeeding is an important health behavior for pediatric and maternal wellbeing. However, many mothers in the United States do not meet breastfeeding duration guidelines, nor do they meet their own goals for breastfeeding. Non-attainment of breastfeeding goals has implications for the health and wellbeing of future children born into those families. Using publicly available national data, we tested a self-affirmation theory (SAT) hypothesis to explore the complex relationship between breastfeeding goal attainment and intention to breastfeed a future child. We found goal attainment predicted stronger future intention, and that this association was moderated by how highly the mother valued breastfeeding. …

Physical Activity, Sitting Time, And Feelings Of Energy And Fatigue During The Early Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Does Grit Make A Difference?, Andreas Stamatis, Jessica Adams, Joel Martin, Matthew L. Smith, Italia Milani, Shane V. Caswell, Nelson Cortes, Ali Boolani

Health Behavior Research

Grit has been associated with feelings of energy when measured as the opposite end of fatigue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, grit has been linked to positive health-related behaviors, which are known to influence feelings of energy and fatigue. The objective of this study was to identify the association between grit, time spent sitting, physical activity (PA), and feelings of mental and physical energy (ME, PE) and fatigue (MF, PF) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Participants (n = 859) completed surveys once. Using a series of multivariate regression models, we assessed the association …

Exploring The Impacts Of Lead Farmer Selection On Community Social Learning: The Case Of Farmer-To-Farmer Model: A Review Of Literature, Willis Ochieng, Colby J. Silvert, John Diaz

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Agricultural extension has shifted towards community-centric, farmer-centered, and participatory approaches that enhance rural change through a social learning lens, resulting in the emergence of the farmer-to-farmer extension model. The purpose of the study was to understand lead farmer selection criteria within the farmer-to-farmer model and their impacts on community social learning. We applied Torraco’s (2005) integrative literature review method to guide our discussion around lead farmer selection processes, types of lead farmers selected and their impacts on social learning. The study indicated farmer-to-farmer extension model has the potential of re-invigorating the provision of agriculture extension services owing to its low …

Incorporating A Sense Of Community In A Group Exercise Intervention Facilitates Adherence, Katie M. Heinrich, Brady K. Kurtz, Meg Patterson, Derek A. Crawford, Adam Barry

Health Behavior Research

Participant attrition is detrimental for exercise intervention studies, particularly if dropout is not random. Community engagement has helped facilitate participant adherence, which is particularly applicable for group exercise programs. Developing a sense of community (SOC) helps participants feel that they belong and provides ongoing social support. This paper reports on strategies used during an 11-week high intensity functional training (HIFT) intervention with exceptionally high adherence (96.7%) that involved 30 participants (57% women, age 36.7 ± 4.5 years). Participants recorded their heart rate variability using a smartphone app daily throughout the study, completed three different weeks of fitness assessments, and attended …

Autobiography Of George Washington Owens: First African American Graduate Of Kansas State University, Anthony R. Crawford

Special Publications

George Washington Owens was the son of former slaves who migrated to Kansas in the early 1870s to find free land, finally settling in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, near Alma. It was there that he was born in 1875. In his handwritten autobiography, Owens chronicles the difficulties and successes of working hard growing up on the plains and as a student at District School #3 of Alma, and then at Kansas State Agricultural College. After learning that no African American had graduated from KSAC (now Kansas State University), “he resolved to be the first.” He did so, graduating in 1899. Owens …

The Exploration Of Undergraduate Attitudes And Knowledge About International Agricultural Issues And Us Agricultural Policy, Caitlin Bletscher, Megan Gould, Shuyang Qu

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

In today’s globalized world, educators and employers generally agree on the necessity for undergraduate agricultural [ag] students to develop a sound understanding of global ag issues and policy. Because of this, many U.S. universities have promoted internationalizing curriculum and increased international study abroad experiences. However, few studies have examined the impact of international experiences on students’ knowledge and attitudes about international ag issues and policies. This study bridges this gap by identifying the relationship between student knowledge and attitude toward international ag issues and U.S. ag policy, and how international experience and demographic variables play a role in that relationship. …

Building Global Leaders Through Field Research And Extension Experiences In Belize, Tom Gill, Adam S. Willcox

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

One of the most complex agricultural and natural resources challenges of our time is reconciling sustainable global food security and biodiversity conservation. Providing undergraduate students effective, learning experiences to develop technical and cultural competency prepares them to address this challenge and become global leaders in their disciplines. A three-year experiential research and extension project brought together 14 students and 10 faculty mentors to investigate smallholder farmers practicing conservation-compatible adjacent to the Vaca Forest Reserve in Belize. We used an agroecological approach to foster systems-level thinking and develop transdisciplinary skills of undergraduate students. Students completed applied individual research projects that explored …

More: How To Do More With More In 2022, Harriet E. Watkins, Jacquelyn Cato

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

In 2022 we are dealing with new academic realities. This presentation will investigate current faculty concerns and explore the ways academic coaches assist faculty and put the personal touch in online courses necessary to support and enhance the student experience. Providing the ability to scale and save on instructional costs.

Transposon- And Genome Dynamics In The Fungal Genus Neurospora: Insights From Nearly Gapless Genome Assemblies, Diem Nguyen, Valentina Peona, Per Unneberg, Alexander Suh, Patric Jern, Hanna Johannesson

Fungal Genetics Reports

A large portion of nuclear DNA is composed of transposable element (TE) sequences, whose transposition is controlled by diverse host defense strategies in order to maintain genomic integrity. One such strategy is the fungal-specific Repeat-Induced Point mutation (RIP) that hyper-mutates repetitive DNA sequences. While RIP is found across Fungi, it has been shown to vary in efficiency. The filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa has been a pioneer in the study of RIP, but data on TEs and RIP from other species in the genus is limited. In this study, we investigated 18 nearly gapless genome assemblies of ten Neurospora species, which …

Influence Of Message Theme On Consumer Perceptions Of Lab Grown Meat, Kellie Kubacak, Courtney Meyers, Hannah L. Ford, Nan Li, Lindsay Kennedy

Journal of Applied Communications

Lab grown meat is a new technology being developed as a potential alternative protein source. Although some research has been done about public perception of lab grown meat, no studies to date have observed the effects of message themes on public perception of lab grown meat. The study sought to better understand measures of uncertainty and risk and benefit perceptions after viewing a themed blog post about lab grown meat. Participants were randomly assigned one of three themed blog posts - against lab grown meat, neutral, or support lab grown meat. Perception questions were asked after viewing the blog post, …

Characteristics And Motivational Factors Of American Equine Journalists, Zoe B. Bowden, Ricky W. Telg, Lisa K. Lundy

Journal of Applied Communications

The purpose of this study was to identify the demographic characteristics, career motivations, and professional development of American equine journalists. An online survey was distributed to equine journalists identified through their professional organizational membership. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Equine journalists were found to be predominately female, Caucasian, and averaged 53 years old. Nearly half were exposed to the equine industry prior to their career and have been working in the industry for over 15 years. Respondents were well educated and were most motivated towards their career as an equine journalist because of their interest in horses. …

It’S Who We Are: New Approaches, Supported By Evidence, Jack Elliot, Jessica R. Spence, Ignacie Tumushime, Meikah Dado, Ana Casas, Olawunmi Ilesanmi, Megan Gould, Mathilde Le Bon

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

This issue poses the question, “Where do we go from here?” Agricultural and extension educators are well equipped to grow, reimagine, and improve our work. First, we go to our foundational training and educational background and apply those key principles in a new contextual setting.

1) Although we never left the country, we built a virtual study abroad using Kolb’s model (1984) of experiential learning to incorporate all four phases into our VHIE teaching and learning process. 2) Creating the SPS Policy Framework for Africa introduced our team to the Continental SPS Committee, which provided credibility to conduct two virtual …

Three Mini-Ethnographic Case Studies On Covid: Impacts On Greek Agricultural Sectors, Kim E. Dooley, Evangelos Vergos, Kyriaki Zinoviadou, Konstantinos Rotsios

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

COVID was politically polarizing, had global and public health impacts, and created havoc in supply chains. Social dilemmas caused by the pandemic were difficult, but also created opportunities to be resilient and innovative in agricultural extension education. This mini-ethnographic case study examined three Greek agricultural sectors from the perspectives of experts in extension and higher education. Data included semi-structured interviews, review of technical reports, and photographs in developing each case study. From the cross-case analysis, there were four emerging themes: environmental, economic, and social impacts and the innovative solutions used to address these concerns. What we have learned, and where …

Higher Education Leadership Development During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Exploration Of Online Learner Readiness, Kevan W. Lamm, Alyssa Powell, L. Rochelle Sapp, Alexa Lamm

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated profound disruptions across the higher education sector as institutions were forced to restructure entire systems and operate with significantly reduced resources. Most notably, many institutions were forced to transition to fully virtual instruction. The present study examined adult leadership development program participants’ perceptions of online learning readiness during the transition to a fully virtual training environment precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A census of the 2020 LEAD21 class was taken, and perceptions of online learning readiness were collected via a retrospective pre- and post-test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Respondents had the highest levels of …

Training, Trust, And Technology: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Latin American Extension Workers’ Experiences During Covid-19, Pablo Lamiño Jaramillo, Amy Boren-Alpizar, Sarahi Morales Vanegas, Carla Millares-Forno

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected people's lives around the world, including agricultural extension workers. To date, few studies have been conducted to understand the adaptation of extension services in Latin American countries during the pandemic. This mixed-methods study explored Latin-American extension professionals’ preparation to implement knowledge-sharing activities and sought to understand extension professionals' responsiveness to COVID-19. The results revealed significant differences in extension responsiveness, between field extension workers and in-office extension workers. Delving into this difference revealed that field extension professionals perceived lower responsiveness because they were not able to continue their pre-pandemic, face-to-face activities in the field with …

Generators Of Architectural Atmosphere, Elisabetta Canepa, Bob Condia

NPP eBooks

This book was born as the legacy of the “Generators of Architectural Atmosphere” Symposium, an Interfaces event of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA), sponsored by the EU’s Horizon 2020 MSCA Program — RESONANCES Project, the Perkins Eastman Studio, and the 2020 Regnier Chair. The event was hosted in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design (APDesign), Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, on April 12, 2022. Recent advances in science are confirming many of the architect’s expert intuitions opening new doors to the perception of space and the meaning of architectural design. This volume collects three essays: “The Atmospheric …

Space Systems: Emerging Technologies And Operations, Randall K. Nichols, Candice M. Carter, John-Paul Hood, Mark J. Jackson, Siny M. J. Joseph, Haley Larson, Wayne D. Lonstein, Randall Mai, Robert Mccreight, Hans C. Mumm, Michael L. Oetken, Michael J. Pritchard, Julie J. H. C. Ryan, Suzanne E. Sincavage, William Slofer

NPP eBooks

SPACE SYSTEMS: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND OPERATIONS is our seventh textbook in a series covering the world of UASs / CUAS/ UUVs. Other textbooks in our series are Drone Delivery of CBNRECy – DEW Weapons: Emerging Threats of Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction and Disruption (WMDD); Disruptive Technologies with applications in Airline, Marine, Defense Industries; Unmanned Vehicle Systems & Operations On Air, Sea, Land; Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technologies and Operations; Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Cyber Domain: Protecting USA’s Advanced Air Assets, 2nd edition; and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Cyber Domain Protecting USA's Advanced Air Assets, 1st edition. …

Crop Adaptation And Improvement For Drought-Prone Environments, Ndjido A. Kane, Ed., Daniel Foncéka, Ed., Timothy J. Dalton, Ed.

NPP eBooks

This book focuses on three important elements in the development of cereal and legume crops in semi-arid West Africa. The first section illustrates the socioeconomic factors that affect the food system for these crops and contains an overview of crop production and consumption in the region. Then, important inputs that affect system productivity are presented: preferences for new seed varieties, yield response to fertilizer, counterfeit herbicides, climate information, and the way farmers develop expectations about the weather events that shape cropping outcomes. The final chapter of section one is dedicated to understanding urban consumer preferences for processed food products derived …

Use Of Specialty Soy Products To Replace Poultry Meal And Spray-Dried Blood Plasma In Diets Provided To Nursery Pigs Housed In Commercial Conditions, Ethan B. Stas, Jamil E. G. Faccin, Zach B. Post, Chad W. Hastad, Mike D. Tokach, Jason C. Woodworth, Joel M. Derouchey, Robert D. Goodband, Jordan T. Gebhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 2,260 pigs (PIC TR4 × [Fast LW × PIC L02]; initially 14.8 lb) were used to evaluate a specialty soy protein source as an alternative to poultry meal and spray-dried blood plasma on nursery pig performance in a commercial environment. At weaning, pigs were allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments based on initial weight in two research nurseries. In the first facility there were 20 pigs per pen and 10 pens per treatment. In the second facility, there were 21 pigs per pen and 12 replications per treatment for a total of 22 replications per treatment. …

Best Practices For Urban Local Food Entrepreneurs And Building Regional Extension Networks, Julie Garden-Robinson, Rebecca West, Londa Nwadike, Karen Blakeslee, Shannon M. Coleman

Urban Food Systems Symposium

Interest in local foods production in the urban environment has been steadily increasing in North Dakota and the surrounding region. Food entrepreneurs are seeking safe and reliable ways to grow, create, and market their fresh or freshly preserved products. Urban consumers are demanding local foods and food products that are fresh and safe. As an increasing number of producers and vendors enter farmers markets and other local food sales channels, these growing small businesses need technical assistance for safe food handling and marketing in the changing world of pandemics and supply chain issues. Although some basic practices, such as hand …

Transition Cow Metabolites And Physical Traits Influence Days To First Postpartum Ovulation In Dairy Cows, S. Banuelos, J. S. Stevenson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to assess key metabolites and patterns of prepartum and postpartum physical activity as they relate to the onset of first postpartum ovulation in lactating dairy cows. Close-up dry Holstein cows (n = 82) and late gestation heifers (n = 78) were enrolled beginning 3 weeks before expected calving date (day 0). Cows were fit with Cow SensOor ear tags to assess transitional changes in eating, resting, rumination, activity, and ear-surface temperatures. Rectal temperatures were assessed and blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 to measure concentrations of glucose, free fatty …

Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth Control In Xtendflex Soybean, R. Liu, V. Kumar, T. L. Lambert

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

XtendFlex soybean is a triple-stacked trait technology that allows growers to use dicamba (XtendiMax) and glufosinate (Liberty) for in-season control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed species, including Palmer amaranth. A field study was conducted at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center (KSU-ARCH) near Hays, KS, to determine the effectiveness of POST applied XtendiMax and Liberty alone or in sequential applications for GR Palmer amaranth control in XtendFlex soybean. The study site had a natural infestation of GR Palmer amaranth. Results showed that early post-emergence (EPOST) applications of XtendiMax or Liberty followed by (fb) a late post-emergence (LPOST) application …

Fall-Planted Cover Crops For Weed Suppression In Western Kansas, S. Dhanda, V. Kumar, A. K. Obour, A. Dille, J. D. Holman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The widespread evolution of herbicide-resistant (HR) kochia and Palmer amaranth warrants the use of alternative ecological-based strategies for weed management in no-tillage (NT) dryland cropping systems in western Kansas. A field study was established in the fall of 2020 at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS, to determine the impact of fall-planted cover crop (CC) mixture on 1) kochia and Palmer amaranth suppression (density and biomass reduction), and 2) Palmer amaranth emergence dynamics in subsequent grain sorghum. A CC mixture of winter triticale, winter pea, radish, and rapeseed was planted in wheat stubble in the fall of …

Evaluation Of Grazing Options During Summer For Growing Heifers – Year 2, J. K. Farney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Developing methods to provide high quality forage through most of the year is important for cattle operations. The purpose of this study was to determine forage management options to offset the summer “slump” with fescue. Four grass pasture treatments (10 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 49; initial wt 473 ± 60 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of novel fescue (FES), crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Heifers were weighed and grazed pastures from April to September (153 d). Heifers on FES were …

A Limit-Fed, High-Energy Diet Fed During The Growing Phase Does Not Negatively Affect Subsequent Feedlot Growth Performance Or Carcass Merit Compared To Feeding A Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Ad Libitum During The Growing Phase, M. A. Scilacci, E. C. Titgemeyer, S. P. Montgomery, T. J. Spore, A. J. Tarpoff, T. G. O'Quinn, K. Montgomery, W. R. Hollenbeck, D. A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this experiment was to compare the subsequent growth performance and carcass impacts of a high-energy diet limit-fed at 2.2% of body weight (BW) or a traditional roughage-based diet fedad libitumduring the growing phase.

Study Description:Three hundred seventy crossbred heifers (initial BW = 496 ± 44 lb) previously used in a 90-day growing study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit were transported to a commercial feedlot (Pratt Feeders, Pratt, KS) for finishing where cattle were fed a common diet. The two backgrounding diets included: (1) 45 Mcal of net energy for gain …

Effect Of Ruminally-Protected Lysine Supplementation To Growing Cattle On Growth And Subsequent Finishing Performance, K. J. Hazlewood, M. S. Grant, D. A. Blasi, G. A. Ducharme, E. C. Titgemeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ruminally-protected lysine supplementation fed during the growing phase to cattle limit-fed a corn-based diet, and to evaluate the subsequent finishing performance.

Study Description:For 77 days, a group of 338 steers limit-fed at 2.4% of body weight daily on a dry matter basis were allocated to treatments providing 0, 3, or 6 g/day of lysine from Smartamine ML (Adisseo, Alpharetta, GA), or containing blood meal plus ruminally-protected methionine from Smartamine M. Growth performance was measured over the growing period. Cattle were then shipped to a commercial feedlot and …

Community Responses To Food Insecurity During Covid-19: A Case Study In Sheffield, England, Nicole Kennard

Urban Food Systems Symposium

The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a group of newly food insecure people and deepened hardship for those already food insecure. The crisis disrupted national food supplies and created challenges to accessing and utilizing the food that was available. As financial struggle deepened for people, and some became unable to shop for food or cook due to isolation requirements and illness, many turned to community organizations to obtain food. In Sheffield, England, small community food organizations soon became the leaders of the city’s emergency food response. One such organization is the Foodhall Project, a community food organization which had previously …