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Survival, Nesting Success, And Habitat Selection Of Wild Turkey Populations In The Upper Coastal Plain Of South Carolina, William Moore

All Dissertations

Survival, nesting success, and habitat selection of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations in South Carolina were evaluated. The study was conducted on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Portions of the study were conducted on Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological Reserve (CWMA) on the western portion of SRS. During January through March of 1998 - 2000, 37 hens and 47 gobblers were captured on SRS, and 19 gobblers were captured on CWMA and fitted with radio transmitters. Survival rates between hunted and unhunted wild turkey gobblers were compared to …

Bmp Adoption In Two East Tennessee Watersheds, Michael Barrowclough

Masters Theses

Voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) has been the foundation among many environmental conservation programs geared towards non-point source pollution. While farmers view BMPs as being both appropriate and problematic, there remain many constraints to BMP adoption on the farm. The objective of this research was to determine the criteria beef and dairy producers used in their decision making process on whether or not to adopt a given BMP or set of BMPs in the Pond Creek and Oostanaula Creek watersheds located in East Tennessee. Results are presented of exploratory sociological research designed to better understand how farmers select …

A Comparison Of The Amely Gene Sequence In Argali (Ovis Ammon) And Domestic (Ovis Aries) Sheep, Kimberly Elwood

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Amelogenin (AMEL) is a gene responsible for tooth bud development. It is located on the X-chromosome, thus called AMELX, in mammals. AMEL has been shown to be present in fish, amphibians, and reptiles, though the exact location on the chromosome has not been determined. Amelogenin-like gene (AMELY), an AMEL homolog encoded on the Y-chromosome in some mammals, including sheep, cattle, deer, bears, humans, and some primates, is shorter than the sequence on the X-chromosome. It is unknown whether AMELY is transcriptionally active, but it has been found to be useful for human sexing purposes in forensics, archaeology and prenatal diagnosis, …

Consumer Perceptions Of Branded Beef Products, Leslie Erin Williams

Masters Theses

This study examined consumer perceptions of branded beef products. Research was conducted to determine what motivates consumers to purchase branded beef products. In addition, this study focused on consumer perceptions of quality, risk, added value, credibility and loyalty toward both branded beef products in general and branded beef products when compared to non-branded beef products.

A self-developed question guide was used as a guide for the focus group and the in-depth interviews. This study entailed one focus group with nine participants and nine one-on-one in-depth interviews.

The majority of participants in this study held a positive impression of branded beef …

Evaluation Of Socioeconomic Characteristics Of Farmers Who Choose To Adopt A New Type Of Cropand Factors That Influence The Decision To Adopt Switchgrass For Energy Production, Pamela C. Ellis

Masters Theses

Evaluating farmers’ perceptions and obtaining feedback about the adoption of a new crop is necessary for improving the efficiency of research, technology exchange, and information flow to policymakers. New technology has created new uses for non- traditional crops (such as switchgrass) as a sustainable source of energy. With new technology utilizing non-traditional crop uses, it is important to discern and understand the determinants of farmers’ behavior and attitudes toward new crop adoption rather than new technology adoption. Farmers must analyze financial and social costs and benefits of new crops, farming practices, and economic activities. Better understanding of the factors farmers …

The Viability Of The Economy Of Oromia: A Point Of Departure, Harwood David Schaffer

Masters Theses

The Oromo, an oppressed, colonized, ethno-national group within Ethiopia, are engaged in a struggle to achieve full political and economic participation within a national entity. Given an undernourishment rate approaching 50 percent and an agriculture which provides a means of livelihood for 80 percent of the labor force, any future leadership will have to address the interrelated issues of agriculture and economy. An examination of production numbers indicates that an independent Oromia would not be at an agricultural disadvantage when compared with remaining as a participating entity within the present boundaries of Ethiopia.

Policies directed toward overcoming undernutrition cannot be …

Tennessee's Kenaf Market Potential As A Feedstock In The Production Of Paper, Gerry Solano Avila

Masters Theses

The goal of this study was to assess the production feasibility and market potential of using kenaf as a feedstock for paper production in Tennessee. This thesis 1) evaluates the potential for growing this crop in Tennessee by comparing the cost and return and the break-even price for kenaf with soybean, corn, cotton and wheat, 2) identifies potential suitable production areas in the state of Tennessee, 3) analyzes the marketing opportunities that could have developed for kenaf at a price that growers would be willing to produce it, 4) identifies potential kenaf marketing structure and marketing channels, and 5) identifies …

Measuring Effects Of Housing Densities On Property Values Using Locally Weighted Regression, Alexander Webber Young

Masters Theses

The objective of this study is to determine spatial differences in the marginal values of housing density and their implications for housing development projects. In order to achieve this objective, the values households place on neighborhood density were measured using locally weighted regression in a hedonic housing-price framework. The neighborhood housing density coefficient in the global model confirms the positive and significant value of lower neighborhood density. The spatial distribution of the housing density marginal effects from the local model shows the variation of site-specific values of neighborhood housing density. The marginal effects of lower neighborhood density gradually increase closer …

A Spatial Anaylsis Of Passenger Vehicle Attributes, Environmental Impact And Policy, Gregory M. Gould

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Passenger vehicle use contributes significantly to energy consumption, criteria air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent developments in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) decoding enable researchers to make use of vehicle registration records to consider the spatial distribution of the vehicle fleet when modeling emissions. In this thesis, these techniques are used to view spatial variation in passenger vehicle attributes and environmental characteristics. The distributions of vehicle type, make and model, size, age, criteria and GHG emission rates, and fuel economy are analyzed. Next, the spatial distribution of private costs and benefits resulting from a …

An Examination Of Relationships Between Direct Government Payments In Agriculture And Farm Vulnerability In Iowa And Tennessee, Brad Christopher Robbins

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine farms’ dependence on federal United States agricultural subsidies in Iowa and Tennessee. As subsidies and their distribution are continually debated, this research considers the effects on farm enterprises if subsidies had not been distributed in 1996, 2000, and 2003. This is achieved by first developing a classification system for farm enterprises in the two states. The classification system that is used segregates farms into modal groups based on land ownership arrangement and solvency class. Quartiles are used to differentiate land ownership arrangement (i.e. the percentage of operated land owned.) Four solvency classes …

The Environmental Impact Of Dietary Choice And Agriculture In California, Harold J. Marlow Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Food demand influences agricultural production. Modern agricultural practices have resulted in polluted soil, air and water, eroded soil, dependence on imported oil, and loss of biodiversity. The goal of this research is to investigate the environmental impact of pesticide and fertilizer application, water consumption, and energy used to produce commodities for a vegetarian and non vegetarian diet in California. The working assumption is that greater number and amount of inputs are associated with greater environmental impact. The literature supports this notion. To accomplish this goal, dietary preferences were quantified using the Adventist Health Study and state agricultural data were collected …

Factors Influencing Louisiana Consumers' Awareness Of Diet And Health Related Issues, Marcus A. Coleman

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

The accumulation of too much fat in the body is the leading cause of being overweight and obese, and it can lead to more complicated health problems. Studies show that individuals who are overweight or obese bear a greater risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some forms of cancer. Louisiana ranks fourth in the number of its citizens who are either overweight or obese. Additionally, the state spends almost $11 billion annually treating diet-related health problems. The study's objectives are as follows: (1) to assess the extent to which food label use, awareness of health …

Perceived Importance Of Precision Farming Technologies In Improving The Efficiency Of Phosphorus, Potassium, And Nitrogen In Southeastern Cotton Production, John Colby Torbett

Masters Theses

Understanding the factors that influence cotton farmers; perceptions about the importance of precision farming (PF) technologies in improving the efficiency of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N) fertilization is important because PF technologies have the potential to reduce costs, increase profit, and reduce negative environmental impacts. In the Southeastern United States, crops are generally produced in fields that have a high degree of variability in the availability of soil nutrients. The fertility level and amount removed by a crop at the end of the growing cycle are usually not uniform over an entire field. Because of high variability of …

Dietary Inequality Among The Elderly In The United States: Decomposing Inequality In The Healthy Eating Index, Yuling Lin

Masters Theses

This study uses the concentration index methodology to investigate the inequality in nutritional intake among American elderly. The concentration index provides a summary measure of socioeconomic inequality of the variables in question. Its decomposition enables comparisons across individuals with different characteristics such as gender, age, households income levels, and government program participation. Data are drawn from the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals collected by the U.S Department of Agriculture. Analysis is carried out for the Health Eating Index and one of its components, namely intake of fruits. Results suggest that high education level, receiving the food stamps, …

Identifying And Analyzing Potential Watershed-Based Water Quality Trading Programs, David Carlos Roberts

Masters Theses

Over thirty years since the passage of the Clean Water Act, much of the nation’s rivers and streams fail to meet water quality standards. Pollution from nonpoint sources is increasingly responsible for these failures. Existing regulatory approaches may not be capable of meaningfully reducing water quality impairments due to their inability to control emissions from nonpoint sources. Water quality trading may provide a cost-effective solution to many of the persistent water quality impairments caused by nutrients and other oxygen demanding pollutants. However, trading will require the presences of market participants-both buyers and sellers of pollution reduction credits-in order to be …

Regional Analysis Of Trade Flows And Marketing Practice Trends In The United States Nursery Industry, Bryan Frank Combs

Masters Theses

The rapidly growing nursery and greenhouse industry comprises an important part of the agricultural sector of the United States with sales growing at nearly 8.0 percent annually from 1966 to 2004. Aggregate information about the U.S nursery industry is readily available, however little information is available on trade flows and marketing practices of the industry.

The goal of this study was to identify structural adjustments in the nursery industry as indicated by regional trade-flow trends, production practices, and marketing practices in the nursery and greenhouse industry from 1988 to 2003. This was accomplished through a comparison of responses to two …

The Agri-Tourism Industry And It's Needs For Assistance In Tennessee, Eugenia Dawson Boyd

Masters Theses

Agri-tourism provides means to enhance farm incomes, sustain farming operations, and add economic activity to rural areas. While agribusiness operations with agri-tourism activities have existed for many years, no formal accounting of these types of operations has been conducted prior to this project. The primary objective of this research was to develop an analysis of the Tennessee agri-tourism industry. The focus of this study was to develop an overview of a typical agri-tourism operation, evaluating marketing plans, operator experience, and assistance that might be required to ensure the continued success of these agri-tourism businesses. A secondary objective was to provide …

Industrial Production Of Activated Carbon From Cotton Stalks, Mamdouh Magued Louis

Archived Theses and Dissertations

Utilization of agricultural waste in the production of valuable products can promote the national efforts in minimizing serious public health risks from exposure to dangerous fumes that result from burning in open fields at the end of every harvest season. An agricultural waste, namely cotton stalks, was chosen for developing a cost effective process for the production of activated carbon using bench equipment at laboratory scale, and typical industrial equipment at pilot scale. Findings show that the pilot scale production trial was successful in terms of equipments chosen and quality of activated carbon produced. Physical and pore analysis showed that …

Transport Of E. Coli In Egyptian Agricultural Soils As A Result Of Reclaimed Wastewater Use For Irrigation, Aimen Badawy

Archived Theses and Dissertations

Limited water resources are one of the main constraints to socio-economic development and even a source of insecurity at national and regional levels. The increasing demand for water in the agricultural sector stimulated the use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation. Comprehending health and environment risks resulting from contaminants that may often be associated with reclaimed wastewater will lead to the sustainable use of this resource, as well as the conservation of other water resources.

In the present study the fate and transport of one important wastewater constituent, namely E. Coli bacteria, in three Egyptian soils of typical agricultural use was …

Project Grow: A Plan To Grow An Edible Garden In A Poverty-Affected School To Improve Parent Involvement And Increase Student Knowledge Of Nutrition, Wendy Michelle Wickersham

All Graduate Projects

Growing an edible garden in a poverty-affected school serves multiple purposes. It provides a way to increase parent involvement at the school while increasing student knowledge of nutrition. This comprehensive plan prepares a school to implement a school garden run solely by teacher, students, parents, and community volunteers. The potential results are that parents will get involved at their child's school while the students can learn about nutrition along with their families.

Análisis De La Producción Y Comercialización De La Cebolla De Bulbo, Allium Cepa, En El Municipio De Choachí, Cundinamarca, Oscar Eduardo Largo Villa, Rafael Hernández Salamanca

Administración de Agronegocios

No abstract provided.

Evaluación Del Efecto De La Polinización Dirigida A Cultivos De Naranja (Citrus Sinensis) Valencia Y Ombligona Con El Uso De La Abeja Apis Mellifera En El Municipio De Sasaima, Cundinamarca, Yolian León Ruiz, Juan Camilo Moreno Sepúlveda

Zootecnia

Se evaluó la eficiencia que tiene la polinización dirigida con abejas (Apis mellifera) sobre un cultivo de naranja (Citrus siniensis) con las variedades valencia y ombligona ubicado en el municipio de Sasaima. Se emplearon 4 colmenas las cuales fueron introducidas dentro del cultivo, alimentadas con una solución azúcar agua en relación 2 a 1, suministrando 1 lt por semana. Para la evaluación fueron recolectados 25 frutos de cada una de las variedades de naranja antes y después de la introducción de las colonias. Los resultados obtenidos indican que las naranjas de la variedad ombligona al ser expuestas a la polinización …

Awareness Of The Environmental Quality Incentives Program And Subsequent Adoption Of Best Management Practices By Cattle Farmers In Louisiana, Joyce Mamle Obubuafo

LSU Master's Theses

In recent years, the US livestock industries have undergone structural changes that have led to larger livestock operations with their associated environmental problems. Louisiana is within one of the major cow-calf production areas in the US (the Southeast). Louisiana accounts for about 1.72% of the total US cattle operations. In an attempt to control degradation of the environment, conservation programs have been put in place, one of which is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The EQIP was established in the 1996 Farm Bill, involving the payment of government subsidies to landowners willing to implement specific cost-intensive conservation practices. The …

Measuring The Degree Of Market Power In The Export Demand For Soybean Complex, Dwi Susanto

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous studies on market power hypothesis strictly assumed that the data used in the analysis were a stationary process. This assumption has been argued that not all time series exhibit a stationary process such that conventional asymptotic theory cannot be applied. This study adopts the “New Empirical Industrial Organization” (NEIO) approach developed by Bresnahan (1982) and Lau (1982) to measure the degree of market power in the export market for soybean complex. The non-stationary properties of the data were accommodated by formulating the model in an error correction framework (ECM) developed by Bårdsen (1989) and applied by Steen and Salvanes …

Econometric Essays On Specification And Estimation Of Demand Systems, Anil Kumar Sulgham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on two research themes related to econometric estimation of linear almost ideal demand systems (LAIDS) for U.S. meats. The first theme addresses whether nonstationarity (unit-roots and cointegration) contributes to a dynamic specification of LAIDS models. The results of the effect of nonstationarity are reported in two case studies. The second theme explores the relationship between age and household size with budget shares to specify semiparametric LAIDS model. The results are reported in a third case study that compares parametric and semiparametric models estimates of price and expenditure elasticities. The first case study conducts a comparative analysis of …

Analysis Of U.S. Aquacultural Producer Preferences For Genetic Improvement And Cryopreservation, Brian Paul Boever

LSU Master's Theses

Aquaculture industries in the U.S. generate $1 billion in farm-level sales. Genetic improvement of fish stocks may be a way to increase the market share of aquaculture within the U.S. seafood market as well as the market share within the world market. This study evaluates the preferences, beliefs, and opinions of aquaculture producers across the U.S. about topics such as cryopreservation, genetic improvement, and the future of the aquaculture industry. Willingness-to-pay values for specific genetic improvements by aquaculture grow-out producers were elicited. A national survey of aquaculture producers was used to elicit the information used in the analysis. The survey …

A Semiparametric Assessment Of Export-Led Growth In The Philippines, Lorna E. Amrinto

LSU Master's Theses

This study contributes to the literature on the export-led growth (ELG) hypothesis by adopting a semiparametric approach under two levels of temporal aggregation to investigate the ELG hypothesis in the Philippines. To assess the impact of model specification on the ELG hypothesis, parametric and semiparametric ECMs are estimated using Philippine annual and quarterly data on GDP, exports, exchange rates and gross fixed-capital formation, focusing on the role of exchange rates. The causal relationship between exports and economic growth is examined using the Granger-causality procedure. It can be concluded that for the Philippines, the ELG hypothesis is (a) sensitive to model …

Trade Creation And Trade Diversion Effects In The Eu-South Africa Free Trade Agreement, Gregory Emeka Kwentua

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines trade creation and trade diversion effects in the EUSAFTA using the standard gravity model of bilateral trade flows. The estimation of the gravity equation was carried out using the OLS analysis. In order to ascertain the overall trade creation and trade diversion effects explanatory variables such as GDP, distance and dummy variables were incorporated into the estimation equation to explain bilateral trade flows and exports respectively. The main focus was on the estimation of trade creation and trade diversion effects, resulting from participation in selected regional and preferential trade agreements like EU, COMESA, SACU and EUSAFTA. Additionally, …

Analysis Of Trade In The Western Hemisphere Utilizing A Gravity Model Framework, Brian Matthew Hilbun

LSU Master's Theses

With the recent proliferation of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) the tendency world-wide has been seemingly toward trade liberalization. This thesis is primarily concerned with the impacts RTAs have had in the Western Hemisphere regarding agricultural trade flows. Utilizing the framework of the Gravity Model, agricultural trade flows for 24 Western Hemisphere Nations were examined. In the course of the study it was expected that if RTAs were to have an effect it would be a positive Trade Creation Effect and a negative Trade Diversion Effect with positive effects for GDP of importer/exporter and population size of importer/exporter and a negative …

Export-Led Growth In Southern Africa, Ramona Sinoha-Lopete

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this thesis was to examine the validity of the Export-Led Growth (ELG) hypothesis in nine Southern African countries using annual data for the period 1980-2002. The thesis used time series econometric techniques to test for the causal linkage between exports and economic growth in Southern Africa. Dynamic econometric models were estimated to test for time series properties: unit root (ADF and PP tests), cointegration (Johansen’s procedure), and Granger-causality (Likelihood Ratio test-LR). The results of the unit root tests show that most of the series are stationary in first differences (series in levels have unit root—I(1)). Co-integration and …