Agribusiness Commons^™

California Off-Road Engines And Components Life Span Assessment, Michael Mccullough, Lynn Hamilton

Agribusiness

The useful life and warranty periods for off-road equipment in California for engines rated at 37 kilowatts (kW) and greater have not been updated since the Tier 1 rule phased in from 1996 to 2000; for engines rated below 37 kW, not since the Tier 2 and Tier 3 rules phased in from 2000 to 2008. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff is seeking information regarding useful life and warranty to evaluate whether amendments to those requirements are necessary after two decades of technology advancement.

Cal Poly researchers called 55 service providers across the state of California to collect …

Reducing Scope 3 Emissions By Investing In Regenerative Agriculture In Supply Chains, Stephanie Cain

Master's Theses

The agricultural industry has an opportunity to shift to a more sustainable practice that helps restore vital topsoil, improve water quality, reduce environmental impact, and sequester atmospheric carbon into the vast soil carbon pool. However, to implement these practices at considerable scale, agricultural producers require access to resources and capital they rarely have and can be difficult to acquire. As a company, investing in regenerative agriculture in supply chains can lead to reduced Scope 3 emissions, more resilient supply chains, and better marketability as an investment fund, an employer, and a brand. Insetting regenerative agriculture can protect supply chains against …

Assessing The Cost And Fuel Consumption Of Off-Road Agricultural Equipment, Michael Mccullough, Lynn Hamilton, Cory Walters

Agribusiness

Since 1995, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission rules have mandated that off-road engine manufacturers gradually phase in lower emitting diesel engines across all tractor and other off-road equipment sold in the United States. Starting in 1996 with Tier 1 emission standards for tractors between 175-750 horsepower (hp), all tractors were scheduled to be rated as Tier 4 Final by 2015. During the transition period, emission credit agreements made between manufacturers and EPA allowed for nonattainment of some tractors such that several tractor models were produced post 2015 that did not meet Tier 4 Final standards. Tier 4 standards are …

Assessing The Economic Impacts Of Agricultural Equipment Emission Reduction Strategies On The Agricultural Economy In The San Joaquin Valley: Phase Two, 2018 Costs, Michael Mccullough, Lynn Hamilton

Agribusiness

This study is the second phase in a series of studies developed in collaboration with experts to understand the regulatory environment faced by farmers in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California. In 2018 the first phase, “A Framework for Assessing the Economic Impacts of Agricultural Equipment Emission Reduction Strategies on the Agricultural Economy in the San Joaquin Valley”, was completed (McCullough et al., 2018). A major component of that project was a series of 22 case studies that focused on assessing the total cost of regulatory requirements for farms in 2012 compared to their individual costs of production. These …

Cattle Producer Motivations And Willingness To Participate In Industry Animal Welfare Program Verification, Chase Decoite

Master's Theses

As consumers have become increasingly interested in where their food comes from and how it is grown, the cattle and beef industry is without exception. Many consumers are beginning to question traditional animal husbandry practices and on-farm animal welfare protocol. It is essential that the food system meets new demands and understands consumer views. In order to address these concerns, the industry has rallied around the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program to set the standard for cattle welfare and beef quality, with the explicit goal of improving consumer confidence. The goal of this research is to determine if cattle producers …

A Method For Monitoring Operating Equipment Effectiveness With The Internet Of Things And Big Data, Carl D. Hays Iii

Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper was to use the Overall Equipment Effectiveness productivity formula in plant manufacturing and convert it to measuring productivity for forklifts. Productivity for a forklift was defined as being available and picking up and moving containers at port locations in Seattle and Alaska. This research uses performance measures in plant manufacturing and applies them to mobile equipment in order to establish the most effective means of analyzing reliability and productivity. Using the Internet of Things to collect data on fifteen forklift trucks in three different locations, this data was then analyzed over a six-month period to …

The Economic Impact On The Local Economy Of Irrigated Agriculture In The Paso Robles Area And Potential Impacts Of The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, Lynn Hamilton, Michael Mccullough

Agribusiness

The purpose of this study is to analyze the economic impact of the agricultural and wine industry within the Paso Robles Subbasin and AVA and San Luis Obispo County and to assess the economic impact of potential changes in the agricultural industry as a result of the Paso Robles Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan that will reduce water allocations and/or increase the cost of water in the basin from 2020 – 2040 and beyond.

The Groundwater Sustainability Plan submitted to the state Department of Water Resources notes that if water use and precipitation patterns continue, the basin will be in overdraft …

Saturday Night Live Club Lamb Sale, Tyler P. Wilkerson

Agricultural Education and Communication

“Competition is said to be the backbone of the stock show industry,” (Davis, 1998). A statement spoken in a 1998 thesis paper on the junior livestock industry still holds water in today’s world. Youth livestock exhibition, especially in California, continues to grow in the number of youth participants and the number of livestock entries at shows (Switzer, 2019).

It is the responsibility of livestock breeders to breed, raise, and sell their livestock to maximize the opportunity for youth to acquire livestock to show. In his research, Wendt discusses the capabilities of purchasing livestock through online platforms. He speaks to the …

Increasing Groundwater Recharge Activity In The San Joaquin Valley Of California, Jacob Willhite, Jacob Willhite

Agricultural Education and Communication

Over the past several decades, groundwater has become a primary source of water used for agriculture in California. Surface water available for agricultural use has depleted due to declining rain totals and reallocation to environmental purposes. As a result, groundwater overdraft has become a severe challenge, especially in the San Joaquin Valley of California. This excessive overdraft causes a plethora of issues, one of the most serious being land subsidence (Faunt, Sneed, Traum, & Brandt, 2016). Studies suggest some areas of the San Joaquin Valley have experienced more than a 28-foot drop in the land level since the 1970’s (Alley …

The Future Of Work: How Employers Are Adjusting To Millennial Expectations, Felipe Vallejo

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this research was to examine how agricultural based companies are staying ahead while new technology advancements and millennial expectations are influencing future labor markets.

Bonipak Trucker Lounge Improvements, Lauren M. Reade

Agricultural Education and Communication

Bonita Packing Company, also known as Bonipak, has been a produce grower and shipper in the Santa Maria Valley for nearly 90 years and has contracts with customers all over the United States and Canada. Since 1932, the family owned and operated business has maintained steady growth as the population continues to rise all while making it a goal to uphold their family values and maintain their deep roots within the community. Transitioning into a fourth generation family farm, the Bonipak team hopes to continue to promote growth and maintain a positive reputation within the community and beyond. With multiple …

The Wine Stone Inn, Kendall N. Doud

Agricultural Education and Communication

The Wine Stone Inn is a new 12-room boutique hotel currently being built in Old Town Orcutt, California. The hotel is seeking a grand opening that will attract vintner business, agribusiness, and agricultural vendors for the hotel, and help promote local wineries and breweries in the Santa Maria Valley. Orcutt is a growing township, which is becoming very attractive to visitors because of the walking distance to restaurants, local pubs, wine venues, and other businesses that project growth in the future. Agribusiness makes up a small percentage of the corporate market and agritourism is a growing segment in this area. …

A Decade Of Change: A Case Study Of Regulatory Compliance Costs In The Produce Industry, Lynn Hamilton, Michael Mccullough

Agribusiness

Regulatory pressure is a source of increasing concern to the California agricultural industry. In the decade since 2006, new rules at both the state and federal levels have imposed significantly higher regulatory burdens on growers, specifically with respect to food safety, water quality, labor wages, air quality; and worker health and safety. Additional regulations are in process as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is developed at the local levels for implementation in 2022, and minimum wage and overtime laws for farmworkers are phased in, also by 2022.

Previous studies regarding the regulatory environment in California have quantified the total cost …

Creating An Efficient Business Plan For Longview Club Lambs, Karlee J. Dornbush

Agricultural Education and Communication

Longview Club Lambs is a small startup business located in Lincoln, California. Longview Club Lambs has the goal to maintain a high of level efficiency and productivity to compete with other club lamb businesses within the next three years (Longview Club Lambs, 2018). In order to do this, Longview Club Lambs will need to evaluate its current practices and determine the necessary adjustments that should be made to their business plan.

To create this new business model, the business will need to re-evaluate all its management practices and make the needed changes to adjust to a larger scale operation. Implementing …

Hosting The Third Annual Young Women In Agriculture Career And Leadership Seminar, Emma E. Morris, Madyline J. Braught

Agricultural Education and Communication

Agriculture has traditionally been a male-dominated industry; however, recent years have shown a significant growth in female presence. Women are beginning to take leadership roles both on the farm and within advocacy, lobbying, and business entities in the industry. According to the latest agricultural census data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2012, women farmers controlled seven percent of the nation’s farmland (Census, 2014). Additionally, women held leadership roles in 14 percent of the nation’s two million farms (Census, 2014). This data is several years old, and likely the numbers have grown since the last census was …

Analysis Of Potential Vermicompost Market In California, Jason Alan Thomas

Master's Theses

Vermicompost transforms agricultural waste into a high quality soil amendment, though market acceptance remains in its infancy. This study examines how growers’ willingness to pay for vermicompost is affected by grower’s crop, region, income per acre, knowledge level of vermicompost and compost, previous use of compost, and the willingness to pay for compost. The survey results pulled together 223 responses from California growers. It was discovered growers’ had less knowledge of vermicompost than compost but were willing to pay more for vermicompost. There was statistical difference amongst the responses. It was shown the market value per ton of vermicompost lies …

Farmers For America Documentary Screening, Tiffany Jane Thompson

Agricultural Education and Communication

The agriculture industry is seeing a decrease in the number of beginning farms, operations that have been in existence for 10 years or less, across the United States. According to the most current Census of Agriculture by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), beginning farms make up approximately a quarter of the 2.1 million total farms across the country. This is a 20 percent drop between the 2007 and the 2012 censuses (2012 Census Highlights, Beginning Farmers, 2017). At the same time, the average age of the U.S. farmer is increasing and is now at 58 (Williamson, J. & …

Wisehart Cutting Horses Business And Customer Portfolio, Tawni Brook Stoneburner

Agricultural Education and Communication

The cutting horse industry has been around for many years with the first competition being held in 1898, as a way for people to prove their own horses’ ranch talents and has now grown to an industry based on trainers and clients (NCHA, 2018). The main goal of the trainer is to get a horse prepared to show at its best ability and to win the most earnings (Wisehart, E., 2017). According to the American Quarter Horse Handbook, “Judges score the horses on their ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage.” (AQHA …

The Santa Barbara County Fair Entries Office Manual, Heidi Alyssa Morisoli

Agricultural Education and Communication

Employee training is vital to any company and essential for an organization’s success (UMA S. N, 2013). Job training is defined as the process of enhancing the skills, capabilities and knowledge of employees doing a particular job (Schappel, 2016). Regarding job training, 76% of employees have reported this type of training is most important when obtaining a new job (Schappel, 2016). Not only is training desired amongst employees but it also improves morale of employees, decreases the need for employee supervision, increases chances of promotions, and increases employee productivity (UMA S. N, 2013). One training opportunity that companies utilize is …

New Product Launch – Syngenta, Kendra C. Legge

Agricultural Education and Communication

Launching any type of new product poses a risk of failure. To ensure success, it is important to know the audience to which a company is launching a product. In Joshua Grossnickle’s book The Handbook of Online Marketing Research: Knowing Your Customer Using the Net he writes, “It's the first rule of business: Know your customer.” It is significant to not only know what makes up an effective product launch, but what the target customers believe make an effective product launch. The chemical company Syngenta is about to launch a new insecticide “Minecto Pro.” Direct feedback from customers about this …

Malene Wines: The Beginning Of A Brand, Tyler Menane

Agricultural Education and Communication

Malene Wines is the most recently developing brand under the Crimson Wine Group. Currently, the brand is being produced and managed under Chamisal Vineyards. Malene Wines started off with one brand of rosé wine, that has only been available for purchase in the Chamisal tasting room or wholesale. This has caused confusion for the consumer in differentiating the two brands. To help begin the separation of the two brands, Malene Wines has recently received a modified Airstream trailer to serve as a mobile tasting room.

Whereas Chamisal Vineyards is a brand focused on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with small production …

Bonipak Produce Inc., Steven Partie, Grant Copeland, David Minney

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Bonipak grows, packs and ships fresh produce. As the 10th largest (by acreage) agricultural firm in the western US, it supplies a wide range of produce to national chain retailers such as Costco, Safeway, Kroger and Loblaw. The case discusses Bonipak’s Seed to Sale approach, in which they aim to satisfy their buyers, who demand consist, high quality produce for the final retail customer. Bonipak has dealt with issues including labor and water, and has worked with sustainability, in terms of “farming with the future in mind”.

Mission Produce, Davis Cracknell, Kendall Moore, Salvador Lopez

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Mission Produce's founding, growth and expansion into oversea's markets is discussed. In particular, Mission Produce's ripening centers are presented as an innovation in avocado marketing.

Feasibility Study For Renovating An Old Barn Into A Tasting Room For K-Dot Winery, Kendall Ott

Agricultural Education and Communication

California is the largest wine producer in the nation. There are more than 4,000 wineries in the state and much of their success comes from tasting rooms. A study will be conducted in the spring of 2017 to determine the feasibility of building a tasting room out of an old barn at an established winery. Tasting rooms can add monetary and aesthetic value to a winery. Knowing how to conduct a feasibility study for the build is crucial to its success. The author will create a feasibility study including a cash flow budget, a capital budgeting statement, and a sensitivity …

Business Model: California Agriculture Marketing Agency, Mary M. Alameda, Emma L. Larson

Agricultural Education and Communication

The importance of creating a marketing agency specializing in agriculture is to bridge the gap between producers and consumers. The lack of transparency from the producer has created a torn industry causing the average consumer to be questioning his or her food, or simply not understanding the agricultural way of life. An agricultural marketing firm in California can represent and advocate for local businesses to start closing the producer to consumer gap.

The American farmer excels at many things, but lacks in public communications. Modern day farmers have been able to produce more food than ever despite fewer resources and …

Buchanan Hollow Nut Company Rebranding And Research, Lindsay Robson

Agricultural Education and Communication

A marketing plan was designed for Buchanan Hollow Nut Company (BHNC) in the summer of 2016 to redesign the company brand. Additionally, the author conducted research to determine if the implementation of bar codes and scanning would improve internal efficiency.

Utilizing the company’s owner, and famous artist, Sharleen Robson, the author created a tasteful watercolor design to update the logo for BHNC. Furthermore, by contacting the current packaging company, Legend Packaging Group, the author received estimated costs for adding a bar code to each product. These barcodes were then printed and added to the processing boxes in the storage facility …

Photovoltaic Cooking In The Developing World, Tyler Watkins, Christopher O'Day, Omar Arriaga

Mechanical Engineering

The challenge of clean cooking is faced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. We present a cooking technology consisting of a solar panel directly connected to an electric heater in a well-insulated chamber. Assuming continued decrease in solar panel prices, we anticipate that in a few decades Solar Electric Cooking technologies will be the most common cooking technology for the poor. Appropriate use of insulation reduces the power demand making low-power Insulated Solar Electric Cooking systems already cost competitive.

Panorama Meats/Western Grassfed Beef: Better Beef, Better You, Kelsey King, Gretchen Montague, Jasmine Singh, Danielle Wood

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Western Grasslands, Inc. started in 2001, to process and market grass-fed beef. Grass fed, though about only 1% of the US beef market, is a quickly growing market. Today, WGI markets its Panorama meat through Whole Foods and other grass-fed brands on-line.

Case Study: Double J Dairy, Jay Tevelde, Chris Reeves, Holden Smith, Bradley Braun

Case Studies in Agribusiness

The case presents the history and current operations of the Double J Dairy, a large scale (milking about 4,300 cows) dairy farm in the Central Valley of California. The case discusses continuing issues with water, labor and environmental regulations.

Underwood Ranches And Huy Fong Foods: An Exclusive Relationship, Kelsey Wright, Baylie Duncan, Sierra Withrow, Bryce Yoshimoto

Case Studies in Agribusiness

The case presents Underwood Ranches, a 3rd generation farm founded in 1867, and Huy Fong Foods, a hot sauce producer know for Sriracha. Underwood was wondering if they would go under when they approached Huy Fong, a hot sauce company named after the boat on which its found escaped Vietnam. The result was a sole supplier to an innovative specialty food producer.