Life Sciences Commons^™

The Intersection Of Deforestation And Economic Growth In The Brazilian Amazon, Victoria Oceguera

Student Theses 2015-Present

Abstract

As a result of capital gain, deforestation of the Amazon in Brazil continues. Brazilian government's insufficient efforts to mitigate and enforce the preservation of these precious forests has ledto the commodification of the Amazon. Chapter 1 uses historical and quantitative data to examine the negative impacts of deforestation on indigenous communities and climate change. Chapter2 employs economics to analyze the role of business as a crucial component of deforestation in Brazil. Chapter 3 engages politics in Brazil to discuss interactions between key actors involved in the perpetuation of deforestation. Chapter 3 examines the interactions between politics and corruption involved …

Feeding The Future Meat Doesn’T Come Cheap, Lukas C. Southard

Capstones

Cultured – or as it is referred to by companies innovating the technology clean – meat is expected to be the next innovation to change the way the world gets its animal protein. Meat from animal cells grown in a lab seems like science fiction but it is around the corner from hitting your supermarket shelves. The technology has been developed but how these companies intend on scaling up their production to meet retail demands remains a mystery. So far companies have relied on seed and early stage investment from venture capital companies and private sources to fund research. Predictions …

Drivers Of On-Farm Performance Of Irrigation Water Management Practices: Empirical Evidence From Eastern Arkansas, Jacob Askey

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Unsustainable agricultural practices are putting a strain on freshwater supplies in many parts of the world. More efficient irrigation techniques are going to be critical to feed a growing population. Data from the 2016 Arkansas Irrigation Survey was used to assess the adoption of three Irrigation Water Management (IWM) practices: multiple inlet rice irrigation, tailwater recovery, and storage reservoirs. Results indicate that these practices do not always lead to reported pumping time reductions, a proxy for water use savings. Large variations in pumping time reduction are observed across producers for all three practices. A Tobit model was used to examine …

Trouble At Old River: An Economic Evaluation Of An Avulsion On United States Soybean Trade, Patrice Maria Lazard

LSU Master's Theses

The Mississippi River is an essential asset to agricultural trade given that its existence contributes to a cost-efficient transportation system. Barge travel allows large amounts of soybeans and other bulk commodities to be transported at low costs. Currently, barge costs are the lowest relative to those of other modes. Although there has been increasing competition for soybean shares from other countries in the global market, low transportation costs of soybeans, grain, and other oilseed crops allow the United States to retain its competitive advantage in the world soybean market. The Mississippi River’s urgency to change course and possibly eliminate barge …

Poultry Labeling: Knowledge, Perceptions, And Preferences Among Adolescents, Eleni L. Parsons

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, perceptions, and preferences of adolescents in regard to the labeling of poultry products. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) and Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) were used to display the relationship of perceptions, attitude, and behavior intentions. Quantitative data was collected in a descriptive research design. The population included youth, aged 14 – 18 years, involved in the Arkansas 4-H State O’Rama competition (N = 400). The sample (n = 80) ensured a 90% confidence interval of the population. Data was collected by administering paper surveys that addressed four product labels …

Assessing The Economic Viability Of Arkansas Farms Under The 2018 Farm Bill, Grant Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For over a century, the American agricultural industry has relied on federal government support to aid in the maintenance and expansion of farming operations. Since 1933, a series of 18 farm bills have shaped agricultural policy into what is commonly known as the agricultural safety net. The 2018 farm bill was passed on December 20, 2018 and is the most recent update of the agricultural safety net. Commodity programs and federal crop insurance are two key components of today’s agricultural safety net, and many times, these programs may be the difference between a net loss and a positive net income …

Estimating Demand Elasticities For Rice In Benin, Ogoudele Simon Codjo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice consumption in Benin is increasing along with shifting consumer demand toward higher quality rice. In this context of changing demands, experimental estimation methods provide an effective way to estimate the current state of consumer preferences. We conducted a hypothetical choice experiment in 15 open markets in Benin to analyze the demand for rice and its substitutes. The results reveal that consumers value quality rice, even those in the low-income class. While high income consumers are more likely to choose high quality imported rice, low- and middle-income consumers are more likely to select high quality domestic rice among the set …

Barriers Missouri's Farmers Face Regarding Beginning Farmer Government Programs, Benjamin J. Travlos

MSU Graduate Theses

Federal and state governments have responded to the hardships beginning farmers and ranchers face by creating programs to mediate the identified challenges for new producers. However, hardships still exist for these producers and there is a lack of research on if the programs are providing the needed assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. This research explores the perceived barriers to beginning farmer federal and state government programs for Missouri producers. Through the utilization of focus groups, the research identified major barriers such as: time, program awareness, program resources, and program requirements and eligibility. Aside from the barriers, the research also …

Untangling The Economic And Social Impediments To Producer Adoption Of Organic Wheat, Donya L. Ralph-Quarnstrom

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Consumer demand for organic products has shown double-digit growth in recent years encouraging the development of a wider range of goods (Greene, 2017). Americans with an annual household income under $30,000 actively purchase organic foods at nearly the same rate as households with over $75,000 in annual incomes, 42% versus 49% (Greene et al., 2017). Previous research observed the adoption of organic farming practices on a combination of different grains, fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products from across the globe. However, this is the first study to examine the adoption of organic wheat in the Western U.S. By addressing …

Implications Of Rice Cultivar Selection To Optimize Returns From Crop Insurance, David Ethan Branscum

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice production differs from most other field crops by distinct differences in yields across cultivars and rice producers being paid for yield after post-harvest milling. Using eleven years (2003-2013) of Arkansas harvest data from performance trials in six different locations, hybrids have 19% higher paddy yields and head rice yield rate 1.7% lower than conventional cultivars. Given the 2014 Farm Bill’s emphasis on crop insurance as a risk management tool for producers, these variations in yield among cultivars have significant implications for rice producers. Comparing national level, crop insurance data on corn, soybeans and rice indicates rice producers strongly prefer …

Comprehensive Poultry Supply Chain Model With Vertical And Horizontal Linkages: Implication Of Domestic And International Shocks, Hakan Unveren

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to USDA FAS, in 2017, the US was the largest broiler-producing country with 18.696 million metric tons and the second largest exporter of broiler products with 3.075 million metric tons (Brazil is the largest exporter with 3.847 million metric tons). Thus, around 83% of US production is consumed domestically. According to USITC, chickens are the most important protein source in the US, and Americans consume more chicken per capita than any other country. However, while the broiler industry is a key segment of US agriculture, it is underserved by large-scale supply-chain and trade models.

In this study, to fill …

Feasibility Of Custom Aquaponics For Home Use, Jesse Blanchard

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

The primary goal of this research is to access the feasibility of implementing and operating small scale aquaponic systems in a home setting to serve as a means of producing high quality fresh produce and fish protein to supplement similar store-bought products. Factors such as system cost, skill level and management requirements will be addressed alongside customizable, educational and sustainable aspects of aquaponic systems to determine whether home aquaponic systems are a feasible option for the home grower. To elaborate, feasibility in this research will refer to both economic costs relative to costs of the system. Outlined in this short …

Evaluation Of Herd Size Management Strategies, Colson A. Tester

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is comprised of two studies examining the effects of price signal based herd size management strategies on profitability of cow-calf operations. Herd size management strategies were evaluated across the previous two cattle cycles, 1990-2014, using a fixed land resource and included a variety of production scenarios. These scenarios varied in terms of stocking rates, fertilizer applications rates, and calving season. Each scenario was also analyzed both with and without weather effects on forage production. Weather effects were simulated using a production index derived from satellite imagery across the observed 25-year period. Three herd size management strategies: i) constant …

The Effect Of Labeling Information Framing On Genetically Modified Food Choices: A Query Theory Account, Taylor Pruitt

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

The progression of policy that regulates genetically modified (GM) food in the US is a prime example of how the role of the government reformulates in relation to societal changes. Support for various labeling programs is formed around key themes which center on the benefits and costs associated with GM labels. The goal of this experiment was to explore the effect of information framing on GM food choices. This was accomplished by presenting information for or against GM labeling in terms of the benefits (positive framing) or costs (negative framing) to consumers. 1,410 consumers participated in an economic experiment where …

The Farmers’ Federation: Regional Racial Mythologies As Agricultural Capital, Jama Mcmurtery Grove

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 1927, the Farmers’ Federation agricultural cooperative in Western North Carolina launched an organization to solicit funds from wealthy donors. The money raised through philanthropic campaigns enabled the cooperative to fund large-scale agricultural projects, which helped members navigate the dramatic agricultural transformations of the early twentieth century. Although the cooperative advocated a progressive program of business-minded, scientific farming, its leadership modified programs to reflect farmer members’ limited resources and the realities of mountain production. As a result, the co-op provided a crucial bridge between white farmers and new methods of agricultural production that reached deep into peoples’ familial and productive …

Eyes In The Field, A Seat At The Table, A Voice At The Ranch : A Study On Optimal Farm Labor Conditions., Christine Wiggins-Romesburg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The field of human resource development has twin obligations to promote the performance of organizations and the satisfaction and welfare of all workers. Nevertheless, agriculture appears to be an understudied industry in the field, despite this obligation and the potential for suffering experienced by workers performing crop work. This case study sought to understand the process through which a single agricultural operation fosters optimal conditions for workers engaged in labor-intensive crop production. This study found employees experienced better treatment compared to other agricultural operations, and that conditions were rich in both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors were marked by …

Optimization Of The Light Environment For Broiler Chickens, Douglas J. Aldridge

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of artificial light sources has been necessitated by the use of fully enclosed rearing facilities for improved environmental control. Light Emitting Diodes (LED) have been developed as a light source that reduce the utilities required to provide equal light to that of incandescent sources. The following reports were carried out to investigate the effects of two light color temperatures, light intensity and light intensity gradients on broiler chicken production and behavior. The first investigation consisting of two consecutive trials investigated the effect of two light color temperatures (2700 K and 5000 K) in addition to the preference for …

Impact Of Selected Financial Measures On The Term Debt Repayment Ability Of Illinois Grain Farms, Samuel Awortwe Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A clear and accurate assessment of the financial performance of a farm business is an important component of financial management at any time but becomes even more crucial in periods of economic downturn in the farm sector. Farmers continue to increase their debt even though the prices of commodities are low, and the prices of inputs are high (Krapf, Raab, & Zwilling, 2017). In addition, high family living expenses can also place financial pressure on farms (Scott, 2016). This study focused on identifying and estimating the impact of key factors which included financial measures and family living expenses on the …

Evaluating Water Management Policy In Saudi Arabia Using A Bilevel, Multi-Objective, Multi-Follower Programming Approach, Jawad Alhashim

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Over the past five decades, the Saudi government has adopted many agricultural policies aimed to: achieve self-sufficiency of food, increase the participation of the agricultural sector in the economy, and reduce the consumption of irrigation water. Due to conflicts among government objectives and the incompatibility of farmers' objectives with those of some agricultural policies, the government has not been able to fully achieve its objectives.

To accomplish its goals the government, or decision maker needs to understand the farmer, or follower, reaction when s/he adopts a new decision. The dissertation aims to build a model that achieves government goals of …

Three Essays On Saudi Arabia Agricultural Markets, Yosef Abdulrahman Alamri

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

The first essay compares six common models, linear, quadratic, Cobb-Douglas, translog, logarithmic, and transcendental, to estimate wheat yield and area functions for Saudi Arabia. Data cover 1990-2016 for all the variables that affect wheat supply. After testing the models using Box-Cox, multicollinearity, and autocorrelation tests, we decide that the Cobb-Douglas models provide the best fit for both yield and area. We find the price elasticity of wheat is inelastic. Yield price elasticities are more inelastic than area elasticities. The impact of government policy number 335 has a larger effect on area than yield. The cultivated area of wheat, the one-year …

Análisis Del Funcionamiento De La Cadena De Suministro Del Pimentón Producido En El Municipio De Cáqueza, Cundinamarca, Jorge Andrés Rodríguez Hernández

Maestría en Agronegocios

Se analizó una investigación sobre la cadena de suministro del pimentón producido en el municipio de Cáqueza, con el objetivo de evaluar el funcionamiento de la misma a lo largo de todos sus eslabones. Para esto se abordan las metodologías de análisis de cadenas sobre aspectos socioeconómicos, mapeo estructural, distorsión de la información y análisis de riesgos. Los resultados permitieron identificar la cadena principal compuesta por los eslabones de proveedor de insumos, productor, transportador, comerciante mayorista, comerciante minorista y consumidor; de igual manera se encontraron circuitos secundarios que aportan al desarrollo sustentable del agronegocio. Dentro de los hallazgos se resaltan …

Determinantes De La Competitividad Y El Empoderamiento Económico De Las Asociaciones De Mujeres Rurales En Cundinamarca: Estudio De Caso Asociación De Mujeres Emprendedoras De Guatavita (Ameg), Neydú Yulitza Guana Ortiz

Maestría en Agronegocios

En la presente investigación se estudian los factores de la competitividad de unidades productivas conformadas por mujeres rurales a partir de un estudio de caso. El fin de este estudio es analizar los determinantes de la competitividad y el empoderamiento económico de las mujeres pertenecientes a la Asociación de Mujeres Emprendedoras de Guatavita (AMEG), asociación perteneciente al sector lácteo ubicada en Guatavita, Cundinamarca y conformada por mujeres rurales. Con el estudio de caso de esta asociación, hecho mediante un trabajo de campo de carácter cualitativo en el que participaron actores como proveedores, clientes, asociadas y la líder de AMEG, se …

Cultivo De Tomate (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Y Maíz (Zea Mays) Como Alternativa De Sostenimiento Para Familias Campesinas En Algeciras Huila, Luxury Andrade Daza

Ingeniería Agronómica

El municipio de Algeciras cuenta con aproximadamente 30.000 habitantes, su territorio posee suelos aptos para la agricultura y la ganadería, debido a la variedad de pisos térmicos. Sin embargo, a partir de este proyecto se pretende mejorar algunas situaciones de producción agrícola en el municipio. De esta manera, como objetivo principal se estableció un cultivo de tomate (Solanum licopersicum L.) en 0,25 ha y un cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.) en 0,45 ha a campo abierto como sistema de producción en el municipio , implementando prácticas agrícolas que aprovechamiento a la sostenibilidad del medio ambiente y que además sirven …

Establecimiento De 3,3 Hectáreas De Arroz (Oryza Sativa) Con Fines De Comercialización En Los Municipios De Achí, Bolívar Y Majagual, Sucre, David Enrique Correa Mercado

Ingeniería Agronómica

El presente proyecto constó de cuatro componentes: agronómico, investigativo, social y empresarial. El arroz es el principal cultivo en el municipio de Achí Bolívar, las óptimas condiciones ambientales que presenta la zona son favorables para su establecimiento, debido al área sembrada este cultivo presenta un aporte porcentualmente significativo para la generación de empleo. Se realizó el establecimiento de 3,3 hectáreas de arroz, teniendo como base referencial para su manejo las prácticas propuestas por Fedearroz en su programa Adopción Masiva de Tecnología (AMTEC), el manejo dado fue optimo partiendo desde una buena selección de la semilla, excelente mecanización y fertilización y …

Establecimiento De Un Sistema De Producción De 2.500 M2 De Habichuela (Phaseolus Vulgaris) Para El Mejoramiento Socioeconómica Del Municipio De Algeciras-Huila, Juan Felipe Ovalle Muñoz

Ingeniería Agronómica

Debido al aumento del área sembrada de café (Coffea arabica) y a la reducción de cultivos de frutales y transitorios en el municipio de Algeciras, se realizó el siguiente proyecto productivo, el cual tuvo cuatro componentes. En el componente agronómico, se realizó la implementación de un cultivo de habichuela (Phaseolus vulgaris) variedad Blue Lake como método demostrativo de la producción tecnificada, reduciendo los costos de producción mediante un manejo integrado de plagas, enfermedades y arvenses, buscando la disminución de las aplicaciones de agroquímicos. Entretanto el componente investigativo constó de un ensayo en el cual se hizo uso de desechos orgánicos …

Implementación De 7 Tipos De Hortalizas En 135 M² En El Corregimiento De La Gabarra, Norte De Santander, Para Comercialización Local, Luzdary Ruiz Gelvez

Ingeniería Agronómica

El proyecto productivo realizado en el corregimiento de La Gabarra, municipio de Tibú, departamento de Norte de Santander se desarrolló como una alternativa de producción familiar en donde se llevó a cabo la construcción de 5 estructuras de madera en un área de 135 m2 y se utilizó un sustrato realizado a partir de arena, suelo de bosque y raquis de palma de aceite (Elaeis guinnensis). Los cultivos que se establecieron fueron tomate (Solanum lycopersicum), cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), sandía (Citrullus lanatus), melón (Cucumis melo), pepino (Cucumis sativus), arveja (Pisum sativum) y habichuela (Phaseolus vulgaris), los cuales presentan gran demanda en …

Implementación De Un Sistema De Producción De Dos Hectáreas De Maíz (Zea Mays L) Agrisure Viptera 3® (Vpt3®), En El Municipio De San José Del Guaviare Para Comercialización, Zulmán Eulises Castillo Caicedo

Ingeniería Agronómica

San José del Guaviare al igual que otros municipios del país, presenta diversas y diferentes problemáticas que impiden un desarrollo del campo, la deforestación para la siembra de cultivos de uso ilícito, la ganadería extensiva y la extracción de madera vienen siendo el principal motor de subsistencia del campesino; por otro lado la corrupción, la falta de apoyo del gobierno hacia el campesino, la falta asistencia técnica a los productores, las vías en mal estado y la insuficiencia de equipos y maquinaria que tiene el municipio para labores de campo, entre otros factores, son un impedimento para que los campesinos …

Producción De Maíz (Zea Mays L.) Hibrido Atl - 200 Para Elaboración De Ensilaje En Restrepo, Meta, Camilo Lozano Villalba

Ingeniería Agronómica

La ganadería es una de las actividades económicas más importantes del municipio de Restrepo, Meta, después de la explotación petrolera y minera. Siendo el mayor sustento para las familias de la zona urbana y rural. No obstante, en la época de sequía se ve afectado por la escasez de alimento, obligando a los ganaderos a buscar una fuente de alimento que supla las necesidades de los animales. La actividad agrícola del municipio ha disminuido considerablemente, debido al poco conocimiento de las labores, los altos costos de insumos agrícolas y bajo valor de venta de los productos, ocasionando que los campesinos …

Implementación De Un Cultivo De Tomate (Solanum Lycopersicum) Como Nueva Alternativa De Diversificación Agrícola, En El Municipio De Chaparral, Tolima, Néstor Emilio Salazar Fonseca

Ingeniería Agronómica

Teniendo en cuenta que la economía del municipio de Chaparral, Tolima está basada en la producción de café (Coffea arabica) y la ganadería bovina, la implementación de un sistema de producción de hortalizas, particularmente de tomate (S. lycopersicum) se convierte en nueva alternativa de diversificación agrícola, debido a la importancia de este cultivo en la canasta familiar de la región y del país. Además, las condiciones edafoclimáticas, los sitios de comercialización y el consumo de estas hortalizas favorecen el establecimiento con fines comerciales del cultivo (Pérez, et al. 2002). De esta manera, se ejecutó un proyecto productivo con cuatro componentes: …

Implementación De 20.000 M2 De Maíz (Zea Mays) Hibrido Atl 200 En Puerto Libertador Córdoba, Deiver Severiche Martínez

Ingeniería Agronómica

El proyecto productivo se ejecutó en la vereda Centro América del municipio de Puerto Libertador, Córdoba. Para su desarrollo se evaluaron cuatro componentes. El componente agronómico consistió en la implementación, producción y manejo de dos hectáreas de maíz, obteniendo rendimientos de 4,75 ton / ha. El componente investigativo, donde se evaluó el efecto físico y químico de dos tipos de compost tipo bocashi, en la producción de biomasa del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays) para silo; Este componente se realizó en la finca la Baraka ubicada en la vereda Buenos Aires. Los tratamientos 1 compost con residuos de gallinas y …