Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Climate Adaptation And Water Conservation Decision-Making In Paso Robles, California Vineyards, Christopher R. Klier

Master's Theses

This paper examines vineyard perceptions and adoption of climate change adaptation and water conservation measures in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA). A survey was distributed to all 220 vineyards and vineyard management companies that operate in the AVA, with a 53.64% response rate. The objective of the survey was to determine vineyard manager and owner attitudes towards climate change and adaptation, as well as their perceptions of how these threats would impact their operation. A second objective was to document the current level of water conservation and climate adaptation while identifying the barriers and opportunities for further adoption …

Shifting The Industrial Food System Towards Sustainability: The Intersections Of Agriculture, Industrialization, & Health, Courtney Marchi

City and Regional Planning

This work traces the impact of the industrialization of corporate agriculture that has agglomerated globally. The aim of this paper is to discuss the major impacts and technicalities behind modern agricultural practices, and to draw attention to the intersections between industrialization, technology, health, and environmental concerns. This paper addresses the social and political implications associated with a global trade system and attempts to remedy some of them through environmentally and socially sustainable, and deconstructive, systemic approaches. There are several intersections between social equity, globalization, and agriculture that Urban and Regional Planners can work intimately with to improve overall food security …

Proposal For A High Tunnel At Delaney Community Farm, Michael Rh Pham

City and Regional Planning

This paper is a case study of an urban agriculture operation in Aurora, Colorado that focuses on providing refugees with food and work that contributes to a sense of community connectedness and pride. The paper is also a proposal for a high tunnel system that could extend the growing season of the farm and provide unique opportunities for urban farmers to learn about emerging resiliency based food production practices.

Food Stamp Enrollment And Mental Health: An Implicit Tax On The Poor, James Calvin Hasbany

Economics

Objectives. This study examines whether food stamp participation status impacts the mental health of its recipients.

Methods. We use 2017 data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics to construct a propensity score model to match treated and control individuals, circumventing inherent selection bias and estimating causal effects.

Results. We find that enrolling in food stamps within the past 30 days increases the frequency of emotional distress over the same timeframe, manifesting specifically in more frequent feelings of sadness, nervousness, hopelessness, ‘everything being an effort,’ and worthlessness.

Conclusions. Food stamp enrollment harms mental health more than it benefits it, …

Egg Awareness, Hailee J. French

Agricultural Education and Communication

In 2008, Proposition 2 passed, forcing all egg producers in California to provide more room inside of cages to their laying hens. The Humane Society of the United States [HSUS] initiated this battle and won but, less than a decade later decided that still wasn’t enough room for the birds. HSUS is now pushing to have a new measure on the ballot in November 2018 forcing all egg producers in California to produce their eggs cage free.

This project will survey the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo campus to gauge the campus’s understanding of egg production in California. …

How Organizational Communication Shaped The Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement, Mo Tehrani

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to show how organizations involved with the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement negotiations might have used the feedback loop characteristic of two-way Symmetrical communication theory to reach consensus on the Hearst Ranch Conservation Agreement.

Conservation easements are complex situations and each has separate and distinct goals, constraints, compromises, funding mechanisms, and public values.

This study analyzed public documents from seven different organizations that provided input in the public consultations regarding the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement, which completed in 2005. This study concluded that one of the communication methods adopted during the Hearst Ranch Conservation Negotiation …

Bicycle Tourism Plan For Economic Development: A Template For Rural Agricultural Towns And A Case Study For The City Of Winters, California, Marisa Rene Lee

Master's Theses

Bicycling is a method of tourism transportation that is healthy, non-invasive, environmentally responsible, and economically sustainable. It allows freedom, mobility, and sightseeing potential that is not made possible by other modes of transit. Thousands of bicycle tourists travel from all over the globe annually to explore California on touring bikes via established cycling routes and robust determination. Thousands of additional domestic and international visitors take weekend trips, plan family vacations, travel for business, or tour California from abroad, many of whom are excellent candidates for local and regional bicycle touring at a more gentle intensity level.

The increasing popularity and …

Restorative Agriculture: Reclamation Of Marginal Agricultural Land For A Volunteer-Run Community Farm, Darin P. Laity

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project explores the variety of community benefits that can be achieved through a small-scale, non-profit, volunteer-run farm that was established to produce and donate fresh, high quality, organically grown produce for the Food Bank. In addition to the restorative social, health, economic, and environmental effects of the farm effort, the project explores the idea of agriculture beyond sustainability. The report details the processes undertaken to organize volunteers, gather resources, revitalize the farm land, and sustain operations. A discussion of the results from the first year of production, as well as some of the future goals for the farm project, …

Influence Of Wine Health Benefit Knowledge And Prior Health Concerns On A Consumer's Willingness To Purchase Wine, Erica Llanos

Agribusiness

With the substantial increase in demand for wine, enhanced knowledge of consumers’ preferences for wine can help give wineries an opportunity to improve sales and bring in new marketing techniques. Over the past several years, the demand for functional food and beverages have increased, which is why promoting the beneficial aspects of red wine when consumed, can be a marketing tool that sets a winery apart from its competitors. This study used over 200 survey responses of individuals located throughout the U.S. in order to determine further information about wine health benefit knowledge in relation to the willingness of consumers …

Feasibility Study Of Solar Energy Utilized In An Agricultural Setting, Tyler J. Flavell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This BRAE 462 senior project entails a mock feasibility and engineering report on implementing solar power to Cal Poly’s poultry unit. The report is to see whether or not solar power would excel and save electrical costs for one of Cal Poly’s agricultural centers. The report must include research into what type of solar system to be installed, economic costs, and engineering calculations to determine whether or not the system will be feasible. The system must be realistic and able to be built onto the poultry unit with accurate space requirements and up to building codes.

Monetary Factors And The U.S. Retail Food Price Level, Andrew L. Pulford

Master's Theses

The following study assesses whether an economic relationship exists between the money supply (i.e. M2), interest rates, and the exchange rate and the retail food price level in the United States. Data for the M2 classification of the United States money supply, the Effective Federals Funds (interest) Rate, and the United States Trade Weighted Exchange Index: Major Currencies for the period from January 1974 through December 2007 are evaluated as they relate to the United States Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers: Food for the same period. The statistical analysis involves an examination of the autocorrelation and partial …

Recommendations For Economic Development In Guadalupe, Ca, Larissa Requa Heeren

Master's Theses

It is recommended that the City of Guadalupe prepare and implement a small-scale business expansion and retention program using existing service providers in the area. This type of program model seems to hold the most potential for Guadalupe. A mixed-methods approach including in-depth cases studies of existing economic development programs and an analysis of opportunities and constraints in Guadalupe informs a set recommendations for future economic development in the City. Data was collected in three phases: short interviews with a variety of economic development program staff, short interviews with Guadalupe business owners and City officials and in-depth interviews with staff …

Go Farm, Goleta: Urban Agriculture Protection For Eastern Goleta Valley, Eli M. Krispi

Master's Theses

This paper explores two potential land use planning strategies that can be used to preserve and enhance the economic viability of agricultural operations surrounded by suburban development in Santa Barbara County’s Eastern Goleta Valley: buffers between agriculture and other land uses, and agritourism. In the case of buffers, academic literature is examined to determine how effective buffers are at various tasks (filtering runoff, mitigating dust and wind, providing habitat, etc.) and how to construct buffers to maximize their effectiveness. Land use plans and codes from several California jurisdictions are studied to see how buffers are put to use. Academic literature …

Food And Wine Tourism In Post-War Lebanon, Lindsay Milich

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Tourism has played a major role in Lebanon since its peak period of 1930-1974; sometimes subsiding as a result of war and conflict, but always rebounding at least to some extent. Lebanon’s touristic appeal includes its geographic location between the East and the West, its varied landscape (beaches and mountains), its hospitable and diverse population, and its well loved cuisine. The focus of this study was food and wine initiatives across the country, and their role as related to the traditional tourism industry. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the nature of regional and community …

An Assessment Of The Demographics And Spending Behavior Of Attendees At San Luis Obispo's Downtown Farmers' Market, Morgan Thompson

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics and spending behavior of attendees at San Luis Obispo’s downtown Farmers’ Market. With the current 2011 economic recession in America, this study evaluated its affect on the Farmers’ Market attendee demographics and purchasing motivations. Using a questionnaire distributed to 200 participants at Farmers’ Market, this study concluded that most people are motivated by price when shopping for produce and the majority of Farmers’ Market attendees’ spending behaviors have been affected by the economic recession. Furthermore, this study found there is a preference for organic produce to be bought at the …

Growing Conflict: Agriculture, Innovation, And Immigration In San Luis Obispo County, 1837–1937, Douglas P. Jenzen

Master's Theses

The history of San Luis Obispo and its surrounding areas is complex. Agriculture, innovation, and immigration have all contributed to the formation of the region. The Spanish, Mexican, and early American periods established the framework successive waves of immigrants had to live within. Native Americans and immigrants from China, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, the Philippines, and other regions of the United States have all toiled in the fields and contributed to America’s tables at various points throughout county history. Many contingencies determined the treatment of successive waves of immigrants. Growth and development are taking place at exponential rates on the very …

A Literary Analysis And Case Study Evaluation Of The Environmental, Cultural, And Economic Impacts Of Ecotourism, Ashley M. Driver

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

College Food Systems Comparison, Courtney Fearon

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Solar Dairy Farm, Justin Mason

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Design, Planning, And Evaluation Of Upgraded Cattle Handling Facility, Lindsey Kaeli Tulloch

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design, planning, and evaluation of a livestock handling facility for Tulloch Ranches. The facility will be an upgrade to the facility currently used at the ranch in Pine Valley, California. The design parameters for the facility were narrowed down to the following: 1. Must reduce stress to animals during handling. 2. Must be cost effective to save labor and maintenance. 3. Must show improvement from the current set- up. The above parameters combine to form a system that enables the handlers of Tulloch Ranches to manage and work cattle in a more calm and humane …

A Case Study On Contracted Seasonal Workers And Farm Labor Contractors In The Stockton Area, Cristal Verduzco

Agribusiness

This study was conducted to define the current situation between contracted seasonal workers and farm labor contractors in the Stockton area. Specifically, this study focuses on the perception workers have of farm labor contracted employment. It also addresses the perception farm labor contractors have on the contracting business.

To gather the information needed to compare perceptions, interviews with twelve contracted seasonal workers and two farm labor contractors were conducted in Stockton. The analysis process consists of a detailed account of the problems workers and farm labor contractors encounter in the farm labor contracting business.

The results of these interviews concluded …

Agricultural Resources Available To Women Of Arusha, Tanzania, Travis Barnett

Agribusiness

Paper includes prior research and background about gender inequality and a woman's role in African society. Research documents agriculturally related resources available to women living in Arusha, Tanzania. Research documents agricultural, educational and financial resources provided by Non Government Organizations (NGO's) and Farm Systems Research (FSR) headquarters. Also includes documentation of societal and geographical resources, such as crop production and market locations and times within the Arusha region.

A Comparison Of Costs And Returns For Organic And Conventional Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Production In San Luis Obispo County, Amanda N. Johansen

Agribusiness

This study examined the differences in costs and profitability for established conventional and organic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Edna Valley region of San Luis Obispo County, California. The study used a partial budgeting approach to compare cost and profitability for established vineyards for 2009, and thus ignored transition costs. Data were obtained from UC Davis cost studies for organic and conventional grape production in other regions of California in previous years. Adjustments made to these costs to account for changes in input use, input costs and grape prices in San Luis Obispo County during the 2009 growing season.

The …

Sustainable Agriculture: A Time For Education, Kortnie Millhouse

Agricultural Education and Communication

This study used a fifteen-question survey to identify the articulation between education of water quality practices and the willingness to implement sustainable water quality techniques on farmland according to twenty-five agricultural operations residing on the Central Coast. Questions one through eight asked respondents to indicate their agreement or disagreement with various water quality assessment tools. Questions nine through twelve asked respondents to personally rate their operation’s level of water quality management on a scale from one to ten. Questions thirteen through fifteen were open-ended questions to generate responses about demographics. Consensus was reached that the higher the level of education …

Alma Del Vino Benefit Wine To A Fund For The Farm Workers Of San Luis Obispo County, Shane Christensen Hastings

Social Sciences

"Alma Del Vino" is a benefit that gives back 100% of the proceeds to a fund for the farm workers of San Luis Obispo County. Hard work and a dedicated work ethic has provided a bounty of fruits and vegetables grown from this fertile land, and has been the backbone in establishing a reputation for producing high quality wine fruit from this growing region. This wine is an opportunity to give back to those who work so hard, and are most in need.

A Study Of The Economic Effects Of Imposing Fair Trade Coffee Consumption In San Francisco, Alexander Preston Magginetti

Agribusiness

Noting the rising sales of eco-friendly and fairly traded goods in the United States, this study examines the effects of implementing a policy that would limit the supply of non-fair-trade coffee in San Francisco. The goal of this policy would be to increase the sales of the fair-trade coffee market in the United States, and benefit fair-trade coffee growers by mandating the sale of fair-trade coffee in San Francisco. This study focuses on the economic effects of the policy on consumers and producers of fair-trade coffee, regular coffee, tea, and soda.

“Fair trade” began at the end of World War …

Evaluation Of Qualitative Aesthetics Of Wine Labels, Taryn Ann Barsotti

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between qualitative label aesthetics of wine labels and recommended price. The variables that were evaluated included Sonoma, Napa, Golden Mean, Font Uniformity, Color, Direction, Realistic, Abstract, Font Sizes, Font Styles, Pictures of Grapes/Vineyards, and Horizontal Label.

The report represents two important techniques when performing the analysis. A regression analysis and an analysis of variance have been performed to determine the relationship between particular variables and price.

It is concluded that there is a relationship between all test label aesthetics in wine labels and recommended price. This relationship is based on a ninety …

Temperature Influence And Heat Management Requirements Of Microalgae Cultivation In Photobioreactors, Thomas Hagen Mehlitz

Master's Theses

Microalgae are considered one of the most promising feedstocks for biofuel production for the future. The most efficient way to produce vast amounts of algal biomass is the use of closed tubular photobioreactors (PBR). The heat requirement for a given system is a major concern since the best algae growth rates are obtained between 25-30 °C, depending on the specific strain. A procedure to determine temperature influence on algal growth rates was developed for a lab-scale PBR system using the species Chlorella. A maximum growth rate of 1.44 doublings per day at 29 °C (optimal temperature) was determined. In addition, …