Digital Commons Network^™

Consumer Choice Within Fresh Produce, Victoria C. Ross

Agricultural Education and Communication

This project set out to question whether fresh produce required more specific labeling of pesticides and fertilizer inputs on fresh produce. Like many questions regarding health, environmental science, agriculture, and politics, there is not one simple answer. After listening to professionals and interviewing customers outside grocery stores, it's clear that the majority of consumers are not pursuing additional information, but that there is a small group of customers who would appreciate it. It also became clear that although fear mentality is of concern to professionals in the food industry, consumers don’t seem to understand the negative effects their participation in …

Bird Species And Abundances In Fruit Crops And Implications For Bird Management, Melissa B. Hanney, Jason R. Boulanger, Paul D. Curtis, Rachael A. Eaton, Benjamin C. Hawes, Deanna K. Leigh, Cody A. Rossetti, Karen M. M. Sttensma, Catherine A. Lindell

Biology Faculty Publications

Fruit consumption by birds is a costly problem in North America, yet basic information about the species and abundance of fruit-eating birds in fruit crops, and factors that influence abundance, are lacking. We conducted a study of fruit-eating birds in 'Honeycrisp' apples, blueberries, grapes, and sweet cherries in Michigan, New York, and the Pacific Northwest in 2012 and 2013. We documented the most frequently observed fruit-eating birds in each crop across our study regions, and used fruit-consumption data to identify bird species for each crop and region that have a great impact via fruit consumption. We found that American Robins …

From Urban To Agriculture, Jacqueline V. Aenlle

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

"From Urban to Agriculture" is a website utilizing a blog and podcast to connect with consumers and share reliable information about agriculture. In addition to covering specific topics such as organic production, dairy animal welfare, and honey production, this forum also address cross disciplinary topics such as media literacy and critical thinking. The website not only appeals to everyday consumers, it also provides resources for educators seeking to integrate a lesson on agricultural advocacy into their curriculum. The following report details the creation process for this website, development of blog content, acquisition of podcast materials, and future plans for the …

Forage News [2019-06], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Managing Pastures this Summer
• 2019 Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour: Resuscitating a Rundown Farm
• The Wonder Grass: The Story of Tall Fescue in the United States now available
• UK Weed Sceicne to Host a Pair of Field Days at UKREC in Princeton
• Grass Decline? Check Your Cutting Height
• We're Producing and Feeding Less Hay

Graduate Internship Report - Hanford Agriculture Department, Dominica L. Clisso

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Hanford Agriculture Department conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Hanford FFA, the agriculture program and the community.

Nebline, June 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Understanding How Climate Change Affects Nebraska and Agriculture

Are You Drinking or Eating Enough Dairy Foods for the Health Benefits?

Recipe of the Month

Floods and Trees: Helping Trees Recover

Pretty Things That Pollinate

Perennial Plants for Pollinators

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Pollinator Week: June 17–23

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Nebraska Early Development Network

HEART OF 4-H Volunteer: Glenda Willnerd

JUNE 15 DEADLINE: 4-H Member Online Enrollment; Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Requirements for ANY Livestock Exhibitor; 4-H Projects Updated; Volunteer Online Enrollment; 4-H/FFA Animal IDs

4-H Sewing Help

4-H Clover Kids Animal Showmanship Change …

Compact Farms: A Step Towards Sustainability, Chad A. Porter

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project report accounts for the potential benefits compact farms can have for agriculture and sustainability. The report details the design, implementation, and management of Whistle Stop Farm, a 1-acre, diverse farm producing vegetables, fruits, and gourmet mushrooms for direct markets in Atascadero, California. The farm focuses on economic and environmental sustainability. A large part of the farm revolves around soil science and how to manage soils to promote a healthy soil ecosystem.

Aged 539: Internship In Agriculture Education, Veronica Lemus

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Fillmore High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Fillmore High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Beef Production Systems In The Nebraska Sandhills, Mckay Reed Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Four studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of improving production systems of beef cattle in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. These studies were to determine impacts of modified estrus synchronization protocols, genomic testing heifer calves for longevity, and evaluation of 2 differing calving systems (March or May) for improving biological outcome and improved production. Experiment 1 utilized 180 yearling heifers to determine the effectiveness of a second dose of prostaglandin F_2α(PGF) with those females not expressing estrus after an initial 14 d MGA-PG estrus synchronization protocol. The treatment of PGF did increase estrus expression, but did not …

Mobile Drip Irrigation For Pivots And Laterals, Matt Yost, Jonno Holt, Chad Reid, Dean Winward, Niel Allen, Earl Creech

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is base on four irrigation demonstration/research trials conducted during 2018. It is part of ongoing research.

Setting Up Your Hive And Installing Bees, Andree Walker-Bravo, Sheriden M. Hansen, Jaydee Gunnell

All Current Publications

Getting your hive set up and your bees installed is an exciting first step for a beekeeper. However, it can also be a confusing and anxious time if it is your first experience. As there are many different methods for installing bees, this fact sheet provides a guide for the first time beekeeper. As you become more comfortable and experienced with your bees, you may modify these recommendations and methods to you own preferences.

Chemical Characterization Of Trichoderma Reesei Degraded Date Pits And Its Effect On Growth Performance And Intestinal Bacterial Population And Antioxidant Status - A Comparative Study With Mannose And Mannan -Oligosaccharide On Broiler, Salem Rashed Ali Rashed Al Yileili

Dissertations

With the increasing apprehension over food safety nowadays, there have been relentless efforts aiming for subrogating antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feeds. Thus, this research study aims at investigating the potential effects of using degraded date pits (DDP) as feedstuff and as a natural alternative for antibiotics in poultry feeding. Two feeding experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, the minimum time of feeding a diet containing 10% DDP is required to induce growth-promoting effects on broiler performance. In experiment 2, the influence of feeding 10% DDP was examined as feedstuff at 10% in broilers diets and a growth-promoting agent …

Common Stink Bugs Of Utah, Mark Cody Holthouse, Zachary R. Schumm, Diane G. Alston, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information of some of Utah's commonly encountered stink bugs, including what they look like, where to find them, and other key identifying characteristics.

Study On The Rapid Detection Of Five Strains Of Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli By Real-Time Fluorescence Quantitative Pcr, Wang Fangmei, Zhong Wentao, Wang Shuhao, Lu Lin, Han Fenling

Food and Machinery

Primers, and probes were designed for the conserved sequences of five virulence genes involved in Escherichia coli diarrhea mentioned in the new standard of GB 4789.6—2016 national food safety standard. Four kits of multiple real-time fluorescence PCR were established to detect five diarrhea-causing E. coli simultaneously. The results showed that 12 pairs of virulence genes of the four kits were verified by the standard reserve strains of the five diarrhea-causing E. coli strains. In addition, these 12 pairs of virulence genes only play a role in the specific role of corresponding diarrhea-causing E. coli, and have no amplification curve for …

Optimization On Purification Technology Of Alfalfa Leaf Protein Peptide Bymacroporous Adsoption Resin, Xu Yingyi, Wu Hongyan, Wang Yu, Wang Biao

Food and Machinery

The best macroporous adsorption resin was selected by comparing the adsorption effects of six macroporous adsorption resins on Alfalfa Leaf Protein (ALPP), and the adsorption-desorption characteristics of ALPP were studied. The results showed that the best type of macroporous adsorption resin for purifying ALPP was DA201-C. The optimum conditions were as follows: flow rate of sampling was 0.5 mL/min, concentration of sampling was 10 mg/mL, 75% ethanol solution was an eluent, the elution flow rate was 0.5 mL/min and the elution volume was 200 mL. Under these conditions, content of ALPP inceased by 46.95%, content of sugar decreased by 81.88%, …

A Revised Land Ethic: Sustainable And Spiritual Agriculture, Brooke Maitlan Parrett

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper proposes a return to the land and reconnection of spiritual practices through ethical teachings. Such a land ethic would involve answering the woes of industrial agriculture and providing a framework for farmers, consumers, and policymakers based on sustainable and spiritual considerations of the land. I analyze the loss of spiritual literacy and traditional ecological knowledge in the United States and discuss the spiritual history of agriculture in order to analyze contemporary religious perspectives on farming and agricultural ethics and thereby develop my own recommendations. The land ethic I propose combines sustainability and spirituality to develop intrinsic respect for …

Oxyrase And Pyruvate Inclusion In Extenders For Cold Stored Stallion Spermatozoa, Jordan T. Shore

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

A current method in addressing subfertility in stallions include manipulating the semen extender media by supplementing antioxidants and energy sources. Two experiments (EXP 1/EXP 2) were conducted to assess the effects of pyruvate and Oxyrase^® suspended in commercial diluents for preservation of stallion spermatozoa. Assessment of total (TM) and progressive motility (PM), velocity and direction of movement (VAP, VSL, VCL, and elongation) were recorded by CASA. In EXP 1, 3 different ejaculates were collected from each of 4 stallions. Aliquots of each ejaculate were suspended into 4 treatments of INRA96 with or without Oxyrase^® supplemented at 2.4 U/ml …

Macronutrient Content Of Winter Annual Cereal Grains With Phosphorus Fertilization, Taylor Anne Young

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Missouri ranks third in the United States in cow-calf production, and much of the land these cattle graze has acidic soil that is low in plant available phosphorus (P). Proper soil fertility is important to ensure that these forages meet the nutritional requirements of cattle. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceum (Schreb.)), has been shown to respond to increased soil P levels with increased growth and leaf concentrations of P, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). It is unknown if winter annual cereals will respond similarly. The objective of this study is to examine cereal rye (Secale cereal L.), winter wheat …

Assessment Of Household Food Security In Fish Farming Communities In Ghana, Akua S. Akuffo, Kwamena Quagrainie

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The Government of Ghana and international NGOs have been encouraging the adoption of fish farming to alleviate poverty and food insecurity through training workshops, financial contributions and creation of a fisheries ministry. Nevertheless, there is no study on how these efforts have influenced the household’s welfare, particularly their nutritional quality. Based on this, our objective is to identify the ways through which fish farming impacts the household’s nutritional quality. We hypothesize that engaging in fish farming will increase steady income flow and access to fish for the household’s direct consumption. We adopted the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach in a …

Identification And Classification Of Poultry Eggs: A Case Study Utilizing Computer Vision And Machine Learning, Jeremy Lubich, Kyle Thomas, Daniel W. Engels

SMU Data Science Review

We developed a method to identify, count, and classify chickens and eggs inside nesting boxes of a chicken coop. Utilizing an IoT AWS Deep Lens Camera for data capture and inferences, we trained and deployed a custom single-shot multibox (SSD) object detection and classification model. This allows us to monitor a complex environment with multiple chickens and eggs moving and appearing simultaneously within the video frames. The models can label video frames with classifications for 8 breeds of chickens and/or 4 colors of eggs, with 98% accuracy on chickens or eggs alone and 82.5% accuracy while detecting both types of …

Analysis Of Rwandan Smallholder Poultry Farmer Needs In Production Manuals, Holly Henry

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

As global population continues to grow improving agricultural production become even more important. Smallholder farmers make up a large portion of agricultural production in developing countries (Gueye, 2000; Upton, 2000). East Africa is one sector which has seen growth in poultry production over the pas five years. (Vernooij, Masaki, & Meiher-Willems, 2018). One major constraint to smallholder production is lack of access to educational materials and production guidelines (Mack et al., 2005).

The purpose of the study was to describe methods of production utilized by smallholder farmers in Rwanda and determine what information should be included in a production guide. …

Nebline, May 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

25 Years of Earth Wellness Festival: A Generation of Students Have Learned Value of Environmental Resources

Malcolm 4th Graders Learn About Healthy Choices

Recipe of the Month

2019 Cash Rent Survey

Bagworm Control in Windbreaks

Choosing the Best Bug Spray to Protect Your Family From Mosquitoes and Ticks

2019 Herb of the Year

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

Children and Mindful Eating

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Susan Martin

Babysitting Training, June 18

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Clover College

Upcoming Landscape Workshops

Extension News: New Domestic Water and Wastewater Extension Associate

Extension News: Two New Interns …

Cultivate Spring/Summer 2019, Utah State University

Cultivate Magazine

Bi-annual magazine for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

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 …

Consumer Perceptions Of Organic, Natural, And Conventional Products When Provided At The Same Price., Kylee Sigmon

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Today’s grocery stores are filled aisle to aisle with an overwhelming variety of options for the consumer. In a consumer-driven market structure, the food industry has grown to encompass many niche markets which meet the ever changing demands of consumers. From organically produced food to more modern agriculture practices and even to finding non-meat protein alternatives, the options are endless. However, in the United States (a country with a higher level of disposable income compared to others), the question arises are customers educated about what the products truly are that they are spending a price premium on?

This study assessed …

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 …

Graduate Internship Report- Dinuba High School, Nicole R. Borba

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This graduate internship report includes the documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Dinuba High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Dinuba High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Observations And Applications Of Husbandry Methodologies On A Backyard Poultry Farm In Dangriga, Belize, Bailey Carpenter

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study explores the husbandry methodologies on a backyard poultry farm in Dangriga, Belize, with the purpose of producing a set of guidelines for backyard poultry growers that have limited resources in similar regions. The majority of data collection occurred through survey questions approved by the IRB, necropsies approved by IACUC, and general observations. There has been a steady increase in poultry production in developing regions due to its positive effects on income and relative nutrition. However, due to a lack of accessible communication and education regarding effective and safe poultry production, these operators typically see poor productivity and/or profitability …

Analysis Of Permaculture’S Water Conservation And Crop Supporting Abilities, Hannah Chaney

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the Middle East, virtually all agriculturally viable land is under high threat of desertification due to poor land and resource management and climate change. Mulching using straw flakes (straw mulch permaculture) is a method commonly used in successful dry land permaculture projects in the Middle East. We proposed that straw mulch permaculture would increase the amount of soil moisture during dry periods and that this method would not impact the growth and survival of the crop. In order to test this hypothesis, we took soil samples from plots with and without straw mulch permaculture in Bowling Green, KY and …

Examining The Capacity Of Nebraska Rangelands For Cattle, Kaitlyn Cumming, Jay Parsons, Walter H. Schacht, Brian Baskerville

Cornhusker Economics

According to the 2017 United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service report (USDA-NASS 2017), Nebraska is the number one ranked state in the United States for both cattle on feed and for beef slaughtering capacity. It ranks number two in all cattle and calves while ranking number four in the number of beef cows. Beef production has a $12.1 billion impact annually to the Nebraska economy including $6.5 billion in direct sales (Nebraska Beef Cattle Facts 2016).

Given the above information, a research question was motivated to evaluate the forage production of Nebraska’s perennial grazing land systems and …