Digital Commons Network^™

Performance And Feasibility Of Pasture Rangeland And Forage Insurance In The Delta Region, Walker Bradley Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite being available nationwide since 2016, enrollment in Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance remains low in many regions of the country. The program's performance also presents regional discrepancies, with loss ratios varying significantly. Studies that have simplified the complexity of interval selection for producers have been shown to positively affect PRF enrollment. Such studies remain limited in several forage-producing areas. This study aims to address the lack of information in Arkansas specifically. Arkansas has among the nation's lowest participation rates and loss ratios. Low loss ratios signal that participants pay more in premiums than received in indemnities and may …

Associations Of Variation In Mtdna With Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle And The Evaluation Of Transcriptomic Changes In Fetal Kidney Due To Hydrallantois, Lauren Elizabeth Seier

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

Project 1 focused on the central role that mitochondria play in ATP production, highlighting that variation within the mtDNA may influence feed efficiency. Variation in the mitochondrial genome was uncovered, and associations with feed efficiency in beef cattle were identified. Growth and feed intake phenotypes, as well as low-pass sequencing, were collected on beef steers across two populations. Protein coding variants were identified and used to classify animals into mitochondrial haplotypes. A linear mixed model was employed, which detected a significant association between mitochondrial haplotype and DMI. A significant haplotype with a variant in Complex I was associated with reduced …

A Convergent Mixed Methods Study Of The Social Studies Academy In South Carolina Middle Schools, Audie Cherry

All Dissertations

There is a global labor shortage in the agricultural industry and middle school is a critical time to get students serious about career decision making. The Studies of Occupations, Culture, and Innovations toward Agricultural Literacy (SOCIAL) Studies Academy is a high impact professional development program in South Carolina that provides experiences and for middle school social studies teachers (N = 12) to become more suited to teach their standards associated with the agricultural sciences with hopes of encouraging more students to pursue agricultural careers. This study was a mixed-methods convergent parallel design that examined 1) Academy Fellows (n = 4) …

Farmers’ Perceptions About Drivers Of Poverty: A Case Study Of Cocoa Farmers In Ghana, Felix Agyei Boamah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cocoa farmers in Ghana face numerous challenges that undermine their incomes and living standards, including high labor costs, fluctuating cocoa prices, high cost and limited access to inputs, lack of credit, illegal mining, weather risks, small farm sizes, outdated farming and drying technologies, and inadequate extension services. These issues reduce productivity, lower incomes, and perpetuate poverty. This study examined farmers’ perceptions about the importance of these challenges and assessed possible differences across regions and farm households’ socioeconomic status. In the summer of 2024, data were collected from 400 cocoa farmers in major cocoa-producing areas of Ghana’s Eastern and Ashanti regions. …

Microbial And Ecophysiological Indices Of Agricultural Soils As Affected By Different Farming Practices In Tropical Monsoon Climate, Gulshan Ara Begum, Sajal Roy, Nasrin Chowdhury

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Organic farming is increasingly promoted as a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture due to its positive effects on soil microbial dynamics, a critical component of ecosystem functioning. However, empirical comparisons of microbial responses across these systems are scarce. Therefore, we conducted a study to assess the various microbial indices of soils taken from distinct crop fields (e.g., brinjal, chilli, tomato, bean, and fallow lands) managed under both conventional and organic farming techniques. Composite soil samples from surface layer (0–15 cm) were collected in a completely random way from Bandarban upazila of Bangladesh (22°11'24.0"N 92°09'00.0"E, organic fields; 22°10'12.0"N 92°09'36.0"E, conventional fields). …

Cultivating The Wild: Strategies For Entrepreneurs Navigating Niche And Specialty Food Markets, Trey Malone, Courtney F. Cooper

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Consumer demand for authenticity and sustainability in food systems is growing, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs in niche and specialty markets. While wild-foraged and hunted foods are often perceived as more "natural" and sustainable, attempts to scale these products through farming may compromise their perceived authenticity.Methods To explore these dynamics, we conducted discrete choice experiments with a nationally representative sample of 1,039 U.S. consumers. Participants evaluated their willingness to pay (WTP) for salmon, venison, and morel mushrooms, presented in both wild-foraged/hunted and farm-raised forms.Results Consumers exhibited strong preferences for wild versions of all three products, with average …

Cultural Worldview And Rural Consumer Preferences For Genetically Modified Foods, Nathan P. Kemper

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods varies widely based on personal values and social context. This study investigates how cultural worldviews—measured through the Individualism–Communitarianism and Hierarchical–Egalitarianism dimensions—affect willingness to pay (WTP) for food labeling attributes related to GM content. We surveyed 932 U.S. primary grocery shoppers and conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with poultry product options. Using a Mixed Logit model and supplemental cognitive data from Query Theory, we find that rural individualists are more accepting of GM-labeled products. At the same time, urban communitarians show a stronger preference for non-GM labels. These results offer insight into …

Assessing Natural Resources Conservation Service (Nrcs) Impacts On Rice And Soybean Efficiency In The Mid-South, Ayodeji Samuel Ayiti

LSU Master's Theses

The study investigates how the Mid-South region of the U.S. rice and irrigated soybean production efficiency is influenced by (NRCS) incentives. To evaluate the effect of crop insurance, subsidies, and conservation incentives on lowering inefficiency, this study used a stochastic frontier model (SFA). The dataset covered the years 2010 – 2023, which allowed for a thorough evaluation of efficiency trends over time. While crop insurance programs reduce inefficiency in rice production, it shockingly increases inefficiency in soybean production, according to the study, which highlights the disparate effects of net support (insurance-subsidy).

The results show that while external factors like changes …

Western Australia’S Agricultural R&D Ecosystem, Ross Kingwell

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

• Decades ago, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in Western Australia (WA) was fairly simple with few funders and some key providers of R&D services such as the Department of Agriculture, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.
• Since then, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in WA has increased in complexity with more R&D providers and a greater injection of industry and private funding.
• These changes have occurred against a backdrop of the total investment in agricultural R&D declining as a share of agriculture’s gross value of production.
• State and federal governments have reduced their share of the total investment in agricultural R&D. …

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

Status Of The Western Australian Pastoral Rangelands 2024: Total Vegetative Cover, Cover Risk And Pasture Condition, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) monitors and reports on the vegetation condition of pastoral rangelands in Western Australia. Two levels of reporting are provided: every 5 years a full report (this report) details the state, trend and risk of decrease of vegetation condition in the pastoral rangelands using information derived from remotely sensed and on-ground data; in the intervening years, short reports are provided based on remotely sensed data.

This full report is based on remotely sensed vegetation cover data, rainfall data, livestock data and station-level rangeland condition assessment (RCA) data available in November 2024. Data …

Primary Investigation Of Rice-Fish Co-Culture: Investigating The Feasibility Of Raising Fish In Flooded Rice Paddies In The Southern Usa, Yulin Jia, Aaron K. Jackson, Bartholomew Green, S. Adam Fuller, Heather Box, Laduska Sells, Candis Ray, Paxton Harper, Brennan Smith

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

With limited land and water resources available it has become critical to maximize output for agricultural products while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Ricefish co-culture can be used to maximize limited land and water resources for production of rice and fish concurrently and reduce the need of chemical inputs. While rice-fish co-culture has been practiced in Asia for centuries, very few studies have examined the feasibility and economic impact of rice fish co-culture in the U.S.A. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.A. from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi …

1080 Baiting Information For Pet Owners, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

A must for pest control, but a risk to domestic pets.

1080 is the brand name given to the chemical compound sodium monofluoroacetate. It is the synthetically produced sodium salt of fluoroacetate and produced as a white powder which is odorless and tasteless to humans. 1080 has been developed for incorporating into various bait formulations for the control of vertebrate pests including wild dogs, foxes, feral cats, and feral pigs.

Lifecycle Of Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And Its Control By Natural Products, Tahani A. Alzahrani, Hanan S. Alyahya, Shatha I. Alqurashi, Jazem A. Mahyoub

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

The great wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is a major pest that affects honeybee colonies, causing serious damage to the honeycomb and disrupting beekeeping operations. This paper aims to review the life cycle of this insect and the natural control strategies used to manage its populations. This paper examines the different stages of growth of the great wax moth, including the stages of eggs, larva, pupae, and adults. The life cycle of this insect depends largely on environmental conditions, especially temperature, humidity and food quality, in addition, this paper focuses on natural control strategies, such as the use of plant extracts …

Bite By Bite: How Ungulate Browsing Shapes North America's Forest Future, Darius Hardalau, Vladut Stefanescu, Mindaugas Bakševičius, Michael Manton, Charles Ruffner, Gediminas Brazaitis, Georgeta Ionescu, Ovidiu Ionescu

Aspen Bibliography

Ungulate browsing represents a contemporary issue for forest development, influencing forest regeneration, composition, and management practices across the world, especially in North America. This review synthesizes findings from 101 studies conducted between 1980 and 2025 to examine patterns of herbivory damage through browsing by moose, elk, white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, and bison. Despite regional variation, high ungulate density consistently emerges as the primary factor driving browsing intensity and ecological and economic impact, leading to decreased social acceptance of coexistence with ungulates. This review highlights the selective suppression of palatable species such as balsam fir, red oak, and white cedar, leading …

Political Agroecology In Syracuse: Local Understandings, Possibilities, And Barriers To Food System Transformation, Cooper Olds

Theses - ALL

In recent years, agroecology has begun to receive increasing attention from international institutions such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO). For some, this is seen as a valuable case of up-scaling agroecology which will lead to greater institutional support for the framework. However, critical agroecologists have raised concerns that such institutional adoption is rather a form of co-optation where the social and political elements of agroecology are omitted to facilitate the integration of the framework into a wider program of food system reform. As a result, there is ongoing contestation over the framework between these co-opted …

The Effects Of Tea Polyphenols On The Emulsifying And Gelling Properties Of Minced Lamb After Repeated Freeze–Thaw Cycles, Xueyan Yun, Ganqi Yang, Limin Li, Ying Wu, Xujin Yang, Aiwu Gao

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Minced lamb remains one of the most produced meat products in the meat industry, across both the food service and retail sectors. Tea polyphenols (TPs), renowned for their diverse biological activities, are increasingly being employed as natural food additives in research and development. Tea polyphenols at concentrations of 0.00% (CG), 0.01% (TP1), 0.10% (TP2), and 0.30% (TP3) were added to lamb which had undergone a series of freeze–thaw cycles. The presence of tea polyphenols led to a significant decrease in the number of disulfide bonds, resulting in a slower oxidation rate. In addition, the surface hydrophobicity and juice loss of …

Emergence Of Caenocoris Neri (Germar, 1847) On Fig Trees In The Oases Of Southeastern Algeria, Nacima Diab, Tesnim Deghiche, Khalila Bengouga, Vasily Vladimirovich Verkhoturov

Journal of Bioresource Management

The article considers materials related to current areas of fundamental research in the field of agricultural entomology in Algeria. The most important issues of agricultural entomology in Algeria include identifying patterns of general trends in the dynamics of geographic ranges of phyto-entomophagous under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors, as well as studying the adaptation of insects to new habitats and food supply. In a notable discovery during insect sampling conducted in the oasis ecosystem during the summer of 2019, researchers recorded and identified individuals of the species Caenocoris nerii (Germar, 1847) for the first time. These insects were …

Effects Of Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract/Nanosilver On Immune Cells, Pathogen, And Breast/Colon Cancer Cell Line Growth, Mohammad Y. Alshahrani, Essam H. Ibrahim, Abeer S. Alahmari, Mona Kilany, Ramadan Taha, Haitham I. El-Mekkawy, Amr Ahmed El-Arabey, Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Commiphora myrrha grows in various places of the world and is used for many purposes. The objectives of this study were to examine the biological influences of C. myrrha resin extract (MRE) alone or with its biogenic nanosilver on microbial, immune, and cancer cell growth. C. myrrha resin was boiled to prepare the MRE. Functional groups in the MRE were explored using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). MRE was used to synthesize nanosilver that was characterized using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis)-spectrophotometer and X-ray diffraction. In vivo experiments included the untreated group (G1) and MRE-orally treated group (G2). Cancer cell lines, HCT-116 (colon) …

The Effects Of Melatonin And Pgpr Applications On Phenolic Compounds, Organic Acids, And Agromorphological Characteristics In Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.) Fruits By Multivariate Analysis, Akgül Taş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, melatonin, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and PGPR + melatonin were applied to the Festival and Kabarla strawberry varieties and the effects of these applications on fruit quality were investigated. The parameters of fruit weight, fruit width and length, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), phenolic compounds, organic acids, and vitamin C parameters were examined. The analysis shows that significantly better results were obtained in terms of fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, and SSC values in all fruits treated with melatonin, PGPR, and PGPR + melatonin, although there was variation between the strawberry varieties. …

Green Biosynthesis Of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Using Saccharum Munja Leaf Extract As A Catalyst For Callus Induction In Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus L.) Plants, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Sameed Arshad Chaudhry, Maryam Maryam, Aysha Arif Chahel, Riaz Ahmad, Mehmet Ramazan Bozhüyük, İbrahi̇m Bozkurt, Magda Abdel-Rahman, Konstantin Korolev

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The common name of a wild grass native to Pakistan with both edible and medicinal properties is Saccharum munja Roxb. (S. munja). Prior research has investigated various plant species for the green biosynthesis of nanoparticles to circumvent issues related to their physical and chemical production. This study presents the first evidence of synthesizing cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4NPs) using S. munja leaf extract (SMLE) as both a reducing and a capping agent. This study investigated their ability to induce in vitro callus formation in Dianthus caryophyllus L. (carnation). In this study, Co3O4NPs were synthesized using varying quantities of SMLE to achieve …

A Comprehensive Review Of Fermentation Technologies In Food Processing: From Traditional To Cutting Edge, Pragati Singh, Niharika Arya, Shalini Sharma, Ankita Sharma, Prasad Rasane, Supriya Singh Gaur, Sawinder Kaur, Mahendra Gunjal, Hasan Kiliçgün, Jyoti Singh

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Fermentation technologies play crucial roles in food processing, offering various advantages, including enhanced flavor profiles, extended shelf life, and improved nutritional qualities. This paper provides a comprehensive overview on the major types of fermentation as well as effects of various factors such as substrate composition, temperature, pH, oxygen availability, and microbial strain selection on the process. Despite its widespread application, traditional fermentation processes face limitations related to yield optimization, contamination risks, and process consistency. Recent advancements have significantly enhanced fermentation efficiency, product quality, and scalability, ultimately expanding the applications beyond food and beverage production into pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, biofuels, and waste …

2025 Nebraska Custom Rates For Livestock-Related Agricultural Services, Glennis Mcclure

Cornhusker Economics

Conclusion

The 2025 livestock custom rates report serves as a valuable reference for cost benchmarking and service pricing in Nebraska’s livestock sector. While most rates have remained stable, producers and service providers should refer to multiple years’ reports to understand trends and regional variation. As always, actual service rates will vary based on job complexity, geographic location, provider availability, and market demand.

Participation in Future Surveys

To strengthen future reports, producers and service providers are encouraged to participate in upcoming surveys. Interested individuals may register at the following URL: https://cap.unl.edu/nebraska-custom-rates-survey-sign

The 2025 Custom Service Rates Related to Livestock Production in …

Exploiting Genomics To Advance Genetic Gain For Reproductive Traits In Sheep, Mujibur Rahman

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Poor reproductive performance has a negative impact on the profitability of sheep production systems with the number of lambs reared highlighted as a key driver of farm profitability. Nevertheless, the genetic improvement of reproductive traits in sheep has been constrained by their low heritability and pleiotropic nature. Understanding the underlying genetic architecture can improve genomic prediction estimates and enhance genetic gain.

This study will utilize large-scale genomic and phenotypic datasets to enhance genetic gain in sheep reproductive traits through four approaches: 1) to determine the effect of inbreeding depression on reproduction, 2) to identify causal variants impacting reproductive performance through …

Removal Of Fluoroquinolones From Water Systems Employing Rice Husk Composited Sponges Via Nanoadsorption, Dalia Kanaa

Theses and Dissertations

A novel nanocomposite of polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde (PVF) sponge loaded with green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) and referred to as (NP-PVF) was fabricated as a potential adsorbent of ciprofloxacin from water. A simple mechanical foaming process was used to synthesize the adsorbent. Rice husk extract was used to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) for its phytochemicals as reducing agents. A facile and low-energy-dependent extraction method was used that did not require the use of high-temperature annealing. The synthesized nanoparticles showed a maximum UV absorption at 347 nm, which corresponds to a 3.58 eV band gap energy. FTIR confirmed the successful …

Sample Storage Method And Collection Time Effects On Horse Hair Cortisol Concentrations, Grace Robertson, Savannah Rivers, Thomas Powell, Shea Porr

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Serum cortisol concentration is the gold standard for evaluating stress in horses. However, it can be affected by circadian rhythms, environmental factors, and other excitatory events. Hair cortisol is less subject to these variables and is less invasive to collect, but there is a lack of published information on hair cortisol concentrations in horses. The objectives of this study were to examine 1) the impact of sample storage (Room temperature vs. Frozen) and 2) the effect of collection date (spring vs. fall), on cortisol concentration in equine hair. It was hypothesized that Frozen samples would yield higher concentrations than Room …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Soybean Embryogenic Cell Culture Genetically Engineered, Gabriel Carrasquillo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The inflation of population in the world has led to a high and consistent food demand which has reinvigorated worldwide interest to create high-yielding varieties of legumes. Soybean Glycine max (L.) Merrill, a member of this legume family has become one of the most essential food crops in the United States as well as in the world due its edible oil and protein content up to 20% and 54%, respectively. Because of its high importance as a food crop, major objectives in soybean breeding, improvement of protein and oil production need to be achieved. These objectives can be addressed using …

Seed Careers App Impact On Nextgen Scholars At Tennessee State University, Jazmine Norwood

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of minority groups in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANHS) careers remains a challenge, limiting diversity and growth within the industry. Agriculture degrees have been disproportionately awarded to White students, while Hispanic, Black, and Native American students receive significantly fewer degrees. Research suggests that financial assistance, experiential learning, and career outreach improve minority student retention and success in FANHS. To address these challenges, the USDA’s NextGen program awarded $18.1 million to Tennessee State University (TSU) to support underserved students through scholarships, internships, and career development initiatives, including the creation of the Students Exploring Employment and Development …

Nebline, June/July 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

4-H embryology will crack 50 years of chicks hatching in local classrooms, Vicki Jedlicka

Simple ways to eat more fruits and veggies every day, Alyssa Havlovic

Recipe of the month: Crunchy veggie wraps

Annual flowers for sunny locations, Mary Jane Frogge

Garden guide: Things to do this month, Mary Jane Frogge

2025 Gro Big Red

It’s time for private well maintenance, Becky Schuerman

Monitoring pastures for improving management and productivity, John Nelson

Why play is your child's most important work, Hayley Jackson Perez

Keep an eye out for some common caterpillars, Kait Chapman

Lancaster County Super Fair

Upcoming babysitting trainings …