Digital Commons Network^™

Revaluating Whole Measures Of Community Food Security In Unity State, South Sudan, Bijiek G. Jieknyal, Lorien E. Macauley

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

Conflict in the newly formed South Sudan has had devastating effects on the nation’s food security. Many food security metrics overlook factors of agriculture, such as seasonality, access to agricultural inputs; or the effects of displacement of small farm holders due to conflict. In light of these complexities, constructs were adapted from Whole Measures for Community Food Systems (WMCFS), and evaluated for their appropriateness in articulating the food situation in Unity State, South Sudan. This study used a pilot study approach, triangulating publicly available, qualitative and quantitative datasets from the Famine Early Warning System Network, United Nations, Government of …

The Small Farmer-Tuskegee University-Walmart Project: Observations Of The Steps Within Commercial Supply, Barrett Vaughan, Miles D. Robinson, Audrey Zeigler, George X. Hunter, Gertrude Wall, John Brown

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

Observations of the various efforts necessary in an initiative, the Small Farmer-Tuskegee University-Walmart Project, to assist small farmers to comply with produce industry standards and supply produce to a major retailer over a six-year period were documented through an illustrative case study. The observations were taken from meetings with commercial buyers and farmers, site visits to processing centers and corporate farms, conference calls, and, mainly, from the authors’ “hands-on” participation with the functioning and preservation of this initiative. Consequently, these observations were organized into a framework of criteria that must be successively satisfied to be able to supply produce …

Healthy Food Promotion: The Role Of Information Framing, Cognitive Processes, And Social Influence, Christopher Gustafson

Cornhusker Economics

Rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. have increased steadily over the past 50 years, with serious consequences for people’s health, livelihoods, and quality of life. Estimates of U.S. adult and childhood overweight and obesity that were based on measurements of height and weight, rather than self-reported data, were collected in a nationwide study conducted in 2011-2012. These data suggest that over one-third of adults were obese and another third were overweight, while 17 percent of children were obese and 15 percent overweight.

Incorporating Instruction Into The Huasna Valley 4-H Beef Group, Carly P. Chandless

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to design a manual to be used by 4-H leaders and members. The author wants to develop an interesting and intriguing manual that will demonstrate how to raise a market steer. This manual will contain step by step instructions on how fit a steer for show and how to halter break. These illustrations will help guide a 4-H member through the process of handling their steer. The Huasna Valley 4-H Steer Manual will provide beneficial information, to the leader and member, from the moment the project is purchased to sale. More importantly, the manual …

Working Bodies: A Photo Essay On Tulare County Citrus Workers, Isamar Hernandez-Ramos

Agricultural Education and Communication

Many a times, when people think about their food, they think about origins. Where did it come from? Was it hygienic? Were the animals treated humanely? They seldom include the workers in their thought process, though the workers of the Ag industry provide what is arguably a vital part of the Ag industry. They do back-breaking labor in often lethal conditions for little pay (NFWM). The families of these workers often suffer economically, physically, and emotionally. In Tulare County, one of the top Agricultural counties in the country, the agricultural worker is often below the poverty line (Taylor, 2015). They …

Consumer Agricultural Education: Starting At The High School Level Health Class, Cecilia Teresa Acosta

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project is to analyze and understand the communication gap between the farmer and consumer in order to create a dialogue about misconceptions in the media. Often rumors in the media worry or mislead the consumer in his or her buying choices. In order for consumers to understand what they are buying, and critically analyze media information, it is necessary to teach agricultural education at the high school level health class. This project will showcase how to start this education in order to bridge the communication gap starting with five crucial and common food-packaging labels. These labels …

Cost Of Feed Per Pound Of Gain In Cal Poly's Dairy Calves, Kayle Anna Phelan

Agricultural Education and Communication

California is ranked one of the top five states in the United States for dairy production. It produces approximately 40 billion pounds of milk per year for US production. California’s dairy industry is not only the largest milk producer in the nation, but it is also the most financially prominent in the agricultural industry. This industry lead is purely because of its careful management practices. The way calves are raised depend on the resources used, the natural environment present, and the operation of the dairy farm. Essentially, there are numerous ways to care for a cow and calf. However, the …

Pretreatments To Prevent Darkening Of Fruits Prior To Canning Or Dehydrating, Carolyn Washburn, Christie Jensen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes pretreatments that can be used to prevent darkening of fruits prior to canning or dehydrating, including ascorbic acid, citric acid powder, lemon juice, citric acid mixtures, fruit juice, and sulfites.

Study On Isolation And Identification Of Reducing Citric Acid Strains, Zhang Duo, Mao Yong, Mao Jian, Liu Shuangping, Zhou Zhilei

Food and Machinery

In order to screen the strains which have the capability of reducing the citric acid, 15 strains of yeasts were isolated from the materials of waste water and waste residue. The waste water and residue were collected in the citric acid factory. The yeasts were screened based on the capability of fermenting the citric acid. It was found that the 5 strains had good capability of reducing the citric acid. They could reduce at least 70% citric acid of the culture medium after 5 d fermentation. The 5 strains were tested the stress resistance of ethanol. The strain NS2 and …

Mechanism Of Texture Influenced By Xanthan Gum On Soy Protein Bar Model System, Wu Yuting, Zhou Peng, Li Juan, Liu Changshu, Wang Sai

Food and Machinery

Soy protein bar model system was normally multicompo-nent and thermodynamically unstable and its hardness was increased significantly in the early stage of storage. Xanthan gum is a kind of hydrocolloid with high viscosity and water holding capacity, and it is widely used in food industry as quality improver. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of xanthan gam on texture of soy protein bar model system. The changes in texture, microstructure and T₂ relaxation time of soy protein bar model systems with or without xanthan gum were observed through texture analyzer, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electronic microscopy …

Dynamic Changes Of Nutrational And Functional Ingredients During Germination Of Quinoa, Huang Jin, Qin Likang, Shi Qingnan, Wen Anyan

Food and Machinery

The changes of bud length, germination rate, protein, amino acid, crude fat, starch, ash content, total flavonoids, total polyphenols, γ-aminobutyric acid and saponin content were investigatedduring the period of sprouting. The rate of germination could reach 80% after 24 hours. There was a decreasing tendency on the content of protein, total ash and total starch, while the crude fat content displayed a trend of increasing, and the variation were 64%, 41%, 49% and 28% respectively. The composition of amino acids had no obvious change, but the proportion of total essential amino acids (TEAA) to total content of amino acids (TAA) …

Effects Of Organic Selenium And Linseed Oil Supplementation On Myofibrillar Protein And Quality Of Frankfurters, Tang Xinyue, Zhang Wenbin, Jiang Jiang, Yang Ruijin, Hua Xiao, Zhao Wei

Food and Machinery

Crossed pigs were fed a control diet (with 0.3 mg/kg sodium selenite+1.5% soybean oil) or organic selenium diets (0.3 mg/kg Se-Yeast +1.5% soybean oil or linseed oil, 0.5 mg/kg Se-Yeast+1.5% soybean diet) to investigate the effects on selenium deposition in loin muscle, fatty acid profile, properties of myofibrillar and processed meat products. The organic diets increased muscular selenium content up to 54% (P<0.05) compared to the control diet. Linseed oil supplemented in the pig diet improved n-6/n-3 ratio, the solubility and gelatin strength of myofribrillar (P<0.05), without affecting the microstructure and sensory characters of Frankfurters. The high level of organic selenium supplementation inhibited the lipid oxidation of Frankfurters from d 7 to d 12. Hence, dietary organic selenium and linseed oil supplementation have some enhancement in Se-enriched meat production and processing.

Effect Of Compound Preservative On Fresh-Keeping Of Fresh-Cut Yam, Wang Mei, Xu Li, Wang Meifen, Tang Jing

Food and Machinery

In order to control the browning and quality deterioration of fresh-cut yam and extend its shelf life, By using the onion oil extracted from onion, which was combined with citric acid and chitosan, taking the L^* values and sensory score as index, the formula of compound preservative for fresh-cut yam was optimized by single factor and orthogonal experiments. The results showed that the optimal formula of preservative for fresh-cut yam was 0.6% onion oil + 1.0% citric acid + 1.0% chitosan. This formula could significantly inhibit the activities of polyphenol oxidase(PPO) and peroxidase(POD), reduce relative conductivity and the accumulation …

The Degradation And Transfer Law Of Glucosinolates In Rapeseeds During Aqueous Medium Extraction Processing Of Oil, Ren Yanqin, Yang Ruijin, Zhang Wenbin, Zhao Wei, Hua Xiao

Food and Machinery

The effect of different pretreatments on degradation of glucosinolates in rapeseed and its transferring law in oil, emulsion, water and sediment phase during aqueous medium extraction processing was investigated. The glucosinolates content was determined by palladium chloride spectrophotometry method, and the conditions of roasting and boiling were optimized by single-factor experiments. The results showed that under the optimized conditions of roasting at 120 ℃ for 0.5 h, the degradation rate of glucosinolate was 7.32%. While under the optimized conditions of boiling at 115 ℃ for 10 min, the degradation rate of glucosinolate was 21.04%. The glucosinolates were kept substantially constant …

Optimization Of Vacuum Osmotic Dehydration Of Cheery Tomatoes, Xu Xin, Wu Yue, Tao Yang, Su Lijuan, Han Yongbin

Food and Machinery

The vacuum osmotic dehydration of cherry tomato cultivated “SU LONG NO.1” was studied. Prior to vacuum osmotic dehydration, cherry tomatoes were pre-treated by blanching combined with lineation, acupuncture, lineation and sonication, separately. Through comparison, blanching combined with lineation was selected as a suitable pre-treatment before osmotic dehydration. Next, the effects of vacuum degree, sugar content, temperature and time on the water loss and solid gain of cherry tomato during osmotic dehydration were studied by single factor study. The osmotic dehydration process at 0.080 MPa was further optimized by response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for osmotic dehydration of cherry tomato …

Study Of Membrane Fouling Mechanism In Soy Sauce Clarification, Sun Ye, Yao Lei, Zhao Liming

Food and Machinery

Microfiltration is a popular technology in soy sauce and other brewing products clarification proceducer. As the complex components and the strict requirements in nutrition and flavor, membrane fouling is an intractable problem and the fouling mechanism hasn’t been clarified. In this work, membrane fouling mechanisms was systematically investigated by fitting the flux curve to Hermia model. Results: At the initial stage of soy sauce clarification, the fouling mechanisms was dominated by multi-mechanism, for the complete pore blocking, intermidate pore blocking, and cake layer formation model. During the following process cake layer formation predominated the membrane fouling.The influences of operating conditions …

The Donation-Based Approach To Solving Critical Social Issues: An Examination Of The Food Waste Recovery Approach To Solving Hunger In The United States, Desa Radic

Capstone Collection

As the issue of hunger continues to plague the lives of nearly 1 billion people around the world, we need to find real, lasting and empowering solutions. This is an interdisciplinary research study into the donation-based approach to solving critical social issues in the United States by examining the food waste recovery and hunger debate. Social, public and private sectors advocate that hunger can be solved through food waste recovery and redistribution methods. From a systems perspective, such thinking is not only problematic for the people facing hunger, but raises concern of achieving overall social justice and change. Using qualitative …

Transcriptomic Resources For The Medicinal Legume Mucuna Pruriens: De Novo Transcriptome Assembly, Annotation, Identification And Validation Of Est-Ssr Markers, N. Sathyanarayana, Ranjith Kumar Pittala, Pankaj Kumar Tripathi, Ratan Chopra, Heikham Russiachand Singh, Vikas Belamkar, Pardeep Kumar Bhardwaj, Jeff J. Doyle, Ashley N. Egan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background:

The medicinal legume Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. has attracted attention worldwide as a source of the anti-Parkinson’s drug L-Dopa. It is also a popular green manure cover crop that offers many agronomic benefits including high protein content, nitrogen fixation and soil nutrients. The plant currently lacks genomic resources and there is limited knowledge on gene expression, metabolic pathways, and genetics of secondary metabolite production. Here, we present transcriptomic resources for M. pruriens, including a de novo transcriptome assembly and annotation, as well as differential transcript expression analyses between root, leaf, and pod tissues. We also develop microsatellite markers …

Effects Of Integrating Mathematical Concepts Into A Nutrition Unit In The Animal Science Curriculum, Andrea R. Gardner, Brian K. Warnick, Rebecca G. Lawver

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Achievement test scores in mathematics have been a concern among educators for many years. Teaching contextualized mathematics has been found to be effective and includes providing a direct application to real-life scenarios rather than teaching linear equations and algebraic principles in isolation. This study measured the effects of integrating mathematical skills in one instructional unit in an animal science curriculum. Students from eight schools participated in the research study. Students completed a pretest measuring their existing mathematical skills and self-efficacy in math. All students were taught a unit of instruction about animal nutrition and feeding. The control group received a …

Coffee Carbon Stocks, Pest And Diseases Under Varied Shade Management: A Review, Anna E. Nordseth

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Coffee agroforestry systems have received increased attention in recent decades because of their capacity to improve agricultural sustainability. Coffee (Coffea arabica), one of the most economically important crops, is widespread throughout the tropics and can have serious environmental impacts. To ensure sustainable coffee production, it is critical that coffee systems are maintained to maximize carbon storage and minimize susceptibility to pests and diseases. This study reviews the history of coffee production, from forested coffee systems to industrial coffee monocultures. We describe the five classifications for coffee systems, and use them as a framework to compare aboveground carbon stocks …

Atole De Maíz Azul: Building Climate-Change Resilience With Local Knowledge/Food Sovereignty In Northern New Mexico, Katherine C.R. Dixon

Sustainability and Social Justice

The impacts of climate change in Northern New Mexico will cause a variation in seasonal precipitation and increased drought conditions. Northern New Mexico is home to numerous indigenous and rural-agricultural communities who rely on these water resources for subsistence and cultural practices. They are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

This paper investigates the impacts of climate change to Northern New Mexico. It examines the role of participatory methods and local knowledge in building community resilience. This paper is informed primarily through secondary research, and also draws upon a series of personalized interviews from Northern New …

Effects Of Integrating Mathematical Concepts Into A Nutrition Unit In The Animal Science Curriculum, Andrea R. Gardner, Brian K. Warnick, Rebecca G. Lawver

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

Achievement test scores in mathematics have been a concern among educators for many years. Teaching contextualized mathematics has been found to be effective and includes providing a direct application to real-life scenarios rather than teaching linear equations and algebraic principles in isolation. This study measured the effects of integrating mathematical skills in one instructional unit in an animal science curriculum. Students from eight schools participated in the research study. Students completed a pretest measuring their existing mathematical skills and self-efficacy in math. All students were taught a unit of instruction about animal nutrition and feeding. The control group received a …

Cost Benefit Analysis Of Genetic Markers In Cattle, Josh Crystal

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

Genetic sequencing in beef cattle (L. Bos Taurus) is expected to aid producers select cattle with traits that enhance profitability. Using data from experimental trials conducted with Angus, Brahman, and their reciprocal cross, this project analyzes the profitability of grazing endophyte infected tall Fescue (L. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) vs. Bermuda grass (L. Cynodon dactylon) pasture. The study is unique in the sense that actual cow-calf breeding failure rates (open cows were not culled) were tracked from 1991 to 1997 on herds that were bred to calf in spring and either exposed to fungal endophyte (L.Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones …

Comparison Of Serial Pgf2Α Protocols For Control Of The Estrous Cycle In Mares, Kaleigh Marie Potter

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Prostaglandin F2α is commonly administered to manipulate the estrous cycle in mares, at a dosage of dinoprost tromethamine (Lutalyse®) at 10 mg, administered IM. My objectives were to compare three serial low-dose PGF2α protocols, and determine the most effective treatment in terms of number of injections, intensity of protocol, time allocated, and labor. Quarter Horse mares (n=11) were used in a crossover design. Lutalyse was administered at 1.1 mL per injection: treatment 1- PGF2α once 6d post-ovulation; treatment 2- PGF2α twice daily 0 d, 1 d, and 2 d, then once 3 d and 4 d post- ovulation; treatment 3- …

Nebline, May 2017

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Biosolids Land Application Program Celebrating 25 Years of Benefiting the Community

Food & Health

Farm & Acreage

Pests & Wildlife

Horticulture

Early Childhood

4-H & Youth

and other extension news and events

Influence Of Exogenous Phytase Level And Interaction With Supplmental Xylanase On Live Performance And Phosphorus Retention Of Broilers, Peyton Gilbert

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two 3-week experiments were conducted, each using 480 day-old male broilers placed randomly among 96 battery cages (5 per cage; 680cm2 per bird), to evaluate the influence of phytase supplementation, with or without supplemental xylanase, on bird performance. Individual body weights and cage feed weights were taken on days 0, 7, 14, and 21, and mean BW, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and FCR over each period calculated. Mortality was recorded daily and used to calculate livability and adjust FCR in both trials. In trial 2, excreta was collected by cage from 14 to 21 days for bone …

Aquaponics: Redefining Education For Our Youth, Joshua Peal

Senior Theses

In America, we are seeing a lack of effectiveness with our K-12 schools. This costs the school districts and taxpayers money with very little return guaranteeing an ongoing investment into adulthood. Students finishing high school have very little if any applied learning and technical skills, and still need to accomplish at least four years of college or a trade school to be able to compete, even for a job not requiring a degree. Of those high school graduates, half and growing do not feel that they are prepared for college. Students also have little understanding of, or experience with, the …

Assessment Of The Arkansas Horse 4-H Program: Perspectives From Multiple Stakeholders, Fawn Lee Kurtzo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Assessment of the Arkansas horse 4-H program utilized stakeholders’ perceptions to describe inputs, outcomes, preferences and impacts provided by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Stakeholders’ perceptions were captured through three studies. Studies included the following: a pre- and post-test evaluation of the 2016 summer horse camp, purposive interviews with county agents (n = 6), volunteer leaders (n = 4), and parents (n = 4) of horse 4-H clubs, and a statewide survey provided to Extension staff (n =26) and volunteer leaders (n = 28) affiliated with horse 4-H clubs.

The 2016 summer camp evaluation found the goals to improve horsemanship, …

Multifunctionality Of Cover Crops On Organic Vegetable Farms In South Texas, Savannah M. Rugg

Theses and Dissertations

Situated in deep South Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is considered one the most productive agricultural regions in the southern US. With the highest concentration of organic farms in the state (Hidalgo county), finding management practices that comply with organic certification is increasingly pertinent. Cover cropping can serve multiple functions in an agroecosystem such as: suppressing weeds, increasing soil organic matter (SOM), increasing soil nitrates, and enhancing soil biodiversity. The four cover crops (lablab, sunn hemp, sudangrass, and pearl millet) were assessed to see their potential to increase soil nitrogen, to increase soil organic matter, and to suppress …

Growth And Poverty Traps: Examples From Literature, Danielle Chaloux

Honors Scholar Theses

The writings of Charles Dickens, Emile Zola, Knut Hamsun, and Laura Ingalls Wilder capture humanity on the page. The characters in the works of these authors are confronted by realistic or autobiographical situations and make choices based on history, personal preferences, societal pressures, and economic constraints, just as real-life individuals do. They can thus serve as data for illustrating the implications of economic models, specifically poverty traps. To do so, I will draw from Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens, The Fat and the Thin (1873) by Emile Zola, Hunger (1890) by Knut Hamsun, and The First Four Years (1971) …