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Self-Study Report: 03 Strategic Plans

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Materials and History

Much time and effort have gone into the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and the Department of Agricultural Education's strategic planning effort. Coincidentally, the Department had started its own process of strategic planning in the summer of 1987 where it identified the four departmental "thrust" areas.

The IANR process was started in the fall of 1987 by the Vice Chancellor Omtvedt of the Institute and was to be followed by a series of meetings, not only within the Institute, but with town hall meetings around Nebraska, to ensure a broad representation of input regarding future directions of IANR. …

Self-Study Report: 02 General Information

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Materials and History

Agriculture and agribusiness are Nebraska's dominant industries. Ninety-six percent (47.1 million acres) of the state's land area is occupied by 55,000 farms and ranches. Over one-half of the states workers depend upon agriculture and business for their livelihood. The average growing season ranges from 170 days in southeast Nebraska to 120 days in the northwest. Underneath Nebraska is stored nearly 2 billion acre-feet of water, and in Nebraska we receive an average of 90 million acre-feed of precipitation yearly.

Approximately 17 million acres are utilized as cropland, of which approximately 8 million are irrigated. Corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and sorghum …

Self-Study Report: 05 Undergraduate Teaching Program (Departmental Thrust)

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Materials and History

Table of Contents:

Departmental Strategic Plan for the Undergraduate Curriculum

Departmental Strategic Plan for Recruitment, Retention, and Placement

Summary of Accomplishments 1984-1989

Undergraduate Program Goals and Objectives

Table 4.1 Teaching Faculty and Appointments

1989 Teaching Assignments

Undergraduate Curriculum and Options

List of Courses of Instruction

Figure 4.1 Agricultural Training and Developmental Options

Student Advising

Recruitment, Retention, and Placement

Figure 4.2 Current Undergraduate Promotional Brochure

Employment Trends

Table 4.2 Departmental Majors, 1985-1986 to 1989-1990

Table 4.3 Number of Degrees Awarded by Level

Table 4.4 Student Registrations in the Department by College

Table 4.5 Average Class Size, and Student Credit Hours

Table …

Self-Study Report: International Programs

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Materials and History

Agricultural Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. has had a long history of involvement in improving education in agriculture throughout the world. Agricultural education faculty have an important role to play in helping developing countries to develop their educational systems. especially in faculty development, Curriculum and organizational leadership.

Twinning In Cattle: 111. Effects Of Twinning On Dystocia, Reproductive Traits, Calf Survival, Calf Growth And Cow Productivity, K. E. Gregory, S. E. Echternkamp, G. E. Dickerson, Larry V. Cundiff, R. M. Koch, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An evaluation of natural twinning in beef cattle revealed that cows birthing twins had shorter (P < .0l) gestation lengths, more (P < .0l) retained placentas, more (P < .01) dystocia, more (P < .0l) days to estrus, lower (P < .0l) conception rates and more (P < .01) days to pregnancy than cows birthing singles. Days to estrus, conception rate and days to pregnancy were not affected by number of calves reared (1 vs 2) in cows birthing twins. Survival at birth was greater (P < .0l) for single- than for twin-born calves, but twins and singles did not differ (P > .05) in postnatal survival. When dystocia was experienced, calf survival at birth was 95% vs 73% for singles vs twins compared with 99% vs 92% when no dystocia was experienced. Calves born twins were lighter (P < .01) at birth, 100 d and 200 d, but twins and singles did not differ in postweaning gains. Total calf weights at 100 d per cow calving were 12% greater (P < .01) in cows birthing twins vs singles when twin calves reared by foster dams were! excluded. The potential increase in cow productivity for total calf weight at 100 d is 40% if calf survival rates of twins with dystocia relative to survival rates of twins without dystocia were comparable to survival rates of singles with and without dystocia, and if cows birthing twins were fed and managed to obtain conception rates equal to those of cows birthing singles. Identification of cows gestating twins to provide for their higher prepartum nutritive requirements and calving assistance at parturition is necessary to make twinning in cattle an economically viable technology.

Alternatives To Fisher's "Exact Test" For Analyzing 2 X 2 Tables With Small Cell Sizes, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rice (1988a) presents an interesting test for analyzing 2 X 2 contingency tables in the smaller sample size situations. His motivation was to provide an alternative to Fisher's "exact test" and his rationale was based on the application of a prior distribution to the probability of a success, 0, under the null hypothesis. We would like to briefly comment on these aspects of his paper and also discuss another alternative that was proposed a number of years ago.

Entomology Newsletter - Vol. 1, No. 5, March 9, 1990

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Miscellaneous

Calendar of upcoming events

Awards

Bruner Club news

Warfarin Resistance Of Rattus Tiomanicus In Oil Palms In Malaysia And The Associated Increase Of Rattus Diardii, B. J. Wood, G. F. Chung

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Rattus tiomanicus is a serious pest of oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia, feeding on the ripening fruit. R. diardii is a rat of human habitations and has been only an occasional field species, presumably because it cannot compete with better adapted species. A widely used control for R. tiomanicus of proven effectiveness uses maize-based baits containing warfarin at 0.05% in 2 cm³ (14.5 g) wax-bound cubes. These are applied in campaigns at one per palm, replaced on 4 daily rounds, until acceptance has declined to 20%. This "standard method" is applied at about 6-month intervals, and …

Politics And Economics Of Maintaining Pesticide Registrations, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Roger W. Bullard, Craig A. Ramey

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was amended in 1988 to require the reregistration of all pesticides registered before 1984 within 9 years. The FIFRA 88 required that all pesticide active ingredients must meet current registration standards, suspended the previous fee structure, and imposed a one-time registration fee and annual maintenance fees. New data generated because of FIFRA 88 must conform to EPA's Good Laboratory Practice Standards and animal studies must follow guidelines of the Animal Welfare Act. FIFRA 88 has significantly increased data requirements, data costs, and other pesticide registration and reregistration costs for most pesticides. The …

The Evolution Of Vertebrate Pest Management--The Species Versus Systems Approach, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Wildlife management has evolved through a series of stages, with early efforts directed toward individual species. Since the late 1800s, however, more wildlife applications have incorporated a systems approach, where communities are managed to promote the quality, quantity, and fitness of most associated species. Vertebrate pest management has followed a similar course of development, although it has lagged behind in addressing the concept of systems management. I propose that a systems approach to vertebrate pest management should include the consideration of all potential problem species of an area or situation and should integrate damage prevention and control strategies that minimize …

A Review Of Falconry As A Bird-Hazing Technique, William A. Erickson, Rex E. Marsh, Terrell P. Salmon

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

The use of trained falcons and hawks for dispersing pest birds has been mainly limited to airports in Europe and, to a lesser extent, in North America to prevent bird/aircraft strikes. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) are the raptors used most often. These trained birds can effectively disperse gulls (Larus spp. ) and a variety of other pest bird species, although other bird-scaring methods are often equally or more effective and economical. Because of the scarcity of trained raptors and handlers, their use is limited to special situations such as …

Field Trial Of A Cpt-Avicide Aerial Spray, Jon F. Heisterberg, John L. Cummings, George M. Linz, Edward Knittle, Thomas W. Seamans, Paul P. Woronecki

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

A 2.2 ha-cedar and mixed deciduous tree woodlot in Crawford, Mississippi, harboring 330,000 blackbirds (Icterinae) and European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was aerially sprayed by helicopter the night of 1 March 1989 with 1050 1 of a CPT-avicide formulation at a rate of 49 kg CPT/ha. Most mortality occurred within 36 h of treatment. Mortality in the roost was 3% of the pretreatment population. No reliable technique to estimate out-of-roost mortality was identified. Pilot misapplication and probable CPT volatilization of the spray formulation contributed to the low mortality. Only 1 of 37 radiotagged blackbirds using the roost the night …

How Animal Control Improves Animal Welfare, Walter E. Howard

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

The balance of nature requires a balanced predator-prey relationship. In agriculture or urban areas the natural predator-prey balance is disrupted because the habitats have been altered and, for the protection of livestock (and for humans in case of grizzly bears, lions, and wolves), the large carnivores have usually been displaced. Consequently, in these altered environments to prevent crop depredations, to keep other vertebrate species in balance with their environment, and to protect some endangered species, people must manage the wildlife. This often means that for the welfare of animals people have to become predators to assist nature. Fortunately, from an …

Controlling Vertebrate Animal Damage In Southern Pines, Jeffrey J. Jackson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Certain mammals and birds may damage or destroy southern pines, causing economic losses in intensively cultured areas such as seed orchards and nurseries. Mammal pests may eat seeds; tunnel, dislodging seedlings, or chew on roots; or girdle, debark, or sever stems or branches. Bird pests may eat seeds or excavate holes in the tree trunks. The first important step is to identify the pest(s) from the damage left behind. Thereafter, various control options-from using traps and repellents to altering habitat-are available.

Roaming, Stray, And Feral Domestic Cats And Dogs As Wildlife Problems, Bessel D. Van't Woudt

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

From several centers of domestication, cats and dogs have become the near-ubiquitous companion of man. Their dependence on man is such that when abandoned in a rural environment most succumb to malnutrition in combination with predation, diseases, parasites, and exposure. Where not subject to predation and where native or introduced prey is adequate, some survive to form feral populations. This applies on oceanic islands, in Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere, as far as is known today, requirements for survival are met with in parts of the U.S. and Europe only, in remote wilderness areas in the case of dogs, and …

Predator Control For The Protection Of Endangered Species In California, Peter H. Butchko

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

In recent years, wildlife agencies in California have concluded that predators are limiting factors to the recovery of several endangered species, namely the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni). and desert tortoise (Xerobates agassizii). As a result, separate control programs for the protection of these species have been undertaken by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control (ADC) in cooperation with State and Federal agencies. Aspects of control activities of avian and/or mammalian predators of each project are discussed.

Efficacy Of Compound 1080 Livestock Protection Collars For Killing Coyotes That Attack Sheep, Guy Connolly, Richard J. Burns

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Efficacy of Compound 1080 LP Collars was studied under pen and field conditions. Coyotes poisoned themselves by attacking collared sheep and biting the collars. In 54 pen tests where 1 or 2 captive coyotes had opportunity to attack 1 collared lamb, 41 lambs were attacked and 26 collars were punctured. Of 25 different coyotes offered lambs with collars containing 5 or 10 mg sodium fluoroacetate (FAC)/ml, 23 coyotes attacked and 21 died after collars were punctured in their first (n = 17), second (n = 3), or fifth (n = 1) test. For 11 captive coyotes that punctured rubber collars, …

Lyme Disease, With Emphasis On The Western U.S., And Its Relationship To Wildlife (Abstract Only), Robert S. Lane

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

In the western United States, Lyme disease has been reported primarily from the three Pacific states, especially California, and sporadically or not at all from various mountain states. In California, surveillance for Lyme disease was initiated in 1983, but it was not made a reportable disease in this state until 1989. Nevertheless, approximately 400 human cases were reported by California State Health authorities between 1983 and 1987. In 1982, I began studying the ecology and epidemiology of Lyme disease in the far-western United States in collaboration with Dr. Willy Burgdorfer of the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, and others. The …

Survey Of Rodent And Rabbit Damage To Alfalfa Hay In Nevada, Steven R. Lewis, John M. O'Brien

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

A survey of alfalfa hay producers was conducted to characterize vertebrate pest problems in Nevada alfalfa hay and help attract research funding. Damage to alfalfa hay by pocket gophers (Thomomvs spp), ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp), black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) and meadow voles (Microtus montanus) was assessed. Presence of vertebrate pests along with a ranking of cost-related problems they pose to alfalfa hay operations was determined. Pocket gophers were the most costly pest followed by ground squirrels, jackrabbits, and meadow voles. The number one problem caused by vertebrate pests was identified to be a decrease …

Wild Hog Management Program At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, John D. Peine, Jane Allen Farmer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Over the last 30 years the wild hog population control program at Great Smoky Mountains National Park has experienced steady growth. The evolution has been relatively slow, and it was not until the latter part of the 1980s that sufficient funds were available to make a serious attempt at control measures. Over the years, the research program has focused on the biology of the wild hog; its reproductive rate; feeding and movement patterns; and its impact on the fauna, flora, and soils of the park. In addition, a major project was conducted to evaluate attractants and baits to increase the …

An Evaluation Of Breakaway Snares For Use In Coyote Control, Robert L. Phillips, F. Sherman Blom, Richard E. Johnson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Seven types of breakaway snares were evaluated for breaking strength and variability using a universal testing machine. Maximum tension before breakage for individual snares ranged from 142 to 486 pounds. Sheet metal locks which ripped out, and S-hooks which straightened, provided the least variable results. Coyotes (Canis latrans), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), domestic calves and lambs were tested to determine the tension loads they applied to snares. Differences in tension loads among coyotes and nontarget species should allow for the development of snares that will consistently hold coyotes and release most larger nontarget animals.

Rodenticide Ecotoxicology: Systems Analysis And Simulation, R.H. Smith, Paula R. Cox, M. Rampaud

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Exposure, as well as toxicity, determines whether rodenticides present real environmental hazards to nontarget animals. In order to combine exposure and toxicity, a compartment model is proposed which distinguishes transfer processes from accumulation of residues. The published literature relevant to the model is analyzed, and some important gaps in knowledge are highlighted. Simple sub-models of rat feeding behavior and mortality are combined into a simulation model which generates data on both efficacy of control and build-up of residues in live rats and carcasses. The roles of feeding parameters (e.g., palatability, availability of alternative food) as well as toxicity are emphasized …

Animal Damage Problems And Control Activities On National Forest System Lands, John E. Borrecco, Hugh C. Black

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

A questionnaire survey of the National Forests in 1988 indicated that animal damage control (ADC) was conducted on 208,000 acres of reforestation and older stands, nearly all in the West, at a cost of about $9 million. Sixty-two percent of the total acreage treated, or 128,600 acres, and 49 percent of the ADC costs, or $4.3 million, was in the Pacific Northwest Region (Oregon and Washington). Most of the forests in all regions of the Forest Service, except Alaska, rated animal damage to reforestation and older stands as very important or moderately important. One-third of the forests rated damage as …

Control Of Mediterranean Pine Vole Populations In The South Of France, Gerald Guedon, Benoit Combes

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

The control of the Mediterranean pine vole through manual bait placement is too fastidious. It prevents the realization of collective control on large areas. In this situation, mechanization is necessary. A burrow builder, made of a tubular ploughshare, has been devised in order to make artificial runs in the soil where baits may be deposited. This plough was successfully tested in fall 1989 in apple orchards with a wheat-based bait treated with chlorophacinone, chosen for its good resistance to moisture. The treatment efficiency varied between 86.7% and 96.4% with 25 and 50 artificial runs per hectare, respectively. A humid but …

The Status Of Lines In Bird Damage Control–A Review, Patricia A. Pochop, Ron J. Johnson, Danilo A. Aguero, Kent M. Eskridge

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

One technique for repelling or excluding birds is to stretch wires, monofilament lines, or nylon strings across sites needing protection. Wires or lines spaced at various intervals and in various configurations have successfully repelled birds such as ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) and/or herring (L. argentatus) gulls, and brant (Branta bernicla bernicla) from reservoirs, sanitary landfills, fish hatcheries, nesting areas, public places, or farm fields. Black thread has been suggested for repelling small birds such as sparrows (unspecified) from garden seedlings and bullfinches (unspecified) from fruit trees. Recent observations in New Mexico indicated that monofilament lines …

A Comparison Of Several Pocket Gopher Baits In The Field, Paul Vossen, Pierre Gadd

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Two field trials were conducted to determine the effectiveness of anticoagulant baits in pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) control. In the first trial, burrow systems were baited once with chlorophacinone 0.005% on rolled oats and embedded in paraffin to form a wax block. The systems were arranged in a one system-wide line bordering a clean vineyard. Infestation of the vineyard was prevented for 2 months; after that, gophers did bypass the barrier of treated systems and entered the vineyard.

In the second trial two anticoagulant baits, chlorophacinone 0.005% on rolled oats and embedded in paraffin, and diphacinone 0.0052% on …

Effect Of Artificial Perches And Nests In Attracting Raptors To Orchards, Leonard R. Askham

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

Artificial perches and nest boxes were placed in three Pacific Northwest orchards to assess their effectiveness in attracting birds of prey to reduce vole populations. The data indicated that birds could be attracted under some conditions, but vole populations were not significantly affected. Additional factors such as vegetative biomass and human activity may limit their usefulness in reducing rodent populations under intensive agricultural conditions.

A Management Information System For The Control Of Pest Animals And Plants In Victoria, Australia, James K. Backholer, David W.A. Lane, Eric A. Ward

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

The State Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL) administers legislation relating to the management of pest animals and plants throughout Victoria. CFL conducts control work on public land and assists landholders with programs on freehold land. To provide an information base for the management of CFL's pest control programs, the Pest Management Information System (PMIS) was developed. The PMIS captures descriptions of pest infestations, details of planned and actual treatments, and evaluations of treatments. The first version of the PMIS, developed for microcomputers, was released in 1987 and underwent minor revision during 1988 in the light of field experience. …

Native Heteromyid Rodents As Pests Of Commercial Jojoba, Rex O. Baker

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

After crop losses of 5 to 60% were noted on two 500-acre Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) plantings in a desert area of southern California, a study was conducted to identify the animals responsible. Various population census and pestidentification techniques were utilized. Four native rodents of the Heteromyid family, not previously known to be pests of Jojoba, were found to be present in sufficiently high numbers to cause severe economic crop loss. The Bailey's pocket mouse (Perognathus baileyi) was the only rodent previously known to survive on Jojoba beans as a food source. A natural chemical, cyanogenic glucoside, …

Plague In The U.S.: Present And Future, Allan M. Barnes

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 14th (1990)

An increasing trend in the frequency of human bubonic plague cases in the United States, the principal sources of human infection, and emerging control techniques are described. Development of an integrated control program involving public health education, citizen participation in plague surveillance, and insecticidal control of flea vectors in response to evidence of plague and potential human exposure substantially reduced human plague cases in a Bernalillo County, New Mexico, hyperendemic plague area. Permethrin 0.5% dust (Pyraperm 455) applied at a rate of 7 g per burrow was found to provide effective control of flea vectors for at least 6 weeks.