Digital Commons Network^™

Drought Mitigation For Cow/Calf Producers: Depopulation Strategies, Reganne K. Briggs, Joshua Dallin, Jacob Hadfield, Matthew D. Garcia

All Current Publications

Drought is a recurring event faced by many cow/calf producers across the nation. As drought events increase in their severity, it is important for cattle producers to have a management plan to mitigate the economic effects of drought. Two of the most common strategies for mitigating the effects of drought include buying additional feed and depopulating a portion of the herd. This fact sheet reviews strategies that will guide the decision-making process to cull cattle during drought.

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, January 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

No abstract provided.

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, January 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, January 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 December 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, January 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 December 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Utah College Sexual Behavior Survey: Initial Findings Report, Cris Meier, Julie Gast, Tyson Barrett, Melissa Ferguson, Demi Culianos, Lily Ward

Extension Research

The purpose of the Utah College Sexual Behavior project was to establish the reliability and validity of the retrospective measures used in the survey and gain a better understanding of the sexual behaviors of Utah youth by asking Utah State University (USU) students about their sexual behaviors as youth.

Effects Of Buried Wood On The Development Of Populus Tremuloides On Various Oil Sands Reclamation Soils, Kaitlyn E. Trepanier, Laura Manchola-Rojas, Bradley D. Pinno

Aspen Bibliography

Buried wood is an important but understudied component of reclamation soils. We examined the impacts of buried wood amounts and species on the growth of the common reclamation tree species trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). In a greenhouse study, aspen seedlings were planted into four soil types, upland derived fine forest floor-mineral mix (fFFMM), coarse forest floor-mineral mix (cFFMM), and lowland derived peat and peat-mineral mix (PMM), that were mixed with either aspen or pine wood shavings at four concentrations (0%, 10%, 20% and 50% of total volume). Height and diameter growth, chlorophyll concentration, and leaf and stem biomass were measured. …

Cultivation Of Industrial Hemp On And Near Airports: Implications For Wildlife Use And Risk To Aviation Safety, Bradley F. Blackwell, Page E. Klug, Lee A. Humberg, Zachary T. Brym, Bryan M. Kluever, Jennifer M. Edwards

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Land-use planning on and near airports should consider possible revenue from land covers, associated maintenance costs, and potential for land covers to attract vertebrate species recognized as hazardous to aviation safety. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has expressed interest in recent attention given to industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.; hemp) as a revenue-producing land cover that might be cultivated on or near airports. Our purpose was to better understand the potential production value of hemp as well as its possible role in affecting aviation safety if cultivated on or near airports. Our objectives were to: (1) review the literature …

Industrial Hemp As A Resource For Birds In Agroecosystems: Human–Wildlife Conflict Or Conservation Opportunity?, Emily A. Kotten, Iona Hennessy, Bryan M. Kluever, Zachary T. Brym, Bradley F. Blackwell, Lee A. Humberg, Page E. Klug

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.; hemp) is an emerging crop in the United States with little known about bird use or the potential for birds to become an agricultural pest. We identified birds associated with hemp fields, using repeated visits to oilseed plots in North Dakota, USA (n = 6) and cannabinoid (CBD) plots in Florida, USA (n = 4) from August to November 2020. We did not control for plot area or density; our observations were descriptive only. We observed 10 species in hemp, 12 species flying over hemp, and 11 species both foraging in and …

Wyoming’S Wild Horse Ranch: History And Description Of A Socio-Ecological Experiment, Alex Sas-Jaworsky, John Derek Scasta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The growing population of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus caballus) on western public rangelands has necessitated that federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, develop novel approaches to curb growth including reproduction management. However, bureaucracy has hindered effective research and application of horse management on public lands and examples on private lands may present new solutions. Here we present the history and current population management strategy for the Wild Horse Ranch (WHR) located in southeastern Wyoming, USA, as an example of an ongoing private entity managing horses. Prior to 1985, this ~6,000-ha …

New Associate Editors, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human-Wildlife Interactions journal announces its new associate editors.

Fertility Control Options For Management Of Free-Roaming Horse Populations, Ursula S. Bechert, John W. Turner Jr., Dan L. Baker, Douglas C. Eckery, Jason E. Bruemmer, Candace C. Lyman, Tulio M. Prado, Sarah R. B. King, Mark A. Fraker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The management of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus) and burros (E. asinus) in the United States has been referred to as a “wicked problem” because, although there are population control options, societal values will ultimately determine what is acceptable and what is not. In the United States, free-roaming equids are managed by different types of organizations and agencies, and the landscapes that these animals inhabit vary widely in terms of access, size, topography, climate, natural resources, flora, and fauna. This landscape diversity, coupled with contemporary socioeconomic and political environments, means that adaptive management practices are needed to …

Dehydration And Mortality Of Feral Horses And Burros: A Systematic Review Of Reported Deaths, John Derek Scasta, Eric Thacker, Jacob D. Hennig, Karl Hoopes

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Water is a requirement for all organisms, including equids. Dehydration-caused mortality of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) is often cited as a cause of concern and as justification for management of feral horses, yet a paucity of information exists on the matter. We conducted a systematic review from September 1, 2020 through January 15, 2021 of available news reports of feral horse and burro (E. asinus) dehydration mortalities and public interventions to save horses using a public search engine with a priori defined search term combinations and additional snowball sampling. We found 15 uniquely reported mortality …

Utah State University Graduate & Professional Student Survey: Report Of Findings, Merrill-Cazier Library, Ithaka S+R Survey

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

The Utah State University implementation of the Ithaka S+R Graduate & Professional Student Survey was launched on November 8^th, 2021, and was closed to new responses on December 13^th, 2021, with a total of 365 complete responses. The questionnaire covers topics in several key areas including: students’ use of assigned course materials; practices and preferences for curricular and non-curricular information discovery; the role of the library; use of library space; objectives in obtaining an advanced degree; and understanding of and interest in conducting or contributing to original research. The following report provides a high-level overview of …

Western Region Health & Wellness Programming Efforts: Qualitative Results From A Three-Part Listening Session, Cris L. Meier, Lily Ward, Anders Van Sandt, Sue Schneider, Riana Gayle

All Current Publications

The purpose of this project was to understand the programming efforts and experiences of Extension professionals in the Western Region of the United States. The Health and Wellness Working Group team held a series of listening sessions with a closed cohort of Extension professionals, hoping to learn from each other while also building the foundation for future collaborations and conversations about health and wellness programing in the western region.

The objectives were to understand: (1) the state of health and wellness work in the western region, including the gaps and challenges, (2) the programs that currently exist and ways that …

Examining A Mediation Model Of Body Image-Related Cognitive Fusion, Intuitive Eating, And Eating Disorder Symptom Severity In A Clinical Sample, Jennifer L. Barney, Tyson S. Barrett, Tera Lensegrav-Benson, Benita Quakenbush, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Purpose: This study sought to explore the associations between Intuitive Eating (IE), eating disorder (ED) symptom severity, and body image-related cognitive fusion within a clinical sample. IE was also examined as a possible mediator in the relationship between body image-related fusion and ED symptoms.

Methods: This study includes cross-sectional analyses with data from 100 adult females and 75 adolescent females seeking residential treatment for an ED. Self-reported demographic information, ED symptoms, IE behaviors, and body image-related cognitive fusion were collected from participants within the first week of treatment following admission to the same residential ED treatment facility.

Results: …

Cutting Expenses Guidebook, Melanie Jewkes, Amanda Christensen, Alicia Nelson-Bell

All Current Publications

This booklet will help you strategize how to make small (or big) adjustments in your spending, freeing funds to put toward your goals. Topics such as boosting savings, and tips for addressing grocery, medical, utility, entertainment, clothing, transportation, home, holiday, and miscellaneous expenses are covered.

Guía Para Recortar Gastos, Melanie Jewkes, Amanda Christensen, Alicia Nelson-Bell

All Current Publications

Este folleto te ayudará a planificar estrategias para hacer pequeños (o grandes) ajustes en tus gastos, liberando fondos para alcanzar tus metas. Se abordan temas como cómo aumentar el ahorro y consejos para cubrir gastos de alimentación, médicos, servicios públicos, entretenimiento, ropa, transporte, hogar, vacaciones y otros.

The Effects Of Various Carbon Sources And The Presence Of Vitamin B-12 On The Production Of 1,3-Propanediol By L. Reuteri., Kayden Stevenson

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

Dairy product preservation has evolved over thousands of years and has been a major benefit to humanity by creating stable, nutrient-dense food sources. Today the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri is important in preserving fermented dairy products through the production of the compound reuterin. Reuterin (1,3-propanediol) demonstrates antibiotic properties that prevent the fermentation of dairy products by undesirable bacteria. The purpose of this study is to determine if L. reuteri can produce 1,3-propanediol from a variety of carbon sources. Bacterial strains were incubated in the presence of a carbon source with vitamin B-12 or without B-12 for seven days with …

Determination Of Free Fatty Acid And Triglyceride Fatty Acid Of Food Fats Using A Rapid Gas Chromatographic Method, Aubreyona Migliori

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

Food fats are primarily triglycerides composed of esterified fatty acids on a glycerol backbone. To measure the fatty acid content of foods, a derivatization reaction is conducted which transfers the fatty acids from glycerol to methanol, forming a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). FAMES are measured using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Free fatty acids in foods are a result of a degradation reactions and are considered a defect. This decreases consumer acceptance and expedites further deterioration which decreases the value of edible oils. The goal of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method to …

Climate Change Impacts On Atmospheric Ammonia And Implications For Human Health, Casey Olson, Connor Snow, Bridger Jorgensen

Fall Student Research Symposium 2021

According to national data Cache Valley has the highest concentrations of atmospheric ammonia in the nation. This study aims to answer the questions of whether climate variables and events such as precipitation, averaged winds, geopotential height, and teleconnections can be used to predict the behavior of pollutants and how human biology is potentially affected. Data from the Utah Climate Center shows that the 3rd yearly quartile has the highest levels of airborne ammonia due to the high levels of fertilizer use and livestock emissions in the farming industry in Cache Valley. After data analysis, there seems to be a connection …

Usu Fasl Hands In The Garden Program, Deborah Ivie

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, December 2, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, December 2, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 4 November 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, December 2, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 4 November 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, December 2, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report

Buy Produce For Your Neighbor: Supporting Local Agriculture, Lacee Jimenez, Hiram Wigant, Casey Coombs, Heidi Leblanc

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

For Utahns experiencing food insecurity, eating adequate fruits and vegetables may be difficult due to limited access to fresh produce. Buy Produce for Your Neighbor is a healthy food drive that increases the amount of fresh produce in community food pantries and supports local agriculture.

On Predicting Omnidirectional Honey Bee Traffic Using Weather And Electromagnetic Radiation, Daniel G. Hornberger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Honey bees are responsible for pollinating many important crops in the United States. However, honey bee populations have declined significantly since 1961. While some causes of this decline are known, others are not. By utilizing electronic bee hive monitoring (EBM) systems, bee keepers and researchers have an added resource in determining the causes of these declines so that the issues can be remedied. For nearly five months (May through October) during the 2020 honey bee foraging season in Logan, Utah, USA, we collected on-site weather and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) readings and videos of the hive entrances of six bee hives …

Survey Of Ncaa Athletic Trainers’ Administration Of The National Wrestling Coaches Association Weight Certification Program, Samuel Konrath

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Context: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a minimum weight certification program in 1997 to help protect wrestlers from dangerous weight loss practices. Despite nearly a quarter of a century of this program, there is no published research detailing the implementation of it.

Objective: Determine how the NCAA minimum weight certification is being implemented across Division I programs.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Survey

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 35 (45.5%) of 77 NCAA division I wrestling athletic trainers responded to the survey.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Survey data on how the NCAA minimum weight certification program was implemented …

Transfer Effects Of A Multiple-Joint Isokinetic Eccentric Training Intervention To Nontraining-Specific Traditional Muscle Function Measures, Steven Spencer

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The transfer effects of isokinetic, eccentric-only resistance training programs on non-specific measures of muscle function such as isometric peak force, isokinetic concentric peak force and dynamic constant external resistance 1-repetition maximal strength (DCER 1RM) have been researched extensively in a single joint context, yielding mixed results. However, investigations involving multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric-only training models have been sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transfer effects of a short-term multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric leg press (Eccentron) training program on several measures of lower-body strength and performance. Fifteen participants performed Eccentron training three times/week for four weeks and were evaluated …