Digital Commons Network^™

Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizae To Influence Yield, Available Soil Nutrients And Soil Quality In Conventional Vs. Organic Vegetable Production, Gary Thomas Cundiff

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research is a two year study on the effects of endomycorrhizae on vegetable production using conventional vs. organic practices. Objective of this study was initiated to determine if mycorrhizae improve yield, available soil nutrients and soil quality from two different fertilizer sources. Measurements were taken on yield, available soil nutrients, and soil quality in comparison of glomalin production and soil loss percentage. Two plant species were chosen, Tomatoes (‘Big Beef’) and Bush Beans (‘Tenderette’). A randomized split block 2 x 3 factorial treatment arrangement was used with two crops and three different inputs: Mo- 0 mycorrhizae, M1- recommended rate, …

State Supervisors' Perceptions Of Teacher Efficacy Regarding Alternatively Certified/Licensed Secondary Agriculture Teachers, Joshua E. Rice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify state supervisors' perceptions of teacher efficacy regarding alternatively certified/licensed secondary agriculture teachers. The researcher focused on state supervisors' perception of alternatively certified/licensed teachers' efficacy in relationship to classroom/laboratory, supervised agriculture experience programs, and the National FFA organization. The researcher chose to conduct descriptive survey. Forty five states expressed that they offered alternative certification/licensure (N = 45). The population consisted of all state supervisors of agriculture educators as listed by the 2010-2011 approved list from the American Association for Agricultural Education and the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education. State supervisors disagreed …

Impact Of Different Handling Styles (Good Vs. Aversive) On Growth Performance, Behavior, And Cortisol Concentrations In Beef Cattle, Joan Bauer

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our objective was to determine effects of aggressive handling on growth performance, behavior, and cortisol concentrations in beef calves. Crossbred calves (313 ± 4.7 kg; n = 54; 24 steers, 30 heifers) from a single herd were stratified by gender, body weight, and initial chute score, then allocated randomly to 1 of 6 pens. Each pen was randomly assigned to 1 of 2 handling treatments (good or adverse) applied on days 7, 35, 63, and 91. The objective of good treatment was to handle the calves quietly and gently to minimize stress. The objective of adverse treatment was to move …

The Size And Scope Of Agriculture In Box Elder County, Lyle Holmgren, Mike Pace

All Current Publications

Box Elder County is located in the northwest corner of Utah and is bordered by the states of Idaho and Nevada.

Food System Assessment, Virgene Hanna, Rosyland Frazier, Khristy L. Parker, Irena Ikatova

ISER Reports

Food assessments are conducted for different reasons such as creating a more sustainable commercial food production system or to target particular policies. The main focus of this effort was to locate indicators that could be updated regularly so current information would be readily available and so that changes or trends could be monitored. Without knowing the current state of food-related indicators it’s difficult to make informed decisions about which issues and goals are priorities. We start with an overview of the food system model we used. Chapter 2 is a demographic overview of Alaska’s residents. The next five chapters present …

Agriculture Futures: Potential Rural Land Uses On The Palusplain, Rodney Safstrom, Nicolyn Short Dr

Resource management technical reports

The purpose of this project was to identify agricultural land use options and opportunities within the Serpentine–Jarrahdale and Murray Shires, with particular focus on the Palusplain wetland section. The report will contribute to the Department of Planning’s natural resource management plan for the region and guide development of regional and local planning strategies. Historically, the Palusplain was a slowly moving, interconnected, seasonal wetland system with areas of higher ground. Extensive clearing and drainage occurred in the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s to facilitate agriculture; however, agriculture has been found to be a major contributor of nutrients to the system. …

Superweeds And Suspect Seeds: Does The Genetically-Engineered Crop Deregulation Process Put American Agriculture At Risk?, Margaret Sova Mccabe

University of Baltimore Journal of Land and Development

No abstract provided.

G12-425 Nebraska Beef Report Summaries 2012, Richard J. Rasby, Dennis Brink, Galen E. Erickson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Brief synopsis of recent UNL beef research. Each year the UNL Department of Animal Science reports its current beef cattle research. This 2012 NebGuide discusses the research topics of Cow/Calf, Growing, Finishing and Beef Products.

Roots Of Farm And Family, Carol Gjenvick

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The current food industry is a vast and confusing system that often generates contradicting information, new jargon and trends on how and what to eat. Most families in urban and suburban regions shop at local grocery stores, supermarkets or chains and are far removed from the origins of their food supply. Even with the growing support of farmers markets and local farmers, the average person no longer has access to an actual farm. Children in particular, are less likely to understand how a farm operates, the essential role of the farmer, the impact of seasonal changes on food supplies and …

The New England Food System In 2060: Envisioning Tomorrow's Policy Through Today's Assessments, Margaret Sova Mccabe, Joanne Burke

Law Faculty Scholarship

This Essay analyzes how the New England states' planning processes are envisioning revitalized local, state, and regional food systems. This Essay has five parts. First, it begins with examining compelling reasons for promoting more sustainable food systems based on national and global trends, and identifies strategies for promoting regional food systems approaches with a brief introduction to the major influences on the national and New England food system. Second, it describes the states' planning efforts and their enabling legislation or source of authority.

The Essay then introduces the New England Food Vision 2060 (the Vision) an emerging discussion of food …

Managing Intellectual Property To Foster Agricultural Development, Sara Boettiger, Robert Potter, Stanley P. Kowalski

Law Faculty Scholarship

Over the past decades, consideration of IPRs has become increasingly important in many areas of agricultural development, including foreign direct investment, technology transfer, trade, investment in innovation, access to genetic resources, and the protection of traditional knowledge. The widening role of IPRs in governing the ownership of—and access to—innovation, information, and knowledge makes them particularly critical in ensuring that developing countries benefit from the introduction of new technologies that could radically alter the welfare of the poor. Failing to improve IPR policies and practices to support the needs of developing countries will eliminate significant development opportunities. The discussion in this …

United States Public Policy Regarding Genetically Modified Foods, Jennifer A. Zimmerman

Theses & ETDs

Genetically modified foods are produced, sold and consumed in the United States, and are undifferentiated from conventional foods. Policy discrepancies in the US, EU and Japan may stem from public opinion, agricultural system design, and other social and economic factors. The purpose was to investigate the current system for labeling foods derived from genetically modified organisms, and to determine if this was desirable by those affected. Through examination of scientific studies on the safety and potential effects of genetically modified foods, evaluation of public opinion poll and survey results, and comparison of the laws and regulatory bodies governing food labeling …

The Impact Of Seasonal Movements By Ovigerous American Lobsters (Homarus Americanus) On Egg Development And Larval Release, Jason Seth Goldstein

Doctoral Dissertations

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) supports one of the most economically successful fisheries in the Gulf of Maine. The continued success of this fishery is attributed in part to vigilant broodstock conservation through the preservation of ovigerous (egg-bearing) females. Previous studies of ovigerous lobster movements indicate that some, if not most, display seasonal inshore-to-offshore movement patterns. While it has been assumed that these movements serve to expose eggs to thermal regimes that are optimal for development, this theory has never been rigorously tested. In Chapter 1, I present results from ultrasonic tracking studies designed to determine if lobsters in coastal …

The Use Of Multibeam And Split-Beam Echo Sounders For Assessing Biomass And Distribution Of Spring-Spawning Atlantic Cod In The Gulf Of Maine, Christopher William Damon Gurshin

Doctoral Dissertations

This research focused on advancing the application of split-beam and multibeam echo sounding to remotely locate and describe spatial distribution, and to provide a relative measure of abundance of the spring-spawning Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the western Gulf of Maine. Specifically, the main objectives of this research were 1) to test the feasibility of a multibeam echo sounder to detect changes in volume backscatter proportional to incrementally decreasing quantities of cod held in a submerged cage, and to compare results to a split-beam echo sounder; 2) to describe the spatio-temporal distribution and estimate biomass of spring-spawning cod in the …

Flatfish Stock Enhancement: Examining Conditioning Strategies To Promote Success, Michelle Lynn Walsh

Doctoral Dissertations

Conditioning is the process of providing individuals reared for stock enhancement with some degree of "wild" experience prior to release. Flatfish trained for "wild" conditions may more easily and successfully transition to natural environments. This dissertation identifies strategies that optimize feeding-related performance of flatfish in the hatchery and subsequently post release in the wild.

The influence of live feed conditioning on feeding performance of juvenile winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, was investigated. In the hatchery, fish reared on live feeds exhibited significantly higher survival (P < 0.0001) and growth (P < 0.01) than those reared on formulated feed. Once released into cages in the wild, amphipodreared fish had higher mean Stomach Contents Index and RNA/DNA of all feed types, including wild fish. Wild and worm-reared fish exhibited the most similar survival, baseline RNA/DNA values, overall stomach fullness, and diet composition profiles over time.

Pre-release, experimental cage conditioning was conducted for stocking Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, in Wakasa Bay, Japan. …

The Historical Fisheries In The Mediterranean Sea: A Reconstruction Of Trawl Gear, Effort And Trends In Demersal Fish Stocks, Giacomo Chato Osio

Doctoral Dissertations

An extensive search of historical data sources and publications has been carried out in different countries of the Mediterranean. This lead to the construction of the largest compilation of historical fisheries information existing in the Mediterranean region. The goal first here was to quantify historical trawling effort. This shows that Mediterranean demersal communities underwent a much longer and more systematic exploitation than previously thought, very likely the longest known exploitation by means of trawls in Europe and North America. Analysis of the data available for the Catalonian, Italian and French areas showed a clearly emerging pattern: fishing capacity increased in …

Eating Quality And Variability In Carotenoid Content And Profiles In Winter Squash And Sweet Potato, Jennifer Bonina Noseworthy

Doctoral Dissertations

A comprehensive study at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) of 16 winter squash cultigens (Cucurbita spp.), including inbred lines and open pollinated and F1 hybrid cultivars from the University of New Hampshire breeding program, was undertaken to determine dry weight (%DW), soluble solids contents (%SSC) and carotenoid contents of mesocarp tissue, major attributes for determining acceptable eating quality and nutritional content. Data were recorded at harvest, either 40 or 60 days after pollination (DAP), and after 30 and 60 days of storage at 14 °C. Carotenoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically and using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The …

The Amish Farm In Transition: The Amish Response To Modernization In Northern Indiana, 1900-1920, Amy Grover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the responses of Amish agrarians in northern Indiana to the mechanization and modernization of rural life in the early twentieth century. This period was marked by a shift towards agribusiness as well as the increased usage of farm machines. In addition to the increased emphasis on farm efficiency, reformers sought to modernize or update rural life. Within the context of these transformations, the Amish maintained their identity by exploring the necessity and the consequences of adapting to life in the modern world. Their responses to modernization defined not only their cultural boundaries in the modern world but …

Livestock And Climate Change – Annotated Bibliography, Julia Christian, Andrew Kirchner, Derek Nelson, Jessica A. Wentz

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Over the past two decades, efforts to address climate change have primarily focused on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel combustion. The potential contribution of livestock production to climate change has been largely overlooked. Recent scholarship suggests that activities related to livestock production constitute a significant proportion of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although estimates of livestock’s contribution to our overall GHG emissions range broadly – from 18% to 51% – there is no question that this impact warrants serious consideration from policy makers.

An Inquiry Into Eco-Labeling: The Promise Of Predator Friendly Certification (Pfc), Melissa Ellen Katherine Early

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Agricultural landscapes play key roles in preserving biodiversity through habitat protection while providing ecosystem services necessary for rural livelihoods. There is a small, but growing movement among agricultural producers to live with nature rather than to dominate nature. Within this larger agriculture movement are efforts to live with predators rather than eliminating them through lethal means. This is reflective of the changing conversation around predators in the New West. Means of co-existence include livestock guardian animals, electric fencing, fladry, range rider patrols, rotational grazing, and lights etc. One grassroots effort in this area is Predator Friendly Certification (PFC). PFC is …

Coalitions In The Jungle: Advancing Animal Welfare Through Challenges To Concentration In The Meat Industry, Lis Kamila

Animal Law Review

The meat processing conglomerates that currently control the majority of the market share in the meatpacking industry are responsible for its most systemic animal abuses. Increased concentration has enabled these larger processors to dictate animal treatment standards maintained by meat producers, most of whom have caved to economic pressure and moved their animals from small farms into Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Animal welfare proponents have failed to adequately challenge the concentration of the meat industry and in 2012 have yet to fully explore strategies made available by the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 (PSA). This Article proposes that a …

A Short History Of (Mostly) Western Animal Law: Part I, Thomas G. Kelch

Animal Law Review

This Article, presented in two parts, travels through animal law from ancient Babylonia to the present, analyzing examples of laws from the ancient, medieval, Renaissance and Enlightenment, recent modern, and modern historical periods. In performing this analysis, particular attention is focused on the primary motives and purposes behind these laws. What is discovered is that there has been a historical progression in the primary motives underlying animal laws in these different periods. While economic and religious motives dominate the ancient and medieval periods, in the Renaissance and Enlightenment we see social engineering—efforts to change human behavior—come to the fore. In …

Stewards Of The Land : Demonstrations Of Agricultural Authenticity In Columbia County, Ny, Jaclyn Rose Bruntfield

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The origins of food in the U.S. have come under close public scrutiny in recent years. An increasing number of farmers markets, certified organic products, and Community Supported Agriculture programs indicate that Americans are seeking out alternatives to the mainstream food system. The industrialization of food production in the post-World War II era, while providing larger amounts of inexpensive food than ever before, has arguably compromised people's relationships with food. While farming was once a common way of life in the U.S., today only one percent of Americans identify farming as their primary occupation.

Agriculture In New York State : Farm Size And Its Implications To Farmland Protection And Biodiversity Conservation, Julianna Marie Potter

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the United States there are 939 million acres of land held by ranchers and farmers. Conservation of this agricultural landscape is critical to the protection of biodiversity. Management of agricultural land is also associated with the success of biodiversity protection efforts in protected areas, including parks and preserves, as well as outside protected areas. Sustained viability of the New York farming sector will enhance and secure biodiversity on farmland, as viable farms will remain part of the landscape.

Markers Of Health Status In Pasture-Fed Versus Total Mixed Ration-Fed Jersey Dairy Cattle, Megan Lee Seneca

Master's Theses and Capstones

Milk from pastured cows contains more beneficial fatty acids than milk from total mixed ration (TMR) fed cows. No studies have been done comparing health status in cows from each system. This study used pastured vs. TMR fed Jersey cows to measure levels of cortisol, haptoglobin (Hp), somatic cells, and production within and between farms over time.

Cortisol was significantly different between farms with means of 126.78 and 93.64 ng/ml for pastured and TMR groups, respectively. Levels in pastured cows trended with temperature and humidity. There was no significant difference in Hp levels between farms though levels did change over …

Bird Productivity And Nest Predation In Agricultural Grasslands, C.A. Ribic, Michael Guzy, Travis Anderson, David Sample, Jamie Nack

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Effective conservation strategies for grassland birds in agricultural landscapes require understanding how nesting success varies among different grassland habitats. A key component to this is identifying nest predators and how these predators vary by habitat. We quantified nesting activity of obligate grassland birds in three habitats [remnant prairie, cool-season grass Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields, and pastures) in southwest Wisconsin, 2002-2004. We determined nest predators using video cameras and examined predator activity using track stations. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) nested primarily in CRP fields, and Grasshopper Sparrow (A. savannarum) in …

Throughfall Chemistry In Deciduous And Coniferous Forest Stands At Thompson Farm, New Hampshire, Musa Dinc

Master's Theses and Capstones

In this study, I compare the chemical composition of throughfall in deciduous and coniferous forest stands to the chemistry of wet deposition. The study was conducted at Thompson Farm, Durham NH, which is owned and managed by the University of New Hampshire. Thompson Farm (43.11N, 70.95W) is at an altitude of 23 m and about 24 km from the Gulf of Maine. Throughfall samples were obtained from two forest stands using wet-dry Aerochem Metrics 301 collectors and rainfall samples were collected in a wet-only precipitation collector (N-CON Atmospheric Deposition Samples Model 00-120) from 14 April 2009 to 14 November 2009.The …

Monitoring Occupancy And Abundance Of New England Cottontails Using Non-Invasive Genetic Tools, Daniel Brubaker

Master's Theses and Capstones

The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis ) is a species of conservation concern. Efficient monitoring methods are needed to guide and assess conservation decisions in an adaptive management framework. I used genetic tools and non-invasively collected fecal DNA to determine New England cottontail detection rates during presence/absence surveys and to identify the environmental and behavioral factors that influence detection.

I found New England cottontail detection rates to be high (>90%) when surveys were conducted under ideal conditions. Prior knowledge of cottontail activity, low snow depth, and allowing 2-4 days without high winds following a snowfall are the most important …

A Comparison Of Bobcat (Lynx Rufus) Habitat Suitability Models Derived From Radio Telemetry And Incidental Observations, Derek Ja Broman

Master's Theses and Capstones

Habitat suitability models derived from data obtained from radio telemetry and citizen observations were developed to evaluate habitat selection of monitored bobcats, compare statewide habitat suitability models and maps developed using locations from telemetry and citizen observations, and produce statewide population estimates. In the winter of 2009-2010, adult bobcats were captured in southwest New Hampshire and equipped with GPS tracking collars. GPS locations were used to calculate home ranges and to build habitat suitability models using resource selection functions (RSF) following a used vs. available design. RSFs were also applied to recent reported statewide sightings. Comparisons between these two approaches …

Variations In Carotenoids And Retinol In Milk And Cheese From Jersey Cows At An Organic Dairy Compared To A Conventional Dairy Over A Pasture Season, Amy Rose Beliveau

Master's Theses and Capstones

Carotenoids, widely distributed in nature, are considered to be potentially beneficial in the prevention of a variety of diseases including cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and eye diseases. As humans are unable to synthesize carotenoids, the diet is the only source of these beneficial components. Carotenoid concentration in cow's milk varies greatly as a result of feeding practice and season, but no research thus far has investigated these variations in Jersey cows over an entire pasture season. The objectives of this experiment were to 1) determine the differences in concentrations of carotenoids and retinol in milk from cows consuming different diets, …