Digital Commons Network^™

China’S Securitization Of Agricultural Imports: A Case Of Economic Statecraft Mixed Successes, Gustavo Ferreira, Bert Cramer

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the People’s Republic of China’s agricultural import diversification from 1995–2023 reflects a strategic effort to reduce reliance on US and allied suppliers while prioritizing national food security. Unlike prior studies focused on production or consumption, this analysis centers on trade patterns of high-value, strategically critical commodities. Using trade data and policy documents, it assesses shifts in supplier dependency, notably toward Brazil. This research offers policy and military practitioners insights into how food security intersects with economic statecraft, revealing vulnerabilities and strategic choices in global supply chains relevant to deterrence and resilience planning.

Plant Preservation: The Contribution Of Bacteriophage And Transposons To Pathogenic Xanthomonas Evolution, And The Demographic And Reproductive Analysis Of Castilleja Parvula, Ciara A. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Plant preservation, whether through disease research or endemic extinction analyses, plays an important role in the relationship between humans and our surrounding environment. In these analyses, both the role of mobile elements in the evolution of pathogenic Xanthomonas sp. bacteria, and the demographic and reproductive analysis of Castilleja parvula, an imperiled alpine plant, are evaluated. Xanthomonas species are one of the top agricultural threats, and are known to evolve rapidly. Until now, the contributions of mobile elements and particularly bacteriophage have not been thoroughly evaluated. The contribution of these agricultural diseases to food insecurity and the devastation of crops that …

Predicting, Culturing, And Characterizing Beneficial And Detrimental Strains Associated With Plant Phenotypes., Anastasiia Onyshchenko

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Modern agriculture’s reliance on chemical fertilizers has greatly increased crop yields but has also contributed to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and unsustainable resource use. Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria offer a sustainable alternative, enhancing plant growth through mechanisms such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and phytohormone modulation, while also protecting plants against pathogens and abiotic stresses. However, soil microbial communities are highly diverse and structurally complex, making the isolation of individual beneficial strains challenging. Traditional approaches rely on selective media and labor-intensive phenotypic screening, which often capture only a small fraction of soil diversity. To overcome these limitations, we combined …

Improving Food Security: Determining Risk Zones For Toxic Crop Contamination, Parker J. Peterson, Cade Smith, Kirsten Sanders, Ruth Kerry, Sean Young

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Aflatoxin contamination causes significant food waste and poses liver cancer risks to humans and livestock consuming infected corn. This study identifies high-risk years and locations in Texas by analyzing relationships between drought conditions, remote sensing data (NDVI and Thermal IR), and insurance claims for spoiled crops, enabling targeted interventions to reduce contamination and waste.

Teaching Leadership In The Context Of Crisis: Connecting Organizational Leadership And Crisis Competencies In A Faculty Leadership Education Program, Caitlin Lunzmann, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Matthew Sowcik

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This research focused on enhancing leadership instruction in colleges of agriculture. A multi-institutional research team initiated a program to teach agricultural and natural resource faculty how to create leadership-oriented case studies for undergraduates. Forty faculty members participated in an online training academy centered on Bolman and Deal’s Organizational Frames and case study writing. Following the academy, these faculty members participated in field experiences in the southeastern U.S. to gather data on natural disasters, which they used to write case studies about leadership in agriculture. Though the program focused on organizational leadership, it also discussed leadership in the context of natural …

Agricultural Practices’ Impact On Soil Health Indicators In Mid-South U.S. Crop Production Systems, Katherine Suzanne French

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soil health and regenerative agriculture are concepts gaining popularity across global agriculture systems. The effect of sustainable farming practices such as nutrient management, cover crops, adoption of no-tillage, and residue retention on crop yield, as well as environmental resilience, is increasingly being studied. This research aimed to evaluate the impacts of (i) cover cropping and nutrient management, and of (ii) soil sampling depth and timing on indicators of soil health in various mid-southern irrigated row crop systems. Soil health indicators like soil organic matter (SOM), carbon dioxide respiration (CDR), beta-glucosidase enzyme activity (BG), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), and the soil …

Biosecurity Council Of Western Australia Annual Report 2024-25, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Established in 2008, the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia (Council) is a specialist advisory group to the Minister for Agriculture and Food (Minister), the Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC and Director General (DG) of Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

The Council operates at a strategic level, with a long-term vision for effective biosecurity in Western Australia (WA) for the protection of WA’s environment, agriculture and aquaculture industries, social amenity, and economic development.

Matters the Council may provide advice on include, but are not limited to:

• the requirements of a comprehensive and effective biosecurity system for WA

• …

Pesticides, Pollinators, And Producers: The Epa’S New Herbicide And Insecticide Strategies And Illinois Farmers, Jonathan Jerkatis

Northern Illinois University Law Review

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new herbicide and insecticide strategies to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a move that will have significant implications for Illinois farmers and endangered species. Illinois, a leading producer of corn and soybeans, relies heavily on pesticides. Unfortunately, these chemicals have been identified as a key driver of monarch and other endangered species population decline. This note examines how the EPA’s new strategies aim to balance species protection with agricultural viability, addressing concerns over financial burdens of compliance, the complexity of the strategies, and a lack of enforcement provisions. While Illinois farmers …

Ministry Through Agriculture : An Evaluation Of Community Farming Among Displaced People, Emmanuel Jatau

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Sustainable Agriculture In Western Wisconsin Among Current Dairy Farmers, Morgan Dekan, Ryan Weichelt

The Geographical Bulletin

Sustainable agriculture uses environmentally responsible farming practices to meet the needs of society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is a form of farming that is concerned with the health of the farmland and surrounding environment and works to protect both. Wisconsin’s economy is reliant on farming, with over 64,000 farms generating over $104 billion annually for the state. Despite the state’s reliance on agriculture, there is a lack of research on sustainable farming in Wisconsin; therefore, this study sent surveys to hundreds of dairy farmers throughout western Wisconsin asking them about their perceptions …

Groundwater Quality Analyses For Irrigation Purposes In Salah Al-Din, Iraq: A Review, Noor A. Radhi, Dawood E. Sachit, Abdul-Sahib T. Al-Madhhachi

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The focus of this study is the effect of the physical and chemical characteristics of groundwaters on plants and agricultural crops, following the last studies on this matter. The results underscore the necessity for groundwater treatment before its utilization in irrigation for sustainable agricultural farming. It is also possible to identify which crop type can be grown in well-watered land, according to the characteristics of irrigation water and the yield of each crop. The study also introduces some ideas about irrigation water quality parameters such as Electrical conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Chloride (Cl^–), Sodium (Na …

From Insight To Action: Advancing Extension Programming For Utah Agriculture, Melanie Heaton, Cheyenne Reid, Reganne K. Briggs, Rebekah E. Iverson, Kara Thornton-Kurth, Brooke Holgate

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension programs, including evening events and a hands-on cattle boot camp, address gender disparities in Utah agriculture education. While open to everyone, these initiatives empower women through skill-building, peer support, and expert instruction, leading to increased confidence and knowledge, which ultimately enhances their roles and profitability in livestock production.

Evolution Of Agricultural Emissions Calculations In Australia: Methodological And Calculator Refinements And Their Impact On Western Australia’S Agricultural Carbon Footprint, Christophe D'Abbadie

Climate Science Published Reports

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting is fundamental to positioning Australian agricultural products competitively in global markets, enabling supply chain stakeholders to make informed decisions, and understanding the trade-offs between market demands, policy requirements, consumer expectations, and intergenerational responsibilities.

Recent methodological refinements to emissions methodologies have enhanced the accuracy of GHG accounting in Western Australian (WA) agriculture. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has collaborated in these improvements through collaborative research with universities and federal agencies and advocacy for Western Australia-specific emission factors.

Methodological refinements have improved the accuracy of WA agricultural emissions estimates by 6% overall, providing …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Env 3070 (Agroecology), Benjamin Iuliano

Open Educational Resources

Our relationships with the food we eat are deeply personal, but also connect us to a wide array of people, plants, animals, and landscapes around the world. Encompassing a diversity of scholarly approaches, the field of agroecology seeks to understand the interactions among these components, draw attention to the consequences of our present industrial food system, and create the conditions for more sustainable and just futures. In this course, students will learn about the science, practice, and social movement of agroecology through lectures, course discussions, field trips, and hands-on activities.

Research And Development Agenda For Small Islands In The Philippines: Results From A Multi-Stakeholder National Forum, Rodmyr F. Datoon, Ron Jay P. Dangcalan, Marissa S. Pontillas, Marie Gianina Concepcion S. Decano, Melissa Grace C. Olit, Jenny Mei S. Peroy, Eva Marie C. Ponce De Leon, Cristine L. Pingal, Restie Allan A. Puno, Jackielyn S. Abela, Lenard D. Visaya

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The Philippines has 7,641 islands, most of which are small and underdeveloped. While studies have been done on topics such as poverty reduction, climate change, and economic development, there is no integrated research and development (R&D) agenda for small islands. Furthermore, literature points to the lack of consensus on the definition of small islands. As such, the study wove together existing bodies of knowledge and stakeholder perspectives on small islands in the country using a qualitative research design. Data were collected through a desk review, workshops, and key informant interviews. Four categories of small islands were proposed, namely micro-island, small …

Illinois Model Programs Of Study Guide: Agriculture, Food, And Natural Resources, Education Systems Center

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

First published in August 2021. Significantly revised in September 2024 to incorporate updated labor market information. An update in April 2025 included minor corrections. In August 2025, two new sections were added: key terminology and the relationship between concepts.

Commodity Diversification, Technological Innovation, And Market Dynamics: Insights Into Beef Cattle Production And Feeder Cattle Basis In The United States, Nik Berg

All Theses

The beef cattle industry plays an important role in the agricultural economy, contributing to both domestic food supply and global trade. The United States is one of the world's largest producers of beef, with production systems varying widely across regions largely due to differences in available resources and market structures. Market conditions, technological advancements, and policy interventions shape the way producers operate, making research into these factors essential for both industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Producers are continuously adapting to changing economic conditions, environmental challenges, and evolving consumer preferences. By analyzing these factors, researchers can provide insights to support informed decision-making …

Empowering Employability: Voices Of Black Women Leveraging Community Cultural Wealth In An Undergraduate Agricultural Program, Rose Marie Somers

All Dissertations

Across the nation, agricultural industry professionals have bemoaned the shortage of qualified professionals, expressing an expanding need for graduates with a blend of discipline-specific and employability skills to advance the sector. Research indicates that the future of the US agriculture sector hinges on a diverse and skilled workforce. Yet, a paucity of literature exists on Black women's enduring legacy, experiences, and how they understand and develop 21st-century critical transferable professional competencies needed to address complex challenges in modern agriculture. Black women have a long tradition in agriculture and a wealth of cultural knowledge, skills and innovations that are untapped. This …

A Pastoral River: Reimagining The Narrative Of Buffalo National River, Thomas Andrew Medford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the creation of Buffalo National River (BNR) from the perspective of dispossessed landowners. A unit of the National Park Service in the Arkansas Ozarks, BNR has garnered little scholarly attention in this light, despite present-day resentment of the federal government by locals. The park was signed into law in 1972, capping a years-long debate about the fate of the river. Some had supported a tenacious U.S. Army Corps of Engineers effort to dam the river, others backed a well-organized, preservationist-led campaign to create a park, while on-the-river landowners typically preferred the status quo of private ownership. Many …

Unh Fillable Pre-Harvest Water Assessment, Wendy A. Johnecheck

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Unh Fillable Pre-Harvest Water Assessment_Pond Example, Wendy A. Johnecheck

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Unh Fillable Pre-Harvest Water Assessment_Well Example, Wendy A. Johnecheck

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

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. …

Dr. John Olthoff Reflects On 36 Years At Dordt, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

The Enigmatic Samuel Aughey: Nebraska’S Pastor Naturalist, Hugh H. Genoways, Margaret R. Bolick, Mary Anne Andrei

Zea E-Books Collection

Samuel Aughey at age 39 became the first Professor of Natural Science at the new University of Nebraska in Lincoln, serving from 1871 to 1883. He was an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with an addendum degree from Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College) in 1856 and an A.M. degree two years later. His early pastoral work was in Pennsylvania, but in 1864 he became a home missionary to a church in Dakota City, Nebraska. Aughey’s career at the university was marked with successes and honors, but also criticism and questions about his basic knowledge of the sciences. While …

Exploring Soft Polymeric Nanoparticles For Targeted Biomolecule Delivery In Plant Cells, Mohammad Rashid

Theses and Dissertations

Safe and efficient agricultural practices require innovative technologies. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for advancing plant agriculture by enabling the targeted delivery of biomolecules such as agrochemicals and nucleic acids. This study focuses on developing a safe nanotechnological approach for delivering molecules of interest into plant cells. We investigated the ability of four types of polymeric nanoparticles such as Polyethylene glycol N, Nʹ-dibutylethylenediamine (PEG-DB), Polyethylene glycol 2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl-amine (PEG-PY), Polyethyleneimine (PEI), Arabinoxylan (AX)+, and Zein+ to form conjugates with plasmid DNA (pDNA). Our findings confirm that plant-derived cationic nanopolymers, AX+ and Zein+, effectively bind negatively charged pDNA (pGFPGUSPlus) carrying a GFP reporter …

Dairy-To-Go: An Informal And Formal Education Model On Milking Dairy Cattle, Elizabeth Ann Marie Kostalnick

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

Within California, 360 schools have FFA programs; however, there are still over 2,000 high schools within the state. This equates to only 18% of California high schools having access to FFA. That number may be greater than 10%, however, access to agricultural curriculum is still limited. Considering US crop production is concentrated predominantly in California and the Midwest (USDA-ERS 2017), high schools in California, regardless of location and proximity to a farm, should have access to an agricultural curriculum. The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum where middle school and high school educators can show the process …

The Connection Between An Unequitable Distribution Of Care Responsibilities And A Widening Gender Nutrition Gap In Latin America, Alexis Nicole Bodlak

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The notion of care refers to activities that satisfy the basic needs of existence and reproduction. Within rural communities, care work such as the production and preparation of food contributes to food security at the household level. Care work supports the paid workforce, allowing workers to focus on commercial productive activities that generate economic income in rural communities. Women perform 6.3 to 29.5 more hours per week than men in unpaid care work, reducing their time for income-generating activities and personal nutrition management. Affecting their economic independence and ability to access and consume nutritious food. Studies show that in food-insecure …

The Impact Of Cattle Grazing On Water Quality In Stoner Creek, Bourbon County, Ky., Logan Stigall

Honors Theses

This study aims to identify the impact of cattle grazing on the water quality of Stoner Creek, located in North Middletown, KY. Cattle grazing can impact water quality in numerous ways. In this study, water quality was examined using the following parameters: water temperature (°C), pH (SU), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), conductivity (μS/cm), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies per 100 mL of water. Results show that Site 3 (Cattle access point) had the greatest average conductivity at 465 μS/cm. Sites 3 and 4 showed the highest turbidity. There was a strong positive correlation (r²=0.32, p=0.02) between conductivity and …

What Is Climate Smart Agriculture? : A Standardized Framework For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Climate Smart Agriculture Systems And Practices, Olivia G. Messerges, Trenton W. Ford

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

The United States agricultural system is challenged with feeding a growing population, adapting to climate change, and minimizing environmental damage. In response to these challenges, the paradigm of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was developed to describe practices that address these challenges as a comprehensive strategy to address climate change and increase food security.

Definitions of CSA vary, but surround three main pillars: increasing productivity, enhancing adaptation, and reducing emissions. However, no standardized framework exists to assess if practices or technologies identified as "climate-smart" produce the desired benefits. A standardized framework would enable producers, policymakers, and researchers to improve CSA implementation, policy …