Digital Commons Network^™

Desert Plant Bacteria Reveal Host Influence And Beneficial Plant Growth Properties, Abdul Aziz Eida, Maren Ziegler, Feras F. Lafi, Craig T. Michell, Christian R. Voolstra, Heribert Hirt, Maged M. Saad

All Works

© 2018 Eida et al.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Deserts, such as those found in Saudi Arabia, are one of the most hostile places for plant growth. However, desert plants are able to impact their surrounding microbial community and select beneficial microbes that promote their growth under these extreme conditions. In this study, we examined the soil, rhizosphere and endosphere bacterial communities of four native desert plants Tribulus terrestris, Zygophyllum simplex, …

Size And Scope Of Box Elder County Agriculture 2018, Michael Pace, Joshua Dallin, Ryan Larsen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes agriculture in Box Elder County, Utah, and includes location, land ownership, growing season, crop production, irrigation water, livestock production, disease and health concerns, marketing, farm income, and demographics.

The Drive To Commercialize: Implications Of Women Rice Farmers’ Differential Resource Access For Market-Oriented Development Intervention In Southwestern Burkina Faso, Millie Varley

Geography Honors Projects

This research questions the theory-of-change underlying market-oriented agricultural development intervention. In particular, this research interrogates divergent commercialization experiences for women, depending on their differential access to resources. The sample covers women rice farmers in five villages in southwestern Burkina Faso, of which three villages are included in a market-oriented development program. I investigate the links between three resources: women’s level of land tenure security, their access to organic fertilizer, and the distribution of time spent on fieldwork. The most significant relationship is an association between women’s land tenure security and the dietary diversity scores of their household, across all wealth …

Moving Beyond The Wto: A Proposal To Adjudicate Gmo Disputes In An International Environmental Court, Marguerite A. Hutchinson

San Diego International Law Journal

This Article begins with a brief summary of the scientific basis of creating GMOs and its historic precursors. The second section provides an overview of risks to humans and the environment. The third part of this Article analyzes the arguments put forward by both the United States and the E.U., which have defined the conflict between blocs of countries pushing GMOs abroad and those who persistently reject them. The fourth section evaluates the respective regulatory schemes imposed on GMOs by the United States and Europe, domestically and by international treaty. The success of these systems is evaluated in the fifth …

Genetic Dissection Of Non-Host Resistance To The Wheat Stem Rust Pathogen, Using An Interspecific Barberry Hybrid, Radhika Bartaula

Doctoral Dissertations

Stem rust, caused by the macrocyclic fungal pathogen P. graminis (Pg), is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat and other small grains globally; and the emergence of new stem rust races virulent on deployed resistance genes brings urgency to the discovery of more durable sources of genetic resistance. Given its intrinsic durability and effectiveness across a broad range of pathogens, non-host resistance (NHR) presents a compelling strategy for achieving long-term rust control in wheat. However, NHR to Pg (Pg-NHR) remains largely unexplored as a protection strategy in wheat, in part due to the challenge of developing a genetically …

Wild, Native Bees And Managed Honey Bees Benefit From Similar Agricultural Land Uses, Elaine Evans, Matthew Smart, Dan Cariveau, Marla Spivak

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Although both managed and unmanaged bees are important pollinators of crops and wild plants, efforts to address questions about landscapes that best support pollinators often focus on either wild pollinators or honey bees. This study examined if there was concordance between the success of wild bee communities and managed honey bee colonies at sites varying in floral availability and disturbance level in a predominantly agricultural landscape. We also determined which agricultural land uses best supported wild bee communities. The study area in the state of North Dakota in Northern Great Plains in North America is home to understudied native bee …

Rocky Mountain Trefoil Beef, Kailie Leggett, Roslynn Mccann, Jennifer W. Macadam, Juan J. Villalba

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Rocky Mountain trefoil beef and how researchers at USU are exploring the use of tannin-containing legumes as a method fr finishing cattle to address environmental and efficiency concerns associated with the most common current beef production systems.

Swine First Aid, Basic Care, And Common Diseases In Show Hogs, Flip Booklet, Karah Nay, Dennis Worwood, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This flip book provides guidelines for swine first aid, basic care, and common diseases of show hogs.

Quantifying Plant Soluble Protein And Digestible Carbohydrate Content, Using Corn (Zea Mays) As An Exemplar, Carrie A. Deans, Gregory A. Sword, Paul A. Lenhart, Eric Burkness, William D. Hutchison, Spencer T. Behmer

Entomology Faculty Publications

Elemental data are commonly used to infer plant quality as a resource to herbivores. However, the ubiquity of carbon in biomolecules, the presence of nitrogen-containing plant defensive compounds, and variation in species-specific correlations between nitrogen and plant protein content all limit the accuracy of these inferences. Additionally, research focused on plant and/or herbivore physiology require a level of accuracy that is not achieved using generalized correlations. The methods presented here offer researchers a clear and rapid protocol for directly measuring plant soluble proteins and digestible carbohydrates, the two plant macronutrients most closely tied to animal physiological performance. The protocols combine …

The Social Construction Of Understanding & Neoliberal Multiculturalism: Analysis And Critique Of The Peruvian Moratorium Gmos, T. W. Dondanville

Student Research – Stevenson Center

No abstract provided.

Proper Care And Management Of Common Health Concerns With 4-H Steers And Heifers, Karah Nay, Matthew D. Garcia, Kerry A. Rood, Chelsea Walker

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to give youth and their parents a basic guide of what signs and symptoms to watch for to prevent illness or death. It includes instructions on how to take vitals, how to assist the veterinarian when called, the compiling of materials for a first aid kit, proper antibiotic administration, vaccinations, and preventive practices that the youth can implement while caring for their animal.

Proper Care And Management Of Common Health Concerns With 4-H Hogs, Karah Nay, Dennis Worwood, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to give youth and their parents a basic guide of what signs and symptoms to watch for to prevent illness or death. It includes instructions on how to take vitals, how to assist the veterinarian when called, the compiling of materials for a first aid kit, proper antibiotic administration, vaccinations, and preventive practices that the youth can implement while caring for their animal.

Indiana’S Agriculture In A Changing Climate: A Report From The Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment, Laura C. Bowling, Melissa Widhalm, Keith A. Cherkauer, Janna Beckerman, Sylvie Brouder, Jonathan Buzan, Otto Doering, Jeffrey Dukes, Paul Ebner, Jane Frankenburger, Benjamin Gramig, Eileen J. Kladivko, Charlotte Lee, Jeffrey Volenec, Cliff Weil

Agriculture Reports

Indiana has long been one of the nation’s leaders in agricultural productivity. Favorable temperatures and precipitation help Indiana farmers generate over $31 billion worth of sales per year, making the state 11th in total agricultural products sold.

Changes to the state’s climate over the coming decades, including increasing temperatures, changes in precipitation amounts and patterns, and rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air will result in several direct and indirect impacts to the state’s agricultural industry.

This report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA) describes how projected changes in the state’s climate will affect the …

Market Goats: Tips For Beginning A Livestock Project, Deric Despain, Karah Nay, Kevin Heaton

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide several tips for beginning a market goat 4-H youth livestock project. 4-H market goat projects are gaining popularity, as seen by the increased level of competition and 4-H livestock shows.

The Gm Food Debate: An Evaluation Of The Nationalbioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Andrecommendations For The United States Based On Foodjustice, Courtnee Grego

Seattle University Law Review

This Note aims to identify the food justice issues caused by the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) and make recommendations for the United States to minimize these concerns. The NBFDS requires the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to draft regulations establishing a mandatory disclosure standard for GM food and ultimately, will require a disclosure on the package of any GM food sold in the United States. Part I of the Note provides an overview of the genetically modified (GM) food debate. Part II reviews the NBFDS. Part III explains the food justice implications of GM food production. Part …

Alternative Legume Species Can Reduce The Environmental Impacts Of Cattle, Elizabeth K. Stewart, Jennifer W. Macadam, Juan J. Villalba

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes how alternative legume species can reduce the environmental impacts of cattle, grass versus legumes as livestock feed, benefits, and producer concerns.

Usu Student Organic Farm, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

We’ve got water! It was pretty funny when we finally got the irrigation system up and running Saturday evening of the holiday weekend, and the sky opened up. But we’re all really glad to have it ready for all those babies after a baking hot day! We’ve got the warm weather crops in, including squashes, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant and peppers, and melons will be planted tomorrow. We’re lovingly encouraging the tail end of the cool crops to make some food already - you may have noticed your bokchoi is delicious, and so did some cabbage fam­ily loving beetles, who are …

Subsidizing Climate Change: How The Agricultural Business Is Harming Our Planet, Caroline Berejka

Student Theses 2015-Present

In exploring the concept of environmental sustainability in the modern age, it is important to look at the practices of the agriculture industry and the role of agricultural production in the multifaceted issue of climate change. The agriculture industry's overwhelming power in the US government and its resistance to moving toward more sustainable practices is an issue that the average American has little awareness of. In order to push the movement of environmental sustainability forward, it is necessary to examine the economic reasons for the slow shift towards sustainable agriculture and possible incentives for industrial farmers to modify their practices. …

Animal Agriculture And American Health: The Search For Sustainable Protein, Britta Brinkmann

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This study examines the impact large-scale animal agriculture has on the environment. It links the environment and health. The goal is to find protein sources that are sustainable and nutritious in order to replace typical meat and dairy products. A study is proposed to measure the impact of the typical American diet, a vegan diet, an insect-supplemented diet and a diet heavy in seafood.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Multi-Scale Habitat Selection In An Invasive Generalist, Kelsey Elizabeth Paolini

Theses and Dissertations

Spatiotemporal dynamics of resource availability can produce markedly different patterns of landscape utilization which necessitates studying habitat selection across biologically relevant extents. Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are a prolifically expanding, generalist species and researchers have yet to understand fundamental drivers of space use in agricultural landscapes within the United States. To study multi-scale habitat selection patterns, I deployed 13 GPS collars on feral pigs within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. I estimated resource selection using mixed-effects models to determine how feral pigs responded to changes in forage availability and incorporated those results with autocorrelated kernel density home range estimates. My results …

Agricultural Information Needs And Food Access In The Stann Creek District Of Belize, Sam Harris

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe agricultural information sources available to farmers and to describe food access and availability for the people of Dangriga, Stann Creek, Belize. This study used descriptive survey research methods with convenience sampling of the general public (n=22) and of farmers (n = 38) in the summer of 2017. Farmers use a variety of agricultural information sources with the extension service cited most often, followed by friends and fellow farmers. Weather, lack of information, pests, and inadequate access to capital were of primary concern for farmers. Face to face meetings were …

No Farms No Food? A Response To Baylen Linnekin, Joshua Ulan Galperin

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

You have likely seen the bumper sticker, bold white text on a green background, reading “No Farms No Food.” The sticker is a product of, and in fact a tagline for, the American Farmland Trust. On the one hand, the point is obvious: As American Farmland Trust puts it, “[e]very meal on our plates [c]ontains ingredients grown on a farm. We all need farms to survive.” On the other hand, what seems like a plain statement on its face, “no farms no food,” is not so simple. Farms produce affordable food, they produce vast quantities of food, they produce healthy …

Environmental And Animal Benefits When Beef Cattle Consume Condensed And Hydrolysable Tannins, Elizabeth K. Stewart, Juan J. Villalba, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the environmental and animal benefits when cattle consume condensed and hydrolysable tannins, and includes producer concerns.

Soil Properties That Influence The Occurrence Of Hydrogen Sulfide Toxicity In Rice Fields, Julia Marie Fryer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) producers face many challenges throughout each growing season. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) toxicity is a physiological disorder where sulfate (SO42-) is excessively reduced to the toxic gas, H2S. This can reduce yield and, in severe cases, result in crop death. The main research objectives were to: i) understand chemical and physical characteristics in soils prone to H2S toxicity, ii) determine influential soil characteristics on the incidence of H2S toxicity, iii) determine ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) fertilizer additions influence on H2S toxicity, and iv) predict when and where H2S will occur. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted using Arkansas field …

Correcting For The Inconveniences Of Cultivation: Foraging As A Food Source In Southwestern Burkina Faso, Julia Deryn Morgan

Geography Honors Projects

Malnutrition is an important public health issue in Burkina Faso where 30 % of children are underweight for their age and 92% suffer from iron deficiency. Such statistics indicate that there is a significant lack of adequate nutrition in the country. With approximately 80% of the population employed in the agricultural sector, development projects have focused on increasing agricultural production and commercializing output to ameliorate poor nutrition. However, this strategy ignores the importance of local knowledge and food traditions, most notably by neglecting to acknowledge foraging as a significant source of food. To address this concern, I seek to understand …

Testing The Potential Of Novel Grain Crop Cultivation In Rural Malawi During The Dry Season Through Irrigation And Soil Modification, Jessica Truman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project studied the germination and growth rates of oat and quinoa crops in Mtalimanja, Malawi. This project was part of a larger effort by General Mills and Brigham Young University researchers to increase the diversity and nutrient content of crops in impoverished countries worldwide. It was conducted from May to August 2017 during Malawi’s dry season. Tetraploid oats and quinoa, both modified to increase the protein content of harvested grains, were planted under three different soil conditions: unamended soil, soil mixed with composted chicken litter, and soil with surface-applied granular fertilizer. The research plots were watered daily except …

Food Localization: Empowering Community Food Systems Through The Farm Bill, Joshua Ulan Galperin, Brian Fink, Alexandra Schluntz

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

Our intent in this Article is not to delineate foods that are local or not local, nor is it to lionize one agricultural production method over another. Rather, we hope to build on the literature that for many decades has documented how local communities have emerged as influential actors on the American food system through establishing control over local supply chains often alongside national and global supply chains. We begin with Part I, which explores how some food-system scholars have conceptualized these democratic changes occurring. We look to Thomas Lyson’s concept of civic agriculture, which attempts to move corporation-oriented communities …

The Stakes In Steak: Examining Barriers To And Opportunities For Alternatives To Animal Products In Canada, Angela Lee

Dalhousie Law Journal

This Article considers some of the different food innovations being presented as potential solutions to the myriad problems associated with conventionalmodels of industrial agriculture. Specifically,in vitro meat (IVM) and plant-based alternatives to animal products-and their corresponding regulatory and market structuresare compared and contrasted. Examining the idiosyncrasies around Canada's approach to regulating these products reveals that the respective degrees of scrutiny may not be commensurate with the respective degrees of risk, due in part to the influence of powerful industry actors who wish to maintain the status quo. Given the significance and scope of the problems implicated by the industrial food …

Using Day Neutral Cultivars And Low Tunnels To Extend The Strawberry Harvest Season In The Northeastern United States, Kaitlyn Marie Orde

Master's Theses and Capstones

Day-neutral strawberry cultivars have produced competitive yields and allowed for extended production in several recent experiments in the Upper Midwest and northeastern US, and the inclusion of small plastic-covered low tunnels has increased percent marketable yields and even total yields in some cases. However, low tunnel systems have not been evaluated for production conditions in New England, and cultivar evaluation is limited. The objectives of our experiments were to: (1) evaluate five different plastic films with diverse light-transmission profiles, as well as three mulch types (black plastic, white-on-black plastic, and bare ground) for low tunnel day-neutral strawberry production in New …

Editorial: Harm And Benefit Of Plant And Fungal Secondary Metabolites In Food Animal Production, Michael D. Flythe

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.