Agriculture Commons^™

Impacts Of Harvest Date And Concurrent Alkali Pretreatment And Ensiling On Anaerobic Digestion Of Pennycress Biomass, Liangcheng Yang, Tuba Yasmin Lubna, Michael A. Moklak, Barsanti Gautum, Nicholas J. Heller, Robert L. Rhykerd, David E. Kopsell, John C. Sedbrook

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an annual cover crop known for its exceptional cold tolerance and high oil and protein yields. Pennycress can be integrated into a corn–soybean rotation in the U.S. However, the utilization of pennycress biomass remains largely unexplored, including assessing compositional changes through its growth and organic matter digestibility. This study harvested pennycress at three growth stages, characterized the biomass for anaerobic digestion (AD), and tested the effects of concurrent alkali pretreatment and ensiling on the biomass methane yield. Results showed that the biomass harvested when the plants were undergoing senescence (“third-harvest”) had higher contents of …

A Review On Potential Biofuel Yields From Cover Crops, Liangcheng Yang, Lucas D. Lamont, Shan Liu, Chunchun Guo, Shelby Stoner

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

Millions of hectares of cover crops are planted in the U.S. and European Union to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, water quality, weeds, and climate change. Although only a small percentage of cover crops are harvested, the growing cover crop planting area provides a new biomass source to the biofuel industry to produce bioenergy. Oilseed crops such as rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean are commodities and have been used to produce biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Other cover crops such as cereal rye, clover, and alfalfa, have been tested on small or pilot scales to produce cellulosic ethanol, biogas, syngas, …

Measuring Mental Health Service Preferences Amongst Illinois Dairy Producers, Michael Barrowclough, Brianna Messman, Daniel Lannin, Maria Boerngen, Michelle Kibler

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

Objectives

To mitigate mental health concerns of farmers, research is needed to investigate strategies that encourage help-seeking behavior in this population. This study attempts to identify those help-seeking strategies. Six mental health service options were examined.

Methods

A survey, implementing a best-worst scaling choice experiment, was disseminated to members of the Illinois Milk Producers Association. Two methods of analysis were conducted. The first, a count-based method, employs a simple count-based approach to measure the relative preferences for the six mental health service options in question. The second is more complex and employs a latent-class logit regression model to measure individual …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Cereal Rye Cover Crop, Liangcheng Yang, Lucas D. Lamont, John C. Sedbrook, Nicholas J. Heller, David E. Kopsell

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

The rapid growth of cover crop planting area in the U.S. helps with erosion control, soil health, control of greenhouse gases, and also provides abundant biomass for the production of bioenergy and bioproducts. Given the cover crops’ compositional heterogeneity and variability, a tolerate platform technology such as anaerobic digestion (AD) is preferred but has not been widely used for cover crop biorefining. This study evaluated the biogas and methane yields from six cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crops grown in the Midwest, using both bench- and pilot-scale anaerobic digesters. The effects of two critical factors, the total solids (TS) …

A Research Agenda For Cooperatives, Justin G. Gardner, Jason R.V. Franken, Maria A. Boerngen

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

This study uses survey responses from cooperative industry leaders and academics to inform priority cooperative research topics and progress on those topics, thereby informing an agenda for further cooperative research. Specifically, factor analysis of respondents’ importance ratings for cooperative research topics identifies the following groupings of larger research areas/themes in order of importance: cooperative governance and performance, life cycle and survival, and risk-oriented research. Future work on these topics will help to address the needs and challenges of agricultural cooperatives and promote the sustainability of this business form.

Course-Related Student Anxiety During Covid-19: A Problem And Some Solutions, Roger Brown, Steve Buck, Michelle Kibler, Jerrod Penn, Na Zuo

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

We examine the prevalence and sources of student anxiety during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 23 to May 10, 2020) and the implications for online course design and delivery. Using a standard screening tool (GAD-7) with supplemental open-response questions, we show that students had relatively high levels of anxiety based on a convenience sample of 266 undergraduate students enrolled at four U.S. institutions. In this sample, we find that 58 percent of students had clinically significant levels of anxiety in one or more weeks of the seven-week study period. Thirty-six percent of students sustained this level of anxiety …

A Narrative Review On Environmental Impacts Of Cannabis Cultivation, Zhonghua Zheng, Kelsey Fiddes, Liangcheng Yang

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

Interest in growing cannabis for medical and recreational purposes is increasing worldwide. This study reviews the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation. Results show that both indoor and outdoor cannabis growing is water-intensive. The high water demand leads to water pollution and diversion, which could negatively affect the ecosystem. Studies found out that cannabis plants emit a significant amount of biogenic volatile organic compounds, which could cause indoor air quality issues. Indoor cannabis cultivation is energy-consuming, mainly due to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting. Energy consumption leads to greenhouse gas emissions. Cannabis cultivation could directly contribute to soil erosion. Meanwhile, …

Factors Influencing Increased Usage Of Cash Rent Leases In Illinois, Jacob Styan, Maria A. Boerngen, Michael J. Barrowclough

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

In recent years, cash rent leases have become increasingly popular among farm landowners in Illinois. Since 1995, acres operated under cash rent leases have increased 44%, 105%, and 117% in northern, southern, and central Illinois, respectively, for farms enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) Association. Using data collected from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Illinois FBFM Association, University of Illinois farmdoc, and Environmental Working Group (EWG), we examined the impact of multiple factors on farmland leasing choices. Results indicate that commodity prices, soybean revenue, government crop insurance expenditures, and commodity …

Supporting Data - Recycling Of Nitrate And Organic Matter By Plants In The Vadose Zone Of A Saturated Riparian Buffer, Patience Bosompemaa, Eric Wade Peterson, William Perry, Wondwosen M. Seyoum

Faculty Publications-- Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Data from the analysis of nitrate as nitrogen in the soil and soil pore water within the vadose zone of a saturated riparian buffer (SRB). Additional properties measured include: Organic matter (as %), bulk density, moisture content, and porosity. Soil samples were collected pre-growing season (n=57) and post-growing season from two plots (n=29): vegetated plots and barren plots. Statistical comparison of among the treatments, Pre-growing season, plot with plants, and barren plot, and among the different depths, 30 cm, 60 cm, and 90 cm identified significantly different soil NO₃^--N concentrations. Plots with plants experienced a reduction in …

Price Determinants Of Stock-Type Horses Sold At Public Online Auctions, Michelle Kibler, Jada M. Thompson

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

There is a shift in livestock auction sales in consolidation of live markets and movement toward virtual marketplaces. We examine buyer preferences for nonracing stock-type horses sold through virtual auctions to better understand how animals are sold and their valuation. A shift towards online sales of equine has impacted the number of potential buyers through increased exposure to sale horses. Using data collected from online auctions, we estimate factors influencing propensity to sell as well as price determinants in this market platform. We find many factors contribute to the likelihood of a horse selling and to the final sale price.

A Farming Community's Perspective On Nutrient Loss Reduction, Benjamin Marks, Maria A. Boerngen

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a voluntary framework to achieve ambitious reductions in nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus runoff to the Mississippi River. In interviews, a group of “conservation-minded” Illinois farmers revealed that while they are not necessarily familiar with the Illinois NLRS, they are concerned with nutrient loss and are taking steps to address those concerns. However, the strategy’s “Phase 1 Milestones” of 15 and 25% reduction in nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus loss, respectively, by 2025 may require additional efforts to encourage adoption of the best management practices (BMPs) recommended by the strategy. This study identifies the information sources …

Effectiveness Of Paperless Communication From The Usda Farm Service Agency, Maria A. Boerngen

Faculty Publications - Agriculture

The USDA Farm Service Agency replaced paper mailings with GovDelivery electronic communication in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This case study presents evidence from one state indicating a perception among local FSA officials that GovDelivery does not allow them to effectively serve their constituents. A gap in reliable rural Internet service and low usage of smartphones in place of rural broadband may contribute to the extremely low open rates for GovDelivery email notifications. Findings suggest that electronic-only communication does not allow the agency to effectively engage with farm owners, operators, and managers.