Agriculture Commons^™

Yield Of Eight Summer Squash Varieties In Southwest Michigan, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The seven zucchini squash evaluated ranged in total yield from 1432 to 1798 half-bushels/acre. All seven entries were statistically similar in total yield, however differences were found in yield of small, medium, large, and cull fruit. Each entry has commercial potential in Southwest Michigan, especially if they have virus tolerance. One yellow squash (Blonde Beauty) was also in the trial but not included in statistical evaluation.

Response Of Pepper And Tomato To Six Nitrogen Rates, Ron G. Goldy

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A surprising lack of statistical difference was found for most metrics measured. Similar total yield was found across all fertilizer levels tested for tomato, and for the 100 to 300 pounds nitrogen/acre for peppers, only the 350 pound/acre level had lower total yield. Pepper plant height was stunted by higher nitrogen levels. This lack of differences may indicate that the important factor in nitrogen (and perhaps other nutrients) application is not in how much is applied, but more on how it is applied, especially in conjunction with how the plants are irrigated.

Dairy Product Purchasing In Households With And Without Children, Mario Ortez, Courtney Bir, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Jonathan Townsend

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Dairy products are considered a staple in the American diet due in part to their nutritious content and appealing flavor. Consumption patterns may differ among age segments influenced by preferences for fat content and taste in dairy. Furthermore, having children in their household may influence the amount, frequency, and type of dairy products that a consumer chooses to purchase. This study finds that households that frequently bought food for children generally purchased larger quantities of fluid milk and more fluid milk with a higher fat content. Households with children also bought yogurt more frequently than other households. Labeling information of …

A Round Indiana: Round Barns In The Hoosier State, Second Edition, John T. Hanou

Purdue University Press Book Previews

Rounds barns are architectural phenomena that have graced rural America for over a century. Today the few that survive stand as symbols of another generation’s innovation and ingenuity. To understand the importance of these buildings is to begin to understand the story of farming in America. A Round Indiana: Round Barns in the Hoosier State, Second Edition documents the 266 round barns identified in the history of Indiana. This book contains more than 300 modern and historical photographs alongside nearly 40 line drawings and plans.

Author and award-winning photographer John T. Hanou combed through often-forgotten documents to tell the fascinating …

Using Cold War-Era Satellite Imagery To Inform Historic Land Cover Classification, Nicholas Hamp-Adams

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

#Goingtothefair: A Social Media Listening Analysis Of Agricultural Fairs, Julie A. Mahoney, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Courtney Bir

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Agricultural fairs provide one of the last frontiers, and largest stages, for showcasing livestock agriculture to the public. However, public funding, attendance revenue, animal biosecurity, and public health concerns are all aspects worthy of conversation and increased research attention given the interaction between livestock animals and the general public in fair and festival settings. A prominent social media listening and data analytics platform was used to quantify online and social media chatter concerning agricultural fairs during a 27-mo period. A general search for online media referencing agricultural fair keywords was designed; social and online media mentions of agricultural fairs ( …

Public Perceptions Of Veterinarians From Social And Online Media Listening, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Courtney Bir, John Lai, Christopher Wolf

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The public perception of the veterinary medicine profession is of increasing concern given the mounting challenges facing the industry, ranging from student debt loads to mental health implications arising from compassion fatigue, euthanasia, and other challenging aspects of the profession. This analysis employs social media listening and analysis to discern top themes arising from social and online media posts referencing veterinarians. Social media sentiment analysis is also employed to aid in quantifying the search results, in terms of whether they are positivity/negativity associated. From September 2017-November 2019, over 1.4 million posts and 1.7 million mentions were analyzed; the top domain …

Producer Willingness To Pay For Enhanced Packaging To Prevent Postharvest Decay Of Strawberries, Brian Coffey, Valentina Trinetta, Londa Nwadike, Umut Yucel

Journal of Applied Farm Economics

We surveyed specialty crop producers in Kansas and Missouri to determine producer willingness to pay for new active packaging technology that prevents postharvest loss and increases shelf life. The survey also asked demographic questions to determine the producer and operation traits for this growing segment of production agriculture. More than half of those surveyed were female, and 60% were under 50 years of age. Smaller operations tend to utilize direct marketing and social media activity more than larger operations. Parametric willingness to pay estimates are approximately $0.39 per cardboard flat to purchase the antifungal film that increases shelf life of …

Financial Implications From Contracting Avian Influenza In A U.S. Broiler Operation, Jordan M. Shockley, Tyler Mark, Kenneth H. Burdine, Levi Russell

Journal of Applied Farm Economics

This essay evaluates the on-farm financial impacts of an avian influenza outbreak on a U.S. commercial broiler operation. It investigates how the timing and length of the outbreak impacts farm financial performance for two different farmers, beginning and experienced. Results indicate that a beginning farmer is more susceptible to significant financial losses. Both farmers are financially impacted more when avian influenza is contracted early in the investment and when the contamination and eradication of the virus was prolonged. Furthermore, this essay highlights the problems of using standard financial measures for analyzing disease outbreaks under production contract arrangements and presents alternative …

On-Site And External Energy Harvesting In Underground Wireless, Usman Raza, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

Energy efficiency is vital for uninterrupted long-term operation of wireless underground communication nodes in the field of decision agriculture. In this paper, energy harvesting and wireless power transfer techniques are discussed with applications in underground wireless communications (UWC). Various external wireless power transfer techniques are explored. Moreover, key energy harvesting technologies are presented that utilize available energy sources in the field such as vibration, solar, and wind. In this regard, the Electromagnetic(EM)- and Magnetic Induction(MI)-based approaches are explained. Furthermore, the vibration-based energy harvesting models are reviewed as well. These energy harvesting approaches lead to design of an efficient wireless underground …

Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation For Eastern Minnesota 2019, Annie Klodd, Rod Elmstrand

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

This trial compared the performance of 32 pumpkin varieties, including new cultivars and cultivars commonly grown in Minnesota, under minimal-till conditions in east-central Minnesota. Yield, average fruit weight, fruit weight variability, tons per acre, fruit per acre, and handle length were evaluated and reported for each variety.

Familiarity And Use Of Veterinary Services By Us Resident Dog And Cat Owners, Courtney Bir, Mario Ortez, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Chris Wolf, Charlotte Hansen, Frederic B. Ouedraogo

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Pet ownership, veterinary use, and beliefs regarding veterinary care were elicited through the use of a nationally representative survey of 997 U.S. residents. Fifty-one percent of respondents have or had a dog in the past five years and 37% have or had a cat in the past five years. Over ninety percent of cat and dog owners had visited a veterinarian at any time, but only about 40% visited a veterinarian annually. With the rise of options in veterinary medicine, including low-cost options for vaccines and spay/neuter, further study and analysis of pet-owners use of veterinary care is warranted. Fifty-four …

Perceptions Of Prominent Animal Welfare And Veterinary Care Organizations In The United States, Mario Ortez, Courtney Bir, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Chris Wolf

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

U.S. residents’ perceptions of the impact of prominent animal welfare and veterinary care organizations on pet animal well-being and health care may not be linked to the organization’s stated mission and effectiveness in advancing it, but to the level of recognition people have for the groups. An online survey of 1000 U.S. residents was used to understand the perceived impact of organizations with self-stated dedication to pet animal well-being. Using a Likert-scale, respondents ranked 13 prominent organizations as having a low to high impact on pet animal well-being and health care. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to …

Short-Run Net Returns To A Cereal Rye Cover Crop Mix In A Midwest Corn–Soybean Rotation, Nathan Thompson, Shalamar Armstrong, Richard T. Roth, Michael D. Ruffatti, Carson Reeling

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Unsubstantiated economic returns are a major contributor to producers’ reluctance to adopt cover crops. The objective of this study is to evaluate the direct short-run net returns to the producer of implementing a predominantly cereal rye (Secale cereal L.) cover crop mix into a Midwest corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation. Experimental agronomic data from field experiments in Lexington, IL, are used to calibrate economic simulations of the costs and benefits of cover crop adoption. Results indicate that net returns to cover crops, including current cost-share payments, were routinely negative. Returns to the soybean …

A History Of Zinnias: Flower For The Ages, Eric Grissell

Purdue University Press Book Previews

A History of Zinnias brings forward the fascinating adventure of zinnias and the spirit of civilization. With colorful illustrations, this book is a cultural and horticultural history documenting the development of garden zinnias—one of the top ten garden annuals grown in the United States today.

The deep and exciting history of garden zinnias pieces together a tale involving Aztecs, Spanish conquistadors, people of faith, people of medicine, explorers, scientists, writers, botanists, painters, and gardeners. The trail leads from the halls of Moctezuma to a cliff-diving prime minister; from Handel, Mozart, and Rossini to Gilbert and Sullivan; from a little-known confession …

Evaluation Of ‘Mortgage Lifter’ Tomato For High Tunnel Production, Lewis Jett

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The ‘Mortgage Lifter’ tomato has historical roots in West Virginia and central Appalachia. The strain which is most often associated with West Virginia is the ‘Radiator Charlie Mortgage Lifter’ which is a red to pink beefsteak slicing tomato (Figure 1). In 2018, several heritage tomato varieties were evaluated within high tunnels in West Virginia. High Tunnels significantly improved yield and quality of all varieties, and ‘Mortgage Lifter’ had marketable yields comparable to hybrid tomato cultivars. Wholesale marketing high tunnel tomatoes is usually not profitable but concentrating on unique, heritage varieties with high flavor for direct marketing is the best strategy …

2019 Seedless Pickling Cucumber Variety Trial, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A pickling cucumber variety trial was planted at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (43.399097, -83.694497, Frankenmuth, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), and Rijk Zwaan (RZ) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) varieties.

2019 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman, Dan Egel

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana is one of the major watermelon production states in the U.S. Forty standard-size seedless watermelon varieties and 17 personal-size varieties were evaluated in southwest Indiana in 2019. Yield and quality information of the varieties were discussed.

Summer Squash Variety Evaluation For Early-Season Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Crops that can set fruit without pollination have an advantage for early-season high tunnel production. With a diverse fruit shape and color, summer squash is a valuable crop providing diversity, especially for the early farmers market. Six selected summer squash cultivars that are either indicated as parthenocarpic cultivar in seed catalogs or showed high capability to set fruit without pollination in the previous study were evaluated in a high tunnel trial in spring 2018 at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN.

Evaluation Of Transplant Root Length On Bell Pepper Yield And Quality, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

2020 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dan Egel, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana ranks sixth in harvested watermelon acreage in the US. A total of 6,500 acres of watermelons were planted in Indiana in 2019 with a total production value of $35 million (USDA 2020). Variety selection based on yield, disease resistance and fruit quality are some of the key decisions in watermelon production. The objective of this study is to provide watermelon producers, as well as seed companies, with the updated information on the performance of watermelon varieties grown in Indiana. Thirty standard-size triploid watermelons and 12 personal-size triploid watermelons were evaluated at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in the watermelon season …

Asparagus Cultivar Trial – Selinsgrove, Pa, Carl Cantaluppi

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

This paper reports on yields of three asparagus varieties in Pennsylvania harvested one year after planting one-year-old crowns.

Cantaloupe And Specialty Melon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Petrus Langenhoven, Daniel S. Egel

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Thirty melon varieties including traditional eastern-type cantaloupe, non-slip muskmelon, honeydew, and other specialty type melons were evaluated in a field trial at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, IN in 2019. Yield and fruit quality attributes including fruit size, total soluble solids, firmness, etc., were recorded. This study identified promising melon cultivars for growing under Midwest open-field conditions.

2020 Pumpkin Variety Trial, Nathan R. Johanning

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

In 2020, the University of Illinois Extension conducted an observational pumpkin variety trial in southern Illinois at the Southern Illinois University Belleville Research Center, in Belleville, IL. The trial was a single replication including 54 pumpkin and winter squash varieties divided into 2 categories: Specialty and Jack O’Lantern. Specialty Pumpkins included anything of “carving size” and colors other than orange (white, red, blue, warted, etc.) and included some large specialty pumpkins (over 25 lb) The Jack O’Lantern pumpkins were also grouped as Medium (under 25 lbs) and Large (over 25 lbs). Pumpkins were grown in a no-till, transplanted system, double …

Performance Of 18 Fresh Market And Eight Saladette Tomato Cultivars In Southwest Michigan In 2019, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Internet Of Things In Agricultural Innovation And Security, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The agricultural Internet of Things (Ag-IoT) paradigm has tremendous potential in transparent integration of underground soil sensing, farm machinery, and sensor-guided irrigation systems with the complex social network of growers, agronomists, crop consultants, and advisors. The aim of the IoT in agricultural innovation and security chapter is to present agricultural IoT research and paradigm to promote sustainable production of safe, healthy, and profitable crop and animal agricultural products. This chapter covers the IoT platform to test optimized management strategies, engage farmer and industry groups, and investigate new and traditional technology drivers that will enhance resilience of the farmers to the …

Internet Of Things In Water Management And Treatment, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The goal of the water security IoT chapter is to present a comprehensive and integrated IoT based approach to environmental quality and monitoring by generating new knowledge and innovative approaches that focus on sustainable resource management. Mainly, this chapter focuses on IoT applications in wastewater and stormwater, and the human and environmental consequences of water contaminants and their treatment. The IoT applications using sensors for sewer and stormwater monitoring across networked landscapes, water quality assessment, treatment, and sustainable management are introduced. The studies of rate limitations in biophysical and geochemical processes that support the ecosystem services related to water quality …

Summer Squash Variety Evaluation For Early-Season Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

Fall Broccoli Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

Cantaloupe And Specialty Melon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Petrus Langenhoven, Dan Egel

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.