Agriculture Commons^™

Biophysical And Socioeconomic Impacts Of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration In Burkina Faso, Basnewende Brice Fulgence Zoungrana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human actions such as overgrazing, the development of cities at the expense of forests, high intensity and poor agricultural management, and so forth, reduce the resources available for future generations. Because Earth has limited resources, it is important to judiciously use and manage natural resources. Human actions towards nature are the focus of my research in Africa. Increased demands for grazing, agriculture, and ecosystem services led some farmers in developing countries to use unsustainable practices, which may lead to low incomes and poor food nutrition for households. Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) may be a solution to these issues. FMNR …

Internet Of Things Based Wireless Sensor Network And Advanced Machine Learning Models For Precision Agriculture, Ahmed El-Magrous

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies assumed that the world population would reach 10.3 billion by 2070. This will require more land for housing; simultaneously resulting in a loss of land for agricultural purposes. However, the new generations also need food, and the lack of new agrarian land is a critical reason that leads researchers and producers to improve daily agriculture practices by using precision agriculture concepts and technologies to increase yield and crop quality. This work represents the design, development, and testing of a customizable and cost-effective Weather-Soil Sensor Station (W-SSS) for use in Precision Agriculture based on high accuracy sensors, wireless communication, …

Factors Influencing Adoption And Adoption Intensity Of Precision Agriculture Technologies In South Dakota, Md Mahi Uddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Precision agriculture can play an important role in preserving the environment and improving the economic conditions of agricultural producers. This thesis analyzes the determinants of adoption and adoption intensity of precision agriculture technologies in South Dakota. This analysis uses survey data collected from 199 farms distributed over 28 different counties in South Dakota, accounting for approximately 500,000 acres of tillable agricultural land, to (1) discover the factors impacting precision technology adoption; (2) compare and contrast several characteristics among adopters and non-adopters; and (3) develop probit, count, and negative binomial models to determine the significance of explanatory variables impacting precision technology …

Optimization Of Conditions For Heat Pretreatment And Enzymatic Predigestion Of Ddgs For Pigs, Kevin Jerez-Bogota

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The high fiber content of corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) can limit its utilization in swine diets. Pretreatment with heat and enzymatic predigestion of whole stillage (WS; slurry material that is dried into DDGS) can alleviate negative effects of dietary fiber and can improve digestive and fermentation characteristics of the feedstuff. However, optimal time and temperature of the heat pretreatment of WS, and best enzymes for predigestion of WS have not been identified. Experiments were conducted to identify optimal conditions for heat pretreatment and multienzyme predigestion of WS for pigs. First experiment was conducted to identify optimal temperature …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2020), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue contains the SDSU Extension 2019 Annual Report

[Page] 2-3 South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
[Page] 4 SDSU Extension
[Page] 4 From the Director of Extension Karla Trautman
[Page] 5 2019 USDA Risk Management Agency Crop Indemnities
[Page] 6-8 SDSU Extension Responds to Mother Nature in 2019
[Page] 9 Successful Energize! Conference Buoys Community Efforts in Lemmon & Beyond
[Page] 10-11 Helping Loved Ones Transition Smoothly
[Page] 12 AmeriCorps VISTA Members Expand Extension Programming
[Page] 13 South Dakota Wellness Coalitions Make Big Impacts in Small Communities [Page] 14-16 Extension Programs in Our Own …

Responding To Crisis: Farmer Mental Health Programs In The Extension North Central Region, Shoshanah Inwood, Florence Becot, Andrea Bjornestad, Carrie Henning-Smith, Andrew Alberth

Counseling and Human Development Faculty Publications

A number of current events are exacerbating farm stress. Extension and farm organizations have mobilizedresponses to an emerging mental health crisis among farmers. To evaluate these responses, we conducted anonline scan of resources to present a baseline typology of current mental health programs and response effortsin the 12-state Extension North Central Region. We classified responses by type of program, target audience,and delivery format. We identified the need to train mental health counselors and state suicide hotlineresponders on farm issues and farm culture.

Management Considerations For Palmer Amaranth In A Northern Great Plains Soybean Production System, Brian Vab De Stroet, Sharon Clay

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) was first observed in a South Dakota field in 2015. This study assessed Palmer amaranth growth based on planting date (PD), impact on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield, and response of seedlings of South Dakota biotype seedlings to herbicides with different mechanisms of action (MOA). Soybean yield loss was influenced by Palmer amaranth density in 2016 (p = 0.001), with yield losses of 33% at densities greater than 15 plants m⁻² (R² = 0.65), although yield losses at low densities were greater than predicted by the fitted …

Growing South Dakota (Summer 2019), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 3 Celebration of Faculty Excellence
[Page] 6 Ag and Biosystems Engineering - Quarter Scale Tractor Team Named Reserve National Champs - Jackrabbit Wrestler Passionate About Sharing the Story of Pork - Mesonet Spray Tool Aids Precision Application Decisions
[Page] 10 Ag Business and Economics -POET Commodity Trading Fund
[Page] 12 Ag Education, Communication and Leadership - Leadership Opportunities Launch Recent Graduate to Career Readiness
[Page] 14 Agronomy, Horticulture & Plant Science - Local Foods Education Center Donates Over 5,000 Pumpkins - Seeding Success - Doug Malo Retires After 43 Years of Teaching - Howard Woodard's 29-Year Career Had a …

Chemical Amendments Of Dryland Saline–Sodic Soils Did Not Enhance Productivity And Soil Health In Fields Without Effective Drainage, Girma A. Birru, David E. Clay, Thomas M. Desutter, Cheryl L. Reese, Ann C. Kennedy, Sharon A. Clay, Stephanie A. Bruggeman, Rachel K. Owen, Douglas D. Malo

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

A common restoration treatment for saline–sodic soils involves improving soil drainage, applying soil amendments (e.g., CaSO₄, CaCl₂, or elemental S), and leaching with water that has a relatively low electrical conductivity. However, due to high subsoil bulk densities and low drainable porosities, these treatments many not be effective in glaciated dryland systems. A 3-yr field study conducted in three model systems determined the impact of chemical amendments (none, CaCl₂, CaSO₄, and elemental S) on plant growth, microbial composition, temporal changes in electrical conductivity (EC_e ), and the relative sodium content (%Na). …

Using Drones For Precision Agriculture, Jiyul Chang, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this teaching module, students will learn what Precision Agriculture is and how to apply drone into Precision Agriculture practices. To use data (images) taken by drone, students will learn the basic theory of Remote Sensing. Using images, students learn how to make NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) maps and how to apply drone (remote sensing technique) in agriculture.

Sustainable Agriculture Lesson For Middle School Classrooms, Sara Colombe, Madhav P. Nepal, Jennifer Mclaughlin, Matthew L. Miller, Larry B. Browning, P. Troy White

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, students will learn about sustainability, where farmers/agriculturists can meet the needs of food, fiber, and fuel for the growing population. Students learn about growing population, its growth rate, major food source, sustainability barrel, potential ripple effects of positive impacts as well as the food waste and its effects.

Nitrogen Requirements Of Ethiopian Mustard For Biofuel Feedstock In South Dakota, Phillip Alberti, Shannon Osborne, Febina Mathew, Shakaut Ali, Heidi Sieverding, Sandeep Kumar, Thandiwe Nieya

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is a non-food oilseed crop that has received attention for its potential as a low-input biofuel feedstock suitable for production in the semiarid regions of the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Because B. carinata is a new crop to the NGP, the best management practices have yet to be developed. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of N fertilizer rate on seed yield, seed oil concentration, and oil yield of B. carinata and to determine the economic optimum N fertilizer rates. Field studies were conducted at two locations in South …

Using Publicly Available Genbank Data To Teach Plant Phylogeny In High School Classrooms, Madhav P. Nepal, Ethan J. Andersen

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this teaching module, students will learn about NCBI GenBank, search for DNA/protein sequences from multiple plant species of a gene that encodes Rubisco enzyme, construct and interpret a phylogenetic tree, and discuss traits that allowed plants to adapt their life on land.

Understanding Greenhouse Gases, Julie M. Mueller, Laura Edwards, Madhav P. Nepal, Larry B. Browning, Matthew L. Miller, P. Troy White

iLEARN Teaching Resources

Students will conduct hands-on experiments to see how greenhouse gases interact with the Earth’s atmosphere and how greenhouse gases affect temperature. This lesson introduces National Geographic’s Geo-Inquiry Process, where students will identify a Geo-inquiry question, collect data, and create a project around the answer to their question. Students will then present their findings to their peers and evaluate their Geo-Inquiry process.

Using A Case Study Approach To Teach Invasive Species And Climate Change, Amanda Hoover, Bradley Blaha, Jacob Englin, Madhav P. Nepal, Larry B. Browning, Matt L. Miller, P. Troy White

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this teaching module, students will explore emerald ash borer (EAB), its impacts on the ash trees, and how warming temperatures could affect EAB populations. The emerald ash borer is a green buprestid or jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia that causes devastating disease in ash trees.

Climate Change Within A Biome, Tyone Kruse, Lisa Forcier, Madhav P. Nepal, Larry B. Browning, Matthew L. Miller, P. Troy White

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this iLEARN lesson, students will investigate impacts of climate change on the native plants and animals, as well as the fisheries, agriculture, and forestry, within a biome of their choosing, and then develop and refine a solution for one of the impacts resulting from the climate change.

Crop Residue Management Challenges: A Special Issue Overview, David Clay, Ronald Alverson, Jane M.F. Johnson, Douglas L. Karlen, Sharon Clay, Michael Q. Wang, Stephanie A. Bruggeman, Shaina Westhoff

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

The amount of crop residues that can be sustainability removed is highly variable and is a function of many factors including the soil, climatic, and plant characteristics. For example, leaving an insufficient amount of crop residue on the soil surface can be detrimental for soil quality, result in loss of soil organic matter (SOM), and increase soil erosion, whereas leaving excessive amounts can impair soil-seed contact, immobilize N, and/or keep soils cool and wet. This special issue evolved as an outcome of, “Crop Residues for Advanced Biofuels: Effects on Soil Carbon” workshop held in Sacramento, CA, in 2017. The goal …

Pollinator-Mediated Yield Across A Heterogeneous Landscape In Eastern South Dakota, Shane Stiles

Oak Lake Field Station 30th Anniversary Retreat Presentations

No abstract provided.

Augmenting Land Cover/Land Use Classification By Incorporating Information From Land Surface Phenology: An Application To Quantify Recent Cropland Expansion In South Dakota, Lan Hoang Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding rapid land change in the U.S. NGP region is not only critical for management and conservation of prairie habitats and ecosystem services, but also for projecting production of crops and biofuels and the impacts of land conversion on water quality and rural transportation infrastructure. Hence, it raises the need for an LCLU dataset with good spatiotemporal coverage as well as consistent accuracy through time to enable change analysis. This dissertation aims (1) to develop a novel classification method, which utilizes time series images from comparable sensors, from the perspective of land surface phenology, and (2) to apply the land …

Southeast South Dakota Experiment Farm Annual Progress Report, 2019, Southeast South Dakota Research Farm

Agricultural Experiment Station and Research Farm Annual Reports

This is an annual report of the research program at the Southeast South Dakota Research Farm in cooperation with South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences and has special significance for those engaged in agriculture and the agriculturally related businesses in the ten county area of Southeast South Dakota. The results shown are not necessarily complete or conclusive. Interpretations given are tentative because additional data resulting from continuation of these experiments may result in conclusions different from those based on any one year

Hydrodynamic Cavitation As In-Line Process To Control Common Dairy Sporeformers, Pratibha Chaudhary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sporeforming bacteria and their endospores have the ability to survive thermal treatments and proliferate in the milk and dairy products to cause spoilages. We applied the effect of hydrodynamic cavitation in controlling these bacteria and their spores at pilot scale level. Our aim was to investigate a technology that would improve the microbial quality of milk and dairy products, and is capable of being scaled up to be adapted at industrial level. Cavitation damages the cell walls of the bacteria and their endospores (releasing dipicolinic acid, responsible for endospore resistance to extreme conditions), thereby making them susceptible to thermal treatments …

Preservice Agricultural Education Majors’ Perceptions Of Integrating Science Into Agriculture, Kasey Trocke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural science has seen a rise in secondary agricultural classrooms and many studies have been done with regards to integrating science into agriculture. Several recommendations have been to assist preservice agriculture education majors with science integration. Preservice agricultural education majors could influence the future of agricultural science due to their perceptions of integrating science into agriculture into the classroom. The purpose of the study was to assess preservice teachers’ perceptions of integrating science into agriculture curriculum based on the theory of planned behavior. An online survey was administered to the population of agricultural education majors at South Dakota State University. …

Sunflower Pollinators In South Dakota: An Evaluation Of Species Composition, Abundance And Influence On Yield, Mackenzie Mattern

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2017 and 2018, South Dakota was the largest producer of sunflowers, Helianthus annuus L. (Asterales: Asteraceae) in the US, grossing approximately $178 million per year. In South Dakota, both confection and oilseed sunflower cultivars are grown. Despite breeding efforts to increase sunflower's ability to self-pollinate there is evidence that pollinator visitation results in increased sunflower yields. In addition, there is evidence that sunflower pollen is beneficial for pathogen resistance in various bee species, suggesting the importance of a mutualistic relationship between pollinators and sunflowers. In some areas, observed increases in sunflower yield is attributed to the presence of Apis …

Maximizing Ecosystem Services Provided To The New Oil Crop Brassica Carinata Through Landscape And Arthropod Diversity, Shane Stiles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prairies, once spanning the Upper Midwest, have now largely been replaced by agriculture. The lack of resources available to pollinators in agricultural fields and the practices employed by farmers to maximize yield has led to a decline in insect and pollinator diversity. There is a need to better understand how ecosystem services provided by a diverse insect community scale to current farming practices as they relate to crop yield. We sought to explain how landscape heterogeneity relates to insect and pollinator diversity, as well as how insect diversity relates to crop yield across common farming practices. To evaluate how farming …

Parents In Urbanized Areas And Their Perception Of 4-H Youth Development Programs, Matthew Ryan Olson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions held by parents living in the urbanized area of Rapid City, South Dakota, to determine if artificial barriers to joining 4-H PYD programs existed. Through snowball sampling methods, nine participants were recruited to engage in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts from the interviews were coded utilizing in vivo and axial coding methods. Four themes emerged from the interviews: characteristics of youth development programs, program promotion through school flyers, barriers to joining youth development programs, and 4-H and its connection to agriculture. The major recommendation for 4-H professionals is to focus on leadership, life skills, and character development …

Identification And Characterization Of Stress Responsive Genes In Soybean And Sunflower, Surendra Neupane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress responsive genes encode proteins involved in plants’ response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Among such stress responsive proteins, proteins encoded by resistance genes (R genes) or nucleotide binding site-leucine-rich repeats (NBS-LRRs) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are the major groups of proteins regulating biotic and abiotic stresses, respectively. Previous studies in Nepal’s lab at SDSU identified and characterized coiled coil (CC)-NBS-LRRs (CNLs), resistance to powdery mildew8 (RPW8)-NBS-LRRs (RNLs), NBS-LRR (NLs), and MAPK proteins in soybean. This study focuses on R and MAPK genes in the recently sequenced genome of sunflower as well as the toll-interleukin-1 receptor-like nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich …

Agronomic And Quality Response Of Hard Red Spring Wheat Genotypes To Management Systems In South Dakota, Jonathan Kleinjan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intensive cereals management techniques such as multiple fungicide applications and in-season split N applications have been used to successfully improve wheat yields in Europe and in some winter wheat production areas of the USA. However, research on the effects of these management practices and their interaction with genotypes is limited in the hard red spring wheat (HRSW) production areas of the USA. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare management treatments and (ii) quantify any interaction effects between management and genotype on the agronomic characteristics and relevant flour and dough properties of locally-adapted HRSW genotypes. A randomized complete …

Undoing Gender: An Analysis Of How Women Communicate Within The Agricultural Industry, Shala R. Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent history, women have entered more business-like positions in the agricultural industry. This thesis seeks to understand how women in agriculture describe their workplace communication and whether they feel they are part of a muted group. Twelve women were interviewed regarding their experiences as women in agriculture and were asked whether they feel valued in their positions and how they communicate with their male co-workers. Specifically, interviewees were asked if they ever felt the need to alter their communication to complement, emulate, or otherwise adjust to masculine communication styles. The majority of women interviewed reported having to strategically choose …

Diversifying Cornfields By Interseeding Cover Crops: Practical Implications And The Response Of Invertebrate Communities, Michael Bredeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lack of suitable habitat conditions for beneficial organisms in simplified agroecosystems leads to unstable invertebrate communities and overreliance on chemical control of herbivores. It is possible to manage pest populations without agrichemicals by manipulating farmland so that herbivores are impaired by plant-driven bottom-up and enemy-driven top-down antagonisms. Interseeding cover crops between established crop rows is a method used by farmers to improve habitat suitability for natural enemies and hinder host-finding, feeding and movement by herbivores. Here I address three important research gaps related to interseeding cover crops. A calcium carbonate seed coating, used to improve seed-broadcasting efficiency, was tested …

Evaluating And Improving Consumer Perceptions Of The Agriculture Industry, Katelyn Berndt

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

Consumer perceptions of the agriculture industry are increasingly important as alternative labeling and non-conventional options become more common. Consumers are seeking a more dominant role in the conversation about their food. This study explores how the agriculture industry can respond in a way that improves consumer perceptions and builds trust. The study also seeks to answer the question of whether country of birth or background affects consumer perceptions of agriculture. The research model includes a QuestionPro survey completed by students at South Dakota State University, representing consumers in the Millennial generation who are more likely to respond positively to transparent …