Agriculture Commons^™

Cabbage, Elisabeth Inman, Keenen Crummitt

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

The cabbage varieties we have on the farm this year are Bilko cabbage (which is similar to Napa cabbage), tatsoi, pak choi (a type of Chinese cabbage), and Red Express cabbage (which is a red cabbage variety). Cabbage is a relative of Brussels sprouts, which are almost identical in form, as well as broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, collard greens and kale. Winter cabbage (another cabbage variety) can withstand winter conditions in mild regions such as in the southern United States, so cabbage can be enjoyed all year long in many parts of the world.

Aronia Mitschurinii: Solving A Horticultural Enigma, Peter J. Leonard

Master's Theses

Aronia (Medik.), commonly known as chokeberry, is a taxonomically misunderstood genus currently experiencing a renaissance in North America as both an ornamental and fruit crop. Three species of chokeberry are commonly accepted as native in North America: A. arbutifolia (L.) Pers. red chokeberry; A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot, black chokeberry; and A. prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, or purple chokeberry. In Europe a fourth species of human origin is recognized as Aronia mitschurinii (A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul.), or cultivated, black-fruited Aronia. It is widely speculated that this genotype originated in the early 20^th century with Russian pomologist Ivan Michurin, as the product …

Tomatoes, Elizabeth Inman, Amanda Hawks

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Some say that the tomato is the ultimate summer produce. Tomatoes have so much history. Tomatoes are thought to have originated in South America, although Italian cuisine is probably the most associated with them. Early American colonists thought of the tomato as a poison until 1820. Today, more than 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced each year for consumption and the average American eats 80 pounds per year! California is the world's largest producer of processed tomatoes.

The Expression Of T-Box (Tbx3) In The Bovine Mammary Gland, Maria L. Procopio Ms.

Master's Theses

Development of the bovine mammary gland is a complex process that is regulated by several hormones, growth factors and transcription factors including but not limited to growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and T-box (Tbx)2 and 3. Tbx2 and Tbx3 are transcription factors required for mammary gland development in humans and known to regulate cell cycle. In addition, there is recent evidence that GH increases expression of Tbx3 in osteoblasts independent of IGF-I. Based on these findings, we hypothesized GH and IGF-I will increase Tbx2 and Tbx3 expression in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MEC), the cell responsible for milk …

Green Beans, Brianne Sherwood, Elizabeth Inman

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Green beans are thought to have originated in Peru and spread through South and Central America by Indian tribes. Spanish explorers introduced them into Europe in the 16th century. Surveys indicate that 60% of commercially grown green beans are produced in the United States. Particularly, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin produce the greatest amount of green beans in the United States.

Cucumbers, Brianne Sherwood

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

There is a reason for the saying "cool as a cucumber." Cucumbers can be 20 degrees cooler on the inside than the outside temperature. It loves sunshine and is one of summer's favorite fruits (yes, it is a fruit because it has seeds. Interesting). Cucumbers are a member of the gourd family, which also includes pumpkins, zucchini, watermelon, and other squashes. Cucumbers are available year round, but honestly I wouldn't touch a cucumber until summertime, which is about August in Logan. If you think you don't like cucumbers, try a local one. It may change your mind. It certainly changed …

Interview With Weston Miller, Osu Extension Service, 2011 (Audio), Weston Miller

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Weston Miller by Jan Steinbock in Portland, Oregon on August 3rd, 2011.

The interview index is available for download.

Designing A Soil Ph Monitoring Network For The Western Australian Wheatbelt, Karen Holmes, Pat Bellamy, Jim Dixon

Resource management technical reports

Natural resource managers in Western Australia require a purposely designed soil pH monitoring network to identify areas at higher risk of soil acidification and to observe changes in soil pH through time. This monitoring network, in conjunction with field experimental work and acidification modelling, will identify state and regional trends and help shape state natural resource management policy and regional extension programmes, as well as directly inform industry and land managers.

Digital Mapping As A Student And Staff Communication Tool, Ryan Gyurkovitz

Horticulture and Crop Science

A study in the use of Geographic Information Systems in the development of digital maps for use by students and staff in Plant Identification Courses.

Kring/Mcnamara Ranch Orick, California, Susie Van Kirk

Susie Van Kirk Papers

In 2009, the Northcoast Regional Land Trust acquired the Kring/Mcnamara Ranch on lower Redwood Creek, Orick, California. Consisting of 77 acres, the former dairy ranch includes pastureland, dairy buildings, and a remnant of the creek's north slough. Clearing of the land and the development of a successful Jersey dairy began with the arrival of Danish immigrants. Jens and Maren Kring and their family of mine children in 1915. The Kring Bros. dairy, established initially by sons Theodore and Mads Peter and his son Donald, operated on what is now Land Trust property. The row of buildings--barns, milk house, and equipment/tool …

Nebline, August 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: For Many 4-H Families, County Fair is Quality Time Together

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Lancaster County Super Fair Schedule & Map Special Pullout Section

Spatial Distribution Of Human Elephant Conflict (Hec) And Characterization Of Crop-Raiding Elephants In Kasigau Region, Kenya, Simon Kasaine Kagwa

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is complex and a serious elephant conservation concern across Africa and Asia where elephants are found. HEC occurs whenever people and elephants share common interests. For HEC to be ameliorated and elephant conservation to be successful locally and regionally, the distribution and implications of HEC should be understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of HECs and characterize elephant herds in terms of herd size responsible for crop-raiding in Kasigau. The study was generally guided by two working a priori hypotheses: (1) farms near the bush edge or livestock watering points will …

Peppers, Brianne Sherwood

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Bell peppers can brighten up any dish with all the colors they can be! Peppers come in seven different colors: red, yellow, orange, green, purple, and the less known- brown, and ivory. What's interesting is that all peppers start out green when they're growing. They turn their genetically determined color as they mature. Some varieties mature and stay green and sometimes bell peppers are just picked early and sold as green peppers. As you've probably noticed, bell peppers become sweeter as they mature, so red peppers will be sweeter than green. One interesting fact, purple peppers are actually green on …

Ecology And Management Of The Woolly Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), A New Invasive Citrus Pest In Ethiopia, Difabachew K. Belay, Abebe Zewdu, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Distribution and importance of woolly whitefly (Aleurothrixus floccosus) (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), was studied in Ethiopia with an evaluation of treatments against it. Results showed that the pest is distributed in most citrus-growing parts of the country equally infesting all types of citrus crops. Only one pupal parasitoid, Amitus sp., was recorded at Melkaoba. During 2006–2007, eight treatments gave better control of woolly whitefly compared with the control: endod (Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit) berry extract, white oil 80%, neem oil, omo detergent soap, band application of gasoline, cyhalothrin (karate) 5% EC, selecron (profenofos) 500 EC, and rimon (novaluron) 10 EC. …

Plant Diseases, Jay W. Pscheidt, John R. Hartman

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

Every gardener has put in plants with hopes for wonderful flowers, fruits, or vegetables, only to have those hopes dashed as the plants get sick and die. Plants that die are considered diseased. Many things can cause plants to become diseased, including living agents, other factors (nonliving), or a combination of the two. This chapter focuses only on living agents—fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and parasitic plants. Nonliving factors, such as nutrient deficiencies, lack of water, temperature stress, and these problems in combination as they relate to specific types of plants, are discussed elsewhere.

Marketing Margins Of Strawberries 2006-2010 Shipping Point-Terminal-Retail Price, Matej Mikle Barat

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines vertical price relationships for fresh strawberries. Specifically, the focus is on three stages of the vertical chain. The first stage is the shipping point. Shipping points represent major strawberry production regions and are the closest price point to the farm. The second stage is the terminal market. Terminal markets are wholesale markets in major US cities. The third stage is the retail level. Retail level prices are measured as average supermarket prices in the same cities for which terminal market prices are available. Using weekly data, markup equations are estimated from upstream to downstream levels of the …

Interview With Trudy Toliver, Portland Farmers Market, 2011 (Audio), Trudy Toliver

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Trudy Toliver by Sara Davenport at Portland, Oregon on August 1st, 2011.

The interview index is available for download.

Estimating Cost Efficiencies Of Propane Use In Broiler Production: Case Study From Savoy, Arkansas And Trnaca Pri Laborci, Slovak Republic, Zuzana Petrikova

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on analyzing the common practice of U.S. broiler farmers to operate on cash basis instead open credit lines for operating cost of propane gas for heating. Data for analysis were taken over from U.S. ABRF at Savoy and Slovak Farm Univerza at Trnava pri Laborci. Predicting the propane gas usage and propane gas cost was analyzed using the OLS model. It describes impact of selected factors on gas usage and cost. The overall purpose of the thesis is to find out which approach from designed scenarios is more economically efficient for farmer: (a) to pre-purchase propane gas …

The Rate Of Shattercane X Sorghum Hybridization In Situ, Jared J. Schmidt

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cultivated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor) can interbreed with its close weedy relative shattercane (S. bicolor subsp. drummondii). The introduction of traits from cultivated sorghum into a shattercane population could contribute to the invasiveness of the wild shattercane population. An in situ experiment was conducted across two years to determine the potential for pollen-mediated gene flow from grain sorghum to shattercane. Shattercane with juicy midrib (dd) was planted in a soybean field in concentric arcs at varying distances from a sorghum pollen source with dry midrib (DD). The arcs were placed …

Purchaser Preferences On Carbon Labels: Conventional Vs. Organic Milk, Mustafa Ozkan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past several years, there has been growing attention concerning global warming/climate change and how humans are contributors. It is known that agricultural production is a main contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and the livestock sector is particularly significant because it is quoted as having between 3 and 18% of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent pending different assumptions. Due to this, carbon footprint labeling has been described as a potential tool to inform consumers about greenhouse gases associated with food products and assist them with the necessary information to purchase products that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. …

Evaluating Nature Of Expenditures And Economic Impact Of Tourism Spending On Nature-Based Activities In South Carolina Coastal Economies, Alexis Imler

All Theses

The general goal of this study is to better understand South Carolina coastal tourism. The region of study includes the coastal counties of Horry, Charleston, and Beaufort (and Georgetown, Berkeley, Dorchester, and Jasper counties for the economic impact analysis). This study includes two types of analyses: a regression analysis of visitors' expenditures and an economic impact analysis of tourist spending.
The empirical visitors' expenditure models are specified using economic consumer demand theory. The regression analysis of the model is conducted using data from a tourist survey of 818 South Carolina visitors (conduced in fall 2008 and summer 2009). The activity …

Sage-Grouse Habitat In Utah. A Guide For Landowners And Managers, Todd A. Black

All Current Publications

This publication addressing sage-grouse habitat in Utah noting that the loss and fragmentation of sagebrush landscapes in the West have caused the decline of sage-grouse populations.

Utilization Of Heterosis In A Beef Cow Herd, D. R. Zobell, J. Severe

All Current Publications

This publication defines heterosis in cows and gives information on the fundamentals, needs, and types of heterosis.

Gata-Family Transcription Factors In Magnaporthe Oryzae, Cristian F. Quispe

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The filamentous fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, responsible for blast rice disease, destroys around 10-30% of the rice crop annually. Infection begins when the specialized infection structure, the appressorium, generates enormous internal turgor pressure through the accumulation of glycerol. This turgor acts on a penetration peg emerging at the base of the cell, causing it to breach the leaf surface allowing its infection.

The enzyme trehalose-6- phosphate synthase (Tps1) is a central regulator of the transition from appressorium development to infectious hyphal growth. In the first chapter we show that initiation of rice blast disease requires a regulatory mechanism involving an …

Pulsed Electric Field (P.E.F.) And Pectinase For The Extraction Of Polyphenols From Grape Pomace And Peel, Julien Khalil

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grapes are an important source of bioactive compounds such as gallic acid, resveratrol, and catechin. The consumption of grapes is associated with a lower risk of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. Grape pomace and skins are good sources of many phytochemicals known for their antioxidant potential.

In this research, the peel of the Chilean “Flame” grape cultivar and the pomace of St. Croix, Frontenac and St. Pepin grape cultivars were subjected to a pulsed electric field (5 KV, 1 μFarad, 20 Pulses) and to an enzymatic treatment (Pectinase, 5KU). The total phenolic content, determined in …

Have Fun! The Importance Of Play In Couple Relationships, Naomi Brower

All Current Publications

Strong, healthy, happy, and long lasting relationships do not just happen, they require effort; and one of the things every relationship needs is a little fun. This fact sheets tips on having fun in your relationship. As you become aware of the barriers to fun, make plans, and take action to overcome them, you will find greater happiness in your relationship and life in general

Influence Of Vineyard Floor Management Practices On Soil Aggregate Stability, Total Soil Carbon And Grapevine Yield, Kimberly Ellen Adams

Master's Theses

Soil aggregates provide pore spaces of various sizes supplying water, gases and nutrients to plant roots and microorganisms, and facilitate moisture retention and availability. Soil aggregate stability is indicative of soil biological and structural health, and is increased by soil carbon derived from plant roots and the soil microbial biomass. Aggregate stability and soil carbon can be enhanced by increasing organic matter through compost additions or by planting cover crops. Additionally, aggregate stability is enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that form a symbiotic association with plant roots, and consolidate soil particles into aggregates through hyphal networks and through the …

Impact Of Agricultural Profitability, Productivity And Interest Rate On Farmland Value For Selected U.S. And Slovak States, Maria Majerhoferova

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines agricultural factors which may have impact on agricultural land values. Based on theory, three primary factors are considered to have an impact on land value: agricultural productivity, agricultural profitability and interest rate. The study is of two countries: the US, where data are from 16 states and Slovakia with 6 states. The ten-year period from 2000 until 2009 is used in the analysis. A capitalization model is used to estimate the relationship between agricultural productivity, profitability and interest rate and land value. Three types of agricultural land are used: cropland and its value in relationship with crops, …

Changing Dairy Market Environment: Effect On Cooperative Organization, Competition, And Price Risk Management: Comparative Analysis Between Germany And The United States, Pieter Vermeersch

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The dairy market environment in the United States of America and in Europe is changing partially due to a change in policies supporting free markets. The effect of the change in the dairy market environment in the United States and Germany on cooperative organization, competition, and price risk management is elaborated in this thesis by means of a literature survey including governmental documents, industry documents, and published scientific articles. The thesis provides a closer look to the interaction between two players within the dairy market chain, i.e. the farmers and the processors. Both players are confronted with increasing accessibility of …

Heterogeneity, Control, Social Infrastructure, And Possibilities Of Participation: Their Interplay In Modern Understandings Of Heredity And In Interpretation Of Science, Peter J. Taylor

Working Papers on Science in a Changing World

This working paper is a prospectus for research, writing, and engagement. It consists of vignettes, sketches of lines of inquiry, and proposals for engagement, all of which concern modern understandings of heredity and development over the life course as well as the social interpretation of science. The various items address a range of areas of science and of its interpretation: heritability studies, the social uses of genetic information, gene-by-environment interaction, personalized medicine, IQ paradoxes, racial group membership, biobanks, and life events and difficulties research. Fresh perspectives in these areas are opened up by examining the ways that research and application …