Agriculture Commons^™

Cognitive Bias, Memory, And Fearfulness Of Red Jungle Fowl And Athens Canadian Random Bred Chickens, Victor Juwon Oyeniran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Our understanding of how poultry perceive and interpret their environment is essential to enhancing their welfare; over the years, animal welfare science has relied on measures of the behavioral and physiological components of affective states (positive and negative) as welfare indicators. There is an increasing interest in the study of chicken’s affective states using the Judgment bias test (JBT) as a tool for assessing welfare through their responses to ambiguous cues. This study investigates the cognitive performance of two chicken breeds with different evolutionary histories: Red Junglefowl (RJF), the primary ancestor of modern chickens, and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), …

North Dakota Corn Efficiency Frontier: Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Bayarbat Badarch, David C. Roberts, Michael P. Popp

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

According to climate studies in North Dakota, the state's crop-growing season has been extended. In addition, many studies have shown technological advances in crop production. However, the state has not addressed how crop yield has been affected by weather changes. Thus, this paper investigates the state's corn (Zea mays) yield potential and efficiency measures based on agricultural input use and weather variables from 1994 to 2018. We found that the effects of temperature and precipitation on the state's corn yield frontier (potential) were greater than those of changing agricultural input variables. The stochastic frontier model indicates that the …

A Historical Assessment Of The Number Of Days Required To Plant The Arkansas Soybean Crop, Bayarbat Badarch, K. Bradley Watkins, Terry Griffin

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The primary objective of this paper is to quantitatively analyze the number of acres planted per suitable fieldwork day and the total number of fieldwork days available for the complete planting of soybeans (Glycine max L.) in Arkansas. Total days to plant soybeans in each spring from 1980 to 2023 averaged about 33 days, indicating that roughly 33 days are expected, on average, from the month of April to May based on USDA-NASS weekly crop progress and condition data. Furthermore, the average soybean planted acres is estimated at 106,736 acres per day within the study period. Recently, variations in …

Economic Evaluation Of Grazing Steers On Summer Annuals Sod-Seeded Into Warm-Season Perennial Pasture, Ivanelle Meyer, Michael P. Popp, Christine C. Nieman, James L. Mitchell, Kenneth P. Coffey

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion …

Demand For Milk And Milk Products In The Rural Household Of Bangladesh: A Panel Data Analysis, Eshrat Jahan Mahfuza, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Andrew M. Mckensie

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Milk is considered an essential source of protein for people of all ages. However, Bangladeshi people, particularly those living in rural areas, tend to consume less milk and milk products than necessary. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the demand for milk and milk products among rural consumers and the factors affecting their consumption habits. The study utilizes balanced panel data from three waves of the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey: 2011–12, 2015, and 2018–19, collected by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Both the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and Fixed Effects Model were employed. The expenditure elasticity for liquid …

Neural Network Architecture Search Enabled Wide-Deep Learning (Nas-Wd) For Spatially Heterogenous Property Awared Chicken Woody Breast Classification And Hardness Regression, Chaitanya Pallerla, Yihong Feng, Casey M. Owens, Ramesh Bahadur Bist, Siavash Mahmoudi, Pouya Sohrabipour, Amirreza Davar, Dongyi Wang

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Due to intensive genetic selection for rapid growth rates and high broiler yields in recent years, the global poultry industry has faced a challenging problem in the form of woody breast (WB) conditions. This condition has caused significant economic losses as high as $200 million annually, and the root cause of WB has yet to be identified. Human palpation is the most common method of distinguishing a WB from others. However, this method is time-consuming and subjective. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning algorithms can evaluate the WB conditions of fillets in a non-invasive, objective, and high-throughput manner. In …

In Ovo Administration Of L. Animalis, B. Licheniformis, , Or Their Combination Influences Ross 708 Broiler Chick Hatch Performance And Immuno-Physiological Parameters, C. N. Beck, K.G.S. Wamsley, C. D. Mcdaniel, A. S. Kiess

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

There is a demand for novel pathogen mitigation strategies in antibiotic-free poultry production, which has triggered the development of various probiotic application methods. One application method is the in ovo (in egg) administration of probiotics on incubation day (d) 18, where the unhatched chick consumes a probiotic before hatch and prior to being exposed to environmental pathogens. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of in ovo L. animalis, B. licheniformis, or L. animalis + B. licheniformis (10⁶ cfu/50 mL L each) administration on hatch performance (N = 21 egg flats/treatment, 30 …

Use Of A Capsule Suspension Formulation Of S-Metolachlor In Fenclorim-Treated Rice, Jason K. Norsworthy, Samuel C. Noe, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton L. Roberts

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

As herbicide resistance continues to render commonly used rice herbicides ineffective, alternative sites of action are paramount to maintaining yield and producer profitability. Combining a slow-release formulation and a fenclorim seed treatment might allow the safe use of S-metolachlor in rice. Experiments were initiated in 2022 and 2023 near Colt, AR, on a silt loam soil to evaluate crop safety using a capsule suspension (CS) formulation of S-metolachlor and a fenclorim seed treatment in rice. The first experiment assessed the tolerance of two cultivars (‘Diamond’ and ‘DG263L’) to three rates (0.42, 0.84, and 1.68 kg ai ha^{−1 …}

Quantifying Temperature Effects On Development Rate And Plant Quality Of Compact Container-Grown Tomato, Morgan Humphrey, Ryan W. Dickson, Sonali Padhye

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality were evaluated for compact container-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Compact tomato varieties ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Expt. 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Expt. 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and 16-h photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, first ripe fruit and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g., 1/d). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a linear (for first open flower) and a nonlinear exponential function (for …

Dual Mechanisms Of Salinity Tolerance In Wheat Germplasm Lines W4909 And W4910, Richard R.-C. Wang, Steven S. Xu, Thomas A. Monaco, Matthew D. Robbins

Forage and Range Research Laboratory Publications

Soil salinity adversely affects plant growth and development, reducing the yield of most crops, including wheat. The highly salt-tolerant wheat germplasm lines W4909 and W4910 were derived from a cross between two moderately salt-tolerant lines, the Chinese Spring (CS)/Thinopyrum junceum disomic addition line AJDAj5 (AJ) and the Ph-inhibitor line (Ph-I) derived from CS/Aegilops speltoides. Molecular markers for gene introgressions in W4909 and W4910 were not reported. Four sequence-tagged site (STS) molecular markers of Ph-I were developed and tested in the above-mentioned lines and the F₂ progenies of the two crosses, Anza (AZ) x 4740 (sib of …

Comparison The Impact Of Co2 And Uvb On Moringa Peregrina And Moringa Oleifera Growth Under Open Top Chamber, Omar Alshehhi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Climate change has caused a tremendous impact on ecosystems, with an apparent connection between farming methods and environmental changes. Climate change has a substantial effect on both abiotic factors and biotic issues affecting crop plants. The increasing number of abiotic stresses has highlighted the impact of global warming on plant productivity. This study compared and evaluated the abiotic stress resistance of two Moringa species (Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina) against UV radiation, increased CO₂ levels, and their combined effects. The evaluation mainly focused on key morphological features, including plant height (cm) and fresh and dry weights, to assess the species …

Evaluation Of Opportunities For The Cultivation Of Heterotrophic Plant Root Organ Cultures As Food: Optimization Of Culture Conditions And Carbohydrate Sources, Fatima Mohammed Alkaabi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

All agricultural plant production requires investment of water, energy, and land, especially in the Gulf Region, where environmental conditions are not ideally suitable for crop farming. Currently, less than 40 % of agricultural produce constitutes food, which greatly limits the overall feasibility of food production systems worldwide. Crop residues contribute more than half to global agricultural plant production, and food waste and biomass from public parks and gardens further add to the vast pool of non-edible plant material. Existing valorization strategies for such material cannot compensate for the enormous amounts of water, energy, land, and human resources invested in their …

Cultivation Of Food And Fodder Crop Millets And Quinoa In The Aquaponics System For Sustainable Food Security In The United Arab Emirates, Salama Yousef Alkhoori

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production technology that integrates aquaculture with hydroponics. This study aimed to evaluate the possible impact of an aquaponics system on the cultivation of pearl millet, finger millet, and quinoa, utilizing water from tilapia aquaculture. The duration of the experiment is six months utilizing the manually constructed backyard aquaponics system. Tilapia fish serves as the principal biological material for nutrient generation in the experiment. This study investigated and recorded water quality indicators, including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels over the experimental period. The parameters of fish growth, …

Broad-Spectrum Resistance To Fungal Foliar Diseases In Wheat: Recent Efforts And Achievements, Amira M.I. Mourad, Asmaa A.M. Ahmed, P. Stephen Baenziger, Andreas Börner, Ahmed Sallam

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. Several diseases affect wheat production and can cause 20-80% yield loss annually. Out of these diseases, stripe rust, also known as yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), leaf rust (Puccinia recondita), and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) are the most important fungal diseases that infect the foliar part of the plant. Many efforts were made to improve wheat resistance to these diseases. Due to the continuous advancement in …

Small Beef-Packer Resilience During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence And Policy Implications, Azzeddine Azzam, Sunil P. Dhoubadel, Binod Khanal

Cornhusker Economics

As part of a larger research project on the economics of beef supply chain resilience to natural disasters, financed in part by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, we obtained information from 289 processing plants across the United States about their operations during the peak COVID-19 period of March to June 2020 via a telephone survey. We collected data on plant type (slaughter, processing, both), the dominant livestock processed by the plant (predominantly beef, pork, poultry, and sheep/goat), plant capacity (maximum and typical capacity in slaughter head/day), age of establishment, and, whether the plant ceased, …

Evaluation Of 23 Pickling Cucumber Cultivars For Machine Harvest In Southwest Michigan In 2024, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A pickling cucumber cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.088261, -86.351980, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Nunhems (NU), Rijk Zwaan (RZ), and US AgriSeed (UA) seed companies donated parthenocarpic (seedless) cultivars for mechanical once-over harvest. Overall, trial quality was good despite a droughty start, though picking could have started sooner.

The Recreational Value Of Birding And Crane Abundance, Richard T. Melstrom, Alex Nielsen, Carson Reeling

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

We estimate the economic value of birding, which is an important ecosystem service produced by bird populations in recreation areas. Our research identifies the link between values and species richness as well as the abundance of the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), which migrates each year through our study area. Sandhill crane stopovers at state and federal wildlife areas can attract many birders. We estimate this nonmarket value using the zonal travel cost method and data from the eBird project on wildlife areas in Indiana. We compare crane counts based on eBird with those from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources …

Disentangling Genotype And Environment Specific Latent Features For Improved Trait Prediction Using A Compositional Autoencoder, Anirudha Powadi, Talukder Zaki Jubery, Michael C. Tross, James C. Schnable, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In plant breeding and genetics, predictive models traditionally rely on compact representations of high-dimensional data, often using methods like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and, more recently, Autoencoders (AE). However, these methods do not separate genotype-specific and environment-specific features, limiting their ability to accurately predict traits influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. We hypothesize that disentangling these representations into genotype-specific and environment-specific components can enhance predictive models. To test this, we developed a compositional autoencoder (CAE) that decomposes high-dimensional data into distinct genotype-specific and environment-specific latent features. Our CAE framework employed a hierarchical architecture within an autoencoder to effectively separate …

Assessing Weed Canopy Cover In No-Till And Conventional Tillage Plots In Winter Wheat Production Using Drone Data, Judith N. Oppong, Clement E. Akumu, Sam Dennis

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Weed canopy cover assessment, particularly using drone-acquired data, plays a vital role in precision agriculture by providing accurate, timely, and spatially detailed information, enhancing weed management decision-making in response to environmental and management variables. Despite the significance of this approach, few studies have investigated weed canopy cover through drone-based imagery. This study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the effects of conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) practices on weed canopy cover in a winter wheat field over two growing seasons. Results indicated that in the 2022–2023 season, weed populations were similar between tillage systems, with a high mean …

Examining Influences On Cotton And Peanut Farmers’ Intentions To Adopt Agricultural Best Management Practices In Southeast Georgia, William R. Taylor, Abigail Borron, Jessica Holt, Walter Scott Monfort

Journal of Extension

Various factors have been found to influence farmers’ adoption of best management practices. This study examines the influences on farmers’ intentions to adopt best management practices by using an extended model of the theory of planned behavior. This descriptive exploratory study surveyed Georgia cotton and peanut farmers (N = 41). Findings revealed farmers had positive attitudes toward best management practices and showed that the use of best management practices is aligned with farmers’ intrinsic motivations. Agricultural practitioners may enhance educational and outreach efforts by leveraging farmers’ motivations and necessary capacities as outlined in this study.

Welcome To The New Frontier: Introducing Extension To The Next Generation Of Conservation Planning Tools, Emma E. Bravard, Emily K. Zimmerman, John C. Tyndall, David James

Journal of Extension

A new frontier of conservation planning capacity utilizing innovative decision support tools has emerged. Extension professionals play an important role in using these new data and tools to achieve conservation and water quality outcomes. Here, we detail the application of two conservation planning tools: Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and Financial and Nutrient Reduction Tool (FiNRT). Tools like these are increasingly being used to guide conservation efforts in agricultural landscapes; provide information regarding potential resource concern; and offer valuable data about outcomes from best management practice (BMP) placement. Extension professionals’ use of such tools could enhance conservation implementation and outcomes.

Potato University: An Interactive Framework To Engage And Educate Industry Stakeholders In Potato-Related Research, Jaime Willbur, Erin Burns

Journal of Extension

Understanding how farmers prefer to learn is critical for the development and delivery of successful extension programming. Therefore, Michigan State University Extension specialists conducted an interactive hands-on demonstration workshop (Potato University) addressing pressing issues to Michigan potato production at the Michigan Winter Potato Conference. The new session format emphasized alternative, hands-on research presentation formats and promoted small group interactions between researchers and stakeholders. Overall, we developed an alternative framework to deliver information in a novel format by highlighting research activities in an approachable format for stakeholders that better aligned Extension teaching styles with the learning styles of the potato industry.

The Ins And Outs Of Language Translation And Interpretation Of Program Resources, Regina Mcgoff, Annalisa Hultberg, Stephen A. Kells

Journal of Extension

In an increasingly diverse country, creating Extension resources available in a variety of languages and formats is important for supporting learning by Limited English Proficient audiences and extending these impacts throughout the entire community. Learn tips from educational professionals who have created print and electronic resources in ten different languages to better support a diversity of stakeholders.

The Challenges Of Co-Developing Climate-Smart Strategies, Practices, And Technologies Among Research And Extension Teams, Michelle R. Worosz, Hannah Stewart, Mckayla Robinette, Brenda Ortiz, Rishi Prasad, Audrey Gambel, Leah Duzy

Journal of Extension

With climate-smart agriculture as the context, we explore one aspect of transdisciplinarity, the co-development of knowledge (CDK). Challenges were identified via matrix coding and word frequency queries of field day, meeting, and interview transcripts. Focusing on the Research-Extension team, we found they highly value collaboration and participatory-based projects, but developing trust-based relationships, enhancing long-term stakeholder investment, and understanding both team and stakeholder capacity was difficult. This paper informs transdisciplinary projects aimed at climate adaptation by illustrating the need for Research-Extension teams to take incremental steps towards CDK, to engage stakeholders before program planning, and to increase both interaction and reflexivity.

Beyond Direct Education And Facilitation: Revisiting The Role Of Extension In Community & Regional Food Systems Development, Catie M. Demets, Lindsey Day Farnsworth

Journal of Extension

The fundamental issues that community and regional food systems aim to address are inherently systems problems, yet many Extension programs continue to focus food system development efforts on activities and actors that directly support the food value chain. While important, the impact of these interventions is limited. Drawing from interviews with directors of four of the nation’s leading Community and Regional Food Systems Extension programs, this article makes a case for rethinking Extension’s role in community and regional food systems development in relationship to key leverage points through a typology of Extension roles and corresponding examples.

Paper Origami For Program Development And Evaluation Training Of New Extension Employees, Ayanava Majumdar

Journal of Extension

This article describes the use of paper origami as a training tool for Extension evaluation and capacity building workshops. Three paper origami models have been developed and used consistently since 2021 to benefit 131 new Extension professionals. The use of these models added an element of pleasant surprise for workshop participants and fostered collaboration during training. This article describes the construction and usefulness of the origami models to these new employees. Post-event feedback and testimonials are very encouraging to authors who continue to develop additional origami models for training and motivation.

Research Verification Is Effective For Extension Programs In Aquaculture, Luke A. Roy, Anita M. Kelly, Terry R. Hanson, Larry Dorman, Matthew Recsetar, Herbert Quintero

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals have used research verification programs to evaluate the effectiveness of research-based management recommendations in several different aquaculture species. In addition to providing a platform on which to examine current best management practices and Extension recommendations from Land Grant Universities, research verification is valuable in identifying gaps for further research. Perhaps the best benefit of research verification programs are the comradery and relationships developed between cooperating commercial producers and Extension personnel that can lay the groundwork to facilitate future collaborative efforts related to technology transfer in the aquaculture industry.

Impact Of Stolon Removal On Yield And Fruit Quality Of Day-Neutral Fragaria X Ananassa “Cabrillo” Grown In Outdoor Soilless Conditions, Kate Fessler, Emily E. Hoover, Neil O. Anderson

Journal of Extension

Strawberries are among the most consumed fruits in the U.S. and demand for locally grown fruit is high. Although most production in Minnesota is dominated by June-bearers, new techniques for growing day-neutral strawberries are becoming increasingly prevalent. These techniques include in-ground plasticulture and soilless tabletop production, and growers are generally advised to remove stolons (runners) from day-neutral plants. There is relatively little information available to confirm that this practice, and its attendant labor increase, is a necessity in soilless tabletop production. This study’s objective was to determine whether this practice is necessary to maximize yield and fruit quality, using the …

Growers’ Perceptions And Strategies To Mitigate Spring Frost Injury In Grapevines, Vinicius Cervilieri, Imed Dami, Guilherme Signorini

Journal of Extension

Uncertain weather patterns raise concerns about frequent spring frosts and injury in grapevines. This article quantifies growers’ perceptions of susceptibility to spring frosts and examines their satisfaction with existing mitigation strategies. Departing from a survey with grape growers, results show that over 80% of sampled growers have experienced damage due to frosts. Over-vine sprinklers, proper site selection, and adoption of late budding cultivars are the practices with the highest satisfaction levels. None of the strategies examined reached the highest satisfaction score. In addition, 61% of respondents showed interest in sprayable products to delay budbreak and circumvent grapevine damage.

Multi-Decadal Aspen Dynamics Show Recruitment Bottleneck Across Complex Mountain Community, Michael T. Stoddard, Kyle C. Rodman, Connor D. Crouch, David W. Huffman, Peter Z. Fulé, Kristen M. Waring, Margaret M. Moore

Aspen Bibliography

Changes in forest structure and shifts in tree species composition have occurred globally due to climate change and altered disturbance regimes. With climate trending toward warmer and drier conditions, these altered forest communities may reorganize in diverse and unpredictable ways. This is especially true in mountain environments where a range of vegetation types and abiotic conditions coexist. In this study, we used long-term permanent plot data from a site spanning broad environmental gradients to assess regeneration and mortality patterns in populations of aspen (Populus tremuloides). The study site, located on the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona, USA, is near …