Agriculture Commons^™

Cercospora Leaf Spot On Crapemyrtle, Kripa Dhakal, Kaitlin Barrios, Karla M. Addesso, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing Land Suitability For Agroforestry, Huseyin B. Tecimen

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Drone Applicator Technology, Jason P. De Koff, Joshua Howard

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Security – Why It Matters?, Priscilla Ayine, Veronica Oates

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …

Floral Encounters: Examining The Role Of Experience Goods And Promoters In Specialty Cut Flower Workshops, Savannah L. Columbia

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

This thesis provides insight for any farmer interested in agritourism, specifically, specialty cut flower workshops, by investigating consumer behavior related to specialty cut flower workshops as an experience good. It investigates which experience good cues may be important for a consumer’s decision-making process. It introduces a Specialty Cut Flower Workshop Experience Map, which explains how potential participants move from first learning about a specialty cut flower workshop to their long-term behaviors as consumers. These findings help to provide marketing support for smaller-scale specialty crop farmers, specifically, specialty cut flower farmers.

Impacts Of School-Based Agricultural Education On The Resilience Of Senior Appalachian High School Students Living In Economically Disadvantaged Counties In Kentucky And Virginia, Ruth D. Toole

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Students in Central Appalachia, particularly those in economically disadvantaged (ED) counties, may face unique risks related to their geographic and socioeconomic circumstances. However, school-based and youth development programs have been shown to foster resilience among youth. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to explore whether involvement in School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) can enhance youth resilience. Data were collected through a resilience questionnaire and semi-structured focus group interviews, which were analyzed, interpreted, and integrated to uncover key findings. Results indicated that participants living in ED areas exhibited relatively high resilience scores. Focus group discussions revealed that, despite the challenges they face, participants …

Clonal Variation In Effector Gene Expression As A Mechanism For Pathogenic Adaptation In Magnaporthe Oryzae, Rebekah J. Ellsworth

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Magnaporthe oryzae is a filamentous fungal pathogen that causes destructive diseases in cereals, including rice blast, wheat blast, and gray leaf spot. It is responsible for 10–30% annual yield losses in rice (Nalley et al., 2016) and up to 100% loss in wheat under favorable conditions (Kohli et al., 2011). Disease management typically relies on the use of resistant cultivars, but M. oryzae rapidly overcomes host resistance by mutating or deleting avirulence (AVR) genes recognized by host immune receptors. This rapid adaptation, often occurring within one to two growing seasons, presents a major challenge to breeding for durable resistance.

The …

Feasibility Of Producing Non-Structural Wood Products Using Trembling Aspen Lumber, Mengyuan Zhang

Aspen Bibliography

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) is abundant in Canada but underutilized in non-structural solid wood products.This study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility of using aspen lumber to produce flooring, moulding, and siding. The shrinkage, surface roughness, and wettability of aspen wood were tested. The surface hardness, screw withdrawal resistance, colour change, and dimensional stability of there products fabricated were examined. The wood yield of each product was analyzed. It was found that aspen showed superior machinability and wettability to silver maple and yellow poplar. Aspen flooring had a Brinell hardness of 13.47 MPa, 60% lower than silver maple. …

German Cockroach Allergen Mitigation, Olivia Katz

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blatella germanica L.) remain one of the most challenging indoor pests to manage, due in large part to their cryptic nature, rapid reproduction, and resistance to insecticides. Because of their close proximity to humans, they also pose several serious health threats, including the production and dissemination of several potent allergens linked to asthma development and exacerbation. Given the risks associated with cockroach allergens, we examined the longevity of two distinct cockroach allergens (Bla g 1 and Bla g 5) in the home environment and the efficacy of cleaners at removing these allergens. Our findings show that Bla …

Including Black Farmers, Excluding Pests: Perspectives On Participation In The Cooperative Extension Service, Briana Bazile

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

In recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has faced renewed scrutiny for documented discrimination against Black farmers, yet far less attention has focused on its century-old partner in public service delivery, the Cooperative Extension Service (CES). This gap is especially notable considering 1) federal parity mandates extant since 1972 in response to significant disparities between Black and White constituents and staff,2) public commitments to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in 2020 and, 3) the contributions of Black leaders at the origins of CES, at Tuskegee University in the late nineteenth century. Using the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (KYCES) as a …

Bridging Prairie Restoration And Regenerative Agriculture With Compost Tea / The Rocket Incident: Post-Fire Soil Microbe Recovery On The Eastern Washington University Restoration Site, April Hersey

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Inland Pacific Northwest prairie is an endangered ecosystem that has been reduced by conversion to agriculture. There is growing interest in the role of soil microorganisms in prairie ecosystems, which may be crucial for restoration of the plant community through interspecies interactions within the rhizosphere. One method for improving soil microorganism community composition is compost tea: enriched liquid compost extract. Compost tea is used in regenerative agriculture to improve crop yields and protect against pathogens. While research has supported compost tea application in regenerative agriculture, it has not been widely studied in the context of ecosystem restoration. After beginning a …

Examining Short Term Drainage Impacts To Soil Health In Hydric And Non-Hydric Soils Of Waseca County, Minnesota, Ely Hartl

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Subsurface drainage is implemented throughout the Midwest United States to remove excess moisture from soil to enhance crop growth. Hydric soils are ubiquitous throughout Minnesota and are commonly drained due to their historically saturated conditions. Changing a soil's hydrology can impact its formation and properties. The alteration of physical, biological, and chemical soil properties can occur to both hydric and non-hydric soils, impacting overall soil health. The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term effects of tile drainage on the soil health of hydric and non-hydric soils in southern Minnesota. Research methods include: 1) collect soil-sediment cores to …

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

An Apple A Day: Have The Growing Conditions Of Apples In Maine Changed Over The Past 20 Years, Anooshka Sethi

Honors Theses

Climate change is increasingly affecting the growing conditions that farmers face. This study focused on if and how the growing conditions of apples have changed over the past two decades. Apples are an economically, socially, and culturally important crop to Maine's agriculture landscape. By production acreage, Maine is the second largest state in New England, with 2700 acres of land used to grow apples (USDA NASS CoA, 2022). A unique characteristic of agricultural production in Maine is that most farms are small-scale, run by families or small groups, making adverse changes to the growing conditions of a major crop in …

Preharvest Application Of Abscisic Acid Promotes Fruit Ripening, Colour Development And Modulates Phenylpropanoid Pathway In Early Maturing ‘Yoho’ Persimmon, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Andrew Woodward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Persimmon is cultivated globally for its distinctive flavour profile and nutritional benefits. Skin colour is one of the important harvest maturity indicators of persimmon fruit, and inadequate colour development in early-maturing cultivars presents significant economic challenges for growers. This study investigated the efficacy of preharvest s-(+)-cis, trans-abscisic acid (S-ABA) spray application on accelerating colour development and improving fruit quality parameters in ‘Yoho’ persimmon. Trees were treated with foliar application of S-ABA at concentrations 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 mg L⁻¹ two weeks before anticipated harvest. Quality attributes of persimmon fruit were subjected to evaluation at one and two weeks …

Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, Winter 2025, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

LSU AgCenter nutrition education programs have always aimed to support the health and well-being of Louisianans. Helping residents eat healthier, be more physically active and maintain a healthy weight are important parts of disease prevention. Building healthy, thriving communities across Louisiana can support reduced healthcare costs, improved workforce productivity and an enhanced quality of life for everyone in our state.

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Potential Of Using Trembling Aspen To Make Structural Engineered Wood Products, Dawei Wang

Aspen Bibliography

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) is abundant in Canada but is widely considered an underutilized species. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential of using aspen lumber to produce cross-laminated timber (CLT), glued-laminated timber (glulam), and wood I-joists. The key mechanical properties of these engineered wood products, which were fabricated using a modified grading criterion, were examined. It was found that 1) The mean effective bending stiffness and characteristic bending moment resistance of 5-layer CLT specimens in the major-strength direction were 5,069x10⁹ N·mm²/m and 97.65x10⁶ N·mm/m; 2) The mean apparent MOE and characteristic modulus …

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 26 2025, Several Authors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Kelly Loftin, Eva Berryhill

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Identification Of A Stable Qtl For Juice Color In A Vitis Interspecific Hybrid ‘Chambourcin’- Based Population, Qiuni Yang

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Berry juice color is one of the key factors influencing grape and wine quality, consumer preference, and marketability. While most previous studies on berry color have focused on the skin, research on juice color remains limited. This study investigated the genetic basis of berry juice color in a hybrid population derived from the Vitis interspecific hybrid ‘Chambourcin’ and V. vinifera ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’. A new nine-category visual scoring system was developed to assess juice color based on OIV 225. To achieve comprehensive precision and quantitative analysis, CIELAB parameters (L*, a*, b*), Hue, and Chroma were extracted from image-based measurements. Using berries …

A Study Of Collegiate Equine Team Funding, Expenditures, And Recruitment Strategies, Sydni Marie Nilles

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Collegiate equine teams (including horse judging, equestrian, ranch horse teams) have been recognized for their contributions to students' personal and professional development for post- graduation success. Teams have been used to provide opportunities, a sense of belonging and allow for experiences students may not have elsewhere. However, there is a notable gap in knowledge as to where funding comes from and how much teams may be able to budget for expenditures. Recruitment tactical knowledge provides other teams with knowledge of potential areas they may be lacking or unaware of. I used an online survey to understand current ranges of support …

A Mystery Of Microecology: Revealing The Ecological Relationship Between Allorhizobium Vitis And Missouri Native Grape Species, Hunter White

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Crown gall disease can be very detrimental to grape and wine producers around the world by reducing vine vigor and yield. It is caused by the bacteria Allorhizobium vitis (A. Vitis) carrying a tumor inducing (Ti) plasmid. The A. vitis bacteria have been found in soil and cane tissues in vineyards around the world, and infect all cultivated grapes. However, there have been no reports of crown gall on native wild grapevines, and very little is known about the ecology of A. vitis in native ecosystems. I have sampled cambium tissues from three native wild grape species of …

Sifting Wheat: Structural Determinants Of Us Wheat Pricing, Caleb Kevin Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Soft red winter (SRW) wheat basis reflects local demand conditions influenced by a range of structural and market factors. This study describes market signaling through carry and basis, arbitrage opportunities in SRW wheat, and the advantages or disadvantages of different grain origination contracts. A hedonic modeling framework, using observations pooled by futures board period, evaluated the seasonal drivers of wheat basis. A panel dataset was constructed from public and private sources and aggregated to the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural District level. Explanatory variables included regional milling capacity, mill storage, NASS wheat production, diesel price, rail car cost, …

Native Bee Utilization Of Sorghum And Community Richness In Western Kansas Agricultural System, Katelyn M. Strack

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

In recent years, biologists have documented numerous threats facing native bee populations globally. Current agricultural practices have significant and often negative effects on native bee populations. It is imperative that we understand how these practices affect native bees. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is cultivated heavily in western Kansas as a grain crop. There is some evidence that native bees can utilize sorghum pollen in other systems. This study investigates whether native bees utilize pollen from sorghum and whether the presence of sorghum in the landscape influences the structure of native bee communities. We conducted observations of sorghum …

Evaluating Yield And Quality Of Heat-Tolerant Broccoli Varieties For Rhode Island Farmers, Calla Pederson

Open Access Master's Theses

In the United States, broccoli is a popular vegetable, important for its nutrition and economic contributions alike. However, its future production is at risk as broccoli prefers cooler climates, with an optimal temperature range of 15 - 23°C (59 - 73°F) for growth, especially in the weeks leading up to harvest. Temperatures above this threshold lead to failure to develop, damage, and unmarketability. There has also been an emphasis on bringing broccoli production back to the East coast from California, as climate events threatened Californian agriculture and local food has become popular, necessitating outside of season broccoli production during times …

Dinotefuran Resistance In The German Cockroach (Blattella Germanica L.), Hannah F. Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) are one of the most prevalent and pervasive indoor pest species in the world. Infestations can lead to many negative impacts on humans, including sensitization to allergens, increase in asthmatic symptoms, mental health declines, and potentially, the spread of diseases. While insecticides remain the most effective and affordable option for German cockroach control, resistance to many commonly used insecticide active ingredients (AIs), such as pyrethroids, has been observed globally at high levels across different populations. Given such resistance to pyrethroids, inclusion of insecticides with alternative modes of action into insecticidal treatments could potentially improve cockroach …