Agriculture Commons^™

Utah Consumer Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Specialty Labeled Fruit Products, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford, Marcelo Pignatari

All Current Publications

In this fact sheet, we discuss the results of a 2023 study examining Utah consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for fruit products labeled local (Utah’s Own™), organic, and GMO-free. We discuss and compare survey respondents' past consumption, awareness, preferences, and attitudes toward these labeling programs. Additionally, we examine consumer WTP values for each of these labels for three fruit varieties and fresh and dried products, namely fresh apples, strawberries, and dried tart cherries.

Pocket Gophers, Mark Nelson, S. Nicole Frey, Earl Creech, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Linden Greenhalgh, Cory Farnsworth, Jody Gale, Melanie Heaton, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Steve Price

All Current Publications

Pocket gophers can damage agriculture and human development infrastructure. In agricultural fields, pocket gophers cause conflicts by directly consuming plants, destroying plants when their soil mounds cover them, and causing premature loss of field stands such as alfalfa, necessitating expensive alfalfa stand replacement. They can chew through electrical, internet, and other utility cables, damaging irrigation pipes, and compromising the integrity of canals and ditch banks. They also cause significant damage to lawns and gardens in urban areas. Understanding pocket gopher habits, especially the burrow system, is the key to effective control. Management methods include trapping, hand or mechanical baiting, fumigation, …

Agricultural Extension Service, Technology Adoption, And Production Risk Nexus: Evidence From Bangladesh, Muhammad Jangir Alarm, Pavesh Kumar Sarma, Ismat Ara Begum, Jeff Connor, Lin Crase, Shiek Mohammad Sayem, Andrew M. Mckensie

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rice production is inherently risky and volatile, and farmers in Bangladesh face a wide range of risks, including weather, pest and disease attacks, interruptions to input supply, and market-associated risks. Moreover, poor farm households often perceive risks in adopting new technology, even though it could improve productivity and food security. Such households are thus caught in a “risk-induced trap” that precludes them from realizing the benefits of technological innovation. Extension service is one way to help farmers improve risk management skills and escape risk-induced traps, but there is limited empirical analysis of its impact in Bangladesh. The objective of …

Utah Fruit Growers Assessment Results Overview, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

Fruit growers throughout Utah manage operations of varying sizes and sell their fruit products fresh or processed through various direct-to-consumer and wholesale markets. In early winter 2023, researchers conducted an online survey via Qualtrics to better understand the fruit products under production, current marketing methods, grower concerns, and future business interests. This fact sheet provides an overview of the survey results.

Gender Differences In Job Satisfaction Among Gig Workers In Bangladesh, Mou Rani Sarker, Tanjum Afrin Taj, Md Abdur Rouf Sarkar, Md. Fuad Hassan, Andrew M. Mckensie, Md Abdullah Al Mamun, Dweep Sarker, Humnath Bhandani

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The gig economy (temporary, contract, and freelance online jobs rather than permanent positions) is a component of the fourth industrial revolution and preview of future work. The rise of digital platforms has increased career opportunities and income potential, particularly for women. Yet, the sex-disaggregated evidence regarding platform usage, employment characteristics, and working motivations and satisfaction remains untapped. Using data from a quantitative survey of Bangladeshi gig workers (242 men and 201 women) conducted in 2022, this paper addresses these gaps between male and female workers. The gig economy appears to be gender-segregated across digital platform usages and working categories. Women …

Lure Specificity, Phenology, And Damage Caused By Epiphyas Moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) In Western Australian Apple Orchards, Maryam Yazdani, Elliot T. Howse, Wee Tek Tay, Helen Spafford, Rieks Van Klinken

Horticulture Research Articles

Multiple Epiphyas species inhabit southwestern Western Australia, including Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a globally significant, polyphagous pest. This study evaluated the efficacy and specificity of lures designed for 3 Epiphyas species: E. postvittana, Epiphyas pulla (Turner), and the undescribed Epiphyas sp. (1) (Common). Additionally, the study sought to determine the presence and distribution of Epiphyas species in 3 significant apple-growing localities. Trapping, together with partial sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene, found LBAM to be restricted to the Perth Hills and E. pulla, to apple orchards near Manjimup and Pemberton. This geographic …

Ideas For Estate And Transition Planning: Gifting Ownership, Jessica J. Groskopf

Cornhusker Economics

For many farm and ranch families, bringing children or grandchildren into the operation is the ultimate goal. Successfully bringing additional family members into the operation may require some creativity as all parties need to maintain a viable standard of living. This article is part of a series that will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation. If this is the first article you are seeing in this series, I would encourage you to go back to the for background and additional guidance.

A strategy that is gaining popularity is the gifting of shares or a …

The Effects Of Moisture On Microorganisms, Quality, And Flavor Of Liuyang Douchi During The Pile Fermentation Period, Jiang Liwen, Zhang Haodong, Qin Yeyou, Hu Jialiang, Liu Yang

Food and Machinery

Objective: Pile fermentation is an important process for the formation of Liuyang Douchi flavor, the initial moisture of the douchi qu during pile fermentation could induce the temperature changes which might further affected the microbial community and flavor compounds formation. Methods: In this paper, metagenomic sequencing, combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （HS-SPME-GC-MS）, was used to investigate the effects of different moisture （low 35%, medium 42%, high 50%） of the douchi qu on the bacterial community changes and volatile composition of Liuyang Douchi during pile fermentation. Results: The results showed that bacteria in high moisture douchi qu proliferated faster …

Research On The Law Of Impurity Removal Of Soybean Concentrated Lecithin And Substances Affecting Its Transparency, Fang Suqiong, Zhu Dongqi, Chen Wenrong, Yang Jiguo

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impurity removal law of soybean lecithin concentrate, analyze and identify the substances that affect the transparency of soybean lecithin concentrate. Methods: Using food-grade soybean lecithin concentrate as raw material and light transmittance as the main evaluation index, the effects of ceramic membrane pore size, material-liquid ratio, solvent system （n-hexane, n-hexane-anhydrous ethanol） and solvent ratio on impurity removal of soybean lecithin concentrate were investigated. Moreover, the collected impurities and soybean concentrated lecithin before and after impurity removal were analyzed and identified by lipidomics. Results: In the system of n-hexane-anhydrous ethanol, …

Analysis Of Physical And Chemical Indicators And Volatile Composition Changes During Aging Of Fuyuxiangxing Crude Baijiu, Lu Mengsi, Yu Ji, Yu Bing, Liang Chaoyu, Yao Maojun

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to optimize the aging technology of Fuyuxiangxing crude Baijiu and improve its quality. Methods: Testing and analyzing the new wine and the Fuyuxiangxing crude Baijiu aged for 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 years allowed for the analysis of the physicochemical indexes such as pH, conductivity, viscosity, total acid and total ester. Additionally, the primary volatile flavor components of the six samples were qualitatively assessed using GC and GC-MS, and 26 volatile flavor components of the samples were quantitatively assessed using the external standard method. Results: With the increase of aging time, the conductivity increased, the …

Preparation And Properties Of Rice Protein Hydrolysate-Xanthan Gum Nanocarriers, Yang Yuqi, Yan Peizhou, Cheng Yunhui, Lin Qinlu, Wang Jing, Jiao Ye

Food and Machinery

Objective: To enhance the water solubility and stability of hydrophobic active substances. Methods: A nano-delivery system of rice protein hydrolysate （RPH）-xanthan gum （XG）-curcumin （Cur） was developed, wherein curcumin served as the delivery object, and the encapsulation efficiency, stability, antioxidant activity, and formation mechanism of the nanoparticles were determined and analyzed. Results: The encapsulation efficiency of RPH-XG-Cur nanoparticles reached 78.40%, with a particle size of 74.78 nm, PDI of 0.36, and Zeta potential of -27.93 mV. Remarkably, the incorporation of xanthan gum significantly improved the encapsulation performance as well as pH and ionic strength stability of the nanoparticles. Fourier infrared and …

Enzymatic Hydrolysis Preparation And Activity Analysis Of Antioxidant Peptides Derived From Walnut Dregs, Ni Ce, Cao Tianhong, Chen Min, Yu Xun, Wu Hao, Wen Li

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study focused on the identification and activity analysis of antioxidant active peptides in walnut dregs protein hydrolysates. Methods: Protein was extracted from walnut meal by fractionation method, and five kinds of proteolytic enzymes, including trypsin, papain, neutral protease, alkaline protease and flavor protease, were used to hydrolyze the proteins. The antioxidant activity of trypsin hydrolysate （TH）, papain hydrolysate （PH）, dispase hydrolysate （DH）, alcalase hydrolysate （AH） and flavourzyme hydrolysate （FPH） were evaluated and compared. The in vitro antioxidant activity of different concentrations of AH was determined by the detection indexes of DPPH free radical scavenging rate, ABTS free radical …

Machine Learning Prediction Of Copper Ion Interference With Mercury Ion Fluorescence Signals In Food Heavy Metal Detection, Song Fangliang, Liang Ying, Dong Jie, Wang Xuejie, Qian Jie

Food and Machinery

Objective: To construct an artificial intelligence prediction model to predict the selectivity of fluorescent probes for Hg²⁺ in a complex food testing environment in the presence of Cu²⁺ interference. Methods: Fluorescent probe technology combined with seven advanced classical machine learning models was used to predict and analyze the selectivity of the probe for Hg²⁺ in the presence of Cu²⁺ interference, and to compare the prediction effect of each model and select the optimal model. Results: Efficient models with accuracies of 0.786 and 0.810 in the cross-validation and test sets were successfully established based on Molecular 2D …

Determination Of Seven Nicotinamide Compounds In Health Products, Wu Ziling, He Minheng, Huang Jiale, Cai Xiayi, Sun Wenwen

Food and Machinery

Objective： This study aimed to establish an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of 7 nicotinamide compounds in health food. Methods： The samples were dissolved in 10% methanol water, extracted by ultrasonic, and 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate-acetonitrile was used as the mobile phase of gradient elution. The seven nicotinamide compounds were monitored by ESI, positive and negative ion scanning mode, and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Results： The 7 nicotinamide compounds showed good linearity in the mass concentration range, and the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.996. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.075~0.600 mg/kg, the …

Agile Innovation And Application Of Food Safety Supervision Mode, Zhang Yi

Food and Machinery

As innovative thinking, the concept of agile governance focuses on rapid response, efficiency, and human nature. Applying agile governance to food safety supervision will help to optimize the food safety supervision model and improve its efficiency. Based on agile governance thinking, the innovative application of agile thinking was proposed from three aspects: regulatory objectives, regulatory tools and regulatory subjects.

Research And Development Of Multifunctional Cooking Test Platform Combining Negative Pressure And Superheated Steam, Zeng Mingjian, Zhao Yadong, Xu Fengying, Liu Tianyi, Zhang Peiyao, Jiang Zhuo

Food and Machinery

Objective: To design a multifunctional cooking experimental platform with negative pressure and superheated steam, providing consumers with greener, healthier, and more diverse cooking methods. Methods: The research status of integrated cooking equipment was analyzed, and the application status of superheated steam and negative pressure technology in the food industry was summarized and analyzed. The performance parameters of the multifunctional cooking experimental platform were determined. Based on the characteristics of each function of the experimental platform, the cooking chamber, furnace door and other components were designed, and the overall plan of the experimental platform was developed. Results: The multi-functional cooking experimental …

Grading Crayfish By Estimating The Proportion Of Crayfish Head And Pincers Based On Deeplab V3+, Wang Zihao, Hu Zhigang, Fu Dandan, Jiang Yajun

Food and Machinery

Objective: To achieve reasonable and effective grading of live crayfish, and improve the work of grading crayfish. Methods: The construction of crayfish image shooting platform, to obtain the original image of crayfish, and the semantic segmentation dataset which segmented the three parts of the crayfish head, crayfish pincers, and crayfish tail was created. The correlation between the actual weight of three parts and the corresponding pixel size in the dataset was analyzed, and a new grading standard for crayfish which was according to the proportion of head and pincers in the whole crayfish was summarized. The DeepLab V3+ neural network …

Optimization Design And Experimental Research Of Sandwich Seaweed Tunnel Baking Equipment, Yu Chao, Chen Shufa, Niu Shuoshuo, Liu Yang, Qi Hengyang, Zhan Zhaoya

Food and Machinery

Objective: In order to solve the practical problem of uneven temperature distribution in the tunnel and easy adhesion of sandwich seaweed to the conveyor belt. Methods: The structure of tunnel baking equipment for sandwich seaweed and the software and hardware of fuzzy PID temperature control system were designed in this study, the baking device model was established based on the boundary conditions set in the actual production environment, after that, the CFD simulation optimization experiments was performed on the temperature field inside the tunnel. Results: The simulation experiment showed that the parameter combination of evenly arranged heating tubes, 30 heating …

Rapid Prediction Of Yellow Peach Spoilage Time Based On Portable Near Infrared Spectrometer, Zhou Xu, Yang Qianqian, Zhang Jin, Li Boyan

Food and Machinery

Objective: Portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and stoichiometric methods were used to predict the spoilage time of yellow peach. Methods: Diffuse reflectance spectra of yellow peach samples were collected using a portable NIR spectrometer. Spectral preprocessing techniques were employed to enhance data features, and partial least squares (PLS) regression was applied to establish a prediction model upon the spoilage time and NIR data of yellow peach. The model performance was evaluated by both root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R²). Results: An R² value of 0.63 and RMSE of 4.09 days were achieved for …

Non Destructive Detection Of Kiwifruit Sugar Content Based On Improved Woa-Lssvm And Hyperspectral Analysis, Zhang Kai, Zhu Lifang, Li Rulin, Wang Ziyi

Food and Machinery

Objective: Addressing the issues of poor accuracy and low efficiency in non-destructive testing methods for kiwifruit sugar content. Methods: Proposing a non-destructive testing method for kiwifruit sugar content that combined hyperspectral detection technology, least squares support vector machine, and improved whale algorithm. By collecting hyperspectral information of kiwifruit through a hyperspectral detection system, after preprocessing and feature wavelength screening, and then input into an improved whale algorithm optimized least squares support vector machine model to achieve rapid and non-destructive detection of kiwifruit sugar content, and verify its performance. Results: The proposed method could achieve rapid and non-destructive detection of kiwifruit …

Walnut Defect Detection Based On Improved Elm And Computer Vision, Xu Jie, Liu Chang

Food and Machinery

Objective: To address the issues of low accuracy and poor efficiency in walnut defect detection among existing food production enterprises. Methods: Proposed a fast non-destructive detection method for walnut defects that combined improved extreme learning machines and computer vision. Collected most of the surface image information of walnuts through computer vision, preprocess the image through Gaussian filtering, optimize color and texture features through iterative and information preserving variable methods, finally, by improving the butterfly algorithm to optimize the parameters of the Extreme Learning Machine （random weights and deviations）, fast non-destructive detection of walnut defects could be achieved, and verify the …

Comparative Analysis Of Spectra And Modeling Of Different Cross-Diameter Orah Mandarin Based On Spectral Transformation Algorithm, Hu Feng, Gong Zhongliang, Wen Tao, Dai Xingyong, Tang Ziye

Food and Machinery

Objective: To reduce the influence of transverse diameter of Mandarin orange on the prediction of sugar content. Methods: 132 citrus were divided into three groups according to transverse diameter: small （65～70 mm）, medium （70～75 mm） and large （75～80 mm）. After collecting the transverse diameter spectrum of all citrus, the spectrum information and transverse diameter information of citrus were synthesized by spectral transformation algorithm, and the spectrum of different sizes of citrus was converted to the same transverse diameter datum. The pre-correction and post-correction spectra were respectively preprocessed, divided by target symbiotic distance algorithm （SPXY）, screened by competitive adaptive weight sampling …

Lightweight Banana Ripeness Detection Based On Improved Alexnet, Jiang Yu, Wang Lingmin

Food and Machinery

Objective: To obtain a lightweight Mini-Alexnet banana ripeness grading model and apply it to Android mobile devices. Methods: Based on the external characteristics of bananas with different ripeness, the Alexnet network model was restructured, part of the convolutional layer was deleted, and the global average pooling was used instead of the full connection layer to reduce the model parameters and required memory. A larger convolutional kernel was replaced to extract the global characteristics of the banana skin to achieve an improved lightweight Mini-Alexnet network model. Then the Mini-Alexnet network model was deployed as Android mobile APP, and its feasibility and …

Study On The Mechanism Of Boschniakia Rossica Polysaccharide Inhibiting The Activation Of Inflammasomes And Pyroptosis In J774a.1 Macrophages, Zhang Tian, Xu Hui, Quan Jishu, Jin Aihua

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides （BRPS） on the activation of inflammasome and pyroptosis of J774A.1 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and adenosine triphosphate （ATP）. Methods: The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome model was established by stimulating J774A.1 macrophages with LPS and ATP. Cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8, the release of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） was tested with the microplate method, the cellular level of NLRP3 and cell membrane damage were detected using the immunofluorescence staining method, and the secretion of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） was …

Optimization Of Cellulase-Assisted Extraction Of Volatile Oil From Acorus Tatarinowii And Study On Its Inhibitory Components On Gaba-T Activity, Fang Chengwei, Ma Xiuping, Chen Liang, Li Qian

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to establish a hollow fiber ligand fishing method for screening γ- Aminobutyrate transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitory component from the volatile oil of Acorus tatarinowii. Methods: Based on optimizing the enzyme assisted extraction process of volatile oil from A. tatarinowii using response surface methodology, GABA-T solution was injected into the hollow fiber lumen and used as a "bait" to fish out the potential active components in A. tatarinowii volatile oil, and its GABA-T inhibitory activity was verified. Results: The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions of volatile oil from A. tatarinowii were as follows: cellulase content …

Effects Of In Vitro Simulated Digestion On Antioxidant Components And Activities Of Walnut Shell And Distraction Wood, Du Xin, Zhang Xinyue, Wang Fang, Luo Qin, Xie Qing, Zhao Yingqiong, Liu Yuxiao

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to make full use of walnut by-products. Methods: Ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extraction method was used to extract the antioxidant components of walnut shell and distraction wood. The changes of antioxidant components (total phenols and total flavonoids) and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, Iron reduction antioxidant capacity-FRAP and ferrous ion chelating activity) of walnut by-products extract during the simulated digestion were studied in vitro, and their correlation was analyzed. Results: The total phenols(TPC), total flavonoids(TFC) content, and antioxidant activity of distraction wood were always higher than those of walnut shells (P＜0.05). After simulated …

Study On Physicochemical And Gel Properties Of Five Kinds Of Minor Bean Flours, Piao Shenghu, Yuan Jieyao, Xu Li, Liu Yanlan, Yi Cuiping

Food and Machinery

Objective: To explore the potential of minor beans as ingredients for starch gel foods. Methods: The basic compositions were analyzed, as well as the hydration, pasting, and gel properties of five kinds of minor bean flours, including mung beans, peas, white kidney beans, red beans, and chickpeas. Results: The water absorption index （WAI） of Mung bean powder at 90 ℃ and the water solubility index （WSI） at 40 ℃, the water absorption was better. In gelatinization results, mung bean powder had the highest recovery value, and showed good gelatinability. The results showed that the hardness and chewability of mung bean …

Characterization And Analysis Of The Volatile Components Of Cyclocarya Paliurus Tea From Different Origins Based On Gc-Ims Technology, Lou Jie, Zuo Yaqian, Tian Xing

Food and Machinery

Objective: To investigate the differences in volatile odor substances of Cyclocarya paliurus tea from different origins. Methods: Taking Cyclocarya paliurus tea from Changde, Zhangjiajie, Shaoyang in Hunan, Xiushui in Jiangxi, Qiandongnan in Guizhou, and Enshi in Hubei as the research subjects, the gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) coupled with partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to investigate the characteristics of different volatiles and their similarities in green strychnine teas from different origins. Results: A total of 120 VOCs, including monomers of some substances and their polymers, were detected in Cyclocarya paliurus tea from different origins, which were 34 …

A Comparative Study On The Quality And Flavor Of Dromedary And Bifocal Camel Yogurt, Li Yang, Chen Shuxing

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to analyze and compare the quality and flavor of dromedary and bifocal camel yogurt. Methods: Through physicochemical analysis, texture analysis, rheological analysis, SPME-GC-MC, sensory evaluation, etc., the overall differences in quality and flavor of dromedary and bifocal camel yogurt were determined. Results: The viable bacteria count, protein, fat, total solids content, and antioxidant activity of dromedary camel yogurt were lower than those of bifocal camel yogurt （P<0.05）, but it exhibited better storage stability than bifocal camel yogurt （P<0.05）. Texture analysis showed that the hardness of bifocal camel yogurt was significantly higher than that of dromedary camel yogurt （P<0.05）, while the adhesiveness, cohesiveness, and gumminess of dromedary camel yogurt were significantly higher than those of bifocal camel yogurt （P<0.05）. No significant differences were found in elasticity and chewiness between the two. Rheological characteristics showed that both single and bifocal camel yogurt exhibited shear-thinning flow characteristics, with initial apparent viscosity values of 5.82 and 2.33 Pa·s, respectively. Both formed thixotropic loops, with areas of 2 421.82 and 3 674.16 Pa/s, respectively. The exhibited gel properties, with dromedary camel yogurt having higher elasticity and viscosity. A total of 48 volatile flavor substances were detected in single and bifocal camel yogurt, with significant differences in the content of volatile flavor substances shared by the two camel yogurt types （P<0.05）. The content of volatile acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and other substances with lower flavor thresholds was relatively higher in bifocal camel yogurt, making its flavor superior. The sensory evaluation score of dromedary camel yogurt was higher than that of bifocal camel yogurt （P<0.05）. Conclusion: Bifocal camel yogurt has higher nutritional and flavor substance content, while dromedary camel yogurt exhibits superior storage stability and taste.

Optimization Of The Preparation Process And Antioxidant Activity Analysis Of Blueberry Juice By Wet Ultrafine Grinding Process And Compound Enzymolysis Method, He Wanying, Dan Li, Zhao Liangzhong, Huang Zhanrui, Long Zhanqian

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to optimize the preparation process of blueberry juice and improve its antioxidant activity. Methods: Blueberry juice was prepared using a wet ultrafine grinding process and compound enzymolysis method. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the process parameters and analyze the antioxidant activity of blueberry juice. Results: There were significant differences in the juice yield and active substance content of blueberry juice under different solid-liquid ratios, crushing times, compound enzyme contents, and enzymatic hydrolysis times, with enzymatic hydrolysis time having the most significant impact on juice yield and anthocyanin content. The optimal process parameters for the …