Agriculture Commons^™

Phenological Corrections To A Field-Scale, Et-Based Crop Stress Indicator: An Application To Yield Forecasting Across The U.S. Corn Belt, Yang Yang, Martha C. Anderson, Feng Gao, David M. Johnson, Yun Yang, Liang Sun, Wayne Dulaney, Christopher R. Hain, Jason A. Otkin, John Prueger, Tilden P. Meyers, Carl J. Bernacchi, Caitlin E. Moore

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Soil moisture deficiency is a major factor in determining crop yields in water-limited agricultural production regions. Evapotranspiration (ET), which consists of crop water use through transpiration and water loss through direct soil evaporation, is a good indicator of soil moisture availability and vegetation health. ET therefore has been an integral part of many yield estimation efforts. The Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) is an ET-based crop stress indicator that describes temporal anomalies in a normalized evapotranspiration metric as derived from satellite remote sensing. ESI has demonstrated the capacity to explain regional yield variability in water-limited regions. However, its performance in some …

Identifying Effective Teaching And Recruitment Strategies Used By Efnep In Reaching Limited Income Audiences In The United States, Alexandria Mcleod

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The two articles presented in this thesis used a researcher-developed literature-based survey instrument to collect data on the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in the United States. Data was collected on methods of teaching, communication technologies used, recruitment strategies, barriers to attending classes, and program assistant demographic data. There were 803 program assistants working during the 2018-2019 program year. There were 346 program assistants who completed the 35-question survey instrument during data collection.

The first article focused on identifying effective teaching strategies used to increase program engagement by collecting data on program characteristics, methods of teaching, and educational …

Economic Feasibility Of Sub-Surfaced Poultry Litter, James Timothy Stults

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Livestock producers routinely spread fertilizer or broadcast poultry litter to improve forage production. With poultry litter widely available across the Southeastern United States and a cheaper source of plant nutrition than fertilizer when proximal to application sites, the novel application of litter below the soil surface, while costly, allows for greater nutrient retention than broadcasting. Since quantifying costs and benefits of sub-surface litter application (SSLA) is complex, we develop and present a spreadsheet tool for automated comparison between SSLA, fertilizer, and broadcasted litter for user-specific scenarios involving equipment choices (new, used, custom), desired nutrient needs for crops grown, litter nutrient …

Challenges And Benefits Experienced By Mississippi Schools In The Adoption Of Farm To School Programs, Manuel Aldair Franco Pech

Honors Theses

Mississippi obesity rates are the second highest in the United States. An appropriate target group to combat the state’s high obesity rates are school age children (ages 18 and under), because healthy eating habits developed at this age translate into adult years. An avenue to encourage and develop healthy eating habits are Farm to School (F2S) programs, which provide in-school accessibility to healthy, locally produced foods. The objective of this study was to analyze the results from the 2015 United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) F2S Census, which collected details regarding F2S participation across the country, to determine the benefits …

Establishing Agroforestry Silvopasture Systems In The Missouri Ozark Region, Kara Lynn Powelson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Missouri Ozarks is located in the south-central part of Missouri, ranging from the very southwest corner of the state and east to St. Louis. This region is enriched with large dense populations of oak and hickory tree species, while also being occupied with prime forage pastures for livestock grazing. Missouri is ranked second in the nation for farming operations and hay production, while also third in the nation for beef cow number of head (MDA 2021). The objective of this study is to observe the establishment of two separate silvopasture systems: a planted walnut plantation and a converted silvopasture. …

Addressing Challenges In Aggregating And Analyzing Agroecological Data, Sarah E. Mccord

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Agroecosystems face multiple threats including land degradation and climate change, changing and competing land uses, invasive species and disease spread, and biodiversity loss. While scientists seek to understand rapidly changing ecosystems, land managers are struggling to maintain ecosystem services amid transitions to novel ecosystem states. Understanding agroecosystem drivers and ensuing responses requires quality information about ecosystems that span biomes, trophic scales, ecological processes, spatiotemporal scales, land use, and land ownership. Yet, using multi-scale agroecosystem information can be frustrating for both scientific researchers and land managers as it is difficult to locate data that are trustworthy, easily accessible, standardized, and connected …

Evaluation Of Grain Type And Processing Method On Steer Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Nutrient Digestion, Caitlin A. Coulson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A feedlot finishing study evaluated the effect of replacing corn with dry-rolled wheat in diets containing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS; Exp 1). Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of corn type [dry corn (DC), high-moisture corn (HMC), or a blend of dry and high-moisture corn (BLEND)] processed with either AutomaticRoller Mill (ROLL) or hammer mill (HAMMER) on steer performance, carcass traits, and nutrient digestibility (Exp. 2 and 3). In Exp. 1, steers were fed diets containing 100% dry-rolled corn (DRC) or a 50:50 blend of dry-rolled corn and wheat (WHEAT) in diets containing 12 …

Understanding Rumen Microbial Community Structure And Function Towards Decreasing Methane Emissions, Allison L. Knoell

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Resource use is continually being limited due to this growth, therefore, production of high-quality animal protein sources, such as meat and milk, are challenged. The rumen microbiome is extensive and serves to provide several metabolic requirements for the animal for growth. Recently, a significant amount of research is being driven towards understanding the rumen microbiome due to its large effect on metabolic requirements.

A study was conducted to replace alfalfa with nonforage fiber sources in dairy cows. It was determined milk yield and intake are maintained when nonforage fibers replace forage sources, while decreasing methane levels. Water consumption decreased when …

Socioscientific Issues In School-Based Agricultural Education: Describing And Exploring Factors Of Integration, Michelle S. Burrows

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Socioscientific issues (SSI) are complex issues which are scientific in nature and have societal impacts. Many SSI have connections to agriculture and as such should be included in agricultural education curriculum. A clear understanding of what school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers know about SSI is needed. The purpose of this research was to explore the knowledge and integration of SSI among SBAE teachers by describing and explaining the factors that influence integration. This quantitative survey research was guided by the SSI-based instruction framework and the three-component model of agricultural education. The population for this study was all SBAE teachers in …

The Intersection Of Past And Present, Hannah Welzbacker

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Science often faces a crossroad between the past and present. Ever changing technology allows us to make new discoveries while at the same time, elements from past cultures need preserving. The three stories in this portfolio all highlight the intersection of past and present and how they can coexist. The first story focuses on a technological breakthrough that allows local researchers to better understand nocturnal migrations using acoustic monitoring. The second story explains the controversial Mayan Train project moving through South America and the implications for the economy, environment and culture. The final piece captures how members of the Blackfeet …

Practical Challenges Of Using Sunn Hemp As A Cover Crop In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Qulina Rai

Theses and Dissertations

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria junceae) is an emerging cover crop with many reported benefits such as nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, and suppression of weeds and nematodes. Relatively little is known about appropriate ways to inoculate sunn hemp ensuring nitrogen fixation, and diseases that affect sunn hemp within the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Four sticking agents, peanut oil, jaggery, gum arabic, and water used to aid inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in sunn hemp was checked on nodulation. Water treatment was least effective. Peanut oil and jaggery treatment showed better performance in overall total nodules, and active nodules. Gum …

Participatory On-Farm Research During Graduate School: Challenges And Opportunities, Fernanda Souza Krupek, Carlos Bonini Pires, Gabriela Inveninato Carmona

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Including farmers, growers, and ranchers (hereinafter referred to as producers) as active participants in the development of knowledge, through extension and on-farm research programs, is an effective method of agricultural technology and innovation transfer. The emerging interest in understanding agricultural systems’ complexity has fostered collaborations between producers and land grant universities, particularly across graduate programs focused on applied research. While the concept of on-farm research is not new, the scale and impact of on-farm studies conducted by researchers in partnership with producers are expanding (Kyveryga, 2019). Can master’s and Ph.D. research projects be conducted at the farm scale and generate …

Industry Funding Scheme Regulations: A Review Of Operation And Effectiveness, May 2021, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Section 147 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 requires the Minister for Agriculture and Food to carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of any regulations made for the purposes of establishing an Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) every five years.

In 2010, regulations establishing three IFSs commenced to address pest and disease threats relevant to Western Australia’s broadacre and pastoral cropping and livestock sectors. This report documents the second fifth-year anniversary statutory review of the following regulations:

• Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Industry Funding Scheme (Cattle) Regulations 2010

• Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Industry Funding Scheme …

Short-Term Effects Of Winter Cover Crops On Soil Properties, Yield, And Partial Returns In A No-Tillage Soybean Rotation, Drew Dillon Kirkpatrick

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops have the potential to provide many benefits including weed suppression, erosion control, and improvements to soil quality. These benefits can be affected by species, biomass accumulation, and management practices. Although large amounts of biomass are good for maximizing benefits, it can result in problems for establishing the subsequent crop. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] accounts for over 50% of Arkansas crop hectares annually; therefore, understanding the effect that a cover crop can have on the following soybean crop is crucial to the successful implementation of cover crops within the state. A study was established to evaluate winter cover …

Estancia Vs. Kentucky 31: Examining Leaf Nutrient Content Of Established Tall Fescue, Macie W. Clark

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

In 2020 Missouri ranked third in beef cattle production and second in hay production. As part of the fescue belt of the United States, Missouri’s agricultural industries rely on tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum Schreb.) as a main forage crop. Two major disorders in cattle grazing tall fescue are fescue toxicosis and grass tetany. Fescue toxicosis occurs when animals consume toxic ergot alkaloids produced by an endophyte within the tall fescue plants. The most commonly grown tall fescue variety, Kentucky 31, is infected with the toxic endophyte. Varieties containing a novel non-toxic endophyte, such as Estancia, have been developed to …

Donnelly River Model Review, Justin Hughes

Natural resources commissioned reports

The Donnelly River Model was prepared for the Department of Water and Environment Regulation (DWER) by an external consultant (Hydrology and Risk Consultants) in 2018. The purpose of this model was largely to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed irrigation development centred on diversions from the Middle Donnelly near Chappel's Bridge into a reservoir in the nearby Record Brook catchment. As a part of the model build and reporting process, the HARC (2018) report was reviewed by Ecological Australia (2018) against the model specifications. ECL concluded that the model was "fit for purpose", but made many recommendations. Since re­port release, …

Simulating The Feasibility Of Dual Use Switchgrass On Cow-Calf Operations, Michael P. Popp, Amanda J. Ashworth, Charles P. West

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Meeting biorefineries' demands for lignocellulosic biomass will require sourcing feedstock without affecting the food or animal-feed supply. A decision-aid model can assess the dual use of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) to maintain animal production while providing biomass. We simulated a mixed-farm operation with 156 ha of hay+pasture, 96 beef cows (Bos spp.), and poultry (Gallus gallus L.) production wherein the hay land was converted to switchgrass for dual use as biomass and forage. The cow-calf simulator tracked changes in forage and cattle production, economic returns, and net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dual use of switchgrass consisted of …

Evaluation Of Nutrient Solutions Produced From Aqueous Extracts And Decomposition Products Of Organic Waste Materials On The Plant Growth Performance In Hydroponics, Noura Said Al Nuaimi

Theses

Hydroponic plant production involves the cultivation of plants in absence of soil. In this system, the supply of the plant root with water and nutritional elements occurs via a nutrient solution made of inorganic salts. Hydroponic plant cultivation often achieves higher yields, water use efficiencies and quality of crops compared with soil production. In addition, it renders the farming system independent from soil properties. However, the currently available systems rely on the steady input of non-renewable inorganic salts. Unlike soil-based systems, hydroponics, so far, do not offer feasible opportunities for recycling nutritional elements from within crop residues or organic waste …

The Growing Monopoly In The Corn Seed Industry: Is It Time For The Government To Interfere?, Bethany K Sumpter

Texas A&M Law Review

How a company conducts business is often a consumer concern. Individuals have accused company after company of monopolistic behavior. These individuals have also criticized the Department of Justice for not stopping a monopoly from forming in a specific industry. An example is the corn seed industry, where stakeholders have accused companies of monopolistic behavior. Recent mergers and acquisitions in the corn seed industry have left fewer companies in control, and because of this consolidation, individuals are urging the government to act. This Comment argues that, while the corn seed industry is on the road to containing a monopoly, the industry …

Assessing The Impact Of Cluster Farming Initiatives On Small And Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers, And Forestland Owners: A Case Of The Southeastern Region Of The United States, Lila Karki, Raymon Shange, Walter A. Hill, Conrad Bonsi, Henry English, Edoe Agbodjan, Melissa Stewart, Franklin Chukwuma, Dawn M. Patin, Joshua Idassi

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Farming in clusters is an economically viable practice to sustain small, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and forestland owners with their agricultural operations. The objectives of the study were to strengthen the capacity of clientele on cluster farming and to lower production and marketing costs by sharing input costs. Clusters were created and interventions were provided by project partners through several activities, including workshops, meetings, field days, loans, and materials/equipment. The results showed that 29 clusters involving 224 farmers, and 14 cooperatives involving 410 farmers were formed and strengthened. The number of farmers participating in workshops, training programs, field …

Table Of Contents

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Project Impact: Multicultural Academic Program Success At Kansas State University, Zelia Z. Wiley, Lonnie Hobbs, Jr.

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Kansas State University created a suite of recruitment programs, which included Project Impact: Multicultural Academic Program Success (MAPS) to aid incoming college freshmen in their academic transition. This program is led by the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs in collaboration with the Colleges of Agriculture, Business, and Engineering. Each college hosts a group of ethnic minority students each year. The College of Agriculture’s Diversity Program Office (DPO) serves as the host for 10 students in its college, each year. This study covers 40 participants from 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 in the College of Agriculture. Data were collected using a …

Yield Response Of ‘Whatley-Loretan’ Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas (L.)) Transplanted In Single And Double Row At Different Dates In A Wiregrass Tunnel House, Marquess James, Raymon Shange, Cassandra Searight, Victor Khan, James E. Currington, Ramble Ankumah, Michele S. Foo, Nathaniel Ellison, George X. Hunter, Jeffery Moore

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

A split-plot study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of ‘Whatley-Loretan’ sweetpotato when planted in single and double rows at four planting dates (March, April, May, and June) in a Wiregrass Tunnel House located at S&B Farm in Eufaula, Alabama. The main plots consisted of planting dates, sub-plots single, and double rows, with each treatment combination, replicated three times. The results showed a significant linear and quadratic effect for US#1 grade of sweetpotato and total marketable yields. Yields were highest at the first and second planting dates and declined at the two later planting dates. Single vs. double row …

Sustainable Winter-Feeding Practices For Meat Goats Within The Southeastern United States, Nikisha Ryan, Nar Gurung, Jeremy Byrant, Frank Abrahamsen, Wendell Mcelhenney

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Winter feeding systems were evaluated on male Kiko meat goats against the traditional practice of raising goats in the winter months. Forty-Five Kiko bucks were randomly assigned to one of three treatments; Treatment 1, Treatment 2, and Treatment 3 consisted, respectively, of Cosaque Oats, annual Ryegrass, Crimson Clover mix, and 1.0% of BW concentrate supplementation with free choice hay. Forage clippings were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber. Body weights were monitored over the grazing period. Blood samples were collected during the experiment, and animals were slaughtered for the evaluation of carcass traits. Data were analyzed …

Abridged Submission Guidelines

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Carbon Accounting Tools Available To Mixed Farming Enterprises In Western Australia, Richard Brake

Climate Science Published Reports

In recent years consumers and the general public have become increasingly more cognisant of the environmental impact, through the emitting of greenhouse gases measured as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), that the production of goods and services they consume have on the world. Global corporate businesses either through desire or market driven necessity are at the forefront of measuring and reducing their carbon footprint and in doing so placing pressure on suppliers to reduce theirs.

The impact of carbon emissions from agricultural enterprises and the role that the agricultural industry plays in the level of carbon emitted or sequestered continues to …

A Baseline Documentation Report For The Delta Wind Birds Sky Lake Nature Reserve, James Dubberly

Honors Theses

The purpose of this baseline documentation is to conduct a report on our subject property and discuss the findings. A conservation easement is established by upholding a certain standard of a property’s current condition which makes a baseline documentation necessary for an easement to be enacted. Baseline documentation reports are used as a resource to monitor and enforce the legal agreements of the conservation easement. The subject property is currently owned by the Delta Wind Birds organization. In our scenario, this documentation report will serve to aid in the conversion of our subject property into a conservation easement in which …

Detection Of European Aspen (Populus Tremula L.) Based On An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Approach In Boreal Forests, Anton Kuzmin, Lauri Korhonen, Sonja Kivinen, Pekka Hurskainen, Pasi Korpelainen, Topi Tanhuanpää, Matti Maltamo, Petteri Vihervaara, Timo Kumpula

Aspen Bibliography

European aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a keystone species for biodiversity of boreal forests. Large-diameter aspens maintain the diversity of hundreds of species, many of which are threatened in Fennoscandia. Due to a low economic value and relatively sparse and scattered occurrence of aspen in boreal forests, there is a lack of information of the spatial and temporal distribution of aspen, which hampers efficient planning and implementation of sustainable forest management practices and conservation efforts. Our objective was to assess identification of European aspen at the individual tree level in a southern boreal forest using high-resolution photogrammetric point cloud …

Analysis Of Fatty Acid Profile In Metabolites And Cells Of Five Bifidobacterium Strains By Gc-Ms, Chen Shi-Yang, Liu Feng-Ying, Chen Hui-Min, Chen Li-Jun, Chen Shu-Xing

Food and Machinery

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze fatty acid profile in metabolites and cells of five strains of Bifidobacterium. The results showed that the fatty acid content of different Bifidobacterium was significantly different among the metabolites, and there were some differences among the cells. Differences of fatty acid were also found among the same Bifidobacteriium strains derived from different sources. Methyl palmitate (C_16:0), methyl lignocerate (C_24:0), and methyl stearate (C_18:0) were the main fatty acids in metabolites and cells of the five strains. Among them, the C_16:0 was significantly different (P＜0.05), and …

Rheological Properties Of Fenugreek Gum On Improving The Safety Of Drinking Water In Nursing Dysphagia, Hao Lu-Lu, Wang Ling, Shang Long-Chen, Li Bin

Food and Machinery

In this paper, according to the American Dysphagia Diet standard, based on the viscosity at 50 s^-1, fenugreek gum was prepared into thickening fluids with viscosity of 180 cP(nectar),1 000 cP(honey) and 2 500 cP(pudding), that the rheological properties had been systematically studied to evaluate the potential of fenugreek gum in improving the safe drinking water of patients with dysphagia. And then the rheological properties of fenugreek gum prepared at different temperatures were further explored. The results showed that the dissolution temperature was the key to whether the rheological properties of fenugreek gum meet the requirements of drinking …