Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Building Partnerships To Address Social And Technological Challenges To Enhance Farm Profitability And Improve Water Quality Through Better Grassland Management, C. C. Stafford, R. A. Clark, L. Ritchie, J. Dudding, G. Pent, J. Fike, J. Benner, C. Swanson, S. Baker, T. Mize, V. Temu, K. Payne, D. Gill, D. Mullins, R. Mcguire, C. Teutsch, W. Thomason, A. Grev, P. Blevins, T. P. Clarke, M. Poore, M. Booher, T. Stanley, G. Halich, J. Bovay, S. Jones, K. Love, A. Hilliard, A. Byington, E. Mullins, L. Haugen

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

With 2.1 million acres of pastureland and 1.25 million acres of hay land in Virginia, the rural Virginia landscape is predominately grassland. These lands form the base of the $3.96 billion-dollar livestock and dairy industry in Virginia. Managing these livestock in a profitable manner for farmers and beneficial to the environment is important. A cultural tradition with roots in colonial times has been to run animals in large fields year-round throughout Virginia. Livestock often graze from spring until fall (about 220 days), and farmers feed hay the remainder of the year. Spikes in the cost of fuel, fertilizer, and equipment …

Linking Research To Development In Pastoral Communities Of Northern Kenya: Recent Experiences And Key Findings In Participatory Research Approaches, G. A. Keya, M. Ngutu, A. Adongo, A. O. Adongo, I. Tura

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Over 50% of Kenya's land mass is arid. The mainstay of the local economies of these areas is nomadic pastoralism. Arable agriculture is limited to the few oases and mountain zones. Due to the harsh climate, there are few alternative livelihood options available to the local communities of mostly herders. Efforts to improve agricultural productivity have often been hampered by low adoption of available technologies. This low adoption is linked to many factors, notably the non-involvement of the stakeholders in the research process and the weak linkage between research and extension. To address these shortcomings, new approaches were tested with …

Tracing The Path Of Technology Diffusion: The Case Of Nturumenti, Narok, Kenya, Paul N. Katiku, R. Kimitei, S. Amboga, G. A. Keya, B. Korir, J. Nginyi

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

An array of technologies; growing improved wheat varieties, bulking and collective marketing of wheat grains, sheep breed improvement, ram sharing, feedlot sheep fattening for market, strategic sheep deworming, pasture establishment and conservation practices; were introduced to members of a community based organization (CBO) in Nturumenti, anti-female genital mutilation and anti-poverty organization (AFAPO) in 2014. The CBO members, composed of youthful 19 men and 7 females, were intensively exposed and involved in the new skills both theoretically and practically in the farmers’ field school model. Even though the 8 farming technology options were suitable for the study environment, their adoption and …

Grass‐Planting And Sheep‐Raising Skills Development In Rocky Desertification Mountain Area, Jiahai Wu, Qiong Mou, Chengbing Tang, Xiangyong Zhao, Daquan Zhang, Guonian Xie

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Stimulating Market Led Livestock Production Through Information Communication Technologies: Experiences From Pastoral Areas Of Eastern Africa, R. Kaitho, G. Kariuki, E. Kebebe, J. Gutta, J. Ndungu, M. Kingamkono, P. Dyke

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Rural Residents' Perspectives On An Mhealth Or Personalized Health Coaching Intervention: Qualitative Study With Focus Groups And Key Informant Interviews, Nancy Schoenberg, Madeline Dunfee, Hannah Yeager, Matthew Rutledge, Angela Pfammatter, Bonnie Spring

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Compared with national averages, rural Appalachians experience extremely elevated rates of premature morbidity and mortality. New opportunities, including approaches incorporating personal technology, may help improve lifestyles and overcome health inequities.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to gather perspectives on whether a healthy lifestyle intervention, specifically an app originally designed for urban users, may be feasible and acceptable to rural residents. In addition to a smartphone app, this program-Make Better Choices 2-consists of personalized health coaching, accelerometer use, and financial incentives.

METHODS: We convened 4 focus groups and 16 key informant interviews with diverse community stakeholders to assess perspectives on this …

Information Technologies For Rangeland Monitoring: What Is Available And What Will Be Available In The Future?, Craig D. James, M. R. C. Ashley, G. N. Bastin, A. J. Bubb

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Overview Of Grassland And Its Development In China, Jiawen Liu, Yingjun Zhang, Yongjun Li, Deli Wang, Guodong Han, Fujiang Hou

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Identifying Opportunities For Improved Adoption Of New Grazing Innovations, Geoff Kuehne, Rick Llewellyn, Pannell Pannell, Perry Dolling, Roger Wilkinson, Mike Ewing

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Those aiming for high levels of adoption of grazing-related innovation are often frustrated at low and slow uptake by farmers. This paper describes a new tool, ADOPT (Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool), that can be used to evaluate the potential adoptability of grazing innovations (Kuehne et al. 2012). ADOPT aims to: (1) predict an innovation’s likely peak level of adoption and likely time for reaching that peak; (2) encourage users to consider factors affecting adoption during project design; and (3) engage R, D & E managers and practitioners by making adoptability knowledge and considerations more transparent and understandable.

Evaluating P And K Fertilizer Prescriptions From Site-Specific Technologies, John H. Grove, E. M. Pena-Yewtukhiw

Soil Science News and Views

Developing a field's fertilizer prescription as a part of a site-specific nutrient management plan can be one of the more costly tasks undertaken. Those costs are traditionally associated with gathering of a number of plant and/or soil samples, their testing, as well as acquiring and applying amendments. Soil sample analysis is particularly important for traditional phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and soil acidity (pH) management. Soil sampling requires skill and time, time that may be in short supply when crop harvest is to be soon followed by establishment of a succeeding crop. Soil test results are not always timely, further delaying …

Economics Of Precision Farming: Payoff In The Future, Jess Lowenberg-Beboer

Soil Science News and Views

Precision agriculture is an infant technology. This infant has some of the signs of eventual greatness, but its full capacities will not be evident for some years. Like all infants, it will require an investment of time and resources to help it to maturity. This investment will have some short term payoff, but the main benefits will be in the future.

The purpose of this presentation is to help you manage your adoption of precision farming technology for that future payoff. The specific objectives will be to:review what we have learned about the economics of precision farming, identify future benefits, …