Agriculture Commons^™

Quantifying The Combined Effect Of Abiotic Factors On The Decomposition Of Organic Matter In Semiarid Grassland Soils, Elnazsadat Hosseiniaghdam

Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research in Agronomy and Horticulture

Grassland ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and their cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can be affected by animal grazing where litter (i.e., dead plant material) is trampled into the soil. However, the subsequent effects of trampling on litter decomposition are not well understood. Meanwhile, abiotic factors, especially temperature and soil moisture, are known to strongly affect litter decomposition. Due to the very small number of published studies that have considered litter placement, either litter on top of soil or litter mixed with soil as a factor in litter decomposition under different temperature and soil ...

Parents' Perceptions Of Life Skill Development And Satisfaction With Utah 4-H, Oakley G. Perry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 4-H program is the nation’s largest youth development program with near six million members nationwide. Utah 4-H provides this program to the residents of Utah through Utah State University’s Extension Service. The program focuses on teaching life skills to youth to prepare them for their future using hands on educational programs tied to project areas, or particular topics like equine science or fine arts. Utah 4-H has many different stakeholders, one of which being the parents of its members. For youth programs to continue to be successful, these programs must show stakeholders their significance and ensure that ...

The Determinants Of Food Insecurity In The United States: A State Level Analysis, Zhuoya Li

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of food insecurity at the state level with the goal of providing policy guidance to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States. Data for the study was collected from various governmental and non-governmental sources. Linear regression models and sensitivity analyses were conducted. The study found that increase in household income is likely to significantly reduce the prevalence of food insecurity and very low food security. While poverty alleviation is more important than level of education for food insecure households, level of education is more important than poverty ...

Identifying And Managing Dyer's Woad (Isatis Tinctoria) In Pastures, Rangelands, And Non-Crop Settings, Cody Zesiger, Jacob Hadfield, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria) was introduced into Utah during the mid-nineteenth century as a source of indigo dye. The plant escaped cultivation and has spread across rangelands, foothills, and other sites throughout the Intermountain West. This fact sheet provides information about identifying dyer's woad and its lifecycle, distribution, and management in pastures, rangelands, and non-crop settings. It includes information about using appropriate herbicides to control dyer's woad and how to apply them.

Identification And Management Of Scotch Thistle (Onopordum Acanthium L.) In Pastures, Rangelands, And Non-Crop Settings, Cody Zesiger, Jacob Hadfield, Kalen Taylor, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is an invasive species native to Eurasia. It was likely introduced into North America during the late 19th century (Young & Evans, 1969). Due to the plant’s size and prickles, a stand can damage pasture productivity, ruin campsites, or make trails nearly impassable. The thistle also outcompetes desirable plants and greatly reduces forage use by large animals. Since not all thistles are related or alike, it is essential to correctly identify Scotch thistle before making management decisions. This fact sheet provides information about identification, lifecycle and distribution, and management.

What Makes A Small Farm Successful? A Review Of Success Factors, Needs, And Challenges, Katie Tritsch, Ken Mix, Michelle L. Edwards, Manuel Piña Jr.

Journal of Extension

Small-scale farmers face unique challenges. In this review, we conceptualize small farm success by aggregating and categorizing results from recent (post-2000) literature on small farm success factors and producer needs assessments. Our findings suggest that small farm success is multifaceted and not limited to profitability. We find that small farms have a diverse range of needs, though little has been done to rank their importance. We conclude that future research would benefit from increased methodological transparency and a systematic approach to needs evaluation. We consider the role of Extension professionals regarding the continued success of small farms.

What Do Higher Commodity Prices Mean For Cash Rent?, Allan Vyhnalek

Cornhusker Economics

Anyone watching the corn and soybean prices of the last six months or so must be amazed at how fast and how high prices have gone. Just a year ago, cash prices for 2020 corn were bouncing around the $3.00 per bushel area. Now the cash price for 2020 corn delivered to an ethanol plant is nearly $7.00+ per bushel. What do, or what should, these change in prices do to cash rent?

Farmers Feeding Utah: Increasing Healthy Food Access And Supporting Local Agriculture, Heidi Leblanc, Casey Coombs

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The need for food assistance increased by 300% among Utah families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers and ranchers were also adversely impacted by market losses and processing shortages. In response, Farmers Feeding Utah was developed to facilitate access to fresh agricultural produce for families in need.

Low Moisture Anhydrous Ammonia Pretreatment Of Four Lignocellulosic Materials—Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles, Corn Gluten Feed, Corn Fiber, And Oil Palm Frond, Nazira Mahmud, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Publications

Lignin and hemicellulose structures in cellulosic materials serve as a barrier for enzyme reactions. A pretreatment step is often needed to break these components to allow the biomass to be utilized as a source of value-added products. Various available pretreatment methods possess common drawbacks of the high amount of liquid and chemical requirements, harsh process conditions, and the high amount of waste produced, which driving up the production costs of bioproducts. Low moisture anhydrous ammonia (LMAA) pretreatment capable of eliminating those drawbacks. In this study, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), corn gluten feed (CGF), corn fiber (CF), and oil ...

Digital Urban Agriculture As Disparate Development: The Future Of Food In Three U.S. Cities Through The Lens Of Stakeholder Perceptions, Networks, And Resource Flows, Michael Carolan

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Urban agriculture takes many forms. Often, the term elicits images of raised beds, hoop houses, and, in those instances where topsoil is both present and non-contaminated, in-ground gardens—what I call traditional urban agriculture (“TUA”). But that imagery is changing, especially in some parts of the country where vacant space is scarce and land prices dear. In those instances, cities are seeing growth in digital urban agriculture (“DUA”). DUA, as defined here, refers to farming within urban and peri-urban areas that incorporates elements of automation, software, and/or silicon-based hardware into their operations. While this definition is not meant to ...

American Rescue Plan Act For Local Communities, Marilyn Schlake

Cornhusker Economics

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law by President Biden. ARPA provides direct relief to all 19,000 cities, towns and villages across the United States affected by COVID-19. The purpose of ARPA is to support pandemic recovery efforts, replace public sector lost revenue, spur job growth, jump start economic growth through household and business stabilization and ad-dress systemic public health and economic challenges.

Weather And Climate Summary And Forecast: June 2021 Report, Gregory V. Jones

Linfield University Wine Studies Reports

This report provides a summary of the weather and climate forecast for June 2021. It includes forecast information specific to the Pacific Northwest and the western United States, as well as forecast information for other portions of the United States and abroad.

Nebline, June 2021

The NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from UNL Extension in Lancaster County

Choosing Quality Child Care: Guidance For Parents

Eastern Carpenter Bees

Eating for Brain Health

Recipe of the Month

Naturally Occurring Contaminants, Part 4 of a Series — Arsenic

Efficiency Is Key To Profit On Stocker Cattle

Common Grub Control Questions

Garden Guide: Things to do This Month

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Jen & Jesse Metcalf

4th Graders Learn About “Farm to Fork” During Virtual Ag Festival

Statewide 4-H Companion Animal Challenge Results

Extension News

Extension Calendar

STEM Zoom Workshops in June

Seeking Lancaster County Fair Historic Memorabilia and Stories

Financial Analysis Of Converting Rural Lawns To Pollinator Habitat In The Corn Belt, Adam K. Janke, John C. Tyndall, Steven P. Bradbury

Natural Resource Ecology and Management Publications

Conservation efforts in rural landscapes seek to improve the multifunctional nature of land uses for people and the biotic communities that support them. In these environments, existing turfgrass lawns mowed routinely through the summer present an opportunity where changes in management from intensively managed monocultures to diverse native perennial vegetation can stack environmental benefits by improving soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Conversion of lawns to pollinator habitat can help achieve continental goals of reversing declines in high-profile species such as the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus and native bees. Here, we examine the financial implications for landowners and managers ...

Research Performance And Trends In Seed Technology Research: A Scientometric Assessment, Suresh N Dr, Thanuskodi S Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study assesses the research performance and trends of global Seed technology research publications by using scientometric indicators i.e. publication growth pattern, author, institution and country research performance, the collaborative trend among countries. The study found that a total of 16613 publications contributed by 40588 authors from 1647 number of scholarly journals received with 350561 citations and h-index and g-index 182, 262 respectively, 148 countries have contributed in the Seed technology research. The English Language has the dominant language (96%) in Seed technology research. The research article title “Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops” has received ...

Solanum Jamesii As A Food Crop: History And Current Status Of A Unique Potato, David Kinder, John Bamberg, Lisbeth Louderback, Bruce Pavlik, Alfonso Del Rio

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Solanum jamesii is a wild potato found in the US southwest. There is ample evidence that this potato was used by ancestral Puebloans as a food source, where some researchers think it was used as a starvation food while others consider it to be regular food source. Currently this potato is being grown by Native Americans, notably the Navajo, as a specialty food as well as a food crop. There are several attributes to this potato that make it especially suitable for development as our climate changes and food needs become more demanding, including its drought tolerance and ability to ...

Effects Of Drying And Providing Supplemental Oxygen To Piglets At Birth On Rectal Temperature Over The First 24 H After Birth, Katherine D. Vande Pol, Andres F. Tolosa, Raphael O. Bautista, Naomi C. Willard, Richard S. Gates, Caleb M. Shull, Catherine B. Brown, Stephan A.S. Alencar, Clay A. Lents, Michael Ellis

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Publications

Neonatal piglets can experience both a decrease in body temperature and hypoxia, increasing risks for pre-weaning mortality. This research evaluated the effects of drying and providing supplemental oxygen to newborn piglets on rectal temperature (RT) over the first 24 h after birth. The study used a CRD with 3 Intervention Treatments (IT; applied at birth): Control (no intervention), Drying (dried using a desiccant), Oxygen [dried using a desiccant and placed in a chamber (at 40% oxygen concentration) for 20 min]. A total of 42 litters (485 piglets) were randomly allotted to treatments at the start of farrowing. At birth, each ...

Crop Insurance Premium Subsidies Are A Means Of Income Redistribution, Charalampos Mavroutsikos, Konstantinos Giannakas, Cory Walters

Cornhusker Economics

The U.S. federal crop insurance is a major farm policy aimed at providing risk protection/reduced risk expo-sure to agricultural producers. A key component of this policy is the provision of multiple contract options and premium subsidies that reduce the cost of crop insurance to agricultural producers. Premium subsidies have been growing over time and accounted for more than $6 billion in government outlays in 2019, with $2 billion being applied to coverage levels of 80% and higher (USDA-RMA, 2020). While the government has justified the use of premium subsidies as a necessary means of increasing producer participation in ...

Assessment Of Available Manganese In Milk By Using Fodders Grown In Long-Term Wastewater Irrigated Soil, Mudasra Munir, Kafeel Ahmad, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Asmat Zahra, Asma Ashfaq, Ifra Saleem Malik, Mumtaz Akhtar, Humayun Bashir, Muhammad Umar Farooq Awan

Journal of Bioresource Management

Heavy metals are considered as most important contaminations due to industrialization of countries and an influence on its existence in soil, plant and milk. A study was carried out to check manganese content in soil, forage and milk at three sites of city Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. All samples (milk, soil, water, fodder plants and ground water) were analyzed for manganese by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Different health indices were also studied to check Mn flow in food chain. Level of Mn in samples was found within acceptable limits. Manganese level was higher in soil samples collected from Site-III than other sites ...

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Integrating Soybean Biorefinery Products Into Corn-Based Ethanol Fermentation Operations, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Weitao Zhang

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Publications

With the development of agricultural biorefineries and bioprocessing operations, understanding the economic efficiencies and environmental impacts for these have gradually become popular for the deployment of these industrial processes. The corn-based ethanol and soybean oil refining industries have been examined extensively over the years, especially details of processing technologies, including materials, reaction controls, equipment, and industrial applications. The study focused on examining the production efficiency changes and economic impacts of integrating products from the enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) of soybeans into corn-based ethanol fermentation processing. Using SuperPro Designer to simulate production of corn-based ethanol at either 40 million gallons ...