Agriculture Commons^™

Evaluation Of Six Roma Tomato Cultivars In Southwest Michigan In 2025, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A Roma tomato cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). HM Clause (HM), Lark (LK), and Sakata (SK) seed companies donated 6 cultivars for plastic mulch-bedded hand harvest. Overall, the trial quality was good, with periods of high heat slowing ripening.

Evaluation Of Nine Sh2 Sweet Corn Cultivars In Southwest Michigan In 2025, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A bicolor sh2 sweet corn cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Seeds were donated by Crookham (CK), and Rupp (RP) seed companies. Two synergistic varieties were donated by Chris Difonzo from the Bt resistance project and were treated as unsprayed late-season checks against caterpillar infestation. Overall trial conditions were hot and dry, with moisture stress throughout the trial on a sandy hill. Overhead irrigation provided some relief. A new seeder was used that planted at a lower population than desired. As such, yield suffered in this trial.

Prediction Model Of Storage Quality Change And Shelf Life Of Dried Pork Slice, Chen Xiaohe, Qian Ping, Huang Ning, Yang Ran, Qu Lingbo, Zhao Changcheng, Li Chunxia

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the quality changes of dried pork slices under different temperature storage conditions and to predict their shelf life. [Methods] Hardness, color parameters (L* value, a* value, b* value ), and sensory quality of dried pork slices were investigated under storage at 25, 35, 45, and 55℃. Pearson correlation analysis was performed for each index, and the key index was fitted using a dynamic model. Combining the Arrhenius equation with the Q10 model, a shelf life prediction model was established. [Results] Under storage at 25, 35, 45, and 55 ℃, the a* value of dried pork slices decreased …

Interpreting Extension Professionals' Viewpoints On Agricultural Climate Change Programming, Aaron B. Wilson, Alli Wenman, Samuel Pratsch, Kenneth Genskow, Patrick Robinson, Dennis Todey, Laurie Nowatzke, Namah Chiamo Taku-Forchu, Moses Wanyakha

Journal of Extension

We evaluated Extension professionals' attitudes and beliefs from Midwestern "1862" land-grant universities around three themes: prioritizing climate programming, farmers' perceptions, and the role of Extension leadership in building capacity to integrate climate change into programs. Using key informant interviews and a two-hour virtual workshop, we developed 'coordinate planes' to illustrate the tensions and contradictions among the three themes, with participants expressing highly diverse viewpoints across the region. Results identify the need for Extension leadership to support multi-state programs and shared resources that provide consistent guidance and expectations around climate change programming while recognizing the intrinsic state context and values.

Farm Tour Evaluation Tool For Agricultural Awareness, Hannah Eason, Jessica Ryals, Yvette Goodiel, Lauren Butler, John Diaz, Marilyn Swisher

Journal of Extension

Educational farm tours offer learning opportunities that cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting. Developing a consistent farm tour evaluation tool is paramount to quantifying individual Extension farm tours while also providing a common platform to measure outcomes and impacts nationally and over time. An IRB-approved farm tour evaluation tool was developed to capture agricultural awareness and used to evaluate the 2022 National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting/Professional Improvement Conference (NACAA AM/PIC) tours. The evaluation tool attempts to quantify farm tour outcomes and impacts and demonstrate the value of agriculture to decision makers, consumers, and community members.

Is There An Extension Discount For Agricultural Economics Faculty?, Siun Lee, Jeffrey Hyde, Yangxuan Liu, Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr, Wendong Zhang

Journal of Extension

Salary is an important aspect of one’s decision to pursue a particular career. This work compares the salaries of Agricultural Economics faculty members with and without Extension responsibilities across 19 departments in the US. We find that mean salaries for those with Extension appointments are significantly less than those without Extension appointments, ranging from a difference of $5,065 for assistant professors to $14,532 for full professors. We encourage administrators to acknowledge this “Extension Discount” and, if desired, make intentional decisions to reduce it. Doing so would serve to address recruiting challenges for Agricultural Economics Extension positions.

Managed Online Panel Discussions As A Participatory Education Approach, Melissa M. Kreye, Kathryn Brooks, Eric Burkhart, Jesse Kreye, Allyson Muth, Calvin Norman, Sanford Smith, Scott Weikert

Journal of Extension

We assessed the social learning benefits provided by online panel discussions, where topics and questions on forestry issues were collected from the audience, but the discussions were limited to the people on the panel. We also examined the influence of different panelists including experts, extension professionals and peers. Findings indicate that the panels advanced understanding of issues, but also generated a variety of social benefits (e.g., validation, self-awareness, empathy, passion) that supported views about sustainable forestry and stewardship. Panels that involve peers and extension professionals were slightly better at generating a productive social learning environment, compared to panels containing experts.

Understanding Perceptions About And The Practice Of Integrated Pest Management And Biological Control Of The Filth-Breeding Flies By Individuals Involved In The Equine Industry In The United States, Virgillia Adele Beyer-Junfin, Theresa Pesl Murphrey, David Lawver, Barry Boyd, Amy Boren-Alpizar, Rilee Hall, Audra W. Richburg

Journal of Extension

Filth-breeding flies pose significant health risks and costs in the equine industry. Although an arsenal of management strategies exists, integrated pest management (IPM) utilizing biological control (BC) offers cost and labor efficient pest control for equine facilities. Yet, little data exists on IPM adoption across the equine industry in the United States. This quantitative study examines the knowledge, perceptions, and adoption of IPM of those involved in the equine industry. Findings reveal knowledge barriers and time constraints as major preventatives. Preferred communication channels for IPM information are also identified. Recommendations are made for further research and practice in IPM and …

The Land-Grant University’S Role In Lifelong Workforce Development In Food, Agriculture, And Natural Resources: Leveraging The Relationship Between Academic And Extension Programs, T. Grady Roberts, Debra M. Barry, J.C. Bunch, Suzanna Browning, Jason C. Dossett, R. G. (Tre) Easterly Iii, Cassandra Goff, Carla Jagger, Juan Montealegre, Brian E. Myers, Heather Nesbitt, Jason Steward, Jessica Switzer

Journal of Extension

Today’s food, agriculture, and natural resources (FANR) workforce is constantly evolving. Lifelong learning is no longer a lofty goal but is now a necessity. Colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities have the potential to meet the lifelong learning needs of the FANR workforce. In this article, we present a model where the academic and Extension components of colleges of agriculture at land-grant universities can link together to provide seamless lifelong workforce development. Our model is built on workforce development theory and is based on the traditions of the land-grant universities evolving to meet the needs of the people. Our model …

Nebraska Extension Tractor And Equipment Safety Certification Course – Measuring Long-Term Impact And Implementing Improvements, Rebecca Bonacci, Ellen Duysen, Bri Parr, Susan Harris, Aaron Yoder

Journal of Extension

Many jobs in agriculture have been deemed too hazardous for children younger than 16 years. A waiver allowing 14- and 15- year-old youth to work on farms requires safety course certification. [Redacted] Extension has partnered with a NIOSH funded Agricultural Safety Center to provide an annual tractor and equipment safety course across [Redacted]. To gauge impact, a survey addressed questions regarding the program's long-term impact, perceived value, injuries, close calls, recommendations for improvement and adoption and implementation of safety practices. The results have led to improved programming. The findings provide a roadmap to establish effective tractor and equipment certification programs.

Effect Of Microbial Inoculation On Phosphate And Nitrogen Uptake From Dry Soil By Two Grasses With Different Nutrient Acquisition Strategies, Reem Hamdan Alkaabi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Organic matter and other sources of plant nutritional elements typically enter the soil from its surface, resulting in topsoil having the highest microbial activity, concentration of nutritional elements, and rooting densities. In agricultural systems of the UAE, high ambient temperature triggers rapid evaporation and causes the topsoil to dry. Nutrient uptake from dry soil is very challenging for plants, and topsoil dryness can have a negative impact on plant performance.

Beneficial soil microorganisms mediate plant growth by inducing tolerance against abiotic stresses. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi extend a large network of hyphae that helps the plants to acquire water and …

Nutritional Status And Endomycorrhizal Root Colonization Of Various Fruit Tree Species Grown In The Open Field In Al Ain, Uae, Mariam Mohammed Alhebsi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Domestic cultivation of fruits can greatly contribute to food security and supply of residents with healthy but highly perishable products. However, in the area of Al Ain, the cultivation of dicotyledonous fruit trees at the commercial scale is relatively uncommon, due to risks associated with the impact of the harsh environmental conditions on plant performance. The present study aimed at investigating to which extent mineral nutrient deficiency is responsible for the poor performance of fruit trees during the warm summer season. A five year old fruit tree plantation at the UAEU Research Farm in Al Foah served as study site. …

Turfgrass Weed Control For Professionals, 2024, Aaron J. Patton, Matthew T. Elmore

Purdue University Press Books

Turfgrass is used on everything from athletic fields, golf courses, and parks, to lawns, sod farms, and roadsides. Unfortunately, information on weed management for professionals maintaining these areas has often been inaccurate or out of date, and applicators are frequently unaware of the most effective methods for controlling weeds in turf. Written by experts in the field and featuring insights from contributors from sixteen states across the US, the 2024 edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals was developed to provide science-based information for those working in the field. It contains information about turfgrass management, weed biology and management, more …

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2024, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Sujoung Shim

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2024 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2024 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

Program Transition Success: A Practical Guide For Educators Moving Sbae Programs, Evey Choat

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

What tools, strategies, and support systems can help agriculture educators navigate leadership transitions and sustain program success when moving between schools or communities? Teacher mobility and leadership transitions within School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) present unique challenges to program continuity, community relations, and professional sustainability. Unlike other subject areas, SBAE teachers often manage multifaceted responsibilities—as classroom instructors, FFA advisors, and community liaisons—making transitions between programs especially complex. This project addresses the lack of structured support for educators navigating these transitions by developing a Program Transition Guide specifically tailored to the needs of agricultural educators in Nebraska.

Guided by Transformational Leadership Theory …

Impact Of Crop Rotation And Species Variation On Soil Quality Indicators, Somasekhar Auduti, Uday Kiran Pittala, Pratibha Adhikari

Scholars Week

Impact of Crop Rotation and Species Variation on Soil Quality Indicators

Pratibha Adhikari, Somasekhar Auduti, Uday Kiran Pittala

Mentor: Dr. Iin P. Handayani, Ph.D.

Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY, USA

Designing crop rotations that counter the negative effects of monocropping requires crop choices that build carbon and create stable pore structure. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of crop rotation on selected soil health indicators and to interpret soil health conditions across agricultural fields. Soil samples were collected from West Farm, Murray, KY, from six crop fields—corn, soybean, tobacco, millet, cotton, and …

Assessing Soil Properties Under Pastures Managed For Different Livestock Systems In Western Kentucky, Chandralekha Joga Miss

Scholars Week

Soil health plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture, particularly in pasture-based livestock systems that influence physical and chemical soil properties. This study evaluated the effects of different livestock systems on surface soil characteristics in western Kentucky. Soil samples were collected from September 16 to September 22, 2025. Six fields were selected, representing beef, equine, swine, sheep/goat, poultry, and control (no livestock) systems. Both disturbed and undisturbed samples were collected from one soil depth (0–7.5 cm) to assess physical and chemical properties including bulk density (BD), total porosity, macroporosity, soil water holding capacity (SWHC), soil water at field capacity (SWFC), …

Shaping The Soil: A Comparison Of Equine, Bovine, And Ungrazed Hay Fields, Brody Ellis Higgs, Taylor Madison Wynn, Scottie Craig Berry

Scholars Week

Shaping the Soil: A Comparison of Equine, Bovine, and Ungrazed Hay Fields

Brody Higgs, Taylor Wynn, and Scottie Berry

Mentor: Dr. Iin. P. Handayani, PhD.

Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, USA

ABSTRACT

Kentucky raises grazing species for multiple reasons, including food, recreation, and show. The most common of them are equine and bovine. These animals graze many acres across the state of Kentucky and impact soil properties in their pastures. This study was conducted on three pasturelands across Caldwell and Calloway counties in Kentucky. The pastures consisted of a cow pasture, a horse pasture, and a …

Assessing Soil Quality Indicators In Leguminous And Non-Leguminous Cropping Systems, Kabita Budthapa, Kranthi Vinukonda, Ramya Sree Teeguri

Scholars Week

It is crucial to understand how different cropping systems influence soil health to boost the efficiency of resources and sustainable agricultural outputs. This study examined the effects of leguminous (soybean and pea) and non-leguminous (sunflower and maize) cropping systems on selected soil characteristics. On September 16th, 2025, soil samples (24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed) were collected from the 0-7.5 cm depth of West Farm, Murray, Kentucky. Disturbed samples were analyzed for pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon (SOC), while undisturbed samples were used to determine bulk density, porosity, soil water holding capacity (SWHC), and soil water field …

Comparative Assessment Of Soil Properties In Cropland And Forested Areas In Western Kentucky, Shiba Hari Dhakal, Abinash Dhungana, Ramson K C

Scholars Week

Soil health is profoundly influenced by its physical and chemical properties. These properties rely on land use systems; consequently, impact on soil functions and agricultural sustainability. The objective of this study was to determine selected physical and chemical properties affected by crop and forest management in Western Kentucky. Two crop and two forested areas with six replications each were selected for this study in September 2025 in Calloway County, Kentucky. A total of 24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed soil samples were collected at 0-7 cm depth. Disturbed samples were analyzed for soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic …