Agriculture Commons^™

Efficiency Of Labor In Winter Pruning Of Apple Trees Using Technological Innovations, Élio Fillipi Dos Santos, Wendel Paulo Silvestre, Lessandra Silva Rodrigues, Carine Cocco

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The increase of new technologies in fruit-growing crops has increased productivity in cultural practices and helped farmers expand their production areas. This work aimed to quantify labor performance in winter pruning of apple trees, using manual and electronic scissors associated with utilizing a pruning platform and ladders. The treatments consisted of two types of pruning shears and two support systems. A pruner carried out pruning for 16 days, with a journey of 10 h per day. The average yield in manual pruning with a ladder was 21.35 plants pruned per hour per man. Using a platform, the yield increased to …

A Case Of Milkweed Poisoning In Cattle In Colorado, Raye Walck, Brett Webb, Steve Ensley, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Milkweeds, Asclepias spp., are herbaceous perennials of the Apocyanaceae family. Milkweeds contain several cardiac glycosides, cardenolides, that are toxic. Clinical signs associated with milkweed toxicity are generalized weakness, difficulty in breathing, rapid weak pulse, bloating, violent spasms, paralysis, and death. Here we report a clinical case of milkweed toxicity in cattle due to contaminated hay. Clinical signs observed in the poisoned animals were consistent with cardenolide toxicity. Milkweed was detected in the rumen contents of the poisoned cow using DNA metabarcoding. In summary, multiple lines of corroborative evidence were used to make the diagnoses of milkweed poisoning in this case.

Additionality Of Solar Tax Incentives Under Community Choice Aggregation In Ohio, Michael L. Smith, Carson Reeling, Michael D. Wilcox

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

In the State of Ohio, the electric regulatory landscape permits local governments to become energy suppliers to residents and small businesses through community choice aggregation (CCA). Some CCAs provide enrollees 100% renewable electricity. Concurrently, the federal government offers an income tax credit (ITC) for the purchase of a solar array. With policy incentives, it is important to ensure they encourage behavior beyond the baseline scenario without the ITC. This is known as “additionality.” Renewable aggregation programs may crowd out the benefits of the ITC, violating additionality. This paper assesses additionality of the ITC in the context of Ohio’s CCA programs. …

Contrasting Effects Of Climate Warming On Hosts And Parasitoids: Insights From Rocky Mountain Aspen Leaf Miners And Their Parasitoids, Alisha A. Shah, Emily Hamant, Juan G. Rubalcaba, Beau Larkin, Andrew A. Forbes, H. Arthur Woods

Aspen Bibliography

Because temperature has pervasive effects on biological rates, climate warming may alter the outcomes of interactions between insect hosts and their parasitoids, which, for many host species, constitute the single largest source of mortality. Despite growing interest in parasitoid-host responses due to climate change, there are few empirical tests of thermal tolerance differences between non-model lepidopteran hosts and their parasitoids and almost none from mountain ecosystems where warming is occurring more rapidly. We examined the thermal ecology of a host–parasitoid interaction in the Rocky Mountains using the wild populations of the aspen leaf miner (Phyllocnistis populiella) and a …

Draft Genome Data Including Functional Annotation Of An Emerging Fungal Pathogen (Neodothiora Populina) Causing A Canker Disease Of Trembling Aspen In Interior Alaska, Ursel M. E. Schütte, Mace Wages, Aaron Buechlein, Jorda P. Kovash, Danielle C. Wrenn, Tereza Smrhova, Andrea Zubrova, Doug B. Rusch, Loretta M. Winton, Gerard C. Adams, Roger W. Ruess, Mary Beth Leigh, Devin M. Drown

Aspen Bibliography

Neodothiora populina is a black yeast-like fungus in the family Dothioraceae. It causes an aggressive canker disease of trembling aspen that results in widespread mortality of aspen across the boreal forest of Interior Alaska. Here we report a high-quality draft genome including functional annotation of this emerging fungal pathogen based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequences. Our initial genome assembly totaled 23,960,169 bp and contained 18 contigs, and we identified 7,343 genes. This resource announcement provides new genomic data that are useful long term for improving our understanding of forest health in Alaska.

Nebraska Women In Agriculture Conference Marks 40 Years, Lindsey Mckeever, Sarah Sivits, Jessica J. Groskopf

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program marked 40 years of educating and empowering females in farming, ranching, and agribusiness, with nearly 370 people attending its annual conference on February 20 and 21, 2025, in Kearney.

Two Unique Cases Of Ponderosa Pine Needle-Induced Abortions, Kevin D. Welch, Megan A. Dietz, Steven E. Edmonds, Dale R. Gardener, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) needles can induce abortions in cows when consumed during the last trimester of pregnancy. Traditionally pine needle-induced abortions occur in areas where cattle are forced into a stand of ponderosa pine trees to seek shelter and feed during a winter storm that is either very cold, has heavy snow or high winds. However, here we report two incidences of pine needle-induced abortions in cattle that were unique. In one case, there was no weather-related event that forced the cattle into the stand of pine trees, rather the cattle went into the pine trees seeking …

Racial Differences In Knowledge, Attitudes Toward Vaccination, And Risk Practices Around Lyme Disease In The United States, Madiha Shafquat, Niyati Patel, Brandon Mcfadden, James H. Stark, L. Hannah Gould

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Lyme disease (LD) incidence in the United States is highly regional, with most cases occurring in 16 high-incidence jurisdictions. LD incidence and severity of disease have been found to vary by race. This study describes racial differences in knowledge, attitudes toward vaccination, and risk practices related to LD.Methods Four web-based surveys were conducted with adults and caregivers of children in high-incidence jurisdictions and 10 states neighboring them. Respondents were recruited via an established online panel to represent the general population. Self-reported race was pooled into 3 categories: 'White', 'Black or African American', and 'Other' for analysis. Analyses were conducted …

Bryce Canyon Aspen: Recent Trends, Future Actions, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

In cooperation with Bryce Canyon National Park, we undertook a survey of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) conditions throughout the Park with the intention of better understanding conditions and prescribing corrective measures where needed. There are clear disparities within the Park between sustainable aspen conditions and failing stands. Based on condition of mature trees, but most importantly regeneration and recruitment of juvenile stems, most aspen forests within Bryce Canyon are in poor condition. Aspen recruitment—generally sapling-sized trees that have survived browsing ungulates—is the most important metric of future stand resilience and here we found 83% of all aspen sample …

Variation In Response To Phosphorus Among Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Cultivars, Jeffrey Cole Denis Gregorie

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and is often a major limiting nutrient in agriculture. In sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas), studies on the role of P on storage root yield have been limited because of the lack of response and inconsistent results across cultivars and years. Growing evidence shows that current phosphate (Pi) fertilizer rates can be reduced while maintaining productivity. Newly published molecular evidence shows differential expression of phosphate starvation response genes among sweetpotato cultivars, further supporting the hypothesis of cultivar-specific Pi sensitivity. The research herein sought to characterize root system architecture and yield response to Pi …

Integrating E-Commerce To Reduce Postharvest Losses In Rural Cameroon, Maurice Tchasso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

E-commerce has the potential of assisting the agriculture market to curb postharvest losses by connecting new and existing customers to agricultural products more efficiently. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of successful farmers in rural Cameroon to obtain insights into the e-commerce factors and strategies they use to manage and reduce postharvest losses. The study sample was 20 rural Cameroonian farmers using e-commerce in reducing postharvest losses. The conceptual framework for this study was Rogers’s diffusion of innovation theory. The data collection occurred through virtual interviews with the participants and their …

Nebraska Beef Cow Breeding Herd As Capital Stock, Richard Perrin, Margarida Noelia De Aguiar Cunha Souza, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Cornhusker Economics

Throughout her lifetime, the capital stock value of a cow first rises as the size/quality of calves increase, then declines because there are fewer calves expected over her remaining lifetime. The value later in life begins to rise in anticipation of culling value.

We estimate the age distribution of the Nebraska cow herd every year, then we estimate the capital value of each cohort. Adding these values across ages and adjusting to 2015 prices, we obtain the series of capital values, measured in terms of 2015 dollars.

In addition, we calculate the value of the annual flow of services provided …

Growing The Future: Community Gardens In Hillsborough County, Florida, Nicole M. Kennady

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project was an evaluation on community gardens in Hillsborough County, Florida from May 2024 to November 2024, built off of Homegrown Hillsborough’s first year evaluation of the current Hillsborough County food system. Homegrown Hillsborough is a network of community members with a mission to grow a strong food system in Hillsborough County by assisting in all areas of the food system from food production to food waste. Homegrown Hillsborough plans to act as a development initiative focused on community nutrition. Over the next two years, Homegrown Hillsborough plans to focus on food production, food access, and economic development. Through …

Coffee Berry Pathogen Anomaly Detection Using Colour And Shape Separation Via L-Systems, Chris C. Napier, David M. Cook, Leisa J. Armstrong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coffee berries are susceptible to infection from several sources including fungal diseases, bacterial diseases, and insect pests. The early recognition of these infection sources forms a vital factor in the coffee berry industry, ensuring higher levels of quality and creating the right conditions to support a resilient coffee bean production industry. This paper examines the use of L-systems to allow for the early recognition of pathogens during the various stages of cultivation and processing. This paper introduces a processing method that mimics human vision, using minimum prior knowledge in concert with the separation of colours and the convergence of colour …

Supporting Local-Food Businesses To Conduct E-Commerce During Covid-19 Through Remote Student Internships, Angel Cruz, Barry Nash, Daniel Holloman, Joyce Yao

Journal of Extension

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global lockdowns changed the way food was accessed and prepared. These changes at the consumer level impacted farms and fisheries of all types and sizes. To compensate for the loss of larger markets and restaurant revenue, small-scale food producers pivoted to direct marketing to remain viable during the pandemic. However, not all businesses and producers had the time, skills or flexibility needed for a direct marketing business model. To support producers, the North Carolina Local Food Council developed a new internship program: Remote Internship to Support Enterprises (RISE) for Local Foods. The …

Empowering Young Innovators Through School-Based Agricultural Education: Insights From A Nigerian Secondary School Teacher, Mary O. Olumide-Oyaniyi

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

Nigeria faces challenges like food insecurity and economic instability, worsened by a growing youth population. School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) engages youth in agricultural innovations. This study implemented SBAE principles in a Nigerian school, combining poultry farming and aquaculture. Students managed a poultry farm, using chicken droppings to breed maggots as feed for catfish in rainwater-filled tanks. The project enhanced students' skills, improved local food production, and engaged the community. Despite funding and management challenges, the initiative demonstrated SBAE's potential to empower youth and advance agricultural practices, offering a model for similar projects in other regions.

Addressing Local Food Insecurity Through A Problem-Based Learning Classroom, Kaley Mumma, Aimable Mugabo

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

Through the frame of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), a curriculum is proposed to engage students in addressing local food insecurity. Students collaboratively define the problem, explore underlying issues, establish goals, design solutions, and implement their chosen solution to address food insecurity within their community. The importance of community engagement and utilizing local resources are highlighted in advising the implementation of this program.

Exploring The Few Nexus Through Community Engagement: A Watershed Restoration Case Study From Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Tolulope P. Akinbobola, Kumar Chaudhary Anil

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

Given the pivotal role of education in comprehending the intricacies of the FEW nexus, the pedagogical approach employed is important in fostering the intentional integration of food, energy, and water systems across disciplinary boundaries. Non-formal education is experiencing a resurgence in its role in establishing a sustainable knowledge society. As we delve into understanding the FEW nexus, we must acknowledge the strategies, practices, and experiences underpinning our knowledge and contributions to the FEW nexus. Against this background, this practice paper demonstrates the multifaceted dimensions of integrating formal and non-formal education approaches in driving development in the FEW nexus field.

Teaching Disciplinary Ways Of Knowing Using Stem In Afnr, Elizabeth E. Ogar, Neil A. Knobloch, Hui-Hui Wang

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This study explores the integration of STEM in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) education through a course designed to teach disciplinary ways of knowing such as scientific inquiry, engineering design, mathematical modeling, and agroecosystem thinking. The course prepares upper-level undergraduate and graduate students to design and implement STEM-integrated mini-units in both formal and nonformal settings. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and real-world applications, the course encourages critical thinking and problem-solving in addressing global challenges like food security and sustainability. The outcomes include enhanced pedagogical skills, real-world STEM application, and increased student engagement, preparing learners for careers in STEM-related fields.

System Change, Not Climate Change: Collaborative Development Of A Few Nexus Experiential Learning Course For A Justice-Centered Comparative Study Abroad Program, Sonya Ahamed

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

The International Honors Program (IHP) on Climate Change: The Politics of Land, Water and Energy Justice has been offered by the School for International Training (SIT) since 2013. This thematic multidisciplinary program currently travels to Morocco, Nepal, and Ecuador for one month each, introducing students to local food, water, and energy challenges in the context of a changing climate. In updating the program following its relaunch in 2023, renewed attention was given to the food, energy, and water nexus from a comparative perspective across and within these countries. This presentation will focus on the development of experiential learning cycles for …