Agriculture Commons^™

The Impact Of A Ballot Education Program On Arkansas Voters, Kristin Netterstrom Higgins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center has educated Arkansas voters about statewide ballot issues for 10 years. The ballot issue education program, was evaluated during the 2014 election cycle to determine the program’s impact on voters. This descriptive study sought to describe program participants, to determine knowledge transfer of county agents, to describe knowledge acquisition of program participants, and to measure whether people who attended Cooperative Extension Service presentations made informed choices on Election Day. Researchers found that program participants were mostly older, educated, White women. There were increases in knowledge among participants who read fact …

Identifying Leadership Perceptions Of Desired Competencies Of Agricultural Sales Students And Agricultural Sales Industry Professionals, Sarah Beann Wright

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The two articles presented in this thesis used both quantitative and qualitative research methods to evaluate competencies among agricultural business students and agricultural sales professionals respectively. In the first study, students enrolled in the Fall 2014 agribusiness sales course at [State] University (n = 97), participated in a pre and post evaluation comprised of leadership assessments to determine the change in introversion and extroversion, task-oriented and relationship-oriented, and finally strength characteristics over the time period of an academic semester. Students presented to be from a variety of leadership backgrounds. Posttest results reported students being both high task (62.89%) and high …

Introducing Green Manures In An Organic Soybean–Winter Wheat–Corn Rotation: Effects On Crop Yields, Soil Nitrate, And Weeds, Katja Koehler-Cole

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In organic soybean– winter wheat – corn rotations, animal manure is a common choice to maintain high yields, but leguminous crops grown as green manures after wheat harvest and incorporated into the soil before corn planting, can be an alternative when animal manure is not accessible. Forage legumes with high dry matter (DM) production and high biological N fixation have been shown to meet corn N demand. However, in Eastern Nebraska, lack of precipitation can reduce green manure growth and N fixation, leading to an insufficient N supply for corn, but corn growth can also be impacted by green manure …

Bats And Rabies In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the 10 species of bats found in Utah, what to do if you are bitten and how to avoid contracting diseases from them.

Early Weaning Reduces Rangeland Herbage Disappearance, Patricia Johnson, Kenneth C. Olson, Roger N. Gates, Hubert H. Patterson, Mindy Hubert, Douglas Landbloom, Janna J. Kincheloe, Heather A. Richter, Allison V. Grove

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Early weaning of beef calves reduces nutrient and forage demand in a cow–calf enterprise, potentially contributing to reduction in forage utilization on the pasture from which calves are removed by a nonlactating cow vs. a cow–calf pair. Research was conducted to evaluate weaning beef calves 90 days early (EW) vs. normal weaning (NW) on pasture herbage disappearance in mixed-grass prairie pastures in the northern Great Plains. Spring-calving cows (n = 48) were utilized in each study year (2003, 2004, and 2006) from the date of early weaning (August) until the date of normal weaning (November). Cow–calf pairs were randomly …

Cost-Benefit Analysis And Potential Spillover Effects Of Farmer Field Schools In Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case Of Cocoa, Francis Tsiboe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of two studies analyzing the first phase of the Cocoa Livelihood Program (CLP-I), a current World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) development project, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and aimed at improving the livelihood of small scale cocoa producers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The first study uses a difference-in-differences econometric model to estimate yield enhancements attributable to farmer field schools which CLP implements. The results show a 32%, 34%, 50% and 62% increase in cocoa yield for Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon, respectively. These yield enhancements have the potential to increase income by 26%, 29%, 48%, …

Dzuds, Droughts, And Livestock Mortality In Mongolia, Mukund Palat Rao, Nicole K. Davi, Rosanne D. D'Arrigo, Jerry Skees, Baatarbileg Nachin, Caroline Leland, Bradfield Lyon, Shih-Yu Wang, Oyunsanaa Byambasuren

Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Recent incidences of mass livestock mortality, known as dzud, have called into question the sustainability of pastoral nomadic herding, the cornerstone of Mongolian culture. A total of 20 million head of livestock perished in the mortality events of 2000–2002, and 2009–2010. To mitigate the effects of such events on the lives of herders, international agencies such as the World Bank are taking increasing interest in developing tailored market-based solutions like index-insurance. Their ultimate success depends on understanding the historical context and underlying causes of mortality. In this paper we examine mortality in 21 Mongolian aimags (provinces) between 1955 and 2013 …

Economic Analysis Of Eradication And Alternative Crop Policies For Controlling Coca Supply In Colombia, Jilmar David Robledo Caicedo

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Coca leaf is the primary input in cocaine production. Colombia is among the three largest coca producers and is the world’s main supplier of cocaine. This thesis examines the interplay between the policies for controlling coca supply in Colombia: eradication (aerial spraying of coca) and a price support for alternative crops (coffee and cocoa) that compete for land allocation with coca. The study calibrates a multi-market partial equilibrium model to simulate different eradication and price support scenarios in order to assess farmers’ response to policy changes.

The results suggest that an alternative crops policy alone holds little promise to significantly …

Ecology, Behavior And Bionomics First Genotyping Of Spodoptera Frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Progeny From Crosses Between Bt-Resistant And Bt-Susceptible Populations, And 65-Locus Discrimination Of Isofamilies, Renee S. Arias, Maribel Portilla, J. D. Ray, Carlos A. Blanco, S. A. Simpson, Brian E. Scheffler

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

Concerns exist that Bt-resistant populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) found in Puerto Rico, could spread to continental United States, and about the lack of molecular tools to monitor potential crosses or distinguish populations. In this work, the feasibility of genotyping S. frugiperda crosses between Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt) resistant and susceptible populations using simple sequence repeats (SSRs, or microsatellites) was assessed. Parents and their corresponding progeny (five resistant, five susceptible phenotype) were genotyped using 192 SSRs on three reciprocate crosses alternating male and female from Bt-susceptible and Bt-resistant populations. Oviposition, mortality and fecundity were …

Effect Of In Ovo Feeding Of Dextrin-Iodinated Casein On Hatch, Growth And Gene Expression In Broilers., Shaymaa Mostafa Ibrahim Abousaad

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Six experiments were conducted to determine effects of in ovo feeding of dextrin (Dext, 18% maltodextrin, 10% potato starch dextrin) and iodinated casein (IC) on hatch and growth performance in broilers. In each experiment, approximately 15,000 eggs (2500 eggs per group) were treated at 18.5 to 19 d of embryonic development. Three studies indicated that hatch weights were higher in chicks receiving Dext or Dext containing IC at 240 or 480 µg/mL and only one study indicated negative effects of Dext or 240 µg IC/mL saline on hatch weight. In one growth study, broilers provided Dext or Dext with IC …

Food Waste At Retail, Erin G. Killeen Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food waste at retail represents forgone sales and embodies store management and disposal costs. Fresh produce is the largest contributing sector to food waste at retail and bulky, seasonal products are an added challenge when stores experience a high waste event. In order to improve, retailers need to better understand the costs of food waste, as well as how management strategies can impact these costs.

Using pumpkins as an example of bulky, seasonal products, a twofold research project was conducted to better understand contributors to, and costs of food waste at the retail level. In part one, using data from …

A Beginners Guide: 10 Tips To Better Landscape Photography, Lori Bailey, Cindy Nelson

All Current Publications

This tri-fold brochure gives 10 tips for better landscape photography, especially for 4-H youth.

Safety Guide For The Adventurous Outdoor Hiker, Lori Bailey, Cindy Nelson

All Current Publications

This tri-fold brochure gives safety tips for hikers, especially 4-H youth.

Managing Rock Squirrels In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

Although they do not exist in large colonies like other ground squirrels, rock squirrels can still sometimes generate conflicts with homeowners and farmers alike. Most damage occurs when a few rock squirrels take residence in a homeowner’s back yard, and begin to forage on garden vegetables and fruit trees. There are several direct and indirect ways that private landowners can manage and reduce rock squirrels on their property. This fact sheet give management tips.

On-Ranch Application Of Dna Technology, Kevin Heaton, Katelyn Christensen

All Current Publications

Genetic analysis provides producers with another tool to identify individuals in a herd which have the greatest potential to be most productive or least productive, thus improving ranch sustainability. This project reported in this fact sheet demonstrated that on each ranch there were both genetically inferior and superior livestock for the production traits analyzed. Participating ranchers are using the results to select replacements and are cautioned to avoid single trait selection. This project also created a baseline for genetic quality which individual ranches could compare with future DNA test results.

Brand Comparison For Electric Programmable Pressure Cookers, Susan Haws, Teresa Hunsaker, Debra Proctor, Ellen Serfustini, Karin Allen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet shows results of a brand comparisons for four different electric programmable pressure cookers. Cuisinart, Deni, Fagor, and Nesco were tested using five different foods, at four different altitudes.

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (Bydv), Claudia Nischwitz, Lyle Holmgren

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Barley yellow dwarf virus, a worldwide insect pest that infects small grains like barley, wheat, oats and rice, as well as many wild grass species. It describes symptoms, the disease cycle, and management options.

Preliminary Isotope Assessment, La Grange Groundwater Area, Glenn A. Harrington

Natural resources commissioned reports

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is currently undertaking a Royalties for Regions funded project in the La Grange Groundwater Area south of Broome. The focus is on providing improved confidence about soil suitability and water availability for potential expansion of irrigated agriculture in the region. Groundwater in the Broome Sandstone Aquifer (BSA) is the target water resource, however before the La Grange project commenced little was known about the physical and chemical attributes of the aquifer. This report provides the results of estimated groundwater recharge and residence times using environmental tracer techniques.

Sampling of 12 existing …

The Roles Of Cost Sharing Rules And Well Sharing In Irrigation Inefficiency: A Case Study In Groundwater Pumping In Mexico, Karina A. Schoengold, Shanxia Sun, Juan Pablo Sesmero

Cornhusker Economics

Concerns about groundwater depletion in the High Plains Aquifer and other aquifers throughout the world have been well documented in the media and the scientific literature. A recent study found that groundwater use exceeds recharge in about one-third of the world's largest aquifers (Barringer, 2015). Thus, developing appropriate groundwater management policies that encourage conservation and preserve the long-run viability of aquifers is of paramount importance in many regions. However, policies and institutional arrangements in many areas may exacerbate aquifer depletion by encouraging groundwater consumption. Policies that subsidize the cost of energy inputs may increase groundwater extraction. Subsidized electricity or diesel …

Evaluation Of Control Strategies For The Spread Of Citrus Greening, Vicente Valle Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, is a vector-based disease in citrus (with no cure known to date) that has drastically affected the citrus production in Florida in less than a decade and has been recently detected in Texas and California. In this paper, an epidemic model of the spatial spread of the disease is implemented among commercial and residential groves by taking into consideration the diffusion patterns of the psyllid vectors. A system of differential equations resembling one for malaria infection in humans is derived to evaluate different control methods such as quarantine, treatment, removal, foliar treatment, and pest …