Agriculture Commons^™

Agricultural Research Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 7, August 2014, United States Department Of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Magazine

Forum-Breeding Rootstocks to Help Apple Growers Rooting Out the Best in Apple Rootstcks Mosquitoes Reveal a Taste for Repellents Switchgrass for Ethanol: Where It Came From--and Where It's Going Developing Tool to Fight Marek's Disease Treasure of the National Agricultural Library: Timeless Works of Fungi The Ins and Outs of Beneficial Nematode Movement Moisture Meter Technology for In-shell Peanuts Licensed Up Close and Personal with Tiny Beneficial Wasps New Lure May Help Growers Combat Almond's No.1 Insect Navel Orangeworm Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue

United States Meat Goat Production Economic Performance Measures: A Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis, Berdikul Qushim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The meat goat industry is relatively a newcomer to the U.S. agricultural production and one of the fastest growing livestock industries in the U.S. Despite the growth of the meat goat industry, little is known about meat goat production economics. Information is needed concerning the drivers of production efficiency, optimum size of operation, and scope economies in the industry. A nationwide mail survey of U.S. meat goat producers who advertise their meat goat production via the internet for this efficiency analysis was conducted. Costs and returns data for 2011 expenses from those meat goat producers were collected. This survey was …

Origins Of The Classical Gene Concept, 1900–1950: Genetics, Mechanistic, Philosophy, And The Capitalization Of Agriculture, Garland E. Allen

Biology Faculty Research

In the period of “classical genetics” (roughly 1915–1950), the common view of the gene was mechanistic—that is, genes were seen as individual, atomistic units, as material components of the chromosomes. Although it was recognized early on that genes could interact and influence each other’s expression, they were still regarded as individually functioning units, much like the chemists’ atoms or molecules. Although geneticists in particular knew the story was more complex, the atomistic gene remained the central view for a variety of reasons. It fit the growing philosophy of mechanistic materialism in the life sciences, as biologists tried to make their …

Moving To A New Paradigm: A Reflection On Ethics, Sara Bajor '15

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

No abstract provided.

Encouraging Teacher Change Within The Realities Of School-Based Agricultural Education: Lessons From Teachers’ Initial Use Of Socioscientific Issues-Based Instruction, Amie Wilcox, Catherine W. Shoulders, Brian E. Myers

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Calls for increased interdisciplinary education have led to the development of numerous teaching techniques designed to help teachers provide meaningful experiences for their students. However, methods of guiding teachers in the successful adoption of innovative teaching approaches are not firmly set. This qualitative study sought to better understand how school-based agricultural education teachers decide to adopt or discontinue a teaching innovation when introduced through ready-made lesson plans, which is currently a common practice of teaching method integration in school-based agricultural education (SBAE). Constant comparative analysis unveiled themes within the reactions to the teaching method’s use, as well as how teacher …

Earthquake Risk In Indonesia: Parametric Contingent Claims For Humanitarian Response And Financial Institution Resiliency, Jason Hartell

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

This dissertation explores the use of an index based contingent claims mechanism against earthquake risk in Indonesia. It focuses on time critical financing needs of international humanitarian relief organizations, and on efforts to improve the resiliency of geographically constrained financial institutions whose clientele are exposed to disaster risk. The approach uses measures of ground motion intensity as the basis for the index. The humanitarian response mechanism provides a new way for private sector partners to participate and gain visibility in their support of principled humanitarian funding. Index based contingent claims for local banks are shown to enhance their ability to …

Utilization Of Related Wild Species (Echinacea Purpurea) For Genetic Enhancement Of Cultivated Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.), Roumiana Vassilevska-Ivanova, Boris Kraptchev, Ira Stancheva, Maria Geneva, Ivan Iliev, Georgi Georgiev

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Helianthus annuus is one of the most important oil species, with a comparatively narrow genetic base. The development of new sunflower cultivars is the focus of many research and breeding programs. Intergeneric hybridization between H. annuus and Echinacea purpurea, a valuable medicinal plant, has not yet been utilized in cultivar development. This paper describes 2 advanced hybrid lines produced from an intergeneric cross between the cultivated sunflower inbred line 6650 and an accession of E. purpurea. The hybrid plants have successfully been grown in the field. The hybrids, showing expression of traits from both parental species, were intermediate between both …

Screening Of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Cultivars Against Root-Lesion Nematode Species, Mehmet Ali̇ Söğüt, Fatma Gül Göze, Tufan Önal, Zübeyi̇r Devran, Muhammet Tonguç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, screening of 15 Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars and genotypes (Zülbiye, Kınalı, Perla, Kwintus, Özayşe, Tokat Sırık, Musica, Şelale, Nadide, Gina, Serra, Karabağ, Funda, and Lepus) and 1 Pisum sativum cultivar (Araka) for host suitability to 4 root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus thornei, P. crenatus, P. neglectus, and P. penetrans, was carried out in 2010 and 2011 under controlled conditions. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized block design with 7 replicates. Approximately 1000 adults + juveniles + eggs of root-lesion nematodes in 10 mL of distilled water were inoculated around the base of each bean seedling. The experiments …

Characterization For Drought Resistance At Early Stages Of Wheat Genotypes Based On Survival, Coleoptile Length, And Seedling Vigor, Ali̇ Öztürk, Si̇nan Bayram, Kami̇l Hali̇loğlu, Murat Aydin, Özcan Çağlar, Sancar Bulut

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In order to develop genotypes having a stable higher yield, it is necessary to characterize genetic resources based on drought adaptation, determine the suitable genotypes, and use them in breeding programs. This study was carried out in greenhouses, plant growth chambers, and research farms of the Faculty of Agriculture at Atatürk University. A total of 64 certified and local bread wheat genotypes were used to test survival after drought, coleoptile length, and seedling vigor. There were significant differences with respect to the selection parameters in this study. Seedling survival ranged from 18.5% to 51.1% and coleoptile lengths were 39–74 mm. …

Irrigation Scheduling Of Grapefruit Trees In A Mediterranean Environment Throughout Evaluation Of Plant Water Status And Evapotranspiration, Mustafa Ünlü, Riza Kanber, Deni̇z Levent Koç, Bülent Özeki̇ci̇, Uğur Kekeç, Turgut Yeşi̇loğlu, İbrahi̇m Ortaş, Fi̇li̇z Ünlü, Burçak Kapur, Servet Teki̇n, Jana Käthner, Robin Gebbers, Manuela Zude, Aviva Peeters, Alon Ben-Gal

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, 1 full irrigation regime (100% of crop evapotranspiration, I100) and 2 deficit irrigation regimes (70%, I70, and 50%, I50) were evaluated in a Rio Red grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad. ‘Rio Red’) orchard in Adana, Turkey. Fruit yield, leaf water potential (LWP), and soil water depletion (SWD) were measured among trees from each treatment. Actual evapotranspiration was calculated in 3 ways, using 2 energy balance methods (eddy correlation and Bowen’s ratio) and water balance. Evapotranspiration rates of I70 and I50 treatments were 10% and 18% less than I100, respectively. Average irrigation amount for I50 was less than half …

Economics Of Food And Agriculture, David L. Debertin

Agricultural Economics Textbook Gallery

This is a heavily‐revised version of an introductory agricultural economics textbook, Economics of Food and Agriculture, that was originally published by Kendall Hunt in 1990. The material is intended for use as a series of classroom presentations for an introductory agricultural economics course. No mathematics prerequisites other than basic algebra are required.

Effectiveness Of A Farm Field Trip, Bonnie S. Sigmon

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The annual Sigmon Farm Tour was started in 1992 as an agricultural education program where students could experience being on a farm with the goal of increasing the agricultural literacy levels of the participants. Every year the entire 4th grade student population of Rockcastle County spends the day touring the farm and participating in experiential mini lessons given by the cooperating farm service and health agencies. The program has continued for 20+ years without an evaluation as to whether it is achieving its objectives. This evaluation will also exhibit the programs strengths and weakness so it can continue to improve. …

Identification Of Soils On Firefighter Turnout Gear From The Philadelphia Fire Department, Tabitha N. Huston

Theses and Dissertations--Retailing and Tourism Management

The purpose of this research was to identify the composition of soils on firefighter turnout gear from the Philadelphia Fire Department and to determine which soils contain hazardous materials. The objective of the research was to identify the composition of soils remaining on the firefighter turnout gear to enable the industry to design an effective cleaning procedure for removal of soils. A pilot study was conducted on hoods from the Philadelphia fire department to evaluate the test methods that would be used to identify the composition of soils. Soils that had been identified from previous studies were targeted in the …

The Role Of The Bacterial Endosymbiont, Arsenophonus, In The Soybean Aphid, Aphis Glycines, Jason A. Wulff

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Bacterial endosymbionts can have profound impacts on their host’s ecology. Notably, endosymbionts can protect their hosts against natural enemies and influence host plant interactions. The endosymbiont Candidatus Arsenophonus infects a wide taxonomic range of arthropod hosts, and is suspected of an uncharacterized mutualistic role in hemipterous insects. In the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, an introduced pest of soybeans in the United States, Arsenophonus is the sole facultative endosymbiont. The focus of this dissertation is to characterize the role of Arsenophonus in the aphid, with an overall emphasis on its impact on aphid management strategies.

I first used diagnostic PCR …

Changing Litter Resources Associated With Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Invasion Affect Benthic Communities In Headwater Streams, Christopher J. Strohm

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive herbivore causing extensive mortality of eastern hemlock, an important foundation species that provides stable conditions influencing biological communities. Hemlock is often found in riparian areas and following its decline, broadleaved species, including birch, beech, and rhododendron, will replace it. These plants differ from hemlock in patterns of canopy cover and leaf properties, which influence conditions and resources within streams.

My goal was to evaluate potential impacts of adelgid-induced alterations to riparian canopies and litter on benthic communities and litter breakdown in streams. I characterized benthic invertebrate communities, litter colonization and litter breakdown in streams …

Assessing And Mitigating Lawn Insecticide Hazards To Bees And Other Beneficial Invertebrates, Jonathan Lane Larson

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Turfgrass settings, including lawns, golf courses, and sports fields, support many beneficial invertebrates that provide important ecosystem services. These non-target organisms and their associated predation, decomposition, and pollination services can be disrupted by the use of certain insecticides. I compared the ecotoxicity of representatives from three major turf insecticide groups, the neonicotinoids, premix formulations, and the anthranilic diamides, in lab and field realistic settings in order to inform industry initiatives towards environmental sustainability.

In lab and field bioassays clothianidin, a neonicotinoid, and a premix clothianidin/pyrethroid spray were acutely toxic to beneficial insects. Populations of predators, springtails, and earthworms, as well …

Insecticide Resistance In The Bed Bug, Jennifer R. Gordon

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Populations of Cimex lectularius, the bed bug, have resurged around the world posing significant challenges for pest management professionals and causing physical, economic, and emotional strife. Pyrethroid resistance has been found in the vast majority of populations making pest management more difficult. The objectives of my dissertation research were to document the evolution of resistance to pyrethroid and neonicotinoid combination products (called combination products here) and to a neonicotinoid in the laboratory, to record potential fitness costs to resistance to the combination products, and to compare the efficacy of nine insecticides on six populations. In the laboratory, populations of …

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Remittance And Migration: Impact On Technology Adoption, Natural Resource Conservation, And Household Welfare, Deborah Ann Williams

LSU Master's Theses

Nepal is the perfect country to study all the facets of migration, sustainable agriculture and their subsequent impact on food systems. Droves of migrants are leaving rural Nepal for higher incomes to cover household daily expenses. The Government of Nepal (GON) encourages migration as a means to reduce poverty, and remittance already amounts to 25.83% of GDP, and it is expected to grow (Nepal Bastra Bank 2014, Thieme and Wyss 2005, Yang 2011). However, it is still unclear whether the mass exodus from rural areas and the growing dependence on remittance, the portion of the migrant workers' earnings sent back …

The Extent Of Heat On Health And Sustainable Farming In Ghana - Bawku East, Kwasi Frimpong, Jacques Oosthuizen, Eddie J. Van Etten

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Little is known about the health effects of heat in outdoor work and appropriate work and rest schedules for farmers working in developing countries. As temperatures continue to increase in tropical regions, such as Northern Ghana, it is necessary to evaluate how farmers experience and respond to high heat exposures. In this study, WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) estimates and the ISO work / rest standards were applied to a cohort of farmers in the rural areas of Bawku East, Northern Ghana, to assess how farmers respond to high heat and how much they rest to protect their health, as …