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Culturally Liberative Mentorship: Developing agents for change in STEM doctoral education
Get PDFThis research explored faculty perceptions and experiences regarding mentoring racially minoritized doctoral students in STEM. Cultivation of Culturally liberative mindset is recommended to guide faculty development in mentoring
Nitrogen Sensing Across Different Corn Growth Stages Using Soil Plant Analysis Development Meter
Get PDFThe Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) meter is a sensor widely utilized as an indirect method to monitor nitrogen (N) status in various crops. However, the sensor’s accuracy can be affected by environmental and crop-specific factors. This study aimed to investigate the utility of employing the SPAD to monitor N in corn leaves at different growth stages, using the Nitrogen Sufficiency Index (NSI). For this reason, a trial was conducted in Topeka, KS (US), during the 2023 growing season featuring twelve treatments with varied N levels, rates, and fertilization timings. The study analyzed the relationship between 1) SPAD meter readings and leaf N concentration (Nc), and 2) Nc, NSI, and corn grain yield at V6, V10, V14, and R1 crop growth stages. The Nc was positively correlated with grain yield at V14, particularly at R1 when Nc accounted for most yield variations. The results suggest that the NSI approach, implemented via the SPAD meter from the V10 growth stage onward, serves as an effective predictor for estimating the Nc
Weather Information for Tribune, KS 2023
Get PDFSummary of 2023 weather for research conducted at the research locations included in the 2024 Western Kansas Agricultural Research report
Evaluation of Combined Irrigation Capacity for SDI Corn Production
Get PDFSubsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is recognized as an efficient irrigation method that minimizes or eliminates water losses typical of sprinkler irrigation systems. Its adoption has increased in the Ogallala aquifer region. It has been reported that SDI allows reductions in irrigation by up to 25% without significant corn grain yield reduction. This corn intensification study was conducted under SDI for the 2023 growing season at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby, KS. One corn hybrid (DeKalb DKC62-69RIB) was grown with fertilization and weed control techniques at a plant density of 28,000 plants/a using three irrigation levels (100%, 85%, and 75% of calculated well-watered ET minus rain). Average yields were 201, 200, and 198.2 bu/a for the 100%, 85%, and 75% ET minus Rain irrigation levels, respectively, indicating that irrigation does not have to increase with this crop planting arrangement when using SDI. The corn hybrid yielded well, and plant density attained good yields. Crop production under limited irrigation has been identified as a critical activity necessary to meet projected food needs in 2050. Additionally, the proposed strategies are well aligned with Ogallala aquifer conservation goals and the needs of the region’s farmers
Assessing Farmers’ Perceptions of Best Management Practices: An Exploration of the Viewpoints of Cotton and Peanut Farmers in Georgia using Q Methodology
Get PDFWhile Georgia is one of the top producers of cotton and peanuts in the Unites States, much attention has been centered on ensuring sustainability in the production of these crops. The need to understand what drives farmers’ decision to utilize voluntary best management practices is critical for the improvement of strategies focused on increasing farmers’ adoption of these practices. Empirical evidence that identifies influential factors in farmers’ decision to adopt best management practices have yet to produce consistent predictors of adoption behavior. This has led to increased calls for unique approaches examining how farmers’ views and motivations impact their adoption decisions regarding these practices. This study builds on previous research using Q methodology to provide an in-depth investigation of the differences in farmers’ views on best management practices for cotton and peanut production in southwest Georgia. A purposive sample of 21 participants completed the Q sorting exercise and semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data revealed three primary viewpoints that were identified and labeled as the: (1) land preservers, (2) ambitious self-starters, and (3) principled go-getters. These perspectives show the differences in motivations for adoption behavior and denote the range of influential factors on farm management decisions. The findings of this study reveal key viewpoints held by Georgia cotton and peanut farmers toward best management practices, which can inform the development of strategically tailored educational resources and opportunities. These targeted educational approaches must account for the specific needs and preferences of farmers found in this study to potentially increase adoption
Allan Stoekl. The Three Sustainabilities: Energy, Economy, Time. U of Minnesota P, 2021.
Get PDFReview of Allan Stoekl. The Three Sustainabilities: Energy, Economy, Time. U of Minnesota, 2021. 297 pp
Gender, Access to Agricultural Extension, and Seed Sourcing among Small-scale Farmers in Uganda
Get PDFAgricultural extension services have been vital for the development of the agricultural sector across the globe, providing information and support for farmers to improve their productivity and economic livelihoods. However, studies have shown that access to extension services may not be equitable, mediated by factors such as gender, remoteness, and type of production system. In Uganda, resource constraints and gender shape which small-scale farmers access extension services. This study uses data from two waves of the Ugandan National Panel Survey (collected with support from the World Bank through the Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture) to investigate associations between access to agricultural extension services, gender, and participation in the formal seed sector among Ugandan small-scale farmers. Seed choices warrant consideration, given that they are an important input for crop-based production systems and have anchored many development efforts seeking to enhance the productivity of small-scale farmers. Findings suggest that small-scale farmers are more likely to purchase seeds through formal market channels and to use improved crop varieties after receiving agricultural extension services. We also find that female-headed households are significantly less likely to access extension or participate in the formal seed sector, limiting their access to seeds of improved varieties, providing further evidence that women farmers often confront more resource and social constraints than men. These findings emphasize the need for continued attention to how agricultural extension services can exacerbate existing social inequities and highlight the importance of identifying effective policy approaches to mitigate gender gaps in accessing agricultural resources
Mentoring: The Factors that Contribute to Persistence to Graduation for African American Male K-12 Educators in Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) in Missouri
Get PDFThis study investigated how mentoring enabled African American male K-12 educators to persist and obtain master’s degrees in predominately White institutions (PWIs) in Missouri
An Enthusiastic but Uncertain Welcome: Coverage of Risks, Benefits, and Social Contexts of CRISPR Technology in U.S. Agricultural News 2012-2022
Get PDFTo foster the responsible development and governance of CRISPR, it is important to understand how agricultural communities perceive and discuss this technology. This study conducted a content analysis of 529 articles from 53 diverse agricultural news publications across sectors and U.S. regions between 2012 and 2022. We analyzed how CRISPR technology is depicted in terms of risk, benefit, social/policy context, quoted experts, and the mentioning of other biotechnologies. Our findings show that from the time that CRISPR was developed for agriculture over a decade ago, agricultural news has consistently reflected a pro-innovation stance, frequently describing its benefits as well as advantages over longer-standing biotechnologies. Industry representatives were quoted most frequently, followed by university scientists and political representatives, while producers and non-governmental groups were quoted least frequently. Technology-related risks (off-target effects, financial risks) were notably lacking, but CRISPR’s social context was covered more extensively, including uncertainties in regulation and consumer acceptance. We discussed the implications for agricultural news professionals, communicators, and future researchers, emphasizing the importance of fostering a more balanced discourse and ensuring informed decision-making within the agricultural sector
Writing Manuscript Bookends : Strategies to Effectively Frame Science
Get PDFThe introduction and discussion sections play pivotal roles in peer-reviewed manuscripts, yet many authors struggle with these sections. This commentary describes the significance of the introduction and discussion sections for successful publishing, identifies essential components of these sections, and provides recommendations for writing quality introductions and discussions. The introduction defines the problem to be addressed, identifies what is known and unknown about the problem, and states the study purpose. It begins broadly by introducing the area of interest, narrows to identify the specific focus and gap in knowledge, and finally ends with the aim of the present study, seamlessly leading to the methods and results sections. Discussion sections restate the study purpose, interpret the most compelling findings, situate them within the context of existing literature and frameworks, describe study limitations, and provide recommendations for future research and practice. The discussion ends with a brief conclusion paragraph explaining the study’s relevance and implications to the field. The introduction and discussion sections are the “bookends” of the scientific manuscript. Successful bookends increase the chances of framing science, getting manuscripts published, and contributing to scientific literature