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Your search for Keyword agricultural ecomomic resulted in 24 match(es).

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Teacher Recruitment by Secondary agricultural Educators: Author: Cotton, Ward Arthur; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The lack of qualified applicants for agricultural education positions in secondary schools has been of great concern to those involved with the profession. Recruiting efforts aimed at increasing the number of qualified applicants for such positions have been numerous, but shortages continue, and are predicted to remain for the future. This thesis examined the influence of agricultural education teachers in the recruiting of future agricultural educators. Examination of the recruitment by current agricultural education teachers was undertaken through an electronic survey of seventy-four agricul...; Download File | View full details

An Examination of Pollution Awareness and Prevention in Montana Secondary agricultural Education Programs: Author: Meyer, Ben Anton; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the levels of pollutants found in Montana's secondary agricultural education programs as well as the status of pollution prevention education that was being taught. The study was guided by three questions; what were the levels of pollutants that exited in Montana secondary agricultural education programs, what was the level of pollution prevention education that was taught in Montana secondary agricultural education programs, and what were the existing barriers to implementing pollution prevention in Montana secondary agricultural education programs? ...; Download File | View full details

Impact of agricultural educators' servant leadership style on student participation in service-learning activities: Author: Anderson, Mary Anne; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of servant leadership characteristics present in agricultural educators' leadership styles to the use of service- learning activities in their curriculum. The study was guided by three questions: (a) which the servant leadership variables do agricultural educators exhibit?, (b) how many service-learning activities do those educators incorporate into their teaching curriculum?, and (c) does a statistically significant relationship exists between servant leadership variables exhibited by agricultural educators and the number of service...; Download File | View full details

Spatial Cognition among Montana Eleventh and Twelfth Grade agricultural Education Students: Author: Price, Danielle Nicole; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine high school student's spatial cognition abilities to identify features and attributes in agriculture production images, projected in two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D). The effects of selected demographics on spatial cognition were examined. The population consisted of 101 high school students from selected secondary agricultural education programs during the Fall Semester of 2003. Criteria for participation were that the class size be 10-15 students enrolled in 11th or 12th grade. The agricultural classes were randomly assigned as either par...; Download File | View full details

Perceptions of the Montana Land Grant System Held by Legislators and Faculty: Author: Duffey, Lisa Marie; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of the agricultural components of the Montana land grant system: College of Agriculture (COA)/agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Extension Service (ES), held by Montana legislators and faculty working in the system. Surveys were mailed to 150 legislators (85 returned) and 198 faculty members (85 returned). Responses were analyzed using SPSS 12.0. Results found that legislators and faculty preferred an administrative structure with one leader for all three components of the agriculture land grant system. Overall, both populations agreed...; Download File | View full details

An Examination of agricultural Education Pre-Service Student Teachers' Explanatory Style, Beliefs and Expectations about Teaching, and Strengths Finder Profiles: Author: Cooper, Katie Logan; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine levels of optimism and pessimism along with the beliefs and expectations of teaching in agricultural education pre-service teachers, and to compare these findings to that of the Gallup Organization's Strengths Finder profiles. The states included in this study were Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The data for this study was collected using web based survey instruments. The population consisted of 61 pre-service agricultural education students. These students were enrolled in an agricultural education teaching methods class during ...; Download File | View full details

An Examination of International Studies in Undergraduate agricultural Curricula at 1862 Land Grant Institutions: Author: Brooks, Shannon Elizabeth; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the status of international agricultural education at 1862 land grant institutions, by answering the question, what are our 1862 land grant institutions doing to integrate international studies into their undergraduate agricultural curricula? There were two investigations conducted, (1) a content analysis and (2) a survey. A website based content analysis was conducted. A qualitative analysis of the contents of 57 land grant institution's college of agriculture' websites identified current trends in agriculture with regard to international themes. The...; Download File | View full details

Mosquito Populations in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming: A Comparison of Natural, agricultural and Effluent Coal Bed Natural Gas Aquatic Habitats: Author: Doherty, Melissa Kuckler; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Coal bed natural gas development in northeastern Wyoming has increased surface water in ranching and agricultural areas over undeveloped land. This increase of water increases larval habitat for mosquitoes, potentially increasing adult populations of West Nile virus vector mosquitoes. I compared adult and larval mosquito populations in four different habitat types in the Powder River basin including agricultural, natural, CBNG and upland sagebrush steppe. Adult mosquitoes were sampled weekly (2004) or bi-weekly (2005) using CDC miniature black-light traps baited with dry ice. A fixed-effect mi...; Download File | View full details

Marketing Minor Crops: The Determinants of Contracting Decisions: Author: Jimmerson, Jason William; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: The use of contracts in marketing agricultural production has expanded substantially over the past 30 years. In 2001, around 36 percent of the value of United States agricultural production was marketed under contractual arrangements, compared with 28 percent in 1991 and only 12 percent in 1969. The determinants of contract use are not well understood, especially for row crops. The purpose of this thesis is to examine why contract use for marketing specialty crop production varies among producers and specialty crops. This thesis uses a new data set obtained from a survey of Montana Grain Growe...; Download File | View full details

Genetics and Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci of Feed Quality-Related Traits in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): Author: Abdel-Haleem, Hussein Ahmed; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Plant Sciences; Abstract: The agricultural sector continues to outpace other industries in Montana. Cattle and calf production are 50% of Montana's agricultural cash receipts. Based on its moderate protein content and lower price, barley is an alternative to corn in finishing cattle diets. Most of Montana barley is produced for animal feed. The objective of this project is to encourage calf producers to retain more feeder calves in Montana by developing improved value feed barley for both the barley grower and cattle producers. Barley has been criticized for cattle feed because of its rapid digestion in the rumen, whic...; Download File | View full details

In the shadow of the dam(med): Author: Cuthbertson, Joshua David; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Architecture; Abstract: Settlers developed the American West by controlling and subduing the processes of nature. This thesis explores architecture that reveals those processes, not subdues them. A prime example of this is the area along the North Platte River in southeastern Wyoming. The area's quick settlement has resulted in poor land development that threatens the area's current, agriculture-dependant, livelihood. Reservoirs developed to support the agricultural industry have reached the end of their useful lives, and now threaten the water supply. Once such reservoir, located in Guernsey, Wyoming, is silting a...; Download File | View full details

Changing Soil Degradation Trends in Senegal with Carbon Sequestration Payments: Author: Gray, Kara Michelle; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: In Sudo-Sahelian Africa, erosion and nutrient mining are prominent causes of soil degradation. In Senegal, harvesting grains and crop residue from the land impact heavily on soil carbon content, while the insufficient replacement of soil nutrients with fertilizers contributes to negative nutrient balances. Given the economic perspective of the rational farmer and the dynamic nature of crop and soil management issues, this thesis used a regional case study in the Groundnut Basin of Senegal to do the following: describe and assess economic incentives specific the to the case study region; model ...; Download File | View full details

Microbial and Geochemical Processes Controlling the Oxidation and Reduction of Arsenic in Soils: Author: Masur, Deanne Christine; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Land Rehabilitation; Abstract: Arsenic (As) is a common contaminant in soil-water systems, where it exists predominately as arsenate (AsV) or arsenite (AsIII), the latter of which is considered to be the more mobile and toxic form. The amount of arsenite or arsenate in natural water systems is influenced by geochemical conditions and the presence of As transforming microorganisms. Consequently, the goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of: (i) arsenic concentration on microbial populations responsible for As oxidation-reduction in a previously uncontaminated soil, and (ii) phosphate:arsenic ratio on the oxidation...; Download File | View full details

Effects of Shelterwood Management on Flower-Visiting Insects and their Floral Resources: Author: Fultz, Jessica Erin; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Habitat alteration can affect pollinating-insect community structure, decreasing the efficiency of pollinators on which many agricultural and natural ecosystems rely. Within the Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest (TCEF), located in the Little Belt Mountains of Central Montana, two different types of silvicultural techniques, even and group shelterwood, were applied to alter the natural habitats within the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests. Following logging, surveys of the flower-visiting insects and their floral resources were conducted within four treatments, even and group shelterwo...; Download File | View full details

Assessing Constructed Wetlands for Beneficial Use of Saline-Sodic Water: Author: Kirkpatrick, Amber Denise; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: Changes in agricultural practices, and irrigation strategies combined with natural processes, have led to increased salinization of soil and water resources worldwide. Coal bed methane (CBM) development in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming results in the co-production of large volumes of sodic and moderately saline discharge water, and represents a potential source of salinization of soil and water resources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of constructed wetlands as a tool for CBM product water management. This was accomplished by assessing seasonal water...; Download File | View full details

Characterization of soil/vegetation on flood irrigated hayfields in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: a predictive evaluation tool for agricultural wetlands: Author: Summerford, Sarah Elizabeth; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: The Elk Ranch hayfield in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has been historically flood-irrigated since the early 20th Century. The park service is now considering closing irrigation to restore native plant communities and enhance Spread Creek fisheries and will need information on the extent of irrigation-created wetlands and how irrigation cessation would change the vegetative component of the ranch. The main objective of this study was to assess the relation between soil and vegetation characteristics of wetland community types at the ranch and to determine if any of the relationships could ...; Download File | View full details

Rural Residential Development in the Greater Yellowstone: Rates, Drivers, and Alternative Future Scenarios: Author: Hernandez, Patricia Cristina; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Biological Sciences; Abstract: Rates of immigration and rural land use change in the American West have far exceeded the national average, and have been exceptionally rapid in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Because the Greater Yellowstone is ecologically unique, is still largely undeveloped, and is characterized by unrestrictive land use policies, it is a particularly relevant place to study past and potential future growth in rural residential development. The scientific approach used to investigate trends in rural residential development involved the both the testing of specific hypotheses regarding historical develop...; Download File | View full details

Predicting feeding site selection of mule deer on foothill and mountain rangelands: Author: Bilbao, Joshua Vicente; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Determining areas on the landscape selected by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) for foraging and the characteristics of selected feeding sites is a crucial step in managing mule deer and its habitat. Mule deer populations in much of western North America have been declining since the early 1990's, making management of mule deer increasingly difficult. Limited research has examined the characteristics of mule deer habitat that influence feeding site selection in foothill and mountain rangeland habitats during the winter and spring. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate models tha...; Download File | View full details

Gradients of Predation Risk Affect Distribution and Migration of a Large Herbivore: Author: Grigg, Jamin Lyle; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: Few studies have placed wildlife behavioral responses to human disturbance and hunting pressure within the larger ecological context of predator-prey theory. Given that large herbivores respond behaviorally to the presence of wolves and other predators, we should expect similar adaptive behavioral responses when large herbivores are presented with risk in the form of human disturbance and hunting pressure. One index of human access, disturbance, and thus potential predation risk to large herbivores from hunters are road and trail networks bisecting large herbivore ranges. I evaluated the effec...; Download File | View full details

Impact of Harvest Operations on Parasitism of the Wheat Stem Sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae): Author: Meers, Scott Byron; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, has been a long term pest management challenge for wheat producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Montana. Many studies have laid the groundwork for biological control of this pest. Two species of parasitoids, Bracon cephi and B. lissogaster, have been shown to effectively attack C. cinctus in wheat Triticum aestivum L. Their effectiveness as part of an integrated pest management plan, however, has been highly variable. A survey was conducted to assess the distribution of the two Bracon parasitoids. A two pronged approach was used to better unders...; Download File | View full details

Selecting plant species to optimize wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands: Author: Taylor, Carrie Renee; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Land Rehabilitation; Abstract: Constructed wetlands are used around the world for treating domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater, stormwater runoff, and acid mine drainage. Plants may affect efficacy of wastewater treatment through their influence on microbial activity by creating attachment sites and releasing carbon exudates and oxygen. My research investigated seasonal plant effects on wastewater treatment by monitoring water chemistry in model subsurface wetlands planted with monocultures of 19 plant species and unplanted controls. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, an indicator of water quality, declined...; Download File | View full details

Weed Seedbank Dynamics and Composition of Northern Great Plains Cropping Sytems: Author: Harbuck, Kristin Suzanne Bates; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: With a growing concern about sustainability of agricultural production systems, interest in integrated weed management systems has increased. Increasing the understanding of weed seedbank dynamics will improve efficiency of management. The objectives of this study were to 1) quantify weed seedbank dynamics in response to seed density and burial depth, 2) determine weed seedbank decay at varying seed densities and burial depths, 3) quantify weed seed predation in wheat and tilled fallow fields, and 4) characterize and compare weed seedbanks in organic and conventional no-tillage production fiel...; Download File | View full details

Diversity, Spatial Patterns, and Competition in Conventional No-Tillage and Organically Managed Spring Wheat Systems in Montana: Author: Pollnac, Fredric Winslow; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: The long term sustainability of agricultural systems has become a major concern. In light of this, interest in integrated weed management systems has increased. A better understanding of ecological processes occurring within the weed community might yield insights into how to control weeds while reducing chemical inputs. The objectives of this study were to 1) compare weed species richness and diversity between conventional no-till and organic spring wheat systems, 2) compare spatial patterns of the weed community between these two systems, and 3) examine the joint effects of weed species rich...; Download File | View full details

Satellite monitoring of cropland-related carbon sequestration practices in North Central Montana: Author: Watts, Jennifer Dawn; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Land Rehabilitation; Abstract: This study used an object-oriented approach in conjunction with the Random Forest algorithm to classify agricultural practices set forth in carbon contract agreements associated with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), including tillage (till or no-till (NT)), conservation reserve (CR), and crop intensity. The object-oriented approach allowed for per-field classifications and the incorporation of contextual elements in addition to spectral features. Random Forest is an advanced classification method that avoids data over-fitting and incorporates an internal classification accuracy assessment. ...; Download File | View full details

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