University study suggests conservation program changes
Sept. 15, 2006Contact Information:Dr. Jennie Popp, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
479-575-2256 / jhpopp@uark.edu
Howell Medders, Agricultural Communication Services
479-575-5647 / hmedders@uark.edu
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Ideas to improve government programs that help farmers implement practices that reduce runoff of nutrients from pastures into streams are provided in an article published in Discovery, the undergraduate student journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
The article by 2006 graduate Tory Hodges of Alpena and faculty mentor Jennie Popp, associate professor of agricultural economics, is one of 11 in the annual undergraduate journal published in September.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Security Program (CSP) provide funds to share costs of farm practices that reduce or prevent runoff from farm land into streams. But very few Arkansas farmers apply for, or are approved for, funding, Hodges says.
Hodges’ research included study of the Illinois River watershed environment, EQIP and CSP awards in the watershed, and factors that influence adoption of recommended practices.
Other topics in the 2006 edition of Discovery include an energy-efficient rice drying method, managing plant nutrients for optimum crop production and to prevent runoff, using grain by-products for livestock feed, propagating blackberry plant cuttings, preventing pathogen growth on food products, and weed control in cotton.
Bumpers College Dean Greg Weidemann said, “We are proud to present these articles as examples of the accomplishments of our students.” He also praised the contributions of horticulture professor John R. Clark, who this year completed his tenure as faculty editor of the journal since it was started in 2000.
Titles and authors in Volume 7 of Discovery are as follows.
* Evaluation of water-retention ability of eastern Arkansas prairie and agricultural soil. Maria L. Barrenechea and Kristofor R. Brye
* Combined inhibitory effect of nisin with EDTA against Listeria monocytogenes in
* soy-protein edible coating on turkey frankfurters stored at 4°C and 10°C. Emily Bennett, T. Sivarooban, N. S. Hettiarachchy, and M. G. Johnson
* Infiltration and short-term movement of nitrogen in a silt-loam soil typical of rice cultivation in Arkansas. Lindsay M. Copenhaver, Mary C. Savin, David M. Miller, Peter J. Tomlinson, Kristofor R. Brye, and Richard J. Norman
* Effects of grain by-products as supplements for stocker cattle grazing bermudagrass. Tyler E. Davis, Elizabeth B. Kegley, Kenneth P. Coffey, Wayne K. Coblentz, Robin K. Ogden, and J. A. “Pete” Hornsby
* Adventitious shoot propagation and cultural inputs in nursery production of a primocane-fruiting blackberry selection. Kimberley Dennis, John R. Clark, and James A. Robbins
* Initial evaluation of novel preparations of Bordetella avium by determination of antibody response titers. Joel L. Gallagher, Stacy E. Higgins, Luc Berghman, Billy M. Hargis
* Effects of tank mixes of MON 3539 and selected compounds in RoundupReady Flex® cotton – 2005. Jarrod T. Hardke, Gus M. Lorenz, Kyle Colwell and Craig Shelton
* Water quality issues in the Illinois River watershed: A proposal for new voluntary incentives. Tory B. Hodges and Jennie S. Popp
* Estimating surface runoff in the Illinois River Basin for the management of nonpoint-source phosphorus loads. Adam T. McClymont, Mary C. Savin and Brian E. Haggard
* A tool for estimating best management practice effectiveness in Arkansas. Katherine R. Merriman, Margaret Gitau and Indrajeet Chaubey
* Drying of post-harvest rough rice with silica gel: A preliminary investigation. Stephen J. O’Brien and T. J. Siebenmorgen
Copies of Discovery are available at no charge in Bumpers College department offices and from Agricultural Communication Services, AGRI 113, U of A, Fayetteville, AR, 72701. A PDF file is available online at www.uark.edu/depts/agripub/Publications/Discovery/index.html.