Browsing by Subject "Upper Midwest"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Assessing Biodiversity in Summer Cover Crop Rotations for Beneficial Arthropod Conservation
    (2022-05) Candelaria-Morales, Naomy
    Intensive vegetable crop practices can have detrimental effects on soil health, draining soil of organic matter reserves and necessitating nitrogen (N) inputs. These amendments can support crop productivity but may have considerable environmental consequences including overfertilization, water eutrophication, and reduce fauna (Agostini et al., 2010). In addition, many vegetable crop rotations are characterized by high plant density but low beneficial arthropod and pollinator habitat diversity (Carreck and Williams, 2001). Habitat simplification may cause declines in beneficial arthropods, which can lead to insufficient pollination services and increased pest pressure (Hogg et al., 2011; Wilson et al., 2018). Out of numerous arthropod services, pollination, pest control, dung burial and wildlife nutrition have been estimated to value at least $57 billion USD (Forister et al., 2019). Because of sheer amount of agricultural land, comprising over 40% of all U.S. land, agricultural ecosystems present valuable opportunity in maintaining biodiversity (USDA, 2012). Constant forage availability from early spring to late summer is particularly imperative for the survival of social insects with long-lived colonies, such as bees (Carreck and Williams, 2001). The use of cover crops can expand the seasonal availability of floral resources in agroecosystems (Hooks et al. 1998; Landis et al. 2005). In a two-part study, this research investigated the effects of summer-planted cover crops on soil nutrient contributions and beneficial arthropod density, diversity, richness and evenness. Part one consisted of a one-year (2019) field trial study where nine treatments, each containing one to seven species of cover crops, were evaluated for flowering, aboveground biomass production and nitrogen (N) content, soil-N contribution after biomass incorporation, and beneficial arthropod visitation. A seven-species mix composed of oat (Avena sativa L.), field pea (Pisum sativum subsp. Arvense L.) and 5 clover species (Trifolium spp.) added the largest amount of biomass (8747 kg/ha). Likewise, this mix contributed the most organic N (265.6 kg N/ha) and maximum soil -N subsequently increased after biomass incorporation (10.9 mg -N/kg of soil). Part two consisted of a two-year (2020-2021) study evaluating the ability of two rotational systems of summer cover crop species, selected from 2019 trials, to provide key multifunctional ecosystem benefits to vegetable crop production. The first system was an early cover crop planting followed by a broccoli cash crop, and the second system consisted of an early planting of spring lettuce followed by a late summer cover crop planting. In all three years, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Bendth.) monoculture produced most abundant floral resources. Beneficial arthropods observed included pollinators (native, honey and bumblebees), predators (syrphid flies and minute pirate bugs), and parasitoids. Increased floral diversity was associated with abundance of flies in the family Syrphidae. Phacelia monoculture was most attractive for bees in the families Apidae and Halictidae, both of which may provide pollination services. These results highlight floral visitation patterns as an indicator for beneficial arthropod community support and conservation. Summer-planted cover crops are an underexplored rotation option for organic farming systems in the Upper Midwest and may support a wide range of ecosystem services including increases in available soil N and beneficial arthropod services.
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    Factors affecting the successful establishment of an overseeded winter rye cover crop in northern climates
    (2012-07) Wilson, Melissa Loraine
    Incorporating cover crops in the corn-soybean rotation is one way to improve soil quality over time and reduce nitrogen and erosion losses. In the Upper Midwest, however, cover crops can be difficult to establish after harvest of the main crop due to the short growing season. Overseeding prior to harvest may allow more time for growth. Three experiments were conducted to determine what factors are most likely to affect successful establishment of overseeded winter rye into standing corn and soybeans. The first experiment field tested aerial seeding at multiple locations in southeastern Minnesota to characterize the physical and chemical properties that affect fall biomass production. Precipitation within a week of seeding was found to be the most important factor in establishing a successful cover crop. The second experiment further elaborated on this by testing soil water potential and temperature on germination of rye seeds under laboratory conditions. Total germination was significantly decreased by decreasing water potential in the sandy loam, but not the clay or silt loam, suggesting that moisture content may be more important than water potential at the soil surface. Increasing temperature decreased total germination, most likely due to the increased incidence of mold at higher temperatures. The third experiment evaluated three overseeding techniques for standing soybeans: aerial seeding (AS), tractor-mounted air-flow spreader (TAF), and tractor-mounted fertilizer broadcast spreader (TBS). The AS treatment resulted in the lowest seeding density overall while the TBS treatment resulted in the highest density and was the most variable across plots. The differences in seeding density led to significant above-ground rye biomass differences in fall, although by spring, biomass was not different across seeding treatments. Soybean yields were not different across seeding techniques, suggesting that any of these practices are viable for on-farm use. Finally, the potential for overseeding cover crops, aerial seeding in particular, as a practice in the Upper Midwest was evaluated. Some of the current limitations include unpredictable weather, lack of aerial applicators, inconsistent stands due to pilot error and seed predation, and high costs.
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    Identifying the Factors that Constrain and Facilitate the Adoption of Agroforestry Practices by Minnesota and Wisconsin Agricultural Producers
    (2024-05) Benning, Maxwell
    Agroforestry practices are agricultural and natural resource management systems in which trees are incorporated with agricultural crops and/or livestock. Agroforestry practices, particularly windbreaks, silvopasture, alley cropping, riparian forest buffers, forest farming, and living snow fences, provide a variety of environmental, economic, and social benefits to agricultural communities and landscapes. Despite the services these systems offer, only 1.9% of farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin adopted at least one agroforestry practice by 2022. The purpose of this research was to identify the constraints to agroforestry adoption and opportunities to increase adoption by agricultural producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Following producer interviews and a comprehensive review of the agroforestry adoption literature, three rounds of a mail survey were sent to producers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The survey collected data regarding current adoption of agroforestry practices, information on acceptable incentives and limiting constraints, the likelihood of adopting each practice, and demographic information. Binary logistic regressions were performed to identify the constraints, opportunities, and demographic data that significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption for each practice. The results indicate that windbreak adoption is enhanced by financial assistance programs, aesthetic values, and an alignment with producers' goals. Silvopasture adoption is enhanced by a minimization of competition between trees and forage, an alignment with producers' goals, and the lack of a woodlot on the farm. Alley cropping adoption is enhanced by technical assistance, aesthetic values, and a compatibility with the producers’ management and equipment and is likely to be adopted by younger producers and those with smaller farms. Riparian forest buffer adoption is enhanced by financial assistance programs and colleagues adopting riparian forest buffers. Forest farming adoption is enhanced by technical assistance, a compatibility with the producers’ management and equipment, and the presence of a woodlot. Finally, living snow fence adoption is enhanced by an alignment with producers' goals, the availability to manage trees, profit opportunities from the living snow fence, and colleagues adopting living snow fences. Natural resource technical assistance providers and policymakers can use these results to remove barriers and improve incentives for agroforestry practices, promoting agroforestry adoption among Minnesota and Wisconsin agricultural producers.
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    Motivations, Barriers, and Constraints Affecting Underprivileged Youths' Participation in Nature-based Outdoor Recreation
    (2011) Schiff, Jessica K
    The types of motivations, barriers, and constraints affecting youth participation in nature-based outdoor recreation are researched in this study. The participants represent underprivileged youth affiliated with a drop-in after-school youth program sponsored by a local soup kitchen in an upper-Midwest city. Guided by the Constraints Negotiation Theory and following previous leisure and recreation research on perceived motivations, barrier, and constraints, this study utilizes qualitative techniques to collect data. Results reveal sets of common motivations and constraints affecting underprivileged youths’ participation in nature-based outdoor recreation. This information will benefit public and private local and regional organizations that provide and promote nature-based outdoor recreation opportunities for a diverse youth population by helping them to better understand their audience.
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    Opinions of Minnesota Choral Directors Regarding Classroom Management
    (2005-09) Sandness, Dorothy J
    The purpose of this study was to determine the views of public school choir directors regarding effective choral classroom management. Although it may be argued that a classroom management strategy may be central to a choir’s success, few research studies were found regarding the different methods choir directors might use. The subjects for this inquiry were eight choir directors from the upper Midwest (US). Interviews were conducted, inquiring about subject’s opinions regarding their pre-service training in classroom management, the classroom management strategies they employ, and the relationship between classroom management and ensemble success. Subjects were also asked to describe their grading policy (i.e., daily attendance, participation, and participation in concerts). Results were presented in narrative form and in tables. The results of this study highlighted the close relationship between effective teaching and classroom management. All the respondents agreed that a successful classroom management strategy is a critical element in helping choirs succeed, but that they did not receive adequate training in this area as undergraduate music education majors. When managing students’ behavior in the classroom, the majority of those interviewed indicated that speaking individually with disruptive students was preferable to a public confrontation. Maintaining a professional relationship with students and protecting the dignity of students were paramount. All of the directors interviewed included some assessment of student behavior in their grading policies, and indicated that this was an integral part of their classroom management systems. Most of the directors interviewed recommended that there should be more specific training in classroom management in the undergraduate curriculum, instead of new teachers having to learn classroom management skills “on the job”. Further discussion may lead to more undergraduate institutions requiring explicit instruction in this subject. It is also recommended that choir directors use this study to develop a classroom management strategy that is most appropriate for their choirs.
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    Trade Centers of the Upper Midwest: Changes from 1960 to 1989.
    (Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota, 1990) Anding, Thomas L.; Adams, John S.; Casey, William; de Montille, Sandra; Goldfein, Miriam
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    Trade Centers of the Upper Midwest: Three Case Studies Examining Changes from 1960 to 1989.
    (Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota, 1991) Lukermann, Barbara L.; Goldfein, Miriam; de Montille, Sandra