The Significance of Urban Gardening on the Household Economy: A Case of Minority Urban Gardeners

Urban gardening (UG) is an emerging approach to increase the consumption of fresh produce in the homestead. The objective of this exploratory case study was to enhance the technical and economic efficiency of small, socially disadvantaged, and minority (SSDM) urban gardeners in Maryland. Twenty-two SSDM producers engaged in UG participated in the study. The findings showed that farmers were operating rationally, and cultivating diversified specialty, medicinal, and ethnic crops, with an average of twenty specialty/ethnic crops on 1.2 acres. The farmers reported six primary reasons for sustaining urban gardening: family consumption (79%), outdoor and physical activity (79%), supplemental household income (57%), leisure (50%), experiential learning for family members (14%), and tax benefits (7%). Findings revealed that 96% of the farmers strengthened knowledge in reducing production costs, increasing farm income (86%), enhancing entrepreneurial skills (82%), improving farm management practices (73%), mitigating risk (59%), and changing UG behaviors and actions (100%)

Supplement Type Influenced the Performance and Resiliency Against Gastrointestinal Parasites of Nursing Lambs Raised in Woodlands

Nutrition supplementation can be one of the integrated approaches to reduce gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infestation. The study objective was to evaluate the impact of supplement type on the performance and resiliency against GIP of nursing lambs raised in woodlands. Katahdin-St. Croix cross lambs (23) with their mothers (18) were divided into two groups; they were rotationally stocked in separate sets of woodland plots and provided with ad libitum hay. Group-1 animals were supplemented with corn, and Group-2 with soybean (0.5% of live weight). Live weight, FAMACHA score, and body condition score were measured on Day 1, fortnightly, and at the end of the study. Fecal samples were analyzed for the type and quantity of GIP on Days 1, 45, and 80. Lambs supplemented with soybeans performed better than corn-supplemented lambs (

Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of the Fall Armyworm and The Striga Weed at Three Stages of the Maize (Corn) Value Chains in Kenya: A Review

Global food security faces increasing threats from climate change, leading to diseases, pests, drought, water salinity, and rising temperatures. The study broadly addresses global food security challenges, focusing on two pests. The purpose of the study was to assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the fall armyworm and the Striga weed at three stages of maize (corn) value chains in Kenya. The methodology used encompassed a desk review of relevant research and current literature. The results indicated that the Fall Armyworm (FAW) and the Striga weed significantly impact maize (corn) production. The FAW and the Striga weed cause losses in yield, reduce the ability of agricultural lands to respond to shocks, and financially increase the cost of production resulting from the quest to deal with the pests mentioned above

Leveraging International Experiential Learning Opportunities in Food And Agricultural Science Programs

Global experiential learning and engagement facilitate learning opportunities to better understand the processes that shape global agricultural and food culture systems. This study had two objectives; the first was to integrate experiential learning, through partnerships with selected universities and institutions abroad, into students’ education. The second was to enhance faculty and students’ global learning, discovery, and engagement experiences. Seven students from Tuskegee University, and two students from Delaware State University, were provided an opportunity to visit three universities overseas, where they engaged in classroom discussions and other experiences. They participated in activities at other institutions, such as the Food Research Institute, Food and Drug Administration, and Standards Authority. They also participated in field activities, including visits to farms, food processing facilities, and cultural sites. These experiences provided a global context and deepened students’ knowledge of food-related institutions, agricultural and farm processes, as well as relationships to chosen majors

Relationships Regarding Incentives, Recordkeeping Propensity, and Selected Factors of Small Producers in Alabama Back Belt and Surrounding Counties

The study assessed the relationships regarding incentives, recordkeeping propensity, and selected factors of small producers. The data were collected from a selected group of small producers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that a majority were part-time producers, males, Blacks, and older. They had below a four-year college education and an annual household income of less than $40,000. The correlation analyses revealed that farming status and recordkeeping propensity had statistically significant relationships with the incentives. Despite this, the relationships were negative for farming status and positive for recordkeeping propensity. The findings suggest that some demographic characteristics may have “important” relationships with incentives, though only farming status had a significant relationship. However, this could not be effectively ascertained as several producers did not respond to the questions. Moreover, incentives may have relationships with recordkeeping propensity, which has been established to an extent in this study

Two Inter-Row Spacing and Staggered Planting on Collard (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.) Yield in a Wiregrass Tunnel House

There is interest among small vegetable producers to grow collards in Tunnel Houses during the winter months. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine if collard yields could be increased by reducing row spacing and increasing plant density. This study had four treatments replicated three times, and “Georgia” and “Hi-Crop Hybrid” collards were transplanted on single, and staggered rows spaced 18” and 24” apart in a split-split-plot design. At 45 days after transplanting 50% of the leaves from all plants in each treatment were harvested, counted, and weighed. The results showed staggered 18 and 24” rows increased yields by 43 and 51%, respectively, over single planted rows for both varieties. Staggered rows incurred higher planting costs, but increased net returns to management. The increase in yield was variety-dependent, thus suggesting that the genetic potential of the varieties needs to be considered when using plant density to increase yields

Factors Associated with Attracting Business and Industry to Selected Black Belt Counties of Alabama

There is limited recent research on the economic development strategies that local officials, state, and federal governments are employing in rural Alabama. To better understand these strategies, the data were collected from local community officials in two rural Alabama counties. The objectives are to examine what efforts are being used, and what resources are available for economic development efforts. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analyses to test the hypothesis that past community action and community solidarity variables can contribute to a higher probability of recruiting business and industry than will be predicted by the ecological characteristics of the communities alone. The findings indicate past community action has a substantial positive effect and is, in fact, the best predictor of efforts to recruit business and industry among several variables selected from the previous literature