USING USDA FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ARRIVALS TO DETERMINE THE DISTRIBUTION OF A STATE'S PRODUCTION

This paper examines the problem of transforming information on fresh fruit and vegetable Arrivals to U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas into a distribution of products to larger geographical regions. Three methods for the regional distribution of Florida-grown produce are compared. A new method, which takes into account regional population sizes in the allocation of an area's produce to the region, is shown to produce allocations similar to those obtained through trucker surveys. Finally, the new approach is applied to produce from other areas, and allocations to regions compared to that obtained using the Arrivals data only.Crop Production/Industries,

Sea turtle nesting in the Ten Thousand Islands of Florida

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nest in numerous substrate and beach types within the Ten Thousand Islands (TTl) of southwest Florida. Nesting beach selection was analyzed on 12 islands within this archipelago. Numerous physical characteristics were recorded to identify the relatedness of these variables and determine their importance for nesting beach selection in C. caretta. These variables were chosen after evaluating the islands, conducting literature searches and soliciting personal communications. Along transects, data were collected, on the following: height of canopy, beach width, overall slope (beach slope and slope of offshore approach) and sand samples analyzed for pH, percentage of water, percentage of organic content, percentage of carbonate and particle size (8 size classes). Data on ordinal aspect of beaches and beach length were also recorded and included in the analysis. All of the variables were analyzed by tree regression, incorporating the nesting data into the analysis. In the TTl, loggerheads appear to prefer wider beaches (p< 0.001; R2 = 0.56) that inherently have less slope, and secondarily, wider beaches that have low amounts of carbonate (p< O.00 1). In addition, C. caretta favors nest sites within or in close proximity to the supra-littoral vegetation zone of beaches in the TTl (p< 0.001). (86 page document

USING TREE REGRESSION TO IDENTIFY NUTRITIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING SUGARCANE PRODUCTION

A prediction function is developed for sugarcane yield using preplant soil nutrition levels, cultivar, and soil type. A tree regression approach is used because the resulting function encompasses the complexity of response between yield, multiple nutrients and other factors, while handling large amounts of data and providing information useful in the development of fertilizer and other production recommendations. Data collected from 148 control plots of experiments performed on commercial fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Florida are used to illustrate the method

A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING NATURAL RESOURCE SAMPLING

A basic undergraduate course in statistics is often not adequate for students in renewable natural resource programs such as wildlife, forestry, fisheries, and related subjects. A strong foundation in the basics of sampling in time and space of forest, vegetation, wildlife and fish populations is needed. A brief account of our experience in teaching such a course over the last three years along with progress on developing course-related material and activities is reported. This includes the development of: 1) computer-based simulations; 2) in-class participation simulations to illustrate the basic concepts of sampling in space and time; 3) exercises to introduce students to basic field sampling methods (quadrat, line and point sample units, mark/recapture, radio telemetry, etc.); and 4) an associated hypermedia text. From the beginning, emphasis is placed on cost-effectiveness and on the importance of sampling in the decision-making process. Students are required to develop their own sampling project, implement the project, present the results in an open forum, and prepare an associated report in the format of a scientific paper

Differences in the carcinogenic evaluation of glyphosate between the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Programme identifies chemicals, drugs, mixtures, occupational exposures, lifestyles and personal habits, and physical and biological agents that cause cancer in humans and has evaluated about 1000 agents since 1971. Monographs are written by ad hoc Working Groups (WGs) of international scientific experts over a period of about 12 months ending in an eight-day meeting. The WG evaluates all of the publicly available scientific information on each substance and, through a transparent and rigorous process,1 decides on the degree to which the scientific evidence supports that substance's potential to cause or not cause cancer in humans. For Monograph 112,2 17 expert scientists evaluated the carcinogenic hazard for four insecticides and the herbicide glyphosate.3 The WG concluded that the data for glyphosate meet the criteria for classification as a probable human carcinogen. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the primary agency of the European Union for risk assessments regarding food safety. In October 2015, EFSA reported4 on their evaluation of the Renewal Assessment Report5 (RAR) for glyphosate that was prepared by the Rapporteur Member State, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). EFSA concluded that ?glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and the evidence does not support classification with regard to its carcinogenic potential?. Addendum 1 (the BfR Addendum) of the RAR5 discusses the scientific rationale for differing from the IARC WG conclusion. Serious flaws in the scientific evaluation in the RAR incorrectly characterise the potential for a carcinogenic hazard from exposure to glyphosate. Since the RAR is the basis for the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) conclusion,4 it is critical that these shortcomings are corrected

USING USDA FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ARRIVALS TO DETERMINE THE DISTRIBUTION OF A STATE'S PRODUCTION

This paper examines the problem of transforming information on fresh fruit and vegetable Arrivals to U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas into a distribution of products to larger geographical regions. Three methods for the regional distribution of Florida-grown produce are compared. A new method, which takes into account regional population sizes in the allocation of an area's produce to the region, is shown to produce allocations similar to those obtained through trucker surveys. Finally, the new approach is applied to produce from other areas, and allocations to regions compared to that obtained using the Arrivals data only

IRRIGATION WATER SUPPLY AS A BIOECONOMIC PROCESS

Irrigation water is produced within the irrigation subprocess of a farm. Water supply is identified for effective field water, which sets the upper bound on water available for plant use. Georgescu-Roegen process analysis concepts are merged with the neoclassical theory of cost as the underlying framework. The approach is illustrated for a permanent overhead system used in a Florida citrus grove. The marginal cost for the 2.54 centimeters application depth dominates all other depths for the higher water levels. Process analysis is an important analytical tool for increasing understanding of the features of irrigation water supply

IRRIGATION WATER SUPPLY AS A BIOECONOMIC PROCESS

Irrigation water is produced within the irrigation subprocess of a farm. Water supply is identified for effective field water, which sets the upper bound on water available for plant use. Georgescu-Roegen process analysis concepts are merged with the neoclassical theory of cost as the underlying framework. The approach is illustrated for a permanent overhead system used in a Florida citrus grove. The marginal cost for the 2.54 centimeters application depth dominates all other depths for the higher water levels. Process analysis is an important analytical tool for increasing understanding of the features of irrigation water supply.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,