Optimal irrigation schedules and estimation of corn yield under varying well capacities and soil moisture levels in Western Kansas

Replaced with revised version of paper 04/05/06.Crop Production/Industries,

Broadband Impact on Education and Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic

A library hotspot lending program was popular with low and middle income Tennessee residents. The primary uses of broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic were for school work, connecting with family, conducting research and entertainment purposes. Residents used the program to access broadband when faced with a lack of reliable local broadband service or high-cost subscription plans. The Community Capitals Framework can be used as a strategy to address digital divide and improve broadband access for underserved communities that wish to replicate or expand similar programs. COVID-19 pandemic notably had a negative impact on work productivity and children’s academic performance

Skill Up Tennessee: Job training that works

Employment and training services offered through Extension are part of and continue a long tradition of policy-focused employment and job training. This paper chronicles the successes of UT Extension’s work as a third-party partner in the delivery of workforce development programming geared toward individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The paper begins with an overview of the federal program and a discussion of how Tennessee forged a state-level partnership for the delivery of workforce services. Data showing program success including number of participants served, supportive services offered, and economic impact are highlighted. Finally, lessons learned are outlined

ECONOMIC IMPACT EVALUATION OF GLOBAL MARKETING SUPPORT SERVICES - AN EXPORTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ON THE ECONOMY OF ARKANSAS

This study determines the impact of Global Marketing Support Services (GMSS) - an exports assistance program in assisting 13 small and medium sized businesses to export. The total impact of exports (direct, indirect and induced effects) on added value, employment, labor income and tax impacts in Arkansas are estimated using Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN).International Relations/Trade,

Irrigation scheduling, crop choices and impact of an irrigation technology upgrade on the Kansas High Plains Aquifer

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Agricultural EconomicsJeffrey M. PetersonThe High Plains aquifer is a primary source of irrigation in western Kansas. Since World War II, producers increased irrigation and the irrigated acreage with the widespread adoption of newer irrigation technologies, causing a reduction in the saturated thickness of the High Plains aquifer. In an effort to conserve water and reduce further decline of the aquifer, the state of Kansas administered cost-share programs to producers who upgraded to an efficient irrigation system. But evidence suggests that the efforts to reduce water consumption have been undermined by producers, who under certain conditions have increased irrigation and irrigated acreage of high-valued and water-intensive crops. The state of Kansas is in a quandary to reduce water consumption and stabilize the saturated thickness of the aquifer while maintaining the economic viability of irrigated agriculture. A producer is faced with the choice of crop, irrigation timing and irrigation technology at the start of the season. This research identifies the conditions for risk-efficient crop choices and estimates the effect of an irrigation technology upgrade on the aquifer. Simulation models based on data from Tribune, Kansas were executed under various scenarios, varying by crop (corn or sorghum), irrigation system (conventional center-pivot or center-pivot with drop nozzles) and well capacity (190, 285 or 570 gallons per minute). Each well capacity was associated with a pre-season soil moisture level (0.40, 0.60 or 0.80 of field capacity). Each scenario was simulated over weather data observed during the 36-year period (1971-2006). Results indicate that producers with slower wells could maximize their net returns while conserving water by choosing less water-intensive crops like sorghum, while irrigating with a conventional center-pivot irrigation system. Producers with faster wells could maximize net returns by choosing water-intensive crops like corn and irrigate with the more efficient center-pivot with drop nozzle irrigation system. In order to reduce groundwater consumption and maintain the saturated thickness of the aquifer, water policies should internalize the interests of all stakeholders and be a combination of irrigation technology, economic factors, hydrological conditions, agronomic practices, conservation practices and local dynamics of the region

Broadband Impact on Education and Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Slides of a virtual presentation made at Broadband Issues Briefing, Part Two, hosted by the Southern Rural Development Center. A corresponding research brief was published by the Southern Rural Development Center.The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of broadband equity across the United States. K-12 schools and higher-education institutions, health services, and many industries moved much of their operations online to conform with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Broadband access became integral for students to keep up with their learning and for adults to remain productive at work, as well as for keeping connections to the world. Unequal access to broadband resources (the “digital divide”) was illuminated by this increased dependence on the Internet. At the request of local leaders in 2021, the University of Tennessee Extension partnered with libraries in eight rural counties to expand a mobile hotspot lending program that had been piloted in three counties in 2018. Library patrons were allowed to check out mobile internet hotspots to use at home for a few days. When they returned the hotspots, they were asked to fill out a survey. This presentation discusses survey responses from 2018 and 2021 that were compared to understand changes, if any, to broadband equity challenges for rural residents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Clarence Cannon Conundrum: relinquish water storage or not?

Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake were built to provide Northeast Missouri with the benefits of hydropower, flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife conservation and water supply. In planning for future growth, 20,000 acre-feet of water storage was allocated for water supply. However, northeast Missouri region did not experience the anticipated population growth and only a third of the allocated water is currently used for water supply. As per the contract signed in 1988, the State of Missouri makes payments on capital costs of construction of the dam/reservoir, interest on capital, operation and maintenance. In addition, if not all of the 20,000 acre-feet of water is not put to use by 2038, the State of Missouri is due to pay $11.3 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of this study is to estimate the future water demand, optimize water use as well as financial resources and make policy recommendations to the decision makers on resource allocation in Missouri. The results indicate savings to Missouri which can be used to address water resource needs in other parts of the State

Bridging the digital divide: challenges and opportunities in rural broadband access and adoption in Tennessee

Slides from a virtual presentation made at NIFA/APLU Making it Count: Applying Science to Support Broadband Adoption conference.This presentation describes a mobile lending hotspot program and other broadband initiatives that were supported by the University of Tennessee Extension