126 research outputs found
Evaluating Animal Agriculture Impacts on Water Quality: Data Gaps in a West Central Minnesota Case Study
Get PDFBalancing the economic and food system contributions of animal agriculture with negative impacts such as water quality degradation has been a recurring question in Minnesota and other agricultural states (e.g., Iowa and North Carolina). Over the past 15 years significant federal- and state-level changes in the regulation of animal feeding operations (AFOs) and associated practices have attempted to improve water quality. The impacts of these changes are unclear; therefore, the main purpose of this project was to evaluate policies designed to protect water quality from manure runoff and spills within the context of a manageable geographic area. Project work was based on manure reports and other publicly available data (2010–2011) on large AFOs in nine counties that encompass the Pomme de Terre River and Chippewa River watersheds in west central Minnesota. Based on summarizing and evaluating the completeness of annual manure reports, and an understanding of the distribution of and practices surrounding manure in the study area, it is clear that there has been progress in the form of collecting more information about manure generation and related practices, as well as keeping large AFOs farther from open water and perennial streams. However, there are still major data gaps (e.g., incomplete information about application methods, and a lack of water quality monitoring during the manure application season) that prevent more thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of manure application practices and AFO siting policies. Funding is required from the Minnesota legislature to enable the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, local watershed groups, and producers to collaboratively address these data gaps; to compile, compare, and evaluate manure application best practices; and to revisit state policy related to siting AFOs near conduits to surface waters. The research in this article was supported by a grant from CURA’s Faculty Interactive Research Program
Boomers at Work and in Transition
Get PDFThis study investigated the experience and expectations of Minnesota Boomers as well as innovative organizations in the Twin Cities area that are recognizing and responding to their aging workforces. We find Boomers no longer expect a one-way, one-time simultaneous exit from both their career jobs and the labor force. Rather, they are following a variety of paths. Organizations leading in recognizing population and workforce aging are adopting less age-graded policies—providing flexible and reduced work options as well as training to all workers, regardless of their ages or career stages. Policies and practices are needed supporting a range of flexible paid and unpaid opportunities to tap the tremendous talent of this large Boomer cohort. The research upon which this article is based was supported by a grant from CURA’s Faculty Interactive Research Program.Faculty Interactive Research ProgramUniversity of Minnesota: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs; Moen, Phyllis; Kojola, Erik; Schaefers, Kate. (2017). Boomers at Work and in Transition. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/188228
Understanding Youth Resilience by Leveraging the Youth Development Study Archive
Get PDFKey formative experiences have the potential to influence the movement of young people through the transition to adulthood. Positive experiences promote resilience and success among at-risk youth; negative experiences can derail youth who are doing well at the outset of this transition. Taking a holistic and person-centered approach, we leverage data from the Youth Development Study, which followed 1,139 St. Paul youth from the ninth grade to age 38 (with 19 surveys).
First, we identify youth who exhibit constellations of attributes indicating greater or lesser age-specific “success” in middle adolescence (ages 14–15), late adolescence (ages 17–18), and early adulthood (ages 26–27). In middle and late adolescence, more successful youth had higher grades, educational aspirations, and intrinsic school motivation; they avoided smoking and alcohol use. The more successful young adults were employed, economically self-sufficient, making progress toward their career goals, and satisfied with their jobs, and they lacked physical and emotional problems.
Second, we trace shifts between the more and less successful classes as respondents moved from middle to late adolescence and from late adolescence to adulthood. Though the majority of youth were “stable,” considerable movement occurred between classes.
Finally, we describe key formative experiences and characteristics that distinguished adolescents who moved from the less to the more successful class (showing “resilience”), from middle to late adolescence, from those who stayed in the less successful class. These experiences included positive parent and teacher relationships and conscientiousness in school. Positive experiences during adolescence also predicted resilience during early adulthood. Key protective factors emerged in early adulthood: a teacher/professor who influenced the youth’s career goals and delayed childbearing.
We conclude that the quality of family and peer relationships, and specific experiences in school and work settings, differentiate youth exhibiting more and less positive trajectories. Because the quality of adolescent experiences continues to influence trajectories during the transition to adulthood, it is especially important to address deficiencies in adolescent contexts. The research upon which this article is based was supported by a grant from CURA’s Faculty Interactive Research Program.Faculty Interactive Research ProgramUniversity of Minnesota: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs; Mortimer, Jeylan T.; Rolando, Dominique J.; Zierman, Carol. (2017). Understanding Youth Resilience by Leveraging the Youth Development Study Archive. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/188229
CURA Reporter [May 1995]
No full textThis issue contains the following feature articles: Response to Lukermann, Luce, and Mohring. The Authors Reply. , by Solem, Jim; Thomas Luce, Barbara L. Lukermann, and Herb Mohring; Fertilizing Twin Cities Lawns. , by Schultz, John W. and Terry H. Cooper.; Strategies for Economic Development. , by Stinson, Thomas F. and Margaret Dewar.; Recruiting and Retaining Nurses in Minnesota. , by Ahlburg, Dennis A. and Christine Brown Mahoney
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