Three Essays on U.S. Meat Goat Production: Goal Structure, Selection of Breeding Stock, and Meat Goat Marketing

This study investigates three major areas of U.S. meat goat production – goal structure, selection of breeding stock, and marketing, by using survey data received from U.S. meat goat producers. Of 1,600 producers surveyed, 584 usable responses were obtained with an adjusted response rate of 43%. The fuzzy pair-wise comparison method was used to determine producer goal structure. The results showed that profit maximization and leisure-related goals were highly considered goals and controlling weeds/vegetation and increasing farm size were the least considered goals by U.S. meat goat producers. A choice-based conjoint study was conducted to identify producer preferences for meat goat breeding stock attributes. The mixed logit results showed that producers preferred animals with high masculinity or femininity, with good structure and soundness, and the Boer breed. Furthermore, the latent class model suggested that Kiko goats were preferred by producers selling higher percentages of their animals for slaughter purposes or as meat whereas Boer goats were more likely to be preferred by breeders and/or show goat producers. Direct sale to consumer and live auction markets were two highly used marketing channels among U.S. meat goat producers. Probit results showed that several socio-economic, demographic, and farm characteristics impacted producer selection of marketing channels. Twenty-two percent of producers targeted their production for specific ethnic holiday sales. The farm size (number of animals), percentage sale of animals for slaughter purposes, and selling goat meat positively impacted the net profitability of the meat goat enterprise

Factors Influencing Producers’ Marketing Decisions in the Louisiana Crawfish Industry

Factors influencing farmer selection of a crawfish marketing outlet were analyzed using 2008 survey data from the Louisiana crawfish industry. Most farmers sell directly to wholesalers. Probit results show farm size, farm income, household income, age, education, and pre-market grading and washing operations significantly affecting farmer selection of an outlet.Crawfish, Marketing Outlet, Premarket Practices, Probit., Marketing, Production Economics,

STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF HYDROLOGICAL EXTREMES ON STORMWATER SYSTEM

Climate models have anticipated higher future extreme precipitations and streamflows for various regions. Urban stormwater facilities are vulnerable to these changes as the design assumes stationarity. However, recent climate change studies have argued about the existence of non-stationarity of the climate. Distribution method adopted on extreme precipitation varies spatially and may not always follow same distribution method. In this research, two different natural extremities were analyzed for two separate study areas. First, the future design storm depth based on the stationarity of climate and GEV distribution method was examined with non-stationarity and best fit distribution. Second, future design flood was analyzed and routed on a river to estimate the future flooding. Climate models from North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) were fitted to 27 different distribution using Chi-square and Kolmogorov Smirnov goodness of fit. The best fit distribution method was used to calculate design storm depth as well as design flood. Climate change scenarios were adopted as delta change factor, a downscaling approach to transfer historical design value to the climate adopted future design value. Most of the delta change factor calculated were higher than one, representing strong climate change impact on future. HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models were used to simulate the stormwater infrastructures and river flow. The result shows an adverse effect on stormwater infrastructure in the future. The research highlights the importance of available climate information and suggests a possible approach for climate change adaptation on stormwater design practice

The adoption of best management practices in the Louisiana crawfish industry

Agricultural production can have result in environmental deterioration in cases where proper management practices have not been implemented. Louisiana, one of the tropical states, has a significant agricultural base with more than 1,600 farmers raising crawfish. Large volumes of waste water containing environmental pollutants result significant environmental problem in the state. Voluntary adoption of a number of best management practices (BMPs) that are considered to be environmentally and economically beneficial is encouraged in Louisiana. The major objectives of this study are to investigate farmer adoption of 18 selected Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost share eligible BMPs and the reasons for farmers’ adoption or non-adoption decisions. The study further analyzes the complementarity or substitutability of different BMPs. A mail survey to 770 Louisiana crawfish producers was conducted in Fall, 2008, based on Dillman’s Total Design Method. The adjusted response rate was 15%. Probit, multinomial logit, and t-tests were conducted to analyze the results. The results of this study showed farmers’ land tenancy, education, age, income diversification, and risk-bearing characteristics significantly affecting their probability of adoption. The prerequisite assumption of independence of irrelevant alternatives (IIA) of the multinomial logit model was successful for only two BMPs: Irrigation Land Leveling, and Irrigation Water Conveyance via Pipe; and the results in these two BMPs showed farm size, rotation with other crops, education, farmers’ risk averse and early adoption behavior significantly affecting adoption or non-adoption decisions. Some BMPs were also found to have complementary relationships with other BMPs

THE INFLUENCES OF LAND TENANCY AND ROTATION SELECTION ON CRAWFISH FARMERS’ ADOPTION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

This study investigates factors influencing the adoption of best management practices in Louisiana crawfish production. Probit results show acreage, years farming, portion of income from farming, technology adoption tendencies, hunting leases and a stream running through the farm to influence adoption. The most frequently used BMP was irrigation water management.Best Management Practices (BMPs), technology adoption, crawfish, probit, tenancy, crop rotation, Production Economics,

2D Unsteady Routing and Flood Inundation Mapping for Lower Region of Brazos River Watershed

Present study uses two dimensional flow routing capabilities of hydrologic engineering center\u27s river analysis system (HEC-RAS) for flood inundation mapping in lower region of Brazo River watershed subjected to frequent flooding. For analysis, river reach length of 20 km located at Richmond, Texas, was considered. Detailed underlying terrain information available from digital elevation model of 1/9-arc second resolution was used to generate the two-dimensional (2D) flow area and flow geometrics. Streamflow data available from gauging station USGS08114000 was used for the full unsteady flow hydraulic modeling along the reach. Developed hydraulic model was then calibrated based on the manning\u27s roughness coefficient for the river reach by comparison with the downstream rating curve. Corresponding water surface elevation and velocity distribution obtained after 2D hydraulic simulation were used to determine the extent of flooding. For this, RAS mapper\u27s capabilities of inundation mapping in HEC-RAS itself were used. Mapping of the flooded areas based on inflow hydrograph on each time step were done in RAS mapper, which provided the spatial distribution of flow. The results from this study can be used for flood management as well as for making land use and infrastructure development decisions

Selection of Breeding Stock by U.S. Meat Goat Producers

Using nationwide survey data, we investigate U.S. meat goat producer preferences and willingness to pay for meat goat breeding stock attributes. Discrete choice experiments were employed, and mixed logit and latent class models were used for analysis. Results showed that producers preferred animals that were highly masculine/feminine, had good structure and soundness, and were of the Boer breed, whereas they preferred fewer animals that were older, of Kiko and Spanish breeds, and priced higher. Significant preference heterogeneity was found among the respondents. Larger-scale producers had greater preference for high masculinity/femininity, good structure and soundness, and Boer bucks

Response of Climate Change on Urban Watersheds: A Case Study for Las Vegas, NV

The current research is a partnering effort between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and City of Las Vegas to assess the vulnerability to drought, extreme heat, and extreme precipitation. This study focuses on precipitation and usesdifferent climate scenarios from the high-resolution North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) climate model data to evaluate the existing stormwater infrastructure of the Gowan watershed in the Las Vegas valley. Six NARCCAP modelsconsidered in the study have shown the Gamma distribution as the best fitted from Kolmogorov Smirnov best fit test. Delta change method is adopted to quantify the effect of climate change on storm depth. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-HMS model is used to evaluate the changes in peak flow, storage, and outflow within the watershed. The findings of the analysis show that the drainage facility of the study area is vulnerable to the related climate change impacts. This studyhelps to quantify the effect of climate change on design storm depth of urban watershed

Producer perceptions of important challenges currently facing the United States meat-goat industry

© 2013 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. There is an apparent increase in demand for goat meat in the United States, perhaps because of recent immigrants and population growth. This is driving an increase in meat-goat production. This paper addresses the importance of 11 challenges faced by United States meat-goat producers, with results having implications for research, extension, and teaching efforts by universities, governmental agencies, and industry. A survey of meat-goat producers was conducted. Differences in opinion as to the importance of challenges by industry segment were analyzed using ordered probit models. The 4 items selected by producers as the most important challenges facing producers were high cost of goat production, lack of a clear marketing system for goats, lack of a goat meat processor close by, and internal parasites. Others of note were the lack of a grading system for goats, pasture management problems, diseases, and insufficient government support for the industry

THE INFLUENCES OF LAND TENANCY AND ROTATION SELECTION ON CRAWFISH FARMERS’ ADOPTION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

This study investigates factors influencing the adoption of best management practices in Louisiana crawfish production. Probit results show acreage, years farming, portion of income from farming, technology adoption tendencies, hunting leases and a stream running through the farm to influence adoption. The most frequently used BMP was irrigation water management