Natural Enemies of Alfalfa Weevil, \u3ci\u3eHypera Postica\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Minnesota

Alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, is present throughout Minnesota. How- ever, economically damaging populations seldom occur, due to a combination of natural enemies and adverse climatic conditions. Five natural enemies of alfalfa weevil were found in Minnesota. Microctonus aethiopoides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of adults, was recovered from 43 of 65 counties surveyed during 1984 and 1985. Tetrastichus incertus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Bathyplectes curculionis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), para­sitoids of larvae, were each recovered from 13 of 15 counties surveyed during 1991-1993. Bathyplectes anurus, another parasitoid of larvae, was recovered from one county In 1991, four counties in 1992, and six counties in 1993. Zoophthora phytonomi (Entomophthora: Entomophthoraceae), a pathogen of larvae, was recovered from 14 of 15 counties surveyed in 1991-1993. Winters with low minimum temperatures and little snow cover were detrimental to the weevil. Usually, southeastern Minnesota has milder winters and higher alfalfa weevil populations than other areas of the State. However, even here, because of natural enemies, weevil populations seldom reach economically damaging levels

Input-Output Analysis with Public Policy Objectives: A Case Study of the Georgia Cotton Industry

Farm bill legislation directed at agricultural commodities contributes to economies of rural areas. This research quantifies the economic impacts of the Georgia cotton industry for the U.S. economy. A cotton industry model with cotton and peanut acreage is utilized with IMPLAN to estimate impacts. The Georgia cotton industry creates 4% more tax revenues for federal, state, and local governments than it receives in commodity support payments. Stochastic simulation analysis indicates that the Georgia cotton industry is not likely to remain viable without government payments.economic impact, FSRI, IMPLAN, industry model, multivariate empirical distribution, Simetar, social welfare analysis, stochastic simulation, Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Government Payments: Economic Impact on Southeastern Peanut Farms

Southeastern peanut farms with diversified field crops utilize government payments to supplement market receipts. Production in 2002 represented growing conditions under adverse weather, while 2003 represented optimal conditions. Representative farm analysis provides insight into allocation of market receipts and government payments for meeting variable costs and fixed costs.Crop Production/Industries,

TB87: Delivery Costs per Package on Wholesale Milk Routes: A Comparison of Two Methods of Cost Allocation

This study of milk delivery operations was undertaken to develop labor relatives for different packages and to compare unit costs of delivery computed by using these relatives. A principal issue was whether variable direct labor was a better measure than total direct labor for allocating costs to various packages. Delivery operations on milk routes were timed to determine the amount of labor used in performing various functions in serving wholesale customers. This route information and the financial information on dealer delivery operations comprised the data base for the analyses.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1116/thumbnail.jp

B742: Improving the Incomes of Small Farm Families in Coastal Maine

Two basic objectives were formulated for this study: 1) To determine the physical, human and financial resources, as well as the source of income from farm and non-farm outlets available to small farm families living in coastal Maine; and, 2) To develop optimal organizations of existing small farm and family labor resources in order to maximize the incomes of these farm families.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1097/thumbnail.jp

Crop Rotations and Dynamic Analysis of Southeastern Peanut Farms

Agricultural policy objectives provide green payment incentives for farmers to initiate practices with environmental benefits. Velvet beans planted as a cover crop offer an alternative for southeastern peanut farmers to control nematodes without chemicals, while increasing soil fertility. Commodity programs provide government payments that are essential to rural economies of the southeast.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Mycobacterium sp. as a possible cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in machine workers.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in workers exposed to metal removal fluids (MRFs) is increasing. This study supports the hypothesis that aerosolized mycobacteria colonizing the MRFs likely cause the disease. Three case studies of HP outbreaks among metal workers showed potentially high exposures to a rare and newly proposed Mycobacterium species. Retrospective review of samples submitted to our laboratory showed an association between presence of mycobacteria and HP

Variations in quality of care for heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to assess hospital-to-hospital variations for the management and treatment of heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study among randomly selected patients with ICD-10 (International Classification of Disease, 10th revision) HF hospitalised in three Swiss university hospitals in 1999. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, symptoms and findings at admission and discharge medications were abstracted. The main outcome measure was the percentage of patients receiving appropriate management and treatment as defined by quality of care indicators derived from evidence-based guidelines. Quality indicators were considered only when they could be applied (no contra-indications). RESULTS: Among 1153 eligible patients with HF the mean age (SD) was 75.3 (12.7), 54.3% were male. Among potential candidates for specific interventions left ventricular function (LVF) was determined in 68.5% of patients; 53.8% received target dose of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), 86.0% any dose of angiotensin receptor blockers; 21.9% b-blockers, and 62.1% anticoagulants at discharge. Compared to hospital B (reference), the adjusted odds ratios (OR) (95% CI) for LVF not determined were 3.82 (2.50 to 5.85) in hospital A and 3.25 (1.78 to 5.93) in hospital C. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for not receiving target dose ACEI was 1.76 (0.95 to 3.26) for hospital A and 3.20 (1.34 to 7.65) for hospital C compared to hospital B. CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, important hospital-to-hospital variations in the quality of care given to patients with HF could have existed between three academic medical centers