Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Kevin Dhuyvetter / The size of our dairy operation increased from 300 milk cows to 1,700 milk cows in 2003. Once the dairy operation increased, the dependency on milk price to support the entire operation also increased. This was due to the fact that the cropping side of the operation became more devoted to growing feed for the livestock as opposed to producing cash crops. Thus, the increase in the number of milk cows led to decreased diversity in our income potentially increasing the financial risk of the operation. The purpose of this thesis is to study different risk management tools and strategies to aid in the formulation of a risk management plan for milk sales in our operation. Risk management strategies using forward contracts, futures, put options, and cash were analyzed at different time periods and various minimum price levels. The strategies were analyzed over the last ten years (2001-2010) of available price data. Twenty-five risk management strategies were analyzed both with and without set minimum milk prices. Minimum price levels ranged from $14/cwt to $17/cwt in $1 increments. The time frame for the transaction ranged from zero to twelve months prior to production in three-month increments. Based on historical data, risk management strategies can be used to decrease the price risk faced by an operation. The risk management strategies did not affect the average price received at statistically significant levels typically considered. Different risk management opportunities are highlighted that need to be analyzed before fully implementing a risk management plan for dairy operations.

Master of Science / Department of Clinical Sciences / Luciana Bergamasco / As public concern for food animal welfare increases, the need for objective pain assessment and methods to alleviate pain associated with production practices such as castration gains attention. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the physiological response to pain induced by castration in calves and (ii) to elucidate age-related differences in pain response of calves subjected to different castration methods. Seventy six Holstein bull calves were blocked by age (≤ 6 weeks and ≥ 6 months) and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: control (n = 20), castration by banding (n = 18), cut and clamp surgical castration (n = 20), and cut and pull surgical castration (n = 18). Measurements included electroencephalogram, heart rate variability, infrared thermography, electrodermal activity, and concentrations of serum cortisol, and plasma substance P prior to, during, and following castration. Electroencephalogram recordings showed desynchronization for all treatments, consistent with increased arousal; yet the magnitude of desynchronization was greatest for 6-month-old calves castrated by cut and clamp. Additionally, older calves in the cut and pull group showed greater desynchronization than younger calves in the same group. Based on the heart rate variability analysis, 6-month-old calves in the control or cut and pull castration groups showed greater sympathetic tone than younger calves in the same treatment groups. Overall, younger calves showed lower electrodermal activity than older calves. Regardless of treatment, concentrations of cortisol and plasma substance P were greater in 6-month-old calves relative to their younger counterparts. In summary, neurohormonal and electroencephalographic stress responses of calves to castration were age-specific. Castration by cut and clamp showed the most pronounced stress response in 6-month-old calves.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Christine Wilson / Allen Featherstone / The objectives of this thesis are to examine the banking strategy of Kansas farmers and to analyze the determinants of lender choice among Kansas farmers. To meet these objectives, econometric analysis was used to examine the financial characteristics of the farm that affect the number of banking relationships and the probability a farmer has a loan with a respective lender. The financial characteristics include variables representing the solvency, liquidity, and profitability of the farm. To analyze banking strategy, a poisson model was estimated to determine how the financial characteristics of the farm affect the number of banking relationships used by the farmer. The solvency, liquidity, and profitability of a farmer was analyzed to examine how these measures affect how many banking relationships the respective farmer has. Additionally, a panel data fixed effects model was used to analyze how the number of banking relationships affects the net farm income of the farm. To analyze the determinants of lender choice for Kansas farmers, six probit models were used to determine how farm and financial characteristics, including dollar amount of inventory for certain assets and dollar amount of loans, affect the probabililty the farmer has a loan with the respective lender. A Heckman selection model was used to further analyze the dollar amount of loans a farmer has with a respective lender using information from the probit models. Results of the study show that the higher the debt to asset ratio the farmer has, the more banking relationships the respective farmer has. It was also found that the amount of inventory for certain asset classifications, dollar amount loans, and the financial characteristics affect the lender the farmer chooses to use.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / As the U.S. economy has changed, the use of diesel vehicles has increased. With this increase, has come an increase in the demand of highly trained technicians to work on those vehicles. North Arkansas College of Harrison, AR is looking for opportunities to keep its program offerings current with the educational demands of its potential students. During the last few years, North Arkansas College has received requests to start a diesel vehicle maintenance program. This thesis analyzes the feasibility of a diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College. To determine the feasibility of such a program, all major aspects of the potential program must be considered and analyzed. The key questions addressed are: what is the interest level in the community for a diesel vehicle maintenance program, what are the major capital costs of starting the program, what would the potential operating budget resemble, and how would the program fit into the current field of area diesel maintenance programs? To study the feasibility of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College, four steps were completed. First, a survey was developed that measured the interest from potential students, prospective employers, and interested community members from the potential market of North Arkansas College. Second, research was done to understand how a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program would fit into the current marketplace of established diesel maintenance programs. This was done by researching and comparing area programs to the type of programs that North Arkansas College offers and the possible model of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program. Next, research was conducted to estimate the capital costs of starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program, as well as the potential operating budget. This was done by developing blueprints of a potential floor plan, a building to house the program, and the potential areas of study in the program. Based on these blueprints, actual bids and estimates were collected to calculate potential capital and operating costs. Finally, analysis was conducted to determine if the outcomes of a potential diesel vehicle maintenance program would fulfill the mission of North Arkansas College. The analysis of the feasibility of a diesel vehicle maintenance program at North Arkansas College reveals that there is interest from all three parts of the community in starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program. The research also revealed that the program would be a fit in the marketplace if it was an affordable, three semester program that covered the basics of the diesel powered vehicle. Also, research of the potential costs and revenues of the program reveals that the program would be sustainable. Finally, a diesel vehicle maintenance program would have much synergy with the current programs already offered at North Arkansas College. In the end, the results suggest that it is worthwhile to move forward towards starting a diesel vehicle maintenance program.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Steven Harbstriet / Colleges of agriculture across the country are challenged to produce more graduates in order to meet the increase in employment opportunities in the areas of agriculture, food, and renewable natural resources. To attract students from areas with the most growth, urban communities, this study identified factors such as exposures to agriculture, college factors, and career aspirations that influenced urban students to major in agriculture and enroll in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University (KSU). The accessible sample consisted of 125 students currently majoring in the College of Agriculture (agriculture students) and 18 students no longer majoring in the College of Agriculture (non-agriculture students) who completed the online questionnaire. Students from both groups were predominately female, non-minority students from the state of Kansas who entered KSU as incoming freshmen. The majors most represented were animal sciences and industry, pre-veterinary medicine, and food science and industry. The mean ACT score for agriculture students was 26.23 and 24.81 for non-agriculture students. For both groups of students, having a relative who worked in a field related to agriculture (grandparents, parent/guardian, aunt and uncle) was influential when they chose their academic major. A higher percentage of agriculture students had a relative who worked in a field related to agriculture or in production agriculture, compared to non-agriculture students. Career opportunities for graduates, hands-on-learning opportunities, friendly atmosphere in the College of Agriculture, visit to campus, quality and reputation of college faculty, availability of academic programs, and affordability of KSU were college factors most influential among the sample of students. Least influential factors were interaction with alumni, agriculture related camps and competitive events on campus, and ability to take online courses. Agriculture students were more influenced by career aspirations specific to career interests, such as working with people and animals, being able to use their creativity, or work with their hands. Non-agriculture students were influenced by broader career aspirations, such as having a job they enjoyed or being able to advance in their career.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Rob M. Aiken / Mary Beth Kirkham / Prior studies indicate clumped planting can increase grain sorghum yield up to 45% under water deficit conditions by reducing tiller number, increasing radiation use efficiency, and preserving soil water for grain fill. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of planting geometry on sorghum grain yield. The field study was conducted in seven environments with two sorghum hybrids, four populations, and two planting geometries. Crop responses included leaf area index, yield, and components of yield. Delayed planting decreased yield by 39%, and a later maturing hybrid increased yield, relative to an early hybrid, by 11% under water sufficiency. Clumped planting increased the fraction of fertile culms (culms which formed panicles) from 5-14%. It reduced the number of culms m-2 by 12% under water limiting conditions (at one of two locations) but increased culms m-2 16% under water sufficiency. Seeds per panicle and seed weight generally compensated for differences in panicles m-2, which were related to different planting population densities. Although agronomic characteristics of hybrids varying in maturity have been widely studied, little information exists concerning their physiological differences. Therefore, the objective of the greenhouse study was to determine if stomatal resistance, leaf temperature, and leaf chlorophyll content differed between two DeKalb grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] hybrids. They were DKS 36-16 and DKS 44-20, of medium-early and medium maturity, respectively, when grown under field conditions in Kansas. Seeds were planted in a greenhouse. Stomatal resistance and leaf temperature were measured 55 days after planting with a Decagon Devices (Pullman, WA) diffusion porometer, and chlorophyll content was measured 119 days after planting with a Konica Minolta (Osaka, Japan) SPAD chlorophyll meter. The two hybrids did not differ in stomatal resistance, leaf temperature, chlorophyll content, height, and dry weight. Their difference in maturity was not evident under the greenhouse conditions. Future work needs to show if hybrids of different maturities vary in physiological characteristics

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / James F. Campbell / Kun Yan Zhu / Aerosol applications of reduced risk insecticides such as synergized pyrethrin and insect growth regulators (IGR) are part of food industry integrated pest management programs. Since aerosols cannot penetrate into hidden areas exploited by pests such as the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, the potential for these insecticides to effect beetle populations was evaluated. Because IGRs do not cause immediate mortality, the potential of horizontal transfer for an IGR from treated to untreated individuals was also examined. Results showed that when untreated T. castaneum, larvae or pupae, were added to flour containing methoprene, IGR, treated larvae, pupae or adults, the untreated individuals exhibited evidence of methoprene exposure (external deformities and reduced survival). Evaluation of the different mechanisms of transfer indicated that contact with methoprene treated individuals or flour that had been in contact with treated individuals may be the primary method of methoprene transfer. Since aerosols are often applied as a combination of IGR and pyrethrin with a carrier, the effect of these components was evaluated. Applications of synergized pyrethrin caused knockdown of adults but affected adults recovered and progeny production was not effected. Exposure of eggs to these insecticides reduced egg hatch. Food material accumulations inside food facilities can potentially increase or reduce insecticide efficacy. Evaluation of different flour residue levels, representing different sanitation levels, revealed that sanitation alone reduced immature development. As flour residue depths increased more individuals developed into adults but very few developed in the insecticide treatments. Food facilities that use aerosol insecticides apply them at regular intervals, so the cumulative effects of these treatments were considered. Experiments evaluating repeated insecticide exposures indicated that the direct morality from synergized pyrethrin not the horizontal transfer of methoprene was the primary factor in population reduction. Overall findings suggested that methoprene is highly mobile between different surfaces. Exposure of untreated individual beetle larvae to treated larvae or pupae or to flour that has been in contact with exposed beetles can have detrimental effects on development or survival, but these effects may be highly variable and even in cumulative exposures the overall level of population suppression is limited.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Yong-Cheng Shi / Starch is the most important source of food energy. However, the information about the metabolic quality of starchy foods is scarce. It is well known that native starches with a B-type X-ray diffraction pattern are more resistant to alpha-amylase digestion than those starches with an A-type X-ray pattern, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. It is not clear whether the enzyme resistance of B-type starch is due to its B-type crystalline structure or the other structural features in starch granules. The objective of this study was to compare the structure and enzyme digestibility of highly pure A- and B-type starch crystals, and understand the roles of crystalline types in starch digestibility. Highly pure A- and B-type starch crystals were prepared from short linear α-glucans (short-chain amylose) generated from completely debranched waxy starches by manipulating the processing conditions such as starch solids concentration, crystallization temperature and chain length. High concentration, high temperature and short chain length favored the formation of the A-type structure, whereas reverse conditions resulted in the B-type polymorph. Digestion results using a mixture of α-amylase and glucoamylase showed that A-type crystals were more resistant to enzyme digestion than B-type crystals. The A-type crystalline product obtained upon debranching 25% waxy maize starch at 50ºC for 24 h gave 16.6% digestion after 3 h, whereas B-type crystals produced by debranching 5% waxy maize starch at 50ºC for 24 h followed by holding at 25ºC for another 24 h had 38.9% digested after 3 h. The A-type crystals had a higher melting temperature than the B-type crystals as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Annealing increased the peak melting temperature of the B-type crystals, making it similar to that of the A-type crystals, but did not improve the enzyme resistance. The possible reason for these results was due to more condense packing pattern of double helices in A-type crystallites. It seems that the crystalline types are not the key factor that controls the digestibility of native starch granules. The resistance of native starches with B-type X-ray diffraction pattern is probably attributed to the other structural features in starch granules.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Xiuzhi Susan Sun / Renewable materials are desirable for many applications due to the finite fossil resources and environmental issues. Plant oil is one of the most promising renewable feedstocks. Plant oils and functionalized oleo-chemicals including functionalized soybean oils have become attractive sustainable chemicals for industrial applications. Especially, epoxidized oleo-chemicals such as epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) are one of the most well-known readily available inexpensive functionalized plant oils. In this study, novel polymers and nanocomposites for sustainable materials applications were designed and prepared via ring-opening of epoxide in plant oils, and their chemical and physical properties were characterized. The novel transparent elastomers derived from functionalized plant oils have a great potential as flexible electronic and biological applications with their inherent low toxicity. Especially, their rheological properties showed a potential for pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs). The dominant thermal stability and transparency were obtained via green processing: one pot, single step, fast reactions in moderate conditions, or solvent-free UV curing conditions. These oleo-based elastomers presented excellent end-use properties for PSAs application comparable to commercial PSA tapes. Based on the principal chemical studies, the roles of the each component have been identified: polymer derived from the ring-opening of epoxides as an elastomer, and dihydroxylated triglycerides as a tackifier. Their interaction was also elucidated with an element label analysis. The mechanical and rheological properties of the oleo-polymer as PSAs were able to be improved with a rosin ester tackifier. In addition, biogreases and bio-thermoplastics were developed via the environmentally benign process, which will contribute to further application on the production of new bio-based materials. Further, this study essays a novel acid functionalized iron/iron oxide nanoparticles catalyst with excellent product yields for epoxide ring opening of oleochemicals for a greener synthetic method of biopolyols, and excellent environmental benefits with life cycle assessment of syntheses. Those functionalized iron/iron oxide core shell nanoparticles catalysts has great potential for biomedical engineering process with the highest magnetization of Fe(0) core among all metals.

Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Bhadriraju Subramanyam / The insecticides, β-cyfluthrin and chlorpyrifos-methyl plus deltamethrin, are approved in the United States for treating empty bin surfaces. Chlorpyrifos-methyl plus deltamethrin and spinosad insecticides are approved for direct treatment of wheat. The efficacy of commercial formulations of β-cyfluthrin and chlorpyrifos-methyl plus deltamethrin at labeled rates was evaluated against adults of 16 field strains of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst); seven strains of sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.); and two strains of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). Concrete arenas in plastic Petri dishes (9 cm diameter) were used to simulate the concrete floor of empty bins. The time for ~100% knockdown and mortality of adults of laboratory strains of the three species was first established by exposing them to insecticide-treated concrete surfaces for 1 to 24 h. Adults of field strains of each species were exposed to specific established insecticide-time combinations. Mortality of all species was lower than knockdown, suggesting recovery after seven days when placed on food. Chlorpyrifos-methyl plus deltamethrin did not control all R. dominica and most O. ]surinamensis field strains. β-cyfluthrin was extremely effective against R. dominica but ineffective against T. castaneum and O. surinamensis field strains, even at four times the high labeled rate. Field strains of R. dominica were highly susceptible to spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl plus deltamethrin at labeled rates on hard red winter wheat. Strains of T. castaneum and O. surinamensis were susceptible only to the latter insecticide. Dose-response tests with spinosad on the two least susceptible field strains of each species showed the lethal dose for 99% mortality (LD[subscript]99) for T. castaneum and R. dominica field strains were similar to that of the corresponding laboratory strains. Corresponding values for the two O. surinamensis field strains were significantly greater (~6 times) than the laboratory strain. The effective dose for progeny reduction (ED[subscript]99) of only one R. dominica field strain was significantly greater (~2 times) than that of the laboratory strain. The baseline susceptibility data of field strains of three insect species to spinosad will be useful for monitoring resistance development once this product is commercially released as a grain protectant.