Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Kevin P. Gwinner / Companies must continue to find ways to not only access new customers, but also better serve and increase loyalty with the current customers they already serve. In an effort to increase customer retention and satisfaction, while improving the company’s bottom line, this study looks at a possible brand extension with AgriGold, a seed company based in Southern Illinois. This study will analyze the feasibility of AgriGold extending its corn-only focus into the soybean market in order to capitalize on the current strength of the U.S. soybean market. The soybean market has drastically evolved over the past several years due to the introduction of several new technologies to increase and preserve yield; in some areas of the U.S., soybeans are now the preferred crop over corn. Through the theory of brand extension and based upon the projected logistics and financial benefits, a recommendation is made for the AgriGold brand. Both internal survey results and financial analysis are used to analyze such an extension. In an expanding soybean acre market and a contracting corn acre market in the US, this study may prove to suggest one of the most important strategic moves in AgriGold's history.

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-193).

The use of conservation easements has been increasing in the United States. However, patterns of growth over time are different for individual states. Little is known on how determinants of conservation easements interact with one another and affect the choice of conservation approaches. The study objective was to analyze conservation easement trends and examine underlying choice determinants in the United States. Panel data models were employed to assess determinants of easement acres and contracts from 1995 to 2015. Findings revealed that the northern United States has the most percentage of land area under conservation easements. The growth in conservation easements was positively related to gross state products, land market values, air quality, and land use, while it was negatively related to state population density, conservation spending, easement duration and endangered species. Public policymakers would use these findings to integrate easement efforts into local planning to meet conservation and land-use objectives.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / The objective of the research is to understand the volatility of cotton acres and estimate planted acres based on the factors that drive volatility in the United States at a regional level. Estimating cotton acres is important so that demand for cotton seed and technology can be anticipated and the appropriate investments in cotton seed production can be made. Post Multi-Fiber Arrangement, the US cotton economy has entered a state of imperfect completion which makes cotton price, ending stocks and the relationship of cotton to other crops important in understanding volatility in cotton acres. Linear Regression, Random Forest and Partial Least Squares Neural Networks (PLS NN) were used to estimate cotton acres at a US and Regional Level. The modeling approaches used to estimate change in acres yielded similar performance for U.S. total, Southwest, and West. The PLS NN was slightly better for the Delta and Southeast, where more crop alternatives exist. Random Forest offered a different perspective on variable importance in all regions.

Thesis (MA. Agricultural Management (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Arbor acres broiler chickens aged one to six weeks. Experiment I determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity of Arbor acre broiler chicks aged one to 21 days. Two hundred unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with five replicates, each replicate having ten birds. A completely randomized design was used in the first experiment. The treatments were 0 (UA0), 20 (AU20), 50 (AU50), 75 (AU75) or 100 (AU100) g of carrot meal supplementation per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and productivity variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation, however, improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens. Dietary metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens were optimized at different carrot meal supplementation levels of 40.5 and 53.57 g/kg DM feed, respectively. No chicken deaths were recorded. Experiment II determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replicates, each having 10 birds, in a completely randomized design. The supplementation levels were 0 (FA0), 20 (FA20), 50 (FA50), 75 (FA75), or 100 (FA100) g of carrot meal per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and production variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and carcass parts of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged vi 22 to 42 days. Dietary feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary carrot meal supplementation levels of 52.8, 63.8, 38.0, 42.0 and 44.3 g/kg DM feed, respectively. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on tenderness and flavour of female Arbor acre broiler meat. Broiler chickens on diets supplemented with 20, 50 or 100 g of carrot meal per kg DM feed produced meat with better (P<0.05) juiciness values than those of meat from chickens not supplemented with dietary carrot meal and those supplemented with 75 g/kg DM feed. There was a positive relationship between carrot meal supplementation and chicken meat juiciness. It is concluded that carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. However, carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. However, carrot meal supplementation did not (P>0.05) improve growth rate and live weights of the chickens.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American students who attended Black segregated schools in a Houston community during the years 1935-1965. The purpose of this study was to give voice to the participants who were educated in a Black segregated school before integration. This research sought to understand students' experiences with segregated schooling through recollections from former students who were products of the school system in the community of Acres Homes in Houston. Furthermore, this research sought to give voice to these students in an effort to understand the role that these schools played in students' lives and the African American community as a whole. A purposive sample of five African American former students was interviewed. The data was analyzed using methods of narrative analysis. Findings generated using thematic analysis revealed three major themes present within and across the larger narratives that represented the experiences of segregated schooling: happiness, heritage, and hardship. Each major theme that emerged encompassed pertinent sub-themes. Twelve sub-themes in total emerged from the combined narratives. Within the Happiness theme emerged 1) enjoyable atmosphere, 2) personal success, 3) closeness, and 4) activities. Within the Heritage theme emerged 5) strong foundation, 6) good teachers, 7) respect for authority, and 8) self-reliance and ownership. Within the Hardship theme emerged 9) rural to urban living, 10) lack of resources, 11) segregation as a way of life, and 12) unfairness/colorism. In contrast to much of the extant literature, these participants' segregated schooling experiences proved to be fulfilling and served as basis for future advancements.

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-83).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-170).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-83).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-83).