Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Detectable Antibodies in Equids in Alabama

A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out to screen the equine population of the nonendemic state of Alabama for the presence of detectable antibody titers against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. A second objective was to determine the association of detectable titers with risk factors such as exposure to ruminants or previous travel to endemic states. A total of 342 equine serum samples from 40 Alabama counties were analyzed using the synergistic hemolysis inhibition test (SHI). The prevalence of detectable antibody titers (≥1:8) was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47%–57.9%). Titers ≥1:128 were detected in 2.63% (95% CI, 1.2%–4.9%), and titers ≥1:512 were detected in 0.3% (95% CI, 0%–1.6%) of the sampled population. In the final generalized linear model, age (P < .001), breed (P = .023), and contact with cattle (P = .05) were associated with increasing SHI titers. Contact with goats was associated in the initial but not in the final analysis (P = .19). Previous travel was not associated with increasing SHI titer (P = .97). The results demonstrated a high prevalence of low detectable titers and low prevalence of titers ≥ 1:128 in a nonendemic population. Further evaluation of SHI cutoff titers and accuracy is warranted to reduce the risk of a false positive diagnosis.     

A comparison of mineral-magnetic and distributed RUSLE modeling in the assessment of soil loss on a southeastern U.S. cropland

As geospatial technologies increasingly figure into resource management activities, there is a corresponding need to provide commensurately detailed high resolution spatial data. This study addresses the capacity of rapidly and cheaply acquired mineral-magnetic data to provide detailed spatially distributed assessments of long-term cumulative soil loss from agricultural fields. Model output from a simple distributed implementation of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and from a field-data-oriented soil magnetism-based erosion model are compared for a small Alabama (USA) farm lot. An undisturbed reference soil toposequence is used as input to the magnetism model, in contrast with earlier studies that relied on a single reference soil profile. Results from this procedure, while likely to be more dependable, proved primarily to further emphasize spatial patterns noted in prior studies. In addition, the use of a toposequence decreased the area over which RUSLE and magnetism models were in agreement. RUSLE underpredicted denudation relative to magnetism-model results over upper slopes, and overpredicted it on lower slopes. The locations of former access roads may explain underprediction on the upper slopes. The differences between the two method outcomes are discussed with regard to the potential for spatial variability in parent materials, the efficacies of non-fluvial soil redistribution processes, and the availability of detailed land use records for the 100+ years of agricultural activities at the site.     

A Prediction Model Framework for Cyber-Attacks to Precision Agriculture Technologies

This study examines farmer-consumer interactions from the perspective of 30 Alabama farmers that are predominantly selling their produce directly to consumers via farmers’ markets, on-site sales, and roadside markets. The findings demonstrate that respondents are actively engaged in educating consumers in several ways; for instance, providing recommendations and food tastings, while those growers that are involved in agritourism are—whether consciously or unconsciously—also educating visitors about the farm and its produce. Clearly, the importance of direct sales may be a compelling argument for farmers to be involved in educational activities. However, given the current emphasis that government, consumer groups, and consumers themselves are placing on healthier diets and the social aspect of local food consumption, the future implications for food growers with regard to consumer education may extend beyond the sales aspect.     

American Wine Society

This article describes the digitization of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This collection forms part of the United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN) National Preservation Program for Agricultural Literature and the State and Local Literature Preservation Projects that are similar in scope to Cornell's Core Historic Literature of Agriculture digital collection. These are nationwide projects that seek to preserve scholarly literature in agriculture. Project planning and implementation is described, followed by a discussion of the potential usefulness of this collection and ways of promoting its use to various user groups.     

Food Animals and Veterinary Medicine

While there appear to be very clear associations between food growers, the hospitality sector, and educational institutions offering hospitality management or related degrees, to date very few studies discuss those links. In particular, little is known of food growers’ perceptions of educational institutions, also in regard to how those institutions could assist farmers. This study seeks to add knowledge to those unresearched areas, learning from a group of 30 Alabama farmers. The findings clearly demonstrate that educational institutions offering hospitality degrees can play several positive roles in assisting farmers, such as in raising awareness about the “local” element of foods or even involving students in various constructive ways. Several implications are discussed concerning the findings and future research avenues are suggested.     

Habitat use of age 0 Alabama shad in the Pascagoula River drainage, USA

Mickle PF, Schaefer JF, Adams SB, Kreiser BR. Habitat use of age 0 Alabama shad in the Pascagoula River drainage, USA. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 107–115. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S
Abstract – Alabama shad ( Alosa alabamae ) is an anadromous species that spawns in Gulf of Mexico drainages and is a NOAA Fisheries Species of Concern. Habitat degradation and barriers to migration are considered contributing factors to range contraction that has left just the Pascagoula River drainage population in Mississippi. We studied juvenile life history and autecology in three rivers within the drainage. We collected fish, habitat and physicochemical data in three habitat types (sandbar, open channel and bank) from June to October 2004–2006. Sandbar habitat was favoured by smaller individuals early in the year. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased through the summer as larger fish began occupying bank and open channel habitat. The most parsimonious model of abundance included year and river variables, while patterns of presence and absence were best explained by river, habitat type and physiochemical variables. While all three rivers in the drainage contained Alabama shad, fish were less abundant and had lower condition values in the Chickasawhay River. Earlier work suggested the Alabama shad may gradually move downstream towards the Gulf of Mexico in their first year. However, we found no evidence of this and captured large fish high in the drainage late in the year.     

Effects of plant feeding on the development,survival and reproduction of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Diets consisting of leaves of cotton and/or water were insufficient to promote the complete development and survival of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) to the adult stage. However, nymphs fed leaves lived longer than those provided with only water. Addition of Alabama argillacea (Huebner) larvae to the diet of P. nigrispinus added a substantial increment to the survival during the nymphal stage. The addition of cotton leaves to the diet of P. nigrispinus nymphs promoted an increase in the weight of newly eclosed adults, independent of predator sex. In addition, diets supplemented with cotton leaves promoted an increase in the duration of the oviposition period, the number of egg clutches per female, and the number of eggs per female. No effects were noted on either the duration of the pre-oviposition period, the number of eggs of the first clutch, the number of eggs per clutch, the interval between egg clutches, or sex ratio. Feeding on plant material by P. nigrispinus is a potentially positive attribute in biological control against cotton leafworm.     

Dynamics of forest composition and growth in Alabama of USA under human activities and climate fluctuation

Integrated analysis of forest dynamics under both anthropogenic influence and climatic change is crucial to indicating emergent patterns and meeting objectives of climate change mitigation. In this study, a long-term forest inventory data (1960s-2010s) in Alabama, USA were analyzed for patterns in relation to human activities and climate fluctuation. The results indicated that the species (or species groups) composition in Alabama’s forests was significantly different between all reported times, except for 2012–2015 based on Simpson’s index. Eastern hemlock trees declined dramatically. The overall forest communities became less homogeneous. Positive or negative correlation existed in the abundance of many species. The distribution of tree abundance along diameters for tree species followed exponential models. Both annual tree mortality and net growth rate increased from the 1960s. The total volume of growing stock increased from 14.4 million cubic feet in 1963 to 39.5 million cubic feet in 2016. The average volume of growing stock per acre also increased linearly with annual average air temperature, but not with annual precipitation. Based on the patterns of Alabama’s forests under climate fluctuation and human activities, some suggestions on developing strategies for the sustainability of Alabama forest were discussed.