The "Framework for Determining the Suitability of Undeveloped
Land for Use as Cropland" is a decision-making format to assist private
and governmental agency decision makers in categorizing undeveloped
lands, which have been identified as having potential for conversion
to cropland, as to their suitability for use as cropland. The
Framework...
The effect of landuse change on the hydrologic, biogeochemical and ecological response of watersheds is a concern throughout the world. To help characterize the potential magnitude of such changes, and of the potential to remediate or avoid undesirable features, studies focused on the cumulative watershed effects of site level change...
This dissertation consists of three papers on agricultural nonpoint source pollution and control. The first paper focuses primarily on agricultural land use changes under alternative conservation policies. The second and third papers address environmental implications of these policies and their cost effectiveness. In the first paper, the effect of alternative...
Two essays are focused on crop choice and the growth of corn production in
the Corn Belt and surrounding areas. The first essay develops a partially
degenerate nested logit model to examine the effect of price islands and local
ethanol capacity on corn production and crop mix. The primary data...
The aggregate industry is responsible for the extraction and production of crushed stone, sand, and gravel— the literal building blocks of our society. Across the U.S. there are tens of thousands of quarries and sand and gravel pits, the majority of which are left abandoned or with minimal reclamation efforts....