The "unusual" behavior of agricultural land prices is the subject of considerable debate and controversy and is the object of this research. There is little doubt that land prices have been increasing steadily since 1959 and dramatically throughout the decade of the 1970's. However, there is widespread disagreement among economists,...
This research analyzed the relationships of agricultural field burning policies, and other economic factors, with the quantity of land devoted to grass seed production in counties of the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The thesis describes the background of the grass seed industry, field burning and government policies concerning field burning in...
The present increasing need for the development of empirical hypotheses that explain the decisionmakers' behavior towards risk is to provide an understanding of the framework within which an industry operates. Such hypotheses could facilitate the implementation of policies designed to solve problems identified within an industry and could also provide...
National farm legislation seeks to moderate the conditions of low farm incomes and commodity price instability. Homogeneity of producer response is generally assumed in national models of aggregate commodity supply. Differing conditions of soil, climate, production systems, costs of production, markets, etc., could cause disparate acreage responses to the commodity...
This work is concerned with determining whether nicotine has a role in promoting oxidative damage in human tissue, particularly in lung tissue. This follows from recent reports of a novel lung disease found in some E-cigarette users, characterized by oxidative damage and elevated levels of neutrophils (termed “vaping disease”). It...
Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important due to their low environmental impact and limitless nature. This thesis explores the design of a 250 mW permanent magnet linear generator wave energy converter to power ocean sensors. While many wave energy converters exist, this is a unique application because the wave...
The effect of seedbed preparation on the emergence and survival of winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata (Gueldenstaedt)) and squirreltail (Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey)) seedlings was determined, while quantifying nutritional changes through the dormant season for four range species. In November of 2004 twenty 9m x 8m plots were randomly prepared with one...