George K. Criner

Attitude Changes of Undergraduate University Students in General Education Courses.

Assessing learning outcomes in general education is increasingly important to accrediting bodies. A fertile area of assessment is measuring changes in student attitudes/values in response to general education. University of Maine faculty experimented with such an attitude assessment. The results reveal interesting questions about general education and values education.

Are Environmental Professors Unbalanced? Evidence From the Field

Most outcomes assessment in higher education has focused on content knowledge or skills development; however, attitudinal change is also a legitimate focus of assessment. We use the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) to test whether courses designed to meet the same university environmental literacy requirement changed student environmental attitudes, and whether these changes resulted from instructor and/or course-content effects. We found student environmental attitudes did change significantly but in different directions depending upon who taught the course. The ability to measure such changes adds to the discussion in the environmental education community on the desired nature of attitudinal change and of the responsibilities of higher education instructors.

Economic Risk of Bee Pollination in Maine Wild Blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium

Abstract Recent pollinator declines highlight the importance of evaluating economic risk of agricultural systems heavily dependent on rented honey bees or native pollinators. Our study analyzed variability of native bees and honey bees, and the risks these pose to profitability of Maines wild blueberry industry. We used cross-sectional data from organic, low-, medium-, and high-input wild blueberry producers in 1993, 1997–1998, 2005–2007, and from 2011 to 2015 (n = 162 fields). Data included native and honey bee densities (count/m2/min) and honey bee stocking densities (hives/ha). Blueberry fruit set, yield, and honey bee hive stocking density models were estimated. Fruit set is impacted about 1.6 times more by native bees than honey bees on a per bee basis. Fruit set significantly explained blueberry yield. Honey bee stocking density in fields predicted honey bee foraging densities. These three models were used in enterprise budgets for all four systems from on-farm surveys of 23 conventional and 12 organic producers (2012–2013). These budgets formed the basis of Monte Carlo simulations of production and profit. Stochastic dominance of net farm income (NFI) cumulative distribution functions revealed that if organic yields are high enough (2,345 kg/ha), organic systems are economically preferable to conventional systems. However, if organic yields are lower (724 kg/ha), it is riskier with higher variability of crop yield and NFI. Although medium-input systems are stochastically dominant with lower NFI variability compared with other conventional systems, the high-input system breaks even with the low-input system if honey bee hive rental prices triple in the future.

Regional Composting of Residential Waste: An Economic Analysis

Paper and food are the two largest components of Maines nonbulky residential waste stream, comprising approximately 33 and 28 percent, respectively. Given the large fractions which these two compostable components comprise, and the states goal of reducing and recycling 50 percent of the states waste, this preliminary analysis was carried out. Since size and location of a regional composting facility will impact both average processing as well as transportation costs, an approach was selected which could model both declining average processing costs as well as changes in transportation costs. A mixed integer linear programming model was developed which minimized waste management system costs allowing for the regional composting of organics. At present no cocollection of compostables with other waste is being conducted in the study area (Bangor, Maine). For modeling purposes, an upper and a lower level of increased costs for cocollection were used along with a wide range of waste tipping fees. The model ...

Pricing dynamics in US fresh produce channels: new empirical evidence

Abstract Despite many valuable contributions, prior research has not completely explained retail pricing behavior. This study employs scanner data for 36 fresh produce items analyzing the relationship between costs of goods sold and retail prices to provide further insight into retail pricing behavior. Implications include: (1) where ‘natural’ variation in produce prices do not already exist from the supplier, retailers appear to introduce the variation themselves, independent from shipping point price; and (2) to the extent that supplier-retailer contracts for fresh produce develop, the resulting stabilizing influence on costs may have the preserve effect of increasing retail price variability to consumers.

Formulation and characteristics of a fermented pepperoni using mutton and fowl

Abstract A fermented pepperoni was prepared using hand deboned mutton (50%) and fowl (50%) and the chemical, physical and sensory properties of the experimental pepperoni were examined. The muttom:fowl pepperoni contained 33.6% protein, 36.8% moisture, 20.0% fat and 4.3% salt. Textural measurements demonstrated that the mutton:fowl pepperoni had a shear value of 2.99 Pa(kg-force/cm2) and a hardness of 20.3 N (kg-force). The Hunter a-value was 13.97. Comparison with a national brand of fermented all beef pepperoni showed the mutton:fowl pepperoni to be higher in protein, lower in fat, less red and to have a lower shear value. Sensory analysis demonstrated that the commercial all beef pepperoni was preferred for color (P 0.05) for texture and flavor between the experimental and commercial pepperonis. Preliminary cost of production analysis indicated that the mutton:fowl pepperoni would cost

The influence of information on users' attitudes toward campground user fees.

1.76-2.10/kg to manufacture.