Measuring changes in financial and ecosystems service outcomes with simulated grassland restoration in a Corn Belt watershed

While provisioning ecosystem services generated through agricultural production are high, this often comes at the expense of other ecosystem services. Approaches that support both farm income and a balanced array of ecosystem services are needed. We employed a landscape modeling approach to demonstrate the financial and ecosystem service outcomes of strategically restoring grassland cover within a Corn Belt agricultural watershed. We assessed potential changes associated with a “Baseline” land use scenario and two alternative scenarios for the Grand River Basin (Iowa and Missouri, USA). In a “Buffered” scenario we simulated the impacts of replacing cropland within 20 m of streams with restored native grassland cover. In a “Productivity-based” scenario we simulated the replacement of annual row crops on poorly performing croplands with native grassland cover. Grasslands comprised 0.4% of the Baseline scenario. Grassland was expanded to 0.8% of the watershed in the Buffered scenario, reducing annual nutrient and sediment loss by 1.44%, increasing soil carbon sequestration by 0.12% over 10 years, and increasing pollinator abundance by 0.01%. The estimated annual value of these enhancements was $1.7 million for nitrogen reduction, $0.1 million for phosphorus reduction, $0.5 million for sediment reduction, and $1.3 million for soil carbon sequestration. Grassland comprised 4.9% of the watershed in the Productivity-based scenario, reduced annual nutrient and sediment loss by 11.50%, increased soil carbon sequestration by 1.13% over 10 years, and increased pollinator abundance by 0.42%. The estimated annual value of enhancements was $18 million for nitrogen reduction, $1.4 million for phosphorus reduction, $2.5 million for sediment reduction, and $14 million for soil carbon sequestration. We also calculated the value of grassland biomass for a potential energy market. The benefit of producing and selling grassland biomass ranged -$445 to $1,291 ha−1 yr−1. Scaled to the watershed, annual revenues ranged -$7.3 million to $21.1 million for the Buffered scenario and -$44.2 million to $128.8 million for the Productivity-based scenario. This study was the first to quantify changes in revenue and the value of ecosystem services associated with grassland restoration in the Grand River Basin and can help inform discussion among watershed stakeholders.

Prairie and tree planting tool-PT2 (1.0): a conservation decision support tool for Iowa, USA

This article overviews the prairie and tree planting tool or PT2 (1.0), an online GIS-based decision support tool for landowners interested in exploring opportunities to plant prairie or trees in and around their farm fields for conservation or production purposes. PT2 1.0 can be found online at: https://pt2.nrem.iastate.edu/. With the PT2 (1.0) users locate farm fields of interest in an online aerial photograph and mapping geographic information system (GIS). Users explore areas they are considering for prairie or tree cover by examining different data layers: soil maps, 2-foot contour topography maps, LiDAR hillshade maps, and a map of current land values based on estimated land rent. Users then utilize scaled dimensional drawing tools to measure and delineate areas of interest for planting trees and or prairie. Once an area is delineated, users select from drop-down menus prairie seed mixes or woody species that are suitable for the soils present, and users can select basic long-term management options. PT2 (1.0) estimates total annualized costs for tree or prairie establishment, long-term management, and opportunity costs (based on area weighted expected soil rent), and factors in the potential benefit of utilizing government cost-share programming, e.g., Environmental Quality Incentive Program or the Conservation Reserve Program. Key data layers are currently functional in Iowa, likewise the financial data underlying the cost analysis are specific to Iowa. PT2 (1.0) is, however, open source and open code and guidance is provided regarding how to access and adapt the data for use in other states.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10457-021-00686-8.

Odorous compounds sources and transport from a swine deep-pit finishing operation: A case study

Odor emissions from swine finishing operations are an air quality issue that affects residents at the local level. A study was conducted at a commercial swine deep-pit finishing operation in central Iowa to monitor odorous compounds emitted and transported offsite. Gaseous compounds were sampled using either sorbent tubes or canisters with GC/MS analysis, and particulates matter (PM₁₀) were sampled with high volume samplers and thermally extracted onto sorbent tubes for GC/MS analysis. Major odorous chemical classes detected at the swine facility included volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), volatile fatty acids (VFA), phenol and indole compounds. Manure storage was the main source of odorous compounds of which hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), methanethiol, 4-methylphenol, and 3-methylindole were key offenders. Only H₂S and 4-methylphenol were detected above odor threshold values (OTV) at all locations around the facility and both 4-methylphenol and 3-methylindole were detected above their OTV 1.5 km downwind from the swine facility. Odorous compounds generated during agitation and pumping of the deep pits was mainly H₂S. Odorants were mainly transported in the gas phase with less than 0.1% being associated with PM₁₀. Odor mitigation efforts should focus on gaseous compounds emitted from deep-pits and especially during manure agitation and deep-pit pumping.

Farmers and Climate Change: A Cross-National Comparison of Beliefs and Risk Perceptions in High-Income Countries

Climate change has serious implications for the agricultural industry-both in terms of the need to adapt to a changing climate and to modify practices to mitigate for the impacts of climate change. In high-income countries where farming tends to be very intensive and large scale, it is important to understand farmers' beliefs and concerns about climate change in order to develop appropriate policies and communication strategies. Looking across six study sites-Scotland, Midwestern United States, California, Australia, and two locations in New Zealand-this paper finds that over half of farmers in each location believe that climate change is occurring. However, there is a wide range of beliefs regarding the anthropogenic nature of climate change; only in Australia do a majority of farmers believe that climate change is anthropogenic. In all locations, a majority of farmers believe that climate change is not a threat to local agriculture. The different policy contexts and existing impacts from climate change are discussed as possible reasons for the variation in beliefs. This study compared varying surveys from the different locations and concludes that survey research on farmers and climate change in diverse locations should strive to include common questions to facilitate comparisons.

Forensic perioperative nursing. Advocates for justice

Facts and evidence have been negated or lost by the inexperience of health care professionals who are not cognizant of the legal requirements concerning potential criminal cases. In the perioperative setting, policy and procedure should provide guidelines for potential criminal cases based on the key concepts and principles of forensic science. Potential forensic cases and traumatic injuries are not limited to major health care centres. All hospitals should have policies and procedures which outline: traumatic injuries/death, staff responsibilities, details of collecting evidence, documentation, chain of custody. The procedure should also include care of victims, suspected perpetrators as well as family/persons accompanying patient.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease guidelines: a regional approach

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is an infectious, progressive, degenerative neurological disorder. Unique CJD Precautions must be adhered to as the infectious agent is difficult to destroy. A regional group in Hamilton-Burlington Ontario developed CJD guidelines based on critical review of the current evidence of transmission in a Canadian healthcare environment, current published standards of practice in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia; and principles of laboratory and patient care safety as well as expert opinion.

Analyzing pacemaker leads: application of a form of energy

In the province of Ontario, analyzing of pacemaker leads is a delegated controlled act. This article describes the certification/recertification process for analyzing of pacemaker leads at the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation.

The circulating role: who is the most appropriate care provider?

This article describes the long and arduous journey to the development of the Nursing Position Statement-Appropriate Care Provider for the Operating Room in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario. From the first meeting to the final presentation of the Position Statement to management, it took over a year of intense review. The entire process was done in consultation with the College of Nurses of Ontario, Operating Room Management, educators and staff nurses.

Eye glasses and dentures in the O.R.: the choice is yours!

Historically, patients have been required to remove their dentures and eye glasses on the pre-surgical ward before being taken to the Operating Room (OR) on the day of surgery. This descriptive study examined the choices made by patients pre-operatively regarding dentures and/or glasses, the reasons given for the choice, and the relative satisfaction with the choice post-operatively. Of the 213 patients enrolled in this study, 66% were female with an average age of 57 years. Only patients wearing eye glasses or dentures were included. Sixty-nine percent of the patients wearing glasses and 85% wearing dentures chose to wear them to the OR. When asked post-operatively about their satisfaction with their choice, 95% indicated that they were very satisfied with their choice and that it was the best decision they could possibly have made. No glasses or dentures were broken or lost during the study.

Yes, I want to walk to the OR

The health consumer of today is a more active participant in his or her health care. Although clients may require surgery, many of them do not consider themselves as being ill preoperatively. Health care professionals have a tendency to place the client in a dependent, ill role upon entering the health care facility. At this health care facility, clients are given the choice of either walking to the operating room, or going by stretcher. Studies found in the literature suggest that personal control is central to the reduction of clients' stress-related signs and symptoms. Nurses need to encourage client participation and assist the client to take control over those factors that are controllable. Utilizing King's (1981) conceptual framework, active client participation in mutual goal-setting, decision-making, and interactions to achieve the mutual goals in relation to health care is encouraged. All clients who attended the Preadmission Assessment Clinic were potential participants for this study. On the day of surgery, clients were asked by the nurse if they would prefer to walk to the operating room or go by stretcher. The majority of clients chose to walk to the operating room. The choice made by many of the clients is consistent with the findings in the literature stating that clients need a sense of control in what is often perceived as an uncontrollable environment.

A cardiac arrest policy

The following article describes the process in the development and implementation of an Operating Room's Cardiac Arrest Policy. The actual guidelines and forms developed are presented.