Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Sullins, Martha, author"

Browsing by Author "Sullins, Martha, author"

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Open Access
2016 public attitudes about agriculture in Colorado: a study by the Colorado Department of Agriculture
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Chriestenson, Chad, author; Martin, Michael, author; Thilmany-McFadden, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Jablonski, Becca, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
This research replicates studies conducted in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 by the Colorado Department of Agriculture partnering with different CSU personnel over the years. In 1996, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Ag Insights worked with Colorado State University’s Human Dimensions in Natural Resources Unit to develop a survey of Colorado residents to determine the public’s attitudes towards such issues as food prices, food safety, pesticide use, environmental practices, wildlife and agriculture, animal welfare, land use, population growth and agricultural land preservation, among other things. Subsequent reports have then compared the attitudes of Coloradans towards the above-mentioned issues across the years of 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. The 2016 survey is intended to add another year of data and comparisons built on these same objectives, but it also seeks to explore some new issues.
Open Access
A lodging tax for Custer County? Issues and answers
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2006) Seidl, Andy, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Cline, Sarah, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
A lodging tax for Huerfano County? Issues and answers
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2006) Seidl, Andy, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Cline, Sarah, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
Agritourism in Colorado: a closer look at regional trends
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2007) Sullins, Martha, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
Agritourism: a potential economic driver in the rural west
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2006) Wilson, Joshua, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
An overview of Coloradans' perceptions of agriculture
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017-02) Thilmany, Dawn, author; Chriestenson, Chad, author; Martin, Michael, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Jablonski, Becca, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
Starting in 1996, the Colorado Department of Agriculture identified the need to better understand how: a) the citizens of Colorado viewed the agricultural industry as a whole; b) the public perceives emerging policies meant to support or influence the role of agriculture in Colorado; and c) and how the Department's own programs were valued. In 2016, as they have every five years since 1996, they partnered with Colorado State University to frame a survey that would evaluate the public's attitudes about such issues as food prices, food safety, pesticide use, environmental practices, wildlife and agriculture, animal welfare, land use, population growth and agricultural land preservation, among other things. This report has a particular focus on how a respondent's history and depth of experience in agriculture may influence their opinions on several key issues.
Open Access
Coloradans' perceptions about land and water resources for agriculture
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017-02) Sullins, Martha, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Chriestenson, Chad, author; Martin, Michael, author; Jablonski, Becca, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
This survey on Colorado Attitudes about Food and Agriculture highlights several key findings with respect to Coloradans' perceptions about and priorities for agricultural land and water use.
Open Access
Coloradans' views on farm labor: a closer look at the 2022 public perceptions and attitudes about Colorado agriculture survey
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024-01) Pena, Anita Alves, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Cable, Jonathan, author; Regional Economic Development Institute, publisher
Open Access
Colorado attitudes about agriculture and food: 2011 executive summary
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012-06) Sullins, Martha, author; Thilmany-McFadden, Dawn, author; Songa, Dominique, author; Marconi, Nick, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
This summary highlights some key findings of the 2011 Survey on Public Attitudes about Colorado Agriculture. The study's figures, tables and discussion are based on the responses of 504 Coloradans who participated in an online survey in August 2011.
Open Access
Colorado tourism
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020-06) Sullins, Martha, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Weiler, Stephan, author; Hill, Rebecca, author; Regional Economic Development Institute, publisher
Open Access
Colorado's agritourists: who are the adventurers, the seekers and the explorers?
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2007) Thilmany, Dawn, author; Ansteth, Alex, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
Community-supported agriculture marketing performance: results from pilot market channel assessments in Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019-05-24) Jablonski, Becca B. R., author; Sullins, Martha, author; McFadden, Dawn Thilmany, author; Sustainability, publisher
Due in large part to rising consumer interest, the number of farmers and ranchers selling through local food markets is growing. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a unique local food channel adopted by producers that was initially established as a strategy for producers to directly benefit from the season-long investments of buyers who align with their community-focused mission. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has long collected data to improve farm performance, information on specific marketing channels is missing, and in response, this research provides some of the first evidence of the heterogeneity of performance among CSAs. In a pilot approach to understanding the economics of CSAs relative to other direct marketing channels, we conducted an assessment process, incorporating 42 farms in Colorado between June 2016 and October 2017. Results showed that farms that incorporated CSA sales in their direct market portfolios tended to be smaller in scale and utilize more diverse markets. Although these CSA farms have lower average weekly sales, they have the highest average marketing profit margins compared to other direct market channels.
Open Access
Determinants of effective beginning farmer programming and implications for future programs
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017-09-01) Jablonski, Becca B. R., author; McFadden, Dawn Thilmany, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Curtis, Kynda R., author; Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
This research explores the determinants of effective beginning farmer programming and implications for emerging and established programs. We use responses from 100 interviews with participants in the Building Farmers in the West Program, one of the longest-standing beginning farmer training programs in the United States, to understand how key course principles predict improved farm profitability. Results show that specific production changes after taking the course—including the number of cultivated varieties (negative), number of farm enterprises (positive), and length of production season (positive)—are correlated with improved farm profitability. We make recommendations for future beginning farmer programming based on these results.
Open Access
Flood damage losses to agricultural crops in Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013-11) Dalsted, Norman L., author; Deering John, author; Hill, Rebecca, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
The period from September 9-16, 2013 saw unprecedented rainfall in many parts of Colorado, and 17 counties were significantly impacted by heavy rain and flooding. The estimated value of the lost production is somewhere between $3.4 and $5.5 million. The flood resulted in many other losses for the farmers and ranchers. This does not include damage to fences, some stacked hay, irrigation systems, roads, bridges, homes and farm/ranch buildings, wells, and other related structures and machinery. Wet fields which may delay the harvest, debris in fields, and temporary relocation of livestock are a problem for many producers. While the moisture received in most areas was a welcome relief from dry conditions which has plagued Colorado, the record rainfall did come at a significant cost to many producers.
Open Access
Food security and access in northern Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010-10) Sullins, Martha, author; Phillips, Megan, author; Sloan, Melanie, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
Food security is a complex issue: limited resource households, distance to food markets and other barriers to securing adequate, safe and nutritious foods all combine to create a food landscape that may not be conducive to good health in our communities. Recent data from the Northern Colorado region suggest there is increasing need for food assistance from government, community and school programs. Data on food assistance, food stamps outlays, and reduced/free school lunch eligibility are consistent in illustrating increased need for programs to mitigate food insecurity during this economic downturn. Community gardens and efforts to "map" food assets are explored as new approaches to improve access to raw foods and appropriate food market outlets for those who might otherwise have their dietary choices constrained by what is readily available.
Open Access
Health outcomes
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010-10) Sullins, Martha, author; Thilmany-McFadden, Dawn, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
Colorado has had the lowest adult obesity rate in the U.S., but is worsening from its status a decade ago. Because of the perceived link between food access, behavior and consumption, exploring connections between the food system and health/nutrition is warranted. The region has shown only slight improvement in two indicators of improved health behaviors—consuming enough fruits and vegetables and adequate physical activity—and all improvements made were in Weld County. Given some limited improvement in health outcomes, and evidence that targeted community programming was effective in Weld county, there may be reason to consider food system issues in future public health discussions.
Open Access
Of wine and wildlife: assessing market potential for Colorado agritourism
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2007) Thilmany, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Ansteth, Alex, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
Perception of trust in sources of information on agriculture and food issues
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017-03) Martin, Michael, author; Chriestenson, Chad, author; Thilmany, Dawn, author; Jablonski, Becca, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
This factsheet presents some important takeaways from the 2016 Coloradan's Attitudes about Agriculture and Food survey. Colorado consumers have trust in the information from a variety of groups for infor-mation on both agriculture and food quality, nutrition, and safety issues. These groups include university and research organizations, Colorado Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, and farmers and ranchers. When looking at Coloradan's opinions on particular agricultural practices, their levels of trust for information generally decreased as their approval for certain agricultural practices decreased. The only exception was the level of trust in information from environmental organizations on both agricultural and food issues from people who did not approve of particular agricultural practices. This might indicate that environmental organizations are appealing to different type of person in regards to their agricultural beliefs. This finding suggests that outreach and market specialists might want to collaborate with a variety of different groups in order to maximize the effectiveness of their message, especially if the message centers on potentially controversial agricultural topic. Trust for information from social media was lowest for both agricultural and food quality, nutrition, and safety issues. Finally, consumers did not indicate a significant difference overall between their trust on agriculture and food quality, nutrition, and safety issues for each source of information.
Open Access
Possible roles for social networking in agritourism development
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Phillips, Megan, author; Thilmany-McFadden, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, publisher
Open Access
Public attitudes about agriculture in Colorado: a study done for the Colorado Department of Agriculture
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012-03) Thilmany, Dawn, author; Sullins, Martha, author; Marconi, Nick, author; Songa, Dominique, author; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, publisher
This research replicates studies conducted in 1996, 2001 and 2006 for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. In 1996, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Ag Insights worked with Colorado State University's Human Dimensions in Natural Resources Unit to develop a survey of Colorado residents to determine the public's attitudes towards such issues as food prices, food safety, pesticide use, environmental practices, wildlife and agriculture, animal welfare, land use, population growth and agricultural land preservation, among others. Subsequent reports have then compared the attitudes of Coloradans towards the above-mentioned issues across the years of 1996, 2001 and 2006. The 2011 survey is intended to add another year of data and comparisons built on these same objectives, but it also seeks to explore some new issues, including: 1. Exploring the food shopping attitudes and behaviors of Coloradans, with a particular focus on where they shop for foods (including home production). This included questions on Colorado Proud and purchases of local foods. 2. Determining the trust that Coloradans have in different sources of information on food, agriculture, nutrition, and food safety. 3. Exploring the participation in agritourism by Coloradans, including the types of activities they participate in, and the frequency of their participation. Note that this report explores all of the above subjects for the entire survey sample. However, additional research and synthesis may also be conduct on differences in perceptions among Coloradans that may be based on geographic location, length of residence in-state, or other pertinent characteristics.