Precision agriculture technology can transform farming related data into useful information, which may lead to more efficient usage of agricultural resources and increase sustainability. This paper compares precision agriculture technology with traditional practices in scheduling fungicide application so as to manage late blight disease in tomato production. The following three fungicide scheduling strategies were evaluated: a calendar-based strategy, the BlightPro Decision Support System based strategy (DSS-based strategy), and a strategy that does not involve fungicide application. The data from field trials and computer simulation experiments were used to construct distributions of the net return per acre for the calendar-based and the DSS-based strategies. These distributions were then compared using three standard approaches to ranking risky alternatives, namely: stochastic dominance, stochastic dominance with respect to a function, and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function. Assuming no yield differences between the calendar-based and the DSS-based strategies, the calendar-based strategy was preferred for highly late blight susceptible cultivars, and the DSS-based strategy was preferred for moderately susceptible and moderately resistant cultivars. Assuming no yield differences, the value of the BlightPro Decision Support System ranged from −$28 to $48 per acre. With the yield improvement for the DSS-based strategy included, the DSS-based strategy was preferred for the cultivars in all of the disease-resistance categories with the value ranging from $496 to $1714 per acre.

Traditional villages in the Yellow River Basin of China are vital carriers of cultural heritage, ecological sustainability, and socio-economic development. This study employs spatial econometric analysis to examine the distribution patterns and influencing factors of 888 traditional villages in the region. The findings reveal a clustering pattern, with high-density areas in Shanxi and medium-density clusters in Shaanxi and Qinghai, while northern and southern regions remain sparse. Over time, the spatial center of village distribution has shifted along a north–south–north–east–west trajectory. The spatial distribution of traditional villages exhibits distinct regional characteristics and differences, shaped by several key influencing factors. These include elevation, precipitation, river proximity, road density, and the presence of cultural heritage units. Results show that in the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin, natural factors primarily determine village locations. In contrast, economic development and infrastructure factors play a larger role in shaping village transformation in the middle and lower reaches. Policy interventions, such as cultural heritage protection, have a greater impact on remote upper areas. The influence of these factors varies spatially, highlighting the importance of region-specific conservation strategies. Based on these findings, this study proposes targeted strategies for the conservation and development of traditional villages, including multi-type protection systems, cultural corridor construction, watershed-based governance, and enhanced infrastructure and policy support. These strategies aim to support the sustainable development and long-term preservation of traditional villages in the Yellow River Basin. By integrating geographic, economic, and cultural perspectives, this research provides valuable insights into the spatial evolution of traditional villages and informs policy recommendations for achieving balanced rural development.

US cotton producers are motivated to optimize planter performance to ensure timely and uniform stand establishment early in the season, especially when planting in sub-optimal field conditions. Field studies were conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the effect of seeding depth and planter downforce on crop emergence and yield in cotton planted in different soil moisture conditions. Field conditions representative of dry, normal and wet soil moisture conditions were attained by applying 0, 1.27 and 2.54 cm of irrigation within the same field. Two cotton cultivars (representing a small-seeded and a large-seeded cultivar, 9259–10,582 and 11,244–14,330 seeds kg⁻¹, respectively), were planted at seeding depths of 1.3, 2.5 and 3.8 cm with each seeding depth paired with three different planter downforces of 0, 445 and 890 N in each block. Cotton was planted in plots that measured 3.66 m (four-rows) wide by 10.67 m long. Results indicated that crop emergence was affected by the seeding depth across most field conditions and higher crop emergence was observed in the large-seeded cultivar at 1.3 and 3.8 cm seeding depths in dry and wet field conditions, respectively. Lint yield was also higher for the large-seeded cultivar at the 3.8 cm seeding depth across all field conditions in 2017, and in dry field conditions in 2018. Planter downforce effect on crop emergence varied among the cultivars where the large-seeded cultivar exhibited higher crop emergence than the small-seeded cultivar at 445 and 890 N downforce. Planter downforce of 445 N yielded greater than the 0 and 890 N treatment in dry field conditions in 2017. The study results suggest that matching planter depth and downforce settings for prevalent soil moisture conditions at planting along with appropriate cultivar selection can help in achieving optimal emergence and yield in cotton.

A shift to more ecologically based farming practices would improve the sustainability and economic stability of agricultural systems. Habitat management in and around agricultural fields can provide stable environments that aid in the proliferation of natural enemy communities that moderate pest populations and injury. Winter cover crops offer a potentially cost-effective approach to improving habitat that supports natural enemy communities early in the growing season. We investigated the effects of winter cover crops including cereal rye ( Secale cereal L.) and crimson clover ( Trifolium incarnatum L.) on the abundance and diversity of natural enemies, key pest populations, biological control services, and cotton yield. Winter cover crops were established on 0.4 ha replicated field plots in the fall of 2017 and 2018. Suction sampling during each cotton development stage demonstrated that a rye cover crop promoted greater abundance and diversity of natural enemy communities in early cotton stages. Extensive leaf sampling of seedling cotton showed that cover crops significantly reduced thrips infestations. Furthermore, stink bug boll injury decreased on plots prepared with a rye cover compared to cotton lacking this additional habitat. Combining end of season yield results and management practices with an economic analysis of the costs of production, the value of cotton grown into a cover crop was cost competitive with conventional (no cover) cotton production. These results suggest that conventional growers utilizing cover crops could reduce insecticide inputs through natural reductions in pest pressure, and overall do not incur additional production costs.

Industry–education integration has become increasingly important for agricultural universities to reduce the gap between talent cultivation and rapidly evolving industrial needs. This study examines the collaborative mechanisms behind successful industry–education integration programs at Qingdao Agricultural University (QAU) in China. Using grounded theory, the research draws on in-depth interviews and document analysis of eight representative programs at QAU. Through open, axial, and selective coding, we developed a multi-layered and practice-oriented theoretical model, showing how QAU, industries, government agencies, and social organizations collaborate to support talent cultivation, knowledge production, and innovation. The study proposed a theoretical model that aligns with the Quadruple Helix Innovation Ecosystem and Mode 3 knowledge-production framework, illustrating how multi-stakeholder collaboration and adaptive knowledge co-production can drive sustained educational reform. The findings also highlight several practical drivers of success at QAU, including multi-stakeholder governance structures, competency-oriented curriculum reform, dual-track faculty development, project-based learning platforms, and a collaborative institutional culture. Overall, the study provides guidance for applied agricultural universities to enhance industry–education integration, strengthen practical talent training, and improve the responsiveness of agricultural higher education to evolving industrial and societal demands.