Department of Geography and the Environment

Senior Projects Day

Tuesday, 26 April 2016 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Mendel Science Center

Villanova University

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Department of Geography and the Environment Villanova University

Projects Day Program: Spring 2016

• Department Faculty

Francis A. Galgano, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Department Chair

J. Harold Leaman, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Geography

Keith G. Henderson, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Geography

Lisa J. Rodrigues, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Environmental Science

Nathaniel B. Weston, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Environmental Science

Bonnie M. Henderson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Geography

Steven T. Goldsmith, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Environmental Science

Melanie A. Vile, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Environmental Science

Peleg Kremer, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor, Geography

Stephen J. Levas, Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellow,

Environmental Science

John L. Kelley Adjunct Faculty

Robert J. Leggiadro, M.D. Adjunct Faculty

Special thanks to Angie Fondaco and Eric Wagner for assistance with Senior Projects Day.

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Program Schedule

Thesis Presentations 2:30 – 3:05 p.m. Mendel 154

2:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks 2:35 – 2:45 Danielle Radomile (advisor, Dr. Nathaniel Weston) 2:45 – 2:55 Alissa Welker (advisor, Dr. Lisa Rodrigues) 2:55 – 3:05 Kaila Hanley (advisor, Dr. Steven Goldsmith) 3:05 – 4:05 BREAK for Poster Session (outside Mendel G58) 4:10 – 4:20 Ewura-esi Simpson (advisor, Dr. Francis Galgano) 4:20 – 4:30 Samantha Blemker (advisor, Dr. Lisa Rodrigues) 4:30 – 4:40 Alexander Sebastiao (advisor, Dr. Steven Goldsmith) 4:40 – 4:50 Hannah Griffiths (advisor, Dr. Steven Goldsmith) 4:50 Closing Remarks

Thesis Abstracts

• Danielle Radomile An Examination of Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Land Use Changes on Stream Water Quality in Northeastern PA The increased energy needs of a growing population have led to the development of new fossil fuel extraction technologies. These advancements have led to the widespread practice of hydraulic fracturing, a new drilling method that allows natural gas extraction from previously inaccessible shale deposits. The environmental consequences of this emerging method are not well understood. Within the last decade, Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties have become some of the most heavily drilled regions in Pennsylvania. In order to identify the primary sources of water pollution in

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these counties, thirty-eight watersheds were sampled and tested for methane, heavy metals, suspended sediment, cations, and anions. Ten determinants of water quality were identified: the percent area roads, the percent area agricultural lands, the percent area forested lands, the percent area well pad, the percent area pipeline, the percent area water/wetland, the percent area open/barren land, the percent area developed land, the percent area other land use, and number of environmental violations within each watershed. A principal components analysis indicated that fracking activity was not the primary contributor of water pollution in the study area, though the practice was correlated to several pollutants. Uranium, bromine, fluorine, vanadium, lead, and chromium were all positively correlated to land uses associated with fracking. Developed lands were identified as the biggest threat to water quality in the study area. While fracking activity is not a leading cause of stream degradation, gas companies should be closely monitored and held to strict environmental regulations in order to minimize potential pollution.

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• Alissa Welker Cultivate a Conversation: Quantifying the Intersecting Opinions of our Food and Agriculture System In the current agriculture debate with increasing concern for food security and environmental protection, there are various perspectives on best cultivation methods, generating a confrontational setting. A constructive conversation among influential voices in agriculture has the potential to foster collaboration and cultivate a level of cooperation that does not exist today. To quantify their perspectives, 33 stakeholders across the agriculture industry including corporate employees, academics, farmers, and environmental organizations were interviewed. They were asked four open-ended questions about their opinions of the agriculture system and their viewpoints of its future. Interview data was qualitatively coded using key themes. A wide diversity of themes were attributed to the terms conventional, organic, and sustainable agriculture by all stakeholders, indicating a need for standard definitions for each term that may provide a starting point for more productive dialogue and multistakeholder communication. Based on a chi squared analysis, respondents agreed on the top three issues, with 42% identifying lack of public communication and education as crucial to our food and agriculture system. However, when asked about the future of the food system, there were significant differences in opinion, ranging from increased reliance on innovation to returning to pre-industrialized farming methods. Therefore the data showed that stakeholders agree upon the problems associated with the agriculture debate, but view the solutions differently. Identifying these varying viewpoints can ultimately assist in mediating the existing food-related conflicts that are prevalent today.

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• Kaila Hanley Evaluating Controls on Triclosan Export in a Rural to Suburban Watershed: Insights from the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek Over the last decade, there has been a growing urgency to determine both the source and fate of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP) in our waterways. In particular, many studies have focused on the widely used antimicrobial agent triclosan, due to its link to antimicrobial resistance. However, these initial studies have solely utilized sampling locations downstream of municipal sewage treatment systems, thus overlooking potential inputs from other point sources such as small privately operated sewage systems and non-point sources (i.e., leach fields associated with septic systems). Here we examine the range of concentrations, overall loading, and potential controls on triclosan delivery from non-municipal sources in the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek (EBBC), a rural to suburban watershed located in southeastern Pennsylvania. Samples for triclosan and discharge measurements were collected from 13 locations in the EBBC watershed in July 2014 during baseflow conditions. Detectable concentrations of triclosan in the EBBC ranged over several orders of magnitude from 0.131 to 274 ng/L. Small privately operated sewage treatment facilities and/or non-point sources were found to comprise ~28% of the cumulative triclosan loading in the EBBC. Triclosan concentrations and loads were subsequently compared to existing GIS-based land use data as well as the number of sewage related National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permits (a proxy for privately operated sewage treatment facilities) above each sampling location in an effort to evaluate controls on its export. No relationship was identified between triclosan concentrations and the relative amount of 15 different land use practices above each sampling location. While the relative number of NDPES permits above the sampling location did play a role in determining the extent of triclosan loading, this was ultimately dependent on the relative volume of the receiving water body. A total of 13 NPDES permit sites were identified as possible sources of triclosan pollution within the watershed. These sites were selected based on location, type of effluent and the termination date of the permit. Finally, the presence of detectable concentrations of triclosan in tributaries with no NPDES permits suggests leach fields are also a viable source. These findings suggest we must greatly expand our consideration of sources for PPCPs in our waterways.

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• Ewura-esi Simpson The Ebola Epidemic in West Africa was Characterized by the State of Peace and Stability, Economic and Healthcare Factors In 2014, the Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa, claimed the lives of more than 23,200 people. The disease ravaged countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Through the globalization of travel, the disease found its way to Spain and the United States. The

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rampant spread of the disease in West Africa had a lot of contributing factors: low performing healthcare systems, stability of the countries and the poor economies. The countries that were most affected by the disease share a history of wars which in turn lead to the weakening of the various institutions in those countries. By taking a look at these contributing factors in these three countries, it was observed that the state of these institutions relative to other countries in the world are in poor standing. These three ebola stricken countries alone are categorized as part of some of the most volatile countries in the world.

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• Samantha Blemker Trace Metal Contamination in Oyster Tissues Indicate Concerns for Environmental and Human Health Bivalves are filter feeders, extracting organic matter by drawing sea water into their shell and through the gills, potentially bioaccumulating trace metals and other contaminants. As many marine systems in Puerto Rico are increasingly affected by changes in land use, bivalves may be a critical tool in understanding ecosystem health. Two oyster species (Crassostrea rhizophorae and Isognomon alatus) were collected from 24 coastal mangrove sites in Guánica and La Parguera, Puerto Rico, I. alatus predominately found in La Parguera while C. rhizophorae was predominately found closer to Guánica. A subset of 11 sites was chosen for trace metal analysis that ranged from natural to progressively developed land use areas. Oyster tissue was extracted, weighed, acid-digested and analyzed for eighteen trace metals through an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Data indicates that there is a pattern of different concentrations of trace metals based on species and location. For example, C. rhizophorae had on average more than 9 times higher concentrations of copper than I. alatus. Many trace metals were found in higher concentrations at more developed sites, such as zinc, aluminum, and copper than less developed sites. This indicates contamination from industrial and waste water runoff from the developed areas of Guánica and La Parguera. The combination of high levels of chromium, cobalt, vanadium, and arsenic in Guánica Harbor suggest contamination from motor oil used in automobiles and boats. Although none of the metals surpassed the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake level for humans, these limits do not take into account long-term accumulation of toxic metals like arsenic and cadmium. Altogether, this study shows that both oyster species are indicators of impacts from human activity and the consequences for coastal ecosystems and human health.

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• Alexander Sebastiao Trace Metal Sediment Loading in the Mill Creek: A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Vehicular Pollutants in Suburban Waterways Vehicular wash-off introduces various toxic heavy metals into riverine environments, but such contaminant concentrations are normally difficult to observe. However, by examining seasonal sediment metal loading at two distinct river fords along the Mill Creek in Lower Merion, PA, the spatial and temporal transience of these contaminant concentrations were quantified. These two sites differed according to traffic volume, stream flow, and surrounding land-use. These factors, alongside hydrological events (i.e., storms) were hypothesized to significantly influence sediment loading and transience. Riverbed sediment samples were collected over the course of a driving season (spring to fall) upstream and downstream of the two fords and analyzed for trace metal concentrations and particulate organic carbon percentages. By comparing these results to hydrology and traffic density, it was determined that elements such as vanadium, chromium, nickel, and cobalt were significantly enriched in the environment. Furthermore, direct positive correlations were observed between metals that are historically associated with automobile use, such as zinc, copper, and chromium. In addition, significantly higher concentrations of metals observed at the more heavily trafficked site confirm their vehicular source. A strong positive correlation was also identified between particulate organic carbon and metals at Righters Mill Crossing, suggesting preferential absorption pathways in regions with lower stream flow. Hydrology was determined to be a disruptor regarding sediment accumulation, with major storm events flushing out the system and limiting metal accumulation. However, these metals have the potential to persist in the ecosystem and bioaccumulate, and the results of this study have implications for all vehicular and road-sourced inputs into riverine environments.

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• Hannah Griffiths The Role of Land Use Practices on the Delivery of Nitrate and Sediment into the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek The last two decades have been characterized as periods of rapid development and have caused The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to declare urban runoff as the third most common source of water pollution for rivers, and second most common for lakes. This research project evaluates how different land use practices and the relative degree of urbanization have impacted suspended sediment and nitrate delivery into the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek (EBBC); a watershed in southeastern Pennsylvania which traverses a rural to urban gradient. Monthly baseflow water samples and discharge measurement were collected from 11 different sampling

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locations along the EBBC from 2014 to 2016. The samples were analyzed for their nitrate and suspended sediment concentrations and the resulting yields were compared to land use practices in order to identify controls on their delivery. is the data analysis revealed a negative statistically significant relationship between sediment yields and cropland during baseflow conditions. Additionally, a positive statistically significant correlation was observed between sediment yield and development, which is likely due to channel bank erosion. During base flow conditions, there were no statistically significant data correlations between nitrate yields and land use practices for any sampling date. Using the monthly sampling data, sediment and nitrate rating curves were created for two locations on the EBBC occupied by USGS gauging stations. Substitution of daily discharge values for the year of 2014 into the associated equations revealed that the Downingtown area is responsible for a 67% increase in sediment loading and a 140% increase in nitrate loading. These results show that the rate of discharge is the primary factor to consider when trying to regulate water pollutants, such as sediment and nitrate.

Senior Project Poster Session 3:05 – 4:05 p.m.

Hallway Adjacent to Mendel G58

• Harrison Ainsworth Creating an Environmental Security Index: The Middle East & North Africa As environmental conditions continue to shift, evaluating a state’s ability to adapt to environmental change is becoming a top priority, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa where regional stability fluctuates. The Middle East and North Africa are a locus for much of the changing climate as well as political instability and therefore are a valuable case study for creating a security index. The purpose of this paper is to create an Environmental Security Index (ESI) for the Middle East and North Africa in order to quantify the stress that the region is facing. The ESI will be constructed using the fewest number of variables possible so that it can be easily adjusted and so the causal factors are clearer. The variables chosen were governance, demographics, water stress and percent degraded land. I hypothesized that governance is the most influential factor in determining the security risk of a country, thus this factor has been weighted. Consequently, countries with low governance scores are more likely to be a higher risk than those with high governance scores. This is logically sound, given how stronger governments allow the state to better adjust to change and also increase the likelihood of states entering into agreements with other states over resources or to mitigate crises. Within this framework, fixes in regional governance would alleviate some of the stress climate change promises to bring. The results appear to support the hypothesis that governance is the most influential factor in the ESI. Advisor: Dr. Francis Galgano

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• Brianna Brown Food Security and Transportation Networks in Rural Madagascar In many developing countries, transportation networks are inadequate for effective resource distribution. This is the case in Madagascar, where food insecurity is largely due to an insufficient road network and the inability of people to access food resources. The Fararano Project implemented by Catholic Relief Services and USAID aims to improve food security by establishing food distribution centers in three of Madagascar’s poorest regions, Atsimo Andrefana, Atsinanana, and Vatovavy Fitovinany. Using geographic information systems, this case study examines the vulnerability of populations falling under the Fararano Project’s area of influence, focusing on those at a distance greater than five kilometers from a resource distribution center. The analysis shows that Vatovavy Fitovinany is the region most vulnerable to food insecurity, as 93% of the Fararano Project distribution centers are more than five kilometers from any form of road network. Vatovavy Fitovinany also has a high incidence of illiteracy, pregnant/nursing women, and single female-headed households, all of which make the region’s population extremely vulnerable to food insecurity and the health issues caused by malnutrition. Advisor: Dr. Keith Henderson

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• Stephanie Dantos Wastewater Management Plan for Villanova University’s Lancaster Avenue Development Project As issues of water quality and scarcity become increasingly prevalent, it has become essential to emphasize sustainable solutions to our water consumption patterns. Many universities, including Villanova University, have made commitments to become more sustainable in the coming years. Villanova University is now in the preliminary stages of constructing new apartment style dormitories with 1,159 beds as on-campus senior housing. With such massive plans, this addition to the campus will produce millions of gallons of extra wastewater per month that the university must handle. Currently, the majority of Villanova’s wastewater is sent to Radnor Township pipelines, while the rest is sent to Lower Merion. However, there is a moratorium on additional flow to the Radnor sewer system, and Villanova must plan to handle the excess wastewater accordingly. In order to address this issue, several alternatives were identified and analyzed with a benefit-cost ratio calculation and analyzed through GIS to determine feasibility. It was determined that the most economically feasible and most sustainable solution included the construction of a water treatment facility on campus designed to treat up to 15,000 gallons per day. If constructed, such a facility would create potable water that could be used in applications such as irrigation on campus, or could be sold to an industrial end user. Additionally, the treatment and reuse of wastewater on Villanova’s campus would

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not only be an invaluable educational resource, but would be a vital step toward greater sustainability. Advisor: Dr. Metin Duran, Civil and Environmental Engineering

----- • Dan Goldstein A Comparison of Demographic Characteristics in Land-use Change Zones in Phoenix, AZ and Philadelphia, PA As the geographic pattern of urban land-use is continuously changing, so is its population. This paper will compare the characteristics of recent urban change of a newer city, Phoenix, AZ, to an established city, Philadelphia, PA from 2000-2010. The ability to isolate specific data regarding population, demographics and land-use within census tracts using GIS will make it possible to determine tracts with specific patterns of change. Tracts representing significant patterns of land-use change will be converted into a series of maps for visual display and the population characteristics associated with those zones will be highlighted. Advisor: Dr. Keith Henderson

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• Caroline Keefe Selling the Sun: Generating Consumer Demand for Solar Photovoltaic Technologies The emission of carbon dioxide as a result of energy generation in the developed world is one of the major ways in which human activities are contributing to the warming of the planet. This trend has caused scientists, policy makers, and businesses to search for alternative energy sources that do not generate greenhouse gases. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies are a promising alternative energy source proven to be a viable, affordable, and efficient clean energy source. The scope and impact that solar PV technologies can have, however, is directly linked to their rate of adoption and implementation by electricity providers and consumers. Solar PV technologies have not been widely implemented by electricity providers or consumers, despite sentiment that they are environmentally positive sources of electricity. The goal of this paper is to analyze the different methods of generating consumer demand for solar PV technologies, with a specific emphasis on community solar gardens. I found that the locations where solar PV technologies have been widely adopted are a result of both federal and state level regulatory policies, as well as sales and marketing techniques utilized by private businesses in the solar industry. The most effective methods of creating demand for solar PV technologies will be a result of cooperative efforts on behalf of the utility and developer

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to respond to the increased consumer demand for electricity generated from solar technologies increases. Advisor: Dr. Nathaniel Weston

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• Natalie Kvochak Nova Nutrition: A Look at the Dietary Habits, Motivations, and Opinions of the Villanova Student Body Diet and nutrition have become increasingly important topics of concern due to their impact on public health, the environment, and animal/human rights. College students especially have been linked to unhealthy diets and limited nutritional knowledge. Thus the aim of this study was to explore habits, motivations, and opinions regarding nutrition amongst the Villanova student body, as well as student understanding of the links between their dietary choices and the environment. The methodology for the study consisted of a 25 question online survey- 18 questions regarding nutrition and 7 covering demographics like age, race, class standing, etc. Current behaviors were evaluated using multiple choice and ranking questions, and perceptions were evaluated using a five point scale. Results indicate that the most important drivers of student dietary choices were taste, health and convenience. The majority of students identify as omnivores (72%) followed by vegetarian (24%) and vegan (4%). Compared to other college studies, Villanova students ate more healthy foods, valued health and nutrition more, and also expressed more willingness to experiment with different diet types. Many students were also able to identify positive (21%) or negative (37%) environmental impacts of their eating habits. Still, the relationship between dietary habits and environmental impacts seems to be vague as 41% of the survey participants reported they did not know whether their dietary choices had environmental impacts or not. In addition, for the most part, the environmental impacts that students identified (positive and negative) related to livestock agriculture, indicating that other environmental impacts are not well understood. These results offer valuable insight about the Villanova student body, most notably that an omnivorous diet is most popular. Most importantly, while many students express concern and interest in the healthiness and environmental impacts of their diet, this study still suggests that more awareness is needed. What is especially needed is more education regarding the relationships between diet, the environment, animal rights, and human rights. Thus it may be a worthwhile topic of interest for future education programs and initiatives at Villanova. Advisor: Dr. Peleg Kremer

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• Gavin Lewis A Verification and Analysis of Community Gardens in Philadelphia: Understanding the Distribution of Current Gardens to Establish Future Opportunities Urban community gardens have been shown to provide a range of benefits in cities around the world, improving the health of its users through access to fresh food and green space and promoting social engagement and community development. Such benefits mean that community gardens are valuable community assets, particularly in neighborhoods that are otherwise disadvantaged, often lacking green and public space. While there is a long and rich history of community gardening in Philadelphia, today, there are no complete records of all community gardens in the city. The purpose of this research is to verify all existing community gardens in Philadelphia, analyze their distribution in relation to several socio-economic factors, and identify opportunities for future garden sites in neighborhoods in Philadelphia that stand to benefit from additional gardens. A virtual verification procedure was developed using Bing Aerial Imagery and Google Earth Pro. A total of 582 plots where classified through the virtual survey resulting in the identification of an additional 74 community gardens not previously reported. Site and neighborhood analysis was conducted using ArcGIS 10.3.A scoring index was created to evaluate the characteristics of each Philadelphia neighborhood including percentage of green space, neighborhood area of community gardens, and median household income. The ten lowest scoring neighborhoods were then examined to establish the potential of future community gardens using the area of their suitable vacant land. The neighborhoods with the lowest score are found in clusters surrounding Center City. Out of the ten lowest scoring neighborhoods, 80% contain less than 25% green space and have average annual household income of less than $25,000. In addition, 50% of the lowest scoring neighborhoods currently have no community gardens and of the remaining, 40% of have less than 500 meters2 of garden space. However, 60% of the lowest scoring neighborhoods have more than 500 meters2 of suitable land and 50% have more than 1000m2 available. The study concludes that although the disadvantaged neighborhoods identified lack green space, community gardens, and have low household income, there are many suitable lots that could potentially be developed as community gardens. The results of this project can be used to prioritize locations for establishing new Philadelphia gardens in the future. Advisor: Dr. Peleg Kremer

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• Mary Rose Makoski How Climate Change and Pollution Affect Methane Oxidation Rates in Massachusetts and New Jersey Wetlands Methane has become the second most important greenhouse gas contributing to alterations to the global radiation budget resulting in climate change. Wetlands are a major natural methane source contributing to about fifty percent of the annual methane released into the atmosphere. Wetlands produce methane through the process methanogenesis in which methanogenic Prokaryotic Archaea produce methane. However, a large portion of the methane produced in wetlands is consumed by microbial methanotrophs, which act as a “biofilter” by oxidizing methane. Methanotrophs are important in the global methane budget because they limit the flux of methane into the atmosphere, and also consume atmospheric methane. With the increase of anthropogenic emissions of methane, it is increasingly important to understand how methanotrophs respond to environmental pollution and global change factors such as sea level rise. I conducted an experiment comparing methane oxidation in wetlands along the Parker River, Massachusetts and along the Delaware River, New Jersey. Sediment samples were incubated under four treatments (ambient, freshwater or saltwater, nitrate addition, and ammonium addition) and methane was measured using a gas chromatograph. The Massachusetts samples consumed methane through methane oxidation, while the Delaware River samples produced methane through methanogenesis. I hypothesize that rates of methane oxidation in the Delaware River samples were low due nitrogenous fertilizers of ammonium nitrate inhibiting methanotrophs, due to local agriculture runoff. These findings suggest that release of compounds that inhibit methanotrophy, likely from agricultural activities, may induce increased methane release into the atmosphere accelerating global warming. Advisor: Dr. Nathaniel Weston

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• Naomi Ng The Effects of Traditional Advertising Appeals in a Green Advertising Setting Despite a consumer trend towards sustainable products, there has been little research done on effective marketing strategies for these types of products. This study seeks to understand which traditional advertising appeal—economic appeal, fact-based appeal, or fear/threat appeal—most positively affects consumer attitude towards refillable water bottle stations. The usage of refillable water bottle stations on Villanova’s campus was observed over the course of four weeks using three advertisements based on the different traditional advertising tactics. The results from the study were largely inconclusive. In fact, usage of the refillable water bottle stations decreased in the weeks the advertisements were executed. Although the results show that green advertising is largely ineffective, the economic appeal advertisements fared the best out of the three tactics. These results are

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highly indicative of the fact that there must be more research done in determining the threshold between what a consumer considers informative and overbearing in terms of environmental appeals. Advisor: Dr. Nathaniel Weston

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• Ben Ngai Impact of Urban Runoff on Heavy Metal Concentrations in Aquatic Sediments The contamination of aquatic sediments by heavy metals can most often be traced to the products of human activities. The heavy metals present in these products will often disassociate and be picked up by surface runoff, which will then travel to the closest water bodies and bond to sediment. In addition, wastewater treatment plants are another known source of heavy metal pollution to the rivers despite their intended function. The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek runs through the Borough of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, a historical industrial town with many roadways, which traverse the creek. In order to determine the level of contamination by heavy metals in the Brandywine, eights sites around Downingtown were sampled, sieved to the clay size fraction, acid digested and analyzed by ICP-MS. The results show that heavy metal concentrations are not high enough to be a threat any aquatic organisms. However, there are vast differences in heavy metal levels between the sites demonstrating that some sites are more prone to contamination by anthropogenic means due to their relative location. The highest levels of heavy metals were found directly below a bridge, pointing to the fact that urban roadways are a major source of heavy metals to stream sediments. Advisor: Dr. Steven Goldsmith

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• Rachel Walsh The Patterns Between Organic Farming and the Tenure of Farmers at a State Level across the U.S. Organic agriculture is the sustainable technique to enhance the production of farm without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This study attempts to identify trends of farmers’ tenure and the farming methods at a state level within the U.S. Corporate farmers and big business has dominated the agricultural industry and previous studies conclude these farmers are not focused on organic farming. Farmers that grow organic crops or in the process of switching to organic crops have a wide range of

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motivations from price premiums to environmental and personal health. Based on USDA data and previous research, I hypothesized that at the state level, as the percent of corporate farms decrease and/or the percent of family/individual owned farms increase, the number of organic farms and acreage will increase. Using USDA census agriculture production data and analysis in ESRI ArcGIS 10.3, this study did not find a pattern regarding the tenure of the farmer and the number and acreage of organic farms. Many states in the West show a low percent of corporate farmers with a high percent of organic farming. On the other hand, states in the Northeast show a high percent of corporate farmers and a high percent of organic farms. This data does not illustrate a singular pattern across the country; which could be associated with the new wave of corporatization of organic farming in recent years. Further analysis is needed to uncover the factors associated with who and why farmers are growing organic crops. Advisor: Dr. Peleg Kremer

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