By Jaci Schreckengost The peanut breeding program at the University of Florida’s (UF) North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Marianna, Florida, is helping growers in the Southeast by creating new peanut breeds. The breeding program uses applied genetics to create varieties with characteristics that will be beneficial to growers, says Barry Tillman, associate professor of the program. Due …
NIFA Support for Food and Agricultural National Needs Fellowship Grants Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $3.1 million in available funding to train the next generation of policymakers, researchers, and educators in the food and agricultural sciences. There is a significant shortfall between the number of jobs being created and availability of graduates with bachelor or higher degrees in the food, …
Funding to Train More Than 100 Future Agricultural Science Professionals
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $12.6 million to support the training of 55 doctoral candidates and 52 postdoctoral scholars. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Agricultural science depends on new ideas and new perspectives,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA …
Case Studies Show Big Economic Benefits of Soil Health Practices
Soil health practices such as cover crops and no-till can result in an economic return of over $100 per acre, according to a set of case studies jointly released by the National Association of Conservation Districts and Datu Research, LLC. Cover crops and no-till can limit soil loss, reduce run-off, enhance biodiversity, and more. Naturally, farmers who are considering adopting these practices …
Goodyear Using Soybean Oil-Based Rubber in Tires
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is harvesting some unique “seeds” of innovation as it introduces a new tire technology with support from the United Soybean Board (USB). The first commercial use of a new soybean oil-based rubber compound is helping Goodyear enhance tire performance in dry, wet and winter conditions. A Goodyear team of scientists and engineers created a …
University of Missouri Studying Tick-Borne Diseases
A $460,000 grant will help the University of Missouri research an infectious blood disease in cattle caused by bacteria transmitted by ticks worldwide. The University recently received the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study a new approach to interfering with the pathogen in the tick vector. A team of researchers at the university are working to develop …
Study Shows Fungal Infections Reduce Frogs’ Tolerance of Heat
Fungal diseases are increasing in animals, which might have serious consequences for wildlife living in a hotter world, said a University of Florida scientist. A new study published in the international journal Scientific Reports shows that fungal infections reduced the heat tolerance of frogs by up to 4 degrees Celsius. “We have seen an increase in animal and plant diseases, …
NIFA Invests $35 Million in Specialty Crop Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 12 new grants totaling $35 million for science-based solutions and new technology for the specialty crop industry. Funding is made through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Specialty crops generally fetch high value for the farmers, but require more intensive …
Georgia Farmers Invited to UGA Cotton & Peanut Research Field Day
The 2017 UGA Cotton & Peanut Research Field Day is coming up September 6 and Georgia Cotton Commission’s Richey Seaton hopes growers will attend. Please RSVP to Mrs. Michela Rineair at 229-386-3006 or msrineair@uga.edu by Friday if you plan to attend so they can have an accurate head count for the meal. Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day Schedule (.pdf) …
ISU Study Shows No Impact of RFS on Greenhouse Gasses
A study by Iowa State University (ISU) says the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) brings a net positive to the U.S. economy but fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. The study, produced in June, was released by the Renewable Fuels Association recently, highlighting the net positive to the U.S. economy. Iowa State University’s Center for Agriculture and Rural Development developed …