Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station

With Cellulosic Ethanol, There is No Food vs. Fuel Debate, According to MAES Scientist

Ethanol made from cellulosic materials, rather than corn grain, renders the food vs. fuel debate moot, according to research by an MAES ethanol expert.

As more and more corn grain is diverted to make ethanol, some groups have become concerned about food shortages. Bruce Dale, MAES chemical engineering and materials science researcher, has used life cycle analysis tools, which include agricultural data and computer modeling, to study the sustainability of producing biofuels -- fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel that are made from renewable resources.

"We grow animal feed, not human food in the United States," Dale said. "We could feed the country's population with 25 million acres of cropland, and we currently have 500 million acres. Most of our agricultural land is being used to grow animal feed. It's a lot simpler to integrate animal feed production into cellulosic ethanol production than it is to integrate human food production. With cellulosic ethanol, the 'food vs. fuel' debate goes away."

Dale, who also serves as associate director of the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies, presented his findings March 27 at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in Chicago.

Cellulosic ethanol is made from the stems, leaves, stalks and trunks of plants, none of which is used for human food production. Dale, who has studied ethanol for more than 30 years, said that as the country moves toward large-scale cellulosic ethanol production, the yield of so-called energy crops - grasses and woody materials grown for their energy content -- also will dramatically increase.

"This will reduce pressure on our land resources," Dale said. "We'll be able to get more raw material out of one acre of land."

Dale also pointed out that many of these energy crops will be grown on land that isn't prime agricultural acreage, but rather on marginal land that isn't growing a commercial crop right now.

"The evidence indicates that large-scale biofuel production will increase, not decrease, world food supplies by making animal feed production much more efficient," Dale said.

This work is funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and DuPont Biobased Materials, Inc.

MAES Researcher Receives NSF Award to Study Disease Resistance in Plants

Brad Day, MAES plant pathologist, will use an $850,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Development (CAREER) Program to gain a better understanding of how plants fend off diseases.

Day also will use part of the award to make a case for using plants to teach basic science concepts in Michigan high schools.

NSF CAREER awards support early career development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organizations.

Using a variety of structural, biochemical and genetic techniques, Day's five-year project will investigate how Arabidopsis, a common lab plant, fights Pseudomonas syringae, which causes bacterial speck disease. His research focuses on a gene in Arabidopsis that appears to coordinate the disease-resistance response.

"If you can understand the disease-resistance process in Arabidopsis, then it's possible that something very similar is happening in crops important to Michigan, such as cucumbers, apples, cherries and others," Day said.

Day is also developing a high school-level educational component for the project. Gail Richmond, MSU associate professor of teacher education and director of the MSU Secondary Teacher Preparation Program, is collaborating with Day to integrate his research into educational activities for high school students and teachers.

"I didn't want to reinvent the wheel and had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Richmond," Day said. "For a number of years, she's been bringing in promising high school students from across the country to spend the summer living, breathing, eating and sleeping science research at MSU."

"This project has powerful possibilities in a variety of ways," Richmond said. "It will be gratifying to collaborate with Dr. Day as a researcher who cares about teacher professional development and education at the precollege level. It's a win-win situation for all involved."

Each summer during Day's project, a Michigan high school teacher and a high school student will work in Day's lab. The teacher will develop standards-based science units using plants as a model in consultation with both Day and Richmond.

"This provides a unique opportunity for the teacher to develop curriculum with the benefit of having a student on hand to interact and practice with -- to see how well the student understands the lesson," Day said. "Being on-site in the lab also allows the teacher to ask me or anyone else in the lab scientific or technical questions."

In each subsequent year, a new teacher and student will be selected, and the teacher from the previous year will be invited back for a week or two to share what worked and what didn't.

"We want to convince teachers that plants are one of the best model systems for teaching science, whether you're talking about basic biology, genetics or physiology," Day said. "My hope is that, in a few years, no one will be talking about dissecting frogs -- they'll all be growing Arabidopsis in their labs. That's the dream."

MSU Dairy Farm Is "Gold" Standard

The MSU Dairy Teaching and Research Center (DTRC) has been recognized for its excellent milk quality as a gold winner in the annual National Dairy Quality Awards competition. Winners were announced by Hoard's Dairyman magazine.

The MSU DTRC was one of 120 farms judged in the competition. The five platinum, 11 gold and 17 silver operations were evaluated for measures of quality, systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis, and strategies for overall herd health and welfare. Ten other winners in the platinum, gold and silver categories were also Michigan dairies.

Philip Sears, MAES large animal clinical sciences researcher, submitted the nomination.

"It was a good time to let others know what a good job they do and give our dairy the recognition it deserves," Sears said. "Over the past several months, the farm's somatic cell count has been down below 50,000. Now that's really, really high quality milk."

According to the NMC (formerly the National Mastitis Council) Web site, the cell count for normal milk is nearly always below 200,000 cells.

"The MSU dairy should have been nominated years ago, but I guess people forget about the university because they assume we're doing it right," Sears said.

Bob Kreft, manager of the MSU DTRC, attributes the success to team and technique.

"The credit really belongs to my crew, an excellent group of employees who care about milk quality," Kreft said. "I'm really proud that we received the award because the herd is here first and foremost for teaching and research."

Since receiving the award, Kreft said, the farm's milk quality has only improved.

"We looked pretty good during the time the award covered, but we've made even more progress since then," Kreft said. "Our somatic cell count has been under 50,000 for 11 months."

Kreft said the farm benefits from being the site of cutting-edge research taking place in the Department of Animal Science and the College of Veterinary Medicine. At any point in the year, multiple research projects can be simultaneously looking at feed quality, cow comfort, metabolism and reproduction for any number of animals in the herd.

"On our farm, we have contact with so many knowledgeable researchers," Kreft said. "We have the opportunity to participate in research from the very beginning stages. We may learn a good idea early on that other producers may adopt in the future, or we may end up back at the drawing board."

The MSU Dairy Teaching and Research Center is located on the south side of campus on College Road. The herd is made up of 150 Holstein milking cows and 150 replacement heifers raised on the farm. The dairy farm is open to the public for self-guided tours every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maps and signs are in place to guide visitors through the farm and answer basic questions. The cows are milked at 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

W.K. Kellogg Farm Receives 2006 Spartan Innovator Award

Rob Ashley, W.K. Kellogg Farm dairy manager (right), accepted the 2006 Spartan Innovator Award from Ben Darling, Land Management Office assistant director, at the 26th annual Farm Managers’ Seminar in February.

Ashley accepted the award on behalf of the Kellogg Farm for a project on alternative methods of controlling dairy cattle heel warts. Heel warts (papillomatous digital dermatitis or PDD) cause lameness and are a problem for the dairy industry. Traditional treatments use copper sulfate, formalin or antibiotics to get rid of the warts, but all are increasingly expensive and difficult to dispose of properly.

The Kellogg Farm project evaluated the potential of an ozone-saturated water foot bath to control PDD. Cows with PDD that were treated with the ozonated water had improved locomotion scores and smaller lesions than control animals.

The Spartan Innovator Award recognizes outstanding efforts, positive contributions and achievements in the field by farm, station and property staff members.

"We have many conscientious, creative and talented people in the MSU/MAES farm, station and property family," Darling said. "This award is one small way to let them know that we notice and appreciate what they are doing and that it truly does make a difference."

Michigan's Plant Agriculture Initiative Is "Ten Years And Growing"

For 10 years, Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs) has answered some of plant agriculture's biggest questions. This year, Project GREEEN's university, industry and legislative partners will commemorate a decade of service under the theme "Ten Years and Growing."

Project GREEEN was conceptualized by a group of plant agriculture industry, state government and Michigan State University leaders, who saw an opportunity to partner for the benefit of plant agriculture in Michigan.

"Project GREEEN is so important because of the diversity of Michigan agriculture and the uniqueness of the state's geography and climate," said Doug Buhler, MAES associate director and Project GREEEN coordinator.

Michigan ranks second only to California in the diversity of agricultural products produced in the state. Generating $60.1 billion in annual economic activity, agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan.

"As Michigan's land-grant university, Michigan State University, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and MSU Extension are called to serve the needs of grain and forage producers as well as Michigan's numerous specialty, turf and ornamental crops," Buhler said.

Project GREEEN distributes annual funding through a competitive grant process and infrastructure support throughout the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In its first decade, Project GREEEN has helped launch new centers and initiatives such as Plant Diagnostic Services and the Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources Innovation, and funded projects ranging from corn hybrid research trials to the revival of the chestnut industry in Michigan to identifying Phytophthora disease strategies in vine crops. A vital Project GREEEN funding tool is a discretionary allocation that has come to the rescue of several plant industries during disease outbreaks, climatic catastrophes such as the hard frost of Michigan's tart cherry crop and the outbreak of the fast-spreading exotic beetle, the emerald ash borer.

Buhler points to Project GREEEN's continuing focus on its initial purpose as a point of pride for the initiative and its supporters.

"One of the proudest accomplishments of Project GREEEN is that it has stayed true to its original mission and intent," Buhler said. "The goal has always been to provide research and outreach support for the betterment of the plant industries in Michigan."

Another essential contributor to Project GREEEN's success, Buhler said, is the total integration of plant agriculture stakeholders into the identification, selection and evaluation of research and outreach projects to be funded.

To commemorate the 10th year of Project GREEEN research and Extension, the initiative introduced a new logo and a new quarterly publication -- Issue-Action-Impact (IAI). IAI focuses on the three-step model that Project GREEEN uses to solve industry challenges, and each issue highlights a different sector of plant agriculture in Michigan. Project GREEEN also will launch a new Project GREEEN Web site and recognize the Plant Coalition, Project GREEEN's industry advisory council, at a special event.

"There aren't many other stakeholder, government and university partnerships like Project GREEEN in the country," Buhler said. "We have a unique level of engagement and resources at our disposal that are worth celebrating."

Dairy Nutritionist Headed to the Netherlands on Fulbright Mike VandeHaar

In the Netherlands, cows are "koeien" and instead of "moo" they say "boeh." But like their Michigan counterparts, Dutch dairy farmers are concerned about managing the nutrients they feed to their cows.

"Dairy farmers in both Michigan and the Netherlands are very concerned with farm nutrient management; they want to give their animals adequate nutrients to promote cow health, production and general well-being while minimizing any loss of those nutrients to surrounding bodies of water," explained Michael VandeHaar, MSU professor of animal science. VandeHaar will travel to Wageningen University in the Netherlands for six months starting in February 2008 as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar award to foster international collaboration on dairy nutrient management. VandeHaar's work is also supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

At Wageningen University, VandeHaar will give several lectures and collaborate with Jan Dijkstra, an internationally known dairy scientist, on mathematical models for dairy nutrition management. The scientists hope to develop new modeling approaches that include genetic components to enhance how efficiently cows use nutrients.

"If cows are inefficient in converting feed to milk or meat, it results in excess waste nitrogen and phosphorus, which means ammonia emissions to air, nitrate losses to water, and eutrophication of lakes and streams," VandeHaar said. "Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in animal waste are emerging as one of the most important challenges to animal agriculture."

Dairy producers have used nutrition models for several years in computer ration balancing programs to maximize the productivity, health and profitability of dairy cattle.

"The increasing importance of reducing waste means we've now got to focus on enhancing efficiency and stewardship," VandeHaar continued. "This new focus has been termed 'precision feeding.' But the problem is that currently we can't accurately predict how dietary changes will affect feed intake and milk production in dairy cows."

Understanding how cows respond to nutrient changes at the genomic level will enable VandeHaar and Dijkstra to begin to develop a new model that will mathematically define the relationship between the dietary protein intake of a cow and her metabolic gene expression and milk production.

While at Wageningen University, VandeHaar also plans to rejuvenate an undergraduate student exchange program between the two institutions that was established in 1995.

"Very few animal science students have taken advantage of the exchange program between MSU and Wageningen," VandeHaar said. "I'm hoping my visit will spark more interest from our students."

Recipients of the Fulbright Scholar awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement and have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential in their fields. The Fulbright program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with additional funding provided by the participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad.

Liu Honored for Building International Understanding

Jianguo "Jack" Liu, MAES fisheries and wildlife scientist, was one of 11 honorees at the annual MSU International Awards Ceremony March 21.

The MSU Office of International Studies and Programs has sponsored the annual event since 1991 to bring together MSU faculty and staff members, students, community volunteers and others from the wider Michigan community to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions toward international understanding.

The award recipients ranged from an alumnus who is the governor of Bank Indonesia to faculty members who are working in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and to students and a retiree whose efforts have fostered the internationalization of the campus and surrounding community.

Liu, an expert on the state of the world's environmental resources, is particularly well known for his work that couples human and natural systems. He received the Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU. He holds the Rachel Carson Chair in Ecological Sustainability, is a university distinguished professor of fisheries and wildlife, and directs the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability.

MAES Staff Members Honored at ANR Week

Jawed Faruqi, MAES information technologist (left), and Linda Haubert, MAES administrative assistant (second from left), were part of a team that received the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Outstanding Staff Team Award at the 2007 ANR Week Luncheon. Faruqi and Haubert, along with Brian Day CANR Budget and Finance Office finanacial analyst (third from left), and Chris Sweeley, CANR Budget and Finance Office information technologist (fourth from left), developed a new database to generate federal financial reports.

Nearly $40 million in federal research funding passes through the MAES each year. These funds come from a range of federal sources, many with unique reporting requirements. Developing an effective tracking and reporting system has been a long-term challenge because of the complexity of the federal system.

The system that Faruqi, Haubert, Day and Sweeley developed has made the MAES a model among state experiment stations, and the USDA is considering using the MAES system as a national template for reporting.

Congratulating the winning team in the photo above are CANR Dean Jeffrey Armstrong (second from right) and MAES Director Steve Pueppke (right).

Humphrey Named MAES Pre-Award Office Coordinator

William G. Humphrey has been named coordinator of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station pre-award office, effective April 30.

Humphrey comes to the MAES from the MSU College of Human Medicine, where he served as an accountant from 1986 to 2000 and as director of research support since 2000.

As pre-award office coordinator, Humphrey will work with faculty members and unit administrators of MAES departments and colleges to identify collaborative grant and contract opportunities across the university; help faculty and departmental staff members prepare large, externally funded research project proposals; review and approve grant proposals to ensure they comply with sponsoring agency regulations and university policies and procedures; conduct grant workshops for faculty and staff members and students; and create an MAES research administrators network.

"I am excited to have someone of Bill's caliber serving in this important role," said MAES Director Steven Pueppke. "The pre-award process is a crucial step that lays the groundwork for the successful procurement of grant dollars, effective program implementation and consistent achievement of results."

Humphrey said he looks forward to working with MAES faculty and staff members to create a pre-award function.

"Having worked to establish a pre-award office in the College of Human Medicine, I have seen the difference it makes in securing proposal funding," he said. "One of the most exciting aspects of this work is developing new collaborations with folks who don't even know about each other's work and seeing how that translates into stronger, more compelling proposals."

Before joining the College of Human Medicine, Humphrey was an assistant accounting manager for MSU in 1985-86. Before coming to MSU, he served as a senior accountant for Memorial Hospital of South Bend; an assistant controller for Waste Management, Inc.; an accounting manager for Multivest Real Estate, Inc.; and a senior auditor for Seidman & Seidman Public Accounting.

Humphrey holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Michigan State University and is a certified public accountant.

MAES Welcomes New Staff Member

The MAES is pleased to announce the appointment of Val Osowski as communications manager.

She will work on a variety of writing and editing projects, including the monthly e-mail newsletter, media releases, federal reports and other communications projects. Osowski also will help oversee the MAES Web site.

Before joining the MAES, Osowski worked as a communications specialist for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the director of communications for the C.S. Mott Foundation, an assistant press secretary for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and communications specialist for the Michigan House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. She has a master's degree in community and regional development and a bachelor's degree in agriculture and natural resources communications from Michigan State University.

Osowski's e-mail address is osowskiv@msu.edu, and her phone number is 517-353-0123, ext. 106.