Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station

Faculty Members Urged to Complete Bioeconomy Survey

To help the MSU Office of Bio-based Technologies (OBT) understand the complete depth and breadth of bioeconomy work being done at MSU, a short survey asks faculty members if they are involved in research, teaching or outreach related in any way to the bioeconomy.

"A few weeks ago, the Office of Bio-based Technologies collaborated with University Relations to develop an electronic survey to better ascertain the extent to which MSU faculty members are engaged in research, teaching and/or outreach generally related to the bioeconomy," said Steve Pueppke, director of the OBT and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. "While we have had some encouraging faculty response to date, we believe there are many faculty members on campus who are either unaware of the survey or who have not yet had the opportunity to respond."

The brief survey takes just 5 minutes to complete. Faculty members can visit http://bioeconomy.survey.ur.msu.edu/ and follow the instructions. The survey will be active until December 8.

"It's a very brief survey, and we thank all faculty members who take the time to complete it," Pueppke said.

MAES Horticulture Scientists and Students to Restore New Orleans City Park

When MAES horticulture researcher Art Cameron visited New Orleans in August 2006, he was amazed by how much was still undone a year later in the Katrina-ravaged city.

"I was just blown away," Cameron said. "Parts of the city looked like nothing had been done since the hurricane hit. I wanted to contribute some of my skills, and I found out about KARE [Katrina Agricultural and Coastal Resources Experience], an organization that was attempting to restore the city's gardens and parks and even the ecosystems. I thought it was a unique and personal way for me to help."

In December, his desire to help will become a reality as Cameron, 60 undergraduate and graduate students, and Tom Fernandez, MAES horticulture scientist and faculty adviser for the MSU Horticulture Club, travel to New Orleans Dec. 15-21 to help restore City Park in central New Orleans.

"City Park was hit hard and remains in poor condition since Hurricane Katrina," Cameron said. "A lot of park employees were laid off because there was nothing for them to do anymore. Improvements to the park will help boost city morale and improve chances for employment. This is a great opportunity for our students to use their horticultural skills to enhance the city and community of New Orleans."

The MSU volunteers will work under the guidance of Amanda Hardesty, Louisiana Sea Grant volunteer and KARE coordinator, building gardens and tearing out dead plants. Many trees and shrubs died because they were under water for so long.

Cameron and the volunteers want to raise $9,500 to cover the cost of chartering a bus to and from New Orleans. Those who wish to contribute can make checks payable to Michigan State University and send them to:
Art Cameron
Professor of Horticulture
Department of Horticulture
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

"All contributions are tax-deductible," Cameron said. "If we raise any extra funds, they will be donated to help restoration efforts in New Orleans. We're very grateful to anyone who decides to help us."

Questions about the trip should be directed to Cameron at 517-355-5191, ext. 338, or cameron@msu.edu.

Rothwell Named Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station Coordinator

Nikki Rothwell has been named coordinator for the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station and district Extension horticulture educator, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Rothwell will oversee day-to-day operations at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station and associated efforts. Rothwell will work with fruit industry representatives to determine research priorities, interact with regional and MSU-based faculty members to coordinate research activities, and conduct industry workshops and field days for growers.

Rothwell also will provide leadership and coordination for MSU Extension horticultural educational programs and activities in northwestern lower Michigan and disseminate current research-based technical and management information to the fruit industry.

“I am very excited to have someone of Nikki's caliber serving in this important role,” says Patrick Cudney, MSU Extension regional director for northern lower Michigan. “She has a tremendous zeal and passion for the fruit industry and brings her extensive energy, research and Extension backgrounds to the position.”

Rothwell was previously the MSU Extension district fruit IPM (integrated pest management) educator. She was responsible for developing programs and disseminating IPM information and conducting related research for the northwestern lower Michigan fruit industry.

“The work carried out at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station is a critically important component of our efforts to help maintain the viability of Michigan’s fruit industry,” said Doug Buhler, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station associate director. “Nikki’s work will allow us to continue to build upon a very solid foundation of research and extension to the benefit of growers, suppliers, processors and consumers.”

Rothwell received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Western Michigan University, her master’s degree from MSU and her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She held adjunct faculty teaching positions at the University of Massachusetts and Springfield Technical Community College before coming to Michigan.

Project GREEEN Issues 2007 Request for Proposals

Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Environmental and Economic Needs), Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at Michigan State University, has issued its request for proposals (RFP) for fiscal year 2007.

Project GREEEN is seeking research projects that will benefit Michigan’s plant-based agriculture industry in response to critical research and education priorities identified by the state’s plant commodity and stakeholder groups. Proposals will be accepted in three categories: basic research, applied research and Extension/education/demonstration. Proposals must clearly identify how projects will affect the economic and environmental aspects of Michigan agriculture and respond to Michigan plant industry priorities.

During the 2006 fiscal year, Project GREEEN awarded $1.725 million in grants for 65 new research projects. Another $500,000 was directed toward multiyear projects that started in 2004 or 2005. A total of 91 new project proposals and 22 continuation proposals requesting nearly $4.3 million were received for consideration in fiscal year 2006.

Approximately $1.5 million will be available for funding new research projects in fiscal year 2007, and up to $700,000 will be available to continue funding for projects started in fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

The RFP application is available online, as is a complete listing of updated plant commodity research and educational priorities.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 15, 2007. Awards will be announced in late March, with funds becoming available in April.

Beede Named Outstanding Extension Specialist

David Beede, holder of the C.E. Meadows endowed chair and professor of dairy nutrition and environmental management, was named the 2006 Outstanding Extension Specialist by the Michigan Association of Extension Agents (MAEA) at the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) Fall Conference in October. Beede is also a Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station scientist.

Each year an MSUE specialist working in a major commodity area is recognized for extraordinary and long-lasting leadership and service to MSUE and the people of Michigan through programming and applied research.

Beede was recognized for his applied research in phosphorus nutrition of dairy cattle and nutrient management and leadership with the MSUE Dairy Team. During his 12 years at MSU, he has written and presented extensively on the nutritional and environmental benefits of balancing the phosphorus requirements of dairy cattle and environmental sustainability, and he launched the Michigan Dairy Review (MDR), a statewide publication for the dairy industry.

“I arrived at Michigan State from the University of Florida in the fall of 1994, which just happened to be the year the Michigan Animal Agriculture Initiative was launched, including the MSU Extension dairy team,” Beede said. “I got on the train with everyone else when things were just picking up steam in dairy Extension programs.”

Beede worked with MSU faculty members to begin publishing the MDR in February 1996 with competitive funding from the Animal Agriculture Initiative (AAI). The AAI is Michigan’s animal agriculture research, teaching and Extension initiative at MSU. The MDR is a quarterly publication with more than 6,500 free subscribers interested in research, teaching and Extension highlights from MSU dairy experts.

“MDR is considered nationally and internationally to be among the preeminent publications of its kind,” Beede said. “It allows us to speak directly to dairy farmers, and that’s one of the most important parts of providing exceptional Extension services.”

MSU Is Greener after Joining Chicago Climate Exchange

Michigan State University has taken another step toward being a “greener” place: MSU has joined the Chicago Climate Exchange as another step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, along with Fred Poston, vice president for finance and operations, and Michael Walsh, senior vice president of the Chicago Climate Exchange, signed the membership agreement Nov. 14 during a ceremony at MSU’s T.B. Simon Power Plant. The occasion was marked by a tree planting.

“Michigan State has tremendous power to educate and inform, to help motivate positive changes in behaviors, and to translate research by our students and faculty into practical solutions,” Simon said. “This promises to be a powerful partnership in the best tradition of our world-grant mission that will result in innovations to help solve a significant global problem and make a difference in Michigan.”

MSU will bring its broad expertise in environmental sciences, its history of stewardship and tradition of student involvement into play with the Chicago Climate Exchange. The exchange, or CCX, is North America’s only, and the world’s first, greenhouse gas emission registry, reduction and trading system for greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels and wood, and from the decay of plant and animal material. Greenhouse gases also reenter the life cycle as trees use carbon dioxide to grow and as the oceans absorb it. Imbalances, such as too much carbon gas released into the air, contribute to global warming.

Ultimately, scientists theorize, greenhouse gas emissions and reabsorption of those gases must be equal. Because some polluters produce more emissions than are legally allowed, they can go to the exchange and, in effect, buy from other participants who fell short of their cap on emissions.

Members of the Chicago Climate Exchange seek to reduce direct emissions by conserving energy, for example, and to provide opportunities to offset emissions such as no-till farming, tree farming or other carbon credits. MSU will work toward the prescribed 6 percent reduction goal.

It’s a goal that will rely heavily on undergraduate involvement, Poston said.

“We have 10,000 graduates each year. We want to send them off equipped to be environmentally responsible,” Poston said. “MSU’s strength is that the integration of students speeds the translation to behavioral change.”

Across campus, MSU’s broad-based research in agriculture, forestry, engineering and environmental sciences, combined with a strong record of student engagement, positions the university for a unique partnership.

Membership in the CCX also will position Michigan’s bioeconomy base, helping to move farming toward solutions in renewable fuels, in nontraditional farming methods and crops, and in environmentally sound practices, said David Skole, MAES forestry researcher.

“Our research base will enable us to work alongside the problem to help find solutions,” Skole said. “Other members will look to us for guidance academically, and we’ll be able to offer technical and research-oriented resources.”

Carbon credits, Skole said, show promise as part of the future of farming. Carbon emission credits could become a commodity, much like crops and livestock.

MSU is the fifth university to join the CCX. The others are Tufts, the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota and the University of Oklahoma.

Northwest Station Receives Check from MDA

Northwest Michigan Hort Station Check

Mitch Irwin, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, visited the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station Nov. 3 to present the station with its annual $30,000 allocation from the MDA. In the photo above (left to right), Rep. Howard C. Walker, MSU Extension North Region representative Patrick Cudney, MAES associate director Doug Buhler, Northwest Station coordinator Jim Nugent, Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation Board of Directors member Rick Sayler and Irwin are all smiles as the check is presented.

At the same station visit, Irwin also presented six Michigan companies approximately $500,000 in Agricultural Innovation Grant awards. The Agricultural Innovation Grant program is a key component of the 21st Century Jobs Fund designed to spur economic growth in Michigan.