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Survey Seeks to Identify MSU's Bioeconomy Work

To help the MSU Office of Bio-based Technologies 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.

"One of our first tasks is to get a better idea of the number and nature of MSU faculty members working in the general area of the bioeconomy," said Steven Pueppke, Office of Bio-based Technologies director and MAES director. "On a campus this large, it is extremely difficult to identify all the exciting activities that would contribute to the initiative. It's a very brief survey and we thank all faculty members who complete it."

Completing the survey takes 5 to 10 minutes and requires no additional commitments. Fill out the survey at http://bioeconomy.survey.ur.msu.edu/.

Steve PueppkePueppke Named to New Renewable Fuels Commission

Steven Pueppke, director of the MSU Office of Bio-based Technologies and the MAES, was named to the newly formed Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The commission will promote the production and distribution of alternative fuels in Michigan.

“As more E-85 and flex-fuel vehicles are produced, it is essential that we make biodiesel and ethanol products more widely available and encourage their use,” Granholm said. “This commission will move Michigan one step closer to becoming the nation’s leader in developing and producing alternative energy.”

The Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission was established under the same act that reduced the gas taxes on ethanol and biodiesel fuel, provided grants to service station owners who renovate or expand their existing stations to make E-85 and biodiesel available, and allowed for the creation of new agriculture renaissance zones to help spur additional ethanol and biodiesel plants. Granholm has called for the state to have 1,000 biofuel pumps available by 2008.

The commission is charged with investigatng and recommending strategies to promote the use of alternative fuels and encourage the use of vehicles that utilize alternative fuels. The commission also will identify mechanisms that promote research on alternative fuels.

Other member of the commission are:

  • K. Joel Berry, Mechanical Engineering Department director at Kettering University.
  • Steven B. Bertman, chemistry professor at Western Michigan University.
  • James E. Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association.
  • Steven E. Chester, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
  • David E. Cole, chairperson of the Center for Automotive Research.
  • James A. Croce, CEO of Next Energy Center.
  • Jeffrey E. Ehlert, chairperson of Great Lakes Ethanol, L.L.C.
  • Zoran Filipi, associate research professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.
  • Charles J. Griffith, auto project director at the Ecology Center.
  • Mitch Irwin, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
  • Susan L. Kuck, president of Wilson Petroleum Company.
  • J. Peter Lark, chairperson of the Michigan Public Service Commission.
  • Trevor F. Lauer, vice president of retail marketing for DTE Energy Co.
  • Peter C. Madden, program director for Plum Creek Timber.
  • Curtis N. Magleby, director of governmental affairs for Ford Motor Company.
  • Kimberly K. Mahrle, corporation secretary for G.E. Wacker, Inc.
  • Kirk N. Mercer, president of R.W. Mercer.
  • Deborah L. Morrissett, vice president of regulatory affairs for DaimlerChrysler.
  • Barry A. Mumby, manager of Wakeshma Farms, L.L.C.
  • Bruce D. Noel, owner and operator of Noel Farms.
  • Michael A. Petersen, owner and president of Petersen Oil Company, Inc.
  • Mary E. Stanek, alliance manager for General Motors Strategic Initiatives.
  • Richard Vande Vusse, president of VonAire Inc., and Ag Solutions, Inc.
  • Rose M. Wilson, director of agency services and fleet operations for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget.
Nugent HonoredNugent Honored at Advisory Board Meeting

James Nugent, coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station and MSU Extension district horticulturalist, was honored for his work with the cherry industry at the quarterly MAES/MSUE State Advisory Council meeting in October.

Nugent received a letter of recognition from Mitch Irwin, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

In the photo at right, Nugent (center) is congratulated by Irwin (left) and Don Coe, managing partner of Black Star Farms and member of the Michigan Commission of Agriculture.

New MAES Faculty Members

The MAES is pleased to welcome the following new faculty members with MAES appointments.

Jianjun Hao was named assistant professor of plant pathology in August. His research focuses on the epidemiology of soil-borne diseases, especially those caused by pathogens that form sclerotia, as well as understanding the microbial mechanisms of soil health by studying the relationships between pathogens, plants and other microorganisms in soil. He also is studying using non-chemical methods, such as soil amendments, crop rotation and naturally occurring beneficial organisms, to improve plant and soil health.

Prior to his MSU appointment, Hao was a project scientist for 2 years at the University of California-Davis, and from 1999 to 2004, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the same institution. Hao received his doctorate in plant pathology from the University of California-Davis in 2000 and his master's degree in plant pathology and bachelor's degree in agronomy from the Beijing Agricultural University in 1991 and 1984, respectively.

Daniel Jaffee was named assistant professor of sociology in August. His research examines the effects of economic globalization and free trade policies on environmental and social conditions for rural communities and small agricultural producers in the global south, particularly Latin America. His work has focused on fair trade as an alternative model of international economic exchange, examining the benefits and limitations of participation in fair trade markets for peasant commodity producers.

Before coming to MSU, Jaffee was a member of the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin. He received his doctorate and master's degree in land resources from the University of Wisconsin in 2004 and 1996, respectively, and his bachelor's degree in history from Oberlin College in 1987.

Gemma Reguera was named assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics and crop and soil sciences in August. Her research focuses on the adaptive responses of microbes to their natural environment, and she uses this information to find new biotechnology applications for microbial processes. Her lab is currently studying how the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens colonizes surfaces and lives as biofilms and how to genetically engineer Geobacter biofilms for applications in bioremediation, nanotechnology and bioenergy.

From 2002 to 2006, Reguera was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and from 2001 to 2002, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School. Before that, she held research associate and assistant positions at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of Oviedo in Spain. Reguera received a doctorate and a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2001 and 1994, respectively, and a doctorate and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Oviedo, in 2001 and 1992, respectively.

Jennifer Rivera was named assistant professor of community, agriculture, recreation and resource studies in August 2006. Her research focuses on developing state standards and curriculum for secondary agricultural science programs. She also studies accountability in career and technical education settings, including its history and how changes in educational policy are affecting accountability.

From 2000 to 2003, Rivera was an agricultural science, biology and computer technology educator at Page County High School in Shenandoah, Va. A member of numerous professional associations, she received the Outstanding Young Scholar award from the American Vocational Education Research Association in 2005. Rivera received her doctorate in learning, teaching and social policies from Cornell University in 2006, and her master's degree in career and technical education and her bachelor's degree in crop and soil environmental science from Virginia Tech University in 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Glyndall Tonsor was named assistant professor of agricultural economics in May. His research efforts are aimed at applied issues affecting the livestock industry. Some of Tonsor’s current research includes analyzing domestic and international consumer preferences for various meat products, examining the design and effectiveness of animal identification programs, exploring the effect of expansion in the ethanol industry on the livestock sector, and investigating an array of livestock pricing, marketing and production issues.

Before coming to MSU, Tonsor was a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Needs Program graduate fellow and research assistant at Kansas State University from 2002 to 2006. He received his doctorate in agricultural economics from Kansas State in 2006 and his bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Missouri State University in 2001.

Sharon Zhong was named associate professor of geography in August. Her research focuses on micrometeorology, boundary layer meteorology, mesoscale atmospheric processes, regional climate and climate change, land-atmosphere interactions and fire-atmosphere interactions. She is currently a principal investigator for two NSF-funded projects to study the structure and evolution of cold air pools and boundary layer and mountain wave interactions. She is also the lead investigator for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service project that is developing tools to estimate how wildland and prescribed fires affect air quality. She has served as an editor for the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology since 2003.

Zhong came to MSU from the University of Houston, where she served as associate professor and graduate director for the atmospheric sciences program from 2003 to 2006. Before that, she was a senior research scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. She received her doctoral and master’s degrees in atmospheric sciences from Iowa State University in 1992 and 1988, respectively, and her bachelor’s degree in atmospheric physics from Nanjing University in 1982.

Product Center Working with Ag Innovation Grant Recipients

The MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources is working with several of the groups that received awards through the Julian-Stille Value-added Agricultural Innovation Grant program. The recipients were announced by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) in October.

The Product Center has provided business counseling, planning, feasibility studies and other services to 11 of the 40 grant recipients. (Because of confidentiality agreements, the Product Center does not release the names of any of its clients without their permission.)

Tom Kalchik, associate director, said the Product Center worked or is working with about 28 percent of recipients, who received more than 26 percent of the total $5 million awarded.

"The Product Center was able to help a variety of individuals and businesses seeking Julian-Stille grants with services ranging from basic business counseling to advanced feasibility studies," Kalchik said. "In many cases we coordinated the diverse resources of Michigan State University to assist people and businesses to develop innovative ideas into realistic business proposals. The center’s ability to pull these resources together helps create successful ventures."

According to the MDA, proposals submitted in the competitive grant program could mean as many as 267 new jobs and over $43 million in capital investment for Michigan.

The MDA reviewed more than 200 proposals and recommended the funding of 40 proposals, which cover 27 Michigan counties. Eligible applicants for the grants included individuals, farmer-owned cooperatives, commodity boards, partnerships, limited liability companies, private or public corporations, and local units of government. Applicants also were required to provide a cash match of 10 percent to be eligible for an award.

A complete list of recipients is available on the MDA Web site.

New Web Site Hosts Resources for Michigan Animal ID Mandate

Beef and dairy producers have a new source for important information about Michigan’s animal identification program -- www.michigananimalid.com.

Launched by the Michigan Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Education Task Force, the Web site offers a convenient, all-inclusive resource for farmers to learn about the Michigan animal identification program and take the steps necessary to bring their operations into compliance.

The task force is a partnership between MSU Extension, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association and the Michigan Milk Producers Association. Their goal is to assist Michigan livestock producers in implementing mandatory RFID by the March 1, 2007, deadline.

The Web site and a complementary series of fact sheets were funded by the Animal Agriculture Initiative (AAI). The AAI is Michigan’s animal agriculture research, teaching and Extension initiative at MSU. Dan Buskirk, MAES animal science researcher and task force leader, applied for competitive funding from the AAI to enhance the adoption of electronic identification by Michigan cattle producers.

The Web site serves as a centralized location for the educational effort, featuring fact sheets, frequently asked questions and informational meeting dates. The most important resources, Buskirk said, link producers to the MDA Web site for ordering tags and provide step-by-step instructions for registering a farm to receive a premises identification number.

“The Web site links producers and processors with the two essential steps in the process,” Buskirk said. “We tried to make adoption of this important mandate run smoothly for our producers by centralizing information and resources.”

Buskirk and the task force were also behind the highly successful RFID demonstrations at Michigan Ag Expo in July. An estimated 600 people attended the twice daily demonstrations in the MFB tent.

“The crowds were huge, clearly showing how important this issue is to the industry,” said Karen Plaut, MSU Department of Animal Science chairperson. “People marveled at the partnership that is clearly evident between MSU, the MDA, Farm Bureau and others to make Michigan the leader in animal ID in the future.”

Kevin Kirk, special assistant to the MDA Animal Industry Division director, provided a comprehensive overview of the RFID program to more than 500 people during statewide workshops hosted by the MDA, MSU Extension and the Michigan Holstein Association in August.

Buskirk said the task force will continue to provide print materials, online content and opportunities for producers to ask questions. The task force recommends that producers order RFID tags now to ensure they are ready for the March 1, 2007, deadline.

New Shepherd Brings More Than 40 Years' Experience to MSU

Alan Culham established his Suffolk flock when he raised his first 4-H lamb at age 7. Decades later, Culham brings a lifetime of experience and industry knowledge to the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center as the new farm manager.

Culham took over management of the 90-acre farm, including a flock of more than 120 sheep, August 7.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve students and sheep producers,” Culham said. “I would like to keep the university ahead of the curve so new management and breeding practices can be tested and researched here for the ultimate benefit of producers.”

Located at the intersection of Hagadorn and Bennett roads, the sheep facility serves many purposes for MSU, the sheep industry and surrounding communities. Students in animal science and a variety of other disciplines learn about sheep management and care, researchers gather nutritional data, producers receive advice and community members can visit the animals.

“This position is unique,” Culham said. “I will be called on to assist in teaching, research and Extension activities along with working one-on-one with student employees at the farm.”

Culham, a 1978 MSU graduate in animal husbandry, owns the Culham and Stevens Farm in Webberville, Mich. His Suffolk and Dorset flocks are recognized nationally for their performance and productivity. Culham has been a leader of the industry’s genetic evaluation program -- the National Sheep Improvement Program -- since its inception. Also skilled in evaluating both live animals and carcasses, Culham is called upon often to judge shows and contests.

“In addition to his production background, Alan’s teaching skills, research experience and commitment to both youth and the sheep industry make him a great fit,” said Margaret Benson, associate chairperson and professor in the Department of Animal Science.
Last Updated: January 16, 2007
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