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MAES Researcher Partners with Growers, Industry to Protect Endangered Species

A Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station scientist is partnering with cherry growers and natural resources agencies and organizations to help identify how agricultural practices may affect the habitats of endangered species in Michigan.

The pilot program, just in its beginning stages, is intended to help establish and extend communication networks between growers and commodity and natural resources entities. Together, these groups will work to find the best ways to minimize damage to endangered species’ habitats by modern-day agricultural practices.

Kelly Millenbah, MAES fisheries and wildlife scientist, said one of the project’s goals is to learn whether areas that receive pesticide application are in the vicinity of endangered species’ habitats. Researchers intend to identify the location of the state’s various endangered species’ populations and habitats in relationship to acreage for major commodity crops by bringing together people from various commodity groups and people with natural resources backgrounds.

The research project was launched in fall 2004 with emergency funding from Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, in response to concerns from cherry growers in Oceana County who were denied use of a commercial pesticide to control insect damage. The pesticide is considered harmful to the Karner blue butterfly, an endangered species that lives in the county.

Phil Korson, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute, Inc., said his organization had filed for a special environmentally friendly label for a pesticide that was new, more efficient than traditional pesticides and made from materials that are safe for the environment. They were denied the label because the cherry orchard they wanted to use the pesticide on was located in the same county as the endangered butterfly.

“Endangered species are more of an issue today then ever before,” Korson said. “We don’t know where endangered habitats are located, but it’s still early enough in the process to identify habitat locations and find out if pesticides are harming these species.”

Cherry growers in the county were shocked to learn about the ban on the pesticide because the butterflies’ habitat was not located near the cherry orchards.

“This governmental action sustained the protection of the endangered butterfly, but it potentially jeopardized the ability of Michigan cherry growers to produce healthy crops,” Millenbah said.

Millenbah and her colleagues have developed a working group made up of people interested in and knowledgeable about topics related to endangered species and commodity quality. They will discuss ways to protect both. The group includes representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Farm Bureau, the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, the Nature Conservancy and the Cherry Marketing Institute.

“Improving communication among the various groups to protect both the quality of the state’s commodities and its endangered species is a win-win situation,” Millenbah said.

Together the groups will produce maps that contain information on the habitats of more than 100 state and federally listed endangered species. The habitat maps will then be compared to maps of the state’s cherry orchards.

The next step will be to determine what types of pesticides growers are using and whether they have the potential to travel through air or water to affect the habitats of endangered species.

The program will help to keep landowners informed about the potential effects of chemicals on protected species, and researchers will guide growers on alternative ways to manage their crops for insects and diseases.

After the initial research with the cherry pilot project is complete, Millenbah hopes the study will expand to include all major commodity crops.

“This project has the potential to become an example that can be applied nationally,” she said.

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Grand Ledge Farmer Pledges Multimillion Dollar Gift to College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

David Morris, a farmer in Grand Ledge, Mich., has pledged an estate gift valued at approximately $7.5 million to endow research, teaching and outreach activities in the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES), MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and MSU Extension (MSUE).

Morris’ gift, announced during Ag Expo at MSU, will fund four agriculture-related endowments:

• The Betty and David Morris Endowment in Livestock Research will provide the MAES with discretionary funds for livestock research, including teaching and research fellowships.
• The Betty and David Morris Endowment for Support of Programs in Communities, Agriculture and Natural Resources will provide support through the MAES and MSUE for programs affecting communities, agriculture and natural resources.
• The Betty and David Morris Discretionary Fund in the CANR will provide sustained support for the college, allowing the dean to address critical issues and needs that arise.
• The Betty and David Morris Chair in State and Local Government Finance and Policy will endow an existing position within the Department of Agricultural Economics that works with state and local government. This faculty position engages in research, education and outreach focused on policy analysis that helps governmental units attract people and businesses to communities, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government services, and advance Michigan’s economic competitiveness.

“It is tremendously gratifying that David Morris has chosen to include Michigan State University in his estate plans,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “His foresight and generosity will provide support to research, outreach and academic programs that meet emerging needs of Michigan citizens.”

David Morris and his late wife, Betty, operated a cash crop and livestock operation focused on feeder cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. The Morris farm, which became a centennial farm in 2000, grew from 245 acres to 1,689 acres under their management.

“Dave Morris’ generous planned gift will allow us to leverage other sources of funding to address critical issues,” said Jeffrey Armstrong, CANR dean. “Mr. Morris is a strong believer in using the fruits of his labor for the betterment of others, and we are honored to have been chosen to help ensure that his and Betty’s legacy will enhance Michigan’s communities, agriculture and natural resources for generations to come.”

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MAES Plant Biologist Finds Corn Fungus is Nature's Master Blaster

A common corn fungus is by far nature's most powerful known cannoneer, blasting its spores out with a force that is 870,000 times the force of gravity, according to research done by a team of scientists that included an MAES researcher. Corn growers don't have to worry about being pegged by the fungal supergun, however -- the tiny spore travels only 5 millimeters (2/10 inch) before falling to the ground.

Nevertheless, the fungus Gibberella zeae outguns the previous record holder, the fungus Pilobolus, by almost a hundredfold. It also outperforms a rifle, which launches its bullet with less than 1/10 that acceleration.

The researchers -- MAES plant biologist Frances Trail and Iffa Gaffoor, a graduate student in her lab, and Steven Vogel of Duke University -- published their findings in the June 2005 issue of Fungal Genetics and Biology. The study was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

According to the scientists, the "bioballistics" of the fungus offers a dramatic lesson in the physics of scaling. At the infinitesimal scale of the fungus' spore, atmospheric drag plays an enormous role -- hence the need for an extremely high ejection speed to achieve even the most modest spore dispersal.

The purpose of the study that revealed the fungus's extraordinary launch capabilities was to better understand the biological mechanism behind the fungal supergun. Basically, the gun is powered by the buildup of pressure inside the spore-containing fungal fruiting body, the perithecium. Such pressure is due to water flowing across a membrane into the perithecium as it tries to equalize the concentration of a salt solution inside the chamber. In the case of the fungus, the question was whether the sugar mannitol or potassium ions were responsible for the osmotic pressure that generated the propulsive force.

In their experiments, Trail and Gaffoor created a fungal "shooting gallery" consisting of a small glass chamber in which they mounted a block of gel-like agar containing mature perithecia. They arranged the agar so that the perithecia would launch their spores onto a removable glass cover slip. The researchers measured the length of the fungal blasts and calculated the mass of the spore. That mass turned out to be very low for a fungal spore, explaining why the fungus could achieve such extraordinary launch speeds.

Vogel fed data from the laboratory experiments and spore mass calculations into a computer program he had developed to determine the ballistics of such projectiles. One result was the record acceleration of 870,000 times the force of gravity for the spores and a launch speed of nearly 80 miles an hour.

The analysis of the fungal shooting ability led the biologists to determine that the osmotic pressure from potassium, not mannitol, likely generated the force necessary for the powerful blast.

An obvious question is why the fungus even bothers. Given the short range of its spores, why bother accelerating to 80 miles per hour to go a mere 5 millimeters? Because there is almost no air movement at the surface where the spore grows, according to the scientists. So the real object of the launch is to get the spore even a little way from the parent so that it can get into air currents that will allow the spore to move even farther away.

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MAES Scientists Featured in Detroit News

Ned Walker, MAES entomologist and microbiology and molecular genetics researcher, and Steve Bolin, MAES pathobiology and diagnostic investigation researcher, wrote an editorial on West Nile virus and other emerging diseases that was featured in the Aug. 18 issue of The Detroit News. To read the editorial, visit http://www.detnews.com/2005/editorial/0508/18/A15-284382.htm.

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MAES Scientist Honored by ASABE

Everyone knows that plants need light to grow, especially people who grow plants for a living. But until recently, there was no guide to greenhouse lighting that was appropriate for growers or undergraduate students. To correct this oversight and help greenhouse growers be more productive by using good lighting principles, MAES horticulture researcher Erik Runkle teamed up with Paul Fisher, at the University of New Hampshire, to coordinate and publish a series of 15 magazine articles and a book on greenhouse lighting. The articles appeared in Greenhouse Grower magazine from September 2003 to October 2004. The articles became the foundation for Lighting Up Profits, a book edited by Runkle and Fisher and published by Meister Media Worldwide Publishing in July.

The book was enthusiastically received by growers, and Runkle and Fisher received a Blue Ribbon Award from the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers for it at the group's recent meeting. The award recognizes excellence in outreach.

As developers of the project, Runkle and Fisher worked with researchers throughout the United States and Canada to draft the articles. MAES horticultural scientists Art Cameron, Royal Heins and Ken Poff contributed to the project.

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MAES Researchers Looking Anew at Old Control Method for Phomopsis in Grapes

MAES scientists are taking a new look at a disease control method that has been around for more than 100 years -- dormant sprays -- as an inexpensive way for grape growers to protect their vineyards against phomopsis cane and leaf spot, one of the industry’s most economically devastating diseases.

With support from Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, Annemiek Schilder, MAES plant pathology researcher, is working on developing a control method using fungicides applied during the dormant season to manage the disease.

Plants infected with Phomopsis viticola may exhibit brown to black spots on the leaves and canes, and rotting berries. When death of portions of the cluster stem (rachis) die, the fruit drops prematurely. Crop loss can reach up to 3 tons per acre, which, depending on the grape variety, may amount to a loss of at least $750 per acre.

The research project was designed in response to concerned grape growers looking for better and less expensive ways to control phomopsis cane and leaf spot.

“Depending on the product, fungicides usually cost between $10 and $50 per acre per application, and often multiple applications have to be made to control disease effectively,” Schilder said. “Some growers are spending upwards of $200 per acre in product cost alone, not to mention labor, fuel and equipment, to control phomopsis and other grape diseases throughout the growing season. Multiply that cost by 100 or more acres of grapes, and this becomes quite a costly investment.”

In 2004, Michigan growers produced 62,500 tons of grapes with a farm gate value of $18.5 million.

Schilder’s research team experimented with sulfur and copper fungicide sprays, both relatively inexpensive compounds.

“Dormant sprays, particularly of lime sulfur, have long been used to control diseases and insects in tree fruit and brambles. Lime sulfur eradicates fungal pathogens that overwinter in woody tissues,” Schilder said.

“Though Phomopsis overwinters in grape canes, dormant sprays have not been used very much in grapes, so we decided to reevaluate this old technology,” she said. “Since the price of lime sulfur has risen significantly in recent years and it is unpleasant to work with because of its odor and corrosiveness, we decided to look into less expensive alternatives such as sulfur and copper, which may cost 10 times less.”

Small plots in commercial and research vineyards were used to test sulfur and copper sprays. Experiments found that sulfur and copper fungicides helped to reduce Phomopsis infections.

“A single dormant application of sulfur or copper before bud break reduced cluster infections by about 50 percent on average and sometimes by as much as 70 percent,” Schilder said. “Though this does not negate the need for applying fungicide sprays during the season, the same amount of disease control might be obtained with fewer sprays.”

According to Schilder, another benefit of using dormant sulfur or copper sprays is that they may be less harmful to farm workers and the environment than the fungicides currently used against Phomopsis, some of which are suspected carcinogens and already restricted by the EPA and some fruit processors for that reason.

“Sulfur and copper are also approved for organic grape production, so this research provides organic growers with additional disease control tools,” Schilder added.

Growers can obtain results from this research project in the MSU Fruit Management Guide, which is available online at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/epubs/pestpubs/E154/. Information is also available on the MSU grape Web site, www.grapes.msu.edu.

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Field Day Focuses on Beneficial Bugs

Asian lady beetles and carabid beetles can help growers limit damage by pest insects such as soybean aphids or weeds such as redroot pigweed. These and other facts about beneficial bugs were discussed during an Aug. 10 field day at the MSU Entomology Farm.

The all-day program, supported in part by the MAES, was attended by farmers, agency personnel, Master Gardeners and native plant enthusiasts.

The event included a field tour focused on native plant identification and research, predator and parasite identification, and native pollinators.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service staff members were on hand to discuss conservation program opportunities and conservation plant materials.

Additionally, the program included a tour of Wildtype Native Plant Nursery in Mason, Mich. The nursery specializes in Michigan-native plants and seeds.

For more on information presented at the field day, contact the MSU Department of Entomology by calling 517-432-2203 or e-mail jernsta2@msu.edu.

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Sept. 15 Declared “Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Select Michigan Day”

The Michigan Legislature has designated Sept. 15 as “Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Select Michigan Day” to encourage residents to buy Michigan food to support the state's economy and Michigan agriculture.

With agricultural production so diversified that Michigan is second only to California in the number of crops grown, agriculture is the second largest industry in the state, bringing in more than $37 billion each year. Economic estimates suggest that spending $10 per week on local food would keep more than $37 million circulating in Michigan.

Recent research indicates that 75 percent of Michigan consumers would be more likely to buy a food product if they knew it was grown or processed in Michigan. However, the majority of those surveyed also said identifying Michigan products at the retail level is difficult. The Select Michigan program uses a special logo on point-of-purchase signs and in-store food sampling to help shoppers identify and purchase Michigan food products. On Sept. 15, many retailers will place the Select Michigan signs on local foods in their stores. Participating retailers include Meijer, Inc.; Spartan Stores (Glen’s Markets, Family Fare); Farmer Jack; and Kroger Co.

The Select Michigan program is spearheaded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and funded in part by Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program, and more than 20 Michigan commodity organizations, associations and companies that represent the products promoted through the program. The legislation was introduced by Rep. David Farhat.

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New Faculty Member

The MAES is pleased to welcome the following new faculty member.

Todd Ciche was named assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at MSU in April. He became a part of the MAES in August.

Ciche's research focuses on the relationship between the beneficial bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens and its nematode host Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. H. bacteriophora can be used as a biological control for banana weevils, banana moths, citrus root weevils, Japanese beetles, masked chafer, May/June beetles, mole crickets, sugarcane stalk borer, and other tree- and vine-boring insects. It is the bacterium P. luminescens inside the nematode that actually kills the insect. One of Ciche's projects is working to sequence the genome of H. bacteriophora, which has been targeted for sequencing by the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Before coming to MSU, Ciche was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology for 2 years. From 2000 to 2003, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Microbiology, the International Symbiosis Society and the Society for Invertebrate Pathology.

Ciche received his doctoral and bachelor's degrees in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin in 2000 and 1994, respectively.

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Pocket Scouting Guide Developed for Michigan Blueberry Industry

Michigan growers of highbush blueberries have a timely and easy-to-use scouting reference guide, thanks to collaborative efforts between MAES researchers and MSU Extension specialists and their colleagues at North Carolina State University.

“A Pocket Guide to IPM Scouting in Highbush Blueberries” was developed as a handy pocket reference for use in the field. It provides color pictures and detailed descriptions of the biology of common blueberry pest and beneficial insects, diseases, weather-related disorders, and symptoms of pesticide damage and nutritional disorders. The disease section also contains tips on disease management. In addition, the reference includes color charts on blueberry growth stages and disease and insect pest scouting calendars. Pages are printed on water-resistant paper so that the guide can be used outdoors during less than ideal weather conditions.

Growers, agrochemical company representatives and crop scouts and consultants can use the guide to learn what to look for while scouting and to help guide timing of scouting activities. Regular scouting is the foundation of an effective pest management program -- it ensures the early detection of insect and disease problems before they reach damaging levels.

“Growers and others involved in producing blueberries can use this resource as a tool for scouting and identifying problems in their fields,” said Annemiek Schilder, MAES plant pathology scientist. “The guide can aid in the timely diagnosis and treatment of pest and disease problems or other disorders. This will help growers reduce fruit losses and avoid or reduce inappropriate or unnecessary treatments.”

Michigan ranks No. 1 in the United States in production of highbush blueberries, growing more than 18,500 acres and producing more than 20 varieties. The farm gate value of Michigan blueberries was more than $97 million in 2004.

“A Pocket Guide to IPM Scouting in Highbush Blueberries” (E-2928) costs $14 ($12 each if ordered in quantities of 10 or more) and is available for purchase online from the MSU Extension Educational Materials Distribution Center at www.emdc.msue.msu.edu/ or from any county MSU Extension office.

Text and pictures from the pocket guide can also be viewed on the new MSU blueberry Web site, and a series of fact sheets containing more detailed information on major weeds, pests and diseases soon will be available.

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Sociologist Honored for 'Commons' Analysis

Recognizing that one size does not fit all has earned a Michigan State University professor a prestigious national ecology award.

Tom Dietz, director of MSU’s Environmental Science and Policy Program, received the 2005 Sustainable Science Award from the Ecological Society of America (ESA) in August. The award is given to the authors of a scholarly work that makes the greatest contribution to the emerging science of ecosystem and regional sustainability through the integration of ecological and social sciences.

Dietz, whose work is supported in part by the MAES, is being recognized for the paper “The Struggle to Govern the Commons,” which was published in Science magazine in 2003. Dietz was the lead author.

The paper examined what works in managing the environment and exploring the balances between corporations or government calling the shots. Dietz said that after years of seeking universal truth, he and co-authors Elinor Ostrom and Paul Stern make a case that there is no one solution that fits every problem, but there are some universally useful questions.

“There are ways people can take good care of the environment, but there isn’t a universal solution for everything,” Dietz said. “There is an awareness that the way we deal with these problems will always be context specific – you can’t draw the solution from a textbook. We can’t tell you how to solve a problem, but we can tell you what to watch out for.”

Dietz is associate dean in the colleges of Social Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Natural Science. He also is a professor of sociology and of crop and soil sciences.

The award, Dietz said, is a satisfying reflection of the growing acknowledgment that environmental problems will be best solved when disciplines meld. This is a key component of the Environmental Science and Policy Program.

“One of the places these discussions is going is the melding of physical and biological sciences and social sciences,” Dietz said. “No particular discipline or field can wrestle with these problems -- we have to have the interdisciplinary work. We need to have more integrative science. We’re honored by this award because it’s a group of ecologists who are saying this is an important piece of work. I think that’s a signal of the kind of thing we’re beginning to see happening – work that integrates across fields.”

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Land Policy Program Funds Research and Outreach Projects

The MSU Land Policy Program (LPP) awarded 32 grants totaling about $525,000 to researchers and outreach faculty members at MSU, Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University and the University of Michigan for projects that will contribute to Michigan’s ability to protect land resources, encourage smart growth and revitalize urban centers.

“These projects build on last year’s grant accomplishments and provide relevant research and outreach to support sustainable growth and better targeting of resources across the state,” said Soji Adelaja, the John A. Hannah distinguished professor in land policy at MSU and MAES-affiliated scientist. “Better information will support local and state decision makers as they attempt to make choices aimed at sustainable development and long-term economic prosperity."

Projects include investigating the root causes of land resource fragmentation, examining “green building” design standards, developing active community design guidelines for Michigan, providing local officials with tools and information to make better planning decisions, and assessing brownfield redevelopment programs across the state.

Other projects will examine the intricacies of land conservation, development of a new open space planning curriculum with a focus on geographical information system (GIS) applications and the outcomes of revitalizing abandoned/dilapidated homes over time.

A complete list of funded projects is available at the LPP Web site.

LPP grants ranged from $2,000 to $46,000. The LPP grant review panel selected projects for funding from 54 proposals in eight categories: curriculum development, graduate student research, program delivery, program planning, special projects, rapid response, research and outreach equipment, and undergraduate student research.

The Land Policy Program Grants Initiative was made possible through funding by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation under the People and Land Program, the MSU Office of the Provost, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, the MSU Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, and the MSU Office of the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy.

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Materials on Reporting Impact Now on MAES Web Site; Ag Econ Creating Analysis Center

Materials used at the 2005 impact statement writing training session held June 15 in Anthony Hall have been added to the MAES Web site. The materials are located at http://www.maes.msu.edu/intranet/Report_impact.htm.

The session was sponsored by the MAES, Project GREEEN and the Michigan Animal Industry Initiative.

The session materials cover:

• The definition of impact.
• How to talk about the impact of research.
• The questions to ask to determine the impacts of research.
• How this information is used by administrators and communicators.

The Department of Agricultural Economics is working to create a center for applied economic analysis that will open in 2006. One of the mandates of the center will be to conduct economic benefit-cost analyses and impact assessments.

To get more information on the center, please e-mail Steve Hanson, chairperson of the Agricultural Economics Department, or call him at 517-355-4567.

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Ag Expo Attendance Up

After the tents came down, the exhibitors packed up and the nearly 13,000 visitors went back home, MSU’s 2005 Ag Expo planners were happy. Attendance was up more than 10 percent.

Throughout the show, visitors from across the Great Lakes region came to see and test various types of farming equipment, while others attended educational sessions on such topics as dairy marketing, manure management, on-farm fuel storage, preparing for college and horse facility risk assessment. A large crowd also attended the antique tractor and garden tractor pulling contests.

And all these activities drew in a crowd larger than last year's.

“We’re very happy with the higher turnout of visitors this year,” said Kirk Heinze, Ag Expo director. “The nearly 11 percent increase in attendance indicates that we are moving in a positive direction with our programs and marketing.”

The show started with a breakfast where 500 attendees met the new director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Mitch Irwin. Also during the breakfast, David Morris, a Grand Ledge, Mich., farmer, pledged an estate gift valued at approximately $7.5 million to enhance research and teaching opportunities at MSU.

An auction of collectable tractors also took place during the breakfast, along with a raffle for an antique tractor. These events raised more than $12,000 for the Michigan FFA Foundation.

The MSU Agriculture and Natural Resources Communities tent, which included the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, also had a large number of visitors. More than 7,000 guests stopped in to sign a birthday card mural in honor of MSU’s sesquicentennial, learn about programs in agriculture, natural resources and communities, and celebrate with birthday cake each day.

“Ag Expo continues to be successful because it brings our industry stakeholders together to showcase the latest in agricultural equipment, technology and services, and to get a first-hand understanding of our excellent research, teaching and Extension programs,” said Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Next year’s Ag Expo is set for July 18-20 at the corner of Mt. Hope Road and Farm Lane.

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Field Days and Special Events

Trevor Nichols Research Complex
Research Field Day
September 27, 2005
1-5 p.m.
The focus will be on insect and disease research and efficacy trials that were carried out this season at the TNRC.