2004 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mississippi State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 6402-21410-003-00D, "Research on Kenaf and Other Alternative Crops and Value-Added Products." This research contributes to National Program 305, Integrated Crop Production and Protection Systems, by evaluating the effect of different agronomic practices on the production and harvest of kenaf, medicinal plants and other value-added production practices, and research on both new and current varieties of kenaf, medicinal plants and other crops contributes to National Program 301, Plant, Microbial and Insect Germplasm Conservation. This project strives to provide Mississippi farmers with a profitable alternative crop to some of the crops currently grown in the region. Research supported by these funds are aimed at determining optimum agronomic practices for producing and harvesting kenaf and other alternative crops as well as to find new and profitable products made from kenaf fibers as well as other alternative crops. Prices for various crops being grown in the Mississippi Hill and Delta areas have been suppressed for the past 30 years and many farmers are finding it difficult to stay in business. Results from this research should enable many small to medium sized farmers to become profitable from growing and selling kenaf and/or kenaf based products as well as other alternative crops or value-added products. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. This cooperative project has not undergone the formal ARS peer review process; therefore, formal milestones are not available. However, the overall objective is to determine the agronomic, industrial, animal production, and economic potential of growing alternative crops or adding value to existing products in Mississippi. There are a number of ways to add value to existing crops or products such as,. 1)using a byproduct from a process, or. 2)finding alternative uses for additives to plant and animal products. Research will be conducted in the following areas:. 1)agronomics and animal production practices,. 2)harvesting and processing technology and efficiency,. 3)economics of production, harvesting, and processing,. 4)development and evaluation of potential marketable products, and. 5)evaluation of biological feasibility of crops with economic potential. 3.Milestones: A. Milestones scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. 1) Field establishment of medicinal herbs and determine the potential for commercial production. . 2)Determine production practices, economic feasibility, and consumer acceptance of square watermelons. . 3)Establish a viable organic vegetable crop production site in Mississippi and determine organic vegetable yields and economics of production. . 4)Evaluation and production of castor as an oilseed crop for Mississippi. . 5)Develop new uses for a portion of Mississippi¿s sweet potato crop to enhance profitability. . 6)Develop and commercialize value added food products from muscadine grapes. . 7)Increase lycopene concentration in commercial tomatoes grown in Mississippi. . 8)Evaluate edible flowers as a potential Mississippi crop. . 9)Controlling nematodes in cotton using poultry litter. 10) Develop omega-3 enriched channel catfish as a value-added Mississippi crop. 11) Evaluate fertilizer potential of chicken litter in no-till cotton production. 12) Evaluate field grown cut-flower production as an alternative crop in Mississippi. 13) Evaluate the adaptation of new alfalfa varieties for Mississippi. 14) Examine production of velvet in farmed Red deer and Fallow deer, develop a bioassay for measuring relative potency of velvet antler, and investigate current market in U.S. for velvet antler. 15) Develop a marinade and process to enhance the flavor of grass feed beef and create a marketing scheme for these meats and evaluate mechanical and chemical means to use on variable colored pork muscles to enhance there value. 16) Develop and implement an experiment to estimate consumer acceptance of freshwater shrimp and determine consumer attitude and preferences. 17) Evaluation of cold and heat tolerance of aquatic plants for water garden culture. 18) Determine efficiencies of new commercial machinery for separation of kenaf fibers. B. Milestones to be address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? 2005 - Production of the anti-cancer agent podophyllotoxin in Mayapple and Red Cedar will be investigated thoroughly. Lycopene production should be optimized in some tomato varieties and castor oil will be investigated for use in biodiesel. Production practices for several cut-flowers along with marketing strategies will be developed to provide an attractive alternative crop for Mississippi farmers. Alternative uses of sweet potatoes will be identified to provide value added products for Mississippi farmers. Organically grown vegetable crop production could provide Mississippi truck farmers with good yields and be economically feasible. 2006 - Identify species, cultivars, and cultural practices and develop production budgets for annual, perennial, and woody plants adapted to field production in Mississippi that yield flowers and floriculture products acceptable to regional and national markets. Collections of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) from the wild were propagated in the greenhouse. Cultivation of these medicinal herbs may develop into new alternative crops for Mississippi farmers. These uses of kenaf, flowers, chicken litter, and other alternative or medicinal crops can be valuable resources for the Mississippi farmers looking for additional cash crops. Harvesting velvet from farmed Red deer and Fallow deer and investigate current market in U.S. for velvet antler. 2007 - Strategies and efficiencies of bulk harvest and extraction, agronomics, and pests and pest control of mayapple and Eastern red cedar. Development of value added products from muscadine grapes will improve profits for Mississippi farmers. Effect of increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acid in farm raised catfish on the taste and palatability of catfish filets. Increase the products made from Mississippi raised sweet potatoes and find additional uses for chicken litter. Novelty watermelons could develop into a niche market appealing to Mississippi farmers and consumers. 4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004 American mayapple is an herbaceous perennial found in wooded areas of eastern North America and is a source of the pharmaceutical compound podophyllotoxin. Research in cultivating this plant has determined that the amount of podophyllotoxin can be affected by shade treatments; this finding provides needed information to develop optimum cultural practices for commercial production of the mayapple. B. Other significant accomplishment(s), if any. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This project received a Congressionally mandated program increase of $180,000 in FY 2001, all of which passed through to Mississippi State University under a Specific Cooperative Agreement. Research in the past had largely focused upon production and new uses in kenaf, a fiber crop. The research effort was expanded to develop alternative crops, learn how to manage them productively and profitably, and to increase the value of products of new crops. Specific objectives are: Expand opportunities to enhance profitability through the development of knowledge of alternative crops for the Mid-South, including high-value industrial and medicinal crops. The research is to include both production management practices and harvesting and processing technologies that add value to the products of these alternative crops. This is a new project for FY 2004 which supersedes the previous cooperative agreement between ARS and Mississippi State University. Details of previous research can be found in the report on 6402-21410-003-01S and the parent project 6402-21410-003-00D, "Research on Kenaf and Other Alernative Crops and Value-Added Products." Briefly, previous findings include: Potential uses for kenaf include making low density composites, potting media, blends with cotton fiber, non-woven fabric, removal of odor and nutrients from livestock wastewater, and removal of PAH and PCP from contaminated soils and ground water. A device that decorticates whole-stalk green kenaf was developed. A grower's guide for agronomic practices that insure maximum kenaf yields in Mississippi were distributed across the state. Chicken litter can be used to reduce nematodes, raise hay, and as a source of nitrogen for cotton in both conventional and non-tillage systems. Sunflower, zinnias, and celosia can be grown and marketed in Mississippi. The anti-cancer agent podophyllotoxin can be produced in Mayapple and Red Cedar, and it appears that lack of shade over Mayapple increases podophyllotoxin production. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? This is a new project for FY 2004 which supersedes the previous cooperative agreement between ARS and Mississippi State University. Details of previous research can be found in the report on 6402-21410-003-01S and the parent project 6402-21410-003-00D, "Research on Kenaf and Other Alternative Crops and Value-Added Products." 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. This is a new project for FY 2004 which supersedes the previous cooperative agreement between ARS and Mississippi State University. Details of previous research can be found in the report on 6402-21410-003-01S and the parent project 6402-21410-003-00D, "Research on Kenaf and Other Alternative Crops and Value-Added Products."