2006 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? Why does it matter? This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station of Mississippi State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the inhouse project 6402-21410-004-00D, Alternative Crops and Value-Added Products for Mississippi. The goal is to provide 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. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) This cooperative project has not undergone the formal ARS peer review process; therefore, formal milestones are not available. However, the overall objectives of the research are: to determine the agronomic, industrial, animal production, and economic potential of growing alternative crops or adding value to existing products in Mississippi. Alternative crops can be any plant or animal species that is not currently grown in Mississippi on a large scale and can include, but is not limited to, plants for medicinal purposes, (e.g., mayapple, eastern red cedar, Echinacea), etraceuticals (e.g., tomatoes with increased lycopene content), flowers for fresh market, ornamentals, turf, fiber crops (e.g., kenaf), oilseed, industrial crops for energy and alternative fuel production, etc. There are many ways to add value to existing crops or products such as. 1)using a byproduct from a process, and. 2)finding alternative uses or additives to plant and animal products. Specific research objectives are (1) determine suitability of Winter Rose poinsettia as a cut flower crop; (2) evaluate incorporated and unincorporated rates of chicken litter as fertilizer for cotton production; (3) determine animal and economic performance of steers grazed on standing corn; (4) determine optimum planting time, mulching and soil conditions, harvest regimes, and pest pressure effects on Eastern Red Cedar and Mayapple to be used as medicinal herbs; and (5) quantify and improve lycopene production in Mississippi grown tomatoes and watermelons and evaluate the economic potential of the system. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Ground raw soybeans increases estrus in sows. Gilts fed ground raw soybean showed 30 percent more first estrus within 14 days of initial exposure to the boar than those fed commercial soybean meal; while conception rates were higher in gilts fed commercial soybean meal, the resorption rate of embryos was also higher than the gilts fed ground raw soybean. This should allow swine producers to experience a reduction in the cost of pig production. This relates to National Program 101 Food Animal Production problem statement: Reproductive Efficiency. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. None 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None 4d.Progress report. Utilizing rice flour in the production of gluten-free chicken nuggets was acceptable in sensory testing, and the nuggets can be consumed by individuals that have been diagnosed with celiac disease. Low-fat frankfurters were produced with rice starch that showed potential to improve product quality by improving yields. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Increased omega-3 fatty acid in farm-raised catfish: Pond-raised channel catfish fed diets amended with specially processed and refined menhaden fish oil had omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) content of 7.2% of total lipid content in the fillets. The addition of this free fatty acid in one’s diet could reduce the risk of heart disease, improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and be useful in the prevention and treatment of many other diseases related to high cholesterol. Keeping the level of added fish oil to about 2.0 to 2.5%, the level of omega-3 HUFA content of fillets can be increased to at least 7.2% of total lipid content without affecting the traditional mild flavor of the catfish fillets. Consumption of 200 grams of fillet having 7.2% omega-3 HUFA and containing 6.9% total lipid can provide about one gram of omega-3 HUFA to one’s normal diet. This relates to National Program 106 Aquaculture problem statement: Quality, Safety and Variety of Aquaculture Products for Consumers. This procedure has the potential of increasing sales of farm-raised catfish through increased appeal for consumer health. Ground raw soybean increases estrus in sows. Gilts fed ground raw soybean showed 30 percent more first estrus within 14 days of initial exposure to the boar than those fed commercial soybean meal; while conception rates were higher in gilts fed commercial soybean meal, the resorption rate of embryos was also higher than the gilts fed ground raw soybean. This should allow swine producers to experience a reduction in the cost of pig production. This relates to National Program 101 Food Animal Production problem statement: Reproductive Efficiency. 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? None. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Adeli, A., D.E. Rowe, H. Tewolde, and M.K. Shankle. 2005. Runoff losses of nitrogen and phosphorus from no-till cotton field fertilized with broiler litter. 2nd Symposium on Safe Management and Utilization of Animal Waste. Proceedings of the 36th Annual Mississippi Water Resources Conference. P. 197-206. Jackson, MS. Evans, W.B., K.W. Hood, K.L. Paridon, and P. Hudson. 2005. Organic vegetable production research in Mississippi: Early successes. Deep South Fruit and Vegetables Growers Conference. Mobile, AL. Evans, W.B., Y. Vizzer-Thaxton, K.L. Paridon, and P. Hudson. 2005. Broiler litter compost vs. synthetic fertilizer: Soil and vegetable crop responses. Proceedings of the American Society of Agronomy Annual Conference. (Poster). Evans, W.B., K.W. Hood, K.L. Paridon, and P. Hudson. 2005. Organic vegetable yield and economics show promise in a Mississippi Trial. Presentation to the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference. Evans, W.B., K.W. Hood, K.L. Paridon, and P. Hudson. 2005. Organic vegetable yield and economics show promise in a Mississippi Trial. HortSci. 40(4):1093. (Abstract). Jackson, V., M.W. Schilling, P.C. Coggins, and J.M. Martin. 2006 Utilization of rice starch in the formulation of low-fat, wheat-free chicken nuggets. Mississippi Academy of Sciences. Martin, J. and B. Williams. 2005. Effects of beef muscle type with or without enhancement on pre-cooked value-added roast beef. Book of Abstracts: Southern Section American Society of Animal Science. Orlando, FL. Pollard, A.N., Coggins, P.C., C.E. Coker, and P.R. Knight. 2005. Quantitative descriptive analysis methodology for the determination of the consumption of edible daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.). Southern Region American Society of Horticultural Sciences, Little Rock, AR. Pollard, A.N., Coggins, P.C., C.E. Coker, and P.R. Knight. 2005. Quantitative descriptive analysis methodology for the determination of the optimum month for consumption of daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.). Institute of Food Technologists. Shankle, M.W., H. Tewolde, T.F. Garrett, K.R. Sistani, A. Adeli, and D.E. Rowe. 2005. Use of poultry litter as a fertilizer source in no-tillage cotton production. Beltwide Cotton Research Conferences. New Orleans, LA. Sloan, R.C. and S.S. Harkness. 2005. Plant growth regulator effect on lisianthus growth. Annual Report of the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center. Miss. Agr. & For. Exp. Sta. Info. Bul. 419:261-266. Sloan, R.C. and S.S. Harkness. 2005. Hybrid lily cultivar evaluation. Annual Report 2004 of the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center. Miss. Agr. & For. Exp. Sta. Info. Bul. 419:267-275. Sloan, R.C. and S.S. Harkness. 2005. Gladiolus cultivar evaluation. Annual Report of the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center. Miss. Agr. & For. Exp. Sta. Info. Bul. 419:306-308. Sloan, R.C. and S.S. Harkness. 2005. Cut flower research in Mississippi. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. Atlanta, GA. (Poster) Sykes D., A. Chromiak, S. Couvillion, P. Gerard, M. Crenshaw, S. Willard, and P. Ryan. 2006. Estrus detection in gilts using digital infrared thermal imaging. Southern Section ASAS, Orlando, FL. Sykes D, S Couvillion, J. Martin, T. Althen, P. Gerard, M. Crenshaw, and P. Ryan. 2006. Comparison of raw soybean and soybean meal diets on carcass traits in gilts. Southern Section ASAS, Orlando, FL. Sykes D, S Couvillion, Gerard, B. Rude, F. Cunningham, M. Crenshaw, and P. Ryan. 2006. Evaluation of ground raw soybean diets as a novel approach to enhance reproductive efficiency in gilts. ASAS Annual Meeting, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Tewolde, H., M.W. Shankle, T.F. Garrett, K.R. Sistani, D.E. Rowe, and A. Adeli. 2005. Lack of Incorporation Reduces benefits of poultry litter applied to no-tillage cotton. Beltwide Cotton Research Conferences. New Orleans, LA.