CSREES Update - July 9, 2008
CSREES Update, from the Office of the Administrator, is a biweekly newsletter for research, education, and extension partners at land-grant universities and other cooperating institutions.
In This Issue
CSREES
- Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Fitness National Initiative
- CSREES News
- CSREES Open Requests for Grant Applications
USDA
- Schafer Announces Clark as NASS Administrator
- Fact Sheet: Midwest Flood Response USDA Actions—Updated: July 1, 2008
- USDA Issues Advance Direct Payments -- Authorized in New Farm Bill
Partners
- Gardner Appointed Interim Administrator of University of Arkansas CES
- A New Publication Explores the Viability Of Agriculture
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CSREES
Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Fitness National Initiative
The Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Fitness National Initiative is investing to address social and environmental conditions and to create vibrant communities that support access to locally grown, healthy, affordable food, and safe and convenient places for physical activity and play—for everyone. CSREES, other USDA agencies, and the Cooperative Extension Service support community efforts in a number of ways to encourage healthy living. W.K. Kellogg Food and Fitness grants have been awarded to organizations in nine communities nationwide. The communities are Boston, MA; Detroit, MI; Holyoke, MA; Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties, in north east Iowa; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Seattle/King County, WA; and Tohono O’odham, AZ. Each is facilitating collaboration across multiple sectors, from transportation to public health, from agriculture to education, from youth to the faith community. The goal is to advance integrated, sustainable, and practical solutions that can serve as models for positive change for all communities. About 30 people from each of the communities convened June 23–26 in Detroit, MI, to build relationships across communities, promote new learning, and inspire action. Dan Kugler, interim Deputy Administrator for F4HN represented CSREES. Many of the community-based organizations are already making positive strides despite many challenges and obstacles. Contact Shirley Gerrior, CSREES national program leader, for more information.
CSREES News
- Researchers Find Link Between Insects and Treatments for High Blood Pressure
Research into the hormone that controls the growth of insects has led to a new approach to treating human disorders, including hypertension. The juvenile hormone in insects controls the different stages of development. Scientists have developed insect growth regulators that mimic juvenile hormone as a form of biologically based insect control. With funding from CSREES National Research Initiative program, a team of scientists in California examined how juvenile hormones affect metamorphosis, which in turn led to the unexpected discovery of a new approach to treat high blood pressure and other disorders in humans. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to view the Researchers Find Link Between Insects and Treatments for High Blood Pressure.
- Scientists Examine Chicken Fertility
New research into poultry fertility may result in an economic boost of $10–$15 million for the poultry industry. With funding from CSREES, a team of scientists at Cornell University identified new approaches to improve fertility in broiler hens without compromising growth efficiency.
During embryo development in animals, the embryo can develop one of two reproductive duct systems—the mullerian system develops into the female reproductive tract and the wolffian system develops into the male reproductive tract. Introduction of an anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) at this early stage inhibits the development of the female reproductive tract in males. Many studies have examined the effect of AMH in males, but few studies have examined the impact of this hormone on females. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to view the Scientists Examine Chicken Fertility.
- The Healthy Grown Label: Healthy Food and Healthy Land
Eco-labeling is a new certification program similar to the organic label, but goes beyond the organic concept by reflecting new land management practices for the entire farm ecosystem, including noncrop lands. With funding from CSREES, a team of scientists, growers, and environmentalists in Wisconsin developed the "Healthy Grown" label to reflect this land management practice to promote balanced agricultural management and support broad ecosystem health.
Dr. Paul Zedler from the University of Wisconsin, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund and the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, is studying the biodiversity and ecological benefit of noncrop lands in agricultural landscapes. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to view The Healthy Grown Label: Healthy Food and Healthy Land.
- Countering Insect Resistance with Designer Bt Toxins
Toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kill some key agricultural pests, but cause little or no harm to people, wildlife, and even most other insects, including the natural enemies of pests. For decades, Bt toxins were used successfully in organic and mainstream agriculture. Widespread exposure to Bt toxins, however, increases the chances that pests will adapt and evolve resistance—just as pests have evolved resistance to conventional insecticides. With funding from CSREES, researchers in Arizona and Mexico have collaborated to design, create, and test genetically modified Bt toxins that kill insects resistant to standard Bt toxins.
Since 1996, cotton and corn crops have been genetically engineered to produce their own Bt toxins. These crops have grown on more than 490 million acres worldwide, with most of that acreage in the United States. With Bt toxins increasingly important for pest control and the threat of resistance also mounting, the modified toxins could help to protect the nation's food supply and promote sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture. Visit the CSREES Newsroom to view Countering Insect Resistance with Designer Bt Toxins.
CSREES Lists Open Requests for Grant Applications
CSREES advertises all of its funding opportunities through "Find Grant Opportunities" on the Grants.gov Web site. This site is searchable and contains summary information on all federal funding opportunities with links to the full announcements. Users can search announcements by topic, funding agency, and date, as well as subscribe to an e-mail notification service based on these parameters.
USDA
Schafer Announces Clark as NASS Administrator
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2008 – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced the selection of Cynthia Clark as administrator of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Clark will oversee the agency's efforts to collect and disseminate data on every facet of U.S. agriculture.
"Cynthia Clark is known as an accomplished statistician, highly respected both here in the United States and overseas for her expertise in survey research and development," said Schafer in announcing the selection. "I look forward to working with her as the NASS administrator." Visit the USDA Newsroom to read Schafer Announces Clark as NASS Administrator.
Fact Sheet: Midwest Flood Response USDA Actions—Updated: July 1, 2008
USDA Issues Advance Direct Payments -- Authorized in New Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2008 - America's farmers will receive up to $1.15 billion in 2008 advance direct payments beginning today.
"We pledged to make the Direct and Counter-cyclical payment Program (DCP) available to producers as quickly as possible. Signup began June 25th and today we are distributing payments to those producers who elected to receive a 22 percent advance payment at enrollment," Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said. Visit the USDA Newsroom to read USDA Issues Advance Direct Payments -- Authorized in New Farm Bill.
Partners
Gardner Appointed Interim Administrator of University of Arkansas CES
Dr. James O. Garner was appointed interim administrator, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff, effective July 1. Garner earned a B.S. in science education from Delta State University in 1970; a M.S. in horticulture from Mississippi State University in 1972; and his Ph.D. in vegetable crops from Cornell University in 1976. Garner can be reached at: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Department of Agriculture, 1200 North University Drive, Mail Slot 4913, Pine Bluff, AR 71601; Telephone: 870/575-7199, FAX: 870/543-8033, and E-mail: garnerj@uapb.edu.
A New Publication Explores the Viability Of Agriculture
“Farming in the Urban Shadow: Supporting Agriculture at the Rural-Urban Interface” was published in Rural Realities, Volume 2, Issue 4, a Rural Sociological Society publication. The authors examine agricultural production in the rural-urban interface. This type of agriculture is not only very important to regional and national food production, accounting for about 55 percent of all farm sales in the United States, but also contributes to protecting the open space and creating local food systems with associated benefits to communities. Results suggest that innovative local, state, and national programs can have important effects on the viability of farming in the rural-urban interface. This study is part of a research project funded through the CSREES National Research Initiative Rural Development Program. Contact S. Sureshwaran CSREES national program leader, or Jeff Sharp, associate professor at The Ohio State University, for more information.
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For a plain text copy of this newsletter, please contact Judy Rude. CSREES UPDATE is published biweekly. The next regular issue is planned for July 23, 2008. Submit news items to newsletter@csrees.usda.gov by July 16, 2008.
Editor: Judy Rude, writer-editor, CSREES Communications Staff. If you have questions about Update, please contact her at jrude@csrees.usda.gov.
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Back issues of CSREES UPDATE are available on the CSREES Web site.
Colien Hefferan, Administrator
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