Campuses:
May 2013
2012-13 CFANS Faculty & Staff Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2012-13 recipients of the CFANS Faculty and Staff awards! Award recipients who were recognized at the college assembly on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.\
Way to go Jeff and Kevin!.
Distinguished Extension/ Outreach Award
Jeff Gunsolus, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Innovation in Undergraduate Education Award
Kevin Smith, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
| May 2013 As of this morning, five bikers and runners from the University of Minnesota began a 10-day trek across the state to show school kids all the creative approaches to farming employed in rural areas. Starting on the western border, near Madison, the group will stop at farms and towns along a pretty much straight route to the Twin Cities.Graduate student Bryan Runck dreamed up the idea with some fellow students. To read more... MPR |  |
| Professor Paul Porter, who is also participating in and overseeing the project, said the goal is to "go out on the landscape and have an adventure and talk about it as the hook to bring in students, to get them to pay more attention the landscape and the food they eat." He also joked that the team may be "out of our minds." To read more MPR Real-time updates go directly to : http://g2rminnesota.ning.com/ |  |
2013 Philip C. Hamm -- Memorial Lecture and Award Ceremony was on Thursday, April 25th 2013.
For those of you that were not able to attend the seminar. Links to the Lecture and Q & A are below.
Lecture link: https://umconnect.umn.edu/
Q&A link: https://umconnect.umn.edu/
Grainnet
According to a recent soy-checkoff-funded study, the overall oil levels in last year’s U.S. soybean crop increased over the previous year, while average protein fell. .. But for a crop baked by drought conditions for much of the year, that’s pretty good, says the scientist in charge of the research, Seth Naeve. He says the drought likely had a hand in holding protein levels down.
Dairy Herd
Farmers usually enjoy a yield boost when corn is planted following an alfalfa crop. The major reasons: reduced pest and disease pressure, better soil structure that enhances root growth and water infiltration, and an altered soil microbial community, says Jeff Coulter, a corn agronomist with University of Minnesota Extension.
Agriculture case to affect patents - In a Supreme Court biotech case, colleges support Monsanto.
James Orf, University agronomy and plant genetics professor, just wants the Supreme Court to make a decision on the case. He also
said no matter what the decision, researchers should pay attention to it because it could potentially have a large impact in the future.
“It’s not that one is good and the other one is totally bad,” he said. “But it does let us know ... how we need to operate.”
University of Minnesota Extension - SOURCE WINTER 2013
Reaching More Farmers Through Ag Professionals
University of Minnesota Extension research and education helps feed a growing population while protecting the environment. Since its inception in 1909, Extension has worked with farmers to find solutions to the biggest challenges. For the past 25 years, Extension has shared the University's research and knowledge with ag professionals, the people who have the most influence on crop farmers today.
By showing real examples in the University's research crop fields, specialists like Jeff Gunsolus provide hands-on learning. Gunsolus is an Extension agronomist and weed-science specialist and one of the researchers who teach ag professionals.
"The agricultural landscape has changed, with herbicide issues in the forefront," says Gunsolus. "When their professionals can explain to farmers which is the right herbicide on the right weed at the right time, farmers use fewer chemicals." Farm resources are then used more efficiently, weeds develop less resistance, and environmental impacts are reduced.
"There are sometimes contradictions between research-based recommendations and business recommendations," notes Jochum Wiersma, Extension small grains specialist. "So only by working together can we change behavior over time."
