Tuesday, October 17, 2017

USDA Invests in Research on Next Generation of Agricultural Technology

USDA Invests in Research on Next Generation of Agricultural Technology Media Contact: Selina Meiners, (202)734-9376 WASHINGTON, D.C., October 17, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 17 grants for research on the next generation of agricultural technologies and systems to meet the growing demand for food, fuel, and fiber. The grants are funded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Technology is front and center in agricultural production,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA is investing in research on precision and smart technologies to maximize production efficiencies, including water and fertilizer use, and to produce nutritious food, new biofuels, and bioproducts.” AFRI is America’s flagship competitive grants program for foundational and translational research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. AFRI’s Agriculture Systems and Technology grants support the design and engineering of agricultural production systems and research on the burgeoning field of biomass, biofuels, feedstock, bioenergy, and bio-based products. These projects are expected to spur innovation in rural America and contribute to rural prosperity. Included among the grants announced today is a University of California Riverside project that uses electronics and chemistry to recover high-quality water, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and energy from agricultural wastewater. Also, researchers at the University of Nebraska are developing an efficient irrigation system that combines imaging sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles, predictions of crop water use, and water sensors in soil. Fiscal Year 2016 grants totaling $7.3 million included: Agricultural Engineering • University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, Kentucky, $500,000 • University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, Kentucky, $498,726 • Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, $149,983 • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, $499,998 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,978 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,916 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,896 • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, $50,000 • Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, $312,238 Bioprocessing and Bioengineering • Auburn University, Auburn University, Alabama, $481,539 • University of California, Riverside, California, $480,843 • University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, $472,965 • Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, $482,905 • Sustainable Bioproducts LLC, Bozeman, Montana, $482,829 • The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $482,448 • University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, $482,905 • University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, $482,752 Project details can be found at the NIFA website. Previously funded projects include an Oregon State University project to develop wireless sensors to study flight behavior of native pollinators associated with agricultural crops. This project will shed light on bumble bees’ flight patterns to help efforts to sustain their populations. Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a low-cost electronic sensor to monitor, in real-time, excess nitrate levels in surface water that are a major environmental and health concern. This technology may help landowners and governments in their conservation efforts by circumventing the need to collect water samples for lab analysis. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel has resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts. USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and employer. ###

Monday, October 16, 2017

APHIS Adds South Carolina to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Regulated Area

Subject: APHIS Adds South Carolina to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Regulated Area To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding all of South Carolina to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB). APHIS is taking this action in response to the detection of EAB in Greenville, Oconee, and Spartanburg Counties and because the state has decided to establish a full state quarantine. To prevent the spread of EAB to other states, the attached Federal Order outlines specific conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from South Carolina. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from South Carolina is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. EAB is an invasive wood-boring beetle that is native to China and other areas of East Asia. The beetle is present in some portions of the United States, and because of its continuing spread, APHIS has established regulated areas that are designated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 7 CFR 301.53-3 and the Federal Orders located at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/eab_quarantine APHIS works with state cooperators and foresters to prevent the human assisted movement of EAB, develop biological and other controls for EAB, and raise public awareness about this pest and the potential threats associated with the long-distance movement of firewood. For more information about the EAB program and federal EAB regulations, please contact EAB National Policy Manager Robyn Rose at 301-851-2283. Osama El-Lissy Deputy Administrator Plant Protection and Quarantine FEDERAL ORDER Domestic Quarantine of South Carolina for Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) DA-2017-32 October 13, 2017 This Federal Order expands the list of regulated areas for emerald ash borer (EAB) to include all of South Carolina. This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. This Federal Order is also issued pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection Act found at 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 301.53. Effective immediately, this Federal Order quarantines all of South Carolina for EAB. This action responds to the detection of EAB in Greenville, Oconee, and Spartanburg Counties. Thus, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finds it necessary to regulate this State to prevent the spread of EAB. Effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB regulated articles from South Carolina must be done in accordance with any applicable provisions of this Federal Order and the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.53 et seq and the Federal Orders located at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/eab_quarantine Section 7 CFR 301.53-3 (b) provides for the temporary designation of new quarantined areas pending publication of a rule to add counties to the list shown in 7 CFR 301.53-3(c). Section 7 CFR 301.53-3 (b) further requires written notification to the owner or person who possesses a newly quarantined area. This is the responsibility of the federal and/or state regulatory personnel who are responsible for the EAB program in the affected state. Previous Federal Orders pertaining to the expansion of quarantined areas in the EAB domestic regulations have been necessary due to the continuing spread of EAB. This Federal Order further expands the quarantined areas as described in the previous EAB Federal Orders. If you wish for more details on the federal EAB regulatory program, you may call EAB National Policy Manager Robyn Rose at 301-851-2283. For information on the regulatory requirements to move articles out of quarantined areas in South Carolina, please call APHIS State Plant Health Director Carl Lightfoot at 843-480-4334. We appreciate the cooperative relationship with South Carolina in our effort to prevent the spread of EAB.

Friday, October 13, 2017

New Extension Publications now available.

The following new CES publication is now available online in PDF format. Circular 686: Grazing and Biodiversity Christopher D. Allison (Rangeland Scientist, Linebery Policy Center for Natural Resource Management) Louis C. Bender (Senior Research Scientist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR686.pdf

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Regents to hold listening sessions across the state in preparation for chancellor search

WOODS Note:If you think Agriculture is important, Agriculture Science Stations and County Extension you need to show up and voice that! NMSU Regents to hold listening sessions across the state in preparation for chancellor search DATE: 10/12/2017 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu The New Mexico State University Board of Regents will conduct a series listening sessions in communities across New Mexico to seek input from university employees, alumni, supporters, community members and other stakeholders regarding the search for the university’s next chancellor. “New Mexico State University has an enormous impact on communities around our state,” said NMSU Regent Mike Cheney, who is chairing the chancellor search process. “We want to hear from all stakeholders as we move forward with this process. This input will be valuable as the Board of Regents moves forward in selecting a chancellor who has a great vision for NMSU and can lead our land-grant university through the next decade of success.” Public listening sessions include: • Carlsbad – 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at NMSU’s Carlsbad campus, Room 153, • Alamogordo – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 at NMSU Alamogordo’s Townsend Library, • Las Cruces – 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Dona Ana Community College’s East Mesa Campus Auditorium, • Grants – Thursday, Nov. 2 at NMSU’s Grants campus, time and room to be determined, • Albuquerque – 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the CNM Workforce Training Center, Room 103. An additional listening session for NMSU faculty and staff is set for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the university’s Las Cruces campus, at Domenici Hall, in the Yates Auditorium. Various members of the NMSU Board of Regents, potentially constituting a quorum, will be in attendance at each listening session. No votes or official actions will take place at any of these events. Please contact the Office of the Board of Regents at 575-646-5997 if you need additional information. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the Board of Regents Office at 575-646-5997 at least three days prior to the meeting, or as soon as possible. - 30 -

Water Research Stake Holders meeting

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Public meetings will address trespassing on private land NMGF

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Dan Williams: (505) 476-8004 dan.williams@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 11, 2017: Public meetings will address trespassing on private land ALAMOGORDO – Representatives of the Department of Game and Fish and the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office serving Otero and Lincoln counties will conduct public meetings Oct. 16-17 to address trespassing on private lands and the obligations of landowners, hunters and anglers. District Attorney John Sugg and department conservation officers will discuss various issues regarding trespass laws, including sign posting requirements, written permission to use private lands for hunting and fishing, and possible penalties for violations. Meeting times and sites: Oct. 16 • Corona: 9 to 11 a.m., Corona Senior Center, 451 Main St. • Capitan: 1 to 3 p.m., Capitan Senior Center, 115 Tiger Drive. • Hondo: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hondo High School, 111 Don Pablo Lane. Oct. 17 • Alamogordo: 9 to 11 a.m., Otero County Sheriff’s Office, 3208 N. White Sands Blvd. • Mayhill: 1 to 3 p.m., Mayhill Fire Department, 11 Civic Center Drive. • Pinon: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Pinon Community Club, 2337 N.M. 24. For more information about the meetings, please contact Sgt. Jason Kline, (575) 973-0233. ###

Federal legislation proposed to crack down on fake organics

Federal legislation proposed to crack down on fake organics FoodDive.com By Cathy Siegner A bill introduced in Congress would toughen inspections of imported organic produce to ensure the food items are genuine. Reps. John Faso, a New York Republican, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat from New Mexico, are pushing for the Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act to provide more money for enforcement and compliance to USDA's National Organic Program…Among other provisions, the bill would require currently uncertified importers, brokers, ports and online auctions to become organic-certified or lose their organic labeling. This would close a loophole in current law that permits organic agricultural products fumigated for pests at U.S. ports to still be admitted and sold as organic. More: http://www.fooddive.com/news/federal-legislation-proposed-to-crack-down-on-fake-organics/506398/