Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Kansas City/Overland Park Air Quality MIXED, Finds American Lung Association’s 2015 ‘State of the Air’ Report Strong Improvements for Many Cities, Others Suffer Worst Air Quality Episodes



Editor’s Note:  Trend charts and rankings for metropolitan areas and county grades are available at www.StateOfTheAir.org.
OVERLAND PARK, KS, Embargoed Until: 12:01 a.m. (local time), April 29, 2015— The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2015” report released today shows that Kansas City ranked as 24th most polluted for ozone. Compared to the 2014 report, it’s seen an improvement in year round and short term particle pollution (soot) levels.  This is in keeping with a trend seen across the nation of lower particle pollution levels.

Nationwide, more than 4 in 10 Americans – nearly 138.5 million people – live in counties where ozone or particle pollution levels make the air unhealthy to breathe, according to “State of the Air 2015.” The 16th annual national report card, which looks at air pollution data collected from 2011-2013, shows that improvement in the nation’s air quality was mixed, with many cities experiencing strong improvements, while others suffered increased episodes of unhealthy air, and a few even marked their worst number of unhealthy days.

“We can certainly be proud of the progress we’ve made in cleaning up our air since the first ‘State of the Air’ report 16 years ago. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done to make our air healthy for all Kansans to breathe,” said Susannah Fuchs, Director of Clean Air, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.

“We can thank cleaner diesel fleets and cleaner power plants for the continued reduction of year-round particle pollution.  At the same time, reducing pollution will only become more challenging because warmer temperatures increase the risk for ozone and particle pollution, and make cleaning up the air harder in the future. We need stronger air quality standards to limit pollution and continued cleanup of the current sources of pollution our area to protect the health of our citizens.”

The 2015 report shows that our area reduced its year-round particle pollution, and meets the standard. Particle pollution levels can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end (short-term) or remain at unhealthy levels on average every day (year-round). Particle pollution can penetrate deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream, leading to premature deaths, asthma attacks and heart attacks, as well as lung cancer.

“State of the Air 2015” also finds that our ranking for ozone levels worsened, though our levels improved. Ozone is the most widespread air pollutant, created by the reaction of sunlight on emissions from vehicles and other sources. When ozone is inhaled, it irritates the lungs, like a bad sunburn. It can cause immediate health problems and continue days later. Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and premature death.

“We know that the Clean Air Act works because we’ve seen Kansas air quality improve over the past 16 years and seen the health benefits that have come with cleaning up the air,” said Fuchs. “EPA must move forward to fully implement the Clean Air Act for all pollutants that threaten public health, including finalizing a strong Clean Power Plan to limit carbon pollution from power plants and stronger ozone air quality standards. Congress must also ensure that the provisions under the Clean Air Act are protected, implemented and enforced. The EPA and every state must have adequate funding to monitor and protect our citizens from air pollution and new threats caused by increased temperatures.”

More Safeguards Needed to Protect Health
The American Lung Association calls for several steps to safeguard the air everyone breathes:

·         Strengthen the outdated ozone standards. The EPA must adopt an up-to-date ozone limit that follows the current health science and the law to protect human health. Strong standards will drive much needed cleanup of ozone pollution across the nation.

·         Adopt a strong final Clean Power Plan. The EPA needs to issue tough final requirements to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

·         Protect the Clean Air Act. Congress needs to ensure that the protections under the Clean Air Act remain effective and enforced. States should not be allowed to “opt out” of Clean Air Act protections.
·         Fund the work to provide healthy air. Congress needs to adequately fund the work of the EPA and the states to monitor and protect the nation from air pollution.

To see how your community ranks in “State of the Air 2015,” to learn how to protect yourself and your family from air pollution, and to join the fight for healthy air, visit: www.StateOfTheAir.org.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Reopens the Public Comment Period for the Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reopened the public comment period to receive feedback on the Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence until May 11, 2015.

USDA’s Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence was held on March 12 and 13, 2015, on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. The objective of the workshop was to advance an understanding of agricultural coexistence and discuss proposals for making coexistence more achievable for all stakeholders. Agricultural coexistence is the concurrent cultivation of conventional, organic, identity preserved, and genetically engineered crops consistent with farmer choices and consumer preferences. USDA supports the successful coexistence of these different forms of agricultural production and recognizes that each contributes to the overall health of farming and rural communities throughout the United States.

In addition to the feedback obtained at the workshop from invited participants—representing industry, farmers, government, and academia—the workshop was webcast to allow the public to follow along and offer a broader opportunity for USDA to solicit and obtain public comments on the meeting and on any coexistence proposals discussed. Originally, the public comment period was set to close on March 27, but was extended by two weeks to April 10. USDA continued to accept comments after April 10, and now that the public comment period is officially reopened to May 11, those comments will be included into the record for consideration. To ensure members of the public still have access to the key workshop information, recordings of the webcast—as well as copies of workshop presentations and summaries of USDA activities that are either newly proposed or already underway to support of coexistence—are available for public viewing on the USDA Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence Web page: http://1.usa.gov/1CCWEXU

This Web page can also be accessed from the following USDA Stakeholder Information Web page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info

Additionally, USDA invites you to submit any comments you have, whether they be feedback, ideas, or concerns, on any of the topics discussed during the workshop using the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001-1773. Access is best gained by copying the link and pasting it onto your browser's address bar.

Farm Bureau to FAA: Farmers and Ranchers Will Soar with Agricultural Drones


WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28, 2015 – Farmers and ranchers are eager to use airborne drones to improve their businesses, but they need flexibility to use these tools to their full potential, the American Farm Bureau Federation told the Federal Aviation Administration in comments focusing on performance-based standards, in its rule on the “Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.”

Farmers and ranchers have increased their yields while reducing their environmental footprint, thanks to advances in precision agriculture.

“Drones are the next evolution in American agriculture,” said Dale Moore, AFBF executive director of public policy. “Used properly they let us grow more food on available land using less water and fewer pesticides. High-tech cameras and other airborne sensors give us important tools with which to reduce erosion and keep agricultural runoff to the absolute minimum. This is important not just for farmers but for anyone else who cares deeply about the environment. These tools won’t do anyone any good if they’re grounded by restrictions that make them too cumbersome to use.”

Farmers need performance-based standards for drone use that promote innovation while keeping safety a top priority, the Farm Bureau wrote.

For all the good they do, new technologies are not without risk, Farm Bureau told regulators. Farmers and ranchers need to be able to manage these tools safely and should be assured that their farm data is secure and cannot be used unfairly against them. Added Moore: “Farmers and ranchers are ready to unlock the potential of new technologies in agriculture, and we’re hopeful that the FAA’s final rule gives them a key to do that safely and quickly.”

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Chairman Conaway Criticizes European Union Proposal Allowing Member States to Impose Arbitrary Barriers to Trade




House Committee on Agriculture Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) issued the following statement on the European Commission’s proposal to allow EU countries to ignore science-based safety and environmental determinations made by the European Union and “opt out” of imports of products of biotechnology.

“Today’s announcement by the European Union that it will allow individual member states to impose arbitrary moratoria on products of agricultural biotechnology ignores the scientific consensus regarding the safety of these products and flies in the face of existing trade agreements” said Chairman Conaway said.  “At a time when Europe and the United States are engaged in negotiations to expand market opportunities for producers on both continents, this decision raises serious questions regarding Europe’s commitment to these negotiations.”

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Has The American Dream Hit The Skids? Best-Selling ‘E-Myth’ Author Michael E. Gerber Is Determined To Shock People Out Of Their Stupor



Michael E. Gerber is miffed and he doesn’t care who knows it.

The best-selling author of the “E-Myth” book series says the American Dream has been waylaid – no different than if it had been besieged by robbers in a dark alley – and Gerber is intent on rescuing it.

The way Gerber sees it, the issue is our confusion about the American Dream and what every one of us believe to be true about it. And it’s time to get it back on track, says the fiery 78-year-old small-business guru who vaulted to fame in 1986 with his original “E-Myth” book and has been engaged in realizing a dream of his own over the past 40 years.

“Somehow we’ve forgotten our roots and why there was an American Dream to begin with,” Gerber says. “We’ve lost track of the reason why millions upon millions of people came here to try to make a better future for themselves. We’ve also forgotten that the dream never was a political one, but a personal one for each and every one of us.  It’s the politicizing of it that’s created all the trouble.”

Gerber (www.michaelegerbercompanies.com) has a great deal of experience in how to restore faith in the American dream. He has worked with tens of thousands of small business owners over the past 40 years.

The trick, Gerber says, is giving small business owners and aspiring small business owners a splash of cold water to wake them up to see that the American Dream isn’t dead, nor is their business. Instead, what they are missing is a lack of commitment to their own dream.

To bring his point home, Gerber began a nationwide campaign this year in Riverside, Calif., where the city’s mayor, Rusty Bailey, helped launch Gerber’s first city-sponsored Dreaming Room.

Gerber invented the Dreaming Room, which he describes as an “entrepreneurial incubator,” in 2005, and has been delivering it to individuals worldwide ever since. It’s a program where the unemployed, underemployed, self-employed or small business owners who find themselves stuck in their current unworkable circumstances join together, led by a facilitator.

In an intense, small-group setting they go through a step-by-step process where they create, collaborate and test ideas to develop or improve their current circumstances by inventing a new business.

Once developed, the concept for that new business is then put to work, with Gerber’s team helping the new entrepreneur apply Gerber’s entrepreneurial principles to design, build, launch and grow their new company.

Riverside was just a first step in Gerber’s vision for city-sponsored economic development initiatives in cities and counties throughout the nation and the world. Having launched Riverside, it’s on to Fresno and the 14 counties surrounding that California city of 509,000 people. In May, Gerber plans a Dreaming Room for the 96 mayors of all the cities in those counties “to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship in them.”

“We will be teaching people how to make it on their own in Fresno, San Mateo, and every U.S. city who invites us in, you name it,” Gerber says. “In the process of inspiring and leading them and mentoring them, something remarkable will happen. Each and every individual will understand, many for the very first time, that he or she and no one else is responsible for their circumstances.”

Even as he makes more Dreaming Room plans, the prolific Gerber is still pounding out books, with three he’s working on simultaneously. They are “Beyond the E-Myth,” “The 5 Essential Skills of Extraordinary People” and “Making It on Your Own in America.”

The latter title has become an overriding theme for him of late. For Gerber, economic development is all about the individual and how personal responsibility is the key to making it in America.

“It happens with the individual or it doesn’t happen at all,” he says. “Every single individual is accountable for their own economy – an ‘economy of one’”.

“Our economic problem has been created through the belief that big government can solve our problems. We then created a monster of a government that presumes to think for us. That’s why our economy is in tatters. It’s why the number of people on food stamps has grown exponentially. It’s why the number of people who are impoverished has grown, and the number of unemployed has grown exponentially. It’s also why our federal debts and deficits have grown beyond the pale.”

“The way forward is to go back”, Gerber says. “Back to those inspirational days when the nation took its first awkward steps, the Constitution was written and the Bill of Rights was tacked on like a brilliant afterthought”.

“If it becomes a political discussion, it misses the point,” Gerber says. “It was never political back then, it was existential. It was an existential reality to liberate each of us to follow our own path.”

The end of the “high protein” is in sight, but what will consumers want next?



New research by Datamonitor Consumer predicts the decline of the high protein trend will start within the next five years, with consumers turning away from fad diets and going back to basics by enjoying all of the food groups in moderation.

The trend for high protein has been riding high for the last few years, with food and drink innovation being dominated by “protein” variants, from breakfast cereal to salty snacks, and even bread. Datamonitor Consumer predicts an inevitable backlash within the next five years, as consumers become more aware of dangers of the diet for our health, especially as the majority already consume more than enough protein.

Focus on Fiber

Lack of fiber attributed to diets high in protein and low in carbohydrate can lead to digestive health problems, ranging from mild constipation through to colorectal cancer. These effects on digestive health are already starting to filter through among the biggest consumers of protein: young adults. According to Datamonitor Consumer’s recent global survey, younger consumers (aged 18-34) are most likely to be trying to consume "as much protein as possible,” and in turn are also the most likely to be currently concerned about constipation.

Melanie Felgate, senior analyst for Datamonitor Consumer, comments: “concerned young adults will be actively seeking out solutions to the problem, in the form of food and drink that is high in fiber, while aligning with their protein intake goals. The trend is already starting to gain momentum, with an increasing proportion of new food launches in recent years tagged as both high in protein and high in fiber.”

While consumers won’t immediately abandon their high protein diets, as digestive health problems become more apparent, Datamonitor Consumer anticipates that they will increasingly seek out protein sources which are also high in fiber.

Felgate continues: “Protein claims will continue to attract consumers in the immediate future, but we will soon start to see a shift towards innovation which combines the benefits of protein with fiber like Danone Activia’s Fiber Topper, a yogurt with a high fiber wheat bran cereal topper. Sources of protein will also change, as consumers switch to beans and pulses which naturally offer the benefits of fiber and protein in one.”

The end of the “diet cycle”

In the slightly longer-term future there will be a shift away from diets that single out specific food groups, whether “high protein” or “low fat” or “low carb.” Instead consumers will take a more “back to basics” approach to eating, seeking out natural, unprocessed whole foods which encompass a balance from all the major food groups.

According to Felgate: “in five years’ time, we will see many consumers move away from traditional fad diets. With conflicting information around the health benefits, or drawbacks, of fat, protein, and carbs (and sugar), consumers will go back to eating all food groups in moderation, but with more emphasis on eating foods as close to nature as possible, with minimal processing.”

Brands must adapt to stay relevant

Food and drink brands must prepare for the inevitable high protein backlash, so they are ready to respond to the next big dietary trend and stay relevant.

Felgate suggests: “The onset of a more balanced and natural approach to eating means that packaged food and drink brands must reassess how they position and market their products. Terms like ‘raw’ and ‘natural’ will become much more appealing than ‘low fat’ or ‘high protein’.”

Further insights are available in Datamonitor Consumer’s recent publication “The Inevitable "High Protein" Backlash: When and What Next?”

House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on the Role of the Charitable Sector in Feeding the Hungry



Today the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the vital role that the charitable sector plays in feeding vulnerable Americans. Men and women who work for and have received assistance from these organizations gave committee members a first-hand account of what is working and what is not working on the ground in their communities. They specifically addressed the partnership between government nutrition programs and charitable organizations that are dedicated to providing nutrition assistance and helping individuals rise out of poverty. This hearing is part of the committee’s ongoing review of the Past, Present, and Future of SNAP, currently known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and formerly referred to as food stamps.

“Addressing the nutritional needs of Americans is not solely the responsibility of the government through SNAP,” Chairman K. Michael Conaway said. “Recipients benefit from a strong partnership between the government and the charitable sector. Churches, food banks, and other local organizations are deeply rooted in their communities and often have more flexibility to meet the specific needs of individuals and families they serve. If we understand the complementary relationship between SNAP and these other organizations, it will help us all achieve the goal of improving the lives of those in need to move up the economic ladder.”  

Written testimony provided by the witnesses from today’s hearing is linked below. Click here for more information, including Chairman Conaway's opening statement and the archived webcast.

​Witness List:​




Ms. Kate Maehr, CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago, IL

Ms. Keleigh Green-Patton, South Holland, IL
Mr. Dustin Kunz, Salesforce Administrator & Research Project Manager, Texas Hunger Initiative, Waco, TX

Ms. Lynda Taylor Ender, AGE Director, The Senior Source, Dallas, TX

Mr. Jonathan Webb, Director of Foundations and Community Outreach, Feed the Children, Edmond, OK

New Report: Rise in For-Profit Detention Corresponds with Millions in Lobbying by Private Prisons



AUSTIN, TEXAS — A new report released today by Grassroots Leadership, a national social justice organization that works to end for-profit incarceration, examines the increasing seizure of the immigrant detention industry by for-profit prison corporations and their extensive lobbying of Congress to protect their bottom line. Since the creation of the immigrant detention bed quota in 2009, the immigrant detention industry has become 13% more privatized. Today, 62% of ICE immigrant detention beds are in facilities operated by private prison corporations and 9 of the 10 largest ICE immigrant detention facilities are operated by for-profit prison corporations.

Payoff: How Congress Ensures Private Prison Profit with an Immigrant Detention Quota, written by Bethany Carson and Eleana Diaz, focuses on the lobbying of the two largest private prison corporations, CCA and GEO Group, which together made nearly $478 million in revenue from ICE immigrant detention in 2014.

See the full report: http://bit.ly/forprofitdetentionreport

Corporations like the GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America have reinvested their profits in Congress to the tune of more than $11 million of lobbying in quarters when they lobbied on immigration issues. Much of this lobbying was on the DHS Appropriations Subcommittee, the birthplace and point of control of the quota. The report also features the stories of four people formerly detained in private immigrant detention centers.

“The immigrant detention quota is taxpayer-financed insurance for private prison corporations that the government will maintain their bottom line at all costs. Now, we are seeing those same corporations invest millions in the Congressional committee that created that insurance policy for them,” explained Bethany Carson of Grassroots Leadership. “Congress’ vast immigrant detention system is tearing apart families and communities, and creating an enormous profit from human misery.”

Statement from Rep. Adam Smith, WA-09, on the report:

“Because of the immigrant detention bed quota, too many people are locked up for no good reason. Individuals should be detained only in cases where the government has proved that no other method is feasible. In order to ensure this, Congress must repeal mandatory detention laws and defund appropriations quotas that require 34,000 daily beds and instead invest money into community-based alternatives.”

 The report also interviews former detainees Marichuy Leal and Muhammad Nazry (Naz) Mustakim.

“Trans women and the LGBT community aren’t safe in detention centers. I wasn’t safe,” said Marichy Leal, who spoke about her recent experience in Eloy Detention Center.

Naz, who emphasized how immigrant detention harms families and his experience being separated from his new wife by immigrant detention, said “Through my detention, our eyes were opened to the injustice of the immigration and detention system and now we are advocates for those who are detained."

Rev. Kelly Allen also spoke about the implications of immigrant detention for people of faith. “Everywhere you turn in scripture, we are commanded to seek justice for the vulnerable, speaking out against greed and the idolatry of wealth,” she said. “The primary narrative of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Christian Old Testament) is the story of God leading people out of a country that perpetrated violence against them and into a land where they could be safe.”

Monday, April 13, 2015

Ag Committee Chairman Conaway supports legislation to stop EPA powergrab


 
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) announced he is an original sponsor of legislation introduced today by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and the Transportation Committee's Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s “waters of the United States” proposed rule. On March 17th, the Agriculture Committee’s Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee heard testimony on the devastating impact this rule would have on rural America.

“The United States Supreme Court twice rebuked EPA for overstepping its bounds but, unfortunately, the Obama Administration’s response was to double down,” Chairman Conaway said. “In its current form, this rule continues EPA’s massive overreach, leading to exorbitant permitting costs, red tape, and even effective loss of property use for landowners. This could happen even when the land or water in question has no impact on navigable or interstate waters meant to be protected under the law, including virtually every farm ditch and pond in this country. I’m proud to be a cosponsor of The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015  to stop EPA’s power grab.” 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

USDA Invests in Critical Dam Rehabilitation and Assessment Projects in 23 States



New assessments to focus on expanding water supply in drought-affected areas

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today $73 million to be invested this year to rehabilitate and assess dams across the nation to ensure this critical infrastructure is protecting Americans from harm, securing public health and expanding water supplies in drought affected areas. About 150 projects and assessments in 23 states will be funded.

"Millions of people depend on watersheds and dams for protection from floods and to provide safe drinking water. With a changing and shifting climate, dams are also vital to holding stores of water for use during drought," Secretary Vilsack said. "By investing in this critical infrastructure, we are helping to ensure a safe, resilient environment for agricultural producers and residents of rural America."

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Assistant Chief Kirk Hanlin highlighted this round of watershed rehabilitation funding on Thursday near Alpine, Utah, where work is planned on Tibble Fork Dam to increase the water supply and improve flood damage protection for surrounding communities. This project is one of 19 in Utah that will receive nearly $30 million in overall funding.

Last year, NRCS made changes to the watershed rehabilitation program to allow for projects that also help increase water supply. Half of this year's dam assessments, including 15 in drought-stricken California, will assess the feasibility of using watershed rehabilitation funds to mitigate drought.

"USDA continues to look for new ways to mitigate the impacts of drought across the West, and this change to the Watershed Rehabilitation Program allows us to use existing infrastructure to address water quantity issues," Hanlin said.

This investment follows the Obama Administration's call last year for federal agencies to increase investments in infrastructure to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and improve the competitiveness of the American economy.

There are nearly 12,000 dams across the United States. In addition to nearly 50 rehabilitation projects, NRCS is conducting 100 dam assessments in 13 states through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

2015 projects include:

1. Tibble Fork Dam, Utah: Tibble Fork Dam is located in the American Fork-Dry Creek Watershed within US Forest Service lands of Utah County, Utah. The dam provides protection against flooding within American Fork Canyon, and the communities of Cedar Hills, American Fork, Highland and Pleasant Grove. The rehabilitation project is expected to provide average annual benefits of $535,000 including water supply, recreation and flood protection.

2. Trinity River-East Fork above Lavon, Texas: Located in Collin County, this dam provides protection against flooding to an estimated 1,630 Texans who live and work downstream. Additionally, it protects six city streets and one U.S. Highway that together support over 39,000 vehicles daily. Among other critical infrastructure, the dam also protects power lines, water lines and fiber optic cables. The rehabilitation project is expected to annually provide about $1.5 million flood damage reduction benefits.

3. Delaney Multipurpose Complex Dam, Mass.: The Delaney Multipurpose Complex consists of two dams, the Delaney Dam and the East Bolton Dam. Originally built in 1971, the Delaney Complex does not meet current dam safety criteria. Dam failure would result in damages to 272 buildings, nine roads, two bridges, other public infrastructure, public utilities and potential loss of life. The dam currently provides $382,130 in annual flood protection benefits to the downstream communities including recreational opportunities, water supply for irrigation, groundwater recharge and base flow for downstream wastewater assimilation.

The states and numbers of projects: Ala. (11), Calif. (15), Colo. (2), Ga. (4), Kan. (1), Ky. (1), La. (1), Mass. (1), Minn. (7), Miss. (2), Neb. (8), Nev. (1), N.C. (8), Ohio (3), Okla. (18), Ore. (4), Pa. (12), S.C. (4), Texas (26), Utah (19), Va. (3), W.Va. (1) and Wyo. (1)

K-State Researchers Win Prestigious Publication Award in Horticultural Education


Kimberly Williams and Joshua Craver received the American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Education Publication Award for 2014.


MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kimberly Williams, Kansas State University professor of greenhouse management, and former master’s student Joshua Craver have been named the American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Education Publication Award winners. They will accept the award Aug. 4, 2015, at the ASHS Annual Conference in New Orleans.

The Outstanding Education Publication Award is selected each year by a committee of peers, who evaluate all education-related papers in the three journals published by the ASHS, Williams said. Those journals include HortTechnology, HortScience and the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

The Outstanding Education Publication Award highlights Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) work specifically in horticulture. The committee of peers scores all of the papers published during the year, and the paper with the highest score receives the award.

The winning publication by Williams and Craver is titled, “Assessing Student Learning from an Experimental Module in a Greenhouse Management Course using Hydroponics and Recirculating Solution Culture.”

“It is a tremendous honor to have our work about an aspect of teaching greenhouse management recognized as valuable in the field of horticultural education,” Williams said. “The award helps establish the value of the scholarship that we conduct with regard to teaching and learning in horticulture. Because of the work of many colleagues in horticulture, K-State is a national powerhouse in this regard.”

Williams added it was nice to be awarded with Craver, as he enjoys teaching. As a teaching assistant for the greenhouse management undergraduate course, he was inquisitive about the design of the hydroponics module in course labs.

“We designed an experiment to evaluate student learning during this module and received a grant from the College of Agriculture's Innovations in Teaching and Learning Program to support the effort,” Williams said. “This college-wide program exists thanks to the efforts of associate dean Don Boggs and is unique at K-State. This SoTL project was in addition to Josh's disciplinary research that he did for his master’s degree, which helped delineate the cause of a physiological disorder of horticultural crops called intumescences.”

A complete list of recipients can be found at the link, http://db.ashs.org/awards/winners2/. For more information on the American Society for Horticultural Science, please visit its website,www.ashs.org. For more information about the K-State Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources, visit www.hfrr.ksu.edu.

-30-

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Cultivating the Next Generation of Food System Leaders


CHICAGO, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Tank (http://foodtank.com/) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are excited to announce a new collaboration to help cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders. The organizations will jointly produce research, articles, opinion editorials, columns, newsletters, social media campaigns, and webinars during the rest of this year.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150407/197192LOGO
With an aging population of farmers, it's clear that agriculture needs to attract more young people. This is a global challenge: Half the farmers in the United States are 55 years of age or older, while in sub-Saharan Africa, the average age of farmers is around 60. Food Tank and IFAD (http://www.ifad.org/) will collaborate to raise awareness about issues faced by youth in agriculture, as well as engage the global community in dialogue around challenges such as access to markets, education, and resources for beginning farmers.
Changing youth perceptions of agriculture can potentially create lasting impact in the agricultural sector, which offers huge potential for job creation.
"As a global community, we can increase awareness of opportunities for youth in agriculture," said Cassandra Waldon, Director of Communications at IFAD.
Young people are the farmers and food system leaders of tomorrow. But according to IFAD, they are increasingly abandoning agriculture and rural areas in search of better livelihoods in cities or abroad. There is a pressing need to create opportunities for youth in agriculture.
"We have an opportunity to encourage young farmers, scientists, agronomists, business leaders, development workers, and funders to view the food system as an opportunity to improve health and nutrition, raise incomes, and protect the environment," said Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank.
With their new joint communications initiative, Food Tank and IFAD will work during 2015 to showcase the role of youth in agriculture worldwide.

New Start-up Company Introduces Rainwater Harvesting Downspout

GRANITE QUARRY, N.C., April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTENTION: Rain Harvesters now have an alternative to rain barrels! MagniStruct, LLC today is announcing the Kickstarter release of Tankspout, the World's First Rain Harvesting Downspout that combines features of a rain barrel, downspout, and splash block into one attractive minimalist unit.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150407/197065
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150407/197066
Previously, consumers had little choice when it came to purchasing attractive rain harvesting devices and/or systems. This presented a product gap such that those that did not mind having something unattractive attached to their home engaged in rainwater harvesting, while those that did mind having something unattractive attached to their home would not engage in rainwater harvesting. We have responded by redesigning the downspout to make rain harvesting a much more attractive practice.
Performance
Typically when individuals harvest rain in a barrel, that barrel is raised up off the ground to provide enough adequate pressure with gravity. This usually means more unsightly equipment is present. Tankspout eliminates this. 17+ gallons of water is stored in a 7+ feet tall rectangular water column that allows water to flow out at about 3 psi when full. There is no diverter equipment because Tankspout connects directly to the conventional downspout with an included adapter.
The internal overflow/integrated downspout in Tankspout allows for overflow without additional tubes or other contraptions unlike with some traditional rain barrels. Because Tankspout is built to last, we incorporated an industrial strength boiler drain valve as the "faucet", if you will.
Tankspout's debris filter is especially inventive as it incorporates surgical-grade mesh to keep out debris, including pine needles and shingle grit. Add the metal handle that extends down the unit far enough for anyone to reach, and the fact that this debris filter keeps out mosquitoes and you have something that your local Home Owners' Association will love.
Tankspout was created to offer an alternative to conventional downspouts and rain barrels. It has features of both already integrated making it the most feature-packed, and most attractive rain harvesting unit in the world.
Economical Advantage
Our entire infrastructure in the U.S. is currently aging, including our water delivery systems. Tankspout could help ease pressure currently placed upon these aging delivery and sewer systems, thereby saving municipalities money. When Tankspout is utilized it uses no centralized water supply and no electricity, thereby reducing the cost homeowners pay for their water.
When Tankspout is utilized for watering the garden, crops get natural rainwater and not chemical laden tap water. This is better for plants and crops and could lead to better tasting and healthier crops/plants, thereby reducing plant maintenance and care. This also saves the user money. Ultimately, if people use Tankspout to water their food instead of chemical laden tap water, they may lead healthier lives thereby improving their economic situation long-term.
Pricing and Availability
Tankspout is now available at (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1759737035/tankspout-the-worlds-only-rain-harvesting-downspou?ref=newest) by backing the project. The different pledge amounts are listed there as well as videos, pictures, and other information regarding its design and function. After delivery of the Kickstarter units, we are planning on greatly expanding Tankspout's availability to home improvement stores and websites.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Kevin Kimmel named TCA Highway Angel for being alert and acting on his gut instinct.





Alexandria, Virginia – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is pleased to name its latest Highway Angel: Kevin Kimmel of Tavares, Florida. Kimmel, a professional truck driver for Con-way Truckload of Joplin, Missouri, is being recognized for making the phone call that resulted in saving an abducted woman.
TCA Highway Angel Kevin KimmelOn the morning of January 6, 2015, Kimmel was finished making some night deliveries and had pulled into a New Kent, Virginia, truck stop to sleep. Two spots over, he noticed an RV that seemed suspicious. For one thing, its windows were blacked out, and then he saw a man walking back and forth several times between the RV and the truck stop’s convenience store. It seemed odd, and the thought of a prostitution situation crossed his mind.

Then a young girl’s face appeared in the window briefly. Suddenly, she was gone, almost like she had been yanked away by someone inside. The behavior struck Kimmel as odd.

When another tractor trailer pulled into the empty spot between Kimmel and the RV, blocking his view, Kimmel decided to ask that driver to keep his eye out. However, as he got ready for bed, he noticed that the driver next to him had pulled his blinds down as if he was also going to sleep. The whole thing continued to bother Kimmel, so he decided to call the police.

“It was just a situation that didn’t feel right, and I figured I would either put a damper on someone’s vacation for 15 minutes or make a difference with one phone call,” said Kimmel.

However, it turned out that Kimmel’s instincts were right on the money: the girl had been abducted from Iowa two weeks before. The newspapers would later report that she was a victim of human trafficking and had been forced into prostitution.

Kimmel can’t say too much about the story because he is now a witness to an FBI investigation, but he did comment: “I saw what looked to me like a young girl in a lot of trouble. This job gives us [professional truck drivers] the opportunity to be aware and make a difference by making one phone call. I hope anyone would do the same if it were my kids.”

For his willingness to act on his instincts, TCA has presented Kimmel with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decal. Con-way Truckload also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.

TCA's Highway Angel program is sponsored by EpicView. Since the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job.

To nominate a driver or learn more about the program and its honorees, visit the Highway Angel Web page at http://www.truckload.org/Highway-Angel or Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/tcanews. For additional information, contact TCA at (703) 838-1950 or angel@truckload.org.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Enriching the Microbiome with Directed Selection


BioConsortia celebrates first year anniversary, completing successful field trials on corn and spring wheat in Midwest, with soybean and other trials planned for Europe and Latin America in 2015.
 
Davis, CA – March 31, 2015 – This month marks the one year anniversary of BioConsortia, Inc., an innovative ag biotech company which has developed a revolutionary Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS) process involving directed selection of the plant microbiome to identify microbial teams that improve plant traits and increase crop yields.  
Following the Series B funding of $15 million in March 2014, BioConsortia established a US headquarters, completed initial US field trials, built state-of-the-art R&D laboratories, brought together a world-class team of biological scientists and top ag industry executives, and began generating US-originated leads with its Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS) process. The US organization complements the R&D team and work in New Zealand, where the company was originally founded in 1994 and where the breakthrough conception of the AMS process was made in 2009.
BioConsortia uses an approach similar to the method used by plant breeders to improve plant traits: using directed selection to discover teams of microbes that influence the expression of beneficial traits in crops. This novel and patent-pending process works by controlling the seed genetics and the environment while changing the microbial community in order to shift trait performance in the crop toward improved targeted phenotypes.
The 2014 US testing program included a range of sites across the Midwest.  Each of the leads were tested as seed treatments in combination with typical chemistries on two corn seed hybrids. The results showed that BioConsortia’s treatments generated yield enhancements with striking consistency, superior to the controls that included both chemical and biological seed treatments.  A single spring wheat trial with two leads also showed double-digit yield enhancements.
Dr. Susan Turner, BioConsortia SVP R&D commented, “Moving over from New Zealand, it was important to get consortia in the ground to show potential partners our ability to transfer this novel approach to commercially relevant field performance.  The field trials we completed generated consistent, positive yield enhancements on top of leading chemistries in high yielding conditions that are widely accepted as challenging to show such benefit. We have put together an experienced team of scientists who are setting the stage for further improvements and success in our expanded program this year.”
In addition to an expanded program in corn and spring wheat with both past and new leads, BioConsortia will also be placing multiple leads into a sizable soybean trial set.  Plans are also underway in select crops for Latin America and Europe.
CEO Marcus Meadows-Smith states, “2014 was very successful in demonstrating the potential of our unique R&D platform, using directed selection, guided by DNA sequencing and microbiome data, to identify teams of microbes that improve crop traits. Our field trial results bode well for a future of highly effective and sustainable microbial solutions for growers.”

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Approximately $23 Million Available for Citrus Greening Research


ORLANDO, Fla., April 1, 2015 – At an Orlando grocery store filled with Florida citrus, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $23 million in USDA funding to support research and extension projects for producers fighting citrus greening disease. Huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening, threatens the future viability of the citrus industry in the United States, having infected more than 75 percent of the Florida citrus crop. This funding is available through the Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (CDRE), part of the 2014 Farm Bill.

"Citrus greening threatens citrus production in the United States and other nations," said Vilsack. "It will take continued collaboration with growers, state governments, and researchers to find viable solutions to end this harmful disease. Only long-term solutions through research will help to stop this disease that threatens the livelihoods of thousands of citrus producers and workers and billions of dollars in sales."

Since the initial detection of Huanglongbing in Florida in 2005, the disease has affected the vast majority of Florida's citrus-producing areas. HLB has also been detected in Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and small areas in Texas and one residential tree in California. It has also been detected in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 14 states in Mexico. A total of 15 states or territories are under full or partial quarantine due to the detected presence of the Asian citrus psyllid, a vector for HLB: Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The CDRE grants will be administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary and include clearly defined mechanisms to communicate results to producers. Successful applicants will be expected to engage stakeholders to ensure solutions are commercially feasible. Projects should also include an economic analysis of the costs associated with proposed solutions.

In fiscal year 2014, NIFA awarded $23 million to fight citrus greening through CDRE. Examples of funded projects include a grant to the University of Florida to develop a bactericide that can be applied to infected citrus trees to reduce or eliminate pathogens, a project at Kansas State University to develop a therapeutic delivery system that will prevent Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus from infecting plants or prevent the development of HLB in infected citrus, and a grant at the University of California-Davis that focuses on using new genetic approaches to managing the Asian citrus psyllid that causes HLB.

Pre-applications that include a Stakeholder Relevance Statement are due on June 1, 2015. Applicants who are invited to submit full applications based on an industry relevancy review of the pre-applications will be required to submit full applications by Aug. 14, 2015. See the request for applications on the NIFA website for more information.

The SCRI program addresses critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and extension activities that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems.

The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.