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| Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Weekly Vision is e-mailed weekly to faculty and staff of Bumpers College and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agriculture. This service is primarily for timely announcement of news and events for the AAES and Bumpers College. Submit items to hmedders@uark.edu. You may also wish to submit items to headline@uark.edu for posting on "UA Daily Headlines" for campus-wide distribution. |
| Oct. 19, 2009 |
1. UK nursery highlights UA collaboration on blackberries
2. CSES seminar features graduate students
3. Academic Enhancement workshops scheduled
4. AEAB honey and pecan sale underway
5. Water Resources Center invites papers for annual research conference
6. Student-Employer networking event - Oct. 26
7. Bioproduction, bioenergy and biomaterials study opportunities in Europe
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1. UK nursery highlights UA collaboration on blackberries
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John R. Clark, right, University Professor of horticulture and director of the Division of Agriculture blackberry breeding program, discusses primocane-fruiting blackberries during a recent field day at a Hargreaves Plants nursery location in eastern England. |
Berries on primocane-fruiting blackberry plants from a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture breeding program. The Hargreaves Plants nursery in England is collaborating with the Division of Agriculture to develop commercial varieties for European markets. |
Hargreaves Plants, a wholesale nursery based in eastern England, recently held a field day to focus on its primocane blackberry development in cooperation with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The breeding program, directed by John R. Clark, University Professor of horticulture, is conducted primarily at the Division of Agriculture's Fruit Research Station near Clarksville.
The event was attended by a wide range of growers, consultants, marketers and breeders from the United Kingdom and overseas, according to a company press release. The company specializes in soft fruit and asparagus plants.
The press release is online at http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=52415, on the Web site for "FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News." Excerpts are copied below.
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Hargreaves Plants has an exclusive contract from the University of Arkansas, USA to test and commercialise what are thought to be the worlds first primocane-fruiting blackberries. The breeder, Professor John R. Clark, updated the audience on the latest developments in the program before a field visit took place to view the leading new selections.
Hargreaves Plants Director, Jamie Petchell, commented “Primocane blackberries will revolutionise this market sector. The improved selections we have seen already offer the possibility of dramatic season extension coupled with superb eating quality and potentially more efficient growing methods. We are close to releasing our first variety, but we already see much more improved material that will be fully tested before release in the medium term.
Standard floricane blackberries are available in short supply windows in a number of territories. The main varieties currently grown in the UK are Loch Ness and Chester.” Petchell continued “This new material offers an improved eating experience over the industry standard cultivars. Taking this higher quality fruit and coupling it with season extension means that the UK market could be grown significantly over the coming years. It is true to say that some of the standard UK varieties fail to deliver in the flavour stakes and as a result, the industry is probably not getting the repeat fruit purchases that it should. We have seen a rapid expansion in blackberry fruit sales in the past 5 years, but this might only be the start of bigger things to come.”
Hargreaves Plants has been collaborating with the University of Arkansas since 2005. Rupert Hargreaves, Commercial Director, states “We are privileged and proud to be working with what is considered to be the world’s largest blackberry breeding program. Professor Clark offers a real vision for improvements to blackberry genetics. The development of primocanes is a long-term project but one that is already yielding excellent results. In addition to the primocane material, Hargreaves Plants can also exclusively offer the best floricane cultivars from the same program: Natchez, Ouachita and Navaho.”
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2. CSES seminar features graduate students - Monday
The Crop, Soil, and Environmental Scienes Fall Seminar Series continues Monday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. in the Larry Coombes Auditorium, Plant Sciences 009, with a presentation by graduate student Amanda Mathis on "Performance Evaluation of Septic System Absorption Field Products with Differing Architectures in a Profile-Limited Soil."
Two presentations on Monday, Oct. 26, at the same time and location will be by Chris Rogers, "Role of Fluvial Sediments in Modifying Phosphorus Export from the Illinois River Watershed," and Bodie Drake, "The Effect of Variable Elemental Composition, Temperature, and Light on Periphyton Phosphorus Uptake in Northwest Arkansas Streams."
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3. Academic Enhancement workshops scheduled
Bumpers College Academic Enhancement workshops began in September and will continue through October and November. The following workshops are scheduled. All workshops will meet in the Rosen Alternative Pest Control Center ROSE 201 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.
October 22 - Test Taking 101
November 10 - Dealing with Stress
November 19 - End of Semester Wrap-Up ... How am I Doing?
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4. AEAB honey and pecan sale underway
"The Agribusiness Club's annual Honey & Pecan sale is going on through November 6. Honey, pecan, and House of Webster's products will be sold. Please pick up order forms in AGRI 217 or contact Melinda Dunlap at mdunlap@uark.edu or 575-2256."
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5. Water Resources Center invites papers for annual research conference
The Arkansas Water Resources Center invites researchers to submit proposals for papers to be presented at the annual research conference April 13-14, 2010, at the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach in Fayetteville. Potential session topics include Stakeholder Education and Watershed Planning, Water Quality Targets, and Stream Bank Erosion and Restoration Projects.
Contact AWRC Director Brian Haggard at haggard@uark.edu if you are interested in presenting a paper or organizing a session. Check the AWRC Web site at www.uark.edu/depts/awrc for updates on the preliminary conference program, poster session and student poster competition, conference registration, and hotel information.
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6. Student-Employer Networking Event - Oct. 26
A panel of leaders from some of the premier companies in Northwest Arkansas will give their advice and tips for any job or internship seeker at a student-employer networking event for all students, Monday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House (Corner of Maple St. & Razorback Rd.) Panelists will be representing several local companies including: Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, JB Hunt, and Cameron Smith & Associates. This event is free. Food will be served. Bring extra copies of your resume. Business casual attire is suggested. Earn PDI elective credit by attending this event. Register at http://career.uark.edu/Students/Events/PathwayToPossibilities.aspx
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7. Bioproduction, bioenergy and biomaterials study opportunities in Europe
Graduate students and seniors in agriculture disciplines, engineering and physical sciences with an interest in bioproduction, bioenergy biomaterials for food and non-food use can apply for semester and two week study opportunities in Europe and the United States. Students can apply for summer, fall and spring programs with partial expenses paid.
The program, available for seniors and graduate students, provides opportunities to study at one of the EU partner institutions for one semester by completing course work and/or research. http://www.uark.edu/ua/biorenew/valorization_prog.htm.
Applications from seniors and graduate students who are U.S. citizens will be considered for a semester study in Europe at either the University of Gent, Belgium; Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria and Toulouse Polytechnic University, Toulouse, France. Students enroll at the University of Arkansas and have their tuition waived at the EU institution. A grant of $5,000 is provided for student living expenses. See the Web site at http://www.uark.edu/ua/biorenew/ for details.
"We have one opportunity for next spring," said Food Science Professor Andy Proctor, who coordinates this EU-US exchange program for UA students. "These are great opportunities for students in agriculture and other majors with an interest in bio-production, bioenergy, biomaterials and related areas," Proctor said.
UA student Mustafa Ozkan was at the University of Gent last spring with the semester study program studying agricultural economics. At that time U of A hosted three University of Gent students: Pepijin Wyfffels, who is researched starch modification with Ya-Jane Wang; Linda Raport and Natasha Janssens researched algae biomass production with Tom Costello; Valeri Natanelov studied rice production economic with Eric Wailes. These students also took classes in related disciplines. Food science department student Will Gilbert is in Gent this fall doing nutritional research.
The University of Arkansas is the U.S. lead institution of an EU-US Consortium, with partners at Iowa State University and Kansas State University. The European partners are Ghent University, Belgium; Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria; and National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse, France. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the European Union.
Students interested in these study programs should contact Professor Andy Proctor (aproctor@uark.edu); phone 575-2980.
AAES and Bumpers College Web sites:
http://aaes.uark.edu/
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/