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| Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences VISION eXtra 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. |
Dec. 1, 2008 |
1. Kring receives Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management
2. Students write award-winning essays on "Future of Delta Cotton"
3. Food Science Seminar - Monday
4. Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association Scholarship application due December 15
5. GSD student poster, oral presentations competition set for Feb. 25
6. Food Science Club Apple Butter Sale under way
7. Spitze Public Policy Legislative Internship application now available
8. 2009 Food and Beverage Innovations Competition
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1. Kring receives Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management
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Tim Kring |
Entomology Professor Tim Kring is the Southeastern Branch recipient for the Entomological Society of America Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management. His selection for the award was based in part on the following:
"Dr. Kring led a team of research and extension faculty and graduate students in the development and implementation of a treatment decision-making rule for cotton aphids that specifically incorporates the number of lady beetles in the field. This rule is the first of its kind in cotton in the US, and has helped eliminate an average of one insecticide application in fields where cotton aphids appear. Further, Dr. Kring and colleagues made a major change to the true armyworm threshold in wheat, eliminating all late spring insecticide applications to wheat unless the panicle is cut from plants. Finally, Dr. Kring's research on the population dynamics and immigration patterns of aphid vectors in wheat have resulted in Arkansas' decision to no longer recommend prophylactic insecticide treatments to manage barley yellow dwarf disease in wheat."
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2. Students write award-winning essays on "Future of Delta Cotton"
A Bumpers College graduate student, an undergraduate and a former UA student were recognized as honorary winners in the Future of Delta Cotton student essay contest sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and Delta Farm Press. A cash prize of $1,000 was presented to each of six winners from Arkansas, LSU and Mississippi State.
The winners and excerpts from their essays are listed below.
Fran Free Gunsaulis of Dumas, is an M.S. student in agricultural economics and agribusiness. She hopes to eventually return to the family farm to promote agrotourism and ecotourism, which were the basis of her essay.
Zoe Teague of Jonesboro, the daughter of Division of Agriculture entomologist Tina Teague and agricultural economist Paul Teague, is studying environmental soil and water science in Bumpers College and aspires to become an environmental agricultural lawyer.
John F. Smith of Hamburg, is a Ph.D. student in the entomology department at Mississippi State has an M.S. degree in entomology and B.S. degree in agricultural business, both from the University of Arkansas. Upon graduation, he would like to work in extension or industry.
"Syngenta is committed to the future of the cotton industry and to the success of students, like the Future of Delta Cotton winners, who will shape this future," said Chad Steiner, Syngenta cotton crop manager. "Their understanding of the industry and creative approach to addressing its challenges are proof positive that we are in good hands." The grand prize winners, each awarded $2,500, were Michael Ferro, graduate student at LSU, and Matthew Turner, undergraduate student at LSU.
To read entire essays visit http://www.farmassist.com/Promo/Delta_Cotton/winners.html.
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Delta Cotton: The Novelty of a Way of Life
By Fran Gunsaulis
How could cotton production be marketed to future generations of Delta Producers? Short and sweet: Agritourism.
They say "the first generation makes it, the second generation holds onto it, and the third generation loses it." Having parents that fortunately ignored this trend, I suppose my peers and I have to determine how the fourth generation fares with family farms.
As a fourth generation (future) cotton producer, am I concerned about the longevity and
viability of this globally vital commodity? You bet I am. Rising input costs, lower market prices, increased international pressure to shrink US export subsidies, and high grain prices don't make for
a confident environment in which to grow cotton.
WHERE ARE WE HEADED? ... I believe that our nation is entering a new phase of supporting an agriculture that is built upon a balanced structure of ecosystem management, social responsibility, and strong efficiency that fulfills our food and fiber needs....
What technological innovation has most impacted Delta cotton production
to date? What technological advancements are needed to make future Delta cotton
production both viable and economically significant to the grower?
By Zoe Teague
Technical innovations that have led to the eradication of the boll weevil have had the most significant impact on Delta cotton production to date....
To make future Delta cotton production both more viable and economically significant to the grower, new technologies should be developed that include new transgenic lines of cotton as well as harvesting equipment and procedures. This new technology will allow cotton to be grown as an improved fiber crop, a highly nutritious food, and high energy source....
From the 'Old Days' to Transgenic Cotton: A Quantum Leap in Cotton Production
By John H. Smith
Without question, the technological innovation that has most impacted cotton production is the ability to deliver insecticides and herbicide resistance in the seed. Only a few years ago, no one could have imagined that season-long crop protection could have been delivered through the planter....
From the perspective of an entomologist, in-plant protection from plant bugs would be the 'holy grail' of insect control and could be the catalyst needed to make cotton production more profitable in the Delta. However, I believe the most important thing we in the agricultural industry can do is to protect the technology currently available by practicing resistance management and increasing public support of biotechnology....
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3. Food Science Seminar - Monday
John Handley, a University of Arkansas M.S. student in food science, will present "Effects of Time and Temperature on Whole Bird Carcasses" at 3:40 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, in room D-2 of the FDSC building.
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4. Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association Scholarship application due December 15
Students in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences are encouraged to apply for the $1500 Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association Scholarship. Applications are due December 15. To apply, visit http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/2512.htm For more information, contact Laura Gamble at lgamble@uark.edu or 575-2253.
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5. GSD student poster, oral presentations competition set for Feb. 25
Gamma Sigma Delta will sponsor its 11th annual competition of students' posters and oral presentations on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 at the Arkansas Union. Undergraduates, master's candidates and doctoral candidates will compete in their respective categories. Presentations should be based on students' own research. A student may submit both an oral and poster presentation (research must be separate for each presentation). Complete guidelines are online at http://gsd.uark.edu/awards.guidelines09.html.
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6. Food Science Club Apple Butter Sale under way
The University of Arkansas Food Science Club has begun selling apple butter for its fall fundraiser. The apple butter sale is a club tradition, and has been made fresh each fall for over 20 years. The price is $3/jar or $30 for a case of 12 jars. You may purchase jars of apple butter at the food science department, or have a case delivered locally. For more information call 479-575-4450.
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7. Spitze Public Policy Legislative Internship application now available
If you are interested in public policy and in working in a legislative office during the summer, the Spitze Public Policy Legislative Internship may be for you. This award provides $5,000 toward the expenses associated with a 10-week legislative internship in Washington, D.C. For more information and an application, visit
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/2512.htm. Applications are due to the Dean's Office by Monday, January 12, 2009.
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8. 2009 Food and Beverage Innovations Competition
Do you have an idea for a healthy snack or healthy appetizer, but you can't find it on the grocery store shelf? Now is your chance to showcase your originality, talent and skills. The Food and Beverage Innovations Competition is sponsored by the Department of Food Science and is open to all currently enrolled UA undergraduate and graduate students. You will develop an innovative food product formulation in one of two categories: healthy snacks or healthy appetizers.
Cash prizes totalling $3,000 will be awarded. Visit http://foodscience.uark.edu for competition rules and deadlines. The intent to enter form should be completed by January 26, 2009.
AAES and Bumpers College Web sites:
http://aaes.uark.edu/
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/