http://www.nespal.org/ Catch up with the latest news events at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory, located on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus in Tifton, Georgia. Education Higher Education en Copyright 2009 traceyv@uga.edu (Tracey Vellidis) traceyv@uga.edu Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:39:45 GMT Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:39:45 GMT RSS DreamFeeder v 2.5.2 Dr. George Vellidis will host 15 students and 3 faculty members from the Technische Universität München in Germany the week of March 22. The visit is a component of the TAPAC – the TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture Consortium. Dr. George Vellidis will host 15 students and 3 faculty members from the Technische Universität München in Germany the week of March 22. The visit is a component of the TAPAC – the TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture Consortium. http://www.nespal.org Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:39:06 GMT TV data:text/plain,manual:1268923185138:10579243844460028:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml The 2010 South Georgia Wildflower Symposium will be held Wednesday, March 24 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The annual symposium is a day long event, cosponsored by the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. and the University of Georgia. For the first time, the symposium will be held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. Enjoy a day at the UGA Tifton Campus learning about the beauty and the benefits of native plants and protecting Georgia's natural resources. The symposium features regionally known speakers. Due to the move to the Tifton Campus Conference Center, additional seating is available. Registration will remain open!! However, no lunch orders can be accepted after March 17. Also, if you have not mailed your check by the 17th, please pay at the door. Hope to see you there! The 2010 South Georgia Wildflower Symposium will be held Wednesday, March 24 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The annual symposium is a day long event, cosponsored by the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. and the University of Georgia. For the first time, the symposium will be held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. Enjoy a day at the UGA Tifton Campus learning about the beauty and the benefits of native plants and protecting Georgia's natural resources. The symposium features regionally known speakers. Due to the move to the Tifton Campus Conference Center, additional seating is available. Registration will remain open!! However, no lunch orders can be accepted after March 17. Also, if you have not mailed your check by the 17th, please pay at the door. Hope to see you there! http://www.nespal.org/wildflower Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:36:20 GMT TV data:text/plain,manual:1268923012881:20602236270038030:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Peanuts are a major crop in the United States with 10 states, mainly in the Southeastern US, producing the majority of the peanut crop. Peanuts are an extremely important crop in Georgia, which ranks 1st in the nation in total production. In 2008 over 685,000 acres of peanuts were planted yielding over 2 billion pounds. One of the more challenging aspects of peanut production is determining when to harvest. Unlike most other field crops, peanuts are produced underground rather than above ground where a visual assessment can be made. Digging too early or too late can be devastating. There have been many efforts over the years to develop a system for farmers to effectively determine peanut maturity and when to harvest. Peanuts are a major crop in the United States with 10 states, mainly in the Southeastern US, producing the majority of the peanut crop. Peanuts are an extremely important crop in Georgia, which ranks 1st in the nation in total production. In 2008 over 685,000 acres of peanuts were planted yielding over 2 billion pounds. One of the more challenging aspects of peanut production is determining when to harvest. Unlike most other field crops, peanuts are produced underground rather than above ground where a visual assessment can be made. Digging too early or too late can be devastating. There have been many efforts over the years to develop a system for farmers to effectively determine peanut maturity and when to harvest. http://www.nespal.org/vegetation%20indices.html Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:17:38 GMT NESPAL Website Update data:text/plain,manual:1266855523406:513518620082661:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Dr Peggy Ozias-Akins has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for “scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.” Ozias-Akins will be honored at the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego Feb. 20. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and being named a Fellow is one of its most prestigious honors, a tradition that started in 1874. Peggy is being recognized for her contributions to the field of agricultural biotechnology. Dr Peggy Ozias-Akins has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for “scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.” Ozias-Akins will be honored at the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego Feb. 20. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and being named a Fellow is one of its most prestigious honors, a tradition that started in 1874. Peggy is being recognized for her contributions to the field of agricultural biotechnology. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:24 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1263222053148:12671149173938668:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml The Ozias-Akins Biotechnology Laboratory, located at NESPAL on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, has received a grant for $350,000 from United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) for "The Role of a Novel Apomixis-linked AP2-domain Transcription Factor in Parthenogenetic Embryo Development" Joann Conner is Co-PrincipIe Investigator on the grant. The Ozias-Akins Biotechnology Laboratory, located at NESPAL on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, has received a grant for $350,000 from United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) for "The Role of a Novel Apomixis-linked AP2-domain Transcription Factor in Parthenogenetic Embryo Development" Joann Conner is Co-PrincipIe Investigator on the grant. http://www.nespal.org/oziasakinslab/ Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:00:25 GMT data:text/plain,manual:1260543763967:6992493644059632:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_323221411.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:12:41 GMT Brad Haire data:text/plain,manual:1258729992040:9260347333075368:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml University of Georgia agricultural engineer Changying “Charlie” Li is the principle investigator for a project recently funded by the USDA-Specialty Crop Research Initiative program in the amount of $774,581 to work on a project dealing with onion postharvest handling. The multi-disciplinary team consists of engineers, plant pathologists, horticulturist, food scientist, agricultural economist, and rural sociologist. Onion is the third-largest fresh vegetable crop in the U.S. and the second most valuable vegetable in the world. As a critical link between the farm and consumers, postharvest handling is vital for the profitability and sustainability of the onion industry. However, onion postharvest handling at both fresh-market and storage levels faces enormous challenges such as looming labor shortages, significant storage losses, and enormous quantities of cull onions that need to be disposed of. Engineers of this team will develop a multimodal sensing platform using X-ray and hyperspectral imaging technologies to enhance the onion sorting efficiency and efficacy in the packinghouse. The effect of nondestructive inspection on onion quality will be evaluated by a sensory panel. Botrytis neck rot and sour skin are two most important onion postharvest diseases, causing significant losses for onion growers and handlers each year. Plant pathologists and engineers will work together to develop technologies not only to detect but also to manage these diseases in storage. Developing environmentally friendly technologies is a priority of this project. The team will develop a high-throughput anaerobic digestion system to convert onion waste into energy and mitigate environmental pollution caused by rot onions. Another component of the project is to develop and deliver outreach programs and socioeconomic studies to help growers and onion postharvest industry adopt new technologies to advance onion postharvest handling efficiency and sustainability in the long run. Other co-principal investigators on this project include professors Ronald Gitaitis, William Tollner, Chi Thai, Gary Hawkins, Robert Shewfelt, Dan MacLean from the University of Georgia, Howard Schwartz from Colorado State University, Krishna Mohan from University of Idaho, Kimberly Morgan from Mississippi State University, and Joseph Molnar from Auburn University. University of Georgia agricultural engineer Changying “Charlie” Li is the principle investigator for a project recently funded by the USDA-Specialty Crop Research Initiative program in the amount of $774,581 to work on a project dealing with onion postharvest handling. The multi-disciplinary team consists of engineers, plant pathologists, horticulturist, food scientist, agricultural economist, and rural sociologist. Onion is the third-largest fresh vegetable crop in the U.S. and the second most valuable vegetable in the world. As a critical link between the farm and consumers, postharvest handling is vital for the profitability and sustainability of the onion industry. However, onion postharvest handling at both fresh-market and storage levels faces enormous challenges such as looming labor shortages, significant storage losses, and enormous quantities of cull onions that need to be disposed of. Engineers of this team will develop a multimodal sensing platform using X-ray and hyperspectral imaging technologies to enhance the onion sorting efficiency and efficacy in the packinghouse. The effect of nondestructive inspection on onion quality will be evaluated by a sensory panel. Botrytis neck rot and sour skin are two most important onion postharvest diseases, causing significant losses for onion growers and handlers each year. Plant pathologists and engineers will work together to develop technologies not only to detect but also to manage these diseases in storage. Developing environmentally friendly technologies is a priority of this project. The team will develop a high-throughput anaerobic digestion system to convert onion waste into energy and mitigate environmental pollution caused by rot onions. Another component of the project is to develop and deliver outreach programs and socioeconomic studies to help growers and onion postharvest industry adopt new technologies to advance onion postharvest handling efficiency and sustainability in the long run. Other co-principal investigators on this project include professors Ronald Gitaitis, William Tollner, Chi Thai, Gary Hawkins, Robert Shewfelt, Dan MacLean from the University of Georgia, Howard Schwartz from Colorado State University, Krishna Mohan from University of Idaho, Kimberly Morgan from Mississippi State University, and Joseph Molnar from Auburn University. http://nespal.org/news%20li%20grant.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:11 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1258038120028:18204737883861932:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml 2009 Agricultural Awareness Day November 5, 2009 This year, 1,330 students in the 4th grade from the Tift, Ben HIll, Colquitt and Irwin County area and 4th - 6th graders from Ware County toured the 40 stations set up around the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. These students learned about where their food and fiber comes from. Stations included lectures on livestock, picking cotton and harvesting peanuts. 2009 Agricultural Awareness Day November 5, 2009 This year, 1,330 students in the 4th grade from the Tift, Ben HIll, Colquitt and Irwin County area and 4th - 6th graders from Ware County toured the 40 stations set up around the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. These students learned about where their food and fiber comes from. Stations included lectures on livestock, picking cotton and harvesting peanuts. http://nespal.org/news%20ag%20awareness%202009.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:45:02 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257954329647:4592011892400799:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Learn more about the programs of study offered right here on the UGA Tifton Campus! Learn more about the programs of study offered right here on the UGA Tifton Campus! http://www.caes.uga.edu/campus/tifton/students/index.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:41:13 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257259330561:5282233317650032:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Agriculture & Environmental Awareness Day began on the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus in April, 2001, under the leadership of researcher Benjie Baldree. Mr. Baldree recognized the need to educate students on the many aspects of food and fiber production here in Georgia, so in the fall he invites 4th graders and in the spring 3rd graders to see some thirty different presentations related not only to agriculture and the environment but also to science and math topics corresponding to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Presentations are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills needed for third and fourth grade proficiency in science. Agriculture & Environmental Awareness Day began on the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus in April, 2001, under the leadership of researcher Benjie Baldree. Mr. Baldree recognized the need to educate students on the many aspects of food and fiber production here in Georgia, so in the fall he invites 4th graders and in the spring 3rd graders to see some thirty different presentations related not only to agriculture and the environment but also to science and math topics corresponding to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). Presentations are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills needed for third and fourth grade proficiency in science. http://www.ugastars.org/agawareness.htm Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:39:06 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257259199222:35281787161560796:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Dr. Ayodeji Adedoyin, an Electrical Engineering graduate from Florida State University, has joined Dr. Changying Li’s “Advanced Sensing Lab for Food and Fiber”. He will be working on the project of developing sensing technologies for cotton fiber quality measurement. Dr. Ayodeji Adedoyin, an Electrical Engineering graduate from Florida State University, has joined Dr. Changying Li’s “Advanced Sensing Lab for Food and Fiber”. He will be working on the project of developing sensing technologies for cotton fiber quality measurement. http://www.nespal.org Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:35:01 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257179729340:5985216780944901:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml University of Georgia and United States Department of Agriculture scientists involved in Energy research at NESPAL are assessing the potential of converting agricultural crops and crop wastes to bio-fuels. University of Georgia and United States Department of Agriculture scientists involved in Energy research at NESPAL are assessing the potential of converting agricultural crops and crop wastes to bio-fuels. http://www.nespal.org/energy.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:28:07 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257179317234:9503001125978148:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml The Water Use & Quality programs at NESPAL address key water resource issues facing Georgia and much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. Primary focus is on measuring, modeling, and limiting environmental impacts. The Water Use & Quality programs at NESPAL address key water resource issues facing Georgia and much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. Primary focus is on measuring, modeling, and limiting environmental impacts. http://www.nespal.org/wateruse.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:25:57 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257179196994:7371983764381427:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml NESPAL’s precision agriculture team has explored many techniques and tools and is now focused on those that have the greatest potential impact – precision water applications, aerial imagery and new sensing technologies for yield monitoring and pest detection. NESPAL’s precision agriculture team has explored many techniques and tools and is now focused on those that have the greatest potential impact – precision water applications, aerial imagery and new sensing technologies for yield monitoring and pest detection. http://www.nespal.org/biotechnology.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:24:02 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257179079745:49794283320570376:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Using both traditional and biotechnology breeding techniques, scientists from two labs at NESPAL are targeting improvements in a plant's ability to resist the environmental and biological stresses of the Southeastern U.S. Using both traditional and biotechnology breeding techniques, scientists from two labs at NESPAL are targeting improvements in a plant's ability to resist the environmental and biological stresses of the Southeastern U.S. http://www.nespal.org/biotechnology.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:20:12 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257178893766:7165620049577147:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml Located at the University of Georgia Tifton campus, NESPAL (National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory) was formed in 1991 to address the issues of maintaining efficient agricultural production and assuring consumers of a safe and affordable food and feed, fiber, and fuel supply. Today, NESPAL has evolved into an interdisciplinary research and education effort aimed at building a better environment for agriculture and rural America. Within NESPAL, the number of participants changes with the flow of research. We strive to maintain a diversity of backgrounds and expertise within the facility. Faculty and staff with experience in agricultural, engineering and biological disciplines are complemented by specialists in community development, media, network, graphic arts and business administration. USDA & private sector partners add additional depth to our projects. Located at the University of Georgia Tifton campus, NESPAL (National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory) was formed in 1991 to address the issues of maintaining efficient agricultural production and assuring consumers of a safe and affordable food and feed, fiber, and fuel supply. Today, NESPAL has evolved into an interdisciplinary research and education effort aimed at building a better environment for agriculture and rural America. Within NESPAL, the number of participants changes with the flow of research. We strive to maintain a diversity of backgrounds and expertise within the facility. Faculty and staff with experience in agricultural, engineering and biological disciplines are complemented by specialists in community development, media, network, graphic arts and business administration. USDA & private sector partners add additional depth to our projects. http://www.nespal.org/about.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:17:39 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257178680797:8603651968866981:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml The Future Farmstead is an energy independent experimental farm and farmstead dedicated to developing and demonstrating advanced technologies which will enhance farmer efficiency to achieve the nation's future energy, food, and environmental requirements. Future Farmstead is a research, extension, and education initiative with many public and private partners, led by the University of Georgia. The program is dedicated to advancing on-farm energy generation and conservation in the Southeast focusing on the efficiencies as a way to save energy and protect our natural resources. The Future Farmstead is an energy independent experimental farm and farmstead dedicated to developing and demonstrating advanced technologies which will enhance farmer efficiency to achieve the nation's future energy, food, and environmental requirements. Future Farmstead is a research, extension, and education initiative with many public and private partners, led by the University of Georgia. The program is dedicated to advancing on-farm energy generation and conservation in the Southeast focusing on the efficiencies as a way to save energy and protect our natural resources. http://www.futurefarmstead.org Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:15:27 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257178556569:3106114728001351:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.xml The University of Georgia is part of a national team that received a 5-year USDA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative Grant award of $5,161,495 to investigate precision irrigation and nutrient management for nursery, greenhouse and green roof systems, using wireless sensor networks. Dr. John Lea-Cox from the University of Maryland is leading the project. The University of Georgia team members are Drs. Marc van Iersel, John Ruter (NESPAL-affiliated scientist), Matthew Chappell, and Paul Thomas. The University of Georgia will receive $520,000 to develop more efficient irrigation practices in greenhouses and nurseries. Other universities and research centers cooperating in this project are Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, the University of Colorado, Cornell University, and the Center for Environmental Science at the University of Maryland. The commercial partners are Decagon Devices, Inc. in Pullman, WA and Antir Software in Jarrettsville, MD. Evergreen Nursery in Statham, GA and McCorkle Nurseries in Dearing, GA will cooperate in this project and serve as test sites. This grant, combined with an additional $5,205,172 in matching funding from various sources, will bring together a multidisciplinary group of engineers, plant scientists, economists and extension specialists, to develop the next generation of tools to precisely monitor plant water use, allow for better control of irrigation water applications and increase the efficiency of water and nutrient use by ornamental growers. The research is tightly integrated with sensor networks within a number of commercial nurseries and greenhouse operations throughout the US. Close cooperation among academics and commercial growers will take advantage of the growers’ expertise to ensure rapid progress towards implementation of the science into practice. This project is expected to result in large reductions in water and fertilizer use and to decrease the environmental impact of ornamental production. More details of the project goals, the university teams and the commercial partners can be found at www.smart-farms.net. The University of Georgia is part of a national team that received a 5-year USDA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative Grant award of $5,161,495 to investigate precision irrigation and nutrient management for nursery, greenhouse and green roof systems, using wireless sensor networks. Dr. John Lea-Cox from the University of Maryland is leading the project. The University of Georgia team members are Drs. Marc van Iersel, John Ruter (NESPAL-affiliated scientist), Matthew Chappell, and Paul Thomas. The University of Georgia will receive $520,000 to develop more efficient irrigation practices in greenhouses and nurseries. Other universities and research centers cooperating in this project are Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, the University of Colorado, Cornell University, and the Center for Environmental Science at the University of Maryland. The commercial partners are Decagon Devices, Inc. in Pullman, WA and Antir Software in Jarrettsville, MD. Evergreen Nursery in Statham, GA and McCorkle Nurseries in Dearing, GA will cooperate in this project and serve as test sites. This grant, combined with an additional $5,205,172 in matching funding from various sources, will bring together a multidisciplinary group of engineers, plant scientists, economists and extension specialists, to develop the next generation of tools to precisely monitor plant water use, allow for better control of irrigation water applications and increase the efficiency of water and nutrient use by ornamental growers. The research is tightly integrated with sensor networks within a number of commercial nurseries and greenhouse operations throughout the US. Close cooperation among academics and commercial growers will take advantage of the growers’ expertise to ensure rapid progress towards implementation of the science into practice. This project is expected to result in large reductions in water and fertilizer use and to decrease the environmental impact of ornamental production. More details of the project goals, the university teams and the commercial partners can be found at www.smart-farms.net. http://www.nespal.org/news%20usda%20grant.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:06:07 GMT Tracey Vellidis data:text/plain,manual:1257177987833:8375897298249647:http://www.nespal.org/NESPAL%20news%20feed.rss