Author: Site Owner

Artist conception of the creation of a biosensor that is created with graphene ink. (Image reproduced by permission of Dr. Jonathan Claussen from Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 15870.)

When does too much of a good thing become a bad thing? That’s the question Dr. Jonathan Claussen, assistant professor at Iowa State University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and his team of researchers aim to help farmers answer when it comes to pesticide use. Underuse can harm farmers’ crops, while overuse can result in runoff into the soil or waterways.

Claussen and his team created a flexible, low cost and disposable biosensor that can detect pesticides in soil. This biosensor is made of graphene, a strong and stable nanoparticle, and provides instantaneous feedback, as opposed to the time and money it would otherwise take to send a sample to a lab and await results.

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supported the project with an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grant as part of the Nanotechnology Program.

The biosensor is made by first printing graphene ink onto paper. A laser then traces over the ink to improve its electrical conductivity by welding together flakes of the graphene ink, making a nanostructured surface that is three dimensional.

“The flakes almost look like rose petals coming up from the surface of the paper,” said Claussen. “They form the base material to test soil on.”

To do this, the biosensor is dipped into a slurry of soil and water. It is then connected to an electrochemical reader in the field to test for pesticide.

“It’s like a pH test strip,” said Claussen. Test results can help farmers quickly understand how much pesticide is needed to maintain healthy crops and minimize environmental damage. Also, results can help farmers understand where environmental remediation may be needed if pesticide overuse is evident.

The biosensor has great potential for use beyond the agriculture community. Its properties can be converted for use in the biomedical, environmental, or food safety fields, simply by changing the biological components that are immobilized on top of it.

“What fascinates me most about this project is the real world impact it can provide,” said Claussen. “The graphene sensors do not require the use of precious metals that are typically used to increase the performance of electrochemical sensors. Therefore, [this] technology really could be used by the masses for flexible/low cost electronics and sensors.”

NIFA invests in and advances innovative and transformative research, education and extension to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. USDA has invested $19 billion in research and development since 2009, touching the lives of all Americans from farms to the kitchen table and from the air we breathe to the energy that powers our country. Learn more about the many ways USDA scientists are on the cutting edge, helping to protect, secure and improve our food, agricultural and natural resources systems in USDA’s Medium Chapter 11: Food and Ag Science Will Shape Our Future.

November 29th, 2016|Tags: End-of-Year Campaign 2016, wildlife|0 Comments

The post Home for the Holidays: The Kirtland’s Warbler and Its Jack Pine Home appeared first on American Forests.

The USDA FoodKeeper app provides information about how to store food safely.

The FSIS FoodKeeper app is an easy way for consumers to keep their food safe by providing valuable advice on storing foods and beverages to maximize freshness and minimize food waste. By helping users understand food storage, the app empowers consumers to select methods that extend shelf life and keep items fresh longer than if they were not properly stored.  The app is available for Android and Apple devices.

How FoodKeeper’s Data Gets to You

In 2016, the application was updated to include more than 400 food and beverage items that are available in an online data feed. Each time a user opens the FoodKeeper app, it will check the data feed for updates.

This data is not only available for the FoodKeeper app, but it is open to the public on FSIS.gov and Data.gov. Those interested in using the information for their own purposes can download the data feed, and find specific storage and cooking guidance on hundreds of items, including various types of baby food, dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry, produce, seafood and more. The data also includes user storage timelines for the refrigerator, freezer and pantry.

Open Data at FSIS USDA

Providing access to the FoodKeeper data feed is one example of how FSIS publishes data in machine readable formats and promotes access to information anywhere, anytime, on any device. Upcoming enhancements to the app will provide access to FSIS product recall announcements so users will know immediately when recalls are issued. This information is already available on FSIS.gov in the form of automated emails and an RSS feed.

If you would like to use the FoodKeeper but don’t have a smartphone or tablet, visit FoodSafety.gov.

Virginia farmers harvest their corn. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting the December Agricultural Survey and the County Agricultural Production Survey for row crops to collect important data from producers about their harvest, yield and production.

When drought and flooding impact crop production, or even in a year with good yields, good data is crucial to the agriculture industry.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts more than 400 surveys each year.  Two of our larger and more impactful surveys are the annual Row Crops County Agricultural Production Survey (CAPS) and December Agricultural Survey, the results of which are combined to set our county average yields.

The Row Crops CAPS will survey thousands of farmers in my region – Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee – to find out their acres planted, acres harvested and production of various crops including corn, soybeans, hay, tobacco, cotton and peanuts. This survey is mailed out Nov. 18, and the data collection period goes through early January.

The December Agricultural Survey asks additional farmers how many acres of certain crops they planted, how many acres they harvested and their yield per acre. This survey is mailed out Nov. 18, and the data is collected Nov. 28 through Dec. 13.

NASS’s county estimates are used in conjunction with other USDA agencies’ estimate calculations to set standards for insurance and risk protection programs many farmers rely on to protect their operations. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) relies on county-level estimates for Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC), County Loan Rates, and its disaster program calculations. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) uses the data for administering the Area Risk Protection Insurance Plan, establishment of transitional yields, and determining when to make crop loss insurance payments.

NASS response rates are quite good in the survey sector these days, but we aren’t satisfied and are working to improve them.  We need farmers and ranchers to continue to respond so the data are available for everyone to use. This is particularly important for these two surveys, because if we don’t receive enough reports, we can’t publish county estimates.

We often hear from farmers about the published county estimates, so it’s important to clarify NASS’s role in the county estimate process. NASS yields (our county estimates) go off harvested acres. FSA calculates the county estimate off planted acres, so there will sometimes be slight variations. While the two agencies’ roles are intertwined, NASS’s role is to simply survey the producers, calculate the data and publish it. FSA uses that data to calculate for their programs.

County estimates will be published on different dates beginning December 15 and according to a schedule available on the NASS website.  Results of the December Agricultural Survey are published in the Crop Production Annual Report, which is scheduled for release on Jan. 12, 2017.

This green bean poster is part of the Harvest of the Month materials that City Schoolyard Garden developed for Charlottesville Public Schools.

In celebration of Virginia Farm to School Week, I recently visited Charlottesville Public Schools to learn about the district’s garden and Harvest of the Month efforts. Here’s a snapshot of what I observed that day.

We push a cart piled high with plates of green beans down the hallway stopping at each classroom. Noses press against the glass in the doors and teachers urge students to sit down, as the door cracks open to excited chatter. The green beans are passed off and we are on to the next classroom, getting to every class in just under 30 minutes. It’s only 9:30 in the morning on October 6 at Burnley-Moran Elementary School and the Harvest of the Month taste test is off to a great start!

Teachers accept the green bean delivery in the morning and work the tasting into their school day. The third grade teacher, Mr. Lorigan, allows me to sit in on his class as he takes a short break from their regular class to have students guess what he is holding above his head. Wiggling hands raise.

”Beets?” one student asks.

He gives them a hint, “These vegetables are long and have seeds.”

“Eggplant?” another child responds.

Mr. Lorigan says, “No, they are green!” Students shout out answers until one says “green beans!”

Each student receives a small plate of beans. Mr. Lorigan shares a few green bean facts and connects it to a recent science lesson, some students are apprehensive about the first taste and others dig in, eating all them in the blink of an eye. The more timid students are encouraged to take a tiny taste and everyone chats for a minute about what they like about the beans, many say, “the garlic is yummy!” The entire lesson, including cleanup, is done in 10 minutes – as I leave, Mr. Lorigan admits that he enjoys Harvest of the Month day as much as his students.

Yes, the green beans are local (and delicious!), but this week, so are many of the products in the cafeteria during Virginia Farm to School Week. Plates are piled with local apples, potatoes, greens and even local beef! All Charlottesville City Public Schools participate in Virginia Farm to School Week with support of local organizations and non-profits including – City Schoolyard Garden (CSG) and Local Food Hub. With support of a 2016 USDA Farm to School Grant, CSG was able to expand their Harvest of the Month programming to Charlottesville City High School (CHS) this school year.

We head over to CHS to visit with teacher and garden lead, Peter Davis, and meet with the new food service director, Mr. Carlton Jones, who has not only embraced this program, but has also seen an increase in participation, thanks to his efforts in the past six months.

With the support of CSG, the high school designed a teaching and tasting garden complete with shed and teaching space. Davis calls his program Garden to Market and on a daily basis leads special education 9-12 graders through gardening lessons to teach basic entrepreneurial skills. The classes have been selling their harvest, including vegetables and flowers, to teachers and hold a seedling sale in the spring. Mr. Davis also runs an after-school garden club that is primarily made up of ESL students, which also allows those students to practice language skills and earn community service hours.

CSG currently manages eight garden spaces at the district’s six elementary schools, Buford Middle School and Charlottesville High School – encompassing over 26,383 square feet of diverse organic gardens with over 25,505 student interactions each year. CSG is growing their vision that young people thrive with the opportunity to engage with nature, enhancing their academic learning through hands-on experience and cultivating skills for healthy living. CSG’s Harvest of the Month program connects the garden classroom to the cafeteria, linking students, teachers and food service.

Inspired by Charlottesville Public Schools? USDA is currently accepting applications for the Farm to School Grant Program, which assists eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Consider applying for a grant to bring more local food into school meals, promote healthy eating habits and expand markets for American farmers and producers.

Elementary school students proudly pick Swiss chard from the school garden.

USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Director Norah Deluhery eats lunch with kids at a Philadelphia Archdiocese’s Nutritional Development Services (NDS) summer food service site.

Looking back at USDA’s efforts to help rural America thrive, I am truly proud of the impact our diverse partners, both from faith and secular communities, have had within their communities. On behalf of the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, I would like to say thank you to our partners these past eight years as well as reflect on a few notable highlights of the work we have achieved together.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans every day, whether they realize it or not. While our programs to reduce food insecurity are well known, our nation’s most vulnerable citizens can still be hard to reach. Faith-based and community partners have been especially helpful in this area, particularly when it comes to feeding children in summer months, when school is out of session. In collaboration with many partners, including Catholic Charities USA, the Church of God in Christ, Islamic Relief USA, the National Baptist Convention and the Salvation Army, USDA increased the number of summer meals served to kids by 16% between 2009 and 2015, a total of more than 1.2 billion summer meals served when school is out and food is scarce.

In 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move! Faith and Communities (LMFC) to build the capacity of faith and community-based health leaders to educate their community members and promote healthier choices, increased physical activity, and access to healthy and affordable food. In 2011, Let’s Move! Faith and Communities partners hosted 1,100 new summer meal sites, where low-income kids were served healthy free meals once school let out. More than 4,500 faith and community leaders and organizations participated in the initiative which created a bridge to numerous other communities as these leaders represent a broad networks of local, regional and national organizations.

Faith-based and community partners have also helped USDA as we look to prepare a diverse next generation of agricultural leaders. The average American farmer is now approaching retirement age, and our food supply is becoming increasingly connected globally.

In our backyard, we’ve partnered with multiple schools to introduce exciting and rewarding opportunities in agriculture. At an agricultural science and business boot camp hosted at Frederick Douglass High School of Baltimore in 2016, students learned from a panel of agricultural scientists about related occupations and their career paths. In addition, through school partnerships, students are able to tour USDA headquarters, volunteer in the People’s Garden and interact with vendors in our Farmer’s Market as well as participate in cooking demonstrations and engage with USDA senior leadership on topics including food waste, entrepreneurship, college and internship opportunities.

Across the United States and Puerto Rico, USDA has hosted over 20 on-site application acceptance events, in partnership with the Office of Personnel Management. These events, held in conjunction with 1862, 1890, and 1994 land grant institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other minority serving institutions, provided an opportunity for USDA hiring managers to collect applications for Pathway Intern and Recent Graduate positions on location and significantly contributed to the department’s legacy of cultural transformation. In 2015 alone, over 360 positions were filled or offers made through this method.

To further develop the next generation of agricultural leaders internationally, USDA has joined other governmental offices, American NGOs and private companies to provide leadership development, professional training, cultural exchange and networking opportunities to Mandela Washington Fellows of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The USDA Center coordinated the placements of three Fellows from Senegal, Nigeria, and Uganda, a first for the Department.

Our partners have also acknowledged the rich religious diversity of the United States by supporting USDA as it recognizes various holidays related to food and agriculture found in multiple faiths. During each year of the Obama Administration, the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has recognized the essential and important role of the religious community in the United States by hosting celebrations for employees and their families that are often led by members of the community including annual iftars, prayer breakfasts, Seders and festivals such as Diwali and Sukkot.

This reflection highlights just a handful of the work we’ve done with partners across the United States these past years. As Director of this Center, it has been an honor to work with such inspiring individuals and organizations under the leadership of Secretary Vilsack and President Obama. We don’t work alone, and again, I want to thank all of our partners for all of their hard work over the past eight years to provide a better future for the American public.

USDA Adaptation Resources for Agriculture Workbook cover graphic

Changes in climate and more extreme weather are already increasing challenges for agriculture and natural resource managers nationally and globally.  Many of these challenges are expected to continue into the future.

A new USDA report Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to Climate Variability and Change in the Midwest and Northeast provides educators and advisors information, perspective and resources to help farmers in the region prepare for, cope with and recover from the adverse impacts of a changing climate. Developed collaboratively by scientists, conservationists and educators, the report translates the best available climate science into usable resources for making climate-informed decisions.

Chapter One summarizes the effects of climate change on agriculture and natural resources in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. Chapter Two gives perspective on the concepts of climate adaptation in agriculture and the next three chapters provide new resources to put climate change information into action on the farm including adaptation strategies and approaches, an adaptation workbook, and examples for assessing and planning.

These new resources help extension educators, agricultural advisors and conservationists improve climate change education and adaptation assistance programs to help farmers sustain production, profitability and stewardship in the face of extreme weather and uncertain climate conditions.

Adaptation Strategies and Approaches provides a “menu” that brings together climate adaptation responses reported in peer-reviewed scientific literature and provides a clear rationale to connect planned actions to broad adaptation concepts. The Report also provides specific real-life adaptation tactics and actions—i.e., the how, where and when?—that can be applied on the ground. Adaptation tactics range from incremental adjustments of existing practices that help the production system address persistent climatic impacts to major alterations that transform the entire farm operation.

Flexible and adaptive management are key to reduce risk, increase resilience to potential disruptions, and even take advantage of opportunities presented by climate change. The Adaptation Workbook provides a structured process to consider potential climate change impacts, management challenges and opportunities, and climate adaptation responses.

Four examples of typical farming systems in the region: dryland farming in Nebraska, corn and soybean production in Iowa, small holder beef grazing and forestry in Missouri, and a confined dairy in Pennsylvania, give real-world perspectives on addressing challenges and opportunities of climate change.

Based upon the Forest Adaptation Resources developed by the U.S. Forest Service and Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, Adaptation Resources for Agriculture was developed specifically to meet the unique needs of agricultural producers.

A team of authors from the Agriculture Research Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service worked together through USDA’s Climate Hubs for the Midwest, Northeast and Northern Forests to assemble the report. Educators, conservationists, and climate, agricultural and forestry scientists participated in workshops to test the concepts, translate them into easy to use worksheets, and develop the real-world examples.

You can download a pdf of the report at the National Climate Hubs website under the Adaptation Assistance menu.

For more on how USDA is helping farmers and land owners adapt to the effects of a changing climate see the related posts:

• New and Improved Tools Help Adapt Forests to Changing Conditions
• Adaptation Resources for Agriculture in the Midwest and Northeast

Dairy farmer Justin Geisinger works with trusted advisor NRCS Grazing Specialist Titus Martin on climate impact issues. This is accomplished working for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) program. Photo by Dan Dostie, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Peggy Whitson monitors a soybean plant growth experiment on one of her previous International Space Station (ISS) expeditions. Whitson, a former 4-H’er, is now the ISS commander. (NASA photo)

Many kids gaze up into the night’s sky and dream of touching the stars. Peggy Whitson, NASA astronaut and commander of the International Space Station, turned that dream into reality.

Whitson grew up in the small town of Beaconsfield, Iowa, completing standard chores like mowing the lawn and caring for animals, but never lost her determination to fly and eventually go to outer space. At the age of nine, Whitson became involved with the 4-H program. Her brothers and sisters were active with the local Ringgold County 4-H club and it was a natural fit for her. The program played a key role in helping her develop from a shy girl into an exceptional leader.

“Although I didn’t particularly have a love of chickens, I was able to raise enough to sell,” said Whitson.  “That ‘chicken money’ eventually paid for my private pilot’s license.”

4-H is the flagship youth outreach program of the federal land-grant universities’ Cooperative Extension Service, administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).  4-H provides youth hands-on learning experiences and encourages learning about the world through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) opportunities. Traditionally, STEM education focused on agricultural science, electricity, mechanics, entrepreneurship and natural sciences. Today, 4-H programs include rocketry, robotics, bio-fuels, renewable energy, computer science and environmental sciences.

Whitson’s space station tour highlights the role in a partnership effort among 4-H, NIFA and NASA to promote STEM education.

“In order to find your limits, it is necessary to step beyond your ‘comfort zone,’ and try new and challenging things. It just might inspire you,” said Whitson. “The 4-H program is one way young people can practice expanding their experiences, knowledge and skills.”

Whitson has completed two six-month tours of duty aboard the International Space Station and returned on Nov. 19, 2016 with Expedition 50/51, where she assumed command of the station. Whitson and her crewmates are performing 250 zero-gravity experiments in areas of biology, Earth science, human research, physical sciences and technology development. She is scheduled to return to Earth in the Spring of 2017.

“We will be using ourselves as test subjects to understand how space flight effects the human body,” said Whitson. “We will also look at plant growth, genetic changes, examining how the lack of gravity effects physical phenomena,” she said.

And just like that… A small town girl is now doing big things. She has a message for today’s youth.

“Where you come from doesn’t have to be limiting; extend yourself and anything is possible,” said Whitson. “I dreamed of becoming an astronaut and achieved that dream.”

NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education and extension and seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges.

A young Peggy Whitson delivers a 4-H presentation on how to dry flowers and make arrangements and decorations. (Photo courtesy of Peggy Whitson)

Cochran Fellows receive training from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory during a hands-on workshop on low-cost, high-efficiency cooking stoves. The stoves provide gains in efficiency, as well as reduce pollution offering benefits such as a lower incidence of pulmonary diseases.

Research shows the majority of people in Africa depend on biomass to meet their energy needs, with approximately 80 percent relying on wood energy. Such high dependency makes families vulnerable to unexpected and sudden changes, including extreme weather and socio-political events. Researching and developing ways to diversify energy sources is crucial for a more sustainable, food secure future.

A project funded through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Cochran Fellowship Program on “Biofuels for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods,” hosted by the University of Missouri (MU) College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources International Programs, set out to address this very issue. The research and training program was organized for West African Cochran Fellows to learn how different uses of biofuels can help support sustainable livelihoods in their communities. The two-week-long program consisted of workshops, field visits and interactive discussions in cooperation with the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the MU Center for Agroforestry, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture and Envest Microfinance.

“Biofuels can help diversify such energy sources, whether through biogas or high-efficiency wood stoves. They also help supplement other renewable sources such as solar panels,” explained MU Program Coordinator Dr. Francisco Aguilar. “The more diverse, the more resilient households are, the more resilient households are, the more we are strengthening energy security.”

Providing this multidisciplinary training through Cochran Program, was the first step for the MU faculty in their work with the fellows. Ultimately, researching and teaching about energy security will also lead to improving food security in the region.

“A key point is to stress the role of energy resiliency as an instrumental component to food security,” explained Dr. Aguilar. “To be food secure, we need the energy to adequately cook the food to be safe to eat. Hence, energy security is integral to food security.”

Since hosting the training, FAS, MU and the fellows have continued their collaboration on biofuel developments. The fellows have promoted local production and marketing of cook stoves in Senegal and the National Biogas Program of the Senegalese Ministry of Energy awarded a four-year contract to one of the fellows to construct 500 biodigesters in houses and schools across the Diourbel Region. These biodigesters, along with training in feedstock management and soil conservation, will help diversify affordable clean energy options for Senegalese farmers and help lead to increased food security.

The FAS Cochran Fellowship Program has trained more than 17,500 fellows from 125 countries since its inception more than 30 years ago. Hands-on training and research opportunities to enrich fellows’ technical knowledge and skills in areas related to agricultural trade, agribusiness development, management, policy and marketing, helps the fellows develop agricultural systems necessary to meet food and fiber needs in their countries.

University of Missouri faculty and the Cochran Fellows stop by the local Foster Brothers Wood Products, Inc. biomass processing facility for a tour. Foster Brothers is the leading supplier of locally-sourced biofuel for colleges in the state of Missouri.

November 23rd, 2016|Tags: AF News|0 Comments

The post 10 Reasons to Be Thankful for Forests in 2016 appeared first on American Forests.