ANR in the News
posted on April 27, 2010 9:26am
ANR in the News is provided by ANR Communications
For more information, contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
517-432-1555, ext. 153
Welcome to ANR in the News, an update of
news and events about Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU. The
following are recent news stories from the last month naming MSU ANR
[CANR, MAES, MSUE] people and programs in major national, regional, and
local media outlets.
April 19, 2010
Democraticunderground.com
Food vs. fuel: MSU scientists say growing grain for food is more energy efficient
Using productive farmland to grow crops for food instead of fuel is more energy efficient, Michigan State University
scientists concluded, after poring over 17 years’ worth of data to
help settle the food versus fuel debate. "It’s 36 percent more
efficient to grow grain for food than for fuel," said Ilya Gelfand, an
MSU postdoctoral researcher. "The ideal is to grow corn for food, then
leave half the leftover stalks and leaves on the field for soil
conservation and produce cellulosic ethanol with the other half." Other
studies have looked at energy efficiencies for crops over shorter time
periods, but this MSU study is the first to consider energy balances
of an entire cropping system over many years. The results are published
in the April 19 online issue of the journal Environmental Science
& Technology. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x242784 Related story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419172855.htm
April 16, 2010
The Farmers Exchange
MSU Spearheads Economic Effort
Michigan State University is leading a new statewide program aimed at
educating citizens and local leaders on today’s global "New Economy"
and offering strategies to rebuild economies at the local, regional and
state level in Michigan. Starting April 19, MSU and partners will
conduct 100 free training sessions over a span of 60 days in locations
across the state. Local sessions are co-sponsored with the Southwest
Michigan Planning Commission, which has formally endorsed the Michigan
Prosperity Initiative. "This is ambitious and urgent work," said Soji Adelaja, director of the MSU Land Policy Institute, which along with MSU Extension is spearheading the outreach and education of the Michigan Prosperity Initiative. http://www.farmers-exchange.net/detailPage.aspx?articleID=8426
April 16, 2010
MSU News
Project GREEEN receives $2 million to support plant agriculture
Michigan State University researchers have been awarded more than $2
million for research and outreach projects to continue growing the
state’s $71.3 billion agri-food and agri-energy industries. Thanks to
funding from Project GREEEN (Generating Research and
Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), 88 plant
agriculture research projects will receive $2.08 million in grant
funding. Project GREEEN is Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative
based at MSU. Doug Buhler, Project GREEEN coordinator and associate
director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station,
said the proposals put before the project selection committee continue
to get better every year. This year’s group represented a desire to
help move the plant agriculture forward while supporting the growth of
Michigan agriculture and agribusiness. http://news.msu.edu/story/7738/&topic_id=2
April 13, 2010
Lansing State Journal
Food expert raises stir at MSU
In February, CANR Dean Jeffrey Armstrong put up a blog
post explaining the college’s decision to co-sponsor Pollan’s talk did
not constitute an endorsement and that, while sponsorship did not allow
the college to have additional speakers included in the program, it
did allow "opportunities to engage in a thoughtful and balanced
dialogue that would not be afforded us without a sponsorship." http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100413/NEWS06/4130324/Food-expert-raises-stir-at-MSU
April 13, 2010
Grainnet.com
Michigan State University Project GREEEN Receives $2 Million in State Funding to Support Ag Research Projects
Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have been awarded more than
$2 million for research and outreach projects to continue growing
Michigan’s $71.3 billion agri-food and agri-energy industries. Thanks
to funding from Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs),
88 plant agriculture research projects will receive $2.08 million in
grant funding. Project GREEEN is Michigan’s plant agriculture
initiative based at MSU. Doug Buhler, Project GREEEN coordinator and
associate director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, said the proposals put before the project selection committee continue to get better every year. http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Michigan_State_University_Project_GREEEN_Receives__2_Million_in_State_Funding_to_Support_Ag_Research_Projects-92325.html Related Story: http://usagnet.com/story-national.php?Id=743&yr=2010
April 12, 2010
WILX.com
Food ‘Fight’ Comes to MSU
Loos, a 6th-generation farmer from Nebraska, also spoke with students
Monday. He said he agrees with Pollan’s natural view of food, but also
says there’s nothing wrong with using science to mass produce it, the
very thing many MSU students study. "I see his message as a slap in the
face to great land instirutions, like MSU, across the country," Loos
said. But the MSU College of Agriculture didn’t see it
that way. It was one of the sponsors of Pollan’s visit Monday. The
author even said in his speech, he know’s not everyone was thrilled to
have him there, but he was grateful to be able to start a conversation.http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/90715999.html
April 11, 2010
Freep.com
Michigan news briefs: MSU to head research study
The National Science Foundation is giving Michigan State University
$1.5 million to head a five-year world research effort on the
relationship between humans and the environment. The program is called
the International Network of Research on Coupled Human and Natural
Systems. MSU said its roles include building a global database of
scientists and their projects, encouraging collaborative and
interdisciplinary work, and helping identify and train new
environmental researchers. http://www.freep.com/article/20100411/NEWS06/4110463/1001/News/Michigan-news-briefs-MSU-to-head-research-study
April 11, 2010
GLITR
MEDC, MSU, Partners Offering ‘New Economy’ Courses
According to LPI director Soji Adelaja: “As economic
development professionals and business leaders you have probably
watched the economic transformation of much of the world from the Old
Economy to the global New Economy. You may have had no small amount of
envy and chagrin that Michigan’s communities were not fully sharing in
the economic benefits of that global transformation. We have captured
the essence of those global economic changes and linked them to
Michigan’s key assets as well as a baker’s dozen set of ideas for
accelerating Michigan’s efforts to restore prosperity across the state.
These concepts are incorporated in our 101 class. http://www.wwj.com/MEDC—MSU—Partners-Offering—New-Economy—Courses/6777714
April 07, 2010
State News
Extension book now available
The 2010 edition of the On-Farm Research and Demonstration book is now available for free at any MSU Extension
county office. The 80-page book, published annually, details
information about recent field crop research done by MSU researchers
and Extension specialists.Data includes many agricultural topics such
as fertilizer studies and bioenergy. http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/04/extension_book_now_available
April 07, 2010
Mlive.com
Kellogg Biological Station Dairy Facility earns LEED Certification
The Kellogg Biological Station Dairy Facility recently became the first agricultural facility in the United States to receive LEED certification. Karen Plaut, chairperson of the animal science department at Michigan State University, tells Kirk Heinze about KBS’s journey to certification and it’s future in sustainable agriculture. http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/04/kellogg_biological_station_dai.html
April 07, 2010
Tri-City Times
County needs leaders
Somewhat like spring in Michigan, Lapeer County Commissioners have been
running hot and cold about what to do with the county’s two water
parks, MSU Extension cuts and other important
budgeting issues. In what was supposed to be a final decision based in
economic realities, a majority of commissioners voted to move the parks
to a "passive" status. The water feature at Dryden’s Mill Race park
would not be maintained or manned and would remain closed to the
public. http://www.tricitytimes-online.com/Articles-i-2010-04-07-204656.112113_County_needs_leaders.html
April 06, 2010
Lansing State Journal
MSU researcher retracts article because of plagiarism
A prominent Michigan State University
plant science researcher has retracted a two-year-old academic article
on the use of genetically engineered crops in biofuel production after
a university committee found she had plagiarized a portion of it.
Mariam Sticklen, a tenured professor of crop and soil sciences, said
she “made an honest error” when she used a paragraph from a
then-unpublished article, which she had reviewed for the journal Plant
Science. Treatments for a medical condition have caused problems with
her memory, she said. She is currently on medical leave from the
university. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100406/NEWS01/304050004/MSU-researcher-retracts-article-because-of-plagiarism
April 06, 2010
Mlive.com
Hail, high winds cause widespread damage throughout Southwest Michigan
Strong winds toppled trees and damaged buildings, but it was the hail that pounded grape shoots and cherry buds, said Mark Longstroth, a fruit educator with the Michigan State University Extension.
Half the grape production in Van Buren County was severely affected,
about 2,000 acres of grapes out of 14,000 acres grown in Southwest
Michigan, he estimated. “The cherry trees I looked at had almost all of
the fruit buds knocked off and the bark on the underbranches was torn
off. There are a lot of grapes in that (area), and it looked like half
to two-thirds of the grape buds were knocked off,” Longstroth said. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/04/hail_high_winds_damage_southwe.html
April 05, 2010
Greater Lansing Business Monthly
Cultivating Entrepreneurial Spirit
In October 2009, Entrepreneur magazine included East Lansing
in its listing of the Best College Towns to Start a Business. The
magazine credited Michigan State University’s efforts to create and
incubate businesses through the MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources
(which commercializes new food manufacturers), MSU Technologies (its
tech transfer office) and MSU Business Connect (which links businesses
in the community to university resources). Entrepreneur also
gave nods to Leap and to Prima Civitas Foundation, as well as to the
City of East Lansing for its Technology Innovation Center (TIC). http://www.lansingbusinessmonthly.com/index.php/articles/department-columns/110-current-month/1076-cultivating-entrepreneurial-spirit
April 04, 2010
Mlive.com
Study on Muskegon County operations calls for money saving operational cuts
The financial forecast for Muskegon County, like for many
municipalities in Michigan, is stormy with a chance of a tornado or
flood. A financial analysis and forecast for Muskegon County, recently
prepared and written by Michigan State University Extension,
shows that Muskegon County government is going to have to change the
way it operates or face a financial disaster. Based on the study by
members of the MSU Extension’s State and Local Government Program,
Muskegon County—if it continues as is—would run out of savings by
2013, using factors considered pessimistic, or by 2016, using
optimistic factors. Either way, change is likely coming to county
government. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/04/study_on_muskegon_countyoperat.html
April 03, 2010
Southbend Tribune
MSU extension program redesigned
The Michigan State University Extension program is going through a statewide redesign and reorganization process. The results may affect the way extensions operate in the future including the one in Cass County, Dan Rajzer, Cass County extension director /ag educator, said. The redesign focusing on the values and principles of MSU extensions includes aiming for programs with greater specialization and more services in communities, Rajzer said. http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100403/News01/4030310/-1/XML
April 03, 2010
Southbend Tribune
Maple syrup production down
In 2009, Michigan produced the most maple syrup in more than 60 years, but this spring farmers are tapping out sooner than they had hoped. "No two maple seasons are alike," said Russell Kidd, a Michigan State University Extension forest educator based in Roscommon, Mich. "This year was a poor year because it got warm in the middle of the season." Kidd said sap production requires below-freezing temperatures at night and above-freezing temperatures during the day. http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100403/News01/4030309/1052/News01
April 03, 2010
River Country Journal
MSU ‘Michigan Prosperity Initiative’ strives to create community prosperity in the New Economy
The Michigan Prosperity Initiative (MPI) is an innovative effort by Michigan State University, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Association of Regions, the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Townships Association, the Michigan Association of Planning, and Michigan State University Extension to help return economic prosperity to the state. The MSU Land Policy Institute (LPI) is leading this effort. http://www.rivercountryjournal.com/?p=26899
April 02, 2010
MLive.com
Deb McCullough has hopeful news on the emerald ash borer front
... “We decided if we could integrate these tools that we have available and slow down the rate at which the ash borer populations build, we should be able to slow down the rate at which ash trees die and slow down this rolling tidal wave of dying ash trees,” says Deborah McCullough, a forest entomologist at Michigan State University. ... http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/04/deb_mccullough_has_hopeful_new.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+michiganenvironment+%28Michigan%2C+Great+Lakes+Environmental+Issues%29
April 02, 2010
Sturgis Journal
Weather promising as field work begins
Another planting season is about to start in St. Joseph County. For
grain farmers, the good weather is giving them an early start on field
work. But for fruit farmers, the nice weather has them on edge: Is this
too much of a good thing, too soon? The long-range forecast by the
National Weather Service says temperatures in southwest Michigan will
continue to be above normal for at least the next 30 days. But May is
still a dangerous time for blossoms on fruit trees that might get
nipped in the bud. County MSU Extension director Maury Kaercher said things are quiet in the Centreville office, and that’s a good sign at the beginning of the new season. http://www.sturgisjournal.com/features/x1031038982/Weather-promising-as-field-work-begins
April 02, 2010
Gaylord Herald Times
Spring Break Extravaganza on tap
Area businesses are teaming up for a week of activities focused on students who are on spring break, April 5-9. Businesses include Gaylord Cinema West, Call of the Wild, Jet’s Pizza and Gaylord Bowling Center, which are offering specials and discounts. The MSU Extension and 4-H office also will be holding educational workshops including baby-sitter training, child and infant CPR and cooking demonstrations. http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2010/04/02/news/local_news/doc4bb6054705f21805349413.txt
April 02, 2010
Petoskey News-Review
Jump in! Swim school has been making a splash for 60 years
The water may feel chilly at first, and the thought of ducking under
makes her shiver and laugh, but 10-year-old Madison Bates of Boyne City
loves to swim. “Once I get in the water, I don’t want to get out,” she
said. “It’s the most fun thing to do in the summertime.” Madison is
one of hundreds of children who have attended the Boyne Area MSU Extension 4-H Swim School since 1950, learning skills and an appreciation for the sport that lasts a lifetime. http://www.petoskeynews.com/news/article_d44e1fb4-3e8a-11df-9fcb-001cc4c03286.html
April 01, 2010
Firstscience.com
MSU scientists find bacterium can halt dengue virus transmission
Besides Xi and Bian, other paper authors are Yao Xu, visiting pathobiology and diagnostic investigation; Peng Lu, doctoral student in Xi’s lab, and Yan Xie, research specialist in the MSU Center for Statistical Training and Consulting. The research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Xi’s research also is supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving. http://www.firstscience.com/home/news/breaking-news-all-topics/msu-scientists-find-bacterium-can-halt-dengue-virus-transmission-page-2-1_81932.html
To see news releases sent out by ANR Communications, go to our website www.anrcom.msu.edu/ and click “news”.