ANR in the News
posted on April 5, 2010 9:57am
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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.
March 29, 2010
Mlive.com
Registration open for free MSU training programs for new economy jobs
Michigan State University is offering 100 free training programs from mid-April to mid-June in about 50 locations. The Michigan Prosperity Initiative (MPI) is an effort led by the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute in partnership with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth and other groups. http://www.mlive.com/michigan-job-search/index.ssf/2010/03/registration_open_for_free_msu_training.html
March 29, 2010
Lansing State Journal
MSU aiding economic development projects
Michigan State University is backing an effort to help communities
develop plans for future prosperity. The Michigan Prosperity Initiative
in April will begin to enlist residents to join regional projects
focused on inventorying community assets and finding ways to turn those
into economic development projects. The school’s Land Policy Institute and Michigan State University Extension
will lead research and outreach. Free training programs are planned
across the state starting next month. Some will be open to the public,
while others are to help local officials to create regional strategic
growth plans with help from the school. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100329/NEWS01/303290001/
March 27, 2010
Mlive.com
MSU professor co-authors paper urging China-India cooperation on environment
"Even while the rest of the world is in a recession, the economies
of China and India are growing and the countries’ consumption of raw
materials is increasing. Cooperation between the two is vital to
mitigating negative environmental impacts," Liu said in a statement.
Liu is a researcher at Michigan State’s Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.
The article is titled "China, India and the Environment" and appears
in the magazine’s March 19 edition. "We all have a huge interest in a
sustainable world and the way we’re managing it now, it simply isn’t
sustainable," said co-author Peter Raven, president of the Missouri
Botanical Garden. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/msu_professor_co-authors_paper.html
March 24, 2010
USAgNet.com
Local Fruits, Vegetables in School Meals have Multiple Benefits: MSU
School districts that buy produce grown by local farmers can cut costs and provide students with nutritious food they want to eat, according to Michigan State University scientists in the first-ever study of its kind. "School food service professionals said they were paying lower prices for fruits and vegetables because the supply chain is shorter," said Mike Hamm, who holds the C.S. Mott Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and leads the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU. "They also were able to buy food that isn’t commonly offered in school cafeterias, such as asparagus, Asian pears and blue potatoes." http://www.usagnet.com/state_headlines/state_story.php?ID=226&tble=MI2010
March 23, 2010
MichBio.org
MSU: Increase of Beta-Carotene In Corn Improves Human Health
A Michigan State University researcher is among a team of scientists that have uncovered the mechanism by which the amount of beta-carotene, or provitamin A, is increased in corn, a finding that can help combat vitamin A deficiency and improve human health in the developing world. Dean Della Penna, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics who is also affiliated with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, was part of an international collaboration of scientists that published their findings of the rare genetic variation in the March 21 issue of the journal Nature Genetics. http://www.michbio.org/news/msu-increase-beta-carotene-corn-improves-human-health
March 22, 2010
Article Ant
Increase of beta-carotene in corn improves human health
A Michigan State University researcher is among a team of scientists
that have uncovered the mechanism by which the amount of beta-carotene,
or provitamin A, is increased in corn, a finding that can help combat
vitamin A deficiency and improve human health in the developing world.
Dean Della Penna, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics
who is also affiliated with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station,
was part of an international collaboration of scientists that
published their findings of the rare genetic variation in the March 21
issue of the journal Nature Genetics. http://www.articleant.com/p/re/66460-increase-of-beta-carotene-in-corn-improves-human-health.html
March 21, 2010
Freep.com
You relish a Michigan spring
BUT IT’S ALREADY BEEN NICE OUTSIDE. SPRING IS HERE, RIGHT? It’s been balmy for a few days in metro Detroit, but that doesn’t mean the folks in Copper Harbor feel that spring, which began Saturday, is here. According to Gary Heilig of the Michigan State University Extension, spring comes to mid-Michigan seven to 10 days after the southern part of the state. Also, central Michigan tends to be cooler than the state’s east and west coasts. All the while, the Upper Peninsula could have snow on the ground in May. http://www.freep.com/article/20100321/NEWS06/3210456/1008/News06/You-relish-a-Michigan-spring
March 20, 2010
Lansing State Journal
MSU Extension gets nearly $25K grant
The Michigan State University Extension
received a nearly $25,000 grant to study the feasibility of growing
crops for bioenergy in nontraditional croplands.The Michigan Department
of Energy,
Labor & Economic Growth awarded the MSU Extension $24,950 to
explore the cultivation of crops along Michigan roadways, vacant urban
lots and state-owned land in order to use them for biofuels, heat and
electricity. The project is scheduled to finish this fall. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100320/NEWS01/303200002/
March 19, 2010
Michigan Farmer
MSU Animal Scientists Receive Nearly $1.5 Million
"Earning these highly competitive grants gives MSU faculty an opportunity to do the far-reaching research that looks around the curve at what’s coming, what might be a problem five or 10 years from now," says College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Jeff Armstrong. "Federal support for fundamental research in farm animals is critical to development of new technologies to increase efficiency and sustainability of the dairy and other livestock industries in Michigan and beyond." http://www.michiganfarmer.com/story.aspx/msu/animal/scientists/receive/nearly/15/million/9/36569
March 19, 2010
MSUE
MSU Extension home economists retiree event to be held in Mason
I’m excited to be invited to spend some time with a creative bunch on September 15 at the Ingham County Michigan State University Extension Office in Mason. Anyone who has worked in MSUE’s family living education, home economics, or consumer and family sciences programs are invited from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to visit and learn about MSU Extension 2010. I’ll arrive about 12:30 p.m. to give an update on MSUE and our redesign. Reminder postcards will be sent in the spring and registration information in the summer. http://msuespotlight.com/2010/03/19/msu-extension-home-economists-retiree-event-to-be-held-in-mason/
March 18, 2010
9 & 10 News
$2.2M US stimulus grant to help fight ash borer
Michigan Technological and Michigan State universities are sharing in a $2.2 million federal stimulus grant to fight the spread of the emerald ash borer and save trees in the Upper Peninsula. Houghton-based Michigan Tech is getting $650,000 for its part of the project, headed by forest insect ecologist Andrew Storer. Other participants are the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan departments of Agriculture, and Natural Resources and Environment. http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=214244&cID=2 Related Story: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22876711/detail.html
March 18, 2010
Brunei News
Trying to make food cheaper as East African countries faces food price climb
Thom Jayne, who teaches agricultural economics at the US-based
Michigan State University (MSU), noted in a new study he co-authored
that food prices in many countries in eastern and southern Africa
“routinely soar above import parity”, meaning that local food cost more
than the “price in world markets, plus the cost of importing it to the
domestic market”. The MSU study, led by Jayne and David Tschirley, who
is also an agricultural economist, found that ad hoc policy decisions
meant to stabilize prices instead created uncertainty and put stress on
often weak agricultural infrastructure, all of which contributed to
pushing up the price tag on cereals above global prices. http://news.brunei.fm/2010/03/18/trying-to-make-food-cheaper-as-east-african-countries-faces-food-price-climb/
March 18, 2010
Michigan Farmer
Corn Is Most Profitable Cellulosic Biofuel Crop in Michigan
When deciding which crops to grow for cellulosic biofuels, return on
investment is one variable farmers must consider. Currently, corn stalks
and leaves offer the most profit according to new research by Michigan State University scientists.
But that could change if federal policy offers incentives to grow
crops that offer more environmental benefits than corn. Cellulosic
biofuels use the leaves, stems and other fibrous parts of a plant to
make fuels. Scott Swinton, MSU agricultural, food, and resource economics professor, teamed up with MSU crop and soil associate professor Kurt Thelen
and graduate student Laura James to analyze the economics of growing
various crops for cellulosic ethanol. The results are published in the
March-April 2010 edition of Agronomy Journal, https://www.agronomy.org/publications/agronomy-journal. http://www.michiganfarmer.com/story.aspx/corn/is/most/profitable/cellulosic/biofuel/crop/in/michigan/9/36407
March 17, 2010
WKAR
Former treasure says lawmakers need to get past differences and solve fiscal problems
Michigan lawmakers need to find real solutions to the state’s economic problems instead of blaming each other for failed initiatives. That was the message Wednesday from former state treasurer Doug Roberts. Roberts was the key note speaker at a forum on the state’s economic health and public policy. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkar/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1625222/In.Michigan/Former.treasure.says.lawmakers.need.to.get.past.differences.and.solve.fiscal.problems
March 17, 2010
State News
Colleagues, students fondly remember mentor
George Axinn never forgot a professor he had in his undergraduate years who met with students around his fireplace and served them hot cocoa as they discussed their studies. “When I would travel around the world and talk with people, they’d say, ‘Oh, you’re from Michigan State,’ and his name would always come up,” said Fear, a senior associate dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “There is just a handful of people at Michigan State that have the kind of reputation that George did.” http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/03/colleagues_students_fondly_remember_mentor
March 17, 2010
MSU News
MSU researchers to use NSF grant to develop better scientists
A $2.65 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will allow Michigan State University graduate students to hone their skills as science communicators and teachers by working with K-12 students and teachers. The grant will fund eight graduate fellowships per year focusing on biofuel sustainability. The MSU Graduate School is providing funding for another fellowship, for a total of nine per year. The project is part of the NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education program and also will support science activities for the K-12 students and teachers. Getty is based at the Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners. KBS is one of 14 MSU field research facilities that are part of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. http://news.msu.edu/story/7595/
March 17, 2010
WILX
Economists Work on Models to Fix Michigan’s Economy
Manufacturing jobs have been on the decline in Michigan since the
1970’s and recently, the state has went through some serious economic
changes which will challenge Michigan’s future leaders. Economist Charles Ballard
says, "I think for the incoming governor I ‘m looking for three
qualities from the Wizard of Oz. That person needs to have a heart, a
brain and courage and courage may be the most important thing of all
because the issues are tough." Economists from across the state are
work-shopping how Michigan can turn things around. Mark Skidmore
says, "I think the number one thing to realize is while policy and
leadership is important, we have just experienced a structural change
in our economy." The most important thing that needs to change is the
way Michigan does property taxes and sales and taxes on services. http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/88256532.html
March 15, 2010
Holstein World Online
MSU Extension workshop will provide in-depth information for dairy farmers
There are plenty of workshops for dairy producers that offer ideas for improving profitability and shoring up the bottom line. A new, two-day workshop from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension goes beyond presenting information, as participants will receive individual attention before, during and after the program that will help them examine where they are in relation to the rest of the Michigan dairy industry and strategically plan for the future. “Positioning Your Dairy Business for the Future: Intensive Strategic Workshop for Dairy Producers” will be offered at six Michigan locations. Each workshop will comprise two separate one-day sessions. The first day will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the second will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Morning refreshments and lunch will be included both days. http://www.holsteinworld.com/story.php?id=1275
March 14, 2010
State News
MSU celebrates agriculture, natural resources week
A tradition dating back to when MSU still was known as Michigan Agricultural College
ushered in almost 100 years of history during spring break. More than
80 programs and annual association meetings occurred on campus last week
during the 95th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources, or ANR,
Week. MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources hosted the event, which ran March 5 through Saturday, Program Coordinator Megghan Honke
said. “This year there has definitely been more of a push for locally
grown food,” Honke said. “There was a lot of focus on helping people
re-engage and what we can do in Michigan to provide great opportunities
for families so they don’t have to leave the state.” http://www.statenews.com/index.php/m/article/2010/03/msu_celebrates_agriculture_natural_resources_week
March 12, 2010
WLNS.com|
MSU Kellogg station dairy wins green certificate
Michigan State University says its W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
dairy operation has won a certification for environmental excellence.
The university says the facility that opened last summer has received a
silver certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design, known as LEED. The facility is in Kalamazoo County’s Ross
Township, about 15 miles northeast of Kalamazoo. The 94-cow operation
has automated milking equipment that lets cows step into the system
when they feel a need to release milk. http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=12128799
March 11, 2010
DonNugent.com
MSU Trustee Nugent awarded for distinguished service to agriculture and natural resources">MSU Trustee Nugent awarded for distinguished service to agriculture and natural resources
Frankfort farmer and businessman Don Nugent was awarded a distinguished service award Tuesday by the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association.
Each year, during Agriculture and Natural Resources Week in March, the
college recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions
to Michigan agriculture and natural resources industries and who have
demonstrated a continued commitment to MSU and the College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources. This year marks the 95th year of the
celebration, formerly known as Farmer’s Week. More than 300 people
gathered at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing for the event. http://www.donnugent.com/msu-trustee-nugent-awarded-for-distinguished-service-to-agriculture-and-natural-resources
March 05, 2010
Purdue Newsroom
Purdue Agriculture appoints new research program director
Karen Plaut, chair of the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University,
will become director of Agricultural Research Programs in Purdue
University’s College of Agriculture, effective June 1."Dr. Plaut’s
exceptional accomplishments as a research scientist and her proven
record of academic leadership make her ideally suited for this
position," said Jay Akridge, the Glenn W. Sample dean of the College of
Agriculture. "I could not be more excited about the potential for our
College of Agriculture research enterprise with Dr. Plaut in the lead. I
am very grateful to Dr. Mark Hermodson for his outstanding leadership
as interim director of Agricultural Research Programs over the past
several months.” http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/faculty/2010/100305PlautResearch.html
March 05, 2010
MSU News
MSU student named 2010 Michigan Dairy Ambassador
Michigan State University student Melissa Erdman of Minden City was recently named the 2010 senior division winner of the Michigan Dairy Ambassador Scholarship and Leadership Program.
Erdman, the daughter of Mike and Vicky Erdman, is a student in the MSU
Production Medicine Scholars Program. She plans to continue her
education in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and become a large
animal veterinarian. As the Senior Dairy Ambassador, Erdman hopes to
educate more consumers about the dairy industry. http://news.msu.edu/story/7544/
To see news releases sent out by ANR Communications, go to our website www.anrcom.msu.edu/ and click “news”.