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November 19, 2009
· Scientists unlock corn’s full genetic code
· Glyphosate-resistant weeds spark concern
· Did Mother Nature swipe your pumpkin pie?
· Aussie growers exempted from climate scheme
· AgChat founder vies for Twitter user of the year
Scientists unlock corn’s full genetic code
(AFP
via Yahoo! News)
Corn is the third most abundant cereal crop, after rice and sorghum, researchers said. Advances in corn production could mean major steps toward feeding the world's growing population as it struggles with climate change.
The team of 150 experts, led by Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, said Thursday they had identified some 32,000 DNA sequences, or genes, in the 10 chromosomes that make up the genome of maize, the largest of any plant examined so far.
By comparison, the human genome includes 20,000 genes distributed in 23 chromosomes.
"Having the complete genome in hand will make it easier to breed new varieties of corn that produce higher yields or are more tolerant to extreme heat, drought, or other conditions," said senior author Richard Wilson, director of Washington University's Genome Center.
"Seed companies and maize geneticists will pounce on this data to find their favorite genes," he said. "Now they'll know exactly where those genes are."
The study is published in the November 20 issues of Science, PLoS Genetics and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Corn's genetic code contains about 2.3 billion bases of DNA, represented by the letters T, C, G and A. Human genetic code is not far off with 2.9 billion.
After having great difficulty establishing the exact order of the letters, the researchers found that about 85 percent of the sequences are repetitive. Their function -- if the repetitive sequences have a function -- is unknown, researchers said.
"Sequencing the corn genome was like driving down miles
and miles of desolate highway with only sporadically placed sign posts,"
said researcher Sandra Clifton of
"We had a rudimentary map to guide us, but because of the repetitive nature of the genome, some of the landmarks were erroneous. It took the dedicated efforts of many scientists to identify the correct placement of the genes."
The project, which began in 2005, cost 29.5 million dollars
and was funded by the National Science Foundation and the
Scientists at the
As is often the case in plants, corn's genetic code is made up of two separate but intertwined genomes, reflecting its evolution over millions of years.
The United Nations predicts that world food output must grow by 70 percent over the next four decades to feed a projected extra 2.3 billion people by 2050.
The
Researchers Fusheng Wei and Jianwei Zhang of the Arizona Genomics Institute said the corn genome project should help food-growers face the challenges of growing more crops on less land with less water and poorer soil.
"Contemporary society is now faced with growing demands for food and fuel in the face of global climate change and the potential for increased disease pressure," Wei and Zhang wrote.
The genome projects aims "to provide a comprehensive foundation to systematically understand maize biology with the goal of breeding higher yielding, disease-resistant and drought-tolerant cultivars."
Glyphosate-resistant weeds spark concern
(Weed Science Society of
In a recent presentation to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, officials from the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA)
reported that nine weed species in the
“Unfortunately it is too late to prevent glyphosate resistance from developing,” says David Shaw, WSSA president. “It’s a problem that is already with us. The challenge now is to adopt effective management techniques that can keep resistance from spreading.”
The consequences of resistance are particularly troublesome for farmers who grow soybean, corn, cotton and sugar beet crops genetically engineered to tolerate glyphosate. Many of these farmers rely almost exclusively on glyphosate for weed control throughout the growing season. Using a single herbicide, though, increases the odds that the weed population will shift to resistant plants that are able to escape treatment and compete with crops for moisture and nutrients.
University scientists recommend a number of techniques for preventing or managing resistance. One of the most common recommendations is to rotate the types of herbicides used for weed control – making it tougher for weeds to adapt. Shaw says that initially many farmers were slow to recognize the seriousness of glyphosate resistance and to adopt this best management practice. However, educational programs in the last few years have greatly increased grower awareness and management efforts.
“One issue may have been the mistaken perception that adopting resistance management practices will cost more, since glyphosate tends to be very affordable,” Shaw says. “But studies show just the opposite is true.”
In a four-year research project now underway in six key
agricultural states (
“When glyphosate was first introduced for weed control, its unique way of inhibiting protein synthesis and growth in plants led many to believe that resistance would not be an issue,” Shaw says. “Obviously that prediction was wrong. However, best management practices can slow the development of resistant weeds, and one effective approach is to rotate glyphosate with herbicides that work very differently.”
Tips for Backyard Gardeners to Prevent the Development of Herbicide Resistance
Most backyard gardeners will recognize glyphosate as Roundup® – one of the many brand names for the popular herbicide. To delay the onset of resistance and maintain weed-free natural areas, flowerbeds and gardens, WSSA says homeowners should follow the same approach university researchers recommend for farmers. They should adopt a broad set of weed management tools and not rely on Roundup alone.
“By rotating the types of herbicides used and by complementing them with hoeing, hand-pulling, black plastic and other nonchemical weed control measures, we can prevent or delay resistance and preserve glyphosate as an effective weed control tool,” Shaw says.
About the Weed Science Society of
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.
Did Mother Nature swipe your pumpkin pie?
(Los Angeles Times) – Heavy rains have pretty much destroyed this year's small harvest, says food giant Nestle, which controls about 85% of the crop for canning. Supermarkets say supplies are tight.
Mother Nature may have sneaked off with a sought-after slice of Thanksgiving.
Recent heavy rains in the
Supermarkets say supplies are tight, depending on the store.
Daymond Rice, a spokesman for Safeway Inc.'s Vons markets, said the chain had enough pumpkin to get through Thanksgiving. "However, we are concerned that we may not have enough -- or will not be able to acquire enough -- product to get through the full holiday season. It remains yet to be seen."
Albertsons said it believed it had enough of the canned pumpkin to last through Thanksgiving. It retails for $2.99 for a 29-ounce can. The grocery chain, a unit of Supervalu Inc., does not plan any shortage-related price increase.
The shortage affects the Libby's brand of 100% pumpkin in 15- and 29-ounce cans as well as Libby's Pumpkin Pie Mix filling in a 30-ounce can.
Some chains have been pushing fresh pumpkins as alternatives. At various points during the shortage, Sprouts Farmers Market has featured displays of a smaller, plumper California-grown pumpkin species than what is sold for Halloween jack-o'-lanterns. A sticker with each pumpkin provides a recipe for turning it into pie.
But Sprouts spokeswoman Patti Milligan said the season for pie pumpkins "is pretty much over, and only a few of our stores still have them."
Shoppers are adapting to the shortage.
Amy Davis, a retired art teacher and swim coach from
Nestle says that once it runs out, it won't have more pumpkin to can until August, when the 2010 harvest starts. This year's shortage started several months ago and was the result of Libby's not having much surplus from the 2008 crop as a carry-over to sell in September. Nestle said in October that it expected the shortage to ease as the 2009 harvest got underway.
But heavy rains saturated the company's 5,000 acres of
pumpkin fields in
That will leave Libby's without any surplus to sell next fall while the 2010 crop matures and is processed. Libby's uses what it calls the Select Dickinson pumpkin. It is smaller, squatter, meatier, heavier and sweeter than the typical Halloween pumpkin. The company likes the creamy texture of the pumpkin because it lends itself to cooking.
Nestle issued a formal apology to bakers and posted alternative recipes for desserts such as Holiday-Spiced Baked Custard and Chocolate Satin Pie on its VeryBestBaking.com website.
"If only we could have changed the weather. We hope Mother Nature is nicer to us next year, hopefully delivering less rain and more sunshine," said Paul Bakus, vice president and general manager of Nestle Baking.
Acres of pumpkins sit unharvested in Morton, and the longer the fruit sits in the muddy fields, the more likely it is that the quality of the pumpkin has declined, the company said. Nestle executives believe it is degrading to the point where they will plow it back under the soil to be used as fertilizer for next year's crop.
Aussie growers exempted from climate scheme
(ABC News) – The Australian Federal Government has agreed to exempt farmers from an emissions cap in its carbon trading scheme, in a backflip aimed at winning the support of the Opposition.
It has agreed to exclude agriculture from the costs of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) to try to get the legislation passed in the next fortnight.
A spokeswoman for Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says farmers will be allowed to generate carbon credits.
Negotiations are continuing between the Government and Coalition for amendments to the legislation as Parliament resumes on Monday and the Government pushes for a vote in late November.
Both sides say the talks are progressing but Senator Wong says an agreement will be "difficult".
The Opposition are pushing for several changes but are likely to have some knocked back due to budget restraints.
"What I've made clear is we're not able to accept the entirety of what they've put forward - it would be fiscally unsustainable," Senator Wong said.
She says the Government made the backdown because it wants the scheme agreed to this year.
She told ABC 1's Insiders program this shows the Government is serious about the scheme passing Parliament by the end of the year.
"We're moving forward. We are absolutely committed on this side of the table to doing what we are able to, to get a deal," she said.
"That's why we announced this offer on agriculture,
that's why we'll continue to move forward on these negotiations. This is in
The Government had wanted to include farmers in the scheme from 2015.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner told Channel Ten negotiations are continuing to secure the Coalition's support.
"We've prepared to accede to the Coalition's request on this front," he said. "I wouldn't necessarily say now it's a done deal."
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull welcomed the concession, but he says the Coalition will keep pushing for further changes before it decides if it will support the emissions trading scheme.
"There are a range of very important matters raised in the amendments," he said.
"I've made a deliberate decision not to say what's a deal breaker, what's more important, what's less important.
"The negotiations are being conducted constructively and I might say confidentially and they'll reach a conclusion and then we will make a decision."
'Merely a gesture'
The National Farmers Federation lobbied for the amendments, putting it in conflict with the National Party and climate change sceptics within the Liberal Party.
The National's Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce says the exemption of farmers from the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is merely a gesture.
"The ETS is still a massive tax and we've got the problem that once the ETS starts, there is nothing in the future to stop it including agriculture," he said.
"It's still a tenuous proposition and still means the only smart thing to do is block this massive new tax."
Senator Joyce says the scheme will not change global temperatures.
"It's like saying, 'ah well, we're only going to burn down a quarter of your house'. I don't want you to burn down any of it," he said.
"Why are we proceeding down this path of a massive new tax when the reason that's put forward, to change the temperature of the earth, is not possible?"
The Opposition also wants more free permits for heavy polluters and more compensation for electricity generators.
Mr Turnbull and emissions trading spokesman Ian Macfarlane will also struggle to get any agreed changes through the party room, which has to approve them before the Coalition decides on its final position.
He has said that if the majority of amendments are accepted he would recommend the scheme be passed, but others such as Senator Nick Minchin say an agreement does not guarantee support for the scheme.
Mr Turnbull has staked his leadership on the issue after declaring he could not lead a party that would not act on climate change.
AgChat founder vies for Twitter user of the year
Mashable, The Social Media Guide, announced the nominees for the 2009 Open Web Awards today and Certified Speaking Professional Michele Payn-Knoper was one of the top five nominees for Twitter User of the Year.
There are over two million "tweets" sent daily on the micro-blogging site Twitter and celebrities attract the largest number of followers, so agriculture's representation on this list is an exciting opportunity for the agrifood business.
Payn-Knoper was nominated by members of an agricultural community, “#AgChat”, which Payn-Knoper founded in April.
Professional speaker colleague Eliz Greene voted in the Open Web Awards last year and knew that Payn-Knoper’s contributions deserved attention. “Her devotion to her cause – agriculture – is inspirational. She tirelessly champions the agricultural community and empowers farmers to tell their own stories. Her orchestration of AgChat and FoodChat as streaming conversations on Twitter provides rich environments for the exchange of ideas and information. It is amazing to watch unfold.”
AgChat is a weekly moderated conversation on Twitter for people in the business of raising food, feed, fuel, fiber. It is a virtual venue for participants on Twitter to discuss issues impacting agriculture, such as mainstream media coverage, sustainability, communications, agronomy, animal welfare, USDA programs and perceptions of farming. Payn-Knoper and the group also created the monthly FoodChat designed to provide farmers and consumers with a forum to discuss issues in which they connect. In fact, supermarket guru Phil Lempert participated as a special guest in FoodChat on November 17.
Greene connected with a few people from the #AgChat community and found quickly that the group propelled the idea with a campaign approach.
“Eliz was so passionate about what she had seen as someone who was new to production agriculture, so we immediately realized we needed to be involved. With some effort, we thought we could introduce AgChat to more people,” said Janice Person, who guest moderated the FoodChat session on food insecurity that week. “It made sense that Michele would be the person we put out front. Her efforts early on gave many in the agriculture community confidence to try more ideas. It seemed like the creation of AgChat and the community that grew out of that concept has made such great strides in social media. What really motivates us is to see farmers telling their own story with efforts like Farm2U on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. We have definitely had an impact within Twitter. Since that started with Michele’s one idea, we knew she was best to carry the torch for us.”
Payn-Knoper admits that she thought her community could better focus efforts elsewhere, but realized quickly how committed they were. As days passed and votes mounted, some of the people participating posted their stories of support. Blog entries by dairy farmer Ray Prock, rancher Jeff Fowle and precision agriculture rep Nate Taylor and others provided personal connections encouraging followers on Twitter to cast votes in the viral contest. It was a bit overwhelming, Payn-Knoper admits. “I thought I understood the power of our community until they decided to do this...it's a good lesson in the determination of agriculturists,” she said. “Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to build connections between the farm gate and consumer plate.”
Mashable is hosting voting through December 13 and Person says there is a lot of excitement in the AgChat community. “There are millions of registered users on Twitter and people likely would have said there would be no way we could get an agricultural representative in the top five, but we did it. And with this success, we have incredible energy to continue reaching out to other groups and making connections to AgChat. We have a lot of people we will be voting everyday to keep Michele in the running but more importantly, we will continue telling our stories and building the presence of agriculture online.”
AgChat is held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. eastern via a “streaming” Twitter feed. A sister chat, known as “FoodChat,” takes place on the third Tuesday of each month, in lieu of AgChat, and is tailored more specifically to the interests of consumers, nutrition professionals, foodies and influencers of food choices. FoodChat gives its followers an opportunity to "meet a farmer" or ask questions of those in agriculture.
Chats begin with 15 minutes of networking, followed by 4-7 questions the community sends to the moderator in advance on the topic of the week. The chat is fast-paced, insightful and, often, colorful. The final 5 minutes is reserved for “pitching.” Participants can plug their blog, site, product or ask for feedback on a business related idea.
Anyone with an interest in agriculture or food is invited to participate in AgChat and FoodChat. See the guidelines for assistance in how to get started or visit Payn-Knoper’s Gate to Plate blog for tips on social media and agriculture.
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