Fresh from the Field Feb 3, 2017

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Fresh from the field is a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to land-grant and non-land-grant universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers. 

Feb 3, 2017

Success Stories of the Week

KansasStateDrSunDrWangBRDIpatent

Kansas State University patents cost saving, longer lasting biodegradable adhesive 

Kansas State University researchers have patented the first plant-based resin of its kind that would be ideal for re-adherable painters' tape, labels, packing tapes, stationery notes and other adhesive uses. It also can provide shiny coatings.  Funding for this research was provided through the NIFA Biomass Research and Development program.

In addition to adhesive applications, the resin could be used in coatings on wooden surfaces, slick magazine pages, bags of potato chips and other items needing shiny and protective surfaces that are either flexible or rigid.

Sun said the resin outperforms previous bio-based adhesives because it adheres to a surface for a longer period of time, has a longer shelf life and is more water-resistant. Because the substance is plant-based, its resources are biodegradable and renewable.

 Read more about it at the Kansas State University website.

 

OystertungUNH

UNH researchers identify new bacterial pathogen contaminating seafood

University of New Hampshire scientists, in partnership with the FDA and public health and shellfish management agencies in five states, have identified a new strain of a bacterial pathogen that has contaminated shellfish, sickening consumers along the Atlantic Coast of North America at increasing rates over the last decade.

 New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) scientists have discovered that a Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain identified as ST631 is a predominant strain endemic to the Atlantic Coast of North America and has been traced to shellfish harvested in seven Atlantic coastal states and Canada. ST631 is the second most prevalent strain isolated from patients sickened by product sourced to the Northeast United States.  

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading seafood-transmitted bacterial pathogen worldwide with an estimated 45,000 infections in the United States every year. It causes gastroenteritis and, rarely, lethal septicemia. 

Read about UNH Hatch project here.


News Clip


Alabama Extension Drought

Alabama Extension assists farmers and residents with new drought website

In the 2016-2017 season, Alabama continues to face drought conditions. In response to the exceptionally dry climate over the past few seasons, the Alabama Cooperative Extension launched a website to help farmers and producers work within this challenging situation. The website features research-based information about water, livestock and feed, farm finance, weather, and other categories to assist farmers and residents in drought areas. 

Read more here.


Fact Sheet

UWYExtensionImpacts2017

University of Wyoming Extension: Improving lives in rural America 

The University of Wyoming Extension delivers range management, agriculture and horticulture, nutrition and food safety, community development, 4-H Youth Development, Cent$ible Nutrition, and Master Gardener programs in communities throughout the state.  

In 2015, UW Extension educators taught or facilitated 7,730 educational programs and reached 213,712 adults and youth.

Read the 2017 UW Extension Impacts Report.


Video

UWExtensionDairyvideo

UW-Extension dairy projects increase profitability and milk sales by over $400,000 per farm

Wisconsin is home to more than 9,000 dairy farms, more than any other state, and 1.27 million cows. Studies by Extension faculty at UW-Madison show that the dairy industry contributes $43.4 billion to Wisconsin's economy each year. The dairy industry pumps $82,500 per minute into the state's economy.

Milk production at the farm level supports employment and community vitality through businesses such as feed mills, dairy equipment manufacturers, veterinarians, construction companies, genetics companies, haulers, dairy plants, and software companies.

View the video.


Tweet of the Week