From camelina oil to commercial jet fuel

The camelina plant, which shows promise as a biofuel because of the oil contained in its seeds, could become an economically feasible alternative to conventional jet fuel.

NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is supporting regional biofuel industries around the country. In the Northwest, researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) and other institutions are investigating the economic feasibility of camelina as a source for biofuels and other bio-based materials.They have demonstrated that camelina can be grown on marginal land. It also has potential to serve as a rotational crop with wheat, which would aid soil preservation, and may provide a new, alternative market for farmers.

 Read more about the camelina project at the OSU  website.

Blue-bellied insects may combat citrus greening

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a primary vector for citrus greening, currently one of the most devastating citrus disease worldwide.  The insect spreads the bacterium, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), causes citrus greening. 

With NIFA funding through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), scientists at Boyce Thomas Institute (BTI) and other institutions may have found the insect’s Achilles' heel. They discovered that blue-bellied psyllids harbor high levels of a protein, hemocyanin, that may be involved in the insect’s attempt to fight off the bacteria.

 Read the BTI article here.                 

New report helps flood-prone New England communities

New England floods, like those that devastated the region in 2011, can be mitigated with relatively little additional cost and regulation, according to a University of Massachusetts - Amherst study supported by NIFA.

The research notes how rivers and streams have long been critical to New England’s economic, recreational, and environmental integrity. At the same time, these waterways face construction and river management pressures.  

The study offers a range of recommendations on assessing flood risk, planning, and training to help New England communities thrive.  

Learn more of the RiverSmart story here.  

The weevil and the pheromones 

Montana is the number one pea and lentil growing state in the nation. For pea growers, the pea leaf weevil represents a major economic risk, since its larvae feed on the roots and damage the plants.  

In the Golden Triangle region of Montana, producers are fighting these pests through NIFA-supported research at Montana State University. Researchers developed a liquid aggregation pheromone to attract adult weevils into pit-fall traps.

Read the PrairieStar's story here.

A watershed success story in Tennessee

The Oostanaula Creek Watershed in McMinn County, Tennessee, has seen its share of sediments, pathogens, and pollutants. A University of Tennessee team funded by NIFA's National Integrated Water Plan includes a comprehensive watershed-wide education program to inform farmers and residents about the importance of maintaining and improving water quality throughout the watershed. The team implemented practices that required minimal cost or planning such as improvements to pastures, riparian buffers, and fences.

The project has also engaged the community at a "Live Staking Volunteer Day" at the Tennessee Wetlands Festival. More than 2,500 contacts were made annually during the project, including youth involved in 4-H programs. In August 2015, the Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) determined that significant improvement has been made on water quality in the Oostanaula Creek.

Watch the video.