Putting the "WOW" into weather

There are many tools available to interpret climate variability, but students sometimes have difficulty interpreting the data. The University of Wisconsin Extension office created Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban (Guiding for Tomorrow), also known as  “G-WOW”, a project to increase awareness on how climate change affects Lake Superior’s coastal environment, people, cultures, and economies. Extension agents partnered with Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service to create a culturally relevant curriculum, teacher training resources, and an interactive discovery center at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center.   

More than 1,100 people have participated in G-WOW, including 196 students participating in follow-up G-WOW Coastal Climate Camp field experiences.

Read more about the G-WOW project  here.

Beetle-killed trees become biofuel

Since 1996, an estimated 42 million acres of U.S. forests have been killed due to infestations from pine and spruce bark beetles The wood represents a vast bioenergy resource that requires no cultivation and circumvents food-versus-fuel concerns. In a project funded by NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Cool Planet Energy Systems is using trademarked technology to produce gasoline and jet fuel from wood chips and other organic waste.  

Cool Planet and the Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR) at Colorado State University are bringing together scientists, educators, and extension specialists from universities and government agencies across the region to research the use of insect-killed trees for the production of biofuels and biochar.

Read more about the Rocky Mount biofuel here.

Safe haven from natural disasters

Last year, residents of southern Louisiana were hit by storms that damaged more than 100,000 homes. NIFA joined with Healthy Homes Partnership (HHP) to develop a public outreach education program for locals in preparation for natural disasters.During the storms, HHP posted on Facebook and Twitter to help people access resources online. In one 24-hour period, the posts logged 509 clicks in which people went from the HHP Facebook page directly to the recovery guides.           

With NIFA funding, Louisiana State University Extension and HHP were able to reach out 30,000 residents. 

 Read more about this program here.

Food camp for kids

Food Camp for Kids, created by New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, offers youth between the ages of 9 and 14 the opportunity to learn about farming in their community. Kids learn the fundamentals of agriculture and food-related careers through hands-on training at local farms. They also learn about nutrition and food safety while preparing meals. The camp, located in Valencia County, has an annual agriculture revenue of $76 million for livestock and $10.9 million for crops, according to the USDA. The camp offers a wide variety of food production ranging from beef cattle, pigs and lambs, to fruit orchards, raspberries, and garden vegetables.

“The idea for Food Camp for Kids came about with the understanding that many people are disconnected from where their food comes from, especially youth,” said Newt McCarty, NMSU Extension agent. 

Read more about Food Camp for Kids here.

Technology improves soil life 

Agricultural engineer Kendall Kirk at Clemson University has developed free software to help farmers track field soil samples. The software works in conjunction with a global positioning system (GPS) and laptop to pinpoint where soil samples are taken. This ensures growers are taking correct samples in fields that share soil characteristics and require common nutrients.  

 “What you’ll have is a soil sample ID for each sampling zone. Send that to Clemson and you’ll get it back with a nutrient recommendation,” Kirk said. “These soil samples are guiding your nutrient application rates, and your potassium and phosphate applications. At the end of the day, we are trying to boost profitability.”

Read more about the software here.

Cow fertility treatments could aid humans 

With funding from NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), researchers at Michigan State University are looking at the reproductive cycles of cows to gain insights on fertility challenges faced by women. The cows in the study have low egg reserves, similar to women who seek fertility treatments. The data collected could be applied to women for more efficient in vitro fertilization treatments.

Watch Woodtv’s video here.