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NCR031: Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [01/27/2003] [06/12/2003] [05/17/2004]

Date of Annual Report: 01/27/2003

Report Information:
  • (STILL IN DRAFT VERSION)
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 03/14/02 to 03/15/02
  • Period the Report Covers: 03/2001 to 03/2002

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:

    Impact Statements:
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 06/12/2003

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 03/20/03 to 03/21/03
  • Period the Report Covers: 04/2002 to 03/2003

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    A complete copy of the minutes from the NCR031 March 2003 meeting can be found by clicking below(old minutes attachment), or on the NCR031 Homepage on NIMSS


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    See screen "Brief summary of minutes"

    Impact Statements:
    1. See screen on Brief Summary of Minutes.
    Last Modified: unknown

    Date of Annual Report: 05/17/2004

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 04/01/04 to 04/02/04
  • Period the Report Covers: 01/2003 to 12/2003

    • Participants:

    URL: Copy of participant list
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:

    URL: Copy of minutes
    Accomplishments:
    This Information Exchange Group (Group) will improve visibility of forage related research among funding agencies, and increase success in obtaining funds for individual and multi-location proposals. This will nucleate collaborative research in high priority areas identified in annual meetings. Inclusion of outside researchers with related interests, graduate students, and post doctoral scientists in Group activities will result in broader understanding of related research areas and improved education of young scientists. The Group will foster timely dissemination of research results through multiple outlets, and sharing of analytical protocols among members.

    In 2003-04, discussions, shared protocols, and collaborations increased the quality and coordination of research, which resulted in increased individual and team funding and increased efficiency of resource use for Group objectives. Sharing of research results resulted in greater breadth and depth of forage-related teaching and outreach/extension education programs. Constituent engagement led to better trained professionals, and more rapid dissemination and implementation of advances in ecophysiology related to forage management.

    Impact Statements:
    1. In Nebraska, new strains of intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, and big bluestem were released in the ARS program. Beef cattle performance and pasture performance of these varieties are improvements over currently available varieties.
    2. Research at Ohio State University showed utilization of annual forages during the period between successive grain crops has the potential to improve sustainability of farms by increasing production efficiency and profits.
    3. In Illinois, research indicates that increased forage yield and stability may be best achieved by planting 2 or 3 forage species that are well matched to specific environmental conditions rather tna planting a random assemblage of forage species in a complex mixture.
    4. At Iowa State University, the Agronomy department is in the process of assessing its curriculum. Several people from around the nation are interested in a collaboration that would develop teaching modules that could be used by multiple universities.
    5. ARS research at Mandan, ND, indicates that although an amount equal to nearly half of the C captured in plant biomass during a year is lost through soil respiration, Northern Great Plains switchgrass planting have potential for storing a significant quantity of soil C.
    6. Impact 6; In Arkansas, research on optimizing the use of a persistent, non-toxic cool-season grass with a persistent, high-quality legume indicates this would contribute significantly to increased sustainability of forage-based livestock production in the Southern region forage transition zone
    7. Impact 7; Research in Michigan indicates that established alfalfa or alfalfa/orchardgrass results in more C sequestration than annual row crops in a forage cropping system. This research will provide useful information to producers and researchers in managing C sequestration and mitigation of greenhouse gases in dairy-forage cropping systems
    8. Impact 8; Wisconsin research initiated from interest by organic farmers spurred the study of reduced herbicide use in the corn-kura clover living mulch system develop in Wisconsin. Autumn sowing of winter wheat into kura clover mulch after corn silage harvest results in increased early spring production of dairy quality forage that can be mechanically harvested for silage, or grazed
    Last Modified: unknown
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