| Meetings and Talks 2010 |
|
February 2, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientists Drs. Ryan Viator, Anna Hale, and Ed Richard made invited presentations at the annual meeting of the Louisiana Division of the American Society of Sugarcane Technologists that was held in Lafayette, LA. Presentation titles were: "Cultural Practice Effects on Cane Quality and Yield (Dr. Viator), "Taming the Wild Child - A Look Towards the Future Through Basic Breeding (Dr. Hale), and "Weed Control - What Have We Accomplished in the Last 30 Years" (Dr. Richard). The meeting was attended by over 200 growers, millers, suppliers, and consultants.
February 10-12, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientists, Drs. Mike Grisham, Richard Johnson, Ryan Viator, and Caleb Dalley were invited to make presentations at the Annual Louisiana Agricultural Technology and Management Conference sponsored by the LA Agricultural Consultant's Association in Alexandria, LA. Dr. Richard Johnson gave a presentation titled: "Comparison of Precision Ag Tools-Appropriate Use of Site Specific Technology during the Multi-Crop Management Session." Presentations by SRU scientists during the Sugarcane Breakout Session included: "Disease Issues: Crop Management and Varietal Choices" (Dr. Grisham), "Sugarcane Weed Control and Ripeners" (Dr. Dalley), "Sugarcane Crop Management" (Dr. Viator), and "Yield Monitors and Soil Fertility" (Dr. Johnson). In addition to providing recertification, the meeting serves to update the sugarcane industry's consultants on the latest research in the areas of cultural practices, pathology, entomology, and weed control.
February 8-11, 2010: Dr. Ed Richard, of the Sugarcane Research Unit, was one of three ARS representatives on a Department of Navy (DoN)- USDA TIGER team. The team was created as part of a joint DoN-USDA Memorandum of Understanding to identify feedstocks that could be converted into second generation biofuels (diesel and jet fuel) in an effort to sail a "green fleet" starting with the Navy's Pacific Fleet. Sugarcane/energy cane was identified as a major feedstock and the SRU would provide energy cane to be used for commercial planting as well as parents in Hawaii's varietal development program.
February 23-24, 2010: Dr. Ed Richard, of the Sugarcane Research Unit, participated as an ARS Coordinator for Energy Cane at the annual DOE-USDA SunGrant Regional Partnership Report and Planning Meeting in San Antonio, TX. Energy cane varieties developed at the Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, LAare now being evaluated by 11 university partners who receive funding from the initiative. States where energy cane is being evaluated include: NC, FL, GA, AL, MS, AR, LA, OK, TX, CA, and HI.
March 6 - 11, 2010: Dr. William White, of the Sugarcane Research Unit, attended the 27 thCongress of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologist in Veracruz, Mexico. The ISSCT is the umbrella organization representing the world's sugar cane industries; currently 23 countries are represented by this group. Dr. White currently serves as the organization's Biology Commissioner and as such was active in putting together the papers that were presented during his session of the congress as well as presenting a paper titled: "Breeding Resistant Sugarcane for Managing the Stem Borer Diatraea saccharalis: Progress and prospects for Louisiana".
March 15-17, 2010: Dr. Ed Richard, of the Sugarcane Research Unit, was invited by the organizers to make a presentation and serve on a panel during the Energy Crops Section of the World Biofuels Market Conference in Amsterdam. In addition to an Energy Crops Section, the conference includes sections on algae, next generation biofuels (diesel, aviation, etc.), fuel standards, and biorefineries. The title of Dr. Richard's presentation was: "Sugar/Energy Cane as a Biofuels Feedstock".
March 29, 2010: Dr. Ed Richard, of the Sugarcane Research Unit, was invited by the organizers to make a presentation at the annual meeting of the Sugar Processing Research Institute (SPRI) in New Orleans, LA. The theme of the meeting was "Research in a Changing Sugar Industry". The title of Dr. Richard's presentation was "USDA-ARS Efforts in Expanding the Region for Growing Sugar Cane and Complimentary Sugar Crops for Bioenergy". The SPRI is an international organization and approximately 60 of its members attended the meeting.
May 5, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientists met with researchers from the LSU Ag Center and the American Sugar Cane League to discuss the release of two new sugarcane varieties L 03-371 and Ho 02-113 for commercial planting in 2010. Sugarcane varieties emanating from the LSU and SRU breeding programs are jointly tested by the three entities and jointly released to the sugarcane industry as part of a three-way agreement on sugarcane varietal development that has been in effect since 1926. L 03-371 originated from the LSU Ag Center's breeding program and was released as a new high, early sugar sugarcane variety. Ho 02-113 originated from the SRU's breeding program and was released as a high fiber, high biomass yielding sugarcane variety for the bioenergy industry (energy cane).
May 13-14, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit Plant Pathologist, Dr. Michael Grisham, represented the SRU at a workshop sponsored by the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. The workshop's participants, representing university and ARS researchers, private industry, and education were charged with developing an outline for a coordinated agricultural project (CAP) designed to develop a system for the sustainable production of bioenergy in the Southeast. The project will be lead by the University of Kentucky and will be submitted to the Agriculture and Food Research Imitative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program. Energy cane was listed as one of the preferred feedstocks for the southeastern region of the US.
May 19, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit Research scientists: William White, Anna Hale, Edwis Dufrene, Caleb Daley, Ryan Viator, and Michael Grisham discussed various aspects of their current research at the Extension/Research Training meeting held in Baton Rouge and sponsored by the Louisiana State University Cooperative Extension Service. The meeting brings researchers, extension agents, industry representatives, and consultants together to discuss the latest sugarcane research and proposed changes to the Louisiana Sugarcane Production Handbook.
June 4, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientists and the LSU AgCenter hosted the USDA-LSU Terrebonne Parish Sugarcane Field Day at the SRU's Houma worksite. Topics included: utilization of variable rate technology (Dr. Rich Johnson), the USDA-ARS's sugarcane varietal development program (Dr. Tom Tew), advantages and disadvantages of the current portfolio of sugarcane varieties to include the newly released L 03-371 (Mr. Edwis Dufrene), the importance of minimizing stress on varietal performance (Dr. Ryan Viator), the SRU's approach to integrating sugar and bioenergy research and its search for complimentary energy crops to include tropical maize, sweet sorghum, and sugar beets (Drs. Harry Rukavina and Caleb Dalley), utilization of the SRU's basic breeding program to build tomorrows parents for new sugar and energy varieties (Dr. Anna Hale), the utilization of molecular markers in sugarcane breeding (Dr. Yong-Bao Pan), and varietal responses to diseases and insects (Drs. Mike Grisham and Bill White). There were 103 participants.
June 5, 2010: The Sugarcane Research Unit's Houma worksite was the site of the 10th Annual Vegetable Field Day. The field day was sponsored by the SRU, Lafourche Terrebonne Master Gardner Association, the Lafourche and Terrebonne Extension Offices of the LSU AgCenter's Cooperative Extension Service, and Diamond S Farms. Participant numbers were in excess of 100. In addition to being able to see plantings of the various varieties of tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, corn, etc., discussions were held on how and when to plant, what varieties are best for different areas, fertilization needs, diseases and insects to be on the lookout for. As part of the field day, Mr. Eric Petrie of the SRU discussed what fungicides and insecticides could be used to control the various diseases and insects. SRU employees also volunteered to assist in setting up tents and displays and manning some of the booths during the morning field day event.
June 16-17, 2010: A number of Sugarcane Research Unit scientists made presentations at the annual joint meeting of the Louisiana and Florida Divisions of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists in Panama City Beach, Florida. Presentations included: "Development of a Genetic Linkage Map for Louisiana Sugarcane: New Microsatellite (SSR) DNA Markers Identified for LCP 85-384" (Y-B Pan), "Searching for DNA Markers Associated with Sugar Content in Sugarcane" (visiting scientist, P. Liu), "Evaluation of New Energy Cane Varieties for Louisiana" (H. Rukavina), "Comparing the Natural Spread of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus in Florida to Its Natural Spread in Louisiana (M. Grisham), "Isolation and Characterization of Resistant Gene Analogs from RSD Resistant and Susceptible Sugarcane Clones: A Progress Report" (visiting scientist U. Hameed), " Evaluation of Brown Rust Resistance in the Louisiana Basic Breeding Program's First Clonal Trial" (A. Hale), and "Identification of RAPD Markers Associated with Brown Rust Resistance in Sugarcane" (visiting scientist K Muhammad).
June 30, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit Research Soil Scientist, Dr. Paul White, made an invited presentation titled: "Improving Soil Health" at the American Sugar Cane League's Annual Contact Committee meeting in Thibodaux, LA. The meeting is designed to bring together the growers and millers that the ASCL represents with researchers, consultants, and suppliers to discuss ongoing research and issues that face the sugarcane industry of Louisiana. The 2010 meeting had more than 200 participants.
July 13 - 23, 2010: Several Sugarcane Research Unit scientists were invited to make presentations at the LSU AgCenter's Cooperative Extension Service sponsored parish sugarcane field days. Dr. Mike Grisham discussed his observations of the top rot symptoms of red stripe at the Assumption (July 13) and Lafourche (July 15) field days. Although the leaf stripe symptoms of the disease have been observed for many years, several observations of the much more severe top rot symptom have been made throughout the Louisiana sugarcane industry this year. Frequent rainfall and high temperatures this summer are believed to have contributed to this unusual development of the top rot symptoms of red stripe. Dr. Rich Johnson discussed the utilization of variable rate and remote sensing technologies in sugarcane production at the Assumption, Iberville (July 21), and St. Martin (July 23) field days. Dr. Ryan Viator and Mr. Edwis Dufrene were participants in an interactive discussion of on-farm sugarcane varietal portfolios as related to 2009 experiences at the Assumption field day. Also discussed was the performance of the newly released sugarcane variety L 03-371. Finally, Dr. Ed Richard discussed sugarcane fallow field weed control at the Lafourche field day.
July 28, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientist Dr. Caleb Dalley was asked to provide a general overview of the at-planting weed control recommendations at the LSU AgCenter's Cooperative Extension Service sponsored Iberia/St. Mary Parishes sugarcane field day. As part of his presentation Dr. Dalley was also asked to discuss current research dealing with the control of bermudagrass, which has become a major weed problem in Louisiana sugarcane. Included in the attendance were: growers, consultants, and industry representatives. The field days are designed to provide timely information to the industry at the beginning of the planting season which is rapidly followed with the start of the harvest season.
September 16, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit Plant Pathologist, Dr. Michael Grisham, visited the Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC) in Giza, Egypt for two weeks where he met with Drs. Mostafa El-Kholi and Ayman Esh, his research collaborators on a project sponsored by the U.S. Egypt Joint Science and Technology Board. The objective of the project is to identify endophytic bacteria in sugarcane that fix nitrogen and potentially lessen the impact of plant pathogens on the host. During the visit Dr. Grisham met with several officials of ARC, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Sugar Crops Council, as well as, several other SCRI researchers. He also presented two invited seminars, one at the Sabaheya Research Station near Alexandria and the other at the Matana Research Station near Luxor.
September 28 - 30, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit scientists, Drs. Ryan Viator and Paul White participated in the Soil and Water Conservation Service's Sustainable Feedstock Workshop in Atlanta, GA. The goal was the development of regional sustainable feedstock production and delivery roadmaps. An emphasis was placed on identification of roadblocks and technology needs of researchers and industry. Sugarcane and energy cane were identified as key feedstocks in the Southeast and Midwest United States. Dr. White was co-author on the presentation "Where will N, P, and K come from to support a 32 billion gal biofuel industry?" Dr. Ed Richard was co-author on a presentation titled: Herbaceous Perennials Where should they be placed, what are their benefits, and what the challenges of incorporating them into diversified landscapes are? Other topics of interests included crop residue management, biochar, water resources, and legal issues.
September 16, 2010: Dr. Michael Grisham (Sugarcane Research Unit) visited the Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC) in Giza, Egypt for two weeks where he met with Drs. Mostafa El-Kholi and Ayman Esh, his research collaborators on a project sponsored by the U.S. - Egypt Joint Science and Technology Board. The objective of the project is to identify endophytic bacteria in sugarcane that fix nitrogen and potentially lessen the impact of plant pathogens on the host. During the visit Dr. Grisham met with several officials of ARC, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Sugar Crops Council, as well as, several other SCRI researchers. He also presented two invited seminars, one at the Sabaheya Research Station near Alexandria and the other at the Matana Research Station near Luxor.
September 28-30, 2010: Drs. Ryan Viator and Paul White (Sugarcane Research Unit) participated in the Soil and Water Conservation Service's Sustainable Feedstock Workshop in Atlanta, GA. The goal was the development of regional sustainable feedstock production and delivery roadmaps. An emphasis was placed on identification of roadblocks and technology needs of researchers and industry. Sugarcane and energy cane were identified as key feedstocks in the Southeast and Midwest United States. Dr. White was co-author on the presentation "Where will N, P, and K come from to support a 32 billion gal biofuel industry?" Dr. Ed Richard was co-author on a presentation titled: "Herbaceous Perennials - Where should they be placed, what are their benefits, and what the challenges of incorporating them into diversified landscapes are?" Other topics of interests included crop residue management, biochar, water resources, and legal issues.
October 31-Nov 4, 2010: Sugarcane Research Unit Research Agronomist, Dr. Richard Johnson, and Soil Scientist, Dr. Paul White, participated in the 2010 International American Society of Agronomy - Crop Science Society of America - Soil Science Society of America Annual Conference in Long Beach, CA. Dr. Johnson gave the presentation: "Prediction of Sugarcane Sucrose Content with High Resolution Hyperspectral Leaf Reflectance Measurements", and Dr. White gave the presentation: "Potential Losses of Macro and Micronutrients by Removing Sugarcane Post-Harvest Crop Residue". During the conference Dr. White attended a USDA Renewable Energy Assessment Project (REAP) update meeting that focused on soil quality aspects of bioenergy feedstock production.
