|  | | | Faculty in the News - February 2008 | |
Turning algae into fuel
KMSP - TV, February 22, 2008
University of Minnesota professor Roger Ruan explains how algae can be developed into a potential fuel source.
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Wheat prices rise as fear of shortage looms
Rochester Post - Bulletin, February 20, 2008
Spring wheat prices have been on the rise all winter -- smashing previous records. ... "This wheat market has given us a glimpse of the what-if -- what if we don't deliver the goods on the production side, because the demand is here," warned Ed Usset, a grain marketing specialist at the University of Minnesota.
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Organic dairying just keeps on growing
Agri News, February 19, 2008
Organic dairy farming has grown from a niche market to a $36 billion business, says Dennis Johnson, University of Minnesota dairy scientist.
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Good Conditions For Updating Farm Equipment
Cattle Network, February 19, 2008
The conditions are right for crop farmers to go out and update their machinery, and the indications are that they are doing just that. ... "My observation is that people are out there buying a lot of equipment," said Bob Craven, director of the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota.
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Today's conundrum: How local is 'local' for locally produced food?
MinnPost, February 19, 2008
With more folks trending toward the localvore movement (that is, consuming only local food), they face a vexing question: What, exactly, is the definition of local? ... The nuances of the definition even escaped Robert King, a University of Minnesota professor, who for about the last five years has worked extensively with local food networks and studied them.
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The truth about garden remedies
West Fargo Pioneer, February 19, 2008
My daughter-in-law, who is an avid gardener, gave me an interesting book for Christmas. ‘The Truth About Garden Remedies’ is written by Jeff Gillman who is an associate professor in the department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota.
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Put tax rebate check to work - in Minnesota
Twin Cities Daily Planet, February 18, 2008
Today, the President signs Congress’ bipartisan economic stimulus / tax rebate bill. ... “It certainly wouldn’t hurt,” said Laura Kalambokidis, an applied economist at the University of Minnesota who specializes in community economics and public finance.
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Dennis Anderson: Exhibit brings climate change to life
Star Tribune, February 17, 2008
This page on most Sundays concerns itself with the benefits of living in Minnesota. ... To amplify the point, the Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota campus is featuring an exhibit called "Paradise Lost? Climate Change in the North Woods.''
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Wheat market gone wild
Pioneer Press, February 16, 2008
Decades from now, farmers will still talk about this week - the moment when wheat in Minneapolis soared to nearly $20 a bushel. ... "This wheat market has given us a glimpse of the what-if - what if we don't deliver the goods on the production side, because the demand is here," warned Ed Usset, a grain marketing specialist at the University of Minnesota.
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Drainage method debated
In-Forum, February 15, 2008
A technique of subsurface drainage of water from farm fields that is beginning to catch on in the Red River Valley merits study to understand both its benefits and environmental costs, experts said Thursday. ... “It really has the potential for sweeping changes,” said Gary Sands, an agricultural engineer at the University of Minnesota, where researchers examined studies of tile drainage and its effects on the environment.
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East metro settles on top bonding priorities
Star Tribune, February 15, 2008
Stillwater requests money for flood control near its popular walking paths along the St. Croix River. ... Meanwhile, Falcon Heights didn't make a bonding requests, but is throwing its support behind a proposal to build a new Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota's east campus in Falcon Heights.
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Pick wheat varieties soon for best selection of traits
Farm and Ranch Guide, February 15, 2008
Current record high wheat prices has detoured many bushels of wheat, that normally would have gone into the seed supply, down an elevator pit instead, as growers took advantage of the high prices. ... that doesn't necessarily mean there is a seed shortage, Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota small grains specialist, told a group of wheat producers gathered in Moorhead for a Small Grains Update meeting.
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Laser technology sheds light on sources of sediment
The Prairie Star, February 15, 2008
There are many causes for sediment reaching streams and rivers. ... University of Minnesota Soil Scientist Satish Gupta was asked to look at the causes of sedimentation in the Blue Earth River, in south central Minnesota.
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Wheat variety selection for 2008 and beyond
Hutchinson Leader, February 14, 2008
With spring wheat prices at record levels, correct selection of varieties to minimize risk and maximize yield is essential. ... Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota Extension small grains specialist, follows certain assumptions when he selects hard red spring wheat varieties.
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Chocolate that's good for you and your Valentine
KARE - TV, February 14, 2008
Little else says love like chocolate. ... Gary Reineccius, professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota says, "[It] seems to improve blood flow, reduce high blood pressure issues, really has several functions.
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Legislature aims for higher bonding for higher education
Minnesota Public Radio, February 13, 2008
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed bonding bill would send about $130-million each to the University of Minnesota and MnSCU. ... Outside of both systems' repairs, renovations and new construction, the University of Minnesota is coming back a third time with a longer-term bioscience funding plan.
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Budget cuts could take bite out of research labs
Agri News, February 12, 2008
Cuts to the USDA Agricultural Research Service budget could mean closing the North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory in Morris and elimination of research projects at the St. Paul. and Ames, Iowa, labs. ... The soils lab's projects include work on the carbon and nitrogen dynamics of plants and soils related to carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions; soil biology in relation to soil quality and land management issues; tillage-induced carbon loss, erosion and soil sustainability; alternative crops and collaboration with the West Central Research Center in Morris and University of Minnesota-Morris on renewable energy projects.
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State economist: Federal rebates will help out, but only temporarily
West Central Tribune, February 11, 2008
Federal checks meant to stimulate the economy will help, but Minnesota’s state economist said Wednesday a fiscal slowdown will continue. ... Kent Olson, a University of Minnesota agriculture economic professor, said many farmers are doing better than they have in the past, thanks to high crop prices.
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Idaho's wolf management plan gets biologists' support
Seattle Times, February 11, 2008
Wolf advocates say turning management over to the states will lead to a slaughter of wolves and a dramatically lower wolf population than today. ... Mech, senior research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey and a University of Minnesota professor, is regarded as the pre-eminent wolf biologist in the United States, if not the world.
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State's weather records just got older and mostly colder
Star Tribune, February 10, 2008
Old-timers have just been awarded more cold-weather bragging rights. ... Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota climatologist, said the development of the metro area, with its heat-absorbing materials, as well as warming trends, make it unlikely that a comparable cold snap will return anytime soon.
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A tankful of trees
Duluth News Tribune, February 10, 2008
Minnesota’s paper mills and wood-burning plants could produce more ethanol than the state’s corn farmers thanks to new technology that can turn trees into liquid fuel. ... Minnesota’s forests and mills could produce up to 1 billion gallons of ethanol per year, compared to 620 million gallons of corn ethanol produced here last year, said Jim Bowyer, a University of Minnesota professor emeritus of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering.
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Business forum: Look to technology for the long-term fix
Star Tribune, February 10, 2007
"The best hopes of any community rest upon that class of its gifted young people who are not encumbered with large possessions. ... I recently received an interesting draft paper from one of Minnesota's most respected economists, Regents Professor Vern Ruttan of the University of Minnesota.
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A game of inches? S'no good
KARE - TV, February 4, 2008
It can be sticky or fluffy, wet or dry, but when it is attached to a windshield, it is the ultimate in seasonal annoyance. ... Keeping a close watch on Minnesota's snow
gauges is one job for University of Minnesota Soybean Agronomist Dr. Seth Naeve.
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