|  | | | Faculty in the News - July 2007 | |
| |
Time up for subsidies? Lawmakers face
farmers' needs, questions of market stability
St. Cloud Times, July 28, 2007
Mark
Czech has a response for people who question the thousands of dollars
in government subsidies he and other Central Minnesota farmers receive
every year: Try visiting Europe. ... University of Minnesota economics
professor Kent Olson liked Kind's idea. One of the problems with
subsidies, he said, is they create an artificial market so farmers
don't react quickly to changes in demand, Olson said. |
Wasps take aim at soybean aphids
Agri News, July 31, 2007
It's
taken many years and many groups working together to get to the point
of releasing Binodoxys communis. ... In 2001, the same year aphids were
confirmed in Minnesota, University of Minnesota entomologist Dave
Ragsdale traveled to China to look for biological controls. | | |
| |
Soybean aphids beware -- The wasps are coming
Agri News, July 31, 2007
Soybean
aphids beware: Binodoxys communis may be coming to a field near you.
... "You can see them with the naked eye, but barely É they're about
the size of a head of a pin É they're a third the size of a fruit fly,"
said George Heimpel, a University of Minnesota entomology professor. |
The
30 most visited U.S. cities
USA Today, July 28, 2007
You
may notice some patterns in the Forbes Traveler list of 30 Most Visited
U.S. Cities: sunny climates, Texas, and Disney play a prominent role.
... Dan Erkkila, former Chairman of the Board of the Travel and Tourism
Research Association and current Extension Professor at the University
of Minnesota Tourism Center, explains that "being a member of the
top-tier U.S. destination elite generally involves a complex blend of
tangible ingredients (like travel cost) and intangible ones, like
destination image." | | |
| |
Wasps
Used To Fight Soybean Aphids
July 25, 2007
U.S.
agricultural scientists are using Chinese wasps to battle infestations
of Asian soybean aphids. ... University of Minnesota researchers, in an
effort to control the damaging crop pest, are field testing a
sting-less wasp (Binodoxys communis) imported from China that kills
soybean aphids. |
Importing pests to combat pests
Scientist Live, July 27, 2007
University
of Minnesota scientists are field testing a beneficial insect, a
stingless wasp from China also known as Binodoxys communis, that kills
soybean aphids. | | |
| |
Earthworms steal the floor
Journal Watch - WA, July 26, 2007
If
plants are disappearing all around you, check underneath your wellies —
it could be down to invading earthworms. ... Andrew Holdsworth and
University of Minnesota colleagues describe in Conservation Biology how
declines in plant diversity in two national forests — Chippewa and
Chequamegon — can be traced to the recent arrival of European Lumbricus
earthworms. |
| |
Drought worsens across state
Star Tribune, July 27, 2007
Farmers
and gardeners alike welcomed the thunderstorms that rolled across the
parched region Thursday. ... Gyles Randall, soil scientist at the
University of Minnesota's Southern Research and Outreach Center in
Waseca, said corn in south-central Minnesota is "just hanging on; west
of here it's beyond hanging on." |
Hot enough for ya? It could be sweaty corn
Bloomington Pantagraph - USA, July 25, 2007
The
sun and the rain decide how high the corn grows, every farmer knows.
But can cornfields talk back to the skies and change the weather? ...
But Boulay does believe that a broadly irrigated landscape on the
University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus has contributed to dew points
there that are higher than those at broadly paved Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport. | | |
| |
Water skiing has special role in southeast
Minnesota
Rochester Post-Bulletin, July 26, 2007
Water
skiing began on Lake Pepin in Lake City when Ralph Samuelson strapped
two boards under his feet and attached a piece of clothesline to his
boat in 1922. ... Graner, a University of Minnesota (CFANS) student,
has joined
the water ski club on campus, and plans on continuing skiing for years
to come."Skiing is always something I look forward to each summer," he
said. "I hope to continue skiing for a long time, and hopefully when I
have kids, I can teach them and take them out." |
Wasps used to fight soybean aphids
Imedi News - Georgia, July 25, 2007
U.S.
agricultural scientists are using Chinese wasps to battle infestations
of Asian soybean aphids. ... "The soybean aphid was imported without
any of its natural enemies -- the organisms that keeps aphids in check
in China," said University of Minnesota entomologist Dave Ragsdale.
"Our researchers and Extension experts are working to provide that
check and balance system."
| | |
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Jonathan Alter: He Only Saved a Billion People
MSNBC, July 30, 2007 issue
It's
a trifecta much bigger and rarer than an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony. ...
Born poor in Iowa and turned down at first by the University of
Minnesota, Borlaug brought his fingertips and mind together in rural
Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s to develop a hybrid called "dwarf wheat"
that tripled grain production there. |
Things to think about with the environment
Perham Enterprise Bulletin, July 25, 2007
Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) publication came across my desk the
other day and during a quick scan came across some interesting
information and opinions. ... Some lakes will warm up, and that will
change the species of fish that live in them. There’ll be fewer
cold-water habitats that support trout, for instance, and more lakes
with carp and other fish that live in warmer waters. (Lee Frelich,
Director of the Center of Hardwood Ecology, University of Minnesota).
| | |
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Biosecurity on the farm takes on more importance
Minnesota Farm Guide, July 24, 2007
Limited outbreaks of anthrax in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well
as cases of bovine TB in several states, highlight the continuing need
for improving biosecurity on farms to protect livestock and ultimately,
the nation's food economy. University of Minnesota agricultural safety
expert John Shutske outlines preparations farmers should make.
|
In
the fight over farm aid, this is a front line
Pioneer Press, July 24, 2007
West
of the Twin Cities, the land is flat, the soil is rich, and the farms
are big: They use big machines, produce big harvests - and collect big
subsidies. ... It's not hard to see why. In years of low grain prices,
the average Minnesota farm relies on farm subsidies for more than half
its profit, according to financial data from the University of
Minnesota. | | |
| |
Alternative farming cleans up water
Innovations Report - Germany, July 24, 2007
Although
the addition of nutrients to soil helps to maximize crop production,
fertilizer can leach nutrients, polluting the water supply. ... A
recent study by researchers at the University of Minnesota shows
alternative cropping practices may help to protect the environment by
reducing high nitrate levels in surface and ground water caused by
conventional fertilizer use. |
Middendorfs know a thing or two about pastures
Agri News, July 24, 2007
Dan
and Rosy Middendorf and their son, Joel, graze 180 milk cows on
irrigated pasture near Verndale. ... It's part of a University of
Minnesota study studying the economics of irrigation and water profiles
of intense rotationally grazed dairy pasture. | | |
| |
New biomass boiler ordinance gets thumbs u
Red Wint Republican Eagle, July 24, 2007
An
ordinance regarding outdoor biomass fuel burner/boilers got a better
reception from the City Council on its second go-around. ... City
staff worked with Terry Gilbertson, who sells boilers, and Richard
Huelskamp with the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts
and Biosystems Engineering to craft the revisions. |
You may not be alone
US News & World Report, July 8, 2007
People across the country are battling a resurgent invader in their
homes: bedbugs. University of Minnesota entomologist Stephen Kells
provides the only independent estimate of the problem. He says as many
as one in 6,000 single-family is now infested. | | |
| |
Brown stem rot, SDS and aphids draw field day attention
Agri News, July 24, 2007
Brown
stem rot and Sudden Death Syndrome took center stage at last week's
Southern Research and Outreach Center's Disease and Insect field day
last week in Waseca. ... Dean Malvick from the University of Minnesota
Extension Service discussed the symptoms of Sudden Death Syndrome vs.
the symptoms of brown stem rot. |
Economic summit sparks conversation, host of ideas
Agri News, July 24, 2007
"Collaboration"
was a repeated theme at the First Congressional Economic Summit hosted
by Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz on July 20 at the Austin Holiday Inn
Conference Center. ... Another panelist, Doug Tiffany, a research
fellow in the Applied Economics department at the University of
Minnesota, said farmers need to look at the environmental impacts of
their business and consider what the industry will look like for the
next generation. | | |
| |
Editorial: Corn boom has flip side
Mankato Free Press, July 23, 2007
Here
in corn country there has been much for farmers to cheer about. ...
Ethanol provides 25 percent more energy a gallon than is required for
its production, while soybean biodiesel generates 93 percent more
energy. The study, done by researchers at the University of Minnesota
and elsewhere, also found that ethanol, in its production and
consumption, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent, compared
with fossil fuels. Biodiesel, they said, reduces such emissions 41
percent.
|
More rain might follow this morning's
thunderstorm
Rochester Post-Bulletin, July 24, 2007
Austin
has a 50-50 chance of getting more rain today, a much-welcomed sight
throughout the region. ... "We're supposed to go the balance of the
month of July without a significant precipitation event and, basically,
under a hot dome of high pressure with several days that will be
potentially above the 90-degree mark," said Mark Seeley, a
climatologist/meteorologist for the University of Minnesota's Extension
Service.
| | |
| |
Hot
enough for ya? It could be sweaty corn
Star Tribune, July 21, 2007
The
sun and the rain decide how high the corn grows, every farmer knows.
But can cornfields talk back to the skies and change the weather? ...
But Boulay does believe that a broadly irrigated landscape on the
University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus has contributed to dew points
there that are higher than those at broadly paved Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport.
Star Tribune |
What bug is devouring my garden?
KARE-11, July 23, 2007
Here's some advice for controlling insects in your garden...The
University of Minnesota maintains a great website that presents
month-by-month advice on what insects to look for in your landscape.
| | |
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Norman Borlaug: The unassuming
Dallas News, July 22, 2007
He's
the answer to Dallas' best trivia question: What local resident has won
the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, most
recently, the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian
award? ... An avid wrestler from the University of Minnesota, elected
to his alma mater's athletic Hall of Fame, who could out-grapple the
toughest bureaucrat?
|
Herbicide
diversity helps maintain weed control
Farm & Ranch Guide, July 20, 2007
University
of Minnesota weed scientist Jeff Gunsolus is helping farmers tell the
difference between weeds that are merely tolerant of chemical controls
and those that are developing resistance. At the Crops and Soils Day
at the University's Southern Research and Outreach Center, Gunsolus
warned farmers about the perils of giant ragweed developing resistance
to glyphosate, and he explained how to avoid this development.
| | |
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Soybean aphids-playing the numbers game
Farm & Ranch Guide, July 20, 2007
Soybean
aphids are beginning to show up in Minnesota fields and there is
conflicting advice on when farmers should think about spraying to
control the insects. University of Minnesota entomologist Ian MacRae
says the key considerations are how many aphids are present and how
long they've been feeding on the soybean plant. Research has
consistently shown there is little yield impact until there are at
least 250 aphids per plant.
Farm & Ranch Guide |
The
latest in scab research and spraying tips
Farm & Ranch Guide, July 20, 2007
Recent
research led by the University of Minnesota Northwest Research and
Outreach Center may improve the effectiveness of fungicide treatments
for Fusarium head blight development in wheat. U of M weed scientist
Char Hollingsworth summarized research results at the recent Crops and
Soils Day in Crookston.
| | |
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Southeast Minnesota is in near drought
conditions
Rochester Post-Bulletin, July 21, 2007
Drought
conditions are browning lawns and worrying farmers throughout
southeastern Minnesota, and there's no end in sight. ... "We're
supposed to go the balance of the month of July without a significant
precipitation event and, basically, under a hot dome of high pressure
with several days that will be potentially above the 90-degree mark,"
said Mark Seeley, a climatologist/meteorologist for the University of
Minnesota's Extension Service. |
Minn.
Mother Finds Black Widow Spider In Grapes
WCCO, July 19, 2007
A
Minnesota mother's trip to the store ends up with a very unexpected and
dangerous purchase. ... The Reardons let WCCO-TV take the spider to the
University of Minnesota's insect museum where professor Phil Clausen
checked it out. | | |
| |
Borlaug receives medal for achievements in fighting world hunger
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - IA, July 18, 2007
President
Bush on Tuesday presented the Congressional Gold Medal to an Iowan
whose work on high yield varieties of wheat is credited with starting
the Green Revolution and alleviating starvation in India and Pakistan
in the 1960s. ... Norman Borlaug, an agriculture scientist, grew up
near Cresco and was educated in a one-room schoolhouse. He went on to
the University of Minnesota. |
Woman Finds Black Widow Spider in Grapes
Forbes – NY, July 19, 2007
Judy
Reardon found something unexpected in the four-pound box of grapes she
brought home from Costco in Coon Rapids last week. ... "There's red
markings on the underside of the abdomen," professor Phil Clausen said
as he confirmed it was indeed a black widow. | | |
| |
Kaleb
Kromann has thankful attitude about Iraqi service
Agri News, July 17, 2007
Kaleb
Kromann always thanked the Iraqi people and military leaders for all he
learned during his time serving his country. ... Kaleb will remain
active in agriculture by managing the swine facility at the University
of Minnesota Twin Cities campus as well as working as one of the
supervisors at the Miracle of Birth Center during the Minnesota State
Fair. |
Gopher Dairy Club enjoys trip to San Antonio
Agri News, July 17, 2007
The
University of Minnesota's Gopher Dairy Club last week attended the
National American Dairy Science Association annual meeting in San
Antonio. ... Amy Hazel, a graduate student at the University of
Minnesota, gave a presentation on her research on crossbreds of
Jersey/Holstein compared to pure Holstein for production, fertility,
and udder traits, during the first lactation. | | |
| |
Polk case raises West Nile risk
Fergus Falls Daily Journal, July 17, 2007
Residents
of west central Minnesota are at risk for West Nile virus, local
officials and the Minnesota Department of Health said after the first
case was reported in Polk County late last week. ... “We’re
particularly concerned about agricultural workers,” University of
Minnesota specialist John Shutske said.
“Or others working outside who might not think about using repellents.” |
No-till
farming works just fine for organic producers
Agri News, July 17, 2007
If
no-till farming suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and retains moisture
in conventional farming, what can it for organic production? ...
University of Minnesota agronomy researcher Craig Sheaffer is
replicating studies on alfalfa and its effects on soil quality. | | |
| |
Editorial: Borlaug deserves belated
recognition
Star Tribune, July 18, 2007
The
luminaries in Oslo who bestow the Nobel Peace Prize understood the
significance of food scientist Norman Borlaug's work decades ago. ...
But then, and for many years thereafter, the father of the Green
Revolution went largely unheralded in his own country, even in his
native Iowa and at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota. |
U of M alumnus Receive Congressional Gold Medal
Fox News, July 17, 2007
President
Bush and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will present the
Congressional Gold Medal to U of M alumnus, Norman Borlaug today. ...
Borlaug, who earned his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees at
the University of Minnesota, is known as "the father of the Green
Revolution" for his work in reducing world hunger. | | |
| |
Former U of M scientist awarded Congressional Gold Medal
Minnesota Public Radio, July 17, 2007
President
Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday to agriculture
scientist Norman Borlaug, whose work on high-yield, disease-resistant
varieties of wheat is credited with starting the "Green revolution" and
alleviating starvation in India and Pakistan in the 1960s. ... Borlaug,
an Iowa native, was educated in a one-room schoolhouse and went on to
attend the University of Minnesota, where he earned degrees in forestry
and plant pathology in the late 1930s and early '40s. |
| |
Borlaug Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
The New York Sun, July 18, 2007
Norman
Borlaug, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former University of Minnesota
scientist, yesterday was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by
President Bush. |
NextGen Energy Board looks to bridge the
gap
Twin Cities Daily Planet, July 16, 2007
The
legislative session may be over, but the work is just beginning for the
NextGen Energy Board, a group of legislators and citizens banded
together to discuss renewable energy for Minnesota. ... Research done
at the University of Minnesota has shown that there are newer and
better ways to produce biofuels. | | |
| |
Irrigated
pasture research update program scheduled for July 18
Fergus Falls Daily Journal, July 12, 2007
On
Wednesday, July 18, an irrigated pasture research update program will
be held at the Dan and Rosy and son Joel Middendorf dairy farm north of
Verndale in Wadena County. ... Crary and two other University of
Minnesota Extension employees — Jerry Wright and Margot Rudstrom — are
involved with the research. |
E.
coli closes Hamlin beach
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, July 14, 2007
The
beach at Hamlin Beach State Park was closed Friday after testing
revealed the presence of unsafe levels of E. coli in the water. ...
According to a June study conducted by researchers at the University of
Minnesota, E. coli water testing in the Great Lakes is often skewed by
the presence of algae in the water. | | |
Livestock
manure can affect food crops
Imedi News - Georgia, July 12, 2007
A
U.S. study suggests antibiotic feeding of livestock can affect food
crops. ... Scientists at the University of Minnesota evaluated whether
food crops accumulate antibiotics from soils spread with manure that
contains antibiotics. | | |
Researchers
Report that Antibiotics May Be Absorbing into U.S. Crops
Associated Content, July 12, 2007
A
new research study published in the upcoming August issue of the
Journal of Environmental Quality, scientists report that antibiotics
fed to livestock can accumulate in the soil that eventually is used in
agriculture for domestic crops. ... The study was conducted by Holly
Dolliver, Academic from the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at
the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul, and Satish Gupta, Affiliate
of the Research and Development Section of the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. | | |
| |
Antibiotics
Absorbed By Vegetables
Science A Gogo, July 12, 2007
Evaluating
the impact of livestock antibiotics on the environment, University of
Minnesota researchers have found that many vegetables uptake the
antibiotics. |
Organic Commodity Price Reporting Service Launched
The Farmer, July 11, 2007
A
new organic price-reporting service will give producers, lenders and
researchers access to timely market information. ... The service,
developed in collaboration by USDA's Agricultural Market News Service
and the University of Minnesota's Endowed Chair in Agricultural Systems
Program, consists of a searchable database and a bi-weekly price report
called the Upper Midwest Organic Grain and Feedstuffs Report. | | |
| |
Eat to Live: Organic debate reopens
Earth Times, July 11, 2007
In
the left corner, the organic-is-better-for-you group is waving aloft a
fertilizer-free tomato. ... New findings based on work at the
University of California-Davis and the University of Minnesota
published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have
reignited the organic-versus-conventional produce fisticuffs show. |
Routine Feeding Of Antibiotics To Livestock May Be Contaminating The
Environment
Dental Plans - FL, July 11, 2007
Scientists
at the University of Minnesota have been evaluating the impact of
antibiotic feeding in livestock production on the environment. ...
Research is ongoing at the University of Minnesota to further
investigate the potential fate and transport of antibiotics introduced
to the environment from livestock operations. | | |
| |
June 2007 ranks among the top 10 warmest
on record
Agri-News, July 11, 2007
June
was a very warm month across Minnesota with most observers reporting
average monthly temperatures from 2 degrees to 4 degrees above normal.
... Seeley is a professor and Extension climatologist/meteorologist in
the University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water and Climate. |
Natural space is a priceless amenity worth
preserving
MN Sun, July 11,2 2007
We
all see signs that the Twin Cities area is changing. ... Jim Calkins of
Minnetonka is board president of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District. He teaches in the Department of Horticultural Science at the
University of Minnesota where he also coordinates the Master of
Agriculture in Horticulture degree program. | | |
| |
Giant ragweed shows resistance to glysophate
Agri-News, July 3, 2007
Giant ragweed with suspected resistance to glysophate have been
discovered in central Minnesota. Dr. Jeff Gunsolus at the University
of Minnesota suspects this isn't an isolated incidence. Last year he
received calls from southeast Minnesota and west central Minnesota
questioning the effectiveness of glyphosate weed control. |
Organic tomatoes contain higher nutrients
than conventional tomatoes
Food Consumer - IL, July 7, 2007
Organically
grown tomatoes may be more valuable than those grown conventionally as
they contain higher levels of beneficial compounds, according to a new
study published in the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. ...
In the study, Alyson Mitchell from the University of California-Davis,
and researchers from University of Minnesota tested two naturally
occurring antioxidants quercetin and kaempferol aglycones in dried
tomato samples grown and processed conventionally or organically
between 1994 and 2004. | | |
| |
More lawns are going native
Star Tribune, July 9, 2007
Four
geese nibble at Craig Avery's back yard as he stands on a stone patio
alongside his gleaming silver grill. ... "The difference between a
'garbage lawn' and 'converting to native plantings' can be kind of
fuzzy, especially in the early stages," said Brian Horgan, a turf grass
specialist at the University of Minnesota. And the early stages last a
long time. |
Here's
how you can keep those bedbugs from biting
US News and World Report - DC, July 8, 2007
For
Kyle Anderson, 19, the battle began with a row of welts on his stomach.
... Stephen Kells, an entomologist from the University of Minnesota,
estimates that as many as 1 in 6,000 single-family homes is now
infested. | | |
| |
Weaponized Hamburgers?
MSNBC, July 16, 2007
To
a post-9/11 lexicon of phrases like "threat level" and "homeland
security," we need to add another: food defense. ... And imports of
contaminated food from China—pet food laced with the chemical melamine,
toothpaste with the poisonous compound diethyl glycol and seafood with
carcinogenic antimicrobials—"show how vulnerable the food supply is to
intentional acts of terrorism, too," says Frank Busta, codirector of
the National Center for Food Protection and Defense at the University
of Minnesota. |
Safety Net Still Figures into Future Farm
Bill
The Farmer, July 6, 2007
One
of the biggest discussions in the debate over the next farm bill is the
safety net for farm income. ... Olson is a University of Minnesota
Extension economist and internationally renowned farm management and
farm policy issues expert. | | |
| |
Consumers feel heat from rising food prices
Lawrence Journal World - KS, July 8, 2007
Rising
gasoline prices have been getting all the attention, but the cost of
another, more-important staple is actually rising even more: food. ...
“We should all hope we have a really good growing season this year,”
said Ben Senauer, co-director of the University of Minnesota’s Food
Industry Center. |
Once frozen in time, artifacts now rotting
Chicago Tribune, July 2, 2007
Historic huts used in early expeditions are decaying as
Antarctica's climate changes. University of Minnesota forest
pathologist Robert Blanchette says "We're finding fungal blooms inside
the huts that weren't there before." Many of the molds he encountered
were not the ones he'd expect to see attacking buildings in normal
climates. DNA sequencing showed they were species previously unknown
to science. | | |
| |
Soybean
aphids once again present in Minnesota soybean fields
Bismark Farm and Ranch Guide, July 5, 2007
Growers
will want to start scouting their fields soon for soybean aphids, as
the pests have been found in Minnesota. ... “We've been finding aphids
since the last week in May in soybeans,” said David Ragsdale,
University of Minnesota Extension entomologist on June 15. |
Has America peaked on cereal?
Orlando Sentinal, July 5, 2007
Buried
beneath numbers, General Mills financial results often are a study in
human behavior. ... "Everyone who is going to eat cereal is already
eating as much as they can," said Jean Kinsey, co-director of the Food
Industry Center at the University of Minnesota. | | |
| |
Filthy rat, or perfect pet?
Pioneer Press, July 5, 2007
Smart,
beautiful and affectionate, ladies and gentlemen, meet man's other best
friend: the rat. ... Brant hopes to generate more positive rat buzz
July 14, when the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum hosts "Rat
Fest," an all-day expo featuring rat scientists, rat breeders and a
window into the world of the rat-loving community. |
Some alfalfa hay shipped to Georgia may be
toxic to horses
Crookston Daily Times, July 2, 2007
Horse
owners should check alfalfa hay that came from Michigan and the upper
Midwest, as the hay is causing some horses to become sick, according to
the Georgia Department of Agriculture. ... Horses may also have a fever
and occasionally short term diarrhea, according to a study by the
University of Minnesota. | | |
| |
Butterflies
Are Bountiful In Minnesota, But Why?
WCCO-TV, July 2, 2007
Here's
a reason to celebrate Minnesota weather: Butterflies are thriving right
now. ... "Warm spring means they develop faster as caterpillars and
they're healthier. So more of them survive to the adult stage and so we
end up with many more of them," said Susan Weller, a University of
Minnesota Entomology Professor and Curator of Lepidoptera at the Bell
Museum of Natural History. |
Catalyst squeezes fuel out of scraps
USA Today, July 3, 2007
Catilin
has come up with a way to let biodiesel manufacturers consume both of
their major food groups: animal fat and vegetable oil. ... Even if all
the animal fat and tallow from slaughterhouses were converted to
biodiesel, it would produce only a billion or so gallons of fuel a
year, or about a percent of the amount of diesel consumed, according to
statistics from University of Minnesota professor Vernon Eidman. Still,
a billion gallons of fuel a year could sell for about $3 billion. | | |
| |
Boaters beware: Lakes are shrinking
Pioneer Press, July 3, 2007
From
Lake Superior to the lake-strewn region of east-central Minnesota and
northern Wisconsin, boaters enjoying the Independence Day holiday
should pay more attention this year. ... While recent lake levels may
seem low, they actually are near historical norms, said George Orning,
a research fellow in the University of Minnesota's Department of Forest
Resources. |
The simple water can gets an update
Star Tribune, July 1, 2007
A
high-tech update for the humble watering can could bring green returns
for gardeners as well as the company behind the innovation. ... Studies
by Albert Markhart, a plant physiologist at the University of
Minnesota, found the oxygenated water produced more blooms on petunias
and bigger flowers on geraniums, the company reported. | | |
| |
Squeezing more fuel out of scraps
CNET News - CA, July 1, 2007
The
company, which was developed from research at Iowa State University,
has devised a catalyst that allows fuel refiners to mix different types
of oils together in the same manufacturing process. ... Even if all the
animal fat and tallow from slaughterhouses were converted to biodiesel,
it would produce only a billion or so gallons of fuel a year, or about
a percent of the amount of diesel consumed, according to statistics
from University of Minnesota professor Vernon Eidman. |
Commentary: Ethanol is an
Alice-in-Wonderland solution
Foster's - New Hamshire, July 1, 2007
The
national debate over ethanol has come down to earth. ... If the entire
corn crop is used for ethanol, it would replace only 12 percent of the
gasoline sold, according to a study done by researchers at the
University of Minnesota. | | |
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