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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Grant to CALS Engineers

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Grant to CALS Engineers | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it

CALS Biological & Agricultural Engineers and Agricultural Economists have received a grant of $203,775 from the NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DNER) for Phase II of a project in Cary, NC. Phase I created rain gardens and other rainwater harvesting systems at schools. The next phase of the project will focus on stormwater controls along greenways and in community parks.

 

Project researchers are economists, Dr. Christy Perrin, Dr. Patrick Beggs & Dr. Layra Taylor, and engineers, Dr. Kristopher Bass & Dr. William Hunt, III.

 

Here's how the researchers describe their project:

 

"The Black Creek Watershed Association (BCWA), coordinated by NC State University with technical assistance from the Town of Cary since 2006, has achieved several milestones in its pursuit of delisting Black Creek from the 303(d) list of impaired waters.

 

"An initial watershed assessment and restoration plan was completed in 2009, followed by acceptance of the plan by EPA in lieu of a TMDL. The assessment showed that the creek is impaired by high volume and velocity stormwater runoff flows that have altered the natural flow regime and negatively impacted biotic communities. The partnership created a residential outreach and engagement program that resulted in many residential practices that are reducing stormwater runoff through backyard raingardens, and wetlands.

 

"Public stormwater retrofits have been installed at schools, a neighborhood clubhouse, and a private greenway. In-stream flow monitoring and modeling produced 3 years of data and a hydrologic model for assessing target runoff reductions. This proposal will leverage successes achieved to reach a new significant landowner audience- commercial and institutional landowners.

 

"BCWA is known through public outreach events and networking with members' organizations (Rotary clubs, homeowners' associations). The network will help to convene a commercial/institutional steering committee to develop and implement an outreach, sponsorship, and recognition program. A retrofit project will be identified and implemented on a commercial property, and retrofits that were previously identified within the project BMP Site Atlas will be constructed on Town of Cary and Wake County schools properties. Simple changes to existing bioretention will be installed and monitored to increase infiltration.

 

"Additional stream flow monitoring and modeling will further hone a retrofit target by testing pre-post BMP flows, and will test a new milestone of disconnecting 200 acres of imperviousness to reach effective 10% impervious cover in the watershed. Ultimately, this project will lead to a greater capacity of the community to fund and implement stormwater retrofit projects, and to better understand the type and cost of retrofits needed to move towards a more natural stream flow regime."

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Two New Hessian Fly Management Tools Now Available

Two New Hessian Fly Management Tools Now Available | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it

I am very excited about the publication of “Biology and Management of Hessian Fly in the Southeast”, as well as a new video produced by the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Associatio...

CALS Research, NCSU's insight:

The video draws on the research of wheat breeder, Dr. Paul Murphy, small grains specialist, Dr. Randy Weisz and entomologist, Dr. Dominic Reisig to demonstrate how to control this insect pest of wheat in the southeast. The video is produced through a collaboration of the NC Small Grain Growers Association and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at NC State University.

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North Carolina presents specialty crops grants | Vegetables content from Southeast Farm Press

North Carolina presents specialty crops grants | Vegetables content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
North Carolina has awarded $1.2 million in specialty crops grants, some of which targets organic production.

 

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North Carolina State University received five of the grants, some geared directly toward improving the states already thriving organic farming enterprise. The state is one of few in the Southeast with an ongoing organic crops research and outreach program.

 

"Chris Reberg-Horton, who heads the North Carolina State organic crops program, says these crops are growing in size and economic importance to North Carolina and the Carolina-Virginia region.  ... "

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North Carolina tests show vertical tillage increases wheat yields | Equipment content from Southeast Farm Press

North Carolina tests show vertical tillage increases wheat yields | Equipment content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
Growers in North Carolina have begun to notice that wheat tends to be taller and to produce larger heads in response to sub-soil slits from previous crops, but whether the practice is really improving yields has been up for debate.

 

 

The research of Extension Crop Science Associate, Georgia Love's, tested vertical tillage --  systems which confine soil disturbance to soil movement chiefly upward and/or confined to the region for planting the next rows.

 

In Love's tests on $6/bushel wheat, the method added $15 per acre profit.

 

Other results and equipment types are discussed.

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Wheat weed control topic of North Carolina meeting | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press

Wheat weed control topic of North Carolina meeting | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
Based on last year’s success and the ongoing high prices for soybeans for double-cropping, North Carolina growers are expected to plant another record crop of wheat this fall.

 

Weed specialist & researcher, Wes Everman, will be the primary speaker.

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Selecting optimum wheat seeding rate no easy task | Grains | Content from Southeast Farm Press

Selecting optimum wheat seeding rate no easy task | Grains | Content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
North Carolina State University Small Grains Specialist Randy Weisz recently showed a group of grain growers a series of large wheat plots planted at seeding rates ranging from 1.1 million seed per acre all the way up to 2 million seed per acre.

 

He explains how growers can optimize yield by using an efficient planting density, which reduces unnecessary seed cost. He suggests using a simple new tool from The North Carolina Grain Growers Association. The recently developed tool is a simple calculator/slide rule that will make that conversion for the grower. “It’s a neat little tool that is easy to use to convert seed per acre to pounds of seed per acre,” Weisz says.

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North Carolina All Commodities Conference set for Jan. 17-18 | Markets content from Southeast Farm Press

North Carolina All Commodities Conference set for Jan. 17-18 | Markets content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
North Carolina’s agriculture community will meet in Durham on Jan. 17-18 for the annual All Commodities Conference.
CALS Research, NCSU's insight:

The annual All Commodities Conference, will showcase the latest information on cotton, corn, small grain and soybean production in the state.

 

"This year’s conference will be hosted by the North Carolina Soybean Growers Association. Charles Hall, executive director of the association says planners have tweaked the meeting a bit this year to make it easier for growers to see all the professional presentations."

 

Dr. Jim Dunphy, corn specialist; Dr. Ron Heiniger, soybean specialist; Dr. Randy Weisz, small grain specialist; & Dr. Alan York, weed specialist will speak.

New CALS Dean, Dr. Richard Linton, will help present awards.

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Hessian fly in wheat: Should I spray? | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press

Hessian fly in wheat: Should I spray? | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it

The decision to spray for Hessian fly in a fall wheat crop is not an easy one."

 

CALS Entomologist, Dr. Dominic Reisig, explains.

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N.C. State Snags New Plant Scientist, Continues Growth at N.C. Research Campus | Plants For Human Health Institute, CALS, NCSU

N.C. State Snags New Plant Scientist, Continues Growth at N.C. Research Campus | Plants For Human Health Institute, CALS, NCSU | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it

"Dr. Tzung-Fu Hsieh specializes in systems biology, a relatively new research field which studies  interactions between the components of biological systems, and how those relationships affect system functions and behaviors. His area of focus is known as epigenetics, which seeks to understand changes in gene behaviors which are caused by factors other than mutations in DNA.

 

Epigenetics plays an important role in plant development.

 

For example, Hsieh studies the development of endosperms, the placenta-like tissue inside the seeds of most flowering plants, that nourish the embryo. Endosperm plays a critical role in human nutrition and health, accounting for more than 75 percent of the world’s food supply, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). That’s because cereal crops like corn, rice and wheat – some of the most widely produced crops in the world – are harvested for their grains, which are mostly endosperm."

 

See full press release on the PHHI web site for more details on their newest researcher.

http://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/

 

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Wheat weed control topic of North Carolina meeting | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press

Wheat weed control topic of North Carolina meeting | Grains content from Southeast Farm Press | Research from the NC Agricultural Research Service | Scoop.it
Based on last year’s success and the ongoing high prices for soybeans for double-cropping, North Carolina growers are expected to plant another record crop of wheat this fall.

 

On Sept. 17, CALS weed scientist & researcher, Dr. Wes Everman, will discuss the most recent research-based wheat weed control methods, chemicals & recommendations.

 

Image: USDA

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