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Research Projects |
Sheep Research |
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PROJECT TITLE: Evaluation of Hair Sheep in Easy-Care Lamb Production Systems INVESTIGATOR(S): David Notter and Scott Greiner Abstract: Integrated hair sheep flock improvement and producer education efforts at Virginia Techs Southwest Agriculural Research and Extension Center have contributed to a revitalization of the sheep industry in Southwest Virginia. We have documented the desireable production attributes of the Katahdin and Dorper hair sheep breeds when utilized in extensive, forage-based production systems. Our focus has been on the characterization of these new breeds of sheep and feeding systems and the transfer of this information to the growing number of hair sheep producers in the region. Research studies at the Southwest AREC allow for the development of profitable, sustainable hair sheep production systems that will result from identification and implementation of strategies to improve the genetics of hair sheep in a forage-based system, and from educational programming that will transfer this new knowledge to local producers. The principle objectives of this project are (1) establish and demonstrate genetic evaluation and flock improvement systems for hair sheep; (2) concurrently demonstate optimal sheep grazing management strategies; (3) construct a new facility to permit proper management of sheep for demonstration of performance testing protocols to evaluate growth, carcass, and other traits; and (4) conduct education, information dissemination, and producer mentoring programs to implement findings. Additional facililties and upgraded flock genetics for the sheep program at SWAREC are key components to providing solutions to issues facing the growing number of producers in the region. Past Research Abstract: High labor costs and difficulty in control of internal parasites are important contributors to the decline of the American sheep industry. This project will evaluate the potential of hair sheep to ameliorate these problems and contribute to development of easy-care sheep production systems. Experimental flocks of Katahdin, Dorper crossbred, and Dorset crossbred ewes (50 each) will be compared in spring lambing over three years. Ewes will be mated to Suffolk rams and evaluated for standard production traits (fertility, prolificacy, lamb survival, preweaning and post weaning lamb growth, and adult ewe size). Ewes and lambs will also be evaluated for parasite resistance (fecal egg counts and packed cell volume.) Lamb carcass merit will be assessed using both ultrasound and direct carcass measurements, and rib chops from a sample of carcasses will be used to evaluate tenderness and palatability of cooked meat. Establishment of the ewe flock began in 1999 and will continue for three additional years. Ewes produced in each year will be evaluated for three years. Sale of the final lambs from the project should occur in fall, 2005.
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Beef Cattle Research |
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PROJECT TITLE: Value-added Forage-based Growing Beef Cattle Systems for Southwest Virginia INVESTIGATOR(S): Scott Greiner and Dee Whittier Tall fescue is the predominate forage in Virginia and a 16 state region of the Eastern US. Most of the fescue in this region contains an endophyte (fungus) which produces a toxin that impairs growth, reproduction, and immune function. Young growing cattle and females of reproductive age are the most sensitive to this toxin. This project investigates cost effective nutritional strategies to reduce the impact of this fungal toxin during two critical times for young cattle: 1)Transition from weaning to the finishing phase (backgrounding), and 2)Immediately pre- and post-breeding. The goal of this research is to determine which combinations of forage type and/or supplementation enhances growth and reproductive efficiency. An additional goal is to determine which nutritional treatment may improve the health of animals during the finishing phase as well as improve product quality and food safety. It is well established that proper selection of sires can reduce the incidence of difficult births in heifers having their first calf. Selection of the appropriate sire is enhanced if bulls from artificial insemination companies are used because the impact of sire genetics on the birth weight of calves from these sires can be more accurately predicted. Adoption of artificial insemination is limited due to technician availability and labor constraints on farms with small herds. Estrous synchronization systems and resynchronization systems which facilitate use of artificial insemination in small herds would decrease calving problems in heifers by increasing the number of heifers bred to high accuracy AI sires. A second goal of this research is to investigate synchronization/resynchronization systems to increase the use of artificial insemination to breed heifers. |
Burley Tobacco Research |
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PROJECT TITLE: Burley Preliminary Test INVESTIGATOR(S): Carol A. Wilkinson Abstract: The Burley Regional Variety Evaluation Program was established to ensure that all new burley tobacco varieties released to the grower would be acceptable for manufacturing purposes and consumer demands. The Burley Preliminary Test is the first phase of a two-year program. The objective of this test is to evaluate potential new burley tobacco varieties for agronomic and chemical characteristics as part of the Regional Variety Evaluation Program. The Burley Regional Variety Evaluation Program is a voluntary and cooperative program among all segments of the tobacco industry. All new varieties must meet the minimum standards established by this program prior to their release. Use of higher yielding, disease resistant varieties increase profitability, reduce pesticide usage, and is environmentally sound. |
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PROJECT TITLE: Burley Quality Test INVESTIGATOR(S): Carol A. Wilkinson Abstract: The Burley Regional Variety Evaluation Program was established to ensure that all new burley tobacco varieties released to the grower would be acceptable for manufacturing purposes and consumer demands. The Burley Quality Test is the second phase of a two-year program. The objective of this test is to evaluate potential new burley tobacco varieties for agronomic, chemical and smoke flavor and aroma characteristics as part of the Regional Variety Evaluation Program. The Burley Regional Variety Evaluation Program is a voluntary and cooperative program among all segments of the tobacco industry. All new varieties must meet the minimum standards established by this program prior to their release. Use of higher yielding, disease resistant varieties increase profitability, reduces pesticide usage, and is environmentally sound. |
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PROJECT TITLE: Burley Variety Test INVESTIGATOR(S): Carol A. Wilkinson Abstract: Yield, quality, and disease resistance should be considered when selecting a variety best suited to each farm. The objective of this test is to evaluate commercially available cultivars and breeding lines developed by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station for agronomic and chemical characteristics. Results will be published annually in VCE Publication No. 436-417 Burley Tobacco Variety Information. Plant variety development with increased resistance to diseases and insects is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, improved water quality, and reduced pesticide use. Use of resistant varieties will reduce pesticide usage and production costs. |
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PROJECT TITLE: Fungicide Evaluation for Control of Tobacco Blue Mold INVESTIGATOR(S): Charles S. Johnson Abstract: Tobacco blue mold is the most important disease problem facing burley tobacco producers. Blue mold has cost the burley tobacco industry hundreds of millions of dollars over the past 4 years. Annual losses in Virginia have exceeded approximately $4 million dollars since 1994. Burley producers are currently dependent upon a single product to provide satisfactory control of this disease, and many farmers in Southwest Virginia do not possess adequate resources to effectively use the fungicide. This experiment will evaluate potential new fungicides, as well as new fungicide application strategies, in order to facilitate the registration of improved fungicides and to identify more practical and efficient fungicide application methods for tobacco blue mold. Similar experiments conducted at the Southwest Virginia AREC ion 1995-1997 helped make Acrobat MZ available to Virginia producers of burley tobacco. Since this event, losses to blue mold have been cut in half. However, annual losses in Virginia's burley crop continue to be estimated by county agents at approximately 14-15%. Registration of more effective fungicides, or development of fungicide application strategies more suited to the resources available to burley producers in Southwest Virginia, would cut these losses even further. Complete prevention of these losses would save Southwest Virginia agriculture an estimated $4 to 6 million dollars each year. For some producers, development of a more practical and effective blue mold control program could "make the difference" in the economic survival of their farming operation. |
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PROJECT TITLE: Tobacco entomology research at the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Glade Spring, Virginia. INVESTIGATOR(S): Paul Semtner Abstract: Various insect management techniques will be evaluated for the control of the tobacco-adapted form of the green peach aphid. Myzus persicae, the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix hirtipennis, and other insect pests on burley tobacco and for their resulting impact on tobacco price, grade index, yield and return. Preventive insecticide treatments are being compared with remedial treatments for aphid control and for their impact on production variables. The aphid is an important pest of burley tobacco in Virginia. Under heavy aphid pressure, the yield of burley tobacco can be reduced by 200 to 400 lbs/acre. Properly timed applications of foliar insecticides or preventive applications of imidacloprid (Admire) help prevent reductions in yield and quality. Experimental insecticides are also being evaluated for insect control on tobacco. A new orange-colored form of the green peach aphid will be collected at the station and evaluated for resistance to imidacloprid and Orthene (acephate), one of the most important insecticides used on tobacco in the United States. This color morph has shown moderate resistance to various organophosphate (Orthene-acephate) and carbamate insecticides. Information from this research will be used to improve recommendations for burley tobacco. |
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PROJECT TITLE: Regional Burley Tobacco Sucker Control Test INVESTIGATOR(S): Danny Peek Abstract: Investigating new chemistries and application methods for controlling suckers in burley tobacco is a continuing need. This is not only a need for Southwest Virginia, but also the entire burley-producing region. A regional experiment will be designed to evaluate seven treatments, replicated four times for a total of 28 plots. With the exception of sucker control practices recommended production practices will be followed. This experiment will be conducted on single plot rows to conserve plot space. Treatments will be applied at the early button stage as a course type spray, applied with a boom type sprayer. Data will be collected on the number of suckers and weight of suckers for each plot. After harvest yield and quality data will also be collected. Samples from each plot will be prepared and sent off for chemical analysis. This is an opportunity to calibrate with other universities in research for the benefit of burley tobacco producers across four states. This research has the potential to save tobacco producers both labor, costs, and improving leaf quality. Program Objectives Provide tobacco growers with information and knowledge that enables them to produce and market a high quality crop, that is desirable by industry and profitable for the grower, in an environmentally responsible manner " Applied research that is directed toward grower problems and develops a knowledge base " Agent trainings and field support " Delivery of unbiased research based Information " Collaboration with other university tobacco faculty and Industry personnel
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Herbaceous Crops for a Virginia Biofuels/Bioproducts Industry |
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John Fike, John Galbraith, David Parrish, Chris Teutsch, and Lee Wright Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences In Virginia and nationally, there is great interest in the potential to produce green power and bio-based products from biorefineries. This interest is driven by four key issues: 1) fossil fuel supplies are finite thus current energy use patterns are not sustainable; 2) dependency on petroleum from other countries heightens US national security risks; 3) continued fossil fuel consumption pose environmental risks; and 4) moving to renewable energy sources may offset these risks while providing for rural economic development. Few other new agricultural enterprises have the potential for such broad-scale impact as those based on the developing green power and products industries. Regions with a demonstrated ability to produce large amounts of high-quality biomass will fare much better in their efforts to attract these new industries. Production per land area will be an important factor in the calculus for siting a production facility. And, production per land area will be a chief driver of the economic return to growers, affecting their decision of whether or not to enter the market. As a first step in bringing this green industry vision to reality, both producers and manufacturers must know the productive potential and feedstock characteristics of potential biomass resources, or feedstocks. Moving to bio-based production systems will also have environmental consequences with potential benefit for producer incomes. For example, a carbon cap-and-trade system is currently being explored by governments as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With such a system, carbon emitters would pay farmers for the carbon that is sequestered in soils due to their production practices. Thus, biomass feedstock producers would stand to profit by growing low-input, perennial crops with large root systems that sink large amounts of carbon in the soil. Our experiment is testing existing and novel feedstock crops at several Virginia locations. In addition to testing their quantity and quality, we will examine their potential to sequester carbon in the soil. Data from this study will provide growers and industry with needed information to support the development of this exciting new agriculture-based enterprise. |
Christmas Tree & Hardwood Forestry Research |
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Forestry research is done in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry(VDOF). Research conducted utilizes approximately 1 acre for a planting of eastern white pine handling study. This is a replicated test of the effects of several storage times, shipping methods, and planting exposure on early growth and survival of white pine. The study was planted in March and April, 2007 at a very close spacing (2 x 2 feet) and will last two years. It is important for Christmas tree growers and others who plant white pine in southwest Virginia because there have been reports of unacceptable survival in recent years and we need to develop recommended practices to avoid the problem in the future. There is also a 30 area of eastern white pines established for future research needs at the center. There is also a site designated for a planting of a hardwood establishment trial for northern red and black oak. This project entails planting various sized seedlings of these two species at approximately a 10 x 10 ft spacing and using mulching mats, seedling tubes, weed control, and/or fertilizer to try to enhance their early growth and survival. The information from this trial is intended to provide improved reforestation recommendations to the CREP program, this set of plots were established in a field nearer to the stream to better represent riparian zone conditions. |
Wetlands Research |
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PROJECT TITLE: Wetlands Enhancement For Science Education INVESTIGATORS: B.S. Lovern, Saied Mostaghimi, Frank Smith and Tamim Younos Project Summary The Glade Spring Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project was initiated in 1997. The overall goal of the project is to improve and enlarge an existing wetland for use as an outdoor teaching facility on wetland ecology, functions and values. Upon completion of the project, the wetland facility will function as a self-guided nature trail and wetland walk. The site is located on the Northwest corner of Virginia Tech's Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Glade Spring, Virginia. During Phase 1 of the project (1997-1998) the following tasks were accomplished: 1. An advisory committee was established. 2. A strong partnership was established between various interested groups that on a voluntary basis contributed to many aspects of the project. 3. Funding in the amount of $13,900 was secured from various sources to initiate the project 4. Based on a study of soils, hydrology, and plant and wildlife species identification, a wetland design plan for wetland restoration and enhancement was developed. 5. The wetland restoration component of the project consisted of three parts and has been completed. These include the installation of the livestock crossing guard and fence to prevent farm animal grazing on the wetland; partial removal of two existing planting trees that would increase stream habitat quality, stream bank stability, and act as windbreaks. Partial construction of a path walk is completed as well. 6. The accomplishment of 1997-1998 is document in a 1998 publication (Lovern et al., 1998). Phase 2 of the project (1999-2000) will deal with wetland enhancement component of the project. Tasks to be accomplished include the following: footpath construction (including footbridges) for access to the wetland; establishing (reestablishing) appropriate native plant species; installing a berm and constructed wetland area to enhance the diversity on the site; construction of a road and a parking area for public access to the site, purchase of educational materials for instructors; and pronging and educational brochures to display on site.
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Virginia Cooperative Extension |