Annual/Termination Reports:

[01/16/2024] [01/28/2025] [07/05/2025] [07/12/2025]

Report Information

Participants

See attached publication

Brief Summary of Minutes

See attached publication

Accomplishments

<p>See attached publication</p>

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

See summary of minutes

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

<p>The National Sweetpotato Collaborators demonstrate a collaborative effort across the three missions (Research, Extension, Teaching) of landgrant institutions.&nbsp; Information on the Sweetpotato Collaborators trialing of new cultivars across the U.S. is extended through the Extension/Outreach of faculty from institutions across the U.S. Ultimately, these studies evaluate the adaptablility of new and potential cultivars in the different growing regions across the U.S.&nbsp; In addition, the group's student development program through their graduate student contest in which students develop and present their results of their studies has been highly successful in terms of numbers (15 or more) of graduate students participating and ultimately becoming a part of the agricultural industry when they complete their degree(s).&nbsp; The summary of minutes (report) highlights the planning and impacts that this group makes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Publications

<p>This group collaborates on a routine basis through competitive grants and at times referred publications.&nbsp; The SERA5 group's primary collaborative publication is their report.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

see attached report

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting had 38 presentations from members of the National Sweetpotato Collaborators. The 38 presentations (oral plus posters) consisted of 17 non-graduate students and 11 M.S. and 10 PhD graduate students.  Historically, there are between 15 to 20 graduate student who make presentations.  The information presented by graduate students related to their research projects. The presentations were in the research areas of sweetpotato plant biology, crop production including cultural practices and disease, insect and weed management, and sweetpotato processing and marketing.  Abstracts were developed for each presentation.

A 64-page report was developed for the meeting and is attached.  The report includes the agenda, abstracts of all presentations, approved 2024 business meeting minutes, production reports from each sweetpotato state, results from the 2024 National Sweetpotato Collaborators Variety trials, and resolutions. 

There was a lot of discussion and plans made for the 2025 National Sweetpotato Collaborators Variety trials.  The group developed a list of varieties/clones that will be included in the trials and sites/states where these trials will be located.  

Winners of the Graduate Student Presentation Contest (M.S. and Ph.D.) were selected based on their performance and then announced at the meeting.  Members of SERA5 participated in the judging of graduate student presentations.

Tristan Watson (LSU) completed his responsibilities as Chair of SERA5 and Lorin Harvey (Mississippi State Univ.) assumed responsibilities as Chair.  Past Chair was Shaun Francis (University of AR - Pine Bluff).  Currently, Callie Morris serves as Secretary-Treasurer, Katie Jennings (NC State Univ.) as Website Manager, and Michelle McHargue (Lamb Weston, WA) as the Graduate Student Contest Coordinator for SERA5. 

Landgrant Universities (1862 and 1890), USDA, and scientists from Brazil and Hungary were represented at the meeting this year.

Throughout the year, leadership meetings occurred to plan the meeting.  

 

Accomplishments

<p>Short-term outcomes - Local grower meetings and tours were conducted to inform growers how to best manage their sweetpotato crop (production, pest managment including nematodes, diseases weeds and insects. Field days were conducted in many of the states represented by SERA5. An example can found at the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjLnd10NgXsewJdKbNkhB-X9zS8awCKbs">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjLnd10NgXsewJdKbNkhB-X9zS8awCKbs</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Outputs:&nbsp; The attached report has outputs that are listed.&nbsp; See also publications that are listed in the publication sections.</p><br /> <p>Activities: The National Sweetpotato Collaborator meetings, the National Clean Plant Network, and the National Sweetpotato Grower Advisory meetings are where members of SERA5 develop collaborative research and Extension activities to&nbsp;address the needs of the Sweetpotato Industry.</p><br /> <p>Milestones: Members of SERA5 are working together on a number of issues in sweetpotato: management of Root-Knott nematodes, insects, weeds, diseases, quality, yield, new varieties for production, processing, labor, marketing, nutrition, other uses and many others.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Publications

<p>see attached file</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

See attached report

Brief Summary of Minutes

The Sweetpotato Collaborators met in Wilmington, NC in conjunction with the U.S. Sweet Potato Council, The National Clean Plant Network (sweetpotato) and the National Sweetpotato Advisory Committee made up primarily of growers and people in the sweetpotato industry.  The Conference had eight sponsors that included BASF, Black Gold, Helena, Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission, Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, NC Sweetpotato Commission, Simplot and Syngenta.  These sponsors are actively involved in the sweetpotato industry.  There were 45 presentations (oral or poster) total, with 5 M.S. student presentations and 14 PhD student presentations.  A CLEANSEED USDA grant update was given by Dr. Mark Shankle, and the multistate project process update was give by Dr. David Monks.  The group elected a new chair-elect and Dr. Katie Jennings completed her chair responsibilities.  Dr. Shaun Francis from University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff assumed the responsibilities of chair at the end of the meeting.  There was a lot of discussion on the topics presented.  State reports on past year's production acreage and issues, etc were given by representatives from most attending states.   

Accomplishments

<ul><br /> <li>The primary outcomes were graduate student training which could be considered workforce development for academia including research, teaching and Extension.&nbsp; Workforce development was in the area of sweetpotato but has a broader impact as the participating graduate students may work in other areas in agriculture.</li><br /> <li>The research shared will provide solutions to many of the production issues in sweetpotato.&nbsp; The solutions will be shared in each of the sweetpotato states through Extension faculty and county agents.</li><br /> <li>The National Sweetpotato Collaborators Variety/Clone Tests across the U.S. has and will lead to commercial releases of sweetpotato varieties for use by farmers.&nbsp; Planning for the tests (ie locations, which clones to include) for the upcoming season occurred at this meeting.</li><br /> <li>Dialogue on potential proposals and existing grant results were reported at the meeting.&nbsp;</li><br /> </ul>

Publications

<p>see attached report</p>

Impact Statements

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