NCCC_OLD31: Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCCC_OLD31: Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management
Duration: 10/01/2004 to 09/30/2010
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Agriculture in the U.S. and the North Central Region is enduring a period of rapid change. Congress has been compelled in recent years to provide emergency subsidies to many of the nation's farmers. Farm commodity prices are at near-record low levels because of excessive production, financial decline in global markets, heightened competition from foreign markets, and many other reasons. Today, concerns over use of genetically modified crops and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices are commonplace in the national media.
Forage crops have important roles in US agriculture. They diversify crop production through "cash hay" marketing. Many producers are implementing new grazing-based systems for beef, dairy, and sheep production. Both cash-hay and livestock grazing have been among the most profitable systems during the 1990s. An important economic advantage to many forage species is that they are perennial, a trait that lowers production cost and conserves soil. Requirements for pesticides and other inputs are generally lower for forages than for most annual crops. Often, perennial legumes such as alfalfa are included in farming systems as an inexpensive source of nitrogen.
Forages are the nation's primary tools for broad-based environmental improvement. The primary outcomes of the Conservation Reserve Program were to stabilize landscapes with erosive soils and to enhance wildlife habitat. Use of perennial forages has accommodated both outcomes. Improved water quality, soil quality, and carbon sequestration also have resulted.
Besides serving in these contemporary roles, forages will serve as the foundation for future value-added industries. The US Department of Energy has been leading research programs to develop use of forage grasses as feedstocks for ethanol production or for use as a supplemental fuel in coal-fired electrical generation. These biomass energy industries will add further diversification to production agriculture and will bring new industries and employment opportunities to rural communities.
Forage species will continue to play an important role in addressing many of the nation's agricultural and environmental issues. Water quality, biomass energy, sustainable agriculture systems, global climate change, and implementation of biotechnology in agriculture are all major issues in the North Central region and to forage scientists. Presently in most North Central states inadequate numbers of scientists specializing in forage management and physiology remain. In some North Central states, forage research programs have been eliminated or reduced significantly by both the State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES) and the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS). This is occurring at a time when demand for discovery and dissemination of forage knowledge is at its highest and when the research questions being asked are increasing more complex. Interaction among scientists remaining in the North Central region whose research focuses on management and physiology of forage species has never been more important.
The committee serves as an important mechanism of communication among forage crop physiologists and grassland ecologists in the North Central Region. At the annual meetings of the group, detailed reports apprise each member of the most recent research developments at other SAES and USDA/ARS locations in the region. During these meetings, each member becomes personally and professionally acquainted with counterparts at other institutions. Lines of communication are established which are used frequently throughout each year. Thus, through this committee, the total forage research program of the region is coordinated and monitored. The communication among states and USDA/ARS fostered by this committee helps to bring about these cooperative research efforts and encourages the development of centers of excellence on fairly specific topics. Collectively, these efforts result in efficient, broad, rigorous, and internationally recognized programs of forage management and forage physiology research in the North Central Region.
Objectives
-
To promote funding of forage related research by local, regional, and national granting agencies, identify current funding sources, and work collaboratively to obtain funding for high-priority research
-
Through well-organized annual meetings, provide a venue to review current research, identify emerging forage-related issues and foster collaborative efforts to stimulate research on high-priority physiological, ecological, and management problems
-
Foster interactions and collaborations with other NC(R) committees such as NC-226 (Alfalfa Persistence) and with individual scientists working in related disciplines (e. g., Noble Foundation-Ardmore, OK)
-
Identify and discuss the physiological basis for genetic differences in growth and adaptation of forages to the numerous ecosystems where they are grown
-
Communicate advances in forage physiology and management to colleagues in research, teaching, and extension programs in the region, the U.S. and the world. This will be accomplished through joint publications, annual reports, symposia, and through greater use of the Internet
-
Encourage professional and intellectual development among members, their staff and students.
Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- <b>NCR-31 Outcomes</b> <ul><li>Improved visibility of forage related research among funding agencies and increased success in obtaining funds for multi-location proposals. <li>Initiation of collaborative research projects in high-priority areas identified during annual meetings. <li>Inclusion of outside researchers with related interests, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates in committee activities, resulting in a broader understanding of related research issues and improved training of young scientists. <li>Timely dissemination of research results through multiple outlets. <li>Shared analytical protocols among committee members.</li></ul>
- <b>NCR-31 Impacts</b> <ul><li>Though discussions, shared protocols, and collaborative projects, the quality and coordination of research will be improved, resulting in increased funding for and more efficient use of dollars allocated to forage ecophysiology and management research. <li>Sharing of research results will result in greater breadth and depth of forage-related teaching and extension education programs, leading to better trained professionals and more rapid dissemination and implementation of advances in forage management practices. </li></ul>
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
We plan to continue the Committee website at (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/rc_secre/NCR31/), updated for the new Committee number. Through this website and other means, we plan to increase our linkages to (e. g.) the Nobel Foundation, the European Grassland Federation, the British Grassland Society, the New Zealand Grassland Society, the Australian Grassland Society, the Pasture Ecology Working Group, and the American Forage and Grassland Conference.
Organization/Governance
The Committee will follow the recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities, which includes the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. We plan to follow the past governance practice of electing a new Secretary annually, with the officers progressing through Chair-elect and Chair on annual terms. Administrative guidance will be provided by an Administrative Advisor assigned by NCRA, and a CSREES Representative.
Literature Cited
Cosponsored Symposia: The carbon cycle of forage and grazing lands: is it worth managing. 2001. ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annual Meetings, Charlotte, NC. Plant diversity in forage and grazing lands. 2002. ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annual Meetings, Indianapolis, IN. Journal Articles: Affeldt, R.P., K.A. Albrecht, C.M. Boerboom, and E.J. Bures. 2004. Integrating herbicide resistant corn technology in a kura clover living mulch system. Agron. J. 96:247-251. Albrecht, K.A., and K.A. Beauchemin. 2003. Alfalfa and other perennial legume silage. p. 633-664. In Silage science and technology. Agron. Monogr. 42. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI. Barta, A. L., R.M. Sulc, R. M., M.J. Ogle, and R.B. Hammond. 2002. Interaction between flooding or drought stress and potato leafhopper injury in alfalfa. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2002-0502-01-RS. Casler, M.D., P. R. Peterson, L. D. Hoffman, N. J. Ehlke, E. C. Brummer, J. L. Hansen, M. J. Mlynarek, M. R. Sulc, J. C. Henning, D. J. Undersander, P. G. Pitts, P. C. Bilkey and C. A. Rose-Fricker. 2002. Natural selection for survival improves freezing tolerance, forage yield, and persistence of festulolium. Crop Sci. 42:1421-1426. Elmi, A.A., C.P. West, R.T. Robbins, and T.L. Kirkpatrick. 2000. Endophyte effects on reproduction of a root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne marylandi) and osmotic adjustment in tall fescue. Grass Forage Sci. 55: 166-172. Mitchell, R., and L.E. Moser. 2000. Developmental morphology and tiller dynamics of warm-season grass swards. p 49-66 In: K.J. Moore and B.E. Anderson (ed.) Native warm-season grasses: Research trends and issues. CSSA Spec. Pub. 30. Crop Soc. Amer. Madison, WI. Francis, C., G. Lieblein, S. Gliessman, T.A. Breland, N. Creamer, R. Harwood, L. Salomonsson, J. Helenius, D. Rickerl, R. Salvador, M. Wiedenhoeft, S. Simmons, P. Allen, M. Altieri, C. Flora, and R. Poincelot. 2003. Agroecology: The Ecology of Food Systems, J. of Sust. Agric. 22:99-118. Frank, A.B. and J. D. Berdahl. 2001. Gas exchange and water relations in diploid and tetraploid. Russian wildrye. Crop Sci. 41:87-92. Frank, A. B. and W. A. Dugas. 2001. Carbon dioxide fluxes over a northern, semiarid, mixed-grass prairie. Agric. Forest Meteorol. 108:317-326. Leep, R.H., J. R. Andresen and P. Jeranyama. 2001. Fall Dormancy and Snow Depth Effects on Winterkill of Alfalfa. Agron. J. 93: 1230-1234. MacAdam, J. W. and C. J. Nelson. 2003. Physiology of forage plants, pp. 73-97 In R. F. Barnes, C. J. Nelson, M. Collins and K. J. Moore (ed.) Forages. An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture, Vol. I, 6th Ed., Iowa State Press, Ames. MacAdam, J. W. and J. H. Grabber. 2002. Relationship of growth cessation with the formation of diferulate cross-links and p-coumaroylated lignins in tall fescue leaf blades. Planta, 215: 785-793 Mousel, E.M., W.H. Schacht, and L.E. Moser. 2003. Summer grazing strategies following early-season grazing of big bluestem. Agron. J. 95:1240-1245. Noquet, C., F. Meuriot, J.-C. Avice, A. Ourry, S.M. Cunningham, and J.J. Volenec. 2003. Short-day photoperiod induced changes in N uptake, N partitioning and accumulation of vegetative storage proteins in two Medicago sativa L. cultivars. Func. Plant Biol. 30:853-863. Owens, V.N., K.A. Albrecht, R.E. Muck, and S.H. Duke. 2002. Protein degradation in direct-cut red clover and alfalfa silage harvested at various times of the day. Grass and Forage Sci. 57:329-341. Rao, S. C., and W. A. Phillips. 1999. Forage production and nutritive value of three lespedeza cultivars incorporated into continuoius no-till winter wheat. J. prod. Agric. 12:235-238. Rao S. C., W. A. Phillips H. S. Mayeux, and S. C. Phatak. 2003. Potential grain and forage production of early maturing pigeonpea in the southern Great Plains. Crop Sci. 43:2212-2217. Sanderson, M.A., R.H. Skinner, D.J. Barker, G.R. Edwards, B.F. Tracy, and D.A. Wedin. 2004. Plant species diversity and management of temperate forage and grazing lands. Crop Sci. 44 (In Press). Skinner, R.H., D.L. Gustine, and M.A. Sanderson. 2004. Growth, water relations, and nutritive value of pasture species mixtures under moisture stress. Crop Science 44: (In Press). Smart, A.J., L.E. Moser, and K.P. Vogel. 2003. Establishment and seedling growth of big bluestem and switchgrass populations divergently selected for seedling tiller number. Crop Sci. 43:1434-1440. Thelen, K. D., and Leep, R. H. 2002. Integrating a double-cropped winter annual forage into a corn-soybean rotation. Online. Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2002-1218-01-RS. Tracy, B.F. and M.A. Sanderson. 2000. Patterns of plant species richness in pasture lands of the northeast United States. Plant Ecology. 149:169- 180. Tracy, B.F. and M.A. Sanderson. 2004. Relationships between forage plant diversity and weed invasion in pasture communities. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment. In Press. West, C.P., and C.J. Nelson. 2003. Naturalized grassland ecosystems and their management. In R. F Barnes et al. (eds.) Forages: An introduction to grassland agriculture. p. 315-337. Vol. I. 6th edition. Iowa State Press, Ames, IA. Wiedenhoeft, M, S. Simmons, R. Salvador, G. McAndrews, C. Francis, J. King, and D. Hole. 2003. Agroecosystems Analysis from the Grass Roots: A Multidimensional Experiential Learning Course. J of Nat. Res. and Life Sci. 32:73-79. Volenec, J.J., S.M. Cunningham, D.M. Haagenson, W.K. Berg, B.C. Joern, and D.W. Wiersma. 2002. Physiological genetics of alfalfa improvement: past failures and future prospects. Field Crops Res. 75:97-110. Extension Publications: Berg W.K., S.M. Brouder, B.C. Joern, K.D. Johnson, and J.J. Volenec. 2003. Enhancing alfalfa production through improved potassium management. Better Crops. 87:8-11. Berg W.K., S.M. Brouder, B.C. Joern, K.D. Johnson, and J.J. Volenec. 2003. Improved phosphorus management enhances alfalfa production. Better Crops. 87:20-23. Owens, V.N. and E. Omdahl. 2003. Alfalfa cultivar yield test for South Dakota: 2003 Report. Available at http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/forages/ (verified 12 January 2004). Sulc, R. M., and Barker, D. J. 2003. All About Grazing: Planting the Right Forage This Spring. Farm & Dairy. 6 Feb. 2003 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6932985&BRD=1996&PAG=461&dept_id=459499&rfi=6). Sulc, R. M., Santen, E., Johnson, K., Sheaffer, C., and Undersander, D. 2003. Forage quality of glandular-haired and standard alfalfa cultivars. p. 1 In Forage Progress Vol. 1, April 2003. American Forage & Grassland Council, Geogetown, TX. Available online at http://www.afgc.org/afgcforageprogressapril2003.pdf. Grants: Sulc, R.M., and R.B. Hammond. 2001-2003. Economic Thresholds in Potato Leafhopper Resistant Alfalfa Varieties. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Crop Management Research Awards Program and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Competitive Grants Program. Sulc, R. M., Yost, J. K. 2003-2005. Integration of Livestock Grazing and Row Crop Systems in Ohio and Southern Brazil. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Competitive Grants Program. Sulc, R.M., A.L. Barta, L.H. Rhodes, R.B. Hammond, and H.R. Willson. 2000. Biotic and abiotic stress effects on alfalfa persistence. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Competitive Grants Program, Interdisciplinary Team Research Competition. J.J. Volenec, B.C. Joern, S.M. Brouder, and K.D. Johnson, Purdue University. Foundation for Agronomic Research. Impact of Potassium and Phosphorus Nutrition on Yield, Persistence, and Taproot Physiology of Alfalfa. (see website associated with this project: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/kteam_index.asp ). J.J. Volenec, Purdue University, M.P. Scott, USDA-ARS, K.J. Moore, Iowa State University, D. Luth, Iowa State University. USDA-IFAFS Program. A Multifaceted Approach To Understand the Genetic Basis of Winter hardiness in Alfalfa. E.C. Brummer, Iowa State University, Tracy, B.F., D. Faulkner, G. Bollero, and A. Slivis. University of Illinois College of ACES Dudley Smith Initiative. Integrating livestock into a sustainable cropping system: The Dudley Smith Initiative. Owens, V.N. and R.J. Pruitt. Extending the grazing season using spring small grains planted in the summer: A comparison of barley, oats, triticale, and wheat planted in various seedbed conditions. USDA through the Montana Feed Barley for Rangeland Cattle Project. Owens, V.N., A. Boe, J.J. Doolittle, T.E. Schumacher, D.D. Malo, J.H. Lee, and K.F. Higgins. Biomass production and impacts on soil quality and biodiversity of switchgrass monocultures and native warm-season grass mixtures across environmental gradients in the Northern Great Plains. US Dept. of Energy through the Great Plains Inst. for Sust. Development.