Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

MULTISTATE RESEARCH COORDINATING COMMITTEE/ INFORMATION EXCHANGE GROUP, SERA 11 Review and Coordination of Oilseed Rape Research Programs in the Southern Region (IEG-55) ANNUAL MEETING Randolph Farm Pavilion, 4415 River Road Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806 March 23-24, 2005 I. ATTENDANCE Participants: Washington D.C., U.S. Canola Association THORENSON, Dale  Guest Speaker Mississippi State University (MSU) MOORE, Reuben  Administrative Advisor Virginia Tech (VT) II. MINUTES 1. The meeting was called to order at 1:25 PM-ET, March 23, 2005. 2. Dave Starner welcomed participants to the meeting; each participant introduced him/herself. 3. Dave Starner introduced Dr. Winfrey S. Clarke (VSU, Director, Agricultural Research Station) who extended greetings to visitors; he provided an overview of the agricultural research and extension programs and activities at VSU, including research on (a) new crop (canola), (b) meat goat, (c) water quality. VSU has 10 full time research faculty; facilities include Co-op Pavilion, new Extension and Research buildings. VSU enrolls 5,000 students in four schools (no MS program in agriculture; hire mostly post-docs). Currently, VSU hosts four field days each year, namely, (1) Small Ruminant Expo (Annual Goat day); (2) Annual Ag-Field day; (3) Horticulture Field day; and (4) Housing Improvement Field day. VSU receives 100% match in state support that allowed the addition of Food Science program which focuses on food safety. 4. BUSINESS Meeting opened with the Treasurer's report by Dave Starner. The group has a current balance of $420.00 Balance from 2004: $280.00 Registration fee (2005): $180.00 Current balance: $460.00 No expense reported for 2005 meeting. Host (VSU) provided refreshments and meals. 5. After review of 2004 minutes, a motion to accept the minutes was made by David Buntin (UGA-Griffin), seconded by Dan Phillips (UGA-Griffin); carried. 6. Dave Starner commented on the procedure to elect new officers (Chair and Treasurer); he stated that the incumbent Treasurer is normally nominated for the chairmanship position for the following year. The current treasurer, Rufina Ward (AAMU) who was represented by Ernst Cebert (AAMU) at the meeting, was voted as Chairperson for 2005-2006. 7. Ernst Cebert nominated Robert Bacon (University of Arkansas) for treasurer; election of Robert Bacon carried. 8. R. Bacon commented on location of future meetings and raised concerns about declining member participation; the group suggested joint meetings with other groups, national and/or regional, particularly with southern agricultural workers. 9. Dr. Gerald L. "Skip" Jubb (Assoc. Dir. VAES and Asst. Dean for Research in the College of Agric. And Life Sci., Virginia Tech), introduced by Dave Starner, welcomed the SERA 11 group to Virginia and said that VA Agricultural Experimental Station is combined with VA Cooperative Extension as one agency in partnership at VT." 10. Dave Starner also introduced Reuben Moore (MAFES- MSU) as the new administrative advisor for SERA 11. As an administrative advisor, R. Moore said his responsibilities were to: a. expand impact statement b. continue regional canola efforts c. request minutes of meeting for regional report 11. It was noted that SERA IEG 11 regional proposal must be rewritten for 2007 submission. 12. R. Moore mentioned the possibility of a reduction in formula funding but the final decision on allocation had not been made. Moore suggested that the group may want to update the vision statement, and he encouraged soliciting more participation by extension personnel. A list of all participants would be included in the report. 13. State Reports (a). GEORGIA Paul Raymer's breeding program was suspended although work continues with advanced lines. Dan Phillips (Plant Pathologist, UGA- Griffin) retired but is working part time on blackleg, Sclerotinia and screening of double haploids for resistance; new lines are currently being tested. Oil Seed Initiative (Farmer's Co-Op Oilseed) officially folded because they could not raise enough money; it is being re-organized as Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) with DOW; DOW acquired rights to new canola releases (low linoleic, potential production in Southeast) by Raymer's lab. Dave Buntin commented that the canola acreage in Clarkson, GA belonging to DOW was the only bright aspect for canola in GA. Dan Phillips stated that trans-fat labeling was making low-linoelic canola lines more popular; additional lines from Dr. Raymer maybe released in the near future. Tim Gray (Weed Scientist, UGA-Griffin) mentioned carry over of chemicals with the use of canola following other crops. He also said that Canola Co-Op Production Guide needed revision; the main issue was the need for information on economic production for growers. David Buntin handed out a summary report from the Regional Canola Association. During a discussion, it was brought up that there were no grazing studies being conducted in the southeast region; most work in this area is being done in OK and KS; Information on grazing in the region is needed. (b). ARKANSAS Robert Bacon reported that AR is down from 1 million acres planted to wheat to only 150,000 in 2005 because of wet fall. He noted that more people were getting involved with canola research including studies on virus, sclerotinia (gel assay; screening by USDA, etc; rotation fumigation) and growth regulators (by cotton physiologist), but no commercial activities. (c). ALABAMA Ernie Cebert talked about his canola research and his collaboration with the Food Science Department, AAMU; he also briefed the group on the canola research undertaken by Udai Bishnoi, Rufina Ward and Rao Mentreddy. Current canola research at AAMU includes the following: E. Cebert--screening and breeding for agronomically superior cultivars for Alabama U. Bishnoi--crop rotation, fertilization, forage R. Ward--bionomics of major insect pests of canola R. Mentreddy--economics of canola as an alternate crop to wheat No commercial activities also for Alabama. (d). VIRGINIA According to Harbans Bhardwaj (VSU), VA will release VX1 in 2006; as in other states, no commercial production occurring in Virginia. Organic production of canola is also underway, e.g.., for seed production (on 2.5 acres), oil and greens. They are also looking at other Brassicas from India for greens and are considering Chesapeake Bay canola (in collaboration with Arcadia Biosciences) for nitrogen removal. 14. After the break, Dale Thorenson, a consultant for the US Canola Association, was introduced. He discussed the issues on budget deficit and the implications with respect to canola efforts in the US. He reported on the various national activities pertaining to canola: a. A new biodiesel plant being built in Fargo, ND; has $10M funding b. ND has 1M acres of canola. c. OK and KS have 300- 20,000 acres; 100,000 acres by 2006 d. Crop insurance is the limiting factor preventing growers from adapting canola e. D. Thorenson reported on the recent US Canola meeting (March 1, 2005) attended by 12 senators and 16 congressmen; he noted that if canola and sunflower join forces, they make a stronger coalition for federal funding. f. D. Thorenson also talked about Food Dietary guidelines i. Laymen must be educated on "good" and "bad" oil. ii. FDA ruled on canola health plan--Canola supporters must petition FDA for health plan similar to olive oil iii. NCR requested $1M from congress 15. Group's discussion coverage included the following: a. Biodiesel--canola will play an increasingly important role b. There was an increase in canola acreage in OK and KS in rotation with wheat due to too much weed pressure on wheat; another reason was that winter canola is excellent for cattle grazing. 16. Report by David Buntin on US canola (printed report handed out). a. New race of blackleg (a priority in Canada) b. Southern region--Proposal/ RFPs--Selections are combined and sent to Washington , D.C. Canola is model program used in DC because i. growers are primary consideration ii. funds are distributed by competitive grants iii. funds are appropriately accounted for c. US Canola Pesticide Registration--printed handouts were given to participants; registration included new herbicide labels. 17. Dave Starner opened the discussion on next year's meeting. R. Bacon asked if next venue should have field plots. It was suggested that R. Ward and R. Bacon should look into the possibility of having a joint meeting with canola groups in Midwestern region for 2006. 18. The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm. MARCH 24, 2005 MEETING Presiding - David Starner 1. The group reconvened at 8:30 am at the same venue. 2. Paul Rose (UGA-Griffin) presented an overview of the canola variety testing at UGA. He reported that six tests are being conducted in 3 locations using both spring and winter cultivars. They are looking at oil, bloom, disease and fertilization; they used Treflan for pre-germination treatment and Poast to control grass in the spring. To control cabbage seedpod weevil, Warrior and other insecticides are applied twice in the spring. 3. Robert Bacon reported on agronomic research ongoing in UAR which includes the following aspects: seeding rate, planting dates, fertilizer, drainage problem, sclerotinia. 4. Dale Thorenson (consultant for US Canola Council) raised a question on the feasibility of increasing new lines to provide necessary seeds for canola production. He touched on the World Trade Organization case regarding a dispute between the US and Brazil. He also mentioned that the US budget for agriculture is not good. He invited interested parties to attend the GCIRC Technical Meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada scheduled on June 27-28, 2005. 5. The group visited VSU canola field plots; the trip was hosted by Harbans Bhardwaj. 6. The meeting officially adjourned at 12:00 pm.