Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes:  NCCC31 Meeting

June 14-16, 2016

Corvallis, OR

 Day 1 meeting was called to order  at 8:00 am by President Kim Cassida. Minutes were recorded by Secretary Craig Roberts.

 Attendees included NCCC031 members Dr. Amanda Ashworth– USDA, ARS, Small Farms Research Center, Arkansas; Dr. Kim Cassida – Michigan State University; Dr. Bill Lamp - University of Maryland (co-local host);  Dr. Jennifer MacAdam– Utah State University; Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olsen, (substitute for Jamie Foster, by Skype) – Texas A&M University; Dr. Dirk Phillips – University of Arkansas; Dr. Craig Roberts – University of Missouri; Dr. Howard Skinner, – USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Center, Pennsylvania; Dr. Mark Sulc – Ohio State University; Dr. Ben Tracy – Virginia Polytechnic University; and Dr. Chuck West – Texas Tech University.  

 Guests: Gufroni Arsjad –Oregon State University (graduate student); Dr. David Hannaway– Oregon State University; Gordon Jones –Virginia Polytechnic University (graduate student); Dr. Matt Sanderson –USDA, ARS, Northern Great Plains Research Lab, North Dakota.

Introductions were made all around.  

 Members were reminded that Kim needs to written reports from each state, due to her by July 1, 2016, so that she can prepare the annual report.

Our Co-host Bill Lamp discussed logistics for the meeting:  food, registrations ($16), Wednesday tour details, Thursday optional tour. Our other Co-host Dr. Tom Griggs was unable to attend due to illness, but was thanked for his hard work in arranging many details of the meeting and tour.

Committee assignments: 

• Site: Craig Roberts (chair), Chuck West, Howard Skinner
• Nominations: Ben Tracy (chair), Mark Sulc, Matt Sanderson
• Resolutions: Jennifer MacAdam (chair), Ben Tracy, Kim Cassida

The meeting began with a Skype discussion with James Kells, Administrative Assistant

• Unable to attend because of weather (last year) and funeral (this year)
• Annual report due 60 days after this meeting
• Suggested we have a NIFA rep (Matt Sanderson suggested Jeff Steiner)

 An invited presentation by Nicole Anderson, OSU Extension Specialist, gave us an overview of the Oregon forage seed industry. 

State presentations

• Ohio report, by Mark Sulc
• Maryland report, by Bill Lamp
• Missouri report, by Craig Roberts
• Utah report, by Jennifer MacAdam
• Pennsylvania USDA report, by Howard Skinner
• Virginia report, by Ben Tracy
• Texas A&M report, by Vanessa Corriher-Olsen via Skype
• Texas Tech report, by Chuck West
• Arkansas report, by Dirk Phillip
• Arkansas report (USDA), by Amanda Ashworth
• North Dakota report, by Matt Sanderson
• Michigan report, by Kim Cassida

 The day ended with an invited presentation on the “Ruminant Revolution” by our tour guide, Peter Ballerstedt of Barenbrug USA.

 Day 1 adjourned at 5:30 pm.

Day 2 was a full day of tours of the Willamette Valley forage and seed industry under guidance of Peter Ballerstedt.

Day 3 meeting was called to order at 8:00 am, Kim Cassida presiding.

 Attendance was reduced on Day 3 because many members discovered it is difficult to find flights late in the day to the eastern half of the US and had to leave early. Present were Amanda Ashworth; Kim Cassida; Bill Lamp;  Jennifer MacAdam; Dirk Phillips; Howard Skinner; Ben Tracy; Chuck West and guests Gufroni Arsjad, David Hannaway,  Gordon Jones, and Matt Sanderson. Anowar Islam (University of Wyoming) was a new face.

 In the absence of Craig Roberts, Kim Cassida took the minutes.

 The optional post-meeting tour was canceled because everyone had tight schedules getting to the airport

 Meeting resolutions were presented by Jennifer MacAdam and approved by the group: 

Be it resolved that; Drs. Tom Griggs and Bill Lamp created a stimulating and engaging tour, and that; Dr. Jim Kells of Michigan State University maintained a steady hand on the rudder as our Administrative Advisor, and that Nicole Anderson of OSU provided an informative overview of seed production in the Willamette Valley; and that Dr. Peter Ballerstedt of Barenbrug USA challenged our understanding of nutrition and shepherded our group for the entire day; and that Steve Reid and Roeland Kapsenberg of DLF increased our knowledge of festulolium and other ryegrass grass breeding advances; and that Brian Jaasko of Smith Seed Services described the seed coating process and hosted a step-by-step tour of his seed coating facility; and that Barenbrug CEO James Schneider hosted our lunch and elucidated Barenbrug’s wholesale and retail operation; and that Devesh Singh of Barenbrug USA shared his current breeding projects on meadow fescue, tall fescue, and orchardgrass; and that Clare Sullivan of OSU informed our understanding of seed production by introducing us to white clover producer Cody Younger, shepherd Levi Wall, and straw exporters Stan and Shelly Boshart, who generously shared their knowledge and insights with us; and that Organic dairy producer Jon Bansen explained his pasture management approaches and philosophy as a multi-generational dairy producer; and finally, that Members of NCCC31 are deeply grateful for this opportunity to exchange information and ideas during their June 14-16, 2016 meeting in Corvallis, Oregon, and especially thank Dr. Craig Roberts for his service as secretary and Dr. Kim Cassida for her excellent leadership as our chair in making this meeting a great success!

 The nominations committee nominated Dirk Phillip as incoming president. Dirk accepted the nomination and was elected by the group.

 The site committee presented the University of Nebraska in Lincoln as site for the 2017 meeting, with John Guretsky hosting.  This site was approved. A June 2017 meeting date is preferred, with July also acceptable.  

 The Wyoming state report was presented by Anowar Islam.

 The meeting concluded with discussions on new collaborative research ideas, centering on a new long term trial on biodiversity of complex forage mixtures to follow up on the recently published binary mixture tall fescue/alfalfa collaboration.  Matt Sanderson emphasized the need for this to be a truly long-term experiment. Ben Tracy agreed to design a simple experiment and send to the group for additional input.

 The meeting adjourned at 8:58 am.

A. Review current research on forage and grasslands and coordinate future work among the participating institutions and diverse environments.

• Group members met in Corvallis OR to discuss research findings and plan future collaborations. As a result of meeting in this location, Oregon State University formally joined NCCC-031.
• Plans were initiated for a new collaborative study on biodiversity in forage mixtures.
• The USDA-ARS Small Farms Research Station in Booneville, AR, joined NCCC-031.

B. Identify emerging forage-related issues and develop collaborative efforts that address high priority physiological, ecological, and management challenges and opportunities.

• Collaborating scientists in TN, NC, and OH characterized nutritive value and forage yield of alfalfa grown in monoculture and in mixtures with tall fescue and bermudagrass under four harvest frequencies (21, 28, 35, and 42-day cutting intervals).
• Collaborating scientists in OH, PA, MI, WI, KS, and CA initiated work to evaluate a new transgenic alfalfa cultivar with reduced lignin content.
• Collaborating scientists in WI, MN, and PA evaluated effect of hay rake type on forage ash content.
• Collaborating scientists in MD, PA, UT, VA, WI, and WY concluded that alfalfa tall fescue mixtures consistently yielded more and contained less weeds that monocultures, while fixing 131 lb/acre of nitrogen every year.
• Collaborating scientists in AL, UT, MI, KY, MO, and ID screened birdsfoot trefoil genotypes for persistence and condensed tannin content when grown with tall fescue.
• Collaborating scientists in WI, MI, and PA evaluated alfalfa cultivars for establishment vigor when planted with silage corn.Missouri scientists published the first collaborative report of a linkage map created for Mediterranean tall fescue and updated the map for Continental tall fescue with additional simple sequence repeat and sequence-tagged site markers (Dierking et al., 2015). This is the first time that diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers have been used in the construction of a tall fescue map.
• Missouri scientists has been linked the DRD2 gene in cattle to dry matter intake and average daily gain in heifers and 205-d adjusted weaning weight in calves.
• Missouri scientists showed that cultivars of tall fescue that host novel endophytes vary in susceptibility to rust (Puccinia).

• Missouri scientists showed that ergovaline and total ergot alkaloids are highly concentrated in the bottom 5 cm of the vegetative canopy in the autumn. Total ergot alkaloids are also highly concentrated in the bottom 5 cm of the vegetative canopy in the spring.

• Texas Tech scientists investigated the water usage of improved forages and the water use efficiency of beef production in th4 Texas High Plains.
• Texas Tech scientists developed growth functions of WW-B.Dahl and investigated claims that WW-B.Dahl can deter harmful insects. 
• Scientists in Ohio and Tanzania showed that soil degradation in Tanzania can be decreased by growing the forage grass brachiaria.
• USDA-ARS found that, compared with beet pulp, supplementing a pasture-based diet with barley grain results in greater fiber digestibility and reduced methane output. 
• USDA-ARS reported that nutritional quality of most cool-season species pastures in the Northeast will support moderate levels of milk production in grazing dairy cows; however, energy supplementation is required for higher levels of milk production.
• USDA-ARS and UNH found that supplementing dairy cows consuming a high-forage diet with flaxseed improved the beneficial fatty acid profile in milk.
• USDA-ARS and UNH found that supplementing dairy cows with increasing levels of kelp did not improve milk production but may have negative human health impacts due to potentially toxic levels of iodine in milk.
• USDA-ARS has developed recommendations for use of sprouted barley grain (fodder) in grazing dairy systems.
• USDA-ARS scientists showed that the fall-grazing season can be extended to December by using forage brassicas, potentially reducing livestock winter feed needs by 20%.
• USDA-ARS scientists showed that using warm-season annuals can potentially reduce enteric methane output by 20% to 45%.
• USDA-ARS scientists showed that by correctly calibrating a rising plate meter, errors in forage yield estimation can be reduced from 10.6% to 4.9%.
• USDA-ARS scientists found that increasing plant species number had long-term positive impacts on biomass yield and soil carbon sequestration.

• Penn State scientists evaluated the efficacy if Silo-Guard^® on alfalfa/grass balage at three moisture levels.
• Penn State scientists evaluated biomass (switchgrass, willow, Miscanthus) production on marginal lands.
• Penn State scientists evaluated efficacy of the BioAg^® seed treatment on alfalfa establishment and yield.
• Penn State scientists screened switchgrass ecotypes for productivity on marginal lands.

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research evaluated the nutritive value as impacted by management of over 100 sorghum lines with various genetic traits,
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research initiated a Remote Sensing Technology for Natural Resource Management working group,
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research evaluated the potential for Teff or summer-dormant cool-season grasses to be incorporated into Texas forage systems,
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research enhanced optimization of small grains integration into livestock production,
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research determined the potential of cool-season legume hay cover crops or warm-season legume dual crops to secure soil and the impact on water footprint,
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research investigated the impact of stocking rate, fertility regimen, and forage species on nutrient recycling aspects of bermudagrass pastures.
• Utah scientists evaluated the effect of fertilizer and reduced irrigation on pasture productivity.
• Utah scientists characterized the effect of cover crops and compost carryover on wheat yield and quality, and evaluated strategies for integrating legumes into existing grass pastures in Utah.
• Utah scientists evaluated the effects of brown midrib corn silage on beef production and the effects of supplementation of orchardgrass or birdsfoot trefoil on the rumen microbial ecosystem.
• Utah scientists evaluated nutritional and stress tolerance genetic potential of fescue species, native grasses, and grass/legume mixtures to be used in a forage breeding programs.
• Utah scientists evaluated productivity, environmental impacts, and economics of irrigated grass-finishing systems for beef in the Intermountain region.
• Utah scientists evaluated corn earlage as an alternative forage for finishing beef cattle.
• Virginia scientists showed that there are few short-term differences in forage yield, nutritive composition, or soil compaction among mob, rotational, and continuous stocking methods.
• Virginia scientists evaluated the effect of cutting height on orchardgrass yield and survival.
• Virginia scientists evaluated binary mixtures of tall fescue and sericea lespedeza for beef cattle grazing.
• Virginia scientists evaluated drought tolerance in breeding lines of pearl millet for Senegal.
• Michigan scientists evaluated forage harvest potential of cover crops in a wheat-corn rotation.
• Michigan scientists evaluated animal performance and sensory values of grass-fed beef finished on high-energy annual forage mixtures.
• Michigan scientists evaluated measurement variables affecting calibration of rising plate meters.
• Michigan State University initiated a study to evaluate forage and cover crop potential of annual clovers and sainfoin across Michigan.
• Arkansas scientists identified teff as  viable summer alternative to pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass.

C. Develop innovative and effective educational and outreach programs that meet regionally broad stakeholder needs related to forage and grassland management.

• Research from University of Missouri has been coupled with research from other land-grant universities and applied to Missouri Grazing Schools. 
• Utah scientists developed recommendations to match optimum beef cow size to ranch resources for differing length of winter feeding throughout the Intermountain region.
• Collaborating scientists in MD, OH, and WI revised guidelines for potato leafhopper control thresholds in alfalfa for producers and consultants throughout the USA. This will also demonstrate the value of leafhopper resistant alfalfa and grass-alfalfa mixtures, which will increase adoption of those practices, leading to more sustainable approaches to protect alfalfa from this key pest.
• Michigan State University developed a Forage Connections website to provide extension and research findings from the Great Lakes region.

Refereed:

Anderson, E.K., E. Aberle, C. Chen., J. Egenolf, K. Harmoney, G. Kakani, R.L. Kallenbach, M. Khanna, W. Wang, and D.K. Lee. 2016. Impacts of management practices on bioenergy feedstock yield and economic feasibility on conservation reserve program (CRP) grasslands. GCB Bioenergy. In Press.

Antaya, N.T., K.J. Soder, J. Kraft, N.L. Whitehouse, N.E. Guindon, P.S. Erickson, A. Conroy, and A.F. Brito. 2015. Incremental amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum meal do not improve animal performance but increase milk iodine output in early lactation dairy cows fed high-forage diets. J. Dairy Sci. 98:1991-2004.

Ashworth, A., C. West, F. Allen, P. Keyser, S. Weiss, K. Warwick, D. Tyler, A. Taylor, and K. Beamer. 2015. Biologically fixed nitrogen in legume intercropped systems: Comparison of N-difference and 15N enrichment techniques. Agron. J. 107:1-12. doi:10.2134/agronj14.0639.

Ashworth, A.J., A. Taylor, D. Reed, D. Tyler, F. Allen, and P. Keyser. 2015c. Life cycle assessment of regional switchgrass feedstock production compared to nitrogen input scenarios and legume-intercropping systems. J. of Cleaner Production. 87:227-234.

Ashworth, A.J., C.P West, F.L. Allen, P.D. Keyser, S. Weiss, D.D. Tyler, and A.M. Taylor, K.L. Warwick, and K.P. Beamer. 2015b. Biologically fixed nitrogen in legume intercropped systems: comparison of N-difference and ¹⁵N enrichment techniques. Agronomy Journal. 107:1-12.

Ashworth, A.J., F. Allen, P. Keyser, D. Tyler, A. Saxton, and A. Taylor. 2015a. Switchgrass yield and stand dynamics from legume intercropping based on seeding rate and harvest management. J. of Soil and Water Conservation. 70:375-385.

Ashworth, A.J., F.L. Allen, A.M. Saxton, and D.D. Tyler. 2016. Long-term corn yield impacted by cropping rotations and bio-covers under no-tillage. Agronomy Journal. 108: 1-8.

Ashworth, A.J., F.L. Allen, A.M. Saxton, and D.D. Tyler. 2016. Long-term cotton yield impacts from cropping rotations and bio-covers under no-tillage. J. of Cotton Sci. 20: 1-8.

Ashworth, A.J., P.D. Keyser, F.L. Allen, D.D. Tyler, A.M. Taylor, and C.P. West.  2016a. Displacing inorganic-nitrogen in lignocellulosic feedstock production systems. Agronomy Journal. 108:1-8.

Bacon, J.L., A.J. Ashworth, F.L. Allen, C.E. Sams, D.D. Tyler, W.E. Hart, and J.F. Grant. 2016. Expanding the harvest window for switchgrass based on phosphorus and potassium remobilization. Crop Sci. Soc. Am. J. 56:1-8.

Brito, A.F., H.V. Petit, A.B.D. Pereira, K.J. Soder, and S. Ross. 2015. Interactions of corn meal or molasses with a soybean-sunflower meal mix or flaxseed meal on production, milk fatty acids composition, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows fed grass hay-based diets. J. Dairy Sci. 98:443-457.

Brye, K.R., M. Helton, H.O. Liechty, M. Blazier, C.P. West, E.E. Gbur, Jr., M.D. Savin, and R.E. Mason. 2015. Carbon dioxide emissions from switchgrass and cottonwood grown as bioenergy crops in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley. Biomass and Bioenergy 83:383-392. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.10.004.

Butler, T.J., et al. 2015. Introduction to the Forage and Grazinglands Symposium: Challenges, Opportunities, and Applications of Grazing Research. Crop. Sci. 55:2511-2512.

Catanese, F., R. Distel, and J. Villalba. 2015. Expression of conditioned preference for low-quality food in sheep is modulated by foraging cost. Animal 9: 1045-1052.

Christensen, R.G., S.-Y. Yang, J.-S. Eun, A. Young, J. Hall and J.W. MacAdam. 2015. Effects of feeding birdsfoot trefoil hay on neutral detergent fiber digestion, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and lactational performance by dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 98: 7982–7992.

Clark, J., B.C. Shanks¹, J.D. Caldwell, K.P. Coffey, W.K. Coblentz, R. E. Muck, D. Philipp, M.A. Borchardt, R.T. Rhein, A.N. Young, M.D. Basham, E.A. Backes, K.A. Center, W.E. Jokela, and M. G. Bertram. 2015. Effects of dairy slurry application and bale moisture concentration on voluntary intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage by sheep. ANSC Report Series.

Coffey, K.P., W.K. Coblentz, J.D. Caldwell, R.K. Ogden, T. Hess, D.S. Hubbell, III, C.P. West, C.R. Krehbiel, T.G. Montgomery, J.A. Jennings, and C.F. Rosenkrans, Jr. 2015. Pre- and post-weaning performance by cows and calves that grazed toxic or non-toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures. Professional Animal Scientist 31:577-587; doi:10.15232/pas.2015-01437.

Davis, K.M., et al. 2015. Technical note: Digital quantification of eye pigmentation of cattle with white faces. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 3654-3660.

Devine, T.L., C. F. Rosenkrans Jr., PAS, D. Philipp, A. J. Davis, T. D. Lester, R. W. Rorie, PAS, and M. L. Looper. 2015. Growth, reproductive development, and estrous behavior of beef heifers treated with growth promotants. Prof. Anim. Sci. 31:114-119.

Dierking, R.M., P. Azhaguvel, R.L. Kallenbach, M.C. Saha, J.H. Bouton, K. Chekhovskiy, D. Kopecký, and A.A. Hopkins. 2015. Linkage maps of a Mediterranean x Continental tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) population and their comparative analysis with other Poaceae species. The Plant Genome. 8:1-18. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2014.07.0032

Dorich, C.D., R. Varner, A.B.D. Pereira, R. Martineau, K.J. Soder, and A.F. Brito. 2015. Short communication: Use of a portable, automated, open-circuit gas quantification system and the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique for measuring enteric methane emissions in Holstein cows fed ad libitum or restricted. J. Dairy Sci. 98:2676-2681.

Isbell, F., D. Craven, J. Connolly, M, Loreau, B. Schmid, C. Beierkuhnlein, T. Martijn Bezemer, C. Bonin, H.B. Enrica de Luca, A. Ebeling, J.Griffin, Q. Guo, Y. Hautier, A. Hector, A. Jentsch, J. Kreyling, V. Lanta, P. Manning, S. Meyer, A.S. Mori, K.E. Mueller, S. Naeem, P.A. Niklaus, H.W. Polley, P.B. Reich, C. Roscher, E. Seabloom, M. Smith, Madhav P. Thakur, D. Tilman, B.F. Tracy, W. van der Putten, J. van Ruijven, A. Weigelt, W.W. Weisser, B. Wilsey, N. Eisenhauer. (2015) Biodiversity increases the resistance of ecosystem productivity to climate extremes. Nature 526: 574-577.

Fukushima, R.S., M.S. Kerley, M.H. Ramos, J.H. Porter, and R.L. Kallenbach. 2015. Comparison of acetyl bromide lignin with acid detergent lignin and Klason lignin and correlation with in vitro forage degradability. Anim. Sci. Feed Tech. 201:25-37.

Grabber, J.H., W.K. Coblentz, H. Riday, T.C. Griggs, D.H. Min, J.W. MacAdam, and K.A. Cassida.  2015. Protein and dry matter degradability of European- and Mediterranean-derived birdsfoot trefoil cultivars grown in the colder continental USA. Crop Science 55:1356-1364.   doi: 10.2135/cropsci2014.09.0659

Grantham, A.; J. Kaye, D. Schrenker and M.H. Hall. 2016. Perennials Enhance Organic Forage Systems’ Environmental Performance After Grazing and Extreme Rain. J. Environ. Quality

Gregorini, P., J. Villalba, F.D. Provenza, P.C. Beukes, and M. Forbes. 2015. Modelling preference and diet selection patterns by grazing ruminants: A development in a mechanistic model of a grazing dairy cow, MINDY. Animal Production Science 55: 360-375.

Hunt, S.R., J.W. MacAdam and J.R. Reeve. 2015. Establishment of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) pastures on organic dairy farms in the Mountain West USA. Organic Agriculture 5: 63-77.

Jennings, J., Kenny Simon, Leo Espinoza, Dirk Philipp, Shane Gadberry, Paul Beck, Paul Ballantyne, and Ronald Lathrop. 2014. Nontraditional Fertilizer Trial. Industry report.

Jensen, K.B., D. Singh, B.S. Bushman, and J.G. Robins. 2015. Registration of Arsenal meadow bromegrass. Journal of Plant Registrations 9: 304-310.

Jones, T.A., T.A. Monaco, and C.W. Rigby. 2015. The potential of novel native plant materials for the restoration of novel ecosystems. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 3: 000047.

Kallenbach, R.L. 2015. Coping with tall fescue toxicosis: Solutions and realities. J. Anim. Sci. 93:5487-5495.

Kallenbach, R.L. 2015. Describing the dynamic: Measuring and assessing the value of plants in the pasture. Crop Sci. 55:2531-2539.

Kanani, J., D. Philipp, K.P. Coffey, E.B. Kegley, C.P. West, S. Gadberry, J.T. Jennings, A.N. Young, and R.T. Rhein. 2015. Diurnal variation in fecal concentrations of acid-detergent insoluble ash and alkaline-peroxide lignin from cattle fed bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient content. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol. 6:24 (online article no.), doi:10.1186/s40104-015-0024-1.

Keyser, P.D., A.J. Ashworth, F.L. Allen, and G.E. Bates. 2016. Effects of dormant-season planting on switchgrass establishment and yield. Crop Sci. Soc. Am. J. 56:1-10.

Keyser, P.D., A.J. Ashworth, F.L. Allen, and G.E. Bates. In press. Planting switchgrass into small grain cover crops during dormant and growing seasons. Crop Sci. Soc. Am. J.

Knutson, A., V.A. Corriher, E. Vafaie. 2015. Efficacy of selected insecticides for control of fall armyworm in bermudagrass hay. Arthropod Management Test. 40:1-2.

Koide, R.T., B.T. Nguyen, R.H. Skinner, C.J. Dell, M.S. Peoples, P.R. Adler, and P.J. Drohan. 2015. Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 7:1084-1091.

Leffler, A.J., J.J. James, T.A. Monaco, and R.L. Sheley. 2015. A new perspective on trait differences between native and invasive exotic plants: reply to critique. Ecology. 96:1152-1153.

Li, X., B. Alarcon-Zuniga, J. Kang, M. Tahir, Q. Jiang, Y. Wei, R. Reyno, J.G. Robins, and E. Brummer. 2015. Mapping fall dormancy and winter injury in tetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Crop Science 55: 1-17.

MacAdam, J.W., and J.J. Villalba. 2015. Beneficial effects of temperate forage legumes that contain condensed tannins. Agriculture 5: 475-491.

MacAdam, J.W., and S.R. Hunt. 2015. Using a rising plate meter to determine paddock size for rotational grazing. AG/Forages/2015/01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15793&custom=1.

MacAdam, J.W., S.R. Hunt, T.C. Griggs, R. Christensen, J.-S. Eun, R.E. Ward, and D.J. McMahon. 2015. Enhanced forage intake and milk production on birdsfoot trefoil pastures in the western US. Proceedings of the 2015 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium, 25-26 Feb 2015, La Crosse, WI.

Meyer, L., T. Devine, M. Looper, D. Philipp, D. Hubbell, R. Rorie, and C. Rosenkrans. 2015. Associations between heifer endocrine profiles and reproductive efficiency. ANSC Report Series.

Muir, J.P., J.L. Foster, and J.R. Bow. 2016. Native annual herbaceous warm-season legumes as nurse crop for native perennial grass establishment in the Southern Great Plains. Crop Sci. (In Press)

Muir, J.P., Pitman, W.D.., Foster J.L., Dubeux, Jr., J.C. 2015. Sustainable intensification of cultivated pastures using multiple herbivore species. African J. of Range and Forage Sci. 32:97-112.

Naumann, H.D., Lambert, B.D., Armstrong, S.A., Fonseca, M.A., Tedeschi, L.O., Muir, J.P. and Ellersieck, M.R. Effect of replacing alfalfa with panicled-tick clover or sericea lespedeza in a corn-alfalfa based dairy diet on ruminal methane production. J. Dairy Sci. 98:3980-3987.

Naumann, H.D., Tedeschi, L.O., and Fonseca, M.A. 2015. Technical Note: Predicting ruminal methane inhibition by condensed tannins using nonlinear exponential decay regression analysis. J. Anim. Sci. 93:5341-5345.

Pearson, C.H., S.R. Larson, C.M. Keske, and K.B. Jensen. 2015. Native grasses for biomass production at high elevations, pp. 101-132 In Cruz, V.M.Z., and D.A. Dierig (ed.) Industrial Crops Breeding for Bioenergy and Bioproducts. New York: Springer.

Philipp D., and R. Rhein. 2015. Yield of summer annual forages. ANSC Report Series.

Phillipp, D., M.P. Popp, E.R. Rumley, M.C. Savin, and K.P. Coffey. 2015. Regulatory, production, and consumer-based challenges of forage-based cattle production systems in the southeastern Uniterd States. Anim. Fronteirs 5:14-23.

Resende, T.L., J. Kraft, K.J. Soder, A.B.D. Pereira, D.E. Woitschach, R.B. Reis, and A.F. Brito. 2015. Incremental amounts of ground flaxseed decreases milk production but increases n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in dairy cows fed high-forage diets. J. Dairy Sci. 98:4785-4799.

Robins, J.G., B.S. Bushman, S. Escribano, and K.B. Jensen. 2015. Heterosis for protein, digestibility, fiber, and water soluble carbohydrates in nine sources of orchardgrass germplasm. Euphytica 204: 503-511.

Rothlisberger-Lewis, K.L., J.L. Foster, and F.M. Hons. 2016. Soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics as affected by lipid-extracted algae application.  Geoderma. 262:140-146.

Rouquette, F.M. 2015. Grazing systems research and impact of stocking strategies on pasture-animal production efficiencies. Crop Sci. 55:2513-2530.

Russell, J., and D. Feuz. 2015. The optimal cow size for Intermountain cow-calf operations AG/Applied Economics/2015-01pr. Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service, Logan. http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/publication=15766&custom=1

Sanders, O., K. Coffey, A. Young, K. Bottoms, and D. Philipp. 2015. Co-product feeds as supplements for cows offered poor quality tall fescue hay. ANSC Report Series.

Saunders, C.S., S.Y. Yang, J.S. Eun, D. Feuz, and D. Zobell. 2015. Feeding brown midrib corn silage-based diet to growing beef steers improves growth performance and economic returns. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 95: 625-631.

Schwartz, R.C., R.L. Baumhardt, B.R. Scanlon, J.M. Bell, and R.G. Davis. 2015.  Long-term changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen under semiarid tillage and cropping practices. Soil Science Society of America Journal 79 (6), 1771-1781

Simon K., J. Jennings, D. Philipp, and R. Rhein. 2015. Nutritive value of turnip leaves from two harvests. ANSC Report Series.

Simon, K., J. Jennings, D. Philipp, and R. Rhein. 2015. Bulb yield and quality of forage brassicas. ANSC Report Series.

Skinner, R.H., and C.J. Dell. 2016. Yield and soil carbon sequestration in grazed pastures sown with two or five forage species. Crop Sci. 56:2035-2044.

Skinner, R.H., and S.C. Goslee. 2016. Defoliation effects on pasture photosynthesis and respiration. Crop Sci. 56:2045-2053.

Soder, K.J., A.F. Brito, A.N. Hafla, and M.D. Rubano. 2016. Effect of starchy or fibrous carbohydrate supplementation of orchardgrass on ruminal fermentation and methane output in continuous culture. J. Dairy Sci. 99:4464-4475.

Stewart, W.C, Whitney, T.R., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Naumann, H.D., Cherry, N.M, Muir, J.P., Lambert, B.D., Walker, J.W., Adams, R.P., Welch, K.D., Gardner, D.R., and Estell, R.E. 2015. Effects of Juniperus species and stage of maturity on nutritional, in vitro digestive and plant secondary compound characteristics. J. Anim. Sci. 93:4034-4047.

Sulc, R.M., McCormick, J.S., Hammond, R.B., Miller, D.J. 2015. Forage yield and nutritive value responses to insecticide and host resistance in alfalfa. Crop Science 55:1346-1355.

Tedeschi, L.O., J.P. Muir, D.G. Riley, and D.G. Fox. 2015. The role of ruminant animals in sustainable livestock intensification programs. Int. J. of Sust. Deve. & World Ecol. 22:452-465.

Tobin, D., M. Janowiak, D. Hollinger, R.H.Skinner, C. Swanston, R. Steele, R. Radhakrishna, A. Chatrchyan, D. Hickman, J. Bochicchio, W. Hall, M. Cole, S. Hestvik, D. Gibson, P. Kleinman, L. Knight, L. Kochian, L. Rustad, E. Lane, J. Niedzielski, and P. Hlubik. 2015. Northeast regional climate hub assessment of climate change vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation strategies, T. Anderson, Eds., United States Department of Agriculture. http://climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/sites/default/files/Northeast%20Regional%20Hub%20Vulnerability%20Assessment%20Final.pdf

Tracy B., D. Schlueter, J. Flores. 2015. Conditions that favor clover establishment in permanent grass swards. Grassland Science 61: 34-40.

Tracy B., K. Albrecht, J. Flores, M. Hall, A. Islam, G. Jones, W. Lamp, J. MacAdam, H. Skinner, and C. Teutsch. 2016. Evaluation of Alfalfa-Tall Fescue Mixtures across Multiple Environments. Crop Science. doi:10.2135/cropsci2015.09.0553

Tracy, B.F., K. Albrecht, J. Flores, M. Hall, A. Islam, G. Jones, W. Lamp, J.W. MacAdam, H. Skinner, and C. Teutsch. 2016. Evaluation of alfalfa-tall fescue mixtures across multiple environments. Crop Sci. 56:2026-2034.

Turner, K.E., D.P. Belesky, K.A. Cassida, A.M. Zajac, and M.A. Brown.  2015. Selective deworming effects on parameters associated with gastrointestinal parasite management in lambs and meat-goat kids finished on pasture. Small Ruminant Research 31:17-29.

Turner, K.E., K.A. Cassida, H.N. Zerby, and M.A. Brown. 2015. Carcass and meat quality when meat-goat kids were finished on chicory, birdsfoot trefoil, or red clover pastures.  Meat Sci. 105:68-74.

Villalba, J., F.D. Provenza, F. Catanese, and R. Distel. 2015. Understanding and manipulating diet choice in grazing animals. Animal Production Science 55: 261-271.

Villalba, J., R. Cabassu, and S. Gunter. 2015. Forage choice in pasturelands: Influence on cattle foraging behavior and production. Journal of Animal Science 93: 1729-1740.

Wang, R., S.R. Larson, K.B. Jensen, B.S. Bushman, L.R. Dehaan, S. Wang, and X. Yan. 2015. Genome evolution of intermediate wheatgrass as revealed by EST-SSR markers developed from its three progenitor diploid species. Genome 58: 63-70.

Warwick, K., F. Allen, P. Keyser, A.J. Ashworth, D. Tyler, A. Saxton, and A. Taylor. 2016. Biomass and forage/biomass yields of switchgrass as affected by intercropped cool and warm-season legumes. J. of Soil and Water Conservation. 70:374-384.

Wight, J., A.J. Ashworth, and F. Allen. 2016b. Organic substrate, clay type, texture, and water effects on NIR carbon measurements. Geoderma. 261:36-43.

Wight, J., F.L. Allen, A.J. Ashworth, N. Labbe, T. Rials, and D. Tyler. 2016a. Comparison of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy with combustion and chemical methods for soil carbon measurements in agricultural soils. Commun.in Soil Sci. and Plant Analysis. 47: 731–742.

Willett, C.D., R.N. Lerch, K.W. Goyne, N.D. Leigh, C. Lin, and C.A. Roberts. 2016. Benzoxazinone-mediated triazine degradation: A proposed reaction mechanism. J Agric. Food Chem. Jun 22;64(24):4858-65. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b01017. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Yuan, Z.Y., F. Jiao, Y.H. Li, and R.L. Kallenbach. 2016. Anthropogenic disturbances are key to maintaining the biodiversity of grasslands. Scientific Rpts. 6:22132.

Yun, L., S.R. Larson, K.B. Jensen, J.E. Staub, and P.R. Grossl. 2015. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes associated with trace element concentrations in perennial grasses grown on phytotoxic soil contaminated with heavy metals. Plant and Soil 396: 277-296.

Zhu, L., D.A. Johnson, W. Wang, L. Ma, and Y. Rong. 2015. Grazing effects on carbon fluxes in a northern China grassland. Journal of Arid Environments 114: 41-48.

Presentations

Angadi, S., J. Idowu, P. Gowda, T. Zobeck, and C. West. 2015. Circular grass buffer strips in pivot irrigation systems to improve system resiliency under future climate. Conference on Agriculture and Climate Change: Adapting Crops to Increased Uncertainty. 15-17 February, 2015, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Ashworth, A.J. F.L. Allen, P.D. Keyser, S.A. Weiss, C.P. West, D.D. Tyler, and A.M. Taylor. 2015. Enhancing the sustainability of lignocellulosic feedstock production systems in the southeast and under intensified climatic change. Sun Grant Regional Conference, 2-4 February, Auburn, AL.

Asiwe, J.A., B.B., Singh, J.L. Foster, J. Bow. 2015. Improved varieties for expanding cowpea cultivation in South Africa. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2015 International Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18. (Abstr.)

Baxter, L.L., and C.P. West. 2016. Comparison of traditional and novel non-destructive techniques for assessment of botanical composition in grass-legume pastures. American and Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference, 10-13 January, Baton Rouge.

Baxter, L.L., C.P. West. 2016. Comparison of productivity, efficiency, and profitability of grass-only and grass-legume beef stocker grazing systems in the Southern High Plains. American and Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference, 10-13 January, Baton Rouge.

Bean, M., J.L. Foster, C.L.S. Morgan. 2015. Impact of no-till in cotton-sorghum crop rotations in a semi-arid environment. Southern Pastures Forage Crop Improvement Conference, Apalachicola, FL. Mar 31-Apr 1. (Abstr.)

Bean, M.E., J.L. Foster, C.L.S. Morgan, G.D. Morgan, and R.H. Mohtar. 2015. Impact of no-till in cotton-sorghum crop rotations in a semi-arid environment. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2015 International Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18. (Abstr.)

Cassida, K.A., *S.S. Snapp, S.G Tinsley, and E.J. Sacks. 2015. Perennial wheat and intermediate wheatgrass as dual-purpose, forage/grain crops under organic management. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18, 2015. Online. https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2015am/webprogram/‌Paper93295.html  (poster)

Clark J.K., Bruce C. Shanks, James D. Caldwell, Ken P. Coffey, Wayne K. Coblentz, R. E. Muck, Dirk Philipp, M. A. Borchardt, Robert T. Rhein, Ashley N. Young, Marshal D. Basham, W. E. Jokela, Elizabeth A. Backes, Keith A. Center, M. G. Bertram. 2015. Effects of dairy slurry application and bale moisture concentration on voluntary intake and digestibility of alfalfa silage by sheep. ASAS annual meeting. Orlando, Fl.

Gerdes, S.A., K.A. Cassida, S.S. Snapp, V. Morrone, and K. Renner. 2015. Using cover crops in wheat-corn rotations to provide forage while improving soil health. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18, 2015. Online. https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2015am/webprogram/Paper93902.html  (poster)

Jones G. and B. Tracy. The orchardgrass persistence problem in Virginia. American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting. Baton Rouge, LA. January 11-14, 2016.

Lesak, M, J.L. Foster, K.C. McCuistion, M. Clayton, T. Teinert. 2015. Management of invasive old world bluestems to restore native grasslands. The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Oct 17-21. (Abstr.)

Lesak, M, J.L. Foster, K.C. McCuistion, M. Clayton, T. Teinert. 2015. Management of invasive old world bluestems to restore native grasslands: where are we now? Javalina 6th Annual Research Symposium, Kingsville, TX. Apr 15. (Abstr.)

Martin, R.M., J.E. Rowntree, K.A. Cassida, J. Paling, and D. Carmichael. 2015. Forage-finished steer performance and carcass characteristics from grazing high-energy forages during the finishing period. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 93(Suppl. s3):205.

Martinez, C.X., D.E. Ruppert, and J.L. Foster. 2015. Effects of tillage on soil water content in a hyperthermic vertisol under dryland management in a subhumid/semi-arid climate. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2015 International Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18. (Abstr.)

Mbukwane, M.J., A. Hassen, and J.L. Foster. 2015. Chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation of cowpea varieties grown in Limpopo province, SA. South African Society for Animal Science Congress, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sept. 21-23. (Abstr.)

Meyer L.R., Thomas L. Devine, Michael L. Looper, Dirk Philipp, Donald S. Hubbell III, Rick W. Rorie, and Charles F. Rosenkrans Jr. 2015. Influence of growth-promoting implants on endocrine factors and efficiency of replacement beef heifers. ASAS annual meeting. Orlando, Fl.

Morgan, C.L., J. Bell, P. DeLaune, X. Dong, J.L. Foster, K. Lewis. Agronomic Management Strategies in Texas: Securing Soil and Improving the Efficiency of Water Use.  ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2015 International Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18. (Abstr.)

Muir, J.P., W.D. Pitman, J.C. Dubeux, J.L. Foster, and M.V. Ferreira dos Santos. 2015. Mechanics of combining divergent herbivores in cultivated pastures. Proceedings of the XXIII International Grasslands Congress, New Delhi, India, Nov. 20-24.

Philipp, D., B. Haggard, A. Sharpley, T. Simmons, and R. Rhein. 2015. Effects of cattle diets on nutrient concentrations in fecal patches and runoff from small plots. Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, Annual Meeting; Apalachicola, Fl.

Smith, W.B., F.M. Rouquette, J.L. Kerby, L.O. Tedeschi, J.L. Foster, J.P. Banta, K.C. McCuistion and T.J. Machado. 2015. Performance of Bos indicus versus Bos taurus cattle grazing ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass supplemented with distillers dried grains. ASAS Southern Section Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Jan 31-Feb 3. (Abstr.)

Smith, W.B., F.M. Rouquette, J.L. Kerby, L.O. Tedeschi, J.L. Foster, J.P. Banta, K.C. McCuistion and T.J. Machado. 2015. Performance of stocker cattle grazing ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass supplemented with distillers dried grains. ASAS Southern Section Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Jan 31-Feb 3. (Abstr.)

Smith, W.B., J.L. Foster, K.C. McCuistion, S.J. Abatti, M. Lesak, and F.M. Rouquette, Jr. 2015. In situ degradation parameters of three chronological maturities of ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass from cattle supplemented with varying levels of distillers’ dried grains.   South Central Chapter of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, Texarkana, AR, Dec. 7. (Abstr.)

Smith, W.B., T.J. Machado, L.O. Tedeschi, J.P. Banta, J.L. Foster, K.C. McCuistion, C.R. Long and F.M. Rouquette, Jr. 2015. Effects of level of DDG supplemented on pasture to performance in feedlot and carcass traits. Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference, San Antonio, TX. Apr 16-17. (Abstr.)

Tine F., B. Tracy. F. Tine and B.F. Tracy. 2015. Identification of Drought Tolerant Pearl Millet Cultivars in Senegal. Abstract 306-23 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Nov. 15-18 Minneapolis, MN.

Tracy B., R. Bauer, S. Yamada, M. Strickland. B.F. Tracy, R.B. Bauer, S. Yamada and M. Strickland. 2015. Could High Density Rotational Stocking Promote Higher Productivity, Resiliency and Carbon Sequestration Potential? Abstract 390-4 2015 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Nov. 15-18 Minneapolis, MN.

van Santen, E., K.A. Cassida, B. Goff, R. Kallenbach, G. Shewmaker, and J.M. Johnson.  First-year stand decline in birdsfoot trefoil. Annual Meeting of ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18, 2015. Online. https://scisoc.‌confex.com/scisoc/2015am/webprogram/Paper93980.html  (poster)

West, C.P., C.P. Brown, R.L. Kellison, D.M. Mitchell, P.N. Johnson, and W.J. Pate. 2015. Ten-Year Comparisons of irrigation use from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas South Plains. In Annual meetings abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.

Xiong, Y., C.P. West, and C.P. Brown. 2015. Digital image analysis of Old World bluestem canopy cover to predict leaf area and yield. Poster presented at Ogallala Aquifer Program annual meeting, March 12-13, Manhattan, KS.