Mark McLellan

Congratulations to Gregory Colson who is a co-PI on a new competitive grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture entitled: SAM: Sustainable Anthracnose Management for Watermelon and Cucumber Growers in the Eastern U.S. Grant Synopsis Anthracnose, a disease affecting watermelon and cucumber crops, poses a significant threat to the U.S. cucurbit industry by reducing yields and increasing production costs. Without effective control options, the long-term success and profitability of the industry are at risk. To tackle this challenge, our team is leading a collaborative effort across multiple states. We aim to better understand recent anthracnose outbreaks by studying the biology of the pathogens, their population structure, host specificity, and resistance to fungicides. This knowledge will be the foundation for developing improved strategies to manage the disease. Our approach involves assessing the impact of specific farming practices, environmental conditions, and sources of infection on anthracnose outbreaks. By doing so, we can develop practical, economically viable, and environmentally friendly strategies to minimize crop losses. Our team will focus on the pathogens (using genomics and population biology to identify specific species and sources of infection), the host (screening commercial varieties and PI lines), and the environment (production practices) that together contribute to the disease. In addition to our research, we will integrate economic assessments and outreach efforts to strengthen the practical applications of our findings. Overall, through this project, we aim to provide practical solutions for the cucurbit industry that will reduce losses and risks faced by growers and improve their bottom lines.

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ICYMI, Joelle Mosso, associate vice president of science programs for Western Growers, talks with host Christina Herrick about the conflicting needs of sustainability and food safety in fresh produce in this episode of the "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast. Check it out here: loom.ly/TpJU39A

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USDA NIFA has announced that it has awarded TSUAg Dept. of Food and Animal Sciences research professor Dr. Agnes Kilonzo-Nthenge with one of five grant winners for a project titled “A Multi-Faceted Approach to Mitigate Antibiotic Resistance in Historically Underserved Poultry Farms.” The project is part of NIFA's investment of $2.6 million for five awards through the Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain program area priority within NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. This funded initiative aims to establish an educational and training program focused on antimicrobial stewardship, specifically tailored to empower historically underserved poultry producers. The initiative further seeks to enhance the capabilities of Extension educators and poultry producers in managing poultry diseases and addressing antimicrobial resistance through targeted workshops. Well-trained Extension personnel will serve as effective intermediaries for transferring knowledge to producers, enabling them to engage more effectively with their clientele. “By simplifying complex topics related to poultry health and antimicrobial resistance, the program aims to empower historically underserved poultry producers with valuable insights and practical information,” says Professor Kilonzo-Nthenge. Congratulation Dr. Kilonzo-Nthenge! 👩🏿‍🔬 🔬

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Where will artificial intelligence take the produce industry?

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Wine made from grapes that were exposed to wildfire smoke can take on an unpleasant, smoky flavor and taste. A new way to lessen this smoke taint and improve the palatability of wine was recently published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 🍷 Scientists added beads of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to the wine, which selectively bound to the smoky substances while leaving the tasty and visually appealing components in place. The MIPs beads could then be easily removed from the wine and, in some cases, be regenerated and reused. Learn more about the science behind this study: https://brnw.ch/21wMnA4 Video credit: Adapted from Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03912

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Spread the word.

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🎥 Research in Review 🎥 Meet Feng Lin! 🌱 Dr. Lin is an assistant professor and soybean breeder at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center. Learn more about his work on mapping dicamba drift and discovering tolerant lines. #SoybeanResearch #AgricultureInnovation #ResearchInReview

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Interested in cutting methane emissions through smarter feeding strategies? 💡 Discover how it can enhance your profits in next week's AgSource webinar: https://ow.ly/x6f850SL8C8

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