http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/ The newsletter of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences en Copyright 2009 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:29:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Members of the SAES faculty and staff whose summer professional obligations or family vacation schedule kept them from attending the SAES’s back-to-school meeting on Aug. 13 can catch up on highlights from the 2006-07 academic year and goals for the academic year ahead online.  The video that premiered at the SAES academic year kickoff — featuring the SAES interim dean, Dr. Donald McDowell and the SAES administrative team  — is still available for viewing on the SAES Web page.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/saes-administrative-team-still.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/saes-administrative-team-still.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:29:00 -0500 Cooperative Extension's Southern Region Program Leadership Network will be meeting in Greensboro Aug. 25 -28. In conjunction with the conference, members of The Cooperative Extension Program faculty and the Ag. Communications and Technology staff will be involved with focus groups and strategy sessions, and away from their offices. The Southern Region Program Leadership Network was established by the Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (primarily Southeastern 1862 land grants) and the Association of Extension Administrators (1890 land grants) to strengthen multi-state and issue-oriented Extension programs and activities. The effort brings representatives from land grants together on committees to address: agriculture and natural resources; community development; family and consumer sciences; 4-H youth development; communications; information technology; middle management; and program and staff development.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/greensboro-to-host-regional-ex.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/greensboro-to-host-regional-ex.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:25:00 -0500 http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/good-guidance-in-small-farm-ma.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/good-guidance-in-small-farm-ma.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:24:00 -0500 Carolina Peacemaker sent a reporter to Small Farms Field Day at the University Farm on Aug. 7, and he came away from the program with some interesting facts and figures on the growing economic incentives for producing as well as using biodiesel on small farms in North Carolina, compliments of Dr. Jimo Ibrahim of The Cooperative Extension Program at A&T and Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi of the Agricultural Research Program. The Peacemaker reporter zoned in on Ibrahim’s estimate that small biodiesel units such as the one at the University Farm (small but still capable of producing as much as 40 gallons of fuel a day recycling cooking oil from restaurant fryers) cost about $2,000. The Peacemaker quotes Shahbazi as saying, “The advantage with biodiesel production is that there is no refinery. People can produce their need and demand in their area using local resources.”]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/media-energized-the-ag-edispat.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/media-energized-the-ag-edispat.html Natural Resources and Environmental Design Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:23:00 -0500 The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is bringing Judy Wicks to Raleigh for a lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 16.  Wicks will be discussing "Local Living Economies: Green, Fair & Fun" at the N. C. Museum of Natural History; her talk will begin at 7 p.m. With appearances on CNN, ABCs Nightline and dozens of other television and radio programs, Wicks has become a national spokesperson for the socially responsible business (SRB) movement, which has a philosophic foundation for business ventures that includes community-building and environmental protection. Wicks’ White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia operates with a commitment to local agriculture as one of the tenets for environmental protection and social responsibility. Although the Wicks lecture is open to the public without charge, seating is very limited, so those interested in attending should contact the CEFS as soon as possible.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/limited-seating-so-reserve-one.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/limited-seating-so-reserve-one.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:21:00 -0500 The American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science joint annual meeting in Indianapolis drew more than 3,000 scientists and researchers specializing in nutrition, genetics and other animal sciences to Indianapolis in mid-July. Research work by SAES food and animal scientists was presented at six poster sessions:
• “Nystatin, pathogen-associated molecular patterns and bovine
neutrophil activation” — with a project team that included Dr. Millie Worku
• “Phenotypic correlations between the ratio of body measurements and economic traits in Korean native beef cattle” — with a project team that included Dr. Sang Oh
• “W85 Evaluation of the effect of bovine colostrum on gene expression in E. coli. — with a project team that included Drs. Worku and Oh
• “Evaluation of buffering capacity of amino acid and milk protein ingredients in acidic conditions” — with a project team that included Drs. Salam Ibrahim, C. W. Seo and Defreng “Tammy” Song
• “Addition of rice extract improves the quality characteristics and consumer acceptability of banana flavored yogurt”  — with a project team that included Drs. Ibrahim, Song and Seo
• “Using lactic acid bacteria to detect chemical substances in milk” — with a project team that included Dr. Salam Ibrahim The American Society of Animal Science is a professional organization for animal scientists working in research, Extension and teaching. The American Dairy Science Association is similarly organized as a professional organization for researchers and educators involved with product development, processing and economics in the dairy industry.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/anima-mundi-converges-on-india.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/anima-mundi-converges-on-india.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:21:00 -0500 The North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation was established by N. C. A&T and seven other institutions in the UNC system to increase the number of minority students pursuing advanced degrees in scientific and technical fields. NC LSAMP has an annual Alliance Day for research presentations by both graduate and undergraduate students. The deadline for students to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations of 300 words is Sept. 2. Alliance Day itself will be Friday, Sept. 26 at the Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/stoking-student-research-the-a.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/stoking-student-research-the-a.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:13:00 -0500 Until Oct. 1, the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Project will be accepting grant applications from individual producers, community groups and farm support organizations in Alexander, Beaufort, Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Craven, Cumberland, Davidson, Forsyth, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, McDowell, Nash, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Wayne, Wilkes, and Wilson counties. Grants of up to $10,000 to individuals and $20,000 to groups and organizations will be awarded for proposals with potential to fill the farm-income void resulting from lost tobacco revenue in the 24-county region. Projects involving products, services and on-farm resources are eligible, along with new crops and innovative farm-based enterprises. To qualify, producers must be full- or part-time farmers who were depending on tobacco crops for a significant amount of their farm income coming at the time of the Master Settlement Agreement (crop years 1997 and 1998). Community groups must include farmers from the target counties and have farmers active in group leadership. The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Project also has an on-farm demonstration funding program for farmers under 40, regardless whether or not they are former tobacco farmers. The requirements are that applicants have at least three years of farming experience, and be a resident of one of the following counties: Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Cumberland, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, McDowell, Wayne or Wilson. http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/proposals-due-by-end-of-septem.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/proposals-due-by-end-of-septem.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:12:00 -0500 Dr. Guochen Yang of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design had some SAES research on exhibit in San Francisco in early August.  Yang has been working with Dr. Paul Read of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska on a study of plant growth regulators with potential for expediting the propagation of woody ornamentals used in the nursery industry. Findings were presented at the research poster presentations at the annual meeting of the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America’s 35th Annual Meeting (PGRSA), Aug. 3 -7. The PGRSA has been giving scientists from many areas of specialization a central agency for collecting and disseminating information on plant growth regulators, plant tissue culture and other propagation techniques since the organization was established in 1973. The organization publishes reference books and a quarterly journal of technical articles.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/propagation-explication-the-ag.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/propagation-explication-the-ag.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:00 -0500 NC FLEX benefit program begins Oct 1, and the cutoff date for changes in optional insurance programs is Nov. 2. Optional coverage includes dental and vision care plans, cancer insurance, life insurance, and a supplemental medical plan that broadens coverage for visits to doctors’ offices and inpatient hospital stays. (Faculty and staff opting for the supplemental medical plan must re-enroll during each annual enrollment period.) If you’re taking advantage of the NC FLEX options, take note that this is the one time of the year to drop or add coverage for a dependent. The NC FLEX Plan has a synopsis of what’s new, and all eligible employees will be receiving a booklet with complete details on NC FLEX options by mail. (NCFlex also has a website outlining benefit options.) On-campus employees who wish to make changes should do so in person at the Benefits Office at 1020 E. Wendover Ave., between 8 a.m. and noon, or 2 to 4 p.m. Members of the Cooperative Extension staff stationed at county Extension centers can make their changes by mailing completed forms to A&T Extension’s benefits coordinator, Chiquita McAllister (Box 21928. Greensboro, 27420-1928).]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/health-yourself-the-ag-edispat.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/health-yourself-the-ag-edispat.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:08:00 -0500 http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/staff-update-the-ag-edispatch-1.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/staff-update-the-ag-edispatch-1.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:07:00 -0500 ° If you've ever been in a restaurant where the staff paid recognition to a patron's birthday by singing, but not by singing the most familiar of all birthday songs, "Happy Birthday," that's because the song has been copyrighted since 1934 and ASCAP considers waiters and waitress singing the song a public performance, and wants a royalty payment.
° In the mid-1990s, ASCAP sent word to summer camps that many songs sung around campfires — "This Land Is Your Land,"  "Blowin' in the Wind," and even "God Bless America"- were copyrighted and royalty payments were expected. Although ASCAP eventually dropped the demand because it was generating too much negative publicity, the organization initially asked camps for blanket fees ranging from $257 to $1,500.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/copyright-reminders-the-ag-edi.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/copyright-reminders-the-ag-edi.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:02:00 -0500 Dr. Donald McDowell, interim SAES dean, will be hosting the annual academic year kickoff meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Webb Hall Auditorium. The SAES meeting will put the finishing touches on an entire day of academic year kickoff activities. Dr. Alton Thompson, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will be introducing new faculty and staff at the university-wide opening day program that morning. The entire A&T Extension field faculty has also been invited to attend the Aug. 13 events, and the field staff will also be at Coltrane Hall for a training session that begins at 9 a.m.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/back-to-school-specials-the-ag.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/back-to-school-specials-the-ag.html Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:22:00 -0500 Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi’s research work at the University Farm fueled some interest at the Greensboro News & Record, and on July 28 the paper ran an article covering a couple of his research projects. The story provides some insights into the research Shahbazi is conducting that is looking into the potential to convert cattails and other cellusic plants into ethanol, and also potential for converting swine waste into a heavy oil that can be used in manufacturing.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/cattail-tale-the-ag-edispatch.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/cattail-tale-the-ag-edispatch.html Natural Resources and Environmental Design Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:34:00 -0500 cutoff date for purchasing season tickets for the 2008 Aggie football season. The package boils down to seven games for $145, beginning with Johnson C. Smith on Aug. 30, and winding up with South Carolina State on Nov. 22. Morgan State is going to be this year’s homecoming opponent, on Oct. 11.]]> http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/fair-catch-the-ag-edispatch.html http://www.ag.ncat.edu/agedispatch/2008/08/fair-catch-the-ag-edispatch.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:33:00 -0500