The Division Triangle

The Division

Triangle Teaching

Agriculture

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Research

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Extension

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Oklahoma State University

Comments from Dr. Whitson…

It is with great pleasure that we in the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources present to you this issue of The Division Triangle. The following pages showcase a number of important developments in which we are engaged, activities and research projects that stand to improve the quality of life for Oklahomans across our great state and for future generations.

Some encompass the latest, cutting-edge advances in traditional enterprises often associated with the division, while others may seem somewhat surprising, 21st century applications that not so long ago would have seemed more science fiction than science fact.

Our division triangle of teaching, research and extension has never been more vital and diverse, from a century’s worth of 4-H youth development, cattle, wheat and horticulture programs to more recent high-need, high-priority endeavors related to renewable energy crops, the biochemical processes of human health, improved environmental stewardship, ensuring Oklahoma’s global competitiveness and assisting the Oklahoma Army National Guard with its mission to Afghanistan. Our state and federally mandated land-grant mission is as important

today as ever, providing real-world benefits to every segment of society.

We are grateful to all those individuals and organizations who work with us throughout the year in a true spirit of cooperation and partnership aimed at meeting our mutual goal of building a stronger more prosperous Oklahoma. With the support of the people of this great state, we will continue to make good things happen for our many and varied stakeholders throughout Oklahoma and the region. Thank you for your commitment to the division and university. Please pay us a visit on campus at every opportunity and let us know of ways in which we can be of assistance to you.

Best regards,

Robert E. Whitson Vice President, Dean and Director Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Oklahoma State University

Robert E. Whitson

On the cover…

Oklahoma is experiencing sunny days with sorghum. Not only is the crop valuable as a forage, ongoing research by division scientists is showing that it also has potentially profitable applications in terms of renewable energy as part of the coming biobased economy. (Cover photo by Todd Johnson)

The Division TRIANGLE Bovine Respiratory Disease: Less of a concern for the cattle industry

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Adding choice and value to Oklahoma’s $1 billion wheat industry

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Nanotubes: Versatile building blocks of science

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November 2009

Robert E. Whitson Vice President, Dean and Director, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Garvin Quinn Director, Agricultural Communications Services

Grape production continues to increase in Oklahoma

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Burning up fire misconceptions

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Making $ense of money management

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Food processing + culinary arts = OKCRA

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Oklahoma 4-H Program going strong after 100 years

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DASNR helps Oklahoma Army National Guard gear up for Afghanistan mission

Todd Johnson Lead Photographer

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Tracy McMurphy Web Manager

Pursuing partnerships to add value to Oklahoma

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The OSU Biofuels Team: Working toward tomorrow’s prosperity today

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Master Gardener Program continues to grow

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DANSR researcher continues groundbreaking work on poxvirus 28 Farm to You takes kids on a fun food journey

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FAPC Analytical Services receives national accreditation

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First line of defense in battle against ‘creepy crawly monsters’

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Fed Cattle Market Simulator: It’s not just a game

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Water center showcases efforts to enhance ag water use

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An interdisciplinary classroom in the real world

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Master Cattleman Program: A benefit to producers

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dasnr.okstate.edu

Tierra Eller and Katie Reim Co-Editors Gayle Hiner Production Coordinator

Brooke Clay, Ron Dahlgren, Trisha Gedon, Mandy Gross, Sean Hubbard, Katie Reim and Donald Stotts Writers Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title Vl and Vll of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title lX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President, Dean, and Director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of $10,700.00 for 7,000 copies. 1109.

To simplify terminology, trade names of products or equipment are sometimes used. No endorsement of specific products named is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. Material appearing in this publication may be reprinted without permission provided credit is given the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University. For change of address, write to Agricultural Communications Services, 141 Agriculture North, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078.

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The Division TRIANGLE

Bovine Respiratory Disease:

Less of a concern for the cattle industry

By Donald Stotts

BRD is the most common disease among feedlot cattle in the United States, accounting for approximately 75 percent of feedlot morbidity and 50 percent to 70 percent of all feedlot deaths.

BRD causes between $800 million to $900 million annually in economic losses from death, reduced feed efficiency and antimicrobial treatment costs.

“Immune response and morbidity issues relative to cattle growth and carcass quality affect every level of the beef industry, from the producer to the packer, all the way to the consumer as end-user,” said lead investigator Clint Krehbiel, holder of the division’s Dennis and Marta White Endowed Chair in Animal Science.

A relatively recent development of research conducted by Krehbiel and his collaborators shows cattle that have three or more bouts of disease produce lower-quality meat.

“As the number of antimicrobial treatments increased, average daily gain in the background phase decreased, cost per unit increased and net returns declined,” Krehbiel said. “Moreover, marbling scores, color stability and overall acceptance of the final beef product by consumers decreased as the number of antimicrobial treatments increased.”

In other words, health issues on the farm or at the feedlot can have a direct relationship on the

product purchased in the store. Everybody in the food chain loses dollar value.

Division researchers have discovered that days on feed needed to reach a common 12th rib fat thickness increased by seven days for every unit increase in antimicrobial treatment required.

“Increased days on feed, lower final body weight and lower carcass value resulted in an $11.36 loss in income for every time an animal was treated,” Krehbiel said. “Therefore, decreasing the average number of times an animal is treated for BRD by one treatment would result in a nearly $9 million savings to Oklahoma feedlot cattle producers.”

Ron Kensinger, head of OSU’s department of animal science, said the research conducted by Krehbiel and his collaborating scientists and practitioners is representative of the importance the division places on its land-grant mission to provide science-based solutions to concerns and issues vital to enhancing the quality of life throughout Oklahoma and the region.

“Many of our complex problems in animal agriculture today require interdisciplinary teams to develop creative solutions,” he said. “Clint is a great collaborator. The research efforts he leads compliment other research and Extension efforts in the department to optimize use of forage by cattle, improve reproduction efficiency, and advance quality assurance programs and other projects that are meant to help Oklahoma beef producers maximize their profit potential in sustainable ways.” ▲

Photos by Todd Johnson

A multidisciplinary team of Oklahoma State University scientists and practitioners is riding herd on one of the most challenging concerns of Oklahoma’s $4.6 billion cattle industry: Bovine Respiratory Disease.

OSU’s BRD Team Few studies have documented the economic effect of BRD from incidence of the disease through harvest, and especially the impact of BRD on acceptability of the final product as determined by consumers. The OSU team taking on these challenges include:

Clint Krehbiel – lead investigator Anthony Confer – infectious diseases Brenda Love – bacteriology Cathy Lamm – anatomical pathology Chris Richards – beef cattle Clem Ward – agricultural economics (retired) Deb VanOverbeke – food science D.L. Step – veterinary clinical sciences Gerald Horn – ruminant nutrition Jack Dillwith – entomology Jerry Malayer – molecular biology Kellie Raper – agricultural economics Robert Fulton – viral diseases Udaya DeSilva – molecular genetics

Demand for higher-quality products and an increase in value-based marketing highlight the importance of research aimed at increasing beef producers’ awareness of health management practices that have the potential to increase profitability and beef product quality. ▲

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The Division TRIANGLE

Oklahoma agriculture competes in a marketplace that is not just national but global in nature, making continued improvements to its $1 billion annual wheat crop a matter of importance for urban and rural residents alike.

“Wheat is a major driver of the Oklahoma economy, and Dr. Brett Carver’s new, genetically improved cultivars are the lifeblood of this critically important agricultural sector,” said Dave Porter, head of Oklahoma State University’s department of plant and soil sciences.

“Billings is highly suited for irrigation production and will achieve far more grain production if planted in October and not grazed,” Carver said. “This represents a significant departure from varieties released by OSU in the past, such as Endurance, Duster and OK Bullet.”

Yields reported in breeding nursery plots have exceeded expectations at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center, extending in excess of 120 bushels per acre when the nursery average was approximately 95 bushels per acre.

In fact, it could be argued that the work of Carver and his collaborating scientists at OSU has never been more important.

Target regions for Billings include central and northern Oklahoma, as well as the Panhandle if irrigation is used.

Oklahoma’s wheat industry has suffered through three poor crop years in a row, with many producers losing much, if not all, of their wheat crop to a combination of weather events in 2009: drought through the winter months, a hard freeze in early April, torrential rains from mid April to mid May and hail that pulverized thousands of acres in some areas of the state.

Pete is a beardless hard red winter wheat cultivar with high test weight that matches the highest yielding genetics in the field today. Pete was derived from Ukraine and Pioneer parentage. It was released as an early maturing improvement over Deliver.

But in the midst of their struggles, state wheat producers received some much welcome news: OSU researchers with the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are making available two new wheat varieties called Billings and Pete.

“It’s a tri-purpose wheat variety that adds straw strength and yielding ability under irrigation or dryland conditions beyond what producers may be accustomed to with Deliver,” Carver said.

“Pete’s superior test weight patterns add another distinction. However, its earlier winter dormancy release makes it more susceptible to early spring freeze events than Deliver.”

“Billings is a high-yielding, large-kernel hard red winter wheat variety derived from a single cross of a Ukraine variety with a Pioneer experimental,” said Carver, holder of OSU’s wheat genetics chair and leader of the division’s Wheat Improvement Team.

Pete is well adapted to major wheat growing areas of Oklahoma and bordering states, featuring resistance to wheat soilborne mosaic virus, spindle streak mosaic virus and leaf rust. It offers intermediate resistance to stripe rust and is moderately tolerant to low pH soils.

The variety combines very good stay-green characteristics with early maturity. It shows excellent resistance to wheat soilborne mosaic virus, leaf rust and stripe rust, as well as good protection against powdery mildew. Test weight patterns are above average. Early dormancy release and moderate susceptibility to barley yellow dwarf virus make it less adapted to early planting production systems.

Wheat improvement research in Oklahoma is driven by an interdisciplinary team of division scientists charged with developing highly adapted wheat cultivars with marketable grain quality.

Program support is administered by the division’s statewide Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation. ▲

A circle of dollars for development In 2009, Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources received its first wheat royalties check from Oklahoma Genetics Inc., a nonprofit 501c corporation that has a licensing agreement to market a number of OSU-developed wheat varieties.

Money from the nearly $157,000 check will be plowed back into breeding programs being conducted by the division’s Wheat Improvement Team, as per the licensing agreement, thereby helping to create future advances in wheat cultivars.

“The money should help OSU to stay competitive in hiring good people and performing the research necessary to create higher yielding varieties that also have needed characteristics such as drought tolerance and resistance to disease,” said Mark Hodges, OGI executive director.

Funds from the OGI check came from the organization’s marketing of OSUdeveloped varieties OK Bullet, Duster, Guymon and the two Clearfield varieties, OK Field and OK Clearfield. The organization will soon be adding Billings and Pete to their lineup as well.

“One of OGI’s main objectives is to help keep the wheels of research rolling,” Hodges said. “Oklahoma producers must have access to the latest improved varieties if they and the state’s wheat industry are to prosper.” ▲

Adding choice and value to Oklahoma’s $1 billion wheat industry

Photo by Todd Johnson

By Donald Stotts

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The Division TRIANGLE

Can you imagine something 10,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair having the ability to measure the amount of pesticides in water, detect environmental hazards or play a key role in intense cancer research?

Carbon nanotubes–one of the most frequently talked about building blocks of nanotechnology– provide that versatility. These sub-microscopic particles have 100 times the tensile strength of steel, an electrical conductivity similar to copper and seem to be a material of marvel.

The term nanotube is typically used to refer to the carbon nanotube, which has gained the most attention from researchers. However, there are many other types of nanotubes being developed,

nanotubes:

versatile building blocks of science ranging from inorganic, which are made from boron nitride, to organic ones made from selfassembling cyclic peptides or from naturally occurring heat shock proteins. Carbon nanotubes stimulate the most attention and guarantee the greatest array of applications, not to mention the highest commercial appeal.

Researchers in the department of biosystems and agricultural engineering at Oklahoma State University are taking aligned carbon nanotubes and making them functional for nanotube-based sensor devices.

Having aligned nanotubes means the particles are positioned parallel to each other, similar to trees in a forest; nanotubes can come in many exotic shapes and arrangements.

Jesse Mao, assistant professor, biosensors, said researchers can take the aligned carbon nanotubes and adapt them to do a specific job.

Photo by Mitch Alcala

“We obtain the aligned carbon nanotubes from other labs and modify them to fit our needs,” Mao said. “The modification process takes place by chemical vapor deposition, where vapor molecules react and attach to the nanotube.”

To capitalize on nanotubes’ strength in a composite, they need to latch on to a surrounding material. One way to make the nanotubes interact with something else, such as a surrounding polymer, is to modify them chemically. Chemical modification is called functionalization.

“Functionalization of aligned nanotubes remains a challenge due to the difficulty of pre-

By Katie Reim

serving the desirable alignment using traditional liquid-based methods,” Mao said.

The long-term research goal in examining functional nanostructures is the development of sensitive sensor devices. The objective of Mao’s project is to understand the vapor-deposition functionalization of aligned carbon nanotubes.

“This research is very complex and has a clear, applied goal,” said Ron Elliott, BAE department head. “With Dr. Mao’s extensive background in this field and the research being conducted, it won’t be very far down the road and we may have the desired outcome of developing sensors used for the nano manufacturing industry.”

Mao said they are proposing to introduce the radical chemistry of liquid-based methods into the vapor deposition process to retain functional groups and the nanotube alignment at the same time.

“Studies conducted earlier demonstrated successful functionalization of aligned carbon nanotubes using this vapor-deposition method,” she said. “Additional research is proposed to understand the chemistry of covalent and noncovalent functionalization of aligned nanotubes.

“The research will significantly advance our capability in developing nanotube-based sensor devices and have a broad impact on research activities in nanostructure’s engineering and thin films. We expect the technology developed in our lab will be used in 2012-2014 through collaboration with NanoLab and local nanotechnology companies.” ▲

Photo by Mitch Alcala

Although wheat fields dominate the landscape of the state, Oklahoma is seeing more and more land being dedicated to grape production.

Eric Stafne, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist, said grape production in Oklahoma is expanding and having a positive effect on the state’s economy.

“Grape growing is becoming more popular in Oklahoma. Growers are leaving the traditional grape growing areas because it’s less expensive to own land and grow grapes in this part of the country,” Stafne said. “Oklahoma restarted grape production in the late 1990s after many years, so the industry is still relatively young.

And although weather issues and disease can be problematic, we’re starting to see some real progress in production.”

The biggest age group of new growers is the retired or near-retired sector. Stafne said part of this is because even though they are retired, this group of people want to do something else.

Oklahoma currently has more than 50 wineries, most of which are located along I-44 and Route 66. There are about 600 total acres dedicated to grape production statewide.

Grape production continues to increase in Oklahoma

By Trisha Gedon

Photo by Todd Johnson

“One of the problems with grape production is that just growing grapes isn’t enough to make it a self-sustaining commercial venture. In order to sustain a business, a grower needs at least 30 acres and a way to mechanically harvest the fruit,” Stafne said. “Most vineyards in Oklahoma are less than five acres.”

In an effort to assist those who wish to enter the grape growing industry, or enhance the knowledge of those already in production, OSU offers a Grape Management course. Currently in its 10th year, the course covers all aspects of growing grapes and appeals to novice as well as seasoned growers.

“We offer something for everyone in this course, and we often have a wide variety of instruction within each class,” Stafne said. “We’ve had people come back and take the course again to expand their knowledge.”

The Division TRIANGLE Ivol said both he and his wife enjoy their proximity to OSU and take advantage of the knowledge that is available.

The course meets monthly from March through September, which coincides with the growing season. Topics covered each month are suited toward what growers are experiencing at that time of year.

“I’ve been making wine for about 30 years, and the secret is to keep things clean and sanitized and control the temperature,” Ivol said. “If you can do that, you eliminate most all of your problems.”

One couple who said they have benefited greatly from the grape course and OSU is Jeanette and Ivol Hane, owners of Woodland Park Vineyards in Stillwater.

Stafne said the research station in Perkins features about 25 different types of grapes in the variety trials being grown, including both

The couple owns 66 acres northeast of Stillwater, and they got started in the grape business in 2000 thanks to a grant from The Kerr Foundation, Inc. They attended their first grape management course in 2001. Currently, about 10 acres are dedicated to growing grapes.

“We had about 15 vines for several years, and then we just started planting more and more,” Jeanette said.

“We do it all from the vine to the glass,” Ivol said. “We grow the grapes, process them, bottle the wine and sell it. We currently grow nine varieties of grapes, mainly hybrids, for our wines.

We have about 20 different wines to sell.”

Although the Hanes do have to purchase some of the grapes needed for their wine, they hope to grow all of the grapes needed within just a few years.

Not only is Ivol instrumental in growing the grapes, but he also has built some equipment that helps with the management process. His “pride and joy” is a heater that can raise the temperature of the vineyard by up to 20 degrees.

“My biggest challenge is the weather. The grapes can get hurt with those late spring freezes,” he said. “This heater blows warm air over the vineyard.”

Photo by Todd Johnson

Jeanette also worked with the OSU food science program when she opened the Gardens Restaurant at the winery in 2008. In addition to the winery and restaurant, the couple recently opened a wedding venue. The facility is open for private parties as well.

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on and off root stock. OSU also is involved in a number of other variety trials including trials at Woodland Park Vineyard, as well as an herbicide trial at a new research plot in Bixby. Other research includes working on how to find and screen for crown gall, a bacterial disease that comes on plants from nurseries.

“The demand for wine grapes will continue to grow and will continue to impact the economy of the state,” Stafne said. “It’s exciting to be part of such a young industry and see where it’s going to go.” ▲

Burning up fire misconceptions

By Sean Hubbard Fire is nothing new to Oklahoma. Throughout history, this land has been burned by American Indians, sparked by lightning, lit from a campfire and cooked from a burning cigarette butt. Through it all, the land has been improved through the use of fire.

“Historically, this land burned anytime of the year, and it’s still here and it’s still good,” said John Weir, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension rangeland ecology and management specialist. “It burned then, why wouldn’t it burn today?”

The answer to that question is, it will. It might sound crazy, but prescribed burning during the summer months is just as, if not more, effective than the traditional spring burns.

Photo by Todd Johnson

“We’re trying to get rid of that old mentality that people grew up with that you can’t burn in the summer because it doesn’t benefit anything,” said Weir. “It’s not what they imagine in their minds; that it’s going to kill the grass, that it’s a raging inferno and that it can’t achieve goals that we need.”

The Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources held a Fire Field Day in the summer of 2009 at the OSU Range Research Station, in which approximately 100 people were delivered a clear message.

“You can burn in any month of the year and some of the months that a lot of people don’t

think about burning in, like July and August, are actually some of the better conditioned months to burn,” said Jim Trapp, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service associate director. “The burning conditions are more conducive and you’ve got more days that you can get it done.

If you restrict yourself to February, March and April, you don’t have that many days where you have a good chance to burn, and you may not be able to get the burning done that you should for the management practices that you are trying to achieve.”

There were attendees of the field day from all over the state and surrounding states. They heard from specialists regarding the effects on invasive plant species, wildlife, cattle production, soil nutrient levels and other aspects dealing with prescribed fire.

“This field day was all about reintroducing fire in both an environmentally or ecologically safe way, and an economically feasible way,” said Keith Owens, natural resource ecology and management department head. “People got a chance to see how easy this was to do, and how safe it was compared to what they are used to in the winter.”

Toward the conclusion of the event, a patch burn demonstration allowed the attendees to get a firsthand view of the effectiveness of a summer burn. While the conditions were not ideal—with very low wind speeds, high humidity and damp grass—Weir and his team proved their point. ▲

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Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension educators in Caddo, Grady, Jefferson and Stephens Counties deliver educational programming through interactive sessions to help those in the hot seat turn their financial management practices around for a much cooler future.

Writing a check when there are not sufficient funds to cover has an impact on many. For the person writing the check, penalties in Oklahoma range from up to one year imprisonment and fines up to $5,000. In some cases, it is considered a felony, and writing bogus checks can lead to a 10-year prison sentence.

Oklahoma merchants lose millions of dollars each year as a result of bogus checks, and ultimately those costs are passed onto the customers, said Susan Routh, Grady County Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development educator.

In 2007, the District Attorney’s office for District 6 of Oklahoma received 9,623 bogus checks.

Due to Extension’s excellent track record with Financial Management Education programs, the DA’s office approached the family and consumer sciences educator in Grady County and proposed a partnership.

Making $ense of Money Management is a financial management training for bogus check offenders. A four-hour class was developed and allows individuals to improve their financial management skills and increase knowledge about financial opportunities. Goals of the program include: •

Helping individuals develop their financial management skills including maintaining a checking account, developing and maintaining a household financial management plan, building confidence and managing finance.

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Introduce the OSU Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences programs to a nontraditional audience.

Making $ense of Money Management •

Decrease the recidivism of bogus check offenders.

Routh said the interactive sessions include topics covering balancing a checking account, financial goal setting, savings strategies, credit management and development of a financial spending plan.

During 2008, the program gave five classes in Grady, Caddo and Stephens Counties with a total of 53 participants completing the class. A total of $9,000 in fees has been waived for class participants. Each district court has mandated that a convicted bogus check writer must attend the class.

“The program is really changing attitudes and making a difference in these people’s lives,” Routh said.

The program’s post data results show Making $ense of Money Management has assisted participants in decreasing their household debt level by 42.9 percent, and when asked about the level of satisfaction with their current financial situation, 57.1 percent reported an increase since completing the class.

Comments from participants include, “This class gave me hope. I can improve my situation,” and “I now write down all money transactions. I’m going to have a positive balance at the end of the month!”

With encouraging reactions like these, the program will continue to assist troubled individuals get their finances on the right track.

Photo by Susan Routh

Writing hot checks can definitely put those who write them in the hot seat.

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By Katie Reim

“Extension programs, such as this money management program, really assist Oklahomans in making positive changes in their lives,” said Glenn Muske, OSU Cooperative Extension interim associate dean, assistant director, family and consumer sciences. “It’s important for county educators to continue to partner with community leaders and work on the issues affecting their communities. It’s Extension’s mission to deliver research-based, objective information to help Oklahomans solve problems, promote leadership and manage resources wisely. This program is a good definition of the mission we uphold.” ▲

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What happens when you combine food processing with culinary arts? You get the recipe for the Oklahoma Culinary Research Alliance, or OKCRA. Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center (FAPC) teamed up with the OSU-Institute of Technology Culinary Arts Program in Okmulgee to form OKCRA and help advance value-added products from processing to presentation.

The Partnership The objective of this relationship is to create and identify end-use ideas for ingredients and food items using principles in innovation, said Andrea Graves, the FAPC business planning and marketing specialist and chair of the OKCRA committee.

“It’s the goal of this collaboration to improve existing food products, expand product lines, create new products, exploit the health attributes of these products and enhance labeling opportunities for Oklahoma,” Graves said.

OKCRA relies on the expertise and resources of the FAPC to identify opportunity areas in the food industry, combined with an innovative, highly specialized culinary arts class at OSU-IT that was developed specifically for the purpose of this collaboration.

The Class As a function of the academic curriculum associated with OSU-IT, the approach utilizes a one-semester model to achieve the objectives for each project, said Jason Marsh, OSU-IT Culinary Arts faculty member and instructor for the class.

“The class exposes the students to a more indepth understanding of a product by learning and seeing where a specific product comes from and how it reacts under different situations,” Marsh said. “It allows them to better understand their role as culinarians on how to prepare a product. The class also allows the culinary arts program to create partnerships and outlets for

Food processing + culinary arts = OKCRA

By Mandy Gross

new products to be developed and, in turn, exposes the student to products and companies they are more likely to use in the future after leaving the program.”

very open minds toward experimentation,” Buckmaster said. “Merging new product development with culinary initiatives can help propel new products into the marketplace.”

Since the creation of the alliance in 2008, OKCRA has assisted with two projects and plans to tackle another project in 2010.

Pork. The Other White Meat®

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner® The first project addressed by OKCRA was to enhance and facilitate the movement from commodities to value-added products in the beef industry.

“The beef industry, in part with the Beef Checkoff, is currently investigating methods to bring additional value to the beef chuck,” said Jake Nelson, the FAPC value-added meat processing specialist. “Multiple sectors of processing industries could benefit from new or novel methods of fabrication, further processing and final preparation for the consumer.”

To properly evaluate this partnership, OKCRA invited industry leaders to a luncheon during the first half of the 2009 spring semester and a dinner at the end of the semester to showcase the innovative approaches applied to the beef products developed by the students.

Heather Buckmaster, executive director for the Oklahoma Beef Council and attendee of the midsemester luncheon, said culinary students bring an interesting dynamic to recipe formulation.

“Culinary students often do not have preconceived ideas toward new beef cuts, so they bring

The second project of OKCRA focused on the uses of two fresh ham muscles: the pork eye and the pork cap.

“For this work, we asked the culinary group to focus on the idea of creating dishes from these cuts that could be applicable in a casual-dining, foodservice application,” Nelson said. “This was a direct result of input we received from Seaboard Foods when they expressed a desire to place fresh ham cuts into the marketplace.

Traditionally, ham muscles from the pork carcass have been routed to either luncheon or deli meats, or into seasonal or festive applications like a Christmas ham.”

OKCRA held a luncheon at the conclusion of the 2009 spring semester to highlight the top innovative approaches to the pork products developed by the culinary class.

David Eaheart, director of marketing for Seaboard Foods, attended the lunch and said he was very impressed with the students and the end products.

“We recently have been talking about how we can add value to under utilized pork cuts,” Eaheart said. “We are proud to partner with the FAPC and OSU-Institute of Technology. The state of Oklahoma has been very good to us.”

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Eaheart said the OKCRA project helps Seaboard Foods understand how to package and present these new products to different distributors and foodservice operators.

“Our customers want to know what they can do with the products; so now we can tell them here’s a new cut and here’s what you can do with that cut,” Eaheart said. “This work shows the complete solution with these pork cuts.”

The Next Steps OKCRA is eager to work on a third project in 2010 and help develop new and innovative products for the Oklahoma food industry.

Photos by Mandy Gross

“The alliance is always looking for ideas to explore in helping an Oklahoma company, commodity, product or innovative process,” Graves said. “I encourage anyone who has an idea or suggestion for future OKCRA projects to please contact the FAPC. There are endless opportunities resulting from OKCRA, which could benefit many Oklahoma companies and the food industry.” ▲

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Oklahoma 4-H Program going strong after 100 years

By Trisha Gedon It has been a whirlwind year for the Oklahoma 4-H Program as the organization celebrated its centennial.

It is very likely that when W.D. Bently started the first “Corn Club” in Tishomingo in 1909, he had no idea the long-lasting impact it would have on Oklahoma’s youth. A century later the program is still going strong, has more than 141,000 members from all 77 counties and continues to follow the 4-H motto to “Make the Best Better.”

Charles Cox, state 4-H program leader, said there have been a number of statewide centennial celebrations throughout the year, as well as many activities on the county level.

“The culmination of this year’s centennial events just took place in early November with the Green Tie Gala,” Cox said. “The gala took place at the Skirvin-Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City, and everyone had a wonderful time reminiscing about all the good times they had in the past and all the fun yet to come. It definitely was a once-in-a-lifetime event for everyone who attended.”

Jessica Stewart, state 4-H marketing coordinator of promotions and special programs, said one of the highlights of the evening was recognition of the Centennial Families adult winners and the Centennial Families youth winners.

“We were looking for adults and youth who exemplify the 4-H program. We had many nominations, and it was hard to narrow it down and name the winners,” she said.

Adults who received the Centennial Families Award were Ruth Ann Givens, Ellis County; Annette Stowers, Cleveland County; Dea Rash, Payne County; and John Pfeiffer Jr., Logan County.

Pfeiffer’s 4-H legacy goes back to the days of the first Corn Clubs.

“My grandmother, Elizabeth Pfeiffer, belonged to the first Oklahoma 4-H Corn and Canning Club in Orlando. Our family sees 4-H as the most significant way to get kids started on the right track,” Pfeiffer said. “I firmly believe my early experience in 4-H gave me the confidence to feel I could be a leader and I could be a part of ‘making the best better.’”

“Five generations have learned leadership, citizenship and project skills ranging from domestic sciences in the 1920s to horse and science and technology skills in today’s 4-H,” Stowers said.

“Each of the past generations not only were 4-H’ers, but also became club leaders and certified volunteers.”

Youth Centennial Families winners include Aaron Sharp, Payne County; Austin Rhye Kindschi, Logan County; Taler Sawatzky, Custer County; and Cheyne Sierra Wright, McClain County.

“Over the years, the Oklahoma 4-H Program has helped mold the lives of many of today’s state and national leaders,” Kindschi said. “The Oklahoma 4-H Program has adapted its projects to enhance and embrace the youth of today and tomorrow.”

“Seeing the friendships that develop and grow within the 4-H program has made the biggest impact on me,” Sharp said. “It seems that the work invested as a 4-H member grows and develops through the years. What a legacy!”

A centennial activity that currently is in progress is Oklahoma 4-H: Generations of Clover, a compilation of Oklahoma 4-H’s history featuring pictures, stories and county histories. Stewart said the book will feature historical and presentday stories from each county in the state and will be available in spring 2010. Books may be

preordered for $39.99 plus shipping and handling. Visit the Oklahoma 4-H Web site at http:// oklahoma4h.okstate.edu or call 405-744-7960 for more information about the book.

The Oklahoma 4-H Program teamed up with Stan Clark, owner of Eskimo Joe’s, to create a special, one-of-a-kind 4-H Centennial t-shirt.

The graphics depict the early years of 4-H to today’s technology projects. The design also features the well-known Eskimo Joe and his dog Buffy.

“Working with the people at Eskimo Joe’s was a great experience, and it’s great to see so many people wearing the special centennial shirt,” Stewart said.

Another exciting centennial event that just ended was the corn maze at P-Bar Farms. Loren Leibscher, owner of the farm located between Weatherford and Hydro, cut the 4-H centennial logo into his corn field. Various stations within the five-acre maze contained 4-H trivia questions to help participants navigate their way through the maze.

The 2008 and 2009 Oklahoma State Fair and Tulsa State Fair featured special centennial exhibits. Both fairs will feature centennial exhibits again in 2010.

Oklahoma 4-H’ers who had an interest in gardening were instrumental in planning, designing and installing the 4-H Centennial Garden at the OSU Botanical Garden in Stillwater.

“Their creativity and enthusiasm resulted in a magnificent garden that was a wonderful addition to the OSU Botanical Garden,” Stewart said.

Gallagher-Iba Arena, formerly known as the 4-H Clubs and Student Activities Building in the 1940s, features a special collection of 4-H memorabilia.

File Photo

Photo by Todd Johnson

“As we’ve done over the past century, our programming will remain relevant to what today’s youth are interested in. We’ll continue to develop new project areas as technology and other fields advance,” Cox said. “And the program will remain strong in the agricultural related projects as well. As much fun as the past 100 years have been, it’s exciting to envision what the next century will bring us.”

With the year coming to a close, 4-H’ers, volunteer leaders, and state and county staff across Oklahoma are building the bridges that will take the 4-H program through the next 100 years.

For more information about becoming a 4-H member or volunteer leader, please contact your local county Extension office. ▲

Photo by Todd Johnson

“When National 4-H celebrated its centennial in 2002, Oklahoma 4-H marked the occasion by establishing a special display in Gallagher-Iba Arena,” Cox said. “The display showcases the beginnings of 4-H programs and has visual examples of how the 4-H program continues to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma. Currently the display also features memorabilia focusing on the state program’s centennial celebration.”

Photo by Donald Stotts

The Division TRIANGLE

DASNR helps Oklahoma Army National Guard gear up for Afghanistan mission

By Donald Stotts

It kicked off with game-show flair and “50 things you need to know about Afghanistan,” but it was the beginning of the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ intensive training program for Oklahoma Army National Guard members who are serving in that war-torn country in 2009 and 2010.

Things proceeded apace in August with division faculty and staff traveling to Camp Gruber near Muskogee to provide still more hands-on training for the soldiers, an idea that first developed during the earlier training sessions on OSU’s Stillwater campus, in recognition of the value the division was providing to the guard’s mission.

“Our primary mission is to reinvigorate the knowledge and skills of Afghan farmers in many aspects of agriculture,” said Col. Mike Chase, mission commander of the Oklahoma unit.

“This includes, but is not limited to, animal husbandry, agronomy, pest management, finance, forestry and environmental stewardship, down to sales of farm implements and the transportation of farm goods.”

The United States National Guard Bureau initiated the agricultural-improvement program for Afghanistan after suggestions by Gen. David Petraeus and others in U.S. Central Command that there was a vital need for agribusiness development teams manned by National Guardsmen from rural areas to train Afghans in modern farming techniques.

Guard leaders hope the agricultural teams can help build trust among the Afghan people, thereby helping to improve the nation’s fragile security situation. President Barack Obama has made stabilizing Afghanistan one of the primary objectives of U.S. foreign policy.

The Oklahoma Army National Guard contacted the division in December 2008, looking for technical assistance to prepare guard members to meet responsibilities related to “nation building.”

“Our agribusiness team is composed of three elements: headquarters, agricultural subjectmatter specialists and a security force,” Chase said. “We built our ag team based on the mission analysis and availability of people. Although we have specialists in each field, we needed to ensure that our people had sufficient knowledge and understanding across disciplines to assist one another in the field. OSU has been invaluable in helping us to accomplish this.”

Troops in Oklahoma’s 1-45th Agribusiness Development Team will serve approximately 10 months in Afghanistan, operating in the Paktia province in the south.

A country approximately the size of Texas, Afghanistan was once a regional leader in the production of many agricultural-related goods, and the country’s vineyards even made it a major supplier of raisins to Europe. However, decades of armed conflict have taken a disastrous toll.

“Afghanistan has the potential for good production of wheat, apples, honey and leather goods, among other crops,” said David Henneberry, the division’s International Agricultural Programs director. “Sheep and goats are the mainstays of Afghan livestock production. The challenge is to move Afghan producers forward agriculturally despite the often limited and low-tech resources available locally.”

Chase and his fellow officers were well aware of the challenge when they were putting together the approximately 60-member 1-45th Agribusi-

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ness Development Team. He feels the unit is well balanced, able to draw upon practical experience and formal education in the animal and plant fields.

“We have a veterinarian, a young woman who has poultry production experience, someone whose family owns and operates a horticultural nursery, and a number of individuals who have a broad general background, including a vocational agriculture teacher and some who are graduate students in agriculture at OSU,” Henneberry said.

Agriculture accounts for about 45 percent of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product and employs about 69 percent of the country’s workforce.

However, there is a shortage of food, with 45 percent to 55 percent of children 5 years of age or younger suffering from malnutrition. Only one in every eight acres in Afghanistan can be cultivated.

Given Afghanistan’s largely agrarian society, the choice of asking for assistance from OSU’s DASNR was an obvious one for the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

“Our state and federally mandated land-grant mission is to help improve the quality of life for individuals, their families and their communities, across Oklahoma and beyond,” Henneberry said. “It’s widely recognized that our faculty and staff have extensive experience in doing just that, be it locally, statewide, regionally, nationally or internationally.”

“All of us in the division consider it an honor and pleasure to help train our Oklahoma soldiers for their mission,” said Carol Jones, an assistant professor with the division’s department of biosystems and agricultural engineering. “Improving agricultural practices is the foundation for enhancing the quality of life of an impoverished country’s residents. For the National Guard to try and do this in an area of active conflict such as Afghanistan is truly a worthwhile and challenging undertaking.” ▲

Pursuing partnerships to add value to Oklahoma

Photo by Todd Johnson

By Mandy Gross

The Division TRIANGLE Adding value to the state’s food industry is a key component of Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center. The FAPC has succeeded by establishing significant partnerships.

One such partnership is between the FAPC and Cozzini, Inc., a company headquartered in Chicago that offers products and services in food processing. As a part of this partnership, Cozzini provided the FAPC with one of its core industry offerings known as the SuspenTec® system. The system was installed at the FAPC in June 2009, and the equipment will remain at the FAPC for one year.

The SuspenTec® process involves mixing a brine solution with lower-cost materials, such as meat trimmings, and injecting the mix into more costly whole muscle products to add value to the products, while lowering the cost of the finished goods.

“This is not new technology; it’s probably over 20 years old,” said Jake Nelson, FAPC meat processing specialist. “Meat products sourced from nearly all red meat and poultry species have utilized this technology; however, there is one area that some see as an opportunity for further development, and that would be fresh beef applications, such as steaks and roasts at retail for the consumer.”

The Beef Innovations Group of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association recently emphasized this opportunity. NCBA-BIG identified SuspenTec® as a potential technology to improve the palatability of certain fresh beef cuts. In January 2009, the FAPC approached Cozzini about a partnership, and Cozzini recognized an opportunity by having its equipment at the FAPC and graciously agreed.

Keith Shackelford, marketing vice president for Cozzini, said the partnership with the FAPC is a great opportunity to train up-and-coming processors in the SuspenTec® technology.

“The technology is proprietary and the only type of equipment of its kind in the meat industry,” Shackelford said. “The technology is difficult to fully understand and appreciate until you can see it in a demo/production environment.

Having the equipment housed at the FAPC gives processors an opportunity to observe the technology in direct operation.”

The partnership between the FAPC and Cozzini also provides an opportunity for all parties to capture value from each other, Nelson said.

“The synergies resulting from Cozzini’s long history of processing knowledge combined with FAPC’s comprehensive laboratory and testing facilities creates ideal conditions to determine benefits and limitations associated with using the SuspenTec® technology in production systems,” Nelson said.

Tony Mata, NCBA consultant, said NCBA-BIG is at the beginning of this exploration but is excited to explore the SuspenTec® technology in beef.

“We got interested in the technology after seeing what the pork industry has accomplished using the process,” Mata said. “We were very impressed.”

Seaboard Foods, a producer of pork products, is a successful Cozzini SuspenTec® customer.

Shackelford said the beef industry can further benefit from the technology as well. Having the equipment housed at the FAPC allows NCBABIG to have access to the equipment and enhance the awareness of the technology.

During a meeting between industry and academia discussing the lack of flavor and tenderness in muscles of the beef round, NCBA-BIG strategized that the SuspenTec® technology could help with the tenderness and flavor of round muscles.

Since the installation in June, the group has conducted two exploration trials using the equipment at the FAPC.

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“It’s a complex technology,” Mata said. “Identifying the right type of components has been the main focus of the two trials so far. We haven’t been able to produce samples that we can say are representative of what we are looking for, but adjustments have been made. During the third attempt, we hope to get the right setup and produce samples for market testing and consumer research.”

Mata said the end goal is a significant improvement in flavor, tenderness and juiciness in round muscles validated via consumer research, and to bring the performance of those muscles as steak material for grilling.

The relationship between the FAPC and NCBA goes back almost 10 years, Mata said. Through the years, NCBA, via partnerships with the FAPC, has benefited from the technical resources and capabilities the center offers.

“Conducting research at other institutions can be a challenge because their primary objectives are research and teaching,” Mata said. “FAPC offers the ideal environment for industry research, and we can move at a faster pace.”

NCBA-BIG is not the only organization that is taking advantage of the SuspenTec® technology being housed at the FAPC. Chef’s Requested Foods of Oklahoma City will evaluate the potential use of this technology in existing products and the creation of new items.

In addition, Cozzini and other processors that work with Cozzini will have access to the equipment for their specific and necessary use.

If throughout the course of the 12-month duration of housing the equipment there is a need to keep the equipment longer, Nelson said the agreement made between the FAPC and Cozzini could be extended, renewed or amended.

“Partnerships like this provide our clients and stakeholders access to current industry technologies and knowledge,” Nelson said. “This is a tremendous opportunity.” ▲

Awareness of the role research and development will play in the diversification of Oklahoma’s future energy portfolio was in full evidence during Gov. Brad Henry’s 2009 State of the State address, wherein he spoke about the need for government agencies to tighten their budgets – with a notable exception, Oklahoma’s investment in biofuels, particularly cellulosic ethanol.

“Oklahomans are expanding the possibility and viability of cellulosic ethanol, and it’s critical that we continue our commitment to this visionary enterprise,” Henry said.

Among those fully engaged in the “visionary enterprise” is the Oklahoma State University Biofuels Team, which is examining the sustainable bioenergy potential of numerous lignocellulosic feedstocks, from straw and woody materials to sorghum, switchgrass and many other varieties of natural grasses.

“Prime benefits of these energy crops are that they minimize negative effects in regards to the world’s food and fiber needs; demand relatively low inputs such as fertilizer, which result in a higher energy return; and are naturally adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions,” said Ray Huhnke, director of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ Biobased Products and Energy Center.

The OSU Biofuels Team: Working toward tomorrow’s prosperity today

By Donald Stotts

The center was created in 2008 to better meet ever-increasing demands for the university’s widespread scientific expertise regarding biofuels. The OSU Biofuels Team is a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional effort, comprised of scientists and engineers within the division; the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology; the University of Oklahoma; and Brigham Young University.

When Oklahoma Secretary of Energy Robert Wegener spoke to division faculty and staff during the spring of 2009, he took several minutes to specifically praise the OSU Biofuels Team, citing that “the days of cheap, secure and plentiful energy are over.”

The Division TRIANGLE “OSU is second to none when it comes to biofuels, with leadership and expertise in every aspect of research and development,” he said.

“There is no substitute for diversification of Oklahoma’s energy portfolio. Energy infrastructure is the backbone of our economy, accounting for one-seventh of our total tax dollars. We must strengthen and expand our partnerships to prosper.”

Wegener cited the partnership between OSU, OU and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation through the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center as an example of the state positioning itself for success in the coming decades.

In 1970, approximately 70 percent of the oil used in the U.S. came from domestic sources. In 2007, that number was 35 percent. Factor in the increase in global demand, the nationalization of 80 percent of the world’s oil reserves, carbon tax legislation and renewable fuel standards and it is clear that American energy policy is undergoing change.

Wegener said research and development of new technologies that increase efficiency or create new energy sources represent the passport to Oklahoma’s energy future.

Sweet Success One particularly promising aspect of OSU’s biofuels research is the team’s ongoing study of sweet sorghum, with the aim of making possible the effective production of ethanol in the farmer’s own field.

Sweet sorghum can be grown throughout temperate climate zones of the U.S., including Oklahoma. It provides high biomass yield with low irrigation and fertilizer requirements. Best of all, producing ethanol from sweet sorghum is relatively easy.

“Press the juice from the stalk, add yeast, allow fermentation to take place and you have ethanol,” said Danielle Bellmer, a biosystems engi-

neer with DASNR’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center (FAPC). “Unfortunately, the simple sugars derived from sweet sorghum have to be fermented immediately.”

Throw in the expense of constructing and operating a central processing facility that would only operate four to five months of the year when sorghum would be available in Oklahoma and the challenge multiplies.

The beginnings of a possible solution presented itself when entrepreneur Lee McClune approached FAPC scientists seeking their assistance in testing his newly designed field harvester capable of pressing and collecting juice from sweet sorghum. His proposed process involved using the harvester, large storage bladders for fermentation and a mobile distillation unit for ethanol purification. The FAPC and DASNR’s initial involvement in the project was to look at the feasibility of fermenting the juice in the field.

“We’re examining such things as juice extraction efficiency, whether or not pH (acidity) or nutrient adjustment of the juice is needed and various environmental factors,” Bellmer said.

The goal is to make production of ethanol from sweet sorghum economically viable by using an in-field processing system that minimizes transportation costs and capital investment.

Equipment such as the harvester and other technology could be owned individually or cooperatively with a number of producers sharing and possibly helping one another process ethanol from sweet sorghum.

Farming for Fuel In Oklahoma, the potential processing scenario might look like this: Plant sweet sorghum around mid-April, and then stagger plantings for two to three months. This would provide a harvest window of August through November.

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“Ethanol yields in Oklahoma could range from 300 gallons to 600 gallons per acre, depending on biomass yield, sugar content and juice expression efficiency,” said Chad Godsey, biofuels team member and OSU Cooperative Extension cropping systems specialist with the department of plant and soil sciences.

Currently the team is working to determine the maximum possible harvest window for sweet sorghum in Oklahoma.

“Obviously, the longer the harvest window, the more ethanol state farmers will be able to produce,” Godsey said.

OSU Biofuels Team researchers also are studying environmental parameters that may affect the feasibility of on-farm fermentation. A producer must be able to ferment the juice in the field during Oklahoma’s harvest season for sweet sorghum, which occurs in the fall when temperature extremes are highly possible. Temperature can speed up, slow down or derail the fermentation process.

Test plot sites are maintained at Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station facilities across the state, allowing OSU Biofuels Team members to conduct research on sweet sorghum under local conditions.

“We would like to do with sweet sorghum what the Brazilians have done with sugar cane,” Bellmer said. “In Brazil, sugar cane ethanol provides a large percentage of their fuel needs.”

Sustainable Success To take full advantage of the environmental and economic potential of biobased energy, members of the OSU Biofuels Team stress that Oklahoma must develop and invest in ways to produce biofuels that do not negatively affect food, feed and fiber needs that rely on the production of agricultural crops.

“Evaluating the best types of biomass to grow, the best conversion processes to use and the best

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The Division TRIANGLE

places to locate conversion facilities are necessary if Oklahoma and the nation are to create an industry that is successful and sustainable,” Huhnke said.

Perennial prairie grasses like those in Oklahoma produce less erosion because the plants root well, are not tilled and generally need little or no fertilizer.

Other states have a vigorous biofuels industry that is dependent on corn to produce starchbased ethanol. Corn lacks the spreading roots that help perennial grasses hold soil and planting corn generally is performed using soil-loosening tilling practices to allow seeds to sprout more efficiently.

Use of cellulosic biomass – plant material from grasses and forage, forest waste products and similar sources – seems to be a vital component to avoiding the negative economic and environmental effects related to corn-based ethanol production experienced during the past few years.

OSU Biofuels Research Attracts Funding to the State Yanqi Wu, a plant breeder with OSU’s department of plant and soil sciences, explains that the ultimate goal is to help meet the world’s energy needs in economically viable and environmentally sound ways through the creation of renewable energy sources from high-yield, highquality plants.

EPSCoR is in the midst of receiving $20 million from the National Science Foundation and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education at a rate of $4 million annually. The funding

Photo by Todd Johnson

“It’s a simple concept, but the science needed to realize the goal can be quite involved,” said Wu, whose biofuels research has received a boost thanks to additional funding provided through the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

The Division TRIANGLE 25

Oklahoma State University and its partner institutions in industry are receiving $4.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue groundbreaking work in the development of biofuels.

“This funding targets large-scale production, a critical step building upon more than a decade’s worth of scientific study by OSU and our partner researchers,” said Ray Huhnke, director of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ Biobased Products and Energy Center. “We’ve been conducting small-scale studies in feedstock production and harvest logistics for years. This new level of research signifies the final step in providing reliable supplies to a biorefinery.”

It is a belief echoed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In May, the EPA published proposed changes to the renewable fuel standard program. Based on the proposed rules, the EPA was of the opinion that approximately 85 percent of the production of dedicated energy crops in the U.S. by 2022 would come from Oklahoma.

The $4.2 million in funding will enhance the division’s ability in using large-scale feedstock production research fields to evaluate the economic and environmental sustainability of switchgrass, mixed-species perennial grasses and annual biomass cropping systems. Feedstock quality characteristics, as desired by the biorefinery industry, will be assessed under varied harvest, handling, storage and preprocessing scenarios.

“The competition was extremely fierce, with more than 1,000 pre-proposals being submitted nationally for the USDA-CSREES funding,” Huhnke said. “In the end, we were one of about 10 projects to receive funding.” ▲

supports a collaborative project led by Huhnke; Lance Lobban of the OU School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering; and Kirankumar Mysore of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

“Minimizing the expense of moving feedstock from the producer to the biorefinery is vital to the success of a sustainable biobased economy,” Jones said.

The potential payoff of a fully realized, sustainable biobased economy is obvious, not only at the pump for consumers but in the revitalization and prosperity of rural communities. ▲

Wu and his fellow collaborating scientists are studying DNA to identify genomic regions responsible for the major components of biomass switchgrass. They are also examining the gene expression profiles associated with switchgrass development and the makeup of plant structure as it relates to biomass yield. A third major factor of their research is plant stress resistance, a key to protecting biomass yield potential.

“Dr. Ranmanjulu Sunkar’s work with small RNAs is extremely exciting and cutting edge,” Wu said. “Small RNAs are important because they regulate plant gene expression.”

Wu, Sunkar and Ramamurthy Mahalingam, who like Sunkar is a member of the OSU department of biochemistry and molecular biology, in essence are attempting to create cost-effective feedstocks that then can be converted by microbial and chemical processes to produce desired products such as biofuels.

Of course, producers must be able to grow and harvest the improved feedstocks and then get them to market. While producers have extensive experience in handling hay crops for animal feeds, the quality characteristics needed by the biofuels industry are different.

“Our research shows while round bales shed rainfall better, the reduction in dry matter loss does not overcome the advantage that square bales have in efficient use of storage and trucking space,” said Carol Jones, assistant professor with OSU’s department of biosystems and agricultural engineering.

Division studies found that square bales protected with tarps or placed in covered storage maintained feedstock quality as well as round bales and are approximately 20 percent more efficient in the use of storage space.

Photo by Todd Johnson

OSU Biofuels Team, partners receive $4.2 million grant

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The Division TRIANGLE

If there’s a public garden in your city or town, or a beautiful landscape around a public building, there’s a good chance the local Master Gardeners had something to do with it.

Since its inception in 1978, the Oklahoma Master Gardener Program continues to beautify cities and towns across the state. Due to rapid urban growth in many parts of the United States, coupled with an increased interest in the environment and home gardening, the program continues to grow.

Master Gardener Program continues to grow

By Trisha Gedon

Headquartered at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, the Master Gardener Program originated 31 years ago in Oklahoma County, the state’s most urbanized county, said David Hillock, OSU Cooperative Extension consumer horticulture specialist. In 2008, 256 more participants were trained, bringing the total number of Master Gardeners to more than 5,300 across the state. There are more than 1,000 Master Gardener Programs in the U.S. with an estimated total of up to 60,000 trained individuals.

“Although the number of counties participating in the program has fluctuated over the years, it remains to be a very productive organization and has reached more than 1.5 million individuals in 2008 through phone replies and office visits, and roughly 1,246 educational programs are taught by certified Master Gardeners,” Hillock said. “We currently have about 25 counties participating in the program.”

Nathan Anderson, OSU Cooperative Extension director of the Payne County office in Stillwater, said the Master Gardeners are an important part of the county Extension office.

Photos by Todd Johnson

“We currently don’t have a horticultural specialist in the Payne County office, so the Master Gardeners take turns coming in once a week to answer any questions that may come in from residents in the area,” Anderson said. “They’re an extremely beneficial asset to our county.”

Dick Ortez, who is a member of the inaugural class of Master Gardeners in Payne County, said he thought becoming a Master Gardener would make him an expert in gardening.

“I didn’t understand the whole service component of the Master Gardener Program either,” Ortez said. “I really enjoy the things we do because they’re educational and beneficial to the residents in our county. Our primary focus is to try to educate people in growing plants, both ornamental and edible.”

Ortez said one main project the Payne County group has is an ongoing gardener series that he implemented several years ago. One Tuesday per month the group hosts a formal presentation that is free and open to the public. Topics cover all areas of gardening including pruning, vegetable gardening, lawn care and what to plant to attract wildlife.

“We try to time the topics with what gardeners need to do at that particular time of year,” he said. “In the spring, we talk about starting vegetable plants. Our efforts really are focused on trying to educate the public.”

One project the group worked on was relocating some flowers, trees and shrubs from a house being torn down and using them in the landscape for a Habitat for Humanity home.

“Working hand in hand with Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful way to give to our community,” Ortez said.

Currently, there are about 25 to 30 Master Gardeners in Payne County and Ortez said they all take turns teaching the monthly educational classes.

“We’re very fortunate to have the Extension office and OSU to turn to for help,” he said.

“When a question comes up that we don’t have

the answer to, we have these two places to turn to.”

Ortez said the Master Gardeners also take their programming into the public schools.

Hillock said Master Gardeners put in between 40 hours and 56 hours of volunteer time, participating in activities such as speaking at club and civic meetings, providing expertise at educational exhibits, serving as 4-H horticulture project leaders, assisting with horticulture mailings and newsletters, teaching horticulture activities at nursing homes and maintaining demonstration gardens.

“Master Gardeners participate in an intensive eight- to 13-week course where they receive between 40 and 56 hours of course work on subjects such as basic plant science, lawns, houseplants, irrigation, soils, diagnosing pest problems, vegetables and other related topics. When they complete the training portion, all Master Gardener trainees are then required to pass an exam,” Hillock said. “Only then can the trainees be certified and awarded the title of Oklahoma Master Gardener.”

Membership is extended for one year and those individuals who wish to continue in the program must complete 20 hours of continuing educational training during each year of activity. In addition, a minimum of 20 hours of additional volunteer service is required.

“When a Master Gardener is recruited, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service obtains horticultural skills in addition to any number of other abilities such as public speaking, teaching and designing, as well as many other desirable talents,” Hillock said. “They are a wonderful asset to Extension and the state of Oklahoma.” ▲

Photo by Todd Johnson

The Master Gardener Program is a highly effective means of extending the knowledge of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service to the residents of Oklahoma. In 2008, the Oklahoma Master Gardeners put in nearly 57,000 volunteer hours that were valued at more than $893,000.

Smallpox has a nasty history throughout the world. Caused by poxviruses, smallpox is one of the few disease-causing agents against which the human body’s immune system is ineffective in its defense.

Junpeng Deng, a structural biologist in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at Oklahoma State University, and his first-year doctoral student, Brian Krumm, are making strides in the fight against poxvirus.

By solving a three-dimensional crystal structure of a poxvirus protein in the act of disarming a human immune molecule, interleukin-18 (IL-18), the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources researchers made a major breakthrough. Their research is the first step toward a pharmaceutical medication for poxvirus-caused diseases, an aid in national and international security efforts and a treatment for autoimmune diseases.

“There are still a lot of questions to be answered. This is just the beginning,” Deng said.

“This opened up a new area to explore: How we design medication for autoimmune diseases.

We want to provide more and more structural insights.”

The human immune system is rendered helpless against poxviruses partly because the viruses block IL-18 from sending out a signal to the immune system. The body acts as if everything is fine, and the deadly disease takes over.

Photo by Todd Johnson

“We know now how the proteins communicate with each other,” Deng said. “In the future, we can design a drug to stop the poxvirus from blocking the IL-18 protein.”

DASNR researcher continues groundbreaking work on poxviruses

By Sean Hubbard

Deng described solving the structure as “killing two birds with one stone,” in the sense that there is very limited medication to treat autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in which IL-18 is too active, leading to the body attacking its own cells. Seeing how IL-18 interacts with the poxvi-

The Division TRIANGLE ruses will help with the development of effective inhibitors against overreaction.

This project, in collaboration with Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, recently received some good news. Deng was recently awarded a four-year $1.34 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue this research.

“Obtaining federal funding is a highly competitive process that involves intensive peer review and evaluation by experts throughout the scientific community,” said Gary Thompson, biochemistry and molecular biology department head. “A grant of this magnitude awarded by the NIH reflects both the importance of this research and the quality of the OSU team conducting the research.”

While solving the three-dimensional structure was the first hurdle, it tells only part of the story. That research allowed the understanding of where the poxvirus attaches to the IL-18, but Deng is now looking at how the IL-18 is functioning.

In a nutshell, the IL-18 must bind with its two receptor proteins on the cell membrane to activate the human immune response. Deng’s proposal to the NIH was to study the mechanism of how the signal that activates the immune response is occurring and is regulated.

“No one really knows how the interleukin-18 activates its receptors,” said Deng. “Once we know where it binds and how it activates, the story will then be more complete.”

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This information will allow the researchers to develop a protein drug to bind to those receptors to regulate the immune system activities.

Deng is hopeful this research will provide scientific knowledge and be applicable to practical issues regarding human health and security.

“This contribution is significant because it will fill the gap of our current knowledge on interleukin-18’s activation pathway and will provide important clues on how to modulate IL-18 activity,” he said. “It may benefit efforts in developing treatments against some autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in developing immunotherapies against other infectious diseases and cancer, and in combating bioterrorism.” ▲

Funding granted for research with human health implications There has been something bugging researchers at Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources over the past six years.

With the recent four-year extension to a National Institutes of Health grant totaling more than $930,000, Estela Arrese and Jose Soulages, two researchers from the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, will try and answer the question of how insects’ lipids support life.

“The results of this work have potential applications for agriculture, in terms of insect control, as well as for human health in our understanding of lipid metabolism,” said Gary Thompson, biochemistry and molecular biology department head. “Both areas fulfill aspects of the land-grant mission, which is to tackle issues that are important to the region and to the citizens of the state of Oklahoma.”

The human health aspect of the research may have been what allowed the continuation of the previous six years of work funded by the NIH. Insects transmit numerous diseases such as malaria. For example, if one can find a way to control the reproductive cycle of mosquitoes, one would have the possibility to prevent the transmission of malaria or dengue.

“The reviewers probably saw the connection between this study and human health,” said Arrese, associate research professor. “We may be able to use the information found on insects and apply it to more complex systems, such as humans. In many ways, insects can be used as model systems to elucidate basic common mechanisms.

That is the way science works.”

Agricultural producers should be buzzing with excitement, as they may see a more effective control method of insects produced from this research.

“Fat is essential for insect life. They need to accumulate a certain amount of fat to be able to reproduce,” said Soulages, associate professor. “Despite the importance of fat for the insect life, basic questions on how insects use fat remain unanswered.”

The extension of the grant will allow Arrese and Soulages to further their understanding of the mechanisms of fat utilization in insects.

“Once you understand the mechanisms, a number of possibilities will open,” Arrese said. “One of these could be finding some protein that is essential and unique to insects.

Such a protein could be a potential smart target for the design of environmentally friendly insect-control strategies.” ▲

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Thousands of Oklahoma school children are gaining a better understanding of how the food they eat makes the journey from the farm to their dining table, thanks to a new interactive exhibit called Farm to You. Farm to You is a walk-through exhibit geared toward kindergarten through 6th grade students and is a collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H, family and consumer sciences and agricultural education programs, Oklahoma State University department of nutritional sciences, Oklahoma State Department of Health WIC services and Southwest Dairy Farmers.

“The exhibit is a wonderful hands-on way for children to explore the relationship among agriculture, food and health,” said Diana Romano, a registered dietitian who serves as the Farm to You coordinator.

In its inaugural year, Farm to You reached more than 14,000 students in 25 counties across the state.

The exhibit features nine stations that take the students from the farm, to the market and through the body. The stations that make up the agricultural and health adventure include Cheeseburger Farm, The Market, Healthy Cool Café, Mouth, Stomach, Small Intestine, Muscle, Bone and Skin.

Students spend about six minutes at each station participating in hands-on activities and different exercises. Romano travels through the exhibit with a stopwatch in hand to ensure things run like a well-oiled machine.

“Because the exhibit takes about 54 minutes to go through, it’s very important we stay within our time limit so the students don’t have to wait long before taking their turn,” she said.

The Cheeseburger Farm teaches kids that farms provide foods that are important to their health and helps them make the connection between their food and the farm it comes from. Students match farm animals and plants with the compo-

Farm to You takes kids on fun food journey

By Trisha Gedon

nent of the cheeseburger it provides. They also match each component of the cheeseburger with the appropriate MyPyramid food group.

The Market shows kids how food moves away from the farm and is packaged for sale. It also introduces them to food labels, teaches them how to read the labels and how to use that information to make healthy food choices. The Market lets students follow the path of milk from the farm, to the store and to their table.

The Healthy Cool Café shows students that the school cafeteria offers a variety of food from each of the food groups and stresses the importance of eating a variety of foods. At the Healthy Cool Café students evaluate a tray of food for variety using the MyPyramid food groups and color as criteria.

The Mouth station teaches kids that they need a healthy mouth to enjoy their food. Presenters demonstrate how to brush and floss properly.

Older students (4th through 6th grades) also learn about diseases associated with tobacco use by observing a model of a mouth that is diseased by tobacco use and comparing the function of a healthy and diseased lung model.

The Stomach station shows students how the stomach is part of the digestive system and helps break down food into nutrients that are used to help the body grow and be healthy. They also learn that feelings of hunger and fullness are cues to help control eating. Students walk through the esophagus and enter the stomach where they compare the inflation of a balloon to feelings of hunger and fullness. They also

discuss how food is digested into different nutrients.

The Small Intestine station teaches kids that the nutrients from food are absorbed in the small intestine and stresses the importance of fiber and water for a healthy small intestine. Students walk through a maze with villi suspended from the ceiling and use the scientific process to predict and observe absorption.

The Muscle station emphasizes that muscles need foods rich in protein and carbohydrates and how exercise helps make muscles strong and flexible. Students are able to feel muscles move and use resistance bands to participate in stretching and strengthening exercises.

The Bone station teaches participants the importance of dairy foods and exercise to help build strong bones. Students identify items from the dairy food group that build strong bones and observe a model of healthy and weak bones. They learn the importance of having at least three dairy servings a day.

The Skin station teaches students that frequent hand washing is important to good health.

Students use Glo Germ™ gel to experience how germs are spread. This station also informs children how to protect skin from burns, cuts, scrapes and bruises.

The objectives of Farm to You include helping children learn that farms provide food for good health; learning to use food labels to make healthy choices; learning how the digestive system works; discovering how important physical activity and personal hygiene are to good

Photo by Trisha Gedon

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health; improving eating and health behaviors; and increasing awareness among parents, school personnel and community members about the importance of teaching children healthy habits.

tion presenters. Ideally the school should have between 250 and 450 students available to walk through the exhibit.

Farm to You is free for any school, but the school is responsible for obtaining the volunteers.

Deana Hildebrand, OSU Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist, said it is important for children to know where food comes from and how their food choices relate to their health.

Poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles among Oklahoma’s youth indicate the need to educate children on the importance of eating healthy and being physically active.

“The importance of the information available in this exhibit can be found in the major health issues prevalent in our target audience,” Hildebrand said. “Children in kindergarten through 6th grade don’t normally consume enough fruits and vegetables. They often have excessive calorie consumption and low physical activity levels, which contribute to being overweight. This age group also has a high prevalence of dental decay, low consumption of milk and dairy foods, and a high rate of smoking among adolescent and teens. Being overweight as a child increases the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Eating habits and lifestyle practices develop early in life, so it’s important to promote a healthy lifestyle at an early age. And the Farm to You exhibit does just that.”

Allison, a student who went through the exhibit during the last school year, said she learned a lot.

“Any school that wants to have the exhibit should contact their local Cooperative Extension office first,” Romano said. “The county office then contacts me and I schedule it.”

The school must have a 40-foot by 40-foot space available, at least eight volunteers to set it up and take it down, and nine volunteers to be sta-

Photo by Trisha Gedon

“I like the mouth and sitting on a tooth,” Allison said. “Because of Farm to You, I am going to try to eat healthier.”

“Many children don’t know where food comes from and how their food choices are related to their health,” Hildebrand said. “This exciting adventure will help Oklahoma children make the connection.” ▲

FAPC Analytical Services receives

By Brooke Clay national accreditation An Oklahoma State University laboratory has achieved something that no other university laboratory in the state has done.

The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center (FAPC) Analytical Services Laboratory is now accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) in the chemical field of testing.

“This prestigious accreditation enhances credibility for the FAPC Analytical Services and allows us the opportunity to provide the same quality services as always; but, now with the recognition from A2LA, the FAPC clients will have the assurance of the quality of services,”

said Guadalupe Davila El-Rassi, the FAPC analytical services manager. “We believe the accreditation will serve as a catalyst to broaden and promote our services to clients across the state of Oklahoma.”

El-Rassi said the FAPC Analytical Services team worked together for several months to complete all necessary requirements for this accreditation. Although it was a rigorous challenge, the team combined the necessary skills to meet the objective.

The FAPC Analytical Services is now accredited to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025:2005 based on internation-

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ally accepted criteria for technical competence and management system requirements necessary to consistently deliver valid test results. The certificate and the scope of accreditation can be found in the database of accredited laboratories at www.a2la.org/scopepdf/2790-01.pdf.

“It was hard work, but we were enthusiastic and are very proud of the success of our team,” said Veneta Banskalieva, senior research specialist for the FAPC Analytical Services Laboratory.

Very few laboratories in the state have been accredited by A2LA, said Angie Lathrop, the FAPC Analytical Services Laboratory senior research specialist.

“There is only one other chemical testing laboratory in Oklahoma that has been accredited by A2LA, and we are the only A2LA accredited university laboratory in the state,” Lathrop said.

“There may be labs in Oklahoma that obtained their ISO 17025 accreditation from another organization. However, according to research, I only found one other university in the U.S. that has an accredited chemical laboratory through A2LA.” The accreditation scope granted is to perform the following tests on food, dairy and plant products: percent moisture/loss on drying; percent ash; determination of crude protein by Leco Combustion Method; percent fat of meat, animal feeds, grains, plant tissues, butter and margarine, yogurt, and nuts and seeds by Soxtec; and percent carbohydrates by subtraction.

Photo by Todd Johnson

“The food industry in Oklahoma is progressive and demands service providers be third party accredited,” said Roy Escoubas, the FAPC director and professor. “The ISO is an international gold-standard accreditation, and our ISO accreditation for analytical services allows the FAPC to best serve our Oklahoma food industry clients.”

For more information about the Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center or the FAPC Analytical Services, please visit www.fapc.biz.▲

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First line of defense in battle against ‘creepy crawly monsters’

The graduate program in termite research began when Kard joined the OSU faculty. Since its inception, two doctoral degree students and three master’s degree students have graduated from the program. There are currently two doctoral degree students in the program.

The department also practices vigilant surveillance of termites, keeping a close eye on the Formosan termite, which has caused billions of dollars of damage throughout much of the U.S. coastline – from Virginia to the Texas and Mexico border – and is making its way to Oklahoma. This highly destructive species has been confirmed as far north as Denton, Texas.

“The program is putting professionals into the structural and urban entomology profession,” he said. “We’ve established a viable, applied and basic research program.”

“It’s really a tremendous threat, much more than people know because they haven’t seen it,” he said. “We don’t want to be reactive on this one.

We want to be proactive.”

Kard and his team published a study in the January 2004 Journal of the Kansas Entomology Society on a comprehensive statewide termite survey, the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The results showed that termites were prevalent in every county.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent in the New Orleans area in attempts to stop this species, with very limited success. The colony numbers are much larger than native Oklahoma termites, and they eat living plants, not just dead wood.

According to the report, differences in reported termite distributions are partially due to the lack of a comprehensive survey of Oklahoma.

“In the Hawaiian Islands alone, this particular termite does $100 million-plus in damage and repair costs,” Kard said. “We continually talk to pest management professionals in Oklahoma to train them on what the Formosan termite looks like. They’ve put up traps and luckily haven’t caught any yet.” ▲

The first report of its kind in Oklahoma completed the objectives of the study, which were: to determine the termite species of the state, identify potential species range within the state,

Photo courtesy of USDA

“We’re also heavily involved with the certification of pesticide applicators in the state,” Kard said. “If you want to be a pest management professional in the state, you have to go through us and the Pesticide Education Safety Program.”

Photo by Brad Kard

In March 2001, the Endowed Professorship of Structural and Urban Entomology was created within the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, with Brad Kard selected to the position after a national search.

In the battle against “creepy crawly monsters,” the department of entomology and plant pathology has an extensive outreach presence through Master Gardeners, private citizens and pest control association members by training them on appropriate threat and management practices.

Photo by Brad Kard

Termites cause from $2 billion to $6 billion in damage and repairs each year in the U.S., underscoring the importance of the proactive stance taken by Oklahoma State University’s department of entomology and plant pathology.

collect winged reproductives and gather seasonal flight data that might aid in correct species identification. The study is continually being updated and expanded.

Photo by Anita Smith

By Sean Hubbard

It sounds like a bad 1950s movie: Out-of-control “creepy crawly monsters” merrily chomp their way across the United States, treating homes, trees and other wood products as the latest in fast-food snacks.

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Fed Cattle Market Simulator:

It’s not just a game Revolution. It employed a format to examine the adoption of technology in the third world to show why adoption wasn’t automatic.

Photo by Mitch Alcala

Two grants allowed the team to write software exclusively for the simulator and to upgrade hardware. The game is designed to place students in the roles of either buyers or packers of cattle in an industry setting.

By Ron Dahlgren It started with faculty members nearly 20 years ago and grew into a widely adopted game that became an embodiment of the land-grant mission of teaching, research and Extension.

Its full name is the Fed Cattle Market Simulator, which was quickly dubbed the Packer-Feeder Game by students.

“In the late 80s, a few of us with an interest in livestock marketing met to talk about a grant proposal to help us study captive supplies and industry structure issues,” said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist.

At first the focus was on an experimental market approach.

“Price discovery and competition issues have plagued the beef industry for three decades, so we set out to create an experimental research tool to address these market structure and pricing issues,” said Clem Ward, retired OSU Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist.

The first incarnation of the game was developed by then professor, now Associate Director of OSU Cooperative Extension, Jim Trapp.

Trapp said the concept for the game came from a workshop he participated in called the Green

“We can simulate several weeks or even months of market dynamics and interactions for the participants,” Peel said. “On one hand it’s about the buyer and the seller coming together and price discovery. That’s the core. On the other hand they learn about costs, breakevens, anticipating changing marketing conditions as well as business concepts that are not traditionally taught.

“A major key is that all participants are making a market function, but at the state of knowledge that they each have, so it’s exactly like the real world. One participant may try to initiate a sophisticated marketing strategy while another may simply be trying to figure out what’s going on. Thus everyone learns at their own level.”

As such, it also became a great teaching tool for not only corporate audiences but Extension audiences as well.

At the end of the 90s, the actual markets began moving more toward grid and formula pricing and away from cash markets, which was the basis for the original version. Again, the game needed to be modified.

“Modifications allowed us to revise the software and create a wireless system that this generation of students really like,” Ward said. “ In our current version, we have handheld computers similar to those used by packers in the industry.

We originally wondered how we were going to get 60-year-old producers in Extension groups to use them, but they have been great and very willing to learn the technology.”

Trapp, Ward and Peel all concur that the revisions of the simulator were never anticipated, expecting the game to run its course after perhaps three to five years, not the 20 years that have passed.

Ward said this game opened immense doors and let them do things they never dreamed.

“It brought a lot of positive attention to us as faculty, to our department and to the university,” he said. “It opened doors to the industry and gave us great opportunities for Extension and classroom teaching.”

The Packer-Feeder Game was taught every spring as part of the departmental special problems class, as well as a special session or exercise for other classes such as marketing. It was also used in Peel’s introduction to agricultural economics course.

During the 90s, the simulator remained unchanged. But after later upgrades and much success, some challenges surfaced and, as a result, the latest incarnation of the game has not been used as much in the classroom due to difficulty in accommodating the wireless technology in a class of 200 students.

“Our main use most recently has been with our Master Cattleman Program, our work with the Samual Roberts Noble Foundation for their AgVenture program and our industry work with Cargill,” Ward said.

After Ward’s retirement, Kellie Raper took over his reign.

“I feel fortunate to help with the game,” said Raper, agricultural economics assistant professor, livestock marketing specialist. “My colleagues did all of the developmental work, and I get to step in and take part. It’s so much fun to watch folks learn without realizing they’re learning. All of this has me greatly excited about the future of the Packer-Feeder Game.” ▲

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The Division TRIANGLE

Water center showcases efforts to enhance ag water use

By Donald Stotts Internet surfers can see some of the ways in which Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is enhancing management of the state’s water supplies, with a simple click of the mouse.

water policy, land-use effects on water yield and effects of climate uncertainty on water resources, especially as they relate to agriculture and natural resource management.

“We’re also trying to make it as easy as possible for division scientists to integrate their expertise,” Engle said. “For example, developing best management practices that will be used by farmers and ranchers requires a process in which research and Extension must work together more closely than ever, all the while adjusting to the complexities of public decision making. Water is a very emotional issue for many people.”

Located at http://agwater.okstate.edu, the Web site for DASNR’s Water Research and Extension Center went live in July 2009.

A key focus of the site is to provide access to the latest goings-on in the division relative to its many and varied water-related projects, said Dave Engle, center director and holder of OSU’s Thomas E. Berry Endowed Professorship.

“People might be surprised at the depth and breadth of the division’s water programming, everything from water quality and hydrology to plant breeding for drought tolerance and wateruse efficiency,” he said. “In fact, DASNR has more investment in water research, education and public service than any other entity in the state.”

That means division efforts for sustaining Oklahoma’s agricultural water supply can have a significant, potential effect on the state’s economy and the health and well-being of residents and the environment.

The center is helping division scientists to more effectively conduct cutting-edge research on emerging water issues such as economics of

The DIvision of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Water Research and Extension Center facilitates the development of work groups, project teams and educational programs that meet and sustain Oklahoma’s agricultural water needs.

“It not only provides an effective means to identify priority issues, it strengthens our ability to develop grants, contracts and cooperative agreements with local communities, government agencies, private industries and tribal nations; all of which are important to developing solutions to agricultural water issues in the state,” said Bob Westerman, DASNR assistant vice president for program support.

Then there is the next generation of scholars, leaders and scientists.

Rising input costs for crop and animal production demonstrate the need for the implementation of water conservation measures.

“Water will be an increasingly pressing issue for society, whether the specific issue is a matter of policy, conservation, hydrology, or plant breeding and genetics,” Engle said. “Oklahoma and the region need innovative, sustainable and– most importantly–the right solutions when it comes to our water resources.” ▲

“These include improved soil management practices, irrigation methods, efficiency of farm water storage and transport of water, as well as an overall economic assessment of agricultural enterprises to allow owners and operators to manage existing water supplies more prudently,” Westerman said.

In addition, genes have been identified that are being incorporated into existing plant varieties to make them more drought and stress tolerant.

Photo by Todd Johnson

“Decisions made by Oklahoma producers, agricultural processors and value-added industries about their water use and management have never been more key than today, with demand for water increasing from multiple users and interest groups,” Engle said.

Enhancing sustainability of agriculture water supplies

“Plant breeding has been going on for thousands of years; today, advances in science are allowing us to develop improved varieties more quickly and efficiently than ever, which can help maximize water use,” said Westerman, who led OSU’s department of agronomy for many years. ▲

Photo by Todd Johnson

It is an age-old dilemma for college students: You graduate and look for a job, but the employer only wants candidates with experience. But how can you get experience without first getting a job?

For one group of Oklahoma State University students that dilemma has been all but solved thanks to a capstone course during the senior year. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering students enrolled in BAE 4012/4023 Senior Design, will essentially get a year’s worth of work experience while drawing upon what they have learned in their previous years of college courses.

“We work with real Oklahoma companies, on real projects,” said Paul Weckler, OSU biomachinery associate professor. “We work with OSU applications engineers, our department advisory committee and alumni to help identify companies and projects that need engineering work.

Then we assign teams of students to meet with the client, identify their needs, do the design work and build a prototype.

“One of this year’s projects is for J-M Farms, a large mushroom producer in Miami, Okla.”

An interdisciplinary Classroom in the real world

By Ron Dahlgren

Photo by Todd Johnson

Weckler has taught the class for nine years. During that time, projects have included the development of a robotic tease boar for a breeding farm; a method of constructing artificial islands in rivers to provide nesting habitat for the Least Tern; a 42-foot tandem disc that folds up so it can pass over rural bridges and under power lines; a bermudagrass sprigging machine; a backyard windmill hydrogen generator; and several machines for cutting down cedar trees.

“The projects we take on fulfill a real need for the companies we work with,” Weckler said.

“Sometimes a project will help a company that has no other option for research and design.

Sometimes it will serve to answer an engineering problem that may result in a new or improved product further down the line.”

Through it all, the student teams perform much as an engineering team would in the workplace.

“The difference, of course, is in the class they can afford to learn and make mistakes without fear

The Division TRIANGLE of being fired,” said Weckler. “And the students have the resources of the entire department and faculty to draw upon to help them be successful.”

tions/Senior Design sequence captures the dynamics of the campaigns course and so much more.

“It’s wonderful to see the interactions between the students from the various disciplines, their communications, even their frustrations as part of their teamwork. I hear communications students giving engineering design suggestions, and vice versa, because they have a totally different perspective and can offer different approaches.

It’s truly brainstorming in the most positive sense of the word.”

An added dimension beginning with the 20082009 academic year, thanks to a $465,000 USDA higher education challenge grant, is the addition of agricultural economics, agricultural communications and mechanical engineering students to the design teams.

“This has allowed our teams to focus on an entire concept for the companies we work with, rather than just the engineering aspect,” Weckler said. “We can do an analysis of the costs of production as well as suggest an entire marketing campaign for the product.”

Blackwell also said that this series of classes allows her to provide her students with lessons she otherwise could not fit into the standard communications curriculum.

With that grant OSU introduced a one-semester class called Innovations, said Dan Tilley, agricultural economics professor and associate director of the New Product Development Center.

“Patent and trademark searching is one item I

“This class was a precursor to the two-semester senior design class. It was designed to bring the students from the various disciplines together to teach them problem solving, teamwork, to be innovative and to be sure they were committed to doing the two-semester senior design class.

“From an agribusiness perspective, we find that the best practices show us that multidisciplinary, or multi-functional, teams work best.

Gone are the days when research and development came up with a product then ‘tossed it over the wall’ and then let finance, marketing and other sections of the company figure out what to do with it.”

Cindy Blackwell, agricultural education, communications and leadership assistant professor, said from the communications perspective, it allows her to greatly expand upon her regular curriculum.

“I teach a campaigns course where we work on real projects for real companies, but the Innova-

Photo by Todd Johnson

The entire thrust is aimed at teaching students the skills they will need in today’s industrial environment.

39

could not get into, and for our kids to understand that process is great. In my campaigns course I teach event management, but I could never work in project management for a scientific, engineering or business aspect. The same goes for learning about the legal issues of design, something else we can’t teach in ag communications.”

This class gives students a whole new realm of skills that increases their marketing in the workplace, she said.

The faculty involved all agree the students will be better prepared when they leave school and enter the workforce.

OSU is the lead university for this USDA grant but it also includes the University of Nebraska (UNL) and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. ▲

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Master Cattleman Program: A benefit to producers

gather to gain hands-on experience from featured cattle experts from across the country.

Lalman said the summit is a great opportunity for cattle owners to come listen to speakers and visit with other producers from across the state about current and future trends in the cattle industry.

By Katie Reim

The program was introduced in 2004 and since has graduated 540 students. Currently, 60 participants are enrolled from across the state. The goal of the program is to enhance profitability of beef operations and quality of life of beef cattle producers by providing them with essential information for all facets of beef production, business planning, risk management and marketing.

Carol Crews, at the End of the Trail Ranch north of Pawhuska in Osage County, has a commercial cow-calf operation and also raises Piedmontese cattle. Crews has been involved in the cattle industry for nearly 15 years. She bought the ranch for horses, but soon got into the cattle business.

The Master Cattleman Program has allowed her to take the knowledge she gained from the program and to apply it to her herd. The results have been very rewarding.

“The program taught me a lot about the different areas of cattle operations and the industry, and I also learned about body condition scoring cattle, stocking rates and all the financial aspects it involves,” she said. “It was nice to meet with other ranchers in my area and discuss the issues we were facing on a local front.”

Crews said she recommends this course to both young and experienced ranchers.

“There are a lot of new technologies and advancements happening in the cattle industry,” Crews said. “The coursework allows participants to gain a lot of knowledge and learn from profes-

The Master Cattleman Program is offered through the local Cooperative Extension office, and producers have two years from the time of registering to finish the program. ▲

sors who have a lot of experience in this area. I am still in contact with some of the specialists and refer to them when I have questions.”

Becoming a Master Cattleman requires completion of a core curriculum in addition to some elective hours.

“To be a Master Cattleman means to have completed a series of short courses designed to enhance a producer’s knowledge of sustainable practices in production, business management, marketing, herd health and natural resources,” said David Lalman, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension beef specialist and program coordinator. “Class members also must complete the required curriculum for the program and show an understanding by passing the exams relative to each area.”

Participants in the program use educational curriculum based on the Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual and producer certification process.

The Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual covers recent information on many topics including the demographics of the Oklahoma beef industry, economics, marketing and risk management, leasing arrangements, livestock insurance, forage production, grazing management, drought management, beef quality assurance, waste management and biosecurity.

Lalman said this is a very comprehensive resource for beef production in Oklahoma, and class participants are able to refer to this manual during and after the class.

For continuing education, every year the Master Cattleman Summit takes place at OSU where past and current participants of the program

Photo by Todd Johnson

Cattlemen and cattlewomen from across Oklahoma have experienced gains in many areas of their cattle operations due in part to the Oklahoma Master Cattleman Program.

Oklahoma Gardening

Saturday mornings at 7:30 on

is your television program for all aspects of gardening in Oklahoma. Join host Kim Rebek and her team of specialists every week as she presents helpful researchbased information for the yard and garden, visits beautiful locations around the state, and shows the how-to of food production and preparation.

On OETA stations Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.

with additional airing on OETA OKLA

SUNUP.okstate.edu

“TV you’ll grow to love”

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Division Facts: Did you know?

• In the last three years, the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has generated intellectual property that includes 11 patents and 11 license agreements totaling $1.9 million. Major successes have been achieved with feed additives, biofuel conversion, turfgrass, forage and wheat varieties, and precision application technology.

• The division generates more than $12 in annual sales for each dollar invested in research and Extension.

• More than 141,000 young people across Oklahoma are currently taking part in 4-H educational programs and activities offered through the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

• Oklahoma State University is the South-Central Regional Center for the national Sun Grant Initiative, established to create new solutions for America’s energy needs and revitalize rural communities.

• OSU, the University of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation form a three-way partnership

that is the foundation of the $40 million Oklahoma Bioenergy Center established

by Gov. Brad Henry in 2007.

• The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s Community Nutrition Education Programs (CNEP) leveraged state monies to bring in more than $3.7 million in federal nutrition education program funds in fiscal year 2009. During this period, CNEP educational efforts had a positive effect on the health and wellness of 5,591 low-income families, with more than 96 percent of adult graduates demonstrating a positive change toward a healthy diet.

• A 10-year economic impact study revealed that firms assisted by the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at OSU led to the total direct, indirect and induced impacts of 52,490 jobs and more than $6.4 billion in economic activity for Oklahoma in 2006. The levels of economic activity that responding

firms directly attributed to the FAPC totaled 157 jobs and almost $93 million in annual sales. Bottom line for Oklahoma: $93 million in annual sales is a great return on a $3 million annual investment.

• The Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system is responsible for 37 percent of research expenditures at OSU. Agricultural research through the Experiment Station generated more than $21 million during the 2008 fiscal year in new contracts awarded.

• Scientists in the division have regularly developed new and enhanced technology that supports Oklahoma’s $4.6 billion beef industry, $1 billion wheat industry and $450 million turfgrass industry. A study by the world’s largest private, not-for-profit science and technology development firm discovered that the division is generating dividends in wheat, livestock and turfgrass economic impacts

The Division TRIANGLE that total more than $750 million annually.

• The Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station is home to the National Institute for Microbial Forensics & Food and Agricultural Biosecurity.

The institute provides key training services for the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and local and state law enforcement.

• Researchers in the division have developed and improved groundbreaking precision agriculture technology that has saved

producers millions of dollars, not just in Oklahoma but worldwide.

• More than 300 superior plant varieties have been developed and released through the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system.

• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service county offices enhance OSU’s commitment to Oklahoma communities, where county Extension educators work side-by-side with residents to address local issues and concerns.

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programs covering 21 different countries with 169 students and 23 faculty taking part.

• The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources provides 16 majors and more than 70 study options to students pursuing careers in science, business, education, engineering, biotechnology, natural resources and communications. ▲

DASNR FY 2010 Funding Sources (Millions) Total: 118.64 M

• In 2009 the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources offered 19 agricultural study abroad

$2.30 2% $13.53 11%

Students helping other students succeed Students helping students is the name of the game in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Several programs, such as the Student Academic Mentors (SAM), Student Success Leaders, Ag Student Council and many student clubs and organizations, are what help drive the college. Upperclassmen go through an interview process to be selected for the positions.

“Our Student Success Leaders recruit outstanding students, serve as Student Academic Mentors in our living and learning community, and assist fellow students in all aspects of career planning, from resume building to internships, to interviewing,” said Ed Miller, CASNR associate dean. “All of our service leadership positions are voluntary, and all support the culture of service to others.”

There are nearly 50 SAMs that help CASNR freshmen get headed in the right direction when they step on the Oklahoma State University campus.

“The students, faculty, staff and our graduates have made service to others a critical part of the learning experience,” Miller said. “You learn so much about yourself when you help someone else.” ▲

$14.73 12% $10.18 9%

$77.90 66%

State Appropriations + ARRA* + Carryover Federal Appropriations Grants and Contracts Revolving, Station Sales + Carryover Endowments *American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 102 Agricultural Hall Stillwater OK 74078-6019

create / innovate / educate / Go STATE

Nonprofit org us postage paid Stillwater, OK Permit No. 191