USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia in which researchers examined the benefits of nipple drinker catch trays.
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“Investing in high-value research that promotes sustainably intensified agricultural practices, while addressing climate adaptation and limited resources, ensures long-term agricultural productivity and profitability and provides unprecedented opportunities for American farmers and producers,” said Hutchins, who leads USDA’s Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area. “USDA continues to support our nation’s farmers through investments that help strengthen our rural communities.”
As part of this funding investment, eight land-grant universities will lead projects aimed at integrating sustainable agricultural approaches covering the entire food production system.
Among the eight universities leading these projects, Western Illinois University will lead research aimed at developing pennycress as an oilseed crop that can be used as biofuel. Its goal is to help farmers throughout the US Midwest Corn Belt and in other temperate-regions to grow pennycress as a winter-annual cash cover crop. Pennycress is a unique, high-yielding oilseed crop that can provide environmental benefits including reducing nitrogen runoff and preventing soil erosion.
New Mexico State University will focus on improving the efficiency of Southwestern ranches by using systems models and linking the socioeconomic and environmental trade-offs associated with heritage cattle genetics, precision ranching and range finishing. This will ultimately help Southwest producers find more economical and sustainable ways to raise beef cattle using precision farming techniques.
North Carolina State University is leading a multi-institutional project that focuses on increasing crop productivity, conserving natural resources, and reducing the agro-ecological footprint using cover crops. This research investment taps into creative intellect from 19 universities and scientific experts from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
This research investment is part of a new program within NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program, the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. AFRI is authorised by the 2018 Farm Bill and addresses major challenges in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences.
“If we want a sustainable food production system that also safeguards our natural resources, we need approaches that are both innovative and economically viable for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and food producers. This ultimately benefits our nation’s consumers,” said Hutchins.
A list of the eight universities and their research projects is available on the NIFA website.
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia in which researchers examined the benefits of nipple drinker catch trays.
The information provided by GBADs will guide public policy and private sector strategy, contributing to improve animal health and welfare more effectively. It will also be a basis for further academic research.
A proprietary split-feeding programme for broiler breeders is disrupting conventional approaches to poultry nutrition. Developed by Trouw Nutrition, a Nutreco company, the split-feeding innovation has demonstrated improved hatching rates, welfare indicators and lower feed costs in research centre trials
Of special interest to a group of Auburn University researchers is the destination of heavy metals in the manure, including zinc, copper and lead. “The goal of our research project is to improve our understanding of how heavy metal losses occur in the subsurface flows of the agricultural landscape and w