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Forage News [2008-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Improved Grass Varieties Benefit Farmers
• Alfalfa and the Environment
• Grass May Help Balance Hot Dairy Diets
• Ethanol Maker Files for Bankruptcy Relief
• Pricing Hay: Consider Plant Nutrient Value
• Performance and Physiology of Steers Grazing Toxic Tall Fescue as Influenced by Feeding Soybean Hulls and Steroidal Implants
• Upcoming Events

Technical Variables In High-Throughput Mirna Expression Profiling: Much Work Remains To Be Done, Peter T. Nelson, Wang-Xia Wang, Bernard R. Wilfred, Guiliang Tang

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

MicroRNA (miRNA) gene expression profiling has provided important insights into plant and animal biology. However, there has not been ample published work about pitfalls associated with technical parameters in miRNA gene expression profiling. One source of pertinent information about technical variables in gene expression profiling is the separate and more well-established literature regarding mRNA expression profiling. However, many aspects of miRNA biochemistry are unique. For example, the cellular processing and compartmentation of miRNAs, the differential stability of specific miRNAs, and aspects of global miRNA expression regulation require specific consideration. Additional possible sources of systematic bias in miRNA expression studies include …

Forage News [2008-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• KFGC Awards
• Clayton Geralds Wins KFGC Forage Spokesman Contest
• 29th Alfalfa Conference Program Set
• Forages at KCA
• 9th Grazing Conference Proceedings
• Decision Aid Added to Website
• Enough Hay…
• Animal Grazing Habits
• Time to Focus On Switchgrass Economics
• Limiting Access Time to Hay Can Stretch the Roll
• Horse Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Can Be Controlled With Diet
• Upcoming Events

Forage Spokesman Information, Clayton Geralds, Brady Jarvis

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Supplementing Cattle On Pasture: When, What And How Much?, Roy Burris

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The biggest advantage of maintaining cattle in the southeast is our ability to grow forages. It is generally an economic advantage to make maximum use of our forage and then supplement only when needed to meet our production goals. Judicious use of extra nutrition to grazing cattle can allow us to meet an objective which was best stated by Hoveland in 1986:

“Our objective is to maintain pasture at the highest quality that the environment will allow and efficiently convert as much of the pasture as possible into saleable animal product.”

Fencing And Watering Systems: Simpler Is Better, Ralph Quillin

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Sustainability and Grazing Management have taken on a new importance in the Americana farm community. The key components of the sustainable approach, profitability, agronomic, social and ecological responsibility and quality of life are becoming obtainable goals for this and future farming generations.

Practical Grazing Management And Feed Strategies To Alleviate Fescue Toxicosis, Glen Aiken

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Tall fescue grown in Kentucky is productive and persistent and that is why the state has 5 million acres of the stuff! Fescue has tolerances to drought, low fertility, and overgrazing that are attributed to a fungal endophyte which infects most tall fescue plants. Unfortunately, these advantages of tall fescue that livestock producers appreciate are offset by reduced calving percentages and calf weight gains caused by consumption of ergot alkaloids produced by the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids affect the physiology of cattle to cause elevation in body temperature, reduced sweating, retention of winter hair coats and uncontrollable growth of summer hair …

Herbicide Options For Pasture Weed Control, Jonathan D. Green

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Weeds have become more evident and problematic in grazed pastures as forage and livestock production systems have intensified. As animals consume the more desirable and palatable plant species in pastures, weedy plants become more abundant. In particular, animals tend to avoid grazing plants which contain thorns, prickly spines, or are unpalatable making some pastures less productive. In fact, many of the more problematic plants observed in Kentucky’s grazed pastures possess these characteristics including thistles, spiny amaranth (spiny pigweed), horsenettle, common cocklebur, tall ironweed, and buttercups.

Horse Pasture Monitoring Program: Results After Three Years, Tom Keene, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Since 2001-2002 and the outbreak of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MLRS) the University of Kentucky has been developing stronger ties with the state’s equine industry. Approximately 30% of the foal crop was lost in the Central Bluegrass region during this period with a devastating impact on the industry. Traditionally, many Thoroughbred farms have functioned as independent entities, but MLRS helped them to realize that the University of Kentucky had tremendous amount of expertise that they could provide in the areas of animal health, forage management, and other areas. Initially, there were many theories as to the cause of MLRS with …

Forage Legumes Vs. Fertilizer Nitrogen, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Grazing Conference

A few weeks after I started to work as a Forage Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky, I heard my mentor and forage idol, Mr. Warren Thompson, speak on forage legumes. Warren, along with Dr’s. Tim Taylor and W.C. Templeton had pioneered the “Pasture Renovation Program” in Kentucky. In addition, Mr. Ed Smith had joined the team and collectively they developed the “Power-til Pasture Renovator.” Warren began his presentation by talking about Kentucky Forages pointing out we were so fortunate to have a good grass base and the opportunity to grow lots of legumes. He also talked about all …

Growth Of Grasses And Legumes: Impact On Grazing, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The primary, cool season, perennial pasture grasses used in Kentucky are orchardgrass, bluegrass, and tall fescue. When not grazed or harvested, each of these passes through successive stages of growth in the spring: 1) leafy vegetative; 2) boot with seed heads enclosed in leaf sheath; 3) heading when the seed heads begin to show and, 4) bloom when pollination has occurred ( Figure 2). Since fiber and lignin contents increase steadily beyond the vegetative stage, while percent protein and digestibility decrease, a major goal in grazing management is to maintain these grasses in the leafy, vegetative stage at all times. …

Foreword And Kfgc Award Winners [2008], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2008-10], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Kentucky Grazing Conference
• Grazing Crop Residues
• U.K. Forage Website
• KFGC Board Meeting Highlights
• Frost Brings Danger: Prussic Acid Poisoning
• Kentucky-Tennessee Cow-Calf Conference
• Dow Agrosciences Buys Dairyland Seed
• Court Decision Won’t Affect RR Alfalfa status
• Bale Feeder Reduces Waste
• Upcoming Events

Inhibitors Of Plant Peptide Deformylase For Use As Broad-Spectrum Herbicides And Methods For Identifying The Same, Robert L. Houtz, Lynnette M. A. Dirk, Mark Alan Wiliams

Horticulture Faculty Patents

The invention relates to a method of identifying herbicides and to the use of inhibitors of plant peptide deformylase as broad spectrum herbicides.

Forage News [2008-09], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Forage Spokesman Nomination
• KFGC Awards Nomination
• 29th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference - February 19
• How Good Is Your Hay?
• Brassicas and Cereals: High Quality Options for Fall Grazing
• Fall Fertilizer Applications to Hay Fields and Pastures
• USDA Forecasts 2% Less Alfalfa
• Switchgrass for Energy Will Take Time
• Upcoming Events

Alternation Of Tobacco Alkaloid Content Through Modification Of Specific Cytochrome P450 Genes, Ralph E. Dewey, Steven W. Bowen, Balazs Siminszky, Lily Gavilano

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Patents

Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) inNicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in …

Relative Crystallinity Of Plant Biomass: Studies On Assembly, Adaptation And Acclimation, Darby Harris, Seth Debolt

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Plant biomechanical design is central to cell shape, morphogenesis, reproductive performance and protection against environmental and mechanical stress. The cell wall forms the central load bearing support structure for plant design, yet a mechanistic understanding of its synthesis is incomplete. A key tool for studying the structure of cellulose polymorphs has been x-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Relative crystallinity index (RCI) is based on the x-ray diffraction characteristics of two signature peaks and we used this technique to probe plant assembly, adaptation and acclimation. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize the dynamics of cellulose synthase in transgenic …

Forage News [2008-08], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• History Making Grassland Meeting
• KFGC Field Day
• Stockpiling
• 9th Kentucky Grazing Conference - Lexington, October 23
• Horse Pastures in The Fall: A Perfect Time to Renovate
• Bale at the Proper Moisture
• “One Man’s Pie Is Another Man’s Poison”
• Hauling Challenges Abound
• U.S. Hay Acreage Down Slightly
• KFGC Awards Nomination
• KFGC Forage Spokesman Nominations
• Upcoming Events

Nitrite Reduction By Siderite, Sudipta Rakshit, Christopher J. Matocha, Mark S. Coyne

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation is an important process in the inhibition of soil Fe(III) reduction, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. One proposed pathway includes chemical reoxidation of mineral forms of Fe(II) such as siderite [FeCO3(s)] by NO2 −. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate the reactivity of FeCO3(s) with NO2 −. Stirred-batch reactions were performed in an anoxic chamber across a range of pH values (5.5, 6, 6.5, and 7.9), initial FeCO3(s) concentrations (5, 10, and 15 g L−1) and initial NO2 − concentrations (0.83–9.3 mmol L−1) for kinetic and stoichiometric determinations. Solid-phase products were characterized using …

Forage News [2008-07], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• KFGC Field Day In Christian County
• KFGC Forage Spokesman Nominations
• KFGC Awards Nomination
• The UK Beef Bash 2008: A Different Kind of Field Day
• Certified Noxious Weed Seed Free Hay and Straw Program
• Nitrogen for Stockpiling Fescue
• Forage Seeding Rate Calculator
• Alfalfa Yield and Dollar Return From Wisconsin Green-Gold Program
• Relative Toxicity to Horses of Three Species of Blister Beetles
• Changes in U.S. Dairy Industry Since 1935
• Line Up For varieties Early for Fall Planting
• Roundup Ready Alfalfa on Track for 2009 Return
• Upcoming Events

A Polyadenylation Factor Subunit Implicated In Regulating Oxidative Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Jingxian Zhang, Bala Subrahmanyam Addepalli, Kil-Young Yun, Arthur G. Hunt, Ruqiang Xu, Suryadevara Rao, Qingshun Q. Li, Deane L. Falcone

Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Plants respond to many unfavorable environmental conditions via signaling mediated by altered levels of various reactive oxygen species (ROS). To gain additional insight into oxidative signaling responses, Arabidopsis mutants that exhibited tolerance to oxidative stress were isolated. We describe herein the isolation and characterization of one such mutant, oxt6.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The oxt6 mutation is due to the disruption of a complex gene (At1g30460) that encodes the Arabidopsis ortholog of the 30-kD subunit of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF30) as well as a larger, related 65-kD protein. Expression of mRNAs encoding Arabidopsis CPSF30 alone was able to …

Forage News [2008-06], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• University of Kentucky Field Day - June 12, 2008
• Kfgc Forage Spokesman
• Kfgc Awards Nomination
• Reducing Forage Losses Can Save Big Bucks
• Weed-Seed-Free Straw Market Beats Hay
• Nutrient Value of Baled Hay
• Seeded Bermudagrass: Make Sure to Use a
• Winter Hardy Variety
• Upcoming Events

Arabidopsis Mrna Polyadenylation Machinery: Comprehensive Analysis Of Protein-Protein Interactions And Gene Expression Profiling, Arthur G. Hunt, Ruqiang Xu, Balasubrahmanyam Addepalli, Suryadevara Rao, Kevin P. Forbes, Lisa R. Meeks, Denghui Xing, Min Mo, Hongwei Zhao, Amrita Bandyopadhyay, Lavanya Dampanaboina, Amanda Marion, Carol Von Lanken, Qingshun Quinn Li

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The polyadenylation of mRNA is one of the critical processing steps during expression of almost all eukaryotic genes. It is tightly integrated with transcription, particularly its termination, as well as other RNA processing events, i.e. capping and splicing. The poly(A) tail protects the mRNA from unregulated degradation, and it is required for nuclear export and translation initiation. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that the polyadenylation process is also involved in the regulation of gene expression. The polyadenylation process requires two components, the cis-elements on the mRNA and a group of protein factors that recognize the cis-elements and …

Forage News [2008-05], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• KFGC Awards Nomination
• KFGC Forage Symposium
• Small Grain Silage or Balage
• Hay Making Reminders and Tips
• Hay Acreage Will Drop 2% Says USDA
• Armyworm Alert
• New Video Feature on KFGC Website
• UK Forage Team Wins Outstanding Extension Project Award
• Forage Analyses Are Estimates, Note Absolutes
• Should I Plant Switchgrass for Biomass?
• Upcoming Events

Recombinant Stokesia Epoxygenase Gene, David Hildebrand, Tomoko Hatanaka

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Patents

A chimeric gene comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a delta 12-fatty acid epoxygenase enzyme and transgenic plants containing the chimeric gene are described. Expression of the chimeric delta 12-epoxygenase gene leads to altered levels of fatty acids in transformed cells.

Forage News [2008-04], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• 28th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
• Breeding Better Alfalfa
• Hay Preservatives: Propionic Acid and Microbial Inoculants
• Alternative Energy: Does It Make Sense?
• High Priced Nitrogen: Can I Still Afford to Fertilize Grass Hay
• Forages May Fuel Pellet Stoves
• Weed Management Options in the Spring Following a Dry Summer
• Upcoming Events

Forage News [2008-03], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• 28th Alfalfa Conference: Success in Spite of Worst Ice Storm in Our 28 Years
• Alfalfa Awards
• Alfalfa Hay Contest Awards
• 2007 Hay Summary
• Value and Amount of Nitrogen Fixed by Various Legumes
• Kentucky Farm Numbers and Livestock Operations
• The Differences Among Hay Conditioners
• AFGC Issues Resolution on Forage Crop Production
• Symposium to Examine Energy Potential of Forage Crops
• Upcoming Events

Photo Highlights Of The 28th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.

Hay Supply, Price And The Future, Tom Keene

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

As we prepare for the 2008 hay crop, it’s probably a good time to look back and see what the ’07 crop brought to us and wonder if it will have any bearing on the upcoming 2008 crop.

Alfalfa Hay And Balage: Testing For Quality, Kimberly Field

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Why Test Your Hay?

• By knowing the percentages and protein levels you can increase/decrease the amount of supplements needed from your analysis report and will help the producer set feeding rations
• If you do not know what you have in your forage you are over or under feeding your livestock – therefore affecting the health of your animal and your pocket book